This is a daily reminder: You have 4 unallocated stat points
I'll never see two unallocated again. My daily reminder has tiered up as well. I'm trying my best not to think about last night's life. I'm failing as much as Frank's daily self compels.
Frank makes me hate mental magic more. Are the slavers less culpable now? Of them all, only Randan seems like he may of been a decent person before Frank mind fucked him. Then again, even with no emotional consideration, condemning others for your own greed is bullshit. It's not like that compel lasted forever. Vance on the other hand was always a cruel man, he simply had an outlet that wasn't condemnable. A terrible person to terrible people. Until Frank pointed him at innocents.
This confirms just dying in my aura enough to be pulled into me. I'm never letting my aura out again. I have more to tell grandma Bianca and more to ask.
-----
After breakfast, I'm back in the garden. Fixing the garden where flowers inadvertently got trampled. Being the lowest rank gets grandma no respect. I hear Marie from across the way.
“Sara, take the tablecloths and clean them, you know where they are stored.”
In a cupboard in the kitchen. She is getting a lot of use out of my hearing. I just want to ignore every conversation around me but since she decided this was a great way to issue commands, I'm forced to listen. Francis is talking to Barbain, its inane stuff about how school is going. Bianca scritting at some parchment.
I take the tablecloths and start scrubbing. It takes up my time till lunch.
-----
I ended up heading to Bianca's office again after my lunch. I made salad with grilled chicken. There were no complaints today, which was nice but it seems they only get excited for my pancakes.
Barbain catches sight of me before I enter the office. “Sara, let's go back into town.”
“I'm afraid Sara can't be outside without either me, our [Lady] or Cecelia.” Marie vetoes Barbain.
“Ah sister gave her the [Identify] blocker necklace, she will be fine.”
My new necklace, Cecelia, gave it to me last night. Barbain chided me on looking at jewelry and now I have earrings and a necklace.
“She will not be fine, that blocker only prevents people knowing exactly what she is, the absence makes her just as much of a target.”
“She can defend herself.” I can? News to me.
“Barbain do you wish for her to compound her burden?”
Marie taking a rather serious tone. I'm doing my best to be demure and out of the way. Barbain backs down.
“No.”
Marie takes a softer tone. “Barbain, I know you wish to help Sara out of her shell, but we don't know enough to ensure it's safe for her yet. Besides, she has a visitor approaching. Join her in our [Lady] office while I let him in.”
After getting seated with Bianca, I hear Marie open the foyer front door to a rather heavy stepping person. Guild Master Reginald's voice sounds out loud and clear.
“Greetings Black Pale Lightning, Is there a reason this could not have taken place inside the hall?”
I snort and start laughing at Marie's adventurer name, will I be courting death to ask if she came up with it herself. Barbain looks at me strangely, Bianca is just looking away trying not to meet my eyes. I think I have to ask.
“The [Lady] felt it prudent to have this conversation in private. Please follow me to my [Lady] Office.”
I listen to their footsteps as they get closer. Marie opens the door and ushers the Guild Master in. He scans the room, he sees me then asks a question.
“Why have you placed a [Identify] blocker trinket on Scratches here?”
Barbain whispers to me, “Why does he call you scratches?”
I wave my wrist which bears the edges of my scars in her face, she gets an O face of understanding. Bianca replies to Reginald.
“If you want the answer to that question, you will need to swear a vow. Otherwise you can simply induct Sara back as a Tier two, she has [Common] now.”
The guild master squints at Bianca, then comes to a decision. “I, [Hilgurd Adventurer Guild Master] Reginald vow to not reveal what I learn of Sara Maxwell today, unless given leave from [Lady] Bianca Maxwell and Sara Maxwell.”
You have been given a vow of confidence from [Hilgurd Adventurer Guild Master] Reginald
“Remove the mana from your jewelry, Sara.”
I do as grandma Bianca asks. After looking at me for a moment, Reginald pulls out his status stone. After getting a nod from Bianca, I touch it.
