Legacy of Chaos

by Jackson Bale

  A---couple---of---minutes---of---looking---around,---I---quickly---get---bored---after---realizing---that---the---most---interesting---aspect---of---this---place---would---be---the---light---source.---Other---than---that,---this---city---seems---more---of---a---ghost---town,---especially---considering---the---lack---of---adults---and---the---large---number---of---kids.---I---stop,---turning---around.

  Immediately,---over---twenty---Gajen---children---stop,---stare---at---me,---and---then---quickly---run---and---hide---behind---whatever---is---available,---their---eyes---poking---out---to---check---If---I---am---looking---towards---them---or---not.

  Seventeen---kids.

  Shaking---my---head,---I---turn---around---and---make---my---way---towards---the---source---of---the---light.

  A---couple---of---minutes---later,---adding---five---more---kids---to---my---posse,---I---finally---reach---the---bottom---of---the---stone.---Around---the---stone---are---clear---walkways---while---two---[Gejadan---Guards]---stand---firm,---ready---to---react---to---any---threat.

  I---walk---forward,---the---two---men---look---at---me,---their---eyes---curious.

  “Anathema---has---allowed---me---to---access---the---dungeon---stone,”---I---say.

  “We---know,”---the---guards---reply.

  Immediately,---they---move---away---from---each---other,---allowing---me---to---pass.

  I---nod---toward---them---as---I---pass---them---by.---They---do---not---react,---merely---watch---me---with---curiosity.

  With---a---slight---bit---of---trepidation---and---an---enormous---amount---of---curiosity,---I---lift---my---hand---and---place---it---upon---the---soft---glowing---surface---of---the---stone.

  Scanning...

  Class---[Hero]---found,---updating---entity---[Thoric---Elum].

  Thoric---Elum

  Level---14---Necromancer

  Level---29---Hero

  Raise---Undead

  Advanced---Analyse

  Skeletal---Renewal

  Enhanced---Undead

  Bone---Telekinesis.

  Strength

  23

  Dexterity

  36

  Stamina

  32(34)

  Perception

  235

  Endurance

  14

  Vitality

  227(229)

  Mana

  700(1000)

  M/regen

  2.3(3.83)

  Affinity

  13

  Intelligence

  435(545)

  Willpower

  3047

  Soul

  4143

  Robe---of---the---Undead---Caller(Rare):---Halves---All---mana---regeneration---costs---for---undead---upkeep.---Does---not---allow---additional---Upkeeps.

  [Hero]---Level---25---has---been---achieved.---Max---number---of---classes---to---level---quickly---has---been---increased---from---2---to---3.---Currently---⅓.

  Information---floods---my---head,---telling---me---what---I---have---and---what---is---available.---At---the---same---time,---the---same---screens---appear---in---front---of---my---eyes.---The---whole---situation---takes---me---a---good---minute---to---fully---comprehend---and---understand.

  Weird,---all---of---the---information---I’ve---been---getting---was---in---the---form---of---boxes---appearing---in---the---air,---no---weird---information---was---ever---forced---into---my---head.

  “Hey---guys,”---I---say,---grabbing---the---attention---of---the---two---guards---near---me,---”when---you---place---your---hands---on---this---stone,---is---knowledge---about---yourself---placed---directly---into---your---head---or---is---the---information---shown---in---writing---in---front---of---you?”

  The---two---guards---look---to---each---other,---trying---to---better---understand---the---question.---One---guard---flicks---his---tail---in---confusion---while---the---other---just---looks---at---me---like---I'm---an---idiot,---”There---is---nothing---to---read,---it's---just---a---rock.”---he---says.

  I---see,---so---people---do---not---normally---get---floating---screens---in---front---of---them…---which---means---the---screens---are---a---result---of---my---[Hero]---class.

  “Thank---you,---that's---all---I---needed---to---hear,”---I---say,---focusing---upon---the---stone---once---again.

  The---guards,---confused,---just---shrug,---turning---away---from---me.

  With---a---mental---command,---I---order---the---stone---to---show---me---a---list---of---possible---classes.

  Calculating---classes---available---based---on---species,---stats,---and---life---experience...

  Immediately---a---wave---of---enormous---pain---rips---into---my---head,---forcing---me---on---my---knees.---My---mind,---fervently---attempting---to---withstand---the---sheer---onslaught---of---information---bombarding---my---head.---The---pain---is---significant,---but---it---does---not---last---long.

  Query---finished.

  And---then---the---pain---stops,---my---mind---flowing---with---an---enormous---amount---of---information---on---classes.

  Taking---a---deep---breath,---I---stand---up,---waving---the---concerned---and---questioning---eyes---of---the---two---guards.

  That---was---a---horrible---idea…---I---seriously---need---to---ask---more---questions---before---I---do---things.

  Well,---I---have---a---lot---of---classes---to---choose---from,---many---of---which---are---quite---useless,---while---others---are---pretty---interesting.---Looking---through---my---mental---encyclopedia,---I---shift---through---it---for---several---hours---until---I---find---two---classes---that---interest---me.---I---mentally---choose---and---accept---them,---which---leads---me---to---be---greeted---with---several---system---messages.

