Chapter 638 - The System Unlocks I

AN: Next three weeks the chapters are going to be possibly off an hour as daylight's savings desyncs everyone.

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Tomorrow was the big day for Sara. Her System was unlocking!

Iona and I had been blessed to see a thousand different teaching styles of the System to children over our lives. From books in the library to stories told by other students, from our own lived experiences to travels among foreign countries, we’d experienced a thousand different methods and rituals, customs and traditions. The System was one of the grand unifiers that brought us all together, and the day we unlocked was memorable for all. 

Iona had been the brains of the operation when we were raising Nina. She was Iona’s [Squire] after all, and it only made sense for the Valkyrie take point on training and education. It wasn’t to say I hadn’t yelled at Nina to do more push-ups or to run more laps, and I’d been there to hold her when her heart was broken for the first time and tucked her in bed. But Iona had decided on the overall design of her education. We discussed it and worked out various strategies and ideas together of course, but Iona had final say.

It wasn’t too surprising that Iona decided on a course that looked suspiciously similar to her own upbringing. Those in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones, as I was going to do almost the same thing with Sara.

Except with less sexism, and more opportunities. I didn’t miss that at all.

I had a ‘mental pulse’ on nearly everything in my [Manor]. It was hard to describe, but in order to freely teleport objects inside and out of [Manor] without going in myself through [Portcullis], I needed to have a sense of the object.

My mind went to an object inside my library, tucked away inside the thickest adamantium vault money could buy. Climate-controlling runes coated the inside of the vault, and the vast majority of the space was a brick of arcanite to power them all. Inside a glass case, on a cushion of the finest velvet, protected by everything I could throw at it while inside a personal pocket dimension, was a napkin. The very same one my parents had stitched a prayer into before I’d left on my ill-fated trip to the fae realm.

I swore I could still smell my mother on it.

I sent a little prayer in their direction, knowing they couldn’t hear it, reaching out to the void anyway.

Mom, dad… I miss you. Did you know you’ve got another grandchild?

The diary I’d retrieved made it clear - I was operating under the assumption that it was one of my nieces, and no power on Pallos could change my mind - that my adopted brother had ended up with a large family, and mom and dad had made it clear they were all family. I’d ‘introduced’ Nina to them once upon a time, and I was doing the same with Sara. It felt like the appropriate time. The first year or so we’d been worried that a relative would pop out of the woods or sands and claim Sara, or maybe a close friend. Then it had gotten so close to System day by the time we relaxed that I saw no reason not to wait for the defining day in everyone’s lives.

Her name is Sara, and she’s just the best! Let me tell you all about her…

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Part of me wanted to give Sara her privacy, especially when she was down in town playing with the other kids. The rest of me couldn’t help but keep an ear out, juuuust in case there were any problems. Me hovering and swooping in whenever there was a problem wouldn’t help her in the long term, but keeping an eye and pulse on things wasn’t a bad idea. 

I was her mom. It was my job to worry. Most of the conversations washed over me, kids playing happily. If nothing else, my sharp ears would prevent a repeat of Lyra. None of Sara’s friends would die to stupid shit, not if I had a say in it.

She’d already lost everyone once.

The upside? I knew plenty about Sara’s friends. A conversation caught my ear, immediately bringing my full attention to it.

“... your mom is pretty cool.” Sextimus Nix said.

“Yeah. I love my moms.” Sara agreed.

I squee’d and sprinted to find Auri and Iona. I’d heard several aborted almost mom’s before, Sara hastily correcting herself, but this was the first real, full one she’s said to someone else.

“Brrrpt!?” Auri protested as I nabbed her out of the kitchen, dough going flying.

“It’s important!” I told her, rolling my eyes at her comedic dough-splatters.

“Brrpt!” Auri agreed, and I tore out of the house to find Iona.

“Iona! Hey Iona! She loves us! She says she loves us!” I was jumping up and down with excitement. “She called us moms! She said she loves us!”

“Brrrpt!!” Auri shouted with excitement, flying around my head. Dangerous-looking blasts of flames went up around me.

I could see the moment it clicked in Iona’s head what I was saying, and she grinned.

