“Cea, you're such a dolt. How can you not have aura sense yet.” The girl exclaims.

  I look at the short haired girl. I give her a shrug. “It's always my dad's aura. Mother…she…”

  One of the older girls nods, “My mother told me she is having a rough time of it.”

  It being miscarriages. I was my mother's lucky one. So far, she had not managed another. But she still tried.

  “Instead of babies, I'm going to be an adventurer.” I proclaim.

  “Ya adventurers. But you need an aura sense first, Cea.”

  I frown, then mince my hands. “Could you…could you help me with that.”

  They nod. It was not long before I heard my mothers voice.

  -----

  “Mother, mother. I did it, I gained aura sense.”

  The woman turned to me, she gave me a tired smile, “That's wonderful dear. Make sure to train it up. It's important to be able to see Tapestries. You must do your part. To not be a failure like me.”

  I rush to hug her, “You're not a failure. I'm here aren't I?”

  She slowly embraces me, “Yes Cea, my miracle. You're here.” The hug grows tighter, then lessens. “Would you like to do some embroidery with me?” I smile and give her a nod.

  -----

  “Mother, I'll be going to the central Tapestry repository today.”

  She winces at my words. “You'll be opening yourself to sadness Cea. I only managed you.”

  I run up to her and grasp her hands, “Even one will be enough. I'll make you a grandmother.”

  Her smile is bittersweet, “Our bloodline is cursed dear, you will have much sorrow before you succeed.”

  “I will be strong, mother.”

  -----

  This is a daily reminder: You have 384 unallocated stat points

  I haven't thought of my mother for at least a thousand years. She was right. I had suffered so long to bring—

  I feel the various things inside me. It grounds me. I'm Sara not Cea. A boon to my creepy self. Cea most tender moments with her mom was while doing embroidery. Something she had shared with me.

  “Do you plan on keeping our [Lady] waiting.” Seems Jessica got tired of waiting on me to get up. I go to the mirror. Cea there again. Blinking doesn't remove her. Its just a—

  A strand of silver flops into my view. I almost screamed. It's dull though, not her shiny hair. Still curly. I look back to the mirror and see a few more in the mirror. Cea was gone again.

  “You're far too young for greys.”

  I look at the girl, “You seem to have warmed up to me.”

  The girl rolls her eyes, “Can only be frightened of the [Laughing Demon] until you watch her eat bread.”

  I smile at that. She screams. I look at her with an eyebrow raised.

  “There…there something…”

  The door opens and Ophelia is there. She is in front of the girl who cowers behind her. She's quick. “Whats happening?”

  “My [Lady] I…I…”

  Ophelia looks to the girl. “Calm yourself, I am here. She won't hurt you.” I frown at that.

  “Something crawled under her skin.” She said in a tiny whisper.

  I don't have much skin showing but it seems one of my babies was being naughty. Ophelia raises an eyebrow to me. I smile, “I have spiders nesting inside me. They never leave.”

  The girl further pales. Murmuring Demon. Ophelia gives me an annoyed look. She turns and looks at Jessica.

  “You can report to the kitchen.”

  The girl looks ready to leave then gets an annoyed look. “I prefer to continue my duties, my [Lady]. I apologize for my earlier outburst.”

  Ophelia looks at the attendant and smiles. “As long as you are sure.”

  She leaves us in the room. The girl comes to me and gives a bow. “I must apologize to you as well, lady Magdeline.”

  “Jessica, I think I'd just prefer to be called Sara.” Not Cea? Stop it.

  She nods, “Cea it is then.”

  I turn my head, I swear I had said Cea…Sara. “What did you call me?”

  “What you told me, Cea.” Her head tilts, confused.

  If I had a heart it would be thundering right now. I want to scream but I fear Ophelia wouldn't appreciate my summoning her back here.

  -----

  “You seem rather out of it, lady Cea.”

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  They all are saying it. I don't think they really are. I shudder. I look at Ophelia. “I can't stop hearing people say Cea when referring to me.”

  “Cea…stop supplying mana to your circlet.”

  I do so. Taking it off.

  “Is that better, Cea?”

  My eyes widened. She starts laughing. “Sorry, your face, Sara. It was too easy.”

  “That's really cruel, ‘Lia.”

  She gives me a wry look. “Not only dropping my title but a nickname. Rather bold.”

  “Act like a child, get a nickname.” I huff out.

  “I can live with that, Cea.”

  I give her a bigger frown, it just gets another laugh.

  I look at the circlet in my hands. “Why?”

  “It takes awhile but over time it latches onto your fears. It's generally not used since it's most likely to break the prisoner.”

  I shudder. “I'm having a hard enough time keeping myself separate. But I need to improve my skill.”

  “Sara…”

  I squeeze my eyes shut and put the circlet back on. The mana goes back into it. I open my eyes and look at Ophelia.

  “Cea.”

  I shudder.

  “Are you sure?”

  “I'll be alright.” I took her name after all.

  We reached the next trial. Lightning. Another stage. A tube was mounted. Various bulbs dotted the outside. A participant would go to the device and shoot a bolt inside it. Almost as always does the first light bulb flash on.

  “The goal is to hit the back bulb then?”

  “That is correct, lady Cea.”

  I frown at her, she is probably going to keep saying my name to annoy me. Nevermind. I need to make some sort of showing. But I can cast spells or externalize mana. Damn it. What if? That's completely foolish. I point a finger and try to shoot a bit of water. Nothing happens. I sigh. I push out some blood where it would focus.

