The smell of syrup and bacon rouses me from my sleep, but I don’t move. My bones feel like they’re made of wet noodles, and it takes everything not to just immediately fall back asleep.

  I’m not facing the door, but I hear the soft clatter of a tray being set down near me. Then my bed shifts, and there’s suddenly a hand gently touching one of my ears. It tickles, slightly, but it’s not unpleasant.

  And I’m too comfortable to object anyways, so I ignore it.

  “So cute…” a familiar voice says, struggling to hold back a squeal of delight.

  “Mm…” I mumble.

  “Oh! I’m sorry, I thought—I mean, I should have asked. Sorry,” she says.

  “It’s fine,” I mumble. “It feels nice, so you don’t have to stop… just get the other ear too… and fix my hair after.”

  There’s a high-pitched squeal, like a tea kettle ready to blow, before both of my ears are assaulted and spoiled. As excited as she is, she’s still tender, so I let out a contented sigh as I just enjoy the pampering for a bit.

  It’s hard to think through the tingles being sent down my spine, but I give myself a mental once over now that I’m awake. Thankfully, I’m clothed. Sorta. Undies and a sleeveless blouse isn’t much, but its enough, and it’s comfy.

  Though I have no idea how Krissy got me here and dressed. Cari never said massages were that good, but I certainly wouldn't complain.

  A soft rumbling purr rises from my chest as Nyria plays with my ears. She freezes at the sound, and it cuts off the moment she does. Almost too fast, she resumes with a pleased little giggle when it starts right back up.

  What am I now, a cat? How many other surprises is my body hiding from me? And why the fuck didn’t I purr with Cari?

  I grouse mentally, but it falls flat. I don’t really care, I just wish I knew I could growl or purr beforehand so I could control it better. As it stands, it’s just another thing I’ll need to add to my list of things to get used to. Like controlling my tail, which is currently trying to wiggle its way free of my blankets.

  After putting a stop to that, I move on to check my long overdue notices.

  You have leveled up! X13

  Stats gained:

  +26 Strength

  +26 Constitution

  +65 Dexterity

  +52 Intelligence

  +52 Wisdom

  +26 Charisma

  +130 free stat points

  Pain Resistance has leveled up!

  Level 8 -> Level 9

  Fire Resistance has leveled up!

  Level 2 -> Level 8

  Poison Resistance has leveled up!

  Level 5 -> Level 11

  Congratulations!

  Through experience, you naturally gain the following Skills:

  Intimidation

  Intimidation

  General, Passive, Body

  You harbor a presence that unsettles others, and know just when to let it surface.

  Increases the chance of persuading, silencing, or unnerving targets through fear or force of personality.

  For a moment, I wonder how I got so many levels. I definitely didn’t kill enough gang members to level up that much, and even if I knocked out the boss lady, that wouldn’t give me so many levels. Darius only gave me a single level for beating him, and he’s Tier One as well.

  Then I think about all the people I healed. There were so many that even with my improved memory, they blur together in my mind. Dozens. Maybe even hundreds. The number of levels I gained wasn’t from fighting—it was from healing.

  A warm feeling blooms in my chest at that. I’m almost tempted to just become a Healer, the feeling of satisfaction is so potent. But... I know myself. It wouldn't last.

  The Intimidation Skill isn’t a surprise, given how often I relied on my Charisma to scare people into listening, recently. I figure it’s only a matter of time until I get other social skills like Persuasion or Deception. Maybe even Composure. That’d be a nice one to have.

  Moving on, I toss seventy points into Intelligence to hit the next milestone. It was close enough, and I don’t have anything else pressing. The other sixty I just save, unsure what to do with them yet.

  Part of me wants to throw them into Charisma given how useful it’s proven to be, even if it doesn’t have direct combat applications. The idea feels almost like an impulsive purchase, though.

  Congratulations!

  You have reached the second milestone (500) in the Intelligence stat.

  You are able to interfere with or even manipulate any spell or mana based skill to a limited degree.

  Effectiveness scales based on the difference between your Intelligence and the stat governing the target’s spell or skill.

  Huh. I’m definitely going to have to test that like crazy.

  Nothing feels drastically different, just my head’s a little clearer. A little sharper. It's such a small change that it could easily be attributed to waking up, but I can feel that it's not.

  With more than a bit of anticipation, I pull up my Status.

  Status:

  Name - Emilia

  Race - Faefox

  Age - 20

  Level - 41

  Health - 6,780/6,780

  Health Regen - 1,809 per minute

  Mana - 34,944/34,944

  Stored - 69,888/69,888

  Mana Regen - 28,799 per minute

  Strength - 161

  Constitution - 169

  Dexterity - 630

  Intelligence - 500

  Wisdom - 873

  Charisma - 161

  Available Stat Points - 60

  I was coming dangerously close to evolving to Tier One. Just nine more levels, and I’d be there. I’d heard there were other, more esoteric requirements to evolve, but I wasn’t sure what they were. Nobody was, except people who’d already evolved, and they always seem unable or unwilling to tell anyone else.

