This is a daily reminder: You have 2 unallocated stat points
Another three months of Sam and then I feel another pinch and then a stretching in my left eye. This night felt longer, but I still woke up at the same time. Guess grandma was right about having more intelligence would make me process more. It's just more unsettling. Am I the dream?
I look at my notifications that happened during the night. I saw my crush notifications and I shrug, it will take as long as it has to. Then I found the one for my mental sight. I curse and rush to the mirror. My purple left eye is starting to form its shape as a cat eye. It's not there yet but by the end of apprentice it will match my arcane eyes.
“Good morning Sara, I see your mental sight has progressed, did you gain more resists as well.” My mother is behind me looking at my reflection.
I must have woken her in the chair she was sitting in during my mad scramble to the mirror. She stayed with me through the night. She told me adjusting to sleeping is difficult as your sleeping body doesn't yet understand how to use your lungs under such constriction. I don't recall waking but I asked her anyways.
“For the first two hours your breathing hitched every so many breaths but you didn't wake, you adjusted after that and had steady breathing for the rest of the night. If you do well tonight, I won’t bother monitoring the night after. How many resists did you gain?”
Operation distract mother failed. I know the answer will cause concern but being a guard captain it's not like I could lie to her either. I go for another distraction.
“Will you be alright staying awake for so long?”
“I have enough constitution to handle a few nights of missed sleep, how many?”
Damn, I murmured the answer.
“Sara.” She is getting too good at that tone.
“Four.”
She gives me a brave smile, “It's alright, you will adjust in time. Ready for some exercise?”
I pale at that.
“Aw sweetie, you didn't think you would avoid physical conditioning just because you trapped yourself in your corset did you? In fact, we need to raise your [Resist Blunt] skill, don't we?”
Her smile is making me rethink who the biggest sadist is around here.
-----
“Ah princess, I see you gird yourself as the nobility do. Glad to see our work together is holding up so well.”
She taps my waist with a knuckle, seeing the tunic I'm wearing flap against the smoothness of my waist. The pants under the tunic are cinched to my waist which leaves them rather bunched. More work for Briknae.
I do recall Belna had made long strips from the metal plate we forged together. Guess those became my stays. I smile at the thought that I had a hand in it all.
“Come tend to the fire, today if your strong grip proceeds to apprentice we will have you pound out a basic plate.”
I got the fire happy, and then brought over some more heated iron from the furnace. I take my position then lean closer still, I had to use my legs for this, my waist is quite locked.
“Do not be so over eager, apprentice, it would not do if I end up striking you instead of the iron.”
“Sorry mistress, I was hoping to further my [Resist Heat] faster.”
I pull back in a straight sitting position. Belna raises an eyebrow.
“I just prefer to raise that resistance over blunt, mistress, mother was quite aggressive this morning.”
Belna nods at this, “Ah yes, your goal for wine. It will come soon enough, no need to hurry.”
I smile at the concern, to be honest I had forgotten about wine. I still feel it best to avoid drinking till after the memories settle. I just don't like the idea of using [Resist Blunt] as a way to break constitution thresholds.
You have gained [Strong Grip] Intermediate 1
Intermediate - Gripping an item strongly takes less stamina
Gain 2 exp
I excitedly told Belna my news, “I did it, Belna, I did it.”
I'm zapped before Belna responds. I'm rubbing my arm.
“Say it properly, young miss.”
I hurmph and then notice Marie starting to aim again.
“Mistress Belna, I have succeeded at gaining the next tier of [Strong Grip].”
I stuck my tongue out at Marie, and she zapped me right on it. I fall over and rubbing my tongue to find feeling again. Belna is laughing.
You have gained [Resist Lightning] Apprentice 2
Gain 2 exp
“It is good that you have reached this milestone, apprentice. Go tend to the fire and fetch more water, you have more lessons to learn from Marie.”
Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.
“Yes, mistress.”
------
When I returned I saw that my chair had been moved and a small round table had been placed in front of it. Marie walks to the box she carried in this afternoon.
“To me, young miss.”
I walk over. She has pulled out a tea set and laid it on the floor. Then two cups, a tall tin which I assume contains tea leaves, and another flatter box which I hope my snacks are in, a ladle and three small dishes.
“This is a standard enchanted tea pot, you are to ladle water into this portion here, then place one scoop of tea leaves into this receptacle. When both chambers are secure, you channel mana through the handle. It will then glow red, when the tea is finished it will then become green. As time passes the tea set will become blue, you can once again channel some mana to warm the tea, which returns it to its green shine. You are to bring the tea pot to the table and then the cup. Fill the cup to this spot, use a single pour to do this. It will not do to have you tip the pot multiple times for a single cup. After you have properly poured each cup you are to place the tea set in the center of the table and cup in front of each guest at your arms length from the edge of the table. Then return to position behind their mistress to the side and await further instruction, hands clasped at the waist.”
That was a lot, was Marie telling me this so that I would understand proper decorum from attendants so I would know when I was being slighted. Marie has gone and sat in my chair, it feels as if her presence has grown. She speaks with more authority.
"Attendant, prepare my tea.”
