You have gained [Mental Mana Sight] Basic 5
Gain 2 exp
This is a daily reminder: You have 2 unallocated stat points
I woke up with tears in my eyes, it wasn't from the pinch. I saw what I was denied in my own childhood. The boy Sam had just heard the voice and all the love he got from his family was a joy. The excitement of new skills to learn and being able to join his friends. He was Sam and he was five and he was innocent. Through this I never heard his system voice. It led to some serious disconnect between me and the memories, which I hope will keep myself distinct.
-----
Instead of my usual laps around the fountain, I was brought to an office that had grandma seated behind a desk. There were some book cases which were filled with books, loose parchments and scrolls.
“Good morning, grandmother.”
“Good morning, Sara, Marie informed me of your issue from yesterday. I will assist you, come stand before me.”
I do as she asks. She places her hand on my chest. “I will channel my mana in parts and observe, please tell me how much this fills your core so I can adjust the next batch better, are you ready.”
I make sure I'm not supplying my mental sight and then I nod, and she begins. The lump of lead mental mana forms in my chests, it feels more refined. As she is doing this her eyes have purple hour glasses on them shining. I guess grandma can convert to mental without a rod.
“There, let that settle and tell me how full your core becomes.”
We wait, and when it feels like the mana is mine, my core greedily devours it again.
“It feels like I went from a quarter to three fifths.”
“Alright, this should fill you, then we will do one more after for you to study, tell me when you are ready.”
I take a moment, then nod, the process happened as she said. The third pocket of mental mana remained, though it felt as if my core was nibbling at it. I ask about it.
“Cores are hungry to grow, focus on the mana, and try to add some of your own to it. There is no rush, now that your core is full, others supplying you mana for this should be fine.”
I still want to succeed soon, I feel the mana, visualize it as the same color as my grandmother's hourglass eyes. I move a bit of my arcane and try to imagine it as the mental mana, then I add it to the mental blob. I think it got bigger. I keep adding till it's twice as big.
You have gained the skill [Convert Arcane to Mental Mana] Basic 1
Convert Arcane Mana to Mental Mana - the ability to create mental mana from unaspected mana
Basic - the ratio is terrible
Gain 2 exp
“Thank you, grandmother, I got the skill.”
“Excellent, Sara. As an exercise, I want you to keep your mental sight up all day. Also do maintain this pocket of mana for your core to nibble on. The sooner your core awakens the better.”
They were trying to keep me from progressing my arcane core. Why would they wish to further this? I tilt my head in confusion, grandma answers before I voice my question.
“People being compelled can be seen as having the mental mana covering their skull. It is always good to keep an eye out for such. As you have a mental core, keeping your vision on all the time will serve to protect you but more importantly be feasible. Marie, if Sara drops her sight before she is at a quarter of her mana, you may treat it as slouching. Do keep it bright enough for her to see, Sara.” Grandmother giving me a sweet smile as she said this, I shudder.
“As you wish my [Lady]. Come little miss, you are behind in your morning exercises.”
Marie is smiling at this, of course she is. Wait, I thought this was being done instead of the morning exercises. She is a sadist through and through. She is starting to pull her rod out again. I quickly engage my mental sight, bright enough for her to see, I hope.
-----
I am holding two buckets full of water, it's exhausting but Marie is watching, so steady and consistent pace is what I must maintain.
You have gained [Strength Training] Apprentice 1
Apprentice - lifting does not take as much stamina
Str raised to 19
The change in stats caused me to trip and spill the water. Marie is pulling a rod out of her dress. I cringe, would magical lightning be worse when covered in mundane water? The water that coats me is pulled off me and sent to the road.
“Be at ease, young miss. Come, it will not do to return empty handed.”
“Thank you, Marie, my sudden change in stats unbalanced me.”
We walk back to the fountain, and I fill the buckets once more. I don't trip on the way back this time but my arms burn. I'm sitting in my seat and Marie approaches me.
Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.
“Young miss, your arm please.”
Not sure why she needs my arm, but I raised it to her. She adjusted the weighted sleeve, ah more strength means heavier weights. I provided my other limbs in turn as she needed them. She nods when she is done. She looks at me considering, then retrieves a status stone from her pocket.
“If you would touch the stone young miss, I wish to review your status to see if there needs to be any adjustment.”
I adjust my ring status to be in common and touch the stone.
Tier 1 : Human lvl 8 - 2 stat point unassigned. [NOTIFICATIONS]
Title:[Voiceless]
Strength - 19
Agility - 22
Perception - 24
Constitution - 10
Presence - 24
Mental Fortitude - 39
Intelligence - 40
Skills: [English] Intermediate 9 [Math] Intermediate 8 [Yell] Apprentice 4 [Speak:Common] Competent 9 [Running] Competent 2 [Tough Skin] Basic 9 [Status Screen] Apprentice 9 [Tell Lie] Apprentice 2[Mana Manipulation:Self] Competent 1 [Mental Mana Core] Basic 1 [Arcane Mana Sight] Competent 1 [Resist Pierce] Basic 1 [Fire Tender] Apprentice 3 [Sword Arm] Apprentice 4 [Atlas Noble Etiquette] Competent 4 [Read:Common] Competent 4 [Resist Lightning] Apprentice 1 [Resist Mental Attacks] Intermediate 2 [Strength Training] Apprentice 1 [Write:Common] Apprentice 8 [Resist Blunt Force] Basic 7 [Pariah Aura Manipulation] Apprentice 2 [Mental Mana Sight] Basic 5 [Mana Manipulation:External] Basic 1 [Convert Arcane to Mental Mana] Basic 1
Earned Titles: [Voiceless Adventurer]
I see the purple mental magic connect between the stone and myself. Both me and Marie are studying the display.
