Rise of Winter, Week 3, Day 7
“Poison, as it turns out, does not just go away,” Freddie said glumly to herself as she tried stretching out her arm—only to be met with pain and a tightness so intense she simply gave up and laid back down.
The morning light was shining in her room, reflecting off the pale pink metal trinkets that decorated the mantle of her fireplace. The shade was remarkably similar to her hair, which Freddie presumed was why her grandfather and parents always gifted her with small items made of the metal.
After roughly two minutes of wallowing in the fact that her limbs had, arguably, gotten worse over time and not better, Freddie heaved a put-upon sigh and got back out of bed.
Hoping that maybe it just needed some more time, Freddie went about her day getting dressed and brushing her hair. Her leg was stiff as well, so she had to shimmy and shake her pants on. Rather than picking shoes with ties, she slid on a pair of mules and headed out.
Unlike usual, breakfast was a quiet affair as no one else seemed to be up as early as Freddie. So, she pulled up the [Combat Report] while she ate.
[Combat Report]
[Skills Used in Combat:
Inspect Lv. 3
Fire Manipulation Lv. 5
Fire Conjuration Lv. 5
Imbue Flame Lv. 5
Fire Step Lv. 5
Quick Fight Lv. 5
Running Lv. 5
Regenerate Lv. 5]
[Hostiles Defeated:
1 Level 22 Adult Winterdeep Grassroot Serpent - Killed]
[Contribution: 95%]
[Level Discrepancy: 12 Levels]
[Overall Experience Modifier Adjusted for:
90%+ Contribution against Hostile
10+ Level below Hostile]
[Achievements:
Sustained Imbue Flame in combat for the first time. Extra experience applied.
Sustained Fire Step in combat for the first time. Extra experience applied.
Sustained Quick Fight in combat for the first time. Extra experience applied.
Sustained Running in combat for the first time. Extra experience applied.
Survived first Solo Combat against a higher-tier monster. Extra experience applied.]
[Post-Combat Results:
Skill Level Up! Inspect is now Level 4!!
Class Experience Applied.
Class Level is now Level 12.]
“Not bad,” Freddie said, a smile on her face as she dismissed the crimson notice, though her satisfaction did not stop her from grumbling, “Can’t believe I didn’t get 100% contribution.”
As the stat points hit her, her skin grew itchy, and her eyesight sharpened, but she didn’t feel otherwise encumbered.
[Status]
[Name: Fredericka Nemo]
[Race: Human]
[Age: 8]
[Unallocated Stat Points: 0]
[Vitality: 105 Endurance: 31]
[Strength: 56 Dexterity: 52]
[Perception: 28 Magic: 50]
[Luck: 78 Divinity: 37]
[0th Tier Class: Child of the Gods, Max Level]
[Boon: Druigr’s Blessing]
[1st Tier Class: Young Lady of Flame, Level 12, 2.3%]
[Skills:
0th Tier: Inspect Lv. 4, Running Lv. 5, Sparkler Lv. 5
1st Tier: Quick Fight Lv. 5, Bright as a Flickering Flame Lv. 1, Fire Step Lv. 5
2nd Tier: Otherworldly Lv. 1, Fire Conjuration Lv. 5, Fire Manipulation Lv. 5
3rd Tier: Imbue Flame Lv. 5
Untiered: Hidden Heart Lv. 1, Regenerate Lv. 5]
“Ahhhh,” she sighed. “That explains the itchy skin.”
Freddie eyed the 105 Vitality and understood the empowerment of her skin was a lasting change that would affect her less and less as she leveled up.
As she finished her food, Freddie tried stretching her arms and legs again. This time, they budged a smidge, but not much. She decided that was a win —and proof she didn’t need a doctor, so she went off in search of the knights.
Freddie wanted to know what was up with Argon and his weird eyes. The Void Knights knew who he was, so he could be a squire, but why would a squire be stuck all alone in the plains? Where was his Knight Guardian? Freddie felt a headache coming on at the thought of the trouble this was bound to cause. All because she stuck her nose in it and wrecked the serpent.
