"Listen up. I am Master Luwin, your Attributes instructor for today." Master Luwin stood still as he spoke, "You signed up for this class because you needed help with your attribute points. This class will only happen once per semester, so you'd better listen well!"
The class in front consisted of only seven students, and Jonas was included. They all stood in line, and they listened quietly with their hands behind their back.
"Cast your status screens," Master Luwin said, his pointy finger pointed upward, "Focus on the available attribute points you have long enough, and you will have the chance to distribute them accordingly."
The seven students, including Jonas, collectively jerked their heads forward when the screen changed, along with a vibrating sensation.
—
[ Attribute Points: 3 ]
[ Intelligence: 1 ] (+)
[ Strength: 1 ] (+)
[ Constitution: 1 ] (+)
[ Dexterity: 1 ] (+)
—
"Spend them wisely, once you've allocated the points, you can't reset that on your own. So, don't dump all of them in one thing!"
"Master Luwin, how should we know what attributes benefit us?" a random student asked with their hands raised.
The master Mage groaned, went up to the student, and explained the whole thing. But Jonas didn't bother to listen since he already knew how to bring up the tooltip.
While the others are contemplating where to spend their points, a student beside Jonas nudged him on the shoulder.
"Yo, Geisler," the student said, "I heard you and the Komnenos kid went at it."
Jonas looked over and saw the student with olive skin, naturally tired eyes, curly dark hair, and spoke with an accent. Jonas took notice of her wine-red lips.
"Went at it?" Jonas said, "It wasn't a fair fight. He just threw himself at me."
"Relax, you don't have to be so defensive," the student smirked, "I'm Cara."
"Jonas," he said, flustered, "Geisler," he regrettably added.
Cara chuckled, "I know."
"Yeah." Jonas turned red at this point.
"Status check," she abruptly said as her eyes focused on him.
Immediately, Jonas and his status screen appeared in front of Cara to see. It revealed the only things a viewer could see.
"Atomic? What affinity is that?" Cara asked.
Viewing another Mage's status screen is an act of power, an inconsiderate move to display dominance. To some, it's plain harassment, and to cast a status check without consent is equal to being touched.
That is what Jonas felt at that moment, "You shouldn't do that!"
"Why?" Cara stepped in closer, her lips near Jonas, "You can do me, too, if you want."
Flushed, Jonas hopped back to avoid the brash young Mage, "What are you doing!"
Unfortunately, Master Luwin heard Jonas cry out loud and quickly turned to approach. He marched on his way to him with every thunderous stomp heard throughout the open field.
Jonas quickly returned to his position and pointed at Cara, "She was…"
But Cara was not beside him. He found her on the other side of the formation, away from him. She was busy with her points distribution, but Jonas swore she eyed him and smirked.
Master Luwin stopped in front of Jonas, "Geisler, what the hell are you moaning for?"
"But…"
"But what? Get a move on, soldier, and distribute your points so you can be useful to the Empire!"
"Yes, sir." Jonas quietly said, he sighed in defeat, and shot a resentful glance at Cara as Master Luwin walked away from him.
Jonas eyed her down, observing her, and his curiosity was piqued. Not all the time that a young woman of his age interacts with him, in this life or the last. He wondered if Cara was up to something mischievous. Often, Jonas would experience the same in his old life.
Jonas shook his head, "Focus," he said.
Jonas went back to his status screen and initiated the attribute point distribution. The panel presented before him was still, and he resumed pondering where he should place the points.
"Should I keep it balanced? But there are four attributes. Where should I spend it? I'm not sure which attribute I should leave without an upgrade." Jonas said out loud, but quietly enough for others to ignore.
"Put it all in your Constitution," Cara whispered behind him. She appeared all of a sudden.
"Whoa!" Jonas winced, "You again?"
Cara huffed, "Or Intelligence, I think you could use some."
"Why are you bothering me?"
"I don't know," Cara answered, "I'm just so curious about you, Geisler."
"Why is that?"
Cara shrugged as she pouted, "I heard the news, Geisler. The Blood Mage died, a whole town was decimated, and you're the only survivor? Sounds fishy to me. Especially when I didn't know the Lord Hans Geisler had two sons."
"Yeah?" Jonas could feel the cold sweat that dripped down his forehead, "Well, it's a long story. Why do you care?"
Apparently, by now, everyone has heard about Jonas' survival in the sudden destruction of Vechta. The news slowly spread as people grew fearful of a potential attack in the interior provinces of the Empire. Jonas, however, is terrified.
"Tell me, Geisler, what is your Atomic affinity?" Cara leaned in on his face, her lips closer than ever.
Eyes wide open, Jonas hesitated to defend himself. "Status check!" he blurted.
—
[ Mage: Cara Severus ]
[ Specialization: None ]
[ Race: Human ]
[ Affinity: Damnation ]
[ Level: 10 ]
[ Intelligence: 1 ]
[ Strength: 1 ]
[ Constitution: 10 ]
[ Dexterity: 1 ]
—
"Damnation?" Jonas tilted his head. At first, he wasn't able to figure out what her affinity was.
"You're sneaky," Cara smirked and clicked her tongue. She was impressed by the cheekiness, "I like that,"
"I'm sorry," Jonas said, "But you started it first." his mind was still on the fact that she dumped all the points in her Constitution.
Must be her affinity, Jonas thought to himself. He still wondered why, but he did the same thing and dumped all his points on his constitution.
—
[ Attribute Points: 0 ]
[ Intelligence: 1 ]
[ Strength: 1 ]
[ Constitution: 4 ]
[ Dexterity: 1 ]
—
"Did you just put all your points on your Constitution?" Cara scoffed.
"Maybe," Jonas muttered awkwardly.
"Fine. If you don't want to tell, I won't tell." Cara said, "It's for the best. Since we might face each other on the midterm exam. But it's never too late to share stuff with me, just in case we end up on the same team."
"Midterm?"
"Are you serious?" Cara bared her fangs. She couldn't believe that Jonas was this clueless. "The midterm will be a team competition!"
"What?!" Jonas exclaimed loudly. Loud enough for the master in charge to turn and go after him.
Master Luwin marched at a hurried pace and with annoyance. He was breathing raggedly when he arrived in front of Jonas, eyes furrowed.
Jonas didn't realize that the Master was a huge man with humongous muscles. It terrified him to imagine that Master Luwin could crush him with only the master's freakishly large hands.
"Why are you shouting instead of doing what you're supposed to do!?" Master Luwin flexed his chest.
"But Cara was bothering me!" Jonas cried.
The master squinted, "Who is Cara?"
"Cara," Jonas paused, "Severus?"
The other students bend over to check on Jonas. They think he had been causing a scene to get unwarranted attention. But they also thought of the same thing. They collectively whisper: Who is Cara Severus?
"Son," Master Luwin sighed, "Just get out of my class if you're done with your attributes."
As the master walked away, Jonas grew oblivious.
Wait, wait, what… Who's Cara Severus? Jonas whispered to himself as he scratched the back of his head.