Status Sheet

Name:

Lelantos

Age:

4

Level:

115

Species:

Evanesce Tiger

Genus:

Cheshire

Rank:

6

Health:

4,880

H-Regen:

+48.8/1.1sec

Mana:

2,050

M-Regen:

+26.5/1.1sec

Stamina:

3,700

S-Regen:

+30.7/1.1sec

Magic Power:

3,754

Magic Control:

4,102

Experience: 765,817/1,081,600

Vitality:

488

Endurance:

370

Strength:

350

Dexterity:

40

Wisdom:

205

Intelligence:

265

Speed:

110

Charisma:

10

Unallocated Stat Points: 0

Affinity

Light

71%

Illusion

57%

Skills

[Identify] Lvl 122

[Stealth] Lvl 121

[Tracking] Lvl 119

[Dodge] Lvl 115

[Predator] Lvl 113

[Consume] lvl 110

[Enhancement] Lvl 108

[Sentinel] Lvl 103

[Bestial Roar] lvl 97

[Enrage] Lvl 89

Spells

[Vanish] Lvl 124

[Light Claws] lvl 103

[Entrance] Lvl 101

[Light Manipulation] Lvl 99

[Morningstar] Lvl 93

[Reinforcement] Lvl 91

[Light Cloak] Lvl 85

[Duplicate] Lvl 73

[Reflect] Lvl 68

[Enlargement] Lvl 47

Liliana closed the screens in front of her eyes with a thoughtful hum. Lelantos had been pushing himself hard, far harder than she’d anticipated. His leveling had slowed now that they were approaching lands with far less level appropriate adversaries available to him, but she knew he’d been working on raising his Magic Power and Control when he couldn’t hunt.

The fight with Nemesis had left a deep impact on the tiger. He’d been confronted with something he couldn’t fight off, something that had almost ripped his Bond from him. Liliana was under no illusions as to how much her first Bond loved her. There were no secrets kept in a soul bond. She hadn’t imagined it was possible for a beast to feel insecure, but there was no other word to describe the emotions she’d felt from him. First the assassins, then Nemesis had shaken the foundation of his confidence.

Liliana was proud of his progress, but secretly she was glad he’d be forced to take a break too. No matter how much she tried to communicate that it wasn’t his fault that he hadn’t been strong enough to fight off the assassins or Nemesis, the tiger seemed bent on becoming stronger. Liliana had given up, instead keeping a close eye on his health to be sure he didn’t push himself too far.

At this rate, though, he’ll be Rank 5 before I get into the Academy. I’m sure Father will be glad. I won’t mind the extra power that affords me either, nor the protection that comes with having two Rank 5 Bonds. But I don’t want him to push himself to exhaustion. Liliana thought. She hadn’t been exactly idle either on their trip back home. While the guards were more perceptive than ever, especially now that they didn’t have prisoners to watch over, she had been allowed to go out hunting more often. Liliana was certain guards had been hiding and watching every time, but now that she had Nemesis with her at all times they had loosened her leash a bit.

Status Sheet

Name

Liliana Rosengarde

Age

14

Level

81

Class

Blade Dancer

Race

Human

Rank

7

Health

1,220

H-Regen

+12.2/1.1sec

Mana

1,600

M-Regen

+15.4/1.1sec

Stamina

3,660

S-Regen

+36.6/1.1sec

Magic Power

1,773

Magic Control

1,910

Experience: 588,532/672,400

Vitality

107(122)

Endurance

351(366)

Strength

195

Dexterity

346(361)

Wisdom

160

Intelligence

154

Speed

397

Charisma

319

Unallocated Stat Points: 0

She hadn’t leveled nearly as much, but the creatures she could fight had been far less available. She was still trying to keep her increased stats a secret from others, which meant she couldn’t fight everything she knew was within her abilities, especially not with the extra eyes on her. While the guards seemed to be far warmer to her now, there were still some she hadn’t won over. Some who could be acting as her stepmother’s eyes and ears on this trip. It would be idiotic to assume the woman hadn’t planted spies on this trip, if only to keep an eye on her son.

I’ll be hitting Rank 6 soon, just 4 more levels, Liliana thought as she shooed away her notifications. Alistair and Emyr had both already hit Rank 6, Alistair was at level 90, Emyr was at level 86. This trip had been good for all of them as far as levels went. Liliana was still hiding her level with [Deception]. Her [Deception] skill was still leveling regularly with so much active use for it. Liliana just hoped it would soon level to the point that it could disguise her level from her father.

