This is a daily reminder: You have 20 unallocated stat points
The ceiling is different but at least it's a bed. Francis went off to great grandfather's estate. I was told to stay in the living area of the store. My hair apparently makes me stick out. There is a certain irony in how my last visit to this city no one believed me to be a Maxwell and now I must hide because everyone would assume I was. I move Ratagin about to pass the time.
You have gained [Mental Magic] Basic 3
Gain 1 exp
I sigh, maybe fire magic would be a better use of my time. Franicis is back talking to Genop. He is whispering, and so she is too. I turn my head towards them, I can still hear them fine.
“How did it go, did you learn anything new?”
There is a pause, “He knows about Sara, Velner was not able to resist his scrutiny."
“Why did you take him with you then?”
“It would have been more out of place if I hadn't. He would have sent my uncle to the store with questions otherwise.”
“So what now?”
“We are to keep her hidden until Cecelia arrives, then we all need to report to the estate.”
The discussion ends and footsteps approach. It doesn't take them long to reach me. I'm tempted to release my earrings enchantment to remind Francis that I can hear him but in the end such habits are best not to be acquired. They both enter the room with sad faces.
“So I'll be meeting my great grandfather soon then.”
“I guess whispering in the front of the store is not enough then.”
I shrug and move Ratagin some more.
You have gained [Mana Manipulation:External] Basic 3
Intelligence raised to 112
I smile, not because of the notification, but because of the familiar steps that have just entered the store. They are hurried and I step to the door with my arms wide open. Before Francis can ask me what I am doing, I am in my mothers arms being hugged. Her breastplate is still annoying.
“You've gotten taller Sara.”
I just smile and squeeze her shoulders.
“I missed you.”
“Me too.”
We stay this way for a while but discussions need to be had.
-----
? ? Human Retired Lord
I'm seated at a table across from a man in his seventies, his tiering later than when grandmother achieved it. His Maxwell blue hair is now silver, his height similar to his daughter, though he must have been taller before age took inches from him. The eyes are blue and they study me, at times they become white and purple. The first Maxwell, his name was Maxwell. Apparently titles awarded just follow the name of the first elevated. Wonder how that works for those who already have a family name.
To his right is his son, younger than Bianca, his name is Fran.
? Human Lord
He has my grandmother's title. A woman sits to the left of him, she is younger than the Lord, Marcene.
? Human Competent Mage
Guess mage titles are like tier levels. They both sport the Maxwell blue hair.
When we are all seated, the old man begins. He dismisses the attendants of everyone but his own.
“As you can all see, Fran is the new [Lord] of Maxwell. As he is the closest to tier two it is fitting that he takes over.”
I glance at Cecelia but she doesn't say anything.
“Bianca was detained by [Baron] Anvar for not preventing the uprising of Hotna. I know Cecelia, do not glare at me, it is all a pretext to prevent Bianca from exposing his use of slaves to boost his youngest son. I rescinded Bianca's title to show publically that our house takes the accusation seriously and to prevent her execution. Anvar will not be able to argue for it and without her title she will no longer be able to accuse him. I already confirmed her release.”
I rankle at this, but do my best to not show it.
“Which brings us to the matter at hand. Anvar will no doubt have compelled both Bianca and Marie to the point that they have revealed how they know about the slavers. Anvar will be attempting to secure the direct witness. I'm afraid Cecelia, debuting your daughter is out of the question. Hiding her now will take a great deal of resources as is.”
So no mage college, just Sara in a locked room, hidden away till Anvar dies or I do. That won't do. I take my necklace off and throw it on the table. It gets their attention, the new lord eyes widen at me, the retired lord narrows.
“Do you intend to claim the house for yourself Sara.”
I answer. “No, your title has proved worthless, I will claim my own before I complete Mage college.”
I'm picking a fight, the old man's anger is evident. “You may be an inherited but you still have to climb the tier as slow as the rest of us.”
