There was still some time until I was to meet with Crue and Illia for our hunting practice. I had left a pile of books at the library so I decided to head back there. I would have just enough time to check out the books I wanted and clean up my mess. Illia had mentioned that her shift was over at noon, but Mary would be in to take over. So there wasn't a huge rush.

Illia was just running around the corner as I was coming around the opposite side. She was probably running home to get her gear for the meetup. She was using a normal looking umbrella to keep off the rain, The only exception was that the parts that would be metal on a modern umbrella were made with wood. I wondered where she got it. Maybe she kept one at the office?

I went inside and shook off the rain gear as much as I could outside the door, then left it hanging on a peg near the door that had two other rain gears and an umbrella stand. I didn't like leaving my new expensive gear out in the open, but it needed to dry a bit before I could put it back on.

I found the desk I was working at and gathered up all the materials I had been using. Some of them I placed on the librarian's cart. Two of the books I wanted to check out since I had yet to look at them. I rang the bell and waited for Mary to show up.

Mary was a cow. It wasn't that she was fat, but she was a cow Zyanthrope. She reminded me of someone's crazy eccentric aunt. Decked out in bright mismatching colors and lots of layered mismatched jewelry. Her ears and tail were even decorated with bits of sparkly. Her hair was a bit messy too, but it was raining so all the frizz sticking out might not be her fault.

“You must be Mary, I'm Eri.” I reached over to shake her hand. She, surprisingly, didn't wear any rings but had layered on bracelets so that they tinkled when we shook.

“Nice to meet you, Illia mentioned a new patron. I hope you like it here. She also left me that odd book you found. I'm going to start researching it today. When we figure something out we will let you know.”

We shared some small talk and Mary helped me check out the books. The old spry woman from earlier queued up behind me so I didn't talk much. I wanted to ask Mary more about that book, but it would have been rude to keep the old lady waiting. Besides, I was about due to meet up with Crue and Illia.

Crue had mentioned having Tuck pack lunch for us, but with it raining I wasn't certain how soggy lunch would get. I didn't want to eat soggy sandwiches.

I passed by a food cart that was packing up early due to the rain. I bought some hard cheese and grilled squash, chicken, and pork skewers from her. I put them in my inventory so they would stay warm. I figured grilled food on a stick would be better than soggy sandwiches.

I bypassed the line at the temple. Even in this downpour, there were people lined up with umbrellas and rain gear. Standing in the rain couldn't be good for whatever was afflicting them, but I guess you did what you had to do to get yourself healed.

Crue was waiting just inside. He was wearing a long brown rain gear that was long sleeved, fit over his armor but under his weapons. It was sort of like a hooded tunic. He had his sword, bow, and a quiver full of arrows with him. All attached to him over the rain gear. It seemed like a far better design than the one I was wearing.

Spotting me he picked up a sack at his feet and handed it to me.

“Lunch,” was the explanation he gave and I added the bag to my inventory.

“I don't remember you getting that. I was planning on making a detour to Durmond's to get you some gear. Did you borrow it from Illia?” He picked at the hem of my cloak fingering the stitching.

“No, she sent me out to get one when it started to rain. This one's fine, right?”

“It's fine, it has the breakaway collar so you can get to your weapons. Why did you get a girl's rain cloak though?”

“Is it obvious? The sales girl said they were the same style. This came with a fur lining that I thought would be handy with the coming winter.”

“You don't see many men's rain gear with embroidery, but it's a simple design and it looks good. It is one of the more practical ones for winter. This one,” he held out his arms as if to show off his own gear, “is the summer style.”

I sighed. If Durmond's would have had something like what Crue was wearing in black I probably would have gotten it instead.

“You need to get changed. Illia will be here soon.” He pointed to a cleaning closet where I could change. I took off my wet rain gear and laid it over a bench to drip on the floor.

I changed into my Spider Silk spandex and my armor. I attached my sword and my knife. I debated a bit, then following how Crue was wearing his, I put on my new birthday gift. I was going to ask Crue if I could use some of his arrows since I didn't want to use the godly arrows.

Crue was more than happy to lend me some arrows after I explained the present and promised to let him shoot with it a few times. To him, it looked just like an ordinary bow, similar to his own, but when I told him that it had a disguising feature he insisted on holding it. Even holding it, the bow still looked normal to him, but he said he could feel the differences when he strung it and pulled back on the string.

