To say Ione was furious, would be an understatement. She thought that she would be able to avoid any mind altering bullshit whilst in this world, and lo-and-behold, her memories get fucked.

DING! Mind Control Resistance Tier 2 LVL 4-> Mind Control Resistance Tier 2 LVL 9

Fuck. It didn't even cross to the next tier! Just the shit cherry on the top of the shit cake. Awesome. Love that for me.

That night, Ione went to bed disappointed and downtrodden.

She soon woke up with multiple questions and some of them couldn’t be answered. Why did they make the message hurt so bad? Why did they even tell her to stop? If they had just left her to her own devices, she would have been none the wiser, and would have gone about the rest of her day as she normally would. Now, she was even more curious, and she hoped that her curiosity wouldn’t result in a similar experience. All she could think was having some sort of revelation during a fight, and then passing out because they pull the same dumb shit and she dies. Now that she thought about it, it’s probably happened before. Was it a way for people to avoid theorizing about the gods? To circumvent the sharing of ideas that could challenge them in some way? Ione would have to ascend to find out.

When the white-haired girl arrived at class, she was ready with the questions that could be answered, and as soon as she sat in her seat, she immediately had her hand up.

“Yes, Ione?” Amahn acknowledged.

“Is there a god that has the power over memories?” asked Ione.

“Yes, that would be Nemoa, Goddess of Memory.”

Ione leaned back.

Nemoa, you’re on my shit list.

DING! Quest Obtained! Please refer to the quest tab to get a detailed explanation.

Her already gloomy mood soured further when she saw the rewards. Of course, she knew the questions marks meant that the rewards were good, but she wanted to know what they were!

Kill Nemoa

Rewards: ???, ???, ???, ???

“Is Nemoa a light god?”

Amahn nodded.

She raised her hand again and Amahn gestured for her to speak.

“Are there any recorded instances where a Nemoa has taken memories?”

“All the time. She will to some, not all, take memories that burden her followers. Of course, these are memories that her followers wish to let go of. Those of grief, loss, heartbreak, death, among many others.”

“Has there been memories she’s taken by force?”

“As far as I know, there haven't been recorded instances of her stealing memories.”

Ione could read between the lines. She grit her teeth.

That was as far as Ione got with the questioning before Amahn moved to the required syllabus. This time they were talking about dungeons. Ione shook with excitement.

She wanted to see what the dungeons looked like, however, Amahn made it very clear that in Whisperwind Valley all 56 dungeons, save a few, were requisitioned by the military for training purposes. Those remaining resided in the Forest of Wind, a dense woodland infested by beasts, protected by a very powerful being described as, what Ione could glean, a Leshen. It was described as a towering being made of twisting vines and leaves, and had a face that extended to the ground, but those were old eye witness accounts and who knows now what the being looked like. Here they were called Trellers. Due to the Treller’s influence on the beasts, the surrounding settlement of Opeera decided to build a border around the forest rather than fight the being. It was too big of a risk to life.

Although Ione was suspicious. It was clear the Treller wasn’t a beast, because if it were, it would have been referred to as such.

While the other kids asked questions like, “Why don’t we all band together and kill it?” As well as, “how big is the wall?” As if any of them would scale it to get at the big, bad, monster; Ione thought about if the being had higher cognitive function, and why was there only one? Why did it have an ‘influence’ on the beasts?

“What’s It’s level?” Ione asked.

“Last time it was seen, it was around level 256.”

Ione’s eyes widened and she let out an exhale.

That’s a big boy.

Then, another question ran through her mind.

“How do they know its level?”

Amahn gave a knowing smile. “We were going to talk about this next week, but once you all get your class, you will receive the [Inspect] general skill.”

As Amahn explained the skill, which was pretty self-explanatory, Ione noticed that she wasn't the only one that had such questions as she glanced over at Osmen’s group, and saw Trikka and Daniah with their hands up.

However, upon her glance, Ione was reminded of the upcoming recess.

The early day suddenly flew by and soon enough, it was time for break. Ione hid her burgeoning grin and quickly made her way to the forest, rubbing her hands like she was a fly

It wasn't long before Jahren joined her.

She looked at him as he scratched the back of head. “Hey, uhh, I told Osmen to join, but she didn’t want to. I’m sorry.” He grimaced

She laughed. “Oh it’s okay, I figured. It’s just as long as she knew.”

“Why?”

