“Three large silver, three contribution. Bank it?”
I nod to Lindur.
“You going to be at the clinic till dinner?”
“I'll be back after an errand. I'll make sure to let you know.”
She scowls at me but waves me off.
“What errand do you need to do?”
“Its more an errand you need to do. You need to buy four antispoil containers, I'll take you to the alchemist I know.”
-----
“Yooooou, why have you stopped delivering clover and death trillium?”
“I've been busy, I doubt I will be going into the forest much anymore.”
The alchemist looks at me sourly.
“You do know I have to pay to open requests.”
Damn, the guild gets paid coming and going.
“Fine, I'll make sure to close out your latest death trillium request. That should satisfy you, yes?”
She huffs, Beatrice steps forward.
“I would like to purchase four antispoil containers for hydra blood.”
“Eight small gold.”
Beatrice frowns and looks to Barbain. She shakes her head as well. She turns to me. I sigh.
“Seven small gold and I will complete your request tonight.”
She narrows her eyes at me. She did not need to know that I have three flowers worth of petals in my room.
“Fine.”
-----
Sitting on my chair waiting for adventurers to injure themselves. The two B's went back to their dorm, Beatrice lamenting at having to spend my money. My informing her she could fix that by paying me back simply got a laugh from her. Barbain apologized to me but also wasn't offering me remittance either. They're my containers now, I can only hope I get to keep the blood as well.
Lindur shows up with a box. The guild master is with her, she has pieces of paper in hand. I quirk an eyebrow.
“Congratulations She who Mourns, I have your adventurer rename request, transfer paper but most importantly your permanent membership form. All you need to do is start signing.”
I give the guild master an annoyed look.
“I'd prefer to have earned it.”
“You did when you agreed to be our hall's clinic healer for a year.”
I don't recall stating a time frame.
“Oh and you need to show enough levels for both your titles.”
More annoyances. The guild master pulls out a letter from the box and hands it to me. I look at her as I take the envelope.
To Jam
The guild master opens the box again and hands me a familiar pair of glasses. I feel her getting annoyed.
“Tired of you squinting at everything, your glasses.”
They have to resize to fit my bigger head but my vision finally clears.
“Thank you.”
I say it with as much heartfelt gratitude that I could muster. I opened the letter.
Dearest Daughter,
I am annoyed that you have remained in the capital and have not sought solace in my embrace. But I have received your message. I have returned to my lands and am mustering my forces to crush the Gadvak cult. I have taken Cecelia with me as she was rather adamant on heading to Maknor otherwise. You are to stay where you are. In a year's time you will be summoned to the Maxwells for your placement in a house per your plans. Love you daughter, Gadvak will not take from us again.
Magdeline
Ps. Sign the bleeding papers, priestesses are rare for guilds to hire.
Pps. Head Priestess Orders.
Ppps. Should you tier dear, make sure it's in a dungeon.
I take off my glasses and rub my eyes. The tears burn but I bear them.
“I'm ready to sign.”
You have acquired the title [Voiceless Adventurer]
Voiceless Adventurer - Gives off an aura of worthlessness. You have been recognized as being a permanent member of an international organization. Five additional presence and Ten additional soul level when leveling up.
-----
Dinner has passed, and I am back in my room with my box. It has my ring, my earrings, my two corsets, my water wand, strength sleeves, my two knives, Marie's and the broken one, and Ratagin. Guess Ren finally got his knife back. Sadly the corsets won't fit anymore. I put the water wand into my pocket, I will be studying you later. I take out Ratagin. I see the runes on his body and I lament what I will need to do.
I head out to buy some bread.
-----
All caught up?
-Ya, it's nice to see clearly again.
Are you ready to do this, it's best we both watch and create memories of this. I feel my sister acquiesce. I almost wish she would disagree and fight me on this.
-It's necessary.
I sigh, my mental eyes flaring. I look to Ratagin, my comfort.
“Do a backflip.”
Ratagin manages it, the body creaks from the strain. I study the runes that activate. Burn them into my memory. But the more memories I have the better.
“Do a backflip.”
The runes flare again, and I learn more. He shatters this time, not into two pieces but many. I gathered his bone into a pile. I can feel the tears. Sister creates a compel and forces it through a sound illusion.
“Do a backflip.”
The runes activate once more, then they crack and break as well. My sister deigned to share my burden.
-It will always be our burden.
Our soul thrums once again. I nod and cry. I don't start on our project before I sleep.
-----
“Before we head to the hydra I like to try some things.”
You have gained [Two Separate Minds] Apprentice 2
Gain 2 exp
If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.
A mini Sara shows up on my shoulder.
“Oh that so adorable, are you both present at the moment?”
“Yes.”
“Yep.”
“You should add some fly wings or something.”
Beatrice is just trying to influence my subconscious.
“I'll pass, I don't want my real body sprouting anything new.”
