Chapter 54

  My Favorite Degenerate

  “I guess my first question is, about the military,” I asked.

  Then as soon as I begin that question, I look to my right and instantly feel a bit awkward due to Madame Voyou’s appearance. Seeing her, a true patriot of this country, I felt slightly awkward asking about this. Fortunately, given where we just came from, Madame Bloom seemed more than ready to answer this question.

  “Well, as you might be aware, once everyone enters the age of eighteen, they must register for the Draft. The Draft will cover people based on individual needs of the military, with a separate draft granted to those who fill out their draft cards with a Class already filled out. While you being a healer means that you are more likely to get drafted should we go to war with another nation, or should we need to unify against an undead incursion the healers are seen as protected. As a healer you will wear a bright green emblem that signifies you are protected. That you are to surrender should enemy forces come to occupy the territory you are in. There are some nuances to why you would do this, most importantly is that after surrendering you will be able to treat any of your wounded. And any wounded under your care will also be allowed to surrender at the same time you choose to.” Madame Bloom began, her words a stark reminder that this world is a lot more violent than my previous world.

  Hearing that, my mind instantly thought of prisoners of war, and how sometimes nations would barter back such prisoners.

  “Would I be a prisoner?” I ask.

  “No, well, not if they didn’t want you to be able to leave. They would force you to swear the Healer’s oath to the system, where you would be allowed to operate as a relatively free person in the borders of the country that you were sworn to, so long as you did not try to leave and tried to heal all people who came before you. If you were restricted, or otherwise not given a chance at basic amenities like food, water, shelter, or basic liberties, then the binding oath to the system would be broken and you would be allowed to flee.”

  Again, not too reassuring given that these foreign countries could apparently capture me and imprison me as a healer, and only then could I leave, but given that the only other country I am aware of sharing an active border with us is Nostrylvania, the country that thinks putting their faces into carcinogenic infused ovens is an effective selling point.

  That’s when I remember my own form that I filled out, one that guaranteed I would be drafted. As suddenly, I feel a lot less secure in my chances of somehow avoiding warfare during this life time.

  “Now, I signed a document while at the DiVoratore estate, that I am pretty sure volunteered me to the military?” I ask.

  Faint chuckle.

  “Yes, I am aware. But fortunately, we found that out early on in the paperwork process and were able to reassign that volunteer status back to an active member of the DiVoratore estate. In the past, some people have done fostering exchanges with such commitments still attached. It wasn’t until some fostering families tried to regain their lost offerings that the paperwork to nullify prior commitments like that was added. So, rest assured, any obligations you made to the government as a DiVoratore, are now solely responsible for being covered by the DiVoratore.” Madame Bloom commented, a slightly malicious smile filling her lips as I think she knew that the DiVoratores likely forgot about that condition. Or were unaware that such commitments didn’t transfer.

  Seeing her smile, I felt a little better about her being my Mentor. In fact, tonight I felt I had seen many different sides of her that I might otherwise have missed. Everything from the glint of steel she had while approaching the princeling from behind, to the way she seemed to truly care for me. Then seeing that she had a malicious side to her like the hiding of, or at least not reminding the DiVoratores that my prior military volunteering would now need to be covered by a current member of the DiVoratore family.

  In a way it made sense, otherwise everyone would foster, getting the children to all enlist for the family before exchanging them with other families that would also have their own familial obligations to reach.

  “Also, the fact that you are now a foster means that you only have a quarter the obligation tokens as other members of the family. Meaning that Ithica, Daughtry, Anika, Lawrence, and Miakel all have four times greater chances of getting drafted as a Healer than you do. Meaning that the only realistic way you would see the military is if you personally volunteered for it, but there is no point.” Madame Bloom noted. Hearing her words I felt slightly reassured, but also realized that relying on chance is not a key to a healthy life. Then again, I do have the Luck Attribute unlocked, meaning I might legitimately not get drafted if I so chose. But then my mind goes to her last point.

  “There is no point in joining the Military?” I ask.

  “No, as most people would only go military at your age for three real reasons. The first is money, which yes you get paid in the military, but it is nothing that you couldn’t earn as a certified healer. Which reminds me, we still need to get you at least a basic Seal so you can heal others without being held liable.” Madame Bloom commented. “Oh speaking of which, you can wear this token for now, until we get your Certified Healer Seal added permanently to your system.”

  With that, Madame Bloom took off a silver necklace from around her neck and held it out to me. There was a medallion at the end of the necklace, holding it, I saw the Country crest with a faint green jade colored outline followed by a green cross on the center. This world’s version of the Healer’s mark. For a moment I hesitate to put on such an expensive looking medallion, particularly knowing that this came from Madame Bloom herself.

