《All the Credits》
Ch 1 Im a child
Ch 1 I''m a child
But in this story. I chose how I live, and I have the system from five years old, but I don¡¯t have store access til I¡¯m ten years old. Whereas most people get system access at ten and store access at fifteen. And their parents give them credits to start their new adult lives.
So, I learn skills as a child. But no one pays attention because I¡¯m the niece of the baron. The child of his dead sister. With an unknown father. Therefor I¡¯m a bastard noble with no lineage. Only to be used as a bride to be sold off for the baron. My only hope is that I can leave this house before I turn 15 and gain access to a guild and enter. I have luck with this because as soon as I turn 14, I should have enough skills to enter a guild. Since I already have system access as a toddler, I will be able to learn a greater amount of skill in ten years than people do in four. Since I have a head start and a younger body. I have a better chance of learning more skills. Right now, I¡¯m only five years old. I can walk and talk and potty on my own.
The important thing that has happened is that I have no caretaker anymore. I was being nannied, but that person was a maid of the baroness. And she resumed her post. So now all I have is a few maids that check on me occasionally. They bring me meals to my new bedroom on time, if I¡¯m not there they just leave the food on the lower table. If I¡¯m there they will help me eat. I¡¯m in the end wing of the main manor.
The manor is shaped like a T with the top line closest to the front gate. The right side is for pleasure gardens and kitchen gardens. The left side is for training grounds and horse stables. The main family lives in the right-side wing. So, they can always see who is coming to the manor. I live in the back end of the T. So, I always have to be called anywhere.
It¡¯s ok though, since I¡¯m closer to the kitchen, and the kitchen gardens. The manor is surrounded by woods, since we are in the barony. It always surprises me. The baron and his wife spend at least 8 months of the year in the barony. I think it''s because there are guilds here, they profit from.
I have never been to the capital with them when they go. Because I¡¯m too young I assume. Their own children go with them, however. The baron has three children, two boys and a girl, all older than me. The heir Mikal 13, the spare Rikard 11, the mare Meri 8. Then me 5. The baron''s name is Hamon, his wife is Katalina. He is the Baron of Hammish. I don¡¯t know much about the barony. Or much about anything. Since this is my second life. I do know that you shouldn¡¯t leave a five-year-old alone to wonder around, however. And that there is magic. And the system.
The system is wonderful. It says I can learn skills. It helps that it''s in English, my previous life¡¯s language. I should focus on learning this life¡¯s language, I can barely talk as it. Maybe I should try and learn to read and write? No idea what sort of schooling there is for me in stock.
*
Most of my day I explore the end of the manor. I make sure I¡¯m always on time for meals in my room, however. And that I always go to bed at a decent time for a five-year-old. I feel like I should be taking naps during the day, but I¡¯m never tired enough to. Sometimes I sneak into the gardens and play with sticks, pretending I¡¯m practicing with a sword. It¡¯s really silly. As I''m a literal toddler. Two short sticks barely as long as my arms are my go-to. With these I''m a dual wielding rogue or assassin, my favorite archetype to play. Kiting around the monster I''m killing doing backflips and pirouettes, never being touched by their teeth or claws.
It¡¯s one day like this I''m found by a guardsman. As I''m stumbling along with my sticks he came to laugh at me. All I could do was pout at him. It¡¯s not like I could do anything. I¡¯m five! I sighed and started walking away from him. My poofy dress in the way of everything I do. Why they dress me up I don¡¯t know. But every morning and evening I''m put into hated dresses.
The guardsman laughs and follows me inside. I trudge along to my room and put away my sticks. I turn to him. ¡°Why follow?¡± I ask.
¡°Little miss was all alone, why shouldn¡¯t I do my duty and follow to make sure she isn¡¯t hurt?¡± His smiling face greets me. He took his helmet off at some point. His golden eyes and golden hair reminded me of something, but I didn¡¯t know what.
¡°Am ok. Go way.¡±
¡°I think not little miss, where is your maid? You should have her give you a bath. You don¡¯t want to be dirty for lunch, now do you?¡± He kneels down before me. He looks to be mid-forties I think? There¡¯s a warmth to him I can feel myself craving.
¡°No maid. Am lone.¡±
A frown came to his face. ¡°You''re alone now? What is the name of your maid?¡±
¡°No maid, always lone.¡±
His frown deepened. ¡°You have no maid assigned to you little miss? There isn¡¯t anyone who takes care of you?¡±
¡°They bring food, they dress, they leave.¡±
There was anger in his eyes now. The frown pulling his eyebrows together. He was taking even breaths I noticed. ¡°The maids feed you, then leave. They dress you then leave. Is that right?¡±
I nod. I realized it was bad, as I was only five. But it¡¯s the baron''s decision. What could a guard do?
