This is a daily reminder: You have 2 unallocated stat points
“I don't ever want to have a soul day.”
“Sara!”
The aura is roiling inside me. It's too much. Where am I? I'm being shaken. I look at my notifications, shit my soul too strong. Got to focus, it's too much.
“Which way is the garden?”
They don't understand, I don't understand them, I'm lifted and pointed towards the garden. I push my aura that way, away from the hands holding me up, I breathe.
“Sara, can you hear us?” Marie?
I feel my mother's soul draw closer.
“Stop, don't hug me. My aura out right now.”
Her soul stops moving, it feels hurt, I turn to face her. I feel light headed.
“Sorry, my soul overcame my mental fortitude. I'm hoping my resist mental pops soon.”
I give everyone a shaky smile. Bianca in the room today, Marie and of course mother. Barbain in the corner. I take a breath.
“My apologies my—”
“If you finish that sentence I will compel you.”
I look at my arms, the scratches are back. I remember the previous evening. I give grandma Bianca a toothy grin.
“Might be harder now than before.” I idly scratch my chest.
“So you succeeded?”
“Ya.”
“New things to discuss?”
“Ya” I whisper to mother who is closest, “Get Francis to look up [Soul Etching].”
Marie's eyes are scanning a message on her glasses. She heads out the door. Can Bianca hear me from here?
What to do, my mana back to full, corset on again. Guess nothing better than trying to level the skill.
“Think we can try to push my mental resist? I feel bad about having my aura out.”
“Sara, you almost bled out last night.”
“So is that a no?”
“Sara!”
“Sorry, it's just, I still have one more life to go through maybe two more and it's just going to get worse and—
“Sara control your aura.”
I negate it with my core, down to three quarters. Seems I was pulling in my aura too much, I haven't been this bad for months.
“Mother!”
“Cecelia, she negated it, she's right, she needs that skill up, if we channel mana into her we may be able to get her more of them.”
“Food first.”
Marie back with some sandwiches. She gives me mine first.
“You're off duty too?”
She flicks me in the forehead. Barbain jumps in.
“She gets rather bold doesn't she.”
Anything to distract from the last life. I am Sara Maxwell. I feel more me. I finish my sandwich. Some of the lightheadedness passes.
“Are you ready to get started?”
“Sure, could you try the clap one again?”
She raises an eyebrow up, I nod.
“Sara Maxwell clap once.”
I negate it again. My core is at sixty percent. I smile at grandma Bianca.
“Well at least it wasn't for nothing.”
“Should we see if you can vocalize my true name?”
She gives me a rather narrow glare, “The goal is the skill up not testing your latest foolishness.”
“Sorry.” Before she can say another, a new notification.
You have gained [Resist Mental Attacks 2] Apprentice 1
Apprentice - can reflect mental attacks for twice the negation cost
Mental Fortitude Raised to 48
O thank the system, I pull my aura back in fully, it's awkward and strains but I contain it. I breathe a little heavier now.
“I could use that hug now, mom.”
She obliges. I let the tears I had been holding flow. It was so horrible. First his life was horrible, then he was horrible. We stay like this for a while. When I finally finish she tries to push me back to bed. I shake my head at her.
“I can't mother, if I sleep now I start the next life. I need time.”
“It's three in the morning and your body needs rest, Sara.”
“And if I wake up with even more soul, as a tier two will I be able to contain it?”
She looks pained, bites her lip. Then her healing magic flows into me, I feel more awake, my body lighter.
“Don't over do it, you're excused from exercises today.”
I nod, give her thanks. Barbain yawns and heads to her room, satisfied that I was fine. Grandma Bianca similarly is getting up to leave but looks at me before she leaves the door.
“We will get you to another level of your resist before you go to sleep tonight Sara, Count on it.”
I smile after I negate it, down to forty percent core.
You have gained [Mental Mana Core] Apprentice 2
Gain 4 exp
Huh, well now it's twenty percent. Didn't know using the core could level it. I channel my arcane down to twenty-five percent. My core is back to fifty. My covert skill goes up by two. I turn to my mother.
“Would you please supply me with some of your arcane mana, mother? Filling my core is tiring work.” I give her my sweetest smile, one I hope hides my intention.
