It was the day of my thirteenth birthday, and soon I would discover my skill. I desperately wanted to experiment with it now, but as the daughter of a mere viscount, who couldn’t afford personal tutors and appraisers so I would have to wait.

I would need to wait until the institute’s appraiser arrived, and told me about my skill.

Hopefully I’m an Average-Level [Fire Mage], then I’ll be able to stay at home and help mother with the cooking. If not a [Fire Mage], then anything above High-Level would be amazing. It’s only a small chance, but I hope so.

The institute would cover the costs of training and housing for those with skills which are above High-Level, as these were rare and could go out of control easily.

My family was rather small, consisting of only me, my mother, my sister, and my father. My father, while only a mere viscount, was greatly involved in the runnings of the institute.

While he wasn’t home often, whenever he did return he would lavish Maribelle, my sister, with gifts. Most would describe this as favouritism, but I didn’t mind.

It wasn’t that he had forgotten about me, once, when he brought me a bracelet, I told him that he needn’t bring me gifts. Father obliged without complaint.

I knew that we were poor, while we were a viscountcy, our funds looked more like those of a barony.

I didn’t need the gifts, I was simply thankful for how my father’s sacrifice allowed us to keep food on the table.

However, while I felt this way, my sister disagreed. “If I can get gifts, why would I say no? I deserve them, if anything, father should be giving me more,” she remarked every time.

“But you know that we aren’t exactly doing well…”

Why doesn’t she understand?

Ignoring my words, Maribelle haughtily spun on her heel and walked away. I quietly let out a sigh, but my sister, who had heard this, swiftly appeared back at my side.

“You know, while you’re useless in every aspect and will probably get some Inferior-Level skill, I’m certain to get a High-Level or even Advanced-Level skill. You can sit here at home and rot away, while people at the institute will fuss over me, knowing just how special I am.”

Every now and then my sister would say something like this, I knew it wasn’t all true, but I knew that she ought to get a good skill as she said. We were twins, but older siblings usually received better skills, thus, her words weren’t exactly untrue.

“That’s why Father always gives me gifts, you’re just jealous and want me to tell him to stop because you're worthless and nobody wants you. Your green eyes are ugly just like you. That’s why Father loves me, not you,” she insisted. This time her words were definitely untrue.

I heard this from her often, but no matter how many times I’d tell her that I had told him to stop getting me gifts, she wouldn’t listen. She often claimed that I was just jealous.

Seeming pleased after her declaration, Maribelle walked away once again. This time she didn’t come back upon hearing me sigh once again.

It’s always like this, why won’t she listen?

I heard a knock on the door, Father was already home so it certainly wasn’t him.

When I went to get it, my sister pushed me over before running to fetch it herself. “It’s the appraiser!” She squealed.

I quickly got up upon hearing this, smoothing out my dress and looking over at the door. Without waiting for me, Maribelle had already opened it. In the entryway, I saw a tall blonde man, standing alongside two others, likely his subordinates.

Changing her attitude in a single second, Maribelle curtsied, “It is a pleasure to meet you Sir Appraiser, please come in, we haven’t much to offer, however we will do our best to act hospitable.”

A small frown spread across the man’s face, he was looking directly above her head, rather than at her. It was likely that he was appraising her already, but I couldn’t be sure.

Being familiar with her quick change in attitude, I simply went to go and get Father. He had taken the day off of work in order to watch this momentous occasion.

Mother had likely already heard the knocking from the kitchen, so I didn’t fetch her. It was probable that she was preparing tea for the guests.

With Father behind me, we approached the sitting room; while our fortune was small, the house had been passed down from the previous generation.

“It is a pleasure to meet you, I am Viscount Helmer, I hope that our hospitality is not lacking.” My father greeted the man with a smile.

I, being a mere daughter of a viscount, did not speak, I simply curtsied. As both I and my sister were extremely low in rank, it wasn’t appropriate for us to speak to an Appraiser without prompt.

We both sat down, my father sitting beside Maribelle, while I sat on his opposite side. The Appraiser was already sitting, along with his companions.

Once everybody was properly seated, Maribelle eagerly blurted out the question that I had seen her holding in for what seemed like an age. “So what type of mage am I? Am I High-Level or Advanced-Level, maybe even Sage-Level?”

I watched Father frown as she spoke, it was improper for her to address him without a title, let alone without permission.

He was surprised that his ‘perfect’ daughter was so immature, so rude.