¡°When was the last time you took a bath?¡± he suddenly asked.
I blinked and thought a moment. I didn¡¯t know actually. So, I shrugged at him.
His breathing was becoming deeper. He was putting in effort to smooth it out I could tell. I was just standing there watching him go through his emotions. His face was a riot of them. There was anger and frustration. Then resignation and regret. Then something like determination. His gaze was direct now. He scooped me up and stood. I clung to him. I could remember being so high in this life. And my last one I was always scared of heights.
He was not a short man. Over six feet tall, I think. He clicked the helmet to his belt and started striding down the halls. To where I don¡¯t know. He didn¡¯t speak, nor did I. We came to the main intersection of the manor. And then he turned left. I was starting to get worried. Was he taking me to the baron? Why?
We reached the barons office. It had a guard in front. He gave my guard a look, my guard nodded, and the office guard nodded and opened the door. My guard strode in. The baron was working on his desk. He wasn¡¯t a small man either. He was roughly six feet himself. He had muscle and fat to him though. His girth was significant. Especially for a man that was thought to be a battle commander.
¡°Why have you intruded into my office Captain?¡±
My guard without pause kneeled down while still holding me. I sat on his upright knee.
¡°Sir. I pledged to you when my family was lost. When I had no hope. When I feared for the lives of the innocent. Today I have come to find a child in your house alone and unaided with the most basic of needs. She was unafraid of this, as it was her normal. When I asked if she had a maid, she said they come and go, leaving her alone throughout the day. Only coming to feed her and change her clothes.¡±
The baron looked at the guard. No, the Captain. I hadn¡¯t realized his rank, but that would make sense given his presumed age. I looked at the baron wondering what he was going to do. I was an unwanted child in his house. So why would he do anything to change the situation?
¡°I see. There had been a maid assigned to her, but it seems she was reassigned without my knowledge. Or permission. You say you found her? I know you don¡¯t often stroll the manor so where was she?¡±This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
¡°Near the training field, wielding two sticks. I believe she was merely playing.¡± The captain said. Still kneeling but now looking at the baron.
The baron looked over at me. And sighed. ¡°What were you doing outside?¡±
¡°Training.¡± Is all I said. They both looked at me.
¡°Why would you be training child?¡± The baron asked me.
¡°So, I can fight.¡± Was my reply
The captain looked concerned, and the baron sighed again. ¡°Little miss you are a young lady, there will be no need for you to fight.¡± The baron seemed much nicer in person than I thought he would be. Maybe I had the wrong impression? Or maybe because the captain brought it to his attention?
¡°But? Monsters?¡± I asked. The system showed me you could level up. I wanted to level up to. That meant fighting monsters.
The baron had a perplexed look on his face. ¡°Little miss, what do you know of monsters?¡± He gently questioned.
¡°Fight monsters level up?¡± I explained simply. I was five and speaking like it was difficult. This was not my native language. I was being helped by the system a bit. I had learned the skill Alterty Language Proficiency- Spoken. So, it was going somewhat well for me. I hadn¡¯t had much chance to talk to anyone. So,it was getting better now.
The baron was still looking at me, I could tell what kind of face he was making. The captain was still kneeling but was sitting back on his leg and was holding me on his upright knee. It wasn¡¯t uncomfortable, which is odd, since he was in leather armor.
It felt like a frozen moment in time. Being held like I was something precious. The baron saw me like that. I don¡¯t understand what he was thinking but it soon came to an end.
¡°You¡¯re right captain. I took your oath saying I would make things better. Only to disregard a child in my own manor. I will not let this stand. Marcus!¡± The baron yelled.
A short thin young man came running into the office. He couldn¡¯t have been older than twenty.
¡°Yes, sir?¡± He answered the baron.
¡°Find me the head maid. I want an accounting of where the maids have been placed in the last six months.¡±
¡°As you wish sir.¡± With that Marcus disappeared. Like literally vanished. I was a bit shocked about how fast he was gone.
The captain stood up and held me, then walked to a couch next to a wall and sat down, still holding me. I was a little confused as to what would happen now though. The maids were under the baroness. Not the baron.
¡°It¡¯s alright little one. You¡¯re not to blame.¡± The captain said to me, as he held me close. It was comforting. And he was so warm. I sank into his chest and just stayed there awhile. Ignoring the commotion of the head maid and the baron discussing what had happened. Ignoring the ranting of the baroness when she came in. I just stayed where I was. Happy for a little while.
*
I woke sometime later. In bed, having been changed into a nightgown. It was still light outside. Afternoon likely. It was before lunch when I was with the captain in the baron''s office. I blushed a little. I can¡¯t believe I fell asleep. But I also can¡¯t remember the last time I was helped either. The maids aren¡¯t rough with me, but they are clinical. Doing the minimum they need to before leaving.
