Chapter 3 – status and explanations
----------------------------------------
Name:
Lilith Fen
Age:
17
Race:
Mutated Astral Projection
Gender:
Female
Level:
15
Titles:
The last Piece
health
60/65
?
?
Strength:
5
Vitality:
3
Agility:
4
Dexterity:
2
Intelligence:
15
Wisdom:
12
Taking a look at my stats for the first time, I was a little depressed. Ok, so I don’t really have anything to base these off of but I don’t think they are all that good. It kind of makes sense now, why I’m always so clumsy. I mean how can I not be with a AGI of 4! I let out a sigh. I need to find a way to see other people’s stats when I get a chance. Now to look at my skills or rather skill. What? You say I missed something? Race? No nothing wrong there. I’m a perfectly normal ‘human’ (she’s in denial).
Skill List: Mental Defense: LV 25 X1
It’s pathetic to just look at, so empty. When I get a chance I’m going to fill this baby up. If, that is, I don’t get killed by monsters. “No!” I shake my head. Nothing’s going to happen to me! I’m going to be ok. I’ve made it this long and nothing’s happened yet. Well besides getting a little mind controlled that is. Ok I’m getting anxious again.
“Calm down. It’s going to be ok.” Jade tightened her hand on my shoulder. She gave me a reassuring glance. How did she know I was freaking out again? She must able to read emotions or something. I never noticed but she is so reliable.
“Thanks. I got caught up in my thoughts again.” I give her a smile to show I was ok. I wasn’t but she doesn’t need to know that. She didn’t seem convinced but didn’t say anything more.
I look at my skills again. Skills are going to be my bread n butter, so to speak. It is the way I’ll be able to get stronger. Every skill I have gives me a status increase, depending on what it is. For every level of skill I raise I’m also getting my stats increased. The problem is every 25 levels of a skill, the amount of work I need to put into a skill increase. It doubles every 25 and at level 100 it is multiplied by 10. That’s so intense. But it is rewarding as well, after every increase of difficulty the attributes I get per level increase as well.
I also have a bit of a cheat. That X1 is my talent for the skill. Everyone has things that they are good at and things that they are bad at. People with talent in something usually pick up that skill a lot faster than someone who doesn’t. That’s why not everyone can be a pro-athlete or be able to learn multiple languages at the same time. It’s not impossible to be good at something without the talent for it, you just have to put in more time to learn it. It is not normal to be able to increase your talent or learning speed for a skill.
That is were I’m not normal. I can increase my talent. Or to say it a different way, I can get a better multiplier to increase the rate I learn a skill. But it comes at a huge cost. I have to reset the skill back to level one. The ratio is 1:0.1, for every level of the skill I reset I am given a 0.1 multiplier to that skill. That’s awesome and stuff but I would still have to grind the skill back up and I also lose all the attributes I get from that skill. Risk and reward. Also there is no way in hell I’m going to do that with Mental Defense.
While I was lost in my thoughts, I noticed that we were pulling into a drive way. I thought we were going to Jades house but we stopped at a Flower shop. The shop is in one of the nicer parts of town, just on the edge. The shop name was The Healing Flower. The building had a modern look to it and look decently new. Probably only built three or four years ago.
We get out of the car (I had to crawl over the seat again) and head on in. The inside wasn’t all that big but it gave off a very welcoming atmosphere. I’ve always loved plants so coming here really did wonders to my anxiety. It feels so normal, I think I could spend a lot of time in here just breathing in all the scents. Then I looked at the clerk and all my good feels were gone again.
The clerk looked normal enough. She looked to be about early thirty’s and gave off a motherly presence. She had a round face and light brown hair. That’s not what crashed my normalcy about this place. No it was the antlers on her head. Yup, she has dear antler on her head. I give a questioning glance at Jade. She noticed my look and looks back at the clerk, trying to find out what was wrong. After a moment she looks like she realized something and leans down to my ear.
“Don’t mind her. That’s completely normal.” She whispered and started towards the back of the shop. How is that normal? You know what? I’m just going to roll with it. I follow her in. As we walk passed the clerk, she gives Jade a huge smile and said.
“Welcome back miss Sune. OH! You brought home a friend! That’s so Great.” She looks me over then nodes. “Would you like me to bring up some refreshments for you and you guest?” Jade looks a little flustered at this bubbly deer women. “That won’t be necessary Hana. We will be fine?” Hehe, that last part sounded like a question. I don’t think Jade can handle this woman’s personality all that well. I think I just found one of Jades weaknesses. I’ll have to talk to this Hana when I get the chance. I take a glance above her antlers but she also had ????.
Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.
We go up the stairs that were in the back room and arrive in what looks like a living room. So this is her house then? It’s not bad. After seen her car I imagined her place to be all modern and black and white. But I was wrong, most of the furniture is made out of wood and gave off a nice pine wood smell. Flower and ferns are dotted around the room as well. See this is why I know I should be Jades friend. We have like the same taste in decoration.
