Vina groaned as she threw her hands into the air, “What am I going to do?!” She looked at the schedule Hakim had laid before her. Two weeks. In two weeks she would unveil her masterpiece to the city and come out publicly as The Asharaina.
“You’ll know what to do when the time is right”, Hakim said to her encouragingly. “No good leader has ever believed themselves to be a good leader. You’ll find your way.”
Vina looked at him, feeling frazzled by the events of the last couple of days. Regardless of her feelings, her masterpiece had changed her. She might feel overwhelmed, but she was not actually overwhelmed. She knew she had lots of support and could feel the progress being made. Through it all, Hakim seemed content to merely watch her transform into something different.
“While I’m here, there’s something I’d like to talk to you about”, Hakim said. He reached into one of his pockets and took out an item before handing it to her. She looked down and saw that he had given her a necklace with a large red stone attached. “An aspect?” she thought to herself before using Examine.
Item: Pedant of an Asharaina Epic Durability 90/90 This Pendant was made by Trina to honor an Asharaina. Effect: The stone in the pendant can store 100% of the blood that your body can. The blood is compressed and allows for quick release in times of need.
Vina focused on the necklace and felt an immediate connection to it. It was completely empty at the moment, but the storage was very large. She had found out a while ago that increasing her vitality seemed to allow her to store more blood in her body. This pendant appeared to scale with that as well. She held the pendant in her hand and looked at it in awe. It was quite beautiful. Slowly she put it on. “It’s beautiful Hakim. Where did you get this?” she asked.
“Trina made a number of these pendants a long time ago. We keep a couple hidden away in case an Asharaina is discovered in our city. When I examine it, it has no effects, but I am told that when it is held or worn by an Asharaina, it will give an effect unique to their nature. Is that true?” He asked.
Vina nodded her head slowly. She considered cutting her finger to start trying to store blood into it, but when she held it against her chest, the connection told her there was another way. She simply chose to send some blood to the pendant. She felt a slight trickle where the pendant rested against her skin and then she felt it beginning to fill. She mentally slowed the connection to match her body’s own ability to make blood. “It’s perfect for my needs”, she said with a smile.
“Great! Trina has a gift for such forethought.” His face grew serious after a moment, “Vina, I had said we wanted to make reparations for the danger we placed your life in. I’ve spoken with the rest of the family and we have decided on how we’d like to repair our mistake. First we want to give you a home here. You are now part of our family, if you wish, and will always be welcomed here. You may stay as long as you desire. For our second gift, we want to give you knowledge. We have a vast library, both public and private. We also have many skilled masters. You may train with any master of your choice for as long as you desire.”
Hakim took a deep breath and the air seemed to be heavy, “The third gift is the greatest of all. The Halo Family will give you one favor of your choice if it is within our power to give it to you. We don’t offer you this favor lightly. You placed your life in our hands and we nearly failed you. We will place our lives in yours now, and hope you will be merciful in your request.”
Vina felt moved by his words and gracious gifts, “Thank you Hakim. I don’t know what I could ask for right now. Do you need an answer immediately?”
Hakim shook his head and said, “The favor does not expire.”
Vina sighed in relief. She had no real idea what she needed at the moment. She really needed to clear her head. She had been in this study for far too long now. “I’m thinking about going out today”, she said simply.
“Very good. Please let the guards know when you are ready. Asharaina, may I ask you to do one thing today?” Hakim asked
Vina nodded, still getting tripped up when Hakim addressed her by her title.
“Can you go around today and change the portal runes into blood runes? he asked.
New Faction Quest: The Lord of Halos has requested that you convert the city’s portal rings to use blood runes. Portals Converted. 0/8
“Oh? Really? Why?” she asked.
“People have been arriving since you finished your work. The city is filling too quickly and we are beginning to run into difficulties in managing the crowds. I worry if we don’t find a way to stem the number of people traveling here, we will soon have violence on our hands from overcrowding”, Hakim said.
Vina saw something flash in the corner of his eye that she couldn’t quite identify. She decided to trust her Blood Shot Eyes skill and pressed into her suspicion, “Any other reason?” she asked.
