World Walker (Multicross Quest)

[x] Insist on non-lethal methods

Your lessons progress further in the following weeks. You start off by addressing some concerns you've previously had.

"Meta, please teach me some non-lethal ways of subduing people."

Why do you want to do that Alice? Metatron ask back in a vaguely suspicious voice.

"I don't want to be stuck in a situation with only lethal spells," you say in your most reasonable voice, "it reduces my options."

If you want it that way, the device grumbles.

"Why are you so opposed to this?" this attitude was getting annoying.

It stinks of the modern Midchildan approach to magic.

You've gathered that it disliked the world called Midchilda quite a lot. Though not anywhere close to the open hatred it displayed towards anything related to the 'Saint Kings'. Your question appeared to spark a small rant.

It shows no respect to magic, it dulls the edge of everyone who uses it that way, the mindset is horrible. They are all glorified sheriffs and policemen. No warriors or even soldiers among them. If their navy didn't pull so much weight-

You get feeling that your device was being very biased, it could be quite opinionated at times. You'll have to see for yourself and make your own mind. Mama didn't raise you without critical thinking skills.

-the whole thing would collapse quickly. Nothing compared to the Commonwealth in its heyday, never mind the Empire as a whole.

You are going to have to ask for some clarification on these terms someday.

They are going to be useless against real threats and rely on a few heavy hitters. Your father showed that when he handily defeated groups of their mages on several occasions.

Okay… that was good to know. You might have to watch yourself around them. Also was that a contradiction? You thought everyone did that.


[x] Practice Linker Core magic theory

Over the next few days Metatron shows you the theory behind several defensive spells. One group related to binds which it generally approved of. You can just… tie people up with your mind. So much utility there.

Another was undercutting and underpowering the ranged spells Metatron taught you before which resulted in inefficiencies. Usually less projectiles summoned or slower casting times, though occasionally misfires as well.

The last one was a Midchildan shooter spell that didn't have any inefficiencies but made the bracelet sound ill. After that lecture the device asked you to take it under a tap and wash it with cold water due to feeling unclean.

You didn't do it as it would indulge the melodrama or possibly damage the electronics or whatever internals the device had. You now know that Metatron has some philosophical disagreements with Midchildan magic.




You stare in wonder.

A small spike of light appears on your finger. It flies up in the air and seemingly dances to your will before poking a pinhole in the curtain.

Holy shit this is real. It's actually real.

You can actually manifest some linker core magic without a device. You didn't believe Metatron until now.

Another concrete use you learn and physically demonstrate is a spell Metatron calls a barrier shield. You hold your palm out and a shimmering runic triangle manifests in front of you. Apparently it can block most things coming the other way. Metatron tells you to only use it in emergencies and to watch out for the harsh mistress known as momentum.

Both spells can be done more quickly and efficiently with a true device.



Over the course of the last few weeks you sometimes speak to Metatron in Belkan, this usually makes the device more amenable. You find yourself becoming more comfortable with the language.


You also figure out how to mimic the mind speech Metatron does. Or rather it finally gets around to telling you about it. You still prefer talking though. It will be useful if you're in a pinch.



[x] Spend money
-[x] A backpack to keep stuff.
-[x] Food and water rations for several days
-[x] Sleeping bag and tent
-[x] Spare clothing and toiletries.
-[x] Small amounts of precious metals or gems which should have similar value regardless of where we go.

You go out and buy the various products you concluded you would need. You opt for a sturdy outdoor backpack and expensive, high quality versions of the items listed. The bag is heavy by the time you are done from all the food and water, not to mention the tent. It took some effort and some raised eyebrows, but you finally bought some precious gems. You asked various jewellers around the city. The precious metals raised too many questions or would take too long to acquire.

[] World walk to a new world
[] World walk to the primitive mirror world
-[] Have fun shooting wildlife
[] Try to investigate your mother's side of the family.
[] Write-in

[X] Learn lethal magic.

"Alright please teach me lethal magic," You figure at appearing to agree with its pseudo principles will make it happier.

