"Mom, did you see how Mara used her new Resonant Threading trait to stitch that fabric so it hums when touched? Wish I could do that," the younger one said wistfully.
The other chuckled. "Keep practicing your own skills. Maybe you'll unlock a trait like that someday."
As Vex listened, attempting to piece together their conversation, a new system notification flashed before his eyes.
Your language comprehension skill in Elorian has reached Level 1.
His brow furrowed. Hadn’t the skill book granted him Level 3 in Elorian? A quick check of his skill sheet revealed the truth—his base skill was at Level 1, but a +3 modifier was boosting it. Holy crap!
Before he could fully process this revelation, the sizzling of a nearby food cart caught his attention. A stout vendor with a bushy mustache stood behind a grill loaded with skewers of meat and vegetables. With a flick of his wrist, flames leaped up from within a pan to kiss the kabobs. Another deft motion and a dash of seasoning danced from his fingers, coating the sizzling skewers perfectly.
The longer Vex watched, the clearer it became that the vendor wasn’t simply a skilled cook—he was using a Trait. The fire seemed to emerge from within the pan itself, with no visible fuel source. With effortless grace, flames leaped up to kiss the kabobs while a flick of the vendor’s wrist sent a dash of seasoning dancing through the air. No chanting. No glowing hands. Just a seamless, masterful control of fire and spice. Mesmerized, Vex watched the vendor’s precise, flowing movements as his stomach let out a low growl.
He glanced longingly at the food stall nearby, the delicious aroma of kabobs wafting through the air. It had been over a year since he had eaten more than twigs and berries, and his stomach growled in agreement. "Just one kabob," he murmured, rising from the bench where he had been instructed to wait. "I need to keep my strength up for all this... sitting."
Approaching the cart, Vex marveled at the casual magic of cooking. There was so much to learn in this world.
"One kabob, please," Vex said, practically drooling.
The vendor nodded, his eyes never leaving the sizzling grill. With a flourish, he plucked a perfectly cooked kabob from the fire and handed it to Vex. "That'll be three copper. Enjoy, lad."
Vex didn’t understand every word, but his growing language proficiency was enough to grasp the cost and appropriately pay the vendor. Examining the kabob, his eyes widened. Each chunk of meat and vegetable was evenly cooked, glistening with expertly blended seasoning.
He took a bite—and his taste buds exploded. The perfect balance of smoky, savory, and spice made him involuntarily moan in pleasure.
The vendor raised an amused brow but said nothing, turning his attention back to the forming line of customers.
As Vex devoured the last bite of the kabob, his mind buzzed with possibilities. He needed to increase his skills to unlock more Shadowlings—each one a potential tool for his growth. If skill books provided permanent bonuses, then learning how to create them himself could be invaluable. A quick check of his dwindling funds confirmed what he already suspected: he had just enough to get by, but not nearly enough to splurge on skill books.
With the last bite of kabob gone, Vex thanked the vendor and wandered back to his bench, his mind already working through a plan. If he wanted to make skill books, then he needed a Shadowling that could help him do it.
While it frustrated him that the system never outright revealed the skills needed to unlock a new Shadowling, he at least appreciated that the ones he had discovered so far had followed a certain logic. Keeping that in mind, he carefully allocated his skill points into those he thought would be most useful for a writer.
Your Writing skill has reached Level 10.
Your Reading skill has reached Level 10.
Your Bookbinding skill has reached Level 10.
The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.
Your Speed Writing skill has reached Level 10.
With only enough points left to max one more skill, Vex hesitated. He had hoped the first few would be enough, but now he had to carefully consider which final skill would be the most useful. After a moment of deliberation, he decided to take a gamble—if the system was as literal as it seemed, there had to be a skill for copying.
Your Copying skill has reached Level 10.
You have reached the requisite skill level to unlock a new guild summon.
You have unlocked the Shadowling class: Scribe.
A new summon has joined your guild!
A sigh of relief washed over Vex—until realization struck. I’m in public. In broad daylight.
Panic flared as he quickly scanned the area. No Shadowling in sight. Maybe it had spawned in the guild hall? Just as he dared to hope, something nudged his leg. Peeking under the bench, he saw shadows coalesce into a small, nebulous creature.
"Holy crap," Vex whispered, excitement and worry warring in his voice.