Hakim nodded his head, “When people begin to view your art, they will change. We are on the cusp of the widespread adoption of blood skills and classes. I want my city to change with it. I imagine travel via blood will become commonplace soon, and the pause on portal ring usage here will be temporary. Once enough people have learned from your work, they’ll be able to leave of their own volition.”
“I had no idea so many people would come”, Vina said.
Hakim stood up and as he walked past her, he placed a hand on her shoulder. “You still don’t appreciate the value of what you have created. In time you will understand.” He started toward the door, but stopped once more. “Also, when you go out, you’ll need guards. I have received word that one of the twelve is already in the city. I have him being watched closely and so far he is not causing any trouble. Our family guard will be planning your movements and their movements to ensure you do not meet. Listen carefully to what your guards tell you to do.” Hakim quickly slipped out the door before Vina could ask any questions.
After Hakim had left, she changed and dressed as quickly as she could. She threw on her kaliter armor and examined it briefly.
Armor: Light Armor of the Kaliter (Hardened, Indestructible) Rare Required Attributes: Strength 12, Dexterity 16 Armor: 18 Bonus: Crushing damage reduced by 10% Piercing damage reduced by 12% All Aspect Effects reduced by 1% This light armor was created from the scales of a Kaliter. The armor has been hardened by a blacksmith and provides increased defense. This armor has been exposed to two different aspects and has gained resistance. This armor was nearly destroyed and has become indestructible.
She knew the armor was able to change itself, but it had done so once again. The armor it provided had increased from 16 to 18. The piercing damage resistance had increased by 2% and had gained a resistance to all aspect effects. She shook her head, unable to understand how it did that.
She threw on her backpack and hooked her lantern onto her hip. She was determined to get some answers today. She made her way to the door and spoke to the guards. “Lord Halos has requested for me to convert his portals. Can you take me to every portal ring in the city?” The guards scrambled to get into position and one ran off to fetch more, and for a moment Vina thought maybe her tone was too urgent.
For the first time since her arrival, Vina stepped out from the Halos Family Home. She was not surprised by the exterior as much as she was by the view. The home sat atop a tall hill that overlooked a valley. The view was absolutely amazing and straight out of a fantasy movie. The city below had countless small, well-made houses that covered the valley area. She could see farmland built into the hills with terraces. Fishing boats were scattered along the broad river. While she was catching her breath from the awe inspiring environment, the rest of her guard contingent arrived.
The commanding guard from her contingent led her first to the portal ring she had arrived from. She quickly powered the portal with her blood and the blue runes flashed before dying. The guards stared back at her in shock, but she was getting used to that. One of the guards addressed her, “Asharaina, the remainder of the portals are in the city proper. Given the number of visitors, it may take time to make a safe passage to each portal. Would you like to wait somewhere while we make it safe?”
Vina considered for a moment, but shook her head. The fact that one of the twelve was in the city has given her some concern, but she would not let her fear stop her from fulfilling her promises. “I will visit each portal ring and speak to the people there myself if need be.” She was surprised by her own words here, but she knew they felt right.
Her guards led her to an extremely wide stairwell that led down to the city proper and ultimately the wide river she had seen below. She passed merchants traveling to and from the Halos home. She marveled at the fine wares they carried. She had not seen such open trade at Termily nor the quality of these goods in Prosit. Her heart ached when she was reminded of how much Annalina would have loved this. “I wish I could share this city with her”, Vina thought.
The guards offered to carry down a palanquin so she would not be required to walk down the stairs, but she declined. She was not feeling so regal that she couldn’t walk down some simple stairs. However, once she reached the bottom, a carriage waited for her and this was not something the guards were willing to compromise on.
At the front were two of the strangest animals she had ever seen. Vina examined the animals pulling the carriage.
Animal: Tropsen Common Tropsen are pack animals. Born in litters of four, Tropsen grow quickly and can become productive members of a farm in just a few months. Tropsen have six strong legs and are capable of pulling heavy weight for long distances.
She smiled at the adorable things, but didn’t have any further time to examine them as she was ushered into the carriage. The lead guard offered her a cloak. “Ma’am, it is not required, but we do recommend for your safety that you cover yourself. Everyone is looking for the asharaina. Covering yourself sufficiently will hide your title.”