“You did a great job in decorating the place.” I commented. She just gives a non-committed noise and continues to lead me in further. “Wait here. And don’t touch anything.” She let’s go and leaves me at the door. The room she led us to looks amazing. The amount of herbs growing everywhere and vines creeping up the walls, are just stunning. They are all being grown in planters. It’s weird, I don’t get how they are growing. There is no natural light in this room at all. I’ll have to ask Jade about that.
I didn’t see that I left Jades protection so I take a peek at my effects.
Jade’s protection: While under the protection of Jade Sune, your territory will be suppressed.
I thought I needed to be touching her? Maybe it’s because I’m in her house? That’s the only reason I can think of.
The plants aren’t the only thing in this room. She has what looks to be a professional chemistry set in the back of the room, with glass tubes of various shapes and a few Bunsen burners. There were all kinds of different colored liquids in the glass bottles some being boiled and what not. Jade is in the back messing around with the equipment at a desk. She looks very focused right now, so I think I should be quiet. She has on an apron and what looks like wielding goggles. She looks like a mad scientist.
Yup. I’m just going to stay where I am and not move, I don’t what to be turned into a frog or something. Wait. Isn’t that witches? What do mad scientist do too poor innocent people? Umm. Turn me into an android? With laser coming out of my eyes and jest in my feet. You know what. That sound really cool!
----------------------------------------
*Jade POV*
In the library
I was grabbing a book on herbs that I don’t think I’ve gotten too yet. When I heard something sneaking up on me. I think I know only one person who would approach me like that.
“Sigh”
Lilith Fan, she just won’t leave me alone. She follows me everywhere. I know she wants to be friends, but it’s not going to work out. Don’t get me wrong, she’s nice and all, if just a little loud, but I don’t think being friends with a masked human seems like a good idea.
While I was thinking, she jumped around and called me an inappropriate name. I almost smile at that, it’s kind of cute how she always compares us, but I keep my composure. I have to be cold with masked humans so that they don’t get attached. It’s just easier that way. I wonder what she is doing here. Doesn’t she have class? Is she skipping? I didn’t take her for that kind of person. Education is important. Should I scold her? Maybe she has a good reason.
I ask what she is doing here and she just starts complaining to me. I only wanted to hear why she wasn’t in class but I guess I get to hear about her whole day. I listen to everything she says. It’s important to listen to people when they confided in you, you know.
Sounds like a normal day for her until she talks about a sister. Huh, didn’t know she had one. Maybe that’s the one that drives her to school. I must have been making a face because she asked what was wrong.
When I told her about what I was thinking she seemed to get confused. She tells me all about her sister but she said it was a girl who goes to this school. That’s not right. When I denied the girls existence I think she fainted.
Oh no! What do I do? She’s falling! I catch her and ley her down on the floor.
I think I should prop her head up. Ok good. Now what? Should I call someone? I don’t know. I’m not good with these kind of situation. I think I’ll just give her a few minutes and see if she wakes up on her own.
I wander what happened. I think she had a mental break down. That a real shame, she was a nice girl. Don’t worry Lilith Fan ill visit you in the hospital.
Oh she’s stirring, I think she’s waking up! When she wakes up she looks around until she noticed me standing over her, protection her from danger. When our eyes meet, hers go wide. Oh no. it must be worse than I thought, she must be terrified. She asked me what happened to her. I told her all about it, and ask her what she remembers. All she did was mutter “sister” then I think she was about to lose it again. I can’t have her relapse! It’s dangerous, but what should I do. Oh I know! I lightly slapper her, that always works in those movies. She lets out a yelp and stares angrily at me. Isn’t that what normal people do? Did I put too much strength in to the slap? I don’t think so. Maybe she is just delicate. I wouldn’t put it passed her she looks really weak. She so tiny, seriously girl don’t you even lift?
Anyway the slap worked but then she starts talking about her fake sister and family. She seems so fragile right now so I think I’ll just listen for now. Then she said something she shouldn’t know about. My eyes. How does she know about that? That’s impossible.
What a minute! I know what this is. She didn’t have a mental break down! It was the mask! She broke the mask.
“What are you talking about?” she asked. I jumped at that. How did she know? I don’t have time to think about this. She’s in danger. I grab her and put her under my territory to hide her from others. she isn’t in any danger for now. Ok what is the steps for people that brake the mask? Ok, hide them, got it. Then protect them until they are not in immediate danger. Doesn’t that mean I have to teach her? Or I could call mom had have her take care of the problem. No, this is my responsibility, she is my responsibility. Plus knowing mom there is a 50-50 chance that she will just eat her and turn her.
OH! I know what I can do. I need to go home though. But I have class soon. No. That’s fine, this is more important than school anyway.
