-Okay are you getting back at me for all the times I left you to get lectured by the guild master
I mentally roll my eyes at my sister. Best get on my shoulder, the guild master wanted to talk to both of us.
-She does realize we remember each other's memories right.
Why are you asking as if you don't already know? I feel a mental huff, as the illusion appears on my shoulder.
“‘Bout time, alright listen up girls, you're taking a shot of my alcohol infused blood every night till your [Alcohol Tolerance 3].”
“Isn't it easier to just abstain.” Sister asks.
“You’re a fucking bleeding fireball waiting to explode till you fix this. Basic [Alcohol Tolerance 3] negates the debuff entirely. I tell ya not to worry about it but if you kill some drunk fuck and get coated in blood you won't be able to control yourselves. Then I get to explain to some inquisitor why a tavern burnt down.”
“Fine but just minimums.”
“I don't feel like doing this until you start feeling it, Mourns. If you don't get a buzz after I drink two bottles tonight, I'm doing three tomorrow.”
The guild master starts on her bottle. Barbain and Beatrice both take a shot. Lindur surprisingly does as well. She had returned after dinner saying she was sorry she froze on bringing the manacles back. I assured her that it was my fault.
All stats increased by one temporarily.
You have gained [Vampire] Intermediate 2
Gain 40 exp
You have gained [Blood Alcohol Intolerance] Basic 6
Gain 1 exp
All stats increased by one temporarily.
You have gained [Vampire] Intermediate 3
Gain 40 exp
You have gained [Blood Alcohol Intolerance] Basic 7
Gain 1 exp
All stats increased by one temporarily.
You have gained [Vampire] Intermediate 4
Gain 40 exp
You have gained [Blood Alcohol Intolerance] Basic 8
Gain 1 exp
The guild master slams her second bottle down, then makes me a cup.
All stats increased by twenty temporarily.
You have gained [Vampire] Intermediate 5
Gain 40 exp
You have gained [Blood Alcohol Intolerance] Basic 9
Gain 1 exp
You have gained [Alcohol Tolerance] Basic 4
Gain 1 exp
Only one skill level, no debuff though. Last night's escapades had given me three.
“It would seem that is enough for one level. Considering Intolerance is rising faster you may actually have to limit it further guild master.”
She scowls at that. Is this all just an excuse to drink? Our impromptu party disperse and I am alone with my sister.
-I think we should level when both of us are present.
Right, the soul fire definitely would wake us up anyways. I follow our mother's advice.
You gained lvl 11
Strength raised to 204
Agility raised to 174
Perception raised to 212
Constitution raised to 204
Presence raised to 211
Mental Fortitude raised to 207
Soul raised to 268
My muscles feel like they are tearing, I trip and fall. Vertigo takes me as my skin begins to crawl. My body grows heavier and a migraine settles. I feel none of this cause my bloody fucking soul is burning.
-----
This is a daily reminder: You have 4 unallocated stat points
Mother is a level maniac, why did we listen to her advice? I look over and see the excess bread Barbain had left behind. I start making more hair.
-----
You have gained [Throw Knife] Apprentice 3
Gain 2 exp
The b's arrived in my clinic. I look towards the door as they enter the clinic.
“Hey, we paid your rental fee, come on you need to go refill your containers right?”
She who Mourns, the spare dungeon key.
“Don't say that outloud, if others understood what you were saying they might get it in their head to try renting me out as well.”
Beatrice just laughs at that. I brought my empty containers to the cart they had rented.
“Why did you make a bunch of regular knives?”
“Got tired of getting up after throwing one, Barbain. Now I can throw twenty before I reset.”
I pull the cart as they follow along. We see the professor again.
“Seems the two of you have become attached. Just don't let it interfere with your studies.”
I trundle along and down the familiar ramp. When we are at the bottom of the ramp Beatrice runs in front of me. She raises a finger and points at me.
“You offered to make me a cat girl and have yet to follow through.”
“I am quite certain that it was my sister that did that and she wasn't of sound mind at the time.”
