Ione looked at Coranne. She knew the woman was listening the whole time. Her presence pinged when she scanned with [Spatial Awareness].
She had a plan.
Hm. I'm beginning to sound like a certain video game character.
“Hey Coranne,” Ione gave a nervous smile, “I was just giving advice to Fellis.”
Coranne’s face was unimpressed.
Ione decided to be silent. Content with riding out the storm. She started washing her face.
A loud cough interrupted the silence, which prompted Ione to cough back, hacking up a loogie and spitting it in the sink. Then shot a glance at Coranne, face full of suds.
Her head was cocked, as if figuring out a puzzle; eyebrows scrunched together, hands on her hips.
They stared at each other; a contest of wills.
Coranne eyes filled with tears and she dropped to her knees, shuffling until they were face to face.
“You say things that imply you know more than you should and you are so much more perceptive than anyone knows. When you speak it’s as if everyone is waiting to hear what you’ll say.”
Ione…was surprised.
“And then you turn around, and act like I don’t know you at all. Like I don't know when you’re hiding something, or that you’re struggling with things. When you act as though you didn't just parent a child your own age and then expect me to just accept ‘I was giving advice’, you were doing more than that and we both know it…why can't you trust me?”
Ione decided to lie, “I’m…not sure if I can trust anybody. I'm a half elf; the amount of times I've been told that I can’t be trusted…it weighs on a person.”
Coranne countered, “You know me, you know I would always protect you. You’re my child. I’ve never told you that you can’t be trusted. I trusted you when I gave you that map, I still trust you, but what do I get in return? Half truths, lies, omissions and misdirection?”
Ione tried to blink away tears, the telltale burning feeling indicating their presence. She wasn't prepared for this kind of conversation and it nearly took everything in her to not activate the relevant skills to get out of this situation. She didn't like the feeling that she had disappointed someone she cared for. She quickly rinsed her face, and then turned back to Coranne.
“How can you still trust me?” Ione’s voice quivered.
“Because you are good. I look at you and I see the potential you have to offer the world. I heard the way you handled that conversation with Fellis. You are kind, you are caring. You help others with no hesitation and you’re patient.”
“I'm not, though. I'm kind because I should be, not because I naturally am. I help because I should, not because I want to.” Ione paused, “I hoped..” she shook her head, “you're a much better person than me, Coranne.”
Her eyes pierced through Ione, seeing who she really was. Ione felt like she was under a spotlight. What she was doing was the most risky thing she could do: being honest. The first 8 years of her new life she had to play pretend, but she didn't realize it wasn't only affecting her, but the one who cared for her most in this shitty building. One who always had her back.
“You're not really 8 years old, are you?”
She shook her head.
“I knew it!” Coranne jumped up and pumped her fists, “I knew there was something about you. The way you talk,” she paced, “the way you act, the way you look at people. How you ask questions, how you never ask questions the way kids do.” She turned to Ione and got back on her knees, “how? And why?”
“You're just going to believe me? Like that? Even though you know I've been lying?”
“Yes, of course. You've never been malicious with your lies, I know that. You wouldn't hurt anyone, let alone me, so I choose to believe you.”
I've killed someone, Coranne.
“Well, okay then.” She blew out a puff of air, here goes nothing, “while I do look 8 years old, my mind isn't. I've been reincarnated over and over and over, eventually reaching this planet.” She took another breath, “I was born here, and I've been aware of everything ever since my birth. Every word you spoke to me in secret, every secret feeding, every conversation happening around me, I knew.”
A silence befell them. Coranne’s eyes searched hers, and then widened.
“So you know about that time I accidentally stole Sister Vanria’s underwear, and wore them?”
Ione nodded and laughed, “You didn't know, Coranne, it’s not a big deal. No one told you that you each had your own clothes cubby, in my opinion they should have each been named.”
Coranne screamed in lowercase, dragging her hands down her face and leaning back, “all of the embarrassing stuff I told you when you were a baby, you remember?”
“Coranne, I remember everything, but trust me, it’s really not a big deal. In fact, I'm glad that you shared. You kept the monotonous days less boring.” She gently placed her hand on Coranne's shoulder, “I guess this is as good a time as any, but I want to say thank you. You’ve been there for me since day one, you didn't have to, and I know if I didn't have you I wouldn't have survived.”
