This is a daily reminder: You have 24 unallocated stat points

  I woke up incredibly tired. The dream was weird. I can barely remember it. I think I was eating grass. It doesn't matter. I start to brush my hair. Feels like my curly hair is shedding more than usual, I go to clear my brush. I end up with a fistfull of hair in my hand. That doesn't look right. I look back at my pillow and see even more blue hair. I feel the top of my head and feel the hair break off. It's all gone, why am I being assaulted by baldness. I hold what's left of my Maxwell's hair in my hands and cry. Why?

  Then I notice my wrist has grey wiry hairs starting to poke out. My eyes widened, the bloody rabbit. I checked my notifications, my [Soul Etching] went up. Then I look at my status screen and see that my race has changed. Chimera.

  “Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.”

  I hear footsteps come up the stairs. It's Thane. I hid the hair in my bag. Thane knocking at my door. I use the ring to hide my … fur and right before I open the door I remember I need the ring to show that I have hair.

  “Sorry guild master, bad dream, won't happen again, I'll go back to being as quiet as a rabbit.”

  Damnit I'm not a rabbit.

  He looks at me, “You can tell me if something wrong Scratches, you're looking rather gaunt.”

  I look at my wrist and it looks like I haven't eaten in weeks. I start to shudder. I stop myself. I put on my Marie face.

  “I'll be fine, guild master, I just need a moment to collect myself.”

  He bends his knee and gets to my eye level, “It's alright to talk to me Scratches. You have my full confidentiality.”

  I shudder again, I murmur the only thing I could, "Would you make a vow to that, to not reveal what you learn and not hurt me.” The last part was even quieter.

  He gives me a steady gaze, “I, Thane, [Yetna Adventurer Guild Master] vow not to harm nor reveal what I learn of Scratches today without her express permission.”

  You have been given a vow of confidence and peace from [Yetna Adventurer Guild Master] Thane

  I usher the guild master into my room. After he closes the door I will my jewelry off. No point in hiding.

  “Do you understand what's happening to you?”

  I murmur again, “I didn't know [Soul Eater] would etch iron horned rabbit into my traits.”

  “You've jumped way too far ahead of me Scratches, what happened?”

  I tell him about [Soul Eater] and [Soul Etching]. He thinks on this for a moment.

  “Alright, so [Soul Eater] will change you based on any traits you would find desirable subconsciously using your [Soul Etching], and this morning you found out that it etched traits of the rabbit into you.”

  I nod slowly. “My [Soul Etching] went up a level.”

  “Is it alright if I use life magic to scan you.”

  I nod, he comes over and touches my shoulder. His green mana eyes are squares.

  “Your body burned up almost all your fat cell reserves trying to make this fur. It appears your digestive track is no longer human. Your hair follicles on your head have changed too, but your body lacks reserves to grow it. Your bones appear porous, I suspect you have extreme iron deficiency at the moment. The same goes for your nails.”

  My eyes grow wide, “Am I going to have to eat grass now?”

  He laughs at that, “Iron rabbits can eat anything, they're just too heavy and slow to catch prey.” He takes a moment, then asks, “Can you convince yourself you don't want iron fur?”

  “Of course I don't want iron fur.”

  He gives me a wry smile, “I'm not making fun of you, you said this was all subconscious desires right. Part of you may want the protection but if you can whole heartly deny the desire you might change.”

  So I have to deny it with my very being. I don't need this protection, I have no desire to have iron fur whatsoever, I don't even want body hair at all. I focus on that thought. My body heats up and I collapse into the guild masters arm.

  You have gained [Soul Etching] Basic 5

  Gain 10 exp

  Breathing hard again. The guild master examines me again. I feel really scratchy.

  “Well you seem to have removed all your body hair follicles. That's the good news, the bad news is that every place that was a hair follicle now has an iron hair.”

  I groan at that. My body is all ingrown hairs.

  “I'm going to grab some food for you, once you eat, I'll try to extract the hairs out of you. Don't scratch yourself, you'll likely injure yourself.”

  That was the most torturous ten minutes ever. He brings back five skewers. I look at him incredulously.

  “I don't know if you noticed but my waist is incredibly tiny.”