Vina considered for a moment before saying, “What is your name, soldier?”
“Ma’am? My name is Parin.”
“Paren, if I cover myself, will it make your job easier to get me around the city?”
“Absolutely, Asharaina.” He said with a firm head nod.
“Very well. I really do need to get these portals closed today. I hope, on another day, you and I will take a proper tour of the city.” Vina said.
“Absolutely, ma’am. There is much beauty to be seen in The City of Halos”, Parin said with a smile.
Although she felt strange doing so, Vina wrapped herself with the cloak and covered her head with the hood. Vina was moved from portal to portal, the guards emptied the buildings of everyone inside. She would be dropped off directly inside the building to change the runes privately. As she traveled to each location, she was astounded by the number of people within the city. Clearly many had already traveled through to see her masterpiece.
When they arrived at the sixth portal location, an argument broke out in front of the carriage. Vina grew concerned and almost stepped out to see what the problem was. As she slipped a foot out of the curtain, Parin stopped her. “Ma’am, please remain inside. There is a mild disturbance here. We will be coming back to this location after it has been managed. Would you care for a refreshment?”
The day had turned to afternoon from what Vina could tell. “No, I am okay. Are we near the library? If so, may we go there now while we wait?” Vina heard Parin’s affirmative order and the carriage moved into motion. She began to realize that the library was not in fact near their location, but her entourage was not going to tell her that.
When they did arrive at the library, she did not enter through the main door. There was a private door on the backside of the building that was fenced off from the rest. The building was absolutely massive, and she was shocked by the quality of engineering. Up to this point, most of the places she had seen were humble medieval stone buildings. Termily had displayed some improved architecture with nicer amenities, but clearly The City of Halos was on the edge of the engineering capabilities in this world.
When she entered, she removed her cloak and was immediately greeted by who she suspected was the librarian. “Asharaina, welcome to the Halos Family Library. I am Eilin and I am here to assist you. I think it doesn’t need to be said, but I was told to be clear. You also have access to the restricted section. Would you like me to obtain a specific book for you?” Eilin smiled and her face was one filled with an authentic desire to help. Regardless, her eyes kept flicking up to Vina’s own and darting away again.
Vina smiled back warmly, trying to help Eilin feel more comfortable. “Thank you, Eilin. There are four topics I hope you can help me with today. Unfortunately, I am unsure if I will have enough time to satisfy my curiosity fully. I don’t know if what I seek is restricted or not.”
Eilin struggled to keep from staring at her, but she maintained her smile, “I can let you know. What is the first topic you would like to know?”
“I would like to learn about Kaliters”, Vina said.
Eilin clicked her tongue, “Yes. Straight to the restricted section then.” Eilin opened the door beside her and gestured for Vina to enter.
Before she could move, Parin and another guard entered the room first. “Excuse me Asharaina, I must ensure the area is safe first.”
Vina blinked, but accepted Parin’s explanation. “Is this what it's like to be an Asharaina or is this just because I am a member of the Halos Family now?” Vina thought to herself. After everyone was settled and comfortable with the situation, Vina and Eilin perused the restricted section which contained countless books. Vina climbed the staircases to find what she wanted. As she walked, she saw titles that piqued her curiosity. Answers lay in these books that she had never even thought to ask about yet.
A Study of the Knave Class
A Study of the Star Fall Warrior Class
A Study of the Shadow Kin Class
An Examination of Epic Herbs And Their Benefits
Two Thousand Epic Mixture Recipes
Artifact Weapons and Their Smiths
The titles went on and on. Each was interesting in their own way, but she was looking for something specific. Eilin did not disappoint.
Lost Creatures: The Kaliter
Vina held the book in her hand. It was thin, containing only two dozen or so pages. “Eilin, why would knowledge of the Kaliters be in the restricted section?” She asked Eilin.
Eilin looked at the guards in the room with her. “I wish I could speak clearly with you on this topic, but I am bound by a promise of secrecy. If we were in private, I could be more forthright.”
