Chapter 4 (Bard)

The next candidate turned out to be wholly unimpressive. He barely stood taller than the goblins but looked more like a miniature human. He had a head of messy curls, pointed ears similar to the wood elf’s. All tied together with disproportionately giant, hairy feet. The specimen looked the most like me but skewed more towards handsome than ordinary.

Halfling – Hillfolk:

The inhabitants of Arena Disk either love the hill folk or like them. There is no hating them. They avoid big cities, preferring instead to build their settlements on the fringes: just close enough to enjoy some measure of protection.
Hillfolk specialising in Control excel at growing and nurturing their crops and livestock.
While those who prefer Charisma entertain pub patrons with their songs or explore the world, selling the finest mead, spirits, and tobacco. Can you hate them?
The hill folk abhor fighting and offensive magic, but nearly all deities seek to protect them. They enjoy a growth bonus to all masteries not related to combat, metalworking and relevant magic.
With every achievement, boon or blessing earned, the hill folk gain two attribute points for their primary aspect, one for the secondary, and two more to spend however they please.

As ordinary, as he looked, I couldn’t help but like the halfling version of myself when he raised his mug at me. He seemed like a solid pick. What concerned me was his limitation with magic. I didn’t know how accessible Arcana was in Arena Disk but hoped to counter my weaknesses with magic. In comparison, the wood elf’s bonus with nature and healing magic made the race a big selling point and seemed like the more balanced option.

The more I thought about it, I realised even the goblin would be a better option than the halfling. As tempting as picking a pub dwelling future was, goblins sounded like they had the means to protect themselves. Besides summoning spirits, tinkering and sneaking about would be great for survival.

I glossed over the description of sea elves. They weren’t too different from their terrestrial-bound cousins, but I dismissed the race without hesitation. If Arena Disk had monsters like the magical worlds in my favourite fantasy novels, there were bound to be sea serpents, megalodon-sized sharks and other leviathans lurking about in the depths. Besides, I wasn’t the strongest swimmer, and after several close calls at the deep end of the pool, I wasn’t too keen on building my new life around unfathomable depths.

The final choice looked like another elf variant. I glossed over it, and the option wasn’t worth a second glance.

“Which of the six do you think would serve me best?” I asked

“As a neutral party, I’m not allowed to give you such information,” the branch manager answered.

“I don’t have a patron. So that means I’m unaffiliated. Right?”

“I suppose I could tell you what I’d do in your position.” He grinned. “I’d pick one of the less humanoid races. They work off a more evolution-based system instead of the Masteries; certain evolutions allow you to transform or even drop traits. Or, if I decided to stick to it, certain beasts can mask their presence or become near indestructible. However, looking at your relic, I doubt you’d be willing to go for anything of the kind.”

“My relic?” I searched my pockets, unsure of what he was referring to.

“That primitive stringed box on your back. Have you not noticed how your possible future forms all have different clothes and accessories, but the instrument is a consistent presence? All outworlders enter Arena Disk with a relic. Usually, their patron empowers it with gifts, but I’m afraid yours won’t be a whole lot of help.”

“What about champions that don’t pick a humanoid form?” I asked. The branch manager didn’t seem to mind my interruption. Instead, he smiled. Perhaps not all champions engaged him in conversation and made queries as I did. Whatever the case, it seemed like he was having a good time talking to me. “Sending someone that picks a blob of slime in with a sword would be a cruel joke.”

“Not all scouted individuals come through us or enter Arena Disk as a humanoid,” he told me. “More often than not, a patron can predict whether their champion will decide to go humanoid, bestial or insectoid. If it’s either of the latter two, instead of a relic, they’ll receive a boon or be born with a mutation that’ll give them a distinct advantage.”

“Given the nature of the limiting trait and that relic, you’re better off picking a form that has nimble fingers and can get the most out of your instrument. Something with high Dexterity or Charisma.”

I stopped and pulled the guitar case off my back. Unzipping the semi-hard case, I retrieved my beloved instrument. It gave me a much better chance at survival, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. I lived off tinned tuna and lettuce for three months to save for the beauty. Nothing would take her from me, save for prying my cold, dead fingers off the fretboard.

