Ch 7 I’m Awake

  I just sat there. Looking at this beautiful picture I made. Of all the times I dreamed of it, never did I truly imagine I could go. But now I could? Could I get up and leave everything behind? Or stay here another five years and hope the baron doesn't barter me off as someone's wife?

  I stopped at that thought. he still could. I had shown the maids I had the store. They know I could make purchases. They had to wonder where I got credits. I don't have enough knowledge of this place to think of an excuse.

  I go back through the books, learning more about the system, trying to glean some information from them. If only I had history books. But for now, I have the system. Could I buy a history book? But which one? How would I know it's useful? I needed information on the system that I can trust? Could I trust it if it came from the system itself?

  I pulled open the store and fine an equivalent to a dummies guide for the system. It tells me that children can gain access to their status at 10 and store access at 15 and magic at 15 as well.

  I have memories of using magic skills the entire time I was childish. So that's out the bag.

  It went to explain the ranking of skills and how much harder you must work to gain a higher rank. How to rank up to mastery you must have an achievement for that mastery to acknowledge you. So, I completely skipped some steps. And to earn a grandmaster's rank, you must have three other grandmasters acknowledge your skills.

  Unless you wish to make the purchase through the system store, even then you must have completed the previous rank to the highest point it can go.

  So, another thing she completely cheated on. She can purchase any skill of any rank. She'll keep that a secret.

  The dummies book went on to teaching about talents on how hard they are to get. You must be qualified to purchase them. Or find something in the world that leads to them, such as a quest or grimoire, or dungeon.

  Same goes for bloodlines as well. But those can be given by the different races too. And not just the lesser races have bloodlines. But there are such things as magic bloodlines. That increases your capabilities in different aspects. Such as the Magus bloodline which increases mana capacity by 200%. Well, known for being a quest reward, but a very complicated quest. some magic academy students attempt it every few years. Most have failed. Roughly once every other decade one will succeed. Then be married off into nobility.

  For bloodlines can breed true. They also leave markers on those that carry them, which is why I didn't get one yet. I'm only ten. But I think that the enchantments worked as they were supposed to. I'm just not supposed to have store access yet. So, I was truly a child for five years while they upgraded me.

  So now I have to trust my three maids. I flip through the book some more. I find out that parents can give their kids credits on birth so they have it if anything should happen to them. Maybe the baron thought my mom gave me all her credits? That would work. Or maybe my dad? Would he have known though?

  I thought about my status again. I have a last name. But the parenthesis means they actually weren't married. So, I actually was a bastard. But I have something to go on.

  I flip through the book some more. It tells some basic skill ideas and how to get them, what to teach your kids for easy skills really. A list of known quest bloodlines isn't really useful fr me either.

  There was a list of dungeon bloodlines too. I guess the system wanted bloodlines to spread? Or more people trying them. I set the book down as the door opened.

  It was not who I was expecting to walk in.

  It was the baroness. “Well child. Now you can see your status. Tell me your name.”

  I looked up at her, I was confused. She didn't know my name either? They didn't know my name this whole time? They never saw my status? They couldn't see anything about me?

  I looked the baroness in the eye and said “No, ma’am”

  She looked like someone slapped her. She went to grab me, but I slipped to the side. She moved to follow, but Martha was suddenly there. Standing in front of me. “It is impolite to ask someone their name on their first meeting my lady.” and Marth fucking curtsied.

  The baroness went red in the face. “I demand to know the name of the spawn that woman dragged into my house!” she screamed. I stepped around Martha. “You have done nothing for me, I owe you nothing. No"

  The baroness shrilled loudly “we gave you sufferance! We gave you room and board! We allowed you to live!”

  She was half bent heaving. “You gave me less than that. You gave me silence. You gave me isolation. You gave me a void. The captain gave me those things. Not you.”

  She shrieked and turned then slammed the door shut behind her. I stuck my tongue out. All three sisters were there with me now.

  So, I looked at them and apologized for making them wait. And introduced myself as Leti. I told them I wanted to research my last name before I told anyone want it was.

