Me, My Spirit, And I [Book 1 Complete]

The Assessment room was identical to the room where they had once acquired their Path. There was a medbay-like science fiction style bed with an attached podium and chair for the Keeper.

"Hello Lucanarius; as you know, I am High Keeper Roejengo and I will be performing your Assessment for the Academy. Please remember that as a Keeper it is my job to keep all of your information confidential." Roejengo gave Lusha an encouraging smile. "However, I can release certain information to the Academy with your permission." He then sat down in the chair by the Assessment bed. "That being said, do you have any questions before we begin?"

"What is the process of being Assessed, and why is it being done?" Lusha was both curious and somewhat reluctant to undergo any tests that might reveal more than they were comfortable with.

"As you know, your Guide gives you access to a tremendous amount of information and insight into your personal development along the Five Fold Path of Ascension. What it doesn't show, automatically at least, is your potential as a Cultivator." Roejengo said while tapping commands into the System console.

"People have different potential? What does that mean?"

"It isn't talked about much, as it is a bit of a widespread cultural taboo, but some people are better at Cultivating in general, and Cultivating certain Stats specifically." Roejengo sighed. "Most people remain ignorant of their potential unless they undergo Assessment, and it is one of the optional services provided by the System."

"But is it mandated by the Academy?" Lusha didn't like being forced to do things, but that was the reason they were at the Academy. As a nobleborn, they were required to attend by Gloddus law and international treaties.

"Yes, but you are not required to give the Academy access to your Assessment results. However, I highly recommend that you do. It really helps tailor your educational experience. Shore up weaknesses and focus on strengths etc." Roejengo sighed. "Please lay down on the bed and we will get started."

"You didn't mention the process?"

"Oh, I do it so often I don't even think about it. You lay on the bed, the System scans you more deeply than the Guide can, and then displays the result in Systemic for me to translate to those being Assessed." Roejengo waved a hand dismissively.

Lusha sighed in reluctance, but decided to get this over with and laid down on the bed.

"The scan will begin shortly, please just relax. It will only take a few minutes at most," Roejengo instructed.

Lusha lay looking up at the runework on the ceiling. The entire Shrine had System runework inscribed in various locations; very few areas were free of the inscriptions. Systemic was one of the more poorly understood magical languages. If Jeanna was to be believed, only Keepers knew it and Lusha, of course. It was a very complex and technical language that was particularly difficult to parse. It was less like a natural language and more like code, but had aspects of both. They imagined it was the heavy emphasis on math in the language that prevented others from decoding it.

"I am beginning the scan now," Reojengo said in a professional tone.

At first, Lusha didn't feel anything, but then there was an itching and tingling along their skin. "Uhmm, sir, er High Keeper Roejengo is it supposed to itch and tingle?" Lusha asked in clear discomfort.

"What? Of course not! Most people can't even feel anything happening at all. Your Essence sensitivity would have to be exceptional for it to…" Roejengo trailed off as Lusha groaned in discomfort. "Do you have Skills already? Or any Traits related to sensing Essence?" Concern was clear in Roejengo's voice.

"Yes, Essence Perception as part of a Trait and Skill," Lusha said through gritted teeth. The discomfort was becoming pain, and they couldn't help but arch their back as the scan continued.

Roejengo cursed and began frantically tapping at the console.

Lusha could feel the moment something shifted. Roejengo must have done something, because the unpleasant sensations, pain, and discomfort all lessened to a noticeable degree. They let out a gasp of relief as things became more bearable.

"I am truly sorry Lucanarious. I would have adjusted the scan had I known you were so sensitive to Essence." Reojengo sounded genuinely contrite. "Another reason Assessments are rare is because the more sensitive to Essence you are, the more uncomfortable it is. Your reaction is one of the strongest I have ever seen, though."

"Is it done, at least?" Lusha said hopefully while squirming on the bed.

"Sadly no; I reduced the intensity, and that will result in the scan taking longer." Roejengo was fiddling with his console as he spoke. "I am not sure how long things will take. I have never had it down this low."

Lusha gave a long suffering sigh and did their best to meditate while the scan continued. If nothing else, it would be good practice.

—

It had taken over an hour for the Assessment to complete. It normally took minutes, and went all but unnoticed by most.

"I have good news. The scan is finally over," Roejengo said tenatively.

"No one says that when there isn't bad news," Lusha said tiredly.

Roejengo chuckled. "It isn't bad news, just weird." Roejengo was looking at their console screen with a puzzled look on their face.

Lusha sat up and turned to the High Keeper. "What does it say?"

"There are notes from System Administrators that specify that I cannot open the results without you being present to read them with me?" Roejengo looked up at Lusha. "I don't know how that is possible. The results are in Systemic. So unless you know how to read Systemic…" Roejengo trailed off at the look Lusha gave them.

"I do, in fact, know how to read Systemic." Lusha didn't give further information, but instead walked over to examine the console with Roejengo. "Can you open the results now?" They asked while reading the Administrator message for themselves.

Roejengo tapped at the console when the results of Lusha's scan started populating the screen. He openly gawked at Lusha's information.

