Rafe considered not doing what Noid had told him. He wanted to spite Enith. It was his future he'd be playing with if he did that though, so he decided to follow his master's instructions for now.

  He opened a class selection window that had appeared with the quest.

  Class Options:

  Warrior (+2 str/ agi/ end) per level. (+2 def/ off) per level (adjustable).

  Archer (+1 per, +1 str/ agi/ end/ cog) per level. (+2 off/ ste) per level.

  Mage (+2 wis/ int) per level. (+2 cont/ dens/ regen) per level (adjustable).

  Rogue (+2 agi/ cog) per level. (+2 off/ ste/ spe) per level.(adjustable)

  Healer (+2 wis/ int/ vit) per level. (+2 cont/ dens/ regen) per level (adjustable).

  Cleric (+2 wis/ int/ vit) per level. (+2 fai/ off/ def/ cont/ dens/ regen) per level (adjustable).

  He had six basic classes to choose from, as everyone should on awakening. Some lucky few would have higher tiered options, but again they were few. He already knew what he was going to choose, although the healer and mage classes kind of attracted him with their specifications and everything. He decided he'd take a look at his other options though.

  The Sword Saint (uncommon) (growth) (+4 str/ agi/ end/ vit/ con/ cog) per level. (+4 off/ def/ spe) per level (adjustable).

  He winced as he felt his whole body react to just the name. Was it a shout-out to his first sword technique? He would never know. Unfortunately he couldn't take that class per his master's wishes but damn did he want those five stat points.

  The Void Series (Rare) (growth) (+7 str/ agi/ end/ vit/ cog/ wis/ int/ ???) per level.

  Rafe's eye brows rose as he looked at the new class. There was no added information about it, but was any necessary. It gave more stat points than a rare class should. The class seemed like it had been made for him. What with his bugeoning void affinity. And it would allow him to take any build he fancied.

  Only… he already knew the build he wanted. He might be getting a void affinity or whatever, but magic was the furthest thing from his mind. The class promised a lot of freedom, but sometimes having too many choices was not a good idea.

  Shadow king (Rare) (growth) (+6 agi/ cog/ per/ dex/ str) per level. (+5 off/ ste/ spe ) per level (adjustable).

  Hmmm… A rogue class if he had to guess. And a pretty normal rare class if he had to guess further. What had he done to deserve such a class, hang out with Sam for a few weeks? Then didn't that mean…

  Blooming Guardian (Rare) (growth) (+7 str/ agi/ cog/ end/ vit/ wis/ int/ ???) per level.

  Some classes, although rare, were clearly better than others. If he hadn't received Noid's teachings, this class would have been too tempting to pass up on. Having almost five more stat points per level than your average level one was nothing to scoff at. The lack of class specifications bothered him though.

  There were many routes to power in the new universe the system had created. His patrons wanted him to have as many options as possible. He also didn't see the harm in collecting as much power as he could for now. He needed to collect hidden stats and these class specifications because once he had them they'd be a part of his path forever. They'd be a part of his personalised status.

  He decided to forego looking through the other class options, lest he get tempted. He just knew there would be something better at the bottom of the screen. He felt it in his bones. If he just looked down, he'd find something he would be unable to resist.

  Class selection complete.

  You are now a level 1 warrior. You have unlocked Defense and offense specifications.

  Class skills available.

  He read through a long list of basic skills a warrior class was qualified to have.

  His Aeon's Sword Mastery was a basic skill, but there was another general sword mastery basic skill. There was one for spear mastery, dagger mastery and all manner of melee weapons. There was even one for shield mastery. Liam had told him in no uncertain terms that he ought to learn to fight without his sword.

  The first thing he chose, to complement his Skyholm's fighting proficiency was Unarmed combat.

  You have learned the skill Unarmed combat. You are proficient in fighting with your body. (lvl. 1) (Upgradeable skill) optional.

  And now, for another basic skill to complement his melee fighting style. Perhaps something that directly boosted a physical stat. He did already have heavy blow for his strength so that left. His eyes bulged when he found it. Rafe smiled.

  He chose the skill Dash second.

