“Wilson, what’s with the strange cracks that appear when I teleport or boost my mind’s speed?” Eve asked after securing herself in her room.

Such knowledge has a price. 50 Slots and 50 Free Stats.

Gritting her teeth, Eve paid the price. It was better to know what was going on than die ignorant.

Spatial manipulation places a massive strain on the Bibliotheca Body. Mental acceleration places a massive strain on the Bibliotheca Mind. Look for supporting Skills to alleviate the issue, or you could turn to dust, or a raving lunatic, very soon.

Eve felt her mind shield her from the terror of how close she had come to committing suicide. She watched as more words flowed into existence.

As a Witch, your race is no longer human. You gain greater power, but with all powers comes the price they require. Do you remember the stories of your childhood? The times when your mother taught you of the old tales, the legends, the myths? Remember those lessons, remember them, and survive. Good luck, Eve Smith!

This is what I get for playing with powers beyond my meager understanding. Eve thought. This world isn’t a game, dammit! Let’s see if I can’t solve this without turning to dust.

Eve looked through the Title List for Skill and Spells, noticing a reoccurring pattern as she did. Bibliotheca Mind helpfully pointed out several options chained together in a synergy greater than the sum of their parts.

Bond Familiar

The witch bonds a familiar from the current dimension sharing power and price with them.

Together, forever.

Summon Familiar

The witch summons a familiar from another dimension sharing power and price with them.

Together, forever.

Dark Pact

Enact a Pact with an entity of the Darkness sharing power and price with them.

Beware as you change them; they change you!

Light Pact

Enact a Pact with an entity of the Light sharing power and price together with them.

Beware as you change them; they change you!

Elemental Pact

Enact a Pact with an entity of the Elements sharing power and price with them.

Beware as you change them; they change you!

Phylactery (Familiar)

A witch’s familiar is more than an ally. They contain a shard of their master’s soul. Without the destruction of the shard, true death cannot occur for a witch.

Death is only the beginning…for others!

Phylactery (Pact)

A witch’s pact is more than a bargain, the creature that holds it also gains a shard of their master’s soul. Without the destruction of the shard, true death cannot occur for a witch.

Death is only the beginning…for others!

So, there was a reason for all those black cats, after all. Eve thought as she continued looking for more if they were even cats, to begin with!

Transcendent Transfusion

A witch can transfer damage to others as long as a Phylactery exists to act as a conduit. There is no limit to the amount of damage that the witch can transfer.

Stronger than steel, more robust than rubies!

Paper Plating

Mitigate the damage to all Familiars from the Witch by 100%.

Mitigate the damage to all Pacts from the Witch by 100%.

Any entity sharing a Phylactery with you cannot attack.

Any entity sharing a Phylactery with you splits all Experience.

Any entity sharing a Phylactery with you can be healed by Mana.

No wonder witches are feared in so many stories. Eve thought. This creates a loop allowing me to access the full power of the Aura and Domain. However, at what price?

Eve grimaced as she tallied the costs in terms of material needs. There was no doubt in her mind that the vague wordings held problems of their own. On the other hand, if she didn’t resolve the issue now, all that would exist of Eve's remains was a pile of dust. She hated the feeling of being forced to spend her resources, but there was little choice.

Bond or Pact? Eve thought. Bond, actually I have the perfect choice for this!

Eve gave a mental wake-up call to the Six Samurai that had taken up the habit of making themselves into hair ornaments. Within seconds all six pages of celestial iron unfurled, floating in front of her in a slow circular dance. Mystical runes danced upon their pages, hinting at the meaning beyond Eve’s understanding.

Sending a slip of paper out to find Sara and request the materials that would be required, Eve sat down on her bed. When Sara arrived with several large sacks, she explained exactly what she planned to one of her oldest followers, the Six.

Sara arrived with several sacks before she separated the platinum, jewels, and other materials into a roughly circular pile. Giving a short, perfunctory bow, Sara moved to stand to the side. However, Eve shooed her out of the room before stepping into the circle created by the riches. Rituals were a rarely used branch of magic that Eve was passingly familiar with. Thankfully though, the System was around to do the heavy lifting on this one.

