Ferzan muffled, “But that’s kinda stupid. Having [Personal Space] gives you a ridiculous amount of versatility. With the right planning, you could be a walking warehouse. Able to store months’ worth of rations.”

  Vernisha had a feeling this [Personal Space] had a weight limit, and if she got it, she would need to upgrade it a couple of times before she could store months’ worth of rations.

  But she understood the point he was making. It wasn’t like she hadn’t thought about the pros and cons of [Personal Space] before making her decision.

  Kaen responded, “Well... I wouldn’t call it stupid. It’s just very short-sighted. Sure, the boost in mental focus would be useful in combat, but being a Monster Fighter is so much more than combat, especially when you start dealing with the evolved ones. You must think days ahead, dear.”

  Vernisha sighed. “I appreciate the concern. But what’s done is done. I do not regret my actions.”

  Ferzan sighed, and the old man shrugged.

  They clearly thought her choice was stupid, so Vernisha added, “Last night I killed a Broken’s monster. Yet he was still alive. I could be wrong, but I believe that was due to him being linked to two monsters at the same time, so the damage was split into two. If I’m correct, then my decision will make it much harder for me to be killed.”

  Ferzan pulled his lips to the side, seriously considering what she said.

  He struggled to admit it. “You’re not wrong...”

  Before he could continue, Vernisha raised her voice in quick triumph. “Then that’s done!”

  Sir Kaen smiled lightly. “Well, if it makes you happy, who are we to say otherwise?”

  Ferzan made an ugly face like that was the most ridiculous thing he had ever heard.

  He grunted. “We’re talking about Personal Space here,” he emphasized heavily. “Personal space...”

  It made sense for him to be this stubborn about it. He was trained every day to be the best at being a vlandos. Reliable. Strong. That kind of upbringing would naturally narrow someone’s thinking when it came to power choices.

  Still.

  Maybe [Personal Space] was superior.

  But life was complicated. Society declaring something better didn’t make it universally true.

  Not for everyone, at least.

  “You heard her, she has made up her mind. Be more supportive. You’re older, set the example,” Kaen said.

  Ferzan’s lips twitched with restrained irritation. Then he forced the corners of his mouth upward into a strained smile.

  That ghoul smile.

  So it ran in the family. Interesting.

  Kaen waved his cane around, further confirming the thing was mostly for show. “I’m bringing the young Starworth to the Poisoned Monster Hills. It’ll be somewhat of a challenge to bring you.”

  He puffed out his chest arrogantly. “I would say that if I was a weakling!”

  Vernisha had thought she was just supposed to watch them train here. Apparently, plans had changed.

  Kaen laughed boastfully.

  Then a bolt of white shot from beneath his shirt and struck the ground near Vernisha.

  The white energy rapidly expanded, swelling into the shape of a narrow sphere. The light peeled away to reveal a massive green-shelled centipede-like creature coiled tightly.

  Every black pupil on its body flicked toward her.

  Not just two eyes.

  Every eye embedded along each shell segment from the back of its head to the tip of its tail.

  At least its enormous body shaded her from the Silo.

  That didn’t mean she appreciated standing near a monster so large it would take three stacked dump trucks to match its size.

  Vernisha stepped back. “I thought monsters couldn’t be used on this estate.”

  “There are small exceptions. Like the training fields. You forgot you used a monster to fight near the house?” Ferzan asked.

  “Ah... I did. I did.” Vernisha kept her eyes on the giant creature.

  Kaen noticed her caution. “It gives poison immunity, so—”

  A distant voice cut in.

  “That wouldn’t be necessary, Kaen. She’s currently banned from monster zones. She’s supposed to be trained, actually...”

  They all turned toward the silver-colored concrete porch, its balusters studded with emeralds.

  Abella leaned over the railing, face neutral. “I recall informing your brother of this.”

  Kaen bowed rapidly. “Miss Abella, good day! My brother... has taken a trip to the Vumion Islands. I gave him your message, but... well. You know how it is.”

  Vernisha had heard the islands had a major tourism sector. Peaceful. Beautiful. Kaen’s cane suddenly made a lot more sense. Fashion canes weren’t really a Terrafall trend.