This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.
“My soul already eclipses yours, great grandfather. I am not making a foolish boast.”
His eyes are narrower still, he throws a stone onto the table. I will my ring off and touch the stone.
Tier 2 : Sara Maxwell Human lvl 1, 11 - 20 stat point unassigned. [NOTIFICATIONS]
Title:Sara Maxwell [Voiceless Tier 2 Adventurer]
Strength - 38 [Constitution] - 79 [Intelligence] - 112
[Agility] - 53 Presence - 42 Soul - 142
[Perception] - 63 [Mental Fortitude] - 78
Languages: [T3:English] Intermediate 9 [Math] Intermediate 8 [T3:Common] Intermediate 1
Boosted skill: [Resist Mental Attacks 2] [Unselected Agility Skill] [Unselected Constitution Resist Skill] [Unselected Intelligence Magic Skill]
Strength Skills: [Sword Arm] Competent 4 [Strength Training] Intermediate 1 [Yell] Apprentice 7 [Strong Grip] Apprentice 4 [Strong Lungs] Apprentice 7 [Throw Knife] Basic 4
Agility Skills: [Embroidery] Intermediate 6 [Cooking] Intermediate 6 [Running] Competent 7 [Fire Tender] Competent 2 [Sewing] Basic 9 [Dodge] Basic 1
Perception Skills: [T5:Attention to Detail] Basic 7 [T2:Mental Mana Sight] Competent 9 [T2:Fire Mana Sight] Basic 2 [Arcane Mana Sight] Competent 7 [Identify] Basic 7
Constitution Skills: [T3:Resist Crush 2] Competent 2 [Resist Blunt Force] Intermediate 6 [Resist Pierce] Competent 6 [Resist Heat] Apprentice 5 [Tough Skin] Basic 9 [Lesser Stanima] Basic 3 [Resist Cold] Basic 3
Presence Skills: [T10:Permanent Soul Sense] Basic 2 [T2:Acting] Basic 3 [Atlas Noble Etiquette] Intermediate 2 [Tell Lie] Apprentice 2 [Aura Sense] Basic 1
Mental Fortitude Skills: [T3:Resist Mental Attacks 2] Apprentice 3 [T2:Convert Arcane to Mental Mana] Apprentice 9 [T2:Convert Arcane to Fire Mana] Basic 3 [Resist Lightning] Apprentice 3 [Resist Water] Basic 3 [Resist Fire] Basic 4
Intelligence Skills: [T2:Mana Manipulation:External] Basic 3 [Mana Manipulation:Self] Competent 3 [Parallel Mind] Basic 3 [Fire Magic] Basic 3 [Mental Magic] Basic 3
Soul Skills: [T10:Soul Etching] Basic 3 [T2:Mental Mana Core] Apprentice 7 [T2:Permanent Arcane Mana Core] Apprentice 5 [Pariah Aura Manipulation] Apprentice 7 [T0:Soul Eater] Competent
Combo Skills: [T2:Status Screen 1 Per 1 Men] Competent 6 [T2:Shape Metal Str 1 Con 1] Basic 9
Earned Titles: [Voiceless] [Junior Attendant] [Apprentice Blacksmith] [Voiceless Tier 2 Adventurer]
“This only makes you a bigger threat to Anvar. If what you claim is possible he will snuff you out after you make yourself known.”
“The Maxwell house is known for training attendants is it not?”
I look at the attendants behind him and my eyes flash purple. The cat eyes see the mental magic that ring his attendants' heads. Cruel training to raise them to be uncompellable servants. When they can resist great grandfather magic, their employment into noble houses is assured. Maxwell house fortune is based on the finder fees.
“What are you proposing?"
“That you find me a noble mistress my age that will be going to mage college. My understanding is for an attendant of age that I would need to qualify to be on the grounds as well.”
“You would forgo our name then?” The new Lord asks.
“If the name is a cage then yes.”
