This is a daily reminder: You have 24 unallocated stat points
He had come back with a container of blood. I wait for him to leave. He did so. I had agreed with our sister's disdain for the man. I opened the container and found the blood to be not his. That was the important part. I had some and moved it into my soul scape. I would not answer him if he asked where the container went. I doubt he would bother. I stared out the window. It shows a large open area. Perhaps a training ground. There were some tents further past the space but mostly the view was taken up by the wall. My prison. I wait for the morning.
-----
I see an assortment of races that all identify in the teens. Probably the conscripted I am to heal when they inevitably injure themselves. The routine makes me curious. Is there a calisthenics skill? It doesn't really matter. I was not joining them out there. I watched them finish their morning routine which ended in multiple laps around the courtyard. They apparently were confined to this area as well.
The knight comes into my room. I do not bother to look at him.
“I give you free leave to speak.”
I say nothing.
“You may use whatever mana you desire.”
All that I will use is life. He stands there a moment. He places my blood skin on the table next to me. It is filled. I leave it where it is. He leaves the room again. To stand vigil on the other side. I watch out the window.
-----
They have begun sparring. They use wooden swords. Some are hesitant. They slowly clash blades fearful of hurting the other. Some are arrogant and quickly learn that their arrogance is unearned. Others are cruel, they lash out looking for their opponents vitals, not to prove superiority but because it causes pain. I understand that.
One of their victims is ushered in. They see me sitting there staring out the window. I turn and grasp the weak willed's arm. The bone was shattered. I force his body to absorb the shards.
You have gained [Sustainer Magic] Basic 4
Intelligence raised to 258
I then replaced the bone. My eye stretched again, I hardly paid attention. Another conscript came in with some scrapes and bruises. They too leave healed. I never speak to them. They see my manacle and assume I am a prisoner. Of my pride perhaps.
-----
“Do you perhaps wish to tour the grounds?”
I stare out the window. He notices the blood skin where he left it untouched. He leaves me be. He does not return to his post but instead travels further. Perhaps to hunt rats.
-----
“The commander wishes to speak with you.”
I turn and raise my hands up to him, the fist balled. He doesn't understand at first but his mounting horror shows that he understands soon enough. The chain manifests again and I walk behind him. Head down. A constant reminder.
-----
“Sara Maxwell Magdeline.”
I do not look to the commander when he says my name. The dread in my jailer increases.
"I received a letter from your mother, the [Countess], she stated that she hoped that we could excuse any peculiarities and to be patient with you. I regret that such communication did not arrive before the incident. We are willing to accommodate you however we can.”
It wasn't a question, I didn't respond.
“Are you certain this is how you wish to spend your time here?”
“The manacle is still around my neck is it not?”
-Answering a question with a question.
My only life line, thank you sister. She beams a smile to me. She is spending time with the tiger we made. Nuzzling her with all her might. Being passive for so long can be a pain. She listened in with illusions made in my ear. It's not quite perfect but enough to hear my conversations. The jailer blanches at my retort. The commander sighs.
“That was a grave error in your guardian judgement, would you not consider forgiveness?”
“Forgiveness does not mean trust. I do not even blame him for his suspicion, only his actions.
The knight in question's mood only grows more dismal.
This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
“My understanding is that he has released any restriction on you, yet you appear to continue on as if they are present.”
Not a question.
“Why?”
“A restriction rescinded that can be reemplaced at any time is no freedom I wish to grow accustomed to.”
“I would never.”
But he did. I care not for his remorse. The man is at the end of his rope. He has not slept since he was given his orders to watch me. The trim beard is ragged. His odor rank. His eyes, bloodshot. His hair, a mess. I do not look at him with my eyes. I see him always in grey. Those eyes are always staring at him.
“And the blood skin.”
Not a question.
“Why do you not partake?”
“It is another reminder of what he took from me, it is why I abide by his initial restrictions. They are what he has taken, I will not accept their return until I am free.”
The commander waves me off, when my jailer motions me to leave, I simply raise my two fists up to him, together. Ready for him to manifest the chains again.
-----
I hear him tie the rope, he stands on the chair, he kicks it out. I enter the room seeing him hang. My life eyes watching. He failed to snap his neck, the distance not long enough. Instead he asphyxiates. As he approaches his end, he loses consciousness, a knife cuts him down. He is gasping on the floor. I walk over and lay a hand on him. It heals the burst capillaries he managed to damage. Not a word is said. I return to my window.
-----
This is a daily reminder: You have 24 unallocated stat points
One of the cruel ones entered my clinic. I healed his bruises.
“Is the prisoner not going to speak?”
I look out the window.
“Hey, don't ignore me.”
