Reid did not want to be doing whatever the hell it was that they were doing right now. His head still ached and his body complained, even though Susan had healed him multiple times. Apparently, there were major consequences to fighting off an army, self-healing, self-empowerment, fighting off salamanders, followed by more power experimentation. Especially if you did all of those in sequence, without rest and without properly refueling yourself. The alcohol Reid drank did very little to get him drunk, but it was apparently an excellent way he'd further dehydrated his system. Susan mostly treated Reid like he was a patient, overly doting on him to make sure he was recovering and actually relaxing. Mostly. The 'thank-god-you're-alive' sex now held a top-three rank in Reid's mind, maybe even top two. His headache lashed out again, and Reid searched for his drink.

He sucked some water out of a plastic squeeze bottle and set his gaze on Marlene and his daughter. From what Susan had told him, Marlene was near ready to shoot Reid when she came upon his... celebration in the rec hall. In a massively surprising twist, telling his wife that he was now bulletproof had not, in fact, alleviated her concerns about the subject. She was similarly not-amused when Reid offered to prove it.

Both she and Sara looked nervous. Reid blinked a few times. He hadn't noticed Marlene get nervous before. He knew his daughter well enough to read her emotions, but Marlene had almost always kept her emotions tight to herself. He looked at the woman again. She was poised on the couch, attempting to look relaxed - but he could see a level of tension in the way she moved. It was... more mechanical than usual. Reid had been picking up on some things since he rested and recovered, but a quick walk over to get food and back didn't exactly keep his attention long enough to really consider things. Marlene, in front of him, did. He still couldn't put his finger on the why, but it felt like Sara was keeping a secret from Reid and Susan, and Marlene was keeping a secret from all three of them.

Beside him, Susan squeezed his hand. Reid realized he was slurping the water, and he stopped himself and spoke.

"So, Sara, I take it you have something you need to tell us, and Marlene - you look like you have something to get off your chest, too."

Marlene's eyes went a bit wide before they settled. Reid shifted his focus to his daughter. She was all but squirming in her seat.

"Um... so, I told you my skill helps me with stuff, but it -ah. It also did things before. Back when I awakened at the beacon, I mean. It gave me... it showed me how to make a special contract. So, yeah. Mine's different from everyone else's. But I don't think I broke it! A bunch of people went after me, and nothing happened to them like it happened to you, dad!"

Reid held up a hand and stopped Sara from continuing.

"Hey, hey, hey. There's no need for that, sweet pea. There's no way any of that was your fault, alright?" She nodded. "Good. So you did nothing wrong, and you didn't cause any bad stuff to happen to me. Why don't you tell us about the contract you signed?"

Reid glanced at Marlene. She was nearly motionless, and hadn't reacted to the news about the contract - so she had already heard this secret. The woman remained impassive as Sara shared the details of how she got her xp doubled and that she earned even more every few levels as a bonus. Reid interrupted her then.

"So Marlene has kept up with giving you the bonus experience from the quests, then?"

Sara nodded. A bit of her hair that wasn't tied back in her ponytail fell over her face, and she tried blowing it to the side, then moved it with her hand when that didn't work.

"I'm level 14 now. I got 95,000 points while we were on the way home, which I think was from the... people quests. And then there was another big 20,000 point jump that I guess was from the salamanders?" She gave a look at Marlene, who nodded. "So yeah, I've been trying to keep everything equaled out, and so I've got 15 across the board now."

Reid let out a whistle, and Susan had a hand over her mouth.

She looked at all three of them for a long moment, then sighed. "It feels wrong, putting resources like that all to one person."

Reid saw Sara wince a little, and Marlene smiled. "I disagree, Sue. There are monsters out there more powerful than me, and they're only going to get stronger as time goes on. The points Sara's getting are ones that I earned, and I say she keeps them. Even if they came from somewhere else, Sara needs to grow stronger just like the rest of us." He spared a glance at Marlene, then looked back at Sara. Her stats meant she was physically stronger than Reid had been when he first killed one of the high leveled salamanders. Not just that, but she was tougher than he was at that stage, and she was massively better off in every other department. Reid felt a bit of pride in that. Whether it was the result of a skill or his points, Sara was getting impressively strong. He wanted to make sure that continued.

"Sweet pea, you're going to need more power - even more than you have now. Things are awful and violent right now, but they don't have to be. If we all just get strong enough, we can make sure everyone around us stays safe. We don't need a hundred people at level six. We need one or two people at level ten. That's the real goal here. Even if it feels like the right thing to give that experience away, you'd be hurting everyone else because of it. Maybe not now, but later."

Reid put his water on the table and squeezed Susan's hand.

"I'm not making anything up here, either. Sara, I left power on the table instead of taking it. I let others work on the waves instead of handling things myself. I sat back instead of looking for more ways to grow. Those decisions seemed like selfless acts, right? Well, things don't work out that way. Because I didn't get stronger, Louis died."

