I was back in my patient room. My never ending rotation of rooms just continues.
“I thought the room was for patients.”
“And it will be, I plan on fixing your rib cage.”
“I'm a perfect two.”
She rolls her eyes. “You're more than welcome to be that perfect two after you're fully grown and it doesn't fuse your bones in stupid configurations. Your ribs are already messing up your perfect two anyways.”
“I thought it was supposed to maintain my ratio as I got bigger.”
“Sure if your bones would move. But they aren't. I don't think I can get your other ribs back though. Perhaps that hydra hunt would be a good idea afterall.”
“You're going too fast, why would multiple heads help with this.”
She laughs, “While hilarious, I was thinking of the regenerative blood and the scales.”
“I don't want scales.”
“You sure, my dear? Just think, lovely deep purple shiny scales encasing your tiny waist guarding your precious soft organs like a corset you'll never lose.”
Damnit, now that she said it, it does sound awesome. I put my head down and cover my ears. I must prevent more of her wickedly awesome ideas from infecting me. She scritches my head.
“So what do we have to do?” It comes out muffled through my arms.
“Well, I need you to place a timed geas on yourself. ‘I will not go beyond one point five until my body is fully grown.’ Then I will break your ribs and reheal them. Your muscles and organs will shift again which I'll help along. Then we get you fitted again. Now then let's hear the geas.”
I look at her annoyed, “I, Sara Maxwell the [Voiceless] will not go beyond a ratio of one point five until my body is fully grown.”
The geas settles, there is no struggle as I know I will be free of it later. My earlier practice is helping. Mags has a sad look on her face, but quickly replaces it with a smile when I notice. She has me lay on my back in my bed. She places a hand on my sternum.
“Grit your teeth dear, this is going to hurt.”
My fused ribs at my sternum shatter, the pain is immense. Mags mana quickens my body reabsorption of my bones and then she forms them where my new temporary ratio will be. My organs shift as does my muscles. She regenerates my lungs lower portions. That she is overcoming my soul image is rather astonishing. She speaks again winded.
“There, now stare at your waist and take deep breaths. I don't want to find out your geas failed. This takes too much out of me to do.”
I spend an hour on it, which to be honest was an eternity with all my various focuses. When Mags checks on me again she nods.
“Good, your soul image adjusted. Tomorrow we will get you measured for a corset, your organs will need protection, I know just the thread to supply for it.”
My exhaustion takes me before I can ask her.
-----
“Mister Ren, I regret to inform you that my daughter's business arrangement with you is at an end. Luckily for you, you can purchase the thread she makes from me. So long as you vow not to reveal who actually makes it.”
Ren is pulling back from Mags, I give him my best sowwy face. I can feel the intimidation aura from Mags. He recovers and gives a slight bow.
“I, Ren, who can trace myself back to the Calamity, vow to never reveal the creator of magic iron thread.”
You have received a vow of silence from Ren
The Calamity? A question for later. Mags nods at Ren.
“Excellent, now if I recall you purchased four non imbued spools correct? I would like to buy them back, oh and the purple as well.”
He places them on the counter.
“Four large silver.”
I quirk an eyebrow at that, but hold my tongue. Merchant got to eat, I suppose. Just annoyed at the quadruple the price he paid for it. Mags buys it without a word. We left the shop.
“Anyone else know outside the guild, dear.”
“Driknae the blacksmith saw the blue and black braid.”
“Oh, that certainly will not do. He would tell everyone.”
“He was embarrassed he wasn't able to melt it.”
She barks a laugh at that. Then drags me into the smithy.
“Lass, I demand to know where you got that fur.”
Driknae appears to be ignoring Mags. I step away from her as her aura unfurls. He notices her now.
“Um, ma'am is there something I can assist you with?”
“Mister Driknae, I'm going to have to require you to forget about the fur.”
“Forget ma'am?”
“Yes, I give you the option of a vow or I will apply a geas.”
“Now listen here, you asking me to forget there is a monster out there with metal hair that is resistant to iron melting temperatures. At the very least such a creature is a threat to the city.”
“If I were to show you this creature, I am sure I can convince you of the need to forget the fur.”
He narrows his eyes. “I suspect you aim to feed me to your pet monster.”
“You've met my daughter? She hasn't eaten a gnome yet but her hair makes the most wonderful chime sound.”
She flicks my hair which sends a vibration through me. The note that was produced for the gnome on our first meeting was repeated here. Driknae's face grows pale.
“I do believe ma'am, that I would like to submit to a geas.”
-----
“Most fortunate that he was trying to find the creature himself, his greed kept him quiet.”
