Everyone stared at her. Confused by what she meant. Liam had forgotten when it came to Racial Benefits they were divided into Active and Passive. For him, so far that he understood, his passive from the Cat Sith side of his Passive Racial Benefits were his Sub-stats Agility, Reflexes, and Fine Motor Skills were given a five percent boost when reacting to danger. Something that has helped save his skin on many occasions. While his Active Racial Benefits was his enhanced senses. Sight, Hearing, Smell, and Touch boosting his Sub-stat Perception whenever he activated or how he liked to view it, focused on using them.

His other race, the one he still wasn’t sure of yet since it still gave him question marks, his Passive Racial benefits gave him a ten percent boost to all Shadow Magic as well as receiving Field of Shadows. The Active Racial Benefit he received from that part of his race was Dark Sight which helped him see better in the dark.

As Liam thought about it more he came to realize something. After their races were revealed and they all saw each other, Ariyana had a certain…radiance about her. Her leaf-like wings were out in the open as well, but after they had left the floor, they were no longer there. While she was beautiful and had a mesmerizing look about her, the allure he felt while on the fourth floor had dimmed. He had never thought about why that was. He also didn’t know what her Racial Benefits really were.

After the fourth floor of the Tutorial Area they had a lot going on and he first thought she had done what Blair and Mercer did with their racial physical traits. He had thought she had learned how to hide them. However, now that she had said what she did, he no longer thought that was the case. Judging from the reactions of everyone else, it seemed that the others had come to the same conclusion as he did.

“Are you saying that you aren’t hiding them like Blair and I?” Mercer asked, cautiously. “I had thought it strange that I haven’t seen your wings since the fourth floor, but I had thought you hid them away.”

Ariyana shook her head. The look on her face was a mixture of slight pain, sorrow, and confusion. “No. After we left the floor they had disappeared…Well, I guess disappeared isn’t the right word. I can still feel them there, just not like I did when I first got them.” She looked like she was struggling to find the right words as she continued, “I tried to summon them, but nothing I did seemed to work…It’s the same when it comes to my Active Racial Benefits: Nature’s Embrace, Mana Smell, and Fae’s Enchantment.”

“We can surmise a guess as to what Mana Smell is thanks to Omira, but what about the other two?” Mercer asked, still cautious.

“Nature’s Embrace is something like a Health and Mana regeneration thing. I still don’t understand how it works. It talks about having nature embrace me, but with all the forests we’ve been in you would think I already met the requirements,” Ariyana explained while trying not to sound too annoyed. “As for Fea’s Enchantment, it’s supposed to enhance my beauty and make me look more alluring with an increase to my Field of the Charmed. Gods know why. Like that Field needs anymore help.”

“Maybe it’s just a Fae thing?” Roman suggested, trying to help. He reeled at the sharp look Ariyana gave him.

[If I may make a suggestion. – Eri.]

The sudden notification appearing made Liam almost jump. From the reaction of the others it seemed like they had received a message as well. Liam looked at them and then said back to Eri, Go ahead.

[Ariyana, your issue with your Racial Benefits might be helped by talking to that Omira girl. I know that you might be a bit apprehensive to ask her but seeing as she is a native Fae, and you are a Newly Arrived Fae. She might have some insight to your…predicament. Not to mention the fact that she is a young woman with no one who is similar to her race as well as no friends to have by her side currently. – Eri.]

Liam read the message, nodding his head slowly as he agreed with the suggestion. Eri was right on a couple of things. One that Ariyana was new to this world and what she was going through could be something a native could have answers to. Omira did offer to explain and give information about her race.

The latter part of Eri’s message had Liam curious. He didn’t understand why she would bring up that there were no friends or anyone similar to her race around her. She did have that elf man by her side…Liam rethought that. He remembered how the man acted during their first encounter as well as how he acted here on the ship.

He might be a traveling companion of hers, but from his actions he really didn’t seem like he was a companion of hers. Liam also remembered the look of excitement on her face when she had learned Ariyana was also a Fae. She looked like she was thrilled there was another of her race on board the ship.

Now that he was thinking back on it. He had noticed a hint of hope in her eyes. The type that screamed of something. Something like…acceptance? But why would she hope for acceptance? She was a native to this world and should have plenty of those who accepted her. So maybe instead of acceptance it was something else?

