“Respectfully, Supreme Warlady Elena, you are an idiot,” Healer Castelle said while staring my mother down. She stared back at him from across the desk she was seated at. I was standing off to one side along with the Squires, Tutor Damian, and my father watching the drama unfold.
“Not many people would dare say that to my face,” she casually replied.
“I can’t speak for other people. But your son’s soul is in grave danger. My understanding of the number of skills he has, the alchemical product taken, and the green soul fruit, risks his life.”
“And you are paid quite well to ensure it,” she replied.
“Yes, I am, but I won’t let idiocy continue. Since your son will die horribly and then you will blame me. We might as well skip to the point where you swing your fist and splatter me across the ground before that happens,” he said.
“You older healers, sure are stubborn.”
“When it involves a patient’s health, especially a child who doesn’t know better,” he countered. My mother inclined her head a tiny fraction.
“That is the only reason I am letting you speak to me like that, since it is about the health and welling being of my son Justin. The issue was resolved, so what is the problem?” she asked.
“His Mind stat compared to his number of skills and my use of Stabilize Soul has created a complication. The initial issue was that alchemical product, focusing his soul to increase his physical stats. His intense training and his malleable soul, compounded the problem of a soul imbalance. This is due to his level, age, and the green soul fruit, creating an extreme condition where is soul is far too malleable. This was corrected, by adjusting his training and the use of my skill. The problem is that I suspect he has gained even more skills, putting their count far above his Mind stat. If I stop using Stabilize Soul, he will being experiencing health complications,” Healer Castelle explained.
“How sure are you and what kind of complications?” my mother asked while I nervously listened in.
“Very sure or I wouldn’t be bringing it up. You left strict instructions for him not to check his stats and skill levels except once every three months. I understand that, but I suspect the problem will have only gotten worse. With his soul artificially stabilized, it will be more receptive to new skills. As for the complications, headaches, weakness of the body, lower regeneration of reserves, mind fog, and possibly soul collapse,” Healer Castelle clearly explained.
“Squire Sabin, you proposed the training plan and the alchemical product,” my mother turned her head to look at the man.
“I went over it all with you and everyone else ahead of time. I accept responsibility for coming up with the plan, but not the complications,” he replied.
“He is an idiot,” Healer Castelle said. “Like the rest of you fighters. You see some research from the College of Advancement, and you get excited without looking at the details behind it. I will review your son’s training plan and anything he might take for health reasons, or you can fire me right now and deal with this mess yourself,” Healer Castelle declared.
“It seems we have a legendary healer in our midst,” my mother said with a smile and Healer Castelle let out a scoff.
“I don’t have the levels or the energy to go into that deep into the dungeon. That is for young people with more muscle than sense,” he replied.
“I accept your terms. Now, my son, tell me your status,” my mother said.
Level: 1 Experience: BLOCKED
Healing: 210/210 Stamina: 180/180 Mana: 50/50
Class: Tier 0, Child(Green)
Effect: Increased Skill Acquisition(+8%), Increased Learning Speed(+8%), Increased Stat Gain(+8%), Increased Physical Gain(+8%)
Vitality: 21 (+5)
Endurance: 18 (+6)
Strength: 16 (+4)
Agility: 18 (+4)
Perception: 8 (+2)
Mind: 36 (+1)
Magic: 5 (+1)
Focus: 17 (+1)
Free Points: 0
Tier 1(23)(2+): Running(90+17), Mathematics(75+4), Breathing(75+11), Eldarin History(65+4), Dodge(61+37), Toughness(53+28), Meditation(50+8), Eldarin Etiquette(45+3), Sword Skills(41+11), Drawing Skills(34+4), Shield Skills(29+4), Light Armor(29+4), Dancing Skills(28+3), Spear Skills(23+3), Monster Processing Skills(19), Cooking Skills(15), Bow Skills(15+2), Cleaning Skills(14+2), Axe Skills(14+5), Pugilist Skills(14+7), Dagger Skills(12+4), Wrestling Skills(8+4), Speech(3)
Tier 2(16): Danger Sense(31+10), Eldarin Script(20+20), Mana Sense(20+9), Darkness Vision(8), Writing Focus(7+7), Monster Analysis(3), Trap Detection(1), Depth Sense(1)
Tier 3(12): Pain Resistance(20+20), Fear Resistance(2+1), Soul Resistance(2+2), Empowered Will(2+2)
Tier 6(-): Experience Siphon(C)
Equipment
Gloves: Gloves of Processing(T2) (Blocks Mana T2 and Below)
Amulet/Bracelet: Experience Blocker(T4) (Prevents all experience gain for primary level)
Everyone was silent after I read everything off my status that only I could see. The tension was incredibly thick.
