After such a revitalizing bath, Val fell into her new normal rhythm—a warm home-cooked meal with people she came to care about through coming to this world.
Throughout dinner though, Val was on edge.
It was unlikely her parents would find out about her new career choice, but what if they did?
With a shake of her head, she re-immersed herself in the flowing conversations while enjoying dinner.
Get strong, for them.
Once dinner was finished, she helped her mother clean the table. During that time, Vesperia realized something was on her mind. Val managed to play it off as simple exhaustion from the day’s exploration. She quickly helped her mother finish cleaning up before rushing off to bed.
It felt wrong not to be honest with Vesperia. A child was supposed to be able to talk to their parents about anything, but this wasn’t just anything.
Lying in bed, Val stared at the ceiling once more.
So much had changed in what felt like such a short amount of time.
From dying in a previous life, reincarnating, rehabilitating a gaunt body, and now she was going to be an adventurer.
I hope I don’t throw away the extra chance from Qhemeria…
Instead of being blinded by opened curtains and a fountain of bright light, Val’s eyes fluttered open.
It still took getting used to, not being shook awake by Lynesia.
With a stretch and yawn, Val sat up.
Rays of light were peeking through the gaps in the curtain, begging to be let inside.
She rubbed her eyes and noticed a familiar tent pitched.
Not today.
It was the first day of her new career and she wasn’t going to delay.
Not even for her libido.
She slipped out of bed with practiced ease before stepping up to her large wardrobe.
Once again, her attire stood out. Considering what would likely happen throughout her day, she chose a sleeveless cotton top and leather pants. The ease of movement from the top would be needed. While the confinement of the pants would be welcome, given her morning dilemma.
After lacing her thick boots, she rushed downstairs, vaulting over the banister to skip the last handful of steps.
Her excitement was palpable, only spurred on by the delicious smell emanating from the dining room.
“Look who decided to join us,” Volde said, winking.
“Maybe I was just waiting for the perfect moment to show up?” Val asked, chuckling. “It all smells amazing, mom.”
Vesperia was placing platters on the tabletop.
“Thank you,” she said, smiling warmly. “Dig in whenever you’re ready.”
Val happily took her place at the table, next to Celestia.
Her sister seemed just as eager to dig in as Val.
Maxwell was practically drooling, while staring at each platter set down.
Even Volde was barely restraining himself from digging in.
However, they waited until Vesperia was seated before piling their plates.
“You didn’t have to wait for me,” she said in mock frustration.
“Sweetheart, we don’t start eating until we are all seated and ready,” Volde said, taking her hand and kissing it softly. “It’s the rule.”
“Exactly,” said Celestia. “You cooked for us, we can’t eat until you can.”
Vesperia smiled softly, realizing arguing was pointless. Instead, she focused on passing platters and silverware around. Val opted for pancakes today, something filling.
Midway through a bite, her mother spoke up.
“Valnarei, are you heading out again today?”
Val had to wash down her pancake with what tasted similar to orange juice before responding.
“Yeah, I’ll probably be out most of the day, why?”
Vesperia cut through her pancake as she spoke. “While you’re out today, would you mind picking up a few things for my commissions?”
Val pierced another piece of pancake.
“Of course not. Do you have a list?”
Vesperia nodded, handing over a slip of paper.
“Just set it in my craft room when you get home later, no rush.”
The rest of breakfast flowed naturally.
Maxwell went from barely awake to filled with energy thanks to good food and this world’s equivalent of coffee.
Celestia had been energetic from the beginning, though.
And by the time Val was finished with her plate, everyone else was almost done as well.
She made sure to clean her spot before kissing her mother and father on the cheek.
Today wasn’t her turn to help clean up, so she didn’t need a reason to stick around.
“Thank you for breakfast.”
“Of course,” Vesperia said, smiling. “Be careful today, alright?”
“Don’t do anything I wouldn’t,” Volde chimed in, smirking.
Val placed a hand on her heart mockingly. “I would never.”
With a chuckle, Val slipped out the door.
Each step she felt like she was floating.
The colors felt more vibrant, the breeze felt cooler, and the world felt more alive.
Today she was going to become an adventurer.