  “What are you—”

  Fire damn you. It does, the wall is drenched. I smile.

  “Cea?”

  “Sorry, seems if I extend my blood out I can just make the spell there to be used. Maybe I could coat my body.”

  “Your blood shouldn't be on the outside, Cea.” I roll my eyes. I make my blood clear. She rears back. “You look ghastly.”

  “Well I made my blood clear, so ya it makes me look super pale.”

  I walk to the stage before she can protest. My lightning magic hasn't even been earned yet. I'm going to have to just throw as much as I can into this shot. The murmurs start again. Except instead of Demon or devourer it's all Cea. It's frankly a bit unnerving. Am I just converting anything directed at me as Cea. That's bizarre.

  My turn comes up and I step to the device. I point my finger up. My blood extends to where the mana focuses. I draw arcane and convert it to lightning. I need a lot, my convert sucks. And fire. Everything goes bright.

  You have gained [Convert Arcane to Lightning] Basic 2

  Gain 2 exp

  You have gained [Convert Arcane to Lightning] Basic 3

  Gain 2 exp

  You have gained [Convert Arcane to Lightning] Basic 4

  Gain 2 exp

  You have gained [Lightning Magic] Basic 1

  Lightning Magic - Grandmother Marie would be proud

  Basic - You over did it

  Gain 1 exp

  You have gained [Resist Bright] Basic 4

  Gain 1 exp

  My eyes blink back the flash, I really did over do it. Shit. I squint and see all the bulbs shining. The proctor seems impressed.

  “Name?”

  I smile, “Cea.” I freeze as I utter it. The moment I fully understood what I had just uttered I fled.

  -----

  “Cea?”

  “I'm not her, I'm not her. Why would I say that? I'm not her.”

  “Cea, I can't take off the circlet, only you can.”

  “I'm not her.”

  She grips my arms and shakes me. “Listen to me, take off the circlet.”

  I look at her wide eyed. I nod and do as she says. The circlet is off.

  “Sara, you don't need all your resists to be ready, just one. Maybe with another core you can fight the influences better. How is your [Resist Fire] doing?”

  I pop out the message screen.

  Resist Fire 3 - At some point, you should stop

  Basic - if the fire mana is fully resisted, you drain mana it instead of negating it

  Resist Fire 2 - a greater ability to resist Fire magic

  Basic - you can spend the remainder of your mana to block a fire attack

  Apprentice - can reflect fire attacks for twice the negation cost

  Competent - Magical fire transfers less heat when affecting you

  Intermediate - double the effective power of the Mental Fortitude stat against Fire attacks

  Resist Fire - the ability to resist magical fire attacks

  Basic - feel the burn Sara

  Apprentice - negate a fire attack at twice the mana it cost to cast it

  Competent - hey that negation cost half as much

  Intermediate- doubles the effective power of the Mental Fortitude stat against fire attacks

  Resist

  She winces. I'm not high enough. She asks a question, “You're able to double boost right?” I nod. “Alright, we'll go tonight. I need to ask a friend to come with us.”

  -----

  I was a max tier two and was playing the part of a porter. Ophelia brought her husband, the marques Abramna and the west gate adventurer guild master Winctal.

  “Seems premature to bring us along, dear. The hydras are still up.” The man in full armor spoke.

  “Winctal assured me that there was an easy method for clearing them.”

  I look at the troll woman and frown, “Pretty sure you're not that much stronger than me, but I'm carrying everything as if I'm the junior member.”

  “I might not be tier three Mourns but my stats aren't capped at three hundred.” She glares at me.

  “Sorry.”

  We arrived at the first floor boss. The two nobles look at Winctal. Who in turn looks at me. Of course. I roll my eyes and take off the bag with all our supplies.

  “Care to explain, my understanding was we were here to protect her. I don't see why she is preparing for combat.” Says the marques.

  “You will.” Says Winctal, smiling.

  My body shifts and I charge the first hydra of the night. I was actually bigger than the thing now. My blade legs quickly remove the heads. The blood coats me. It dies. The bliss ends prematurely. Still unable to apply temporary stats.

  Gain 40 exp from Hydra

  “Systems, it's truly dead? I remember my days of youth taking turns beating a headless corpse and she just eviscerated the damn thing.”

  “Best part is, she is not going to stop till all thirty are dead, are you Mourns?”

  I huff out a bit of annoyance. “I should be fine until we reach—

  Soul raised to 535

  Deity raised to 4

  I held myself in a hug. The soul burn is savage.

  Soul raised to 544

  Deity raised to 5

  Soul raised to 553

  Deity raised to 6

  It's almost too much. The burn abates. I trembled, my carriage was touching the ground.

  “Mourns, what's wrong?”

  Winctal and Ophelia are next to me. “Sorry, just a bit of soul burn.” I murmur, “I can continue.”

  “You sure? It's not a show of poor character to back down.” Abramna asks.

  “I'll get us to the third floor boss.” I huff out. Regaining my balance I walk down the second floor steps. Winctal had our supplies.

  Was it both Barbain and Lea or just Barbain? Lea was saying she would take it slow. Those deity level ups. It's not like my soul is spread out but it feels like something is out there connected to me all the same. It had to be Barbain. Is she really going to give out that much of her soul? Please be safe. For now, I am going to revel in blood.