He let me borrow twelve arrows since this was just going to be some basic monster hunting and practice. He also promised to show me how to make my own arrows. You had to buy the arrowheads, but most people made their own arrows since different people like different fletching. Crue was partial to goose feathers. His arrows seemed a bit longer than I was used to, but they seemed manageable. They were about an inch and a half longer than the arrows Edomael had sent.

“I think we need to talk about the possibility of Illia being added to Party. Have you thought about it?” He asked.

“No, I haven't, but I guess it is possible. If we are going to make this a routine then it will happen.” I commented. I wasn't comfortable telling her about everything, but it seemed unavoidable to at least tell her about this.

“Her levels are lower than ours, so we might be able to keep quiet about it for a while. However, I think we should tell her about it and call it a unique skill. The gain she gets for it shouldn't be so significant that she'll need one of these.” He touched his stomach where the piercing was. “The issue is that you would have the capability to track her and she won't know it.” He paused, “I guess if we make her a permanent member of this group then we will have to talk to Amoris.”

“I did promise her to take her out on my own after my training. That was before I knew about Party. So this might actually end up being a less than temporary situation.

“I think we should tell her about Party. Maybe have Amoris give permission for another Succuba Star, and tell Illia that it's the item that causes the Party?” I suggested.

“I'm not sure if we should lie to her about it. I've known Illia since she came to Yellow Springs. I'm sure she's trustworthy. We don't have to tell her everything, but we should tell her about Party and what the effects of Succuba Star has. She might even be excited since she can use it as a magic reserve and she will level up faster.”

“I'm still not sure...” I began.

“I know you are reluctant about letting people know, but it might...”

*Incoming Message. Please check your inventory.~

*Incoming Items. Please check your inventory.~

*Skill Gain- Replication. Replication has automatically been activated. This skill is currently at level 1. Exception for Succuba Star Replication level 10.~

“She sent a message,” I opened my inventory and found another letter.

“Amoris?” Crue asked, “What does it say?”

“Let me read it and I'll tell you.” I shook my hands as if I was reading a letter even though there wasn't really anything there.

*Dear Eri,

I'm going to leave it up to you on what you tell the young lady. I will confirm that she is trustworthy. I've looked a bit into her past and I must say she is strong of spirit. I won't go into details because that's something you should learn from her as you grow closer.

I have sent you a skill called replication. What it does is allows you to replicate craftable materials. You, of course, have to have base materials before you can replicate things. That is why I have added to your inventory some magic cores, notably the metal core. You have enough material to produce one Succuba Star. If in the future you make more friends I will send you more material.

Your skill for crafting a Succuba Star will be automatically leveled to 10. However, crafting a Succuba Star won't increase your actual level in the skill. Edomael insisted on that part. He says you have enough cheats you don't need another one.

What you need to do is in your left hand hold your Succuba Star. In your right hand hold all the materials to make a new one. Then THINK about creating a new one focusing on your right hand. You have to focus. Imagine the details, the colors, the way the light twinkles off the stone. Your magic will kick in and provide the rest. It's fairly simple since you've been given a level 10 for this.

Love Amoris,

xoxo~

“She gave me the skill and the materials to make another Succuba Star. She also said that it's up to me what we tell Illia, but Amoris thinks Illia is strong and trustworthy,” I told Crue.

“I see, I think Amoris is trying to tell you to go for it. I don't think she'd bother sending the material or the skill without thinking Illia was worthy.”

“Ya, but Amoris is known to be a bit flighty...” I trailed off. I had some thinking to do, but Illia was going to be showing up at any time. Trusting Crue seemed to be turning out for the better, maybe I should give Amoris a bit more credit? I did like Illia, I really liked her, but was I ready to trust her with everything? No, but with some things? Yes. A plan began to form as I went back to the storage room to take out my piercing.

Illia arrived wearing what looked like a Spider Silk long-sleeved dress. It was a dark blue and was without embroidery. It had a tight-fitting bodice that flared out at the hips and fell to her mid-calf. Where her boots protected the rest of her from the rain. The hood was deep and seemed to be held in place with pins in her hair.

Over the bodice, she wore light armor similar mine and Crue's, but it was obviously fit for a woman. There was just a bump where the chest was, it wasn't like fantasy armor where the woman had two conical shaped metal plates there. It covered her stomach and her sides. She also had armor on her forearms.