Liam shook his head before looking at Ariyana and saying, “You know Ariyana…Omira did offer to talk to us more about her race.” He saw Ariyana slowly turn her gaze at him. He could see there was some hesitation there, so he continued, “She was hoping to talk to you specifically when Uncle Naro mentioned you were a new arrival.”

Ariyana looked at the sea as she muttered, “Of course he would mention something like that. The bearish fool.”

Liam gave her a smile with a short chuckle. “He is. But he is one who saw an opportunity he believed could help you.”

“And how would putting my business of being a newly arrived Fae be an opportunity,” Ariyana suddenly stated. Her irritation bled enough in her words that it caught everyone off guard.

Liam could feel there was a story there. He wanted to know what it was and why it was bothering her enough to change her usual jovial nature. He didn’t want to pry, but he did want to verify something. “Your irritation…,” He cautiously began. He noticed the others swiftly look at him as he treaded forward, “It has nothing to do with Uncle Naro trying to help you nor with the Fae girl…does it?”

Ariyana didn’t say anything, nor did she take her eyes away from the sea. Instead she shook her head, answering his question with silence. Liam understood that if he continued it would be a sticky situation. Either she would willingly tell them exactly what was on her mind and what was bothering her or…he would face some time being ignored by her and having her annoyed for pressing. He decided to gamble.

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

“Then what is this really about?” Liam asked as he kept his eyes on Ariyana.

“Liam!” Artem started in protest. He stopped as Ariyana reached a hand out and placed it on his arm. He looked at her and saw her give him a half smile.

Ariyana looked at Liam and said with a bit of snark in her voice, “You know it’s a bit hypocritical of you to try and force someone to reveal what is on their mind.”

If anyone were to be listening they would have felt she was putting him down with her words. That she was being defensive. However, the look in her eyes and her body language told Liam a different story. With a sly smile he said, “True. However, wasn’t it this very group that had given me pushes when I thought it best to not speak about my overthinking? Through subtle, or rather unsubtle, hints that we are a team, and we are here for each other?”

A smile slowly grew on Ariyana’s face as she listened to Liam. After a few heartbeats she finally let out a sigh as she stated, “Learning are we? Alright. Alright. I’ll speak. You know the story you told us about the issues you ran into back in Beast-folk territory? The one about how some viewed you being a half breed?”

Liam slowly nodded. He didn’t like the way those people had looked down on him and treated him. Like he was less or couldn’t be as good as them. As much as he really wanted to forget it, he couldn’t. Her bringing that up though create some confusion. Ariyana wasn’t a half breed. Not that he knew of at least.

“Well, I won’t or rather I don’t want to go into all the details since the ones who were involved are those I do not wish to be around anymore, but I…,” Ariyana started before looking a bit crestfallen. She let out another sigh before continuing, “I came across almost a similar situation as you. Except my situation has to do because I couldn’t figure out why I couldn’t use my Racial Benefits.”

“What do you mean?” Avery asked. She said it in a comforting way. Her concern genuine.

“I mean when I arrived onto this world after we were separated, I met those who were similar to my race. Those I didn’t expect to see…,” Ariyana looked back at the sea for a brief moment before looking back at the others. “I met with them and after they asked me to show proof of my race, and I couldn’t I was…shunned. I was looked down upon before being dismissed as useless. Like my worth was only in what I could do or be.” She shook her head. “I don’t know. They weren’t very clear as to where the disappointment laid. But I knew it had started with the fact I couldn’t use my Racial Benefits.”

Mercer, Gimmel, Blair, and Avery looked shocked. Artem had a mixture of shocked and anger on his face while Roman and Liam looked pissed. Liam especially understood what she was talking about. He didn’t like what he went through and that was due to him being a half breed. If the people Ariyana was talking about treated her like that because she couldn’t use any Racial Benefits…he had no words that could do justice for how he felt.

“I had resigned myself to not being able to use them. that maybe I had some sort of defect in me,” Ariyana continued. “That’s why I panicked when Roman brought up I was also a Fae in front of Omira. I had thought that if she or anyone else found out I couldn’t then maybe I would be treated differently or looked down upon like I did then.”

Blair glared at Roman. Roman instantly protected the back of his head almost in an instinctual manner. Ariyana shook her head as she said, “It’s not his fault. He didn’t know and no one else here did either.”

“That’s still no excuse…,” Blair started back up until Ariyana waved a hand.

