Sneak has leveled up! Skill is ready for Rank Up

Proceed Rank Up now.....

Rank Up finished! Congratulations!

Sneak is now Rank D!

Sub-skill Light Steps has been acquired!

Passive Skill Lesser Visibility has been acquired!

Is what the damn blue box tells me as I inch down the hall in the middle of the night, trying to be as quite as possible to avoid waking up Darak, Tarr and Malak in their shared bedroom just a few feet behind me.

And not getting the attation of three very much still awake adults.

Though it sure ain't easy when one of my skills decide to annouce that it's ranking up after reaching the level limit out of nowhere and startle me enough that I let out a suprised, and somewhat loud, 'eep' sound.

I'm quick to both put my hands over my mouth and look around my surroundings while holding my breath. Waiting for a few minutes in utter silent to make sure none had heard me, while listing to my own heartbeat going a mile a minute.

I only let myself relax once I'm sure I've not been heard. And give the blue box a glare as I dismiss it quickly to the 'read later' function I discovered some weeks back thanks to too many pop ups came at the same time turing a very bad day.

* Got no time for this! I got to get to were Thai and our aunts are!* I hastly think in my mind as I begin to walk again. Picking up a ragdoll that I had taken with me. And then dropped it when the blue box startled me.

I got the ragdoll from my parents when my whole family, which only included our aunts Gharol and Yotul, had a small celebration when I finally turned 6 months old. And it had somehow survived the attack, the cave in and the fire. Oh sure, aunt Yotul had to wash and both stitch and sew it several times, as well as get new stuffing and some new cloth for certian parts of it before it was looking like it used to.

And not like it had a bad date with a grinder or a herd of scissors that had shortly after been dunked it in tar by either.

Though she was never able to get the last few sooth marks away, something about the fire being of magical nature or something. Leaving a reminder of what happened months ago. And making my doll almost look like it has vitiligo thanks to the soft colours used for it's skin, hair and 'clothes'.

Which is nothing more than a loincloth and a simple small piece of cloth used as a top of sort to cover the chest. At least the hair is a nice soft green colour that goes well with the soft brown colour of it's skin. Got no face though. Which I'm fine with as I can always use a piece of coal to give it one whenever I please.

It's become quite commen to see me taking it everywhere I go ever since it was fixed. And my family have quickly found out that I'm oddly careful with it whenever I use it for play with a few other toys that Thai and aunt Yotul have made for me and the boys over the months since the attack. When they have the free time. I'm also very protective of them whenever someone my age comes around for a visit and tries 'play' with them.

I won't let them though due to a few facts that I learned from listing to the talks of my peers parents had with both Thai and ourt aunts.

See Orc toddlers that are around my 'age' are know to destroy a lot of toys or other things that they can get their little hands on. Or so I've come to understand it. But I've yet to show any sort of this aggresion to anything other when I'm displeased or trying to keep my peers grabby hands away from my things. Which often leads to me giving them quite the beatdown.

I was worried for a while that I might have gained a bit too much noitce and attation thanks to all this. But I nothing to worry about even after Zoranaraugh and other elders saw my behavior on display one day as I was wrestilng with several of my peers, turing a play date that some of the woman around the naborhood had arrange, to keep them away from my doll for the uptenth time.

And I was winning the fight. Secret nightime training really is a cheat as most of my stats are now near or a little over the 100 mark. And thansk to constant secret training with my skills as well they helped a great deal when I knew I could get away with using them.

I don't know if this is mainly a Orc thing or not, but the adults aren't fazed with seeing us toddlers use skills like [Biting] or [Claw Attack] on each other. As it seems we're only able to gain low ranked skills as this age. Infact, it's more like they expect it and are often proud to see when some of us gain a skill other of our peers have not.

Thanks to this, I've gotten away with using some skills in the open every now and then. Especially when I fight my fellow peers. I'm careful though to avoid as much attation on this as possible.