Which is why it was so odd that there were three of them standing beside the door to the room. The room that I had awakened in was not the room I lived in either. It was much grander. It is likely fit for the child of the baron. Not a noble''s bastard. Which still didn¡¯t explain why I was here nor why there were maids here. So, I got up and started getting out of bed.
Soon as I started moving the maids came alive and started helping me. One picked me up and set me on the floor. Another took off my nightgown and the third replaced it with a dress. All in less than ten minutes. I had barely blinked, and I was awake and dressed again. I stared at them, and they had their heads down, likely waiting for an order. But I didn¡¯t know what to say.
So, I just walked away. One of the maids, a blunette, lifted me up and asked. ¡°Where would you like to go, little miss?¡±
I was startled to be picked up in her arms. The three maids had made themselves quiet, they were remarkably similar. I¡¯d say mid-twenties a blunette a brunette and one with black hair. The uniform they wore was classy though. Calf length black skirt, black button down. With a white apron. Very medieval fantasy.
¡°Um, kitchen? Am hungry.¡± I stated slowly. Unsure if this woman could be trusted. Unsure if anyone here could be trusted honestly. The captain could easily hold me. The baron held me on whims. The baroness likely thought little of me. I hadn¡¯t met the cousins.
¡°Little miss can eat in here. Misha can bring you food.¡± The blunette set me down at a table. But it was sized for me. Why did they have a toddler sized table? Likely for the cousins I suppose. The brunette, Misha I suppose, left off. Likely to procure my lunch. Which, I didn¡¯t know how I felt about that. Having maids of my own now?
¡°Your name?¡± I asked the blunette.
¡°I am Marsha, that was Misha, this is Martha. And yes, we are sisters.¡± That makes no sense to have different hairs like that. But whatevs. I nodded to her. Makes sense to give me three when they are sisters I suppose. At least they won''t argue with each other? Marsha seems to be in charge.
I sit there and think. I don¡¯t play a five-year-old well. They seem fine to treat me older. And most of them would have experience with children from the cousins. So, what is going on?
¡°Why nice?¡± I asked Marsha.
¡°Why am I being nice to you?¡± She seems disturbed at my question. I nod to her. ¡°We are your maids. you are our responsibility to care for. We are in your care as well. We are at your service little miss.¡±
I was stumped. I was just given three maids like that? What did I miss in the baron''s office? I was only five so what would I do with three maids. So, I asked.
¡°Why three?¡±
¡°You mean why three maids?¡± I nod.
¡°Because you are a small child and need round the clock care. You should never be alone at this age. Much less wandering around alone. One of us will be with you constantly. That¡¯s why there are three of us. We will take turns.¡± Was her reply.
I felt Martha was muttering something under her breath but couldn¡¯t tell what. I ignored it for the moment. I was more occupied with Misha coming back with a serving tray. A full one. Not just a bowl of soup like the others brought.
Misha set the tray down near me and started setting small plates down. I wasn¡¯t to salivate. Staring down there were all sorts of things. In small portions but there were options of things. Bread, pieces of fruit, cooked. Veggies and bits of meat. I could feel my stomach grumble.
Misha stood next to me, ¡°Alright little miss. I don¡¯t know if you can eat all this, but I want you to try a piece of everything. So, I know what your favorites are, ok?¡± I nodded rapidly. I picked up a child spork and tried to pierce a piece of fruit. Misha stopped me. ¡°Nope I¡¯ll being serving you properly little miss.¡±
I wanted to cry. I was so hungry now that I saw food and I just wanted to shovel it all down. And Misha wanted to give it to her piecemeal? I felt like crying all of a sudden. Just let me eat in peace.
So, I picked up the spoon and turned away from Misha and started on the veggies instead. Bit by bit I went through each of them. They were delicious. Misha didn¡¯t try to stop me this time. I could hear Martha whispering to Misha about something it I was too hungry to notice. About halfway through the veggies, I decided I wanted fruit. So, I reached for it and Misha handed it over. I took it gratefully and smiled at her. Then dug in. It was heavenly. Warmed thoroughly and lightly sugared. I should have saved it for last, but it was so good. I was getting full, but there where meats left. So, I stopped eating the fruit and started on the meat. I sorted them out though, the ones I knew I wouldn¡¯t like, the overly greasy or fatty ones. Something that carried over from my previous life. I took delicate bites out of most of them, the ones I liked I put on a separate plate and the ones I didn¡¯t I left alone. But I did try nearly everything Misha brought, and I loved nearly all of it. I showed her the plate of meats I liked.
