Growing tired of his muffled screams, the blonde girl calmly drew the dagger from her thigh and stabbed him in the chest, puncturing a lung and turning his howl into a hollow wheeze. Now she had perhaps a minute or two to complete what needed to be done.
Summoning her Heal spell, she both rejected and accepted its song, a paradox born of this world's unique magic. The raw melody of it filled her, though she allowed only the faintest echo to touch reality.
If she remembered correctly, the trick to using the Silent Casting skill effectively was speed: casting spells as quickly as possible, preferably low-level ones that were easier to control. Silent Casting allowed a mage to detach somewhat from the casting process itself. This reduced the gain of affinity a magic user had per use of their chosen element—for better or for worse.
Silent Casting was originally intended for the main character and high-level procedurally generated characters scattered throughout the world. Who would have thought that developer laziness, an unwillingness to handcraft the world, would end up working in her favor?
Color returned to Arvan’s cheeks as magic infused him. Nearby, the half-dressed and blushing Miriam looked almost relieved at her mistress’s display of mercy.
But Seraphina was irritated, very irritated. Casting the Heal spell again on a new entity after using it on Eloise at such a low level should have granted her a “free” skill increase. Yet, no notifications appeared to indicate any change. Still, she decided to check.
[STATUS] Seraphina de Sariens - Noble (Human lvl.14)
STR:
36
DEX:
16
CON:
14
INT:
21
WIS:
10
CHR:
39
LCK:
13
Skills & Proficiencies
Swords
(lvl.1)
Bows
(lvl.3)
Crossbows
(lvl.4)
Throwing Weapons
(lvl.1)
Dodge
(lvl.2)
Critical Hit Mastery
(lvl.1)
Improved Riding
Stolen story; please report.
(lvl.3)
Monster Taming
(lvl.2)
Herbalism
(lvl.1)
Daggers
(lvl.4)
Unarmed
(lvl.5)
Spells & Magic
Heal [5]
(lvl.1)
GIFTS
Strength of the Old Ones
+25 Strength
Health:
Stamina:
Mana:
Experience:
247/247
37/41
7/13
67/1540
She double-checked her Status to confirm, and, sure enough, the spell had not leveled up. Why was life so hard? Frustrated, she half-turned and stabbed Arvan twice in the gut, then repeated the entire process of casting Heal on him.
Now, Arvan’s face was a mix of confusion and bewilderment as he tried to comprehend what was happening. The sight was almost sickeningly comical, Seraphina thought, clicking her tongue in vexation—until, finally, the notification she was waiting for appeared.
You have learned Heal (lvl.2)
With most of her Mana depleted, Seraphina felt a slight wave of dizziness. Still, she gritted her teeth and pushed through it, a faint smile dancing in her eyes.
The man beneath her began to struggle again, his face twisted with a disturbing mix of desire and horror. Disgusting, thought the heir to the Duchy of Sariens. Without hesitation, she plunged her dagger between his eyes, finally ending his life.
You have slain a Human 50 experience gained.
Seraphina stood up, dusting herself off and wiping her knife on Arvan’s clothes before turning to her maid, who looked truly horrified.
"Why...did you have to Heal him, then kill him?" the maid asked, stammering slightly.
In the game’s storyline, Arvan was a murderer on the run. Exactly whom he had killed, or how many, she did not know. Always a step ahead of the law thanks to the magic of his lucky bracelet, he had decided to settle in Sarien. The protagonist could lead him to justice by running chores and errands, proving her dedication to her ideals. Eventually, overcome by guilt, he would surrender his magical item to Este Lize before turning himself in. It was a long, drawn-out quest that Seraphina had neither the patience nor the inclination to pursue.
"Practice, Milly, practice. Mastery is born of it, I’m afraid," Seraphina replied with a hint of flippancy. Her gaze lingered on the maid, causing her to blush under her mistress’s regard. "And besides, he was a criminal—a murderer, to be exact. Now, clean this up..."
The maid looked thoughtful, relieved to know Arvan had been a bad man. Still, she couldn’t help but squeak out in protest, "You mean I have to..."
"Yes, and this time, try to eat quietly. I feel like I could faint and need to rest me eyes. I am most certainly not taking a nap," Seraphina commanded weakly, searching for a relatively clean spot to lay her head. "Wake me in half a turn of the clock, please, and pass me his bracelet when you are done. Also, check under the counter for any documents..."
She sat down at a half-decent-looking table, crossed her arms, and rested her head on them. A faint munching sound followed her as she drifted off to sleep, having had far too much excitement for one day.
Also, it was an excellent time to try and get another much needed skill.
*****
Seraphina awoke to her maid gently shaking her shoulder.
"Lady Seraphina... I'm... um... all finished," murmured Miriam, hesitating a moment before nervously handing her a plain gold bracelet.
Blearily, the young noblewoman rubbed her eyes and stretched, covering her mouth as she let out an unladylike yawn. Closing her eyes, she confirmed that she had indeed acquired a new skill: Rest. A crucial utility skill, it also served as a prerequisite for the valuable Mana Regeneration skill.
As she clasped the bracelet around her wrist, she noticed something surprising: the place was spotless—tidy and incredibly clean. Miriam had quite literally taken her instructions to heart. Seraphina could not decide whether to be pleasantly surprised or vaguely disappointed. The absence of Arvan’s corpse tipped her judgment in Miriam's favor.
"Well done, Milly," she praised, recognizing the importance of acknowledging good work when deserved.
"And... Lady Seraphina, are these the documents you mentioned?" Miriam asked, offering her a small stack of parchment.
Most of it was trivial correspondence, but among the papers was the deed to the Crossed Crow.
"Well done, Milly," Seraphina said with one of her trademark smiles. "It seems you are now the rightful owner of the Crossed Crow, now that your uncle has so tragically passed away."
"I am?!" Miriam gasped, startled.