Alice, I am already doing that, your device says in that annoyingly patronising tone. Assume any offensive spells I teach you can be lethal unless stated otherwise.

You feel a little silly. If it was any consolation Metatron did teach you more magic theory.



[X] Learn Belkan CQC.
[X] Learn Belkan melee weapon handling.

"Since your forms appear to be based on hand to hand weapons could you teach me how the Belkans fought up close?"

I can't do that Alice, it delivers in a deadpan note.

Uh oh, that line doesn't sound good. You've seen enough movies to know where this goes.

Since I am lacking most of my functions, I cannot change form or create simulations to teach you.

Phew, false alarm. Continue on with life.

Your enthusiasm is noted however, it continues on in an eerily happy tone. I am devising some scenarios for the future.

For some reason this fills you with dread.

To suffice for now, Metatron tells you of tales of how Belkan knights fought. It's kind of cool from an oral folklore point of view.


"Why didn't you want me getting lessons in sword-fighting, fencing or something?"

I felt it would be a waste of time that could be better spent.

You wonder how many of the things Metatron is telling you based on its opinions and sentiments, and not fact?

[X] World walk to the primitive mirror world
-[X] Have fun shooting wildlife

It's time for your next world walk. Instead of risking the great unknown you're going to a place with absolutely no civilisation.

Okay to be fair there are some hunter gatherers, but you imagine that they would be so spread out that there would be practically no chance of contact.

Unless some weird historical divergence led to a medieval feudal society developing on this continent. Like what happened in North America. How does a feudal European society even end up developing over there? That's what your mother implied in her last letter. Wasn't there supposed to be only Native American tribes? You feel it's got something to do with Vikings.

You think of taking your backpack and supplies but decide against it. It isn't going to be a long trip, you don't want to go on an extended camping trip in the wilderness with limited magic capabilities.

Hunter gatherers wouldn't be interested in gems anyway, not like they wear jewellery.

After spending a couple of minutes dealing with the post jump nausea you head off.

There has to be a way to improve that.

Maybe there is, but you don't have the means right now. So you let off some steam by hitting things with your new magic powers.

You guide the energy needle in various paths, seeing how it interacts with various objects. It seems capable of stripping bark off a tree but dissipates against solid rock. In the end you are able to skewer a leaf at the top of a tree, which is precise enough you suppose.

You move on to living creatures, focusing mainly on birds to try and improve accuracy. Hitting an unpredictable, flying target can be difficult you hear. You are able to have the needle home in pretty far away.

Most of the time the energy needle does not manage to kill the birds unless they hit a vital area, which is good to know. It's like poking them with a real needle.

You feel a little guilty hitting a bird you recognise as endangered, but realise it's not endangered in this world.

All in all you think its a decent ability in an emergency. Focus somewhere soft to distract and then run away. Anyway, your first option should always be talking and diplomacy, with a healthy heaping of stealth.

Apparently ranged Belkan mages could fire hundreds of these needles at a time according to Metatron. Giving the appearance of threat or attempting to engender panic and distraction. It was also a good way to whittle down someone's barrier jacket over time.


This is experimentation is all fun and good, Metatron interrupts impatiently, but perhaps we should focus on exploring new worlds soon. I hope we discover a world with a higher level of technology and get my self repaired. Preferably without being discovered by the TSAB.

"I can't spend all the time working." You get the feeling that it is feeling grumpy from not being able to participate. This was de-stressing experience, it took your mind off the recent experience of becoming an orphan.

That's the whole point of your existence.

"What was that?" You can't tell when it's being facetious or completely honest.

Nothing pertinent, I think you have reached a decent level of ability given your limitations.

You feel warm inside, and it isn't because of the hot weather.

[] Head back
-[] Prepare to walk to a new world
-[] Write-in
[] Stay around and practice some more
-[] Write-in



QN: I apologise about effectively dismissing part of the vote. By the time I noticed most of the votes had been cast, in consolation I assumed the voters meant more magic theory (then you rolled poorly so it only went up by one).