image [https://cdn.midjourney.com/f34efdc0-c17b-466f-acf4-2e54f0707a89/0_1.png]

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

New Reality: 15 July 1525, near Paris

Elisa stretched and yawned, then smiled and threw her arms around his neck, kissing him. "Good morning!"

Ardent returned the kiss but kept it as polite as he could. He opened his mouth to say something, then closed it. And again, swallowing hard. "I…" he started but paused.

A cloud briefly passed over her face. "It's OK… last night was… just to say thanks…" she said hesitantly, letting go of his neck. "No obligations."

Taking her hands in his, Ardent sighed. "I lost my head… you're too beautiful… I had never been noticed by sophisticated women before."

"I'm nothing sophisticated," Elisa protested. "I'm all about 'Less is more'."

He laughed. "You're wonderful. And the little one is adorable."

"And a handful," Elisa smiled. It was a beautiful smile. For a second, Ardent's heart was filled only with joy, then, he remembered the Dark Draconic Amboise and sulked, his mood darkening. "Elisa… there's something important we need to talk about. That guy we killed last night was a dark magic user."

"Dark magic… Makes sense… He touched my hand, at the party, then I woke up in another place, and he was all over me," Elisa heaved, remembering her ordeal.

"I healed you and noticed in the process you have the potential to develop magical powers. Good ones. I can help you learn how to use them."

"Do you have magical powers?" she asked, looking at him with interest, but also a bit of suspicion. "The comics hinted you have enhanced strength, but… magic?"

"Magic appeared in this world a few months ago… I was there when it happened, and got powers," Ardent said. "I'll give you a demonstration."

Activate Macro: Stealth and Silence, Ardent thought with intent. He disappeared, walked around the bed, and reappeared on the other side. Now she was looking at him in silence, a bit startled, but considering things. She's a smart woman…

"I saw a bubble of air moving around the bed," she said, "but nothing more. It's… impressive."

"It's harder to hide in proximity and bright light," he gestured toward the window. "If you accept, I can unlock your magical abilities. Take it as… as a token of lo— appreciation for the precious moments we shared."

"Are there more ways for people to do magic?" she asked, raising and kneeling on the bed, looking interested.

"Yes. My way is called a System, and it's the safest of all. It's like a magical book, information that appears in your head, suited to your talents. I'm a Jack of All Trades, for instance. Francis is a Scholar."

"The king is a magician?" she interjected, eyes wide.

"Yes… And Cl— Madame Bovary an Influencer."

"You know her?" Elisa's eyes were sparkling with interest.

"I sure do," Ardent grinned sheepishly. "If you become a System user, you'll be able to meet h… her."

"Let's do it," Elisa clapped her hands. "If Madame Bovary's a System user, this can't be anything but good… She's my idol."

"Yeah... about that… Never mind, it can wait… As soon as we start the process, you will see a series of blue texts. Read them carefully, and ask me if you need to know something. Are you ready?'

Elisa took a deep breath. "No… but I guess this is as ready as I can ever be…"

"I want to use one Fate Point to offer the System to Elisa, here present. Show the notifications to both of us," Ardent said.

Ardent the Morlako, Jack of All Trades, offers to initiate you to the System. Do you accept? Yes/No

This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

For a second, she jerked, frightened to see the text, but Ardent sat on the bed, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. Which maybe was not the best idea, because the warmth and scent of her body was not helping him keep his mind in the right spots.

"You're doing great," he encouraged her as she selected YES.

A Fate Point has been activated to initiate the System into Target: Elisa de Bourgogne.

"It's tingling," she shivered, pushing herself back, and tucking her body into his.

Ardent kissed her hair. "It won't be long," he said.

Initializing System installation into Target. Scanning. Potential classes (Epic Rank): Artifact Hunter, Fashionista, Art Critic. Unique class option detected, S rank. The unique class cannot be revealed before installation, as it will be heavily influenced by the host's personality.