She rolls her eyes, then feeds me up to four fifths. “That will have to do for now, I can't be skipping my duties just because you keep draining me.”
I get my core to three fifths with that amount, and another convert level. Seeing the convert rate improve is nice. I start to get a wolfish grin.
“That's fine mom, I'll ask Marie if she can help top my core off, her mana not as gross as before.”
Mother grabs me before I can get away and brings my arcane back to four fifths. I get to full core and make a bubble of mental mana for my core to nibble on. My arcane is back to forty
“That's all you're getting, don't be bothering Marie, now out of my bed, I need to salvage my night.”
-----
I'm in the hallway with Marie.
“Its not nice to tease your mother like that.”
“I'm not likely to get much more mana from her from now on, I must acclimate as much of her as I can ma'am.”
“You're not on duty right now, Sara.”
I smiled up at her, “About that.”
-----
Marie left me some more finger sandwiches. I'm embroidering more tablecloths. It was hell before but more time as Sara is good. I'll claw as much time between lives as I can. My life is this cloth and its simplicity is intoxicating.
The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.
Marie nudges me three hours later. My sandwiches are gone, glad I can eat them while so focused. It's time to ruin Barbain's sleep.
-----
“Saraaaaaaaaa it's too early.”
“It's the same time as I always wake you, not a second off, Barbain.”
Sometimes I wonder who is older. I do her hair again, four braids this time, pigtails are for non-complainers. I walk Barbain to the gate.
“Your hair selections just keep getting cuter Barbain”
Barbain sees the two braids where her pig tails usually are, then feels behind for the other two. She looks at me and sees my rather wolfish grin.
“Saaaaaara, now I look like I'm ten.”
“Then we match, Barbain.”
“You still look like you're eight.”
Rude. I get zapped. Damn I wasn't watching, I wonder if I can focus enough to negate her.
You have gained [Resist Lightning] Apprentice 3
Gain 2 exp
“Sara, your mana restoration is good enough to maintain mental mana sight again.”
“One second [Head Attendant] Marie, could you watch my reserves, I like to try something.”
“Explain before you do anything, our [Lady] and myself are quite concerned when you experiment.”
That's fair, remaking all my scars from before was pretty dumb, “I was going to attach my passive to my core instead of my eyes, ma'am.”
“Then I will have to refuse you, while you could maintain your core when it was full in such a way, the moment you spent the core mana your arcane reserves would plummet.”
O that's a good point. I attach my passive to my mental sight. Then I had another thought to run by Marie.
“Is it alright if I turn on arcanes as well, ma'am?” She nods, I do so.
“O, her cat eyes look lavender now.”
It's been awhile since I had full arcanes on. Seems Barbain sporting some magical rods on herself as well.
Marie walks me to the fountain while Barbain laps us. Tithe paid. We return to the sparring ring. I watch Barbain do her swings and after mother takes Francis and Barbain together. Despite her yawns she still beats them. I smile at that.
I walk Barbain back in and clean her up. Then report to the kitchen again. Marie has some pity and allows me the use of one hourglass. I slow my perception and make pancakes.
After breakfast, I'm back to embroidery. By the second snack arrives I'm out of tablecloths, fearing I would lose an hour to normal time, Marie only smiles and hands me a mountain of napkins. Marie had planned her punishment well, but I still welcome more distance from Hanki.
For lunch I decided to make something new.
You have gained [Cooking] Intermediate 1
Intermediate - deviating from known recipes won't always be a disaster
Agility raised to 36
Thanks for the vote of confidence system. My pizza bread came out fine, only the mistake I ate was a disaster.
-----
“We really need to stop meeting like this.”
My joke went over as well as unwanted mana injections. The only family not here is Barbain. Francis starts the conversation off. Mom has her breastplate on, guess she just came back here for this conversation.
“Well Sara, I found [Soul Etching] another tier ten skill, it's described as being able to rewrite your soul at will. Tends to not level up unless the skill user is in the process of repairing soul damage. Further—”
I interrupt, “Why only in that case?”
“Most people are rather fine with where their soul is, any changes they want they can achieve in ways that won't require etching their soul.” Grandma Biance explains.
“As I was saying.” A look was given that said don't interrupt. “Should the user progress enough they become able to etch other souls, even greater skill allows them to etch souls into objects.”
