A few hours after she started screaming, Ignix was taking several deep breaths to calm herself. down.
“Okay...Just keep breathing…Then we’ll look over the situation and see how we can salvage it…” she told herself.
After a few minutes of this, the newly made girl took a closer look at her status screen.
STATUSNameIsabelle Lazulu (Ignix)Fame5110Level1GenderFemaleClass TreeN/AClassN/AClass LevelN/AGuildN/A
RACERacial GroupSpiritRaceKitsune-tsukiSub RaceSkytail
TITLES
Clarissa's Favorite
Lucas's Toy
Irene's Ally
JOBSJob 1N/AJob 2N/AJob 3N/AUnequippedN/A
STATSHealth850/850Mana4045/4045Stamina425/425Satiety100/100STR103VIT85AGI188DEX70INT95WIS120CHA594LUC1
TRAITS
Favored by Clarissa
Favored by Lucas
Harem Protagonist
Favored by Irene
PROFICIENCIES
Running - Basic Lv4
Hiking - Basic Lv3
Wind Magic Mastery - Basic Lv1
SKILLS
Charming Presence - Basic Lv5
Gale - Basic Lv1
Air Bullet - Basic Lv1
She was surprised at first when Hiking showed up in Proficiencies, but remembering the long walk down the stairway she took to get here she decided it made sense. As she started to look through what she had and devise a plan of action, she realized that in her hurry to open her status window she had missed another system message. Moving the window over, she began to read what else she had gotten.
You have gained a Racial Skill!
Art of Shapeshifting
Basic Lv1
One of the ways that Kitsune-tsuki survive to reach adulthood is by disguising themselves in order to fool their enemies. They start with a single alternate form and gradually gain more as they grow in power and experience.
Alternate Forms
Fox - 30 Mana
Fox Form
The form of a fox is the first form that a Kitsune-tsuki can shift into. Like her normal self, this form starts as cub and becomes older as she goes from one stage to the next.
As a first-stage Skytail, your fox form takes on the appearance of a pure white fox cub, with azure eyes and extremely fluffy fur.
After reading through this one, she had to wonder why it wasn’t on her skill list yet. Testing a sudden hypothesis, she watched her status window’s skill list while she closed out the message window. Sure enough, as soon as it’s window was closed, she saw her new Art of Shapeshifting skill appear among the others, explaining why she didn’t notice Hiking’s window among the rest as it had been closed when her transformation had logged her out.
Having figured that mystery out, she was about to return her attention to her status window when she noticed something out of the corner of her eye. The altar where the crystal she touched was resting previously, was now in ruins, revealing an opening in the wall behind it. Her curiosity got the better of her, and deciding that she couldn’t focus until she knew what lay beyond it, she stood up and walk over to it.
Taking a deep breath for courage, she stepped through the hole to find herself in a circular stone room lined with half rotten wooden doors. Having not run across anything dangerous thus far, Ignix began to check the rooms one at a time, coming across a bedroom behind the first door, followed by a kitchen and then a lounge. Upon opening her fourth door, she found a study. Prioritizing information gathering over exploration, she stepped inside.
The study was stone like the room she came from, but it was larger with stone shelves cut into its walls. As she scanned the shelves, it was clear that none of the books would be able to help her as most of them were so old that they were barely even there, with the exception of one. A single gold lined book was sitting on the rotting desk in the center of the room, it’s shine standing out against the decayed look of the rest.
Must have been protected by some kind of spell...Probably important in that case… Ignix deduced as she approached it. She reached out to pick it up, but as soon as she touched it she was blinded by a flash. She braced herself for another change, but after a few minutes of feeling nothing she opened her eyes to find herself floating in an azure void.
She was not alone, as floating in front of her several feet away, was a female figure. The mystery woman had pale skin almost as white as her hair, which was long enough to reach her knees. She wore a elegant white kimono that did nothing to hide her figure, but seemed to accentuate them instead, but her childish face and short stature gave her a cuteness that seemed to go well with them. In the middle of the whiteness, a pair of eyes the same color as the void around them stood out, as if they were two specks of blue sky peeking out from a sea of clouds. But what really drew Ignix’s attention, were the fluffy white fox ears perch atop her head and the seven bushy white fox tails that spread out in an arc from behind her. Ignix was so entranced by her, that she wasn’t snapped out of her reverie until the older kitsune spoke.