I left the bread for last, knowing they would fill me up the most. So, I didn¡¯t even touch them. ¡°Am full now.¡± I told Marsha. Misha quickly started piling the plates back onto the cart she brought them in on. Martha left the room and returned shortly. I wondered for a moment where she had gone, then noticed another door off to the side of the room.
¡°Alright, let''s get you cleaned up now little miss. Martha prepared a bath for you.¡± Marsha told me. I suppose that was what the side door was for. I was quickly picked up and stripped of my dress once more. Taken through the side door was a full bathroom. Sink, toilet, tub, shower. With enough space for five maids to work. This was definitely a noble''s bathroom. The tub was only half full, accounting my size. But the water was warm, a comfortable hot. Martha started washing me. Gently, she soaped me up and rinsed me off. I wanted to cry. She was being so pleasant about it. Every other time I had been bathed I was nearly dunked, soaped, and dunked again. This time I was allowed to play in the water and enjoy it. Martha didn¡¯t talk much, and she was the only one that came into the bathroom with me. I wondered why but didn¡¯t say anything.
When she was finished washing me, I stood, and she toweled me off and took me from the tub. I couldn¡¯t wait til I was older and could soak properly in it. For now, I was too little to enjoy it. Martha redressed me in a nightgown, but it was more simplistic. It was much easier to move in. Then she took me back to the grandiose bedroom. Where Misha was waiting. Martha handed me over and left the room. Misha huffed and set me on the couch.
¡°Well, we have a bit before bed. What say you we get some reading in?¡± I just looked at her. She huffed again. She sat next to me and read a history book. It was a fairly interesting tale. But eventually the events of the day caught up with me. So, I slowly dozed off. I didn¡¯t even feel it when Misha tucked me into bed and whispered, ¡°goodnight little miss.¡±
Ch 2 The end
Ch 2 The End
Waking early the next morning in the pre-dawn light. I was deeply confused. There was somebody in the room with me, just sitting on the couch with a candle next to them. I couldn¡¯t tell who it was from here. They had dark hair though. My grogginess faded as my adrenaline came to me. I slowly and quietly slipped from the bed off the far side and circled whoever it was. Being as sneaky as I could, they never saw me as I peered from the floor at the end of the couch. And I was relieved. It was Misha. Doing some kind of needle work, by candlelight. They could not be good for her. I stood and walked into her view. She simply stopped what she was doing and laid her hands in her lap.
¡°Dress please.¡± Was all I stated.
Misha set aside her workings and strode to the wardrobe that I just noticed. It was talked than the captain. I followed along behind her. She opened it up and held something at her waist. I assumed it was for me to judge. It was a pretty blue dress. More simple than what I had previously suffered, so I simply nodded to her.
She stripped me of my nightgown and helped me into the blue dress. After tying off the waist ribbon. I decided now was a good time for the bathroom. ¡°Potty¡± I told her and walked away. She followed me. I waved at her to stop at the door, and she nodded.
I finished my business then found a problem. I couldn¡¯t reach the sink to wash my hands. ¡°Help please.¡± Misha came in. ¡°No stool.¡± Was all I said. She simply picked me up and leaned me over the sink. So, I washed my hands and dried them off. Misha set me back down.
I looked at her. ¡°Food please.¡± She nodded and set up my little table once more. Then waved to me to sit. So, I did. She turned and left.
She returned not with a cart but a simple platter. She set it down on my table and uncovered it. There were three little plates. One had biscuits and gravy in small cut up chunks. One had a cup of fruit. And the last had links of sausage. This was truly a rich breakfast. I took my time and cycled through bites of each. It was beyond good. I didn¡¯t quite finish the biscuits, but I ate all the fruit and sausages.
Misha cleaned up my table. I didn¡¯t have the muscle control or dexterity to not make such a mess as I am now. But I could improve that. She set the platter on the side table near the couch. And turned to me. I sat there, I suppose she was waiting for instructions.
¡°We go walk?¡± I asked her. She gave me a nod. ¡°Outside garden?¡± I continued. She nodded again. So, I stood and straightened out my dress and headed for the door. Misha opened it for me and led me to the gardens just outside the training field. I didn¡¯t have my sticks, so I needed new ones. Time to find some.
I started searching for two decent sticks in the underbrush. Where the gardeners let the fallen leaves turn to mulch on their own. I found a good one that just had a couple of knots in it. I soon found another potential, but it had a few smaller sticks coming off it. No matter how I tried I couldn¡¯t break them off. Misha motioned the stick from me and easily broke the smaller twigs from it. So, I smiled at her. I had my two fighting sticks back. So, it was time to practice.