For a moment, Vina considered sending her guards away, but when she looked at Parin, he shook his head. She smirked at him, “That’s okay. I imagine I’ll understand once I have time to sit down and read this. Now for the other three topics. I need you to help me find any books related to the use of Blood Skills, any books with an unbiased analysis of Trina’s life, and the full history of The Watch from an outside perspective.”
Eilin took a sharp intake of breath, “Asharaina, I hope I will not disappoint you, but two of those are difficult requests. Blood skills are not something widely documented. Most records are destroyed as it is one of the areas that is so universally frowned upon. However, I will look. Any unbiased analysis of Trina would likely only come from the author Shan, but those texts are over seven hundred years old. I would require some time to prepare them for safe reading.”
Vina blinked “Shan? Shan wrote entire books?”
This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
Eilin nodded slowly, a puzzled expression on her face at seeing the surprise on Vina’s. “Yes. Shan is the most well known biographical author of Trina’s life.”
“Please prepare everything Shan wrote”, Vina said, her red eyes still wide in surprise and hope at learning more about her adoptive father. She was certain her wide open eyes were freaking Eilin out as the woman couldn’t even look at her now. “As for my second request. I know it is difficult. Anything at all about blood based skills will suffice. Even a passing mention would help me. May I take these books back to my room?”
Eilin nodded, “Yes Asharaina. We have a process to move the books to your room securely. They will be there by tonight, but Shan’s writings would need to remain here. They are too fragile to be transported. Also…”, she hesitated, “...his work is extensive. He lived for a very long time. Preparing every book he has ever written might be excessive. Is there something specific you are looking for that I could help you find?”
Vina shook her head slowly. She only wanted to try to understand her father. “In that I’ll trust your judgement. I’m equally interested in learning about Shan’s life as much as Trina’s.”
Vina’s eyes flicked to Parin, when she saw one of the guards speaking with him. She activated her Listen skill. “The disturbance has been cleared, Professed”, said a woman Vina did not recognize.
Parin nodded his head, “Thank you, Riza.”
Vina similarly thanked Eilin for her assistance and started to leave, but Eilin stopped her with a hesitating word. “W…wait, Asharaina?”
“Yes? Vina asked, quite surprised to be stopped
“I am certainly overstepping my station to say so, but your eyes are amazingly beautiful. I’ve never read about an ability that turns the eyes red in this library. Truly it is a striking change, but one that can be truly appreciated by those like me who know how fleetingly rare it is”, she said with a smile even as her eyes searched Vina’s. “I tried to not stare, but for me it is like discovering a rare gem. I hope I have not offended you.”
Vina stood for a moment unsure how to process Eilin’s words, but she soon put on a smile, “Thank you, Eilin. It has been a change for sure. I’ve been going through a lot of change lately. I appreciate you clarifying your perspective. Please do not worry. You have not offended me. I truly appreciate your help.” She handed the Kaliter book to Eilin and turned to Parin.
She considered him for a moment. The guard named Riza had used the word Professed to address him. She quickly scanned his body with her eyes, but nothing hidden appeared in her vision beyond the usual knives or potions. Vina knew the title could mean someone highly skilled and decided that must be what Riza was referring to. “What is Parin’s skill?” she wondered.
She was soon led back to the carriage and prepared for the trip back. She had not been at the library long, but she had managed to put into motion the steps she needed to address her greatest questions. “Tonight, I’ll have to spend time learning”, she told herself.
While she waited in the carriage, Vina was torn between opening her mother’s letter and addressing her increasingly large stat gains. “The letter will also have to wait until tonight as well”, she said to herself as she opened her attributes page.
Name
Vina
Level
11
Health
190
Stamina
100
Experience
2575/24000
Class:
Blood Weaver
Attributes
Points
Description
Strength
17
You can lift 80% of your body weight and weapons do 14% more damage
Endurance
18
Your stamina is increased by 40, and your stamina recovery is increased to 1.40 per minute.
Dexterity
22
Your body is 12% more likely to do exactly what you intend, you are 48% more likely to hit your target
Agility
29
Your movement is 57% faster, you are 76% more elusive, you can react 38% sooner.