Eve sighed as all her free stat points and slots vanished into the System’s greedy maw. As soon as the payment was made by Eve, knowledge on Bond Familiar, Phylactery (Familiar), Transcendent Transfusion, and Paper Plating was implanted into her mind. Focusing her will, Eve held out a hand palm out, triggering the first part of the rituals' chain.

Each of the Six Samurai touched her hand and with a flash, a quarter of the circle of assorted loot vaporized. Bond Familiar tightened the soul connection between the Six and her, making Eve grin in delight. Where once mere threads of meaning ran, now thick woven-metal ropes existed. The next ritual triggered as soon as the bond was solidly in place, causing a second flash and removing another quarter of her fund from the circle. Phylactery (Familiar) floated in the air beside both parties, a sparkling gem of deepest black with irregular planes. The crystalline shape seemed to twist and ripple if Eve looked at it for too long, so she turned her sight from the Phylactery.

Eve glanced at the remaining gems, precious metals, and assorted high-value items before steeling her heart. Transcendent Transfusion and Paper Plating were triggered by the System together, and a sharp flash lit the room like the sun brought to earth. There was no heat, only blinding brightness that stole Eve’s sight. She felt her necklace vanish, the dice gone without a trace.

When the light faded, a tome glistening in metallic shades of multiple colors floated in front where the Six used to be. Eve checked the floating book with a glance, a sad grin forming as she read the information.

Six Element Grimoire of Runes (Nota)

Nota contains the Curses of Weakness, Slow, Soul Burning, Blood, Disease, Madness, Aging, Shatter, Blind, Truth, Confusion, Laughter, Rot, Thirst, and Feebleness allowing for passive or active manipulation of them.

Nota contains the Runes of Isa, Inguz, Laguz, Kennaz, and Hagalaz, allowing for passive or active manipulation of them.

Nota grants the benefits of Spatial Manipulation and Thought Acceleration while within 3 feet of Eve.

Nota provides Major Elemental Protection while within 3 feet of Eve.

Damage to Nota can be healed by Eve with mana.

Feed knowledge for power. Feed power for strength. Feed strength for insight. Feed insight for transcendence. Learn. Eat. Grow. Ascend.

A floating partner that cost sixty percent of my wealth and has disturbing flavor text is about as normal as it gets these days. Eve thought as she grabbed the Phylactery floating nearby before stuffing it in her inventory. Nota, can you hear me? Eve sent mentally, hoping for a response.

Hungry. Nota replied as it floated into her carefully outstretched hands. Eve was thankful. If there weren’t a way to communicate with her Familiar, she would have been at a severe loss.

What would you like to eat? One hand holding the book, Eve said, while the other occupied itself with petting the book’s spine. From the sensation of happiness, it appeared Nota was pleased with the treatment. Pictures appeared in Eve’s mind showing a mélange of magic crystals and beast cores.

Of course, I couldn’t have a Familiar that ate lettuce. Eve thought with a sigh. I get one that has expensive tastes.

Another fifteen percent of Eve’s liquid wealth was pulled from her inventory to feed the voracious appetite of her familiar. Once the Nota was finished eating, Eve tested out the spatial manipulation aspect of her grimoire.

Worth. Every. Penny. Eve thought, bouncing around her room with a mere thought. Aura provided the location, Domain provided the power, and Nota prevented damage. No more cracks formed on her body, the space within range of her senses felt like a miniature world all her own.

Eventually, Sara interrupted her mad, bubbling laughter with a knock on the door to ask if Eve was coming down to dinner. Nota decided to settle on top of Eve’s head like a book-hat and promptly went to sleep. Shrugging, Eve figured it was a battle that could be fought another day.

What was the point of having a familiar if they weren’t slightly eccentric anyways?

