Stepping into the common room and confirming that it was a cafeteria was about what I expected. There was about 40 or so student most looked uncertain, some were contemplative, and a few seemed excited. The talking was quiet and cautious, but I was still able to hear a few pieces of conversations in the room. The cafeteria was full of roundtables, and a few booths to one side almost looked like a restaurant. Some people were huddled around talking.

  "what do you think that voice meant by jobs and levels."

  "I figured out that driving was a skill."

  "this is all some kind of joke right. I mean theirs no way any of what that voice said was real".

  I made my way to one of the empty tables close to where I entered the room. It gave me a decent view of the room as well as being close to the more talkative people in the room. As I sat down, I grabbed the paper with what I figured out so far and added the [racial traits] as well as the 'Observation' skill to the what I know list. Then I went to the what I suspect list and added that some skills need to be a high level to unlock others. Like how 'Mana Manipulation' was something you could get after getting 'Meditation' to level 20/100. I also added that just having a weapon skill didn't mean you would unlock a job there was more to it. I sighed as I thought about what jobs could be out there, If there could be jobs like Mage and Enchanter them really what couldn't there be. I also added the requirements for the Mage, Tinkerer, and, Enchanter jobs to my what I know list to be safe. When I finished, I looked over the room again to see if I could find any other new information.

  After a few tries, I figured out how 'observe' worked all I had to do was focus on the other people in the room. Most people were just vague feelings and odd bits of information. One guy seemed lucky, and another girl was a little faster than me, while the boy next to her is having a mild breakdown over the world ending. Hmm, I wonder if that counts as a debuff something to keep in mind. As I looked over people, I heard some loudly talking.

  "I'm telling you I can lift like twice as much as I used to after I got the Athlete job. I can really move now to its awesome". The speaker has brown hair cut close to his head. and was built like a bodybuilder maybe two inches taller than me with broad shoulders. The guy looked like he spent more time in the gym then he did anywhere else, I wonder what his 'Intelligence' state is. That thought brought a smirk to my face which leads to me laughing a moment later. He was an Athlete, and he was only level 3 which meant I could see more of his states. I am really going to have to ready those skill descriptions at some point later tonight I'm not sure what exactly 'observation' can do.

  Strength at 20 huh I wonder how much of that was the job. I wonder how skills and states affect the outcome of a fight. I can't see his skills. I wonder if I need a different skill than 'observation' or if I need a higher level of it. Might as well see if that half-decade of martial arts has any practical applications. I mean if I'm going to end up fighting some monstrosity at some point then why not start with a guy double my Strength. Seems about as reasonable as I can get in this new kind of hell.

  While I was contemplating this Jonathon noticed I was watching him and decided to call me out on it. "So you gonna keep looking at me or are gonna say something asshat." My first response was to blink then I realized I was staring. My second was to started panicking for a moment before responding. "uh oh sorry I was using a skill sorry about that" as I spoke a realized that I might have just fucked up. "oh ya what kinda skill was it huh." as he said this he walked closer and seemed to puff up. It was a little disconcerting and made me feel somewhat small, but it wasn't really notable. What was notable was the few new notifications that just popped up in the corner of my vision. Ignoring the guy as he walked towards me, I checked them.

  This guy tried to 'Intimidate' him, which in all honestly was kind of funny if not a little insulting. while I was going through all of this, Jonathan had made it to the table I was sitting at. "well I asked you what the skill was you little bitch."I just stared at him for a moment wondering if he was being serious or just trying to punk me. He looked irritated possibly offended, and it just pissed me off. I was planning on starting a fight anyways so might as well anger him a little more just for spite.

  " so is 'Intimate' the best you can do or is a temper tantrum all you have left." As I said this, I had gotten up from the table stepped to the side making a little more room. I gave the guy a big smile and waited for his response. the fist aimed at my head was expected, and the follow-up jab to my chest was pretty standard for a guy with more muscle than training. Strength over skill has always seemed somewhat lame to me. Stepping back and to the left away from the table. I dogged the first blow aimed at my head but the second clipped my right shoulder as I slid by. Jonathan's attack opened his left side specifically the area under his left armpit. Using his punch to increase my momentum I focused. Twisting my hips, I bent my left knee and threw a left hook twisting my wrist on contact with his ribcage under the left armpit. Apparently, it was very effective because he fell to one knee and brought both his hands to his left side. I then drove my right knee into his solar plexuses. He dropped after that with a small grown, and I got some more notifications.

  There was also apparently damage notifications as well. I did want to hit him hard but looking over what I did I might have gone too far.

  then the knee to his solar plexuses which just drove home how much damage I did.

  41.7 damage from two attacks Jesus criest his health was 130; I just knocked him down to 88 health. My skill in unarmed combat isn't even 30, and I still hurt him that much. Fuck what kind of damage can someone do, what kind of damage can some take. Whats with the full force thing on my damage calculator. I was lost in these thoughts as I looked over my notifications. So I didn't see Jonathan start to get up or the fist that cracked across my cheek a moment later.

  There was a flashing notification in the corner of my vision after that, but my health was what I was really looking at. I have a health of 100, so the 18.9 damage was around what I expected Jonathan had some skill in 'Hand To Hand Combat' probably. The next blow hit my side I moved away from it but still received 15.6 damage, and I figured out what high strength compared to skill meant cuz I was at about a third of my health.

  Stepping to the same side I did when I hit his ribs. I moved a step back and brought my led up into a crescent kick with as much force as I could manage. As he turned to attack me again. I connected with his jaw as his head moved in my direction. After that, he was on the ground again this time I used 'Observe.'

  That last hit did almost half his health. Looking at my leg, I wondered how I hit that hard, but before I could check my notifications I heard a distinctively feminine voice from behind me. " well at least someone put that bastard in his place. so, Alexander, I didn't know you could fight." Rowanne Muirne said looking over at her I saw Brendon standing next to her. They were a few feet to the side of me, and there was a window behind them. I caught my reflection from the corner of my eye. Messy black hair a bruised cheek and I wide wild smile on my face. I looked like I just got out of a fight or I just pissed off a girl after we had some fun. God, I forgot how great adrenaline was.

  "Oh ya well, some people just don't know how to be polite," I said smiling. Both of them seemed a little taken aback by my words. I decided to look at my newest notifications before she could respond.

  So charm is a skill huh Dawn that's honestly fucking hilarious. I thought with a laugh.