The most painful headache that I had ever felt hit me, enough to push me to my knees, making me feel like my brain was being scrambled. Yet, even as I did so, I could feel that it wasn't as bad as it could have been.
The familiar feeling of resilience helped me to blunt the impact.
Since it was Resilience that kept me conscious, I decided to feign unconsciousness once more, even when I felt Toross grab me and lift me up with one hand, dragging me as if I weighed nothing.
"What a weakling," Toross said even as he dragged me away.
Falael chuckled. "What do you expect? It's his first time absorbing a skill, and he doesn't have any stat to actually help him absorb the information faster. With a skill stone with that high purity, it would be shocking if he could wake up before we got to the capital."
"What about the indoctrination, then?" Toross asked. "Won't they be angry if he's not willing to do his mission?"
"Don't worry, a man that old, but nothing to show for it," Falael said. "The paintings are more than enough," he answered.
"Lazy as always," Toross answered with a chuckle. "What would you do if he acts out?"
"Not my problem. What do you expect? Summoning is always a thankless task. What kind of reward do we get, a pittance for a successful summoning, and maybe a bonus? Compare it to what the Royal family will make of the sacrifice once they are properly grown… Especially if one of the gods shows interest. Things would have been different if they allowed us to join the auction, but…"
"You should learn to control your greed, my friend," Toross answered, even as I suddenly felt flying, only to land on a soft surface. I was back in my bedroom.
I heard the door close, and their discussion was cut short.
It would be a lie to say I was surprised at their words. Their intention was very clear; to treat me as merchandise, though some of the words they had used, like a sacrifice, or gods, were hardly calming.
Nothing that would be too problematic, I decided. I just needed an opportunity.
However, before doing something else, I needed to get rid of the horrible headache that was still plaguing me. Resilience helped, but only for me to stay conscious. I could still feel foreign thoughts and sensations filling my mind, trying to make their mark.
I had no hope of moving around secretly with that burning sense in my head. It was time to use Falael's unintentional recommendation.
[Stat Points -1]
[+1 Memory]
The moment I assigned the Stat, I could feel the change. The headache weakened, and the foreign feelings and memories got clearer. The process continued, but the pain, while lesser, was still enough to prevent me from moving.
[Stat Points -2]
[+2 Memory]
Two more, and the pain lessened, enough for me to get up and walk around — not that I had done it, more focused on understanding the changes in my mind, the process of absorbing several times faster.
I wondered if it was something truly important, I thought as I continued to shiver in my bed, ignoring the temptation to assign more points to Memory and quicken the process even more. The process was unpleasant, but the not the worst torture I ever felt.
And, it wasn't like I could walk around before the night arrived.
However, that didn't mean I had nothing to do.
[Stat Points -1]
[+1 Perception]
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As I increased my perception, my surroundings changed, as I had just put on a pair of glasses. The edges of the objects turned sharper, the shadows got less intense, and the movements clearer. A similar change happened to my other senses as well. My hearing got clearer, my touch more sensitive…
Exactly what I needed as I sneaked around…
[Stat Points -9]
[+9 Perception]
I assigned them as a burst, the sudden enhancement of sensation enough to intensify my headache even more. I lay down, the increased sensation enough to temporarily block the magical headache.
I shivered with the soft caress of the comfortable bed, my fingers flexing to get the unfamiliar sensation, making me tremble helplessly. The faint odors in the room got clearer, though luckily, they didn't turn unpleasant.
As I lay, helpless, a light coat of sweat glistened on my skin, like it was my only opportunity to take a breath.
It was hours later when a line of writing appeared in my vision.
[Archery of Destruction, Absorbed]
The headache disappeared immediately, as if it never existed, leaving me with my enhanced senses. "A weird sensation," I muttered as I stood up, walking back and forth. Amusingly, only with my increased Perception, I realized just how beneficial my Agility was. Even as I moved silently, I made almost no sound, a lifetime of habits enhanced further by my abilities.
How to use archery, I thought even as I mimicked holding a bow, but it didn't work. After being absorbed, the skill was locked in a part of my brain, but I failed to trigger the feeling.
Also, I had no idea about the difference in name. The skill stone was just named Archery when they asked me to absorb it, but now that it was complete, it was read differently.
Not that I spent too much time on the skill. It was interesting, but I had more urgent things to complete. The first thing, Strength.
[Stat Points -1]
[+1 Strength]
Unlike the other stats, the moment I triggered Strength, I felt a sense of warmth spread onto my body — though, interestingly, the sensation is more intense for my arms.
Another set of push-ups allowed me to understand the change, allowing me to display a strength that I would have had trouble with even when I was young. But this time, I turned my attention to the smooth walls of my room.
And started climbing…
It was a struggle to pull my body up, still, but the combination of Agility and Perception made it much easier — Perception to find the best places to grip, Agility to maintain my balance as I did so.
The perfect skill for a thief.
Or an Assassin.
[Stat Points -2]
[+2 Strength]
I added increased Strength, until I could comfortably pull myself with just one arm, which was all I needed to maintain my speed when I climbed. Still, I planned to stay in the room for another hour, until it was well past midnight.
Hoping that it would be enough.
However, before I could truly start to move, I heard the sound of a cry. "Betrayer—" the sound gasped, but that was all I was able to hear before it was cut off by a shocked cry.
It was Falael.
"Just like you said before, my friend. Why work only for a pittance when we could make enough money to last us for a long time? Not to mention that I could serve to the true power…"
It was wholly unsurprising to see that voice belonged to Toross.
I didn't wait to hear the direction of the footsteps before I moved to my bed and lay down to feign unconsciousness. I was not under any illusion that I could fight against Toross, or even get away from him. I still remember the impact of his casual punch…
Back to faking unconsciousness, betting that Toross wouldn't hurt me. Not because I trusted his conscience, but because I trusted his greed.
The door didn't open immediately. Instead, I lay down, ignoring the sound of combat. "What are you doing, commander—" I heard the captain's shouting, only to stop with a whooshing sound.
"Retreat," called another voice, one that belonged to a soldier, followed by a few steps that were interrupted by another death cry.
I did nothing other than give the impression of a pained sleep when my door opened, the footsteps coming closer. I felt a familiar hand grab me. He put me on his shoulder as he moved. He wasn't particularly fast, suggesting that he was confident there was no other immediate threat waiting for him after dealing with Falael and the soldiers.
A bit of merciless trade.
The way he positioned me, I was able to open my eyes without him noticing. It didn't take long for me to find what I was looking for.
The pouch at his waist, one that he pulled the sigil to open the door. The only hope for me is to create an opportunity to escape. My trust in him was limited to him not killing me immediately.
Not the greatest hope for the future.
As far as pickpocketing went, I was barely mediocre, but I had some advantages. He was still under the impression that I was still unconscious, and my supposedly painful twitching gave me an excuse to stay concealed. Agility enhanced my movement significantly as well, allowing me to hide a complicated finger dance as a spasm.
Just like that, the small rock carrying the sigil was between my fingers, grasped tightly, a little bet for the future. With the towers protecting the flying keep on the top, I guessed that he would be picking that.
I kept my hand firmly closed, and my body lost even more as he changed his direction. "Just another minute, and I'll be safe," Toross muttered to himself even as he reached into his pouch.
Only to curse horribly. "I must have dropped it while fighting. Just what I needed," he growled as he threw me down, and I let out a pained gasp — a natural response even while sleeping — yet kept my eyes closed.
He walked back, not in a particular hurry to show he didn't feel any threat.
Leaving me thinking about what would be the next move.