An uninvited guest decided to host a tap-dancing recital in the ballroom of my mind.
Clearly, my sanity was the unsuspecting dance floor.
Another unauthorized rock concert ensued, and I wasn't even given the courtesy of a heads-up.
Every pulse decided to join a conga line, and each thought brought along its own crash of cymbals.
Was this my brain's way of throwing a protest party, or did it decide to play an elaborate game of hide-and-seek in the chaos of throbbing discontent?
Groaning, I awoke, hands pushing against the polished wooden floor as if searching for a trapdoor to escape the racket.
It was a chilly awakening, both metaphorically and literally.
Every thought in my head resembled a wild mess with no rhyme or reason.
Something caught my attention in the corner of my vision—a vivid blue something. Despite its brightness, my brain failed to string together any coherent thoughts about it.
Attempting to regain control, I sat upright—apparently, the only thing I was capable of doing at the moment—and closed my eyes.
Inhale, exhale, repeat.
I just sat there, in the midst of mental mayhem, for an indeterminate period. It felt like my headache was staging a gradual exit.
As my thoughts reluctantly started to weave a semblance of coherence, I dared to open my eyes.
And there it was, the first thing that met my gaze—a blue screen, nonchalantly hovering in the air in front of me.
Congratulations, you have received the [Crimson Gaze].
[Blessing of the Killing Star] upgraded!
Tier-0 (The Crimson Seed) has been upgraded to Tier-1 (The Crimson Larva)
Tier 1: [The Crimson Larva] has been unlocked!
Following skills have been granted:
Perks:
1. Fearlessness
2. Eyes of terror evocation
3. Adaptation
Skills:
1. Keen Perception
2. Aerial Grace
3. Visionary Mastery
4. Featherweight Descent
5. Lethal Precision
6. Umbral Concealment
7. Fleet-footed Sprint
Umm yeah, this happened.
Wild.
Yeah, surprise, surprise, the blessing of a cosmic wanderer just received an upgrade.
At this point, I should be handed a guidebook titled "Navigating Bizarre Blessings for Dummies."
So, there I was, staring at this cosmic PowerPoint presentation, because apparently, even interstellar entities had a thing for bullet points and skill trees. Was there a celestial HR department handing out perks? A space admin somewhere probably pressed the wrong button and went, "Oops, wrong planet!"
If only they had a feedback form—I'd rate this blessing a solid three out of five stars. (The font was a bit tacky.)
Let me make it clear: no such setting existed in the novel. No system. No screens. Zip. Nada.
At least, main protagonist’s perspective included none.
She was too busy stumbling over her own feet and catching male characters like they were rare Pokémon. No judgment, dear protagonist, but your life choices were...interesting.
My head throbbed once again. I had no energy for this right now.
So, with a mental eye-roll, I tried to dismiss the screen. It played hard to get, like those pop-up ads refusing to close.
Eventually, it succumbed to my will, or maybe it just got bored of my nonsense. (I'll never know; system screens aren't exactly great conversationalists.)
The system screen did shed some light on Eli's unorthodox theatrics in the novel. Super strength, an almost tangible aura – the works. However, after living in her stilettos for nearly a week, I hadn't exactly felt like I was channeling raw strength through my fingertips. No superhero vibes, no mystical auras, just a regular healthy body with an affinity for sharp objects.
The screen did mention that my blessing got upgraded, asserting that this wasn't anything new and had existed before my grand arrival here. Well, I suppose getting blessed by a wandering comet comes with its own package deal.
My brain was teetering on the edge of information overload. Between deep dives into family and world history, awkward family dinners, and receiving upgrades to celestial blessing like they were free samples at the supermarket - my mental circuits were begging for a break.
And what better cure for little mental fatigue (understatement) than a good night's sleep?
It was almost midnight. I had passed out for almost two hours. Rising from the study like a wobbly drunkard, I embarked on the heroic quest to reach my room. Thankfully, it wasn't too far.
Magic lessons and exams loomed on the horizon, but my bed was calling my name louder than any spell incantation.
