My first memory is that of being bored.
The life of a seed is easy, there is plenty of food and the soil is quite comfortable. But something about having an idle mind nagged me.
I felt like it was odd that I knew things, but how do I even have a baseline of normalcy without experience. It wasn''t long before I noticed the "link". There is so much information there, and focusing on it there is more than just the one... There are several creatures who I am learning things from without even realising it.
I can also feel strange sensations from them, the emotions feel right, but the way they breath just feels wrong and sight is such an alien experience.
It is not like I know nothing about my surroundings. I can feel the soil with my roots. The dampness, the nutrient availability, and even the slight acidity can be felt by my roots. My stem can feel the breeze, whether the air is clean or dirty, the humidity, and the temperature. It is distinctly different from the way they percieve thier surroundings, even if there are some similarities.
I spen a few days just observing them, feeling the adrenaline when Pythana sprints, Slimerene''s endless hunger, Ratina being enthralled by the power of her magic, Nasby feeling like the sturdy wall that will never fall, and Auxentius enjoying the power but always worrying about dangers he cannot even sense.
I cannot get a clear view of what is going on, just trace images or feelings here and there with the occasional idea or concept being grasped.
I lose track of the time while watching them, but I eventually decide to try something else.
Magic, I already know how it feels to use it by observing them, but as I try to locate my own magic, I feel a familiar interference. Am I really going to be locked out of magic?!
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Analyze</td>
<td>Show known information about an object</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
....Cheeky bastard... Now I see whyAuxentius feels like the menu might be messing with us.
What else am I supposed to do, move my roots around? Wait maybe I should try that....
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Root maneuvering LV1</td>
<td>Allows roots to move in a burst of motion, damage based on STR, duration based in stamina</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
This is nice and all, but I am still not level 1 and have 0 strength so the skill is completely useless to me. I use it anyway and I can feel some change in my roots, but can''t move them at all. I try to focus on just what this changed feeling is as it isn''t quite the same as magic, and try applying the sensation elsewhere.
I end up getting one more skill out of doing this on my stem.
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Harden LV1</td>
<td>Increases defence and lowers mobility of a selected area. Defence increases 10%, mobility decreases 80%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
I also end up getting a notification after a few minutes.
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>You are now LV1! A new world of opportunities awaits you.</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
I pull up my new menu.If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
<div>
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Name</td>
<td>N/A</td>
<td>Race</td>
<td>Angiosperm, hermaphrodite</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Age</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>LV</td>
<td>1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Class</td>
<td>Flowersapling</td>
<td>Rank</td>
<td>0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>HP</td>
<td>10/10</td>
<td>MP</td>
<td>6/6 (+0.01mp/sec)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Strength</td>
<td>2</td>
<td>Intelligence</td>
<td>2</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Dexterity</td>
<td>1</td>
<td>Willpower</td>
<td>2</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Stamina</td>
<td>4</td>
<td>Wisdom</td>
<td>1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Luck</td>
<td>47</td>
<td>Charisma</td>
<td>1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Skills</td>
<td>Harden LV1:Increases defence and lowers mobility of a selected area. Defence increases 10%, mobility decreases 80%</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Titles</td>
<td>Planted by Auxentius: +1 stamina, luck, and willpower</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Race skills</td>
<td>Root maneuvering LV1: Allows roots to move in a burst of motion, damage based on STR, duration based in stamina</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
Now that I think about it, trying to use magic without any MP and less than 10 HP might not have been such a good idea...
But now that I do have MP I try it again.
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Magicperception</td>
<td>Ability to sense the mana of your surroundings</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
Now to learn the other essentials.
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Magic manipulation</td>
<td>Able to alter the shape and properties of mana</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Magic sense</td>
<td>Able to make a field of mana that will detect objects within it, Uses more MP/second the larger the field</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
Finally I can sense the shape of my surroundings, though only in my immediate surroundings for a short while. I only have 6 MP and it doesn''t last long, I use root manipulation next and I can wriggle around a little bit, but not much else.
BIT me, tore out a chunk of one of my 2 leaves and started chewing on it. This was my first direct experience with pain and it hurt like hell. I smashed that beetle with the full force of my roots and crushed it with everything I had.
<div>
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>LV up</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>