Ehm, anyways. All of this is a blessing at this point as it turns out my peers are finally getting their stats to grow beyond the occasinal 5+ or more in a random stat one or twice a month. And their gaining it all a lot faster than me. I'm still ahead by a large bit thanks to my efforts and training. But it won't be long before they catch up.

I'm really starting to hate my handicap right now. Whatever it is.

Luckily for me, I still have the upper hand when it comes to a working brain and skills. And what I can still remember of my human life. Which is still a utter mess even though it seems to be slowly put itself back together again. But from what I have managed to understand over the almost two years I've lived in this world, I lived a very rough life in the streets of Earth for years before I managed to get a home that lasted until my death.

My Luck and Resistance are still lagging quite a bit though. I would have been a lot more worried if was not for the fact I've been saving my SP to boost both them. Especially Luck as it have barely raised at all since last year. Resistance has been increasing on it's own, which I'm greatful for as I still have no idea how to raise it. Though it is a little slow.

Getting new skills is not much of a problem thanks to [Enchanted Lesser Growth]. So far I've gained almost 40 in total. Would have been even more had it not been for the fact that I discovered that skills can fuse together into another new and more advance skill that covers most of what the previous skills did.

Like when my math related skills suddenly fused into [Mathematics] after I gained [Spatial Sense]. My sixth math skil in total before they all fused.

Anyhow, the real problem at the moment lies with getting the needed exp to level and rank them all up without my family noticing anything strange and then get suspicious that I'm more than meets the eye. Even though skills can fuse, I don't gain a lick of SP when it happens and the new skill starts at level 1 and Rank F. So I have to put in even more work.

It also dose not help that it seems the exp needed gets larger and large for each new level up. And each rank up seems to either dobble or triple it even more.

It's a good thing I have the [Acting] skill already. It's really useful to keep my training a secret and thanks to me using it so often it have already ranked up once and is halfway to the second rank up. Though I know for a fact that there some adults, mainly the elders, that have been giving me odd looks form time to time.

I'm unsure of what to feel or do about it beside being a little more worried than normal and making sure I don't stand out too much.

Oh and [Apprasial] have finally managed to level up. Though nothing changed much beside telling me that I've now gotten a slightly higher chance of apprasing things that are higher ranks and levels that me. Until it did. About an hour or so after it level up I gotten, for some reason, a new blue box telling me that a effect will unlock once it reach level 5.

That have never happened with any of my other skills so far. Makes me wonder what this effect will be. Or why I've gotten the blue box in the first place after gaining it's first level.

Anyways in the end, once the 'battle' for the doll was over, I ended up making all of the elders laugh hard seeing me beating my peers up as they watched on. Some kept saying that I will make a great fighter some day.

And when Thai had talked about my new behavoirs to them, they all quickly reassured him that since it was clear from early on that I'm a bit smarter than the rest of my peers, it was mostly likely that I also matured a bit faster as well. Which many of them said was a good thing as it meant that I was a lot healther than was first thought.

This went double for me, as some of them said, since I'm a early born and they more often than not perish far more then those of a normal birth. Or so they said to my eldest brother. Which left both me and Thai with mixed feelings.

And the parents upon hearing Thai's worries, reassured him that my protective behavior for the doll or other toys was also a good early sign. As it meant I was going to be both a good protector and a great mother when I finally became a adult.

I don't mind the protecter part one bit. It was expected in a way since warriors and protectors are some of the most respected people among our race. At least that whats I've come to understand through observation and overhearing the praise that certian duties gets.

I'm more conflicted about the mother part. I don't think I want any kids even when I'm finally an adult again. At least not just yet. I've been more busy trying to understand my new life and act like a Orc toddler to the best of my ability, that thoughts of starting a family on my own hasn't even crossed my mind.

Thai seems to be of a somewhat equal mind as I am on that topic. Saying that with a straight face he perfered I'd rather not have any kids until I was at least near my 90s. Which had just made every adult within hearing range laugh heartly.

