*For those unaware of my drastic changes or skipped the summaries.  Rosie's/Ryu religion/goddess is that of a blanket.  Elzare has aged 10 years because the time Rosie was unconscious in Joseph's house was changed to that long. These are the biggest noteworthy changes to be able to read this,  I suggest the summary I managed in the important notice,  or re reading up to this point if you have the free time.  Thank you for the continued support,  and bearing with me through my crazy mind/changes as I try to make a decent book. *

 The sound of the bird’s singing a lovely morning tune eventually managed to make me rise from my deep comfy slumber. A small breeze from the summertime forest rattled my window ever so slightly interrupting the beautiful melody the birds had. Rays of the big yellow guy in the sky crept under my eyelids trying to force them opened. It seems that it's morning out, ahh it’s time to play games. Gently tugging my goddess off me, I noticed something.. She’s.. Not polyester anymore, no, she’s fuzzy fur that gives me slight itches in the night. It gradually hit me like a train wreck you see coming, but can’t stop the breaks in time.

I’m Rosie now, not Ryu. This isn’t my apartment filled with the beautiful smell of ramen, an all you can grab party of cancer sticks to ease the pain deep in my soul, fake worlds I can go into to escape and forget the crushing reality of my life. No.. this is Rosie now. This is the beautiful blonde haired girl who’s been confronted by death by far too many time’s, A poor girl who’s been raped in the forest, a poor girl who’s lost in this world with no direction.

Trying my best with all my remaining will, I attempted to get the good sides out now. First, would be Elzare, I love my mother with all my heart, but being in a brutal almost medieval style world where the strong win, and the weak lose. I am thankful for somewhat of a father figure that’s a complete badass and could fuck some shit up at the drop of the hat. The memory from yesterday occurred to me, when I dropped a dresser drawer. It wasn’t even a goddamn second before I felt the cold emotionless blade touch my neck, the breath of Elzare about to take my life behind me. In fact, I don’t think it was the drawer hitting the floor that woke him, I think it was the drawer sliding out about to fall.

For all intensive purposes, I chose now to think of this half elf as a father figure, I simply couldn’t hold it anymore. He’s saved my life twice, and took me into his cabin home despite his loner nature, fed me, stitched me up, bandaged me, and somehow managed to put me into a fucking cast before. Another pathetic watery drop fell into my new furry goddess. I silently apologized to her, the amount of tears and boogers I’ve probably let cover it was ridiculous. A shiver went up my spine as I thought about how disgusting it was to sleep in that. How do you wash clothes again? I never even properly managed that in my past life, even with machines to do most the fucking work for you.. Maybe I should ask Elzare.

I’m currently creeping down the stairs to try to make as little noise as possible, didn’t want a repeat of yesterday now, did I. Even went as far as using my sneak skill that I aquired a bit ago.

“Ahahahah! you think you can get the drop on me that easily? I’ve seen goblins sneakier than that!” was spoken behind me. Hot damn, I’m really glad this guy was on my side. I’m starting to think of him no longer as Elzare either, this avatar, no, this person, is clearly different. 10 years have managed to influence his life. That is a long fucking time for someone of an adult conscious and brain, surely it changed him.

“No! I just didn’t want a cold dagger on my throat again!” I meant to sound teasing, or funny, but it came out in a slight scream.

“I’m.. I.. I’m uuhh.. Sorry about that.”

Not wanting to let him think any further or wallow.. I couldn’t help it. My next actions shocked me, I turned around and hugged him, the fact he was a few stairs higher almost evened out our height.

“I didn’t er. Want to scream... Thank you.. For all you’ve done for me since I’ve got here.. It was my fault for making so much noise, and you probably aren’t used to someone living all the way out here with you anyway.”

I tried to sound mocking, or maybe let out a light joke, but instead this half elf I thought to be the strongest in the world, one that I lit a fire under his ass in all my years leveling, was crying. His arms were tightly wrapped around me, not a weak or flimsy hold that showed he was reserved or going to disappear, a hold that told me he was a loner.. But didn’t want to be. I honestly didn’t know what to do, it’s a strange sight to see such a strong person, weep such genuine tears.

He must’ve been through some serious shit in those 10 years.

Not knowing what to do, I decided to, well,  do nothing in fact. Sometimes that might be the best option. It was an extremely warm hug, even though he was crying, it filled my soul with warmth like a crackling bon-fire that showed no signs of stopping. I think we both honestly needed some genuine human interaction, a simple hug to show that we aren’t alone in this world. I gently pat his strong elven back, wait isn’t he supposed to be my father figure in my mind?! Letting such thoughts simmer down, I’m not used to thinking of someone as a father, but surely even father’s cry sometimes.

