A new day and a thousand swings. My arcane core is starting to fill again. My life core is full. If the arcane reaches close to full I'll make some soul mana. Best to save it for now. I head down to the bar for breakfast.
“‘Grats Cat on the second title.”
I smile at Alicia, “It took a bit, but I'm finally free…in the afternoons.”
Xerc laughs at that, “Not much you can do in half a day.”
“There is always the forest.”
“You're not going to be as fast as you were when you could smell.”
I grouse at Phenolp words, I need to refill that core already. I hope it's a slow clinic day.
“Guess it's still afternoon training then.”
-----
I make my way to the clinic, Mags is sitting at the chair I originally met her in.
“Two of my cores became intermediate.”
“Cores stop at competent nine Sara.” Mags is annoyed she has to explain such.
“Competent nine cores are waiting for a [Soul Core] to subsume them.”
She just starts laughing and puts her face into her hands.
“How absurd, I've been trying to find a way to push my cores forward and a stupid cursed ten year old girl manages to trip into it. O I've been leveling wrong the whole time.”
“I thought it was impossible to get the two hundred soul major boon.”
“O it is, but major boons are like a ladder, you have to get them one at a time. If my next major was soul, I'd get that lovely permanent arcane core. But how could one grab a soul boon at my level.”
She looking at me, then sighs. “Guess I'm still on the exhaust track.”
“Exhaust track?”
“It's theorized that there are only so many major boons, that if you gain enough in one type you can't gain anymore.”
“So what, you plan to finish a stat then pile all your stats into that so you can get the soul boons?”
“It is quite absurd, they had high hopes for me tiering so young, they felt it most likely for me to find the ends of the system.”
She is getting wistful, and who are they?
“Well if it's any solace, I still have to get the other cores before the soul core can level.”
She looks up from her hands. “Explain.”
Always with the one word explains, “Like, I still need to tier up so that I get another core, every time it subsumes one my soul core levels.”
“You're telling me your soul core won't ignite until you have all the cores?”
“I guess.”
She looks at me, her quarter moons flashing green, white and purple.
“I can't see your arcane or mental cores, just the pebble that's your life core, did the size of the soul core increase?”
I nod, "It's only sixty percent full. It doesn't seem to be pulling on my soul at the moment, but I can't pull anything out of it either. I think I need to fill it. My level up just pushed my soul gain into the core.”
Mags just shrugs, “Your mana still belongs to me. There are some robes for you to wear in your old patient room.”
I go and find the robes she was talking about. They are like hers but in my size. Doesn't show off my waist. Guess it's time to be a mini Mags now.
-----
“Its kind of creepy for you to be standing behind me like that.”
“I apologize for any discomfort my poise is causing you, mistress.”
She narrows her eyes at me, “I believe I said assistant not attendant.”
“It is as you say.” No tea for you.
Not sure how much longer I can continue this without her killing me. She looks about ready to tear my head off. An adventure comes in with a gash across his arm.
“One large silver.” Mags tableside is all business.
The adventurer tosses the coin to her, at which point she motions me forward.
“I thought I was paying for your services.”
“She's in training, don't worry. I'll make sure your wound is healed in the end.”
He humphs but extends his arm to me. I generate more life mana and heal the wound. It doesn't take much. The adventurer is satisfied and leaves. I return to my spot behind Mags. There is silence for a while. Then Mags turns to me.
“Are you not going to ask about my order?”
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I look forward.
“Scratches?”
I look at her. Then shrug, I'm sure her cult got some bullshit that ropes you further into a conspiracy that I want no part in. She looks at me and is getting annoyed.
You have gained [Life Mana Core] Basic 2
Gain 3 exp
“My apologies mistress, I must focus on filling my life core.”
Her annoyance grows, my arcane drops to half but my life core is filled. That's not right. Just how large is my intermediate core. I remember a competent one not filling even a quarter of my mental. The mental was higher but still, it seems bizarre. I could ask Mags but I think it will annoy her further.
I think I'll keep staring at that spot on the wall. If you look just right, it looks like an ant with a brain case on its head. Super smart ant. Not smart enough to put its brain into a case that's better than glass. Like why do all brain cases have to be in glass. I can only blame Hollywood. I feel Mags mana aura press down on my own. It seems Mag has been trying to get my attention.
“Is there something you need, mistress?”
Her stare at me sours, “I was trying to ask why you show no interest in progressing into my order.”
“Ma'am, my obligation to your order is through debt, simply put it has garnered the worst first impression possible.”
That did not improve Mag's mood. Luckily a new group of adventurers showed up.
“Priestess, Bob's leg didn't heal right after we applied the potion. Could you fix it.”
Mags once again motions me forward. I wonder if Bob is deaf.
“Five small silver for resetting the bone, my junior will assist you with this.”
At least she established why I was first. I look at the man's leg, the soul image is right, just the bone is wrong.
“Could you provide something for Bob to bite down on.”
When they give me puzzled looks, I give them a minute to understand what I am proposing. I take the pause to gather the necessary life mana.
