This is a daily reminder: You have 2 unallocated stat points

  Another eye stretching. Sam broke the arm of his friend, he wanted to break more. He was stopped before he did. He never apologized. I would have. Distinct.

  I got my work out clothes on, my mostly blue hair in a bun, a smile on my face and I head to Barbain's room. She wakes as I enter, I ask if she needs anything. She just murmur nothing. I lead her to her mirror, sit her down and start brushing her hair. It doesn't take long, stupid straight hair. I ask her how she wants her hair, she still murmurs nothing, I give her pigs tails cause I think it looks cute.

  “Do you want to join in our exercises?”

  She nods. I get her changed out of her nightgown. I get her workout clothes onto her and lead her outside to the gate. Marie is there waiting.

  “That's a very cute hair style you've chosen, Barbain.”

  Barbain opens her eyes more and sees a pigtail to the left, and then right.

  “Saraaaa, why did you make me look like I'm twelve?”

  I shrugged my shoulders, “You didn't state a preference so I went with cute, who doesn't like cute.”

  She squinting at me, then she gives a thoughtful look. She turns to Marie.

  “Is Sara taller?”

  Did my night affirmations work so soon, I must double my efforts this time, two hundred. Marie studies me as she touches my strength sleeves.

  “Sara appears to be trying her best to annoy our local tailor. Come lets do our laps.” That's confirmation if I ever heard it. Three hundred affirmations.

  After our laps, Barbain watches as I do my practice swings. When I finish I hand my metal sword to her and she does eight hundred. It's one thing to do twice as many as I do but in half the time, she getting pig tails for the rest of the week. The sparring ring is occupied, I see Cecelia and Francis squaring off.

  “Go get him mom.”

  Cecelia smiles, Francis panics.

  “Don't encourage her ooophm.”

  Seems the time he had to panic was enough time for mom to put her wooden sword into his midsection. They continue from there but it's rather one sided. When they are done, mother motions me forward, Barbain interrupts.

  “Mind if I spar with Sara, sister?”

  Cecelia walks forward and hands her the wooden sword. Then she tells Barbain.

  “Avoid her mid section but don't hold back otherwise she needs two more resist blunts to get to a threshold.”

  Thanks mom, love you too. I square off against Barbain. I do decent enough to start with. I block her strikes, she blocks mine. She starts to strike faster. I block them but I'm unable to respond. Soon my breathing can't keep up with her assault and I start taking hits. I decided to lean into a hit and lash out, it misses. She is behind me, swipes at my arm, hard. I drop my sword and massage my arm.

  “You okay Sara, I didn't break it did I?”

  “Not broken, it's fine.”

  “You don't seem to be using any dodge skills.”

  “There are dodge skills?”

  I pick up my sword.

  “What do mean, of course there is, what sort of kid grows up without a dodge skill.”

  Guess I never explained my title.

  “I wasn't able to learn new skills from ages six to ten.”

  “Wait, really.”

  “Yes, let's keep going. I still need one more resist blunt.”

  She helped me get that last skill up, and two more after. As we are winding down my core grows. It eats the rest of mothers mental mana care package.

  You have gained [Mental Mana Core] Apprentice 1

  Apprentice - you can now draw mana from your core

  Gain 4 exp

  I surrender and then hop over to where Cecelia was watching. She gives me a bemused look.

  “My core has grown again mom, please replenish my store.”

  She places her hand on my chest and does so. “This was all so you could level your convert skill not mine, there that's as much as I can spare for now. You may need to ask mother for more.”

  “Sara has a core?”

  “That she does brother, if she hadn't gone down to such a small waist she would be supplying her own mana, instead mother and I have been keeping her hungry little core fed.”

  [Resist Crush] has become [Resist Crush 2] Basic 1

  Resist Crush 2 - the greater ability to resist crushing forces

  Basic - your small waist is perfect

  Gain 3 exp

  I agree system. Cecelia motions me closer, then she places her hand on my sternum while her green mana eyes turn on.

  “Seems your organs are still in motion. Your body is still in the process of absorbing your lower lungs. I don't see any issues I'll need to intervene with so far.”

  She has been checking daily ever since I fused the bone. I give her my thanks and return to my duties.

