Tessa smiled as she read the letter in her hands. It was an invitation, one that few within the Empire ever recieved. Certainly no one in Haven's Point ever had. The Guild of Healing in the Capital City; The Aeas had invited her to join them. She read over the letter a few times before planting in on the small dresser she sat in front of. She looked at the small and slightly cracked mirror to see her own smile. She twisted her head to the side as she took in her own disappointing face. Her slightly muddied skin and her bushy hair that fell beyond her shoulders, the only saving grace of her own appearance was her eyes—her fathers eyes—even they were a painful reminder of what once was. She shut down her thoughts as she averted her gaze.

  "Not the time to be sad, Tess. You've got this, and—" She looked down at the letter one more time as she felt her cheeks blush, "—even if you don't like yourself, they did. So, hah!"

  She reached out and touched the letter with her fingers, feeling the thick parchment on her skin and swiped with her free hand into the air, she wanted to see again why the Guild thought she, of all people was so special.

  Name: Tessa Novus

  Race: Human, Male

  Age: 18

  Tier: 1 - Path of the Healer

  Level: 1

  Life Points: 21 / 21

  Mana Points: 14 / 14

  Strength: 4

  Endurance: 4

  Vitality: 3

  Willpower: 4

  Intelligence: 5

  Perception: 4

  Agility: 4

  Luck: 3

  Available Attributes for distribution: 0

  Titles:

  N/A

  Innate Abilities:

  Light's Touch - Rare - Tier 1, Level 1

  Skills (0/5):

  N/A

  There it was, in all its glory. 'Light's Touch', it even had a 'rare' rarity, and, in line with its own categorisation, rare really did mean rare. So rare that within all of the Empire, only one other had the same Innate ability that she possessed. That person was none other than the High-Healer of the Guild of Healers.

  She glanced at the other areas of her Statistics screen, Titles—obviously none yet, she was eighteen and just beginning on her path. Skills, well—that was the same. It was incredibly rare for anyone to get a skill in the same year that they awakened, most only ever got skills from System rewards and rumour was that you had to be incredibly lucky to ever get picked for a System Quest.

  She smiled once more as she remembered the uproar she'd caused when she announced her Innate Ability—the Archivists had run off in a frenzy. She giggled at having been the centre of so much attention, Eli would be in awe, she just hoped he wouldn't be jealous.

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  She didn't know where Elias, her—well, she didn't know what he was—was going to awaken. She'd gone to the Reach, only a couple of weeks away, from how he always talked of being an adventurer, she guessed that he'd opt for the Capital. She shook her head and stood up, dismissing the Statistics screen and muttering, "I still can't believe they already heard about it in the Aeas. I'll have to tell Elias after the Festival."

  She knew she could wait that long at least, it was six months or so before he awakened and she knew he was going to take the news hard—even if he didn't want to, she'd be the same if the roles were reversed.

  "No time for that now. I've got somewhere to be." She said to herself as she straightened up, brushed off her clothes and shot outside.

  Tessa remembered quite clearly the promise she'd made to Mira—Arwen bless her, she was adorable—and Tessa was sure she'd throw one Cosmos of a tantrum if she was any later.

  She sped across dirt tracks and pathways that led along rows of small houses, she passed the blacksmith with the a wave as she came upon the Square, "Already putting up decorations? That's next, wait for me," she said to herself as she moved with hurried footsteps, taking in the fluster of peoples trying to arrange furniture and hang lanterns. Something to look forward to later, he'll be there too, If Jacob didn't have him doing some other wondrous job.

  Only a few more minutes passed as she arrived at her destination, a small wooden home, she stepped onto the small porch and rapped her knuckle against the door softly, "Hello?" she called.

  She heard footsteps approaching and only a few seconds passed when the door opened and a tall, hearty man stood in the open doorway, a beaming smile on his face as he looked at her, "Well, Tess, ain't I glad to see you?! My lil' angel ain't stopped yapping all morning! You've really got her in a frenzy you know?"

  Tess smiled and put on her best innocent face, the one she knew would always work on Mira's dad, "I didn't want to wake you is all, I know how hard you both work! What with the festival coming up and all."

  The man laughed jovially as he called out behind him "Sweetie. Tess is here for you."

  "Thanks, Mr Rose." she said as she heard a flurried patter of footsteps from within.

  "Tess is here?!" A soft and small voice eeked out from inside, followed quickly by the small girl coming into view, "TESS!" she yelped as she ran full speed towards Tessa.

  A grin caught her as she giggled, the rampaging Mira approaching with speed, she braced for impact and—SLAM, Mira crashed straight into her waist, she wrapped her arms happily around the girl and ran a hand through her hair.

  "Been waiting on you all morning Mira, what took you so—" Tess joked before being cut off swiftly by Mira, "—No you didn't! I've been waiting for YOU all morning, haven't I daddy?!"

  A belly laugh came instantly from Mr Rose as his eyes glinted with joy, "Now don't you involve me in your squabbles my little angel, jus' be good for Tess now eh?"

  "I will!" Mira said as she gave a wide smile with a tilt of her head, the smile that Tess and her father knew all so well.

  Another voice came from within, a much more stern voice, "And make sure she doesn't have too many treats Tessa! Not like last time!".

  Tess felt the hairs on her neck stand up in alarm as she winced, Mrs Rose was NOT happy the last time she'd taken Mira out, apparently three honeyed apples was… too much.

  "In fact, NO treats, none at all!" Mrs Rose called out, thankfully still outside of view—Tess couldn't take that cold glare she gave, it made her feel as though she was a kid again.

  "Got it, Mrs Rose! Only a few treats!" She called back, before slamming her hand to her mouth in alarm, Oh no.

  Immediately a flurry of shouts came from within as Mr Rose laughed even louder, he then lent in and whispered to her "A treat or two didn't hurt no-one, now go before she catches you both."

  Tess didn't need telling twice as she grabbed Mira's hand and they bolted off the porch and down the muddied roads.

  Mira looked up at Tess with a grin, one she swore she'd adopted after spending so much time with her, "Mummy's going to tell you off, big time."

  "Only if she catches me" Tess winked back.

  They slowed once they'd cleared a couple of streets and panted for air with a giggle, "Right, Mira, let's find you that dress. I'm going to make sure its a good one!" She said to Mira in between her gasping breaths.

  Mira only beamed back as they walked hand-in-hand. She was going to make sure that Mira had the finest dress available for the festival this evening. She deserved the best and Tess had been saving for a while. Mira was like the sister she never had—and never could have, after her parents had both passed, Elias and now, Mira were the closest thing she had to family.

  She also needed one for herself, she couldn't forget that—Elias was there after all and—he'd be turning eighteen soon. She blushed at her own thoughts and squeezed Mira's hand. Today, was a good day.