Though some the elders and other parents had visible envy on their faces when Thai had told them that I've yet to destroy a single toy or object back at our aunts home. On purpose anyways as the triplest tried to scare me that one time, succeeded and ended with me somehow up on the highest shelf in the house and break several jars filled with something know as Fire Grease.

Which our aunts use to ignite fires in the fireplace turing harsh winters as I later learned as it helped greatly to get a fire started with frozen or wet logs when forced to use them. Or when aunt Yotul needs some extra firepower in her forge. Thai also use it to make special flame arrows when he needs them for some creatures thats weak to fire. Or is requested to make them for someone else in need.

That icky stuff pretty much covered me from head to toe and covered a large portion of the floor down below as well.

Good thing the house is pretty much fireproof. Me? Not so much. Neither Thai nor our aunts was very happy about any of it.

It had been one hell of a nasty bath with the Healers later ones our aunts got me down from there and just run like mad to the nearest Healer to get the help I needed. Having most of my body covered in bandage was not fun either ones the bath was done. Nor was the it fun being smeared in the ointment that helped me heal. It smelled foul.

I earned a nasty burn scar on my left cheek from the accident ones I was fully healed and got both the [Burn Resistance] and [Pain Resistance] skills as a end result. Those two skills are still giving me mixed feelings.

And Darak, Tarr and Malak is still very much grounded for a few more weeks with extra chores and gotten a pretty bad lecture from both our aunts and Thai that lasted a hour each or more. I couldn't quite tell how long it all lasted as I was on some pain pills that the Healers had to forcefully make me swallow to dampen the pain as much as possible. The pills made me a little woozy.

The Healers also warned both Thai and our aunts that they might have to also force the pills down my throat when I needed a new round after the pain relife stopped working. I could become quite a unwilling patient thanks to the pain.

They were right on the money. I was far from willing doing any sort of movement that caused me pain at that point. The triplets flinched or winched everytime they heard a wimper of pain coming out of my mouth. And refused to look me or any other family membesr in the eye for the first week or so after the accident.

A quick shake of my head gets anymore distracting thoughts out of my head was just in time, as I neared a door that was ajar enough that a small glint of light could bee seen. And let small sounds of a working fireplace and hearing a little of Thai's voice.

And the tone of my eldest brother's voice sounded painful. Or worried. I wasn't too sure as I was still a good few feets away from the door and the gap was barely enough to hear anything.

With a quick second to gather some courage as I came near enough that I could move the door just a smidge more to both see and hear better, silently thanking my aunts that they had oiled the doors well before the cold had sett in as it made less noice than I had expected, I listen in with worried ears.

And found new fears at what I found out as I listen to Thai almost staring a arguement with aunt Gharol as the talk went on. Things slowly starting to finally making sense.

See things have become quite weird as of late. And it all started when our leader, head elder and their escorts finally returned from the Grand Meeting. Looking like they'd eaten a bucket full of rotten lemons each. As Bor had said turing a short visit to us on one of aunt Gharol's day offs. Bringing news of their return and other things she believed aunt Gharol would like to know now and not later.

And thats was when the weirdness started soon after.

Aunt Gharol and any other soilder that was not of a certian high rank began to stay longer and longer at the new rampart. It started with an extra hour or three, depending on what was needed to be done that day or night. Over the weeks that followed it slowly went from a few hours to a few days at a time. Thai would often be asked by aunt Yotul if he could check in on aunt Gharol from time to time, as Yotul was still busy with all the request she'd gotten for new buildings. And sometimes he would be taking a basket of food with him when a soilder would come by and tell is was going to be another whole nighter for aunt Gharol.

Then both aunt Yotul and Thai own daily routine changed as well once we where halfway through winter.