Tier 2 : Sara Maxwell Hybrid lvl 1, 11 - 4 stat point unassigned. [NOTIFICATIONS]
Title:[Voiceless Junior Attendant]
Strength - 28 Constitution - 49 [Intelligence] - 105
Agility - 41 Presence - 41 Soul - 126
[Perception] - 56 [Mental Fortitude] - 63
Languages: [T3:English] Intermediate 9 [Math] Intermediate 8 [T3:Common] Intermediate 1 [T3:Quintarl?ne] Intermediate 9
Resistance Boosted: [Resist Mental Attacks 2]
Strength Skills: [Sword Arm] Competent 4 [Strength Training] Competent 4 [Yell] Apprentice 6 [Strong Grip] Apprentice 4 [Strong Lungs] Apprentice 5 [Throw Knife] Basic 4
Agility Skills: [Embroidery] Intermediate 6 [Cooking] Intermediate 4 [Running] Competent 7 [Fire Tender] Competent 2
Perception Skills: [T5:Attention to Detail] Basic 7 [T2:Mental Mana Sight] Competent 9 [Arcane Mana Sight] Competent 3 [Identify] Basic 7
Constitution Skills: [T3:Resist Crush 2] Apprentice 3 [Resist Blunt Force] Intermediate 4 [Resist Pierce] Competent 6 [Resist Heat] Apprentice 5 [Tough Skin] Basic 9 [Lesser Stanima] Basic 3
Presence Skills: [T10:Permanent Soul Sense] Basic 2 [T2:Acting] Basic 3 [Atlas Noble Etiquette] Intermediate 2 [Tell Lie] Apprentice 2
Mental Fortitude Skills: [T3:Resist Mental Attacks 2] Apprentice 3 [T2:Convert Arcane to Mental Mana] Apprentice 8 [Resist Lightning] Apprentice 3
This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
Intelligence Skills: [T2:Mana Manipulation:External] Basic 1 [Mana Manipulation:Self] Competent 3
Soul Skills: [T10:Soul Etching] Basic 2 [T2:Mental Mana Core] Apprentice 2 [T2:Permanent Arcane Mana Core] Basic 6 [Pariah Aura Manipulation] Apprentice 6 [T0:Soul Eater] Apprentice
Combo Skills: [T2:Status Screen 1 Per 1 Men] Competent 6 [T2:Shape Metal Str 1 Con 1] Basic 8
Earned Titles: [Voiceless Junior Attendant] [Apprentice Blacksmith]
“Her soul is not rising because of leveling.”
The guild master's eyes narrow as he looks at my status screen. He then looks at Bianca for an explanation.
“You know that Sara has a pariah title and aura?” He gives a nod to that. “Part of her escape from slavers utilized that aura, it pulled their souls into her, or so we theorized.”
He contemplates this, “You don't know for sure? She appears to be taking more than just a portion of their souls.” He sees my ears.
“We have yet to have Sara engage in any slaying and so rightfully don't really know.”
“Which is why you seek membership again, you want to take her out hunting where she can't be stumbled on.”
“It is as you say.” The guild master gives a glance at Marie before returning his eyes to Bianca.
He sighs and pulls a familiar ring from his pocket. He places it on the desk.
“She will need this, frankly being tier two would make her a Tier five adventurer if she had the contributions.” He sees me frowning. “Scratches, I understand wanting to earn this through merit but the ring already keyed to you and the [Lady] was about to demand it anyways.”
“Keyed to me?” Marie answers my question.
“You've worn it long enough that your presence has imprinted it, it would take time to dissipate or the efforts of an enchanter to remove. No one else can use the ring till then.”
O, but what about my earrings? That question will have to wait. I pull out my two silver. Marie had to give me an advance for this week's pay. I place it on the office table and beam my smile at the guild master. He returns it. He tosses the ring to me, I catch it in my cupped hand.
You have acquired the title [Tier 2 Adventurer]
Tier 2 Adventurer - You are part of an international organization, and you can read contracts. Complete requests and hunts to grow in fame and glory. Two additional presence level when leveling up.
I smile at the notification, it reminded me of when the guild master told me I could read about the adventurer tiers in the handbook. I put the ring back on, it had to resize it again due to my elven fingers. I fiddle with what it can do, I'm trying to raise my level but it won't go above one. I can only lower my level not raise it, which being reset to one complicates things. I change my tier to one and ask Barbain to use [Identify] on me.
“One eleven human [Tier 2 Adventurer].”
I frown at that, I wonder if I can get my necklace to only block the eleven. Though perhaps blocking the one would be better.
“There is a pause from the system where the eleven was, it sounds weird.”
I tried again, “How ‘bout now?”
“That sounds better, more believable being a tier two adventurer at level eleven then one, there is a delay when I use [Identify], I assume it's the time my system would say the first number.”
Guess it's as good as I can get it.
“So I can expect Black Pale Lightning to pick up Scratches' new card, do you still have yours, I can reactivate it now, if you do?” Guess my old card can't be downgraded.
Barbain is laughing as Marie pulls her adventurer card out. Perhaps Barbain will risk death to ask who came up with it. She stops laughing when a thought comes to her.
“Wait, is that why you called me black and blue?”
Now I'm the one laughing.
-----
After the guild master left, Marie led me to the garden. Barbain was bored and came with.
“Stand here, Sara.”
I do so. She placed me in the grass that was near the hedges. She then forms a circle around me using her finger. That her finger could rip the dirt was absurd, but she was doing it. When the circle was completed, she stepped back and then nodded. I never did ask her what she was planning but now I feel like I'm in some sort of ritual circle. I start to get nervous after Marie pulls out two rods. She hands one to Barbain.
“Sara, we are going to be teaching you the [Dodge] skill, you are not to leave the circle. Do your best to avoid our ice pellets.”