The Appraiser, ignoring her, turned to Father. “I take it that she is your daughter, Maribelle Helmer? If so, please teach her some proper etiquette.”

Nodding along, father had obviously been thinking the same thing. “Yes, I certainly shall, I apologise for her most unsightly behaviour.”

The Appraiser then turned back to Maribelle with a displeased look on his face. “I shall now [Appraise] your skill.”

With a lack of reaction to her new skill he told her, “You have received a High-Level Common [Water Mage] skill, congratulations you will be required to attend the institute to learn how to control your skill. This is a great honour for your family.”

He told her this in a monotonous voice, as though it were something he saw everyday.

I guess that she was right, she did get a High-Level Skill. I wonder what I’ll get?

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Turning to me, the Appraiser repeated the same sentence. “I shall now [Appraise] your skill.” An expression of confusion then proceeded to cross his face.

Looking to the companion on his left, a brunette woman, he asked her a question. “Have you ever seen a skill called [Communication]?” She flicked through the large volume that she had been carrying, before confidently replying.

“No Lord Archer, it is not in the book,” she responded.

“In that case, I shall check the rarity, it is fortunate that I am the Appraiser for today.”

Facing me once again, the Appraiser, Lord Archer, looked above my head, reading my status. He furrowed his brow slightly, before telling me what the rarity of my skill was.

“It seems that you have the Unique skill [Communication] and at Sage-Level as well,” he said to me, a look of disbelief still evident on his face.

Sage-Level? Isn’t that above even Advanced-Level?

Both Lord Archer and I looked towards my Father, before the Appraiser finally spoke up.

“It seems that your daughter, Amelia, has a Unique Sage-Level skill, this is almost unheard of. I trust that you understand that we must take her back to the institute as soon as possible?”

What? Why?

A look of obvious confusion morphed my features, showing my thoughts for all to see. Before I had the chance to correct my expression. Lord Archer answered my unspoken question.

“Your skill, being Sage-Level, is extremely powerful. It is also a unique skill, making it unknown. While the name is [Communication], which is unlikely to cause any damage or endanger the people around you, we must be sure that you can control this skill.”

“While I would try to check the effects of your skill using [Appraisal], your skill is of a unique rarity, making it quite taxing on my mana. I have already performed both you and your sisters [Appraisal], yours being extremely taxing to simply find out the name, checking your skills affects would be impossible at this time.”

I nodded, understanding what he meant. My sister and father, on the other hand, weren’t exactly calm. Father was so shocked that he had frozen in place, while Maribelle… Well Maribelle was storming over to me shrieking at the top of her lungs.

“I just got my High-Level skill, and you’ve decided to ruin my moment! How dare you! You can’t steal my place! I don’t care if you’ve got some special skill and some special rarity, you’re just an ugly, unwanted…”

She pounced on me, stopping her rant midway through. When I saw her diving towards me, I finally snapped, “Stop! Why are you always like this?!” I fumed.

My mana was flowing around me, leaking out and making its way into her. I could see the blue wisps floating in the air, disappearing just as quickly as they had appeared.

She froze midair, falling to the ground like a brick. I just stared at her in horror, shocked.

What have I done? I know I wanted her to stop… but not like this. I didn’t mean it like this.

The voice of Lord Archer snapped me out of my stupor. “Tell her to move of her own free will!”

I desperately tried to follow his orders, my heart rate spiking and my body tense.

“Move of your own free will again!”

“Move of your own free will again.”

“Snap out of it!”

Nothing I tried seemed to work no matter how many times I repeated it. I just couldn’t replicate my earlier command, I didn't even know how I had done it.

What have I done? I should’ve been a better sister, I should’ve just stayed silent. I’m better off if nobody hears me.

Feelings of confusion, dread, self-hatred and regret all washed over me at once. As these emotions all welled up inside I tried one more time, putting everything I had into it, trying to make the blue wisps appear again, to undo whatever had happened.

“Just move!” I pleaded, my eyes scrunched tight as I yelled.

I didn’t know how it happened, but afterwards, when I opened my eyes, I saw Maribelle shying away from me, calling me a monster.

I took a step back, my body heavy, I blinked, my eyes refusing to open back up. Then, I heard something hit the ground, and afterwards, I remember nothing.

***

Opening my eyes, I saw a white ceiling above me. A constant bumping echoing in my ears, when I tried to get up, my head was spinning.

What’s going on?

