Chapter 47: More Stats, More Feelings

“Monday March, someone has been tapping on your door for 32 seconds and Billie has not returned to her room. I’ve concluded that her presence is the reason, as it is not late enough for one of the Merits to have woken you.” Friday’s incredibly smug voice layered into my jostled consciousness. I felt the warmth pressed tightly against my left side and my right hand reached across my body to feel around at the source of the heat.

Soft hair, warm skin, a shiver reacting to my unseeing, but gentle, touch.

“MMmmmmmggggthpppth, Staaaahp.” The sleepy rasp of Billie’s voice was perhaps as appealing as the entire evening of chatting, kisses and snuggles.

Throwing a silly question to Friday, I used the information to jostle Billie into a fully aware state. “I’ve spent more than 10 percent of my memories with you.” I leaned to the side and pressed my lips against her brown hair. “And most of that time has been in bed.”

“Mmmmmphthpt, unfair…” And a finger pressed into my ribs.

I pretended to experience discomfort.

I’m not positive why I felt it was best to do so.

“Sorry Billie, I should probably check who’s there”

One eye opened a tiny fraction and glanced to the door, and a sigh laced with a sugary despair escaped from Billie’s mouth. “S’Bernie, Imma go.” she muttered before pressing her own lips into my nearby wrist, her tongue flicking out to tickle lightly against my skin as she rolled out of the bed. “Yeah, yeah ya big so’n so.” My sleepy bedmate muttered as she half stumbled to the door and popped it open only to walk into Bernie’s chest, his arm wrapping around her shoulders.

Bernie smirked in the faint light of the hallway as his eyes dipped to the top of Billie’s head before seeking me out in the faint light. “Her alarm pinged, so I have to chase her down to do her work. Thank you for… Well, thank you Monday March, she deserves this kind of happy.” The half asleep Billie lazily and gently rubbed at Bernie's cheek before slowly waving back at me. The door clicked shut as I turned over Bernie’s words.

“Hey Boss, it’s quite early. Do you want to stay up, or get some more sleep?” Friday’s rich tones replaced the whisper that Bernie had used.

Once the door had closed I noticed there was the faintest hint of light seeping through the window shades and under the door to the hall. I shrugged my shoulders, rolling them and feeling my muscles as I opened and closed my eyes, sensing how tired I felt.

“I’m awake enough, Friday. Not that I’ve felt particularly tired at all…” I parsed the thought I’d not considered before.

“You haven’t been tired?”

“Not yet.” I replied to the Tier 3 AI System Interface.

“Why have you slept? If you haven’t felt tired, I mean.” The rich voice felt warm rather than probing.

I shrugged, as I stretched and started to roll off of the comfortable mattress. Once on my feet I examined the question a little more closely while I stretched my arms. “It felt… right? Sun goes down, rest myself. Sun comes up, do things, sun goes down, rest again… It feels… correct...” I trailed off as I was stretching down to touch my toes. Why I was doing so I couldn’t quite explain, but again, it felt correct. Remembering the exercises and stretches Tok and Muto had taught me, I started to go through them in the dimly lit room.

“Well, anyhow, you were occupied last evening, so when you finish we can go through your status status.”

I didn’t blush, but I did recall the dozens of kisses Billie and I had shared. Her instructing me in what she liked, both by way of kissing, and about her life. She also shared how she had developed her sense of right and wrong while reveling in the closeness to me, making certain I knew I could stop or get distance at any time. It was warm, enlightening, and fun. And there were even a few moments that my nerves jangled a little as they did when Ann spoke.

‘Nice’ I thought, as I proceeded through the stretches and exercises, squats, pushups, sit-ups and something the boys had called a Sun Salutation.

Name: Monday March

Race: Giant Blooded

Age: 0 Years 1 Day (Puberty)

XP: 634

Statistics:

12 Agility

11 Charm

10 Dexterity

12 Durability

15 Magical Capacity

12 Magical Power

8 Perception

17 Physical Power

15 Resilience

Abilities:

Skills:

Allure: 1

Axe: 2

Awareness: 1

Balance: 1

Bargaining: 1

Battlefield Reflexes: 1

Chores: 2

Combat Coordination: 1

Communication: 1

Diplomacy: 1

Emergency Response: 1

Empathy: 1

Gambling: 1

Improved Speed: 1

Internal Awareness: 0

Logic: 1

Mana Control: 1

Mana Perception: 2

Massage: 1

Memory: 1

Navigation: 1

Persuasion: 1

Porter: 1

Sewing: 1

Stealth: 1

Studying: 1

Boons:

Common Boons:

Good Balance

Mana Eyes - Lesser

Sure Grip

Symmetry

Uncommon Boons:

Improved Mana Capacity

Internal Awareness (New Boon - Can use internal nerves, Mana and visualization to accurately assess the situation inside your body. Unlocks Perception. +1 Perception if already unlocked.)

Spare Change

Rare Boons:

Magical Affinity - Universal

Karmic Boons:

+20.0% Bonus XP

+4.0% Beneficial Luck adjustment

System Query

Banes:

Inverted Sobriety (In abeyance)

“Now the gains from yesterday.” Friday continued.