“Alright, that’s enough, sorry about that” The elf man a few stairs above me said. I didn’t really want to let my arms go yet, but I decided he still had his pride or something.

“Thank’s for that, girl. I think my soul needed that. I’ll be back later, try not to die" He said looking down, almost with regret.

“Wait, how important is whatever you have to do?”

“Huh?? Well seems like someone's nose has been getting bigger? Finally curious about the person whose house you’ve been sleeping in!?” He let out a sorta chuckle.

“Believe it or not, I actually watch over this village, it holds a uh.. special place to my heart, there’s been some strange things occurring all over the world lately in terms of the undead. I believe you saw the effects of that not too long ago. Those goblin undead weren’t one’s that simply croaked over and started wondering like wild fucking animals, no, they were commanded to do something, they had a pack mentality, they were grouped far too high in numbers, and worst of all, their level was higher than when they were alive. Those goblins aren’t the only species that have had this behavior either, something's been going very wrong for the past 10 years, and only getting worse. If they can get a higher level, then what would happen to a monster at max level?”

The pure thought of a something going beyond max level, horrified me, what even is max level anymore since 10 years has fucking passed?

“You asked me the other day how long I was watching your battle protecting that little girl.” I could see some discomfort on his face.

“I was fighting during that entire time, and actually being pushed back, something in the shadow’s of the forest were throwing projectiles towards you, and the little girl.”

“Now don’t get me wrong, normally something like that isn’t a problem for someone of my caliber” he boasted pridefully.

“But there must’ve been thousands.. I couldn’t pinpoint the location they came from either, it was as if the shadows themselves were throwing dark blades that evaporated into my weapon at the touch. I had to spend every ounce of my energy blocking those blades from you and that girl, I honestly couldn’t come in to help anymore than that, otherwise a blade goes through your skull, or the child's, the moment I lost concentration”

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“But something interesting was happening. Each goblin you killed, the frequency of the blades lessened, once it was to a manageable state uhhm.. Maybe it’s warrior's pride or some fucked up thing ingrained in me, I could’ve helped, but I wanted to see if you could win the battle before you, and the moment I realized you were about to die, I jumped in.”

“I’m sorry, Rosie”

It was a lot to digest. I mean, I realized those goblins weren’t normal my any means, he’s probably not lying either, I wouldn’t have noticed dark blades that even Elzare had trouble keeping up with, nor would I notice them if they just dissipated on his dagger, probably silently. There was also the fact I was pumped up, hyped on blood, murdering with broken bones. I don’t think your senses are at their highest in that kind of state. I almost understood the warrior's pride thing, wanting me to take my own battles, and he did prevent me from dying, but there was still a small ounce of anger in me. I’ll have nightmares of that battle for years to come probably. Before I could reply, he continued.

“I am Elzare, Keeper of the Village of Andril. The great elders of this continent decided all lower level areas needed a keeper. Someone of the highest level to watch over them and keep them from harm. This was decided 8 years ago, after another starting village was slaughtered to the bone, there was no corpses left, just blood splatters, debris, and the stench of death lingering in the air. I volunteered for this village of my own accord. That is what I do, Rosie.”

That was pretty deep, and he sounded cool almost. I guess I can find it in my heart to forgive him. Wait..

“If you are this supposive keeper.. Were you watching as I killed those guards?” I didn’t want to hear his answer. Even if he could have stopped me, it was still my own actions.. Don’t hold it against him, he’s done so much.

“Yes.”

“Why. I.."

“I may be a keeper, but that does not mean I’m perfect. The thought of slitting your throat the moment you ripped Scott’s arm off, occurred to me, but then the memories of finding you half naked on the forest ground with an almost broke neck flashed before my eyes”

“I may be fast, Rosie, but even I can be slowed by a mental struggle, before I could react, or even properly stop you, everyone was already dead. I was then following you, trying to figure out what to do, I almost settled on killing you, but then that shit with the grey goblins happened, and you did something I could accept. You protected a child. I’m not saying the lives of those guards equated to one child, but I’m saying that my analysis of you was no longer that of bad disposition. I also realized how poorly Danny handled killing Rebeca, however I can not blame the man, a loved one was a zombie before him, that’s a tough fucking break. You currently aren’t on my kill list Rosie, Especially after that genuine hug, you are instead on my very newly added “Probably good, but confused/freaking shit going on with her class, watch carefully” list.

“Now, why do you ask if what I had to do is important? Believe it or not, I already am scouting the surrounding forest.” Right in front of me stood, not one, but two Elzares. Both of them did a curt bow at the same time.

“Benefits of the highest level, compliments of my boring life of experience grinding.”

