Evaluation And Rewards

[ Evaluation:

"Harry, Harry, Harry. Here we are again. And somehow, against all logic, you have exceeded expectations. Congratulations—you have officially leveled up from 'barely surviving' to 'surviving with style.' A true glow-up.

You observed, you learned, and you even prepared. (Somewhat.) Instead of just running for your life, you actually used that head of yours for something other than reckless improvisation. You trained. You analyzed. You even tried to understand the world instead of just reacting to it. Shocking, really.

But—and this is a big but—you're starting to see too much, aren't you? The cracks in the surroundings, the edges where it doesn't quite fit. You ask questions that shouldn't be asked, look at things that others overlook. Careful, Harry. There's a fine line between awareness and madness. And you? You're dancing on that line like a drunk acrobat with a death wish.

Still, credit where credit is due. Your efforts were… effective. You pushed your limits, helped others (sometimes by accident), and even inspired a certain someone to follow your lead. But be warned—understanding too much comes at a price. The deeper you look, the more something might look back.

All in all? A vast improvement. You're still ridiculous, but at least now you're a ridiculous person with a plan. Well done. ]

______

Harry blinked. Then blinked again.

Then he burst out laughing.

"Oh, this thing really has a way with words," he wheezed, wiping a tear from the corner of his eye. "Drunk acrobat with a death wish? That's gold."

Max raised an eyebrow but said nothing. He was used to Harry's reactions by now.

But, just like before, the moment Harry's eyes landed on the rewards, the evaluation was forgotten.

______

[Rewards Granted]:

• 5 Attribute Points (You're improving. Against all odds.)

• 1 Random Skill Unlock (Let's hope it's something useful. No promises.)

• 1 Mystery Box (Ooooh, suspense! Or disappointment. Could go either way.)

[Choose One of the Following]:

- Seeker's Lens (Enhances perception, revealing hidden details. For those who wish to keep seeing.)

- Echoing Instinct (A sixth sense for danger. Because thinking ahead isn't always your strong suit.)

- Unshackled Sprint (Run faster, recover stamina quicker. Because running away is still your best strategy.)

______

Harry hummed as he scrolled through the options. "So, do I want to see more, sense more, or run more?" He nodded to himself. "Tough choice. Seeing more sounds fun, but running away is a classic strategy…"

"Sixth seems to be the best option..."

Still debating, he finally turned his head.

"Alright, what did you get, Max?"

Max didn't respond right away. He was still reading.

His evaluation wasn't like Harry's.

There were no jokes. No snarky remarks.

Just a quiet, unsettling weight.

_______

[ Evaluation:

"The surface is calm, yet the depths remain untouched."

"You have walked through the trial with steady steps. You have seen, you have listened, and you have learned. But what have you truly understood?"

"Shadows move, yet you only notice their dance—not their source. Words are spoken, yet you hear only their sound—not their meaning."

"You are doing well."

"But well is not enough."

"To prepare is to dig deeper. To survive is to understand."

"Keep going." ]

______

Max finished reading.

Then, he frowned.

His fingers tightened slightly as his gaze lingered on the last words.

"Keep going."

It felt like an expectation. A push forward.

But… forward toward what?

Unlike Harry's evaluation, his didn't make much sense.

He had seen, but not truly looked?

He had listened, but not truly heard?

It was frustrating.

Max exhaled sharply, then turned toward Harry. "…Hey."

Harry, who had been debating between his choices, glanced up. "Huh?"

"This part." Max gestured at his screen, his voice steady. "It says that I only notice shadows' dance, but not their source. That I hear words, but not their meaning."

Harry blinked, then snorted. "Yeah, sounds about right."

Max narrowed his eyes. "What does that mean?"

Harry tilted his head, considering.

"Well…" He tapped his chin. "You pick up on things, but you don't really think about what they mean, do you?"

Max frowned.

"You notice stuff—like movements, sounds, people talking. But you don't really question them." Harry shrugged. "Like, if you see someone limping, you just think 'they're limping.' But I'd be thinking, why are they limping? Did they get hurt? Are they faking it? If they're injured, how bad is it?"

Max processed that.

"So… you're saying I don't think deeply enough?"

Harry smirked. "No, I'm saying you see things, but you don't connect them. Like, earlier, you realized that guy who bumped into me was stronger than he looked. But you didn't think why—whether it was because of skills, experience, or something else."

Max was silent for a moment.

Then, he muttered under his breath.

"…So I'm only seeing the surface."

Something clicked in his mind.

A spark of realization.

The evaluation wasn't just vague words—it was pointing out something real.

He had noticed things. But he never stopped to think about them, to truly understand.

That had to change.

He clenched his fist slightly, determination settling in his eyes.

Harry watched him, raising an eyebrow. "Got it now?"

Max nodded. "Yeah. I need to see deeper."

"Cool, cool. But don't let it bother you too much. You have amnesia, so it's understandable, heck there are morons who can't see as much as you do even having so much knowledge. Anyway—" Harry stretched. "What'd you get?"

Max refocused and read his rewards aloud.

[Rewards Granted]:

• 5 Attribute Points (A solid foundation. But foundations alone do not build a fortress.)

• 1 Random Item (May it serve you well—or serve as a reminder.)

[Choose One of the Following]:

• The Weight of Silence (In the absence of sound, truth lingers. Gain heightened awareness when all is quiet.)

• The Book of Love and Hate (A record of choices, emotions, and consequences. What it reveals depends on the one who reads it.)

Harry hummed, rubbing his chin. "Huh. That's… not as much as I got."

He tapped his fingers against his arm, thinking.

"…Maybe your performance was weaker than mine?"

Max raised an eyebrow. "You think so?"

"Well, I was doing more stuff—analyzing, helping, and, you know, teaching you every now and then." Harry grinned.

Max didn't argue.

"…Then does that mean there are people who won't get anything at all?" Harry continued, his expression thoughtful. "If rewards are given based on performance, then maybe only the top few get something? Or maybe just those who contributed?"

It was possible.

It wasn't uncommon in similar situations—only a select number of people would receive benefits.

Harry shook his head. "Either way, let's check your random item first."

Max nodded. He pressed to claim the item.

A faint glow flickered before them—then something materialized in his hands.

A small, dark vial.

[Midnight Extract]

- A rare potion that sharpens the senses for a short duration. Grants temporary night vision and enhanced perception, but prolonged use may cause disorientation.

Harry whistled. "A potion, huh? Sounds useful, but… that 'disorientation' part is kinda sketchy. And it seems like it is only enough to use 5 times."

Max turned the vial over in his fingers. "I'll hold onto it."

"Yeah, might come in handy. Now—" Harry motioned to the screen. "Which one are you picking?"

Max glanced between the two choices.

The Weight of Silence sounded useful. Increased awareness in silence… that could help him notice more.

But The Book of Love and Hate…

"A book, huh?" Harry smirked. "What if it's just some cheesy romance novel?"

Max ignored him.

"Ok, ok," Harry stretched. "Let me break it down to you."

He held up a finger. "First option boosts awareness when it's silent. Pretty good for sneaky situations."

Then a second finger. "Second option is… well, vague. 'A record of choices, emotions, and consequences.' Sounds mysterious."

Max stayed quiet, thinking.

"…It's up to you," Harry finally said. "One's practical. The other's a gamble."

Max exhaled.

"…I'll take the book."

The moment he did, his reward screen vanished.

Harry stretched. "Alright, my turn."

He tapped to open his Random Skill Unlock.

A small glowing orb appeared in his palm.

Text flashed across his vision.

[You have acquired the skill:..]