Hello everyone, one and all, ladies and gentleman. You get to see me sitting silently on a young horse.
I wasn't actually worried about not being able to ride it, I can ride horses, you kinda need to do that to seem more high class. I wasn't really born with an artifact that tranmutes water to gold, aka; a bottled water company.
I wasn't allowed to actually ride the horse around, which I could.
I remember that time I almost did a flip while on a horse, that was fun. I wish I could do that, But I was getting older, and my body ached, so I couldn't it.
Since I'm bored, and my mp is full; Let the inspect flow through you.
A collective of gasious substances in a 5m radius;
No poisonous substances of a significant or fatal level.
And another point of exp to 'Inspect'
A bit later, one of the other people training 'Basic horse riding' and 'Basic animal riding' came 'round "Sorry young master, but please understand that we cannot take the risk."
I smiled with an obvious fake-ness "Yes Osgar, I understand." I did, but that didn't mean I was actually going to listen.
He went back to training his own skill, and when he finally turned around, I slapped the back of the small pony "Hiya!" The horse pulled back slightly as I tugged at the reigns, and then I let it do it's thing while I calmly made sure I didn't fall off the small steed.
It wasn't really that hard, although I'm young, this was a very small horse, there was a proper saddle in place, and I had experience in this kind of thing before.
Though the elder in charge of training me and making sure I don't do anything stupid, instantly went to stop me.
But he wouldn't catch me alive! Copper!
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So he actually did catch me, but;
Skill gained; 'Basic animal riding'
Skill gained; 'Basic horse riding'
"Do you have any idea how risky that was?" The elder asked sternly.
"Maybe, probably? I've got the skill anyhow, so, I'm going to not waste my time. Bye~." I told the old man who was far too paranoid, it's me that's learning how to ride a horse, I can ride an ostrich, you think I can't ride a horse? I can ride a damn lion if I really wanted to.
Basic animal riding, lvl 1, E; 0/100 exp. -Causes slight improvements of proficiency to the act of riding animals.
Basic horse riding, lvl 1, E; 0/100 exp. -Causes slight improvements of proficiency to the act of riding horses.
Ain't that swell? But that old guy, who was younger than me spiritually, didn't believe my testimony. But I was still the heir to the drake household, and I surprisingly had adequate proficiency to actually ride safely "Young!-" Osgar was about to say something after seeing my achievements in horse riding "I'll ride next to you to make sure you're not harmed."
I tried to make use of my secret art 'Pupil-ic mirage' (Name still in testing), and smiled slightly "Haha... Of course, make sure not to get in the way."
I felt the equestrianism flow through me, as I made the small horse go from a fast stroll to a mediocre prance.
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Back in the library, a week had passed.
Researching through the records, and finding out what the hell 'Essence' can be used for.
But first, a bit of world building; Why do I want to learn those riding skills? Although 'Beast riding' works for beasts and shit, and is better at it too. The other skills can be sacrificed for quick leveling of the appropriate type of riding skill.
And yes, unlike many isekais; there are actually normal animals about, apparently. Not that I'd know.
Back to essence, since I recently found an 'Old' book, one from that academy.
Talking about that academy; that source for why my blessing is believed to give me the ability to change my appearance or something.
> Content warning; This is required due to the age of the reader, going further is not advised.
I of course, ignored the red text.
> Exerpt from a diary dated to be during the Collapse-
>
> Dear diary, you remember me? I'm actually not sure if you do, since I'm not sure I'm even real, or I'm some second personality, or if this body is even mine.
>
> I saw her, or is it a him. At least, one of the ladies of the court, she morphed into a man with black, pupilless eyes that stared back no matter which angle you look from, even from behind. I'm scared.
>
> The man, killed her majesty with a single slap, the strongest person in the kingdom, and ate her. Yes, cannibalism is something people do now! Not that we make absolutely sure that people didn't do that, we thought that cannibalism was due to desperate times.
>
> I guess we were wrong.
>
> I ran from the courtyard, he certainly knew I was their, but he thought me insignificant enough to just, let me be.
>
> Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
>
> The next day, I saw her majesty acting as if nothing had happened, there was nothing wrong with her, there's no sudden changes to what she does. Though she seems a bit more scheming now, maybe? Or maybe I just didn't realize it before.
>
> I'm convinced I'm going insane. I'll go to a psychiatrist next week.
There was another exerpt.
> Dear diary, I believe... I'm not insane, as her majesty, turned into a famous adventurer, and asked to see her majesty, and started to call for the discovery of the 'Missing' queen.
>
> Then he went on to kick multiple knights in the shin for daring to appose him, he obviously knew I knew he knew I knew that I knew he was both her majesty, the adventurer, and the man with pupilless eyes.
>
> I've chosen not to let anyone know of my... Previously percieved insanity. For; anyone that I could turn into another mental patient, he could also kill with a slap, or even less.
>
> I'm scared.
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"Dear diary, my previously suspected insanity had gained a more stable footing, as nobles are starting to dissapear, and less and less people meet some higher ranking nobles who all start to manage their territories less and less intelligently. But it suddenly no longer had any ground, as her majesty was found yesterday, and the adventurer has met with her. Two suspected persona's of the pupilless mirage, have interacted personally in a populated place, with both being made sure to be people and not illusions at my request."
The assasin/bodyguard sighed as he put down his pen "Marco, do it." He wispered to his sleeve.
A dark-purple reptilian's head came out of that sleeve, even if the assasin had felt nothing of it. Marco nodded slightly, as it and it's master's body started to mix into the darkness of the room.