  You have learned the skill Dash. You move faster when the skill is active. Efficiency increases with increase in skill level. (lvl.1) (Upgradeable skill) optional.

  He smiled, already liking this new skill. If he had his own say, he'd only get skills that would complement his sword play. Too bad he'd been forced into getting unarmed combat. Now for his last free skill.

  He was torn. On the one hand, Dodge would be good for training up his class to lean toward a dodge tank kind of evolution. On the other hand, Acrobat was really…

  He already had an Acrobat skill once. He had upgraded and cracked it to produce his current Puppeteer's Rubber Body. He wanted to see what else he could do with the skill, as it had a lot of possible upgrade options according to Liam. He needed to experiment with his skill cracking ability anyway.

  He looked at Dodge for a long time. In the end he decided if he really needed the skill he could train it up. He had been told his advancement would be painfully slow, so he had nothing but time in his honest opinion. He also already had a sufficient defensive skill in Parry and maybe it would be enough for him to get a tank class in the end. He went with Acrobat.

  His skills chosen, Rafe went to read their descriptions but something almost immediately distracted him.

  Class: Warrior (lvl 1)

  Class specs: Offense : 3

  Defense: 2

  Class skills: Dash…

  Hmmm? A class screen? His status now had different screens for everything. A status screen showing his level and most stats, one for his class and its specifications and apparently its skills. He also had one dedicated to all his skills and apparently a quest screen.

  He wanted to go through the skill descriptions for his three latest skills in more detail but just then —

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  ‘Ding’ Your Pseudo-class skill Mimic has awakened. You have unlocked class specifications mana control, mana density, mana regeneration.

  Mimic. (lvl.1) (+1 wis/ int) per level. (+1 cont/ dens/ regen) per level.

  You can temporarily copy any mana skill used in your presence provided it is lower rarity than this class/skill. Only one skill can be copied at a time. Skills copied once can be called upon in the future. Effect of copied skill is half the level of this class/ skill.

  Congratulations: You have unlocked the paranormal attribute Mana.

  Rafe was quiet for a full minute, reading through all the information he'd just received.

  “Wait, provided it's lower rarity than the skill? But this looks like a basic skill! I don't see any tags! Is there a rarity lower than basic?”

  Then he started to really think about it, but then he threw his hands up in defeat.

  “So this is what I get from the librarian? Liam and Sam both said it was unlikely my skill would be better than his… But this is useless! Unless it can evolve or something, to a rare class or skill or whatever it is at least.”

  He continued to look through the pseudo-class skill. It would give him a way to increase his mental stats at least, something he had had no intention of doing unless he was forced to.

  He could now see the kind of advantage people with multiple classes had over him. Heck, even a class and profession meant more stats than someone like him.

  And then there were the class specifications for a mage class. Hmm. Control, density and regeneration. The fine control to manipulate your spells with pinpoint precision. Density probably to give your mana that extra oomph and regeneration to make sure you never run out of mana at a crucial stage.

  He was just guessing of course, but it seemed like density was the equivalent of a warrior's offense and defense. Building an earthen barrier as protection using dense mana would produce a better defensive effect than using light mana. Exploring how the specifications worked was another task for the near future.

  Anyway, now that he had mana, he could shift the shape of his blade. He had unlocked his mana way sooner than he had expected, based on Liam and Noid's warnings. He was just about to unsheath the blade when he froze.

  “I'll have to try and not use the sword for this next little challenge, won't I?” he thought out loud.

  Quest complete.

  Objective: Choose a class.

  Reward: Quest points, Credits, (now spinning).

  “Now…spinning?”

  That did not sound promising. Not in the least.

  ‘Ding’ Reward received.

  Reward: 10 Quest Points, 100 credits, Mystery box.

  Something shimmered into existence next to him the same way rewards dropped after one completed a dungeon. He opened the little box to find…

  He was speechless. He couldn't believe what he was seeing.

  “So this was what you meant by random rewards?! You damn stingy bastard sys…”

  His voice trailed off, remembering what Liam had told him about the system. It was a child of some kind.

