Interlude: Prim and Proper
Pella was perfectly comfortable taking care of herself. At least, that’s what she told Mrs. Domino nearly every day. Not that it would ever silence the woman’s fussing.
Her closet opened with a creaking noise. She frowned — the hinges needed oiling. But that could wait.
She selected a pale, pink dress that came to her knees. Hair would be next. She grabbed a bundle of golden strands and used a hair tie to set it into a ponytail. Routine was important to her. After all, time is a valuable asset.
After her morning preparations, she made her way out of her home and into the streets of Eagle Station. This station had been her home for most of her life and in her estimation, it was the greatest of the stations. Many would argue in favor of Bear Station, but that feud had been brewing almost since everyone had moved below ground.
Eagle Station’s residences were a mix of architectural styles and tended to be larger than the other stations. The cost of living was more restrictive, but that suited Pella. Perfection was costly. And she wouldn’t suffer any less than perfection.
She would attend her classes, attain top marks, and then she would while the day away with her sketchpad. She was determined to evolve her [Sketching] skill, certain that the more mundane skill could produce incredible effects if it reached a high enough level. It was an afterthought that she actually enjoyed the process of drawing.
Perhaps she would have given up by now. But her unyielding experimentation had incredible results. She summoned her status, and it appeared in her mind’s eye.
Status Name Pella Domino Class Phenom Level 12 Guild None Life 296 Max Life 296 Mana 296 Max Mana 296 Stamina 296 Max Stam 296 Stat Total Base Class Skill Item Strength 18 12 6 0 0 Endurance 19 12 6 1 0 Dexterity 38 12 6 20 0 Intelligence 20 12 6 2 0 Wisdom 19 12 6 1 0 Skill Level Bonus Sketching 17 5 Dex + 1 Int / Lvl Dancing 10 5 Dex + 1 Dex / Lvl Violin 7 1 Dex / Lvl Balance 12 1 Dex / 5 Lvl Acrobatics 13 1 Dex / Lvl Mathematics 11 20 Str + 1 Dex, 1 Str / Lvl Sprinting 5 1 End / 5 Lvl Perception 3 1 Wis / 5 Lvl Empty --- --- Empty --- ---
Her penchant for training specific skills day in and day out had earned her more than just a higher level than most her age. She had also received her class earlier than most. It pleased her greatly. She wasn’t the kind of person to lord it over other people. Obviously, they should see how great she was. She had no need to tell them how great she was.
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Realistically, Mrs. Domino — her caretaker — would not have had it any other way. The only expectation was excellence. Pella intended to deliver.
She summoned the description for her class to her mind’s eye. She checked it multiple times a day. There was no helping it, she was ecstatic about her new class.
[Phenom]
Description: A Phenom gains no specific class skills, but can learn and improve skills much more quickly than normal. If a Phenom discards any skills, they retain their skill level. You can re-acquire discarded skills after a 24-hour waiting period.
Skills: Phenom does not gain access to any unique skills. Phenoms learn up to ten skills.
Perks: As a Phenom gains levels, they can gain an intuition into skills that other people use. With observation, they can learn basic skills from others.
Bonus Stats: 0.5 Str, End, Dex, Int, Wis per level rounded down.
She had done her research, of course. [Phenom] was nowhere to be found in Eagle Station’s class directory. She had concluded that there was nobody else with the class. At least nobody in the stations.
An itch in the back of her mind broke through. She often wondered about the surface world. Her classes and books described it as a massive expanse of land and water. If ever there was a truly perfect place, it had to exist up above. She would find it.
For now, however, the thought was only a distraction. Once [Sketching] evolved, she would try and fill out her last two empty skill slots. It hadn’t been an issue to gain new skills after getting her class.
She had actually gained the [Sprinting] skill when she dashed towards a sub-train as the doors were closing. Regardless of how unrefined the whole affair was, she wasn’t too upset. She had gotten a new skill in return.
She was now standing outside a familiar, squat building. A small, but elegant sign reading “Eagle Academy” was picketed in the grass outside. Grass was a rare sight in the stations, but Mrs. Domino was insistent that Pella experience nature.
She stepped inside, perfectly on track to reach her first class in time.
This is why it was such a surprise when she noticed her instructor standing outside of her first class of the day. The teacher was tall, with coppery skin, and straight black hair hanging freely well past her shoulders. She could see past them and into the classroom proper, but the teacher was blocking the doorway.
“Pella. Exactly five minutes early as usual. I’ve been told that your classes have been put on hold.” Her instructor said.
Put on hold? Pella wasn’t sure what that was supposed to mean. It was a crack in her normal routine.
“I don’t understand. What do you mean, my classes have been ‘put on hold’?” Pella asked. The confusion showing on her face.
“You’ll be heading to Bear Station Junior College from now on.”
“What? Surely the instruction here is better?”
“That may not be true. In this peculiar case, at least.” Her instructor sighed. “You had mentioned that you were interested in combat training on your application to Eagle Academy. Usually that would mean some training and time spent in the Eagle Station police, possibly even the military.”
Pella still wasn’t sure where she was going with this.
“You’ll be receiving personal combat instruction from Dario Wall.” Her instructor said.
The surprise was difficult to keep off of Pella’s face. Dario Wall was a famous ex-member of the Bear Guard. She couldn’t think of a more prestigious combat instructor.
Pella’s teacher fished a vibrating runescribe from her pocket. She read through the message and appeared concerned about the contents.
She looked up from the runescribe before continuing, “Well there is a small change in plans. A rail line from Crow Station to Bear Station was just destroyed. One of Dario’s other students is in Crow station, so your instruction will have to be moved there.”
“Crow Station?!” Pella blurted, “That backwater is nearly an hour away even by sub-train.”
“Well, you’ll learn to love the commute, I’m sure. Your number has already been given to Dario. He’ll contact you with further information.”
Pella stood in the doorway, stunned, as her instructor stepped inside and began class. Without her.