Full stomach or not, Val still stopped by Grandma’s House to grab a pastry. The sudden ringing of the bell above the door announced her arrival.
“Morning Amerilla!”
Val practically ran up to the counter.
“My, someone is brimming with excitement,” Amerilla said, smiling.
“Of course. Today is going to be a good day, I can feel it,” Val said.
“But, I needed to stop here first. Otherwise, the day wouldn’t be complete.”
Amerilla waved her hand dismissively. “Come now, you don’t have to drop by every morning.”
“But we do appreciate the thought, and enjoy seeing you,” Strelas said, emerging from the kitchen, smiling.
Strelas placed a freshly baked pastry on the counter, already wrapped and still steaming. Even though they said Val didn’t need to drop by every day, it seemed they already had a pastry waiting for her.
“Blackjam, your usual,” he said.
Val set a silver Mark down, overpaying per usual.
“These things are addicting, you know.”
Amerilla giggled. “Well? You said it was a big day right? Then get going! We look forward to hearing all about it sometime soon.”
Val grabbed the pastry and smiled before rushing out into the street once more.
Amerilla was right.
Today was a big day, and Val didn’t want to waste any time.
Yesterday, Val was following along these same streets, surrounded by a party of adventurers.
Today, she was retracing them back to the guildhall.
She buzzed with energy as she slipped her way through the busy morning crowds. Everything else was muted to her, the world drowned out.
Before she knew it, her surroundings opened up into that same large square.
In the distance, beautiful purple banners waved in the breeze. The tall gray building dominated the horizon once more, establishing its existence.
She was back, and ready to get started.
“I don’t see a badge, what’s your business here?” a man in heavy armor asked, hand resting on the pommel of a longsword.
When Val approached the gatehouse, she had noticed the guards eying her. However, she never expected them to stop her and ask what she was doing.
Maybe they let me in because I was with Cyrus and his group?
“I’m training today, then hopefully getting my badge,” Val said, meeting his gaze.
The air between them was charged. He was obviously trying to scare Val off.
“Get that badge soon,” he said, stepping aside.
“We don’t make a habit of letting people in without one.”
Val snorted. “Sure.”
“We’ll be watching,” another guard said.
Val walked through the gate, rolling her eyes.
She made her way toward the stairs of the building.
Her whole morning almost crashed and burned right in front of her, before it even began.
All around the courtyard, adventurers meandered. But she couldn’t find the girls from yesterday.
The guildhall and courtyard were huge, so Val started looking.
She checked the lobby, then peeked into the side halls. Still no sign of them. Aside from Barrett once more, she didn’t see anyone else she knew.
On her way in she didn’t see them in the courtyard either.
They wouldn’t stand me up, right?
With a sigh, she sat on the top stair outside the main doors.
She could train alone, sure—but without the right guidance, she could miss something important.
“Valnarei, right?” came an unfamiliar voice. “Or was it Val?”
Val whipped her head to the right, locking eyes with the bunny girl from yesterday.
She shot straight up, a smile spreading quickly.
Her heart was beating in her chest.
They didn’t forget!
“Yep, that’s me. You’re… Amarisse, right? Or was it Mina?”
The bunny girl chuckled. “Amarisse. I don’t have near the amount of energy Mina does.”
“I didn’t know if I was too early or just couldn’t find you,” Val said, worry draining from her words.
Amarisse motioned over her shoulder. “We were around back, in the training area. Come on, Lucia and Mina are waiting for us.”
Val followed Amarisse around the guildhall, her pace quick and eager.
Cyrus and his group had forgotten to mention a training area around back.
As they rounded the final corner, Val immediately caught Lucia’s red hair.
Mina was next to her, talking. Lucia smiled as soon as she noticed the two of them approaching. Mina on the other hand immediately lit up, rushing forward to Val.
“You came! You really did!”
Amarisse shook her head, smiling. “Calm down, or else you’ll scare her off.”
“It’s good to see you came,” Lucia said, also smiling.
“It’s nice to see each of you again as well,” Val replied. “I’ve been wired all morning, ready to get in deep.”
Amarisse laughed. “Oh yeah, I like her a lot already.”