Aunt Yotul got bussier and would often have to leave us in Thai's care when other smiths and crafters called for more frequent group meetings than what either I or the triplets was used to. And some nights, when I manage to sneak out the bed room I share with my aunts, I would find her sitting by the fireplace in the living room with tears in her eyes. Sometimes mumbling what I've learned later was paryers of safety for all of us.

It both scared and confused me everytime.

Thai stopped for the most part his hunting duties due to this and other reasons I had yet to know at that time. He mostly takes care of the home and us now while our aunts got more buys as time went on. The only time I've seen him go hunting was when he managed to get one of his friends to watch us, at least until one of our aunts was finished with work, before leaving to help hunt down some creatures that was giving our clan trouble.

And then once aunt Yotul was finally able to get into a normal routine again and look after us. Thai got to work on crafting things as well.

It turned into a interesting and sad lesson. As well as a funny show.

It was funny because he got Darak, Tarr and Malak to help him craft a lot of things. And thuse giving them the change to gain some of the craft skills both of our late parents wants all four of us have. All of which will be useful to us even if we don't take the path of a hunter like they and Thai did. I, however, often found myself giggling almost nonstop seeing those three struggle on some of the things Thai had them make. Most of which was harmless.

Especially when the smoke or ash bombs, that Thai used later on to make even better versons of thanks to a certian skill of his, expoldes in their faces. Making them look funny thanks to not only due to their new black coloured faces but also their new expressions and the new hair dues that came out as well.

Which seemed to make them even more annoyed at their failed creations. And more determined to show me and Thai that they can do this. Though both of our aunts became a little annoyed with how many small wounds, burns and scares the three of them ended up with whenever they made arrows, throwing darts and kinfes and fire bombs.

Thai was smart to only allow them to make only so many fire bombs. Or else I think he'd endup sleeping outside for a few nights.

What was more interesting though was the lessons. I had originally had thought that Thai was a somewhat pure type of hunter class, thats a bit more craft oriented and have gather other skills to not only improve both parts but helps him in daily life. I wasn't exactly wrong but not right either.

See, Thai has a craft skill he's had since birth. A skill know as [Synthesis]. It's a craft skill so incredible rare to find it's gotten the 'Unique' title. A title only given to skills, classes, creatures, buildings and many things more rarely seen than any other or only exsisted once.

This skill has been, from what I understand, the main influence as to why Thai have more craft skills then most other hunter classes. As one of the perks with this Unique skill gives positive effects on other craf skills of same or lower rank than it. He also has a goal to get a special craft oriented Passive Skill know as [Craftman's Wisdom] that improves all types of craft skills. Active or Passive.

But what does [Synthesis] exactly do? Especially since it has such a huge influence on Thai's hunter class?

Ever read a manga/novel called Only Senes Online? This skill is similar to the sense that share the same name with a few added perks and some restrictions. It allows Thai to transmute a lot of things and sorta 'skip' a few steps when crafting magical items, potions, charms, weaponds and tools when needed. Among many other things. He can also make a wide varity of materials that are most often hard to get or too expensive to find or make the traditional way once he gets to C Rank and higher.

It however comes with some restrictions that not only makes it harder to level and rank up but also makes it difficult to use the skill. Infact, even getting it to level up the first time took five times more effort than a normal crafting skill would. And the diffuculty has only increased as time went by. But also limits what he can make as each transmute 'recipe' can only be used at the right skill rank and that the user's levels are high enough as well.

Theres also the fact the each use of the skill drains Mana at a alarming rate, especially if Thai most make a very high quality item or a material that can cost hundreds in gold coins. Or so we've been told by Thai and our aunts when one of the triplets asked.

My guess is that it's one of the reasons why Thai has lessons with Zoranaraugh and learning spells and other magical skills to begin with. Darak asked if Thai was learning magic to somehow ease the Mana cost problem that Thai's has. And the answer is mostly yes.

Infact, Thai is working hard to gain two magical skills in particular.

