That evening we stopped at Miss Briknae shop, she measured my mid section in five different places. I wasn't really paying attention to Marie and Briknae conversation. Under bust, avoiding the hips, plenty of words were said but I was too exhausted to care. I did get a chance to use identify on Briknae.
? Gnome Tailor
I found out she was rather tall for a gnome. I was smart enough not to voice this. Marie finished the order and walked me home. Afterwards was the evening meal.
“I ran out of arcane mana before I could fill my core again, would you be willing to top me off, grandmother?”
The lady in question shook her head, then explained. “Part of this effort Sara, is for you to level your convert skill, it is for the best that you manage it.”
That makes sense, I nibble at my salad. The meal itself seems to be smaller than before. It actually seems to match grandmother's portion. I asked Marie to confirm my suspicions.
“You're already shifting my meals to accommodate my eventual corset, aren't you Marie?”
“Of course, young miss, you will be provided a small snack before bed tonight.”
I do love snacks, but I miss the rest of my meal.
“O, will Sara be fitted soon?” Mother is showing interest.
“After reviewing the young miss's progress, I felt it necessary to move up the fitting, her constitution still lags behind her other stats. Miss Briknae said it should be ready in four days.”
Then why am I suffering from less food now.
“I will attend then, a daughter first fitting is important.”
I smile wanely. I take the moment to use identify on mother and grandmother.
? Human Guard Captain
?? Human Lady
That's the first double question mark the system gave me.
“I just got double question marks from using [Identify] on grandmother, is there a way to interpret that?”
-----
“Young miss to learn [Identify] it is as simple as staring at someone intensely seeking to know more. The system will recognize the intent and provide you the skill to do so.”
“Your explanation is as bad as the Adventurer Guild Handbook.”
“Hatchling, before complaining one should attempt the instructions given.”
I roll my eyes, but it does not appear I am going to get any further instruction. I turn and stare intently at Marie, feeling rather silly. I try to learn more as I stare.
You have gained the skill [Identify] Basic 1
Identify - the ability to understand what you are looking at
Basic - able to see the level, race, and first title
Gain 1 exp
? Human Attendant
Damnit.
------
Grandmother smiles, “It means the difference between my current tier’s level is too high for you to see and my total combined level is of course also too high. As you raise the skill you will be able to see those higher than you, keep at it dear.”
Well, now I know why becoming a tier two human is not concealable by the ring, anyone identifying me would see two sets of numbers, no matter what I set it at. Is grandma only tier two though? Given her age I am assuming yes, but who can say when violence can lead to progression.
The meal concluded, I spent some time with my mother. It was nice and calming. We talked about nothing in particular. I asked about Tom, he is doing well with his training, she asked if I was learning from Belna yet, and I told her about how I held the tongs today. I laid against her and was content. A few hours must have passed as Marie came in with a tray of sandwiches. It was a nice snack before bed.
-----
It's my rest day. Sam just had his soul day in my dream. It is still pure. I never really had them myself, I never really noticed when my soul value changed before notification popups. It should be near birthdays but with me being catatonic for a few months I doubt mine will align with that date anymore. More bittersweetness. He got to eat all he could that day, a stark contrast to my latest meals. I feel less grounded than before.
“Do not worry, young miss, I will make as much as you can eat after your fitting.”
I give Marie a rather baleful look, she will do as she says, I just won't have any greater appetite after my fitting. We are going to Miss Briknae shop before breakfast, mother is with us. Worst is that we still had done my exercises today, they added twenty crunches as well. No spar though, mother felt it wouldn't be good going in with bruises. Well fresh ones at least.
I am standing in the middle of Briknae shop, my dress was removed and the corset was brought out.
“Is there nothing worn between my skin and the corset.”
Briknae answers, “Lass, this corset designed to be worn as an undergarment, part of the enchantment working are written to keep both the garment clean and the area its covering healthy. For extended wear you see.”
Huh, extended wear, Marie was already placing the corset on me while I was thinking about that. She had tightened it to the point that it was secure but not yet constricting. The enchantments had not yet been engaged. The garment rested below my chest and above my hips. Mother came to my side and kneeled to get to my eye level. She gives me a reassuring smile.
“Alright Sara, it is important you have a steady mind as the enchantments engage, do not let your mind wander on just how far you can go. Find where you are happy with and the system will grant you the skill. When you are ready to begin, start to channel mana through the corset.”