  I walk Barbain inside where I wipe her down, help her into her own corset, she has to adjust it, as my mana usage is still restricted. I redo her hair, she keeps the pig tails, I dress her in a nice blouse skirt combo. I then attend to my own needs, I did end up with my stick cloth, I do my best to wipe myself down. Bun reset, work dress on and to the kitchen.

  We go through the motions of breakfast, Barbain does not protest as I formally attend to her needs, I think she resigned to me being a mini-Marie. After she is fed, I eat my own meal in the kitchen and help clean, Velner assistance makes it too easy and I pout about it. He gives me a strange look.

  “Don't worry Sara, the outside garden will need a lot of work today."

  -----

  I'm weeding the garden, strong grip is helping but it's a slog to get grandmother's garden ready for the party. While there are more events than just this backyard jamboree I haven't debuted yet and so I am just the background. Another weed is gone. No exp though, wonder how much does a plant need to grow to have a soul. Will have to ask Bianca later.

  The work is grueling, after weeding, Velner and I move tables as Marie directed. I get a new notification.

  You have gained [Strong Lungs] Apprentice 1

  Apprentice - you may of lost half your lungs but we'll make up for it

  Gain 2 exp

  I hope so system, willing the notification closed causes a new one to appear.

  You have gained [Staus Screen] Competent 1

  Competent - able to customize the screen including color and known language, caution should competency in said language lack, it may no longer be possible to understand the status screen

  Per raised to 30

  Men raised to 44

  Well thats a warning, guess no setting it to japanese. I so really want to mess with my UI. But these chairs won't move themselves. I set my status screen to purple.

  “Sara, come, you need to make lunch.”

  -----

  You have gained [Cooking] Apprentice 1

  Apprentice - well there still room for improvement

  Gain 2 exp

  Hmm, I agree system, maybe not that purple, makes me think of mental mana. I will my notifications to be black and my stats page to a darker purple.

  “Sara, the fowl is burning.”

  Shit, I move the chicken off the heat, guess that's my portion. Room for improvement indeed. I start a new piece.

  -----

  Serving lunch goes alright, I make sure to give my best attempts to mom and Bianca. Francis speaks up.

  “I feel the quality of the meal has fallen.”

  I hold my face stoic behind Barbain.

  You have gained [Acting] Basic 2

  Gain 2 exp

  “My apologies Franics, Sara handles the lunch, she is improving. I ask that you be patient in this matter.” Marie sells me out.

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  Francis is getting looks from both mother and Bianca.

  “Of course, I look forward to my niece continuing improvement.”

  “I second that, may she vastly improve by next we eat.” Et tu Barbain?

  My confidence shattered. I help clean up.

  -----

  After eating my mistake in the kitchen, I really do need to improve, Marie sends me back to Barbain. She reminds me that my contract gives me the afternoon off till the evening meal. I pout, she flicks me in the forehead.

  I'm still rubbing my forehead when I find Barbain.

  “I'm at your service, Barbain.”

  “Nope, none of that, mother already told me you have no duties until dinner.”

  I grumble at that. Marie continues being pushy. “Come on, let's get you out of that dress and into something more relaxed, then we can head out.”

  “I like my work dress.”

  Barbain gives me a rather skeptical look. I blush as I continue, “It shows off my waist.”

  Barbain rolls her eyes, “Fine, we're still going out, no bun, do you have a different title you can set yourself to, I don't want everyone to be scrimping and trying to curry favor.”

  “I can't change my title, it's attached to my pariah title.” I explain the various theories around my title.

  “I can't see your pariah title though.” She pouts.

  “I'm not giving you a dose of worthlessness just so you can see my title.”

  “I am your mistress, I demand to be dosed.”

  “I'm off duty.” I head outside.

  “Aw.” Barbain follows.

  -----

  “So how is it that I have pig tails and you're just letting your hair flow free.”

  “It will be less work when I have to put it back into a bun.”

  “I thought you wanted work.”

  I shrug my shoulders and we continue walking the street. More decorations have been put up, most of the street vendors have been setting up the best product for display. I stop at the jewelry vendor, looking at the earrings. Barbain got some simple hoops in her ears.

  “Not till your debut, best not to look and create desire till then.” Aw, Barbain a kill joy.