“I’m serious. I’m not mad at him. It was a genuine question on his part. As stupid as he is sometimes…,” Ariyana commented.

“Hey,” Roman started to protest but stopped as a few glared at him.

“I know he meant no harm. He is a friend of mine and was curious. Much like how Liam pushed me to talk about this,” Ariyana stated as she looked at him. “It was something that needed to be addressed eventually. Like we felt with Liam back in the Tutorial Area when he kept his thoughts to himself over and over again. It was best I got mine out of the way as well before it created a situation I couldn’t come back from. Thank you, Liam.”

Liam nodded. He felt some relief washing over him. His gamble had paid off and he was happy. He hated gambling because he felt he sucked at it. He didn’t want to do it again. His thought were brought back to the present as Ariyana clapped her hands together once and held them there.

Everyone turned to look at her. A smile slowly grew on her face as she said, “If this Omira does have a way to help me that is great. If not then screw it. I don’t need my Racial Benefits. I have you guys to love me the way I am. Right?”

Liam could see through the smile. There was some hope and some anxiety there. Like she was hoping that no matter what, they would still accept her. He knew they wouldn’t scorn her or push her aside over something stupid like that, but he understood. No matter what people did in the past, there was always a chance that what you knew was different from reality.

“Right,” Avery said as she reached out to hug the woman. Blair did the same as the guys all nodded and gave her warm smiles.

“Um, excuse me…,” a timid and meek voice called out.

Everyone turned to see Omira, Uncle Naro, and Key standing not too far away from them. Liam had felt their presence slowly approaching them, keeping a certain amount of distance. While he knew Uncle Naro had really good hearing due to him being a Beast-folk, he had banked on the other two not having the same, hence why he didn’t mention it. He believed they couldn’t hear everything, and they had no clue what it was they were all talking about.

Omira looked slightly anxious and uncomfortable as they all looked at her. In fact, she looked like a lost teenaged girl with no one she could call a friend. Liam was starting to understand what Eri was talking about as he slowly came to this conclusion. However, he didn’t want to be the one to make the first move. Instead he waited. He waited for Ariyana to be that person.

To Liam’s much delight, Ariyana did respond as she took a few steps away from the railing of the boat and towards the girl. She stopped a couple of feet away and looked at the girl. The height difference between them was big. While Ariyana stood slightly taller than Liam, Omira was a bit shorter than he.

The two girls stared at each other for a long while. No words were said, but Liam could visibly see Omira growing uncomfortable. That uncomfortable feeling growing more and more within the girl was about to reach its limit when Ariyana gave her a warm smile. Liam could see Omira start to relax as Ariyana stated, “You know. We’re supposed to be of similar race and yet why is it that your so much smaller than me?”

The question, as genuine as it was, took Omira by surprise. Without really thinking she instinctually responded, “Well that’s because it depends on what type of Fae you are.”

Ariyana was surprised by that answer. In turn she asked, “What do you mean?”

“Well, like Beast-folks,” Omira started to explain. “There are different types of Fae. For example, I am an Oceanic Fae. We Oceanic Fae’s are smaller than most of your Fae brethren and sisters. While say…” Omira motioned for Ariyana to reveal her Fae nature.

“Nature…I’m a Nature Fae,” Ariyana replied.

Omira’s eyes widened as her mouth opened slightly. “A Na…Nature Fae you say?”

Liam and the others noticed her expression as she repeated Ariyana’s words. They didn’t know why she had seemed so shocked. She must have noticed what was going on which made her clam down and she explained, “I am sorry. I know that was rude of me, but Nature Faes are extremely rare to come across.”

“What do you mean?” Ariyana asked, still confused by what she meant.

“I have heard about only a handful of people who are one and I think you’re the first I have ever seen in person,” Omira stated. She then looked apologetic as she added, “Oh so that’s why you are so tall. I had heard that Nature Faes were much taller than other Faes.”

“I’m this tall because I am a Nature Fae?” Ariyana questioned, not fully believing the shorter girl.

Omira nodded. “Yes. The thing about Faes is our height coincides with the type we are. Many of us, like the Oceanic Fae are shorter because when we draw upon the waters we harness for our Water Magic we need to be closer to it. As for Nature Fae, you are tall because you draw upon nature itself to harness your magic. However, that is only a rumor.”

“Why is it a rumor?” Ariyana questioned, feeling even more perplexed.

“That’s because there is no such thing as Nature Magic,” Omira responded.