”Welcome, young one. It’s good to meet you, though I assume this is not your natural form, correct?” she paused, continuing only after Ignix had nodded.
”Then am I to further assume that you gained it from touching the crystal left on the altar?”
Another nod.
”I see...I had hoped that it wouldn’t have come to this but it seems my worst fears have been realized. Before you ask, however, I must confess that I do not have the ability to return you to your original form as I am merely a record of Shirosora’s mind and do not have any power of my own.”
“Shirosora? Is she the one who was sealed up here?”
”That is correct. She knew that she would be targeted soon, so she made a jewel to seal herself in case they found this place, intending to possess the next suitable creature that came by. But due to the seal’s nature, being under it’s influence for too long would wither her soul down to nothing. So she created the jewel in such a way that if that happened, it’s victim would be cursed to become one of her race instead and made me to guide whoever activated it’s spell. You may call me Sorako.”
“Cursed? Does that mean I’m stuck like this?”
”In a way, yes. A cursed transformation locks it’s target into a form and can only be lifted by it’s caster, or someone of greater power. I’m sorry to say that while I was made from Shirosora’s power and you have absorbed her essence, neither of us are capable of removing the spell as the caster, so your only option is to find someone of greater power. Though to find someone stronger than a seventh stage spirit that won’t attack one on site would take an enormous stroke of luck.”
“Yeah, I was afraid of that...Luck isn’t exactly on my side though…”
”Then I’m afraid that your only course of action if you want to return to what you used to be is to become stronger that Shirosora was and undo the curse on your own.”
“What was she trying to accomplish anyways? Why go so far?”
”She had only one objective. The revival of the Spirit Races. She devoted herself to it, transforming all she came across into our kin in the hopes that their former brethren would hesitate to strike them down. Only to watch as her hopes were dashed as they were slaughtered without pause. She eventually decided to retreat from the public eye to wait until the fighting died down in order to begin her goal anew. Unfortunately, as she was in the midst of creating a forest in which to hide, she was beset by her enemies and forced to activate her emergency measures in the hopes that she would be able to continue on in a new body, or that her successor would find it in their hearts to continue on her mission. So I ask you young one, would you please fufill Shirosora’s final wish?”
*Ping!*
You have been offered a Quest!
Shirosora's Final GambleRank: SSS[/td3]You have gathered your courage in order to travel deeper into the very place you were cursed, and have been rewarded by Sorako with the truth of why it was that you became as you now are.
But now you are faced with a choice.
Do you agree to aid Sorako in fulfilling Shirosora's final mission or turn her down as revenge for making you into something different from what you once were?
In order to complete this quest, you must create a sizable population of followers belonging to the Spirit Racial Group and ensure that they will not be hunted down again by the other races.
Rewards:
Leadership of the Spirit Races
UnknownWARNING: WHEN YOU ACCEPT A QUEST OF S RANK OR HIGHER, ALL PLAYERS CURRENTLY LOGGED IN WILL BE NOTIFIED. DO NOT ACCEPT IF YOU ARE NOT WILLING TO HAVE THIS HAPPEN.
Accept
Refuse
Ignix only hesitated to read the warning before giving her reply.
“I’ll do it. I’m not happy about having to stay like this, but letting the Spirit Races die out is not something I can ignore and doing so isn’t going to change me back to normal.”
“Really?! Oh thank you so much miss...Oh! Where are my manners I forgot to ask your name!”
“It’s...Isabelle...Isabelle Lazulu…” she said, trying to hide her red face.
”That reaction… Oh dear, you weren’t male before, were you?”
“Y-Yeah…I was...”
”In that case, I really must thank you for accepting my selfish request in spite of your changes. I’ll make sure to help you become more accustomed to your new form seeing as you’ll most likely be in it for a while.”
“Uh...Thanks I guess…”
*Ping!*
You have accepted the SSS Rank Quest "Shirosora's Final Gamble"!
You are the first Traveler to accept a SSS Rank Quest!
+2000 Fame
ATTENTION ALL PLAYERS!
Isabelle Lazulu, played by Ignix, has discovered a remnant of the long extinct Spirit Races and, by agreeing to help revive them, accepted the SSS Rank Quest "Shirosora's Final Gamble"!