"Multiple Traits, multiple Trait Skills, Guide Skills, two Divine Blessings…you are already Rank 5!" Roejengo shook his head. "Wait, why are there three entries for one person…you have three distinct personalities, multiple forms…" He went silent as he continued to read and parse the information on the console.

Most of the information wasn't new to Lusha. They had seen it in their own Status or heard it referenced in some way during their various encounters, but there was new information and that was what they chose to focus on.

"High Keeper Roejengo, I hesitate to say this, but shouldn't we hurry? My Assesment has already taken far longer than anyone else's."

Roejengo blinked before nodding solemnly. "You are correct. I apologize for my unprofessional level of curiosity." He looked at the console again. "Your Cultivation Potential

is Very High, which is the highest possible. Your Essence Sensitivity is also Very High, Essence Channeling is just High, as if that isn't exceptional in itself, Essence Control is High, and your Essence Pool multiplier is also Very High."

"Essence Pool multiplier?" Lusha asked.

"There are five ranks to most things in the System. Potential is described as: Very Low, Low, Moderate, High, and Very High. Each one has a multiplier that is applied to your Essence Pool. The range is 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 times your base Rank," Roejengo explained patiently.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

"Are you saying there are people out there whose Essence Pools are 1/5th of mine for a comparable level?" Lusha asked incredulously.

"Absolutely; most people have Low potential in most categories, with only a few at Very Low or Moderate. High and Very High are exceedingly rare." He looked at the screen. "In fact, I don't think I have ever seen anyone with this kind of potential, but as you said we must hurry." Roejengo rubbed a hand through his hair before continuing. "So your Stat Potentials are High, Moderate, High, Moderate, and Very High for the Physical, Social, Mental, Spiritual, and Magical Stats respectively." With a gesture at the console Roejengo pointed at Lusha. "You know, most people have at least one Low Potential. Again, I have never seen anyone with Potentials like this."

Lusha was confused. If their Stat Potentials varied, then why were the multipliers 5X on their Sub-Cores on their Status?

"On my Status, my Sub-Cores or Stat-Cores all have multipliers of 5 rather than what should be 8, 6, 8, 6, and 10 if I understand the ranking system properly."

"Ah, that is a common misconception, but does show you have studied your Status. Sub-Cores have half the Potential of your Personal Essence Core i.e. the Essence Pool multiplier is half of 10 or 5." Roejengo explained.

"I can see how that makes sense in a roundabout way," Lusha said while shrugging. "So is there anything else that I need to know from this Assessment, and more importantly, do I have to share this information with the Academy?"

Roejengo looked conflicted. "As I said before the Assessment, you are not required to share this information, but not doing so will limit your opportunities at the Academy." He reached for a clipboard with an information sheet on it. "The information sheet I fill out will only list your Potentials. The rest of your Status is kept private. I would recommend that you take this to the Headmaster and ask that he not share it with others." Saying that, Roejengo quickly wrote Lusha's Potentials out and signed the paper both physically and magically in a way that would be very difficult to counterfeit.

It wasn't clear to Lusha if it was a good or bad idea to share their Assessment results with the Headmaster, but it was something they would have to give some thought to.

"Thank you for your knowledge, High Keeper Roejengo. I will consider your advice."

Roejengo stood and nodded at Lusha. "Your potential is beyond exceptional. You will go far in life. Especially if you take every opportunity you can to learn and grow. I look forward to hearing about your Ascension in a few centuries."

Back in the waiting area, everyone stared at Lusha. Their Assessment had taken several times longer than anyone else's. Speculation as to why was already flowing through people's minds. Lusha tried to appear aloof and unconcerned as they returned to their waiting companions. Westlin looked concerned, while Mina appeared unflappable. Poor Jeanna's face was alight with curiosity, but Lusha shook their head before heading for the exit.

Once they had left the Shrine, Lusha started walking back towards their dorm without saying anything. Unsurprisingly, it was the bubbly Jeanna that broke the silence.

"What was that? Why did your Assessment take so long? Why was the High Keeper looking at you so strangely?" The young girl barely seemed to breathe as she let out her list of questions.

Lusha grimaced while deciding how to respond. "I am very sensitive to Essence. That sensitivity made the Assessment process very unpleasant." They shrugged. "The High Keeper had to adjust it, which made it take longer." Honesty seemed to be the best policy at least about this.

Jeanna looked confused. "Unpleasant? I barely felt a thing? What was it like?"

With another grimace, Lusha described the tingling, itching, and pain as best they could. Westlin and Jeanna both gave them sympathetic winces.

"That sounds awful!" Jeanna shook her head. "What were your results?"

The group all scrambled as Lusha came to a stop. "I'd rather not say. My Potentials are all good, but I do not want to go into detail." Westlin, Lusha, and Mina all shared knowing looks before they all started walking again.

—

In Headmaster Finastras' office Lusha sat facing the man in question.

"I must confess I didn't expect you to request another meeting quite so soon Mr. Aseraelis, but it did seem important, and I am nothing if not curious."

Nodding politely, Lusha decided to just be blunt. "It is about my Assessment results. They are unusual and I would like to keep them private, but I was advised that I should at least share them with you." Lusha nervously ran a hand through their wavy hair. "I decided that I agreed with that advice, but I am still reluctant. Can we sign a confidentiality Contract?"

