Mellie jolted awake to the alarm blaring at her from her phone. She really needed a new alarm tone. The one she had grated on her nerves. Yuck. She could still taste last nights vodka on her breath. She checked the time and pulled the blankets back over her head. She proceeded to lay there for another 15 minutes before her phone squacked at her to get out of bed again. She threw the blankets back and thats when it hit her. Her mother was gone and she had no one but herself. Herself and a group of fickle friends who only half listened to her, often interrupting or talking over her. Her friends were all more of acquaintences. It was better than no friends at all, she reasoned.
Mellie lived alone in a too large apartment. A month earlier she had moved in with her fiance. The same fiance who came home with panties in his pocket. It had been a rough month that left her with both an apartment and college she couldn't pay for, leaving her with her part time job at the diner as her only safety net.
After the break up, her mother had came over directly with a big bottle of wine and a chocolate cheesecake. "Did you love him?" She asked her.
"So much Momma" Mellie cried.
"Do you regret it?" her mother continued.
"No, I loved him. Not everyone finds love. I just wish his betrayal didn't hurt this much." Mellie confessed, holding her stomach.
"It's okay, theres always another man, another love. They will find you when you're ready." she spoke with the wisdom only a mother brings. Mellie had loved how her mother was always so sure of everything. They stayed up all night laughing and crying together watching their favorite movies and burning old couples pictures in the fireplace. Life made more sense with her mother around. She was her best friend.
A few weeks after the breakup her mother had a stroke and passed in her sleep. Today she was going to her mothers storage to clean it out before heading to her shift at the diner. Her entire savings had to paid for the funeral. And she was only a little short on this months rent. She planned to sublease and move in with her mother. She had no plan now. She felt so off kilter because she always had a plan.
Her heart hurt. It had been blinding her ability to function. Her life had not been kind to her lately. She flicked a tear off her cheek. Theres always another man. I had a mother that loved me. Today is a new day. She began a new day.
Mellie scrubbed some pomegranate shampoo into her scalp as she sang 🎶 I want something else to get me through this semi charmed kinda life🎶 and got herself ready for the day. Domned in her towel she sifted through her clean clothes hamper on her square dining room table, slipped into her tight black slacks and pulled on a black tshirt. Then she found her left nonslip black boot by the front door and the right one in the bathroom. She was glad that her work uniform basically mirrored her preference in clothes. She always preferred black or even blue to match her black blue hair and teal eyes.
Her phone lit up. It was Kim.
"Hey girl. You ARE coming in today right? Cuz we are really short staffed. We already had 2 call outs tonight. Bobby's talking about staff replacements. I can't cover for you if you cant make it again. They will let you go sweetheart."
"Yeah I'm sorry Kim. I'll be there on time. I'm actually already dressed. Gotta clean out moms storage unit before I get there though." She was feeling a lot better and more positive lately. She needed this job now that her mom was gone.
"Do you have enough time for that? I dont mean to sound insensitive but if youre not here by 3 they're gonna fire you and I know how much you need this job." Kim pushed, concerned for her.
"It's just a couple of boxes. I can handle that. I'm leaving the furniture behind. It should take like 15 minutes to get in and out."
She reassured her.
"Okay Mels, see you at work!" Kim concluded. She understood why Kim called. She had been like a ghost for the past week.
Her purse was a cross body handbag that she threw just about everything into. That also meant it took forever to confirm she had her keys, wallet and phone before she headed off to the storage unit. Her little Hyundai puttered its way to the front of unit 66. She popped the trunk and unlocked the unit, rolling up the metal door. A splattering of old brokem furniture from her childhood and three unstable looking boxes piled in the corner. She looked down at her black clothes. Dust was going to be a problem. She threw on her purse and found a rag inside to dust off with. Then she started grabbing the boxes, loading them into her trunk.
As she loaded the last box, it busted open and the contents spilled all over the inside of the unit. "Uggghhh!" She yelled in frustration and "Aaah" she yelled as a piece of glass frame cut her finger. She sat in the pile of her mothers remnants and cried as she started gathering her things together.
As she sorted through the pictures she kept seeing drawings of pentagrams. Her mother was never religious so she didnt know why she was doodling them. She collected up some dust next to her and she made a little sandy dust pentagram with a little twirl in the center as she wished she were anywhere but here, humming the tune her momma used to sing. And from one blink flash to the next, Mellie accidentally transported herself to Alanor.
As Mellie flashed into existance in Alanor a screen took over her whole field of vision.
[Welcome to Alanor! You have finally arrived! We long have waited for your return and prepared a welcoming of sorts for you all. Initiating assimilation. Titles awarded. Boons granted. New Race Cambion found and integrated. DOD welcome chest delivered... Initializing Startup]
Then the screens began to flash one after the other.
Title Granted!
Descendant of the Dark [Title] decended from the families of the church of darkness
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Boons Granted!
Your mana capacity is doubled!
Welcome home chest delivered!
Title granted!
Decendent of Saviors [Title] descended from the once saviors of the demonkin race
Boons Granted!