We get to the shop. When we enter it’s like a flip was switched for Lilith. She really relaxed after that. Hey, that great! Everyone should feel like this. That why I built this shop. Flowers should be able to heal any wound! Maybe we can be friends after all. She tensed up again, what now? She was doing so well. I look for what she is staring at, oh it’s just Hana. Ya I get uneasy with her too, she is hard to handle. But Lilith doesn’t know her so why would she get effected by Hana?
Oh wait. I know what it is, it’s her antlers. Duh. How could I miss that? She is seeing something that’s not human for the first time, of course she would be scared. I tell her not to mind it and try to get past Hana so that she doesn’t scare Lilith too bad. Hana offered to bring up some drinks, it sounds nice but I know what Hana is thinking. She wants to know who Lilith is and why I’m holding onto her. I decline, she would just scare Lilith anyway.
I take her to my lab once we got into the shop I could have let her go but I just didn’t want too. She’s just so small, I felt like I was walking with a kid or something. It’s no good. She’s bring out my maternal instincts, I just feel like I want to protect her. She is a dangerous individual for any female. But I had to let her go to make her a protection charm. I told her not to touch anything because some of the plants are poisonous.
I got to work right away. Luckily protections enchants are a lot easier then defense enchants. What should I put it on? Let’s see. I think I have a pocket watch on my desk. I use it to keep track of the time when I’m doing my experiments. Although I really like it, I think I can put it to better use by giving it to Lilith. I root around the desk for a moment and found it under some papers. I hold it up by the chain to examine the watch. The chain is made of iron and the watch its self is made of silver. It was an ironic joke from my mother. This will do perfectly. I open it up and lay it back down on the desk. I grab my tools, put on my goggles and get to work. I put the enchant on the inside to keep it safe from any kind of damage it may get from day to day.
It only took about five minutes to finish. I turn back to Lilith and gave her the watch. Now it is time to open her eyes to the world. Once we get that out of the way I’ll have to think up a training plan to get her up to standers for self-defense. She is under my care after all so I can’t leave her to fend for herself.
----------------------------------------
*Lilith POV*
It didn’t take long for Jade to finish with what she was doing, she came back with something in her hand. It was a beautiful pocket watch. She holds it out for me to take. Is she giving this to me?
“That looks really expensive, I don’t think I could take it.”
“Take it. This will hide your territory for you, until you learn to suppress it yourself.” She demanded. I guess I can’t refuse. I take the watch and attach it to the back of my skirt and put the watch in my pocket so that the chain looped around the side. I have to say that I love the look.
She takes me back out to the living room and sits me down so that I sat across from her. Then she told me about everything that been happening to me. It took hours but she didn’t get tired and answered all of my questions seriously and as best as she could.
The Mask is an illusion that protect the monster from the human’s. The Mask was designed to be a catch all spell. It hides anything considered abnormal by altering the memories of those who seen it. The mask is not all powerful though given enough push, people will be able to see past it at times, that is way there are monster sighting all the time. They only see it for a brief moment before the mask can hide them again. There are also rare cases where someone can break the mask all together.
This is what I did. Why this makes it dangerous for me is because I broke through I am aware of the monsters around me. I release a thing called a territory. A territory is a type of sense that reach’s out around me to keep track of the threats. This helped save people from monster before the mask. The problem is that the monster also have it, but they don’t hide it, not anymore. After the mask was put up, people affected by it didn’t use territory anymore, so monsters used it to identify one another. When they don’t want to be found they suppresses it.
Because I can’t control mine, monsters are going to come find me and when they find out that I am so week they will do terrible things to me that I would rather not think about. Not all monsters are bad though. Some help people that brake the Mask, like Jade. Although I don’t know what Jade is, I think she is safe. I never asked, for some reason I feel that it is rude to ask what race you are.
When I asked her about my family, she told me she didn’t know them, only that if they were hidden by the Mask then they must be Monsters of some sort. I can’t think of what kind of monster they would be though. I’m scared to ask them, or even let them know that I know. If I have the watch, they won’t know that I am no longer a prisoner of the Mask.
I then asked about what was real or not. Dragon, pixies, unicorns, slimes, harpies, and just about everything else. I dreaded to ask but I had to know.
“Are land sharks real?”
“Land sharks? Um. I think there is something like that.” I paled a little hearing that.
“But they are more like lava sharks. They can jump out and move on land but only for short distances before they have to get back into the lava. I think it has something to do with it being too cold anywhere else for them.” I breathed a sigh of relief.
After our Q and A Jade had something else to tell me.
“Starting from now, I will be your teacher until you can defend yourself and suppress your territory. We will start your training tomorrow, and I want you to be ready because I’m going to work you hard.” She gave me a big smile. I’ve never seen her smile like this. I think this is her true smile. I’m afraid though.
She seems a little overeager for this.