CHOOSE WELL, FOR YOU WILL NOT HAVE ANOTHER CHANCE

  Trait

  Knowledge

  Skill

  Item

  "Trait"

  Trait

  ...

  The list kept going on and on, options cascaded seemingly endlessly, an ocean of choices stretching beyond the horizon of one's comprehension. Each line seemed to shimmer with possibility, a fate yet known. The boys stood frozen, the sheer enormity of the choices seemed to have reduce him to a mindless puppet with the sole goal of finding the end of the list. His mind goes though the line one by one, taking in it name, it meaning and then discarding it out for the next line. Each line erode his rationality, leaving behind a raw sense of helplessness.

  !

  "Oh? Can you help me with my choices, 'Guide'?"

  Yes, let us start with a trait that help you with your mind weakness before the incomprehensible, I recommend the trait Calm mind

  "Calm mind"

  Trait

  Do you want to choose Calm mind?

  "Yes"

  Just like that? You will not question it or at least put some thoughts into it?

  "No, I trust you, 'Guide'." His voice came out shaky, more like he was asking himself than answering her. A strange calmness washed over him. Yes, he trusted her, what other choice did he have? He stood there, feeling lost and small. The ground felt strange under his feet, making him feel even more out of place. He was just a street rat, a boy who only knew how to survive. The choices in front of him were confusing, each one reminding him of how little he knew. But even in all this confusion, there was a tiny bit of hope. The mechanical voice in his head, the 'Guide', gave him some direction in this mess. It was like a light in the dark. He held onto it, hoping it would lead him to something better, something he couldn't see yet. "I have to trust you," he whispered to himself, barely audible. "I don't have any other choice."

  Very well, let us move on to the next choice. Do you have any aspiration? Some grand dream? Maybe a glimpse at a greatness you want to try?

  "No, all I could ever think of was surviving until the next day"

  Then do you, umm..., want to hit people very hard, create things, make lot of friends or do stuff like making fire and moving things with your mind?

  "No, I don't need friends," he muttered, dismissing the idea quickly. Friends were a liability, something he couldn't afford. Hitting things... yeah, that could help him stay safe. And making things... maybe he wouldn't starve. He lingered on the thought, imagining the possibilities. Creating tools, finding ways to get food, maybe even building a shelter. It seemed practical, something he could use every day. Then his mind wandered to the last option. Doing stuff with his mind... making fire, moving things without touching them... it was strange, almost unbelievable. But the idea intrigued him. It was powerful, something beyond his understanding. He felt a cautious curiosity, wondering what it would be like to have such abilities. "And while I would like to do the other things, I want to have the bare minimum to survive first, please"

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  Yes. Do you understand what I mean when I say 'mana'?

  It is strange. He understood the word's meaning and what it was referring to, but the idea that such a thing existed felt foreign. It made a part of him angry, unable to accept that he had never noticed it before. How very strange, he just learned of its existence now and yet he was this riled up over missing out. "Yes 'Guide', I understand the word 'mana', but I have never been able to perceive it."

  What a shame. Then you should get the trait Weak 'mana' perception and the skill Rudimentary 'mana' control. Though do understand that what you are trading for is simply what many are born with. Under favorable conditions, you could acquire these abilities yourself and inside the trial there are plenty of such opportunity.

  He felt a surge of frustration and desperation. The thought of missing out on something so fundamental gnawed at him. He couldn't afford to wait or take chances. He needed those abilities now."'Mana' perception and 'mana' control," he said quickly, dismissing her words and rushing to get those two skills.

  Trait

  Do you want to choose Weak 'mana' perception and Rudimentary 'mana' control?

  "Yes"

  As soon as he made his choice, his mind was flooded with a myriad of colors. The world before him seemed to have spilled paint upon itself, twisting and stretching in surreal patterns, performing tricks his eyes could barely comprehend. His body felt light—liberated, even. He lay down, surrendering to the euphoria as his mind soaked in the kaleidoscope of hues and shapes. And then, it stopped. The crash hit him hard, leaving him staggered as the vibrant fantasy faded, replaced by what had once been. Or so he thought. No—this was not what had been. The endless grass field before him now glowed with a corona of colors he had never imagined, shades that defied perception. His once-mundane body now felt thrillingly alive, dotted with new, unperceivable hues. The transformed reality took the boy breath away. He couldn't help but marvel at the world before him—every blade of grass, every stone, even the very air shimmered with an ethereal brilliance. For the first time, he felt truly connected to the essence of everything, as though he was witnessing the true nature of existence itself. His arm reach up, trying grasp one of the floating wisp in the air with his new skill. He did it, he could feel a connection between him and that wish. He try to fling it left, the wish follow and along with it a light breeze. He suddenly feel tired, his mind feel like it have experience a long day hiding from the gang.

  Please don't over strain yourself messing around. Let us move on to choosing your next gift. I recommend the trait of either Adaptability or Healthy body

  "Adaptability and Healthy body"

  Trait

  Do you want to choose Body and mind(Fake)?

  "Yes", that would be 5 out of 6 already. He wonder what would she recommend for the final one. All the one he gotten so far seem very helpful but what if this was the wrong way to go at it. Maybe he should have just chosen a path forward instead of just choosing to survive. Maybe he should have taken one of the 5 soul weight instead of these small trait. Maybe he should have use Calm mind and read though the list to chose for himself. But then, the calmness settled over him again, like a steadying hand on his shoulder. He took a deep breath, letting the doubts fade. No, this was the path he had chosen. These were the choices he had made, and they were not wrong. Each step he had taken so far had been deliberate, guided by his instincts and the 'Guide.' He reaffirmed his resolve, knowing that survival was not just a necessity—it was his foundation. Whatever came next, he would face it with the tools he had chosen, and he would make them work.

  Hmm. Well, let us move on to the final choice. Given that the only things you know is how to survive in the street, some knowledge of the wider world would go a long way. I recommend Trivial knowledge I or Fast learner if you seek to acquire those knowledge yourself

  "Trivial knowledge I and Fast learner"

  Skill

  Do you want to choose Fast learner?

  "Yes"

  Now that you have a foundation to begin your climb, go and see the final thing I can offer you here.

  Before he could fully take in the accomplishment of what might very well be a huge turning point in his life, she snapped him out of it. He wondered why—there was no sense of urgency in her mechanical voice, no trace of irritation. But he decided not to dwell on it. Not after all she had done for him. Perhaps it is just how it is.