Finastras raised their eyebrows in surprise. A student asking for a Contract was an odd event; not unheard of, but very odd. "You and your bond are already under confidentiality and privacy Contracts as a student and employee. Is an additional Contract truly necessary?"

"I believe so, yes, or I wouldn't have asked." For a brief moment Lusha let their full personality show. The one where their eyes aged and their face took on a look that was out of place on a young teen. Even the Ambient Essence responded, adding a hint of gravitas that no teen should have.

When Finastra looked at Lusha in that moment, it wasn't a teen staring back at him, but something else. Something with an otherworldly and old air to it that couldn't fully be put into words. "Very well, I will agree to strict confidentiality in regards to your Assessment results and any other related information you choose to share."

It took them a few minutes to work out the exact details of the Contract, but they both felt it when the System recognized and formalized the agreement. Contracts were never comfortable.

"Thank you, Headmaster Finastras," Lusha said as they pulled their Assessment results from their Inventory and floated it over to the Headmaster.

"I must say, your skill with psychokinetic manipulation is quite pronounced. I know plenty of adults that can't do that so easily," Finastra said as he grabbed the paper from the air and started reading. After studying the sheet with a blank expression for several minutes, he finally looked up at Lusha. "What the hell are you?"

Lusha couldn't help themselves, and started laughing. "I literally can't explain that to you fully due to a geas, but I can tell you I am of mixed blood. Part Wyld Elf, part Wylderfolk, and part something more exotic. I have three names I go by: Luca my physical self, Shada my spiritual self, and finally Lusha, my gestalt self." Adding a bit of reverb and three part harmony to their voice Lusha said, "Nice to formally meet you."

Headmaster Finastra just looked at Lusha in consternation. "If I didn't have the ability to tell the truth from fiction I would call you a liar and kick you out of the Academy for pulling a prank." Finastra sighed and stretched their back while looking up at the ceiling in thought. "Your Assessment results are beyond exceptional; they are virtually unprecedented. I can see why you wanted a Contract, but I am at a loss as to what to do with all of this information." He looked at Lusha questionally. "Is there anything else I need to know?"

"Need to know? No, I don't think so, but I likely should tell you I may have to take leaves of absences at anytime due to Divine Quests, the needs of the Shadow Company, and of course my new barony," with an apologetic look, Lusha continued, "I honestly forgot to mention that during our first meeting."

"Divine Quests?" Finastra asked with a single arched eyebrow.

With a grimace Lusha nodded. "I am Contracted to the Goddess Sierra. I will be required to do missions for Her on an as needed basis."

"But you have indicated no interest in the Priestly or Paladin Paths. From our two conversations, I gathered that you would end up in the Tower of Mages." Confusion was clear on Finastra's face.

"Actually, that brings up another important fact." Lusha leaned forward. "I can't access Paths, Classes, Professions, or even General Skills. With the exception of some Guide and Trait Skills, I am otherwise locked out of the normal methods of System progression."

"How did something like that happen? Are you cursed?" Finastra asked in concern.

Lusha lifted their hand and tilted it left and right. "Not exactly, like my geas, third bloodline, and other things, I can't talk about that further." With real effort Lusha did their best to find some way to explain. Pain blossomed on their face as they fought against the constraints of the geas, but they finally found something they could say or rather ask. "It is nice that the System is working again, right?"

Finastra sat up straight. "Are you implying that you had something to do with the System being fixed, and that your reward was to be locked out of certain functions?"

Lusha gave the barest hint of a nod and winced in pain for their efforts, but it was enough for the Headmaster to confirm the truth of his speculations. Headmaster Finastra was now tapping his finger lightly on his desk as he processed everything. "First things first, you have too many secrets; living in the dorms is just not a good idea. I will assign you one of the small faculty cottages that some Professors that prefer solitude use." He started making notes on paper as he talked. "You will have to take four classes as Luca or Lusha, while teaching four as Shada. I will assign an extra teaching assistant to Shada to cover things when you are absent. I will personally proctor your exams." Nodding to himself. "Yes, I will make my final decisions on your roles here at the Academy after the exams, but you will likely be taking the System Introduction Class along with all first years."

Lusha simply nodded along. They hadn't really unpacked their luggage in the dorm so moving wouldn't be hard; having more privacy would be nice. Introductory classes were never fun, though.

"As you are part Wylderfolk and have exceptional abilities, I assume you also have the Vital Attunement?" At Lusha's nod the Headmaster continued. "Then you can do your community service hours with the Healers. I apologize for how busy your days are going to be, but there are technically two of you."

Lusha smiled. "I like staying busy and I don't need much sleep. Shada needs none at all. So my body can literally nap in his classes."

"Good, good, I can see how that would be helpful. Still very odd Mr. Aseraelis, but helpful. Since I will proctor your exams, come back here first thing in the morning for the written exams. Depending on how fast you complete those, we will quickly move on to practical exams."

They discussed a few more details before Lusha took the living arrangement changes to the secretary and set out to make the move.