I knew something of stances and footwork. I had been watching the guards. So, I practiced. And I waved my sticks around. Dual wielding is so much cooler. One sword to strike one sword to defend. Then use both swords to strike. That was just cool in my head. Being able to switch back and forth like that. But you had to be fast. So fast, faster than your opponent. Faster than you could see. So, I practiced. Out here in the garden. I waved my arms. I swung my sticks. I got used to the weight of them. There were a few days I went to bed so tired I couldn¡¯t lift my arms. Or where I tripped over my own feet. But I wanted to be able to do it. I wanted to be the fastest dual wielder. It would take so much time and effort though. So that¡¯s why I started now.This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
Misha just watched as I hopped and danced around waving my sticks about. I don¡¯t know what she thought of me. Eventually one of the guards found us, and then he brought the captain over.
¡°Back again little miss?¡±
¡°Yes.¡± I said as petulantly as I could muster. He was going to take my sticks away again.
¡°You know us guards are here to protect you from the monsters.¡±
¡°Not when I''m big.¡± Is my response.
¡°Even when you''re big and strong and can defend yourself. A noble lady doesn¡¯t need to fight for herself.¡± His smile was a little forced.
¡°Hafta leave.¡± Was my response.¡±
¡°Ah, come on. Why would the cute little mis have to leave?¡± He seemed a little worried now actually.
¡°Kicked out.¡± I sighed.
His face went a little dark now. Before he forced his smile back on. ¡°Now who told the little miss she would get kicked out, hmm?¡±
¡°When 15? Won¡¯t?¡±
He froze for a moment. So, I wasn¡¯t the only one who had figured it out. There was no love lost between me and the baron''s family. The only goodwill I had was that I was a child, and the captain asked for it. He couldn¡¯t promise me a good noble''s life. He knew better. I knew better.
I sighed and went back to fighting with my sticks. The captain stayed where he was crouched down watching me. Thinking more about what I said. Judging my actions now. He could see what I saw. That I wouldn¡¯t be welcomed with a betrothal like most noble ladies. Nor would I be welcomed at any academy. As far as I was aware I was a bastard''s child. I was lucky I wasn¡¯t dumped onto some patsy or left for dead in an orphanage. I had the chance to grow my skills, in a more stable and healthier environment. Where I was fed, clean, and had something like healthcare. There were little dangers to me here. The only thing that would get hurt most were my feelings. And those were long since buried. I had died after all.
It wasn''t a great life. I was abandoned to foster care when I was six. After getting sick all the time. By the time I was nine I was diagnosed with childhood leukemia. That was basically a death sentence to my child self. From then on it was in and out of hospitals. From one fostering to another. I never stayed in one house for more than a few months before I had to be hospitalized again. Until I was twelve, when I became hospitalized for good. I was transferred a few times, finally going to a hospice for children like me. It wasn''t too bad. I was just too far gone at that point. I think I was 14 or 15? I could barely move, barely eat. All I did all day was read and play games. There was a library of shared game systems and tablets. Since I slept sporadically, I had a good chance of getting one of the tablets most of the time. Which was lucky for me as they had a special holder and controller. So, I could lay in bed and barely move as I played my character around the screen.
I think open world rpgs were my favorite. I could go anywhere and do anything. So many questlines to explore. I wasn''t stuck doing one thing or to one storyline. If I wanted to go do wide quests for a week straight I could. Even if the evil with king was coming for me still. In some games that could cause problems, but not all.
Those were my favorites, where something is always going on in the background and you never know if you¡¯ll get there in time. It''s much more fun. Especially if you come in the aftermath and have to fix it instead of preventing it.
Looking back on my life, I was pretty miserable. My whole world was a hospital bed. Filled with daily pain. That meds couldn¡¯t stop. No matter how many I tried. And I did try. I took as many as they gave me. Hoping for something to help. All the surgeries, all the biopsies. It came to an end eventually.
But I was fine with that. My pain came to an end. I experienced so many different worlds. I never got the chance to experience the ¡®real¡¯ world. But I got to life in my dreams. Which is saying more than most I think. I got the chance to explore the mightiest of forests. The deepest of oceans. The furthest reaches of the plains. The worlds of imaginations of others and my own. It wasn''t such a bad thing. But it came to an end. There was one day I couldn''t get enough breath. No matter how hard I tried. They gave me an oxygen mask. It helped a little. But it didn''t stop my panic that I couldn''t breathe. I kept struggling to breathe. I think one of my lungs collapsed. It hurt. That my body finally gave up on me. No matter how long I fought.
In my struggle to breathe, I forgot to keep my eyes open, and fell into a slumber. From which I did not awaken.