Beatrice pouts, “Nevertheless I demand it.”
I shrug and pull the cart past her.
“Aw come on Jam, haven't I shown I would be a good daughter.”
I look at the green haired violet skin girl. I sigh.
“If you still wish this when I have a demesne, I will make you my daughter.”
“Awww I don't want to wait a hundred years.”
“I plan on becoming nobility after I enroll in mage college.”
“I don't see you killing the blood soaked priestess.”
“What no, I‘ll be tier three by then.” Maybe even four.
She snorts, “You gained a level and think you can just magically gain another two hundred.”
“I guess you better hope I can.”
I stick my tongue at her. Barbain just chuckles at our antics.
“Well then clearly you will need this.”
She tosses me a third percent ring to me. I managed to catch it.
“Now come on and help slay the axens.”
This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
I shake my head, “My skill takes all the exp if I am the closest. I'll play support and throw knives.”
“Fine but put on the ring, I will not bear a moment's delay in your ascension.”
-----
You have gained [Two Separate Minds] Apprentice 6
Gain 2 exp
-O the floor guardian is up.
She pops onto my shoulder. Ya its time for a rematch. Beatrice hustles over to us.
“Evening Jam, you promis—”
“Nope I agree with sister, no new daughters till I have a demense.”
We should make that a geas.
-Wonderful idea.
We speak together as one.
“We, Sara Maxwell Magdeline, who is [Voiceless] vow to not make any new daughters till we have our own demesne to protect them in.”
It settles comfortably on our soul. Barbain walks over incredibly angry.
“What the hell happened to your promise to me, huh.”
I give her a sad smile.
“I was going to simply reveal who I was to my grandmothers, Barbain. If they don't recognize me at first, they will in the end.”
“But then you'll be in danger.”
“But you will be able to hug them.”
“But you won't.”
“That's my status quo already.”
“I was fine with becoming your daughter, Sara.”
Down right hopeful going by her disappointment.
“Then you just need to wait with Beatrice.”
“How far off are you really?”
I sigh but I delayed her hopes.
“I should pass the threshold in two levels.”
“The fuck?” Beatrice's shocked utterance just makes me laugh.
-----
“Another six small gold, five large silver, bank?”
The b's opted to pay me back before dividing the spoils. I nod and head to the clinic. The b's follow.
“You know Jam, your under garments would do swift business at the college.”
“Pass, already got enough people looking to kill me without adding the trade guilds.”
You have gained [Throw Knife] Apprentice 6
Gain 2 exp
They are sitting in my aura. Lindur joins them. She doesn't walk as far as last time and simply sits with the other two.
“Lindur, you'd love to have silk undergarments, right.”
She shudders at the thought, “I am doing my best not to think of spiders, Hears and Laughs.”
“Awwww but it's so comfortable. Here, feel mine.”
I feel this is sexual harassment. Barbain agrees as she smacks Beatrice in the head.
“Don't be flirtin’ in front of me.”
Or that. Beatrice sticks out her tongue at Barbain which only earns her a finger flick to the forehead. Lindur looks at me and I form an illusion for her to study. I feel she is nearing competent. I hear sounds approach and retrieve my aura.
“Clear the door, Barbain grab more bandages, there are six injured coming.”
They get out of the way as the injured arrive.
“A small silver from each of you.”
I begin taking care of the most grievous of the injuries. A torn leg, no foot. I stop the bleeding and restore some of her blood. I move after she is stabilized, fixing the weeping cuts of a Pimar man.
“Priestess, I insist you complete the healing of our lady.”
I look at the fool who spoke. His collar bone is shattered but he is not in immediate peril. I move to the attendant who looks scared that I am ignoring the man. Her foot is also crushed. I stop the bleeding.
“Priestess, I demand you follow my instructions.”
I negate it. My mental core loses five percent of its mana.
“Lindur, get the guild master.”
She scrambles away quickly.
“Priestess, if you do not follow my command there will be grave repercussions.”