While Marie will adjust my corset to my constitution daily, today I am in charge of the pressure. I look at the women in the room and their proportions. Then I think of grandma and I begin.
I watch in the mirror as my corset pulls in, my lower ribs bend slightly moving slowly closer together, my waist pulls in. The ratio between my waist and hips starts to grow. It feels nice, like a constant hug. I feel steady as it continues. I've passed Marie ratio and Briknae as well. My lower portions of my lungs are no longer able to inflate as before, my upper chest compensates. Heaving busom indeed, just needs the busom portion. I passed my mother ratio now, it's slowing now, and yet I let it reach grandmother's ratio. This is nice, and it pulls in one more inch.
If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.
You have gained the skill [Resist Crush] Basic 1
Resist Crush - the ability to resist crushing forces
Basic - your corset looks lovely
Gain 1 exp
Aw thank you, system. I was nervous before but this is rather exhilarating, I keep looking back and forth. My mother places a hand on my shoulder to steady me.
“Slowly Sara, at this level of compression your blood pressure is different, take your time and steady your breathing.”
I do as she says. I could live with snacks and smaller meals for this forever hug. Briknae chimes in.
“A ratio of one point six, her hip spring will be rather pronounced as she develops.”
I smile at the thought, more hips will increase the ratio quoted, it's rather exciting. Briknae is talking more to my mother, but Marie is already leading me out of the store.
-----
Walking back was interesting, with my torso locked, it was my legs pulling me forward. It resulted in a more elegant form of walk, I felt. Before I was seated for breakfast, grandmother motions me closer so she could see my form. She places her hand on my waist and smiles.
“You've gone for quite a pronounced figure my dear. I dare say, you may of picked a more aggressive ratio then I have”
I blush at that and scratch my cheek, “You may have been an inspiration for me, grandmother.” It came out quietly but she heard.
Initially sitting felt awkward until I allowed the corset to hold me up. After that my posture was proper, there were no other options. Will Marie miss her opportunities to punish me I wonder. Then I check my mental mana to make sure it doesn't run out under her watchful gaze. She returned now with our meals on her cart.
True to her word, Marie fed me as much as I could eat, turns out it was slightly smaller than my previous meals. Mother notices.
“I think you'll need to provide Sara with two snacks before meals, Marie.”
“Agreed, Captain.”
You have gained [Resist Crush] Basic 2
Gain 1 exp
-----
That wasn't the only excitement of the day. I was sitting in my room. Marie was giving instruction again. Apparently she is forgoing her rest day now since I have so much to catch up on. I hope grandma gives her overtime.
“Today young miss, you will be combining your common skills. Close your eyes and focus on your three skills and think of them as a whole, similar to your other language skill.”
I'd complain but after my embarrassment over [Identify], I simply comply. It took a bit but soon a mental window showed up asking me to confirm. I did so.
[Speak:Common],[Read:Common], and [Write:Common] combined into [Common]
You have gained the skill [Common] Apprentice 1
Common - the ability to read, write and speak common
Apprentice - You are able to communicate more clearly
Int raised to 43
“I did it, Marie”
“Excellent young miss, we will now proceed at leveling it back to competent.”
I groan at that, she smiles.
You have gained [Mental Mana Core] Basic 6
Gain 2 exp
My mana core ate my mental mana pocket again, I told Marie before I got started filling it again. Wouldn't want to get zapped. It always takes a day to fill the core again. Grandmother always informs Marie when she can start monitoring me for slacking. Marie stops me before I even get through half my arcane mana.
“Young miss, as you are still adjusting to your corset, maintaining your reserve of mana is important.”
Weird, they must be rather concerned about my constitution if they don't want my corset to deactivate before bed time. Every second counts when it comes to system skills.
You have gained [Resist Crush] Basic 3
Gained 1 exp
I smile.
-----
It's bedtime now, mother was with me for an evening snack. Actually, I'm kind of surprised my corset hasn't given me any trouble. The lack of chafing or soreness must be handled by those enchantments. Very convenient.
Mother takes off my dress to prepare me for bed. She doesn't touch my corset.
“Wait here a moment, don't release your mana just yet.”
She heads to my dresser where a fresh nightgown waits. She comes back and then sits on my bed in front of me. I tilt my head, she gives me a smile.
“Sara, how much did your [Resist Crush] level today?”
“Proud to say, up to basic five.” I beam my smile at mother, she winces and regains her own smile.