*
Ch 3 New Life
Ch 3 New Life
My feelings would be fine in this new life. I had three maids to help me. The captain gave me warmth. I might seek him out more. But for now, I just wanted to practice with my sticks. He just crouched there and watched me. I don''t know what he saw. A child of five? A young noble? A determined fighter? I hope he finds what he''s looking for. I just continued to swing. Even as he stood up and walked towards me.
He gently stopped my swinging. I stood there, my sticks in his hands. ¡°Move your feet to shoulder width. Keep your elbows chest high, in front of you. If you¡¯re going to dual wield you need to make sure you can track your opponent at all times, meaning not blocking your own vision.¡± He was being so gentle with me as his hands moved my body to the correct positions. I set myself into proper position for left forward and right defense. He hummed and adjusted me once more.
I shifted as he instructed me. I would move and he would adjust. I showed him all my stances and every position I had been training in. He corrected every single one to be better and more practical. This is the training I needed. We took our time, and the day was lightning as we continued. Marsha left cand came back with Misha. Holding a basket of something. But I was too focused on the training. There was no telling when I''d have this chance again. I was getting tired though. But I wanted to keep going. I looked at the captain. ¡°Tomorrow?¡± I asked him, hoping for a positive answer. This was the best training I had gotten.
He thought for a moment. ¡°The day after. Let yourself relax tomorrow. You are young yet and need to rest more. But the day after I will meet you here just after dawn, think you can make it?¡± he asked with a smile. I nodded enthusiastically. I could wake at dawn. This deserved it. I would rest tomorrow and work on something else.
¡°Good girl, little miss. Now run along with your maids. I think they have something for you.¡± He patted my head. It gave me a surge of warmth just like before.
¡°You as well good captain,¡± Misha said as she pulled two bread rolls stuffed with something from the basket. The captain grinned and her and took them. ¡°You were here so early so this is our thanks for being kind to the little miss.¡±
He nodded. ¡°She deserves all the kindness in the world.¡± Taking a bite of the roll he started walking away. Waving as he went. Misha handed me a much smaller bread roll. I took a bite and discovered it was filled with jam. It was delicious. I had been out here for several hours now, even exerting myself. So, I was fairly hungry. But still this was delicious. I quickly finished it and sighed. Then Misha handed me another roll. Biting into it was a sweet meat this time. Also, tasty but not as good as fruit.
Marsha had left at some point, so I assumed Misha was here for the morning. This was either a second breakfast, a prelude to lunch or lunch itself. I wasn''t sure which and didn''t know how to ask. So, I kept eating. ¡°Drink?¡± I asked as politely as I could of Misha. ¡°Of course, little miss. And she pulled a water skin out of the basket. I went to take a sip, but it wasn''t water but juice it held. This made me glad. I sipped it slowly. Enjoying the fruitiness of it. I didn''t know enough about the fruits of this world to identify it, but it was subtle like bananas were but sweet like berries. I decided I liked it. And kept sipping in-between bites of roll. I finished the roll after a few minutes. And looked to Misha. ¡°More?¡± I asked her. She smiled and held another. ¡°Last one though.¡± I nodded to that. Biting in was a different experience. It was cheese. All gooey and melty. It took a bit more chewing from the others. And a bit more juice. It wasn''t truly hot, but warm enough to be the consistency of honey. It was so good. I couldn''t remember the last time I had melty cheese. This life or last. I took my time and played with it a little, seeing how far I could make a string go. I ended up eating it quickly too. And now I was feeling full after three rolls and the skin of juice.
We had been walking back to my room, as soon as I was in sight I went to sit on the couch. But Misha had other plans. ¡°Not so little miss. You got dirty again playing in the garden! It''s time for a bath!¡± I wanted to argue with her that I had one just last night. But I did feel grimy after practice. And the hot water would feel nice. So, I walked to the wardrobe and tried to open the door.
Misha caught on quickly. ¡°So, you want to pick your outfit first then?¡± I nodded to her. ¡°Alright let''s see what we have here.¡± she pulled out the horrid poufy things, so I crossed my arms and made a disgusted face. Misha literally pouted at me. I shook my head hard no. She set them on the couch. She pulled out a soft yellow summer dress. It was pretty and not something id where to practice in. But pleasant enough to spend the day in. And no poufs or ruffles on sequins in sight. Just waves in the skirt to make it look like a flower. I can handle that. I gave her a thumbs up. Then I started undressing myself as I walked to the bathroom. Misha hurried after me.
I did not manage to get my dress off alone. There were little buttons on the back I didn''t account for. Misha had to undo them. She had the water going and the tub half filled with hotter water than Marsha had last night. I stuck my hand in, then shuddered. I turned the tap for cold water and swirled my hand around a bit. Much better. Still hot but not going to blister me.