  They looked at each other and agreed that it was smart. We all went to sit down on the couches and Martha started explaining what was going to happen from now on.

  “Since you're finally yourself again, we can continue you're proper training, including swords with the captain. He has missed you a great deal. He rarely visits as he says seeing you so childish pains him greatly.”

  I nodded to that. Being so childish pained me. “What exactly am I to be learning? I seem to have a number of skills already.”

  Martha made a humming sound at that. Please read off the skills you have now, and we can grow them up, or we can grow new skills. To be honest, without knowing your sire, we don't really have a long-term plan in place.”

  “My plan was always to leave when I was 15 and become an adventurer so the baron couldn't marry me off?”

  Stolen novel; please report.

  The three maids glanced at each other at that.

  “Litte miss, you do know why we were assigned correct?”

  “No, I fell asleep on the captain, it was the first time I remember being held.”

  “I'm sorry, we thought you knew since you were so mature and had easily showed us things.” Martha stated. “it's well known when a reincarnated is born, and we were sent by the emperor to make sure you were well adjusted.”

  I froze. They were spies? From the emperor? All this was a lie? Tears came to my eyes. Then my mind calmed. I wiped my eyes.

  “No, I didn't know that. I only came awake for a short time as a four-year-old then for a period as a five-year-old. Then messed up with mental enchantments. I had thought you were assigned by the baron for the abandonment of all the rest.”

  Marsha came over to hug me, I allowed it. Even if it was a lie. My child self-revered these women. I would not push them away.

  Martha continued. “Yes, when a reincarnated is identified, they are given companions. Your case was a little odd as you were identified so much younger, so your companions were also trained as maids, and nannies in this case.”

  I blinked. Ran that sentence through my head again. “Companions?”

  Martha smiled. Yes, little miss. We are to stay with you as long as you like. If you want to be an adventurer, well. Misha is an ice mage. Marsha is a fire mage, and I'm a barrier mage. We are sisters that graduated from the magic academy together then became imperial guards for a duke. When it was known a reincarnated was identified, a list was put together for companions. My sisters and I signed up. Then you were identified, and we had maid training and could present ourselves into the baron's household. So that's what we did. You needed very little raising to start with, then something happened, and you mentally turned into a three-year-old. For the past five years you haven't become more than a five-year-old. So, we mostly entertained you in this room. You have been lucid on several occasions, and we’ve spoke to you, but you couldn't tell us what happened.”

  I leaned into Marsha embrace and just huddled. They were mine for life. Not just nannies, but whatever I needed. I wanted to cry, but I felt that was beneath my dignity of the moment. I let go of Marsha and sat back.

  I found enchantment that could increase certain aspects of myself. It said all you had to do was fight them and the longer you did the better they became. However, I did not take into account that store access is reserved for the age of 15 and higher. So, my adult mentality was fully engaged with the enchantments, leaving only my subconscious to control my body. A sort of alter-id if you will. All my wants and needs were prioritized to the max, just like a two or three old is. Your conscious mind filters those things out and takes care of your needs as needed but doesn't prioritize them. As you know you're hungry, but you know if you cook it's better than just eating bread. That type of thing. Your alter-id wants it all now-now. They don't have an understanding of wait or patience or later. Nor an understanding of consequences.

  As you grow your subconscious filter grows with you. It helps deal with memories and stores them in long-term memory and helps deal with trauma and such. What you saw was a traumatized three year old, that never got to go outside or be free. The fact that she got to play and run, and jump was probably the best thing in her life.” Leti continued after taking a breath.

  “I had quite a bit of trauma to deal with, but some of my depression carried over with me. I was trying to deal with it. I bought a skill called calm mind. That likely helped my little self quite a bit to calm down. And avoid tantrums. Letting herself be distracted. So, thank you for playing with her and teaching her as well.” Leti nodded to all three sisters.

  Marsha just gave her another hug. But this time, she picked her up and held Leti in her lap. Leti was confused for a moment, then realized this felt familiar. And leaned back into her embrace. She was comforted. Like this is where she belonged.

