Cara met Pandora for breakfast, she was pretty sure Cara knew she was nervous.

  “You’ll be fine,” Cara said.

  “But I’ve only been here for a little over a year, I’m literally just over a year old. Am I ready to be treated as an adult already?” Pandora asked.

  “Pandora, You know you are, where is this self-doubt coming from?” Cara asked.

  Pandora hedged for a moment then let her know why she was worried, “Some time ago, the part of myself that made me much stronger went silent. I could feel its strength flowing through me. Now though, it’s all but gone.”

  “Some magic only lasts for a bit,” Cara said thoughtfully

  “True, I did listen to Master Soleran’s lectures. The problem is it’s not a spell,” Pandora said.

  “Let me see your Personal Info,” Cara asked.

  “How do I do that?”

  “You’ve been here a year and no one asked to look at your abilities and attributes?” Cara asked surprisedly.

  “Not until just now?” she said

  “Okay, if you ever want to view someone’s information you simply pull up your interface, target the person you want the information on and ask them to allow your inquiry like this,” she said as her eyes glazed over for a second and a message prompt filled her vision.

  Cara has asked permission to view your Personal Information, Yes or No?

  Pandora chose “Yes”

  “Creature of and a Symbiote for the same?” Cara whispered. I see why you’re confused. Do you know what the word “Symbiote” means?” Cara asked.

  “I looked it up in the dictionary you gave me, It means something like living in Symbiosis which is another way of saying drawing from each other, I think,” she said

  “That sounds right. What level is the Symbiote as compared to you?”

  “I don’t know. Though I feel that the Symbiote came from the energy that was stripped away from me when I traveled into this reality.”

  “You’ve never mentioned this before,” Cara said.

  “I never got worried about it disappearing before,” Pandora said.

  “Okay, let’s think this through. When you say energy what are you talking about specifically?”

  Pandora thought about the question for a moment before she said, “When I was traveling, I received a warning that said ‘a Chaos Symbiote has formed from your experience and chose you as its host,’” she said.

  “This happened before you arrived here?”

  “Yes.”

  “How much XP are we talking about?” Cara asked. “I mean you were just born.”

  “I don’t know how it happened but before I was born I absorbed some XP from my mother and was level 671 on the day I was born,” she said.

  Cara spit up her drink and started coughing. After she’d cleared her throat she looked at Pandora again thoughtfully, “Are you saying the Symbiote is level 671?”

  Pandora, a little more proficient with her Personal Interface looked into herself and this time she was able to find her level and the level of her Symbiote. Smiling at her success she said, “No, it’s only level 670. I’m still level 1”

  “I know you haven’t even taken your assessment but Pandora, level 670, that’s high. As a comparison. The non-adventures in this city are all level 20 or less. The only place you will find people higher than that is the outskirts. The ones that go into the low-level areas to level and grow.”

  “There have to be higher-level people somewhere?” she asked.

  “There are. The Oracle says that we will know where they are when we are ready to join them.”

  “Why doesn’t she just tell you?” Pandora asked.

  “I can’t say for sure, but if I had to guess I think it’s so others don’t get jealous of the power others are wielding. Also, remember those adventures have either moved into a newer high-level area or they’re off adventuring?”

  “Is there a maximum level an adventurer can get to?”

  “The Oracle says no, but also that there are other paths one can choose when they get to a certain point in their development. By the way, I looked at your attributes. You’re not well-balanced. If I didn’t know better I’d think you were going for a warrior-type class with 5’s in everything except Strength, Endurance, and Constitution which are all at 16.

  “Is that good?”

  “Not really, you’re still only level 1. I would have expected to you to gain some intelligence, wisdom, or willpower from all the studying you’re doing but none of those stats went up either,” That’s when a look of realization came over Cara’s face.

  “What is it?”

  “When your Symbiote is active does it adjust your traits?”

  “I think so yes, though I’ve never looked at them and the only time I’ve been in combat was when I first arrived,” she said.

  “Interesting,” Cara said then smiled, “It would seem that your symbiote may be smarter than you or I have given it credit for

  Not it, she came into her mind as Cara saw the look of surprise on her face.

  “What is it, ‘Not it, she’ was just thrust into her mind from somewhere.

