"[Let flesh knit and mend, return blood to body and give upon this land your gift oh Dark One, Close Wounds]" She then moved down to be eye level with Lily, checking on her with worry.
"I am fine Mother." Lily chided, turning her gaze to the old man. "What was that?" She questioned
He did not speak at first as if trying to judge her words, "Grading Stones come in different qualities. For children the most basic of grading stone, one not fully processed is enough. But if you are beyond that then the stone shall shatter." His words caused murmurs among the parents.
Kayla however just pushed Lily lightly with a big smile. Lily ignored her, thinking how to best approach this. It was likely because she wasn't just a child that it reacted in some way. But that was a secret that could not be shared with anyone. So the best way to hide that? Act childish.
"So you mean to tell me that you believed the same [Grading Stone] you would entrust to a child of a farmer swinging a wooden sword would be appropriate for the Advancement of the heir to the Lightlash family?" She said in the most haughty tone she could.
The old man seemed to judge her for a moment more before a laugh escaped him. "Bold and worth more than the base [Grading Stone]. You've been holding out Heather." he spoke with more familiarity to her "mother" than even her noble friends.
Her shock must have been obvious because he spoke directly to her next. "Apologises young one, I am [Guild Master] Castellen, a friend of your mothers. She told me about your genius and I wished to test it for myself. You even thought to take away from the mystery of such a reaction by acting up your self importance. You shall make a fine noble." His casualness showed his status more than his title as a [Guild Master].
Before Lily had time to process and retort he brought out a similar stone, but this one had been inlaid with gold. He offered it forward. Lily grumbled inwardly but nodded.
"Thank you.... [Guild Master]." She muttered, bringing her thumb to the stone and slit it again, watching as her blood traveled much faster into the [Grading Stone]. It glowed for the slightest of moments and then stopped becoming dull, Lily noticed that Castellen had another reaction, although this one was much smaller than the one prior. Something he actively attempted to conceal, but after a moment longer nothing happened, no light, no grand display just nothing.
The Light of the System shows your potential during the Grading Ceremony, the brighter the light the more potential. The largest light was that of Arch Magi Iridia, it was said to light up half of a small room.
The words she had read about Grading Ceremonies were burning in her mind as her eyes adjusted from the light, everyone around her was looking at each other awkwardly, even Kayla seemed a little unsure. After all even a small light was to be expected, but a minor glow that lasted for half a second? Surely not... she was Lily Lightlash, heir to the Lightlash family and genius, she was supposed to be a shining star among her peers. Did this mean she lacked all potential?
"Do not falter, Lady Lightlash. You are ahead of your peers, remember this is a stone intended for those far older than you." Castellen said, his words were that one would expect to be teased with, yet they carried gravity within them, an assurance as if he was protecting her ego it felt... patronizing. He wasn't even looking at her, he was staring at the stone.
"If I may... be so rude, can I ask that I am left alone to make my [Class] selection. I wish to... think carefully." Lily said carefully, trying to not show the panic in her voice.
The others looked at each other, each bearing a different strange expression. But eventually, primarily at the behest of her "mother", they all left. Some muttering to each other on how embarrassed she must feel.
Castellen had lived a long time, he had stopped believing in miracles and coincidences long ago, fate weaved her tale as she liked without regard for mortals nor immortals. He bid the group of nobles a good day, and moved to his office.
He sighed sitting down at his desk, staring at the [Grading Stone]. Usually nobles kept such things, they could afford to purchase them as souvenirs of their child's progress. However... he wouldn't even give that option to the Lightlash family.
Lily Lightlash, just what are you? He thought to himself as he stared at the cracks that were still growing on the gold inlays, they were meant to contain the energy produced by the grading. What many attributed to light was merely a reaction to show that the containment had been done properly. Instead the girl had nearly shattered a stone meant for third advancements! If he had not used [Reinforcement Infusion] on it once he realized... the girl could have lost her arm.
He cringed at the thought, the reaction from Heather would not be pretty, not only her anger but the way she would tell him she told him so about her daughter being special. Damned [Adventurers], why did he ever take this job? He was certain her daughter would be an even bigger headache.
Lily slumped into a sofa, her posture far lazier than she'd ever show anyone. Her face had an irritated expression on it as she thought back to that book again, On Advancements & Classes it had been called.
Do not feel dismay if your first Advancement only gives you three or five options. Further choice comes with experience and skills.
Lily wanted to find whoever wrote that book on Advancements and strangle them. Three or Five?! She must have a hundred options! What was going on here? She was smart sure, yes she had already unlocked a number of skills. But certainly... certainly this was too much. After all, her stone had displayed no light! She saw both [Squire] AND [Knight] among the list, she hadn't even done any physical training. An error, it must be an error. After all there hadn't even been a damned light.
Her voice took a much colder tone than she had previously, one that lacked any acknowledgement or respect in it.
"System, diagnostics."
It had been about a year after the party where she met Kayla that she had found the book hidden away in the Clawwood Library on one of her many visits. It spoke of how to interact with the System. Beyond its normal notifications, apparently a lost art as it was seen as heresy. Many of the common people viewed the System as a sign of the divine, to speak to it? To order it? That was... callous and improper. Only those worthy should do so.