She carried a large knife, not long enough to be called a sword, but really too long to be comfortably called a knife either. It was about 14 inches long and attached to her hip. In her hand, she carried a long wooden staff that had a thumb-sized yellow stone embedded at the tip. The stone was probably a magic core, so the staff was most likely used for magic. If nothing else, she could use it like I had my walking stick and bash things on the head. Never underestimate the effectiveness of a good head bashing.

“Since Eri picked up some rain gear we don't have to make that detour.” Crue nodded at Illia in acknowledgment for sending me on that errand earlier.

“There have been multiple reports of increased Red Wolf activity close to the town. So we are going to head out and see if we can find any and exterminate them. They usually stay up near the mountains this time of year and only come down in the winter. All the sightings are spooking the shepherds,” Crue explained the plan for the day.

I wasn't going to admit that I had some misgivings about hunting Red Wolves after that one almost killed me. Sure, I had gotten stronger, but sometimes fears weren't rational. My leg gave a few phantom throbs to remind me of my near-death encounter. However, we had a slightly more pressing matter.

“Um, Illia, we need to talk,” I began.

“Whenever someone says that it's never good news. Are you not wanting to go out with me? I understand if it's for training, but I would have liked to have had more notice.” She looked like she was upset but resigned to being left out.

“That's not what he means. However, I think we should probably commandeer a clinic room for privacy sake. Follow me,” Crue swept his arm out in the direction of the clinic.

“Why do we need a clinic room?” She asked, but she still followed as Crue led us both into a corridor with multiple rooms on either side. I guess these rooms were for the more private healing. It seemed like most people were checked out in the large open area in front of the temple. They were lined up on benches separated by a small curtain and had medical priests visit them along the line. I hadn't even known they had private rooms. I guess it was easier to get through the patients when you separated people with colds and stomach aches from the people with Mushroom Rot.

“I don't want to go into detail in the open, but I need to discuss one of my skills with you before we head out,” I prevaricated.

She seemed to realize that we weren't kicking her out of the party and just needed to discuss something in private. She didn't ask any more questions until Crue opened a room at the end of the hall and led us in.

“So what is this skill?” She got right to the point.

“I guess I should say this first. I can't tell you everything. Some of the information, if it got out, could be problematic to me.”

“And me,” Crue interjected.

“And him. However, I'm going to be as honest with you as I can be while still trying to protect ourselves. Is that ok with you?” This was my great plan. I would flat out tell her I couldn't tell her everything. I would be honest as I could with her.

“How is Crue involved in this? You've only been here less than a week?”

“Amoris and Edomael sort of got me involved. Part of the reason he can't tell you everything is that the gods are involved. Just know that I'm ok with the situation and I think you will be too.” Crue pitched in trying to get her on board.

She nodded her head thinking, “No offense to you Eri, but while I like you I don't know you all that well. However, I trust Crue and if he says the gods are involved and you need to keep me in the dark. I'm ok with that, as long as no one gets hurt.”

“No one will get hurt,” I promised running my hand through my hair. Hell, I was nervous.

“I have some Blessings, you know this right?” I continued.

“Yes, I've heard. Not the particulars but that bracelet of yours is one,” she answered.

“In a way, yes. The Blessings I'm talking about though are different. I have two that cause a person to level up a bit faster than average. One of them takes all the Exp I gain from a monster kill, or from successfully completing a task, and multiplies that by my current level. The other,” I rushed to continue before she could interrupt. She looked like she was about too. “Divides the amount of experience I need for the next level by my current level.”

“Those are some insane Blessings. From Amoris right? I think she might be the only one who would do something like that.”

“Yes, I was only supposed to get one, but she messed up the wording and I accidentally got two.” I glanced at Crue. Was this going well? Her face didn't give me a clue. She still looked at me like I was the shady drug dealer on the corner.

“Sounds like her,” Illia muttered, and Crue coughed into his shoulder.

“Anyway, I have another skill called Party. It allows me to share my Blessing with other people to some extent.”

“That's amazing!” Illia was starting to go from wary to excited. Well, at least she got a bit more animated and her ears under her hood perked up.

“It's not all great. What do you think will happen if certain people found out about this?” Crue chipped in.

“I don't...” She trailed off looking at Crue. “I see, if you start to stand out as being too strong the kingdom might step in.” She frowned looking at the floor. “You have a solution right?”

