Chapter 80

  Advanced Bartering

  Isn’t it weird how you always feel more tired after a nap, than you did before the nap? That is my current state of being. After my Skill upgrades, I was shoved off to bed, so that I could rest for a few hours before I would be called back into action for healing duties later tonight, which was now.

  Unfortunately, after the excitement of the morning, and thrill of having not one but two Skills enhanced to be able to utilize Divine energy, or more specifically Holy Energy, which I am fairly certain is a synonym for each other. At least that is how the System seems to portray them.

  There it was, my basic Status screen. From there, I could delve deeper into each and every part of it, finding what Skills were where, but for the moment that was enough. It is still odd to see that my changing of Soul Sight to Divine Sight was enough to take up a slot from my Holy, but not from my Magic Potential. Which made me wonder about my Trash Skill. A Skill I had assumed was linked to my Earth affinity, but that did not seem to be the case.

  The only reason I think my Trash Skill is now somehow different. Or at least it did not seem to show up in my status screen, but then again neither did my Soul Sight, nor my Soul Devour Skills. Even now the only reason why my new Skill shows up at all is because I modified it.

  Maybe they don’t count the original Personal and Bloodline Skills, but if you modify them, then they count? Honestly, I don’t know. Worse, I am too tired to try to figure out what is going on. It is clear that Bloodline and Personal Skills are treated as different, but not all the time.

  I also remember seeing streaks of purple in my mist that was highlighted by the Arbiter when he came to evaluate me earlier in the week. Before my life suddenly changed.

  While I understand the need to push myself as hard and as far as possible, as there is apparently a Skill learning bonus that is available right after earning a class, this is a bit ridiculous in my opinion. I lay down, my mind a jumbled mess of thoughts and people. The surge of holy infused energy still coursing through my body and mind, causing my eyes to itch, but in a good way. Not only that, but I could feel my voice being infused with golden motes of energy.

  Smiling to myself, I am reminded of how it was said that in my past life, really good singers had a golden voice. Now I had the same thing, all except mine was caused by an enhancement crystal. For a moment, I am concerned that I will never get to sleep, that I will end up staying up all afternoon just laying in my bed, trying to desperately take a rest that my mind refuses to take.

  For a moment, I wonder if I could call out sick, though I know that would not be possible. First, there are a lot of fighters that would need me, and second, I realized that this was likely one of my last chances to talk to Luna. Odd how the memory that calms my mind down enough to relax is a memory of Luna smiling brightly, as she gracefully runs around the ring holding up a cue card showing how much time for intermission is remaining.

  Knock, knock, knock.

  Then before I know it, I am aroused from my slumber by a slamming fist. For a moment I think I failed and that I didn’t even get to sleep, at least that is my concern before I notice a long thread of drool connecting my face to my pillow in a form of the world’s grossest waterfall.

  Blinking my eyes, I wipe away eye crust, and use a quick application of Trash on both the drool, the eye crust, and any lingering oils that might have been generated during the time I had apparently actually passed out.

  “Come in,” I reply getting up and putting on my new set of clothes.

  “Mademoiselle, the Matriarch has summoned you to meet her before you head out for this evening’s festivities,” Pierre stated respectfully from just beyond the threshold of my door. The fact that he could speak and be heard so clearly through the door was impressive, likely involving a speech-based Skill of some kind, maybe a Skill related to Acting. Which reminded me that I needed to try to find more ways to improve my Acting Skill. Yes, I could continue being the mute Healer, who pantomimes, but that makes for some annoying moments as I remember. I’m still somewhat annoyed that it was mainly a joke. Though, it did help me improve my Acting Skill a lot while I performed that role, so I can’t complain too much.

  “Understood,” I call out, taking a moment to look over my appearance in the mirror, making sure to change out of my clothing from earlier and place the old clothes in the bin that had been shown to me earlier. Taking a moment to double check my hair, and my overall appearance, I nodded to myself. I seemed to be stronger and more healthier. My Skin was still pale, but my eyes now glowed with what appeared to be permanently resting golden flecks. Just as I imagined the holy energy seeping into my body, so too did it seem to be sinking into my eyes and my lungs. Even my understood, came out in a far more harmonic tone than I expected. Not the normal rasp that I am accustomed to sounding like once I first wake up.

  This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

  Knowing that I will not display poorly for Madame Bloom, I exit my room and head to the parlor. There, the giant wall mounted mechanical clock lets me know that I have been summoned an hour early. While it was Mr. Yi and Markam who ultimately sent me to my room before Madame Bloom came back, seeing her now it was clear that she had never taken a rest herself, and secondly that she still looked as powerful and graceful as ever.

  “Master,” I offer with a bow upon entering the parlor. Only noticing a figure sitting in one of the leather chairs with direct line of sight to the door once I enter the room entirely. Turning to glance at the person who was so casually sitting and drinking a cup of tea from my blind spot, I pause as I immediately recognize the person. I recognize them but then can’t quite place their face. They are handsome and tall, but I can’t tell exactly how tall due to their sitting down in a chair that promptly has their knees higher than their waistline, implying they are larger than the person for whom the fancy leather couch was made for. Unfortunately, there is so much going on with his posture, that I can’t quite place him. With such a handsome face, I feel that I should know him, or at least be better able to remember where I know him from, but sadly my mind is drawing a blank.

