I wake up staring at the ceiling, I've seen it once before. The wooden beams remind me just how absurd my life has become. It's before dawn, my lesson starts before breakfast. Marie was the one who woke me up, a nudge to the shoulder. She brushes my hair and takes me to the bathroom. I'm not allowed to touch anything until [Mana Manipulation:Self] reaches the apprentice tier.
She helps me get dressed. I'd do it myself but the weights added to my wrist and ankles require Marie to adjust them. They are like sleeves that cling to my skin, and they are adjusted to my str level. When adjusted my mana flows through them just like it does the ring. I'll gain a new skill by the end of the day if I can survive it. I'm to maintain poise while forever weight training. Apparently Cecelia insisted that if I had to continue being an adventurer to maintain my title then I needed to be stronger. It's only the first day and I'm falling all over the place.
I'm made to run to the fountain and back, to provide my daily tithe and to work on my running. Marie informs me that next week it will need to be two laps. At least running went up a level, I'm going to need those agi stats. My physical training ends in doing sword swings, one hundred. I do them standing next to Cecelia, it's the first time I've seen her without the breastplate, her chest is super shiny still and flat. I guess the white garment is the void top, she catches me staring.
“They are in the way if I'm not wearing it.” Just how stacked are you Cecelia?
The thought doesn't last long as she starts her practice. Her sword swings are so fast. I can believe it when she says she is doing a thousand practice swings. She finishes before I do.
You have gained the skill [Sword Arm] Basic 1
Sword Arm - the ability to use a one handed sword
Basic - you recognize that the pointy end goes into your enemies
Gain 1 exp
You have gained [Sword Arm] Basic 2
Gain 1 exp
When I reach apprentice I'll have to start sparring. My arms are falling off, I want to walk hunched over but Marie has no pity.
“If you can not maintain your posture, we can always start you in your corsets early, young miss.”
That gets me standing proper. I'm nervous that the threat is that it would be early. Marie has me cleaned and dressed in a simple sun dress, light pink. I feel they are trying to reduce my appetite with this. I reach the dining room and plop into my chair. Lady Maxwell is there.
“Mornin mother.” I murmur.
Ya, so last evening, Cecelia brought me to Lady Maxwell, and told her mother her plan to adopt me.
-----
Lady Maxwell was seated at the same place I had met her before. She had listened to why Cecelia wanted to adopt me, and did not interrupt the entire time. She then set her tea cup down.
“No.”
Cecelia begins to sputter, and before she can demand an explanation, the lady raises her hand.
“You're too young to have a ten year old daughter at twenty-four, Cecelia, do you plan to scandalize both her and our family at the same time. You'll just have to live with her being your sister.”
The goal of adoption was met, I would be entering the Maxwell family, just at a different generation than expected. I bet the lady just didn't want to be called grandma yet.
“When will you see the father to formalize the contract?”
“Sara is apprenticed to the local blacksmith, in five days she will have her day of rest, I will take her to Hotna then.” O so that's the name of the village.
“Marie, go clean up Sara, see if you can salvage what's left of her hair, oh and Sara do refer to me as mother from now on.” My body is covered in sap and my hair is matted. It's not going to be a pleasant evening.
[Yell] gained another level that night.
-----
“That will not do, Sara, you are to enter the room without a slouch, head held high, give me a proper greeting and you will wait for Marie to pull your chair out. Now go do it again.”
I stare at her for a moment, then head out the room with Marie. This is for my benefit, or so I hope, the hunger doesn't make it easier. I get a passing grade by the third try.
You have gained the skill [Atlas Noble Etiquette] Basic 1
Atlas Noble Etiquette - the ability to be in the presence of Atlas Nobility
Basic - You can manage a decent greeting
Gain 1 exp
A mercy that table manners are not enforced yet. Apparently formal meals will be in the evening. My reprieve will only last for a week. Cecelia came in, now wearing her breastplate, and I did my best at a formal greeting. I wasn't made to repeat myself so I guess I passed.
“You'll be spending your mornings here with Marie giving you lessons. Your afternoon will be with Belna to learn your trade. Marie will accompany you, to ensure you maintain your lessons in decorum and to ensure your safety.” She sees the question on my face, “Sara, I'm sure Cecelia has already impressed upon you how vulnerable you are. You are not to venture around by yourself.”
I'm led back to my room. There is a new desk in here now, and a blackboard. It must have been brought in while I was doing my morning exercises. Marie has chalk in her hand.
“You have a question, young miss?”
“Just surprised it's not a magic interface.”
“While such things do exist, I must maintain a certain level of mana to protect you. Now then this is the first letter in the alphabet.”
She draws something that is not an ‘A’ on the blackboard. A little old for kindergarten but I pay attention. At the very least it's not a symbol for each word system, phonetics will help in learning to read. There 28 letters apparently, th sound is its own letter as is the ah sound. The order is completely different from [English].