  In Vumion, though, they were central to male fashion culture, much like the hair scarves worn by men in Terrafallen.

  She thought Vumion women used decorative umbrellas, but she had never actually seen one in person.

  Abella said simply, “Is that so. I see.”

  Then she descended toward them.

  The purple veins on her forehead had grown more pronounced, but she ignored them completely.

  When she reached the field, her simple black dress nearly blended into the shadows, making her pale face and arms stand out sharply.

  She addressed the two men. “May Starlight shine on your training.” Then her eyes shifted to Vernisha. “I suppose I’ll train her.”

  Ferzan immediately looked surprised. “Take it easy on her. She’s not a Starlight.”

  Abella didn’t respond. She acted like she hadn’t heard him at all.

  That… worried Vernisha.

  She was not trying to leave here with broken arms. Yes, she could heal herself. But pain was still pain.

  Anyway, Kaen and Ferzan left, leaving Vernisha with the sometimes nice-ish, often times... strange woman.

  She said to Vernisha, "I was wondering, why did you not kill the Broken?"

  "He could be saved."

  "Why not get the power?"

  "I'm not so twisted that I would do anything for power."

  She accepted Vernisha’s answer and asked, "I see... Are you upset that you couldn't go with them?"

  "I'm upset at my freedoms being limited." Vernisha paused, then pulled her lips to the side. "Also, respectfully, what do you think?"

  "I suppose I think exactly what you think."

  "Is that so?"

  Her chin tilted up, and she gazed at the blue sky, which was tinged with green, and said, "Between saving Brokens and killing monsters, which do you prefer?"

  Vernisha cringed at the question before asking, "What kind of question is that?"

  "I'm just curious, is all."

  "Well... I like both, but... killing monsters makes me level up. And quite frankly, how could anything possibly replace obtaining mod points, life buffs, new monster skills? And life buffs." She knew she had already said it, but she still felt the need to emphasize it. "But... I think saving Brokens is better."

  "Why are you asking?" Vernisha eyed her suspiciously, then figuratively put her foot down. "I don't want to go around playing hero, Miss Abella. Adventurers can do that."

  "That wasn't my intention, I was merely wondering."

  "If the way I thought changed?" Vernisha cocked an eyebrow. She already knew the answer would never change. "I still want power. I need it."

  Even if she didn’t feel the threat of the strange brown-haired woman, Vernisha knew she had become too comfortable.

  She needed to get stronger in case that woman showed up.

  "Again, why?" she asked.

  "I told you already. To protect myself."

  "And you won't tell me who the enemy is."

  "Anyone could be."

  She said nothing, realizing Vernisha wasn't going to tell her anything else.

  There were footsteps of a person approaching them, and it happened to be Tarnisha, who flicked Vernisha’s chin with her pinky before saying, "Sup."

  "Pop," Vernisha responded.

  "Pop Sup."

  Vernisha smiled at that.

  Abella then said, "You're safe here. You have nothing to fear, no one to fear."

  Ridiculous. For this safety, Vernisha had paid with her freedom. She appreciated the kindness shown to her, she truly did, but she was not too naive to ignore the signs written in front of her.

  No, not only that. What would happen if her secret got exposed? This safe haven would turn into a horror house.

  Her hands tensed as she remembered this. She had to wear a mask to protect herself, and if she ever forgot that, she would be putting a blade to her own neck.

  And even if they didn't find out, she couldn't forget what Katie had told her about being a weapon for the Starlights. Now that Abella herself was training her, what Katie said felt even more real. Far more concerning.

  So Vernisha said, with extreme conviction, "I can only truly feel safe if I can protect myself. Me, myself, and I."

  Abella said nothing at first. "Do I scare you?"

  "No." Vernisha’s left hand tensed.

  "I see..." She didn't seem convinced, but she also didn't appear to care. "Then let's start the training."

  Melshan, an elf in a blue sanctity veil, stood nearby, his black hair braided into two long strands that reached his waist.

  Abella started off by telling Vernisha, "Tell me if you know these. Monsters are four times stronger than a vlandos of the same level. Thus, you should never get up close with a monster unless you have Monster Fighting Armor and Monster Fighting Weapons. MFs for short. Some people call them enhanced gears."

