Marie was helping me into a new dress, it was in maxwell blue, it hugged my waist and poofed out at the hem. While it was a halter I was provided long white silk gloves and leggings to cover my scars. Someday I will show you off proudly, but for now the family doesn't want the questions. I was to leave my mana sights off, even the dims, in case someone was looking. I gained an arcane core level shortly after I did.
I wasn't at the town speech, I had spent that time with Marie doing meal prep. A few additional servers were hired on, apparently from the adventurer guild. I found it funny that I could rise through the ranks of the guild by being a temporary Marie. The adventurers made unkind statements about the Maxwells under their breaths, it reminded me of what Randan had said.
Barbain had the same type of dress as me except in black, we made quite the pair. She had me meet a lot of different people, I didn't bother remembering any names. I saw Cecelia was about in her stacked gloriousiness, she held herself up confident as she was trained to do. That grandma had to coax her out was a conversation I was not going to mention. She had a few suitors make small talk with her. They were a few years older than her. Seems anyone her age was training to be a knight, merchant or mage. That she was a guard captain was actually curious.
Grandmother Marie subvocalized that I should join her and Bianca. When I arrived I met a man I've seen before. Bianca introduces me as her daughter, we're back to that lie.
-----
“We will be introducing Sara as my daughter at the party today.” Bianca announces at lunch.
“Mother, I'm not ashamed of having Sara as my daughter.” Cecelia wishes to re-litigate this argument.
I just watch the Barbain's cup as everyone keeps debating whose daughter I am.
“Now Cecelia, this is for you as much as for her. You professed that you wanted to find your own partner, and so I've held back your grandfather, but I will not have you sabotage your efforts either.”
Francis looks like he had an epiphany, “This is why you called me brother the first time, Sara.”
“It is as you say.”
-----
“Ah she looks quite fetching, how old is she?”
“Ten, my [Baron] Anvar.”
“Now, now Marie, we are not at court but your garden. Formalities can be set aside. Now you said ten, and she is only level ten, I must say you must be spoiling her, why, my five year old son already level seven.”
If he thinks I'm a spoiled brat, might as well lean into it.
“O, o o, can I guess his name, my friends love to play guess it in five.”
The baron looks bemused, “Guess it in five?”
I put a haughty attitude, “Yes, have you not heard of it? It's simple. I say a name and you confirm if it's right, I get five tries. I have to say I am the best there is at it, I managed to pull it off three times.”
“Out of how many, dear.”
I avert my eyes, a murmur, “I rather not say.”
He delights in that, “Go ahead then dear let us hear your guesses.”
“Albert.”
“No.”
“Sam.”
“Try again.”
I make a concentrated face, “Hanki?”
He just shakes his head.
I give a nervous attempt next, “Vance….”
“One more attempt dear.”
By now both Marie and Bianca understand what I am trying to say.
I give a defeated response, “Emil.”
“Afraid you will not be able to gloat to your friends about improving your win count.”
“Aw I should have said James.”
He blinks at that, surprised, “Yes, I suppose you should have.”
My acting goes up by one, so does my arcane core. It's growing faster than I expected. Marie ushers me away, her whisper so low no one can hear it but me.
“Just nods and shakes, that's the lord then?”
I nod.
“We'll discuss it later, no more trying to be cute, stick with Barbain.”
I nod again, and head off.
Barbain welcomes me back and takes me to the food tables. She whispers to me, “Which ones did you prepare?”
I point at a barely picked over buffet, and she drags me to a different table, aww. Marie cooking is too good though to blame her, much. She might get quad braids tomorrow. We came to the spirits table and Barbain grabbed some wine. The tavern owner Sencea worked for was tending the table.
? ? Dwarven Tavernkeeper
A clean shaven dwarf, my assumptions are shattered. He doesn't say anything to me, though I think he looked at my ears for a moment. I don't know what to say to that.
“Are you not going to have one Sara?”
