Chapter 9: Jocelyn

  I was born to the royal Dart family: their 7th child, and 3rd girl.

  Growing up, I was constantly compared to my brothers and sisters.

  Especially my sisters who were being sold and married off to other royals.

  “I hope she measures up to her brothers and sisters.”

  “The Plormiths just had a boy. We can marry them.”

  “We will turn her into a fine bride.”

  I was raised by a rotating shift of maids and yet my birth parents governed my life.

  In reality they never did anything for me. The maids were more my parents than they had ever been.

  I didn’t have a say in my future.

  But I knew I wanted something else for myself.

  “Why can’t you just listen like your sisters?”

  “You are only making this harder for yourself.”

  “This would not be so difficult if you would just give in.”

  I dreamed of becoming an adventurer.

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  Slaying monsters and mapping dungeons sounded way more exciting than whatever life was planned out for me.

  I wanted to choose my own path and make my own decisions.

  When my family found that out, they constantly tried to manipulate and brainwash me.

  “Leave adventuring for the poor.”

  “If you have a talent for magic then it should be spent guarding nobles.”

  I continued to improve at magic because it was the only thing I ever wanted to do.

  I was preparing myself for the moment I became an adult.

  So when I turned 15, I told them the news that I was leaving.

  “You will never succeed as an adventurer.”

  “We will not support you.”

  “You will only meet a swift death.”

  It was difficult starting life all on my own but I had to succeed for myself.

  It didn’t even matter about proving my family wrong as long as I got to live the dream that I wanted.

  I had great teachers at home so technique wasn’t a problem.

  I quickly taught myself strategy and positioning and every skill I would need to become a great adventurer.

  Just before I turned 16, I met Mari.

  She was positive and powerful and we worked well together.

  The quests were going by smoothly now and making my room payments wasn’t such an issue.

  But we still needed to take harder jobs and Mari and I could only focus on one target at a time.

  So when she said she found a Manipulator, I was excited.

  Trey ended up being incredibly strong but terrible in battle. He has no coordination and he lets all of his emotions and background (whatever that may be) affect his spellcasting.

  He is the exact opposite type as me and I can't stand him.

  I don’t even know where Mari found him.

  All I know is that I need to become stronger. There is so much left of this world that I haven’t uncovered.

  I haven’t discovered a dungeon, I haven’t found love, and I’ve only just begun to discover myself.