Lucia rolled her eyes. “Amarisse was betting us that you’d want to get started right away, instead of discussing things first.”
Val felt confused.
Discussion was expected, but she felt like actively getting into things would be better, right?
“I figured I’d just try things out. Wasn’t expecting a whole discussion?”
“Well yes, but you need to understand the types before you choose one as well,” Lucia said.
“I’m a Striker!” Mina exclaimed.
“So much energy,” Amarisse mumbled, shaking her head. “I struggled with my decision originally, but decided on Tank in the end.”
Mina pouted. “I wanted to tell her what you chose.”
“We can speak for ourselves, Mina,” Lucia chided. “I’m a support type.”
“Have you considered what type sounds most appealing to you?”
Val nodded. “I was thinking Hybrid, maybe?”
“Have you checked your affinity with the guild?” Amarisse asked. “Might give you a better path forward?”
Val’s brow furrowed. “They have a way to test my affinity? For what? Magic?”
“I forgot you’re brand new to all of this,” Lucia said. “The guild has a room designed to test someone’s magical affinity. You channel mana into an orb of Eerienite, allowing it to react accordingly.”
Val tilted her head. “What’s Eerienite?”
Amarisse and Lucia exchanged glances.
“You really don’t know much, do you?” Amarisse asked.
“You were sick, right?” Lucia asked, tapping her chin. “You mentioned you lost all your memories because of it too.”
Lucia shrugged. “Makes sense you wouldn’t know about Eerienite.”
“T—that’s not going to be an issue, right?” Val asked, heart hammering in her chest.
Amarisse pat her back. “It’ll take a bit more to get you ready, but you’ve got grit. That’s half the battle right there.”
Relief washed through Val.
Even six months later, her amnesia excuse was still causing problems. But it was too late to come up with something else.
“Why don’t we take you to test your affinity?” Lucia asked.
“Yeah!” Mina jumped in. “I didn’t get much of a reaction when I tested mine. I want to see what it does for you!”
“Then where does all of your energy come from?” Amarisse jibbed, chuckling.
Together they walked back to the guildhall front entrance, pushing through the large doors.
Just like the day before, adventurers were crowding the interior.
Val kept her eyes peeled, wanting to locate Barrett, but failing to do so.
After yesterday, she didn’t trust him to just stay away quietly.
Lucia spearheaded their route through the lobby, weaving her way between tables and other people.
She finally stopped in front of a door on the left wall in the main lobby, knocking firmly.
The door creaked open, a man in robes standing there.
“Can I help you?” he asked.
“Yes, our friend here needs to test her affinity,” Lucia said, motioning to Val.
His eyes lingered on each of them for just a second longer than felt comfortable.
Val noticed a weird patch sewn into his robe near the shoulder.
It looked like a system of golden roots growing out of a book of some sort. A wand, broken in two, was being gripped by the roots emerging from the book.
It wasn’t the first time she’d seen a patch that wasn’t the guild crest stitched on a uniform.
“Very well. Follow me, do not stray.”
Everyone funneled into the hallway beyond the door as the man closed it, locking it.
The hallway was lit only by magical sconces, their glow cold and flameless.
The robed man squeezed past them, pausing to make sure they were paying attention before walking. His pace was slow, much slower than Val anticipated.
Probably making sure we don’t wander off.
As they passed open rooms, she glanced in, only getting a brief glimpse.
Shelves full of books, jars, and materials littered the walls. Desks covered in various implements, vials, and other magical items were centered in each room.
Almost looks like an academy of sorts?
“Here we are,” the man said, unlocking the door. “Come inside.”
The girls let Val enter first, giving her a chance to take in the room.
The room matched the hallways—dark, with minimal light.
In the center of the room, a massive circular orb gave off the faintest of glows. Deep black metal and wood mechanisms supported the orb’s weight, both from the floor and ceiling. Across the surface, small speckles of glimmering white bled through the blackness of the orb.
It reminded Val of how marbles were made, with designs created deep inside.
“It looks like the night sky,” she whispered.
The robed man chuckled. “That’s where it got the name, Eerienite.”
The mage stood next to the door, giving the girls space to enter.
