Even in spring, the air is humid and hot in the vilge of Calythera. But nothing compared to how sticky and gross it gets once you step into the Lianastra Greatwoods, the rainforest surrounding us.

  This is a small community, mostly hunters and people capable of living off the woods. We don’t have room for fields, but the forest provides food aplenty. As for water? It rains so much, having enough of it is never a concern—having too much is.

  The people living here, my people now, I suppose, are a type of beastkin. We share our ancestry with coeurls, the great cat guardians of the forest.

  I should expin why sometimes I don’t feel this connected to this pce, this family.

  I have memories of another world. One where magic was so common, no one was impressed by it anymore. Everyone could speak to anyone else, all over the world, just by using a hand-sized magical tablet. If people needed to travel, they could fly, or ride in self-propelled wheeled carriages. Anyone had access to running water. Life expectancy was almost a hundred.

  I don’t remember much about my life in my old world, however. Only that I wished for it to end; I was miserable there. Maybe that’s why I don’t remember much about who I was? Maybe that’s why I’m happy just being K’Nivi—Nivi of the Karé tribe.

  “Nivi! Nivi! I’m back! And I got a new skill!”

  I look up from the cy pot I was scrubbing to see Lex entering the vilge. The group of adult hunters soon appear behind him, back from their hunt. Two blue-haired antelopes held upside down, feet bound to sturdy branches the men are carrying in pairs.

  Lex rushes towards me, a giant grin pstered on his face. We’re around the same age, he and I, and we’re both still treated like children. Our names are still child’s names. In my tribe, we only earn our full names once we become adults. Once we become strong enough.

  I smile at my excited friend. He must have hit level 10 during the hunt. And it looks like he received another skill. Which means he’s probably going to be able to pick his adult name soon. I wonder what he’s going to choose? Will he keep “Lex” as part of it? Something like Alexander, maybe? It sounds like an adult name. A conqueror’s name. It sounds like Lex.

  “Congratutions,” I say, standing to greet him. I have a feeling I know exactly what he’ll ask me now.

  “Do the thing! Try to guess what my new skill is!” he asks, as if on cue. He smirks and adds, “Some of the grown-ups have made bets whether you’ll get it right or not!”

  They all think I’m a good guesser. But that’s not it.

  Are people getting suspicious of my ability? Is it time to guess wrong to throw them off?

  Unlike my previous world, everyone in the vilge—in this world, for all I know—has access to the skill [Assess Threat]. This skill gives a vague impression of the challenge level of an adversary. It may reveal you’re evenly matched, for example, or if your opponent is above or below your level. If they’re significantly faster or tougher than you are, you also get a feel for this. This is useful, because a level 10 vilger or thief is far weaker than a level 10 fighter.

  If I was to [Assess] Lex, I would surely feel how it would be a tough battle, in his favour.

  However, I can’t do it—Not anymore.

  I look at my friend intently, and try to see past his silly facial expression, his upright ears, his tail swinging excitedly behind his back. I give myself in, just for a moment, to a yearning—a craving—from within, one I constantly fight to keep a lid on. An uncomfortable—but now familiar—crawling feeling runs down my spine, pulling something loose and strange into alignment. I sweat as my heart and gut both feel like they’re being twisted and shoved aside, leaving room for… something else. My earlier lunch threatens to come back out, but after a moment, it passes and everything settles back in pce. The thing inside of me locks onto Lex and the flood of information hits me faster than thought.