“For reasons, now please, have a seat," she said as she gestured to the ground. We should figure out scheduling, I’ve got a few more people who are coming and-” before she could continue, [Spatial Awareness] told her that three people were making their way towards her.

“-our three other guests will be arriving soon so that’s perfect! Saves me from explaining things a second time.”

Jahren's eyebrows nearly went into his hairline, “How do you know that?”

“A skill,” Ione replied with a sly smile.

While Jahren was left gaping at her casual use of a [Spatial Awareness] skill, Ione turned towards where the three girls would show. As soon as they appeared the white-haired girl could tell they were nervous.

“Alright! Glad you all can show up.” Ione gestured towards the ground. “Take a seat and we can figure out some things.”

Jahren immediately sat down.

It was Kraylin who spoke up first. “Why is Jahren here?”

“Because he’s helping me with something, so now I’m helping him.”

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That apparently was enough of an answer for them as all three girls sat down. Ione continued to stand.

“Okay so, you’re all probably wondering, how could I teach you skills when we all should have the same ones right?”

She saw a few heads nod.

“Well, I can teach you skills, just I won't be able to tell you how I acquired them. I’m not even going to hint because it could put you, or even me in danger.”

“How?” Voiced Trikka.

“Would you believe me if I said that I was thinking a little too hard about something and Nemoa decided to fuck up my memory?”

At the same time, “Is that why you were asking about it?” asked Trikka, while Kraylin questioned, “Is that what happened yesterday?”

“Yes, to both. I don’t remember what I was thinking about.” Ione said, then muttered, “thanks to that asshole.” She took a deep breath and continued on, “but I was thinking about something important, I know that much. Then the next thing I knew I was waking up in the infirmary with Sister Coranne telling me I was bleeding out of my ears. My ears!” She loudly declared, throwing her hands over them as if they were bleeding at that moment.

“Are you okay now, knif-I mean, Ione?” Daniah implored.

Daniah caught herself, and Ione was proud.

She lowered her hands, “Yeah, I’m good now, thanks for asking, Daniah,” she said with a ghost of a smile on her lips.

“Uh, yeah, whatever,” the black haired girl waved her off, suddenly aloof.

That’s okay. Baby steps.

“But what does that have to do with why you can’t tell us?”

“Because right there, alone, is proof that your mind could be read, and your memories fucked. I have issues with both of those things, so If a random God could do it, I wouldn’t be surprised if some random fuckhead on Terrestria can do it too. So no, I will not tell you. Not at this point.”

A quietness descended on the group. A light wind blew over them briefly, but then all was still again.

Jahren took this brief lapse of silence to speak up, “Well, sorry about your memory, but I wanna know what skills you're gonna teach us.”

Straight to the point. Perfect.

A figure entered her radius of [Spatial Awareness], with a strict march towards the group, and Ione decided not to speak on it.

The girls looked on eagerly and Ione laughed, “how about we figure out a schedule first and then we ca-” before she could continue, a shrill voice interrupted her.

“What the fuck is going on here?” Osmen burst into their hideaway, eyes wide, chest heaving. She pointed a shaking finger at the three ashen girls sitting down. “What do you guys think you’re doing? What the fuck are you doing!” Then she leveled her finger at Ione. “You.” venom coated the single word.

Alright. Here we go.

Osmen’s Perspective

As soon as class ended for break, she saw the elf skittering out. She turned to Kraylin. “Hey, why don’t we follow her?” A grin split her face.

Kraylin’s brows furrowed. “I actually just wanted to study for the test. I’m trying to get better scores before we get our classes.”

“Oh, okay.” Osmen frowned, dejected. Then she turned to Trikka and Daniah. “Well, what do you guys think?”

Daniah grimaced and put a hand over her midsection. “My stomach’s been hurting so I think I'm just gonna lie down. Sorry, Osmen.”

Huh, that’s weird. Because she didn't mention it all and she normally tells me when somethings up.

Osmen turned towards the brown-haired girl, and blue eyes met lilac ones. “Trikka?”

Though, those purple eyes were soon downturned, “I kinda don’t feel like it. I’m tired of chasing after Io-the elf. I think I’m gonna draw for today.” She scratched the area under her left ear.

Osmen's skin prickled.

She’s lying.

She always knew when Trikka lied when she would scratch in that particular spot.

“Can I join any of you?”

“Uh, I study best when I’m alone.”

Lies.

“I think I’d be too boring, Osmen, I’m gonna try and just nap it off.”

Lies.

“I don’t think you’d like it, and besides, drawing really isn't your thing.”