Imogen wouldn’t be too much of a concern. Liliana doubted the woman had leveled in her absence. Her father was the strongest person at the manor. If Liliana could keep her abnormal growth hidden from him, she’d be good. She feared what her father would do if he figured out that Liliana’s level growth was too fast for anyone to reasonably achieve. She’d likely become even more valuable to him. A pawn he couldn’t possibly discard. It might sound like a favorable outcome, but Liliana knew it would mean her gilded cage would only shrink and grow more constraining if that happened. She’d become his golden goose, and he’d never let her go then.

Or worse, she’d become his weapon. Something to be used to further cement his power. Something to be used to frighten his enemies and subject those under him. Liliana didn’t know enough about her father to say if he would use her in such a way. But she knew enough to be wary of the possibility.

“Are you going to make a move or are you just going to stare at the board for another ten minutes?” Alistair asked, his voice impatient. Liliana shook her head to discard her thoughts as she focused on the board in front of her. Emyr was napping in the corner of the carriage and Jason looked close to joining him. She and Alistair had started playing chess right after Emyr had fallen asleep, and Liliana could already tell she wouldn’t be winning this game.

“Knight to E5,” Liliana instructed, watching in amusement as the Knightmare moved to the designated spot. She’d never tire of watching the pieces move on their own, perfectly mimicking their living counterparts. Despite the magic she herself had access to, it was something like this that filled her with true wonder.

“Bishop to E5,” Alistair responded drolly. An Archneline scuttled across the board and quickly finished off her poor knight.

Liliana frowned at the board. Matches with Alistair ended one of two ways. A sound defeat or a prolonged defeat. She’d yet to beat him even once playing chess. Strategy had never been her strong suit, she’d always done abysmally at such game in her past life. It was one of the reasons she hadn’t had Risk made when she’d talked to the Fletchers. She was certain now if she had, Alistair would’ve reigned supreme over that game as well.

Ah, maybe I can have it made as a birthday gift for him? He’d love it, Liliana thought as she ordered a rook to move. It only took another three moves for Alistair to get her into check. Liliana mentally apologized to her pieces for having such a bad tactician behind them. She was certain they were as done with being killed as she was with losing.

“We should be home soon,” Alistair said as Liliana reset up the board. She didn’t really want to keep playing chess, but this world lacked a smartphone for her to distract herself with, and she’d found out the hard way that reading in the carriage gave her motion sickness. It’d been bad enough that Alistair had threatened her with death if she dared to read in the carriage again. He claimed he’d never get the smell of vomit out of his fifth favorite shoes.

“So we will,” Liliana responded lightly. She’d been counting the days, watching the time tick down until she was locked back in that awful manor. She’d considered sabotaging the wheels of the carriage just to prolong their trip. Liliana had discarded the idea, however, knowing there was no way she’d get away with it. The guards watched her more closely than ever after the incident with Nemesis. She suspected none of them wanted to see what Amelia would do if the guards lost her again.

“Are you going to see the crown princess again?” Alistair asked, as he moved a pawn forward.

“I hope so. I’m sure you have many invites awaiting you at the manor,” Liliana answered him as she moved her own pawn forward.

She was certain with this latest excursion Alistair’s position as heir would’ve been solidified even more. Her father had trusted him with a task typically overseen by the duke himself. Nobles wanting to get close to the next Duke Rosengarde would be lining up to curry favor. After all, Rosengarde was the largest and strongest duchy in the queendom. Behind the royal family, no other noble family could claim the level of power the Rosengardes enjoyed, and any social climber would be attracted to that.

“Yes, I’m sure I’ll have many invitations. If you have the time, perhaps would you accompany me to a few?” Alistair asked as he moved his next piece. Liliana sucked on her teeth when he took out one of her pawns in the move. She considered his words as she thought about her next move. Was he perhaps offering her a way out of the manor, knowing how unhappy she was there?

“Would it be a good idea to have me with you?” Liliana asked as she made her move, smirking when she took one of his knights. Her smile faded when Alistair immediately retaliated by taking one of her bishops.