  “I stand corrected, ‘She’,” Cara said making sure to emphasize the pronoun.

  A feeling of contentment washed through Pandora as she felt a presence in her mind withdraw and she was alone once again, “I think she’s withdrawn to wherever she is staying in my mind,” Pandora said.

  “She’s obviously with you,” Cara said. “What I was going to say is that I believe ‘she’ has realized that while she is active your growth is stunted. How can you earn experience for things that your modified intelligence makes so you don’t have to put any effort into it? True, the task is complete, the lesson learned but you made no effort to do so.”

  “Is effort important?”

  “The Oracle says that effort and personal sacrifice are what define each of us. To grow we must put in the effort and sacrifice our time. This explains why your attributes haven’t increased and your level hasn’t risen since arrival. It also explains why you’ve aced all your classes. Iexpect your symbiote has withdrawn to let you struggle with things and learn for yourself.”

  A sense of agreement washed out from somewhere inside Pandora. “It would seem you’re correct, she’s giving me the feeling that she agrees with you.”

  “You will need to figure out where her assistance stops and when she will decide to step in. Also, you probably need to figure out how to communicate with her and if she has a name.”

  “All good points but it looks like I’m about out of time with you this morning. It’s time to get to that assessment.”

  Cara stood taking her glass over to the wash bin and putting it in as she did the same. “Just remember, this is your first assessment. Whatever you learn today is subject to change. I’ve known people to go through multiple assessments before they decide to become an adventurer or stay here in the city. There are plenty of things to do here.”

  “Is that why you’re a healer?”

  “I am a healer because it suits me now. I may become an adventurer eventually but I wanted to be able to heal others and be useful to whatever adventuring team I might become part of.”

  “I may do the same,” she said smiling. “And thank you for the talk, I learned that my personal friend,” she said as her voice entered her head again.

  Friend, yes

  I’m sure Cara noted the slight pause but she didn’t say anything as Pandora continued, “is intelligent. Hopefully, after today I’ll be able to sit down and talk with her.”

  “I doubt that you’ll become anything but an Adventurer. As for your friend, If I’m right remember that the more you two work together the more likely it is that you won’t grow from whatever you’re doing. As an example, you might not get any experience for killing a monster that is deemed to low level for you.”

  “I’ll remember. Damn, now I have to hurry, by Cara!” Pandora said as she rushed to the teleportation room that would take her to the Assessment area.

  “By Pandora, and her friend, Good Luck!” Cara called to Pandora as she rushed down the corridor.

  Pandora made it to the teleportation room and touched the crystal on the wristband she’d been given for this purpose. Immediately she found herself in another area. Five other people were standing in front of the Dwarf that was facing them. The dwarf looked at Pandora and then looked beside the person on her right. Pandora rushed over and stepped into line.

  “Now that everyone is here, with very little time to spare I might say, I am here to administer your assessment. I am Bastor Minegranite, Master Smith, and a seasoned adventurer. You all can refer to me as either Master or Master Minegranite,” he said as if waiting for something. “A question is usually answered with “Yes Master Minegranite”

  “Yes, Master Minegranite,” all six of us said in a slightly garbled cacophony.

  “Was that an attempt at an answer?”

  “Yes Master Minegranite,” the six of them said in unison.

  “Better! Let’s make sure we remember the 2nd way you did that because the first attempt was PATHETIC!”

  “Yes Master Minegranite!” they all said louder and in unison.

  “Much Better!” Master Minegranite said. “So you all arrived here this morning to take an assessment but no one told you what was going to happen here did they?”

  “No Master Minegranite!”

  “And that is exactly why I am here. Here’s what’s going to happen. We are going to go into the building over there,” he said pointing to a little building off to the side, “Each of you is going to pick a weapon you can use, then some armor, and then the six of you are going to go that way,” he said pointing off into the distance

  “But that’s outside the city,” the only other female in the group said.

  “That it is. Any of you can choose to step back from this assessment right now if you do not think you are ready and attempt it at another time,” Master Minegranite said.”

  No one moved

  “Okay then, everyone into the building. Choose a weapon and armor that call to you,” he said as he lead them into the building and a room filled with racked weapons of every kind. Swords, hammers, polearms, bows, crossbows as well as the arrow and bolts needed to use them.