Vitality
18
Your health is increased by 80, you clear poisons 40% faster, you are 24% more resistant to disease and infection
Charisma
12
People like you 10% more and you are 6% more likely to persuade someone
Mastery
23
You learn skills 52% faster. You are 13% more likely to learn a skill on your first try.
Divinity
0
Locked
Attribute Points Remaining
3
Skill Specializations Remaining
1
Class Ability Points
5
As the carriage bumped along, she considered where to place her points. She was feeling especially apprehensive about her attributes. She simply had no reference point yet on whether she had placed her points wisely. Her previous efforts at Valanire had shown her that she needed more strength and endurance, but she felt bad leaving her vitality behind. She resolved to continue adding one point to strength at each level up until she could get to 100% of her body weight. She placed the other two points into endurance. Norimor was right, if she ran out of stamina mid battle, it was a death sentence.
She opened her skill tree next. She had known for a few days now that she had five points to place into this tree. She had considered her options off and on and ultimately decided that Ruby Claws had been incredibly useful in protecting her in her last battle. Her blocking skill, albeit low, had absorbed a lot of damage. Since her blocking skill was so low, most of the damage affected the claw itself, wearing it down quickly. “If I increase the armor, it’ll reduce the damage it receives further, making it more durable” she mused. She quickly did some numbers in her head. “If I max out the skill, it’ll provide… eleven levels plus one and a half times my agility.” she thought to herself. “Thirty-nine armor!” she exclaimed aloud. It was more than the Kaliter armor she wore.
Parin immediately poked his head into the cabin where she sat. “Ma’am, are you okay?”
Vina blushed at her outburst, “I’m fine thank you.” Parin was about to leave, but she stopped him, remembering the way the guard had called him a Professed. “Parin, would thirty nine armor be a lot for a shield?”
“Yes ma’am. Well made Tower shields generally start out at that number. The armor can be double that, but at some point the weight can make them unwieldy if strength has not been a priority.”
Parin took his leave and Vina returned to her considerations. “Okay Vina, you promised yourself you would do Blood Recovery too.” She forced herself not to be tempted elsewhere and immediately took the second rank of Blood Recovery.
Blood Recovery (2/3): Your body's ability to produce new blood increases by 100%. Class Ability Points Remaining: 4
Vina saw the next rank would more than double the effect again. She was very tempted to take the 250% upgrade. Given what happened when she did her painting, she was beginning to think it best to start hoarding some of her blood, but she stopped herself from taking the next rank. She could feel the change in her body already and mentally adjusted how much blood she was committing to her pendant. The difference was quite noticeable, and more than acceptable for the moment. She had a feeling she would fill the pendant in no time at all. “After that, I’ll start on the lantern”, she said to herself quietly.
She took a deep breath and placed two more points into her Condensement class ability.
Condensement (3/3): Ruby Claws gains 100% of your level and 150% of your agility in armor for any agility above 10. Class Ability Points Remaining: 2
She immediately felt a difference akin to the first time she selected Ruby Claws. A part of her knew immediately that the ability would require more blood than it did in the past. She silently praised herself for selecting Blood Recovery first. If her abilities kept requiring more and more blood, she would need to produce it much faster. She paused for a moment, “Then again, I have the Asharaina Title… can I now just use other people’s blood?” she muttered to herself. She looked back at her skill tree and was pleased to see another node appeared below Condensement in the tree.
Blood Cloak (0/3): While this ability is active, you may use blood to negate non-physical damage. 15% of nonphysical damage will be completely negated. 85% of nonphysical damage consumes blood.
Vina almost squealed, but she didn’t want to give Parin a heart attack. “This would protect against acid!” she thought to herself. She quickly added a point into it without much further consideration. She felt the knowledge of the ability enter her mind. She couldn’t wait to try it out! “But now’s not the time”, she said softly to herself. Besides, she could tell the blood cost was rather large to create an entire piece of clothing on just a whim.
She couldn’t help but try to talk herself through the last point she had. “The third tier has significantly more powerful abilities. Should I just try to dig deep into the tree, or choose the things that help me now?” She could double down on Ruby claws and increase its damage or increase the size of the blades she could make with her blood. Neither of these sounded exactly like what she was looking for, however. She completely skipped over the hemophage tree. Turning her blood into some kind of infection just repulsed her still.
