Fall of Autumn, Week 5, Day 2

I slipped back into my room, pleased at the progression of my Skills, and settled into the sofa in The Love of Zorya. Looking around my room, I sighed. The rooms were too large, too all-consuming. They were too much, not just for me, but for little Eunora. The Love of Zorya was so different than the singular room at the main estate I had occupied, with its childish paintings on the walls and the estate's neglectful staff.

The Love of Zorya was a sign of status, but it was a sign of status in Fellan. If I ever went back to that oversized monstrosity of an estate outside Adeline, would I be shoved back into my old room?

A bitter smile crossed my face.

"No, I don't think I would. Not anymore. Not after my Affirmation. I don't think they'd ignore me like before."

At the thought of such devastating times, at the memory of hate and indifference and grief, a wave of emptiness threatened to overwhelm me. Fortunately, that was the moment Noir, Shade, and Haze resurfaced in their varying hues.

"We're here, we're always here, Nora," Haze's lilting voice said as the iridescent spirit curled up next to me.

"You aren't alone anymore." Shade found her place nestled in my hair, light as air.

"You'll never be alone again." Noir pressed into my side.

I huffed, gentle amusement filling me. "I guess it's not fair to wallow in dark emotions in front of such polite company."

The tinkling sound of their laughter warmed me, and I shifted slightly so that I could get to my bag.

"I have letters from the kids in Ugar," I said, a light hum to my voice.

"Oooooh, read them aloud! Read them aloud!" Noir chirped, and I pulled out the three letters.

One was heavier than the others and slightly lumpy, so I started with that one first.

Extending one of my nails so that it was a makeshift letter opener, I popped the flat wax seal off the paper and looked inside the envelope.

A grin spread across my face, and I emptied the contents out into my hand. It was several small charms, a shining white metal.

[Inspect]

[Maenite Charm, Common, Tier 0]

[A charm molded from a soft metal found predominantly in Western Maeve.]

[Crafted by: Clara of Ugar]

I knew exactly what I wanted to do with them. But first, I had some spirits to appease.

"Dear Nora—"

The following morning found me up early, but instead of breakfast or studying, I was getting ready for Twilight. Before dawn, the room's magelights were harsh on my eyes, but I was weaving intricate braids in my hair—the light was necessary.

Letting my Dexterity do most of the work for me, I let [Weaving] fill me with options, ideas, and possibilities. I used [Shadow Manipulation] to lace threads from [Weave of Darkness] into my hair like extensions. It caused my dark hair to become pitch black with a few strands of iridescence. I took the grey and iridescent threads and made chain braids to give myself a crown and added the charms from Clara, letting them hang lightly atop my locks.

Opening the door to the balcony, I let the cold air hit me. I would be at the Sword Academy today, then have Madame Primrose for arithmetic and Ridan for history—or whatever we decided would pass for a history lesson. I felt the chill of the wind pass through the thin cloth of my nightgown and decided that it felt like home. It was similar to the chill of my mana; it was power and comfort, and it was nice. I wanted to continue being cold.

So, while I still grabbed the sweater I made—it was just as much comfort as Noir had been—I also picked a pair of purple shorts and a short-sleeved top that went from a pale pink to a deep purple. It was a light and airy material that was see-through on the outside with a thick lining on the inside.

I wondered how to recreate the effect with [Weave of Darkness]. Was it a tighter weave or a looser one? Was there a way to know? Someone to ask?

I sighed, another list of things to do. Another ask of Gristle. At least I was confident Gristle would help me grow my Skills without fear of him telling Mallorica everything.

I slid into some leather ankle boots, pulling out the usual laces and re-lacing them with thick, dark purple threads that I matched to the color of the boots. I practiced with [Shadow Manipulation] to lace and tighten the shoes. The only issue was visualizing the knot and bow of a usual shoe, so instead I did a fanciful knot that [Weaving] provided.

It looked similar to a rose, and I smiled at my reflection. To create was the greatest gift this life had given me.

To grow and learn and become more had been a struggle, but from day one, I'd found comfort in little Eunora's skills with creation. From Noir's old bunny form, to the [Weaving] Skill, it was a therapy even [Mental Fortitude] couldn't mimic. It was natural, a result of the melding of me before and little Eunora.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

>I gained similar Skills upon Awakening. It was [Weaving] and [Weave of Silence]. I didn't gain the attribute version of [Silent as a Shadow] or [Weave of Darkness], nor did I qualify for [Quick Calculation].< Eunora hummed, her voice free of the bitterness we'd both grown used to and now were adjusting to the casual conversation.

Both of our anger was subsiding. Well, our anger at each other.

I could speak for both of us when I said we had a list—everyone who had wronged us so heinously, who had stolen from and scarred us, who had forever changed our fate.

I pulled on my sweater, grabbed my bag, and headed out of my room. All three spirits were following behind me, walking side by side out in the open. I took a deep breath, letting the stillness around me ground my mind. There were knights and maids silently going about their lives. I focused my ears, letting my Perception sharpen, and I listened.

