Over the course of the next few weeks, Trillia trained with her mother for a few hours in the morning before moving to alchemy and runic script with Amelia in the afternoon.
She was never forced to work. Amara didn't want the girl's entire childhood to be training. Turns out, in Trillia's case at least. Getting stronger and seeing progress by way of the system, was just fun for the young girl.
Her arms felt tired, trembling in front of her. Sweat dripped from her forehead, the rapier bending slightly as the terrifying creature in front of her put more weight against the weapon. She caught the movement out of the corner of her eye. A heavy boot flying towards the right side of her head. Trillia threw herself backward and onto the ground, the boot flew harmlessly over her face. However, she wasn't fast enough.
She tried to bring her rapier up to parry the mighty swing of her opponent, only to feel it ripped from her hand by the force. Trillia flopped back on the ground breathing heavily.
"I surrender!"
The evil monster who made her sore every day. The monster who never seemed to go easy on her, despite knowing for a fact she did, came over and sat next to her. Very un monster like really.
"Did I at least do a little better today Mom?"
Trillia could feel the sinister chuckle from her opponent, who leaned over and gave her a very un monster like kiss on the forehead.
"You're doing much better, sweetie. You're still a child, and I'm not saying that to be mean or belittle you. As we figure out how to allocate your stats and as your general skills increase. All of this will get much, much easier, I promise. Once you get a class, things will also get easier."
Trillia nodded weakly. At least the monster was helpful. Closing her eyes, she just lay there, too tired to move. After ten minutes or so, her mother ruffled her hair, standing and retrieving the slapped-aside rapier, setting it next to Trillia.
"I'm going to go get lunch, you can join me if you'd like, or lay there and nurse your injuries some more."
The monster grinned wickedly at her, using her ultimate weakness of good food to make her move. With a groan entirely too tired for a child of her age, Trillia rolled over and slowly stood, carefully taking her rapier and cleaning the blade, before she slid it into its sheath. Trillia trudged after her mother, looking forward to sitting down and reading for the rest of the day.
She sat next to her mother, eating some hearty Lovax and potato stew.
"Mom. I think I know how I want to allocate my stats. Can we talk about that, before I study with Amelia?"
Amara looked at her and gave a nod.
"I was thinking. At every level in my Species, I can put two points into Wisdom and Agility. For my subspecies, I was going to put one point into everything. Once I have a class, depending on the stats I get from it. I can change things up. But for now, that gives me more mana, health, and stamina and lets me use the rapier more easily."
Amara seemed to think on that a moment, as she looked intently at Trillia. An odd feeling came over the young orc.
[Obfuscation] Level 0 obtained!
Trillia blinked a few times. Amara raised a brow.
"Interesting that the system gave you such a skill so young. You're gaining quite a lot of basic skills very early. It's odd. That said, I think your plan for stats is fine. We can discuss it further once you've taken a class, and after you've slain your first enemy. Once those two things happen we will better know how to distribute stats to make sure you're as effective as you want to be."
Trillia nodded. She quickly allocated her stats and gave everything a once over.
Name: {Trillia Demonsbane}
[Status: Alive; Scorned Divinity] [Buffs: Well Fed]
Species: [Mortal]; [Orc] Level: 4
Available Stat Points: 0
Subspecies: [Orc-Adolescent;Runt] Level: 3
Available Stat Points: 0
Class: {To unlock class options, raise Species or Subspecies to level 10}
Stats:
[Brawn: 26]
\Strength: 13 + Vitality: 13/
[Dexterity: 42]
\Agility: 17 + Wisdom: 25/
[Charisma: 26]
\Intuition: 13 + Presence: 13/
Racial Skills:
[Orc Savagery - Passive]: - Level
[Orc Constitution - Passive]: - Level 0
General Skills:
[Obfuscastion - Hybrid]: Level 0
[Rapier Mastery - Passive]: Level 2
[Basic Scan - Active]: Level 6
[Basic Mana Regeneration - Passive] Level 1
[Basic Runic - Passive] Level 3
[Basic Universal Mana Manipulation - Hybrid] Level 1
[Basic Alchemy - Hybrid]: Level 1
[Basic Cooking - Hybrid]: Level 3
Class Skills: {To Unlock Class Skills, please select a Class}
Health: 260
Stamina: 130
Mana: 250
Trillia's smile spread from ear to ear now. The [Runt] trait still limited her some. But she was turning into someone useful. At least, she felt as such. Her rudimentary alchemy had become something usable now. While most of her skills were still basic. She was actively able to help and contribute to many simple tasks around the camp now, including patching up wounded Lovaxs or minorly injured tribe members.