“A ratio of 36 to 51, impossible. That is almost at Meldor’s Threshold of 70%. One more tier one skill and he would cross it. Your son…his life is hanging by a thread,” Healer Castelle said while looking nervously at my mother.
“Three tier three skills. I thought I said no more skills, Squire,” my mother once again looked at the man.
“I did exactly what I said!” he replied loudly and nervously.
“It is my fault and an after effect of my initial treatment. My skill is acting like a framework around your son’s soul holding it togeather. But it is still receptive to new skills. The normal resistance a soul gives to getting skills has been completely broken. His age, level, and the green soul fruit have made his soul too malleable. If I stop daily applications of my skill or even slow down, the risks are dire,” Healer Castelle replied.
“What is Meldor’s Threshold?” my mother asked calmly, while I felt an increasing amount of concern.
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“It is when the ratio between skills and their tier in relation to the Mind stat goes below 70%. Meldor investigated many limits of the system and he is most credited with discovering the absolute boundary between skills and the Mind stat. Even with my Stabilize Soul skill, your son’s soul would just collapse under the pressure. Normally a soul resists such things, since it stretched to the limit. But my Stabilize Soul skill keeps him stable while everything else has reduced this automatic defense of a soul to protect itself from too many skills,” Healer Castelle explained.
“What can be done? Is there an alchemical product, an item?” my mother asked.
“Increase his Mind stat. Level him up and increase it. I will then stop the use of my skill and your son’s health should stabilize.”
“What are the other options?” my mother asked.
“The Mind stat is very risky to effect with alchemical products, since there are residual traces of monster’s Mana. It would need to be a custom job. For your son’s age and condition. The risks are very high. Or a soul mage if you know one?” My mother shook her head.
“There hasn’t been a soul mage of any repute in many generations since I killed the last one. They are troublesome. What about removing some skills through a System Priest?” my mother asked.
“Removing skills, shocks the soul quite heavily. With how malleable your son’s soul is, that would be far too dangerous. Either there would be no effect, or a very large effect, it is hard to say for sure. I can’t safely recommend for a System Priest to do such a thing,” Healer Castelle explained.
“What about an Elixir of Mental Fortitude,” Squire Nox suggested. He was a tall gaunt man with dark hair. The complete opposite of Squire Sabin.
“An Elixir? A fairy tale at best,” Healer Castelle replied.
“No. They do exist. At the Last Bastion. It appears I will need to visit once more. Also since my hunt for the legend who put the cursed skill on my son, that seems like a good place to investigate,” my mother said.
“What about a soul skill of some kind? There has to be something, since there is a skill for everything,” Squire Jessica said.
“There probably is, but he can’t take on any more skills, and such a skill would be tier five. The strain of having tier three skills at his level his concerning. While I haven’t seen any pressure on his physical body, there are hidden dangers from low level people having high tier skills,” Healer Castelle explained.
There was a long moment of silence as everyone processed what he had just said. “More stats is the only way. But gaining more levels would slow down his growth. I will go to the Last Bastion and purchase some Elixirs. A shame they have to be used so soon, but it should alleviate all issues and allow my son to quickly level up his skills with the higher stats,” she said.
“I will prepare a small sheet of questions for whomever you purchase these Elixirs from. They are a high level item, so I will need to be sure there won’t be any more hidden side effects and how many can be taken togeather safely. Especially with regards to Alchemical toxicity,” Healer Castelle said. My mother nodded at this.
“All my Squires will go with me. And for my son, he will focus purely on his mental studies with his current tutor, Damian. He has done well in the past, he will continue his job,” my mother declared. No one was about to argue with her, but I didn’t want to be left behind.
“Could I go with you?” I asked and my mother gave me a smile.
“No. It is too dangerous and the risk of you getting another skill is too high. It would also mean dragging Healer Castelle along with us into the dungeon to ensure you remain healthy. You will remain here and focus solely on mental skills,” my mother ordered. I wanted to argue but slowly shut my mouth and bowed my head.
“How will you find the Last Bastion? If it moves about in the dungeon?” I asked. My mother just smiled at me.