My eyes widen, that's quite likely the option one of necromancy, the non golem route. I have the necromancy skill. Will I be hunted down and slain? This is clearly a road too far. Here lies Sara found to marring her own soul put down before she could mar others. Zap.
“Gah, what.”
“You zoned out again.”
“Sorry, I was just afraid of the skill being taboo.”
“Why would you think that?” Cecelia is concerned.
“Well the system said I was collecting taboo skills in its description.”
“Your system doesn't know social taboos anymore than you do dear.”
“Would I not be able to make undead with this skill?”
“Barring the fact that at your current level that's impossible, do you plan to use souls to power golems?” Bianca is always so patient with me.
“No.” I scratch my chest nervously.
“Then there is your answer.”
I look at Bianca questioningly. She sighs and explains.
“There are places in this world that try to police skills like this, religious organizations as well, they tend to murder those they find and drive the rest underground, this creates resentment and individuals that these heavy handed policies are trying to prevent. The queendom is more of the mind to police the actions than the skills of its citizens.”
So I can have the ability just don't use it, a closeted necromancer? Back to avoiding religion again.
You have gained [Resist Mental Attacks 2] Apprentice 2
Apprentice - can reflect mental attacks for twice the negation cost
Mental Fortitude Raised to 51
50 Mental Resistance Minor Boon
Able to double the resistance of one type of Mental Resistance Resist skill
Ah hell ya, I update my Status Screen to have a boosted resist section, slot in mental resist. Everything becomes lighter still. I let out an audible sigh.
“You alright there, Sara.” I really need to stop worrying mom.
I smile, “I got another level of [Resist Mental Attacks 2], it gave me the mental fortitude minor boon and I'm just luxuriating in the feeling. I went from being devoured by my aura today to being nibbled, and it's nice.”
Everyone is raising an eyebrow at this.
“Sorry, the only times I felt this free from my aura was in the other lives, and they lived with their own problems.”
Mother hugging me, she is really fast when she wants to be. Too bad she crushing me with her breastplate again. It hurts more than usual.
“I'm really happy for you Sara.” I pat her back.
Grandma Bianca decides to pick at the wound still on me, “Did you learn anything new from this most recent soul?”
I narrow my eyes at the use of souls instead of memories, "That monsters are created not born, well human shaped monsters that is.” I then told them the unfortunate life of one slaver scout called Hanki.
-----
Francis is the first to speak, “I need a drink after that.”
How do you think I feel, I almost think to ask for one as well when Cecelia stops the thought.
“You're still recovering, Sara.”
Soon, Sara soon.
Marie brings one last matter, “My [Lady] it's best to bring up what Sara is to expect tiering up.”
Grandma Bianca nods, “Sara the minor one hundred boon for soul is the race tier up. Your stat skill gain thresholds will be raised by one hundred.”
“Does this mean it will be impossible to gain stats till I level enough to use unallocated stats to get over a hundred?”
My eyes widen at the thought. Even my Mental Fort—
“Sara pay attention.”
I didn't even need to negate it, her compel failed at my mental resist. But I looked up at Bianca anyway.
“I'm explaining it to you, you've misunderstood me, your stats instead will gain as if they were below the threshold. In other words, you won't gain skill exp until after your stats cross one hundred mark.”
That's crazy.
“So how does one initiate the increase?”
“It will happen on your next level up.”
“O so I can initiate it whenever.”
Grandma Bianca giving me that sad smile again. “I'm afraid you will have to do that level up first then the one you earn after that will give you one day at most to initiate it. I'm going to have to ask you to spend your points now to give your soul as much time to recover.”
First she stops me, now she pushes me forward. Cecelia is not happy. Before she can protest. I get up and walk to her. She understands my needs and takes off her breastplate. “I need something to bite down on.”
Francis takes off his leather belt and folds it. I bite down on it as Cecelia wraps me in her arms. The belt tastes gross but it will do the job better than my sleeve. I mentally move two more points to Mental Fortitude, and I burn.
You gained lvl 10
Agility raised to 37
Mental Fortitude raised to 54
Soul raised to 99
I go back on duty and go get Barbain ready for dinner.
-----
I pour my perfect cup of tea, I smile and grab a scone before offering some to grandma's tea party guests.