“What are you going to try?”
“Just some throwing knives.”
“I don't see how that requires the dungeon.”
I approach a pack of goblins.
“Stop.”
You have gained [Mental Magic] Competent 8
Gain 4 exp
They do. I then pull out a knife from my robe. It's modeled after the one Marie gave me so long ago. The etchings in the blade are from Ratagin. I give the blade my mental mana and then I throw the blade into the goblin. It hits his leg.
You have gained [Throw Knife] Apprentice 2
Gain 2 exp
The leg twists and rips. Need to work on my aim. I walk over and end the goblin's life.
Gain 10 exp from Goblin
I take the knife back, provide more energy and make a quick cut on the second goblin. It does nothing more than cuts. Seems there is a delay in activation. I then stab the goblin in its left chest. A moment later the flesh twists and rips.
Gain 10 exp from Goblin
You have gained the skill [Knife Hand] Basic 1
Knife Hand - the ability to stab and cut with short implements
Basic - you’re scaring your charges Sara
Gain 1 exp
I pull the blood from their bodies and drink it.
“You know, all your other senses I feel, but not this.”
Considering if you did you would likely wake up from the bliss every time I drank.
Temporary buff has ended
You have gained [Resist Curse] Apprentice 3
Gain 2 exp
Speaking of, I walk over to the two B's.
“What the hell was that Sara?”
I look annoyed at Barbain, my sister joins in.
“Sorry Jam, but seriously.”
“I made some knives and etched the back flip runes into its blade. All of them. It would appear the moment it pierces flesh it twists and rips it. The delay though is concerning.”
“That's frightening, Jam.”
I shrug, Beatrice hands me her cup. I sit down before drinking it. I know what's coming and I will my skill to be what I need it to be. Beatrice raises an eyebrow.
“Sorry I am just mentally preparing, this skill doesn't up tier nicely.”
Should I just wait till I am asleep sister.
-You know it would just wake you, come let us progress.
I drink the blood. My body warms again.
All stats increased by one temporarily.
You have gained [Soul Etching] Competent 6
Gain 40 exp
You have gained [Vampire] Competent 1
Competent - Your daughters are never truly gone, birth them anew when you are ready
Gain 20 exp
I can feel the connections I have to their tapestries. It strengthens. Five of them? I suppose Sencea and Vanessa count. I promise to survive to bring you all back. Barbain hugs me from behind. I look at her.
“You look like you needed it.”
I pat her hand.
-----
I wheel the cart to the floor guardian.
“Best of luck.”
“Thanks.” Barbain growls, “This is why Hanigan wanted teams of three to four Beatrice.”
“Aw, I'll take the three awake ones if you want to start with the sleepy one.”
Barbain's annoyance only grows. I pat her shoulder.
“I'll jump in if needed.”
Barbain huffs but she gets into a low stance. Her eyes glow yellow as she charges. I wonder what she is seeing with lightning eyes. She slammed her fist into the hydra sleeping side. The hydra convulses as the magic lightning traverses its hide. Beatrice quickly follows and slashes a head. It does not take the head off, her water blade does. They are down to three heads as they back off. Barbain gives no quarter, she slams another lightning fist into the beast. Another head falls to a water blade. Now it's two girls against two heads. They methodically take the last two heads. They start walking back to me. They look spent. I ruin their day.
“It's not dead.”
“Surely with all its heads g—”
Barbain turns around and pushes Beatrice to the side. Barbain is bowled over by the headless hydra. I flick my life eyes, bruising, cracked ribs. Beatrice picks herself up, she gathers fire magic, my fire eye flares on at the spectacle. The hydra torso is engulfed in flames. As Beatrice walks forward the flames intensify. Soon there is nothing left but ash. Beatrice drops to her knees, breathing hard. I walk to Barbain and treat her injuries.
“Damn, I'm sure Hanigan was expecting the blood. How the hell do adventurers collect it.”
“Much as you did, except they beat the torso till it stops moving. It takes hours.”
“Thanks Sa…Jam, that really hurt.”
“Get in the cart both of you, I'll take you back up.”
-----
“I see you failed to procure the hydra blood, though I do see you came prepared. Tell me is the beast dead or have you decided to wait.”
“It is dead, Professor Hanigan, we did not know it was capable of still fighting without its heads. After seeing Barbain injured, I incinerated the body before the worst could befall.”
“I see, full marks then. You slew the beast and came prepared to harvest, that misfortune robbed you of your prize is how it goes sometimes. It is good that you prioritized your party over your grade. Off you go then. Priestess a word.”
I quirk an eyebrow and walk over to the woman named Hanigan. She casts a cover spell.
“I can not help but notice you have grown five levels in an evening. That your title says adventurer makes me think of a [False Soul] ring but I know you know you're not allowed to hide your title while on official duties.”