“Sara, we won't be taking the corset off tonight, you chose a rather aggressive size to go down to. While the corset enchantments are active, your body is not feeling the strain it's under but if we take it off you would be in a serious amount of pain.”
My eyes widen at that, I hadn't even thought about how much I had pulled in. This reduction would have been months of worth of work without enchantments. Seeing my rising panic my mother assures me.
“There is nothing to worry about, the corset is designed for this type of wearing. I noticed you were staring at both my waist and mothers when we first talked about it, and had already informed Briknae to include the necessary enchantments. It's surprising you went further than the both of us but it will just take more time.”
“When will we know it's safe to remove?”
“When you don't receive a [Resist Crush] level for a day we will know. Marie will not adjust the corset until that happens.”
My previous understanding was that I would only be wearing this from before breakfast to the evening. Any longer might mentally lock a need for the corset, I would end up feeling lost without it. “How long?”
“Do understand, my first fitting, I gained one level a day for a week. Your grandmother took a month to stop leveling after starting at two a day.”
That's a lot, and yet she hasn't said how long she thinks it will be. Also I wasn't significantly more pronounced than grandmother. I mean it was just an inch more from her ratio…an inch in my size. Okay it might be significantly more than grandmother. I ask my question.
“Why did grandma only gain two per.”
“She was not brought to her current size initially, she did not have the mana size you do now. The more the corset is forced against your natural shape the more mana it will consume passively to prevent injury. Marie, Briknae, and myself were watching your reserves to see if your mana total would start dipping. You stopped before that happened.”
“My natural shape…?”
“Is what will be redefined as the leveling slows, it is why it will slow. Your body will conform to the shape, your system will remember it and it will become a part of you. Afterwards the corset adjustment will be like your strength sleeves, you won't change but you will gain more levels as your body resists.”
“Why not take it slower than like grandmother?”
Mother smiles wryly, “Well you are gaining five levels a day currently, that is something to consider. Every refitting my mother did, she gained less reduction for the amount of mana she had to spend and spent longer times outside of them. She both had to level and have multiple refittings before she was satisfied. You on the other hand are where you are happy and will not need to keep redefining the shape.”
I smile at that, it is a nice shape. The smile leaves my mother's face.
“Should your skill stop leveling because you are at a constitution threshold we won't know if your body has adjusted yet. It may require you to spend a stat point to go across a threshold. If we don't do that, leveling a different skill to get you to the threshold could be an option as well.”
At the rate I'm going I will have to rely on [Resist Heat]. Though my original [Tough Skin] is close to a tier up as well.
“I don't want to rely on my levels to keep me ahead of thresholds, I prefer to level skills.”
She smiles sadly at that, “It will take longer to adjust without the constant system gains to reinforce, but this already was going to take too long a time, an additional month or two will not change the end result.”
Right, I'm pretty damned to have a mental lock for corsets by the end of this. The constant hug calms my thoughts on this, it feels warm. I can live with that, I will have to.
“So why not warn me ahead of time.”
“These magics works the best when the wearer is happy where they are. If you wanted more subconsciously the corset would still tighten while we weren't monitoring which in turn could have surpassed your current mana recovery. My mother struggled with keeping it above her mana recovery, but she was older before she started. On the other hand, if you sought to go tighter in pursuit of greater skill gains you could subconsciously reject the garment and cut off the magic and thus injure yourself.”
So they wanted me to go to where I was happy since that would be mentally reinforcing and since I had the mana reserves they weren't concerned that I would go too far. She still hasn't said how long.
“So how long.” She frowns, “I am alright with this being my forever, I'm just curious.”
She bites her lip, then looks me in my eyes, "Probably a year, we may never be able to break a mental block formed that long. Having children will come with additional mental strain due to having to go without for so long.”
I expect so, at that point I imagine it will feel like I had removed a limb throughout a pregnancy.
“It's alright, I'll suffer it to make you a grandmother.” I give her my biggest shit eating grin.
She narrows her eyes and throws me on the bed and tickles my feet. It's hard to breathe through the laughter but a notification box popped up for my effort.
You have gained the skill [Stong Lungs] Basic 1
Strong Lungs - the ability to breathe
Basic - every breathe you take has more air
Gain 1 exp
Still laughing, there is a skill for everything.
You have gained [Resist Crush] Basic 6
Gain 1 exp
I stopped laughing at that.
