After her furry guests left Eve locked the door behind them. It was more of a symbolic safety, since she doubted the materials in her house were actually able to keep something out. On the other hand, they might be absorbing mana to become stronger. Who knew?

Taking her normal shower, toweling off, and then getting comfortable in bed Eve pulled up her kill messages.

....

You have killed a Lv. 21 Wind Ferret. Experience gained.

You have killed a Lv. 19 Wind Ferret. Experience gained.

You have killed a Lv. 24 Wind Ferret. Experience gained.

You have killed a Lv. 22 Wind Ferret. Experience gained.

....

Eve let the message flow through her focusing on the final string of information.

….

You are now a Lv. 15 Celestial Scholar!

You are now a Lv. 16 Celestial Scholar!

You are now a Lv. 17 Celestial Scholar!

….

The System congratulates the User for reaching the milestone of Lv. 15 in Celestial Scholar.

The following combinations are available:

2 Skills from the Class List

1 Skill and 1 Spell from the Class List

2 Spells from the Class List

Eve ignored the Skills this time around choosing two Spells that dovetailed perfectly with her future plans.

One Size Fits All

Your sheets size limits are more flexible now.

Mana Regen can be used to make this effect permanent.

In a real game of Paper, Scissors, Rock we all know who wins.

Eve watched as the expected message appeared.

Synergy with Domain of Paper I detected. Spell has been added to the Domain.

She repeated her choice with another Spell.

Stationary Shielding

Spend mana to strengthen your paper.

Your paper now works off your Wisdom and Intelligence score divided by two to provide armor.

The Emperor’s Writ is the best defense, literally.

Eve watched the same message scroll past as before.

Synergy with Domain of Paper I detected. Spell has been added to the Domain.

As a final message appeared, Eve was thrilled that her plan worked.

Mana can be spent in order to strengthen the Domain due to the addition of a Spell that has no Mana limit cap. In order to prevent an automatic infinite loop that would occur due to conflict between the absorbed Spell and the Domain, this option is now available.

Bingo. Proof positive that infinite loop exploits are crushed without mercy by Wilson. Eve thought. It would have been nice if I could create a completely invincible shield, though.

Since she couldn’t loop the ambient mana into Domain, which would then strengthen the Shield effect to the point where she was invincible at higher mana density, Eve sighed. Apparently even the System wasn’t willing to go that far to show favoritism.

Granted the effect was still utterly ridiculous, just not to the length she had originally hoped for.

Getting spoiled too much. Remember, most people probably don’t even have five percent of my power. The ones at my level or higher have been there a long time, and are much more familiar with how things work. Slow, steady, and invisible win the rat race. Eve thought.

Glancing at her Status she distributed the current Free Stats available. The new numbers really brought out how regen was outpacing her actual mana. She wasn’t worried though, there was a Skill she had been keeping her eyes on for quite some time to fix the issue.

Name: Eve Smith

Race: Human

Class: Celestial Scholar

Level: 17

Health: 700/700 (7 hps regen)

Mana: 1,710/1,710 (5,130 mps regen)

Stats: Str 70, Dex 70, Con 70, Wis 171, Int 171

Free Stats: 0

Skills:

Mana Map

Celestial’s Five Senses

Spells:

Domain of Celestial Paper I

Mental Talents:

Celestial Mind

Physical Talents:

Celestial Body

Happy with the changes, Eve dropped off to sleep while her Six flew above the bed humming softly.

Several hours later a soft tap on her hand slowly dragger her from sleep. Adrenaline surged in her body pushing her fully awake before she realized it was just one of Kudzu’s vines.

Processing that the sentient plant would not have woken her for no reason because it wasn’t suicidal, Eve asked, “What is wrong?”

“The sun has risen. I saw how you woke up constantly at this time, and noticed your waking device was broken.” Kudzu said. There was a pause then before Eve could say anything he said, “I appear to have made a mistake. Would you like something to go back to sleep? Pollen? Sap?”

Eve had a momentary image of pharmaceutical companies kidnapping Kudzu before a smile flashed across her face. “If you have some sap that could give me a several more hours of sleep I’ll take that. In the future, unless we are under attack, the wolves ask for me, or something you cannot handle occurs, do not wake me ok? You’re in charge when I’m sleeping or away.” Eve said, before adding, “And if the Six are here when I’m away you will treat them equal to your own status. Understood?”

“Of course, Slicer. This Lord Plant is beyond joy to serve.” Kudzu said.