“You’re my sister. Why wouldn’t it be a good idea?” Alistair asked, feigning ignorance. Liliana might have been more or less accepted into society, but she was still the half-blood daughter of the duke and a commoner. She’d only been given a bit of attention because of her remarkable leveling speed and Bond, coupled with her father’s newfound attention. Those who had failed to get the Duke’s favor through the normal channels had thought her a pathway to her father. Their attention had fallen as soon as they realized that while she had some of her father’s favor, she still had no true power where he was concerned.

However, she still wasn’t someone that would be beneficial to be seen around for Alistair. Technically, they were rivals for the duchy, even though Liliana had no intention of trying to take the spot as heir. She also had no political power of her own. Being seen with her could lower Alistair’s own political power, or make him seem weak.

“Besides, it’s good to get out of the manor. The fresh air on the trip seems to have done wonders for you,” Alistair finished as Liliana made her next move.

Liliana shot him an accessing look, trying to decode his words. He was being very careful about what he said, but she thought she had an idea of what he was trying to communicate. Her eyes shifted to Jason, who was looking out the window. Alistair must not trust the guard enough to speak freely about his mother around him. It was a reminder to Liliana that she had no real way of knowing who around them was in her stepmother’s pocket.

‘I know being around mother is going to be hard for you. Let me help you get out of the house and away from her,’ was what went unspoken between his words. He knew when they returned, the duke would be paying more attention to her. Which meant she’d be getting more attention from the duchess, who would undoubtedly be threatened by the increased attention from the duke towards Liliana.

Having her father’s favor afforded her some protection, but it didn’t come without its dangers. The more of a threat Liliana became, the more the duchess would feel like she was being backed into a corner. Already she’d sent two assassins after Liliana and that was before Liliana had tamed a Rank 5 flowered serpent. Liliana doubted the woman would strike again so soon after her last failed attempts, but she knew Imogen would strike again. It was no longer a matter of if; it was a matter of when.

“Fresh air is good for one’s constitution. If I have the time, perhaps I shall accompany you, if it won’t trouble you,” Liliana answered before sighing when Alistair trapped her king.

“Welcome home, young master,” a voice called out as Alistair exited the carriage. Emyr followed after him and Liliana grabbed the offered hand without a thought as Alistair helped her down from the carriage. It had once been so odd to accept such gestures from him, but now it was natural for her.

Liliana looked at the waiting staff as she pulled her cloak around herself more tightly. It wasn’t the entire staff, but far more than she thought would show up had she been alone. Servants were already removing the luggage from the carriage, and the knights were stretching after dismounting their horses. Snow had been cleared from the walkways of the grounds, thankfully, and Liliana thought wistfully of her warm room. The novelty of snow had worn off after a few days. Now she just wanted to be inside and away from the insidious chill of winter.

“The Duke requests your presence, and Lady Liliana’s presence afterwards,” the servant relayed to them, and Liliana struggled to compose her expression. She wanted to whine and complain. They’d been traveling since early morning to get home before dark and now they had to talk to her father? Couldn’t he just let them rest?

“Very well, we will go to him,” Alistair responded, his voice calm.

Liliana snuck a look at him and saw his mask was back in place. The same mask he wore at all times in this house, a similar mask to what she herself donned around this too cold home. Silently, the three nobles entered the manor. Liliana watched with some amusement the way the servants bowed deeply to Alistair as they passed. His position as heir had more or less been officially cemented with this trip, since he had acted as her father’s proxy. The reverence with which they treated him was such a stark contrast to the way they normally treated her. Even after she’d come back with Lelantos, they hadn’t treated her with even a fraction of this respect. At the end of the day, their fear of her father, who had afforded Alistair a portion of his power as heir apparent, was far stronger than their fear of her tame.

When they arrived at the door to her father’s study, Alistair knocked and was almost immediately allowed entrance, the door shutting behind him with a thud. Liliana stared at the door, struggling to hold in her irritation. She was expected to simply wait outside of it, for however long her father wished to make her wait. She, who was his own child by blood and birth. It was a slight, an obvious one. She was certain her father knew she had tamed Nemesis, and it was likely he’d been informed of her own influence in capturing the villagers. Yet her father was still showing her that no matter how much power she gained, no matter how much she accomplished, she was still beneath him.

“You don’t have to wait here,” Liliana said to Emyr, who leaned against the wall as if he had nothing better to do with his time.

“I don’t mind,” Emyr answered with a shrug, and Liliana let a small smile slip through the cold mask she wore. This home might be cold and loveless, but it seemed far less daunting when she had a friend at her side.