Forcing himself to remain calm, he spoke quietly. "Not a good place to talk, but I want to give you a name and send you to the guild hall before anyone notices."
Deciding to at least look over the Shadowling's new abilities, Vex quickly went through the new character sheet and traits.
— Shadowling (Scribe)—
Basic Characteristics
Name: Unnamed
Level: Inherited
Class: Hunter
Race: Shadowling
Racial Bonus: One With Shadows
Status
Health: Full
Mana: Full
Stamina: Full
Ailments: None
Experience: N/A
Summon Time Remaining: 1:58:13
Traits
*Within The Margins
*Living Documents
*Author’s Note
*Between the Sheets
*Devil’s Bookmark
*The marked trait is locked because it has not met the minimum skill threshold.
Skills
None
Languages
Summoner's Native Language: Inherited
Sign Language - Shadow Cant: MAX
Spells
None
* * *
Within The Margins automatically corrects minor errors, mars, and other mistakes on artwork and written materials produced by the trait owner. If the creator finalizes a work without automatic corrections, Within The Margins will have a small chance of refining the document. Refined documents may provide additional information, add bonus effects, or even elevate the tier of an item. The Within The Margins trait requires an individual to be skilled in Reading MAX, Writing MAX, Illustration MAX, Proofreading MAX, Editing MAX.
Any work created with the Living Documents trait can update itself. As the author’s abilities improve and their knowledge grows, their collection evolves. Manuscripts of suitable quality and length can gain the communicative property, allowing pages to provide readers with suggestions or conceal information. The Living Documents trait requires an individual to be skilled in Reading MAX, Writing MAX, Copying MAX.
With the Author’s Note trait, a scribe can embed conditional advice or instructions into their works. A spell scroll could be tailored to adapt to a user’s ability or given a trigger, based on the author’s instructions, to automatically cast. The Author’s Note trait requires an individual to be skilled in Reading MAX, Writing MAX, Drafting MAX, Scroll Binding MAX, Magical Inscription MAX.
Scrolls, tomes, and other documents can be imbued with mana using the Between the Sheets trait. Magical effects, which would normally rely upon the reader’s mana, are instead pulled directly from the document. The Between the Sheets trait requires an individual to be skilled in Reading MAX, Writing MAX, Magical Inscription MAX, Spellbinding MAX.
By folding the pages of a completed magical tome or scroll with the Devil’s Bookmark trait, you can temporarily bring an author’s work to life. Unfortunately, doing so requires you to savage the pages, like the uncultured swine you are, ensuring the original work can never be used again after the enchantment fades. The The Devil’s Bookmark trait requires an individual to be skilled in Reading MAX, Writing MAX, Folding MAX, Origami MAX.
Vex skimmed the traits, barely processing their implications before focusing back on his new companion. "Alright, let's think of a good name for you. Something fitting for a master scribe."
A light tap on his leg signaled agreement.
"Quilliam Shakespen."
Kick.
"Clearly a no! Just brainstorming."
"Doodles?"
Punch.
"Penn?"
Slap.
"Scribbitha?"
Smack.
"Scriptonite?"
Jab.
"Inky?"
Silence.
Vex took the lack of violence as approval and immediately set the system name.
You are attempting to permanently change your Shadowling (Scribe)'s name to Inky. This action cannot be undone. Are you sure? (Y/N?)
Your Shadowling (Scribe)'s name is now Inky.
Unfortunately for Inky, the hesitation had only been a momentary lapse in sheer disbelief at this ridiculous naming process. Before they could continue their physical protest, the name was locked in place.
If a nebulous shadow could sigh in exasperation, Inky did.
Vex grinned. "Alright, Inky, head to the guild hall. Practice reading and writing. We’ll talk more this evening."
Inky, thoroughly unimpressed, faded into the shadows.
Almost forgetting himself, Vex quickly assigned his last skill points to help jump-start Inky’s growth.
Inky’s Basic Mathematics skill has reached Level 1.
Inky’s Reading skill has reached Level 1.
Inky’s Writing skill has reached Level 1.
Feeling hopeful, Vex leaned back and observed the bustling square once more. For the first time since arriving in this world, he didn't feel like he was struggling to survive.
That warmth settled in his chest as he listened to the passing gossip, slowly realizing he should probably focus on actively improving his language skill instead of just eavesdropping.