Chapter 8

“Do you have any other questions for me before I escort you to the Delver Association to register?” Priest Zeth asked.

“Just a couple,” I replied. “The entity who greeted me mentioned there was a way to hide my titles. Can you show me how to do that?”

Because it wasn’t something I’d needed to learn in the simulation, I had no idea how to go about such a thing. I didn’t so much mind my Ascender status being on display while within an Ascender Dungeon, but I didn’t think having the Contender title visible would be a good idea if I wanted to avoid drawing attention.

Priest Zeth walked me through the process, which turned out to be pretty simple. First, I had to focus on the title as if I wanted to read the description.

[Contender – A title reserved for those rare few Ascenders who are both stronger than average and have performed a service of great value for their deity. The title grants the bearer a five percent improvement in essence absorption. The title also grants the bearer a moderate boon. *Note: The boon for this title has already been exhausted.]

After reading through the description and learning that the essence bonus would apply to any member of my party – a fact I should probably keep to myself until I was sure that I could trust the people that I eventually partnered with – Priest Zeth directed me to focus on the title once again.

[This title is currently visible.
Would you like to hide this title?]

“Yes,” I said aloud while focusing my intent on hiding just the Contender title and leaving the Ascender title visible. A moment later, I asked, “Did it work?”

“Check your status,” Priest Zeth instructed me.

***

Name: Emie Neohim
Titles: Ascender, Contender (hidden)
Level: 7
Evolution: None

Core Skills:
Demesne (Rare)
Stasis (Unique/Common)
Restorative Healing (Rare)
Lightning Bolt (Common)

Skill Slots (8/14):
Divide Space (Unique/Common)
Dimensional Anchor (Uncommon)
Teleportation (Common)
Herbalism (Common)
Repulsion Aura (Common)
Haste (Common)
Telekinesis (Common)
Identify (Common)
***

I didn’t think that reaching level seven in two days was a bad showing, especially for someone delving alone.

“Does time in the dungeon go faster than it does on the outside?” I asked.

Priest Zeth smiled at the question and nodded his head in approval.

“It does, though the effect is minor for the beginner floors. For every week that passes in the outside world, ten days will pass in the dungeon.”

“And a week is seven days,” I said to verify what I remembered from the simulation.

“It is. A week is seven days. A month is four weeks, and a year is 12 months broken into four seasons of three months each.”

It was almost the same as pre-integration Earth, which I found amusing considering the Alliance had used a completely different measure of time.

“So, beginner floors run just under 1.5x dilation,” I stated.

“Yes. It’s closer to 1.4, actually. First evolution floors have an even greater time dilation. It’s about two to one at the start, with two days passing for every day on the outside,” the priest replied. “Was it not the same in the simulation?”

“It was, but some things are worth verifying,” I replied.

After discussing some of the more mundane aspects of my new realm, Priest Zeth escorted me to the part of the facility dedicated to the Delver Association to handle the requisite registration.

The process of registration included an interview in a private room where I could share any of the skills I felt were relevant for potential parties looking for members.

I had to at least share one, but the Association didn’t require the specific skill name to be shared. All that was needed was a general categorization.

I listed myself as a generalist with experience delving alone and with a group. The group part was a stretch, but I had delved with a partner for about half of my life. I’d also worked as a member of a team multiple times, so it wasn’t an outright lie.

I didn’t share all of my skills, but I did admit to having a healing skill since I’d probably end up moonlighting as a Healer part-time.

I also admitted to having an inventory since I needed to explain how I’d already collected so much loot, though I implied that it was a new skill instead of one I’d carried over from my previous realm.

Aside from those, I claimed Lightning Bolt, Teleportation, and Identify to cover offense, mobility, and intelligence. With just the five skills listed, I would likely be a desirable enough teammate, which was the whole reason I’d shared as much as I did.

Because of their divinely granted inspection skills, I had no doubt that members of the clergy would be able to see the rest of my skills; however, I doubted any of the clerks working for the Association were actual members of the clergy.

Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author’s consent. Report any sightings.

Though they were certainly connected, it looked like the temple and the Delver Association still tried to keep to their own roles.

“Just to verify, the healing skill is a core skill, correct?” the interviewing clerk asked.

“It is. So is Lightning Bolt,” I offered.

The clerk nodded happily. “That’s good. If you are interested in earning some additional funds between delves, the medical facility located next to the dungeon portal often apprentices healers to help in the hospital and clinic. They are always looking for people with healing skills, particularly core healing skills.

“The pay isn’t much compared to what you’ll be able to make once you reach the first evolution, but that’s going to be the case with any apprentice position. And before you ask, yes, you are limited to apprentice positions until the first evolution, even if you are an Ascender with thousands of years of experience.”

His expression and tone made it clear that he thought the rule was silly, but neither of us was willing to voice such an opinion, given its source. The last thing I wanted to do was draw the ire of a real and active goddess.

I could understand the higher demand for healers with core healing skills over general healing skills since core skills took a lot less focus to use.

Focus wasn’t really the right term for it, but it was pretty close. Spiritual stamina might be more accurate, but I felt that the term ‘focus’ sounded better.