  She and Tarnisha smirked when Abella said "MF." Abella didn’t know why and didn’t bother finding out.

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  Vernisha responded, "Yeah. I know all that. Oh, can you tell me about Knights? Why do people hate them?"

  That was such an out-of-the-blue question. Nevertheless, Abella answered, "They're ashamed of what they are. They don’t use monsters because they think it's for the lesser vlandos. Less evolved. For the dirty. They see themselves as clean... as the proper vlandos. Or perhaps above them."

  She half shrugged. "They desire to be accepted by regular society."

  But of course, they didn't hold such values for the Star families. They were the exceptions to everything. Almost everything, she supposed.

  Vernisha slowly processed this, seeming more disgusted by the second.

  She began muttering some swear words under her breath.

  Abella also kept one thing secret. Something that wasn’t allowed to be public.

  She did not hate them. She was disgusted with their existence, but at the same time, the [Hero] in her couldn’t help but admire the cost they paid to be what they were.

  About seventy-five years ago, when she was just thirteen, she had been watching The Fallen Foxes, a play about two foxes falling in love and surviving an apocalyptic world, at the Tophmoten Puppet Theater when, quite suddenly, she became a [Hero].

  And to think it had all been because of luck. Six hours before that play, she had accidentally stumbled upon a group of ** ** ** and slaughtered them all.

  Power had been dropped upon her. Balash had been pleased with the crisis she had prevented. Unlike her, Knight candidates suffered; they risked their lives and sanity to obtain their power.

  On the ground near Melshan was a long leather bag, stashed with everything they would need for practice.

  Abella said, “Throw her the Blinding Axe.”

  And so he did, tossing Vernisha a metallic axe with a brown handle and a white head, roughly half the length of Abella’s forearm, which Vernisha caught with ease.

  “Oh, this gives me a 12% strength boost.” Vernisha frowned. “Takes 4% from my health. Not a good trade-off. And it’s so small...”

  Her frown deepened. “I don’t have a damn health stat.”

  Abella said, “It’s a substat of endurance.”

  “Ohhh.”

  Abella then said, referring to the axe, “Squeeze and rotate the handle—”

  Vernisha’s grip tightened around it, and she twirled it, causing the brown handle to rotate clockwise. Suddenly, it expanded four times in length, and the double-sided, crescent-shaped heads grew three times larger.

  This one used a hydraulic mechanism to fold and expand the blade and handle.

  “—Unsheathe it with your eyes closed.”

  When Vernisha did, a sudden burst of intense light flared from the axe’s blade, so blinding it would have overwhelmed everyone present had they not been prepared.

  “Holy!” she shouted in shock.

  The light faded away.

  Abella said, “It can’t be used over and over, since the Lyuma metal needs to absorb light for these bursts.”

  It was a metal made with iron and Lyuma stones. These stones were known for absorbing light and glowing in the dark.

  Vernisha then rotated the handle in the opposite direction, triggering a pressure shift in the internal hydraulic chambers. With a faint hiss and the movement of fluid through narrow tubes, the axe’s joints retracted, and its segments compacted inward with a smooth mechanical snap.

  She sheathed the now-collapsed weapon and slid it into her back pocket, half of it still jutting out.

  The side pockets were already occupied by two smaller knives.

  Abella said, “I don’t get it... [Personal Space] would solve this issue for you.”

  Vernisha’s face became ugly with irritation, and she began mumbling angry words.

  She sighed and proceeded to act like she didn’t have an adverse reaction to the question.

  “I know. Ferzan already gave me a lecture on it,” she answered like a respectful child.

  “I see. Hmm...” Abella thought for a moment, then said, “The armor is next.”

  Vernisha’s eyes widened in excitement, and she almost rushed to the bag.

  Abella stopped her. “It’s not there.”

  She divided space with two fingers, and blue water spilled from the cut. The waters leaked outward in a circle, slowly forming an eclipse of blue.

  Then Abella pulled out the kind of armor that was now legally allowed. After about half a decade, the Adventurer Armor Freedom Act bill had passed.