  Name: K'LexCss: HunterLevel: 10Species: Coeurl BeastkinCreature Type: HumanoidHP: 126 / 126MP: 0 / 0AttributesStrength: 10Intelligence: 11Dexterity: 15Wisdom: 11Constitution: 11Charisma: 9Agility: 17 Combat SkillsPolearm: 14[Double Thrust] Rapidly strike twice. Deals additional damage.Archery: 33 [Back to Back Arrow] Shoot two arrows. Increased accuracy.[Trip Arrow] Reduces target movement speed.Evasion: 26Traits[Sense Creatures: Novice] Allows to determine the nature and location of all creatures within 150 yards.[Alertness: Novice] Increase response to danger.[Accuracy Bonus: Novice] Accuracy+10. Ranged Accuracy +10.Active Abilities[Assess Threat] Get a sense of level and combat ability of a target.[Sharpshot] Increase accuracy for all attacks for a short duration. Eliminate penalties for ranged attack based on distance or cover.Quiescent Numina[Hunter Instinct] Agility +10. Accuracy +25. Ranged Accuracy +25.[Heart of the Beastkin I] Dexterity +3, Agility +3This is the result of my [Scour] ability. I don’t know when and how I picked it up or why it repced [Assess Threat]. All I know is I didn’t always have it. And I don’t dare tell anyone about this.

  See? My people are insur by nature. We fear change, outsiders and the unknown. Whenever one of the younger courageous members of our tribe wanders too far and comes back changed from their contact with the outside world, they are no longer welcome here.

  As far as I know, my people do not know my nature as a reincarnated individual, and I do not dare talk about it for fear of banishment. I don’t feel confident sharing anything about my ability to [Scour] people, either.

  Plus, there’s just off about the way this power feels when I use it. It provides me all this information hoping I act on it.

  It makes me envious of what they have and what I don’t. It makes me want to take it away from them.

  And it disgusts me.

  But the ability never lies. I go through the information I’ve just received about Lex, and I immediately notice changes. [Accuracy Bonus] is new, and [Dexterity], [Constitution], [Agility], [Intelligence] and [Wisdom] have all gone up by one since he was level 9.

  To this day, I’m still not sure what the section about numina is about. From what I can tell, the person I scan is not benefiting from them. Instead, it feels potential. Something that could be.

  Numina also appear very common; everyone in town has [Heart of the Beastkin]. The tier depends on their level; I think? Level 1-30 gets Tier I, 31 and above Tier II. Everyone also has [Instincts] based on their csses.

  Well, once again. Everyone, except me… I look away from Lex and raise my right hand slightly, palm up. I give in to the craving, leaving it just a tiny crack to slip through. A heartbeat ter, the flood hits me.

  Name: K'NiviCss: Vitiated VisitorLevel: 8Species: Vacuous VesselCreature Type: HumanoidHP: 104/ 104MP: 71 / 71AttributesStrength: 8Intelligence: 8Dexterity: 10Wisdom: 8Constitution: 6Charisma: 6Agility: 10 Combat SkillsDagger: 12[Piercing Strike] Deliver an armour-piercing attack. Ignores defence.Evasion: 21Traits- - -Active Abilities[Scour] Search through a target’s essence for potentialQuiescent Numina[Spellcaster Instinct] MP+30%, Intelligence+3[Heart of the Devourer I] All Attributes +3. Auto-Regen 1, Status Ailment Resistance +10%I don’t know what any of these words mean! Vacuous? Vitiated? What are numina, and what does it mean, when they’re quiescent? Whenever I [Scour] on own attributes, it always makes me feel so frustrated and disappointed at myself. Something tells me I should not be this weak. That it is unacceptable for me to remain this weak.

  I have no traits, and [Scour] is my only active ability. All my attributes are below average compared to the rest of my tribe. I’m at level 8, but I checked with a trainee who’s not allowed out on hunts yet—he’s a level 5 warrior, and all of his attributes are above mine, except intelligence and wisdom.

  The common understanding is most people get active skills or passive traits at level 10. Some are lucky and get them at level 5, like Lex did with his [Alertness] and [Sharpshooter].

  I wish I could get level 10 soon, too. Maybe I’ll get a useful skill then. I hate being stuck in the vilge. But the elders want to wait until I earn my first skill to know what I’m best suited to do.

  Levelling as a non-combat css requires patience and hard work. Combat csses are all about big gains from life or death encounters. Given my attribute situation, I resign myself to continuing with slow and steady progression. I would never defeat anything stronger than me, at this rate.