  Regardless, close isn't good enough. I might be one of the strongest people in Bephis, but Scruffy’s right. I’m not ready. The world is bigger than this city, and I’m barely even scratching the surface of power. With that thought in mind, I finally get moving. After a languid stretch, I turn to face Nyria and freeze at what I see.

  Her face is flushed, eyes half-glazed with longing, hands still outstretched like she’s about to touch my ears again. I stare at her as obviously as I can, but she just keeps ogling.

  I cough loud enough to make her jump, and she flushes a brighter shade of red, embarrassment clear across her features.

  “Good morning Nyria. Gotta say, if I get pampered like this every morning, I may never leave,” I say, stifling a yawn.

  She may be a bit obsessed with my ears for some reason, but she’s a nice girl. No reason to let her wallow in embarrassment. Thankfully my words help, and she composes herself quickly.

  “I brought breakfast,” she says, still a little sheepish. “Krissy says she wants you to come to the lobby as soon as you’re done eating.”

  “Mmkay,” I mutter through a snatched piece of bacon.

  She opens her mouth to speak—then hesitates. Then does it again. And again. By the time I’m halfway through my breakfast and she’s still fishmouthing at me, I’ve had enough.

  “Just spit it out, Nyria. You’re acting like a fish out of water,” I say.

  Her face flushes again, but her excitement wins out.

  “Can I touch your tail?!” she pleads.

  “Mm. Sure, just don’t go against the fur. It’s really uncomfortable,” I say, then turn around, taking my tray of food with me so I can eat with my back to her.

  She squeals with delight, and in less than a second she’s over her previous reservations. While I didn’t want anyone else trying to clean or groom my tail, I figure petting or just touching in general will be fine.

  I’m wrong. It’s incredible.

  It takes everything I have not to curl up like some pampered kit, especially when her fingers brush the base of my tail. Even so, I find my back arching to stick my butt out a bit more in an instinctual attempt to invite more petting.

  “Okay, wow. That’s… is that a skill or something?” I ask through a pleased sigh.

  She giggles with glee, but doesn’t answer. I try to focus on finishing my meal, but her caresses are incredibly distracting.

  The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

  I manage it eventually, much to her dismay.

  She still whines at me for “eating too fast” and “dressing too fast” as we head for the balcony stairs. But when the lobby comes into view, I freeze mid-step. Every working girl is gathered there, arranged in a wide semicircle facing the balcony.

  All of them look up at me with bright smiles, even as they block the exit like beautiful, well-dressed bouncers.

  Nyria, the traitor, gives me a firm nudge forward. Of course, her hand placement is suspiciously deliberate. Her fingers graze just above the base of my tail, and my legs nearly give out on instinct alone.

  I shoot her a wounded look over my shoulder, but she just grins.

  “Krissy put you up to this, didn’t she?” I grouse.

  She wiggles her fingers threateningly.

  I take the hint and quickly descend the stairs. As soon as I’m surrounded by people with questionable motives, she leaves to join the semicircle. Krissy and Madam Yvonne join me near the center, and Krissy holds out a small lacquered wood box to me.

  “This is our gift to you, before you leave for your delve tomorrow,” Madam Yvonne says with a gentle smile.

  “We wanted to give it to you once all the renovations were done, but this seemed like the best time,” Krissy finishes, grinning wide as she places it in my hands.

  She rejoins Madam Yvonne’s side and gives me an encouraging nod. So with a flick to unhook the golden latch, I carefully open the box. Inside, I see something shockingly familiar.

  A small velvety mock-up of an ear just like my own rests inside, on which a beautiful set of five golden earrings are perched. Relic Whisperer activates all on its own the moment I see the hint of mana threads connecting each ring.

  The Courtesan’s Keepsake

  Epic, Blood Binding

  Enchantments:

  Perfect Match

  This item can take on any appearance the wielder desires, as long as it still appears as a ear accessory.

  Self Repair

  This item can repair itself from most damage, so long as the wielder has mana.

  Self Clean

  This item can clean itself of most substances, so long as the wielder has mana.

  Would you like to bind with this item?

  Yes / No

  My breath catches at the sight. It looks like such a simple set of earrings, but they’re anything but.

  “We thought you might like to have both of your ears decorated, instead of just the one…” Krissy continues, only to trail off with a surprising display of awkwardness.

  Madam Yvonne covers for her immediately by asking, “Do you like it?”

  I struggle to tear my gaze free from the gift, and when I do finally look at them, I see the hint of pride in their eyes. Everyone in the room seems to feel the same, but it’s all subtly overcast by a feeling of concern.

  As if they think this gift could be anything less than fantastic.

  “I love it, but…” I start, and the tension ratchets up another notch, “are you sure you want to give me this? I’ve already been paid.”

  Half the room erupts into giggles as Krissy and Yvonne just smile at me.

  “This isn’t to pay you. This is a gift. A thank you, for saving us from the Ratweavers,” Krissy says, before taking a deep breath and going into a deep bow. “Please accept it.”

