Anita looked back and forth between Theo and Tracy. One stood gaping around herself while the other had his eyes glazed over, moving back and forth as if reading something only he could see. At the same time, tapping the air with an index finger. "Okay, I guess I will clean up camp by myself."

Theo spent a couple of minutes reading through the message ignoring the rather rude sections to figure out just what changed. Technically, it is a new skill now, so maybe the cooldown reset, and I can squeeze in a second use in one day. But should I save it for someone new or... Maybe.

Refocusing on the world around him. Theo found Anita packing while Tracy was tieing the pile of green furs together with rope that looked like she made from the remains of his shirt. Which one should I test this on? On the one hand, annoying Anita is fun. On the other hand, seeing Aunt Tracy go into a rage at the snarky notifications would also be amusing. A picture of the tall woman trying to cut the messages in half brought a grin to Theo's face until he thought of the possibility of either him or Anita being too close. that worried him a little. "Yes, Anita makes for a better Guinnie pig. Even better, she has experience."

Although Anita could not hear the Prince mumbling to himself, a shiver ran down her spine at the roguish grin on his face. Standing to face the prince, a stern look on her face, Anita threatened. "Theo, I saw how fast you healed after the wolf attack if you try playing another prank on me, I won't hesitate to put a dagger or two in you."

Theo only rolled his eyes and walked closer. "Relax It is nothing like that I got a new skill and I need to see how it works. It should be even more useful than dispelling the Geas."

Narrowing her eyes at him while fingering a dagger hilt, Anita asked. "Should be?"

Tracy stopped next to Anita and patted her shoulder before bending down and whispering in her ear. "Relax his Father was the same. he always did things like this, but he would never actually do anything to harm those he cared about. If he wants to try something on you, he is sure it won't hurt you."

Whispering back, Anita asked. "But how, or what does he mean he just learned a new skill? Learning skills takes years not to mention spells. that old sorcerer in the Capital took decades to learn a single spell. According to Grandpfather."

Tracy only shrugged it off before taking Anita's pack and setting it down as she began reorganizing all of their belongings.

A second later, a grinning Theo winked at Anita and put his hand on her head. For several seconds nothing happened, then Theo's face turned red. "Fine you stupid system I will say it out loud, -Soverighnes Right, Awaken-." An electric charge flashed from Theo's middle up his arm before passing into Anita's head.

When the strange bluish ball of energy passed into Anita's head, her eyes rolled back, and she collapsed into a heap at Theo's feet. Theo, for his part, only wobbled for a second, then, turning his head, began vomiting. A moment later, he straightened up. "That did not feel nice."

You were successful at awakening a class in Lady Anita Barnabus. +10% skill proficiency, +10 exp, 9/10 uses remaining. FYI, I only allowed you to skip the cooldown timer this once so that I could have an intelligent conversation for a change.

So coupled with what I had from walking around then killing two wolves, I now have one hundred and thirty exp.

Tracy bent over Anita and found she had not gone unconscious. Anitas eyes were glazed over, and she kept swatting her hand at something unseen by Tracy. "What did you do Theo?"

After shaking his head to try and dispel the weird sluggish feeling in his head, he responded. "I awakened a class in her. I think that is what the prompt is telling me anyway. By the way, do you know what exp is?"

Tracy slowly stood, a confused look on her face scanning the surroundings. "Thats odd I was expecting company. There were at least four people surrounding us, but now they seem to be gone. And no I don't know what exp is according to Jeffree it has something to do with essence."

Theo stood looking around as he thought about what Tracy said for a moment. "No, well maybe, but there is more to it because I get exp from just walking around, and using my skills sometimes."

Taking one last look around to be sure they got everything. Tracy was about to tell them all it was time to go when Theo's words registered. "Wait, are you telling me you can use that strange skill called status that the Outworlders have?"

Theo tilted his hand back and forth. "Yes and no I have a status page but I can't access it yet because whatever is in control of this won't let me for some reason. Unless you believe it's under development like it says in the notification."

While they discussed that, Anita stood up, looked around for a second, and then grabbed her pack. "Okay I'm ready to go. -- Um where are we going?"

Theo first snatched the stack of furs from Tracy with a wide grin and then hooked his arm in Anita's. "First my dear Anna we are heading to the town roughly two miles east. Before you ask how I know, let's begin our journey. I will teach you what I have figured out so far about our strange. Hang on what did it call itself again?" After a couple of minutes of flipping through some old notifications, Theo found what he wanted. "Ah, here it is our System."