  “Why the wait?”

  “Jewelry is for adults.”

  She flicks her earrings, it produces a ringing sound, her haughty expression sours my opinion of her. The world is mad to consider fifteen as adulthood, I have proof of the madness in front of me. Barbain laughs at my consternation face.

  We check out some fabrics after, a bunch of lookie loos with no desire to buy. We see Briknae perusing some of fabrics as well.

  “Greetings Miss Briknae, how goes the day?”

  “Hi Briknae.”

  “Greeting Miss Blacknell.”

  She turns to me, her eye scans from head to toe. She sees the hem of my skirt is revealing more of my ankles. She puts an annoyed look on her face.

  “You've grown an inch, lass, don't bother me about it unless your shins start showing.”

  I smile, hoping that day comes sooner. Maybe four hundred affirmations. We move on after we say our goodbyes.

  “I didn't know you went by Blacknell.”

  “Ah noble family names tend to follow the one who birth ya.”

  I feel an itch to zap Barbain for her loose standards with speech. I catch that thought, o god I really am becoming Marie. I never even have touched that rod and I'm thinking such. The bullied becomes the bully. My thoughts go to Sam, and I shudder.

  “Something wrong?”

  “My thoughts made a connection that I didn't like.”

  “Hate when that happens.”

  I smile, me too. Feeling peckish, I see a food stand. I motion Barbain towards it.

  “You're already hungry?”

  “I eat like a bird.”

  She looks at my waist.

  “I can imagine.”

  She buys two skewers and hands me one, I protest saying I can buy my own. She flicks me in the forehead.

  “I'm your aunt, I'm allowed to indulge my niece.”

  Rubbing my forehead with one hand while eating my skewer in the other, I give her my best glare. As an almost eleven year old, hey when you pass the half way mark you're almost there, my glare is more comical then menacing. Barbain laughs. I'm full with half a skewer left, I hand it back to Barbain, which she promptly finishes.

  “Bird, indeed.”

  I spy Tom doing patrols with Jacob today. I check to see if he is still an apprentice.

  14 human Guard Apprentice

  You have gained [Identify] Basic 7

  Gain 1 exp

  Nice, a skill up, still an apprentice though. I wave. He comes over with Jacob.

  “Is there something you want to report ma'am.”

  I giggle, “Hi, Tom.”

  He looks at my face, his eyes widen, he looks over all my changes.

  “Sara what happened to you, your title changed, your hair, your waist.”

  Aw, he didn't notice I was taller. “Apparently accepting mana from mother changed my hair. I'm training as an attendant for my future schooling needs.”

  “You allowed her to infuse you?” He looks sad.

  I reach up and rub his arm, “You're still my brother, Tom, look there are still some of our mother's golden strands in here.” I find one and show it to him. He smiles, still sad though.

  “Alright, but what did they do to your waist?”

  Rude, waist 2.0 is perfect. Barbain speaks up while I'm frowning

  “She did that to herself, you don't see me trying to put my mama to shame.”

  I stick my tongue out at Barbain, she just laughs.

  “Excuse me, and you are miss?”

  “Blacknell, Barbain Blacknell, I'm Sara's aunt.”

  He straightens up his posture.

  “My apologies for being so casual. “

  She waves him off, “Mama, holds rank not me. Hell, the next one most likely to gain rank is Sara.”

  I pale at that, “I thought tier two is only treated like low rank nobility.”

  “Ya well tier three automatically becomes nobility, and I don't expect you to stop being a prodigy.”

  I'm a prodigy? That can't be right, I can see that Tom doesn't believe it either. I'm totally going to have Bianca explain this tonight. I have to form another mana core to make the jump to three right? Wonder what aspect will that one be. Life? Lightning? Fire would be good, if only to reheat soup. Barbain flicks me in the forehead.

  “Ow, what.”

  “Your brother asked you a question.”

  I turn to him, eyes inquiring.

  “I thought you were training to be a blacksmith.”

  “I can be many things.” I say with a huff.

  “Spoken like a tier three who has all the time in the world.”

  I'm not sure to be confused or annoyed. I go with perplexed.