  I exhale a long sigh, then look up Lex in his eyes. I tilt my head and pyfully tap my cheek with my index. “Hmm. Well, you’re a hunter. And you just got level 10 today?”

  He nods enthusiastically. “Yes!”

  “Then did you get the [Beast Killer] trait?” I ask innocently.

  He looks at me, his grin falling off his face. “Aww… No. You got it wrong! Damnit, I had bet you’d get it right!”

  Sorry, Lex! I’ll make it up to you…

  “Is it [Accuracy Bonus], then?”

  “Yeah…” he answers, but there’s no joy in his voice. “Got it in two... Hey… Don’t tell me—you did that on purpose, didn’t you?!”

  “Me? I would never!” I answer mockingly, trying to sound insulted.

  “Nivi…!” he growls, crossing his arms. His ears ftten a little and his tail whips to one side, one of the tells he’s angry, about to pounce…

  “Eep!” I try to dodge to the side as soon as I notice him tackling me, but he’s too fast! With his new [Accuracy Bonus], I never had a chance to escape him. I fall to the ground, thankfully away from the pottery I was in the middle of washing. Lex is on top of me, grinning. He’s pinning my arms to the ground with his weight and hands.

  Part of me wants to ugh, or try to py fight. Maybe struggle a little in a mock attempt to free myself. But a stronger part of myself is frustrated at how weak he’s making me feel. My cheeks are burning up. Not because I’m embarrassed to be in this position, or because I’m afraid of what he could do to me. But because of a deep anger, a primal need, a drive to get stronger. To stop being so powerless. I start pushing and pulling on my arms, and try to kick him with my legs, but no matter how much I struggle, he’s keeping me locked down. He easily adjusts his position so my kicks are harmless to him.

  His face changes from a grin to one of concern. Like he’s trying to say something, but he’s completely at a loss for words.

  I keep struggling, growling between gritted teeth. “Let… me… go!”

  He blinks at me a few times, confusion pin on his face. I feel his grip weakening a bit as he opens his mouth to speak, and I immediately yank, trying to pry free. But my struggle just makes him instinctively tighten his grip.

  “Nivi, calm down!” he finally manages to say.

  But his plea just angers me even further. I want to be calm! You started this! I shake and struggle and shout wordless cries. I’m losing myself, I’m slowly slipping into madness...

  I hate this with every fibre of my self. I hate being restrained so much I have daily nightmares about it.

  Dreams where I have my arms and legs securely bound to a table by strong metal csps. Of me not being to do anything but shout and snarl at the people surrounding me. They’re not coeurl beastkin like us—they’re not even beastkin! Humans? And they’re there, watching me. Talking about me, never to me, in a nguage I don’t understand.

  The memories of the nightmare flood my mind, and my rage is so great I forget the most important thing I’m supposed to do at all times. I forgot to keep it contained.

  I clench my teeth from sudden pain as skin tears on my forehead, blood running down my eyebrows. An unfamiliar power wells up inside of me, growing warmer every second. Lex stares at me—no, at my forehead—horror and disgust twisting his face. His hands tighten reflexively around my wrists as he frowns and says, “Wha—”

  He doesn’t get to finish his sentence. Out of nowhere, the well of power unloads itself in a blinding fsh.

  [Stone Gaze!]

  I look in horror as Lex’s face freezes solid mid-speech. No… He doesn’t simply freeze, he calcifies. I try to stop whatever this is. I try to shake him off me, to scream at him to run, but nothing is happening. The spell isn’t stopping, Lex isn’t moving. No. No no no no—

  And in less than a second, it’s over. His hands and knees have turned stone cold. I look down, afraid of what I’ll see. But I know. His entire body is now carved in stone.

  I scream. First at the horror of what I had done. Then at the crushing weight of Lex’s petrified body pinning me to the earth.

  [You have defeated a level 10 beastkin hunter]

  [You have reached level 9. Your HP, MP and attributes have gone up slightly.]

  [Your success against this foe has awakened the following numen: Heart of the Beastkin I. Numen is automatically equipped as you have 12 unused numina slots.]

