The following day 32 of the sun season.
'Good morning everyone,' the voices resound wishing me the same.
'I've been thinking about the proposition of yesterday till I fell asleep, and I think we can arrange that, but I'm not sure about brainwashing someone I believe something that has died will be easier for you all to possess.'
An evil tone resounded in my mind saying,' that's true, however, we'd be able to eat their soul getting ours stronger and by the time that was finished. The leftovers could be given back to you.'
'Hum... that does sound worth the risk, but in that case, the body does matter since some will have more soul quantity than others.'
'In that specific sense yes, it'll also have more mana so human bodies are the best ones since they match yours.'
'If I bring soul stones from my questing to the mirror world would you guys be able to use them for yourselves instead of bodies?'
'It's also a possibility but it would take a while, however, we'd be able to choose our own appearance that way.'
'That sounds awesome, I'll try to get some good ones and any extra we either save it for Aurora grimoire, or one of you can consume them for extra territory expansion.'
'Seems like you're starting to become more reliant master Iris.'
'Now I'm truly curious about what kind of appearances you'd all get, even though it could be confusing to others and even among you if they were too different.'
'What do you suggest?' I tilt my head while trying to grasp for something coherent.
'Hum... I feel like we could all have the same face but different hair color as well as the same outfit but in different colors, and perhaps a black cape...'
'That sounds reasonable, I believe the cape could be black with a symbol, perhaps a black one with a 9 pointed white star.'
'That sounds interesting, however, why that symbol?' I question filled with admiration and curiosity.
'In the future, when the time comes for your awakening, we'll have all the skills maxed, and your class also has to rank further, so you can get the leftover skills, however, once you do. You'll have us 8, it'd be an enneagram a 9 pointed white star in a black cape, as we'd all be witches part of the same circle.'
'That sounds superb and exciting! Then wait shouldn't it be 10 due to Aurora?'
'Not quite, she's a special entity, and grimoires are the tools of those who study magic, in two years when she returns. You should make her learn the pandemonium skills, we'll need them to help us in the mirror world.'
'Do you know what they do? The things she has written in her pages?'
'No one does but her, however, a grimoire was created to aid magical users into using a specific type of magic. With some luck she'll have some powerful skills in those pages, depending on what we may or may not find in the mirror world. In the end, it would be us 10 versus an entire world, it doesn't quite work well like that. '
'Hum... I wonder about that, I remember she said that in her past life she was looking for a tome called pandemonium, and then she said it had stories in it. I even called them children's ones, which Aurora didn't seem to mind.'
'I don't think a tome with that name would have stories for children.'
'For you to be saying that you should know its meaning no?' My eyes turn rather curious while I smile seeking the answer.
'The meaning I know is that it's a different way of saying chaos.'
'God of chaos and god of evil were the ones doing it, so that would make perfect sense, but... what kind of skills could possibly make it chaotic enough? Was the reason that she searched for it in her past life because she wanted to spread it?' I place my arm on my forehead hiding my eyes from the morning sunlight.
'She's now gone so I can't figure these things out, ah... So exhausting being curious to no end without answers,' I let out a sigh and then continue the discussion.
'Grimoire is a book... what would happen if I used system library skill in it? Talking about that I barely use it nowadays, when I get home tonight I'll make sure to read, and I should copy all the books in the library. So much to do with so many series of titles to finish, and possibly a lot more to figure out and obtain...'
'With many copies of me, I could, in the beginning, make everyone do a lot of those things getting more titles which would allow me to grow stronger in no time, and it would increase all of the witches in succession! This is actually a very good plan to get things done.'
'By the time, I'll have the help of you 8 we should figure out what's in the other world, and since we can't do that right away due to the invisible wall. We could set up a ritual in the middle that'll expand the more territory we explore.'
A demonic tone resounds in my mind and says,' that sounds like fun, we could make one with multiple layers, but the first layer must be your own the snow falling one, so everywhere it touches will become white and be your own territory, increasing further as we develop the terrain.'
'We can do that, however, what's the point of having a big territory without anyone living in it?'
'We can make other beings that live there submit to us, and if the world is completely empty then we can invite people from Artana to it, on a side note, the snow falling ritual allows the mana to become denser and in that world which is already better than in here, we'll be able to practice magic at will.'
