Intel gathering

Was it really another world? I lightly shook my head. It wouldn't really matter if I couldn't adapt to the situation. I looked at all the statistics shown from top to bottom and analyzed what I could. First HP, fairly obvious, health. But it would be worth understanding how it relates to some things. For instance people don't just get hit enough that they die. If someone dies it would be because something stopped the body from ever being able to function again. Take losing an arm, you wouldn't die to the impact, but to the blood loss that followed. How would a situation like that work with an HP system? Could enough meaningless impacts actually kill a person? Or would it be considered 0 damage? Worth experimenting further.

Next was MP. This one is...concerning. In most games it stands simply for magic points and works as a system to impose a price on using certain attacks. This implies that this world has attacks similar. How magic could effect the development of this world was something that would definitely come up. What could magic do? What couldn't magic do? What did it cost? I needed a lot more information about this.

Then we have the numbers commonly referred to as the attributes. Though these we're somewhat uncommon as far as games went. Dexterity was a familiar one but, force? Different types of intelligence? Adaptability? These we're all mostly meaningless to me. Granted I could roughly guess that 1 wasn't very high. The question was more if the 25 was. Increasing these would likely be a necessity as far survival went... Actually, despite my mind jumping to that conclusion it didn't feel like I would really need to fight. I can't be sure thanks to my limited information but, it might not be needed. I would prefer not but understanding my situation was important. I know I'm repeating myself, but I desperately need info.

Finally we had the skills Enchanter and Encoder. The name of the second one irked me slightly. Was this some kind of play on words from my previous life?

In that moment as I focused on that skill the menu suddenly changed causing me to jump back in surprise once more. I looked at the menu and it had expanded.

Encoder: [Allows the user to add great amounts of complexity to enchantments without any additional costs to an object. Achieved by being the first in the world to display great skill with computer coding]

[currently rank 1, train to increase?]

[Y/N]

I took a second to register the information before focusing on the N option and quickly turning to the enchanter skill, after a second it also expanded.

Enchanter: [A uncommon class, having this skill invalidates other class type skills. This class is a master of creating powerful equipment, and by imbuing portions of their mana into an object can give it unique properties. The complexity and strength of the enchantment is based on how much mana was used. Mana imbued into a weapon can't be recovered until the caster touches the object and cancels the enchantment of the object is destroyed]

[currently rank 1, train to increase?]

[Y/N]

So from what I could gather, the Enchanter was a class, a term I would need to research, while encoder was what I gained from my previous life and would make me a better enchanter. Next there was the option to train the skill to a higher rank. This would undoubtedly increase the ability of the skill but more questions we're raised. By how much? What was the training? Was it dangerous? I was hesitant to click the Y. I had no guarantee as to how the world around me worked. For all I knew it would drop me in a cave filled with Goblins and tell me to fight them. I just couldn't guarantee anything. It frustrated me to no end. Currently all of my problems were the same. Information. Then something occurred to me, schools normally had libraries didn't they? Thinking as much I took a deep breath and stepped out of the room. Navigating the building via trial and error I eventually made my way out and was able to look out to see another larger building I could see the large pretentious sign, written out on it was an equally pretentious name "The divine receptacle" It was also religious in nature which made me let out a small sigh. I had nothing against religion but often times they would have specific rules or seemingly abstract taboos. And since I was lacking in the common sense of the world I didn't want to show up and accidently commit blasphemy. Lets keep on the quiet side for now. Probably safer not to say anything at all unless I hear someone else say it as well.

I saw an occasional student walking leisurely to and from the dorm to the school which implied that today was maybe some sort of off day. Regardless I looked around and saw someone who seemed at first sight like a smart person and causally followed behind them.

My appearance based profiling worked out as I followed the student to a vast library, 3 stories high and at least 4 of the room I woke up in worth of width created the massive library I was looking at. Very few students we're even here with a few studious ones dotting the area with old style pens writing on papers in a rudimentary notebook. That was another thing about this world. It seemed old. The first hint was the uncomfortable bed but the architecture seemed old fashioned and most of the papers also seemed more like parchment then anything else. And to top it all off I had only seen written words in ink with the one exception being the carved sign above the building. I should see if I could figure out an equivalent time period to earth. Finally breaking away from the student I was following I headed to a completely empty area which I hadn't seen any students enter. History.