For the life of her Eve couldn’t figure out what she had said that made the sentient carnivore plant so happy. Shrugging she accepted a vine that dripped three small drops of sap into her mouth. When in a magical world, take magical sleep medicine. Go figure. Eve thought as she went back to dreamland.

The second time she woke up Eve simply luxuriated in bed. While she would never admit it except under torture, Kudzu was a massive weight off her mind. The sentient plant absolutely lived to murder anything dangerous in her territory, and did so with gusto. The fact that he also produced spices, while acting as essentially a combat butler was just icing on the cake.

I actually don’t have anything planned today. Eve thought. Her mind flashed to the wolves and then widened. Wolves mean little wolves. Little wolves! Puppies! Justice!

Eve leaped from bed before moving faster than ever before to shower, dress, and make breakfast. Once everything was complete and she had finished her meal. Eve quickly used inventory to clean the dishes, it was the same trick she used to do laundry as well now. Move the item in, sort it, which removed anything that wasn’t part of the item itself, and presto magico solutiono! Clean stuff!

Sometimes, I’m really smart. Eve thought smugly. The image of a field of ferrets staring at her like meat flashed through her mind. The knowledge that she had avoided death due to a massive dose of luck popped her arrogance like a hot steel needle through butter. Yeah, let’s get uppity and die. No thanks, stick to reality Eve. There’s always another Ferret somewhere. While she did have plans to create suit of paper armor that would both let her fly, and keep her safe she decided to take today off.

“Today is a Sunday. Make it so Number one through six!” Eve said cheerfully to her floating Six Samurai. As she moved through the vine maze that Kuzdu had created, Eve practiced creating a chameleon body suit of paper that covered her. With effort she was certain she could get something that worked as good as her own physical talents. It was just a matter of synchronizing correctly. Once the Domain of Paper I learned exactly what she was aiming for, it could take over the heavy lifting.

From that point onward I can always be dressed to the nines in a Female Ninja Warlock Super Queen suit. Eve thought. No more worrying about what happens when my clothes wear out. Going nude for my first ferret extermination can be relegated to the pages of history. Dark history that no one shall ever mention again on pain of tickle torture. Otherwise, bra for life. Not that I need the lift now, it just helps keep the jugs in line easier. No need to test if my regeneration based on mana covers back issues from heavy frontal loads, either.

Eve nodded to herself as she exited the vine maze Kudzu had woven to hide the house. While she had been waffling on how to move around, he had already picked up and moved the house to the center of the clearing while she slept.

I tried to explain to him that I wanted chicken legs to pick the house to move it. Eve thought, images of the old stories of Baba Yaga. I wanted to go for a look in the same vein as the Russian folklore brother mentioned. I never expected Kudzu to feel so strongly about the subject.

“Chicken legs weak. Vines strong. Vine legs win.” Eve said, giving one eye at the vines around her.

“This Lord Plant is glad you agree.” Kudzu said with a satisfied tone.

“Fine, you win.” Eve said, throwing up her hands as she exited the maze.

“This Lord Plant never had any doubt in the Slicer’s wisdom.” Kudzu said as a parting shot.

Eve smiled as she moved towards the edge of the forest. It was practically habit now to stay in ‘stealth’ as she moved around. When she finally reached the forest edge, a single old wolf approached her. Since the Pack Leader, and his mate were busy people, Eve was given a liaison to work with. The elderly wolf had simply given his name as Fang before stating that if she needed anything from the Pack he would assist.

Part of the agreement they had worked out had the Pack Leader, and his mate, visiting once a month to discuss issues. Eve strongly suspected that was merely a motive to leech food from her, yet there wasn’t any real reason to refuse.

“I would like to visit the young wolves, if possible.” Eve asked, her voice hopeful.

Fang stared at her for a short time before a lupine smirk crossed his face, “The young are stupid. This is not a new request, two-leg females often lose their minds around our young.” There was a flicker of communication visible in the chance in mana around Fang, before he said, “The Pack Leader and his mate are busy at this time. However, I can bring you to the younglings. Please do not take offense at their antics, the young are many things, intelligent isn’t one.”

Old people. Eve thought. It’s like Fang and Father are cut from the same cloth. Does getting old turn you into this? No wonder mother was so obsessed about looking young.

Eve moved to follow Fang as he swiftly loped off into the forest.

Puppies! Puppies! Puppies! Eve thought as she followed behind the older wolf.