I recalled what had happened, the scene flashing through my mind. My head pounded as I remembered the unpleasant memory, my fists clenched to the point where my knuckles had gone white.

What have I done?

This thought had haunted me ever since the incident, I didn't understand it. What had I done? I constantly wondered about whether I had actually caused that, whether it was really my fault. But I knew deep down that it was, that I had done something horrible. All because I spoke.

I allowed myself to fade back into the darkness, almost hoping that it would swallow me whole. While I was sure that the event had taken place recently, the memory haunted me even as I tried to fall into a slumber.

***

The carriage stopped, my head banging against the hard carriage wall. I groaned, reluctantly getting up, this time noticing the gaze from the seat opposite to my own.

It was the Appraiser, Lord Archer. Nervous, I quickly straightened my back, his stare prying open my soul. He greeted me, but my emotions didn’t stabilise until I heard some important facts.

“Good day, Miss Amelia, I see that you are awake and well. Do not fear, for your small outburst caused no harm.”

His companion elbowed him, whispering something incomprehensible, before taking over. “Your sister was unharmed, so please don’t worry,” she reassured me with a gentle smile on her face.

I let out the breath I had been holding, feeling some tension leave me. While knowing that Maribelle had been alright had relieved some of my stress, I was still nervous, hesitant, regretful.

I nodded to his explanation, not daring to speak. What if something happened again? Sensing this, the brunette woman, Lady Charlotte, reassured me once again. “You can speak, it won’t be an issue, I doubt you could even do that again if you tried.”

My lips stayed sealed, I wouldn’t dare. I couldn’t. Each time I opened my mouth, the memory streamed into the forefront of my mind, stopping me. I would see Maribelle lying on the ground, motionless, it was horrendous.

What if I had said something else? What if I had asked her to never see me again? What if I had told her to die? What if. What if. What if.

Lord Archer spoke up once again, interrupting my thoughts senselessly. “We have arrived at the institute, do pay attention as this will be where you will be staying for the time being.”

I nodded in response, he hadn’t mentioned my lack of speech, that one fact made me feel more at ease. I stepped out of the carriage, seeing the grand buildings, I froze, a faint memory playing in my mind.

“Did you hear? The institute is a huge place, almost as big as the palace! It’s perfect for me! I can’t wait to go!” A five year old Maribelle boasted. This memory was followed by another replaying event.

“How dare you! You can’t steal my place!” A screeching voice pierced my mind, I instinctively looked down, I didn’t deserve this. I had almost killed my own sister, I could’ve killed her. I didn’t deserve to go to the place she had dreamed of, I would just ruin it.

I trudged through the corridors, still looking at the ground. I was missing the sight of the beautiful gardens around me. I heard Lord Archer speak, but I just stared at the cobblestone paths, his voice barely reaching me.

“These will be your new chambers, you have been equipped with four maids, meals will be served in the dining hall at seven, twelve, and six-thirty on the dot. Do not be late. I shall see you once again at four o'clock.”

Thus, he turned and left, not sparing me another glance. I continued to stare at the ground, before being ushered inside by my new maids. I didn’t speak, I simply allowed them to do as they pleased with me. It didn’t matter.

I barely noticed as they pushed me inside, my legs moving automatically. I barely noticed when a maid rolled in my suitcase and shut the door behind me.

Everything seemed unreal. The chatters of my maids were drowned out by my single, constant thought. A simple phrase.

I’m a monster.

The time flew by in a blur, I could barely even comprehend what had happened in that time. But then, it was suddenly four o’clock. When I heard the bell chime fourfold, a knock resounded through the room.

Soon, a small click was heard, before the door opened. Lord Archer had let himself in, before sitting on the couch beside me. He spoke monotonously, completely devoid of emotion.

“I shall now [Appraise] your skill,” he stated, without waiting for a response, which he wouldn’t receive, he proceeded to glance above my head. His eyes ablaze with curiosity, but his emotions were otherwise unreadable.

Soon he looked down before repeating what he had seen. “It seems that your skill, [Communication] allows you to communicate over long distances, with anybody you have previously spoken to or touched through telepathy, including spirits, souls and plantlife. It also makes it so that any words you speak will make your intentions clear and incapable of being ignored by the other party. The effects may vary depending on the circumstances and the amount of mana infused into your words.”

“That is likely what happened to your sister.”

He added this last part casually, as though he lacked understanding of human emotions. As though he wasn’t aware that this phrase made me feel a pain in my chest, that it made me feel regretful, solidifying my feelings on the matter.

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