  He just smiles and hands me one. I eat three fourths of it before I am full. Then it feels like I'm not full. The hell. I take another tentative bite and find no resistance. The guild master just has a shit eating grin on his face as he hands me another skewer. The eating and the pauses continue until all five skewers are gone.

  “I don't understand.”

  He channels life magic through me, my skin exfoliates and the scratchiness ends. He smiles and explains.

  “You have a monster's digestive track, a rather peculiar one that transforms grass into iron. I'm no expert, but that's impossible through mundane means. Best I can guess is your body converts the food you eat at a very rapid pace. I suspect that it will maintain you to your ideal body. It may even heal your wounds rapidly. I know some tamers will shave an iron rabbit and just feed it enough to regrow their hair in hours.”

  I feel the top of my head, it's still bald.

  “Then why am I still bald.”

  “Do you feel heavier Scratches, how bout you stand up?”

  I shrug and get on my feet. O god I feel like walking around with the iron rabbit on my back again. Porous bones and nails … I have iron laced bones!

  “This is a bit much.”

  “I say you got about a quarter of your bones done, your hair won't come in until your other changes are complete.”

  I blanched, he is saying I'll be four times heavier than this in the end.

  “I don't think I can convince myself it's bad to have iron bones…”

  “Your mobility is just a short term problem.”

  Ya, I just need more strength.

  “So I'm assuming my [Identify] lists me as a chimera right? I was already hiding my race. I guess it's just more people wanting to kill me.”

  “Whys that, there are plenty of adventurers who are chimera.”

  I give him a confused look.

  “Never heard of it done through [Soul Etching] but life magic can be used to graft parts. Usually it's an eye. Adventurers lose them all the time, sometimes they decide not to stick with the race they were born with.”

  O, guess that makes me a bit better protected than before. I just need more strength. It's going to take a lot of food before I have hair again. I will my jewelry back on.

  “Thank you for your help guild master Thane.”

  “Not a problem Scratches. I actually came here because a representative of the alchemist guild would like to speak to you.”

  My stomach growls, “Will there be food?”

  “Sure, you like anything that comes with bread right?”

  I smile.

  -----

  I'm in the backroom again. There are six loaves of bread in here with me, bread that comes with bread. I am in heaven. Even as I can feel myself getting heavier. Price to pay to enjoy bread. I can hear Preys party outside.

  “Guild master took her in the room, bet she about to get yelled at.” Preys starts the doubting off.

  “Ya there the alchemist chief now, guess it was too late for the warning.” The boy.

  The footsteps with Thane's get to the door.

  “Is the one who has been turning in the clover in there?”

  The door opens and a tall red skin man with green hair enters the room.

  ? Troll Yetna Alchemist Guild Master

  He turns to Thane. “She is an eight year old girl, is this a joke?”

  I would frown but there bread to be eaten. I must look weird with the nibbling but I embody the rabbitness. I just stare at the troll guy.

  “She is indeed the one who completed your guild's open request two days in a row.”

  “Girl where are you getting your clover from? I sent one of my apprentices out yesterday to make sure you weren't destroying the patches near the forest edge. He came back telling me they hadn't been touched.”

  I just continue nibbling at the bread while looking at him. He grows annoyed and snatches the half eaten loaf out of my hands. I look at my empty hands, shrug and go grab for another loaf.

  Thane gives a serious tone, “Scratches.”

  I sigh and roll my eyes, “Did you not also receive two mandrake and a ptra yesterday as well.”

  I grab the bread back while he processes that.

  “You're not suggesting that you completed those requests as well?”

  I go back to nibbling and staring at him. He grows annoyed and shoots a look at Thane.

  “I can confirm that Scratches had turned in both of those requests.”

  “You want me to believe a level eleven, eight year old child managed to wander into a goblin infested forest twice, to pick clover.”

  I really want to frown, I settle for frowny eyes while I nibble. Wait, do I still have eyebrows. I brush my forehead to confirm, gah they are hard but there. I have the weirdest body.

  “So then ‘Scratches’, how are you doing it?”

  I continue to nibble, Thane gives me a look. I set aside my precious bread.

  “It doesn't matter how, only that I can do it.”