  New---class---obtained:---[Enchanter]

  Enchanters---are---those---who---add---magical---abilities---to---objects.

  You---are---now---a---level---1---[Enchanter].

  New---skill---obtained:---[Enchant]:---By---utilizing---mana,---you---are---able---to---create---a---magical---effect---towards---an---object---based---upon---your---level.

  The---first---class---choice---is---rather---simple,---it---should---allow---me---to---enchant---any---object,---this---I---believe---includes---bones---and---flesh,---something---I---am---very---familiar---with.

  New---class---obtained:---[Noble]

  ERROR----CLASS---BLOODLINE---RESTRICTIONS---NOT---MET.

  scanning…

  Entity---Thoric---Elum---has---class---restrictions---waived---by---SAS11.

  Class---[Noble]---has---been---obtained.

  You---are---now---a---level---1---[Noble]

  New---skill---obtained:---[Loud---Voice]:---Some---heroes---walk---the---world---as---a---silent---protagonist,---but---not---you.---You---instead---make---your---presence---clear,---not---just---by---your---actions,---but---by---your---voice.

  The---second---class---was---chosen---because---of---Anathema---and---her---ability---to---outright---manipulate---people---with---her---aura.---She---had---mentioned---that---she---had---a---[Leader]---class---which---had---given---her---skills---that---manipulate---her---aura---into---affecting---others,---but---I---felt---that---that---specific---class---was---rather---weak…---in---the---sense---that---its---potential---did---not---feel---that---large.

  Yes,---feel---might---not---be---the---best---way---to---describe---it,---but---when---I---hovered---over---the---idea---of---obtaining---the---[Leader]---class,---I---felt---rather---congested,---like---it---was---going---to---be---a---bad---idea…---something---I---would---regret---later.---I---had---learned,---mostly---from---trial---and---error,---that---following---my---guts---is---always---the---right---thing---to---do.

  Having---finished---my---preparation,---I---open---my---eyes---to---the---sight---of---the---stone---being---slightly---dimmed---and---a---feeling---of---a---relatively---full---bladder.

  Shit,---how---long---have---I---been---here?

  Turning---around,---I---find---the---guards---looking---towards---me,---apparently---surprised---that---I
---am---moving.---The---children,---which---had---been---present---before,---are---completely---gone,---probably---having---become---bored---with---the---human.

  “Um…---how---long---was---I---here?”---I---ask,---not---at---all---able---to---read---the---time.

  “Long.”---one---of---the---guards---replies,---his---gaze---staring---at---me---strongly.

  “Right…---I'll---just---be---going---back---now,---”---I---say,---heading---towards---the---direction---of---Anathema's---home.

  The---guards---merely---stay---silent,---unmoving---as---I---pass---them---by.

  ____

  Shortly---after,---I---am---noticed---by---a---group---of---children,---their---eyes---widening---at---my---presence.

  “He's---alive!”---One---of---the---kids---yells,---his---gaze---only---slightly---lingering---on---me---before---he---disappears---around---the---corner,---all---but---a---rather---young---little---girl---following---the---boy---behind.

  She---instead---runs---up---to---me,---almost---falling---over---herself---several---times---before---getting---rather---close---to---me.

  Her---eyes,---reminiscent---of---dark---grey---clouds,---look---up---to---me,---gazing---at---my---figure…---but---not---quite.

  She's---blind…---but---she's---looking---directly---at---me.

  “You're---weird,---”---she---says,---ignoring---the---fact---that---she---can---see---me.

  Frowning,---I---answer---back.

  “How---so?”

  Her---tail---swishes,---head---tilting---sideways,---”I---can---see---you---very---very---well.---Everyone---else---is…---blurry…---but---you---are---super---clear.”

  Interesting,---I---wonder---if---it's---my---aura…---Or---maybe---my---mana…---I---should---ask.

  My---hand---moves---away---from---my---side---and---settles---on---my---chin,---her---eyes---following---perfectly---the---movement.

  She---just---continues---to---stare---at---me,---her---eyes---gazing---at---my---body,---seeing---something---I---do---not.

  I---take---a---step---towards---her---and---bend---down---to---a---knee,---leveling---my---face---to---hers,---”So,---my---name's---Thoric,---what's---yours?”---I---ask,---knowing---how---to---deal---with---young---children---considering---I---had---fostered---an---army’s---worth.

  Her---tail---swishes,---dusting---the---stone---floor,---making---her---leather---pants---move---with---the---movement,---”My---name---is---Ahria,”---she---answers,---a---smile---forming---on---her---lips.

  “So---Ahria,---I---find---it---amazing---how---you---can---see---me.---You---must---have---a---pretty---impressive---class---to---do---so.”