---------------------

In a well lit office space a man sitting behind a desk hums quietly to himself as he worked. The man was on the rounder side but had a kind look in his eyes. He was also quite big, his oversized hands almost completely blocking the pen he was holding from an outside viewer. He stopped for a second to look out a nearby widow as sun rays came through it. His peaceful moment was interrupted as he heard a knocking on his door. His smile fell of his face as he looked over to the solid and tall door.

"Come in."

The source of the knocking reveled themselves to be a small man with smaller features who's eyes were moving quickly from place to place. He wore a composed expression which was obviously a front if his shaking hands we're anything to go by.

"Y-you called for me sir?"

"Ah that's right, Rott I believe you're name was." He looked up at the man named Rott who nodded his head to his statement.

"Now if I remember correctly we sent a student out with your mercenary group only for them to return severely wounded." His tone was harsh

and accusatory.

The now sweating Rott quickly started to explain. "Well you see what happened was-" He was however cut off by the still sitting man.

"I don't care about your explanation. The student has already given us a report. What I'm interested in is why the student has yet to receive the compensation written in the contract."

"W-well you see as the uh, t-the fault lies in the students actions so simply handing them the rewards would be um it wouldn't be a properly educational experience?" Despite being the explanation the man was going for it sounded more like a question then anything else "A-and quite a few of the people in my group we're against helping a student of his descent." The larger man let out a frustrated sigh causing Rott to flinch slightly.

"The students past is not something that effects the contract." The man spoke with anger as he looked down on the other. "Now, can I expect the student to receive what they are entitled?"

Rott once again hurried to make excuses. "Ah about that. Y-you see I was on your side regarding this matter but the rest of my group came to the conclusion that the uh court would uh defend us..." Rott's voice trailed off clearly bracing himself to be berated.

The larger man let out another angry sigh as if he we're holding himself back from attacking Rott. This action caused the smaller man to fold in on himself further.

"I see. And does the rest of you're group also understand that this will cause them to be permanently blacklisted by receptacle?" Rott's eyes widened at this statement and started to speak in a panic. Before he could go anywhere however he was once again cut off. "I don't care what you have to say. Remove yourself from my office and if my student doesn't receive what he is due in the next week you can expect all business with us to end." Rott hesitantly made his exit. As his door was closed behind him the large man let out another sigh, this one carrying a tired energy to it as his door opened once more to show the familiar sight of his assistant, a women around his age who had a serious look on her face as well as a parchment in hand.

"Ah Crytia, It's good to see a friendly face. Please tell me you have good news for me."

"Do I ever?"

"I suppose not." The man sounded defeated.

"Principle Ranga, please try to keep up appearances."

"Oh come now, you've been working as my assistant far to long to not know me by now" Ranga looked up at Crytia as she walked over to him and placed the parchment in front of him.

"Another professor sent a complaint about Ceff attending the school."

"Which professor?"

"Mr. Serco."

"Ah who cares about that old fart." Crytia let out a sigh.

"If it we're just him it wouldn't be a problem. The problem is him and all the others who agree."

The principles eye's narrowed. "And what exactly are you proposing Crytia?"

The women's expression didn't change as she looked at him "You may need to consider complying with their demands."

"Absolutely not. I didn't take charge of this school to be a political puppet dancing for those corrupt bastards."

"Those corrupt bastards also provide this school with most of its funding. If not completely then just let a few more things slide to appease them." Hearing her words the principle shot up from his seat, as he stood almost a full foot higher then the women he began to respond.

"I WILL NO-" But was quickly cut off by his unphased assistant.

"You don't have another option. Our support is wavering as is, if we start stirring trouble now we'll be in an unstable condition and won't be able to guarantee another year of control."

The principle looked up at her cold expression and couldn't help but look away. "I can't believe the world has come to this. Allowing teachers to abuse a child just because of politics."

"I enjoy this no more then you do, but it's needed if we want to gain the power to stop this in the future."

There was a long silence between the two of them as the principle sat back down, before finally Ranga hung his head. "Fine. Tell the professors we will be taking minimal actions regarding Ceff's treatment but that if they push it to far we won't hesitate to take action."

Crytia nodded and started to walk away.

"Ah by the way, how is Prab?"

The secretary looked back at him. "Perhaps you should ask him yourself instead of hiding behind me."

The man looked away once more provoking another sigh from his trusted assistant. Some students saw him studying at the library. History apparently."

The man lit up at this news "How wonderful, I hope he starts to come out of his shell."

Crytia walked out without responding to his words. Leaving the principle alone in his room. After a few seconds he simply looked down and continued working, no longer humming as he did so.