  -----

  Today I bathed Barbain instead of just a wipe down. This was before dinner. I took a few flicks to my forehead for being shy, she told me I best get used to it by the time I go to school. Dinner was no hassle, no complaints about the food, I wasn't the one who cooked. It was not long until I was with Barbain and Grandma Bianca again for our tea party.

  Cecelia sent me up with four cups and plates which was weird. After three perfect pours, I take my snack and hold the snack plate out to grandma. The door opens and I turn, my finger sandwich being nibbled on in my right hand while my left still outstretched with the snack plate. It's Marie.

  I quickly turn, and place my snack back on my plate and both hands on the plate I present it proper to our [Lady].

  “Your snack, my [Lady].”

  “That phrase is for serving tea not snacks Sara, and you're off duty.” I can feel the eye roll from Marie as she said this.

  I turned to her, “Are you off duty as well, [Head Attendant]?”

  She narrows her eyes at me, I can already feel the zap approaching. Grandma Bianca saves me.

  “Can't get her to relax if her supervisor is in here being proper now can she.”

  The eyes get narrower still, then a sigh. “Fine, but you will be feeling this later, Bianca.”

  I look between them and the smile I see on Bianca's face makes me understand not to delve deeper. Besides, I got like, so many other questions to ask.

  But first the perfect pour, I take the empty cup that was left and I stare closely at this. Closer than ever. This pour will be perfect squared. I managed it, I think there is not a single drop of liquid more beyond that hidden line Marie forced me to. A perfect pour for Marie.

  You have gained the skill [Attention to Detail] Basic 1

  Attention to Detail - through maniacal levels of focus you see things even a little off

  Basic - the ability to repeat perfection becomes easier

  Per raised to 35

  Holy shit, I unlocked a tier five skill. I didn't think this skill was real, I'm quite sure I made it up as a joke. Wait, what it mean maniacal? I feel slighted even as I'm being rewarded. Does my system, my reflection of soul, prove I can't just be happy at succeeding at something. Nope, I am happy even if I noticed that I am picking on myself. Is it the skill doing this to me. Am I stuck in a spiral of introspection now?

  I feel a strong flick to my forehead, I swear they're going to make a divet. My hands shot up to rub the spot. Marie cup is still in my right hand, the perfect pour is now on my face.

  “Aw, it was super perfect, perfect squared.”

  “Are you okay? That's like still steaming.” Barbain concerned.

  I wave her off, “I got [Resist Heat] working at a blacksmith.”

  “How can it be perfect if you never serve it.”

  Oh, I must have been holding it for too long. Marie has already pulled the liquid from my face and is walking to the office's window. I place the cup back down, examine the dregs that are there and pour again. The perfect pour is repeated. I place the cup where Marie will be seated.

  “That was a lot faster than you usually do it.” Barbain says surprised.

  “Eh really, I wonder if it's because of the skill I just got.”

  “You got a skill from pouring tea?” Barbain gone from surprised to incredulous.

  “No, I got it from pouring the perfect cup of tea, squared.”

  “And what skill would that be?” Marie has returned and taken her seat.

  “[Attention to Detail].”

  “O, you poor child.” Bianca this time.

  I tilt my head in confusion. Barbain asks the question before I do.

  “Why is the skill bad?”

  Marie answers, “Nothing wrong with it, you just end up noticing everything is slightly off, and I do mean everything.”

  Bianca looks at me concerned, “You've been very fastidious Sara, I'm just concerned that having even greater perception of your actions might cause you issues.”

  “Eh, tier five skill that makes it easier to repeat perfection is fine by me.”

  “It's tier five!?! And you don't think you're a prodigy.”

  “I totally am not, my skill list is worse than any of my peers.”

  Marie pulls out a stone, “While you're missing some obvious skills, you have been coming along, touch the stone Sara.”

  “I don't want to, I'm off duty.”

  Maria seems to twitch her forehead at that. Bianca steps in.

  “Is there a reason you don't want us to see your status, dear?”

  “Um well I um.”

  “Out with it.” Marie again.

  “I tiered up [Status Screen] and I'm still fiddling with it.”

  “You have ten minutes to get it presentable, and put it in [Common], if i hear you say charisma instead of presence again I'm forgoing the lightning rod.”