'Right, that's true, a great idea, I just hope it won't fill the entire place with snow. Not like I mind it but others might find it an issue, especially since we'll have to get a farming field among other resources and who knows what else.'
'You could always just transport your field inside and test it out after the ritual to see if it adapts or not.'
'If it does we'll be able to make a living there, otherwise, without food or resources, it'll be tough. From everything I could see last time I was there, it was only snow everywhere.'
'A snow biome, it honestly sounds like the perfect place to start, since if there are kingdoms or territories out there. They won't notice us as we'd be naturally hidden. We can even create a mist barrier at the border to keep it stealthy, of course, that you would need to get us a skill like that first.'
'In the end, I need to level up a lot along with ranking up my class for more skills I want to see how far it goes, and I need to try things on my own to earn new ones and use them together for combinations. Like that one time how one of you did against that evil curse, that was really amazing.'
'Appraisal is an amazing skill even though it's currently low level and we don't know yet what the max level will be, but seeing how strong brainwash resistance has become I'd say most skills end up at level 100. Doesn't mean that they won't evolve or have a different max level, since the appraisal is a unique skill. I'm assuming it'd be higher than 100 which makes analysis a better skill for magical, and appraisal for everything else most likely.'
'I understand I'll keep that in mind and try to use them more often even though my mana just puffs with so many things that I have to do all the time.'
'Also Iris do not forget that if the titles like the system library one where you have to use it on books, we most likely won't be able to come over to this world unless the soul stone allows the system to see us as just another being, testing it out will be a must.'
'I believe it'll be fine after all before you are a being, you're primarily all my skills, and the system can't just remove my things, it would be very unfair. Not to forget I'll be using soul stones that appeared in Artana's world.'
'Perhaps you're right...'
I roll in bed to relax my mind from all the thoughts.
'I guess Aurora must be close to the capital. If I also had gone I'd possibly be learning useful things, however, I get the feeling there wouldn't be room for a peasant such as myself. Maybe when my sister gets her nobility rank which would place us among them I'll give it a try or when I participate in the tournament. I could also learn swordsmanship in the first or second year that Aurora will be away, I believe lord Alfred would be happy to have me as a student.'
'There's also mother teacher who supposedly trained Sylvia that's still the very best in the kingdom, guess I'll ask mother about him. He was old when he taught them, so hopefully still lives, mom should be awake.'
I leave my room and head towards the kitchen then her room then outside the house while searching.
"Ah, here you are!" I find mother sitting in a chair on the plains close to home.
"Iris baby?" Upon hearing my mother I let out a smile as I get closer kissing her cheek, and then sitting on the grass in front.
"I was wondering if I could learn swordsmanship with your teacher instead of Alfred seeing as Sylvia turned out stronger than him..."
She interrupts me making my expression change to a startled one, making me go silent.
"That was pretty direct to the subject, and quite surprising as in all these years you barely asked for anything Iris."
"I don't really like to ask for things since we're not exactly rich, the money could be better used for other things."
She extends her hand and rubs my cheek softly.
"That's true, but we do have the recommendation letter from the crown prince, it can pay you any tutor except my old teacher he doesn't really care about money. All that man was ever interested in is the potential a student may have, so if you want to try your luck we'll go to where he lives to be tested."
"Sure mother, when would that be?"
"Whenever you want I just need to get some clothes and we'll go to a village southeast of the capital where he's currently living, hopefully still is around 1-hour distance from here."
"By me, we can even go right away."
"We'll have to be back before I got to work so let's head to the village and get a carriage to take us there or maybe we're lucky and find a different transport."
An hour and thirty minutes later we arrive at the village.
"This is the village of Tonne, a little smaller than Astia one, but a decent place nonetheless."
"That's an interesting name," I smile at mother while grabbing her hand as we spend 10 more minutes walking.
After noticing something quite weird going on I stare at Rosaline," mother why are we walking with so many turns?"
"Because I have to look in every alley for an old man beggar."
'A beggar?' I look around us and notice an old man under a tree in the middle of two houses.
"Maybe that one over there?"
Mother looks at me then sees where I'm pointing to and starts walking there, seeing this reaction I follow through. Upon arrival, the old man begs for food without looking up.