Amelia told her that once her [Basic Scan] reached level ten, it should give Trillia the option to evolve it. Her mother explained to her that sometime in the next month or so, she wanted to find a monster that was level ten or fifteen and have Trillia face it, if Trillia wanted Amelia to join, they'd have to face a level twenty monster.
The thought frankly terrified Trillia. Pretending her mother was a big scary monster while they fought was one thing. Trillia knew her mother would never actually hurt her in a fight. But fighting an actual monster? One that wanted to eat her? Trillia shivered while thinking about it, pulling her knees up to her chest and taking another big bite of stew.
The night came and went without issue. Trillia asked for the next two days off, she spent it mostly wandering the camp and patching up cuts and scrapes. Truthfully she just wanted time to relax and not train so heavily. One of the days she spent with the Lovax. They really liked it when you scratched their head between the horns.
-=- Two Weeks Later -=-
Trillia's heart was racing a mile a minute. A few days ago, she had turned three and a half. She knew this because all of her stats went up by one. The child wore armor that was little more than many layered cloth. It would absorb most impacts somewhat well. Amara had informed Trillia that depending on the enemy she would face, it may offer more or less protection. Bludgeoning damage would be soaked well. Slashing less so, and it would be mostly useless against any piercing attacks.
Stolen story; please report.
Uncle Cordaos was talking to Amelia, giving her some pointers and tricks. The minotaur king was going to stay behind with Varga. Between the two, their auras and capabilities were plenty to handle most threats. Amara, Mort, and Lurog would be joining the expedition. They weren't just leaving so that the girls could face their first monster in battle after all. Well, Trillia's first. Amelia had faced plenty of monsters fleeing from her homeland.
A contingent of alchemists and herbalists were to join them. The goal was to get plants and other usable alchemical materials near the rifts. This was to help with the potion Grand Alchemist Mort was working on. So that they could get scouts across the mana rifts. Without the scouts being dead or near dead.
Both Trillia and Amelia were given small backpacks. Both were young, and so there wasn't much in either, but Amara and Cordaos thought it proper to get them used to traveling with belongings. Since you either had to be very wealthy, or a fairly high level to afford a storage item, or have a pocket dimension. Trillia thought for sure their parents could just hand them one. But Amelia and Trillia were both proud, perhaps foolishly so. They wanted to earn their place.
It was another reason for the two girls to come along. They'd acquire the herbalist skill and maybe even gain some levels in alchemy while they were out and about. Both would operate in a supporting role in all combats they came across, utilizing Amelia's [Minstrel] class. Trillia could borrow the skills because of Amelia's mentorship. As they left the well-defended gates. The warriors cheered, both minotaur and orc. A rhythmic thumping carried over the ground.
Amara turned to the two young girls with a grin. Speaking softly.
"Raise your fists, roar and cheer with them. Trust me."
The two girls looked at each other a bit embarrassed but did so. The roar behind them grew a dozen fold. Neither could hide a little grin. Both got a bit shocked when the system message popped up.
You're now under the effects of a [Warband Chant] for the next 2 weeks.
Trillia focused on the name of the effect itself.
[Warband Chant]
A warband chant is an effect bestowed when a warband is cheered on by their people as they depart. For the duration of the buff, your Stamina will not drain or deplete when you are marching. Furthermore, you have a morale boost to your mood.
Trillia cheered again. Another cheer followed them. Both her and Amelia's moods had in fact almost immediately improved. It caught Trillia a bit off guard. That the system could just change how they felt about something. She wasn't about to complain though. Once the encampment was out of sight and the cheering could no longer be heard, the mood shifted slightly.
Trillia could tell all of the adults - except her mother - were on edge. She had often heard the term 'head on a swivel' when eavesdropping on warriors and hunters. Now she understood it.
The first two days were perhaps the hardest for the two young girls. There was just so, so much marching and walking. They ate while they moved, and only stopped late into the night. Each day they easily marched for twelve to fourteen hours. A day on Alirast was twenty-four. On the third night, they sat around a small fire, eating the dried, hard trail rations. Trillia rubbed her feet, she couldn't imagine doing this without the buff. Her stamina would probably constantly be low or out.
Amara came back to the light of the fire, having been out scouting around them.
"So far, there are no enemies about. That's good. I was worried that enemies would be nesting too close to the village. It seems, however, that Cordaos and I's combined auras are enough to ward them from making a nest. There are also no active dungeons reported in this area. So we should be good to continue."
Her mother looked around, watching for nods before she continued.
"Remember, I am here as a deterrent only. Do not expect my aid in the majority of battles. When we find something suitable for the wards to fight, I will eliminate all other threats on the field, so that they may fight on equal footing."
Once more, a series of nods. Now Amara turned and looked directly at the two girls.
