The following day we head back to the village and take a late afternoon wagon ride to our home town. What was the name of that town? Analyze doesn't give me the names of towns and villages. Strange, it gave me Naomi's name before I got introduced, but not the name of settlements I have been to. I should check out the guild library when we get back. Even if I can't remember everything I read, it should be added to the knowledge bank that make up my analyze skill.
My mental contemplation successfully distracts me from thinking about my new skill. The more I look at it, it is a curse rather than a skill. By the time we arrive at the town, Nadi disappears off again. She is a high ranking hunter, so I am not worried about her. I am more concerned about Rin. Kira and Carna are keeping her company. Kira asked me the previous night if Rin can come back with us to the farmhouse. She wants to introduce Rin to Mari. It is probably a good idea, since Mari has adjusted amazingly well following her trauma. She might have a positive impact on Rin.
As we make our way to the guild to report I start feeling an urge to get back to the girls at the farm. This does not feel normal. It feels more like a drunk craving a bottle, than a gentle longing. I steel myself and hope that I won't jump one of the guild girls as we enter the guild. The staff seem genuinely relieved to see us all safe and sound. Hidden behind the friendly greeting is the knowledge that Rin's companions did not make it. Sensitively it is not brought up in from of Rin.
One of the reception girls, not one I have met before, take me to the side to debrief me. "Last time you were in here, we didn't get a chance to update you as you were in a hurry. The guild was comfortable sending the three of you to look for the lost party because of your performance in the orc hunting quest. Teckar is adamant that you are easily worthy of a rank C license, and though the guild don't disagree with the statement, we like to rank up hunters gradually. Following the orc mission your rank was increased to D, and with the latest success it is only a matter of time before both your trust and power rank goes up together."
During the debrief we come to the injuries I sustained. I show the damages to the armor. "These a lethal injuries. Who healed you?" "I healed myself partially, but my regeneration skill did the rest." The reception girl looks like she does not believe. I am getting used to this. Must be a lot of hunters bragging about their amazing skills to beef up their guild file. To prove it I cut a deep gash along my underarm. Almost instantly, it closes and heals itself. "I guess you do have a regeneration skill. Luckily I have affinity for magic, otherwise that display would have been written off as healing magic." I hadn't thought about that. Well, no harm done. Advanced level 3 regeneration added to my skill list in my guild file.
As we head to the farm, I feel my itch getting worse. This could seriously mess up my concentration in a fight. While Rin meets Mari, I sweep the ever playful Lawra up in my arms and carry her to my bedroom. I need to tell the girls about this otherwise they will think my personality has changed. At least I now have the energy to keep them all satisfied if required.
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The next morning Rin and Carna goes to town to get her and her companions belongings from storage. Rin is moving in permanently. Carna prefers to not live with us for some reason. Might actually be me. Carna hasn't shown any friendliness towards me or any man for as long as I have known her, which admittedly isn't very long. I take their trip as the perfect opportunity to talk to the girls.
I gather Mari, Lawra, Kira and Lynne in front of the farmhouse on makeshift chairs. They all look expectantly at me. I already told them I needed a serious chat with them. "It seems I have picked up a unexpected skill that is already causing me some trouble." I explain how I picked up the lust skill from Nadi, and how it has affected me so far. "That explains why you completely exhausted me last night." Lawra's point hits dead centre. Kira adds her own experience to it, with her own agreement. Lynne is the one to point out the positive, in that I will now have enough energy for all of them. Mari also adds her comment to the mix; "Good thing you got four wives."
True. "If I was penniless and wifeless, this skill would probably turn me into a sexual predator." The girls seem to think I am too good looking for that to happen. I am not sure if they are teasing me or comforting me. From the start this conversation has been far more lighthearted than I intended for it to be. "How sure are you that this is a skill, and not just a temporary thing?" Kira's question catches me off guard.
I could tell them about my analyze skill. Why haven't I? I trust them. "Actually I have a rather unique skill. I realized how unique it was when I my guild file was being put together. Though it is common knowledge that each skill has ten levels, the ways to accurately measure this seems limited." "Yes, I have heard that you need to pay a guild employed specialist to get an accurate measure. There are only a handful of those, and they are all up along the northern frontier." Lawra's added knowledge is in line with what little I already know, though it differs slightly from what Marka told me.
I continue my explanation. "The skill I have is called Analyze. It allows me to analyze all my surroundings and glean information otherwise hidden. The higher the level of the skill and the more I already know the more information I get. I have always had an analytical mind, which is why I think this was my first skill." Kira continues as I stop; "That explains how you knew Naomi's name before being introduced." I am surprised Kira noticed that. I am not even sure when I let that one slip.
"Just to let you know, I have a lot of secrets. Most of which I would rather not be widely spread. I do trust you girls, but I don't want to unnecessarily burden you with secrets to keep for my sake." I hope that will satisfy them. "Does this have to do with your origins?" Lawra looks intrigued. "Of course, you are far too kind to have been raised in the wild." Mari's comment sound like a complement, but it has probably something to do with my different values. The girls descend into a speculative discussion on my origins. The question directed at me seems to have been forgotten. I slip away to my workshop.