  Allowing them, and only them, to finally wear armor that looked, quite frankly, monstrous.

  Vernisha stared at the armor relative to her size, unsure if this was a bad prank.

  The fine armor wasn’t made out of metal. The two long white bone horns made that obvious.

  The entire thing was made of monster leather and white bone. Although bone formed the majority of its structure, the joints were made of leather to preserve mobility.

  Vernisha said, looking at Abella with a deep frown, “Very funny, miss. You’re a jokester like your mother.”

  “This is no joke.” Abella took out the newspaper she had been reading yesterday and offered it to her.

  Vernisha suspiciously took the fold of silver-colored paper and ignored the massive SUNDAWN INDEPENDENT NEWS header.

  Vernisha looked up at her. Had she actually read everything that fast?

  Abella asked, and Vernisha said, “Yeah, been boosting my brain. But this,” she pointed at the paper, referring to Senate Act 265: Adventurer Armor Reform Act has been officially repealed, replaced by the newly passed Adventurer Armor Freedom Act.

  Beneath that, in smaller print, was a quote:

  “I’ll take time to adapt to. Trust me, I know. But I promise, it’ll be worth it. It’ll help them save a lot more lives. And saving lives is the most important thing, and it’s my job,” said Minister Denzel Rowen.

  Disgusted and genuinely baffled, Vernisha said, “Why would anyone want to be going around wearing...”

  She paused for a moment, trying to find the right words to describe her disgust. “Body parts! This would scare people!”

  “Yes, it would. But believe it or not, this is much cheaper than the enhanced armor you typically see them wear. Cheaper and offers the same benefits.”

  “Enlighten me. Anything relating to monsters costs a ton, economics says that much. Ferzan also told me weapons are imbued with status effects to make them more effective; I assume it’s the same for armor. I don’t know how that works, but I’m certain it’s through a vlandos blacksmith. So that costs a ton... but to get good armor out of a monster means they would need to hunt a powerful monster, be careful with its body so it’s not badly damaged. Then get a blacksmith that’s strong enough to damage that powerful monster skin.”

  She was still annoyed, then muttered under her breath, “I wasn’t told I could become a blacksmith...”

  Abella answered, “One question at a time. Besides, you would still need to work for the Defense Department.” She corrected herself. “Vlandos Defense Department.”

  “Armor is enhanced with status effects, that is true. For the most part.” The science behind it was remarkable. “But both armors use monster parts. In standard armor, it’s on the inside, hidden behind leather or metal. The monster flesh is somewhat reanimated, but not as a whole. Just in tiny tiny tiny pieces. They’re individually given status effects. Every time a piece loses the effect, the other piece kicks in, and so the cycle continues.”

  Vernisha was stunned, lips pursed. “That sounds... H-how did someone come up with that?”

  “When in war, innovation is at its peak. I believe the inventor’s name was Merain’t Sonsvernul SonsKulrnul.”

  It was suspected that he had appropriated the concept from one of the many military scientists then involved in classified research aimed at integrating monster abilities with advanced technology, an effort incentivized by promises of pardons or conditional freedom.

  While Falsker did succeed in unifying the warring regions of Emermyne, several regions were coerced through military force and conscription. Merain’t was one of the scientists taken to work on that project.

  Vernisha asked, “What kind of name is that?”

  "Red punchios, they inherit both parents' family name." Abella hesitated, then said, "Well, it's respectful to call them Ulkers. They recently changed their name."

  'Red Punchio' took away their individuality as a people, she believed.

  "I see..." Vernisha muttered, then sighed and said, "So. This armor... You know what."

  She gently took it from Abella’s hand. "I'm done complaining. Thank you."

  She began putting it on. It took a little while, but when she was done, the armor slightly adjusted to fit firmly against her tiny height of 5 feet.

  If it wasn't for her visor being up, she would have looked like a monster. But on her back and center of her chest was a painting of a cracked red sphere, making it obvious she was Terrafallen, or cosplaying as one.

  She then said in shock, "What the...! 450% in defense? 450? 450?! These things must be expensive as hell. I mean, like really, really expensive."