  “Take it,” Markan urged from Madame Bloom’s side.

  “I—I can’t,” I stammered out and I meant it, just touching this necklace I realized that it had soaked up Madame Bloom’s magic over the years.

  “Yes you can, first the third royal prince himself declared you had been certified, and you would be so marked now, had that fool of a Seal Master not tried to go off script and open up seven slots,” Madame Bloom added with an exasperated shake of her head. The same way one might shake their head at a dog that got overly excited for a walk and proceeded to knock themselves out by slamming their face into the door frame while attempting to leave.

  Hearing her words I grab the medallion and place it over my neck.

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  “I take it the Seal Master will not be applying my Seals to me?” I finally ask, adjusting the necklace that feels cold to the touch, but almost instantly heats up and feels like it always belonged. In my past life, I could swear that psychometry of objects was a real thing. That is, the ability for objects to share their history with people who would interact with it. Feeling this medallion that had clearly been worn by my Master now fitting around my neck, I was once again reminded of those old thoughts. I could also swear that if I focused, I could feel this item’s history and power calling out to me.

  My eyes grew wide with disbelief as I realized this might not be that amazing of a Skill, but for me this Skill truly resonated with me.

  “I’d avoid that for now, unless you want to take a half production penalty on one of your active Free Skills,” Madame Bloom commented. “Especially considering how close to completion you are at a few of the Skills.

  She was right, for I had all five of my Free Skill Slots filled currently, and removing one of them right now would cause both a permanent reduction of all Attributes gained by my having the Skill to this point by half. It would also mean that I would forever be crippled in that Skill and unable to move on until I relearned the base Skill from scratch.

  With her warning, I pause and pull up my list to see exactly how much I had grown over the past few days. While constantly working on each Skill, even while not always realizing that I was.

  Witnessing my progress, which by all accounts was meteoric in nature, I could only stop and stare realizing how close I was to a few of them. By all means Strategist* seemed to be the one leveling up the slowest, but it was also the only one that granted me the Luck Attribute. By discarding it now, I would effectively lose half the Luck I had managed to gain thus far, which was 7.79, thanks to the full bonuses offered at every ten Skill levels. Meaning that if I waited one more level then I would have an 8.8, which rounded down by half would only be a permanent 4.4 Luck, ultimately nothing in the grand scheme of things. As five was the base Attribute that everyone got for their starting Attributes.

  No, Strategist* was the most obvious choice to remove, given how long it would take to max it out, but it was also the only one that was completely off limits due to it providing a unique Attribute. Which, directly after unlocking that Attribute I survived a deadly attack, got an amazing Unique Class and have been able to unlock or evolve Unique Skills that might otherwise not be available to me. Even this new option of a Skill Biometric Psychometric Readings (Unique) was more than I could have expected before the Luck Attribute was unlocked.

  Seeing my progress, I realized that I just had to hope that the same or maybe even a better option would be available in the future. With a reluctant sigh, I exhaled and dismissed the prompt for the new Earth Attuned Skill.

  “You had her turn down an Earth Attuned Skill?” Madame Voyou asked, her voice somewhat incredulous.

  “Please, you have never seen someone get as many magic attuned Skills as this girl,” Madame Bloom commented, a note of both bragging and ire in her tone as she commented.

  Melodic whisper.

  Hearing my Master’s words, Madame Voyou used her own type deep penetrating scan on me. Her’s apparently was a deep resonating note, that somehow reminded me of a tuning fork being used to find a pitch. I guess this made sense as she was a Skáld, but being this close to her and hearing her able to make such warbling noises with just her mouth and throat was impressive.

  I felt the full wave of energy surge forward and penetrate me.

  Flicker.

  Focusing on the sound and its effects, I could almost see the moment her soundwave somehow interacted with my system interface, sparking it to life for a moment before blinking out entirely. Still that one blink was enough to apparently share my information directly with Madame Voyou.

  While I didn’t know exactly what she did, I did know roughly how she did what she did. These additional facts were likely only available to me, thanks to my Music Resonance Skill, which again I am glad I didn’t get rid of as this Skill seems more versatile than I originally thought.

  “You have been busy,” Madame Voyou stated, then turning to both Markan and Mr. Yi who were on both sides of me she added, “it seems your training boost, and your Skill mastery are paying off as usual.”

  With that Markan and Mr. Yi looked over top of me to stare at each other for a moment, a slight hint of hesitation as if some deeper past that was unspoken. Then finally the two nodded, in agreement. Though their words were anything but accepting of the other.

