Katarina mellowed out after Simon explained how Classes and Class Advancements worked. Hearing that he'd started as a 'Fledgling' made her feel less like she was being directly insulted by his magic.

  When that had been resolved, she slowly went through the first part of her Character Sheet, reading each line aloud. What she found was...interesting.

  Katarina

  Class: Urchin

  Attributes: N/A

  Level: 11

  HP: 90 / 90

  MP: 60 / 60

  Strength: 8

  Dexterity: 15

  Vitality: 9

  Intelligence: 6

  Unspent Points: 24

  What stuck out most to Simon was her Level. The last time he'd Identified her, Katarina was Level 5. Accepting his Boon had instantly increased her Level to 11 – and given her six Levels' worth of Unspent Stat Points.

  Which lined up with one of the rules outlined in Grant Boon's Description.

  -The Boon-bearer's power shall also grow in accordance with the Boon-granter's, albeit at a reduced rate. It would be uncouth for a subordinate to exceed their superior. Half the Experience gained by the Boon-granter will be duplicated, then transferred Boon-bearer.

  Since being transmigrated to Valtia, Simon had risen from Level 1 to Level 13, an increase of twelve total Levels. That EXP had been retroactively applied to Katarina. When measured against her jump of six total Levels, it seemed that she would gain one Level for every two that he did. Her rate of growth was exactly half of his.

  While they were close in Level now, that small gap would widen to the size of a canyon as time went on. Even if she fought more enemies and gained more EXP than him, it wouldn't matter.

  -All system-based Experience accumulated by the Boon-bearer will be split evenly with the Boon-granter.

  Because Simon would receive kickbacks, benefiting equally from her progress. She could never hope to match his strength in the long run.

  Katarina didn't seem to mind when he explained that to her. She'd hardly expected his Demon magic to elevate her above him. This was still an incredible boost in power from what she'd been like before.

  Although Simon inwardly noted that her base stats looked somewhat...low? He didn't quite remember what his numbers had been like early on, but Katarina's un-enhanced Level 5 stats felt similar to his at Level 1. Could just be a quirk of the gods' system, greasing the wheels by bestowing their champion with a bit of extra power.

  As she scrolled down her Character Sheet – eliciting ooohs and aaahs as she got the hang of her virtual screen – Katarina moved on to the Skills section. Currently, she possessed Rank 1 of Deception, Insight, Acrobatics, Sleight of Hand, and Dagger Proficiency. She also had Rank 2 of Stealth, Thievery, and Crossbow Proficiency.

  It was an impressive variety of useful Skills. When Simon told her as much, Katarina grinned in response. "Still feels like your Demon magic is saying I'm only good as a two-bit street crook," she said, "but at least it recognizes hard work."

  In contrast to her Skills, Katarina's Attributes were listed simply as N/A. Wasn't too surprising, considering that Simon's sole Attributes were Transmigrator and Fell-Shrouded, two exceptionally unique characteristics. The system had only marked down details that were absolutely worth noting.

  Aside from that, the main differences between their respective Character Sheets was how Katarina lacked his Traits and Demonic Skills. That meant no Inventory, Transmigrator's Body, Fell Harvest, Channel Essence, or any of the others. Her Boon's power was restricted wholly to stats and Levels – she wouldn't be shrugging off a severed spine with a good night's sleep.

  "Oh!" Katarina flinched. "More words just appeared in the air. Separate from the rest."

  "That's a system notification. They're like messages that alert you to changes in your Character Sheet."

  "Convenient." She read the notification carefully. "It's reminding me that I'm...eligible for a Class Advancement?"

  Huh, really? Simon had only received his first Class Advancement at Level 13. Either Katarina naturally got hers faster – or as a Boon-bearer, her Advancements were linked to his, meaning she would be eligible whenever he reached a new milestone.

  He instructed her to focus on her Urchin Class and imagine it being improved. The system guided her instincts, bringing up a list of four potential Classes for her to choose from.

  Thief, Assassin, Conwoman, and Archer.

