After reading through all the options the choice became simple to me. The first one is very much something Toth a few years ago would love, and could help me get some semblance of self again. The second would let me lean into some of the more intrusive thoughts I’ve had recently…


    it''s been a long few years, give me a break. The third is basic and doesn''t tie me into any paths but has much less benefit.


    Obviously I’m not choosing the third. And I’m sure that the the 2nd could lead to some cool lich stuff.. but I’ve barely had human connection. I don’t want to miss that anymore, and a cool rpg game where I can pretend I have control of my body, and BE the sick fire mage I always played as in DND? That sounds fun.


    [Last chapters options]


    You may choose a special option - Legacy Change.


    - Smothered Flame:


    The water took something from you, you will never again let it.


    +2 Con, +3 Cha, Gain negative reputation with Aspect of Water and its Acolytes


    Gain trait: Kindle


    You gain experience in flame magic 20% quicker, and it comes easily, you may do bonus damage with fire spells but also take overheat damage for the amount you do.


    Gain Passive: ???


    This passive is dependent on your path and may change your legacy


    - Waterwalker


    When you died in that water it claimed part of your soul, this comes with certain advantages denizens of the light don’t have


    +4 Con, -2 Cha, Gain negative reputation with Light-Affiliated groups, Gain positive reputation with Dark-Affiliated groups


    Gain trait: Dark Magicks


    You are one of the dead, which means your spells lean toward Dark damage, this affects any you learn in different ways.


    Gain passive: Half-dead


    Your skin turns a sickly purple, but you are slower to starve and thirst, and pain affects you less, you still bleed but it clots quickly.


    - Scarred Soul


    You have suffered mental and physical wounds far beyond your capability and the effects have marked you.


    +2 con +2 strength


    Gain Trait: Tough Cookie


    Gain 20 points of Innate Mitigation


    I click the middle one and


    I''m a flame.


    I crawl and eat and hunger, my stomach never full


    I’m creation and destruction


    Stolen novel; please report.


    But something tries to douse my spark. To choke me out.


    NO.


    I scream and explode in a ball of fire as I fall back into my body, and group of surprised, ecstatic, and bored students watch.


    Slowly the fire pulls back, and congeals into my stomach, a small ever present flame.


    A big blue box flashes in front of my face


    <table style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 67.0187%" border="1">


    <tbody>


    <tr>


    <td style="width: 100%">You have entered Everspark College, as an Apprentice spark you may claim a spot in enrollment for this year''s ceremony.</td>


    </tr>


    </tbody>


    </table>


    My ears finally stop ringing and I notice the sound of someone running up to me, one of the students.


    She’s drop dead gorgeous. Phoenix hair, streaked with orange reds and light yellows, dark red avian eyes, jade like skin.


    And she''s running toward me?


    As she approaches she grabs my wrist, breaking my train of thought


    “Oh my spark! You must be a chosen, it''s really here. Guys, he is!”


    The girl throws my hand up with such glee, like I won against Mike Tyson or something.


    As the other students see it they gasp in surprise, some looking almost like worship, whilst others scoff in disdain.


    Great. My first day in the game and I’m gonna be treated like a certain boy who lived.


    I quickly shake her off and look at the mark myself, and even with all the trouble I’m sure it''s going to give me I can’t help but gasp at how cool it looks. A pinpoint mark lays on each of my wrists, and I can feel them beat it tandem with my heart. In the inner ring they spiral inwards, like a deep hole straight into my body. The outer ring looks hot to the touch, like stilled fire barely contained.


    She giggles at me, “Your handsome too”


    I blush immediately and grasp for words “B-Wuh whats your name?”


    She giggles even more


    “I’m Cyra, a practiced student mage, I’ve been here for 2 years, this is the start of my third.”


    “So.. how’d you all know to come here? Is this like a prophecy thing, cuz I’m not much of a demon slayer.”


    She laughs, and it feels more honest “Well, I’ve read some pretty obscure books in our college so when me and the others felt the mana from this rusty teleportation circle, I remembered the book I read on the legacy of the founder of our school and how he said one day someone would appear with marks like yours, but no, nothing about some great destiny, the book doesn’t go into much detail.”


    I frown a bit. That''s.. odd. This is a game. So how could it predict me well… playing it?


    “Bahaha, are you angry about that? What a weird guy you are. Well anyways come on, orientation is soon, and you don’t seem like you know what''s up.”


    She pulls me along with her, and the students give us a wide berth, but I notice a lot more angry stares than before. Seems I’ve “stolen” the students'' favorite girl.


    As I reluctantly follow I notice a few notifications from the system, since I have a bit of a walk I decide to check them out


    [Due to gaining the legacy smothered flame you have been changed, try not to burn yourself to death.]


    [You have gained ??? Passive ????????????????m???????n???????????????n???????????????????????]


    [You have gained Trait: Kindle You gain experience in flame magic 20% quicker, and it comes easily, you may do bonus damage with fire spells but also take overheat damage for the amount you do.]


    [You have gained +2 Con, +3 Cha]


    One of those glitches Chase talked about I guess.. I wonder if that''s why the game seems to think I’m some sort of chosen. And damn! The NPC’s are so realistic, I can see why people get addicted to this sort of stuff.


    It takes us only a minute or so to make it to the entrance to the sprawling college, the design being incredibly flamboyant, in a pattern that seems to mimic a snake, with a large spiky back. It’s both imposing and comical, showing the wealth of this college and their ego.


    I see three people float into the air slowly as people begin to chant around us. The volume gets louder and I begin to make out what they’re saying.


    “FLAME FLAME FLAME FLAME”


    The three people raise their hands up, and a wave of flame rises from the snake''s spikes, waving in the wind. It rise’s higher and higher until all I can see is the shadows of the three (obviously) mages.


    And then it begins to crash down.