But before this happened fully, from the other side of the door leading to the outside world, a fed knocks and a female voice came about "Fredrick, hello? Open the door." The voice was filled with authority, it was the 'Queen'.
He couldn't help but gulp in fear, as he undid the stealth on his form, and opened the door "What may thou need your majesty?" He quickly wanted to test if this was the real her.
"Fredrick, stop being so uptight~ We've been together for ages, haha! I know you're wondering why I dissapeared, right?" Perfect, like normal, nothing wrong at all...
Though his suspicions were based on something completely different than she suspected, she was in the process of quelling them nonetheless.
Fredrick motioned to a few stools in the corner, while the queen choose to sit on the chair.
Another confirmation.
As fredrick was about to take out a stool from the corner, he got a sword through his nape.
The light-red haired woman joyously took the corpse of her friend to the door as a man with pupilless eyes walked in.
"Father! Father! Did I do good?" She asked with great intancipation.
The man smiled after walking up and caressing her cheek "Of course you did, knave."
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Welp, does this mean that if I eat someone, I'll be able to copy them somehow?
> To those reading this in the future, maybe in the level of deep time, or even a few seconds after writing this. This is her majesty the queen, Lyre, my father has decided to give those of the future this gift by burying it within the soil with a spell to prolong it's measly life-span. Here are his words; 'Those of the future, know this;
>
> The Abyss stares back.
I'm kind-of confused, actually, scratch that- I'm really confused.
The hell does this queen that was eaten mean by 'Father'?! 'The abyss stares back'??? Why do I feel like someone is watching me?
This is really confusing, so let's just get that book out of my sig-
Actually, what would happen when someone else reads it?
I called over a more annoying servant, who wasn't a slave, and made her read it "No."
"Do have a family?"
"No."
"Do you have friends?"
"No."
"Do you like pain?"
"No."
"Then read this, o' child of bliss."
"Are you threatening me?!"
"Yes."
Not able to topple my perfect argument, she read it, and a minute later she ended up sitting in the corner muttering to herself 'The voices, they're watching... They're watching.' While rocking herself.
Well, isn't that swell. I have something to break a person's mind, but does this work on non-teenagers?
Back to essence- I'll test that book another time-
Oh, mana is almost topped up 'Inspect'
'Record of blessings, their effects, and their signs.';
A text book once used by Arcae academy.
Very old.
That's kind-of obvious, but it's good to know it's not just my mind collapsing.
Though, this is a little to dangerous to stay here, so I'll be stea- I mean; appropriating this book for the soviet union!
Back to that old boy book I found; 'Essence; It's uses and how to gain it', it was also from Arcae.
And since you're still here, it means you like world-building, and/or reading, I'll start talking about essence;
> Essence, we all know that it is a thing. But what does it do? What even is it? And how do you get it?
>
> This book is here to inform you of all those things, even the slightly less morally supported methods of essence procurement.
Next page (There are only 223 pages).
> What is essence? Many have asked this question, there are many theories, all plausible, but only a few with a significant chance at being correct.
>
> -The reality-well theory; This theory suggests that essence is the potential energy contained within the warping of space-time.
>
> -The energy theory; This theory presents essence as just another energy, along the likes of mana.
>
> -The enima theory; this theory ponders the idea thta essence has something to do with the soul.
>
> -The partial mass theor-
If you actually believed I would read you the entire book, then you're very... Nieave.
This is a matter for tomorrow, because, I felt a shiver of dread rolling up my spine.
A maid, one that was not a slave, approched me "Young master, lady Mira has commanded your audience." She was about to take my hand like she was trained- and had done to many young children.
"Do not touch me, servant, it is already your privilege to be in my presence." I could not let a servant touch me, that could cause scandle, and more importantly, if I allowed her to guide me, I wouldn't have time to scheme up a way to mess with my mother. I have not yet had anything I could use against her, with all the guards around.
If I could, I wish I could have her little head seperated from her torso.
But now...
"Son, it's seems you found an interesting book. Could you share it with mommy?" My biological birth construct said with cringe inducing sweetness.
But I had to resist the urge to claw her eyes out, since I would be deemed insane and the possiblity of inheriting the posistion of head would fall by at least 57% "Of course mother, do you wish to read it? The most interesting part is on page 312, I suggest you start there."
Slightly surprised, and rejoicing a bit more, she smiled honestly "That would be absolutely wonderful, Able. Do you mind reading with me?"
"Of course not mother, I'd be estatic to do such a thing." I added on false pupil supreme art (Name-in-progress) with a small smile. Then instantly went back to my original eyes.
It caused a bit of confusion amoung the bodyguards, but none questioned it.
I smiled honestly as I took a chair in the garden, and set it next to her. Though I was stopped "No need sweety, come sit on mommy's lap~"
Though I didn't wish to do so, if I could do this, then it would be worth it! My dark past would need to be scrubbed of the record by silencing (Killing) everyone here, but freeing myself from the suffering would be worth it, so much time freed up for even more skill grinding and research.
When I'm five I'll have more reign over my scedule, and it'll be possible to semi-properly plan out my time-usage for the utmost efficiency.
So I sat on her lap, and opened the book on page 320, and let my mother turn the page and read through the all the exerpts. Making her slowly drawl more and more, and when she read the final words "And for those worms who try to claw our identity from echoes of the past; None can escape the darkness.'
I heard a few drops of liquid come from close by, it seemed it had worked, so I took my book, jumped off the female human whom I am genetically linked too's lap and left the room.
As I heard multiple people fall to the ground, especially the time-waster female who was screaming in pain.
I wonder why I had a different note at the end?
Eh, must be my 'Blessing'.
I'm not some clueless fool that can't recognize obvious patterns.