“Amoris and Edomael came up with a solution. An item that allows a person to hide their levels from the All Seer and the Guild Stone.” I held up the newly made Succuba Star. This one was a rose gold with pale pink stones.

Illia examined it, “Amoris would be involved in a belly piercing.” Then she paused. Looked at me and Crue. “It doesn't hide the levels from the temple priests during Exp allocation?”

Shit, it wasn't an issue for me, but for Crue and Illia they had to go to a temple to get their Exp allocated. I'd never been to a temple priest allocation, so I had no idea how those work. Crue was starting to look a bit worried as well. He must not have thought of that either.

“Um,” I began.

*Incoming Message. Please check your inventory.~

*Dear Eri,

Don't be dumb. Of course Edomael thought of that. Anyone wearing a Succuba Star can have their Exp distributed by you. It's connected to your Gamer Glass after all, but it only works on skills already active. Since your Gamer Glass can't see the passive skills you can't manipulate them, but you should be able to work something out. Let Crue know that problem, and he'll have a solution. Promise!

Love Amoris,

xoxo~

“Actually, it seems like I can take care of Exp allocation for anyone wearing one of these.” I pointed to the item in Illia's hand.

“Really?” questioned Crue.

“I haven't tried it, but according to Amoris, Edomael made that part of the package.”

“I see,” Illia paused again, “but that would mean I could only go to you for Exp allocation from now on. If you choose to leave Yellow Springs what then?”

“If he does leave we can think of a way to explain the levels. If he's gone you won't be rising at as fast a pace anymore. So we should be able to come up with something,” Crue thought out loud.

“There are other negatives, I'm afraid. I will always be able to know where you are if I use Party. It's a permanent thing I can't reverse it. However, if you aren't in my company the Blessing effect doesn't kick in so what Crue said is probably right. You won't be rising as fast so it could probably be explained away.

“Then there's the fact I can't access your passive skills to activate them. I can only allocate Exp to your current active skills.”

“There's probably a simple solution to that,” Crue interrupted.

“Really?” I was intrigued. How did he plan on working around that? Amoris said he'd have an idea, but I wasn't thinking he'd be that quick.

“You gain the skills the priests use. The part where the Exp is allocated is normally done by one of the stones, but the priest that does this has a skill called Skill Stone Activation. They use the skill in tandem with the stone in order to activate and allocate skills. I think your Blessing acts as the stone in this case and is used for allocation, but you lack the skill needed to provide us with activation. With that skill, we shouldn't have to worry about it.”

“Oh.” Well, that did seem like a simple solution. Why hadn't Amoris just said so in her letter? I mean really, making me look like an idiot. I thought it was going to be a huge hurdle to overcome, but the solution was so damn easy.

“There's also the huge positive, and I think this is one you'll love Illy,” Crue began. “These can store magic and any member of the party can access the magic of any other member’s item. So you won't just have your magic to draw on, but a backup that is equal to your MP level and the backups Eri and I have.”

Illia looked really surprised by that and frankly, I think it was what pushed her into agreeing. Illia was added to the Party and Crue performed the belly piercing. I stepped outside at that point. For some reason, she was shy about showing me her stomach.

Name-Illia Cloverheart

HP 1458/1458

MP 123/123

Level- 8

Age- 19

Race/Species- Zyanthrope- Rabbit

Gender- Female

Occupation- Yellow Springs Assistant Librarian

Exp-12

Physical Power- 115

Stamina- 168

Defense- 97

Agility- 224

Intelligence- 254

Magic Power- 152

Lightning Magic Lv 1

Static Shock Lv 1

Earth Magic Lv 1

Unsteady Ground Lv 1

Skills

Staff Fighting Lv 1

Skull Bashing Lv 1

Basic Knife Lv 1

Blade Work Lv 1

Archery Lv 1

Jumping Lv 3

Running Lv 2

Enhanced Hearing Lv 2

Trap Detection Lv 1

Etiquette Lv 2

Appraisal Lv 2

Scribe Lv 3

Teaching Lv 1

Cooking Lv 2

Leatherwork Lv 1

Woodwork Lv 1

Sewing Lv 1

Knitting Lv 2

Special Skills

Fertility

Beloved in the Forest

Item Equip

Party Piercing (Succuba Star)

Lightning Staff (low quality)

Titles- Devotee of Zyanthis

Cloverheart's Hope

Sheltered Child

Lover of Books

Prolific Knitter

Teacher of Children