  Martha gave a gentle smile. I smiled back at her. She saw my new outfit and realized I had store access. And that I wasn't happy with the clothes provided. I wonder if she could tell they’re enchanted. We sat together for a few moments, before Misha sat up and brought in a cart of breakfast.

  I laughed as I realized I was starving like a wolf. Martha could probably feel my stomach rumble. Misha directly gave me a plate and child fork. I dug into the eggs with gusto. Much neater than ever before. Didn't matter I was sitting on Martha’s lap. I was starving. Like my energy tank was low. I paused. Did I have a tank? For mana?

  I kept eating, after eggs I was handed a few sausages, I ate them. Then a couple of fruited rolls. I devoured. Then a glass of milk I downed. I felt pretty much full at that point. I realized it was an adults sized breakfast and looked around.

  Blinking at them, I asked what? There was mirth but no response. I wiped my mouth and leaned back once more. It was a good morning so far. I hoped it remained that way.

  *

  Alas twas not to be. Not long after the baroness left. The baron himself came barging into my parlor. Since I had been sated and now knowing I had the full backing of my ladies I knew there was nothing he could do to me.

  His face red as wine, he raged at me, while I was still sitting in her lap. He cussed and screamed and yelled I did not budge. He knew he could not touch these ladies. And now that I knew it, there was nothing he could do to me. So, I simply stood in front of him.

  “Hello uncle,” I curtsied properly, “you may call me Leti.”

  He gruffed. “Tell me your full name stupid thing. I know you have one. There is no way my sister would have slept with a commoner. Tell it to me now!” he continued to demand.

  Leti stood there. “I don't think I will uncle, not until I myself know who they are. I must find them and speak to them first. I will let no other speak in my stead.” Leti curtsied again and turned away from her uncle. Back to her ladies. Now she was secure. She was safe with them.

  “My dears, do you happen to have a list of last names? Or know where I could find one?”

  Martha spoke up then. “If you know the name you can buy a specific book on that lineage from the system but be warned. The head of house will be notified the book was bought.”

  Leti thought for a moment. “I think I will buy the book of my father's lineage. It might be best if the head of house were notified of my existence. I believe he would become aware of me at some point, no?”

  Martha nodded. “If it shows as your name, then some bonds were formed. Maybe not a full marital rite, but something was done, for you to inherit something from him.”

  Leti nodded and thanked her. Then scrolled through the system store looking for the book of lineages. Once she found the correct one. She purchased it and it was deposited into her inventory.

  I looked at my new ladies and asked aloud. “Now that I'm truly awake, and I know you’re mine. Do we have to stay here?”

  The sisters looked at each other in glances. Martha spoke first. “We are only given a small stipend to care for you while you are a child. We are not truly dependent on the baron, but the emperor is assuming he will take care of you until you are of age.”

  I nodded at then. “Don't most children unlock their status at 10?”

  Martha was again the first to speak. “Yes, they can gain skill at ten. Most try for things they want to do in life or go to different schools to gain a wide variety of skills. Or vocational schools to learn a specific trade”

  I nodded. “And at 15 they gain access to the store?”

  Martha spoke. “Yes, that's why it's a little odd with you gaining it so young. But you did mess up because you had a misunderstanding off the system after all.”

  I nodded. “So, what is stopping me from going to a school?” I asked them then. “You said you were top graduates of an Academy, so technically you could be my teachers, but I doubt you remember grade school teachings?”

  Again, the sisters looked at each other. Martha spoke once more. “While that is true, we are supposed to stay with you. There are day schools, but we would need funding, and I doubt it would come from the baron.”

  Leti smiled. “Wanna know my biggest secret?” The sisters looked at her.

  “I have more than enough credits to last ten lifetimes. Thats why I can spend like I do. It's like pouring water down a stream for me.”

  The sisters had unfocused looks on their faces. Then they each blinked as they understood the reference. They each faced blankly as they understood.

  So, Leti asked again. “Any reason we need to stay here?”

  *