Gabe

It's sorta soothing. I realized recently that I can politely ask the interface to do stuff and it'll happen. Unlike in other games, where there are sliders and checkboxes and overlays for the HUD (heads up display), Dungeon Quest doesn't really have a HUD. It's real life, with a couple very small additions in the form of a constantly blinking red quest icon (currently set in the far bottom back right of my vision... so far back that I don't even see it unless I'm looking for it... now it's gonna show up inside my head for the next hour ugh), and a single other button that opens the rest of the overlay. I had thought that it wasn't possible to see anything else without manually opening the overlay, but Fred mentioned the other day that you can see other aspects of the menu. You just have to ask. Apparently, he's working on a set of extremely particular quests, and keeps them open to make sure he's going in the right direction.

So while I'm struggling for breath, I silently ask Dungeon Quest to show me skill level progress on Pacify. Of all of my skills, it's the one that is apparently my most powerful. The reason I'm jogging through the city behind a white-robed church sister, on our way to fix whatever potential mess I caused by even letting anyone else know the skill exists. No one can see status screens unless they're manually flipped, so I'm not concerned about that aspect of the overlay. But in the top left corner of my vision a little counter appears.

Pacify (Level 0, 30.34/100)

Step, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8.

Step, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8.

Step, 2, 3, 4, 5...

Tick.

Pacify (Level 0, 30.35/100)

Just running. And watching my skill progress go up. I wonder if this is how billionaires feel watching their accounts gain interest in the bank. Though they probably are a little less covered in sweat as they do so.

Fountain Square shows up as Pacify ticks the third time, and I find myself wondering if I can have Dungeon Quest show more decimal points. I decide not to ask. Being able to see the value add of every single action to the skill growth of Pacify might be cool, but would definitely sidetrack me from being able to make progress in any type of other goals.

Maribel slows down as we reach Fountain Square and turns to me. She seems a bit surprised that I'm covered in sweat and looks at me askance.

"3x the cost of everything, remember? Walking is harder. Jogging is harder. Everything is harder."

She ponders for a moment.

"That makes sense. There would have to be significant drawbacks. 3x might sound like a lot..."

She stops and looks closer at me.

"Wow. I'm just now realizing that aspect of the skill. It's for everything, isn't it? Your experience value. Your effort while running. Your effort while breathing. Everything. In that case, 3x is a lot. And it's proof that we need to get to those records."

She motions to the fountain.

"Go wash up in the fountain. We can't afford to attract extra attention with what we're planning to do."

I wash my face and arms in the fountain.

"And... what exactly are we planning to do?"

Maribel looks at me, then openly looks at the groups of people that surround us. Ok. It makes sense that openly sharing what seem like they could be questionable plans, about a skill that could get me chained or killed, out loud in the most populated area of the city, might not be the best idea.

"Just follow my lead."

Yeah... that doesn't usually work well for me. Just saying.

Maribel lets my face dry and we leisurely walk to the Adventurer's Guild on one side of Fountain Square. Leisurely because anything faster than they would probably make me break out in a sweat again.

The door opens and the familiar sounds and smells of the Guild Hall waft out: a mix of wood, sweat, and mild decay. No alcohol, which is a nice departure from game tropes, but alcohol and other mind-altering drugs are only available in cities in very specific areas and forms. They're actually classified under attacks and poisons, which is why they aren't available to be freely drunk or purchased in normal areas like the Guild Hall. It also means that the bar at the Guild sells weird drinks that don't have alcohol, but do have weird flavors, colors, and effects. Way cooler in my opinion. Not that I drink anyway. It's also quieter than a normal bar. But that could be because it's part of the Guild Hall and not a seedy pub with loud music where people drown their woes. For all I know, that could be the vibe of wherever alcohol is allowed in-game.

Maribel moves out of the doorway to the side and pauses, looking out across the adventurers and staff in the guild. I open my mouth to ask her a question and her hand comes up stopping me. Ok Gabe. Just play along.

The adventure crystal is no longer present, having run its dues and disappeared with the end of the Halloween event. In its place is a small desk with someone behind it. Maribel looks in that direction, pulls something from her pocket, looks down at her hand, and begins walking across the floor. Halfway there, she stops, looks down at her hand, up at the desk with its attendant, and then turns back to me.

"We need to go elsewhere first. This will work, but another way is better. And we will lose only a few minutes."

She walks out the door of the Guild quickly.

We head to a shop and she purchases a piece of paper and a pen, which she uses to write something on the paper. Then we go to the bank, where she requests the in-game version of a Notary Public - a skill that allows someone to notarize a document or witness the use of an official seal. In the case of the bank, we're directed into a small room with a crystal. Upon transferring the payment and touching the crystal, Maribel uses the small token in her hand to stamp the closed letter. The spot where the seal touches on the letter glows briefly, then the letter is blank as it was previously.

We return to the Adventurer's Guild, where she presents the sealed letter to the person in the middle desk. The attendant takes the letter, looks at it and notices no markings, then slides it into an opening in front of her with a smile. After a brief delay, the letter slides back out and she hands it to Sister Maribel with a smile.

No words.