Well, that was true, but there was something extra weird about this.

She pressed. “I don’t care Trikka, I can just lay down on the grass and look at the sky or something, Relax, or whatever.” She waved her hand.

“Uh, I think I’d like to just draw by myself. It’ll help me concentrate.”

Lies.

They were all lying. Why? Osmen felt that something was deeply wrong.

She heard a chorus of ‘byes’ as each girl exited the classroom and Osmen sat back down in her chair. Something was nagging at the back of her mind. Yesterday, she told Jahren to scare Ione, but all he succeeded in doing was getting an invite to learn whatever half-baked skills the herbivore had. Then, Ione tried to talk to her, which, obviously she didn’t want to, so she sent the annoying girl away, but her friends decided to hear what she had to say. After they were done, they told her ‘it was nothing, she was just trying to get under your skin,’ but now she wasn't so sure. What did they talk about? What did that half-breed say?

Jahren invited her to come with him, but she ignored it. Now, she was reconsidering it.

Osmen sat for a few more moments before curiosity got the better of her. She had to check.

First stop was the dorm room. The 14-year-old called out Daniah’s name, but there was no answer; Daniah was nowhere to be found. She felt her face heat up.

Second, she went to the study hall, and whispered, “Kraylin?” Through the book cases. Nothing.

Then finally, Osmen scoured the surrounding orphanage grounds in the aim to find Trikka, but she, too, proved to be too elusive to be found.

She felt dread fill her chest.

Osmen headed towards the forest.

Ione’s Perspective

“Me?” Ione said in a light tone, the epitome of innocence.

“Yes. You. You’re taking my friends away, you- you’ve brought them into your schemes!”

“Osmen, I’m just trying to teach them new skills,” Ione reasoned. Although, the white-haired girl had to hold in a snicker because Osmen was right, she was trying to bring them into her schemes.

“No, you’re not. You're stealing them to get back at me.” She spat. Then she turned around and addressed Daniah, Trikka and Kraylin. “What did she bribe you guys with, huh? Secrets? Power? She’s only using you to get back at me.”

Kraylin looked to Ione, and the white-haired girl shrugged, as if saying, ‘I don't know what the hell she’s talking about.’

Osmen followed Kraylin’s eyes. “Oh,” she laughed. “Oh I see, you’ve chosen Ione now huh? She’s your new friend? Out with the old, in with the new? Even though you know,” she hissed, “you know what their kind has done.”

Daniah stood up and scratched her head. “Well, Ione isn't like that. She’s trying to teach us new skills so we won’t be stuck in a class we hate. We don’t want to be homemakers, Osmen.” She pointed at the blonde girl. “You know that. There’s nothing else going for us. We’ll be some version of homemakers, then mothers, and then who knows what down that line. I don’t want to be like that in 7 months. I want to explore.” She held out her hands, palms up, “I want to experience things that we wouldn't be able to. I want to get out of this Valley. See what’s beyond! Don’t you want that?”

“Not when we have to learn from her. From a fucking Knife-ear!”

“Don’t call her that,” Trikka said, fists clenching.

Osmen laughed. “What are you going to do?”

Trikka went silent while Kraylin ground her teeth, “Osmen, you’re not acting right. You really want this to separate us?”

“You guys are separating from me! For a stupid flower-blood!”

The girls looked at Osmen, dumbfounded. They had never seen her act like this, and save for Osmen’s heavy breathing, silence filled the forest. Jahren was fortunately spared from being a part of this scene, on the account that Osmen didn’t really care about him.

“I have a proposal,” announced Ione.

Osmen turned to her, “I don’t want to hear anything you have to say.”

“Are you sure? As I recall yesterday, I tried to invite you to come to this, but you didn't want to hear it.”

Osmen stared.

Ione smiled. “I propose that we fight.”

Osmen shrank back. “Fight?”

“Yeah! Tousle, fisticuffs, duke it out, brawl, spar, jou-”

“Enough! I know what you're talking about,” Osmen huffed.

“Great! So, I’ll show you the skills I have, and if I beat you with them, you have to give this a chance.” She motioned to the group.

The blonde sniffed. “I don’t want to fight the likes of you.”

“Why? Are you scared?” Ione challenged.

Osmen's eyes widened in offense, “No! I’m not.” She blinked rapidly, then suddenly adjusted her posture. “Fine, let’s fight. I’ll show you."

Ione gestured for everybody to stand back.

Time to end this charade.