Looking over at Ailya, I remembered that she already had 3 magic skills before meeting me. Not only that, but she had picked up [Heal] as a result of my suggestion. Thinking about where to take our builds, I was pondering if it would be for the best if I focused on dark magic while she focused on light/faith based magic. That way, the two of us would be able to focus on optimizing our builds while being able to cover for the deficiencies of the other one.

Remembering the change to my ‘system’ when I leveled up, I asked Ailya:

“Ailya, do you remember that feeling from when you leveled up and gained a new skill?”

“Yes I do Alex. Not only that, but I can also see the magic skills and abilities I can choose from, although I’ve been waiting for your instructions for which to pick.”

Hearing her response, I let out a wry smile before pondering about a few things. Since she was able to see more information after leveling up, it was very probable that the ‘system’ had nothing to do with the influence of that something as I had believed. This realization allowed me to relax a little, and paying attention once again to the girl in front of me, I asked her:

“Since you have already unlocked light based magic, why don’t you continue to specialize in that path and also into faith. Although I won’t force you if there’s anything else you want to do…”

“No, I’ll take your suggestion Alex, which skills do you want me to take?”

“Hmm, Since there’s a chance I won’t be able to see the same skills as you, as you should notice new skills and abilities become apparent when you unlock certain ones, I’m afraid I have to leave that up to you.”

At this, the smile in Ailya’s face faded for a while as she fell into deep thought. However, she soon returned to her normally chipper expression as she said:

“Alright, then I’ll make sure to pick the skills that will allow me to better serve you. Don’t worry, you can count on me Alex!”

At her response, I just smiled slightly at the ever faithful little servant on mine. However, before she could pick her skills, I decided to suggest to her:

“Although I want you to pick your skills and abilities for yourself, there’s a few that I want you to pick up right now. Is that okay?”

“Of course! What should I choose, Alex?”

“I want you to pick three different physical skills. One that can help you protect your mind from outside influence, another to help you keep your mental strength when things get rough, and lastly one to help you… let’s see…”

I couldn’t really find a way to explain a skill like [Meditation] without giving away the name. Since I wanted to see if she would pick alternative skills that gave similar benefits, I didn’t want to outright give the names of the skills I had. Deciding to just give a vague explanation and hope that she understood the sentiment, I said:

“Well, anything that allows you to reflect on your thoughts with some extra benefits will do.”

At this, Ailya simply closed her eyes for a while before opening them up again, smiling as she said “Done”

Looking at the bond we shared, I was able to see the new physical skills that she had chosen, and was very pleased when I saw that they were different from mine. The three new skills that appeared in the list of skills/abilities that I could take for myself were: [Conviction], [Faith], and [Prayer].

Seeing the very holy sounding names of the skills, I couldn’t help but finding them very fitting for someone who was following a light/faith based tree. However, looking at [Faith] and [Prayer] made me feel as though there was a higher force that one would be thinking of when using these skills. Thus, turning to Ailya I asked her:

“Who do you plan to pray to? And is there a god you believe in?”

At this question, Ailya just gave me a bright smile as she answered:

“The person I’ll be praying to is you of course, my master! The person who I also believe in the most in this world!”

Hearing her somewhat fanatical answer, I couldn’t help retort in my mind that I was the only person she even knew, and therefore could believe in, who was alive in this world.

Deciding that there was one last important skill that Ailya would need, I decided to simply be upfront with her as I had already answered the question in my mind, thus looking at her, I told her:

“Ailya, I have an ability called [Sense] that allows me to gain awareness of the environment around me, and even feel the presence and strength of those around me to a certain extent. Just like your previous 3 skills, do you think you could find a light or faith based equivalent to [Sense]?”

At my question Ailya pondered for a while and then closed her eyes. After a minute she looked at me and said:

“I found an ability called [Augury] that is faith based that I believe fits your description. Also, it is a necessary requirement for an ability that I would be able to unlock it down the line that should be very beneficial for us. Should I go ahead and choose that Alex?”

“And what’s the name of the ability that you can unlock later on?”

“[Divination]”

At Ailya’s succinct answer, I simply stared for a few seconds at my own available abilities and saw no trace of this incredible ability. With this, I now knew that there was definitely a benefit to us focusing and specializing on different paths in order to be able to reach the pinnacle of the two. Thus nodding my head, I allowed Ailya to go ahead and choose [Augury].

With this, I was done suggesting skills and abilities to her. I was very interested in how her [Conviction] skill would develop and work with it’s anti-mind influence ability. Although a part of me had hoped that she wold be able to resist the ability of [Lord Subordination] as a result, I felt that the skill [Conviction] would not work in the way I hoped and only make the situation worse…

Although I wanted her to still have the liberty to choose her own abilities, with her level having increased to 14, all I had really left her was 1 more skill or ability for her to choose something she truly wanted. Thus, looking at her, I said with a slightly apologetic face:

“Sorry Ailya, I said I wanted you to choose your own skills and abilities, but I’m afraid I have mostly made that decision for you this time around. Please pick whatever you want for the last one.”

At my statement, Ailya simply shook her head and looked at me with a bright smile as she exclaimed:

“Don't worry about it Alex! I’m happy to do whatever you want me to~”

After that statement, Ailya once again closed her eyes before picking a physical skill that surprised me slightly. Seeing her skill, I asked her while smiling:

“I didn’t know you liked to fence?”

“Yes! Well… I didn’t before, but I really enjoyed the feeling of using my knife against the monsters. I want to continue to learn swordplay and I think [Fencing] will help me improve while being better for my style of fighting. Is it not a good choice?”

At this I shook my head from sight to sight in an exaggerated manner as I said enthusiastically:

“Of course it's a good choice! So long as you do what you want, I’m okay with whatever path you take.”

After all, I had already forced her down the light/faith path, though looking at the magic skills she had already acquired, it was very probable that she would have done so regardless. With this, Ailya’s new skills and ability acquisition had come to an end, and I could now focus on finishing my own magic tree.

It would not be until I could learn tier 3 magic and pick up [Mana Manipulation] that Dark Magic would be first unlocked for me, so I decided to simply expand upon my pyromancy tree and pick up [Flame I], [Fire Arrow II], and [Fire Column II]. Opening up the path for me to get some important magic later on. After all, for me to unlock the dark magic skill [Dark Hand III], I would need to have unlocked [Flame I] as a prerequisite.