This is so much worse than a ritual. At least she isn't using wrenches.
You have gained the skill [Resist Water] Basic 1
Resist Water - the ability to resist magical water attacks
Basic - you can't dodge for shit
Mental Fortitude raised to 64
You have gained the skill [Resist Cold] Basic 1
Resist Cold - the ability to resist natural colds below your core temperature
Basic - Brrrrrrrrrrrrr
Constitution raised to 50
50 Constitution Minor Boon
Able to double the resistance of one type of Constitution Resist skill
Gah, these notifications are distracting me. Also isn't this unnatural cold? An ice pellet hits me in my forehead.
“Ahhh, I thought we were avoiding the head.”
“Sorry Sara.”
Barbain getting four braids tomorrow. I took another hit to the hip while I was giving my best almost eleven glare at Barbain.
“Pay attention Sara, you're supposed to be dodging.”
It's almost dinner before it finally happened.
You have gained the skill [Dodge] Basic 1
Dodge - the ability to make evasive maneuvers
Basic - Maybe you would of tried harder if it was a wrench
Agility raised to 42
-----
“Please heal me mom, they hit me everywhere.”
“I can see that, weren't you supposed to be dodging?”
I've been abandoned, mother won't treat my bruises. I nurse my pain and try to make myself as sympathetic as possible. It doesn't work.
“Did you at least get the skill?” Grandma asks between sips of her tea.
I nod, sullen. Mother rolls her eyes and reaches over, her eyes mana green again. The bruises lessen. I smile at her.
“Thanks mom.” She waves me off. “Actually that reminds me, I got [Resist Cold] which said it was for natural cold but I was being pelted by magic.”
“Sara, you were soaking wet, outside, in the evening and it's almost fall.”
O, guess I was just cold. That makes sense.
“Actually with how the wands work, they use fire magic to remove heat from the magic water before firing. The magic already completed and thus the cold is considered natural at that point.”
Marie gives theory that is beyond me but Barbain is considering it. The best I got, magic made it cold but when it hit me it imparted more cold. I don't get it. Marie notices my confusion.
“It's like magic fire, you set logs on fire with fire magic, the magic dissipates but the heat remains and thus the fire continues.”
I'm not sure thermodynamics agrees with cold igniting more cold but physics was never my strong point. I poke Barbain and whisper to her. “Ask your mother about who came up with her adventurer name.”
Barbain snorts then pales at the prospect. Bianca looks away and Marie looks cross.
“I may not have elven ears but I can still hear you, Sara.” Shit, she sighs, “ I was thirteen and was told both lightning and pale lightning were taken, I was simply adding more words to my adventurer name to get the process over with. Not all of us are so lucky to end up with a one word moniker”
Kinda like a password that has way too strict of conditions.
“I had to bleed for my adventurer name.”
“I know, I was there when we had to clean the sap off you.”
“Sap?” Barbain asking questions after she avoided asking the most pertinent one.
“Sara's second night into our household had her covered in a medicinal sap that overlaid her scars, Bianca had ordered me to cleanse her and provide any additional [Triage] as necessary.”
“That night hurt.”
“Of course it hurt, you had covered your arms and legs in sap.”
“And belly.”
“I remember.” Her eyes are cross with me again.
“But why?” Barbain is outside the loop of remembrance.
“It was before I could gain new skills, [Tough Skin] was a way to gain exp. The adventurer guild required level five to join.”
Another O face from, Barbain.
“So is that why he called you Scratches?”
I nod.
“Oh, before I forget, you told me how my ring was keyed to me, but how was I able to use Sencea's earring immediately?”
Barbain frowns at this question. Bianca answers before Marie does.
“Two possibilities, Sencea's ears were visible and so she wasn't cycling mana through them long enough for them to reset.”
She pauses, I ask the question.
“And the other possibility?"
She doesn't want to answer, Marie clicks her tongue and answers for her.
“That your soul matches Sencea more closely due to your devouring of her sister's soul. Family members tend to be able to use each other's magical trinkets.”
O, now I know why grandma Bianca didn't want to answer. Cecelia gives me a side shoulder hug. Grandma Bianca decides to forge ahead on the heady conversation.
“Did you learn anything from this most recent soul?”
I'm annoyed that she keeps saying soul instead of memories. It's accurate but I hate the connotations. I take a breath and begin.
“Frank was who started the slave ring, it was his idea and he used mental magic to convince the others. They apparently were raiding a ring as adventurers and decided instead of the immediate bounty that it was better to take over. Frank used his mental magic ability to ease everyone into the life. Absurdly his interference and Vancea desire for novelty are the only reasons I'm alive. Both of them had some knowledge of what I was.”
I hugged myself as just speaking those words gave me the chills. It wasn't long before Barbain joined Cecelia in giving me side hugs.
“There is one more thing to note, the [Baron] intentionally starved Hotna to create an opportunity for the slavers to move in.”
Both my grandmother's faces darken at my report.