I turned back around, and Misha was staring at me. Then she forcefully set the yellow dress over the counter and helped me into the tub. The tub had sides almost as tall as I was, so until I was much older, I would need help getting in and out. Sitting in the water was great. Misha let me play about for a bit and lay back. Were I to stand it would be just under my knees. But sitting down its just over my waist. Which means I can lay flat out and not quite be submerged. Misha won''t let me dunk my head under though.
She kept her hand under my head when I laid down. Makes sense I suppose. I am a five-year-old. So, I rolled over and got on my hands and knees. And shook like a dog. My silver hair was just below my ears, so it went wild. Usually it just hangs loose, but wet? It looks like a mop. I grinned at Misha. But then she grinned back. I suddenly felt a prickle of fear.
She was holding a bucket. Of cold water no doubt. I backed as far away as I could. It didn''t save me. I was drenched and so cold now. My bath was cold now. I glared at her piteously. She smirked at me, and we got one with the actual washing. She washed my hair quickly and ran a cloth over the rest of me. Then had me stand and drenched me again, but this bucket of water was warm, so I forgave her. After one final rinse she plucked me from the tub and dried me off.
Then she helped me into the yellow dress. She let me get into it on my own, then showed me where I would need help. In this case there were small clasps on the back. That I might be able to reach as I grow but couldn''t now.
After dressing we went back to my bedroom. I wondered what I was supposed to do now? Captain said to rest, but what did he mean?
Misha pulled me onto the couch. ¡°Sister said she started your teachings, so let''s continue there, alright? This is the history of the Alterty kingdom as we know it today. Do you remember where she left off last night?¡± not a clue. I didn''t even know it was the actual history and not a fairy tale. I shook my head at her.This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
¡°All right, let''s start again from the beginning. It started with a dragon. The god of dragons was displeased on how the dragons were hoarding all knowledge. He sent them to be teachers to the lesser races. But they kept their hoards to themselves. Rarely even speaking with each other.
So, one day the dragon god sent a quest, through the System to a young man. To go forth and speak to a dragon. This young man had never heard of the System before and thought he was crazy. So, he looked to his clan''s wise man for guidance. And the wise man said it must come from the gods. Because when the young man came to the wise man. The wise man also got a quest. It was to help the young man in his quest. This sent a spur of quests through the clan. To any who could help the young man. They would be rewarded if only the young man would succeed. Many turned away from the young man. Not believing him capable even with their help. But the wiseman did believe. So, he gathered what he could and made a statement. Any who have the quest, and who decide to help. I will help you now. This cause many to take back their words to help the young man.
This wasn''t a small clan. They had over ten families together. They were all preparing the young man for his journey. For it would be a long harsh one. For they were a clan of the plains. And all the dragons lived in the broken skies ridge. A terrible mountain line where the sky is the only thing you can see at any one time. Other clans heard of what was happening and wanted to know more about these quests. So, they sent their young men to join the young man on his journey. For there is comradery together and they would have a better chance of success.
Or so it was thought. The young man shared his quest with the others. They would journey together. These young men of the plains. It would be a long harsh road. But they would go to the dragons. As spoken to by the god of dragons.¡±
I was paying rapt attention. This was so different from anything I had known. Misha was a decent storyteller too. The system wasn''t always here, the dragons, had it? Or did they make it? The dragon god gave it to us?
I looked at Misha a moment. Confused about something. ¡°Less race?¡±
She frowned at me. Then brightened. ¡°Oh yes. The lesser races are what dragons call mortals. Man, fey and kin. Water, sky and earth. Man is represents water, as out bodies are mostly made of water, did you know? We can''t survive without it. We live on the edge of water. But never in water as it could easily kill us.¡±
¡°Fey are the sky, they are ethereal. They whisper with the wind and float through the days. Supposedly they aren''t as mortal as man but they are immortal like dragons, so I couldn''t tell you. You would know a fey by their wings. They look like man but are usually slim and have fey wings. Some are like butterflies, some moths, some dragonflies. I''ve heard those are the most common types.¡±
¡°Then there are kin. The beast kin of the earth. Sometimes they are called halfbreed but that is a very nasty term for them understand?¡± I nodded to that. ¡°Some are shaped like man, with animal features. Some are shaped like beasts with features of man. This is because man and kin and fey can all breed with each other. There is nothing preventing you from loving another mortal. The degree of kin is just their lineage showing.¡±
I nodded. That was interesting. We can have babies with fey and kin? So, if I wanted a werewolf boyfriend, I could have one. That was sorta cool actually. I never had a boyfriend, but ears and a tail? The fluffy.
I shook my head. To stop daydreaming. I was five years old. Romance was for the future. I looked at Misha. Who had a secret smile on her face. I just blushed.
