I stared at the names of the two options that were in front of me.
Was this what I should expect going forward? Every time my skill was going to increase its rank, would I get multiple paths to pick from?
But since it was the first time I was seeing something like this, it made sense. Apparently, Astrid's {Frost Chop} wasn't specifically an upgrade, at least not according to her. She said that it was offered as a new option for a skill, instead of ranking it up directly. Which should mean that her System created a version that connected cold abilities to the Chop skill, or that's what I understood, at least. It was something I had to confirm with her after this.
'So I can choose how the skill is going to change?' I asked the System while looking at the names floating in windows only I could see above the lake.
[That is correct.] Sys said. [When a skill has acquired enough experience to be evolved, System will offer as many options as there are available for the evolution. However, quantity is not something that can be guaranteed. It is possible that a skill only has a single evolution option. In addition, if user does not like the path the skill would take by choosing either of the options available, user can instead continue without an upgraded version of the skill. This will allow skill to continue to grow and attempt to evolve in a different way in the future.]
'But you don't have a time frame for that, right? If I refuse an evolution now, there's no telling how long it will take for me to get another chance like this.' I frowned, this was one of the annoying issues with the System. For as much as it talked about the rules and the things it could do, it never was able to give me an idea of how long things would take.
[That is correct to a certain extent. While it is impossible to say if you will ever find a new evolution path, if the user retracts their decision and wishes to evolve a skill from one of the past paths that were taken, the System can give a proper time frame for when that evolution will be available.]
'Huh?' that sounded much less complicated than what the System usually did. 'Why is that? Doesn't the existence of the evolution require memory or the particles to store how the skill will work or something?'
[That is correct. However, once an evolution path has been discovered and given up, particles will still retain some general knowledge about the evolutionary paths to make sure they won't replicate them in the next evolution. By reverse engineering those restrictions, it is possible for System to recreate initial evolutionary paths.]
'I guess that makes sense. So I don't have to worry about getting stuck with a skill that can't evolve, right?'
[That is correct. Although the System is unable to tell if a skill will find the evolutionary pattern or not, if the user has chosen not to take an evolution, then the user will not have the possibility of evolving said skill completely removed.]
I nodded, the moonlight shining over the trees. 'Show me the two variations. I want to see which one I should pick.'
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Compression - Active - Aspirant
Cost: 1 Energy
Number of uses available: 0/7 uses
Like time, size is also relative.
Changes the size of an object while maintaining its mass.
Resize - User is able to target specific parts of an object.
Weight range: 10 g [0.35 oz] to 500 kg [1102.3 lb]
Size range: 10 cm [3.9 in] to 30 meters [98.4 ft]
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Compression Echo - Active - Aspirant
Cost: 1 Energy
Duration: 1 hour
Number of objects: 0/2
Object 1 saved sizes: 0/3
Object 2 saved sizes: 0/3
What once was will always return.
Allows user change the size of up to two objects, maintaining their mass. In addition, user is to save the size of said object up to 3 times. Objects can swap between those sizes during the duration of the skill as per user request.
Weight range: 300 g [10.5 oz] to 100 kg [220.4 lb]
Size range: 50 cm [19.6 in] to 10 meters [32.8 ft]
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'Just so I know, there's no chance I can use Proxy right now, right?' I asked, knowing that there was no Energy on the skill.
[That is correct. User has activated {Mind of Possibility} recently. For that reason, user is unable to call Proxy.]
'Okay, then I hope you can answer a few of my questions about those changes.'
[System has all the information that would be available to Proxy, meaning System is capable of answering any questions user has about the evolutions of the skill.]
'I know, but it's easier to see it in action. Anyway, just to confirm this, why is one skill still called {Compression} and the other is not? I thought the skills would change their name once they evolved.'
[Once a skill goes through an evolution, said skill might gain a new name if its effects are different enough from its original form. If the effects are not that different, but enhanced, the skill instead gains a new attribute. In this case, {Resize} is merely an improved attribute of the skill {Compression}. While {Compression Echo} takes a different approach entirely.]
'Got it, but next time don't show the names of both skills like you did. That made things more confusing,' I scratched the back of my head.
[Acknowledge. In the future System will present evolutionary paths in the following way:]
[Would user like to add the effect {Resize} to skill {Compression} or evolve it to {Compression Echo}?]
'Yeah that works. Next question then. Talking about {Resize}, how much can I change from a specific part of an object?'
[Changes can be considerable. However, skill will be unable to change the size of an object if that would cause the part that is being affected to break off from the full object. For instance, if user were to trigger skill on a tree, focusing only on a specific branch, the base of the branch would still need to be attached to the tree. So while user would be capable of turning the branch into a needle or a toothpick, the base of the branch, the part that is connected to the tree would still be of its regular size. Only changing gradually after it.]
'Well, that makes sense. It would be strange if it didn't work like that. If it just broke apart or twisted the object to make it fit. And again, I wouldn't be surprised if in the future that could also work. But do I have any limits to how much I'm going to change the specific branch?'
[The limits remain the same as the skill in general. Utilizing the branch as an example once more. If user wishes to make the branch grow, the total size of the tree could reach up to 30 meters [98.4 ft].]
'And I'm assuming it's the same for the weight?'
[That is correct. The weight mentioned on the skill is also the limit of what it will be capable of doing with the weight size. However, if the total weight of an object surpasses the limits imposed by the skill, you are unable to resize even an area that weighs less than the rest.]
'And what about {Compression Echo}? How does it actually work? Is it like it sounds?'
