Adam wasn't entirely certain what to expect when he woke up. The only time he had been awake when he gained a skill before had been when he first got his class. He hadn't even been cognizant that he was turning into a bear, yet alone had gotten a class and a skill. He was certain that he wouldn't have actually been able to notice anything about his gains at that time even if he had been looking for it, so this would be an entirely new experience.

He didn't bother to open his eyes, letting his mind drift without actually entering the mindscape again. He heard Jay and Martin discussing something nearby, but let the words flow by him without conscious thought. He heard them, but without focusing on the actual content of the conversation, it was just noise. He was trying to "focus without focusing," something that had been mentioned by one of the guards back at the estate when he was training. The guard had been jokingly parroting the words of a "master" level trainer that they had detained for fraud in the past instead of offering real advice, but Adam was unaware of that. He had been so focused at the time that he even missed the elbow jabs, knowing looks, and stifled laughter. For him it had been a bit of a revelation. Not as something specific, but more as a suggestion of what to aim for. Now his meditative training was paying off.

It started with a warmth in his chest. Slowly it built, not higher or hotter, but more dense. So dense that it had to spread, pushing the warmth outward. For the time being walls held it back, forcing it to compress even further. It strained against confinement, searching for the path to freedom. As the pressure grew, Adam found his thoughts almost easing into certain thoughts. He'd had ample experience with being forced to think and do different things of late, and this was nothing of the sort. In fact, it seemed to be the opposite. Not compliance through force, but instead permission. A release of containment.

As though freed of the enforced path his thoughts normally trod, they went instead to the things that mattered most to him. The orphans. Memories of their time together, moments of shared emotions, laughter, pain, camaraderie. A parade of instants connected by respect, shared experience, and, yes, love. At the end of the line, despite his resistance, was Jay. The boy was a complication Adam didn't need, but the boy had wormed his way into his heart nonetheless. So much like the rest of his small family, Jay needed someone, anyone, to care for him. Not just emotionally, but physically as well. The small boy was even more broken than Adam's orphans. And that similarity was all he needed to be welcomed. The rest of the difficulties could be handled later. In Adam's mind, and heart, Jay was part of the family now.

With his acceptance of all of his children he felt the walls containing the condensed warmth in his chest fall away, letting it free. If he thought that the newfound freedom would let all of the heat escape he had another thing coming. His heart was a wellspring of love, producing an outpouring that was unstoppable now that he accepted it. First it filled his body, but soon it spread beyond even that, pulsing out into the surroundings with every beat of his heart. For Adam there was no other change, but the same could not be said of the others.

Martin noticed it first. Like the sun against his face, but from the wrong direction. Similar to the sun it warmed him, but he could also feel the more mystical portions as well. He'd experienced things like it before, and started making small movements to test the effectiveness. He stretched the fingers of his hand out as quickly as he could, then made a fist, squeezing hard. It was a moderately effective increase to his abilities. He was faster, stronger, possibly even tougher although that one was hard to check as easily. The warmth that came with the skill, whatever it was, was sticking around, reminiscent of healing skills that had been used on him in the past. Again, nothing strong, but a small boost to regeneration. With all the effects combined, it was a solid aura skill.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

Looking at Jay, Martin saw the boy seemed to glow mildly as the waves washed over him. The look on the boy's face as he inspected his softly glowing hand was a mix of awe and fear. Martin smiled gently when the boy looked at him, saying, "Nothing to worry about, it's just an aura skill. It should make you stronger and faster, with a little healing added on. I'm not sure what the glowing is about." He shrugged in bemusement. "What do you feel from it?"

Shifting his eyes from Martin to the still raised and glowing hand, Jay said quietly, "It's... warm. Like nothing I've ever felt. There's something about it that tells me everything will be alright. I can feel it... holding me?" His voice trailed off.

By his description, Martin deduced that it was different for the boy than for him. In retrospect, it made sense considering where the aura was coming from. Intrigued, he looked to the other boy, the Mother. It was becoming increasingly clear that the class had even more surprises in store than he had suspected. He'd thought the weird weapons would be the worst of it, but now he had the aura of healers and clerics. When Adam had told him that the class was multi-role he'd mentioned the healing aspect, but the man hadn't thought he'd gain an aura for it. He'd expected a couple of very basic healing skills, maybe a detox or cure poison at most. Instead, Adam had what appeared to be a passive aura that included a physical buff and, at minimum, a minor regeneration increase. Either he'd have to rein it in, or they would need to figure out a way to sell it to the duke as part of the boy's imaginary Care Bear class.

With all the oddities of Adam's class, Martin was beginning to think their cover story was more trouble than it was worth.

Seeing Adam, also slightly glowing, rising to his feet with a proud smile, he couldn't help bringing the boy back down to reality. "Do you feel pretty now?" Adam stopped moving, head tilted as he pondered the question. Martin didn't give him the time to make a snappy comeback, and instead finished his point. "I know it's useful, but good luck explaining it to the duke, Care Bear."

Adam stumbled at that one, and Martin turned away smirking. Obviously, he hadn't thought about that at all. There were moments when Martin forgot the boy's age, and others where it was all he could do not to take him over his knee. It was just like a teenager to do something completely impulsive without any consideration for the consequences. It was even more irritating because it was both helpful and a well chosen skill.

While Martin was stewing in the revelation that Adam was completely unprepared for the upcoming disaster that he had created, Adam was searching for a solution. First he had to remember the lie that they had concocted for the duke. Care Bear was the class they came up with, and it was focused on the care and protection of children. Mostly it relied on his bearform to perform, and covering for the lack of skill points actually spent on that with the scaling capabilities of Mama Bear. Trades, crafts, and child care were most of the rest of their explanation, things that Mother excelled at anyways. The only way to slot Mother's Love into Care Bear was through the final piece of the class they'd spun out of his actual class and a fair helping of lies.

The final portion to his made up class had been left purposely vague. They had described it as being a selection of miscellaneous utility skills that he still hadn't unlocked, but were described as "Skills to maintain a happy home." With that recollection, Adam smiled, saying, "What could make a happier home than a skill that warms, strengthens, and heals. It's even twice as effective on kids."

Martin had his back turned, but that didn't keep Adam from seeing him nearly choke. The older man looked back, eyes wide. "Twice as effective?" He glanced at Jay briefly, then back to Adam. "Leave that part out when we talk to the duke." Then he nodded in Jay's direction with a meaningful look.

Adam interpreted that look correctly. If he knows, he'll want to test it.