  The alchemist stares at me, “Well if you are able to venture into the forest at will, then can I ask you to collect something more precious than clover.”

  “Not if you want it anytime soon, I've been afflicted with can't move much at allitis.”

  “Are you mocking me?” Gah that was loud.

  “Actually guild master, Scratches has been rather severely compromised.”

  “Why haven't you healed her then, or gone to my guild? She is healthy enough to eat three loaves of bread.”

  Wait really, aw there half gone. My arms are kinda hard to keep up now.

  “It's complicated.” Thane answers back.

  I lift my arm and let it limply fall to the table. I ignored the loud noise as it felt like I just smacked my arm with an iron bar, from the inside. I rub my arm.

  “Of course it's going to hurt if you slam your arm on the table girl. Are you trying to be disruptive?”

  This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

  I just lift my left arm and repeat my masochism, this time he is watching. He grabs my arm after it hits the table again. Damn I wanted to rub it better.

  “Why is your arm so heavy?”

  “I told you I have can't move much at allitis.”

  I yank my arm away as his eyes glow green, donuts this time.

  “Don't be rude, I'm an impressionable young lady.”

  He narrows his eyes again, then decides not to bother.

  “When do you think you will be available to procure my request?”

  “I don't know, I need to raise my strength value. What is it you wish for me to find.”

  “Death trillium.”

  Thane balks at that, “That is a tier four request at the very least. Scratches is barely a tier two.”

  “She is the one who seems capable of navigating the forest.”

  They continue arguing. I am tempted to let them while I eat more bread but I fear I may not be able to move if I do that.

  “What’s it look like, how do you harvest it and is there anything dangerous that likes to congregate around it, also you haven't introduced yourself.”

  The troll turns to me, “I am Walter, [Yetna Alchemist Guild Master]. The death trillium is a pale gray tri petal flower. You would simply pluck the petals to harvest it. It can be found growing on graves.”

  “How did navigating forests go to picking grave flowers?”

  Thane gives a mean look to the troll, “There is a goblin village in the forest, they tend to grow grave trillium in their graveyards.”

  “I'll have to pass, I have no desire to deal with goblins.”

  “But you're in their forest literally surrounded by goblins.”

  “That leaves me alone, I can't guarantee that would be the case if a saunter up to their village.”

  “Goblin graveyards are generally miles away from their villages, they are rather afraid of the undead and don't have purification rites.” Thane interjects.

  “So not goblins but undead goblins, the nope is getting bigger.”

  “Bah undead goblins are far easier to deal with, slower and no cunning, unlike their living counterparts.”

  “Fine, if I find one of their graveyards I'll check it out. No promises.”

  “Scratches, you can't be completing tier four requests as a tier two.”

  Can't do them unless one level below.

  “Guess you have to wait until I successfully run the local dungeon, guild master Walter.”

  He looks at Thane, then me and sighs, “Our business is concluded then. I was hoping for a new source of clover but it seems you're just a crazy child that goes into that forest. I look forward to your continued advancement."

  When he leaves I slump into my chair. It creeks a bit. The guild master picks me up and then gently places me back onto the seat.

  “I say about two seventy five pounds so far. And about half way done. Stand up and walk for me a bit.”

  I do, it's ponderous and my steps are heavy. I gain a level in both lesser stamina and strength training. He watches me as I am breathing heavy.

  “Alright try walking lightly, it will take more out of you but there is a reason.”

  I do as he says, my legs are in agony but right before I give up a notification pops.

  You have gained the skill [Light Step] Basic 1

  Light Step - the ability to step lightly

  Basic - you won't alert everyone you’re coming any more, Bob is deaf

  Agility raised to 55

  “Shouldn't I be getting strength skills?”

  “Competent level of light steps cuts your weight in half. At least in terms of moving around. I suggest getting it leveled as quickly as possible.”

  I nod at that.

  “Also eat the rest of the bread.”

  I blanche at that, “But I won't be able to move.”

  He gives me a wry smile, “Some of your sluggishness is from iron deficiency, if we can get you to the point you aren't trying to fix your bones then you will have more energy. Also you will gain your stats faster if you weigh more.”