I continue ignoring the man. Moving to a small boy with cuts all over his body. I seal them. I go over to the last and see that he is in no immediate danger. Barbain arrives with my bandages. I point to the four I treated so far, then walk to the fuming annoying man. I fix his collar bone and he takes a swing at me. The fist is caught by the guild master.
“Now I'm not quite sure I understand, but none of you are adventurers.”
I walk over to the woman with the missing foot.
“It was an emergency, our carriage overturned and we required aid. Frankly, charging us is absurd.”
The guild master had a placard on our entrance heralding the opening of the clinic. I begin to restore the woman's foot. The man continues as if his voice is the only one that matters.
“That is beside the point, our lady is maimed and every second she stays that way, her soul image could accept her injury. It's imperative that the priestess devote herself and her mana to fixing the most pressing issue.”
“Our priestess priorities are in lives. I still wish to hear why you thought it prudent to waste her mana negating your compel.”
“The lives of her retainers are hers, if we must die for her, that is our duty.”
I finished and whispered to the woman, “Make sure to look at your foot to convince yourself it's fine.”
The woman nods as she feels her foot. I move on to the other triaged patients.
“Big words from one who wasn't in danger of dying.” The guild master goads the man further.
I finish up the rest.
“Are you implying that I would feel differently if I was dying, do not besmirch my honor.”
The woman pays me six small silvers.
“Geralt, it's time we leave.”
“O no, Geralt is staying, see he needs to tell the guard why he thinks assaulting our priestess is warranted.”
Geralt is stuck between the shock of seeing his lady walking out and the guild master holding him responsible.
“She who Mourns, you're charging them too little.”
I shrug, “They were out of coin and I don't do IOU's.”
“She shouldn't be charging at all.”
“Mourns their carriage alone is a hundred large gold of fancy.”
“What would I do with a carriage?”
“The fuck if know, melt it down, preferably in front of this dickwad.”
“Are you even listening to me?”
“No.”
-----
A familiar inquisitor is in my clinic. She is still as imposing as before, even if I am bigger than last time. I try my best to look anywhere that isn't her.
“First a competent mage, now a steward, Winctal. Why is your employee drawing violence on a near daily basis.”
The steward in question has already been led out.
“Dunno, but as she has only been attacked and not retaliated, I feel she is just unlucky.”
“I can attest to that, my executioner is quite sore from missing out on taking her neck.”
Damn it, she recognized me. How? Also fuck your executioner, shouldn't they care I was innocent. She is in front of me now.
“Sara Maxwell, I don't like that I keep getting reports about you.”
“Magdeline.”
“Pardon?”
“Sara Maxwell Magdeline.”
I glare at her.
“So noted. Traded up did you. You wouldn't mind going through your status screen with me again would you.”
I focus and set my status screen perfectly. Twenty minutes for me, just a few seconds for her. I will it for her to see and point to the g in [Strong Grip]. Then run my finger down a zig zagging line.
[Strong Grip]
[Cooking]
[Fire Tender]
[T3:Sustainer Magic]
[T3:Resist Crush 2]
[Throw Knife]
[Yowl]
[T2:Sword Arm 2]
[Tough Skin]
[Running]
[Strong Lungs]
[T3:English]
[Light Step]
[Fire Magic]
The guild master laughs at my defiance. The inquisitor simply nods.
“Duly noted.”
I need to find some skills with O's and U's at the start. It would be easier spelling out 'go fuck yourself'.
-----
All stats increased by ten temporarily.
You have gained [Vampire] Intermediate 6
Gain 40 exp
You have gained [Vampire] Intermediate 7
Gain 40 exp
You have gained [Blood Alcohol Intolerance] Apprentice 1
Apprentice - going too slow, fine two percent
Gain 2 exp
“Damn it, Beatrice that was too much.”
“I won't be seeing you until the evenings, I felt it proper to reward you. It never stops you from drinking it down.”
Barbain thrust her cup at me, the minimum. I can feel her annoyance with me from this afternoon. It makes me sad.
All stats increased by one temporarily.