  Ahria---smiles,---her---tail---swishes---quickly---as---a---giggle---escapes---her---mouth,---”Nooo,---I'm---too---young---to---have---a---class.”---she---says,---shaking---her---head.”---It's---a---skill,”---she---exclaims---with---confidence.

  Interesting,---so---classes---have---an---age---limit?---Good---to---know.

  “Oh,---what---skill---is---it?---I'm---very---curious.”

  She---nods,---her---clawed---feet---tapping---the---ground,---her---smile---revealing---her---sharp---white---teeth,---”It's…---gand,---gwand,---grand,---[Grand---Mana---Sense],”---she---says---finally---remembering---the---name.

  So---it’s---mana---sensing,---similar---to---my---skill---[Greater---Mana---Sense],---except---that---she's---using---the---skill---constantly…---impressive.

  At---this---moment,---the---sound---of---other---children---enter---my---location,---watching---me---interact---with---Ahria,---but---keeping---their---distance.

  Smiling,---I---move---my---hand---into---my---robe---pocket---and---pull---out---several---bone---knives,---”So---Ahria,---since---you---told---me---about---your---skill,---I'll---tell---you---about---one---of---mine.---The---skill---is---called---[Bone---Levitation],”

  My---skill---activates,---Mana---releasing---and---swarming---the---six---knives---in---my---hand,---allowing---them---to---float---in---the---air.

  Gasps---resound---around---me---as---the---children---watch---the---knives---float---into---the---air.---Ahria,---head---swiveling---quickly,---is---able---to---see---the---connection---of---Mana---between---me---and---the---knives.

  With---a---smile,---I---stand---up---and---twirl---my---hands,---the---knives---floating---and---dancing---to---my---will.---They---spin---and---glide---around---me,---fast---enough---to---seem---impressive,---slow---enough---that---a---child---can---see.

  And---then,---as---I---increase---the---tempo,---I---slowly---start---to---dance,---my---knives---of---bone---spinning,---moving---around---me,---matching---my---speed---as---my---body---flows---in---movement.

  The---children---quickly---converge---closer,---entranced---by---my---movement,---by---my---impressive---usage---of---Mana---and---skill.

  Unfortunately,---all---things---must---come---to---an---end.

  “Thoric!”

  Hearing---my---name,---I---quickly---stop---my---movements,---turning---towards---the---sound,---finding---Tella---with---a---panicked---expression---on---her---face.

  “Mom---needs---you---now!”---she---says,---finally---noticing---the---kids---surrounding---me.

  Chapter---Eleven:---Diving---the---dungeon.

  Walking---into---Anathema’s---home,---I---find---a---rather---unexpected---sight.---In---the---corner---of---the---room---is---Janie,---a---panicked---expression---on---her---face---as---she---holds---up---one---of---my---bone---shivs---and---points---it---at---Anathema---who---is---sitting---relaxedly---at---the---table,---slowly---eating---meat---while---making---sure---to---show---as---much---of---her---sharp---teeth---as---possible.

  Janie’s---head---swivels---to---me,---her---eyes---widening---in---panicked---fear.

  “Thoric,---monsters!---They---want---to---eat---me!!!”---she---yells,---tears---forming---on---her---face,---her---shiv,---shaking---in---her---hand,---is---still---pointed---at---Anathema.

  Yup,---just---the---reaction---I---was---hoping---for.

  Figuring---she---might---hurt---herself,---I---attempt---to---activate---[Bone---Levitation],---only---to---fail---completely---as---my---mana---refuses---to---take---hold---of---the---bone---in---her---hand.

  Weird?---I---wonder---if---it’s---because---she’s---holding---it.

  Anathema,---enjoying---the---fear---her---presence---entices,---picks---up---a---nice---slab---of---meat---and---bites---into---it,---ripping---it---apart---with---ease---without---even---breaking---eye---contact---with---Janie.

  “QUASIIIIII!”---Janie---yells,---her---eyes---focused---upon---the---sharp---teeth---chewing---through---flesh.

  Welp,---I---can't---do---anything.

  Strolling---towards---the---table,---I---take---a---seat---next---to---Anathema---and---grab---one---of---the---glasses---still---filled---with---that---juice,---taking---a---quick---glance---towards---the---entrance,---finding---Tella---looking---very---confused.

  “So,---Anathema,---what---happened?”---I---ask,---taking---a---sip---of---the---fruit---juice,---enjoying---its---nice---fruity---flavor.---Something---similar---to---a---combination---of---mango---and---blueberry.

  Anathema---just---smiles,---showing---off---her---sharp---teeth---more---than---usual,”---Oh,---I---was---having---such---a---nice---conversation---with---your---mate---there.---She---was---telling---me---about---the---outside---world.---It---was---quite---interesting.”---she---says,---her---tail---swishing.

  “And---why---is---she---panicking?”

  “Well,---her---aura---finally---stabilized,---which---has---been---suppressing---her---emotions---the---entire---time.”

  I---nod---and---turn---my---head,---looking---towards---Janie,---who---is---slowly---starting---to---relax,---following---the---conversation---along.