  This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

  A tall human male moved to the weapon rack and picked up a long sword and shield. Then went over to the armor tables and donned a set of chain mail armor which he wore over the leathers he’d been wearing.

  “Good choice Callum,” Master Minegranite called. Looks like you want to go the warrior route of some kind.

  “Yes Master Minegranite,” Callum called. My dad is a baker now but he was an adventurer,” he called proudly

  “I know that, go wait outside the door while the rest of them get ready.”

  “Yes Master Minegranite!” Callum said.

  The other female, a wood elf if Pandora wasn’t mistaken, went over to the bow rack and chose a long bow and a quiver but didn’t choose any armor as she started walking toward the door.

  “Asling, not going to choose any armor,” Master Minegranite called.

  “I’m wearing armor Master, it’s under my clothes,” she said

  “Let me see,” he said walking over and inspecting a sleeve of thin metal that came out from under her blouse, “I see, very well you’re ready, get out there and wait with Callum.”

  “Yes Master Minegranite!” she said and walked out.

  A young male dark elf walked over and picked up a staff and put on some robes then headed towards the door.

  “Good choice Robert, your mom let me know that you can cast spells and have been practicing, do you know how to use that staff?”

  “Yes Master Minegranite, My father is a Monk and knows how to use a staff.”

  “That he does lad, that he does, off with you then.”

  “What about you Cedric,” Master Minegranite asked the only halfling.

  “As you know Sir, I’m more for stealth and backstabbing. I have my daggers and personal armor, I just wanted to see what was in this building.”

  “I’m sure you did Cedrik. If you’re ready please go outside and wait with the others.”

  The last man in the room went over to the wall and picked up a small hammer, and shield, and also donned some chain armor. That’s not what caught her attention. He just looked inviting. Inviting? What the hell was she thinking about a man looking inviting? That wasn’t it, she tried to feel with her senses and realized that a part of her was reacting to something in him

  He is a creature of order. Touched by the Divine. While not harmful to you or me, normally those of Chaos and Order do not mix well. Of course, we are a rare case, aren’t we?

  “Thank you,” she thought back to her symbiote who only remained silent.

  “That’s a good choice Pythias. Do you plan to follow in the footsteps of your mother and become a Paladin?”

  “I fear not Master Minegranite. I was never one for using a blade. I will instead follow the path of the Divine and work to become a Cleric. Helping those in need seems to be a calling I can get behind, though healing monsters is a step too far for me. I am working to become an Adventuring Cleric”

  “Good choice lad, good choice! Go ahead and wait with the others,” Master Minegranite said.

  Pandora looked around the room and nothing in the open called to her.

  “Pandora, is it? And what will you be? The others have filled the primary roles so you don’t have to pick a role that is missing.”

  “I don’t know Master Minegranite”

  “Close your eyes, open yourself to this room, and see if anything calls to you?”

  Closing her eyes, she felt her symbiote become one with her and heard her voice.

  First, the name I have chosen for myself is Capsa, you will understand the reference someday. Second, for this one part of your assessment, I am joining you so that you may have a better chance to work towards your destiny without false starts. When you have found your Item and Armor, I will withdraw.

  “Thank you Capsa, Though I wish we could find a way to grow together,” she thought to Caspa as she closed her eyes and centered. Now that she was focusing on the process she realized that everything she’d been learning was being redirected as bonuses for Capsa. She was growing as she was. Caspa had skills that she didn’t and was much higher level. Pandora now understood why she hadn’t seen much in the way of skill progression. She might be learning the lessons and information but the credit this dungeon world gave out as skill experience and general experience was being directed to her which it recognized as another entity. Pandora was still able to use Caspa’s skills which didn’t need to be leveled by Pandora.

  Exactly, I must withdraw and you must learn for yourself. I am still with and part of you and I will be watching but I can no longer be part of you or you will never grow. Your stagnation will lead to our death and I, now that I exist, do not wish to die. If you have a need I am a moment away but I must restrain myself from helping you as much as possible.

  “I understand, and thank you again,” Pandora thought as she closed her eyes and reached out with her senses to find her best path forward. Almost immediately an empty spot on the floor called to her. She stepped over to it and looked down as patterns lit her vision and she started to glow slightly. Immediately, she understood that she stood on a plane of force that was modified to look like just another part of the floor. Her energy modified her magical signature and she passed through the floor as she gently floated down into the floor. Just as her head passed below the floor she saw Master Minegranite rushing toward her.