  Just as I am looking at him, Madame Bloom makes a quick tap on her desk drawing my attention to her. On her desk is a myriad of ink flasks, pens in cups, papers, and an assortment of other odd and end nicknacks. With only two other items being remotely familiar to my glance. For there on her desk are two of the short and stubby Experience Crystals. Looking at them, I am almost positive that they were ones that Markan had brought back with him.

  “I am glad that your body has taken to the Enhancement Crystals and you managed to successfully advance two Skills. While they are not the Skills we thought you would advance, the fact that you managed to unlock holy magic abilities for two Skills is impressive. Especially for your first time.” Madame Bloom began. As she spoke, I could feel not just one but two sets of deep penetrating gazes upon me.

  Glancing out of the corner of my eye, I could see that same familiar stranger staring at me with his own intense blue glowing vision.

  “Now, I am here to tell you that you managed to do well in closing your first rift. After everything was distributed between the team, and after your initial four points for the two Enhancement Crystals, I am proud to note that these are your remaining spoils. Two Experience Crystals,” Madame Bloom states as she grabs the two crystals that were familiar for a reason and sort of rolled them closer to me on her wooden desk for show. Though she never took her hand off of them, instead she continued to speak.

  “These two crystals are worth a minimum of one hundred gold each, or two hundred gold pieces total. Normally, you would be allowed to take these and spend them wildly, not knowing their true value, or more importantly their true value in trade. That said, as your Master, I cannot let you spend these wildly, particularly as you still have not one, but two Uncommon Skills that need to be badged out and replaced.” Madame Bloom began.

  As she spoke, something clicked in my brain, as I turned back to see the handsome gentleman in the corner and suddenly realize where I had seen him before.

  “The Arbiter!” I blurt out, finally recognizing him as the state sponsored official who had acted as the guarantor between the fostering of Johny for me, and apparently the exchange of a few properties.

  At my disruption, the handsome man smiles a dazzling smile and placing his teacup and saucer down on an end table, he gets up and bows.

  “Please, in these less formal settings, you can call me Yohan,” the man gets up standing to his full imposing height and bows towards me. As he does, I instinctively reciprocate the bow with my own curtsey, or an attempt at a curtsey, but my movements are far clumsier than his polished eloquence.

  “Yes, Yohan, sir,” I stammer out.

  “As your Master,” Madame Bloom cut in, a slight tone of annoyance filling her voice as I had just cut her off. A tone that she quickly cuts back and resumes her normal posture and eloquence, “I could not allow you to waste your opportunity. This is why I brought Mr. Yohan Smoulder here, to both show you what is possible with your Experience Crystals, and to help you think in a bigger picture mindset. Now, this is the first and only time I will force you to spend your remaining crystals on Badging your MAXED out Skills, so you can learn newer Skills. But this is partly due to the new class buff, and the fact that I want you to understand just how expensive getting a Skilled badged can be.”

  As she speaks, I wonder if Yohan is somehow related to Veronica, the girl from my class bearing the same surname. I don’t have much time to consider this train of thought, as the two are already going onto the next part of this impromptu lesson.

  “For a further breakdown, I will let Mr.—” Madame Bloom began, but paused and corrected herself, “Yohan here explain the prices.”

  “Yes, thank you,” Yohan began, “now I will only speak in general terms and prices. But most of the time, the price of Badging a MAXED out Skill is entirely contingent on the rarity rating of the Skill. Earlier, you had four Common Skills that needed to be badged out. That transaction took two Experience Crystals that Madame Bloom paid me in addition to my standard fees as an Arbiter for the courts. The cost was broken down as two Common Skills per Experience Crystal.”

  There was a slight pause as he let that message settle in. At his comment, I felt bad and instantly turned to Madame Bloom. Fortunately for me, Madame Bloom seemed to already read my mind as she just waved me off.

  “I’ve already been repaid, as the organizer of the rift event earlier, I more than made back my initial investment in you,” Madame Bloom replied giving a quick wave of her hand to reassure me. Thinking back, I did remember there being at least two more Enhancement Crystals, three Skill crystals and seven Experience Crystals remaining. Meaning that even with these two, there were a lot of crystals left, all of which were expensive.

  “Now, today, you are going to need to badge out two Uncommon Skills. This is both more taxing on me, the person performing the action, and harder to find people who can perform this task. While the prices again will vary, I charge a standard one Experience Crystal per Uncommon Skill being badged. Then the price once again doubles going to two Experience Crystals or one Enhancement Crystal per Rare Skill needing to be badged.” Yohan stated.

  Hearing the explanation, I could understand why Madame Bloom was so demanding with me using these Experience Crystals in this exact way. Most kids my age would likely see the two hundred gold coins and figure they could make more easily. Which given the way my now cheat of a personal Skill Trash can make fully formed crystals, that might seem like a clear possibility. But I am not a kid, and I realize that Skills are the one tried and true method towards getting stronger quickly. Also, I am curious about what new Skills might be available tonight while watching the fighters go wild.

  Suddenly the lethargy that had been lingering in my mind was completely washed away as a newfound excitement began.

  “This is why I, as your master, am insisting that this one time you use your—” Madame Bloom began, clearly trying to apologize for the forced spending. Leaving me with no money, but that is fine. I don’t need money, while I could possibly buy better equipment, or clothing, to me Skills were the most important commodity that I could have at this point.

  “No, this is perfect, thank you.” I reply.

  And like that, I was back to being broke, but I suddenly felt like I had gained a lot more in my future potential.

  I was more excited than ever, as to what Skills I might be able to gain insight into tonight. For a moment, I could feel that tonight would be a great night.