"After all these years and you still haven't changed swordmaster teacher Ray."
The man upon hearing those words places his hand on one of the swords and then looks above slowly.
"Blondie, my weakest student!" he chuckles," have you come to practice after all these years?"
"Not quite, I actually brought my daughter. She's interested in learning from the person who taught Sylvia instead of Alfred who approved of her talent."
"Alfred... The weak guy who married Sylvia?" He starts laughing again not giving it much thought.
"Against you, anyone would be considered weak I suppose," mother frowns thinking on their gap.
"Mother is your teacher truly that strong?" She nods as consenting while Ray explains.
"It is a different realm I live in, at least in swordsmanship alone. But as you can see I'm getting old and the only good pupil after almost 90 years, was that Sylvia girl who didn't stay long enough to learn everything. That damn brat had to fall in love with that weakling."
He got up and unsheathed his sword passing it next to my neck which I freeze surprised barely in time, 'freeze, icicles above him.'
Notice: 240 mana has been deducted.
"I'm surprised you didn't die, kid, aren't you too young to be asking for lessons from me?"
He laughed loudly, and when it came out of the mouth, the two icicles fell in the middle of his legs grazing the legs in the inside section, sobering him up from the light pain.
'Hum... that was a better reaction than Sylvia who was 11 when she started,' he then added while looking at her from top to bottom, "how old are you, kid?"
"It's Iris from now on, and I'm 8 years old," I reply with a cold voice but finish it with a kind smile making him laugh.
"That'd be the youngest student I'd have with this counter you made, come, I just hope that wasn't a fluke as I've decided to retire not that long ago."
He gets up and we follow him for a while eventually entering a big wooden house, then I and my mother take the shoes off copying Ray out of respect.
We face each other 10 meters apart as the wooden house is 20 meters long, and then he yawns loudly while unsheathing his sword.
He then looks at me from top to bottom and says, "Rosa, you didn't give your blondie brat a sword?"
Upon hearing that I say softly," ice sword," and a light blue aura appears in front of me shining, making his eyebrow raised in curiosity.
Notice: 500 mana has been deducted.
The following day 32 of the sun season.
'Good morning everyone,' the voices resound wishing me the same.
'I've been thinking about the proposition of yesterday till I fell asleep, and I think we can arrange that, but I'm not sure about brainwashing someone I believe something that has died will be easier for you all to possess.'
An evil tone resounded in my mind saying,' that's true, however, we'd be able to eat their soul getting ours stronger and by the time that was finished. The leftovers could be given back to you.'
'Hum... that does sound worth the risk, but in that case, the body does matter since some will have more soul quantity than others.'
'In that specific sense yes, it'll also have more mana so human bodies are the best ones since they match yours.'
'If I bring soul stones from my questing to the mirror world would you guys be able to use them for yourselves instead of bodies?'
'It's also a possibility but it would take a while, however, we'd be able to choose our own appearance that way.'
'That sounds awesome, I'll try to get some good ones and any extra we either save it for Aurora grimoire, or one of you can consume them for extra territory expansion.'
'Seems like you're starting to become more reliant master Iris.'
'Now I'm truly curious about what kind of appearances you'd all get, even though it could be confusing to others and even among you if they were too different.'
'What do you suggest?' I tilt my head while trying to grasp for something coherent.
'Hum... I feel like we could all have the same face but different hair color as well as the same outfit but in different colors, and perhaps a black cape...'
'That sounds reasonable, I believe the cape could be black with a symbol, perhaps a black one with a 9 pointed white star.'
'That sounds interesting, however, why that symbol?' I question filled with admiration and curiosity.
'In the future, when the time comes for your awakening, we'll have all the skills maxed, and your class also has to rank further, so you can get the leftover skills, however, once you do. You'll have us 8, it'd be an enneagram a 9 pointed white star in a black cape, as we'd all be witches part of the same circle.'
'That sounds superb and exciting! Then wait shouldn't it be 10 due to Aurora?'
'Not quite, she's a special entity, and grimoires are the tools of those who study magic, in two years when she returns. You should make her learn the pandemonium skills, we'll need them to help us in the mirror world.'
'Do you know what they do? The things she has written in her pages?'