“I uhh.. Well.. wanted to know how to do laundry.”

Both Elizares started laughing with perhaps a bit too much vigor.

“How old are you Rosie?”

I didn’t want to answer.. I didn’t.. But I had to be honest.

“26” I spoke sheepishly.

His laugh stifled, the look of some minor concern could be seen in the sparkle of his eye.

“Come with me”

“You by no means are a mage, even I can understand that, but the benefits of having Mana are worth it, and learning a spell that gathers the evaporation in the air around you, luckily doesn’t need a spellcaster specific class.”

He set his elven palm slightly above my chest. Tempted to smack his hand away, I shut those thoughts down and let him continue with my trust. A sharp pain entered me, and grew from the base of my chest.

External Mana has opened your inactive gates, total mana is now 50/50.

“Now read this” A book was tossed, hitting me square in the head as I fell backward. Not wanting to whine, because he’s helping me. I prayed to my blanket goddess that I could just like consume the book or something. Trying to imagine the book becoming part of my knowledge as I held it close to my chest actually worked to my surprise. The book sinked into my chest, and thoughts, theories, and understanding of basic mana manipulation entered my mind, afterwards understanding of the basic science of the water cycle was regained in my mind, reinforced to the best of my knowledge. Holding my hand out, moving what felt almost like blood coursing through my veins, a small trickle of water came out the palm of my hand.

Elzare stood there with his mouth wide open.

“You can use book’s as if they were from before the update!? That book was written after the update, impossible..”

“What did you do exactly?”

“I umm.. Imagined it becoming part of my knowledge, a part of my brain or something and held it close.”

“That no longer works, on any books at all! Even the ones before the update, instead you have to study the books frivolously, engrain concepts into your head, keep at it until the spell works, or the knowledge fully gained. You’ve just done something very very strange, Rosie. I expected to toss that book at you, and come back in a few days, maybe even weeks!”

“I think I’m done questioning you anymore, or anything for that fact, just.. Yeah, use the water from the air, soak whatever it is your cleaning with a bit of soap for a little, preferably overnight in a bucket or some sort of container, I don’t really give fuck, once you think they have soaked long enough, grab em and slap em on this.”

Grabbing what I surprisingly knew as a washboard, and bar of some type of soap out nowhere, he set them in front of me. “Use that new water spout on your hand, rub some soap on the clothes or whatever you are washing, and drag the clothes across this for a bit, once all the soap is gone, then you-” Pointing near the back of the cabin, with a slight sway of the wind I could see a laundry line.

“Put whatever it is on there, let it dry, and bam, you no longer have boogers or smell like a week dead squirrel.”

“Do I really smell that bad? I just washed in the river before I slept!”

“There’s only so much just river water can do, especially for someone who apparently bathes in the blood of their enemies. It’s your fault for not asking about soap! Just how daft are you. Now imagine this poor old man, as he had to hug and comfort a smelly squirrel not too long ago.”

I had no retort, he was right in all accounts. Deciding my goddess needed cleaning, I went inside and grabbed my blankets, tossed them in the biggest bucket Elzare had, and then tried to use my water ability, a slight trickle fell into the bucket. This might take awhile.

After what felt like 2 minutes, the trickle stopped, and a small pain came over my head.

“Good try, wouldn’t have suggested the first thing you try to clean is a giant fucking Erkin fur blanket, you are probably out of mana, here.”

Elzare's hand was held over the bucket, and right before my eyes, a fucking tsunami crept out onto the blankets, blasting it with the force of a firehorse. That alone probably just killed every single booger I could produce for several years. Just how fucking strong are you?

“Thank you.. Again Elzare.”

“Don’t mention it, now I’m going to go be a keeper and shit, enjoy the day squirrel.” He left, vanished again without a sight. Man I just don’t know about that guy. He apparently almost killed me for my rampage at the north perimeter of the village, I had a feeling something was up, they were all noobs, he was supposed to be looking out for them.. A sad feeling crept in my heart that he might feel responsible for their deaths. Never again, I need to control myself, immerse myself in this lovely feeling of independence. I can do anything that I want, I can wash my goddess now!

Leaving my goddess to soak in the giant bucket, I grabbed the second largest bucket, crept around to the back, grabbed some soap, and decided to wash myself. Standing in the bucket I rubbed soap all across my body, gently, and then occasionally used my new water as my mana slowly returned. Gently washing away the soap with my palm. He might’ve been right about the smell, realizing I’m supposed to not smell like dead squirrel, being used to guts, and now smelling soap as it washes over me, felt like pure bliss. I’m going to clean up, let my goddess soak, and prepare for my “Date” with a certain dwarf here soon.