  Then, every single person in the room does the same. Even the Madam. They all face me, heads down, torsos bent nearly parallel to the ground. Any further objections I have die in my throat at the sight.

  Wow, they really planned this out, huh? Am I even allowed to refuse?

  Resigned to my fate, I mentally select ‘Yes’, and The Courtesan’s Keepsake disappears from its velvety trappings. It reappears on my other ear, an almost familiar weight signifying its presence.

  An exasperated sigh escapes my throat, and as if that were a signal, almost every girl surrounding me pops their heads up eagerly, all peering at me and searching the top of my head for the telltale sign of a second adornment.

  With a purposeful twitch of my ears and a tinkling of metal on metal, the job is done.

  Cheers erupt as the girls jump around and hug one another. A wry smile finds its way to my lips at the sight, but it falls when I see Krissy wiping away a few tears. She tries to be nonchalant about it, and starts talking before I can ask what’s wrong.

  “Promise us you’ll come back safe,” she says.

  Her words are quiet, but they silence the room. All eyes fall on me once more, only this time they are filled with more. Fear and sadness, hope and anticipation. Even Yvonne wears it openly now, telling me everything I need to know.

  But Krissy’s gaze pole-axes me.

  She tries so hard to hide it, but it’s there. She’s utterly terrified. It leaks out in trembling breaths and the tears she desperately tries to wipe away before I can see.

  She never speaks of what the Ratweavers did to her. But if what almost happened to Nyria was any sign… it wasn’t good. The more I think on it, the more I realize how bad things must have gotten for her.

  She never started to work again. She doesn’t take customers back herself, ever. She’s never alone. She never speaks of what they all went through, only hints at using her class to help the other girls recover.

  I chalked it all up to the renovations keeping her too busy, but…

  After everything she’d gone through, I was the one who pulled her free of it all. And now, I wouldn’t be here to keep her safe.

  Or worse, I might not come back at all.

  It was a real risk when delving the Tunnels, and everyone knew it. I only realize now that I am, in a way, her lifeline. She never made it known. Never let her dependency show.

  She’s always been so composed. Professional to a fault. She took care of me, not the other way around. But now I see the truth behind the illusion she crafted so carefully.

  So I do the only thing I know works in this situation. I wrap her up in a tight hug, even using my tail to tug her close. When she melts into me, I make a decision.

  It might be stupid, but like with Scruffy… it just feels right.

  I use Hemokinesis to carry my words to Yvonne’s ears alone, so I don’t interrupt Krissy.

  “Can you give us the room? I’d like to talk to her for a moment,” I whisper.

  She nods readily, and starts quietly waving for the girls to follow her. She takes them all upstairs and out of sight, and before I know it we’re alone. Krissy notices them leave of course, but she doesn’t let go or complain.

  When I pull away, she starts to shake again, so instead of stepping back I cup her cheeks and gently guide her gaze back to mine.

  “I could tell you that I promise, but I’d rather show you. I need you to promise something in return, though. Promise to never tell anyone what you’re about to see, okay?” I ask, my voice low and soothing.

  She gives me a jerky nod before saying, “Sorry I’m a mess. I’m working on it though, I promise. It’s just hard.”

  “Don’t apologize for that,” I say with a shake of my head. “You are incredible. I don’t know how you hid this from me for so long, but now that I know, I can maybe help a little.”

  Then I send her my Status. All of it. Her eyes glaze over as she looks through the new notice, and they widen. The moment her focus returns, I speak.

  “I promise that I’ll come back. Now, you know I can actually keep that promise,” I say.

  Her lips tremble as more tears threaten to slip free, and she crashes into me with another hug. It takes a few minutes for her to compose herself after that, and I can tell that she has questions for me, but I just shake my head.

  I can tell her the story some other time. What’s important is that she’s stable and not quite as worried as she once was anymore. That’s about the best I can hope for, given that I’m not some kind of Therapist or Soul Mage.

  When she’s ready, she gathers everyone back to the lobby and we all say our farewells. Several of the girls make me promise to return, just as Krissy had, though they don’t seem dependent on it like she is.

  Nyria, as Krissy once warned me, is a minx. She wraps me up in a warm embrace, and when I least expect it brushes a hand down my tail with a gentle caress. Given the effect it has on me, I’m almost certain it’s some skill she has that makes me so flimsy afterwards.

  I glare at her, but it’s hollow at best. Her touch feels too damn good, and her smug-ass grin tells me that she knows it.

  Madam Yvonne is actually the most professional of them all. She gives me a quick hug as well though, and wishes me a safe delve. Krissy stays back this time, only sparing me a noticeably more confident smile. It’s enough.

  After nearly an hour of soothing dozens of emotional women, I’m out of the building and heading to the Guild. I set a casual pace, not feeling a need to rush about. Yesterday was hectic enough.

  As I walk, I contemplate what's coming.

  Three people now know I’m the System Waker. Four, if I count that Kiri person. And I have a sinking feeling that the number will only grow, and grow faster than I’m currently ready for.

  I need to evolve, and soon.