'No one does but her, however, a grimoire was created to aid magical users into using a specific type of magic. With some luck she'll have some powerful skills in those pages, depending on what we may or may not find in the mirror world. In the end, it would be us 10 versus an entire world, it doesn't quite work well like that. '
'Hum... I wonder about that, I remember she said that in her past life she was looking for a tome called pandemonium, and then she said it had stories in it. I even called them children's ones, which Aurora didn't seem to mind.'
'I don't think a tome with that name would have stories for children.'
'For you to be saying that you should know its meaning no?' My eyes turn rather curious while I smile seeking the answer.
'The meaning I know is that it's a different way of saying chaos.'
'God of chaos and god of evil were the ones doing it, so that would make perfect sense, but... what kind of skills could possibly make it chaotic enough? Was the reason that she searched for it in her past life because she wanted to spread it?' I place my arm on my forehead hiding my eyes from the morning sunlight.
'She's now gone so I can't figure these things out, ah... So exhausting being curious to no end without answers,' I let out a sigh and then continue the discussion.
'Grimoire is a book... what would happen if I used system library skill in it? Talking about that I barely use it nowadays, when I get home tonight I'll make sure to read, and I should copy all the books in the library. So much to do with so many series of titles to finish, and possibly a lot more to figure out and obtain...'
'With many copies of me, I could, in the beginning, make everyone do a lot of those things getting more titles which would allow me to grow stronger in no time, and it would increase all of the witches in succession! This is actually a very good plan to get things done.'
'By the time, I'll have the help of you 8 we should figure out what's in the other world, and since we can't do that right away due to the invisible wall. We could set up a ritual in the middle that'll expand the more territory we explore.'
A demonic tone resounds in my mind and says,' that sounds like fun, we could make one with multiple layers, but the first layer must be your own the snow falling one, so everywhere it touches will become white and be your own territory, increasing further as we develop the terrain.'
'We can do that, however, what's the point of having a big territory without anyone living in it?'
'We can make other beings that live there submit to us, and if the world is completely empty then we can invite people from Artana to it, on a side note, the snow falling ritual allows the mana to become denser and in that world which is already better than in here, we'll be able to practice magic at will.'
'Right, that's true, a great idea, I just hope it won't fill the entire place with snow. Not like I mind it but others might find it an issue, especially since we'll have to get a farming field among other resources and who knows what else.'
'You could always just transport your field inside and test it out after the ritual to see if it adapts or not.'
'If it does we'll be able to make a living there, otherwise, without food or resources, it'll be tough. From everything I could see last time I was there, it was only snow everywhere.'
'A snow biome, it honestly sounds like the perfect place to start, since if there are kingdoms or territories out there. They won't notice us as we'd be naturally hidden. We can even create a mist barrier at the border to keep it stealthy, of course, that you would need to get us a skill like that first.'
'In the end, I need to level up a lot along with ranking up my class for more skills I want to see how far it goes, and I need to try things on my own to earn new ones and use them together for combinations. Like that one time how one of you did against that evil curse, that was really amazing.'
'Appraisal is an amazing skill even though it's currently low level and we don't know yet what the max level will be, but seeing how strong brainwash resistance has become I'd say most skills end up at level 100. Doesn't mean that they won't evolve or have a different max level, since the appraisal is a unique skill. I'm assuming it'd be higher than 100 which makes analysis a better skill for magical, and appraisal for everything else most likely.'
'I understand I'll keep that in mind and try to use them more often even though my mana just puffs with so many things that I have to do all the time.'
'Also Iris do not forget that if the titles like the system library one where you have to use it on books, we most likely won't be able to come over to this world unless the soul stone allows the system to see us as just another being, testing it out will be a must.'
'I believe it'll be fine after all before you are a being, you're primarily all my skills, and the system can't just remove my things, it would be very unfair. Not to forget I'll be using soul stones that appeared in Artana's world.'
'Perhaps you're right...'
I roll in bed to relax my mind from all the thoughts.
'I guess Aurora must be close to the capital. If I also had gone I'd possibly be learning useful things, however, I get the feeling there wouldn't be room for a peasant such as myself. Maybe when my sister gets her nobility rank which would place us among them I'll give it a try or when I participate in the tournament. I could also learn swordsmanship in the first or second year that Aurora will be away, I believe lord Alfred would be happy to have me as a student.'