For now, the villainess needed some beauty sleep or, at the very least, a power nap to recharge her mental batteries.
****
In the gentle morning light, my eyes groggily parted ways with dreamland, welcoming the sunrise like it was that buddy who owes you money and finally showed up.
You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.
Oh, the delightful allure of spring, casting off winter’s icy grip with the nonchalance of a cat ditching excess fur.
The breeze. The whispers of change. The aroma of endless possibilities.
Lounging on my opulent bed, the silky sheets cradling me, I reveled in the aftermath of a night’s beauty nap, feeling reborn like a phoenix on a spa day.
A duet of exhaustion and vitality harmonized within me, perhaps a courtesy of last night’s escapades. Something had changed within me. It seemed like all my anxiety and worries were drained away.
With a mental command, the less-than-enthusiastic azure screen blinked to attention, displaying the digital dossier of yours truly.
Elidranthia Shadowstep, Blessed of the [Killing Star That Wanders The Cosmos]
Blessing Tier 1: [The Crimson Larva]
Enlightenment Rate: 0%
Metamorphosis Conditions: [Locked]
Current Perks:
* Fearlessness
* Eyes of Terror Evocation
* Adaptation
Skills:
1. Keen Perception
2. Aerial Grace
3. Visionary Mastery
4. Featherweight Descent
5. Lethal Precision
6. Umbral Concealment
7. Fleet-footed Sprint
In the beginning, this whole “transmigrating into a novel” gig felt like a surreal fever dream.
I half-expected to wake up in the afterlife with a brochure, welcoming me to a customized paradise.
Alas, reality hit harder than a metal brick, confirming that this was no fluffy afterlife fantasy but a full-blown literary escapade.
I couldn’t help but entertain the notion that the author might have been moonlighting as a deity or something. I mean, seriously, who crafts worlds like this?
And this status screen – talk about lifting the curtain on the novel’s backstage chaos. It was the key to unravelling those pesky plot holes that used to make readers cock their eyebrows.
The base magic system, as laid out in the novel, danced with the classics – fire, water, ice, earth, wood, air, metal, and all the fantastical trimmings. Or people with awakened with a single skill.
But then you had characters throwing supernatural curveballs that left everyone scratching their heads.
Take Alfred Rayhaven, the illusionist extraordinaire from the heroine’s harem. Sleight of hands, vanishing into flames, finger guns – the whole mystical shebang.
Now, it hit me like a lightning bolt: maybe he was just another player in the system lottery, like our dear Eli here. Blessed with a system.
And let’s not forget Ludwin Seraphim, the second prince and the novel’s grand puppeteer of villainy. Mind magic, physical prowess – he was like a walking contradiction to the established elemental order.
No mind magic element in the original novel’s rulebook, yet there he was, pulling strings with mental gymnastics.
Facing the grim reality of my transmigrated existence, the idea of sidestepping the whole academy ordeal and seeking solace in some remote haven did cross my mind. A tempting escape, a flicker of rebellion against the predetermined path.
But alas, it was but a fleeting fancy, a pipedream forbidden by the societal shackles of nobility.
I gave myself a metaphorical slap, a stern reminder not to descend the spiral staircase of melancholy. No time for that self-indulgent moping. Focus. Remember what I have now, and forge a path to a future I can shape.
“You got this, girl!” I whispered, conjuring a much-needed pep talk to silence the lingering doubts.
With newfound resolve, I redirected my attention to the silver lining in this predicament – the skills bestowed upon me by the blessing. My heart danced with anticipation as I pondered the possibilities, but first, a little reconnaissance was in order. I needed intel on these newfound powers before unleashing them like a kid in a candy store.
“Hey, system! Help a girl out,” I mentally nudged, coercing the screen to divulge the details. After a while, it eventually did relent.
Current Skill details:
Keen Perception: Possessing heightened senses, practitioners exhibit sharp ears, cultivating a quasi-sixth sense for anticipating imminent threats.
Aerial Grace: Demonstrating unparalleled nimbleness, individuals effortlessly execute dexterous movements with finesse.