Sara was holding Reid's gaze with a level of seriousness he hadn't seen in her before.

"So this isn't some recommendation - it's a mandate. You and I both have the ability to outpace the growth of almost everyone around us, if we try. So you need to try. That means taking power when its offered, learning where you can, and not making shortsighted choices in the name of selflessness. Get. Stronger. Don't ever stop trying to grow. No matter what."

Sara's lips parted, then closed. She gave a slow nod, then stared at the table. After it was apparent Sara wasn't going to say anything else, Reid turned to Marlene. The woman gave everyone an assessing glance, then started.

"The second half of the contract, that Sara didn't get a chance to explain, is a condition. She needs to become a kind of royalty in the next hundred years, or she'll owe some hefty penalties back to whoever's on the other side of the contract." Sara's quiet nod confirmed the explanation. "Part of the reason we're all here is, I think I've found a way to make that happen, but it could be dangerous."

"Dangerous how?" Susan asked. Reid watched Marlene give Susan her full attention with the answer.

"I think Sara is capable of a lot, and you both know I'm committed to keeping her safe and helping her grow. But there are unknowns here that we can't possibly explore. There could be secret challenges she has to face, or some interplanetary politicking, or who-knows-what else. So, before I set things in motion I wanted to get the okay from both of you to do this."

This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

Susan held up a hand. "You still haven't said what 'this' is. Exactly what are you planning on doing to Sara?"

Marlene's mouth twitched, just a little. "Reid's... victory over Bertland gave us control over a number of their settlements. Because of the amount, we've been given the option to name a Lord Candidate. It's uncertain what's going to happen when we actually do it, but it seems like the best lead we have on making your daughter into a royal."

"Do it." Reid's voice was clear, and he'd raised his volume over the norm for the conversation they were having. He squeezed Susan's hand twice, then nodded at her. She nodded back.

"Alright, do it." Susan's sounded a bit reluctant, but it was also clear.

Marlene looked between the two of them like a deer in headlights. Reid smiled. Marlene had been trying to do something - and whatever it was, she'd not gotten the reaction she was obviously expecting. Reid could almost see her reset herself in real time. After a moment, she spoke again.

"I was hoping you both would be on board. This is great - see, Sara? I told you this was the right idea." She looked at Reid and Susan. "Now, I expect there's going to be a host of options and things that become available to Sara that I didn't have access to, so we'll want to spend some time here going through everything. And, for all our sakes, it would make sense to have me in charge of day to day things while we work through it all. Does that work for you two, or should we wait?"

Reid shook his head, and Susan answered. "We're here, like Reid said, we have no idea what's going to happen if we wait, so let's just do it."

"Oh! Hang on!" Reid interrupted. He pulled the clip point radius off his back, then the improvised scabbard he was using. Reid stood, then held the entire ensemble sword out in his palms. "It's dangerous to go alone! Take this!"

The joke fell flat. Reid cleared his throat and continued. "We don't know if naming you the Lord Candidate is going to do something weird or teleport you somewhere, so I want you to take this to protect yourself. I reworked it yesterday after I fixed my knife, so it's just as strong as I am right now."

Sara reverently took the sword in her hands, then slammed into Reid with a hug. She let out a muffled "thanks" into Reid's shirt, then stepped back and rubbed her nose. Reid decided to lighten the mood a little.

"You know, this means you'll have a piece of me with you wherever you go."

Sara put on a lopsided grin. "It also means if anything tries to hurt me, it'll have to answer to-" she pulled the sword out and held it aloft, "My dad!"

Susan groaned and put a hand to her forehead. "Of all the things she could get from you, Reid, it had to be your sense of humor."

#

Sara was in the center of the room, decked out with a backpack of supplies, a walkie talkie, copy of the map of the area, spare shoes, and a bit of basic body armor. After giving her the sword, it seemed wrong to not also prepare her for other issues, so they'd taken a bit of time to throw everything together. Now, the four of them waited. Reid could see Marlene grind her teeth.

"Okay, Sara. I'm doing it now."

Reid half expected a flash of light, or some heavenly trumpets. From his point of view, nothing had happened. Sara's eyes shifted back and forth.

"Did it work?" Reid asked.

"Yes" Sara and Susan answered in unison. Sara followed up. "Oh, dad, right, you're not part of Sanctuary because you didn't awaken. Hang on... keep hanging on... Ah! Found it!"

A system notification chimed as text appeared.

Lord Candidate Sara Calderwall of the Calderwall Empire has enabled non-resident quest notifications.

All sentient beings inside any Calderwall Empire Settlement will see quest notifications related to the Empire, the local settlement, or the Lord Candidate.

Current Quest: Secret Event Quest Assignment Pending. Please Wait...