You have gained [Vampire] Intermediate 8
Gain 40 exp
You have gained [Blood Alcohol Intolerance] Apprentice 2
Gain 2 exp
Lindur provides her cup as well.
All stats increased by one temporarily.
You have gained [Vampire] Intermediate 9
Gain 40 exp
You have gained [Blood Alcohol Intolerance] Apprentice 3
Gain 2 exp
The guild master puts down her cup as well. Two more bottles down.
“Don't freak out when I clutch my chest, it's another tier up.”
“What do you mean by that, Mourns?”
“My tier ups in [Vampire] soul etch me. It's dumb but here we are.”
The guild master narrows her eyes at me but waves me off. I take a deep breath and drink the cup. My chest warms up.
All stats increased by twenty temporarily.
You have gained [Soul Etching] Competent 9
Gain 40 exp
You have gained [Vampire] Advanced 1
Advanced - You can bestow the the Supplicant title with a drop of your blood
Gain 80 exp
You have gained [Blood Alcohol Intolerance] Apprentice 4
Gain 2 exp
You have gained [Alcohol Tolerance] Basic 5
Gain 1 exp
The fuck is the supplicant title. Both Barbain and Beatrice are looking at me wide eyed. Lindur and the guild master don't notice and get up to leave. When it is just us, Beatrice is the first to break the silence.
“I just heard your voice in my head telling me to request a drop of your blood, Jam.”
Now I'm getting nervous, I look at Barbain and she nods indicating the same. I don't even know what it does. System what is the title Supplicant. Nothing really. Damn it. I take a breath.
“I can now apparently bestow a title called Supplicant through a drop of my blood. I don't know why you heard my voice telling you to ask for it. I have no idea what it does.”
“Well give me a drop, then we will know. Simple enough.”
I squint at Beatrice, annoyed.
“Or we can … no, I need to know what it does. Barbain will you help me? I don't know what will happen but my daughter was right in that I want these changes and if I fight them it will just get worse. It's better to know then not. She always thought it to be a blessing.”
I tear up. I haven't thought of it awhile but acceptance.
-Acceptance.
Beatrice is put out but Barbain comes over. My sister pops up on my shoulder to watch. I prick my finger, causing a bead of blood to come out. I then put it Barbain lips. My soul eyes flare as she shudders slightly.
You have bestowed the Title Supplicant on Barbain Blacknell
Supplicant - You are hers, title has its own slot, grants five of her Soul for one of yours on level, additional soul does not count towards Major Boons. Leveling without this title returns the amount of soul you gained that level. You cannot gain soul by leveling so long as you have a piece of her soul. Leveling with this title slotted makes the title unremovable for ten days. Each level doubles the time. No one can see her soul in you, should you tier your race with even a bit of her soul, no one but she can see it. When half your soul is hers you no longer can remove this title, your body will begin to gain her traits. Should a soul be reduced to memories, the soul will not trade more but still receive. Her final trait is hers to give.
Her soul responds to her will.
Wait, my soul. Replacing? Is Barbain going to have all my traits? Is the end goal here bestowing [Vampire]? I shiver at the thought. My sister shudders inside my mind as well. Wait she essentially would not gain any of her own soul on level. I [Identify] Barbain fearing the answer.
21 Human Basic Mage, Student, Supplicant
“Are you sure?”
“You said I should grind out my levels.”
“You're essentially stopping your own soul from leveling though.”
She shrugs. Beatrice starts to shake Barbain.
“What it do, Bar Bar”
“I actually can't say. Like I tried but … nope nothing. It's like a geas.”
My sister corrects her, “It's a soul etching.”
Beatrice looks at me. I promised. Fine. But full disclosure. I open my notification and show her.
“Is that what you want?”
“Won't that slow, or even cripple your own progression?”
I give a sad smile, “I gained seventeen soul my last level. That's not even counting what happens when I use [Soul Eater] on something.”
She pales at that. Then sticks out her tongue waiting for a drop.
You have bestowed the Title Supplicant on Beatrice Livarnna
