I once again awaken to a perfect morning, but I am very excited to try out my Shaper ability, but before I do that I take a bath in the shallow stream. Dirt doesn’t seem to stick to me and I haven’t been sweating, but the bath feels very refreshing.

  I sit down under my favorite oak and hold the stone in my hand. I close my eyes and focus on the stone. It feels cool and smooth to the touch. I try to channel mana into the stone and change its shape to dagger blade I have in mind. I sense a connection forms and mana starts pouring into the stone as a notification appears.

  Crap. I quickly activate Numbness and feel pins and needles course over my limbs as it takes effect. The dizziness that preludes my passing out recedes and I focus on completing the shaping. The stone in my hand shimmers and flows into the stone dagger I envisioned. The blade appears like the flaked flint blades I saw one time on the Discovery channel. The haft is solid stone with a banded pattern making it easier to grip. I don’t make it fancy so there are no crossguards. I have just enough time to see the dagger firm up into its final shape and the remainder of the stone collapses to dust before I pass out and spikes of pain hammer into my skull.

  I wake up to another pounding headache and several notifications.

  I sit up and pick the dagger off the ground where I dropped it when I passed out. The blade appears sharp. I pick up a leaf and try cutting it. A smile splits my face as the knife slices through it like butter. I focus on my new skills and a panel opens before me.

  Well until I get my endurance up I can only do that once a day. I’ll need Numbness to prevent passing out until completing the Shaping. I can go back to grinding, but before I do I want to try to use Shaping on water. I walk over and kneel by the stream cupping a palm full of water. I close my eyes and try to pour mana into the water and picture a small golf ball shape. Where the stone seemed to drink in the mana, it seems to slide off the water. I try a different approach by picturing the mana pooling in my hand without trying to force it and that seems to be working. It is slower than the stone to start with until I finally get it.

  As I open my eyes I see a small golf ball of water sitting in my hand. I try rolling it around in my hand and it feels rubbery. I pull out the stone dagger and poke it. While the blade meets a little resistant it slides in. As I pull the dagger out the ball appears unharmed. I take the time to looks at the new notification I have.

  Interesting, the cost surprises me at first, since it is so much lower than stone. That must be because the stone shape is permanent, while the water is temporary. Also, water was easier to shape. That was such a success I want to try air next. I take a seat by the stream and try to focus on the light breeze blowing over my hands. I try the same technics I used for stone or water with no success. I try to extend the mana from my hands to grasp the air which has some effect on the air. I can feel it parting around the streamers of mana I am extending. Maybe I need to build a cage to capture the air. I spent nearly an hour before I temporarily create a ball of air. It is springy and hangs suspended in midair. As I push down on it the ball starts to deform until it finally pops. I look at my notifications while I consider what to try next.

  Hmmm, I wonder. I place my hand flat a foot off the ground and try to create a flat square of air about two feet long, one foot wide, and one inch thick. I can feel the springy surface as I push down on it. I tentatively put my foot on the square, which should hold almost 300 pounds. It does hold my weight as I stand on it and bounce a little. It’s not flying, but very useful. Well next up would be fire if I can make some. I haven’t tried creating fire without matches since I was a kid in summer camp, but I remember how. I collect several twigs and dry leaves in a small pile and surround them with stones near the stream, just in case I need some water quick. I use my stone dagger to help carve out a fire plow using two of the branches.

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  It takes about twenty minutes until I figure it out, but I succeed in creating a fire. I put the fire plow in my inventory for the future. Now I carefully put my hands toward the fire. I feel heat, but as I push them close I realize my hands are in the flames, but it doesn’t hurt. I look at my log and see You take 0 points of fire damage spamming by. I laugh aloud, this Starter Glade is awesome. I try my previous technics but continue to fail. I spend an hour on it and decide to take a break. I am starting to get frustrated, which is not helping. I continue grinding for the rest of the day.

  As I lay down to sleep I am swept up in another dream. I wonder if this will happen every night. This time is different as I see a featureless white room take shape around me with a man dressed in a business suit with a matching power tie.