These two skills are called [Lesser Pool of Mana] and [Mana Recovery]. Both are Passive Skills that many mages or other classes that relies on magic, needs to learn to advance their classes or craft. Though I have no idea how those skills really works, aside form [Mana Recovery] as the name itself says it all.

Thai also said he'd explain it more once the triplets are ready to choice their own classes as they might have to train for either of these skills later on when they evolve their class to something more advance.

One also need the right 'kit', as it has been called, to make [Synthesis] work. This 'kit' is a special runic spell called a Transmute Circle. And with each rank allowing for a bigger and better Transmute Circle to allow more materials and items, and allow better quality as well, needed to make the desired product.

And these better Transmute Circle's lessen the cost in mana as well. Somewhat.

I don't fully understand what these Transmute Circles really are or how the work however as Thai had trouble explaining how it all worked when Tarr asked. But what I do get is that they are magical runes that Thai has a intimidate ability and knowledge to understand and use with little problem, and most use a special magical paint and brush each time on some large piece of cloth, leather, wood or stone for the skill to really work.

And then erase or destroy the object with the runes on it once his done with the skill at both Bulfim's and our late parents orders.

This order is for his own protection as the four of us soon learned. As I said before, and this is the sad part of the lessons, [Synthesis] is incredible rare. And user of this skill are hunted unrelentingly by higher powers. Good, neutral or bad, they all have said user make things for their cause, which is often by force and have been know to cause painful deaths for the user. Or said user going insane and never recover should they survive their ordeal and gain their freedom back somehow.

This means Thai is hidding his skill to avoid these fates. Something noone are blaming him for, at least those in the know. Luckly for him though, the only ones that knows that he has this skill beisde us, his own family and Bulfim, are Zoranaraugh and Shagar. Both have taken a oath to never tell this to any soul. Both the living and the not living kind. And they help cover for Thai when he has to take some request Bulfim have gotten form other clans in deperate need for some the materials and items of the highend class that he can make.

Thanks to [Syntesis], our clan have gained a reputation that we are able to get some highend items or the like on a relative easy and less expensive manner. As long as it is a reasonable request. Not to mention that we can, to a degree, get it all in a shorter time than the old ways used even today.

This means that Bulfim gets a lot of request for things like Hacksilver Solvent, Gloomresin Tears, Aqua Zinc, Warped Clay, Moonwood and many more on the material side alone. While the items side it's things like special tools, Stones of Everchange for whenever you need to change your class to something more specialized and speical potions that often goes for several times their wight in silver coins.

It have also lead to that some of the clans have become suspicious over the years. Especially those of the much older and higher clans when they request items or materials out of seasons or at the last minute sort of deal out of the blue.

Which is where both Zoranaraugh and Shagar comes in to cover things up.

Both elders are often telling those who requested these items that they have pulled a few strings or already had them in storage for some time when such highend things are requested. Especially so if they are time sensitive. And these lies works most of the time as it's a well know fact among all clans that both elders have throughout their younger years and prime gone on great advenuters and gathered a lot of things during that time.

And established great connections with a lot of importent people all over our country and a few more. This stops a majority of questions in their tracks from being asked were they've gotten the items Thai have made through [Synthesis].

And when that dose not work, Bulfim is always ready to a few stories to help lessen the suspicions and somehow get a few 'witnesses' who are part of the story on how they got the items to comfirm things.

Thai says it most be witchcaft how our leader is able to do that. Which earned him a smack in the head by both of our aunts for that remark.

This was something Thai and our aunts had no choice but to tell and explain to Darak, Tarr and Malak when Thai started with his new crafting duties and he started to teach them. And they learned about Thai having this skill by watching himm using it. And all three of them promised to never tell a soul either.

They also promised to kick anyone in the ass should people poke their noses in places they should not.

That caused Thai to have a small laugh. Making the mood a little lighter for everyone.