I don't know where my tolerance is just yet, it's so very tempting but I decline. Barbain shrugs, and drags me on another loop. I met so many people and chided that I already forgot their names that I barely noticed my soul sense level.
-----
I pour my cup of tea and smile.
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The office is rather crowded today, the whole family is here. I take my snack, more cookies and pass the plate to grandma, she is bemused, Marie isn't, but I'm off duty.
“So do you know why you gained these traits?” Francis jumps straight into it.
“My [Soul Eater] apprentice tier makes my subconscious soul etch desirable traits from souls I consume, I even gained an etching skill up.”
“That does seem troublesome.”
“Not like I plan to go around devouring souls.”
“May wish to push Sara into an illusion branch as her first magics.” Bainca says to Marie, Marie nods in agreement.
Do they just assume I'm going to keep making changes, I mean it's not like I drastically changed over the last week, barring the hair, waist, ears, fingers, ovaries, or liver. Okay that is alot, I need to calm down.
“Pay attention, Sara.”
I burn some mana to reflect it, otherwise my mental fortitude would negate it without a problem which wouldn't help the skill level. The pure mental mana dispersed harmlessly off Bianca's own mental fortitude. O, a skill up. I refill my mental core from the abuse. After the converts, my arcane down to sixty percent.
“Sorry, what was the question?”
It was another from Barbain, “So how good is your elvish?”
“Be easier to just show you. Grandmother Marie, your soul status stone, please?”
The stone on the table, I touch it but the language doesn't show up. Right my earrings, be a rather easy way to find elves otherwise, I will the magic out of them. The status screen shows proper now.
Tier 1 : Sara Maxwell Hybrid lvl 10 - 0 stat point unassigned. [NOTIFICATIONS]
Title:[Voiceless Junior Attendant]
Strength - 26 Constitution - 43 [Intelligence] - 87
Agility - 40 Presence - 41 Soul - 110
[Perception] - 52 [Mental Fortitude] - 57
Languages: [T3:English] Intermediate 9 [Math] Intermediate 8 [T3:Common] Competent 1 [T3:Quintarl?ne] Intermediate 9
Resistance Boosted: [Resist Mental Attacks 2]
Strength Skills: [Sword Arm] Competent 4 [Strength Training] Competent 3 [Yell] Apprentice 6 [Strong Grip] Apprentice 4 [Strong Lungs] Apprentice 4 [Throw Knife] Basic 4
Agility Skills: [Embroidery] Intermediate 6 [Cooking] Intermediate 4 [Running] Competent 7 [Fire Tender] Competent 2
Perception Skills: [T5:Attention to Detail] Basic 7 [T2:Mental Mana Sight] Competent 7 [Arcane Mana Sight] Competent 3 [Identify] Basic 7
Constitution Skills: [T3:Resist Crush 2] Apprentice 1 [Resist Blunt Force] Intermediate 4 [Resist Pierce] Competent 6 [Resist Heat] Apprentice 5 [Tough Skin] Basic 9 [Lesser Stanima] Basic 3
Presence Skills: [T10:Permanent Soul Sense] Basic 2 [T2:Acting] Basic 3 [Atlas Noble Etiquette] Intermediate 2 [Tell Lie] Apprentice 2
Mental Fortitude Skills: [T3:Resist Mental Attacks 2] Apprentice 3 [T2:Convert Arcane to Mental Mana] Apprentice 8 [Resist Lightning] Apprentice 3
Intelligence Skills: [T2:Mana Manipulation:External] Basic 1 [Mana Manipulation:Self] Competent 3
Soul Skills: [T10:Soul Etching] Basic 2 [T2:Mental Mana Core] Apprentice 2 [T2:Permanent Arcane Mana Core] Basic 4 [Pariah Aura Manipulation] Apprentice 6 [T0:Soul Eater] Apprentice
Combo Skills: [T2:Status Screen 1 Per 1 Men] Competent 6 [T2:Shape Metal Str 1 Con 1] Basic 8
Earned Titles: [Voiceless Junior Attendant] [Apprentice Blacksmith]
“Why does your name got a line through it now?”