Whether she succeeds or fails in this endeavor, the world of Ethris is sure to start to change as news of her mission spreads. Will you aide her along her journey? Or will stand on the side of those who would stop her by any means necessary?
”Don’t mention it Lady Isabelle! I will gladly accompany you wherever you wish to go! And though it isn’t much of anything after so long, feel free to use what’s left of Shirosora’s possessions as you see fit!”
As soon as she finished speaking, Sorako’s body became a mass of azure colored energy, collapsing into a sphere the size of a tennis ball and jumping into Isabelle’s chest. Isabelle’s eyes shot open to find herself back in the study, as if the whole thing had been nothing but a daydream.
Isabelle immediately knew it wasn’t due to three things. First, the book that she had touched was gone. Second, in her arms was the fluffiest thing she had ever felt in her life. Third, she heard the familiar pinging noise that alerted her to a system message. She wanted to read it, but she was too absorbed in cuddling the fluffy thing in her arms.
”Lady Isabelle? Are you alright?”
Isabelle jumped when she heard the fluffy thing speak to her in Sorako’s voice. Holding the creature out in front of her at arm’s length, she could see that it was a fluffy white fox with blue eyes.
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“Sorako? Is that you?”
”Obviously, Lady Isabelle. I’m your familiar now after all. A believe the divine messages would tell you of such a thing, no?”
“Oh! Well I did get some but...I was a little preoccupied with how soft and fluffy you are…” Isabelle said while blushing.
”I don’t mind it too much. In fact, I’m rather glad that my form pleases you so much, Lady Isabelle. Though I would suggest checking those messages now.”
Isabelle nodded and brought Sorako back to her chest as she checked out the new windows.
Sorako has bound herself to you as a passive Familiar!
STATUSNameSorakoOwnerIsabelle Lazulu (Ignix)RelationshipFamiliarTypePassiveGenderFemaleTrustMAXAssigned RoleGuideElemental AffinityWindDietIsabelle's ManaSatiety100/100
[td2]RACE
Racial GroupConstructRaceArtificial SoulSub RaceSky Fox
TITLES
N/A
TRAITS
N/A
PROFICIENCIES
Gathering - Basic Lv1
Mining - Basic Lv1
Skinning - Basic Lv1
SKILLS
Identify - Advanced Lv 2
Storage - Basic Lv 1
Shared Senses - Basic Lvl 1
Wind Manipulation - Basic Lv1
[a]
[Shirosora's Burrow] has become your Territory!
[a]
[Shirosora's Burrow] has been renamed as [Isabelle's Burrow]!
Isabelle looked of Sorako’s information and skills. Her Gathering, Mining, and Skinning proficiencies let her gather materials from her surroundings, mine them from ores and rocks, and get them from disassembling slain monsters respectively. Identify was pretty self explanatory as a skill that allowed to examine objects and monster to learn more about them, while her Storage skill was one that gave non-Travelers an inventory to use. Share Senses was especially interesting as it allowed Isabelle to use Sorako’s senses in place of her own, though it seemed that at it’s current level it was limited to sight and the vision was blurry and colorless. All in all, it seemed like Sorako would be pretty useful, though Isabelle still had a few questions.
"Hey Sorako, why can't I see your stats?"
”As I’m a passive familiar, I can not participate in battle so I do not have stats at all. Do you have any other questions, Lady Isabelle?”
“I’ve got several. What’s the difference between a pet and a familiar? Why is Identify at Advanced level two while the others are still at Basic level one? And while I’m at it, what’s a territory and what does it do? Where am I exactly and how far is it to the nearest town? And how can I get a class and a job and what’s the difference between them?”
Sorako blinked.
”Territory? Oh! You are a Traveler then, Lady Isabelle?”
“Yeah, is that a problem?”
”Not at all! As for your questions: The main differences between a pet and a familiar are that a familiar is magically bound to follow their own while a pet can leave if it feels mistreated, a familiar can speak to their owner using actual language, and a familiar eats it’s owner’s mana when hungry compared to pets who must eat actual food. My Identify is so much higher than my other skills because I was designed to be a guide, so the others were actually added as a last minute afterthought.
