"So...you think this Skill Book broke her Class?"
The question hung in the air of our cottages kitchen. Mama, Mr. Thorpe, and me sitting around the dining table in the center of the room. My eyes are red and puffy after crying so much but I finally calmed down once we got back home for a more private conversation. Swinging briefly by the guard shack to get Old Guard.
Mama was pretty pissed at first with both of us for not telling her but she kept a cool head after I told I didn't want to stress her out back then even more. Plus with my Class awakening it appeared like everything was fixed. But with what happened a few hours ago it was clear something else was very wrong.
Mr. Thorpe runs his hands through his slicked back brown hair. A few grey hairs flaring out in several places. His eyes are pretty sullen at the moment but could also just be because he is tired. He doesn't seem to be sleeping very well. "Well I didn't think it would go that far...it was already strange for her to get [Battle Theory]. But coupled with the issues this morning and especially with her not having to pay a single copper to get one of the most expensive healing rituals done...I'd say its pretty clear that book screwed up quite a bit."
Mother grimaces, squeezing me closer to her as she hasn't let go of me since we got home. "Then...then we need to take her to the Order in Lanercost. Maybe they can..."
"Yara...they did a CLEANSING ritual on her. There is no higher healing ritual possible. If that didn't fix it outright I am not sure what would." Thorpe interrupts gently, leaning over the table and resting his chest on his folded arms. "She still has passive skills and a skill she got from that book that she can't even see yet. Which leads me to believe that book wasn't just a simple skill book either."
My brows furrowed at the old man, as does my mothers. I had been quietly letting them talk back and forth for a good 10-15 minutes so I might as well take the bait Thorpe is tossing out. "What do you think it was then?"
The old mans expression became pretty complicated. Staring down at the table for a moment as his right hand absentmindedly reached inward to grasp at the black metal money piece hanging around his neck. "Skill Books are rare yes. They can only be found in Labyrinths. But they are common enough to be sold by mage shops. Albeit in very limited supply of course." He began, thumbing the black piece on the chain. "But not a lot of people know that there is a higher tier of Skill Book...but instead of just giving you a skill, it gives you a Class Evolution."
My eyes widen at that. This is definitely the first time I have heard of something like that. I at least have somewhat heard of Skill Books before and I've even seen a couple before that Papa had for his own class. Judging by Mama's expression this was pretty new to her too. The tall woman sitting up straight with her attention fixed onto Old Guard. "Wait, you mean like how [Traders] can become [Merchants]?"
Mr. Thorpe nodded. "And [Barbarians] can become [Warriors], [Scouts] can become [Rangers], [Cooks] can become [Chefs]. It happens naturally as one specializes in certain skills or someone just gets to a certain level or stat threshold." The old man sits up and leans back in the wood chair, creaking as he presses against it. "But a Class Book will immediately give a person their class evolution. Giving them whatever prerequisites they were missing to get it. Which is why they are so rare."
This information is kind of making me dumbfounded. That sounds way too good to be true. Pretty much everyone dreams of getting a class evolution. Even [Farmers] but no one has ever been able to figure out what the class evolution for a [Farmer] even is. "So I got a new class then? But I don't even see that, it says I am still a [Farmer]."
The old man shakes his head. "Well that's the thing, even it was a Class Book you still shouldn't have been able to use it. Especially seeing as it was obviously a class evolution for a combat class. Which you aren't." He responds while scratching his greying stubble. "They work basically the same as Skill Books, they are class specific. And even if you do find one in an Labyrinth the chances of it being for your class are pretty damn slim. But you can atleast still sell it for a fortune anyhow."
My shoulders slump and I let out a long winded sigh. "Which still means that the one I found was weird..."
Mother nodded slowly as she rubs my shoulder comfortingly. "Then this other class that book tried to give her is...conflicting...with the one she was born with?"
The old man gives an honest shrug of his shoulders. "That is my theory. Don't quote me on it. But that's all I can think of since something is stopping her actual class quests from progressing." Putting his hands up a bit in faux defense before he scoots his chair out from under the table and stands up to start pacing the kitchen. Taking a glance out of the window at the afternoon sun.