Then we walk out of the Guild.

"Uh... maybe I'm missing something... but can you tell me what happened back there?"

I ask the question as soon as we clear Fountain Square and start moving towards the marketplace.

"That was a Seal transaction. I used a Seal to authorize the removal of information from your Adventurer file. The information is removed permanently, and the transaction itself was also removed. It's as if the information was never there. The only issue will be if someone specifically inspects your file with a higher clearance level Seal. In that case, my Seal will be associated with your Adventurer file, and they'll know that something was done. There are multiple reasons a Seal can be associated with an Adventurer file though - and the most common is an endorsement. So I also added a minor endorsement associated with your protecting the children. You will get paid half a star grade higher in any quests that require a protective escort or healing. Honestly, half a star grade for what you did is a joke, but bringing attention to your ridiculous skillset is exactly what we don't want to happen. It's already been difficult enough to keep the castle healers off your case. Either way, that part is done. Your participation in the Adventure Crystal was wiped since adding a fraudulent piece of information would be easier to track than just erasing what was already there."

I catch something in her statement.

"So... is there a high likelihood that someone else will see your Seal then?"

"...It's very unlikely. The seal I used has a very high clearance level. Which is why we went to the bank to get the letter sealed. A Sealed transaction can be done with or without the person present - using my Seal in person might be problematic."

She looks at me apologetically. I don't follow up with more questions, as it seems like this is a topic that isn't for today. Or maybe ever.

Maribel seems less hurried now, and we walk quickly to the marketplace. Along the way I watch the counter for Pacify tick upwards.

"After visiting the marketplace, we'll go get the charm with Camouflage (status). It's not far from the marketplace."

----------------------------------------

Jade, Koji, Gladys, and Kai are all at the crafter's stall, each working on something different. Jade is actively working on orders, and Koji, Gladys, and Kai each have a kid they're helping with projects... well, Koji technically has two, but Carmen seems to have grown up slightly, at least in maturity, since she classed into beginner mage. The kids are wearing clothes of their own make now, with widely varying cuts and styles. Most seem to gather some type of inspiration from Jade's outlandish and vibrantly colored motif, but they're all also very different. One is blocky with black-and-white patterning. Another almost matches Jades flowing style, but is completely made of different shades of pink. And the last one... the last one is a silvery fabric glove, messy shirt, backpack... um... I look down at my own clothes and hope that no one else notices that I've had what seems like a permanent fashion impact on an impressionable youth.

I'm so sorry, world.

Sister Maribel sees the tumult, quickly takes stock, and speaks with a slightly raised voice.

"Excuse me, but I need to meet with each of you here, one by one. Please don't leave until we've spoken today. I apologize for the intrusion, but it is extremely vital that we talk today. I would like to begin with you, I believe it's Miss Gladys? Gabe, can you take care of Miss Gladys' charge while we speak?"

She smiles at Gladys, who looks at her from head to toe, and gives a small nod.

"Here in the center of the booth will work."

I take over for Gladys, and help sort fabric into different colors of pink. I had no idea there were so many different shades of pink. That said, I don't think that I own anything pink at all. A pair of coral shorts, and red ones that are slightly faded, is the closest that I get.

Sister Maribel cycles her way through the adults in the tent, then does the same with each of the children. I get a short break while she's working with kids, and Koji grabs me and pulls me to the side.

"So... what's happening here?"

"Uh... I'm not totally sure? What did Sister Maribel talk to you about?"

"She just said that there was an issue of vital importance, and she needed my permission to cast a spell. She said that it was extremely important to your protection, so I said yes. I'm wondering what it was all about. Are you ok?"

Uh...

"Yeah. I think so?"

"Ok. How goes $X%##&"

"Uh... I can't understand what..."

"Gabe."

"Yes, Sister Maribel?"

"I need to talk to you as well."

"Gimme a second, Koji."

I walk over to the middle of the stall.

"We've solved the issue with everyone who could have overheard. The last two people are you and I. This spell will simply Lock the information so that it can't be shared with anyone else. I recognize that you might object, but I am going to insist. You should never be able to share this information with another person, and this spell will make it system-restricted information under Lock. You will be unable to share it directly or indirectly in any way, even if someone tries to force you. It will not disable your status screen, but it will protect from anything you could say, write, or do."

"Isn't this a bit extreme?"

"Yes. It is extreme. I intend to cast the same spell on myself. If the time comes when you truly need to share the information with someone else, you can have myself or someone else with the ability cast a counterspell. They will need your direct permission to do so, and it is something that cannot be cast on someone under duress. There are abilities that can counter Lock, but they are specialized and require the caster to know at least a portion of the information they seek. What we've done today should protect you from anything less than a Royal Inquisition."

Sister Maribel looks... different from the quiet sister that I first met. Regal, self-confident, and most definitely not demurring. She's not taking no for an answer, though I know I could walk away and there would be nothing she could do. But, then again, I did go to her for advice. And this whole "I know what's happening here and I'm willing to pull out the stops to make sure you're safe" thing feels sincere. I don't think she would go to such a huge amount of effort unless it was really going to make a difference.