  She then asked, "How do they even afford that? Hell, I might consider being an adventurer if I'm going to be swimming in so much cash. How much does this even cost?"

  Her eyes were determined and hard, like a seasoned opportunist.

  "Depends on who you're talking about. But typically loans are taken." Abella then said, "For Adventurers, the Guild gives gears as a loan."

  When Vernisha heard that, her excitement was immediately killed. "What are the interest rates? On average."

  Why was she so knowledgeable on such things?

  She had been at the library yesterday. Abella supposed she had a liking for knowledge.

  "I believe it's 45%?" Abella answered.

  "45?! How is that legal!"

  Abella was slightly confused. Before, it used to be much higher. She told her, "It's better than 65%."

  Vernisha’s jaw nearly dropped to the ground. "But... you need armor as an adventurer. If you become one, you don't have a choice but to take that loan. That's a debt trap."

  "Oh." Abella thought she understood why Vernisha was so against being an adventurer now. "You wouldn't have to worry about such things. I'm plenty rich."

  "What?" Vernisha was confused. Only after a short while did she realize what Abella meant. "Oh no. I'm not becoming an adventurer. Not when that predatory hell exists. Are banks' interest rates typically that high? What's the highest it's legally allowed to get to? There is a limit? There must be. Some kind of central banking."

  Abella told Vernisha, "For consumer loans, 13%... As for the high rates in the guild, quite frankly, adventurers have high mortality, disability, or Broken rates."

  (My head hurts so bad)

  Abella turned to look at the mansion and the surrounding buildings. "And they're often nobodies. Have no land, business. Almost nothing for collateral, but the armor they can't pay off. The guild actually suffers massive losses from those loans."

  Not that it mattered since it was government owned.

  Thinking of the guild as a private, for-profit entity almost made her laugh. That would be hell for the common folk.

  Vernisha ground her teeth and absentmindedly groped her hair. "Yeah, yeah, I get it."

  It was nice when kids understood things quickly.

  (It feels like my bones are cracking)

  Abella asked, "More questions or back to the important stuff?"

  Before Vernisha could answer, Tarnisha suddenly said with a jeer, "Check the other boosts."

  Vernisha did that, and after a second, responded in disappointment, "Uh... they're depressingly much much lower. Like, 3% in traveling speed. Strength got a 6%, that's all."

  Abella said, "Guess why."

  Vernisha almost rolled her eyes.

  After slightly shaking her head in displeasure, she said, "It's incredibly easy to get killed by a monster? And the reanimated monster part of the armor only has so much surface area. So there is a limit on the number of status effects?"

  She was pleased with her answer, nodding her head. "That sounds reasonable. Oh, and the blacksmith's skill is also a factor."

  Abella nodded, impressed. "Exactly. Ferzan seems amazing and powerful. But when he was far younger, he was almost killed by a monster's surprise attack. One around his level."

  (My head is killing me)

  Abella touched the middle of her chest. "The spine here, and everything in its way, was blown through, with absolute ease. Armor is the make or break of a monster fighter. A foolish level 100 could be killed by a cunning level 30 monster. Easily at that."

  She had only ever heard of that happening once. It had been beyond humiliating for the man. His kids were harassed and made fun of at school for it.

  For all of the month, Balshibea, the first month of the year, comedians made jokes about him. Not out of hatred or malice.

  But because of the sheer ridiculousness of it. Even her father, a relatively sympathetic man, had joked about it.

  "Abella Abella. Not you, your mother." He had leaned against the yellow and white granite counter, holding in a terrible laugh. "Be careful in that monster zone," (My head is splitting) "these level 30s are looking fierce nowadays."

  Then he had bellowed with laughter, along with her younger brother and eldest sister. Her mother had shaken her head, holding in a chuckle before leaving for the monster zone with her.

  Abella remembered having terrible dreams afterward because she kept thinking she would end up like him. That she would be mocked and laughed at while she rotted in the grave.

  The Great Hero, Abella, killed by an Aqumanda. A weak monster!

  She mentally shook her head and paid attention to what Vernisha was saying.

  "Hm... I get it. I mean, I already knew that. I saw it before."