Important: Unique classes are not superior to other S-Rank classes, but are more bespoke and personalized. You have unlocked this choice for killing a Dark Draconic thrall, a rare feat for someone without a class or manifested powers.

So she was the one credited with the kill, Ardent thought. Good for her. Briefly inspecting the fight's notification, he noticed he had received about +25% XP toward the next level, and that was all.

"Art Critic?" Elisa said with joy. "I like to critique art so much!"

Women are born critics, Ardent giggled on the inside. "The S-rank classes are the most powerful, but if you want to have an easier life, go for Art Critic."

Elisa considered things for a second, then shook her head. "No. If I'm powerful, I can defend myself and Val. I'll take the Unique option… Uh… it hurts."

"I'm here," Ardent said, taking her in his arms. For five minutes, she growled or groaned, whimpered, heaved, chattered her teeth, and sweat. Finally, the last message arrived.

Installation Complete. Welcome to the System.

Name: Elisa de Bourgogne. Age: 22. Evolved species: demigoddess. Class: Muse (Supreme Rank). Level 1.

1 Attribute Point in every stat per every 10 levels. 2 free Attribute Points per every 5 levels. 2 Ability Tokens per every 10 levels, 2 Fate Points every 5 levels.

Stats:

STR: 12 / DEX: 20 / CON: 16

INT: 20 / WIL: 20 / CHA: 100

Health Pool = CON x 30 Magic Pool = CHA x 30

Initial abilities: Inspiration (buff). Clarity of Mind (buff). Confusion (debuff) Divine Gift (permanent buff). Divine Shield (Karma-based forcefield aura). Divine Smiting (offensive blunt damage).

"Is this good?" Elisa asked with the eagerness of a child playing a new board game with unknown rules.

"It's amazing," Ardent said.

"I have to change," she said, looking at her house robe, all sweaty now.

"I'll leave you to it," Ardent said, leaving the bed in a hurry. Without the notifications, their bodies glued together messed with his mind too much. Going back into the kitchen, he met Thomas, who frowned at him. "You two were very noisy," he said. "I had to send Marie and Valerie to the market."

Ardent blushed but didn't object. It would have been a lost cause anyway. Instead, he went outside, walked through the forest, concentrated on chatting with his minions, and then texting with Salvatore and Clement. The slower pace of writing was keeping his mind and body in check.

He stopped a few times when mentioning Elisa to his friends, his heart beating wild. Ten minutes later, he returned to the bedroom, entering after knocking. The woman was dressed in day clothes, simple and functional. She was breathtaking even like that.

"I hope there's some food left… I'm famished," she chirped, her voice merry and clear as crystal.

"I have to go," Ardent said without looking into her eyes. "A friend will come later and install a portal in your house. His name is Salvatore. With it, you will be able to travel instantly to Rome and back, it's just a simple two-way thing. Madame Bovary is based in Rome, it's a pen name for Pope Clement."

"No way!" she exclaimed, slack-jawing.

"Yeah… and he needs a sidekick for the fashion magazines. You can work together to bring enlightenment to the world… Francis promised to take care of the Amboises, but just in case, I'll leave my horse and a Dryad to watch over you until the threat is gone."

"Thank you," Elisa curtsied.

"Ana looks human, so no worries there. She'll show you how to use a smartphone… Meaning this," he put a device on the table. "And last, but not least… Here are a couple of Fate Points," he said, initiating the trading. "Read about them… they can save your life, or Valerie's… Goodbye."

He said the last word slowly and turned to leave. She ran and caught his hand.

"Wait!"

"No. The longer I stay, the more it hurts."

His words made her jolt to grab his neck and kiss him. There was a brief blue screen, but he ignored it, returning the kiss with passion, and then pushing her away, gently. Only when he entered the forest, did Ardent remember the notification.

You have received a Divine Gift (Unique). Your Charisma has been permanently increased by 25 points. You have reached the second threshold. Divine Passive received: Heartful. Any protection or healing spells you cast over yourself, your loved ones, friends, or family will have their costs halved and their value doubled.