Unnamed Elder Wood Guitar
As with any relic, the owner may summon the guitar into their hands once a day regardless of the distance between them. Made from the fallen branch of the lost Tree of Life, it will repair itself from all damage over time.
When played, it draws Mana from the atmosphere to replenish its owner’s Core.
It encourages weaving Mana into the music created when playing it.
Charisma + 1
Arcana + 2

Unlike my regular guitar, a crystal sphere sat socketed where the neck met the body. It was bright and felt empty.

Perhaps Tracy hadn’t sentenced me to death after all. She just wanted me out of the way. Equipped with the guitar, I wouldn’t just be blowing hot air. I’d have a real chance at survival. Even though I didn’t know a thing about the Arena Disk, my mind raced with possibilities.

“What happens to a champion if they’re defeated in a non-lethal manner?”

“Well, they lose their connection to their deity and their relic, removing from the Cosmic’s game.”

“Can Cosmics gain information regarding individuals not connected to them?” I asked. “Can they contact their champion whenever they please?”

The manager shook his head. “The champions need to commune with their patron to converse with them. It prevents the Cosmics from interfering or warning their champion unfairly. They can’t glean detailed information on unaffiliated individuals without system permissions either.”

Due to the Coward’s Brand, I would never be as powerful as the nimble felin rogue I’d seen on the big screen. Assuming the attributes functioned similarly to their counterpart in the games I’d grown up playing, Charisma was the key. With Arcana, I’d find power and potential for survival, but I’d always be the supporting figure due to my limitations. Maybe with Charisma, I could strike back at Tracy and the entities running this barbaric game. I wouldn’t take down their Champions with brute force. Instead, I’d find my own way to pull ahead.

I chose the halfling. Holes opened up on the floor, devouring the other figures. I shook hands with my pick, and we merged into one. The office looked bigger all of a sudden as I shrunk down to match his size.

“What’s next? Do I pick a name? Distribute my attributes?”

“I’m afraid it’s a touch more complicated than that,” the manager said, looking embarrassed. “I can’t do much after setting your starting location. You may establish your identity once you’re on the disk. As for the stats, I’m not a player in the game and have no rank or level. Therefore, I have no attribute points to give.”

“Does that mean I’m going in like this?!” I exclaimed. “Most of my numbers read zero!”

“That’s only because you’re an entity of pure Arcana while in this space.” He chuckled. “Unfortunately, you’ll have to gain your attributes the old-fashioned way. When I send you in, they’ll reset to one, and the system will put you three trials: Brawn, Control, and Wit. Your performance will determine their values. The better you perform, the higher your score. That’s all I think. Do you have any more questions?”

“What’s happened on Earth? Am I dead? What will happen to my family?”

The branch manager sighed. “You’re dead. I’m sorry, that’s just how it is. However, as a part of the penalty, we intend to have one of your family members win the local lottery. It won’t be life-changing but should help them live their life comfortably. That’s the most I can do.”

“I guess I owe you one.” I offered the branch manager my hand, and he shook it. When I first arrived, we were more or less the same height, but now I barely reached his chest. “If you hadn’t been so candid with me, I’d have probably rushed into a bad decision.”

“Just doing my job,” he replied. We stood in silence for a while, and I could tell there was something on the man’s mind. After what felt like a forever-long handshake, the manager finally continued, “I’ve been doing this for a while, and you’re among the bravest creatures I’ve ever met. Most cringe at the sight of a cosmic, but you stood your ground. The brand didn’t get you down. Instead, it appears to have inspired you.” He let go of my hand and bowed. “I can honestly say that you’ve inspired me too. I’ve spent my personal Arcana to turn your guitar into a relic. I hope it will make up for the damage my company has done. Be careful of who you make enemies at least until you have enough Charisma, Arcana, or friends to help you survive. It’s not an easy world, and the more power you gain, the bigger the target on your back becomes.”

I had more to say, but the manager clicked his heel and two doors opened against the wall: one behind him and another where Tracy had appeared. He exited through the first, and the kitten followed him, leaving me alone. I had a lot more questions and tons to figure out, but we had wasted enough time already. So, I marched into the void and started my new life, hoping to make Tracy pay for ripping me away from my family.