  “Pandora…” he started to say as her ears dipped below the force barrier. she floated down fifty feet beside a ladder into a room filled with hundreds of weapons that glowed brightly. Pandora looked around as she landed on the floor then followed the feeling she had toward a wall with swords hanging on it. As she looked at the swords she realized that what her feelings were leading her toward was behind the swords. She looked at the wall and found a hidden panel which she pushed gently. The wall split and opened to s small room with a pedestal that reach up out of the floor holding a Golden Orb.

  she reached out and touched the Orb and was immediately somewhere else. Her hand rested on a similar orb. As she looked passed it she realized she was on a rock shelf far above the valleys below. Caspa’s energy surrounded her preventing her from being harmed or feeling the cold as she looked down.

  “Daughter of Chaos, why do you petition me this day?” A loud voice asked from behind her.

  Pandora felt that the truth was the only way forward here and turned to find only a rock face in front of her, “Greetings Dungeon?” she asked then continued when no response came,” I am Pandora undergoing my first Assessment.”

  “I know who you are.”

  “As I was asked to choose my weapon and armor my symbiote led me to the hidden room in the Assessment Hall.”

  “Why do you think Chaos has led you to me?”

  “Caspa, my symbiote, believes that I cannot grow without her drawing away from me. Master Soleran once told me that you cannot learn by discarding that which is part of yourself. I believe Chaos has led me to you to explain my situation and ask if there is something that you can do that will allow me to grow without cutting off that part of myself.”

  “Do you embrace Caspa as your equal?”

  “We have only spoken to each other this day for the first time but yes, I embrace her as part of myself and equal to me.”

  “So be it Daughter of Chaos. I felt when you first entered this reality and did not know what your arrival could mean. I have now analyzed you and see that you are but a newling, as they call the young in The City. I have also watched you for this past year and wondered why you weren’t improving. I can restore your balance. Will you accept my Gift?”

  Yes

  “Yes,” Pandora said mirroring Caspa’s response.

  “I must ask you twice more, Will you accept my Gift?”

  “

  Yes,” Pandora said with conviction.

  “I must ask you this last and third time, “Will you accept my Gift, no matter the consequences to Caspa or You?”

  “Yes,” Pandora said as Caspa affirmed that response in her mind.

  “Thrice heard and witnessed” Master Minegranite declared behind her.

  “Pandora and Caspa, as a single entity within me I award you your first Adventurer’s Mark and its first evolution. The first evolution has been modified to suit your specific circumstance.”

  Pandora felt a burning sensation, that did not hurt, on her right forearm. When she raised her arm to look at it she found a glowing mark superimposed over her dragon tattoos. A circle with a pyramid in the center. As she watched the sensation of burning intensified, though she found it bearable, and multi-colored flames that were as colorful as the energy Caspa surrounded her in spread out from the circle as the word “Capsa” appeared outside the circle inside the flames. As soon as the burning sensation ceased a message prompt appeared in her vision.

  Congratulations! You have received the Adventure’s Mark. All Experience received inside a Dungeon or the Labyrinth is increased by 10%

  Congratulations, Your Adventurer’s Mark has evolved. This evolution alters how experience is earned and distributed. All Skill and General Experience earned in the Dungeon or Labyrinth are now distributed equally between Pandor and Caspa.

  “Balance has been restored. It may take twice as long for your to level as others but your advantages from the outset will offset the slow progression. If I might offer an observation. Embrace that which makes you different from others. The uniqueness of your abilities will be your greatest strength. Now go, I believe you have weapons and armor to choose still.”

  “Thank you for your gift and time Dungeon,” Pandora said as she bowed slightly then turned and touched the Golden Orb. Pandora appeared back in the underground weapons bunker and the Mark on her arm flared and then disappeared as her tattoos had. Moments later Master Minegranite appeared behind her.

  “Well, that’s never happened before,” the burly dwarf said with a wry grin. “Since you made it down here, by the rules governing Assessments you may take any item or item set from this building, which does include this room. One weapon and one Armor set or other type of worn item. I’m going to head back upstairs and will wait for you there.”

