6 Escalation (1/2)
While the goblin continued to grin at me, eagerly awaiting some food, I activated my ”Create Food” spell. I didn't target any spot in particular, because of an instinct I had that this spell could be used as an untargeted one. The fact that it was listed as a targeted one didn't deter me. I focused on the spell for a few moments and then I willed it outward, unprepared for what came next.
The second I activated my power a new textbox appeared in my mind's eye. This one didn't spring into view with text prewritten. I was able to watch the message that it'd eventually contain be written out, letter by letter. While the textbox was being filled I momentarily wondered if mortals saw as many textboxes as I did.
[What sort of food would you like to create?] The textbox asked me, written in an impressively direct vernacular.
I considered thinking for longer than I did but I knew that it was better for me to move quickly so I almost immediately informed the system that I'd like to create something simple yet delicious: an apple. Another half a second passed and then I felt a sudden and unimpressive weight materialize in one of my hands.
I turned my head to look at the object that had just come into being in my left hand and was not particularly surprised to see an apple sitting squarely in my until just now empty had. I quickly wrapped my fingers around the thing and admired it. It was a golden-skinned apple, one with a healthy sheen that reflected sunlight one that my instincts informed me couldn't exist naturally.
The object in my hand was massive for an apple, and it gave off a warm golden glow. The minute the goblin saw it his eyes went wide. He was still while he processed what he saw, but a second later he lunged for the apple. This took him off the now disabled bear trap, where he had stayed during the last few minutes of interaction he and I had shared even when I had freed him from it.
When he was a few moments away from reaching out and snatching the apple I moved it closer to him and let him begin to scarf down the beautiful fruit I had just created. I heard his little fangs and uneven teeth tear into the apple, as I received an important notification.
[System-created explanation: Influence
”Influence” was a term among deities that meant different things in different contexts. Among the deities of old, when they spoke amongst themselves of ”influence” it almost always referred to the domains and subdomains they had power over and the degree of their power over those domains and subdomains.
”Tiers of influence” was a term that was used by deities to quantify how much control they had over domains and subdomains. Right now you have one ”tier of influence” over the following domains and subdomains:
Domains: Knowledge, Chaos, Nature, Faith, Minds, Dreams, Civilizations, Magic.
Subdomains: Healing, Vermin, Earth, Agriculture, Corruption, Purity.
Once you've completed the tutorial the system has you in you'll unlock all sorts of divine abilities related to these domains and subdomains. You'll also gain powers related to your vice and virtue, and as you gain tiers of influence over the subdomains of corruption and purity you'll be able to add increase the number of vices and virtues under your control.
With regard to how the term ”influence” is used when talking about mortals, it has a similar meaning. ”Influence” when talking about mortals refers to how influenced by the deity the mortal in question can be or is and how in awe of them the mortal is.
You'll learn how to increase your influence over mortals over time and on your own, but we hope that now you're a little less in the dark about the language used by the system. Influence can also drop over time if you do not at least attempt to increase it until a creature begins to worship you at which point that creature becomes an Althonian, a member of your currently undefined faith.]
I read the notification and then was again shocked when it went away. It was followed up by another notification, but thankfully this one was shorter.
[Alert: Troik has begun consuming an apple you created. This means that he has unwittingly opened himself up to your influence and will forever be easier for you to influence.
Troik is a goblin, and of below-average intelligence for a goblin. His unimpressive intelligence renders him more susceptible to actions that nab influence via magic or agricultural activities and attempts to gain influence over him that rely on strength are less impressive to him than they would otherwise be because of his low intelligence and high levels of self-confidence.
The fact that you saved him and are about to heal him are also factors that affect how much influence you have over the tiny goblin and how much influence you can gain over him at this moment.
Influence over Troik: 1%]
I was surprised that giving the creature a single apple made my influence over the thing go up to a whole 1%. I was also excited by that revelation. But I didn't let myself get distracted by that, and I began to heal the little goblin's wounds.