"I will not jump in to save you unless you are going to die. I'm a much, much better judge of that than anyone else here. I need you both to understand this you are loved dearly. But we will watch you get stabbed, beaten, and knocked out before we jump in. You may lose a limb. We can heal all of those wounds, but the pain is going to be there. It's important that you both learn to fight and struggle through the pain."
The two girls could feel their hands go cold, an audible gulp from both. Trillia stared at her moth- no. Trillia stared at her Chieftain and nodded. Her father had warned her of this. That when Amara was leading a war band, she couldn't treat Trillia differently than she would any other orc. A very, very large part of Trillia was happy it was said that way. She'd be treated just like any other orc would be treated.
If Amelia seemed to have a problem with it, she didn't mention it to Trillia. Probably because Uncle Cordaos had given her the same talk. Trillia nodded once more before speaking.
"I won't disappoint you, Chieftain."
Trillia turned her attention back to food, trying to steel herself against doubt. She was doubly glad for that buff now. She didn't notice, but all of the more experienced orcs and minotaurs around were grinning at her words, especially when Amelia echoed almost identical ones.
Another three days passed, there had been some fighting, and a swarm of [Megapedes] had caused them to camp early. Two of the alchemists had gotten nasty wounds, festering with poison. Amara hadn't joined in any of the fights. She only stood there watching and waiting for something to go completely wrong.
Trillia and Amelia were grinding herbs and mixing them with blood and alcohol to form the base of a healing poultice. Two other alchemists were cutting out the poisoned flesh. Mort and Lurog were casting low-level healing spells to numb the pain and stop the wounds and poison from spreading. Lurog is the one who spoke.
"It's a small setback, girls. This is to be expected when venturing through the shattered plains. We're lucky to have a talented [Minstrel] at our disposal, even as low a level as you are. The constant healing from the skills you both use goes a long way to avoiding worse injuries."
Trillia passed one base to an alchemist as she began working on a second.
"I think I understand why mother doesn't help. But can I ask anyway to make sure I fully understand?"
"You may, but first. I want you to tell me why you think she doesn't help. Amelia don't help her with this, since you already know."
Amelia nodded. Trillia concentrated first on her work but spoke as she could. No one rushed her.
"It's because if mom fought, we wouldn't learn anything. So she just waits just in case we need saving?"
"That's mostly correct. If Chieftain Amara joins us in fighting, we will get no experience. Her level is far too high, even if she immobilizes all of the enemies and lets us kill them. We would still get very minimal experience. I know we often do such tactics to help young orcs level, but it's only to ensure they get a warrior class early. And it is never someone as high leveled as Amara doing the immobilizing."
Trillia thought about that for a moment. She handed the last poultice base off. Sitting down and wiping her hands off. She turned her attention back to Lurog.
"So. Which normally comes first, the fight alone or the held-down kill?"
Lurog didn't answer for a few minutes, concentrating on his own spells and alchemy. Once the worst of the poison was out, and the wounds were closing, he responded.
"It depends on the parents and the orc children in question. The safe tactic is often to hold down a kill, but it doesn't lend itself to specialized classes. What Amara is doing now, for you and Amelia isn't often done. Because most orcs can't walk the edge of life and death as easily as Amara can. As Chieftain, she doesn't often have the time to help every single young orc. Nor are most orcs even willing to risk it."
Trillia listened to his words, pulling out some of her rations and taking a bite.
"I thought all orcs loved battle? I thought I was weird for not being drawn to it."
Lurog chuckled at that, shaking his head.
"Trillia. I'm an old man. I've been a shaman for decades. I have fought very little. As have most of the alchemists and minotaurs around us. You are weird for not being drawn to battle, but so am I. So are all the others. Most orcs thrive in conflict. Most orcs grow from it. I have the same passives available to me. But I rarely use them. Because fear grips me when I'm alone and faced off against a dozen enemies. Fear is healthy, but as your parents will tell you. Fear is a weakness, one that is not tolerated on a battlefield."
Lurog patted her shoulder, motioning for her to follow him.
"I think your mother wants a different life for you, especially because of the [Runt] trait. She wants to ensure you get a strong specialized class or at least have that option available. While you are another orc of the tribe out here. She still wants what's best for you, not only as your Chieftain but also - perhaps especially - as your mother."
Trillia nodded once more. Amelia and Trillia were summoned by another alchemist, the two girls ran off to the summons. They found the young minotaur woman kneeling next to a [Megapede] carcass, knife in hand.
"Come here, little ones. I shall teach you how to harvest the corpses of our enemies. Lady Amara has been gracious enough to offer her pocket dimension as storage. So that we can bring back everything of use."
The two girls nodded and moved over to begin learning another useful skill.