"Many races possess unique abilities gifted by the all-knowing System. Those gifts give remarkable advantages but they are not without disadvantages. Dwarves are master craftsmen who are able to craft runes that puzzle the best elven enchanter for the cost of total rejection of mana in their bodies causing the dwarfs to be incapable of casting most magic. Elves for the cost of their beautiful long-lived bodies with great control over the arcane arts pay by being weak physically and with a pathetic birth rate. Unique in Edor are humans who are the only known race capable of thinking while lacking such a gift. Maybe the lack of it is a blessing in disguise?"
-Extract from a diary of a Systemait scholar
----------------------------------------
Beside a country road amongst fields of ripe corn where the sound of wheat-hoppers chirping their buzzing mating songs, an orange flame pierced the darkness of the moonless night. The flame flickered softly until the darkness surged back, ruling with an iron grasp over the world. It took two long minutes until the distinct flickering light returned. Iris ran her fingers through the silky black hair of the peacefully sleeping Kia. Iris could only smile as she looked down at the curled-up girl hugging her waist, her face buried in the padded clothes reflected the orange light above her.
Iris extinguished the flame in her other hand and closed her eyes. The new spell was casted in a much different way than her other spells which casting came as naturally as breathing. She imagined a red hot ember burning everything in her imagination, upon opening her eyes an orange flame flickered in her hand. Iris discovered she could make the flame smaller or bigger by thinking about it but she only held the flame for a couple of moments before repeating her training.
The sky slowly turned crimson orange as Citranus rode on his chariot from below the horizon.
"Last one" Iris whispered to herself as she began feeling lightheaded. She began to close her eyes but before she could finish she saw a flame appearing in her hand accompanied by a sound. Iris narrowed her eyes and looked around before realising that the sound was her system notification.
[New Abilities learned]
Status
Iris
Race: Risen {Undead}
Age: 1 month
Title: [Defiant]
Classes: [Risen Level 3 ] [ Hoplite Level 3]
Talents: [Masterful Translator] [Pure Mana Manipulation(awaken)]
HP 480/480
Strength 65
Constitution 61
Dexterity 71
Wisdom 63
Intelligence 63
Charisma 60
MP 85/485
Combat;
Stolen story; please report.
Active Abilities: Mana light, Mana Shockwave, Flame.
Passive Abilities: Combat Precognition (F), Regeneration (E), Nightvision, Enhance Vision (B), Enhance Hearing (B), Mental Resilience, Immunity to Magical Domination, Immunity to Magical Charm, Physical Resistance (F) Monster Experience Gain (B), Magical Talent (F+),
Basic;
Abilities: Cooking (Level 4), Survival (Level 5), Maid (Level 6), Fishing (Level 1), Cleaning...
Iris looked over her status finding two highlighted notifications, she shifted with the newfound excitement. Her body froze as Kia rolled over stretching her body. Kia's golden and blue eyes glow in the faint light of the dusk.
"Mmm?" Her slowly dimming eyes casted a tired look.
"Good morning," The elf whispered. "You can still sleep a bit more." She gently stroked Kia's soft cheek. A moment later girl's head pressed into the elf's thighs. She murmured softly as she nestled her head before falling still again. Iris pulled some of Kia's black hair back letting each hair fall back down as they slid off her palm. The exhausted elf leaned back taking a deep breath and closed her eyes, relishing in the comforting coldness permeating from her legs.
"Iris wake up!" A loud noise caused the sleeping elf to stir from her slumber. "Look!"
"What happened!" Iris shook her head and quickly stood up, grabbing her spear.
"Iriiis," A lamented voice tolled beside her. "You spooked them!"
Iris looked worryingly around, spotting a herd of spotty brown deer dashing through the wheat fields in the direction of the dark forest where they are headed. "The deer?"
"YES!" Kia jumped with excitement, "I think?" She said before losing the excitement as her brows furrowed in a questioning expression.
"What were you looking to do with them?" The elf asked while looking as the deer herd disappeared between the trees.
"I don't know," The girl answered with uncertainty. "Can you even do something with them?"
"Some people collect their horns to craft into something," The elf started to explain to the girl. "Some hunt them for their skin which is used by tanners to make leather. Nobles hunt them for sport and entertainment. Heard that their meat is great but I have never tasted it." Kia turned where the deer had disappeared with a face that sent shivers down the elven spine. "Kia?" She tapped the girl who turned toward where the deer where.
"Y-yes?" The girl turned back to Iris.
"You know we have food," Iris said." I could make something now if you pull the food out."
"Yayy!" Her arms shot up in the air. A slab of meat appeared on top of her arms with a meaty sound.
Iris took the meat off Kia's hands, she placed it on a large rock beside the campfire. The girl sat down on her knees in front of the elf, eyeing each movement of Iris's hands with wide eyes.
Iris took out a metal pot, she placed it beside Kia.
"Could you fill it with water?" The elf said.
She patted her pants looking for a knife. She realised she had forgotten to buy a knife, Iris raises her index finger tipped with a pointy nail and hesitantly tries to use it as a knife. "Wow," Slips between her lips as her nail cuts smoothly through the flesh. Iris cut the meat into four slices setting them beside her. "Could you pass the basket with the spices?"
"Spices?" Kia tilted her head to the side.
"Remember when I gave you the basket for the first time with the green vegetables?" The elf replied. "You also took them."
The girl's eyes look straight ahead with a hollow look before her irises return to normal as all of yesterday's shopping materializes on the ground.
"I couldn't find them."
"Don't worry" Iris instantly spotted the flat tin container with dividers inside. "Spices are usually stored like this and they make food delicious." She opened the container showing the girl its contents. "We going to eat this piece later, so put it in your inventory." The elf gave Kia the rest of the meat. She lit the fireplace and put the pot over the fire, waiting until the water boiled, later she placed the meat inside until it cooked. Meanwhile, she made a mixture from some of the spices to put into the pot. The entire process Kia watched the pot like a predator watching his prey.
"Here you go, hope you like it." Iris handed Kia her portion.
"OH!" Girl stretched her hands grabbing greedily her meal.
The undead mage was devouring her meal until she noticed a pair of amethyst eyes watching her making, she mirrored the elf's slow eating for the remaining of her meal.
"Moore?" Kia held her plate in front of her chest.
"Where is the magic word~?"
"Levitate." The two gems gleamed with power as the mage pointed a finger toward the deliciousness.
"Noo! You..." Iris could only shake her head with a small self-deprecating smile as the last meat chunk left by Iris for Kia flew onto her plate.
"Mmm?" The girl asked while chewing her magically acquired food.
"Later." The elf said.
The two stayed for some time taking in the peaceful atmosphere until Iris stood up and started to clean their campsite.
"Come here," The elf took a white towl from her backpack and started to clean Kia's face.
"Iris, stop!" The girl yelped at the elf, who step back happy with her work.
"Done," Iris said. "Kia, you coming." She started to walk towards the forest holding her hand to the pouting girl.
"Coming!"