"A zealot or a priest... for the church." She stumbled over her words.

  I just looked back at Xyn, perplexed at where she was going with this. Even Rak and Marius were frowning in confusion. They eyed her warily, each trying to parse her words.

  "What church are you speaking of? To which god do they pray?" Marius broke the silence.

  Palm to her head, Xyn seemed like she really didn’t want to explain this. Reluctantly, she did, giving off a tired sigh.

  "The Church of Systemology doesn't worship a deity per se; they worship the system itself." She explained.

  Snorting a derisive snort of complete incredulity, Rak barked a laugh of pure unbridled mirth. "Fools, no doubt humans came up with this idiocy."

  Scowling at the annoying creature as if it were a stain in need of removal. Xyn tilted her head in thought before nodding. "Yes, it is a predominantly human religion, but that is beside the point." She pointed at me. "So what are you? Some archpriest of the church?"

  Opening my mouth over and over, I was stunned into silence. Never had I ever considered the idea that I would be associated with a religion. Although, thinking that over, it's not too far-fetched. I did formerly serve the gods, but I didn't worship them. Probably the best comparison would be less of a priest and more of a low-tier angel.

  "Since I have only just heard about that religion just now. I would say I am not a priest."

  "Then what are you? You can hide your character sheet, somehow send messages to my interface and have a cat that can drive people insane." She pointed to Jeremy, still sound asleep.

  So many questions at once and not a lot of answers since being truthful was out of the question. Thinking it over, I bought some time with a quick puff of my smoke. More embellishing of the truth was in order.

  "My class has nothing to do with whatever church that is," I explained. "I'm an esoteric that gained his class by studying the system. Which allows me to hide my character sheet and do some cool system tricks."

  "Esoteric? I suppose I can see that. Those archetypes always ended up with weird classes."

  Giving myself a mental high five as my brilliant pseudo-truth worked. I mean, technically, in this world, my being classified as an esoteric classer was pretty accurate.

  "But enough about me, let's all introduce ourselves. Marius, how about you go next?" I gestured to one of the group, who loves to talk.

  I took his seat, and he took centre stage like he was born to it. With a theatrical flourish, he bowed like an English gentleman to a court of ladies and lords. Not sure why, but that felt kind of good. I understand now why people keep marrying for wealth and privilege.

  "Greeting new friends, how deliciously alive you all look. The name is Marius, formerly living and now eternally enthusiastic about being the walking dead. Forgive the chill in my handshake; the coffin leaves one a bit cold."

  He reached out for a handshake. Rak seemed disinterested, Xyn cautiously shook, while I had no problem with the gesture and gripped his hand like a brother. After he introduced himself, he explained at length who and what he was. A little overboard with the pomp and ceremony, but such things seemed necessary.

  "As you are likely aware from my glistening pale complexion, I am no longer living. A revenant, to be precise, but do not fret, for my unfinished business is to be fabulous for eternity." He gave a creepy smile, and Xyn winced a bit.

  This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  "Revenants are dangerous creatures." Rak interjected.

  "Aren't we all frightful monsters?" Marius shot back with a grin.

  "Touche, buddy, he has got you there." I said.

  Rak grumbled a bit before accepting with a shrug. With that done, Marius continued with his introduction. Getting into the nitty-gritty important stuff like how much of a badass he was.

  "Like my companion Mr Brask, I am beyond the norm. An esoteric class known as Necrochanter. It allows me to sing macabre melodies and bring forth the dead to grace us with a visit."

  "That explained all the ghosts." Xyn cut in, nodding.

  "Right you are; my music can call them from across the veil to grace us with their presence."

  Nodding profusely, I just started clapping, trying to keep the energy going. The others looked at me weird, but they needed to get with the program. Now was not the time for grumpy guts; it was time for theatre!

  "Thanks, Marius... Xynthia, your turn."

  She looked at me as if I had just asked her to get on stage and start juggling. While that sounds kind of cool, we needed to get introductions over so we could plan. I wasn't pushy; I just smiled at her until she rolled her eyes and reluctantly stood up to swap places. She stood awkwardly in the centre of the room, brows furrowed in thought as she looked back and forth between us. I gave her double thumbs up, which confused her more. Further cementing the need for my cool subtitle passive skill idea.

  "Not sure where to begin... Hi, my name is Xynthia and I am a Quester."

  "Can you explain what that is?" I asked.

  She frowned, probably collecting her thoughts or annoyed at my words. "It's a position in the guild. We explore unknown lands or delve into dungeons. Most of the time we get quests, which offer XP and items upon completion."

  "So... like an adventurer?"

  "I haven't heard that in a long time. But yes, we are like that archaic title from the old country."

  "Old country?" Marius asked.

  "Alborania, the old kingdom that collapsed into the city states. That's pretty common knowledge."

  "I found him in a coffin; he is not up on recent history."

  She nodded, understanding or maybe she didn't. Regardless, she continued with her brief introduction or history lesson. "None of you know Alborania? Kingdom of the Dawn? The ancestral lands of the Alboranians? The Crusade of Light?"

  I looked around and found nothing but blank looks and confused faces. Rak seemed bored and unconcerned. Although the crusade sounded familiar, it tugged at my mind like a nagging child, demanding attention. Scenes of battles, bloodshed and zealotry all culminated in a memory seared into my brain. I mentally checked whether the database still logged those memories. I could easily recall them with a thought.

  "Crusade, you say? Would this crusade have been against vampires?" I tentatively asked.

  Turning to me, with eyes slightly wider and mouth open. Xyn looked baffled but quickly composed herself before narrowing her gaze in suspicion. "I thought you weren't from here?"

  "I am not, but it was an easy inference. However, I recently fought some undead that could project memories. A few of them were about battles between humans and vampires."

  "Undead can do that?" Xyn shuttered.

  "Gravewalkers, annoying bastards. Keep trying to push their trivial past lives onto the living. Like we care how you shit yourself when someone caved in your skull with a mace." Rak spat. He had dealings with these guys before.

  Xyn frowned at Rak, and he snorted, then her gaze shifted to Marius, now even more wary. Noting her frown, I quickly came to his defence. "Marius is chill; he didn't pull that crap with me. Just called out from his coffin, wanting to be bros." I turned to give him a fist bump, and by the gaming gods, he bumped it!

  "So he can't mess with our heads?" She asked, with a little fear seeping in.

  "I don't think so... but then again, isn't that always a risk in meeting anyone?" I said, feeling a rant come on, "I mean, how do you know that your friendship is genuine? It could be mind control for all you know. It is entirely possible that the people you have met and consider pals, is just a mage messing with your brain." I looked up to see blank stares, so I just grinned back before shifting the topic. "Okay, Xyn's introductions are complete."

  And with that, silence descended, and her introduction was at an end. I waited for a bit and realised she would not reveal her class information. Probably smarter than us or didn't trust us. Which was fair, I was technically lying. The only person who was honest was good old Marius. A few moments later we all turned to Rakshur expectantly. After a few minutes of awkward silence, he spoke up, having no interest in leaving his seat.

  "I'm Rakshur. I don't have a class, and I don't trust any of you." He all but growled.

  "Short and sweet; now let's plan on how to get out of this hellhole."

  "And how are we going to do that?" Xyn asked.

  I attempted to answer and stopped mid-sentence. I didn't have a plan; honestly; I was just winging everything so far. The only thing I actually planned out is the system me and Jen were building. And even that was mostly improvisation with some planning. In trying to rack my brain about the problem, I let the group decide. I'm going to have a brainstorming session to discover the public's opinion!

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