Your regenerarion rate is doubled!
Your health is doubled!
Title Granted!
Decendent of a Fallen Race [Title] decended from the magestic race of demonkin who were hunted to near extinction.
Boons granted!
You have been gifted the Curse of the Ancients!
Your mana is tripled!
Your health is doubled!
Cambion [racial traits]
You have affinites for all elements!
Your blood is Manablood. Protect it well!
Your regeneration is doubled!
Pain ripped through her body as her body adapted to the changes as the mana enriched air fused with her manablood. Her body was on fire, like it was being reforged. And it was just beginning.
Her heart was beating frantically. She felt like a rabbit in trap. She tried to look around the screen in her vision. She was on a clearing surrounded by a forest. There was a black looking pirate looking treasure chest thing in front of her. The screen flashed.
Status:
Name: Mellie Adams
Race: Cambion (demonkin/mageborn)
Titles: Descendant of Darkness, Desendant of Saviors, Descendant of a Fallen Race
Level: 0
Class: None
Strength 14
Dexterity 15
Intelligence 40
Endurance 14
Charisma 6
Luck 4
She wasn't sure why there was a gaming screen in her vision but she would work on it in a minute. First she willed away all the screens and looked at her surroundings. She wasn't in her moms storage unit anymore. And apparently mind magic was real. And other magic. And she was half demonkin? Whats a demonkin? Like a demon? She wasnt evil. She was a normal girl. She liked her booze and sex like the next person and depression had hit her hard. But demonic? No. She had wrapped herself in a sadness coat but she was all love on the inside.
She looked around quickly to assess if she was in immediate danger before checking the chest. She always liked loot. She hoped it wasnt heavy loot. She didnt see a road. She flipped up the latches and pushed the lid open.
The inside of the chest was lined in black velvet. Mellie thought to cut it out of the chest to use as a bag when she was done. Resting on the velvet were four tomes, a crystal and 50 gold coins along with a circular piece of twine that dropped from inside of a note.
Greetings allies of demonkin. Centuries have passed since your departure and we feared you many never find your way home. I am sure you are all wondering what this new system is. When our ancestors were hunted into extinction they were used to create a blood magic ritual forcing a training system into the minds of all of Alanor. Since the systems magic is made with our blood, we willed our system to show you favor. We hope these gifts repay you in some way for all the years you have been cut off from your magics. Use them well. Protect yourself. Grow strong. Thank you for the years of protection and the great sacrifice you made for our continued survival.
Mellie thought outloud to herself "so the system is demonkin magic. I'm some part demonkin. My ancestors saved them then ran away or something. I need to protect myself. I need to train magic I guess. Maybe thats what these books are for...."
The spell tome opened and Mellie stared and the glowing runes. Mellies eyes started glowing along with the book as the book crackled and burned to dust.
Spell: Shadowalk
Instantly travel to from one shadow to another. Be the shadow you walk in.
She reached for another.
Spell:Test of Wills
Can create or destroy with intent. Be warned, the stronger will prevails.
Range: touch
This one sounded dangerous. She wondered why these people who seemed so endeared to her ancestors would give such a gift.
Skill: Polyglot Can interpret all languages. A passive skill.
Skill: Truthseeker Can see the truth behind all things. Can tell truth from lies. Can appraise truth behind objects as well. Not a passive skill. Must be activated.
Mellie looked onto the fluffy black velvet cushion of the majestic black treasure box and saw the bright teal crystal. Truthseeker told her what it was.
Class crystal: Manablood Savior Epic quality stone created to powerlevel the Descendants of Darkness. Crush to absorb class and begin your adventure.
It was time for her to begin her adventure. Her mom would always say they were "off on an adventure" when they were out and about running errands. The thought made her smile. She didnt hesitate to absorb the class.
+5 Strength +5 Dexterity
+5 Endurance +5 Intelligence
Name: Mellie Adams
Level: 1
Race: Cambion (demonkin/mageborn)
Titles: Descendant of Darkness, Desendant of Saviors, Descendant of a Fallen Race
Class: Manablood Savior
Strength 19
Dexterity 20
Intelligence 45
Endurance 19
Charisma 6
Luck 14
Spells: Shadowalk lvl 1, Test of Wills lvl 1
Skills: Polyglot lvl 1, Truthseeker lvl 1
Mellie was about to get up when she remembered the twine strand from inside the note. Melly used truthseeker.
Ring of concealment
Displays the average class level and race of a populated area, hides titles
The twine rope slid right onto her finger. Once it slid all the way on it still looked like twine but it felt like slick metal. And then Mellie finally had the opportunity to really take in her new surroundings.
The first thing that hit her about the world around her was how brilliant the colors were. So pure and vibrant. The green was so rich and the blues of the sky just called to your soul. The clouds were like fluffy cottonballs and the birds were really huge. And pointy. And they aren't birds... That's a fucking dragon. And its coming this way. She panicked and stood there for a solid 30 seconds before she ran.
+1 Endurance!