“That’s great! If we weren’t already throwing a party tonight and tomorrow, we should do it. Auri, any ideas on how to make it bigger and better?”

The gleam in Auri’s eye was all the answer I needed.

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I sat Sara down that afternoon, amused at how the circle of life had come back around, even more privately amused at some of my decisions. We were inside my [Manor], the door open to let people freely come in and out if they wanted to.

We wanted to minimize our disruption once we moved over to the School, and keeping our ‘home’ the same would go a long way to helping ease the transition. Sara had already been traumatized by Ithil. No matter how good the School could be for her, I didn’t want to wreck her mental health in the process.

Same room, same bed, same smell, same people? Same home, just the door outside went to a slightly different place. There were a large number of elements that would suck either way, but we’d do our best.

At the same time, in many ways, this was the end of childhood, and my heart was heavy for Sara. Phenomenal powers were fantastic, but there was a small part of me that longed to go back in time to when I was seven, carefree and playing on the streets with my friend, knowing my loving parents were back at home.

Time was merciless, and lost innocence couldn’t be recovered.

“Alright Sara, what can you tell me about the System?” I asked her. A quill and a stack of blank parchment was waiting for her, ready to take as many notes as she needed.

It wasn’t the temple, and I didn’t have a thousand stands set up. I had one desk set up - and the supplies to [Teleport] virtually everything in.

“We have stats, skills, and elements!” Sara happily explained everything she knew. Most of it was right, some of it was horrifyingly wrong, and I was happy to explain what I knew, and correct any misunderstandings.

“... and finally, you get skills by doing things related to them in the first place. Do you want to get the [Knots] skill? Tie some knots, and get it offered!” I pointed to the station in the back, where I’d smoothly [Teleported] over a line of rope to practice with. “Want to get [Painting]? Paint!” I swapped the supplies over again. “Anything and everything you want to try, let me know. Do you have any questions before we begin?”

Sara looked away and started to chew on her fingers. I recognized the look, and I gave her a minute to work it through herself.

“Sara, you know you can ask me anything, right? I won’t judge.” I said.

She slipped out of her chair, walked over to where I was, and made a grabby motion. I lifted her up into my lap, and she curled up, head in my chest. I detected the moment the first tear rolled down her cheek.

“Sara, love, what’s wrong?” I asked the girl. She sniffled.

“I don’t want to get cursed.” She mumbled into my shirt, staining it with her tears. “I don’t want to get proud, arrogant, and aloof. I like you mom. I don’t want that to change.”

I hugged her tightly, the waterworks fully on. Only hers, of course, not me, I wasn’t crying at all.

“It’s alright.” I told the little elf, the hand rubbing her head going over the small nubs that would one day turn into horns.

She fiercely shook her head and continued crying into my arms, occasionally punching the arms of the chair, practically having a full on controlled meltdown.

“I don’t want to get cursed.” She sobbed. “I never asked to be born an elf. I never asked to be born Immortal. Everyone hates us. I don’t want to meet White Dove. My mind isn’t going to be my own anymore!”

She sniffed.

“What if I don’t love you anymore? What if I’m so mean, you don’t love me anymore?” She asked.

I hugged her tightly, mentally whipping up some hot chocolate. Getting the powder in was easy enough, stirring was practically impossible with my skills. I could use a spell, but not from across the house, not subtly. I [Teleported] it off to Iona, who rolled her eyes, blew a kiss in the direction of [Portcullis], and she started stirring. 

“I’ll always love you, no matter what.” I reassured the girl, hugging her tightly.

It took a few hours to reassure Sara, and to talk over curses and her feelings on them. I’d read some books on the topic, but there was only so much books could do. I could share their advice, and hope.

“One piece of advice I’ve found for elves and their curse.” I told Sara when she’d calmed down a bit. “Decide what you want to be arrogant about. Decide what aspect will drive you. It’ll go too far, it’ll be difficult, but you’ll have control over it.”

She sniffed.

“Like what?” Sara asked.

“Like being the best at listening to other people.” I gave one of the examples from the book. “Or being the best student, on your way to being the best healer. It’s not arrogance if you end up having the skills to back it up.” I said.

Sara sniffed.