A territory is any space owned by a Traveler. No other than who the owner allows can enter, so you being a Traveler works out pretty well for us. You are currently in the Forest of Change on the Artam continent, the nearest town being Loksha, which about about half a mile to the west of the burrow’s entrance.
As for classes, you’d need to visit a trainer in a town to get a base class which has a separate level from your own which increases as you use the skills you provide. Once your class reaches level 10, it will evolve into a new one based on a variety of factors. This is known as a class upgrade. An example of such is that someone with the Mage base class who spends a lot of time and focus on improving their CHA stat would most likely have their class upgrade into the Sorcerer class. The Sorcerer class is one that was actually designed a long time ago to mimic your current race by adding the user’s CHA to their INT for the purposes of determining base mana and spell effectiveness.
As for jobs, they’re like classes in that you have to find someone to teach them to you and that they level separately from use, but unlike classes instead of evolving they keep rising in level beyond level 10 and they don’t change the way your character works like a lot of classes. Also compared to classes, the bonuses they provide to stats and skills are smaller and they don’t give as many skills. The last main difference is that you can have as many jobs as you want or can find and you can equip up to three at a time. Does that answer your questions, Lady Isabelle?”
“No that just about covers it. Thanks Sorako.”
”Happy to help! Sorako responded in a proud tone.
Smiling and feeling good about finally getting both a companion and some answered, Isabelle turned to leave but stopped when she noticed something she hadn’t earlier. In far corner of the study, about 5 meters away, stood a full length mirror, slightly grimy but still clear enough to show Isabelle’s reflection even at this distance, though she couldn’t see well enough to make out any detail.
This is as good a time as any to check out what I look like now. Might as well get it over and done with. she thought to herself as she set Sorako down on the desk and headed over to it.
Standing in front of the mirror, she finally she saw her new appearance.
“T-This is….me?” she asked herself in a tone of disbelief as she reached out to touch her reflection.
On the mirror’s surface, a girl that looked like a child version of the form that she had first seen Sorako extended her own hand, touching Isabelle’s fingers as they came into contact with the mirror. The girl had the same pale skin, the same pure white hair that reached her knees, and the same azure eyes that completed the look. However, unlike Sorako’s appearance this girl could only be thought of as a child. She was so small, maybe 3 feet tall at most, and lacked any breasts to speak of. The white fox ears atop her head were small and cute as was the single bushy white tail that grew out from the base of her spine. Her face was even more childish than Sorako’s had been, lacking the mature aura that the older version had emitted. Whereas Sorako had been a stunning combination of sexy and cute, the girl before Isabelle was just as stunning in her own way: she was absolutely adorable. Only her outfit, the beginner’s clothing that consisted of a simple short sleeve shirt, a pair of pants, and a pair of shoes, looked out of place.
Isabelle was snapped out of her dreamlike state with a tug at her pants legs. Looking down, she noticed Sorako sitting by her feet.
”Lady Isabelle, I believe we should survey the situation outside. There was a barrier in place to keep Residents and Travelers out, power by the crystal that held Shirosora’s soul. But now that it has been destroyed, others are now free to enter the forest.”
Isabelle nod and bent down to pick Sorako up. Carrying the small fox, Isabelle left the study and headed out for the carven, making her way to the stairwell.
--------------------
A few hours of walking up stairs, STR and VIT stat increases, Hiking proficiency level ups, and breaks later, Isabelle had finally reached the top and was sprawled on the dirt floor of the burrow’s entrance area.
“Remind me...to put...an elevator in....Sorako…” the tired Skytail said between gasps for air.
”I don’t mind, but may I ask what an elevator is Lady Isabelle?”
“You’ll see...when I...put it in…”
”Then I shall look forward to it. Please don’t rest for too long. This area is technically a part of the forest so it won’t be included in your territory unless you acquire the whole of the Forest of Change.”
After spending another half hour catching her breath, Isabelle picked herself up and dusted herself off. She walked towards the entrance, realizing that it felt like an eternity since she had last seen the two foot hole that she had first fallen through when she was being chased by that horde of monsters. Moving the brush covering it aside, she took a deep breath and poked her head through to the surface.
Just in time to see a boot collide with her face, sending her back down into the burrow…
--------------------
Dawn was helping Lynn up off the forest floor. The two had been searching the forest for hours in search of the source of the scream despite the fact that it had already stopped, when Lynn suddenly tripped over something.