"Ok. Let's do this."

Maribel holds my hands and utters a few words. I assume it's the incantation for a spell, though I can't really hear it well above the noise of the market.

A status screen appears in my vision.

[Through your effort (or the efforts of someone else) you have become aware of the spell Lock! Awareness of this spell increases your awareness of the effects of the spell.]

[Someone is casting Lock on you. You will be unable to communicate details about the given subject {Your ability Pacify}, directly or indirectly. Any attempt to communicate about the subject will be system-restricted to others. This spell can be countered by an Unlock spell of higher level as long as the caster knows what needs to be Unlocked, or an additional casting of Lock on you, at the same level or higher, with your express consent.]

[Accept the terms of Lock?]

I click yes, and a feeling of warm air rushes around me, swirling around my body, across my face, touching my fingertips, my nose, and my ears. It tickles slightly, and I almost sneeze.

Maribel looks at me oddly.

"That took longer than normal."

"I got a status screen message."

"About what?"

"It said $%@X#&"

The words stop working as soon as I say them. Come to think of it, what was I trying to say just now?

"Well, at least it worked."

Maribel closes her eyes, says something, and then opens them again.

"Alright! We're done here. Like I said before, this covers everything but someone who can see your status screen directly. So let's go get that charm."

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Gladys

The church sister who is definitely not a church sister leaves with Gabe, her spell still drifting around me. I can cancel it if I want to. It doesn't find a place to hold on to. Nothing magical can touch me if I don't really want it to. But her insistence that it would help Gabe was touching. And while her subterfuge makes me wonder at her motivation, the children around me seem heavily in her favor. And orphans, while they may not be the best judges of character, hold a dear place in my heart since I found and fell in love with an orphan back in Faerie Beach. I look over at him. Kai is focused as ever. I think that, as long as Jade stays aloof and I keep from using my personal cheat skills, Kai's orphan will actually be the first to class into crafter. I wonder what'll be the first class that Kai gains access to. We'll have to talk about that, to ensure that he doesn't accidentally class into something weird.

Though I think I'd be happy with him classing into anything.

Yeah.

No talk needed. I'm happy seeing him grow in the direction that he wants.

Except that what if he doesn't know anything about classes? What if he just takes the first option simply because he doesn't know he can wait for another one, or unlock more?

I guess the talk will need to happen.

I examine the spell structure floating around me. It's a simple enough structure for a spell, except that it uses the system itself to implement restrictions on speech. An extremely rare ability, as most rely on lists encoded into the spell itself and can also be unlocked through other means. This one requires someone to know the exact spell, or its exact counterspell. A counterspell I would assume is just as rare or even rarer, given the specific function of the spell itself. It seems like something created custom by a spellweaver with heavy knowledge of the system. The likes of someone at the highest echelons of a magic university, a royal court, or one of the old hermits that lives on mountains or nonsense like that. Or a dragon. Or a champion of INT or WIS or MANA. Or I guess any number of individuals across the world. I let part of the spell attach, the portion that highlights what information is banned. Leaving the spell structure out in the open like that would only make it visible to someone with Magesight or another similar skill, but it would definitely go against the spirit of the spell. The rest I let swirl around and settle in my hair. I'd rather not have a permanent spell woven into my being, so having it sit in my hair will do, and leaving it there will allow it to work while also giving me instant access to turn it off or examine it more closely. I weave a spell that allows me to lift the same spell it from Kai at a moment's notice. It never hurts to be cautious.

I'm assuming that this has to do with Gabe's skill. I speak the guess aloud, and a quiet stream of nonsense comes out of my mouth instead. As I thought. A skill that allows someone to learn any skill is powerful indeed - perhaps, with time, more powerful than any other skill since it can learn all those skills. I find myself wondering about the drawbacks. Is it possible to turn off unwanted skills? Is it possible to refuse unwanted passive skills that could cause issues over time? And the effort involved - I remember it taking three times the amount of resources to accomplish anything. Can that be turned off if the skill is lost? Can the skill be lost? What an interesting situation. I add a note internally to follow up with this Gabe. Though Kai's interest will direct how much follow up ends up happening.

I look towards Kai again.

Is it odd?

I am nothing if not odd. A relationship with anyone would be difficult, especially if I tried to find someone I could really communicate with on a personal level. A Champion of INT would be an option, but that really isn't a possibility. Especially not since I truly did fall in love that day. Does it matter that it's odd? That I'm attaching myself to someone who doesn't love me back, but follows my guidance like a child who has lost his memory? Perhaps. Perhaps not. Feelings are feelings, and someday maybe Kai will tell me to leave, and I will. Full and truly, no hovering or hoping or leaving behind tells in his mana. Until then, I'll appreciate what I have, and do all I can to help him make it in this world. I don't know how he got past my wards. How he appeared in a forbidden forest so far from the outside world. How he has no memory but no trace of spells ever cast on him. It's as if he was born there in the forest. An enigma. Something I can't understand. And perhaps, if I'm being honest, that was one thing that drew me to him at first - something mysterious about not being able to understand when everything else in the world is so transparent.

But then I fell in love.

And I stayed.