  "You know," Katarina muttered, "I was half-joking when I said that your Demon magic was insulting me. Now I'm serious. Don't rightfully appreciate how it keeps focusing on the...less savory aspects of myself."

  Well, from what I can surmise, Class Advancements are chosen based on an objective analysis of your life experiences – and I probably shouldn't say that. "If it helps," Simon added, "I got Thief and Conman as options too."

  "Those were deserved. Which means mine are deserved. Ugh."

  She scowled at the seemingly empty air. "Thief, fine. Can't deny that. Conwoman...fine. But Assassin? Merely because I shot a slaver from behind?"

  It was an excellent assassination. One shot, one kill. Relia never saw it coming.

  Probably shouldn't say that either.

  "Not like I want to be who I am," Katarina groused. "Some people take pride in 'the life'. Even if offered a mansion full of gold, they'd continue to lie and cheat and steal, just for the thrill of it. Utter lunatics. I've always hoped for better than this."

  "You'll have better," Simon promised. "Everyone will. That's my mission statement – why I'm dedicated to killing Helmund and reforming the Severed Isles."

  "I know, I know." She sighed. "So be it. Which Advancement do you think I should choose?"

  Archer was what she likely wished to hear. Compared to Thief, Conwoman, or Assassin, it was a downright respectable profession.

  "Whatever will bolster our chances of success the most," Simon promptly replied. "A person is defined by their actions, not their toolset. Don't go chasing after some vague concept of respectability. Only results matter."

  At that, Katarina laughed. "Thanks for the honesty." Her expression brightened. "I'll decide on my Class Advancement later. There's other things to consider first."

  They talked for some time. Simon answered Katarina's questions in full, reiterating concepts until she had a solid grasp of her Character Sheet. Then, when they'd finished looking over everything they could...

  It was finally time for the fun part.

  "So I can take these Unspent Points and make myself stronger? Any way I want?"

  They'd stopped the carriage and temporarily made camp. Katarina had also spent several minutes running, jumping, and performing small-scale acrobatics – it would give her a baseline comparison for after she boosted her stats.

  "Yes," Simon answered. "Unspent Points are yours to allocate as you please. Be careful, though, as your choices can't be taken back. I recommend–"

  "10 points to Dexterity!" she crowed, her eyes glimmering with anticipation.

  "That's...an option." He hesitated, not wanting to deflate her building enthusiasm. "However, I must point out that – speaking from experience – your other stats are all of vital importance."

  Katarina wiggled her hand in an 'eeeh' motion. "Are they? More Strength would be nice, but most people aren't so hardy that I'll need it. Long as I have enough force to slit a throat or puncture a heart, what I have now will get the job done."

  Unless we fight another regenerating, colossal, monstrously-strong Fell Beast. "What about Vitality?"

  "Perhaps a little, as a precaution, but higher Dexterity should keep me safe. Won't get hurt if I don't get hit."

  Everyone gets hit eventually. "Intelligence?"

  She grimaced. "Why bother? My affinity with mana is low, and I'm a dismal failure at magic."

  I used to be too. Now I'm casting spells with ease.

  Simon had two reasons for not voicing his concerns. First, he wasn't here to make Katarina's decisions for her. If she wanted to pump up Dexterity at the detriment of other stats, then godspeed – literally.

  And second, for all he knew, she might be right. Simon had received zero guidance on how to maximize the system to his benefit. He was flying blind, allocating stats and choosing Classes in ways that may end up screwing him over months down the line. His best guesses weren't a substitute for empirical data.

  Katarina would make for a useful second opinion...and a beta tester. If she stumbled onto a stat spread that turned out to be overpowered, he fully intended to copy it. Blatantly, immediately, and without compunction.

  Imitation was the highest form of flattery, after all.

  When Simon elected not to say anything further, Katarina interpreted it as the go-ahead to boost Dexterity by 10 points. Her eyes bulged as power flowed from the system and into her body. She was practically vibrating with pent up-energy.