  “Yes Master Minegranite,” she said. As he started climbing the ladder she reached out with her senses until like called to like and she was drawn to a shelf with a closed box on it. Nothing else in the room seemed to call to her so picked up and opened the box. As she opened it she found 21 marbles of varying colors.

  Congratulations! You have found a complete set of Chaos Orbs. Sometimes referred to as Wizard Orbs, this complete set consists of one small 2-inch sphere for every sphere of magic that exists. Master wizards have tried for centuries to bond with as many orbs as possible. It is rumored that anyone that can bond with all 21 orbs can perform feats of magic as yet undetermined. Any orb that is bound will orbit around the owner and perform as instructed. Orbs serve both offensive and defensive purposes and may be commanded to remain invisible when not in use.

  Do you wish to claim the Orbs of Chaos?

  “Capsa?” she asked

  Yes, I believe these will work very well.

  Pandora chose “Yes” and was surprised when all 21 orbs jumped into the air and started orbiting her as prompts scrolled down her vision.

  You have bonded with the Orb of Chaos

  You have bonded with the Orb of Order

  You have bonded with the Orb of Space

  You have bonded with the Orb of Time

  You have bonded with the Orb of Gravity

  You have bonded with the Orb of Air

  You have bonded with the Orb of Life

  You have bonded with the Orb of Water

  You have bonded with the Orb of Darkness

  You have bonded with the Orb of Earth

  You have bonded with the Orb of Death

  You have bonded with the Orb of Fire

  You have bonded with the Orb of Light

  You have bonded with the Orb of Putrescent

  You have bonded with the Anti-Orb

  You have bonded with the Proper Orb

  You have bonded with the Absolute Orb

  You have bonded with the Mental Orb

  You have bonded with the Spirit Orb

  You have bonded with the Orb of the Soul

  You have bonded with the Divine Orb.

  Pandora quickly read over each description. All the descriptions were pretty much identical. Each orb could block one incoming attack of the type opposed to it provided she was aware of the attack. Each orb could be used to perform an attack of the energy type of the orb for 4 points of damage of that type, which doubled against creatures susceptible to that type of energy. Additionally, as her skill with the items improved new abilities would open up at various levels.

  Pandora looked around the room again and immediately noticed a pair of wristbands. She went over and picked them up.

  Congratulations! You have found Wristbands of Holding. This item can hold up to five cubic feet. Items larger than five feet cannot fit inside this item. Also, it cannot hold more than 500 pounds worth of equipment.

  Perfect, something to attack and defend as well as something to hold things. With her two items picked she climbed up the ladder to find Master Minegranite watching as she came out of the hole with the orbs floating around her head.

  “Don’t those orbs block your vision?” Master Minegranite asked.

  “I’d forgotten they were there Master Minegranite,” she said as she willed the orbs to go invisible.

  “Where’d they go?” he asked.

  “They’re still there, I just made them invisible,” she said.

  “I see. Wait, how many of the orbs did you bond with?”

  “Twenty-one,” she said

  “All twenty-one, well I’ll be,” he said thoughtfully. A moment later he barked, “Well stop lollygagging, the other five are waiting on you.”

  “Yes Master Minegranite,” she said as she hurried from the weapons room and went outside to join the others.

  Master Minegranite followed her out then looked at all six of them, taking their measure, “All right, your Assessment begins now. As a party, you are to head East until you find a tower with a Red Flag flying on top of it. The trip should take you about two days out and two days back. Over there,” he said pointing to a small cart about 100 feet away is a backpack for each of you and two canteens with water in them. There are 10 extra canteens as well so you can carry more water but it will weigh you down. About a mile east of here is the outer limits of the city. You have until then to talk as you like and get to know one another. After that, I strongly suggest you pay attention to your surroundings. Any questions? I thought not,” He said not giving anyone time to answer, “now get on your way.”

  You have been offered the Quest: Risk Assessment

  You must travel to the Tower East of the City Midor with a Red Flag flying over it and return.

  Success: Pass Assessment, Class Choice, and 100 experience

  Failure: Nothing and a loss of reputation with all members of The City that know you failed the Assessment

  Do you Accept, Yes or No?

  Pandora chose “Yes”