Mama leans over and hugs me tightly, pressing my head to her chest. My tense shoulders relaxing a bit as I settle against her. She sighs quietly, swallowing hard as she asks her next question. "Then...what do you suggest we do?"
Mr. Thorpe slumps a little, rubbing the back of his neck. It takes a few moments before he forces himself to turn to face her. "Well if she can't progress in farming...and she already has [Combat Theory]...then I guess we can try to train that and see what happens."
His answer really didn't resonate with Mama very well as her mouth curved downward and her eyes started watering. "Does...does she really only have that as an option?"
Old Guard walks back over and sits back down at his chair to get level with his friend. "Yara I know the idea of both of your kids becoming fighters doesn't sit well with you. But...we don't really have a lot of other options. At least none that would really benefit Liore at all."
Mothers lip quivers as she turns to look down at me. Tilting my head upward to meet her gaze. "Mama...what else am I supposed to do. Sure I can still use the farming tools so I could still help out. But I wouldn't be able to get any skills from it or level up. I didn't even get any experience from it and I planted like...a hundred radishes." I say softly up to her, giving her a bit of an awkward smile at the mention of the radishes. Which thankfully does make her chuckle a bit in between her sniffling. Wiping tears from her eyes. "I want to at least try."
My mothers eyes hold such reluctance still. I always thought Leo being born as a Holy Knight was incredible. But I never really knew just how much Mama didn't like it. It does mean she would have to constantly worry about him to a degree. And now the idea that I might end up following the same kind of path doesn't sit right with her. Content with at least one of her children being safe with her.
Pulling back a bit in her arms, taking her hands into mine and giving them a gentle squeeze. "Mama. I'm not going anywhere. Not for a long while." I assure her with solid resolve. "I'm not some Holy warrior. They don't want me and I don't want to go to them. I can just train here with Mr. Thorpe...learn to protect the village and you."
The usually strong willed woman's shoulders slump, meeting my stare as she mulls all of this over. Likely feeling helpless again which pains me to see. Her eyes search my face as I try to hold on to as determined of an expression as I can to quell whatever doubts are plaguing her. But finally with a long and slow sigh. "Alright..." She gives, leaning forward as she places a hand against my cheek. "You can try...see how it works." Her eyes narrowing. "I certainly don't like it...but I can't really think of much other solutions than getting the Order involved. But I agree that I'd rather not bother with them anymore."
Taking a deep breath, I curl in against her chest, squeezing tightly to her. "Thank you Mama. I promise I'll be careful..."
She holds me tightly to her as she forces chuckle. "Just...please don't go sneaking out into the forest alone at night."
I grimace and nod. "Yes I definitely won't be doing that." I assure her whole heartedly. And I am being completely honest. I do NOT plan on making that mistake again even if I can defend myself now.
Mr. Thorpe chimes in from across the table. "Obviously I will still take you out into the forest just like I did Leo. Some camping trips. But it will always be with me." He would say, giving more assurance to my mother as well. "But to start we'll just be doing basic maneuvers, spars, and obviously more strength and speed training for the first few weeks." Grinning at me cheekily as he hears the groan I barely stop myself from emitting. "I want to test whether you can gain more combat skills. If you do then we know we are on the right track. Especially if we can get you to learn [Sword Skill], which is the passive skill for sword fighting specialization."
I nod along to Old Guard as I untangle myself from my mother, turning my attention to him. "I want to try to also unlock those hidden skills I have but I have no idea what they even are so it'll just be guess work." Sighing heavily. "I am hoping with the training we just stumble on it."
The old man gives a big ole shrug at me. "You got a combat skill, that is about as good of a lead as we can get. Just gotta pull on the thread and I'm sure we'll snag something."
Mr. Thorpe lined out more of his training plans with me while Mama listened. I honestly can't help but feel excited about all of this. Even though these changes were abnormal and still scare me as to what they might cause. But the longer I think about the idea of wielding that sword, the more that it fills me with a fierce motivation that I haven't ever felt before.
I think I actually want this. Whether it's a curse by god or not.