Freddie laughed at the thought. The serpent, despite being in Tier 2 and a sum total of 12 levels higher than her, had barely stood a chance. That was the difference between Common and Rare Classes. Sure, it had landed a couple of hits, but its Vitality was no match for Freddie’s Strength or Magic. Especially not her Magic.
A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
Heading out to the barracks was a simple affair. It was right by the back of the manor, separated by a stone-lined walkway kept clear of snow via Gran, a fire rune that, when embedded in objects, heats them a minuscule amount—not enough to burn, but enough to melt the snow. Despite the chill in the air, Freddie was unbothered by the cold. The reason was simple.
She was walking around with a pale red flame keeping her warm.
[Fire Conjuration+Fire Manipulation] had many uses outside of combat, and Freddie would be dedicated in figuring out all the best ways to utilize the Skills. Unlike in elsewhere, Freddie was not restricted by the soul rune she was born with. Instead, she was of the opinion that the ability to gain Skills of all kinds was invaluable in her quest for freedom. Even if her capabilities weren't compatible with every Skill, she was bound to be capable of a great many things.
As Freddie strode through the entryway to the barracks, she didn’t pause for the knights who were mulling about. She wanted one knight and one knight only. Tiltham was bound to know what was up. The memory of visiting the knight captain’s office was still fresh in Freddie’s mind —though it had been mere months in this life, it was distanced by the memories of elsewhere, so Freddie was rather pleased with how easily she could pull it.
The door was open when Freddie arrived, so rather than knock, she just slipped in. Tiltham was writing furiously in a book, looking thoroughly put upon.
“What’s that?” Freddie asked, hoping Tiltham would jump at her voice.
Instead, the knight captain simply stopped writing and looked up at Freddie.
“How can I help you, Lady Fredericka?”
Freddie had a Chesire grin when she said, “Oh, I’m so glad you asked!”
Tiltham looked blankly at the girl.
“Right, right, well, Tilly, you see, I’ve found myself in a situation,” Freddie began, only for Tiltham to fill the brief pause.
“Could it be why you’re limping, my Lady?” Tiltham asked dryly.
Freddie blinked, then huffed a laugh, “Yeah. Your knight picked up a cloaked teenager last night? Argon?”
Tiltham straightened up at the question, narrowing her eyes at Freddie. “What about him?”
“First–” Freddie held up a single finger, “Is he still kicking? Second–” Freddie held up a second finger, “Why was he alone, in the plains, in all black?”
The knight captain rubbed her eyes.
“Argon is recovering. We transported him to the city last night for treatment by a priestess of Frill. As for why he was alone —he wasn’t supposed to be. He was traveling with his Knight Guardian.”
“Oh?” Freddie asked, leaning in toward Tiltham.
“Yes. They ran into some trouble on the outskirts of the basin, and Argon’s Knight Guardian was lost. It was a miracle Argon made it back to the manor in time to be treated.”
Freddie nodded her head, “Yeah.”
Tiltham looked Freddie over once again before clearing her throat.
“Yes, well, the knights on guard mentioned you had something to do with that miracle.”
“I killed a Winterdeep Grassroots Serpent if that’s what they’re talking about. I didn’t do much else.” Freddie didn’t look uncomfortable or bashful, but she did look serious.
Tiltham gave her a genuine smile, which softened her usually harsh expression. “That was enough to bring him home. That’s more than was expected from a bystander.”
Freddie hummed her acceptance.
“I’m not just a bystander, though, am I?”
Tiltham looked at her curiously, “My Lady?”
“I’m the Heir of Nemo. A Child of the Void. The future ruler of the Duchy and commander of the Void Knights.” Freddie said it simply as if it were fact. “So, not a bystander.”
