“Look, I am not saying I don’t appreciate your input but clearly you have no idea what you are talking about. I am aware that seeking research feedback is important. I am aware that there is value in getting someone else’s perspective on an issue. I just don’t want it to be yours.”
~Unknown
Tulos waited outside while his wife put their son down for a nap. The events of the day had taken a lot out of the boy, and rightfully so. He figured so many new experiences had to be exhausting for a baby.
“Even with a Skill like Perseverance…” Tulos was still processing the revelation.
He hadn’t been convinced of the outlandish truth until Hwan let him read the Core Analysis personally. Even then it didn’t seem real. Tulos wandered over to his woodshed and selected one of the larger logs he’d felled the day before. With minimal effort, he hoisted it onto his shoulder and carried it to an open space near the house. It was a feat not typically possible for someone with his level of the Strength (Body) Skill. His specialized Skill Augmentation choices did a lot of heavy lifting to bridge the gap, figuratively speaking.
The log shifted as Tulos settled his bulk onto it. Even though it was the largest log in his shed, it still wasn’t entirely adequate to comfortably seat him. His knees crested higher than his waist sat. It would be good for Tina, though, so he was content to endure the minor discomfort. They needed to talk about their son’s future and Tulos reasoned it’d be best to have that conversation while sitting down.
It wasn’t long until Tina walked out of the house and spotted him waiting for her. She smiled, but Tulos wasn’t fooled. In the same way that she could spot his discomfort through a stoic expression so too could he see the cracks in her cheer. It had been a topic of idle discussion for them, once. They concluded that they knew each other, truly knew each other, far too well. They also concluded that they wouldn’t want it any other way.
Tina planted herself right next to Tulos and leaned her head against his shoulder. They just sat like that, for a time, taking comfort from the other’s presence. Vigil had returned to the kennel to check up on the other dogs which gave them some time alone while their son rested. Before Vigil started sleeping next to Will’s crib, it was hard to separate Tina from that dog. Privacy was a rare commodity. Tulos couldn’t blame Tina for it, though. Or Vigil, really. The bond between a Tamer and their creature was a thing of magic, and that was for people without Taming as their Core Skill, let alone a specialized variant.
Tulos turned his head slightly so that he could better see his wife. There really was no one as amazing as she was, in every sense of the word. At least, not in his eyes.
“You are doing that thing again,” Tina said flatly.
“What thing?”
Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
“That thing where you look at me like I am the only person in the world.” She sounded annoyed, but Tulos knew it was an act.
“How can you always tell?”
“I just can.” She sighed contently but it morphed into a groan part way through and she straightened up her posture. “What are we going to do about Will?”
There it was, the big question. Ever since the day his son was born- no, ever since he discovered his wife was pregnant he’d been worried about the day they’d take him to Hwan for analysis. It had been a constant source of anxiety and he’d mangled more than one tree in an effort to work through some of the stress.
“Nothing needs to change straight away. Hwan promised he would not inform The Crown and I am inclined to trust him.” Tulos wrapped an arm around his wife for a reassuring side-hug. “He is only under oath to report children with illegal Core Skills.”
It was every parent’s nightmare to discover their child had an illegal Core Skill, but avoiding the analysis was a fool’s errand. The Crown made the punishment for doing so severe enough to dissuade taking the risk. There were stories of those who did, of course, but they never had a happy ending.
“We’ll need to tell him to keep it a secret,” Tina added, and Tulos saw she’d started anxiously tapping one of her heels without realizing it. “If he tells a friend who tells their parents they might-”
“My love, you know I have my own opinions about our neighbors but do you really think they’d-”
“Our son has a Universal Core! Yes, Tulos, I really do think they would.” She snapped and gesticulated in the vague direction of the village. “He could be shaped to fill any role if The Crown got to him young enough.” Her words came faster and faster, like a floodgate had ruptured. “That type of information can be worth life changing amounts of coin. Oh, and it is not just ANY Universal Core Skill, it is Perseverance.”
The Skill’s name hung between the two concerned parents. When Tina spoke again, her voice was softer. Defeated. Bitter, almost. “I would have thought you, if anyone, would be able to understand the baggage that a Core Skill can-”
Tulos flinched as if he’d been struck. Regret immediately flashed through Tina’s eyes, snapping her out of the tirade. It was a low blow, and she knew it.
“My love, I am so, so, sor-”
“It is okay, my love,” Tulos cut her off. “You do not need to apologize. We are both still coming to terms with the situation.” He took a deep breath before continuing. “You are right though. We should not take the risk.”
Tina entwined her hand with his. It was tiny by comparison. “I am sorry though,” she whispered. “Just because you’re the incredible man I married - who is sometimes far too forgiving - does not get me off the hook.” Tulos felt her grab a handful of his shirt with her free hand. “What I said was uncalled for.”
Tulos leaned down to give her a gentle kiss on the top of her head. “In that case, I will accept your apology.” It was impossible for him not to.
Tina sprung to her feet and gave her husband a quick peck on the cheek. Her smile was genuine as it was breathtaking, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes. It was the ultimate distraction and Tulos could tell she was getting ready to disengage from the conversation. “I’ll go make us something to eat,” she chirped and made her way to their garden to browse for ingredients before he could interject.
Tulos let her go. They weren’t done with their discussion, but they could spread it out over the coming days. If he had to guess, his wife had also realized the one flaw in their plan, the sword that would be looming over their heads for years to come, and didn’t wish to voice it in an effort to pretend it didn’t exist.
“I think I’ll follow her lead and keep myself busy,” he muttered to himself. He dragged the log over to his woodcutting stump and hefted his axe. It felt heavier than usual.