Both Cecelia and Barbain grab one after Bianca does. Cecelia insisted on attending, after almost bleeding out, I'm not surprised. Barbain invited herself after Cecelia got her way.
“Anything new on the guard front?” I never get the chance to ask about her work.
“More merchants, Tom training coming along, nothing of interest other than that, just more traffic for the festival.” She sounds tired. I didn't help that.
I nibble my scone. Barbain continues the small talk. “The festivities will be starting tomorrow, you didn't make a long speech again, did ya mama?”
“My speeches are always of the appropriate size.”
Barabain is aghast, “That just means it's way too long, you'll keep me company won't you Sara.”
“I'm not debuted yet, so being behind the scenes is my place.” Barbain groans at this.
“Grandma, you told me the minor soul boon, but what is the major hundred soul boon.”
Grandma flicks her gaze at Barbain but doesn't dismiss her, “Truthfully, no one knows. It's unusual for someone to have fifty soul as their first boon, I know of no documented case of someone doing it for the hundred boon.”
O great more uncharted territory, my thought interrupted by Barbain.
“Is Sara already tiering up.” She looks like she can't believe it.
I averted my eyes and tried to deflect, “Oh come now don't be absurd, I'm only ten.”
“You're about as obvious as your buds.”
My what, I give Barbain a puzzled look.
“Oh my system, you haven't noticed, are you sure it wasn't Francis who infused you?”
I continued to give Barbain a puzzled look. She simply points at my chest. I look down and see them. I stretch my dress neck hole out to confirm. I've started my path to womanhood, I smile and my eyes get misty. I need more mana from my mother.
Grandma rolls her eyes and leans to Cecelia to whisper something. Cecelia gets out of her chair.
“Sara, would you join me in the hallway for a moment.” It wasn't a request.
I join mother in the hallway, knowing the embarrassment that's to come.
“So you just noticed your body changing and—”
“Please stop, I'm an inherited, I got a general idea of how this goes, perhaps I should compare notes with you to make sure there isn't anything missing?”
Cecelia nods relieved. I started listing.
“Breast buds are sensitive and itchy over time.” She nods.
“Fat redistribution to chest and thighs over all higher fat percentage to body.” Another nod. Assuming your meals weren't highly regulated.
“Hair growth armpits and down below.”
“Only if you don't have a strong aversion to such, your soul weight tends to shift your body more than others your age.” I nod at that, skipping the arm pit hair would be nice, more to add to my nightly affirmations.
“Growth spurts, and hip expansion ” O please, please, she nods, yes!
“Monthly bleeding down below, with possible cramps.” she nods at that, damn.
“How does this world handle that?”
“There is a trinket and a pad, pad pulls the blood into the trinket, you empty the trinket when you have time. Some of the fancier ones void it in the trinket, you likely still have at least a year before you have to worry about that.” I mean there are water rods, why not blood ones.
“Anything else I should know.”
“Sara you're about to tier up, most women do it in their seventies. Suffice to say you will be physically in your twenties longer than most. But your body only contains so many eggs, just don't lose track of time as you ascend. You promised, remember?”
I smile at that, wait in my twenties longer.
“What do you mean I'll be in my twenties longer?”
She gives me a rather incredulous look. “Sara, your aging is cut in half when you tier up.”
If I would have lived to a hundred, now it would be one hundred ninety? Does it continue that way for every tier up? I ask the question.
“Your aging is slowed by another quarter on top of the half at tier three.”
It's exponential, and I am starting it at ten, I start to shudder a little.
“Will it slow my development?”
“Development isn't tied to aging Sara, you will finish that in five to seven years regardless.” That's a relief.
“Anything else you want to ask?”
“How do relationships work?”
“You can wait on that till you're on your way to mage college.”
Drat, “I got nothing.”
“Alright then, I think it's best I stop giving you mana till you are done developing.”
Noooooooo, quick think fast, “But your mana is the most comfortable mother.”
She wasn't buying it, “There are reasons Sara, I won't influence your development anymore then I possibly have.”
I'm scrambling, I blurt it out, “I want those reasons.” Shit, subtly gone.
She narrows her eyes at me, “You know.”
One last try, “I know your mana is the very best.”
She flicks me in the forehead.