  “Greetings, I am here to offer you a choice.”

  “Who are you?”

  “That is not important, but for this conversation call me Spark. You are here in this dream space, so we can discuss an offer.”

  “Spark as in the guide I named?”

  “Yes, that’s right and thanks for the name while it lasted.” Spark says with a grin.

  “What are you offering?”

  “As a Reborn you would have three dreams sent by the System your first three nights in this world. The first is about your Race, the second is about the Gods, and the third would be more personal. The third and final dream would cover a class that the System decides would best fit your character. However, you can also defer this dream to a later date, which is the choice you now face.”

  “Why would I want to defer the last dream?”

  “Your stats and skills will change over time, which would mean a different class would be the best for you. Also, if you happen to get a legendary piece of equipment a dream could tell you the history and functions of the equipment, which for legendary equipment is usually not obvious.”

  “Is there a chance I will find a legendary piece of equipment?”

  “There is a chance, but it is very slim. I just mention it for completeness.”

  “Will I get to pick when I receive the dream?”

  “You won’t. The System will decide the best time to send you the dream. Also, if you become the worshiper of a God or Goddess they can influence when you get the dream as well.”

  “Well with my current stats and skills I don’t expect a dream would do me much good right now, so I will defer it.”

  “Very well.” The room and Spark both start to fade out and I fall into a dreamless sleep.

  I open my eyes to the morning sun just peeking over the edge of the glade. The dream which I now have confirmation is not just a dream is still vivid like the previous nights. I think I made the right choice, but only time will tell. I guess I can go back to grinding. And so, it went over the next five days. I would start the day by shaping one item and then spend the rest of the day grinding my ritual magic and making different shapes with water and air. I spend one day making another dagger. Then three days making a spear. The first day was the wood shaft, which was 6 feet long. This got me a notification for learning Shape Wood. Then the stone spearhead next day. Finally, I join them together into a spear on the morning of the fifth day. I haven’t received any more XP for creating another dagger, but I get some for the Spear and another very welcome notification.

  Sweet! I look at my Status panel.

  Well my stats are looking a lot better. I finally got Endurance a little higher, but I haven’t noticed a difference with 10% pain reduction. I now have some weapons, should I leave or not? I think I will leave tomorrow. It would probably be smart to keep grinding, but I am already going stir crazy and I would only have another day before I would be forced to leave anyway. Not to mention the splitting headaches are getting to me. I could use a change of pace. There is just one thing I want to try before I leave. With my Ritual Ward reaching Novice the diameter doubles and I now have 100 mana, I should be able to create a 4-foot diameter circle. I am thinking while that’s not big I should be able to curl up inside the circle to get some additional protection when I sleep at night.

  I cast the Ward and after waking up with another splitting headache I inspect the Ward.

  Ok now for the big test, I have collected a pile of sand from the stream and have let it dry on a rock. I dismiss the Ward and then pour the sand in the groove I have cut in the dirt for my circle. I cast the Ward again. I see a new notification when I wake up.

  Interesting, so if I use sand I should be able to make a 5’ circle for 100 mana. I have enough sand to do that, but I will save that for when I leave the glade. I spend the rest of the day casting the ward with all my mana. I gain another level in Mana Manipulation and Ritual Ward for my pain and a point of Endurance.

  Now with the improved ward up I pull back my hand and strike it doing 1 point of damage. I continue doing that until the ward collapses and I get a notification I was hoping for.

  Excellent. I have tried this before but didn’t get anything. I am not sure if I just needed a strong enough ward or if this is cumulative. I sigh as I watch the sun start to set. I almost forgot there is one more thing I want to check. While I was inspecting all the stones to make my weapons there was one that I sensed was different. I pick it up and take it over to a bigger rock and start smacking it as hard as I can. I see a durability appear on the stone of 40 and it drops 3-5 durability per hit. When the durability hits zero, it cracks in half and reveals a geode full of purple crystals. Several notifications greet my eyes.

  Nice, that’s a great way to finish my time here in the glade. I recline back on my leafy bed and for the last time stare up at the night sky and wonder what tomorrow will bring.