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Training Gains for April 2st, 2262

+1 Agility

+1 Charm

+1 Dexterity

+1 Durability

+1 Magical Capacity

+1 Magical Power

+1 Perception

+1 Physical Power

+1 Resilience

Abilities: Skills:

Increased:

+1 Allure - Level 2

+1 Awareness - Level 2

+1 Balance - Level 2

+1 Bargaining - Level 2

+1 Battlefield Reflexes - Level 2

+1 Combat Coordination - Level 2

+1 Communication - Level 2

+1 Diplomacy - Level 2

+1 Empathy - Level 2

+1 Improved Speed - Level 2

+1 Internal Awareness - Level 1

+1 Logic - Level 2

+1 Mana Control - Level 2

+1 Mana Perception - Level 3

+1 Memory - Level 2

+1 Navigation - Level 2

+1 Persuasion - Level 2

+1 Porter - Level 2

+1 Studying - Level 2

Gained:

Block - Level 1

Dodge - Level 1

Intimidation - Level 1

Investigation - Level 1

Negotiation - Level 1

Parry - Level 1

Patience - Level 1

Programming - Level 1

Research - Level 1

Safe Fall - Level 1

Teaching - Level 1

Willpower - Level 1

Total Experience Gained:

40 x 1.2 = 48

“And here we have today's updated status page. I compressed a section, and removed some notations that you have already examined.” Friday described what she had done.

Name: Monday March

Race: Giant Blooded

Age: 0 Years 2 Days (Puberty)

XP: 682 Statistics:

13 Agility

12 Charm

11 Dexterity

13 Durability

16 Magical Capacity

13 Magical Power

9 Perception

18 Physical Power

16 Resilience

Abilities:

Skills:

Allure: 2

Axe: 2

Awareness: 2

Balance: 2

Bargaining: 2

Battlefield Reflexes: 2

Block: 1

Chores: 2

Diplomacy: 2

Dodge: 1

Emergency Response: 1

Empathy: 2

Gambling:1

Improved Speed: 2

Internal Awareness: 1

Intimidation: 1 Investigation:1

Logic: 2

Mana Control: 2

Mana Perception: 3

Massage: 1

Memory: 2

Navigation: 2

Negotiation: 1

Parry:

Patience: 1 Persuasion: 2

Programming: 1

Porter: 2

Research: 1 Safe Fall: 1

Sewing: 1

Stealth: 1

Studying: 2

Teaching: 1

Willpower: 1 Boons & Banes: (No changes - collapsed for brevity)

Speaking softly rather than practicing my sub vocalization I discussed the layout. “Maybe add something so the skill raises pop more in the Status display? A plus symbol after it? I do like the general look of the Gains Display.” I admitted. "And I thought you couldn't do tables yet?"

“I’ll try it tomorrow, Boss. For the tables, well, it isn't perfect, but I tried to arrange it for compression, this is as close to what I've been able to manage so far." I couldn't be sure, but Friday sounded proud of her attempt, though it obviously wasn't perfect. "As for the System Queries… it was a mixed bag. The Grindstone allows both non and System Users; general attendance is 1000 dollars, 10 MU or one Experience a day. They are generally acknowledged as the most efficient skill training location in Cecal for Syssies but are also the most expensive. A maximum of 900 trainees may attend, only 100 people may reside onsite with the 100 staff that dwell onsite, the rest must commute daily. Training days run from midnight to midnight, however no individual may train for over 12 hours in a 24 hour period. They are also generally booked at least a week if not months out.

“The camouflage and speed boost provided by the Ways is exceptional, however not proof of safety. Estimates are that 1 in 200 Ways groups become attacked, and 1 in 300 never reach their destination. However, that is almost 16 times less attacked than non-Ways travel methods in Cecal. Dangers that are confirmed to target Ways travelers are generally highly intelligent, or possess incredible senses which can bypass the camouflage features.” I nodded, but waited for Friday to finish their report before interrupting.

“Least exciting but perhaps the most clear is that Bloodlines can be inherited and, aside from the Goblin bloodline, are incredibly rare to acquire outside the System. Attunements can be gained much more easily, and even accidentally at times, but are not inheritable.” Friday completed her report as I nodded.

“That isn’t overly surprising, Friday, at least considering what little I read about goblins and feral goblins. Anything else to share? Also, you feel excitement?”

"One must make an effort to practice colloquialisms!" Otherwise, Friday had nothing new and decided to recite ‘Exploring Modern Big Bay’ to me, though it was dated from over 30 years ago, as I cleaned myself. I also decided that asking Friday about 'making an effort' would be futile, because colloquialisms.

Unfortunately as I was raising my water filled cupped hands to my face the grey skin triggered the discomfort and sense of wrongness that had been blissfully absent since I’d been knocked out by the egregore the previous morning.

The shimmer of the water falling through my shaking fingers prompted a memory fragment: water falling through small rosier fingers into bubbles and brightly colored toys. I wasn’t alone in that bathing memory, the small girl I’d seen at the table, also wet with bubbles in her hair now. My sister, I imagined.

Drawing in a shuddering breath, I addressed Friday as I closed my eyes. “Whatever the spirit did yesterday seems to have faded. I did fill you in about it, and what Bluebird guessed about my strange discomfort, right?”

Friday’s voice felt softer and warmer than usual. “Yes, it might be a form of dysmorphia, Monday. Perhaps about how you are seeing yourself as opposed to your memories that have actually awoken, or something you are perceiving about your body is simply inconsistent with how you view yourself.”

Thinking about Friday’s words I asked how she came to that conclusion.

“Depending on Tier, all System AI Interfaces have some level of medical and psychological information encoded into them. I am not a medical professional, however watching after your mental and physical health is necessary for my own survival.”

A half chuckle, half sigh leaked from my lips. “So, what does the non-professional suggest for my mental health?”

Though still warm and supportive, I believed that Friday was reading from a list, which she likely was. “Talk to someone, or someones. Use a therapy program, either from a dream console or accredited individual. Keep a journal about your feelings. Talk with people who may have experienced physical changes from attunements or bloodlines, as that is the highest reported population for reports of similar feelings…”

I face palmed, thus interrupting Friday, and wondered how early Ann and Buckle would be awake.