  I grumble and start eating more bread. The guild master leaves. Then comes back with six more loaves.

  “Thank you, guild master.”

  -----

  I ended up weighing six hundred and fifty pounds. Apparently my dense curly hair has a metallic sheen to it now and with it down half my back is adding a hundred pounds by itself. It's a wonder it doesn't rip out of my scalp. When I left the backroom hunched over I could hear Preys again.

  “The scolding must of been so bad she lost the will to stand up straight.”

  I chuckle at that, slowly lightly creek up the stairs to my room. I creep into my bed and just take stock. So I can't move at any speed, run out of breath going just across a guild hall and have really heavy hair. Heavy iron hair that grows rapidly based on the amount of food I eat. Could I sell it? I take a strand and try to pluck it. It doesn't come out. Hair pulling is going to be awful. I pull some mana into fire and then heat my pointer finger and thumb and grasp my strands between them. I get two resist notifications before the strand separates.

  My stomach doesn't feel as full anymore. Apparently after I restored my hair my stomach capacity went back to normal. The strand I severed has grown out its previous length. I shouldn't remove any more for now. My body needs to refill its fat cells, which unfortunately takes normal digestion to do. Monster physiology repaired by monster stomach, human physiology repaired by human stomach. That the monster parts cannibalized my human body seems unfair.

  I shrug and examine my severed strands. The part that I melted is warped and thinner. Might be better to just get an enchanted pair of scissors to cut the hair. Easier on the finger tips surely.

  I take my unruly mass and braid it. That its weight is so heavy it could legitimately be used as a weapon. I feel it will be a long time before it feels as light as hair again.

  Nothing better to do than to work more on my magic. I push external until I get a notification.

  You have gained [Mana Manipulation:External] Competent 1

  Competent- ready to merge with self

  Intelligence raised to 136

  I'll miss the stats I could have gained but deadlines are deadlines. I mentally focus on both self and external.

  [Mana Manipulation:Self] and [Mana Manipulation:External] combined into [Mana Manipulation]

  You have gained the skill [Mana Manipulation] Basic 1

  Mana Manipulation - allows the manipulation of mana

  Basic - allows the manipulation of mana outside of physical contact

  Intelligence raised to 140

  You have gained the skill [Mana Aura] Basic 1

  Mana Aura - any mana in your aura is under your control

  Basic - its an inch off your body at this point

  Presence raised to 43

  I didn't realize I'd be getting that skill too. I attach the passive to my reserves and it seems steady, but I don't feel like I am gaining much arcane back. Guess it's not an always on thing. Yet. Pulling it back in seems to restore some of the mana used. Situational then. Not my focus yet. My mental core is sitting at half.

  I reactivate the aura and attempt to make a construct at its edge. When I do my arcane reserves plummet. I stopped the working. The construct pulled from my reserves instead of my core. Am I only able to use arcane mana through my aura? The skill is not named by type so perhaps a higher level skill will allow for different mana types. That was an unfortunate lesson to learn. I go back to my previous exercises. By the time my mental core is down to ten percent I succeed at my goal.

  You have gained [Mental Magic] Competent 1

  Competent - allows the verbalization of compels, sorry Sara

  Gain 4 exp

  I shudder at the thought. I tell myself it is necessary. I am not Frank, it irks me to even be like grandma Bianca even but she is a better example. Never did she use her compels in a malicious way. Except maybe the clap but even that was to educate. I sigh. I get Ratagin out of my box and onto the floor. I speak with the compel.

  “Forward.”

  Ratagin moves forward. I smile till I look at my cost. My core is down to five percent. I spend my arcane reserves to get it back to twenty. My reserves are down to twenty as well. I try in [English].

  “Forward.”

  Ratagin moves forward again. I wonder if it is possible to use any word. The power in the compel right? But then again trying to craft a compel and speak a different word sounds like crossing my eyes. Then again I do have two minds. I focus both my minds, one to speak, the other to form the compel and try once more.

  “Backward.”

  Ratagin moves forward into the wall. Oops, I check on him, his spine isn't made out of iron. Seems fine. I'm breathing heavily again. Just across the room is enough to wind me. My mental core back to ten percent.