You have gained [Speak:Common] Apprentice 5
Gain 2 exp
You have gained the skill [Read:Common] Basic 1
Read:Common - the ability to understand the written word, in common
Basic - you know your letters
Gain 1 exp
After language studies, Marie starts to go into my family history. I will be gaining a brother, Francis, he is 28, and currently managing the Maxwell company and another sister, Barbain, who is 15 and is at the mage school. Mother's name is Bianca, she is 49. Thomas Blacknell, Bianca's husband, married into the family. He had died in a caravan ambush 14 years ago, apparently Cecelia became focused on knighthood over joining the business at that point. I have a living grandfather, some uncles, aunts and cousins, a few of which are my age. As I doubt I will meet them anytime soon, my attention drifts.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
“That will be all for now, come, it is time for lunch.”
We're back in the dining room, it is empty so no greetings are required. I still wait for Marie to pull out my chair. She nods, and before she can turn to the kitchen the Lady enters the room, Marie whispers to me to stand and give greetings and welcomes the Lady.
“Greetings, mother.” Marie seats me and walks over to do the same for the lady.
“A good noontime to you, Sara.”
Marie leaves the room.
“How has your first day of lessons been going?”
“I gained a basic reading skill.”
“Marie must work fast to bring your [Speak:Common] to competent tier.”
“It's only apprentice five”
Marie is back with bread and soup, she serves the Lady first and then me.
“Marie, do you know why Sara was able to gain the Read skill before she reached the competent tier in speaking.”
“My lady, I believe it's due to her already having a combined language skill.”
“Ah of course, Sara, when we have the time I would like you to teach some people your inherited language. It will be helpful to be able to send messages that will foil a cursory glance from spies.”
“As you wish, mother.”
You have gained [Atlas Noble Etiquette] Basic 2
Gain 1 exp
“Marie, here is some coin, we will need a tutor for Sara to teach her aura control, I think Sencea has the skill.”
The thought makes me nauseated, more debt.
“And this is why it's necessary, I can feel the change in your emotions from here Sara. Cecelia has informed me of your feelings on charity and this is not that. You are an investment, Sara, investment costs money, you only need to remember that you must succeed to prove that it was worth the cost. As a future [Lady] of Maxwell house, you are not to show your emotions through fluctuations of your title’s aura.”
No pressure, “Of course, mother.”
-----
“I thought I told you not to come dressed as a princess. Where are the clothes you bought?”
Oh that's not good, I was supposed to get them last evening. Briknae is going to add more holes into me. My only consolation is the possibility of [Resist Pierce] skill ups. A few holes later, but no skill ups. I'm getting changed in Belna's living room. Marie helped me with the dress but my apprentice outfit was up to me. After placing the headband on, I tested it out by pulling it over my right eye. The mana is not so blurry now that my sight is not mixed with the rest of the visual spectrum. I can see distinct objects hidden in Marie's dress, and her glasses have a faint distinct glow as well. There was a slight pinch in my eye.
You have gained [Arcane Mana Sight] Basic 3
Gain 1 exp
I'm rubbing my eye through the fabric. Marie notices and asks.
“Why are you covering your right eye?”
“My skill works better if I cover my eye, I just got a skill up even.” I push the head band up.
Marie studies me for a moment, “The white dot is larger.”
Damnit, again?
-----
“Ah, now my apprentice is properly attired, come feed the fire, also your white dot is larger.”
Does everyone have an [Attention to Detail] skill? “I know, I know Marie already pointed it out.”
“Young miss, as you are Belna's apprentice, you are to refer to her as your mistress.”
O this will get old fast, Belna is laughing. Marie positions herself to the side of the smithy entrance. She has my dress folded over her arms. I do my basic rotation of maintaining the fire.
You have gained [Fire Tender] Basic 2
Gain 1 exp
Marie accompanies me to the fountain and back. My back kept straight even as I struggled to not spill my bucket of water. Basin filled I sit on my stool and pull out the adventurer guild handbook from my satchel. Another Maxwell gift, along with the boots. I slouched at the thought, and felt a jolt of pain go up my back. I look back at Marie, she is standing as she had before. I squint, pull the head band over my eye and see that one of mana objects she had in her dress is now in her hand hiding underneath my dress.
“You're a sadist, you know that?”
“I don't know that word.”
“It means you enjoyed that pain you just shot me with.”
“Yes and the word is ‘sadist’.”
“Do repeat any new words, apprentice.”
“Of course, mistress, ‘sadist’.” I direct my scowl at Marie on the last word.
You have gained [Speak:Common] Apprentice 6
Gain 2 exp
Speaking of sadists …
-----
I take two more shots while I am in the chair.
You have gained the skill [Resist Lightning] Basic 1
Resist:Lightning - the ability to resist magical lightning
Basic - You won't seize up as long
Gain 1 exp
O so that's what she was hitting me with. Is it wrong to see if she will keep doing it to raise the skill? I'm sure there is a word for that. Though I thought she had to conserve her mana to protect me. I point this out.