“Thats for me to know.” I give her my best enigmatic smile, “Besides you were asking about my elvish.” I earned a flick to the forehead.
“Try not to broadcast your knowledge of their language. There are many who will want you in their custody for that.” Francis gave me scary thoughts again.
“Why is [Math] in languages?” Barbain of a million questions.
“How else are you supposed to talk to computers?” She tilts her head at that, I distract with a question of my own. “So why do my languages stop at Intermediate nine?”
“It evolves into a magical version of that language, which allows you to imbue your words with power.”
So like the compels. Wonder what magical [English] would have been like.
“So I should be raising [Common] faster then?”
“I thought I told you to only do one level of [Common] a night.” Bianca notices that I've been cheating.
“The reason for that changed, can I have the next book, please?” Must give best smile.
Grandma Bianca glares at me then goes and grabs the next one. Marie has been studying the screen. “Francis, check my math but going by her skills do you think she is close to another level?”
Francis gives it a glance over, “I don't know how much exp she gained from the slavers or Sencea but she likely off by three fiftish or so without them.”
Meaning I'm within fifty for my tier up. Bianca puts a book in front of me. “I can tell you want to, read it now, let us witness your ascension."
I crack open the book, it is only three levels before I get the notification.
You have gained four unallocated stat points
Assigning these stat points will reset your level and Tier your race up. You have 25 hours before the stats are assigned to your lowest stat (Strength).
I jump in mothers lap, she understands and hugs me again. Francis' belt is already ready, he has a wry grin. I bite down and mentally move the stats. The headache was worse, but the soul fire just kept burning.
You are now a Tier 2 Hybrid
Level reset to lvl 1
Agility raised to 41
Mental Fortitude raised to 63
Soul raised to 114
I'm breathing heavily,
You have gained [Strong Lungs] Apprentice 5
Strength raised to 27
It’s as grandma said, my stats will keep climbing as if I hadn't met their threshold. It will keep me from leveling at least.
Mother gives me a squeeze, then places a necklace on me, it's a silver chain with a pendant. “This will stave off people calling you a Lady for now.”
“Would they bother for a [Junior Attendant]?”
She smiles at that, “That will be but a small portion of your lifetime. Make sure to wear that at all times, it will block [Identify].”
I smile back, then return to my seat to snag another cookie. I will my earrings back on and cycle mana through my new necklace.
“Think we need to have Reginald come here to reinduct Sara into the guild, Marie will you be joining her?” Bianca back to business.
Marie sighs “You truly wish to end my fun.”
“Afraid so love, Sara can't be going into the guild hall herself until she has more levels. Being a tier 2 at level eleven is quite eye-catching, not to mention you're not allowed to grow any older than I am.”
Marie sighs again and shudders for a moment, “There my next level will tier me, satisfied? Who has heard of a tier two attendant, absurd.”
I smile at that, she can change her title, I'm stuck with everyone seeing me as a tier two junior attendant.
“O my love just think how very embarrassing it will be for you to be a tier two attendant.”
Marie starts to blush, like holy shit her heart beating faster, I am learning way too much. Barbain is making gagging faces while Francis and Cecelia have happy small little smiles.
Cecelia clears her throat, “What should we do about the baron.”
Bianca takes a sip of her tea, then puts it down empty. I begin to pour it.
“I will report it to my faction, but I fear it's likely he'll avoid much more than a censure.”
I finish the pour, my smile at it being perfect did not come. “He abuses power and will continue to do so, it is not likely the only crime he is guilty of”
“It is as you say, hopefully an investigation will find more.”
“What happens if they do find more?”
“If it goes beyond censure, he could lose his title and lands, any graver he will be executed with his wife along with any of his non-debuted children.”
My eyes widen at the thought. More blood.