I looked at the book in her hands again. I wanted to know more. But I was kinda sleepy. I looked at the window, it was afternoon somehow. I didn''t think we had been reading that long. I looked up at Misha. ¡°Martha?¡± I asked. ¡°She will be here in a little while. Why don''t we do something fun for now.?¡± was Misha¡¯s response. I just nodded
Misha pulled out a basket of yarn from somewhere. Maybe under the couch. She held two wooden sticks in her hand, they were each roughly a foot long. With stoppers on the ends. I had no idea where she was going with this. ¡°I think I will teach you to knit! It helps with dexterity and teaches patience! Besides it will give you something to focus on while I read to you.¡± she cheered happily. I tried to smile. I guess craft work would be, ok?
It did not go ok. She chose a thin light pink yarn. The sticks were about as thick as my fingers were. She showed me how to ¡®cast on¡¯. Then made me do it 50 times. Then I had to learn how to make a stitch. My hands were clumsy. Like I never had tried to do anything with these small hands before. No drawing or writing or anything. Making minuet movements to move a thread of yarn was proving difficult for me. But I stuck with it. Until I had my first row down. Which was somehow not 50 stitches. It was 53. Misha didn''t say anything. Just simply made me switch sticks between my hands and had me do it again. After showing me how to decrease the number of stitches. So, I tried again. Stitch after stitch. There should be 50 in each row. But it varied each time. Sometimes as little as 41, some as high as 59. But she showed me how to fix it and start the next row anew. I didn''t realize I was learning to count all over again. But this time doing it in my new language.
This could have all been a test for me and I would never have realized. We spent the afternoon like that. Me knitting and her correcting my mistakes. My hands would grow sore, but I kept on going. I was determined to learn this. Eventually it got to the point where I couldn''t move my hands with sharp stabs of pain. So, I had to stop.
My little pink sheet was over two feet long though. That was saying something since I had only been working on it for an afternoon. You could see how it was uneven the edges barely matching up. A wavy line on the sides. But I was proud of it. It was not quite a foot wide but still it was mine. Not a clue what I''d do with it but still. It was something I had made, with help, but I put in the effort to make it myself. I never had the chance to do that in my last life.
I looked at Misha. Who had set aside her own work to help me with mine. She was smiling and clapping for me. It gave me a warm chest. To know someone else was proud of me. It made me so happy. Like I was on top of the world.
That was about when Martha came striding in. With what was likely dinner, on a cart. ¡°You two seem to be having fun!¡± she exclaimed to us. As she set about placing the little plates on my kiddie table. Misha picked me up and sat me down on my chair at my table. Putting my knitting aside.
¡°So much, look at what little miss did today!¡± She held up my pink sheet. Martha hummed for a moment, and she went over it.
¡°It''s good for a first try. We''ll keep it as a reminder of what can happen. For now, dinner. Your good for the night sister mine.¡± Marta stated calmly. Misha nodded and started packing up her things. She waved bye to me. I suppose I''ll see her tomorrow and can continue.
¡°Now then little miss. Time for dinner. We have a smaller selection to see what you truly like and not what you simply hunger for, alright?¡± I nodded to her, as she showed me the plates. I would point at one and nod or shake my head. But she had me try a bite of each anyway.
There were less than 20 plates this time and there were only a few bites on each. But those were adult sized bites. Which are like three times as big a bite for me. So, she knew I wouldn''t be able to eat all this. I asked for more from the fruits and meats and less from the bread. She set some of the fruited sweets off to the side for me as I always showed those as my favorite. She did insist I eat more vegetables, which I didn''t truly have a problem with. They were well cooked and tasted fine. So, I ate my fill, as was given to me. Then Martha gave me a smaller portion of the fruited sweets. So, I ate a little bit more. It was delicious.
¡°Alright little miss, I think we just need to wash your hands and face tonight since you had a bath after playing outside. Alright?¡± I nodded to Martha. If I was going to be practicing every day, that would be the best time for a bath.
She brought me a warm wet towel and proceeded to wipe my hands, arms, and face down. I wasn''t truly dirty, but the warmth felt nice. She redressed me in a nightgown and proceeded to read to me. Tonight, it wasn''t the empire''s history or the system starting, but a story about a young fey girl learning of the system given skills and learning how to use them. It was a cute story as she learned the what-to-dos and what-not-to-dos. Very much a parental book. It did give me some ideas though. Like if I could fly how fast I could go. It showed that they knew about the speed of sound at least. Which is something interesting. That there were fey who could fly that fast. Maybe kin too. I would have to ask tomorrow. For now, it was late and time to sleep. How did I get so tired all of a sudden?
*
Ch 4 Get to Spend
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Ch 5 Am I what?
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Ch 6 What happened to me?
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Ch 7 I鈥檓 Awake
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