[System is unable to say if the skill functions as it sounds. However, in edition to changing the size of an object user will be able to save the dimensions of an object in three different sizes. And then quickly swap between them. The change from one size to another will be quick. However, the bigger the change, the longer it will take. As an example, If user has a fork in her hand and wishes to make it as big as the Frosted Staff, as long as the dimensions are stored, it should take less than .1 second for that conversion.]
'But what does it mean when it says that I can only do that with two items?'
[It means exactly what user stated. User will be required to pick two objects to be affected by the skill, and the skill will only be able to affect those two objects. However, once user spent the energy to activate it on one object, user can change the size of said object as many times as user wishes during the 1 hour duration of the skill. To clarify, user is still able to change the size of an object to a size that was not saved. However, doing so will take time just as it happens with base version of {Compression}. The saved sizes will simply allow user to swap rapidity between them.]
'And once the duration is over, then I can pick another object or something?'
[That is incorrect. The object will be defined when user chooses to. Even if the skill is not active, the object that will be saved on the skill will be the same. If user wishes to change the object, user will require a 10-minute period to remove the object before a new one can be added.]
'This really sucks,' I sighed. The ability sounded amazing. Being able to change the size of my staff during a fight would be just incredible, especially since I wouldn't need to be spending energy or uses of the skill every time I needed to make tweaks. But losing the ability to use it on other things was too much of a drawback. I wouldn't be able to make doors in caves or use large objects that we find anywhere to our advantage.
As much as it hurt me to say it, the option I had to pick was obvious. 'I'm taking the {Resize}, but can you kind of store the {Compression Echo} version somehow? Or can I just have both?'
[User is not able to acquire both versions of the skill. System does not allow a user to have multiples of the same skill. If user takes an evolution, user can never acquire a lesser version of the skill. Meaning that if user picks the evolution, user will be forever locked out of the previous version of a skill.]
'But could you remember the details of this other option so that maybe on the next evolution it is offered as an extra effect and not just a different skill?'
[That is something System can work towards. Ideally, System would create a quest for such a thing. However, System is still currently attempting to replicate the effects of user's title into a skill. Although progress has been made, System still is unable to give a proper time frame for when quest will be complete.]
'And is it possible to give up that quest because it's taking a very long time? I'm not even sure if it's worth it anymore.'
[Current quest progression is at 82%. If user wishes to give up all the progress, System is able to do so, and change the contents of the quest.]
I let out a groan. 'Fine, 82% is a bit too much. Let's just hope it ends soon. Could you at least try to guide the next evolution to have something like the {Compression Echo}?"
[System is able to do so. However, without the quest, the effect will not be as quick as it could be. There is also the possibility that the next evolution of {Compression} does not offer that ability. Instead, user will be required to either accept the new evolutionary path or attempt to find a new route.]
'That's fine. Just try to make it so the {Compression Echo} becomes the secondary effect. I really wanted that,' I kept staring into the lake, watching the small waves created by the wind. 'Also, I just realized. Does that mean that anyone who gets the {Compression} skill I already have will get this upgraded version?'
[That is incorrect. User's skill was the most basic version of itself. User was unable to acquire any more advanced information about said skill. It is possible that even the Eater who first allowed user to acquire this skill had a different version of {Compression}. In addition, if another person were to acquire {Compression} and attempt to evolve, there is no guarantee their evolutionary path will be the same as user's. Another point to consider, if another living being acquire {Compression} through the consumption of user's body, they will receive the basic version of the skill. However, if user shares the skill, they can acquire the evolved version instead.]
'I don't know why, but that's just kind of nice. Everybody's going to be unique, at least in some aspects. Even if they have the same skills. And we still have the option to share the strongest things we have, like {Body Regeneration}.' I realized this was more of a internal monologue than something I should be talking with the System and quickly changed the topic. Even if it was part of me it still felt embarrassing to have Sys hearing that kind of thing, 'Anyway, as much as it sucks, let's give up {Compression Echo}. I'll take {Resize}.'
[Acknowledge.]
I felt a small change in my mind. Compression had now shifted. It was hard to explain, but there was a different understanding about the skill in my head. And it felt like it was always there, as if the original version of the skill was never even a thing. I opened my attributes to see the skill there, just confirming its existence, and then turned around to see how my companions were faring.
Astrid was staring into the distance, chewing a piece of crab that seemed to be long gone cold. Honestly, I was doing the same. The crab that was on my barbecue stick had already lost all the warmth. With a frown, I turned to Michael, who was staring into the sky with a worried expression.
"Is everything okay?" I asked.
He looked at me. "I'm the one who's asking that. Are you okay?"
"I'm fine. Why wouldn't I be?" I tilted my head.
"Because you've been staring into nothing for a while now. Both you and Astrid. Is that something to do with the magic you can do?"
"A little bit," I said. "Sorry about leaving you alone. Or sort of. After a fight like that, we kind of need some time to process everything that happened and understand what new things we can do."
"I see, new things, huh?" Michael nodded and continued to stare into the water, "Cassandra?" he said.
"Yes?" I asked, already knowing what his question would be.
"Can you teach someone else to do magic like that?"
I stared at him for a moment. He fought with us. Even without a System, he was willing to fight off a giant crab. And he put himself at risk by saving Pamela. That was exactly the kind of people who I wanted to share the System with. Sure, it would probably end up causing him to take some unnecessary risks, but hopefully, he would have enough levels to make up for any stupid decisions.
"Yes, there is a way for other people to learn this," I said.
Michael nodded. "Then do you think you can teach someone in the village that?"
I stared at the man and didn't even attempt to hide the surprise in my voice, "What?"