  "Is that so. You can see why I still think you should make proper use of your levels? Why it's surprising?" Abella asked.

  "Still not going to happen... I will not become a soldier, a slave, a weapon."

  "Why did you say weapon in such a way?"

  A withered, reddish-brown leaf glided by, riding the winds. Abella caught it without thinking. It was muscle memory. When she was younger, her mother used to do that a lot when she was under Abella's tree, her grandmother's name.

  "A certain person told me that your mother have eyes on me. As a pawn for the Starlights," Vernisha said strongly, clenching her fists tighter than before.

  Her cotton-gloved left hand trembled in anger.

  Only that hand.

  Was she left-handed? Abella did not think so.

  Abella said, "Yes, that's most likely the case... But how can you not want to be a weapon? You seek power, you seek to sharpen your edge. You're a vlandos, by definition, not of mines... not of this world's, but by the System's, by Balash's, you are a weapon. We were made to be weapons, to kill monsters, to protect intelligent life."

  (My muscles are being torn apart)

  Her hand clenched even further. “The difference is in agency. To choose which part of me is the weapon, the tool.” She then said, with increased volume, “I have no interest in being a pawn. And I’ll say that again and again. And again.”

  Abella sighed, then took a seat on the rock-covered ground. “All are pawns, even the Mortal Gods themselves. Such things are natural.” She caught another leaf, a fresh yellow one, then looked back at Vernisha. “Why do you seek this unnatural freedom?”

  Vernisha responded just as quickly, like the answer had been sitting on the tip of her tongue. “Don’t you like freedom, Miss? You don’t like the way your mother treats Katie, I can see that. Everyone can. When she tried to control Tarnisha, you stepped up. You clearly care about freedom.”

  Abella stared at her. “These are micro things.” (I want to vomit. My jaw hurts so bad.) “Freedom to what I want... I haven’t—”

  “Your Ferzan and Katie respect their father, your husband, greatly. I assume that means your marriage is okay, decent. If you were forced into a marriage you didn’t like, would you still not care about freedom? Despite being a Starlight. Being a [Hero]. Or did you not have freedom in that?”

  No, she did not.

  “I was to have kids with him for the family,” Abella said, looking into Vernisha’s eyes.

  “You weren’t told to marry him, yet you did so. You got the kids, yet you stayed with him.”

  ... She hadn’t been told not to marry him.

  “And what if you were told to divorce him? For whatever reason?”

  “Then...” Abella paused, suddenly aware of the kind of argument she was having with a damn child. “I’m not having this discussion with a child.”

  “Because you’ll choose to stay with him. I’m right, ain’t I? You’ll choose what you want.”

  Abella did not respond. Instead, she stood up with a ruined mood and a deep scowl. “We train now.”

  The child didn’t react, showing a lack of interest.

  And that annoyed her.

  Almost instinctively, Abella felt the urge to shout, to order her to get up, to force her to defend herself.

  But she did not want to.

  (My head, damn it. Damn it.)

  Freedom, huh.

  Goldbon had truly affected her. Freedom this. Freedom that. Freedom what.

  Like a man sometimes so naive about how the world worked despite knowing so much.

  Never wanting things to remain as they were. Always wanting better. Seeking a world where things improved. Trying to be good in a world of beasts and monsters.

  That wasn’t to say he was perfect, or truly good in everything. He had a temper he kept hidden, one that always showed its ugly head whenever he dealt with people he hated.

  Abella loved Goldbon, but it had not been love at first sight.

  Before she met him, she had tried to delude herself into being attracted to a man she had never truly spoken to.

  Her mother had wanted her to have those kids. The family, Yellowbrim, had wanted that. For the family. For Starlight. For the future.

  She sighed and focused on the present. Her head pulsed with pain, like she was being sawed from the jaw to my temple.

  She took in a deep breath. Although it did not lessen the pain, she had convinced herself it did. Foolish, she knew.

  Then she said, choosing to do things the faster and easier way, the freer way, "You can keep the axe and the armor if you can tag me."

  She braced myself for the overwhelming pain that would come from pushing her body. Then she looked up and saw the little girl running toward her with mad glee. “Got it, captain!”