  “I have found that the Bloom Apprentice is a worthy candidate of my training,” Mr. Yi stated. His words directed at me, and seeming to throw shade at Markan somehow.

  “I am only here at the behest of the Bloom House leader,” he began harshly, but soon relaxed a little as he finished, “that said, I too find my time with the Bloom Apprentice to be a worthwhile investment.”

  Hearing their comments, I realized that the two likely had some type of Skills that no doubt helped me get so far so quickly in my Skills. Even the Uncommon Skills are flying by, but it would make sense if there was some type of training Skill that Markan and Mr. Yi were both using in tandem with me. Given that they have been around me, forcing me to do ridiculous exercise, and tasks like remaining quiet to improve my Actor Skill, my meteoric rise seemed to make more sense. Especially as these are going a lot faster than my initial Common Skill had. Even though I had maxed out those Common Skills years ago, but no one wanted to Badge them for me, keeping me stuck at the same level for a while.

  “Well, I don’t know how you did it, kid, but kudos. Getting these two to work together for the same Apprentice again is a miracle in and of itself,” Madame Voyou commented.

  Hearing that I just looked at the two, who both chose that moment to look away from me, but I felt it was more that they didn’t want to look at each other. I feel that there is a story behind this, but I for the life of me am too tired and unable to pick apart the subtler clues that are likely being passed by the two. Though, I can tell by the faint smile filling Madame Bloom’s lips that my teacher Madame Voyou is correct.

  I am lost in my own silent contemplations, when the carriage finally comes to a slow roll.

  “This is my stop,” Madame Voyou stated, looking out the windows and seeing something. For a moment Madame Voyou looks like she is about to leave the carriage, but suddenly stops herself as she both waits for the coachman to come, but also turns back to me.

  “Look, I realize now that you are on the right path, but I still think you should work on your musical fundamentals in your spare time.” Hearing Madame Voyou begin, I almost roll my eyes at the idea of spare time, but before I can say anything, she reaches into her blouse, drawing everyone’s eyes, before finding an object and pulling out an odd metallic object.

  For a moment, I look at it, only to realize it is a whistle.

  “A rape whistle?” I comment seeing the item, my mind trying to understand why such an item would be given.

  “Ra? What?” Madame Voyou asked, but I quickly dismiss her comments with a wave of my hand.

  “This is a harmonic whistle. Take it, shake it and blow,” Madame Voyou began, and proceeded to follow her own suggestions causing the whistle to create a high C sound. “Then you focus on trying to reach that cord.”

  As she spoke, she slowly raised her voice until she managed to hit that high C note. Just as she finished her demonstration, the coachman opened the door and revealed an estate with a male seemingly waiting anxiously for Madame Voyou to leave. Immediately upon seeing the large male, Madame Voyou herself gets excited and nearly tosses the whistle at me.

  I am too busy grabbing the falling whistle that I miss Madam Voyou’s quick turn and jump into the big man’s waiting arms.

  “Wait, your eye?” A familiar sounding voice cries out, apparently noticing the change in Madam Voyou almost immediately.

  “Yeah, you’ll never guess who did it, either," Madame Voyou stated.

  “Who?” By now the male voice could only be one person, but it wasn’t until the large man ran forward and all but caused the carriage to lurch to the side due to his massive bulk impacting the side that I truly saw him.

  “Mr. Karl?” I called out, his face becoming illuminated by the lights in the cabin of the carriage.

  “You?” Mr. Karl asked, excitedly then turned his head outside to see a nodding Madame Voyou. Seeing her reaction, he turned back excitedly and spoke, “It was you!”

  And like that a large man squeezed his way through the door and tackled me, while pinning both Markan and Mr. Yi to the seats. It might otherwise be comical, if it wasn’t for the fact that he was squeezing really tightly.

  The only sign that he had left was the pressure suddenly releasing, and our balance getting back to normal, then before he left he made sure to add “you are my favorite degenerate!”

  Suddenly the whole night. As long and as painful as parts of it were, it was all worthwhile to see Mr. Karl’s excitement. I didn’t even realize that he and Madame Voyou had a thing. Not that it would have stopped me from healing a patient, but I was even more pleased with my actions for the night.

  Only once the coachman closed the door, and we started moving did anyone speak.

  “To think, we only have two more nights to go,” Markan added.

  And suddenly the feelings of joy I had been experiencing a moment ago suddenly faded as I could only wonder what chicanery the remaining two nights had to offer.

  per day, until our reign on the top 50 stops.

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