  I sigh, not much to do but work on physical stats. I grab my piece of iron hair and head down to the bar again, stepping lightly. It's thoroughly exhausting.

  [Strength Training] has become [Strength Training 2] Basic 1

  Strength Training 2 - through the lifting of your own weight you are stronger

  Basic - maybe not big boned but heavy all the same

  Strength raised to 55

  O its a tier three? No, I got another strong lung before this one. Nice to get more strength though.

  “Looking to order a drink?”

  I look up at the man who spoke to me.

  ? Elf Barkeep

  You have gained [Identify] Basic 8

  Perception raised to 82

  I'm glad I was so exhausted as to not react to his [Quintarl?ne]. I tilt my head to the side.

  “Um, could I get some food?”

  Acting goes up a level. The elf disappointments me.

  “Meals are only served in the morning and evenings, if you need something to drink I can oblige.”

  I tilt my head again at the end of his sentence, he really wants to confirm I'm an elf. Probably can tell I am wearing a trinket. Damn I would have asked for his highest caloric drink he had but I best stop engaging him. He might get suspicions of an almost eleven year old throwing back drinks like an elf.

  “Um sorry to bother you.”

  I get up, and slowly stagger out, I don't look back and hope he doesn't try anything else. It saddens me that the closest food cart is kabobs, but I can't get any further than that. I get to three quarters before I am full. Then force the rest. Another stomach skill up. Now I'm over stretched and over weight. I waddle to the fountain for a drink. Tithe paid and thirst slaked. I walk to Ren's.

  “Hatchling, you look more exhausted than when you brought in the rabbit.”

  I smile, “Hi Ren, I was curious if you could tell me how to spin thread and um do you go by mister or miss, I met one of your people before and was wrong when addressing them.”

  “Have you now hatchling, see these ridges here, if they are round and bulbous you can use mister.” Well, Ren a guy then, new thing learned. “As for spinning thread, are you looking to make mundane or magical? If you have a sample of the material you wish to make into yarn it would help in advising you.”

  I plop my black strands on the counter. He takes them up and examines them, then pulls on it first slowly, then harder.

  “I don't believe I've seen such hair before. Is there more of it?”

  I just smile at him, he decides to not probe further. “It is quite strong, mayhap even stronger than an iron horned rabbit. It appears resistant to magic though, I don't seem to be able to imbue it.”

  Stronger? Am I improving the traits I take? Or maybe it's a level thing. Curious about the magic resistance, maybe since it's my hair I can imbue it.

  “Can I see, I've been practicing magics as well.”

  He shrugs and hands it over.

  “Just cause you start circulating mana doesn't mean you are proficient at magic, hatchling.”

  I run my arcane through the strands, I can see it settling into the hair through my dimmed arcane sight. I dare not use mental, it's sketchy to use just arcane. I smile at Ren.

  “Here you go.”

  He is shocked by this, “But how, you're only level eleven.”

  I shrug and do my best to look innocent. He studies me harder.

  “Give me a moment to close the shop.”

  He leads me behind the counter and then places a closed sigh in front of his door. He comes back to me after, and points to a chair. I trundle over to and gingerly sit into the chair. It creeks. This raises an eyebrow ridge from Ren.

  “Sorry.”

  He brings over a spinning wheel.

  “This is how you spin thread.”

  He spins the thread through the wheel, his foot taps the pedal to make a consistent speed. His right hand guides the material through the apparatus.

  “You can use your right hand to imbue the material before you feed it through the wheel.”

  My dim arcanes watch his work and I only wish I could have them on in full.

  “Is arcane the only mana you can make?” He asks.

  “Is there any I should learn? In terms of profitability I mean.”

  “They all have their uses, fire sells well around here, it tends to provide resistance to mental and water.”

  Is it the affinity discussion again?

  “Fire does sound fun to learn.” I mean who doesn't have an inner pyromanic in them.

  He looks at the melted end, and then at me.

  “You'll need something better than what you used to to sever these strands.”

  He retrieves a knife and tries it on the strands, the strands don't cut. Annoyed he throws the knife into the wall and goes into his desk. Another knife comes out of the drawer. This one cuts. He huffs at that. He holds the knife out to me, handle out.

