Voiceless Tier 1 Adventurer - Gives off an aura of worthlessness. Title holder is unable to mentally direct changes to one soul. You are the lowest rung of an international organization. Complete requests and hunts to grow in fame and glory. One additional charisma and two additional soul when leveling up.
Just one small part changed, just a small one. I can learn new skills now. The aura is still there and I can't hear the voice but I can move forward. The increase in soul is scary. It hurt so much when I was gaining just two soul. After my tears have slowed, I tell them what the new title says and my concerns about leveling.
Reginald looks to be in deep thought, then responds “Leveling so much in a short time can stretch the soul, you leveled four times in the last two weeks?” I nod, “that would be eight soul then, if you weren't an inherited, I'm sure you would be dead with a shattered soul.” I pale at that, “Avoid leveling more than once a week from now on. You may wish to wait two weeks before your next. As your soul grows the pain will lessen, it's a percentage thing. Drake, take down the rest of the information for her application. I'm going to grab a few things.”
He is already out of the room before I can thank him. “I never even got to say my name,” I murmur.
“Which is?” Drake is looking at his parchment when he asks this.
“Huh”
“Your name?”
“Sara”
He writes it down.
“Age” 10
“Place of birth”
Good question, I still haven't learned its name. Reginald returns through the door, he places a ring and a stone on the table. Then out of his pocket is the Guild Adventurer handbook again, that joins the ring and stone. Drake is staring at the ring.
“Alright Scratches, I brought a tithing training stone, basically it will push away your hand. If you manage to touch it you will have gained the [Manipulate Mana:Self] skill.”
I shrug, then reach out and touch it. No skill gain, I start to panic. Reginald is frowning. Drake speaks up.
“I think she is out of mana from touching the status stone.”
“Ah of course, this will be uncomfortable, Scratches, do bear with it.”
He places a hand on my shoulder, then I feel something push into me, it's heavy and gross. It settles like a lead ball in my chest.
“I've given you some of my mana, take a moment to let it disperse, no need to rush. When you're ready, try again.”
The heaviness is waning. When the feeling is gone, I reach for the stone. My hand stops before I can touch it. It is like it is surrounded by a ball of liquid, the further I push the denser it is. I was able to touch it before when I was out of mana, then is the lesson to move mana out of my hand? Easier said than done. I try to make my hand feel like it does when it's out of mana but my hand gets no closer. The fountain barrier always hits me in my chest, maybe that is where my mana comes from. Instead of blow, I need to switch to suck. I imagine a black hole in the spot where I get punched. I want it to pull back my mana. Nothing yet, but then I feel it recede a fraction.
You have gained the skill [Manipulate Mana:Self] Basic 1
Mana Manipulation:Self - allows the manipulation of mana in one own body
Basic - allows the regulation of mana draws
Gain 1 exp
My hand starts to draw closer to the stone. I pull harder on my core. The mana pull accelerates, the status stone display begins to flicker. The distraction causes my hand to actually over shoot the stone. The status stone display has turned off. I feel a sharp pain in my chest. Something grows in my chest. I'm hunched over two hands over the center of my chest. I must look like I'm having a heart attack.
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You have gained the skill [Arcane Mana Core] Basic 1
Arcane Mana Core - spare store of unaspected mana
Basic - nascent mana core, grow it more to become more
Gain 1 exp
My breathing is labored at this point. The pain is lessening, there's words being said around me. About me, they want to get the old man. I start to move my hand to try to wave them off but then a searing pain begins in my right eye. My hands move from over the eye. My back arches.
You have gained the skill [Arcane Mana Sight] Basic 1
Arcane Mana Sight - the ability to see unaspected mana
Basic - a pinprick hole has opened your eye to the metaphysical, can see unaspected mana at a slight distance
Gain 1 exp
I slump down, panting. Drake is gone, I suspect he's gone to the apothecary. I look at Reginald, our eyes meet, he reels a bit then gets closer to look at my right eye. I break eye contact and turn my head.
“I do not wish to see Mister Lancas.”
“Scratches, you just had multiple serious events, you looked to be in a great deal of pain. Bartholomew is the closest this town has to a dedicated healer.”
“It was just the initial gaining of two new skills, the pain is past now.”
“You have a white dot on your pupil.”
Shit really, what happened to metaphysical. “I don't care, Mister Lancas tried to deny me a way past my title, I don't trust he has my best interest in mind.”
I can feel him staring at me. I cross my arms in what I hope is a defiant pose. I don't think ten year old me is pulling it off.
“Look at me Scratches” I turn my head and return his gaze , “Are you sure?”
I nod. He looks at the ring for a moment.
“Fine, I'll turn him away.”
He then leaves the room. I can barely make out his mana through the door. He is standing in front blocking access. I hear muffled voices, Reginald's voice comes out clear.
“She is refusing to be examined, I give my sincere apologies for calling you here Bartholomew Lancas, but if a member of my guild does not wish to see a former client that did her wrong, then I must respect that.”
There is a silence for a moment, it's painful and yet I feel warmth from having my desire respected. Then I hear footsteps heading away. The guild master opens the door and steps back in, Drake follows shortly after.
“I'm going to not ask what skills you just got, the guild does not keep records of its members' skills. The status screening is only to determine your initial tier. Two new skills at basic 1 is not going to change that assessment.” He then points to the ring. “This ring is enchanted with [False Soul], wearing it will allow you to deceive [Identify]. Your title is too unique, it will only make you a target. Additionally it can fool both aura senses and status stones. It allows you to hide skills but not add them. This is typically given to tier five adventurers as their soul values make them a target for groups. That said, I am making a special exception by providing you this ring. Questions?”
“How many tier levels are there and how can I advance them”
He points to the hand book, “All that information is documented here.”
“I can't read”
He smiles, “Then you don't need to know.” Then he goes back into his serious voice, “You are expected to complete one request per month at your tier level. Due to the good faith you put into your previous request, I am counting it as if you had completed it. You are set for this month. Should you fail to complete a request next month you will be placed in probation for three months. Fail while on probation and you're expelled from the guild and lose your title.”
Don't want that. “Understood.”
His face softens “You’re only just starting out, and you're feuding with the town’s only apothecary. It is your business whether you wish to resolve this. The guild is here to facilitate dialog if need be.”
I nod at this.
“Once Drake finishes your application, you can sign it and he will provide you with your guild card. It is keyed to the area and will allow you to travel through any of Atlas's fountain barriers. Present it to guards and clients upon request. Try not to lose it, it's what your two silver application fee is actually paying for. Welcome to the Adventurer Guild, Scratches”
He leaves at that. He never did learn my name. I point that out to Drake.
“They are adventurer names so clients can request you by name. There is only one Scratches but five Sara's in the region. Or did you think my parents were pretentious enough to name me Drake.”
Wait so I'm forever going to be called Scratches . . . I look at my arms and legs and decide that the guild master was right, the name is apt, I am not looking forward to removing the sap. It puts me in a rather morose mood. I place the ring on my middle finger, as I feed it mana it shrinks down to fit. Then vanishes, yet I can see unaspected mana where it was. I gain an instinctual feel on how to use it. I set my fake title. I see ‘Drake’ has his quill ready again.
“Place of birth?”
“Sacrifice.”
He shrugs and writes it down.
-----
It's evening when I get back to Belna, she is already closing up the shop. She looks at me a bit confused.
“You're still [Voiceless].”