I feel awful with all of Mags bullying. I feel somewhat responsible. She leads me into a new shop. The tailor said nothing as he measured my waist in seven different ways.
The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
27 Troll Tailor
Mags left my four spools of mundane, a spool of fire, the black and purple spools with the tailor. She ordered two corsets. I would only be wearing them during the day. A winter and summer one. I doubt the summer one would fit by the time it was summer but what would I know. She then got measured herself and pulled out another spool of fire thread. We left after.
“Rather heavy but your fire thread will be quite nice when it begins to get colder.”
Winter is only a few months away. I always loved watching snow. I hadn't seen it yet as Sara, though all the other lives had. I felt rather left out.
“Does Yetna ever get snow? Hotna never did, and I missed part of Hilgurd winter.”
“I heard dear, Yetna is a hit or miss for snow, mostly miss. When you go to mage college you will definitely see it there.”
I smile, I wonder if my nightly affirmations can affect the weather. No better way to test than to try. She leads me to a small estate down the road from the guild. She leads me in. There are no attendants maintaining the grounds. I ask about it.
“I'm on a sojourn dear, I left my attendants behind and am taking care of myself. Now this room here will be your workshop. Cecelia tells me you are rather resistant to charity so I am just going to add to your debt to me. You may pay it off whenever you feel like it. Now then, what tools would you like to stock for now.”
That was my fault, I was very insistent on repaying my debt. But if she wants to be my angel investor, so be it.
“I need an anvil, hammer, a basin, a grinder, a loom and a spinning wheel.”
“No forge, dear.”
I turn to her with my fire dot on and smile.
“Rather brazen of you but training your magical ability is always a plus. Any idea on how you want your schedule to be for the next two years.”
“I like to do some dungeon runs with my friends, and progress my guild rank. On their days off I like to continue doing clinic time with you in the morning, the afternoons here.”
“That works for me. I suggest for now just making thread and basic ingots to sell. You're more than welcome to make personal pieces but you are to purchase the materials you need including your iron, if only to disguise that you are making the iron. The guilds will be looking for where the iron is coming from.”
“And how will you hide it?”
“I will be utilizing the Maxwell company store to sell them. Their reputation will make spies a tad bit less brazen. I believe the courier for your goods is arriving now to pick up your first shipment.”
I smile as I know the steps and the smell. I ran to hug my mom. I almost bowled her over.
“Hi sweetie. I'm sorry so much has changed.”
I try to hug her tighter, but her breastplate is stubborn.
“I'm making you a blouse that is going to be better than your breastplate so it's easier to hug you mom.”
She laughs at me, “But why wouldn't I just wear both the plate and blouse then.”
I grouse at that. Mags comes in with a wooden box with latches on it.
“[Countess].”
Mags scowls at that, “Cecelia we share a daughter between us, I insist on Mags.”
“As you wish, Mags.”
They both smile. Mags opens the box, it has my clear, gold, mental threads and the last two fire spools.
“I thought there were to be three spools of fire thread.”
“Yes well, on sizing Sara for her corset I felt a winter corset for myself would be lovely.”
“Speaking of, were you able to help Sara?”
“Yes, our daughter's ribs are unfused and she has a geas to prevent the issue till she is fully grown.”
Mom smiles at that. Apparently it was a conspiracy to downgrade waist 2.0. I'll allow it from the well meaning adults. For now. Cecelia heads off with the box, my debt two small gold lighter. I turn to Mags.
“Thank you for allowing me to keep my attachments.”
She scritches me behind the ears.
“Anything for my daughter.”
-----
After clinic hours, I look at the guild board. There is a request for death trillium. I walk up to Antiquarian.
“It's nice to see you not hiding anymore, hun.”
The only illusion I had going was the ring suppressing my soul value, and my noble necklace hiding my current level. No more purple hair, skin or green eyes. I do play around with my nails though. Today a dark purple with sparkles, when I called them galaxy nails Mags didn't get it. I like them though.
“Is there anything special about accepting a tier four request?”
“Feeling ambitious there hun? Depends on which one. Some require a client interview, others are simply open request set at that level.”
“Is death trillium considered open then?”
“It is hun, thinking of seeking it out.”
“Just on the off chance, if I find it.”
Just three petals was a small gold and five contributions. Antiquarian quirks an eyebrow but doesn't attempt to convince me to not go. I head out and after getting a sandwich to go I head to the forest.
-----
I start with a deep breath to pull in all the closest scents. My restored lungs provide me with greater range. The musty bone smell is faint but I head towards it. It takes an hour but I find the source.