However, Anita only pushed a finger to Theo's mouth. "Shush let me go through a few things first then we can compare what we have figured out later for now keep your eyes moving. If we are this close to a town we may run into bandits or worse guards loyal to one of the Demon's."

Following a few steps behind the two, Tracy smiled, eyes flicking to her left before returning. "Let's just see how long it takes for those two to notice we are being followed. It shouldn't take too long, I hope, this person would make a terrible theif."

Theo scoffed. "I can talk and walk, but fine I will keep my eyes open while you tell me what class you unlocked. I got a notification telling me you got one. It sounds like what the King's Champions were, except you know, we have a system and they didn't."

After a moment of thought, Anita agreed. Pulling her arm from Theo's, she instead held his hand. "Okay but you better not let me walk into a tree while I am distracted." Theo squeezed her hand, so she went back to her screen. "Anyway I am apparently a Druid class. I can use nature related spells and ability's. My spells are, um wait a second I have to find that button again."

During Anita's brief silence, Theo thought he heard a snapping branch. He strained his ears for a few seconds but didn't hear it again. Shrugging, he turned his attention back to Anita.

"Here it is."

Mending, Repair damaged or broken items. Too bad it won't work on that Prince's head.

Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

Cost, Dependent. Spark, Give a slight shock to an enemy. Or better yet, next time that Prince pulls a prank, well, you get the idea. Cost, 1 Magic +1 per 10' Max 100'. Cast time, Instant Damage, 1-6+1 Create Water. It's all in the name, but remember the prank thing this will work too, especially if you cast this first. Cost, 1 Magic per cup. Cure wounds, Heals minor wounds on touch. Again it's pretty self-explanatory. Cost 6 Magic. Cast time, Instant Heals 1-8+3 HP. Entangle, Vines sprout from the ground 'Entangling' your enemy. Or, you know, an annoying Prince. Cost 10 Magic, Cast time, 1 minute. Thunderwave, A concussive force radiates from your body in a 20' radius doing slight damage and possibly knocking them from their feet. You probably don't want to use this when your friends are nearby Unless you do? Cost 12 Magic. Cast time, Instant. Damage 2-16+1

At some point, Theo stopped moving and just stared dumbfounded at Anita. When the two Ladies planned to see if he was broken, he finally spoke. "All I got is 'Cleave' and I don't even have the proper weapon to use it, Not to mention I only have enough Magic to use it once in battle. -- Why do I feel this system is sexist?"

Anita's smile grew once more, threatening to split her face. "Do you want to see me use one of my spell's?" Upon getting excited nods from both of her traveling companions, she had them both step back. But not before taking the stick Theo had found along the way to replace the one he broke on the wolf's head. Nothing seemed to happen for a long moment, and Theo was about to ask when she planned to start when the top of the stick began to emit a dull green glow.

A full minute passed when Anita pointed the stick toward a nearby tree and shouted 'Entangle' at the top of her lungs, making Theo jump back slightly in shock. Tracy, on the other hand, laughed when she saw which tree Anita was aiming for. "Good girl, I wasn't sure either of you would notice him before we reached the town."

Anita smiled proudly. "I noticed him a couple minutes after we left but since you were obviously watching him I wasn't sure if I should out him." However, her proud grin turned into a pout.

Entangle was unsuccessful. Better luck next time.

Ignoring both of them, Theo hurried over to the young man, no boy, who was skurrying backward on his rump, staring at the spot the vines sprang from the ground. "Good morning my good man my name is Theodore Arturian the Twelfth. Might I enquire as to why you appear to be following us?"

As he asked this, he took in the boy's appearance. Although his clothes were simple, they are clean and in good shape. Two daggers are sheathed at his sides, attached to a fancy leather belt with a small bunny etched into it, and a brass clasp is holding it in place. Other than that, the most interesting facet of the boy's appearance was his emerald eyes and hair so blonde it was almost white. Well, except for the ears that tapered to a point.

Not able to understand, Theo finally asked a question that had bothered him since he saw the boy dodge out of the way of Anita's spell. "How in the Realm did you manage to stay hidden so long with hair that bright?"

