The next morning Vina woke up at Seassa's home in one of the side rooms. Her muscles were fairly sore, but less so than she had expected. “Those points in vitality are making a difference”, she muttered to herself. Despite her soreness, Shefelt a peace inside herself she hadn’t felt in a long time. “Hakim was right”, she begrudgingly admitted to herself. Before leaving her room, she quickly reviewed her notifications.
Skill Level Up: Running has reached level 10. Running currently burns 10 times more stamina than walking. You can run at 7.8 miles per hour. You have one skill point. Skill Level Up: Jumping has reached level 8. You can jump 23 inches off of the ground. Skill Level Up: Thrusting Swords has reached level 6. Thrusting swords ignore 5% of armor and inflict 10% more damage. You have gained 300 experience points from leveling skills.
Where would you like to spend your Running skill point? Option 1: While running, you receive 10% less damage. Option 2: Long Distance Runner: You can run half as fast, but running consumes one third as much stamina Option 3: Runner’s High: Every minute that you run, you have a 5% chance to regain 10% stamina.
Vina immediately eliminated option 2 from the list. Running had saved her life too many times, and running half as fast would have gotten her killed. The ten percent less damage while running was attractive, but Nori’s words on just how vital stamina was still resonated with her. She tried to examine the five percent in more detail, but nothing appeared. “Trina, is that statistical probability with replacement or without?” she asked. “If it is without replacement…” She tried to do some math in the air before her, “I’ll get a guaranteed stamina boost at least every twenty minutes of running, possibly more often. If it is with replacement… ugh I need a calculator.” She wrote on the floor with her finger. “I’d have a 64% chance after twenty minutes of running. I guess it’s pretty good actually.” She selected option three.
She received the most curious notification after she had finished up her skills.
You have gained Novice Proficiency with the Thrusting Sword. Damage Increased by 25%.
“Why didn’t I get this with any other weapon I used?” she wondered.
She got herself dressed and headed out into the main area. Seassa was already sitting at a small table, writing something down. “Good morning Asharaina. Please have a seat. How are you feeling?” she asked, without turning her head.
She took a seat across from Seassa and stretched her arms, “Good morning Swordmaster. I’m a little sore, but nothing seems to hurt. This morning I gained Novice proficiency with the thrusting sword. What exactly is proficiency compared to skills?” She took a quick look outside of the open doors and saw the guards were still standing outside. She did not see Parin.
“Congratulations”, Seassa said mildly, “Proficiency is a rating given to the control you have over a weapon. Skill is how often you have applied it in combat. A person with high proficiency will have supreme control over a weapon even if they have never fought in a real battle with it. A person with high skill on the other hand may not have control over their weapon, but they will know how to use it to survive. There are benefits to each, but it is best to have both.”
Vina considered her words and they seemed to make enough sense to her. Even on Earth there was a difference between learning something and actually applying it. Perhaps this was no different. She contemplated just how much combat Seassa must have seen to get her thrusting sword skill to above one hundred. Seassa interrupted her thoughts before she could consider much further.
“Last night you were doing much better at reading the attack lines. You’re seeing the mountain much faster than anyone I’ve trained before. Can you tell me exactly what you are doing?” Seassa asked. Vina felt like her cat-like eyes were seeing right through her.
“I don’t think I am doing it exactly like others are”, Vina said.
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Seassa smiled, “That is very clear to me. The result is similar however. I’d like to know what you are doing so I can help you identify the strengths and weaknesses to your approach.”
Vina hesitated, deciding to withhold some of her information, “Some of my skills combine to create the passive ability to see other people around me. Even when I’m not looking at them, I can always see them even if I don’t want to. I’m using that ability to sense your physical movements while using my eyes to track your sword’s movements. Between the two of those, it seems to be enough so far.”
Seassa placed her hands on her knees, “How sensitive is your ability to read someone’s stance and movements?”
Vina shrugged, “I know you’re flexing your big toe right now.”
Seassa chuckled and Vina couldn’t help but smile. “You’re not seeing the mountain. You’re feeling it. We’re going to hone that ability. I see some advantages over what I would otherwise teach you. The disadvantages can be overcome as well.” Seassa paused for a moment as she searched Vina’s face. “What a burden you carry. Always forced to feel those around you; forever unable to turn it off. And how lonely it must be to know that others don’t feel what you do. You have my sympathy.”
Vina bowed her head in thanks, unable to find words.
“Would it surprise you to hear you are not the first asharaina I have met?” Seassa asked.
Vina looked up and saw Seassa smiling at her. “You met another one?”
“Oh yes. We were both young then and the world was a different place. I found her beside a creek just within sight of a waterfall. It was an arduous journey to reach her, but the struggle was worth it. There were others there, but she took time to teach me one of her paths.”
“The Asharaina of the Eight Paths! What is her name? What path did she teach you? What is she like?” Vina asked in surprise and excitement.
Seassa chuckled at Vina’s excitement. “She has many names, but I think she likes them all to be kept a secret. The path she taught me, I am teaching you now. The path will become clearer the longer you train with me.” Seassa looked up at the ceiling for a moment and seemed to think, “What is she like…? well she is full of hope but also very tired. This world seems to weigh her down, and when I was with her, she was desperate for change. Despite her victories in the war, she said she felt she had not achieved much. I would say she has trouble finding satisfaction in life.”
Vina considered her words for a moment before speaking again. “I guess if one of the paths is thrusting swords, that means she’s a master of at least seven other weapons. If she was never satisfied, that would explain how she managed such an accomplishment.”
Seassa nodded her head, “At least seven others. That was just the point in time that she declared herself an asharaina. Imagine what she has accomplished subsequent to that event. My reason for bringing this up, however, are not her credentials. I bring it up because she achieved something much more important.”
“What is that?” Vina asked.
“She inspired and helped other people, Vina. After she declared herself an asharaina, she was never alone. She was constantly surrounded by people and helping them every day. You may feel alone now with your skills and abilities, but soon you’re going to have people just like you around you all the time. I want you to think about that and be ready for it. An Asharaina is never truly alone.”
~~~
“Everyone, I want to apologize for yesterday,” Vina said to Hakim, Eilin, and Parin. “I made a rash decision that almost disturbed the peace of the city. I also seem to keep making Parin’s job especially hard by leaving without warning.”
Hakim raised a hand, “We forgive you, Vina. Your response is understandable given you concerns that your sister was in danger. Since I became aware of her arrival, she has been watched by some of our best masters. While she is in the city, no harm will come to her.”
Vina nodded her appreciation, “Thank you. If there aren’t any greater priorities, I’d like to visit one of the assemblers today and determine definitively if Trina is in the gloom. Parin, how much time do you need to prepare for that? Please keep in mind, we’ll have to travel through a portal of blood.”
Parin stood at attention and nodded, “It will take several days to organize. I’ve already started.”
Hakim tried to get her attention again, “Vina, your unveiling is in just a few days. We need to prepare for that. The city is nearly at a breaking point, and we need to develop a plan to ensure the safety of every person here. Right now, our focus needs to be on this. I never thought I would say this, but Trina’s rescue needs to wait.”
Vina paused for a minute and listened to the vibrances in the room. She swallowed hard when she read what they had to save. “Okay. I’ve been a huge distraction lately. How can I help?”
Hakim seemed to sigh in relief. “You are an Asharaina. I need you to decide how you want to introduce yourself to the world.” Hakim said.
“Yes. I’ve been thinking about that, and I have a plan”, Vina said. Three pairs of eyes stared back at her in surprise. “What? Sometimes I have plans”, Vina said. She turned her face slightly away from them to hide her smile.