Shou, along with the group of newcomers, walked in silence, feeling the weight of each step on the wooden floor.
Most couldn't help but steal glances at their surroundings. They had arrived at what appeared to be a knights' academy, a modest yet imposing building.
"This place... It looks like it's straight out of a fantasy novel," whispered a person, lost in the view.
"You're right... You think it's because, obviously, we're in a fantasy world!" Suddenly, they were rebuked by one of their friends.
The place consisted of three floors, with walls made of a material resembling sandstone, a warm beige tone contrasting with the purple details.
Gradually, the echo of their footsteps resonated against the stone walls.
Some walked carefully, afraid of damaging the fabrics that made up the carpets and furniture, while others observed the imposing suits of armor as if they were about to move.
Someone even tripped over a decorative pedestal and hastily apologized, as if expecting a response.
And so, finally, they arrived at a double door, tall and heavy.
It opened with a creak, revealing a spacious hall that evoked more of a university amphitheater than a conventional classroom. The benches were arranged in tiers, ensuring each attendee had a clear view of the front.
Lady Elisandra guided them firmly.
Her voice resonated with a kind authority, inviting them to take their seats.
The murmurs diminished as people settled in.
Shou scanned his surroundings before sitting down, still evaluating the place.
And when he noticed the movement of the people from this world, he stopped analyzing the location and directed his gaze forward.
A young man crossed the door and positioned himself next to Elisandra. He wore armor similar to his companion's, though adapted for his male figure.
His beige hair, disheveled and somewhat spiky, was kept under control by a black headband that cleared his face. His tired green eyes shone with a mixture of disdain and confidence, and his carefree smile betrayed a relaxed personality.
"Did we turn into a daycare? There are a lot of brats here," he said, scanning the classroom with his gaze, his words tinged with a mocking tone. "My name is Jarou, Knight... In service of this campus."
As he spoke, he unconsciously played with the headband in his hair and casually rested his boot on a platform in the classroom.
"What else was I supposed to say...?" he murmured, clearly forgetting his line.
Thump!
Before he could continue improvising, Elisandra gave him a firm hit on the arm.
"Alright, let's get to the point. The laws here are quite simple: don't kill, don't steal, don't rape, don't enter private property without permission, and... Ah, if you get arrested, don't try to escape?" Jarou scratched his head, muttering to himself. "I don't know. I never read the kingdom's penal code."
The classroom burst into suppressed giggles, but it was the exchange that followed that broke the accumulated tension. Elisandra, with an ironic smile, raised a hand and conjured a blue magic circle that shone intensely.
'W-What is...' Shou felt as if he stopped understanding the world even more.
"You'd better never give a speech again in your life," she said calmly before launching a wind spell that threw Jarou against the stone wall.
Boom!
The impact left a huge hole, but to everyone's surprise, Jarou returned through the main door, unharmed and with a wide smile.
His theatrics drew a general laugh from the group, easing the nerves. Shou didn't laugh, although he understood why the scene was comical for the general audience.
Elisandra took advantage of the more relaxed atmosphere to continue.
"Alright, as the knight said, those are the basic laws. If you want more details, you can ask my assistant, Egredi."
She pointed to a presence that remained almost hidden, but not intentionally.
Unlike Elisandora, this assistant wore a robe that truly looked like a mage's, along with a large book, which she seemed to hug tightly.
She seemed shy, with her short brown hair occasionally falling onto her shoulders, along with her round glasses, which shone reflecting the light whenever she nodded at her boss's words.
"Of course, you can also ask things to any knight... Except for a certain useless one, of course."
"Don't be so hard on me, I made them laugh, doesn't that count as a successful speech?"
"I warn you, I'll start looking for a replacement," Elisandora said with an annoyed expression.
"Always so considerate!" He smiled and brought his face close to Elisandora, knowing she was lying.
The woman blushed slightly, making Jarou's smile widen, but he quickly gave up trying to bother his companion when he saw her start forming magic circles in her hand.
Again, most laughed at such a spectacle worthy of a generic story.
"Ahem!" The woman composed herself.
"Now, changing the subject, I'd like to address something that some of you seem to have noticed. Magic, as you may have deduced from seeing my magic circles, is a common part of life in this world. Not everyone has access to it, but it's common to encounter it in daily life."