  “Harvest the hair with this. You can spin the thread here. I'll let you practice with the iron fur you brought in through the guild. Don't lose the knife. All I ask is for the first chance at buying the thread. I'm heading back to the front.”

  Before he gets through the door I stop him, “Thank you, I'm still recovering and probably will need at least four days before I can return.”

  He waves me off and I go to the wheel and start to focus. It's not long before I get a notification.

  You have gained the skill [Craft Textiles] Basic 1

  Craft Textiles - the ability to craft cloth

  Basic - your creepier then those cat ladies who make cat fur sweaters

  Agility raised to 59

  I squint at my notification as I work more of the fur into thread. It's soothing work. Soon enough I'm out of fur. I had gain another four levels. I head out the store. Slowly but lightly.

  “Decided against practicing?”

  “Ran out of fur.”

  He is incredulous until he pokes his head through his back door. I'm already leaving through the front when he tries to call to me. I shrug and figure he can easily catch me at my slow pace. He doesn't.

  It takes two breaks before I get back to the guild hall. A different bartender is serving food. I breathe a sigh of relief. After waving at the barkeep for some food, I sit down. Looking over my gains from just my walk back from Ren's I smile. I'm hoping to get over one hundred strength in three days. Preys group arrives before my food.

  “Sorry to hear about the scolding. Saw you didn't bring back clover today, you sure you don't want to do some porter work.”

  Preys and the boy sit on either side of me while the softspoken girl is on the opposite side of the table. I sense Preys and the boy's soul, their less than Barbain, the memory makes me sad.

  You have gained [Permanent Soul Sense] Basic 3

  Presence raised to 55

  50 Presence minor boon acquired

  Double the size of an aura

  All 50 minor boons acquired

  An additional stat when gaining any stat other than soul

  Bwah, that literally doubles my tier one gains. I can't not try to raise presence now, what could the hundred minor boon sweep be? I slot in sensing souls in the hopes of raising the skill further. What a change in opinion from when I first gained the skill. The soft spoken girl is somewhat larger in the soul department then the two next to me. Someone trying to push on my shoulder and is having an issue.

  “Something wrong?”

  “Ya doll, you've been zoning out, why does it feel like I'm trying to push a boulder?”

  I shrug, “Maybe I'm gaining weight for a growth spurt, I can't be eight forever.”

  She squints at me. The boy speaks before Preys can give a rebuttal.

  “She can't weigh that much.”

  He then tries to push me as well, he has an awkward angle and he hurts himself. I look at him with a pitying look.

  “Sorry, are you alright?”

  “Systems, Alicia right, you do weigh a ton.”

  Rude, I'm only more than a quarter. The food arrives, more mystery meat with mashed taters. I eat the taters first. Then slowly work the meat.

  “Doll, did you notice your nails are grey?”

  I look at my nails and yep, grey. I wish I had noticed before someone else had, could have hidden it. I smile at the thought of my iron infused finger flicks. Then I get sad again by the memory.

  “Part of my I can't move very fast at all condition.”

  She raises an eyebrow. I shrug and force another bite. Comeon bottomless I need the skill up so I can leave.

  “Is it tied to your weight?”

  The soft spoken girl speaks, I'm not sure if she is shy or just aloof. I smile at her and shrug. I get the skill up.

  “Comeon doll, come be our porter tomorrow you won't regret it.”

  “I'm being serious about not being able to move fast. I'm full, do any of you want the rest?”

  The boy takes the plate and finishes it. I get a thanks between mouthfuls. I don't envy the coming stairs but I get up and start my waddle. I can still hear Preys group.

  “She really is slow now, how can she weigh so much but be so gaunt.”

  “Her nails make me think of iron rabbits.”

  “Think she paints them that color as a way to embody the iron rabbit?”

  I almost have a heart attack from their conversation. The stairs make me think I really did have one. Once in my room I scan every detail again. Cause paranoia.

  You have gained [Attention to Detail] Apprentice 1

  Apprentice - you notice imperfections twice as fast

  Perception raised to 88

  I try not to think on that too much. I check my cores and feel they won't top off by the time I wake. I leave my hair braided and go to sleep. Only three days left.