Starting Status

Sign: Snake

  Buffs: Serpent’s Kiss (Romance twice as easy)

  Debuffs: Curse of the Unspecified (Start the game with no gender, no name, and no other identifying feature)

EXP: 120

Skills:

Alchemy

   -Coagula (LVL 0, 24 SKP)

   -Solvé (LVL 0, 9 SKP)

   -Theoria (LVL 0, 23 SKP)

Botany

  -Tending (LVL 0, 5 SKP)

  ???

Cooking

  -Fire (LVL 0, 21 SKP)

  -Water (LVL 0, 11 SKP)

  ???  

Homesteading

   -Fire Tending (LVL 0, 7 SKP)

   -Tidying (LVL 0, 35 SKP) Ready to level up!ha

   ???

Speech

   -Logic (LVL 0, 33 SKP) Ready to level up!ha

   -Linguistics (LVL 0, 7 SKP)

???

Total SKP: 175

Inventory:

  Auros: 0

Cards of Destiny: 4 of ?? Discovered

Old Toad’s Riddles: 5 of ?? Solved

I was scrolling through my character sheet, grinning wide with the delight of being able to access the system menus again.

That morning, I woke up with the air feeling clean and pure. I looked everywhere, and there were no strange shadows, no headless smiles, no weird messages, and best of all…

I had full access to the system again!

I didn’t realize how heavy that burden had been, until I was finally released. I felt weightless and so happy, like a balloon that could float out of sight into the wide-open blue sky.

I would make food, make more potions, I would clean. I would do ALL the things today!

The first thing I decided to do was take out my Cards of Destiny. I had a new one!

The Cat

Secretive and cunning beasts. Useful to have around for rodent control.

The picture showed a black cat, sitting on a windowsill, and looking out. There was a full moon in the window.

I shuffled the cards, feeling their warmth in my hands.

“Isn’t this great?” I asked Aleister, who was by the hearth, while I sat at the table.

“Seems to be.” He answered shortly.

I drew a card. It was the Sorceress again. All my EXP costs should be lowered. Awesome!

Putting the cards away, I got to another matter of administrative housekeeping.

Leveling up!

I opened up my character sheet, and selected Tidying, under the Homesteading category.

Homesteading

   -Fire Tending (LVL 0, 7 SKP)

   -Tidying (LVL 0, 35 SKP) Ready to level up!

   ???

I felt something stirring under my skin, with anticipation of getting better and stronger! Tidying might not be very glamorous, but I loved the idea of progress! I mentally stabbed at the Ready to level up! message.

Do You Wish To Level Up?

Tidying Level 1 Grants ‘Dirt Buster’ Passive Effect

YES! I did.

Dirt Buster!

Passive Effect: The magical branch of Purification lends this Sorcerer the ability to ‘Bust Dirt.’ Dust and grime accumulate at a infinitesimally slow rate on objects you have cleaned.

My grin became wider and wider! What a useful passive effect. Once I cleaned a thing, it would stay cleaner longer! Great. My Homesteading category immediately got an update.

Homesteading

   -Fire Tending (LVL 0, 7 SKP)

   -Tidying (LVL 1, 5 SKP)

   ???

I was done with that. I then went to the Speech category, where I saw the other Skill, which was ready to level up.

Speech

   -Logic (LVL 0, 33 SKP) Ready to level up!

   -Linguistics (LVL 0, 7 SKP)

   ???

I was ready to level up Logic as well. I stabbed at it again, and heard a noise like hollow wood being thumped.

Only One Skill May Be Leveled Per Day

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My fist came down on the table, hard. I hadn’t meant to do it, but I heard a growl in my throat. From the corner of my eye, I saw Aleister jump from his place by the hearth, startled by the noise. Scaredy cat.

After all I’ve been through, I couldn’t even level up the second skill! I felt red hot rage flow into my bloodstream at the injustice.

I sat there at the table, trying to get control over my breathing.

Fine, I couldn’t level any more today. So what now?

I should make a potion! I rushed to the pile of unanswered requests that I left piled on the counter, my face stretching into a smile again.

As I picked up the first letter, and went to open it, I realized something.