I take off the ring and toss it to her. I then engage my own skill to set my level to one.
“The rules are only for those who have the ring, I only gained [Adventurer] yesterday and with it, the ring. I think you will understand if you engage your [Identify] again.”
“I see, remarkable, are you planning on attending our fine institution yourself?”
She hands the ring back to me. I reset my level to twenty and put it back on. I give her a smile.
“Time will tell.”
-----
“Aw I so wanted to gift the blood to you, Jam.”
We are sitting in the guild food hall, Barbain and Beatrice willing to pay the expensive guild prices. Where was this money yesterday?
“Suppose this is my last night seeing you two, It's been interesting.”
“What are you talking about Jam, we will be here every evening.”
“Thats right, we need our Jam time.”
Barbain and Beatrice clearly are insane.
“Besides, I haven't gotten what I want from you yet.”
Beatrice looks at me with narrow predatory eyes. The answer was still no but apparently she aims to whittle me down.
“In fact I talked to the guild master and she said if we wanted to keep renting you out, we were more than welcome too. We do not have classes on the last day of the week, so I more than intend to hire you out on those days.”
I just slumped to the table. Barbain nestles close to me.
“Actually we were both thinking you could wheel us on the cart to the dungeon any day you want in the evening. We can sleep in the cart while you do whatever you need to do in the dungeon. You said you couldn't justify bringing in axen bodies by yourself. We are willing to help.”
I suppose that would help. I need to ensure I have a decent nest egg before I go off serving a house.
“Fine.”
My aunt pats me on the head. A glass of wine is placed in front of me. I look at Barbain.
“You haven't tried it yet, right?”
-----
I walk them to the guild exit. They are capable of walking out. I was getting kinda concerned in the end. They had both waved me off when I had brought it up saying they were already nearing competent [Alcohol Tolerant 2]. I smile sadly at their apparent skill level. Seems blood being my only sustenance means I can't absorb alcohol.
“Sorry the wine didn't do anything for ya, Jam.” Barbain slurs.
“No it's fine, that's just life sometimes.”
Temporary buff has ended
You have gained [Resist Curse] Apprentice 4
Gain 2 exp
The two girls pause and then look at me with mischievous grins. They pull me to my room and sit me down. Beatrice runs out and returns with a rather ornate bottle. When she opens it the smell causes my nose hair to shrivel. I cup my nose to protect myself. Beatrice just smiles and immediately drinks half the bottle. Barbain finishes the other half. I am bewildered at their antics. They wait ten minutes and then they take a cup and cut their hands. The cup is filled. They heal their own hands as they watch me expectantly. They seem to think they can get their blood alcohol to a level that would matter. I shrug and drink it all in one go. My body warms.
All stats increased by ten temporarily.
You have gained [Vampire] Competent 3
Gain 20 exp
You have gained [Vampire] Competent 4
Gain 20 exp
You have gained [Soul Etching] Competent 7
Gain 40 exp
You have gained the skill [Blood Alcohol Intolerance] Basic 1
Blood Alcohol Intolerance - If anyone deserves a drink, it’s you Sara
Basic - every level is just another percent higher
Gain 1 exp
Holy shit balls. I am etching the dumbest shit into myself. I smile at the notification. My soul thrums. Shit, sister will never let me live this down. The girls are looking at me expectantly, with droopy eyes.
“Oh I actually kinda felt that.”
“Give back the cup, we will pour you another.”
I give a finger flick to Barbain which knocks her out. I panic and scan her with my Life eyes. Just too much to drink. I sigh, whatever they drank made their blood alcohol levels soar. I look to Beatrice who is just cackling at the unconscious Barbain.
“Could you make the earth wall again, I'll make you and Barbain hammocks to sleep in.”
I put them up in the patient rooms but then I have to check on each of them constantly to make sure they didn't aspirate on their own vomit. The woozy Beatrice manages to raise a wall while crooked will suffice. If she falls unconscious and dismisses the wall before I am done well she won't be awake to see anything.
“Only neeeeed, *hic* one.”
Guess I will find out if their relationship can survive puking on each other. I get to work.
-Is it wrong to try to get them to do this every night.
I suspect we don't need to get them so snookered to level the skill. Moderation is key, which I suspect they will agree to come the morning.
-----
I'm sitting in front of my clinic when I hear a thud. I can hear the groaning and deem it's fine to ignore. Barbain exits my personal room.
“You know it's really creepy to wake up in that thing.”
“And yet you slept like a babe in it.”
“Well it is super soft, ahh my head, can you like magic this away.”
I could but I don't think aging them half a day is worth clearing a hangover.
“‘Fraid it's better to suffer it, you should go collect some water, you and your mistress will need it.”
She grumbles walking off.
An adventurer wanders in with a nasty cut on his arm. I bandage him up and receive a large silver for my efforts.