  This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

  In a flash, she took off running. At 25 Dexterity, the woman was already on par with record-breaking Olympians, dashing around their campsite at speeds that would've put ordinary humans to shame.

  That's how fast I am now as well, Simon mused. Strange thought. If he returned to Earth now with his Strength of 22 and Dexterity of 26, he would be lauded as a generational prodigy, crushing sporting events in dominant fashion.

  Yet despite that understanding, he didn't feel any different. Becoming a veritable superhuman hadn't changed who he was as a person. His goals and drives remained the same.

  Stats, Skills, Classes, Traits, Demonic mana – all were simply tools to be used in the name of progress.

  Simon was jolted from his rumination when Katarina came to an abrupt halt. She stopped by their carriage, arms crossed, her back facing him.

  "Everything alright?" he called out, approaching her. There was no answer. She still hadn't turned towards him.

  Just as Simon was starting to get legitimately worried, Katarina spoke.

  "Years ago, I once saw a warrior with moderate affinity for mana." Her voice was bereft of emotion. "A pickpocket in Caelryn targeted him, forgetting that you never steal from someone with sharp eyes and swift feet. As soon as the warrior noticed that his pouch had been pilfered, he crossed the street in mere seconds, running down the pickpocket like they were a helpless child. At the time, I remember marveling at how fast he was. Yet..."

  She chuckled. "I think I'm faster, now. And if what you've said is true, this isn't the end of it. We'll keep getting stronger. Swifter. Better. By the Ancient's blood, I haven't even spent all my stat points yet."

  Katarina turned around. Her face was a mask of stone – to hide the tears threatening to spill forth. "Is this...is this how they always get to feel? So powerful and free?"

  Simon was at a loss for what to say. While he understood that this was a big moment for her, he couldn't match the depth of emotion she was feeling right now, and he didn't think he could fake it if he tried.

  He wouldn't feel truly free until Valtia's entire society had been reshaped from the ground-up.

  Thankfully, Katarina let the moment pass. "Apologies. Lost control." She took in a deep, shuddering breath, visibly relaxing. "Question – the 'MP' on my Character Sheet refers to my body's latent stores of mana, correct?"

  "To the best of my knowledge, yes."

  "Curious." She looked at text that only she could see. "The number didn't go down. It's still at 60 out of 60, even after I ran at full sprint."

  Simon caught her implication. "Do warriors in Valtia use mana to boost their physical parameters?"

  Katarina nodded. "Otherwise, they'd be no stronger than a common footpad. High affinity for mana is imperative to both mages and warriors. Those who favor the blade will learn to efficiently draw upon their mana, consuming only dregs to empower feats of incredible prowess. Even so, some amount is needed."

  "That's not how it works for me – or you. Our stat increases are permanent bodily enhancements. No mana required. We can save our MP for spellcasting instead."

  "Ridiculous." She said it with excited glee. "Is that why you can heal without using mana? I was shocked the first time I saw you recover from debilitating injuries after a brief slumber." Her eyes sparkled. "Can I do that now?"

  His mouth twitched with mirth. "Sorry, that's a Simon exclusive."

  It was hard not to laugh at Katarina's huff of disappointment. In the span of half a day, she'd gone from feeling wary and cautious over this bizarre demonic Boon – to barreling full speed ahead on the stats-and-Levels express.

  "How did you learn to cast spells?" she asked him. "Could never manage anything more than parlor tricks, and I don't even have memory loss bogging me down."

  "My Character Sheet did the heavy lifting." Simon paused. "You know parlor tricks?"

  Katarina put on a wry smirk. She lifted her right hand, then closed every finger except for her pointer finger. The woman sank into deep concentration, muscles tightening as the seconds crawled by.

  Then – as if flicking a cigarette lighter – a minuscule, wavering flame appeared at the edge of her fingertip.

  "Picked it up from observing mages," she said. "This is the full extent of my capacity for magic. Just enough to give a younger me false hope. If I was a true spellcaster, I could have largened this into a roaring fireball, but..."