She is not serious … is she? Marie begins to remove her rod. I hurry to the tea pot and bring it to the basin. I bend my knees to lower myself to close enough to lower the tea pot into the water. Before I get that far I take a zap. It takes everything not to drop the tea pot. Right ladle, I set the tea pot down and retrieve the ladle. Filling the chamber with five scoops, I get the tin and place a scoop of tea leaves in the smaller receptacle. My mana then flows through the handle. When the pot is green I take it to the table and then return for the cup. I pour the tea in front of Marie and she promptly uses the water rod to put the tea back into the pot.
“You poured too much, again.”
It takes me seven tries to get to the right spot in one pour. Too little was returned, multiple pours were returned, my sixth try the tea was cold and I needed to reheat the pot. As I set the tea pot to the center and then her cup at the place I think is right I make to step back.
“Do you mean to disgrace me, attendant, my guest has yet to receive theirs.”
My eyes widen and I pour another cup, third try this time, and bring it to Belna. I then return behind Marie and to the side. The presence around Marie fades.
“A decent effort for your first try, remember when you place tea to your employer you are to say ‘Your tea, mistress’, if they have a noble title use that instead. You are not to say anything to their guest unless spoken to directly, even then your answer should be curt and direct and if need be deferred to your employer. Now plate half the snacks from the box, place a plate in front of me and our guest, then bring the plated snacks and present them first to me and then our guest. We will take what we want, you are then to return your position. You may sample the snacks but make sure to be subtle about it, break a bite size piece and eat slowly. If you notice my cup is empty, fill it, after doing so if you notice the tea pot is empty you are to ask ‘Would you like me to brew more tea, mistress?’ If you are given a negative response you may clear the pot away from the table, any empty cups afterwards are to be collected promptly afterwards as are any plates.”
At that, Marie's presence flares again and I do my best Marie impression. I had to refill the cups twice, and I still took multiple tries. In the end my break wasn't much of a break, but after my lesson I was allowed to eat my snacks. I then tended to the fire. Marie returned to her usual spot, always standing, after her lesson I have a greater understanding of her role.
“Come apprentice, learning to be Marie will wait till you bring more buckets, it's time to learn how to shape metal now.”
She sits me in her seat and hands me the hammer. She then goes and pulls out a piece of iron with her bare hands. I wonder what level of heat resistance she has.
“I will hold the metal for you today, tomorrow you can use the tongs. Do well enough and you will be in charge of the basic prep work of initial shapings. For this initial work do not use mana, infusing mana is for metal that is expected to have enchantments carved. I've been informed that your mana needs are to be strict for a while longer so learning basic shaping is the goal. Now begin.”
I brought the hammer down, the clang satisfying to hear.
“Grip the anvil for leverage apprentice, just don't hit your thumb.”
I do so, and continue hammering.
You have gained the skill [Shape Metal] Basic 1
Shape Metal - the ability to mold metal into desired shapes
Basic - you can make basic shapes of heated metal
Gain 2 exp
It's a tier two skill, wonder what stat it gives. Belna is looking at my work.
“Mistress Belna, I've achieved [Shape Metal].”
She takes some time studying my work before she says anything. My arms are tired so the reprieve is welcome. I wait till she is ready. She returns the plate I hammered into the furnace, and then walks over to me, she shoos me out of her seat. Then she takes her hammer from me and places it on the anvil. Then she speaks
“Your work is passable Sara, you will be in charge of initial shaping. As you shape I will in turn shape you. What is passable today will not be passable tomorrow, my standards will grow and you will grow to match it. You are now my apprentice in full and I expect you to listen, watch and learn.”
You have acquired the title [Apprentice Blacksmith]
Apprentice Blacksmith - you've embarked on learning the trade craft of shaping metal, and have been taken under the wing of a Master Blacksmith. One additional Strength and One additional Constitution level when leveling up.
I am hugging Belna, some quiet tears and thank yous could be heard. Marie does not interrupt. Belna separates me from her and pats me on my head.
“That is all well and good Sara, but the fire needs tending, the basin filled and I fear you must go back to being Marie attendant.”
-----
“Marie was even stricter the second time, there was no break between tea and snacks and I was to perform it all while Marie reprimanded me the entire time. I understand it was to give me perspective and know when I am being slighted, but it was a lot”
My grandmother shakes her head, “While it's good to have that insight, that is not what this training is for.”
I'm confused at that, “Then what am I being trained for?”
“To be an attendant of course. When you are to attend the mage college you will find employment either with a teacher or more likely one of your fellow students. The Maxwell family is not landed nobility, my rank is the lowest to be found in this Queendom. You will find greater protection if you are to become someone retainer for your duration. I myself served a Baroness daughter while I learned." She sounds rather wistful.
O, guess that's why Belna stopped calling me princess after I served her tea. Actually it explains why Marie insisted on referring to Belna as mistress and not master smith.
“You do not seem upset.”
“No grandmother, I grew up in a village, if I must serve to learn then I will do so as I would never have received such a chance otherwise.”
“You have the proper mindset then, Barbain was rather annoyed at the thought herself but she was eight when she started training. In that vein, since you have much to learn and less time, you will be in charge of attending me at lunch. You are not to be familiar at this time and use my title when addressing me. I might be lax at times but you are never to be, consider any moment I am to be me testing you. Now what do you say, Sara.” Her countenance became commanding and severe.
“As you say, my [Lady].”
Junior Attendant - you are to train as a part time Attendant, may you serve lunch well. No additional stats when leveling up.