Teleporting directly to her seat at the head of the table, Eve took stock of those sitting around her. The younger girl, Tim’s sister, was currently captive in Ren’s clutches, being cuddled. Tim was held within Rin’s lap, his expression forlorn as if all hope was lost. Opposite them, Sara sat on Eve’s right hand, giving a wicked grin to the two new arrivals.

“We have two new arrivals, Tim and…what was your name again, young lady?” Eve said, turning to look questioningly at the youngest child.

“Jenny, big sister.”

“Right, our new arrivals Tim and Jenny. To start this off, I’ll need you both to sign these Contracts. Unless you wouldn’t like to join me?” Eve asked with one eyebrow raised. When both of the younglings scrambled to grab the pens provided, she smiled. It had been a bit of effort to have the orphanage teach letters and numbers, but well worth it in the end.

With both contracts signed and sealed, Eve waved away the System message. See one Contract message. See them all. Eve thought as she teleported the completed meals directly to the table.

“Who handled cooking tonight?” Eve asked as she said a short prayer over her food.

“I did,” Sara said, her tone proud. It had actually taken the better part of five years to teach cooking to the young noblewoman. While she would likely never reach Rin or Ren’s level, Sara could manage to not fail at boiling eggs, buttering toast, or boiling water now. Other more complicated meals required assistance from one source or another for Sara to manage. It had been a trying five years in the kitchen. Eve admitted privately to herself sometimes. Sara made a decent meal, at least now, although she tended to use the more expensive ingredients farmed from the dungeon.

Tasting the first bite cautiously, Eve was pleasantly surprised, “Excellent work, Sara.”

Sara beamed a smile at Ren, who gave her a thumbs up that would normally be hidden from Eve’s sight. Aura attempted to disguise their actions impossible. Deciding discretion was the better part of a comfortable home. Eve didn’t reveal the byplay.

“How are we set for closing up shop and departing?” Eve asked, directing her question at Sara as she started to eat in earnest.

“We can liquidate everything within the week, although we will take a loss of twenty-five percent on the value. The orphanage is set up for functioning after we leave on a self-sustaining Trust, as you requested. My personal enterprises will be sold at a premium to Charles, as he has often visited the Gem Shop. I am certain one of the deputies I’ve trained will be happy to work under him.” Sara said with a smirk. “The monster butchering shop, blacksmith, law firm, and tinker engineering location will be split. The Wild Hunt will be taking the butcher and blacksmith, while the Blood Snakes will take the law firm and tinker shop. I expect no issues, but if there are any…?”

“I’ll intervene personally. On a sad note, the Flock has seemingly suffered another tragic loss as their leader, Mr. Henry, came down with a bad case of suicide. It appears their Vault also was robbed at the same time. Will this be a problem?” Eve asked as she shifted between the soup and entrée with ease.

Sara raised one eyebrow before saying, “No. It might improve the bargaining position with the other two. It has been over five years since you last took visible action. Sometimes people think that age causes deterioration in power.”

Power deterioration is not a problem for me. Eve thought to herself. If I have to, I can demonstrate something to the Wild Hunt or the Blood Snakes. I would prefer not since they have both been extremely decent partners to work with. Well, decent for rogues and nobles at least…

“Let’s keep my name out of this if possible. Henry’s actions towards me indicated that he probably wasn’t a very well-liked individual. I doubt the number of enemies he has made is low enough to find a culprit, and there isn’t a soul to question. With that in mind, we will let the situation resolve itself. No need to plant a smoking gun for now.” Eve said, trying a bit of the salad.

“Understood,” Sara replied before tucking into her own food with gusto.

Watching the table as the girls cuddled children, food was devoured by all, and the talk shifted to less serious things, Eve was content. Immortality without being able to enjoy the little things in life would be nothing except insanity without end. Thankfully, she hadn’t completely followed her brother’s advice. He meant well, but Matt was changed by trials and tribulations Eve hadn’t seen. His views were different than her own, and the choices she made reflected that.

Tucking into the desert, Eve smiled. Soon I will have a ruin to explore, and past that, a new layer filled with even stronger ambient mana. This world is fantastic, deadly, and filled with things worth seeing!