“You sure?” She asked. I squeezed here again.

“I’m sure. Did you know that I’m also cursed by White Dove?” I asked her. I’d held it back while reassuring her - it hadn’t been the right time. 

“Really?” She asked me with wide, hazel eyes.

“Really.” I confirmed, closing [Portcullis]. I was not risking someone being able to listen in. “Apples are my bane.”

She snorted, going from crying to laughing with the speed only a kid could manage.

“Apples?” Sara said with clear disbelief. “Apples cause you problems?”

“Oh yeah.” I confirmed. “Hey, if you’d like, we can have everyone here with you when White Dove visits. Would you like that?”

She clutched me and curled up a little tighter. I reopened the door, and brought in the hot chocolate, resting it on her table.

“Yes please.” She said.

“Okay! You’ve got what, another 13 hours before the blasted bird pokes her head around?” Sara nodded. “Right then. What do you say we try and figure out a few more skills before she arrives? How about sewing?”

Sara gave me a flat look. Much better!

“You’re just trying to get me to have the skills needed to fix all the clothes, aren’t you?” She asked suspiciously.

“Being able to sew wounds shut is an important skill.” I said blandly.

“Uh huh.” Sara still didn’t believe me! Great kid.

“It’s better to have options than not. Now shoo! Get over there and tell me what you want.”

Sara’s eyes lit up with an idea. She slid off my lap and ran over to the station.

“Can I try cutting down a tree?” She asked with unnatural enthusiasm. I sensed Iona approach, then peek around the corner. I shot her a thumb’s up.

“Sure!” I said, teleporting in a log and an axe. Hey, it was System Day. Iona strode in.

“Hey Sara! Let me show you the right way to hold that, okay?” The Valkyrie said.

“Okay!” Sara said, and we were off.

[*ding!* [Everywoman] leveled up! 651 -> 652]

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All of us sat together on a grassy hill, overlooking the sparkling sea as Sara’s timer counted down. Auri was on her head, Fenrir was curled up behind her, and Iona and I both had our hands on her shoulders. Nina, Artemis, Amber, Skye, Varuna, and a number of other friends and family were around, all of us intent on throwing a party for Sara. Much in the same way we threw small celebrations for other kids who finally unlocked. 

We decided to make it a happy moment, not a sad one.

“Five! Four! Three! Two! One!” We counted down in unison, Auri and Fenrir writing out the numbers in Fire and Ice. “Happy System Unlock!” We shouted, making as much fuss and noise as we could.

We almost managed to drown out the single white feather that floated down in front of Sara.

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“What skills did you get?” I asked Sara. She eyed me suspiciously.

“Are you going to tell me what to take?” She asked. I sighed, knowing this conversation was going to happen, flashing back over a hundred years.

“I’m going to strongly recommend a set of skills to take, yes.” I said. Sara pouted.

“Look, the initial skills you take influence your starting class’s power. You want to be the best [Healer] you can be, right?”

“I will be the best [Healer] ever.” Sara proudly said. I eyed the top of her head, wondering if it was worth a bop.

“You’ll become the best [Healer] ever by listening to the current best.” I pointed out. She bobbed her head.

“Oh yeah! Right! Okay, well, here’s my list. [Elven Essence]. [Elven Empathy]. [Elven Experience]. [Elven Enchantment]. [Elven Excellency]. [Elven Evolution]. [Elven Elegance]. [Observe]. [Walking]. [Breathing]. [Talking]. [Running]. [Reading]...”

Sara continued to list off her skills, some of them normal, some of them absurd, some of them deeply suspicious. Like [Sneaking] - I couldn’t blame Sara, I’d gotten the skill myself - [Eye of the Phoenix], and [Mango Snacking]. She had literally hundreds of skills offered. I’d only gotten a few dozen!

Why was [Mango Snacking] a skill, and why did Sara have it offered and I hadn’t seen hair nor hide of it.

[ding! You’ve unlocked the General Skill [Mango Snacking]! Would you like to replace a skill with it?]

Yes, yes, thank you System. I was asking why you hadn’t given me one earlier.