“Raising the young miss resists will make her easier to protect.”
I scowl again, another zap. “Stop showing your emotions so nakedly.”
Belna laughs as she hammers at her work. I feel the fire needs tending and so I do my rotation yet again. After finishing with another bucket of water in the basin, Marie speaks up.
“The lunch shift should be over, I'll be going to fetch miss Sencea, Miss Belna I leave the young miss in your care.”
Belna waves her off and she departs. Sencea is to be my aura teacher, I wonder why Marie brought up the lunch shift. The answer comes shortly as a pink hair women enters the smithy with Marie following after. It's the barmaid from a week ago, I don't think she likes me very much. She speaks first.
“O, it's the child who leaves her negative aura hanging around in taverns.”
O that b—, no no, Marie is watching, I must be civil, “I must give my apologies, I am unable to control my aura, I'm hopeful that you can help me with that.” I curtsy as I was taught.
Belna is not so polite, “Her aura from her title, Sencea, she is ten years old and has been living under it for four years. I demand some patience in the matter.”
Sencea looks at me for a bit and then turns to Marie, “You're paying me to teach her how to restrain a pariah aura? Your cruelty could shatter her soul.”
I pale at that, Marie answers, “Nothing less can be expected of the effort to shape the young miss.” Curt, and still a sadist.
Sencea walks over to me, grimacing as she gets closer. “Alright here how this is going to go miss . . .”
“Sara”
“Sara, I'll be teaching you how to retract your aura, as it is a pariah title aura, it's not as simple as turning it on or off. You won't be gaining the [Aura Control] skill, you would need an actual aura skill for that, and that is not what I am being paid to accomplish.”
She turns to Marie, Marie nods, she continues.
“Instead the skill you are likely to earn is one that resists your aura.”
“Why is that miss Sencea?”
She pulls her hair behind her ear, its slightly pointed, sighs and continues.
“As a pariah aura, I'm sure you have seen it fluctuate before, perhaps when you were feeling?”
She is fishing for what the aura actually does, I say one word, “Worthless.”
She sucks her teeth, says a curse word or two that I'll need to ask Belna about when Marie is not around, and she looks at Marie again as if asking if she is certain. Marie just nods. Another sigh.
“Right, when it feels heavier you're actually retracting your aura subconsciously, making it denser. See pariah auras don't grow or shrink in power they just change density, instead you're going to have to pull your aura into yourself to the point that none leaks out.” My eyes are getting wide at this. “You'll need to bear the entirety of your aura yourself.”
Her hand grips my jaw and forces me to meet her eyes. “I can feel your aura contracting due to your fear. Stop. You need to be calm while doing this. This must be a conscious effort, if you lose control while internalizing your aura your soul might snap and be lost. What is your mental fortitude and soul level.”
I hesitate in answering, “I am being paid for my discretion, now out with it.”
“It's alright, young miss”
“Thirty-one and sixty-two, respectively”
“Keep putting points to mental fortitude on level, ideally you'll want it higher than your soul, the potency of your aura is based off your soul. Why are you getting emotional again?”
I can't help it, I can't gain more Men stat then Soul stats through leveling. At some point I won't get enough stat points from skills to balance it out.
“I gain three soul through my title per level.”
“Then I suggest getting to level twenty so you can equip a second title that has a mental fortitude bonus. Enough, calm down, it's not as dire as you may think.”
Belna interjects, “The fire, apprentice.”
-----
Tending the fire calmed me, it's simple. I finish the same steps as before, ending with dumping a bucket of water into the basin. I then get seated in my chair.
Sencea begins again, “I'm going to stand where I sense the edge of your aura. Marie stand next to Sara, we need to do this slowly. If the aura retracts too fast you may need to shock Sara hard enough to snap her out of it. Alright Sara, start to pull your aura into yourself, you may focus on strong emotions as a crutch for now but steer clear of feelings of worthlessness itself. The goal is just to gain the resist skill. Now begin.”
I pick anger to start with, a certain apothecary comes to mind. I can't believe he would set me up to fail like that, I could have been eaten by goblins out there. Or worse. And for what, so he could make me his child bride. Now there is revulsion to go with the anger. I would just deserve such a fa—
My head spins as my cheek burns. My eyes focus and I see Marie with her hand withdrawing from the slap.
“You lost control, young miss”
“Sorry.”
I tend to the fire.
-----
It was at least 3 more slaps and 4 more fire tending breaks before I got the notification pop up.
You have gained the skill [Resist Mental Attacks] Basic 1
Resist Mental Attacks - the ability to resist magical mental attacks
Basic - you get a slight increase in resistance from your Men stat
Gain 1 exp
I feel slightly less worthless.
You have gained [Fire Tender] Basic 3
Gain 1 exp