After I brewed the potion, who would deliver it? I still couldn't leave the house.

I needed Cheerful back.

“Aleister, when did you tell Cheerful to come back?”

I asked the cat, who I noticed atop the cabinetry, in Cheerful’s roost. Odd. Usually, he’s right up next to me, sticking his little nose into my business.

“I told him I would let him know. But not soon.” The cat answered unhelpfully. I frowned. How would I get my business off the ground if I couldn’t make deliveries?

“Well, tell him to get his feathered butt back here! Whatever was going on, it’s over. I have to make more potions to keep the money flowing, and who will fly them to the customers?”

“I don’t think it’s passed.” The cat answered.

“I’m telling you!” I said, shouting at the cat. Why didn’t he understand?

“You can tell me anything you like. My nose doesn’t lie.” The cat said, huddling atop the cabinets.

I felt my facial muscles spasm into a grimace.

Horrible, dreadful cat, I thought to myself. He’s basically useless! Worse, in fact, he was holding me back!

I couldn't do anything without Cheerful! I needed that bird back. And the only way to get to him was through the cat.

I tried appealing to the cat’s better nature.

“But Aleister, we’ll starve here if we don’t call back Cheerful! There’s only ONE can of tuna left…” I was going to enumerate all the other food items, to prove my point that our supply was dwindling, when…

An idea struck me!

“I should say,” I chuckled, “there WAS only one can left.” I went over to where the canned tins were, and picked up the last can. I opened it hastily, cutting my fingers in the process, the blood spilling into the can and reddening the white fish flesh.

I ate the tuna out of the can, grinning wide at Aleister, the blood from my cuts dripping into the morsels of food. I could taste it, and it tasted sweet.

“Look! Now there’s no more tuna! What will you eat?” I asked, teasing the cat slightly. I wanted to make my point!

The cat didn’t say anything, and his silence was incredibly aggravating. How dare he ignore me?!

I felt my heart beating hard in my chest, trying to remind me of something.

Andy. They had named you something, something nice. Adrian. Or Adrienne. I would use Andy for short.

But Andy was a stupid, dumb name anyway!

I didn’t need a name! No, what I needed was… What I really needed was…

For Aleister to come down.

“Allllleeesiterrr?” I said, sing-song, to the cat, “Why don’t you come down, kitty?” I said grinning up at him.

“Look, there’s a little tuna in the can? Don’t you want some? Mmmmm yummy!” I held up the half-eat can, showing the contents to the stubborn cat.

Aleister just looked at me totally silent.

“COME DOWN YOU STUPID CAT, I WILL MAKE YOU! I WILL MAKE YOU!”

I roared at the cat, and then before I knew what I was doing, I was climbing the counter, and climbing the cabinet, one claw-like hand extended, grabbing for the soft white fur…

The cat was quick. He saw what was coming and bolted. I barely caught sight of his white fluffy tail disappearing out of the kitchen

I grinned. A GAME! I’ll play!

“Oh kitty, where ARE you?” I sang, my voice hoarse and crackling.

I sprinted out of the kitchen and started going room by room, my face stretched into a smile.

What fun! I should play ‘chase the kitty' more often!

My muscles squirmed, almost like something was in my skin with me, as I ran about the house in pure joy.

I busted into the solarium, running around the room, looking behind every pot, kicking them over to see if that dreadful, stupid cat was hiding behind them. The noise of breaking pottery was exhilarating! I was having more fun than I ever remember since I got locked into this house!

Behind one pot, I heard a cat-like yowl, and a white furry shape, streaked by me. Even as I tried to grab the cat, he was already out of the solarium.

“You ARE fast!” I yelled after him, panting.

I left the solarium, and crept up the bathroom door, not wanting to alert the little feline to my presence. I banged it open, my knees bent, hands blocking the exit, ready to catch the fleeing cat, but there was nothing in the bathroom. I barely caught a sight of my reflection, but I saw my face stretched into a happy smile! I WAS having fun!

----------------------------------------

I crept into the front room, where I knew I saw the flicker of white tail.