  Bare handed lightning, not that, I saw the scorch mark she left on Barbain. O god is she going to do it if I'm not done by her deadline. Bianca even made an illusionary hourglass, ten minute glass, I see an illusionary grain fall and panic.

  I pour my all into the screen. Going to shift the stats. Separate skills into their stat types, why are those two their own category, maybe I can see what stats they give. Hey I can. Huh didn't know that skill gave those stats, hmm maybe multi stat skills will be in combo skill section, there, lets have them display their gains. I think I'll order them by tier as well. Might as well show the tier too. Maybe only if they're not tier 1. O, lets pull out the languages. Maybe a resist column? Na, then I have to label what stat each resist provided. It feels like it's been hours but I touch the stone.

  Tier 1 : Human lvl 9 - 2 stat point unassigned. [NOTIFICATIONS]

  Title:[Voiceless Junior Attendant]

  Strength - 23 Constitution - 40 [Intelligence] - 55

  Agility - 26 Presence - 31 Soul - 79

  [Perception] - 50 Mental Fortitude - 45

  Languages: [T3:English] Intermediate 9 [Math] Intermediate 8 [T3:Common] Apprentice 5

  Strength Skills: [Sword Arm] Competent 4 [Strength Training] Apprentice 9 [Yell] Apprentice 6 [Strong Grip] Apprentice 4 [Strong Lungs] Apprentice 2 [Throw Knife] Basic 4

  Agility Skills: [Running] Competent 7 [Fire Tender] Competent 2 [Cooking] Apprentice 3

  Perception Skills: [T5:Attention to Detail] Basic 4 [T2:Mental Mana Sight] Apprentice 5 [Arcane Mana Sight] Competent 2 [Identify] Basic 7

  Constitution Skills: [T3:Resist Crush 2] Basic 3 [Resist Blunt Force] Intermediate 2 [Resist Heat] Apprentice 5 [Tough Skin] Basic 9 [Lesser Stanima] Basic 3 [Resist Pierce] Basic 1

  Presence Skills: [T2:Acting] Basic 2 [Atlas Noble Etiquette] Intermediate 2 [Tell Lie] Apprentice 2

  Mental Fortitude Skills: [T3:Resist Mental Attacks 2] Basic 6 [T2:Convert Arcane to Mental Mana] Apprentice 4 [Resist Lightning] Apprentice 2

  Intelligence Skills: [T2:Mana Manipulation:External] Basic 1 [Mana Manipulation:Self] Competent 3

  Soul Skills: [T2:Mental Mana Core] Apprentice 1 [Pariah Aura Manipulation] Apprentice 6

  Combo Skills: [T2:Status Screen 1 Per 1 Men] Competent 4 [T2:Shape Metal Str 1 Con 1] Basic 8

  Earned Titles: [Voiceless Junior Attendant] [Apprentice Blacksmith]

  Ah, that's nice. I look at everyone, Barbain seems shocked, Marie is studying my work, and Bianca hiding a bemused look behind her tea cup. It's weird how their pores stand out.

  “Did she really just touch the stone right as the last grain fell, and I thought she just got [Attention to Detail].”

  “What do you mean? Like I just got it.”

  “Then why is it already level four?”

  What the… O, there are some notifications I missed.

  “O I got the perception minor boon, when focused time slows. Weird, doesn't that happen anyways.”

  “It's now in a more literal sense, your perception of time slows when you focus, now it literally is slowing or in another way your thinking and perceiving faster. The ability will scale off perception, obviously, but only really works if you're focused on a single task. The moment you swap tasks, time will snap back in place. Like right now you were so focused you did an hours work in ten minutes. Your [Attention to Detail] could make that monstrous but you are still limited by how fast you can move or think, why are you shuddering.”

  “I think I was working on that for ten hours. I'm afraid to go to bed tonight, I have to be focusing to go through two hundred days right now, right? Ten hours in ten minutes is like sixty times. I'm going to see Sara and die tonight. I'm going to meet me and kill myself. I’m scared grandmas.”

  It feels like my aura has contracted to a point on my heart, it's too much its too much its—-

  “Sara Maxwell, you will always remember that you are Sara Maxwell.”

  Time slows, I hear each word said, I could negate it, spend all the mana I have to negate it and return to the abyss, go back to being nothing, worthless. I spend an eternity on the choice.