I still have my ring title set to [Voiceless] , going around as an adventurer at my size would be way too much attention. Thane gave me back the ring after my induction, apparently he slipped it on after they combined my titles. I didn't get a chance to talk to him, he left before I regained consciousness. I have mixed feelings about him but in the end he helped me.
“I think we will need to have you fitted for a corset sooner than expected. You still haven't learned [Identify] yet either, we will focus on that during your breaks young miss.”
I turn from the display, looking at Marie, paling. I had seen grandmother in one, an hourglass figure to match her mana eyes. Memories from another life reminded me of how such was achieved. Part of my education from Marie included noble wear. I don't have any curves to accentuate yet, so starting before then leaves me confused. “Why do I need a corset?”
“The corset you will be fitted with will be enchanted to apply a constant pressure, similar to your strength sleeves. It will train your constitution instead. You should become adjusted to such before you begin developing.”
Right, the corset is the nobility answer to a bra. The constant pressure would force an ever smaller hourglass waist as well. Would I snap in half in the end? The external lap band is going to mean less food. If not snapped in half will I waste away? I'm starting to panic now. Marie is laughing now, was I saying my worries out loud? I never heard her laugh before, it's nice.
“Young miss, you will be gaining the skill [Resist Crush], your waist will conform to where you feel is aesthetically pleasing, after that your new skill will resist any greater change and level. Look at my waist, young miss, it is not nearly as pronounced as our [Lady], but we both wear magically enhanced corsets as does the guard captain.” She smiles at me.
So my waist will only conform to what I would consider my perfect waist. If I don't have to worry about being smaller than I prefer, what do I think looks best? I think of grandma. Wait, she didn't say anything about having less food.
“I still won't be able to eat as much.”
“Only in one sitting, I will ensure that you have enough food to continue growing properly. We will spend time going over tea parties and such to improve your etiquette.”
“Will there be cookies?”
“Among other things.”
Corset means smaller meals but more cookies. It will have to do.
“Apprentice the fire, and while I know you need to continue teaching the hatchling on how to be a princess, she is to attend to my teachings when she is not resting from delivering buckets. When you are done with the fire, come to me apprentice.”
“As you wish, mistress.”
I thought I was waiting till [Fire Tender] was higher but perhaps Belna was getting jealous of Marie doing all the teaching. I take care of the fire and head to Belna. When I am standing next to Belna, she reaches and grips my arm.
“That is a proper strength to begin, here take these tongs, there is already metal in the furnace, bring it to my anvil. You will hold it in place with both hands as I shape it. I will need you to have a sturdy hold the entire time. Pay attention to my work, watch it and learn. Use your cat eyes for greater understanding. Marie I will need my apprentice to not collapse during our time so do let her cease her purple dot when she attends me”
Marie nods. I switch my sight, my white cat eyes on full display. The molten metal is heavy and very hot, my sweat headband will see work today. I managed to get it to the anvil without incident.
“This is iron, I will be shaping it into a simple plate today. Now hold steady apprentice, the first few strikes are the hardest.”
She begins, her mana flows from her chest to her arms and then into her hammer. She brings it down onto the metal. It is loud, and my body shudders from the impact, Belna is watching my arms. When she sees me steady myself she strikes a different spot to push the metal out. She sets a pace that I can keep up with.
You have gained the skill [Resist Heat] Basic 1
Resist Heat - the ability to resist natural heats above your core temperature
Basic - you can stand closer to the fire
Gained 1 exp
She strikes again.
You have gained the skill [Strong Grip] Basic 1
Strong Grip - the ability to hold tools steady
Basic - your grip is slightly stronger per Str
Gained 1 exp
She continues her work and I watch. Her rhythm increases as she senses my skill gain. By the time she was satisfied with her efforts my arms were like jelly but I had gained another two skill levels, and another for heat. Belna asked if I had gained anything.
“Mistress, I reached basic three in [Strong Grip] and basic two in [Resist Heat].”
“That is good, apprentice, when you reach the apprentice tier of [Strong Grip] you will be doing the initial shaping of the metal. You will need to continue using the tongs until you are intermediate in [Resist Heat] though.”
Without the tongs? Does she plan for me to hold the metal with my bare hands? As if to answer my internal question, Belna picks up the fairly hot piece of metal and places it back into the furnace. She is smiling at me.
“Marie can have you back after you tend to the fire, do get more water, this is thirsty work. When you get water you can rest and learn more of your princess ways. When you do not, you will learn my ways of the forge.”
I nod and smile, then yelp.
“The young miss should switch her eyes if she is done learning from her mistress.”
I stop myself from scowling, and tend the fire as my sight switches. My bundle of mental mana has shrunk quite a bit. I may have cut the flow to my eyes earlier but it would appear that my core is ever feeding. The mental mana disappears into the core as I watch, surprised. The core grows. The purple dot in my eye fades.
You have gained [Mental Mana Core] Basic 2
Gain 2 exp
“A moment Marie, my core grew and took my mental mana.”
Marie puts her rod back, that was close. Her pupils goes white as I focus and use my conversion skill. My core still has room and it takes what I make. She grips my shoulder.
“No more for now, young miss.”
You have gained [Convert Arcane to Mental Mana] Basic 2
Gain 2 exp
I feel my core is only four fifths full. But I feel like I am hovering around a quarter of arcane reserves. Is the conversion that terrible or my core that much bigger. I shake my head and grab my two buckets.