At the same time, I tried to figure out the set of skills that would get Sara the best start to life. Several of the elven skills were good initially, but would they help with an initial [Medical Student] class? Or were there better skills to take?

[Reading] and [Medicine] were both on the list, and…

I let the four thought processes play the great skill puzzle. Hundreds of skills made it tricky, and there was always the option of having Sara train various additional things to see what we could make happen.

A shame there was no [Barter] tradition in Orthus. She’d already gotten [Haggling], and I suspected that was due to all the times she’d negotiated for dessert or another bedtime story. Great!

Equally important to the calculation was Sara’s stats, and they could weigh in. Already, she was moving much faster than I expected, and I suspected she’d taken [Quick] to play around with it while we decided on her initial skills. Iona had done it, and I wasn’t going to call her out for having fun, especially since her skill slots would rapidly stop being fun, except for maybe one or two.

“What are your stats?” I asked.

“1351 strength, 1353 dexterity, 1351 speed, 1350 vitality, 1345 mana, 1345 mana regeneration, 1345 magic power, 1345 magic control.” Sara promptly rattled off.

My jaw dropped.

Elves were such bullshit, that was incredible. Like, I’d known they had a significant head start due to how many had ascended over the millennia, but that was unfairly absurd. She’d be starting at an orange class at least, and it wouldn’t take too much to push her into yellow, and that was before Sara was hanging out with all of us.

Ciriel, this is all your fault. I complained.

What did I do now? The goddess’s question had an amused undertone.

You’re partly responsible for Sara having such bullshit stats to start off with. I complained. 

I’m doing my part! Ciriel’s tone was positively gleeful. How else are we supposed to lord it over everyone else? She teased.

Ugh. I knew when I was beaten. Just you wait, when I get up there…

Eeeeee! I can’t WAIT for you to get here! Ciriel exclaimed. It’s going to be the BEST DAY EVER!

I chuckled at her raw enthusiasm.

Yes it will.

[Luminary Mind] had finally worked out a solution.

“Alright Sara. Take the following skills. You want [Medicine], [Learning], [First Aid], [Studying], [Elven Essence], [Elven Enchantment], [Memorization], and let’s try to get you [Bedside Manner] as an initial social skill.”

“I want the [Healer’s Oath] as well.” Sara crossed her arms and stared at me, daring me to contradict her.

It was why I’d put [Learning], [Studying], and [Memorization] all in there. They’d all help for the [Medical Student] or [Elaine’s Apprentice] class she was aiming for, but [Studying] was easy enough to drop when she inevitably wanted to take my [Oath].

“Only if you take the [Oath] exactly as written.” I warned her. Sara narrowed her eyes at me. I refrained from sighing.

“Sara, you’re brand new to your curse. Being the best [Healer] is exactly what you want to be. Right now, it’s your cursed pride whispering in your ear that you can do it better. If you want to add or modify it, talk to me. Don’t go haring off on your own, you will fuck yourself for life. Please listen to me.”

I could see the internal struggle, before Sara nodded.

“Okay.” She reluctantly agreed. I smiled sadly.

“I’ll tell you a secret about it, one that you might want to know.” I said. The little elf perked right up, and I could feel tears forming in my eyes.

“Yes?” With the amount of eagerness in her voice, I was surprised she wasn’t jumping on me.

“There’s another line to the [Oath], one you might want to add yourself. One I didn’t write down.”

Sara looked like I’d just told her how to get two more skill slots.

“What is it?” She demanded.

“I will always remember you.” I whispered.

An arrow through the gut would’ve hurt her less than those words, and her own eyes brimmed with tears, with fresh memories of her dead family.

“I will always remember you.” She whispered.

The words became a promise, the promise became an oath, and the [Oath] became a skill.

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There was power in symmetry, in repetition.

There was power in letting experienced people repeat what they were good at.

Artemis was a certified badass, and a second, novel take on Sara’s skills, along with a nice little training session, was exactly what the [Healer] ordered.

“Hey Artemis!” I called out to the Ranger.

“Elaine! What can I do for you?” She asked. I grinned at her.

“Want to help Sara train her general skills to level 8?”

Artemis looked like yule had come early, her grin going from ear to ear.

“Little Sara? Do I ever!”