“You okay?”
“I’m fine Dawn, thanks. I must have tripped over a root or something.”
“I don’t think so. I was behind the entire time and I’m pretty sure I saw something white pop up from the ground for a second.”
The cheetah girl walked back over to the place where Lynn had tripped and after a few seconds of searching found a two foot hole concealed by brush.
“Looks like a burrow. What do you want to do Lynn?”
“What else?” the red haired Sorcerer said with a smile, quickly climbing down through the hole, leaving Dawn to sigh as she jumped down the short distance to the bottom. Looking around quickly she noticed Lynn had stopped and was staring at something.
“What are you loo-” she started to say before stopping after she noticed the small child sitting on the floor holding her nose. The girl had a pair of small fox ear perched on her head while a small and fluffy tail extended out from her rear. She was wearing a set of beginner’s clothes on her completely white body.
No, not completely white. Dawn noted as the girl looked up at them with a teary pair of big azure eyes.
“Um...Hel-”
The girl didn’t manage to finish her nervous greeting before Lynn jumped on her.
--------------------
On a mountain top some ways away, a lone dragonoid lay sprawled on the ground. But rather than being out of breath or injured, she was instead roaring with laugher and pounding the ground so hard with her fist that craters were formed. In front of the dragon girl was a system message that informed her of a SSS Rank quest that another Traveler had undertaken.
“Isabelle?! Silasdammit, little bro! You JUST got the game and you’re already the opposite gender?! This is too much!”
Of course she knew who it was. How could she not? After all, while a character’s first name could be used freely between multiple players, in order to prevent copy cats a taken last name could only be used if someone who had it gave the player a key via email. And she herself had sent him the key for the last name “Lazulu” while he was on his way to buy the game.
Taking a few breaths to calm herself, Ivel Lazulu wiped a tear from her eye and turned her attention to the contents of the quest.
“At any rate, this is too good to miss out on! I’ll to hurry up and find him, or should I say her! I just hope Chikara or any of her groupies aren’t logged on. If she catches wind of this and finds little sis before I do…” Her mood darkens instantly as she thinks about it.
“Dammit I really need to hurry…” she mutters as she resumes her journey away from Loksha at full speed, unaware that she’s headed in the exact opposite direction of her objective.
--------------------
Lilith was grinning widely as Loksha and the Forest of Change came into view. She had gotten an absolutely delicious idea when she had seen that system message.
Now that I don’t have to explain how I know Mistress’s username when I search for her and have a good excuse for approaching her, I can keep my real life identity a secret and instead of being professional all the time, I can do as I please and pamper her all I want! she thought, going over the plan in her head, getting excited shivers just thinking about it.
“Please just hold on a little bit longer Mistress Isabelle. Lilith’s on her way!”
--------------------
In the void of the gods, there was an impromptu party going on.
“I’m so glad she took that quest! Ever since we failed to get our followers to stop from hunting the Spirits to extinction, it’s been weighing heavily on my conscience, you know?” Clarissa said happily, raising a wine class.
“For once we agree, you manga loving idiot.” Irene said with a smile, touching her glass to Clarissa’s.
“Cheers then, you frumpy prude.” Clarissa replied, downing her glass.
The rest of the gods were similarly festive, all feeling some of the guilt they had been burdened with slide of their shoulders with the undertaking of Isabelle’s quest.
--------------------
Cookie Corner
--------------------
While I did get some great ideas, in order to prevent spoilers I’ll be giving out the acknowledgement and cookies when said ideas are implemented into the story.
So for now, this week’s recipients of the “Good Idea!” cookies are: xacual and Chemile!
xacual: suggested I give a reason for the Travelers not exploring the Forest of Change thus far.
Chemile: suggested I give a description of the main character this chapter
--------------------
Author Corner
--------------------
Heya guys! This chapter’s been a dozy!
Special thanks goes to Warhawx for inviting me to the Den, where I got to meet a bunch of other authors and got some great advice for TFO!
Only downside is that VRDraco seriously expects me to put out a chapter a day, but that’s definitely a plus for you guys!
I’m going to bed now so I’ll be reading and responding to your comments in the morning.
Until next time!
Grandfinale, over and out!