In such a quiet environment, it was easy to focus on the breath of a knight around the bend, to find the footsteps of a maid, of the small creak of a door hinge, of the pattering of someone approaching.

Approaching?

I blinked, refocusing my gaze on the corner a dozen feet away, and waited. The spirits sank into a shadow as I waved my hand at them.

It was mere seconds before I saw Juniper rounding the bend, piles of linens towering high above her head in her arms. She didn't seem to see me, so I stepped aside and watched as she went past my room and further down the hall.

I debated following, of seeing why she was up so early. But I knew the answer, really. Her eyes had bags under them, they had ever since I'd asked for her to be my Lady's Maid. What was happening was my fault, not in a way that made my heart ache or anything. I had asked Juniper first, and she had agreed.

And I had met Sylvie. She didn't exactly seem the type to be a gentle teacher. Juniper would either sink or swim—and so far, she'd been swimming at a brilliant pace.

So, I empowered [Silent as a Shadow], and as the colors drained from the world around me, I rounded the corner and headed to Twilight.

Slipping through the faux wall, I stepped down the [Descent of Astrala]. The spirits followed behind me, and as I unlocked the door and went inside I heard a thump. I whipped around, looking at the source of the sound.

"We aren't Of The Blood," Noir said, even as he slammed his head against the invisible barrier keeping him out of the Great In Between.

"But—" I started, and Shade shook her head, pulling Noir back.

"We were part of you before. Connected, one. Now, while not lesser or any less bonded, we are separate."

I swallowed thickly.

Separate, I repeated in my head, but no less bonded.

"Okay, wait for me?" I asked, instead of begging the door to drop its barrier.

"Always," Haze chirped from behind Noir and Shade. I gave them a small smile and a wave and closed the door to Twilight.

Around me, the thin layer of water rippled, and I turned to approach the pillars of Twilight. The dull golden and red glow of the light reflected off the water, and I acknowledged how beautiful this space was. How apt for a family named Dawn. How mystical for a training place. How peaceful it could be.

I went to my pillar and glanced at the list of options. This would be the first time I really knew what would happen. The first time I could make an educated decision. The first time I wasn't impulsively running away from a sibling and picking at random.

[0th Tier: Mana Manipulation, Mana Sense, Weaving

1st Tier: Quick Calculation, Weave of Darkness

2nd Tier: Mental Fortitude, Otherworldly, Shadow Conjuration, Shadow Manipulation

3rd Tier: Shadow Animation

Untiered: A Shade of Dawn, Eternal Communion, Eyes of Gospel, Sophism, Steal Nerves, Tight Lips

SKILL TRIAL COOLDOWN: Inspect, Meditation, Silent as a Shadow

Notice: Until all Tiered Skills are Tested for the First Time, the Trials cannot be repeated.]

This was a choice I got to make alone.

>Well.<

I smiled wryly. Almost alone.

My eyes focused on [A Shade of Dawn]. My Skill. I created it from my own Divinity, hard-won and forced into existence. But I had yet to use it. Yet to craft a weapon of shadow and light to protect me. I ran my fingers over the Skill but did not select it.

I yearned for it, but I wanted to wait. Wait until I knew which weapon I liked the best. I didn't want to drain myself to use [A Shade of Dawn] without knowing what to expect.

That was an experience best left to savor.

So, instead, I picked a Skill whose milestone had not been met. Whatever event needed to happen to get my Skills from 10 to 11, I had a feeling that Twilight bypassed that. It was a hunch, but it was one I wanted to follow.

I ran my hand over [Shadow Conjuration] and [Shadow Manipulation]. I knew either Skill would likely require me to drain every ounce of mana I possessed. That seemed to be how Twilight worked. You didn't gain something from nothing. Would I have enough time to recover my mana before leaving for the Academy?

I ran through timelines in my mind, of when I'd drained myself before, of how long it took, of how it felt. And [Quick Calculation] told me, as long I didn't take more than a couple hours, I would be fine to have my nails and bangles for the Academy.

So I chose [Shadow Conjuration]. The Skill that gave me the volume of shadows, the Skill that brought me the most comfort—after [Shadow Animation]. The basis of my Skills.

And then I stepped into the pillar.

[Welcome to Twilight}

[Skill: Shadow Conjuration]

[Training options:

Volume

Locked

Locked]

[Please select a training type to begin]

[Skill: Shadow Conjuration]

[Level: 10]

[Training Style: Volume]

[Task: Control the volume of Shadows conjured to increasingly specific measurements]

[Failure conditions:

You do not produce enough shadows within the time limit. If this occurs five times it forces an automatic failure.

You produce too many shadows for a given volume. If this occurs five times it forces an automatic failure.

You meet a combination of the above conditions six times.]

[Notice: Your Mana has been drained to fuel a perpetual instance of [Shadow Conjuration]. Ambient Mana will not be provided during the training and you will be unable to recover Mana within yourself. All other Skills will be locked.]

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