A palm rested over Ione's, and Coranne gave a heartfelt smile, “of course, I’ll always be here for you,” then her face scrunched, “wait, can I ask a couple of questions?”
Ione withdrew her hand, “go right ahead.”
“So you know about the quest I got, the one where I keep you alive?”
The white-haired girl nodded.
“You’re not upset?” Coranne brows knit.
“No. I know the importance of quests, and I know what you’re thinking, ‘what if she believes I’m only around for a quest,’ honestly I wouldn't care regardless. You’ve kept me alive and advocated for me. You didn't have to follow through with the quest. That right there means a lot.”
Coranne blinked, “that’s very logical of you.”
Ione shrugged, “well, I try. Although I am curious, what are the rewards? If you feel comfortable sharing.”
“Generally that question is seen as rude,” before Ione could apologize, Coranne waved her off, “but for you I'll tell you. Although, it’s extremely surprising. I’ll get 50,000 EXP, 250 attribute points, and something else, although it’s hidden by some checkmarks,” she said, nonchalantly.
Ione gaped at her. Coranne burst out laughing and pointed, “Your face!”
Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.
The white-haired girl shook herself, “that’s so much Coranne. Isn’t that life changing?”
“It is. I’m only level 54. Started here when I was 12, got my class at 15, and then have been leveling up my healing class since. 50,000 EXP would net me about 6 to 7 more levels. Level 60 at my age is extremely promising.”
“Is there a time limit?”
“It says ‘rewards given when Ione chooses her class.’ So once you turn 15, it seems.”
Ione nodded, “well, here’s to me making it to 15!” she smiled.
Coranne didn't laugh, “I don't find that very funny.”
The little girl cringed, “my bad, sorry. Well, I hope that you get a really good reward, the question marks are intriguing.”
The woman nodded, “I agree. Moving on, may I ask another question?”
Ione motioned for her to ask.
“How many lives have you lived?”
“Off the top of my head? I can’t give any concrete numbers, but it has to be over a thousand.”
Coranne's mouth dropped open, then promptly closed and she shook her head, “that was a lot more than I thought there was going to be.”
“You and me both. In my first life we had an idea about reincarnation, but nothing like I experienced.”
“What did you experience?”
“I was a plant for many lives, for one. I had to learn to live with myself for so long, you could describe it as some sort of torture. But at least those ones passed as if I was dreaming. A rock for some, which is crazy, because rocks have souls? Weird, but okay. Of course, that’s assuming my stream of consciousness is attached to my soul, and that souls exist. I lived life as non-sentient animals- similar to, I don't know what the equivalent to here is yet, like a living creature that doesn't really think? Like a creature that only purely reacts and conducts itself on instinct.”
Coranne nodded, “I know what you mean.”
“Okay, good. Hmm what else? I lived life as many different species of sentient animals- animals that I never knew existed, which was pretty cool. Was a bird of some sort for some. Very few where I could actually use language to communicate with others.” Ione's eyes drifted to the ceiling in thought, “This is the only world that I've came across that actually has leveling and classes.”
“What?!” exclaimed Coranne.
“Yeah, when I was born I couldn't believe it, it reminded me of video games from my first life.”
“Vid-ee-oh games?”
“Yeah, video games. I'm not sure how well to explain them actually, never thought I would, but they're pretty much a way for a person to experience a fantasy world that is different from the one they live in. In this fantasy world they can control a character, could be a pre-made one or you can customize the character, and in this fantasy, improving yourself is as easy as leveling up your stats, abilities and skills. Much like how this world is.”
“But, why would people want to play in a fantasy world? Is their own world not enough?”
“No, I suppose it wasn't. There were a lot of problems with the world I came from and a lot of people used it as an escape to get away from them. Myself included.”
“...That’s a little sad.”
“Yeah it is, isn't it? But people also played them for fun and to build fun memories with others.” She shrugged, “I imagine there are people here that do things to escape their situations, or the world as they see it. Like drinking!”
Coranne nodded, “I've never been to a tavern, but the nuns who have before they were accepted by Mother Belan would talk about how people would drink themselves to sleep. Every. Night.”
“Not too dissimilar to me, only I didnt fuck up my liver. Just my sleeping habits.”