And Tiltham knew there was no way to reject the truth. This child was to be her commander. Not today, or next year, not even within the next decade, but someday. By virtue of her birth, yes. Bridian Nemo is the eldest of the Duke’s children, but he had long ago forsaken his inheritance. He had chosen a simple Class —one meant to work alongside the Divine and not against it. Fredericka was different. But she was the heir apparent, and she had chosen a Class that was powerful right off the bat. And though she was bloodthirsty, that was not a bad thing. The Queendom was only fifty years out of its warring era, after all. And who knew how long the Dawns would hold the border.
“You’re right, my Lady.” TIltham swallowed thickly. “I apologize.”
Freddie looked at Tiltham seriously for a long moment, then broke into a wide smile, “No apologies necessary, Tilly. Just tell me what they found at the edge of the basin if you please.”
Tiltham leaned back in her chair, spinning her pen in her hand, before slamming it down on the desk.
“All right. You were there, you saw the state of him. I’ll tell you.” She declared solemnly. “Argon and Sir Yllwood were doing a routine trip between the contingents of the Void along the border of the Duchy. While they were out, Sir Yllwood sent a distress signal —they found something out there. A corrupted mana source.”
Freddie tilted her head, “Like the kind that mutates beasts into monsters?”
“Exactly.” Tiltham nodded, “However, it was evolved.”
Freddie took a moment to process that, to run through everything Marasha had taught her about the basin and the plains.
“Are you talking about…?” Freddie trailed off.
“I am.” Tiltham nodded.
“Does grandfather know?” Freddie was no longer smiling. Instead, her mouth was pressed into a thin line.
“I’ll be briefing him on it once I finish writing up a report for submittal later this morning.”
Freddie stood in silence, rubbing her hand along her chin for a long moment. Releasing a long, steady breath, her nostrils flared.
“All right. I want to be there when you tell him. I want all the details. I want to know what he knows. If this is… Well, it’s not just a matter for Grandfather. It’s a matter for Father and I, too.”
It was another long moment, in a conversation filled with them, before Tiltham agreed.
“Very well, sit down. It’ll be a while before I’m done.”
“No thanks,” Freddie said, turning on her heel, “I’ll be at the training grounds —if anyone else is up I want to test my aura Skill. See if it makes them underestimate me, then, BOOM. Hit ‘em with all the fire my fists can handle.”
Tiltham, now free of the watchful eyes of the Heir of Nemo, rolled her eyes.
“Go, then. I’ll come fetch you when I’m finished.”
Freddie snapped her fingers in realization, then turned back to face the knight captain, “Oh, one more question.”
Tiltham looked at Freddie skeptically but waved her to continue on with her question.
“What was up with his eyes? Argon’s, that is.”
Tiltham leaned back in her chair, looking over Freddie for a long moment before, “He was bonded to that serpent. Even though it went wild from absorbing excess mana, he had raised it.”
“Note to self, stay away from Argon,” Freddie said casually, waving as she went back toward the door.
That could get awkward.
She headed deeper into the barracks until she rounded a corner and came upon the indoor training room. She knew, in the warmer months, they did training outside. However, now, in the early stages of Winter, they often utilized the outdoors for calisthenics then returned inside for weapons training. There were only two knights training within the hall when Freddie got there. So, she schooled her expression into one of innocence and activated one of her aura Skills.
[Bright as a Flickering Flame]
The two knights paused as Freddie approached them. They were using wooden swords to spar.
“Excuse me?” Freddie asked lightly, her voice gentle. It didn’t quite seem to fit with the glint in her eyes. “Would either of you be willing to spar with me?”
The younger-looking of the knights returned her smile, “Of course, Lady Fredericka. I’d be more than happy to give you some pointers.”
The other knight eyed her briefly but nodded his head after a moment, “I’ll wait to the side. Have a nice spar, my Lady.”
“Thank you,” she said happily, then turned to the knight who was willing to spar and put on a sheepish expression. “Do you mind if we do unarmed? I haven’t got any weapon Skills yet.”
The knight tossed his wooden sword to the other before looking back to Freddie, “Of course. I’ll be sure to pull my punches.”
“Oh,” Freddie laughed, “I don’t think that’ll be necessary.”