  She exhaled, letting the flame vanish. Her body slumped with exhaustion.

  "Before you ask, practicing won't help. I've tried. Your affinity for mana is decided at birth. Would be like drawing water from an inch-deep puddle. Effort is all well and good, yet none of that matters when–"

  Katarina froze. Her pupils rapidly zipped left and right.

  "There's another system notification." She spoke slowly, voice trembling in disbelief. "It says that...my pursuit of magic has been rewarded. A new possible Class Advancement titled 'Arcane Rogue' is now available."

  Both of them fell quiet. To Simon, this was confirmation that Advancements could be added to the selection list after-the-fact.

  To Katarina, it was her worldview being rocked for the umpteenth time. "This is absurd." Her voice dropped to a whisper. "My Character Sheet states that Arcane Rogue would transmit knowledge of spellcasting into my mind. As if I'd been studying magic for years. But that can't – no, wait, that's how it worked for the other Advancements. Like 'Archer' offering to make me better with a bow. Doesn't need to make sense."

  Her gaze snapped towards Simon. "If I allocated stat points to Intelligence, thereby increasing my MP, would that also ameliorate my low affinity with mana? When combined with Arcane Rogue, could I become a reasonable mage overnight?"

  "And all you had to do in exchange was shake my hand." Simon spread his arms wide. "Not a bad deal, I think."

  He meant it as a playful comment. That wasn't Katarina's interpretation. She lowered her head, then raised it again, something imperceptible shifting beneath her countenance.

  "You have my gratitude, Simon. This Character Sheet represents unfettered possibility. Most people would have killed to obtain it – yet you essentially gave it away."

  A warm smile inched up her face. "I won't betray this faith you've put in me."

  Guilt pierced Simon's heart like a needle. With growing trepidation, he realized why Katarina had started feeling so self-assured these past few hours.

  Does she not know? I thought it was obvious, implied. She thinks that...

  Before he could convince himself otherwise, Simon spoke up. He clarified another rule of the Boon; one that both of them had apparently glossed over.

  -If a Boon is rescinded, the Boon-bearer shall lose whatever power they have accrued that is directly related to the Boon.

  Her Character Sheet's power wasn't intrinsic – it was conditional, directly tied to Simon's beneficence. With barely a thought, he could reduce her back to a Level 5 face in the crowd. Her capacity for independence was subservient to his whims.

  They may not have formed a Contract, but how was this any less binding?

  Simon felt tempted to offer a Contract that would make the Boon permanent. He wanted their alliance to be based on genuine sincerity, rather than pure give-and-take. This current state of affairs was too transactional.

  The temptation passed quickly. Grant Boon limited him to three Boons in total. If he made Kat's permanent, and she left, that would be just two more Boons he could give to potential future allies.

  And while he couldn't imagine a scenario now where she suddenly betrayed him, then ran off holding the bag...it wasn't impossible. Things changed. Allegiances were malleable.

  He shouldn't bet the farm on the first person to strike up something resembling a friendship with him.

  Still. Didn't seem right. Perhaps he could–

  "Stop worrying so much."

  Katarina sent him an exasperated sigh. "You're overthinking this. Neither of us are the type to take advantage of people. Not without undue cause, at least. As long as we treat each other decently, I don't foresee any major issues."

  "What about after I've killed Helmund?" Simon pointed out. "It would be very reasonable for you to decide that you've had enough by then. If you leave, transferring the Boon to someone else may be necessary."

  "Even if this power only lasts until we've cured my father, I can accept that." A grin slipped onto her face. "Just warn me ahead of time if you're going to rescind the Boon. Disappointment, I can handle. Nasty surprises are far crueler."

  She's telling the truth.

  It was an unexpected realization. Katarina had nearly been brought to tears by her newfound strength – yet she would willingly surrender it if their goals diverged. Following her own path was more important than clinging to power.

  Simon nodded, grinning in return. He'd definitely chosen the right person to grant his first Boon to.