“Are you going to do anything, little miss?”
Guess they didn't understand. The man's soul is about equal to my current soul so I just shrug and use my strength to rebreak his leg. While everyone is alarmed and the man is howling I use my life mana to reset the bone. Before his companions can brain me, Bob is able to stand and is happy that he hasn't been crippled. The companions are confused for a moment but start thanking me. They flip a large silver to Mags.
“Does the tip count towards my debt as well, ma'am?”
She looks at me as if I only just arrived, “Oh, you wish to engage with me now that there is money to be discussed?”
“Pardon my ma'am, I clearly spoke out of turn.”
I return behind her and her expression returns to being sour. She turns to me again.
“You were much more engaging when you were still at soul six.”
“My apologies ma'am, I was not yet under your employ and not quite myself. I will strive to maintain proper decorum as befitting your station.”
She harumphs again and turns away. No other adventurer approaches with an issue and my day with Mags comes to an end. I go to change my clothes out when Mags stops me.
“You are a priestess of my order and are showing our title, you are to wear those robes at all times in case there are those who need your assistance.”
Now it's my mood that sours, “Will I be charging for such aid rendered, mistress?”
“Of course not, you are but a junior and need the practice.”
I pout as I head out. My morning clothes in hand.
------
I head to the receptionist desk. Antiquarian is still there. Does she ever take a day off?
“Ah don't you look adorable in your priestess robes, hun.”
I ignored her squeal, “Can you pull out a large silver from my account, I like to head out for a bit.”
“Sure hun, you got two larges left in your account.” She flips me a coin.
I managed to catch it this time. After selling the bones and putting the rest of my money in the guild, it all amounted to three large silvers. Now it's two. I headed out after confirming the request I wanted.
The skewer man was annoyed about breaking a large silver but in the end I got my lunch. I go to Ren's.
“Hey Ren, I was hoping to buy two more water skins.”
He looks at me with an annoyed look, his eyes flash purple for a moment.
“Scratches, why is it every time you appear, your form is different.”
“Just trying to keep you on your toes. Sorry about not showing up two months ago, I managed to injure myself gravely. You know how adventurer life is.”
He looks at me for a bit and then decides to not bother. “Seven large coppers, two small coppers. Do you plan to spin your thread soon?”
I frown, why did I get a large silver for this, “I'm not sure when I can start that venture, but I'll be bringing in more rabbits for you in the meantime.”
He waves me off after I pay for the skins. After filling my water skins I head past the east gate. Mother wasn't there this time. It takes awhile but I find an iron horned rabbit. Its sluggish movement makes for an easy hunt. I maintain the water ball as I get the rabbit into my bag. It takes another hour to find the next one. Into the bag it goes. The bags is three hundred pounds but it ain't no thing. I find a third rabbit when dusk arrives. I judge the bag at its limit and walk this one back in my arms. Grass dreams in triplicate.
-----
“Another three iron horned rabbits, two seventy and six contributions. Do you want it in your bank?”
I nod, it's two hundred contributions for tier four. I returned the nine small silvers I had as well. That I already have the required mage title. It just means a slow and steady pace. This puts me at eight. Or would have if every month didn't take two contribution points away. So I paid my contribution debt and now sit at four. Slow and steady.
I head to the bar. I find my party at the usual table. I wave at Robert for my free meal.
“Now you look like a proper priestess Cat, aside from the grass stains.”
I look down at my robes. Damn, I'll need to take some time washing them.
“How did the dungeon run go?
“Nothing too grand, wish you were there pulling the cart.”
“Me too, Xerc.”
“How is the recovery going?”
I flick an annoyed glance at Phenolp, but I answer, “Slower than I want, I'm rather constrained on mana.”
“O, I can give you mana, Cat.”
I smile at Alicia, “Thanks but you should focus it on your own progression. I'll be fine. So what's your plan for tomorrow?”
“Oh, we were thinking of joining the mercenary contingent to suppress Hotna.”
I stiffened at that, “Has that not been resolved yet.”
Phenolp quirks an eyebrow, but explains.
“Apparently, they managed to rope the nearby villages into their rebellion and even managed to sack Hilgurd.”
Did my brothers fight each other? Or did Tom betray Hilgurd. There is no way to know. I only hope they both still live.
“Surprised this is the first you've heard of this, pretty sure I saw a notice that said the clinic would be closed for the next few days because the priestesses would be heading to the front.”
“What?”
They can't see through my illusion but my face is paling as I am hearing this. What did Mags sign me up for? I finish my meal, say my goodbyes and head back to my room.
After ridding my robes of persistent grass stains I take stock of my mana. Reserves at ninety, core at eighty. I ignore mental as it can't help with my soul core. I start with my reserves. I drop to half but only managed to move my soul core to sixty five percent. Rather discouraging but I press on. My arcane core goes to fifty but my soul core is now up to eighty percent. It will have to do for now.
I spend some time furthering my illusion but it's half hearted. I sigh and head to bed. The grass dreams are nice until they end with me.