Looking through her Blood Recovery Tree, she saw the following options. Blood Stained Hands which would allow her to cause people to bleed directly if she touched them. Blood Aid which would allow her to use her own blood as a bandage. Bloodletting would allow her to expel any disease from her blood, but she dismissed it as an option immediately. Blood Stained Hands was directly below Bloodshot eyes. She cringed at the thought of changing her body again. Her eyes got enough attention already.
She had been concerned about ignoring her vitality this level, and Blood Aid seemed a decent enough stopgap for that deficiency. She placed her final point into it and closed her eyes as the knowledge formed in her mind.
Blood Aid (1/3): You may weave a bandage from your own blood. Blood Aid heals wounds 200% faster, completely eliminates the risk of infection, and stops any existing bleeding.
She checked the skill once more to see what a second point would do and was shocked to see it would jump to 500% percent! She shook her head in disbelief. “How fast will it be when it is rank three!” She was running out of bandages that Jan had given her, and they only provided a 50% increase to the healing rate. This would be a drastic improvement in her post battle recovery.
Vina looked at her skill points and recalled that she had two painting skill points to place. Her artistic accomplishment had apparently made her immediately gain the painting skill and level it to 10. “What bonuses could this provide…” she wondered.
Where would you like to spend your painting skill point? Option 1: Your paintings are worth 10% more money when sold Option 2: Painting takes 10% less stamina Option 3: Paint Burst: You can spray paint outward in an artistic flair
Vina mentally shrugged. “Sure. Paint burst. Why not?” She looked at her options for her second skill point.
Where would you like to spend your painting skill point? Option 1: Painting takes 15% less stamina. Option 2: Paint Medium Specialization: Painting with your specialized medium further increases painting speed by 10%. Option 3: Laden Brush: Your paint brush can hold 25% more paint before needing to be refilled.
Vina looked over these options and was not impressed. She didn’t want to be a painter. She bit her lip and thought for a few moments longer. “Is this really a dead-end skill?” she wondered to herself. “I know I painted it with my blood. Is there a way…”, her voice trailed off when she selected Paint Medium Specialization. Another window appeared in her vision and a long list was displayed. Every entry was filled in with question marks however and she mentally scrolled through it until a single item was listed. “Of course”, Vina muttered. She selected Blood from the list and chuckled to herself.
She was about to consider where to place her skill specialization point when the carriage stopped. It was time to finish up the portals.
Faction Quest Completed: Portals Converted. 8/8. You have received 4000 experience points for completing a quest.
She and her entourage headed back up to the Halos Family Home. She was feeling accomplished today. Even more so, she had learned that every single portal had been created by her mother. Priya’s runic handwriting was clearly evident on every portal she converted. Every single one she closed was a reminder of the note sitting in her backpack, and she couldn’t wait to break the seal tonight.
Outside of the home, Vina stepped out of the carriage. She was about to head back into the family home, when Parin stopped her. “Ma’am, I’ve been told your current accommodations are not up to the family’s standard for an asharaina and member of the family. Lord Hakim Halos has requested us to move you to the family wing of the home.”
Vina looked at Parin in surprise. “That’s incredibly generous of Lord Halos. I am comfortable with where I am currently staying, however. A move isn’t really necessary.”
Parin shifted uncomfortably, “Ma’am may I speak freely?”
Vina searched Parin’s face and nodded when she saw his concern.
“If Lord Halos is requesting a move, he likely had a very good reason. He is almost always correct in his decisions, and ignoring one of his suggestions could have dire consequences. I don’t know why he made this choice, but he may be worried about your safety.”
Vina looked at Parin closely, “One of the twelve is making a move?”
Parin stared back at her, “That is only one faction that would like to get their hands on an Asharaina.”
Vina rubbed her forehead, “Okay let’s go. Thank you for being clear with me, Parin.”
“Yes ma’am.” Parin said, resuming his normal professional demeanor.