“Language!” Coranne exclaimed.
“Sorry, sorry, I swear a lot and it’s a hard habit to suppress.” Ione scratched the back of her head.
“I-sorry. You shouldn't have to watch what you say. You’re probably older than me.”
“I don't think age has much to do with it, but yes, I am much, much older than you. I don't really know how much because years are hard to calculate when you don't have a calendar but let's say I saw many, many, many sunsets and sunrises. But keep in mind, I was mostly plant and rock...life for that. But if you're counting the age I died in my first life? 28.”
“Wait, so you're technically 4 years older than me?”
“Well I’d say give or take some, but yeah.”
Coranne looked at Ione. Ione looked at Coranne.
“...I changed your diapers, and potty trai-”
“Yeah, let's not talk about that.”
“Sounds good to me!”
Both went quiet.
Coranne spoke up again, “don't answer this if it makes you feel uncomfortable, but, what did you die from? In your first life?”
“Rectal cancer.”
“Well, that's crappy.”
They both burst out laughing.
“Yeah it definitely was,” Ione replied while giggling, “but I've died from cancer a lot. I've had tumors and growths that I've found on parts of my body- so in a weird way it made me comfortable with it? Like, I would find a tumor and think, ‘here we go again’, then croak in the future. Then come back in some other form. It's more common than you'd think.”
“So what would you say you had the most deaths from?”
“Definitely thirst and starvation. Second would be predators, third would be environmental factors. Then I'd say cancer, stupid decisions I've made, other random stuff, and age; fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh, respectively.”
Coranne looked at her as if she was seeing her for the first time, “you've lived and died so many times, I feel like a baby in comparison to you. And it all sounds so lonely.”
“It was, but I've always liked being alone. For so many years I could only rely on myself for entertainment, conversation and companionship. I've had ample time to examine every part of myself and there were times where I went a little crazy.”
“Understandable.”
“Thanks. But yeah, I'm sorry it took this long to tell you, I wasn't planning on telling you until much later but I guess today was the day.” She shrugged.
Coranne side-eyed her, “when did you plan on telling me?”
“That requires me to tell you my plans for the future, but I can't, it's too risky. I've already taken a risk today by telling you how old I really am.”
“Why is it risky? Ione, we've gone over this; when have I never given you a reason to trust me?”
“Coranne, it's not that I don't trust you, I don't trust Belan. Don't ask me how I know, but there are people that exist in this world that can read others’ minds, and if anything about what I am got out…you could be a target. All of the secrets I've kept have been for the benefit of myself and others, because the less people know about me the better.”
Coranne's brows furrowed, “how are you going tell me that and then not expect me to ask you how you know?.”
Ione laughed, “please trust me on this, I have my ways. You'll understand eventually, I promise you.”
Her mouth twisted in displeasure, “I don’t really like that, but…I guess.” Her head jerked, “wait, what were you in your first life?”
“Oh, I was human,” Ione said nonchalantly.
Coranne's head flew back as if she had just got slapped, her eyes widening and then blinking in quick succession, “Human?”
“Yup! I was born a human in my first life, on a planet called Earth. ” Ione smiled, “there were no elves, or any other humanoid species, besides the apes that we shared most of our DNA with."
“How was it? That's so different from us, you’re gonna have to explain what ‘apes’ are, I'm curious.”
“Well, we fought amongst ourselves a lot. I don’t want to get too much into it, but it sucked. It reminds me of here actually.” Ione eyed the door, done with the conversation, and yawned. “But I’m super tired right now and I kinda wanna go to bed.”
Coranne immediately jumped up, “Oh shoot! Yes, yes it is getting late. But this conversation is far from over, I have so many questions.” She gave Ione a reproving glance.
“I assumed you would,” Ione replied with a grin.
Silence befell them again.
“I just want to let you know that you’re no longer alone. You can rely on me every now and again, okay? You’re still my kid, in a weird way.”
Short arms wrapped around Coranne's middle, “of course, and thank you, for everything.”
She felt hands give her shoulders a squeeze, “C’mon, let’s go.”
As they walked out of the bathroom, Ione ruminated on the events that occurred. Hidden by her wooly hair, she grinned.
Her plans always go so well.
DING! You've earned the general skill: Deception Tier 1 LVL 1. Check the status page for more information!