”Hey there, I'm going to heal you now okay?” I asked the goblin, looking the thing in the face. He paused his munching of the apple and looked at me cautiously. But after a few seconds, he nodded at me, giving me permission to use my magic on him. I grinned at the small creature and put my hands together. I then opened them up, with my palms facing him.
I readied my ”Restore Health” spell and smiled at the goblin for a second so that he had time to ready himself. I waited a few moments and then unleashed my spell.
Golden energy began to radiate out of my hand and sailed lazily towards him. When the energy hit him I watched it surround and seep into him.
Before my very eyes, I watched as the creature's eyes went wide and as the bleeding of his leg came to an abrupt end. A second later radiant golden light began to shine onto specific spots on the goblin's skin, and among the spots were the areas where the jaws had pierced into his leg.
”Wow...” The goblin uttered, awe audible in his little voice. I didn't say anything but I agreed with his rather efficient assessment. The golden light on the creature's yellow skin was a beautiful sight.
The light that was shining onto his skin began to heat up, and smoke began to waft off of Troik's flesh. But somehow the creature didn't look to be in pain. There was actually a smile on the beast-like humanoid's face. A delighted, childlike smile.
This bizarre phenomenon lasted for perhaps five seconds, after which the light dissipated into nothingness almost instantly, and the goblin was left staring at his unremarkable, completely healed leg. There wasn't even a scar in the wake of the light's disappearance.
”Troik is healed!” The goblin exclaimed, his accent and word-choice both being simplistic but also mildly charming in their own way. His eyes were glued to his leg, and he quickly began to touch where the jaws had once torn into his lower limb. He didn't wince at all as he tacitly explored the healed appendage and seemed genuinely euphoric after what he had just gone through.
I waited and watched the goblin for a few moments before recasting ”Prognosis” on the goblin. Not much had changed from last time, aside from the fact that he had received an appropriate change to his hitpoints, bringing them up to their maximum, and that his condition wasn't frenzied like it had been before. Instead, it was now changed to ”Fascinated”.
I chuckled and used ”Restore Stamina” on him which resulted in both he and I being able to witness another impressive show of lights but this time the lights were silver instead of gold. They surrounded his entire body, encircling him before slowly entering him and infusing the goblin with energy.
”Yah!” He shouted, the sound one of delight and confusion when the light had surrounded him. When they entered him and restored his stamina points to their maximum number he began to bounce around uncomfortably like he was a child in a candy store.
It took him several minutes to stop jumping around, even when I asked him to stop. When he stopped I finally had a chance to chat with him. And I was determined to use it to get some answers.
________________________________________________
”Troik, how are you feeling?” I asked the diminutive humanoid. We were now sitting down not far from the bear trap. I was curious about it, and I wanted to know Troik's story.
”I... good.” The goblin told me, its yellow and catlike eyes focused on mine. I nodded at the creature, appreciative of its candor and for now operating under the assumption that the thing was being forthright with me.
”That's great!” I told it happily, allowing my joy at having healed the thing to be audible in my voice. This made the goblin smile, and it seemed that this made him have some questions of his own.
”Can... ask too?” It asked, speaking to me in a way that left me uncertain as to what it was asking. I paused for a second before I received a brilliantly timed message from the system.
[Oh goodness, let us explain what's going on. The goblin is speaking to you in the language of humans, and that is not its first language. We're gonna go ahead and unlock a divine power you have courtesy of a wild trait. It's called ”Omniglot” and it grants you the ability to understand, read, write, and speak in any and all languages including the languages of non-humanoids.] The system told me, sounding exasperated at what was going on. This was followed by a brief notification.
[Alert: Omniglot.
Omniglot is an intuitive, passive divine power that makes you omnilingual. Being omnilingual means you can speak any and all languages. For now, you will speak the language of goblins and when you return to Comillas you will speak in the language of humanity. This automated process can be controlled manually if you wish.] The notification read, shortly before blinking out of existence.