20 Goblin Skeleton
I take my dagger into my one hand. There is only one in the graveyard. If I take it out I should be able to explore the rest without issue. My soul sight can see the mana that is holding the sun bleached skeleton up. It just stands there looking in a direction. I take a rock and toss it at mister boney. It smacks him in the head and he turns with vacant eyes sockets pointed at me. He lumbers over awkwardly and I decide safety was more important then sporting.
“Stop and present your neck.”
You have gained the skill [Necromancy Magic] Basic 1
Necromancy Magic - allows the manipulation of mental and soul magic to create and control the undead
Basic - oops, now you can command the undead
Gain 5 exp
Fuck, no recriminations later. I walk to the prostrating skeleton and snap his neck.
Gain 50 exp from Goblin Skeleton
Um, that was a lot more than he identified as…nope I got enough problems. I use my arcane core to refill the soul mana I used in my compel. My bleeding undead compels. How the hell did I pull it off before? No wonder it burned my arcane core down. Was my lack of knowing convert to soul mana preventing the skill gain?
I put mr boney into my bag. I should have checked if there was a request for goblin bones. I don't smell any more like him near me. I sigh and walk into the graveyard. The graves aren't organized, there are various nicknacks on certain mounds of grass. Parting gifts? I try not to step on any of the raised patches. As I walk through the graves I am further convinced that slaying goblins is not for me. I spotted a death trillium. I do as Walter instructed, I pull its petals from its tri flower.
You have gained [Herbalism] Basic 7
Gain 1 exp
Its scent remembered, I caught the scent of two more near me. I leave them be. I don't know how hardy the plant is but I am hoping it will spread more here.
I leave the clover, mandrake and ptra alone and head back down my scent trail. I figure others may want to harvest the open request and I shouldn't hog all of the herbalism.
-----
“So is there a request for skeleton goblin bone?”
“‘Fraid not hun, natural undead bones have resentment attached to them. There are uses but dungeon bone is what's in demand.”
Why are they different?
“O, well I brought back three death trillium petals.”
“Wonderful, five contributions and nine large silvers, five small silvers. Do you want to deposit it into your account?”
I nod, up to seventeen contribution. As a tier three, the guild only draws five percent. I head to the bar.
“Hey Cat.”
I smile and sit with my party.
“You look to be in a good mood.”
I smile at Xerc, “I made a small gold on death trillium. My debt to mother seems more feasible now.”
“Mother, Cat?”
Shit. I'm sorry mom.
“Seems Scratches got adopted by the priestess.”
Phenolp as insightful as ever. I just sigh.
“Afraid so, Mags said I can go on adventures. I would love to join you in the dungeon.”
Alicia hugs me, “Aw, I can't wait Cat.”
Phenolp is bringing out a knife already.
“Ahhhh Mags suggested that we take care of that at her clinic.”
Phenolp pouts and puts the knife away.
A plate is placed in front of me, I thank Robert. More three piece mystery meat.
“You want to go tomorrow?” Xerc asks.
“Sure, I'll even pull the cart.”
-----
“So I'll be going to the dungeon tomorrow.”
Mags nods, we are walking to the estate.
“Do wear the robes, they have some basic purifications against undeads.”
“Really, how do those work?”
“It dissipates soul mana, though dungeon skeletons aren't affected by that?”
Then why do I need to wear the robes? I think she just likes watching me struggle getting the grass stains out.
“They aren't, why not?”
“Dungeon monsters have no souls, they are static amalgamations brought forth by the dungeon itself.”
“Oh, I thought when [Soul Eater] didn't trigger last time it was ‘cause they were undead.”
We enter the estate.
“O no dear, the undead have souls, it's what is keeping them moving.”
I stop. My face paling.
“What's wrong Sara.”
“I killed an undead goblin skeleton in the forest today.”
“Interesting, so you think [Soul Eater] will activate then?”
I nod my head. Then I bring up the other issue.
“I um…may of…gained [Necromany Magic].”
Her eyes narrow at me, “How?”
“I compelled the skeleton to stop moving so I could snap his neck.”
“Ah yes, regular compels don't work on the undead. If you wish to keep breaking necks that's fine, just no using souls to animate objects or corpses.”
“You don't want a geas to that effect?”
I look at her scared. She gets to my eye level.
“Sara, I will not take away possible tools for your survival, there may come a desperate situation where raising the undead could save your life. I trust you to know not to use this magic for trivial things.”
I whisper a thank you. She scritches me behind the ears.
“Oh I still have his bones, could you incinerate them for me?”
