CHAPTER TWENTY SIX

  Penelope observed the others’ reactions with rapt attention.

  Interesting.

  It was immediately clear to her that nothing was clear. Put simply, she didn’t know what was going on. Though that was nothing new. She rarely did. What she did know, however, was that, moments before, two of the mommies felt way more interesting than usual. They blazed with unseen colors she could sense so viscerally, yet couldn’t even begin to describe. Not even to herself. To her malleable mind, still in the process of forming, they suddenly shone with all the interesting colors of the rainbow.

  When they did that, Penelope felt inspired.

  Something inside told her she could be just as interesting if she wanted to. Maybe even themost interesting of all. And so, without a seconds hesitation, that’s precisely what she did. And the world exploded with sensations.

  All of them profound. All of them alien.

  Since that was nothing new, she took it in stride. This was just the way the world was now, filled with a full spectrum of color she hadn’t even known existed. Dense with little bobbing motes of light which gathered around her, forming multicolored currents. All of them keen, for whatever reason, on tickling her nose and playing with her hair.

  It was all just so… interesting.

  It left her feeling really glad she’d done it. Whatever it was. Not only was everything so much more interesting than before, but she’d also gained something tangible as well. It was a comfortable weight in her mouth. Something that reminded her of home. Of safety and security.

  Which brought them back to the present, with the others going nap time on the dirty green ground. That was also interesting, though for some reason, she felt like they shouldn’t be doing that. She tried to make them get up, maybe go find a real bed to sleep in, and to her surprise, they did. Or, well, the light motes did for them. Rushing forward to envelop each before lifting them high into the air.

  Hmm.

  No, that wasn’t right. That didn’t look comfortable. They can’t sleep when standing like that can they? They should be the other way around. The light motes responded to her intentions even faster than she’d thought possible—tilting the others so they were hovering horizontally instead.

  Better…

  But, no, it still wasn’t right. After all, how were they supposed to sleep without beds?

  Once more the motes leapt to obey before the thought had fully formed. The streams of light gathering from all over. Converging on a spot just below the others in a swirling cyclone of indescribable colors. Drawing closer and closer. Bunching tighter and tighter. Until the overlapping collection of mote streams roughly mimicked the dimensions of the bed in her mind.

  Finally, after she didn’t know how long, the very last of the motes nestled into place, only for the picture they formed to still be incomplete. All the motes in the clearing and the surrounding forest, and it still wasn’t enough.

  The best they could manage a trembling shadow of the real thing. Shaky and unstable, like it was ready to burst apart at any second. Then, before she knew what was happening, the entire image shattered into a million pieces. Exploding outward in a massive eruption of light particles.

  They passed harmlessly through Penelope and the others, scattering all across the clearing in utter disarray, whereupon they continued to drift forward listlessly. Almost as if dazed. Eventually, one at a time, the motes came back to their senses. The fastest ones rushing to surround her once more, if far more apologetically than before. Hanging their heads. As if ashamed that they’d failed to make her desires into a reality.

  That was okay, Penelope decided. The motes seemed to like that, taking heart. At least she now knew one thing for certain. Making beds was hard.

  Freed from their bonds, the others fell back to the dirty green floor. Penelope left them to it. If that was where they really wanted to be, then who was she to say otherwise? Besides, talking to all those motes had really tuckered her out. And though a part of her wanted to stay awake, to see just how many other interesting things she could discover, the larger part was already drifting off into a deep and dreamless slumber.

  +++

  Well. This definitely changes things.

  While the grownups gasped for air in the background, clearly needing more time to come to terms with the brand new pecking order, Richard directed all of his attention towards the gently breathing form of his meal tick- erm, that is to say golden goo- ahem, or rather, the precious baby girl in desperate need of his years’ worth of experience and carefully curated guidance.

  Yes, that sounds about right. Perfectly selfless and not at all for my own personal gain.

  Unconsciously, Richard began to rub his hands together.

  It’s for her own good, of course!

  With the way the ambient mana practically leapt to obey her every whim, clearly this youth was a genius among geniuses. Meaning it was practically his duty, nay, his sworn privilege to guide her on the path of ascension as best he knew how. To facilitate her rise to the very top of the food chain! And then? Beyond! And, if he engendered certain unavoidable feelings of gratitude or indebtednesssomewhere along the line, well, there wasn’t really much he could do about that, now was there?

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  What can I say? I’m a bit of a saint, myself. Nyehehehe!

  Oh, and the others too, of course. Couldn’t forget about them!

  A Duchess, a Princess, and an Imperial. Richard shook his head ruefully. I don’t know what I did to please you goddess, but I thank you for this undeniable boon all the same.

  They were all sure to benefit greatly from his personal tutelage. And here he’d thought he’d have to enter Devils Arcadia as a solo combatant. Doable, of course, though not optimal for peak efficiency. But now…?

  Unbeknownst to him, the hand rubbing grew even more pronounced.

  Now he just had to figure out how to disseminate all his priceless information, tips, tricks, and know how, without tipping his hand.

  In the distance, yellow slitted pools, like full moons, glinted from somewhere beyond the tree line, fixed on someone else for a change. Something which would’ve been a relief. Should’ve been, by all rights! Except, of course, its malicious intent was now trained his soon to be ward. Not good, but he would manage. Somehow.