Vina was taken to a new part of the massive Halos Family manor. The room she was let into was the size of a normal home back on earth. The humble amenities were very similar to what she originally had, but the living area was much larger. It was clear to Vina that the family were not some rich despots living off the people of the city below. She was curious, however, how the system worked here.
She saw a number of books placed on a shelf in her main living area with various bits of paper hanging out from the pages. She looked at them quickly to make sure they were the volumes she had requested from the library, and rejoiced at seeing Eilin’s markings on each piece of paper. She had described what was on each page and how the information pertained to her requests. She even provided references to other books for further reading.
Her painting had also been moved with her. She eyed it from across the room. She knew there was more to learn about herself and improve upon, but at the moment, she had other pressing matters. She pulled out her mother’s letter from her backpack and began to inspect the runes on it. She felt a vibrance move toward her door and in the next moment she heard a soft tapping at her door and groaned, shoving the letter back into her backpack. Her blood sense already told her who it was. “Good evening, Lord Hakim.”
He smiled at her warmly, “Good evening, Vina. I hope you don’t mind if we drop the honorifics. Do you mind if I join you for a short time?”
Vina sighed in relief, glad to drop the formality, “Please, come inside. What’s on your mind?” she asked as she opened the door further to allow him in.
When he had settled in the main room, he elaborated on the nature of his visit, “I was hoping to spend some more time this evening with your masterpiece. I’m working to increase my counter to the thirty day mark so I can obtain a new class. I understand you haven’t opened it to the public yet and I’ll respect your choice if you wish to keep it hidden for now.”
“I’m okay if you view it, Hakim. I don’t really understand though. Why would you want to change your class?” Vina asked.
“Well, the class system that Trina has made is entirely based on our skills. Depending on our highest skills, we sometimes receive only a single class option. That of course limits exactly what a person can be in this world. Some people only get Farmer as a class for instance when they actually wanted to be an artist or trader”, Hakim explained. “I feel my class is not well suited to the current needs of my people.”
Vina furrowed her brows in understanding, “Oh. I didn’t know. I had four class options when I reached level five. Why do you not like your class?”
Hakim considered for a moment, “There are some parts that I like and others that I don’t. I recognize, however, that I need to change with the world. The people of my city will be changing as well and I want to be in a position to lead and care for them as they need.”
Vina smiled happily. She could tell Hakim truthfully loved his people. “How many others will want to follow in your footsteps and use my painting to change their class?” She tried to imagine a city full of people who had blood based classes.
“Oh Vina, almost anyone who can get here and view your masterpiece will. Some people never reach level five or gain their first class options. Your painting overrides that part of the system. Even a person at level one will be able to sit before your work and gain their first class. People will be admiring your art for hundreds of years. Your impact will be felt long after we have both passed on.”
Vina suddenly felt the weight of the world on her shoulders, truly comprehending for the first time the impact of her creation. She battled with her emotions as the effects of her painting took hold of her once more. She felt like an imposter, but she knew that was a lie. Vina nodded confidently and Hakim flashed her a smile before turning to face her painting.
Vina tried to settle in at the desk in her living room. The books were stacked around her as she tried to focus on learning. Her evening plan had been slightly disrupted with Hakim’s arrival. While he was silently observing her masterpiece behind her, Vina found it difficult to focus. She was uneasy doing any form of blood skills in front of people now, but she knew she had to overcome that.
She took a deep breath and pulled out her mother’s final letter. The runes on the sealed letter glowed blue in front of her eyes. They swam slowly in her vision as they danced around. This was by far the hardest letter seal she had seen so far, but it was barely a speed bump for Vina now. She let her blood slowly flow over the letter. Its hydrophobic runes resisted the blood, threatening to wash it away, but Vina selectively formed blood runes and let them burn into the seal’s own runes as she disabled them one at a time. Once they were gone, she removed the authentication seals that required her sister’s fingers and activated the unraveling mechanism for the letter lock. A part of her felt strange at how easy and natural this had become, but that part was much quieter now.
When the seal broke with the usual flare of sparks, Hakim looked over at her with surprise on his face. She glanced over her shoulder at him and gently shook her head. He shrugged and resumed his examination.
Vina opened the letter with great anticipation and read the first sentence.
Shan is dead.