I saw him hiding on the shelving behind the counter, at the very top! No matter, I hopped on the counter, and started climbing the shelves, the empty glassware shattering on the ground as I rocked the shelf with my weight. He bolted!

I ran up the stairs, and saw him go into the locked rooms. Drat! I didn’t have enough EXP to unlock them all!

But even as I had that thought, every single one of the locked doors burst open! What joy!

FUN GAMES! NO DISTRACTIONS! NO OTHER GAMES!

I rushed room to room, looking for the cat. I finally spotted him in the farthest room in the hall, hiding amongst bookshelves. I barely registered where I was running, but it did appear to be a small library.

I must have surprised him there, because I almost caught him! My hand closed around his white tail, but as I grasped it, a feline paw, claws extended, batted at my exposed face, drawing blood very close to my eye. I felt the warmth trickle into my eyes, and I had to blink several times to clear my vision.

“ARRRGGHH! NOT PART OF THE GAME!” I yelled after the fleeing kitty. “I’LL DO MUCH WORSE ONCE I GET MY HANDS ON YOU!”

I was up on my feet in no time, pushing the book shelves out of the way, the volumes all toppling to the dusty floor.

I ran through the second floor, looking for the white furball. The other two rooms looked like they might be bedrooms, but I didn't care to examine them. I fell on the floor, looking under the beds for a sign of the cat. I wrenched off the covers, thinking he might have hidden under the blankets. Nothing!

I ran downstairs, panting with exhaustion.

I almost caught him again in the kitchen, but just missed him, and he was up the stairs again, and I was after him!

I don't know how long we were playing, but running around the house made me so tired! I ran up and down the stairs, chasing Aleister room to room. I almost cornered him several times, but the cat was always faster! Truly, a worthy opponent!

I laughed to myself as I shambled back to the kitchen, and as I tried to walk over to the table, my legs simply gave out underneath me! I giggled. I must have run myself silly chasing that DAMNED kitty!

The last light of the day came in slanted through the window. It was nearing dark. I had chased after that cat all day! No wonder I was exhausted.

As I laid there on the kitchen floor I saw the nearly empty tuna can, my blood still staining it.

Some clarity. Why did I eat the last can of tuna again? That had been for the cat. I had made sure not to touch the meat preserves, because cats can’t eat fruit, or lentils or Dandelions, or…

Cheerful bringing us Dandelions instead of groceries. Being so happy to be of help.

Aleister defending the bird. He sent him away because…

I liked that cat, didn't I? They named me, like I was theirs…

I clutched at my name, like it was a physical object that could protect me. Andy. Or Adrian. Or, maybe Adrienne? I felt the smile, stretched on my face all day, slowly melt. The events of the day were all clamoring to the forefront of my mind, trying to make me examine what I had done.

What had I done?

What was I going to do with Aleister, if I had caught him?

I felt tears on my cheeks, and I let out a muffled sob.

“I don’t know what's going on, I’m sorry, I’m sorry…” I cried softly to myself.

“It’s my fault, I should have been better at protecting you.” I was surprised to hear the cat’s voice. He sounded tired too, and this time, he was up on top of the cabinetry again.

“But I hadn’t lit the candle! I don't understand why this is happening, I don’t know what is happening, please…” I cried.

“Listen, you must have started the game. I’m not sure how. Did anything happen before you woke me up that night?”

“I followed,” I gulped and tried to stem the tears, “ I followed a red string around the house…”

“So you see, you started the game. If you had lit the candle, you would have finished the game that night. And you would have been finished that night as well. But you didn't light it, so it can’t take you over completely, like it did Mr. Finley.” Aleister’s voice came to me.

“What can I do, what should I do...” I mumbled through the tears

“You can't do anything tonight. It’s almost night time, you need to go to sleep. You can no longer trust yourself, so you should avoid being up when midnight comes. Go to sleep, and we’ll figure it out tomorrow morning.” Aleister panted out.

NO

I crept on my hands and knees into the pile of quilts.

NO STAY UP

I put the quilts over my head, blanking out the world. I was so tired. I hadn’t noticed it while I was running around, but every one of my muscles screamed with fatigue

STAY UP AND PLAY

STAY UP STAY UP STAYUP

I fell asleep.

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