He places a hand on my shoulder. He is violently thrown across the room. My jailer stands there angry, ready to end the one who touched me. He had gotten some sleep. The trauma of hanging himself enough to render him unconscious for a few hours. Probably wasn't enough. I walk past him to the cruel one. More injuries present. I healed him again, then returned to look out the window. The cruel one scurried out of the room.
-----
He places a cup of blood next to me; it is not his own. I drink it and go back to looking out the window. He returns to his post outside.
I hear Isabella voice, “She still has not moved from her spot?”
My jailer, “She never sleeps, I do not understand how she can keep such things up. All she does is heal those who come to her.”
Isabella enters the room. She attempts to scan me to no avail. She continues her attempts until I have spent half my arcane core. She is gasping at the end. I continue staring out the window. She leaves.
“Were you able to learn anything?”
“Only that she has enough mana to resist me entirely. To be honest the one showing signs of sleep deprivation is you, Sir Timotran.”
“The lady has not rested, how can I?”
Isabella leaves.
-----
This is a daily reminder: You have 32 unallocated stat points
He places another cup next to me. His blood again. I pour it to the ground. He leaves. He has nothing left. No energy to move and yet he forces himself forward. To collect what I demand. When he leaves the cruel man returns.
“Your knight is not here, are you going to keep ignoring me?”
I stare out the window.
“Bitch, listen when someone talks to you.”
He turns me to face him. I look into his face vacantly. His annoyance grows.
“What is the deal with you?”
“I am a prisoner, as you say.”
“Ya, where's your rage at that, your hatred, your cries of anguish?”
I am doing the cruelest thing I can imagine but this man wants a show.
“They are not for you to delight in.”
He breaks his hand slapping me in the face. I heal his wound but not my own. This incenses the man. He leaves. I stare out the window.
-----
The jailer spills his cup he brought for me. The blood lost to the cracks in the floor. He grabs my arms and jostles me.
“Who did this to you?”
“You did.”
He is shocked, pale. He leaves. Isabella comes shortly after and tends to my face. No words were said. I continue to stare out the window.
-----
This is a daily reminder: You have 32 unallocated stat points
The jailer enters my room once more. His eyes sunken, his body gaunt. If he continues to avoid sleep he will likely snap. I turn from his window ready to hear what he has to say. My eyes bore into him.
“What do you want from me? I offered oaths, my blood, my death. None of these things satisfy you.”
He begins to weep, broken. He continues on his knees.
“Do what you will to me, any fear of your wrath has long since been replaced by hollowness. I no longer care.”
The manacle around my neck breaks free, it falls to the ground. We both look at it.
“I don't understand, you have given me no oath.”
“You said it yourself, you no longer feared my wrath.”
“Why do you make an illusion on your shoulder of yourself?”
You're up late.
-This is important to witness.
“She is my sister, she generally would be asleep inside me at the moment but has deign to witness this event.”
“My end?”
“Your beginning, I would have your oaths Sir Timotran, know that I will enforce them with soul etching.”
His eyes grow wide at my statement. He then resolves himself. My soul cat eyes flare on, watching.
“I vow to never intentionally do harm to Sara Maxwell Magdeline out of malice or hatred.”
The words are carved into his soul, he does not show the pain I know he feels.
“I vow to be her shield, to defend Sara Maxwell Magdeline, with my life if necessary.”
The soul burns, his new truth seared into him.
“I vow to keep her secrets, none will know of what Sara Maxwell Magdeline has told me, nor what I learn of her.”
Again his soul burns to reflect this truth. He goes to speak again. The last he can give is his obedience.
“That is all I require.”
He looks at me shocked.
“Do you not want absolute fealty?”
“No, I have bound souls to myself and I find it distasteful. It is enough that you will not be able to reveal my secrets or harm me. I will say this, dying is a piss poor way to protect someone, I expect you to survive your service to me. I have enough burdens on my soul.”
-Glad we didn't end up making him our supplicant.
That is a promise for something greater, I will not use it to bind a person to my will. My soul warms to that. My sister mentally gives me a hug. She then winks out, returning to her rest.
“My lady, would you please explain what you meant by your sister sleeping.”
“I have two minds in my body, we take turns in control. To your question, she is asleep right now resting. Come noon time I will sleep and she will be in control. We both only sleep for seven hours each.”
“I do not understand how such is possible.”
“You have felt my [Soul Etching], I have a skill that uses that to etch traits of those that I slay into myself subconsciously. My attempt to gain a hydra blood and scales resulted in also gaining its division of minds. Please go rest, I can't very well expect you to protect me without you being properly rested.”
“By your leave, my lady.”