“Some things you will learn in time. I have my ways as do all legends in good standing. We will depart at first light, all of you are dismissed,” my mother declared. I was about to turn to leave when she spoke up again. “My son, stay.” I turned back around as everyone else left. Once the door closed, she spoke up again.
“I am sorry my son,” she said and got up and gave me a hug. I didn’t know what to say or do.
“Um, it is fine, you didn’t know,” I replied while hugging my mother back.
“That is no excuse. Ignorance is not a shield but something only fools claim. I am a fool. You know, I had picked up something else from the dungeon, a pair of eyes from a Shadow Cat. I was going to have their innate skill extracted and give it to you. Now that seems so idiotic,” my mother said.
“Well maybe after I get an Elixir of Mental Fortitude, what does would they do?” I asked and my mother smiled at me and patted me on the head.
“All Elixirs are one use alchemical products used to increase a stat directly by ten points. The materials are difficult to get and each Elixir can only be consumed once. Still, it was one way we legends can boost our stats one last time in the Last Bastion. An exclusive product down in the dungeon,” my mother said.
“Thank you, mother. Without you… Let me just say, I believe in you,” I told my mother.
“Thank you, my son. I will not let anything happen to you. The individual who cursed you, their days are numbered. It will take me at least a year to return. During that time focus on skills your tutor assigns to you only. Hopefully your Mind stat will increase, and you won’t gain any new skills,” she replied.
It was going to be more boring and tedious work, but I didn’t complain and just nodded. My mother gave me another hug and gently kissed the top of my head. “You are my precious son. You know that right?”
“I love you too,” I replied and hugged her back. Eventually we let each other go.
“Just because your life is at risk do not slow down. Focus on your mental skills. Promise me,” she asked.
“I promise,” I replied.
“Good. Your word is your bond and your life. Do not let it break easily, or hand it out easily,” my mother said. “Also, your new skill, Empowered Will, I am impressed.”
“What?” I asked in surprise as my mother smiled at me.
“It isn’t an easy tier 3 skill to get. While I was hoping you would get it, I never expected it to happen. Giving you a taste of the dungeon and then making you do regular training was designed to put you in the right mindset for that skill, but it was stupid,” my mother said with a sigh.
“You aren’t stupid. Just a series of small mistakes. I am sure I will be fine focusing on mental skills to raise up my Mind stat and you will return with the Elixir clearing this problem up,” I said.
“I could level you, you know. If you want to take an easier path. Even with the cursed skill. It would be easy. But once you gain the first level, it is so hard to stop,” my mother replied.
“Is it really that bad?” I asked.
“I am lucky in that I lived to reach the level I have, but it has been incredibly difficult my son. Incredibly difficult. So many close calls. I had more brushes with death than I can count. I had hoped to make your path forward easier by having you train early in foundational skills,” my mother let out a sigh.
“Then I won’t get a level. I won’t help out the person who cursed me,” I replied.
“Bold, daring, just like me. But if you change your mind, you can tell your father. That is alright as well. Your life is the most important thing. You are still young, but I trust you to make your own choices,” my mother said. I nodded at this, and she gave me another hug which I returned.
The next morning, she had left with all her Squires before I was even up. My father invited me to breakfast. “You mother explained what has happened,” he said.
“I am to focus on training mental skills only,” I replied, and he nodded a this.
“Safety is important. Your mother has also spoken with Tutor Damian. He has been instructed to have you only focus on specific skills. Do not try and get around this. Any action you take outside your skills could kill you,” he said.
“Yes, father,” I replied heavily.
Mathematics, Eldarin History, Meditation, Eldarin Etiquette, Eldarin Script, Mana Sense, and Writing Focus were the only skills I was allowed to work on. The hope was that by focusing on purely mental skills, my Mind stat would increase more than my other stats and I would avoid getting new skills. The alchemical boost from the wyvern heart had gradually diminished. It wasn’t completely gone according to Healer Castelle, but its remaining effects should be minimal after three months.
I knew there was going to be a lot of tedious work in my future, but complaining wouldn’t help. If I wanted the easy path I could ask to get a level, and solve the problem immediately. But it would make things harder in the future. The temptation was there. I thought of the temptation of the dungeon.
To grow stronger, to gain stats, to level up. Well, at least I wouldn’t be doing nothing while I waited for my mother and her Squires to return. I had mental aligned skills to focus on.