  But how could a child be tens of thousands of years old? What the hell were quest points anyway? It didn't explain anything even after he started spewing vitriol against his quest screen.

  Rafe grabbed the golden earrings from the box and pocketed them in his huge white robes.

  “You could have at least made them less sparkly. Then maybe I could put them on.”

  He couldn't figure out what the hell quest points were, but supposedly they were a replacement for the fate points he hadn't known he had been collecting. Then there were the credits. At least it sounded like he was a hundred credits richer, whatever that meant.

  He didn't have any kind of appraisal skill, so he didn't even know what the damn earrings did. With a heavy sigh, Rafe started his journey out of the void. He had something else to attend to before he'd be free to start tracking a way back to his home planet. And right on cue, his new best friend informed him of his next destination.

  ‘Ding’ New Quest Received.

  Objective: Ascend the Enchantress’s Training Tower.

  Reward (For accepting): Map ability.

  (For completion): Quest points, Credits, Random.

  “Hmmm? A map ability. That seems like it could be useful. But again with the random rewards,” he groaned quietly.

  He studied the quest screen once more, then shrugged.

  “Well, I was going to ascend the tower anyway. I need to grind me a few levels while I'm still in this time dilation.”

  He received the ability he had been promised, and it had its own screen, but that wasn't what took most of his attention.

  He had gained a single level in both classes and race, and his status screen had changed a little since after he had just received the quest system. He was going to be looking at those numbers a lot from now on.

  Because finally he had a tangible way to measure his progress.

  Name: Rafael Kingsley Wilde

  Race: Human (lvl. 1) F

  Class: Warrior (lvl. 1) mimic (lvl. 1)

  Health: 210/210

  Stamina: 270/270

  Stats.

  Strength:  27

  Agility:   55

  Coordination:  45

  Vitality:   21

  Intelligence:  12

  Endurance:  27

  Wisdom:   20

  Paranormal: Luck:  10

  Mana: 200

  ???

  Free stats: 1, 2(Str/ Agi/ End), 1(Int/ Wis)

  Quest points: 10

  Credits: 100

  Class specs:

  Off: 4. Def: 3. Cont: 2. Dens: 2. Regen: 2. (1 free)

  First off, his class specs now also had a summary at the bottom of his status screen. And then he'd also received the class specs for a mage class, probably from his pseudo-class skill.

  Mana scaled with wisdom, if he was getting his guess right. It might have been paranormal, but it was an attribute just like stamina and health, so he probably could put it up with the others. There were people, especially those who went the pure warrior route who never unlocked mana.

  Rafe would have been one of those people if not for the librarian, the lost weapon he had inherited from Liam.

  He needed to distribute his status points, and he was stalling. He wanted to just dump everything into agility, but he did need his stamina. And if his math was right that scaled with endurance.

  Then there was his strength which if he let lag too far behind might make him irrelevant in combat. It would make him hurt his enemies less than a buzzing mosquito.

  He grit his teeth as he put one of his class points into strength and the other into endurance. His race point went into agility. The pseudo-class point went to wisdom. And then there were the class specifications.

  He decided he'd grow both offense and defense equally for now. He'd have to focus on defense when he got close to level ten for his first prospective class evolution, but he could keep them balanced for now.

  As for the magical specifications he decided he'd focus on density and regeneration for now.

  With all that finished, he touched the piece of paper he'd strapped to his left bicep, the ability scroll for a highly modified Storage.

  The reason Sam had asked him to get the Enchantress's eye was this very skill. He hadn't gotten a Soul Sight skill from the innate ability Liam had given him, so he needed to cheat.

  Only, he couldn't quite feel he had achieved anything in that direction. The phoenix eye was probably how he had touched the truth of Fate and unlocked his quest system. It didn't seem to have done anything else.

  Could the thief have been wrong in her deductions? Maybe the eye of the Enchantress and the Eye of the Sage were not compatible after all?

  Rafe forced the negativity out of his mind. What did he know? He was just a man. Sam was a mortal who had achieved godhood. She obviously knew better than him. He decided he'd trust her experience at least, especially with their next little scheme.

  “Alright. One more objective, and then it's back to Earth,” he declared to the void.