The boy looked from one face to the other, fear evident on his face before tucking some loose hair behind his slightly pointed ears before speaking so softly they all had to strain to hear. "My name is James Harrison my Mother is a Wood Elf so I have a knack for stealth. And before you ask Elves are immune to mental attacks so the Gesh doesnt affect me."

Grinning broadly, Theo reached down and clasped hands with James and pulled him to his feet before he began patting the dust from his back. "Nice to meet you James Harrison, although you seem like a nice chap I would still like to know why you are following us."

While being knocked around by Theo's attempt to remove the dust, James spoke. "I was getting to that. Ouch hey, be careful geez are you half Ogre? Anyway, I went to the river to do a bit of fishing when I heard you guys talking. I got curious, you don't find many foreigners this far into the Kingdom and as far as I know, Mom and I are the only Elves in the immediate area. Again before you ask no my Dad is not an Elf he is a Human, he runs the local guild branch here in the town of Woodhaven."

Anita walked up and smacked James on the forehead with her stick. "I believe everything but the fishing part wanna try again on why you were at the river."

James scrunched up his nose before letting out a breath. "Fine I was going to practice my stealth and other skills by taking people's clothes that were bathing at the river, I can usually find a victim or two this time of the morning... Don't look at me like that I never take anything that will leave them indecently exposed and I always return their belongings. Remembering what I take from whom is actually part of my practice."

By the end of his gloating speech, his voice had risen to a normal level. Showing just how proud he is of his strange hobby. "Anyway enough about me. You three must be new in the Kingdom how did you get in was it a teleportation scroll my Dad claims he found one in a dungeon once but it was confiscated by the tax collector. Oh, while you're here, are you going to check out the dungeon Dad won't let me go in unless I can get at least two people my own age to accompany me. They also have to register with the Guild."

Tracy sighed and waved everyone back onto the road, telling them to talk and walk. She was mildly amused when she saw Anita push James aside to walk next to Theo once again, wrapping her hand in his before her eyes glazed over. Why do I feel like I am chaperoning noble brats on a simple hunting trip?

Theo and James talked nonstop the entire way to the town. During the walk, Theo would occasionally inadvertently lead Anita into a small pothole. When she glared at him, he always gave the same innocent look. While Tracy kept an eye on their surroundings, shaking her head at Theo's antics once in a while.

As they neared the town walls, the group passed a couple of squads of patrols, but they didn't seem like they planned to harass anybody. They only nodded their way and continued their patrol. One or two-eyed James suspiciously, A what did he do this time, look in their eyes. when they were out of earshot, James whispered. "We should use sign language until we get to my house talking scares the smaller children. Also, it makes the guards nervous."

Upon reaching the gates, they were only stopped for a second as one of the guards asked James to place any items he had acquired this morning and who they belonged to in a box by the gate. When James signed that he didn't get anything this morning, the guard ruffled his hair before waving them through.

Before any of them could have a chance to look around, James rushed them into a large shop just inside the gate. "Mom I'm back."

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

Ezriela Harrison, a tall Elven woman of indeterminate years, Sat impatiently at the clothing counter. "Where is that boy I need to get that wedding dress for Cecilia finished and here I am stuck at the counter."

At another counter nearby, a human woman of middling years chuckled. "He will be here soon although he is a bit of a trouble maker he never misses a day of work."

Further down at a store section with every weapon one could think of, a skinny man laughed. "Now now Ezriela we all know what you really want is to use him to try it on since the both of them are near the same size... Poor boy not only is he smaller than most boys his age but his own Mother likes to use him as a dress-up doll. Imagine if word of this reached the other younglings in town."

On the other side of Ezriela, a door to the back opened, and the smell of freshly baked bread wafted out. A moment later, a young woman walked through carrying a tray of still steaming pastries and set it down on her counter. Looking out the floor-to-ceiling glass window that cost the four of them a couple of month's earnings to have installed. "Oh here comes James and he seems to have found some friends."

Ezriela looked up, interested to see if James had indeed found a friend, and saw a rather tall young man with one-armed draped over her son's shoulder. At the same time, a young woman clasped his other hand. She raised a brow at his lack of shirt, and a large stack of green furs slung over his shoulders. Following behind a woman probably nearing her forties. Wearing a flower dress a bit too small for her with a two-handed sword slung over her shoulder had a bemused smile as she took in her surroundings.

Ezriela's smile faltered for a split second, but she managed to compose herself before anyone noticed.

Moments later, James opened the door shouting his return, waving to everyone inside before introducing everyone.