Once inside, he shut and locked the door.
Val was still staring into the orb at the center of the room.
She couldn’t remember the last time she saw something so raw—so beautiful.
As she stepped closer, the desire to touch it welled up inside of her.
It felt like the orb itself was staring back, intrigued just the same.
When her hand finally touched the cool glass-like surface, she let out a breath she didn’t realize she was holding.
WHOOSH
Bright light filled the room instantly.
Cries of alarm echoed from everyone present.
The moment Val’s hand touched the orb, her entire body buzzed with excess energy.
Then—darkness.
When her vision started returning, she was slumped against the wall.
Her back ached, arms were on fire, and her vision was blurry.
That buzz of excess energy was still lingering, like static flowing through her limbs. Her head felt a bit fuzzy, unable to focus clearly.
Suddenly, the robed man knelt next to her, cupping her face, eyes piercing into hers.
“Hey! Snap out of it,” he yelled.
When Val didn’t immediately respond, he turned to her friends.
“What’s her name again?” he asked, urgency coloring his tone.
“Val,” Lucia said, voice quivering.
“Val! Hey, come on, girl, focus!” he said, gently patting her cheek.
“Val! Are you okay?!” Amarisse asked.
She finally found her voice.
“Y—yea… I think so.”
Mina gripped Val’s hand tightly, tears welling up.
“We thought we lost you!”
The robed man was puzzled.
He glanced at the orb and then back to her, brow furrowed.
“That’s not a normal reaction.”
Val could see the confusion building.
The girls seemed relieved she was okay, but the robed man was trying to piece things together.
Don’t tell me this is because Qhemeria reincarnated me.
The robed man stood, approaching the orb, looking it over, his hand under his chin.
He turned, mouth opening but then closing just as quickly. Something was on his mind, but he didn’t voice it right away.
Val needed to figure out something quick, to satisfy his curiosity before he starts asking questions.
“I was plagued by a magical illness for a year,” she said. “I spent six months in recovery after overcoming it. Could that be the reason?”
“I suppose it could be possible, but unlikely,” he said, shaking his head. “I can’t remember the last time a reaction like this was recorded. It’s very rare, only happens onc—”
He stopped talking, eyes going wide.
“Wait, are you the Strouss daughter that was bed ridden?”
Val sighed.
Fuck.
“Yes, that’s me. I told you—I beat it. Spent six months recovering. I’m fine,” she said.
The girls exchanged glances.
It must have been a surprise, finding someone who knew about Val’s past so soon. At the very least, it helped reaffirm to them that Val was telling the truth about why she knew so little.
“Would you le—”
“Fuck no,” Val cut in. “I’m not some test subject for you to poke and prod. I’m here to become an adventurer.”
He deflated quickly.
“I apologize. Your illness was so new, so… debilitating. We weren’t even aware you recovered, at least until now.”
Val stood slowly, Amarisse and Mina eagerly helping.
Once on her feet, she tested her balance, before nodding to them.
She crossed her arms, now steady on her feet.
“Well, as you can see, I beat it. No reason for you to document anything else—it’s gone.”
“But your body could hold the key to figuring it out if it happens to someone else!” he begged.
Val stared the man down, stepping closer, pressing her finger against his chest.
“Your kind hovered over me while I was dying, only caring about documenting the illness.”
Her pressing on him caused him to step back.
“My mother was a fucking mess while all you cared about was your next big breakthrough.”
She wasn’t the one who went through the illness in the beginning. But after getting to know her new family and starting her new life with them?
The thought of what these researchers did was pissing her off. They were crumbling emotionally, and these people were just there for a chance at fame.
“Gilded Mire, right? Some big shot research group or something?” Val asked.
“We were trying to save you and anyone else who might catch the disease! It needed to be documented!” he retorted.
“Bullshit! Don—”
A hand gripped her shoulder, firmly.
Amarisse yanked her to face her, gaze locking onto her.
“Val, calm down. Even if this asshole deserves it, you need to cool off,” she said, not releasing Val’s shoulder.
Mina was looking between Val and the robed man.
Lucia stepped forward. “We’ve got what we came for. Escort us out.”
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