'There's also mother teacher who supposedly trained Sylvia that's still the very best in the kingdom, guess I'll ask mother about him. He was old when he taught them, so hopefully still lives, mom should be awake.'
I leave my room and head towards the kitchen then her room then outside the house while searching.
"Ah, here you are!" I find mother sitting in a chair on the plains close to home.
"Iris baby?" Upon hearing my mother I let out a smile as I get closer kissing her cheek, and then sitting on the grass in front.
"I was wondering if I could learn swordsmanship with your teacher instead of Alfred seeing as Sylvia turned out stronger than him..."
She interrupts me making my expression change to a startled one, making me go silent.
"That was pretty direct to the subject, and quite surprising as in all these years you barely asked for anything Iris."
"I don't really like to ask for things since we're not exactly rich, the money could be better used for other things."
She extends her hand and rubs my cheek softly.
"That's true, but we do have the recommendation letter from the crown prince, it can pay you any tutor except my old teacher he doesn't really care about money. All that man was ever interested in is the potential a student may have, so if you want to try your luck we'll go to where he lives to be tested."
"Sure mother, when would that be?"
"Whenever you want I just need to get some clothes and we'll go to a village southeast of the capital where he's currently living, hopefully still is around 1-hour distance from here."
"By me, we can even go right away."
"We'll have to be back before I got to work so let's head to the village and get a carriage to take us there or maybe we're lucky and find a different transport."
An hour and thirty minutes later we arrive at the village.
"This is the village of Tonne, a little smaller than Astia one, but a decent place nonetheless."
"That's an interesting name," I smile at mother while grabbing her hand as we spend 10 more minutes walking.
After noticing something quite weird going on I stare at Rosaline," mother why are we walking with so many turns?"
"Because I have to look in every alley for an old man beggar."
'A beggar?' I look around us and notice an old man under a tree in the middle of two houses.
"Maybe that one over there?"
Mother looks at me then sees where I'm pointing to and starts walking there, seeing this reaction I follow through. Upon arrival, the old man begs for food without looking up.
"After all these years and you still haven't changed swordmaster teacher Ray."
The man upon hearing those words places his hand on one of the swords and then looks above slowly.
"Blondie, my weakest student!" he chuckles," have you come to practice after all these years?"
"Not quite, I actually brought my daughter. She's interested in learning from the person who taught Sylvia instead of Alfred who approved of her talent."
"Alfred... The weak guy who married Sylvia?" He starts laughing again not giving it much thought.
"Against you, anyone would be considered weak I suppose," mother frowns thinking on their gap.
"Mother is your teacher truly that strong?" She nods as consenting while Ray explains.
"It is a different realm I live in, at least in swordsmanship alone. But as you can see I'm getting old and the only good pupil after almost 90 years, was that Sylvia girl who didn't stay long enough to learn everything. That damn brat had to fall in love with that weakling."
He got up and unsheathed his sword passing it next to my neck which I freeze surprised barely in time, 'freeze, icicles above him.'
Notice: 240 mana has been deducted.
"I'm surprised you didn't die, kid, aren't you too young to be asking for lessons from me?"
He laughed loudly, and when it came out of the mouth, the two icicles fell in the middle of his legs grazing the legs in the inside section, sobering him up from the light pain.
'Hum... that was a better reaction than Sylvia who was 11 when she started,' he then added while looking at her from top to bottom, "how old are you, kid?"
"It's Iris from now on, and I'm 8 years old," I reply with a cold voice but finish it with a kind smile making him laugh.
"That'd be the youngest student I'd have with this counter you made, come, I just hope that wasn't a fluke as I've decided to retire not that long ago."
He gets up and we follow him for a while eventually entering a big wooden house, then I and my mother take the shoes off copying Ray out of respect.
We face each other 10 meters apart as the wooden house is 20 meters long, and then he yawns loudly while unsheathing his sword.
He then looks at me from top to bottom and says, "Rosa, you didn't give your blondie brat a sword?"
Upon hearing that I say softly," ice sword," and a light blue aura appears in front of me shining, making his eyebrow raised in curiosity.
Notice: 500 mana has been deducted.