  …Defeated? What the hell just happened?!

  Tears are streaming down my cheeks, mixing with the blood as I turn around. I’m surrounded by people who stare in silence, weapons at the ready. “Help… Somebody… Anybody! Help me… Help Lex…! Please…”

  In my bedroom, I hug my knees, sitting on my bed. I see the shadow of someone standing watch in front of the window, to make sure I don’t escape. My parents are inside the house, under instruction to keep watch on me, too. And I assume most everyone is keeping their eyes on our house.

  I sit and wait.

  It took a while, and it wasn’t easy, but people freed me from my stone jailor. A prison of my making.

  At first, everyone just stood back. They didn’t want to step too close… Not as long as I had a third—apparently yellow—eye on my forehead. Eventually, it receded by itself—after the feeling of immediate danger and powerlessness faded.

  Then, a few warriors came over and helped push Lex off of me.

  Afterwards, they tried to pull me free, but my wrist were still being held by Lex’s unrelenting stone hands. It took a while, but after I finally calmed down enough to be able to listen to what they said, someone came forward with instructions. They had to teach me how to rotate my forearm in such a way and how opening my hand made it easier to slip out of Lex’s grasp. Miraculously, it worked, although it was still very painful to squeeze past his fingers.

  My wrists are now a horrible mix of brown, blue, green and yellow from bruises beneath the skin. The pain is a constant reminder of what I did. Despite it, I can’t help but grasp at my own wrists.

  It hurts.

  It hurts so much!

  But I don’t care about the pain. I don’t care or know what will happen to me. All I want to know is if anything can be done to save Lex. There are cockatrices in the Great Forest. We hunt them for their meat and egg, sometimes. They can petrify our hunters, too. Surely we must have some way to deal with this, if we actually hunt them?

  But the fact I got a message saying I defeated him when I got the numen from him makes me think there is no coming back. I’m afraid he’s not just petrified. I’m afraid he’s gone. I’m afraid I did more than just turn him to stone. I feel like I devoured him.

  But I can’t tell anyone this. Not as long as they hold on to the hopes he can still be saved. Lex was a brilliant young hunter. He had been blessed with good skills, and showed promise. He would be a great asset to the tribe.

  But me? The useless girl with no skills... I stole his future.

  He didn’t even get to choose his new name before…

  Before I murdered him.

  I can never take his pce. And even if I was strong enough to do so, they would never let me. I have done something terrible. Something I cannot undo, no matter what. So I await my punishment. I await judgment.

  My power disgusts me. My weakness disgust me even more.

  But worse than that, I disgust myself.

  Because there’s a tiny part inside of me currently celebrating this. Cheering about my growth. When I received the numen, it came with a rush of power. Power that felt right. Power I somehow felt I deserved.

  I killed him. I killed Lex and stole his strength. And I’m celebrating this, somehow?

  I’m a monster.

  I let the craving slip through once more. I [Scour] myself.

  Name: K'NiviCss: Vitiated VisitorLevel: 9Species: Vacuous VesselCreature Type: HumanoidHP: 115/ 115MP: 78 / 78AttributesStrength: 9Intelligence: 9Dexterity: 14 (11+3)Wisdom: 9Constitution: 7Charisma: 7Agility: 14 (11+3) Combat SkillsDagger: 12[Piercing Strike] Deliver an armour-piercing attack. Ignores defence.Evasion: 21Traits- - -Active Abilities[Scour] Search through a target’s essence for potentialEquipped Numina (1/12)[Heart of the Beastkin I] Dexterity +3, Agility +3Quiescent Numina[Spellcaster Instinct] MP+30%, Intelligence+3[Heart of the Devourer I] All Attributes +3. Auto-Regen 1, Status Ailment Resistance +10%I am a monster, and I hope they judge me as one.

  Why did I freak out like this when he tackled me? I’ve wrestled and pyed with boys before, and nothing like this ever happened before.

  Why did this have to happen to me…

  To him…