  He needed to do all that while juggling his own progression at the same time, and hitting all the goalposts he’d set in a reasonable timeline.

  So no biggie then. Super doable.

  The only question was… how?

  +++

  Gasping for breath and trembling on all fours, Denise grimaced. Hawked a glob of phlegm onto a nearby blade of grass—bowing it under the slowly sinking weight. She made a face. Spat again, as if to rid her mouth of the lingering tastes of fear and helplessness. She wanted to be angry. Wanted to rage. But then, it was a kid though, wasn’t it? She wasn’t going to rip a f- ugh, rip a freaking infant a new one, even if the little brat totally deserved it. There were lines even she wouldn’t cross.

  And yet, that sensation.

  Of being totally and completely under someone else’s control. She hated it. She never wanted to feel that helpless again.

  Convenient then—almost suspiciously so—that, in her moment of greatest vulnerability, a light ping sounded in her mind. Denise frowned. Focusing her attention on the blinking dot in the corner of her vision. From that dot, the tutorial screen swiftly enlarged until it completely eclipsed her vision. The same that they’d watched those god awful, low budget informational videos on. Except, it was already opened to a tab she didn’t recognize. In it, there was what appeared to be a chat box. Intrigued, she read the message that’d been sent to her.

   I can give you what you’re looking for.

  At this trashy proposition—following the kind of day she’d had?—Denise very nearly laughed out loud. Quickly configuring her profile so that her actual full forking name was no longer the default-

  Stupid thing.

  -she made to reply, and was immediately turned off when she realized there didn’t seem to be any way to send emojis, just bland thoughts. She couldn’t even properly abbreviate things.

  That’s so dumb, like, why?

   Yeah, how about no? You really need to work on your one liners pal. Not interested. Like, even a little.

   Oh, and if you send me a f*#%ing d*%# pic, just know that I will find where you live, and castrate you myself.

   Slowly. With a soup spoon.

   A reeeeaaally dull one.

  A reply quickly followed.

   I’m not-! I wasn’t-!

  There was a couple seconds’ delay.

   I can give you the tools you need to make certain that what just happened to you never happens again.

  Denise pursed her lips, covertly scanning her surroundings.

   Who are you? “Watcher.” What kind of handle is that anyway? Stalker much?

   Does it matter?

   Kinda, yeah. I don’t know what kind of girl you think I am, but I don’t make a habit of hooking up with just anyone. Leastwise some random creep who hasn’t even told me his name. Or like, even bought me dinner first.

   I- you want me to buy you a standard meal kit?

   Huh? Obviously that’s not what I- well, actually if you could spring for one of those dessert vending machines, I wouldn’t exactly say no.

   I- I don’t have that many points.

   Ahh… I see. So creepy and poor, huh? Have to say, you’re not making a very good case for yourself.

  The guy didn’t respond for several long seconds.

   I think I understand why the others don’t like you very much.

   Sticks and stones friend. Did you have a point, or…? Was your only goal here to harass me and waste my time?

  There was a longer pause this time, but the three bouncing dots told her he was in the middle of thinking his response.

   Just-! Don’t pick a class yet, okay? With your lackluster deeds, you’d more than likely gain a trashy Common ranked class just like everybody else. Which is, quite frankly, unacceptable for someone with your status as high ranking nobility. I know it may seem counter intuitive, but the levels you’d gain from rushing ahead right now are nothing compared to what you might gain from an Uncommon or Rare class in the future.

  Denise blinked.

   Oh. Yeah that sounds about right. Question. Why didn’t you just start with that?

  Denise waited, but, unsurprisingly, her mysterious benefactor failed to respond.

  +++

   Hey

   hi

   who is this?

   A friend. Have you picked a class yet?

   no.

   Good. Keep it that way. At least until you’ve achieved some more notable deeds.

   why?

   Because it’s crucial to build up a solid foundation, especially earlier on. The greater the deeds you achieve right now, before committing yourself to a path, the better your chances of going the full distance will be.

   okay.

   Wait- that’s it? No questions asked, just like that?

   oh. Umm, well… do you know how my ma and pa are doin’? If they’re well or- if they’re doin’ okay?

   I’m afraid I have no idea. I’d imagine they’re stuck in another tutorial like this one.

   oh, I see. Yeah that makes sense. Wouldn’t have said anything except it’s just you told be to ask so I reckoned I’d ask.

   thanks for the advice.

   i’ll try to do that.

   take care.

   And you as well.

  +++

  With his good deeds officially done for the day, Richard tuned out the heated discussion going on around the campfire and settled in to wait.

  For what, you might ask?

  For the others to fall asleep, of course. It was long past time he actually dig into the rewards he’d earned for completing Shaper’s trial, and, surrounded by sleeping toddlers, on an overcast night like this one, what better chance would he have to progress in peace? Sure, it wasn’t exactly ideal,but considering the creature seemed otherwise occupied for the moment, it was likely the best chance he’d get.

  And maybe, just maybe, he’d finally get to check out whatever was going on with Shaper’s Legacy. A boy could dream right? Or, no, actually if things went to plan, he wouldn’t be doing a lot of that for the foreseeable future.

  He could already tell it was going to be a long night.