Visionary Mastery: Adaptable vision enhancements enable the application of Night or Eagle Vision, broadening their perceptual horizons.
Featherweight Descent: Practitioners gain the ability to become as light as a feather, facilitating swift movements and mitigating potential fall damage.
Lethal Precision: Unleashing an intensified strike, individuals can channel their strength into a critical blow, maximizing the impact of their attacks.
Umbral Concealment: Grants practitioners the unique skill of seamlessly blending into shadows, providing a potent tool for stealth.
Fleet-footed Sprint: While sprinting at maximum speed, the effectiveness of the concealment ability diminishes, requiring practitioners to balance speed and stealth.
With a triumphant whoop, I revelled in the success of my mental tussle with the stubborn system.
A silent cheer for me, and, well, none for you, you tenacious system bastard.
Nevertheless, begrudging gratitude for finally spilling the beans on my newfound capabilities.
Rapidly skimming through the skill descriptions, I couldn’t suppress the grin that etched itself across my face. The possibilities were as vast as the cosmos itself.
It all made sense now, the mysterious prowess of Eli that left the novel’s readers scratching their heads.
She could conjure bursts of strength, survive falls from dizzying heights like it was a walk in the park, and seamlessly blend into shadows like a master illusionist.
Dodging attacks with the finesse of a seasoned warrior, all without the hassle of extensive training?
No wonder she seemed like a living conundrum, a puzzle that defied the logic of the established elemental magic system.
Yet, for all her abilities, the application seemed less than ideal.
(A mental note to self: steer FUCKING CLEAR of the royal family, that pit of vipers. No need to get entangled in a web of politics and deceit woven by those power-hungry snakes. I may have gained some fancy skills, but there’s no need to go picking fights with the crowned troublemakers.
Survival tip number one for this villainess: avoid royal entanglements like the plague.)
Ah, the delightful dance of discovery as I delved into the intricacies of my newfound skills.
Okay, let’s break them down:
----------------------------------------
Keen Perception: The spidey sense of the fantasy world, coupled with the ears of a bat. The idea of anticipating threats with supernatural accuracy? Sign me up for a life without surprise attacks.
Aerial Grace: No acrobatic feat is too daring, no somersault too showy? Executing dexterous movements with the finesse of a cat burglar? I couldn’t wait to try it out.
Visionary Mastery: Night vision, Eagle vision – a visual chameleon, adaptable to any lighting scenario. No more fumbling in the dark for me.
Featherweight Descent: Now we enter the bizarre realm, far from the classical elemental magic system. Cancelling momentum built by gravity and acceleration? It sounded both exhilarating and terrifying. The potential for mid-air acrobatics was there, but the fear of testing it lingered in the shadows.
Lethal Precision: The assassin’s dream – a built-in critical hit button.
Umbral Concealment: The shadow’s embrace? The assassin’s haven? Paired with Visionary Mastery, the night was about to become my playground. Stealthy escapades and surprise attacks, anyone?
Fleet-footed Sprint: A need for speed comes with a cost – the effectiveness of Umbral Concealment takes a hit while sprinting. A little lesson in balance: stealth or speed, choose wisely.
----------------------------------------
The realization hit me like a wave of joy – a tap dance and a little jump in my nightgown on the bed seemed only fitting.
Who wouldn’t be excited about a whole package of skills waiting to be tested and mastered?
The prospect of trying them out, of unravelling the potential within me, set my heart aflutter with anticipation.
A prudent choice indeed. While the allure of these newfound skills was undeniable, acknowledging the vast unknowns of this novel world and its potential power dynamics is a wise move.
The existence of others like Eli, blessed with similar abilities, raised the stakes considerably. Not to mention the looming presence of formidable mages who wielded the might of natural calamities without the need for such blessings.
In a sea teeming with sharks and literal demigods, it was a reality check to recognize oneself as a humble fish. Caution was the name of the game, and understanding the broader scope of the world became paramount.
It was time to shift focus from the flashy active skills to the subtler, potentially foundational Perks.