Lily did not care for worthiness, and she understood the System did not either. It wasn't easy to utilize however, the System responded to questions with ease, however vague the answers were was based on how vague your questions were. To command it? That required more, it required her to speak words that quite frankly Turian did not have, which made sense. It responded to English, and only technical terms. If this was intentional design or simply because it would respond to any language that used the proper terms she was unsure.
Ah yes, that was what she could only assume as her User ID. It was curious, she had briefly wondered if this entire world was a virtual reality, some kind of falsehood. But extensive prying and testing with the System suggested everything to be very real. If it was all fake there were safeguards to ensure she couldn't simply find out. It was on her to-do list to investigate further but at this time she had more important things to focus on.
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She slumped into a sofa, no errors. Nothing wrong, just... an endless list of options. [Mage] and [Wizard] were there of course, but so was [Rogue] and [Thief]. There were odder ones like [Alchemist] and more specific ones like [Pyromancer]. Yes not [Flame Mage] or [Magi of Flame] but something so specific. [Bone Collector], [Singer], [Worshipper], the list did not end. How was she supposed to pick the best option from this? It was as if she had every Tier Zero and Tier One class options! She couldn't even be sure of that because there were simply so many options!
She paused... wait, these were all notifications.
"System, organize [Class] options by rarity index using a descending order."
For a moment there was no reaction, and then suddenly all of the notifications shifted, into one notification.
<██████ of ██████>
She frowned, the System rarely censored things she wasn't sure what exactly caused it to, but any time she had attempted to... access information on... the place from before. The one she couldn't even fully think of, that is when it censored itself. That was concerning, and such a [Class] likely invited trouble. She swiped mentally.
She searched her memories, the differences between [Witch], [Mage], [Wizard] and [Sorcerror] were sometimes as simple as [Wizard] being the next level of [Mage]
Witch is an exceedingly rare class, unlike Wizard which is a path to specialization Witch has access to skills that focus on an mastery of the arcane in all aspects. Its weakness is shown in this as it takes double the effort to reach the highest tiers of spells. One must have affinity to multiple types of magic for this.
Perhaps the author of that book could be left alive, that was useful information. So a [Witch], and a variant class... Those were exceedingly rare on their own. Things like Kayla's [Flame Mage] or her mothers [Magi of Flame] were variants. Unique specializations that enhanced aspects of a class. They said the greatest swordsman was a [Holy Knight], not to be confused with a [Paladin]. While she did not care about such things it was useful information.
The lack of a show had hurt her reputation surely, but if she had this [Class]? That could smooth things over. She wasn't sure what the Noble variant entailed but... a brief look at her other options told her it was the correct choice. She selected the [Class] and let out a breath as new knowledge filled her head and she acquired new skills.
That was... a lot. A number of magics and magical skills unlocked, and then favor with gods? A title and an inheritance. She had never even heard of an Inheritance before.
"System, what is an Inheritance?"
Interesting, so some being long ago had given her a boon? Not directly but still, that was interesting.
"System, what were the circumstances for the Inheritance of Arcane?"
<█████ ████ deemed that any to receive Noble Witch as their class would be given their inheritance... 20366 years ago.>
Lily froze, the System censoring something once again? And a name at that, someone from so long ago... had there truly been no [Noble Witch] in such a long time? Perhaps, she had never heard of the Noble variant.
Her brows knitted together as she thought, this was complicated and she lacked vital information. She needed to collect herself. She focused bringing up her [Status Page]
Name: Lily Lightlash
Title: Beloved of The Arcane
Race: Human
Class: Noble Witch
Level: 5
HP: 25/25
Mana: 100/100
Strength: 12
Dexterity: 15
Constitution: 20
Intelligence: 80
Wisdom: 60
Charisma: 120
Luck: 15
Skills
Calligraphy 8
Noble Etiquette 6
Old Elvish 5
Mana Control 8
Mana Circulation 6
Arcane Favor 3
Riding 2
Slight of Hand 2
Cooking 1
Blaze Magic 1
Elvish 8
Dwarven 4
Draconic 1
Wind Magic 4
Water Magic 6
Ice Magic 2
Painting 3
Sculpting 1
Mana Heart 1
Arcane Master 1
Chantless Casting 1
Shadow Magic 1
Earth Magic 1
Healing Magic 1
Holy Magic 1
[Spells exceed 5 please select a magic to view the spells]
Skill Points: 500
Okay, perhaps she had learned too many skills for her age, but she truly wanted to ensure she had good class choices... but now she wanted to scream because quite frankly, everyone had lied to her! Kayla had told her she would have ten skill points to use! Now she had five hundred! She wondered if Alice was dealing with so many complications, it was exhausting. How was she supposed to not draw suspicion when she kept being handed things like this? Yes she was reincarnated but truly this had to be too much.
She was about to go to the door when she thought, she had no idea what the noble variant was but that didn't mean she couldn't find out.
"System, what is the Noble Variant for classes?"
Lily stared at the notification, as if she could make the words change if she kept staring for long enough. That was... that had to be too much right? If this was common knowledge, what if someone tried to assassinate her before she could become a threat?! She couldn't let anyone know she had to hide-
She felt her body shift, light playful hands running along it, ones filled with compassion but a little too ready to explore, she cringed, snapping her gaze which was now full of anger and disgust to the door where Kayla stared at her, a face that was shifting from mischievous to shock.
"L-Lily?"