"There's - there's so much here to go through." Sara turned excitedly to Reid. "Dad, it's like a strategy game and a city-builder and an RPG got all mushed together! It's so cool!"

"We should start going through the options, toge-" Marlene was interrupted by Sara's excited chatter and the notifications that popped into view for everyone.

"Look! Our next quest is pending! And I can make laws and stuff! I can designate people to look after individual settlements, and I can name people!"

NOTICE: Susan Calderwall has been named Arch-Healer by Lord Candidate Sara Calderwall

NOTICE: Marlene Benson has been named provisional commandant and general for the Calderwall Empire.

It was Reid's turn to advise caution now. "Sweet pea, let's understand a bit more before you start doing too much all at once."

"It's okay, Dad - my skill is helping."

Sara's mouth spread into a chesire grin. "Here, I'm sending you all contracts. Well, everyone but Dad. It won't let me do one for you because you aren't awakened yet. Mom, yours is super straightforward. It solidifies your title and lets you do system stuff on my behalf."

Sara turned slowly to the older woman. "Marlene, yours isn't."

Reid watched Marlene go pale, and arched an eyebrow at his daughter. She made a few motions with her eyes, and a notification popped up in front of Reid.

Notice: Lord Candidate Sara Calderwall has publicly shared a contract. You may not interact with the contract as you are not a listed party.

Notice: This Contract has been summarized by Lord Candidate Sara Calderwall for easier shared reading.

-

Contract Duration: The longer of either 10,000 years or the lifespan of either party

Parties: Sara Calderwall and Marlene Benson

Upon agreement, Marlene Benson will become a loyal subordinate to Sara Calderwall. She will not in any way attempt to harm or impede Sara Calderwall, including non-physical forms of harm, and impediments that include steering or sabotaging relationships, plans, city infrastructure, trade, or national relations. If any attempts to circumvent the contract are made, Marlene Benson's life will be forfeit immediately, to be enforced by the system.

This contract will remain active even under conditions of temporary death, outside of system-controlled space, and applies to the entity currently known as Sara Calderwall - even if the form or condition of Sara Calderwall fundamentally changes. Further, Marlene will strive to complete every assigned task and responsibility to the best of her abilities. On successful performance, Sara Calderwall will offer to Marlene Benson improvements in working conditions, rank, or responsibilities as available and befitting her current status.

Any attempts to void this contract will result in the immediate termination of Marlene Benson. Sara Calderwall retains the right to amend this contract as necessary for a period of up to 10,000 years, as agreed by Marlene Benson on initial signing.

-

Sara was still grinning from ear to ear. "Marlene, I'm young. That doesn't mean I'm an idiot. I go to high school. I'm into tabletop RPGs. I know what fake looks like, and I'm pretty good at spotting bullshit - even when I'm working with a professional. And you know what? It turns out that having really high perception helps with that, too. I know you've been overreaching on our relationship with each other. I know you've been trying to separate me from my parents so you can have a bigger influence over me."

Reid felt himself ball his fists. Sara continued.

"But - I also know you're not all negatives. You have a good mind for making hard choices, and you do know how to work people. You're tactical. You have experience leading that I think I can learn from. Despite how you are, I know you actually care about what goes on here and what happens to the people, in your own way. I know you care about me in your own way, too. So that's the offer. You can be a good influence, Marlene. Either right now, or in the future. Today, I need someone who knows how to lead troops and deal with logistics. If I'm going to be some kind of royal in a few years, I'll need someone that can do intrigue-y things. So this is where we stand. You work for and with me, earning back my trust while I let you do what you do best - for me."

Holy shit.

Reid wasn't sure if he'd ever been as impressed by his daughter as he was right now - or as proud. He'd assumed Marlene was doing the kinds of things everyone in power did - working to gain influence and make relationships, but he hadn't fully picked up on the extent of what was going on. Sara had, and now she'd so thoroughly overwhelmed Marlene that the woman didn't even argue before she accepted the contract.

Sara held out a hand, and gave a warm smile. "Thank you, Marlene. I know it probably doesn't feel like it right now, but you're going to help me make something great."

Marlene took a long breath, and shook Sara's hand. Her voice carried a vulnerability he'd never heard in the woman. "I want to see you succeed. I've been working towards that, really. Now, it's just a little different... and more official."

In front of him, Reid's seventeen year old daughter had outmaneuvered someone more than twice her age, within minutes of gaining the tools to do so. She'd done it so gracefully, the interaction ended with Marlene still on Sara's side, still supporting her, with more rules to enforce that relationship. Reid knew this wasn't just a handshake. It was the first step in what would hopefully be a long, long journey for his daughter.

Reid's imagination ran away from him. In times of trial, he'd taken to imagining his daughter grown up - as a graduate, or as a professional, or as a parent. But right now, he could see her as something more. She was a vision so bright, it was blinding. His eyes started to water.

Sara looked... Regal.