A slight nod ran through the room; the expressions of bewilderment and curiosity of some transformed into acceptance.
Shou swallowed.
"Furthermore, all of you possess a unique skill, correct?" Elisandora asked, her tone of voice clear and direct.
Most of those present nodded in unison, some more confidently than others.
"Perfect. That means you have been accepted by the world." Elisandora clasped her hands. "In this land, we are all born with a unique skill. Without exception. Additionally, we are governed by something called the 'System,' which controls the most fundamental aspects of life."
With an elegant movement, Elisandora raised a hand, and immediately a translucent, bright blue window appeared before her.
"This is what we call a status window. With the simple, clear intention of seeing it, you can summon it to check your personal information."
Shou, intrigued, looked around. The others followed the instructions, some clumsily, but it seemed everyone achieved something. Although he couldn't see the others' windows, their concentrated expressions indicated they were observing something important.
Elisandora caught his inquisitive look and, with a slight smile, clarified: "Status windows are private. Only you can see them, unless you decide to show them voluntarily."
Shou nodded slowly and, following her instructions, opened his window. It was easy and natural. As if it had always existed.
Before him, a floating window appeared, radiant and laden with information.
He read its contents carefully, and his expression became a mixture of perplexity and discontent.
[Status]
[Race: Human.
Profession: Student.
Affiliation: None.
Rank Evaluation: D+]
[Statistics]
[STR: D-
DEX: D-
INT: B
END: D-
SPD: D-
CHA: C
POT: B]
[Skills]
[None.]
[Unique Skill: Bi-monthly Passive Roulette. UR]
'D-...? Why do I have a D- in almost everything?'
Although he felt somewhat relieved to see that his POT was acceptable, he couldn't help but worry about the rest.
As he processed his thoughts, Elisandora continued explaining.
"Statistics are graded with an alphabetical ranking system," she said, conjuring with magic a blackboard where letters appeared. "D, C, and B represent common ranks. A and S, the advanced ones. Of course, there are some that are superior, but they are very rare to find, so we won't focus on that."
Shou looked at the blackboard with a pang of frustration, especially noting his D- grade repeated in several categories.
"In total, there are seven statistics that everyone possesses. STR represents physical strength, DEX dexterity, INT learning ability, END endurance, SPD speed, CHA charisma, and finally, POT, which stands for potential."
Elisandora let her words resonate before continuing.
"The POT statistic is crucial. It marks the maximum limit you can aspire to in the other statistics. None can exceed the value of POT."
Shou closed his eyes in resignation, feeling the urge to bang his head against the table, and he wasn't the only one.
Suddenly, a girl raised her hand, drawing everyone's attention.
"Elisandora-sama, I possess another statistic. It appears as MP."
Her voice trembled slightly. Some nodded, confirming they also had that additional statistic.
"The seven statistics I mentioned are common to all, but there are others that only unlock under specific circumstances. The most common of these is MP, which refers to the mana your body can contain."
The explanation seemed to calm the worried.
"Mana, however, only manifests if you possess a unique skill related to magic. There is no other way to obtain it."
Elisandora refocused attention on the blackboard.
"Now, about skills. This section should be empty for you. Skills are acquired through constant practice and are movements or techniques that develop over time. It's rare to find someone with skills in many areas, but with dedication, you can learn what you need."
Shou let out a relieved sigh, feeling that, after all, he wasn't so far behind.
Finally, Elisandora pointed to the last section of the status.
"And finally, your unique skill. I won't talk much about this because its importance is evident. I'll only give you one piece of advice: don't reveal this information lightly. Each person's unique skill is their greatest secret."
Shou looked at his status once more, his eyes fixed on the most enigmatic section:
[Unique Skill: Bi-monthly Passive Roulette. UR]
He admired it for a few seconds, until suddenly a box similar to the one he had seen earlier when selecting his unique skill appeared.
[Passive Skill Roulette]
He pressed the dice-shaped button, making sure Elisandora didn't notice he wasn't paying attention.
Cha-ching!
The roulette began to spin intensely.
Showing a kaleidoscope of colors representing different skill ranks. Shou held his breath as the frenetic movement slowed.
The roulette stopped.
He looked at the skill description.
A text with a gradient between red and blue was suspended before him:
[Passive Skill Rank: ULR]