Cecelia does not even twitch at the statement. It was the only solution we could come up with together.
-----
“He is going to have to hide Sara.” Francis looks tired.
Cecelia narrows her eyes. “I will not have my daughter imprisoned.”
“She is too young to be married into another house, putting out feelers for an adoption would just get back to Anvar.”
Cecelia narrows her eyes further.
I speak up, “If the Baron is looking for Sara Maxwell, perhaps I just need to forgo using my name.”
Cecelia looks at me aghast.
-----
The old man takes off his ring. He throws it next to my pendant. Looking at him I see a burn on half his face. It goes up past where his hairline was.
“You see what nobility has done to me. If you plan to go this path, take that ring and learn its magic, I expect it returned to my store in a week's time. You will hide your hair and your family name with the magic you learn from it. Fran provide her enough money to find lodging for a week. You can not claim our name until you can crush Anvar. This also means you are not to interact with any of our family outside professional interactions until that time, especially none of Bianca's children, they are likely being watched.”
Mother bristles at this but says nothing. Francis and Genop just look sad.
“When I find a client that meets your requirements I will post a request for candidates at the Adventurer guild hall. I don't have to tell you that your prospect of being accepted for the request improves with your guild rank. You will have two years before I start looking for a suitable client.”
He gives a moment pause, seeing if I will hesitate or balk at his demands.
“So then child, do you take my ring or accept your cage.” He sneers on saying cage.
I take the ring and pendant.
-----
Cecelia is walking with me outside of the city. It was best that Scratches arrival should be documented. We are under a cover spell provided by Marcene.
“Here is the document from Reginald for your transfer to Yetna guild hall.”
Cecelia is trying to put a brave face on for me. I'm trying to as well. I hug her, and try to hug her for all the years I will miss. It's not enough, and her breastplate is still in the damn way. When we separate Marcene hands me a pouch with coins.
“I am saddened that I do not get a chance to train you in magic Sara, take this as my only lesson I can bequeath you. Illusion magic requires a competent in mental magic and mana manipulation. The ring's magic further will require competent in both illusion and mana manipulation to not be pierceable. You only have a week, ignite your cores as soon as possible, you will need their mana to reach this deadline.”
“Is there a way to ignite them faster?”
“Of course dear, simply push more mana into them.”
“Are you insane, aunt.”
I look between my mother and great aunt.
“I'm not the one who set Sara to this path.” She turns to me, “Sara forcing mana into your core runs the risk of it bursting. It will burn and I do not suggest using any of those unassigned stats for a week after you do so. It is your only option.”
I look at my great aunt, her soul smaller than Marie. Then I focus on my arcane core and start pushing my mana into it. It burns.
You have gained [Permanent Arcane Mana Core] Apprentice 6
Gain 4 exp
I start to breath heavier, my great aunt eyes widen and turn into white triangles.
“I wasn't encouraging you to start now, dear.”
I continue to pour arcane into my core. Mother's eyes have gone white too.
“Sara!”
“I need all the time I can get.”
You have gained [Permanent Arcane Mana Core] Apprentice 7
Gain 4 exp
I gasp at the next level, the pain is tolerable. Cecelia is next to me trying to get me to stop. I don't. Cecelia is giving a murderous glare at her aunt.
You have gained [Permanent Arcane Mana Core] Apprentice 8
Gain 4 exp
The pain burns, I've had worse. I push forward.
You have gained [Permanent Arcane Mana Core] Apprentice 9
Gain 4 exp
I have nothing left to push into my core. It is straining as it is. My breathing is ragged but I must push forward.
“Mother, can I ask one last time to be selfish and have some of your mana.”
Her eyes widen at my request, she wants to say no but knows the path I must forge. My body warms as she infuses me one last time. I hug her as much as I can, then I ignite my core.
You have gained [Permanent Arcane Mana Core] Competent 1
Competent - your core regens its own mana
Gain 8 exp
