Kennon laid down on the ground. Feeling the golden grass prickling against his linen tunic. Breathing deep the air of victory. It was well earned. Sure most of the time he had simply been running from the beast. But what else was he supposed to do? And it worked. The tiger was dead. And they had gained two levels!
They must have been close to level four already to make such a jump.
At that moment he heard Bev let out a loud hiss. Through their bond her felt her pain. Bolting up he looked at her and said, “What happened?”
She twisted so he could get a good look at her arm. She moved her hand to show four long claw marks welling up blood.
“It’s superficial.” she said, cradling the wound with her hand.
“Let me clean it.” Kennon said, reaching for his bag.
It may not have been deep, but that wouldn’t stop it from getting infected. Kennon pulled the medical kit from his bag. But Bev objected.
“Don’t waste the good stuff. Some aloe salve should be more than enough.”
Kennon cursed his lack of foresight. Just because they had good medicine didn’t mean they should use it for every scrape and bruise. He should have prepared medicated bandages from the aloe he found the same day he found it.
Getting a closer look Kennnon was relieved it really was minor. It could wait a few minutes.
“Wash it off. I’ll make a bandage.”
With that he got to work.
He had kept the aloe in his bag to prevent it from deteriorating. But sadly he hadn’t even bothered to clean it.
He went to the river and washed it clean. Then pulling out his knife he cut a small portion of the herb and placed it in the pestle. A small handful of water was also added. Then he filled the mortar with mana and began grinding.
While many ingredients had naturally beneficial properties, they tended to lose those properties if improperly prepared. Most mana herbs actually did the healing through the mana. And crushing them caused the mana to escape. That was why special tools were needed. His pestle used his mana to not only contain the aloe's inner mana but also to amplify it. Prime it to be ready to get to work the moment it was applied.
It only took a few minutes to prepare a salve. It was rather mediocre. But he had never heard of a tiger with active toxins so it just had to be enough to sterilize mundane germs. Frankly Bev would probably recover perfectly with no treatment at all. But there was no point in taking a risk.
Kennon cut a strip of leather from one of the pelthorn hides they had been preparing. Applied the salve to Bev’s arm, then wrapped it tight with the cloth.
“There, it should be fully healed in an hour.” He said.
“Thanks.”
They sat in silence for a moment.
Finally Bev said, “so, classes?”
Kennon smiled and opened the system class menu.
In the growth system classes are nothing more than a method of helping with suggested skills and proficiencies. All suggestions will be similar in effect to the offerings from the primary system for these classes. Class may be switched at will. Though your displayed class will be the first class you choose of a given tier.
Basic Classes
Scout
Warrior
Mage
That was, about as simple as it got. Though the bit about switching classes at will was interesting. It was also a bit odd that none of the non combat classes were mentioned. Though there was always the next thing they unlocked.
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Professions is the growth systems alternative to non combat classes. Unlike the primary system it is not only possible, but recommended to have both a class and profession. It provides the exact same role as non combat classes. And as such merely provides suggestions for skills and proficiencies. Your public facing class can switch between class and profession at will. See Tutor for instructions.
Professions
Profile analyzed. Suggested classes based on current proficiencies.
Alchemist
Survivalist
Tailor
Enchanter
Blacksmith
Search all basic professions?
Yet more oddities to the system. It was going to let them lie about their abilities. It even encouraged it.
As for the selections, obviously he would choose mage and alchemist. He was a little surprised blacksmith even appeared for him. His only experience with it was watching Bev. Survivalist was nice. Perhaps even better at the moment. But he was good enough at that already. And in a few months all those skills would be wasted.
He made his selections.
Mage selected.
Suggested skills updated.
Spell proficiencies added.
Lightning magic level 1.
Spark
Arcane magic level 1.
Telekenises
Alchemist selected.
Suggested skills updated.
Spell proficiencies added.
Mana imbuement level 2.
Mana infusion
Mana excitement
Profession notes detected. Add to notes?
He had heard of this. Yes.
He felt a powerful force touch his pack. No doubt reaching for his notebook full of recipes.
Notes updated.
Please see Tutor for profession advice.
He looked at Bev.
“Warrior enchanter?”
“Mage alchemist?”
They laughed.
“Why enchanter instead of blacksmith by the way?” Kennon said.
“Simple, my enchantment skills need a lot more hand holding to improve. Blacksmith may give me mold metal. Or some equivalent. But enchanter should give me full fledged runes.”
Kennon nodded. It made sense.
“I want to know what this Tutor thing is about. I have never heard of it.” Kennon said.
Bev just smiled, and her eyes shifted. Looking at something only she could see.
Time to check it out then.
Tutor
Hello.
I am your personalized Tutor provided by the growth system.
Now performing mental scan to determine how I may best be able to serve.
Kennon stared in disbelief. Then he felt a brief pain. A sharp buzz in his head. But it was gone almost as soon as it came.
Class knowledge analyzed.
Profession knowledge analyzed.
Vonn protocol detected.
Primary system interaction detected.
Previous system damage detected.
Beginning complete history lesson.
Safe location observed.
Scanning for hostile intent.
What was all of this? Kennon stared at the message. History lesson? Was he about to get answers?
Hostiles disengaged.
Primary system pacified.
Partial history lesson only.
Kennon growled in frustration. Was it saying he was only going to get a partial explanation just because he wasn’t surrounded by the army!
Personality construct engaged. Mood, peppy.
Hey Kennon, good to meet you. I will be your Tutor for all things growth system related. If you have a question just ask. I will be thrilled to help with whatever you need!
Bev, your soul bound twin is being looped in on this conversation.
I’m sorry I have restrictions on what I can tell you. The boss is a bit stingy with his powers. And besides, he likes people to learn for themselves.
I see you encountered the primary system. Stealer of souls. And limiter of worlds. The Vonn protocol has already paid for the information necessary for your survival to be unlocked.
To stop you from mutilating your soul information will be provided. But since no one is after you at this exact second I'm saving those precious points for when you really need them. Let me explain that error you encountered.
“What!” the Vonns shouted in unison.