My thoughts of what have been going on for almost the whole winter, are abruptly ended as Thai stomps his foot hard to the wooden floor. Making me take a few steps aways from the door from sheer reflex and the shock. Then I hear his angry voice getting louder and I think both my remaining human instinct and the Orc instinct for once agreed with each other as I quickly but carefully took slow steps away from the door.

Before turing and took a full sprint down the hall once it seemed safe to do so.

I ended up hidding behind some barrals after running a bit, going the wrong way back to my 'bed room' thanks to the fear and somehow ended in one of the storage rooms as I later learned when all of my family members where looking for me in a slight panic after they saw my 'bed' empty. And where unable to find me for the first two hours of the search.

I however was too busy in my mind to care of either of these things though. For one sentence kept repeating in my brain and kept the fear ongoing the whole time it took for them to find me.

*Why?* I kept asking myself as I slowly made myself into a ball and thuse made myself even harder to be seen or found. Refusing to make a single sound from my lips as silent tears began to fall.

* I don't want Thai and aunt Gharol to die.*

" Now after you've crushed the medical herbs into a powder or mush, add it to your pot once the water starts to boil. Then slowly mix it until the water's colour change into a soft green." Says Shagar as she shows Darak, Tarr and Malak what to do as she adds the ingredient to the old iron pot the old Orc is currently using.

" Once thats done add a few spoons of Slime Jelly, either of a Neutral, Water or Light element, a pinch of salt and once again mix it all until the soft green colour change into a darker shade and start to give of a soft glow." As Shagar is saying this and adding more ingredients into the pot, my brothers crank their necks a little higher to see the changes that most be going as Shagar stir the mixture.

Not that I can tell what those changes are, I'm currently on the floor 'playing dollhouse' in a corner thats out of the way for everyone in here. That also includes not being in way of the few Healer Apprentices that Shagar has under her command, who are all walking about doing various things, tasks or preparing ingredients for who knows what.

Hello and welcome to my brothers alchemy lessons, healer edition. Today they are learning how to make Minor Health and Minor Antidote potions with good ol' Shagar, as well as some Oils and Ointments to help against burns and infections. And how to apply them to wounds.

So if this is my brothers lessons, why am I here one might ask?

Well it has all to do with the current situation thats going on with all the clans in this vally. War.

Why is there war? And with whom? Why with all those the bastards that attacked us and many other neutral or small clans that night almost a year ago now. The Twin Wolfs Horde, Iron Hawk Caste, the Earthen Brothers clans and their allies have gone too far with not only attack us of neutral stand or clans that don't have much power. Which is frowned upon in more ways then one in Orc society.

Or that they have been slowly invading other clans hunting grounds and stealing.

But they've attacked even more clans apart from the much older and bigger ones, blocked off trade routes to the outside and if the rumors are true. Blood magic, sacifical torture and wortship of the Evil Gods are also involved. Oh, and the occasional sport murder. You know, for funnies.

Those last few I do hope are just rumors as all of it are taboo and a certian death sentence by universal law that all of Miria seems to agree on. Apart from the monsters and beast. At least from what I can understand from fearful gossip and talks going all around. Not to mention how scared I get when I think about what could have happened had those bastards found the little hidding place me, the triplets and everyone too young, pregnant or old had fled to. Or if they had taken my parents or Thai alive and do who knows what.

It sends shivers down my spine.

Thanks to this and a series of more acts that makes more enemies than friends, a unanimous agreement among all the clans in attendance at the Grand Meeting that things was getting more and more out of hand as the days went by, war was declared pretty fast.

It meant several changes have been going on throughout winter, including the sudden shift in how busy my aunts and Thai had gotten all of a sudden. It's part of war perparations.

Now clans like mine that have been attacked and is still recovering have to be part of the war effort in some way or other. Though lucky we don't need to do too much. With those that have been attacked more recently getting a pass for the most part aside from sending a few representative or certian items to the battlefield.

However, my clan have recovered to the point we have to send soilders to the battlefield whether we like it or not. Which is not a huge problem as theres a lot of people here who got's some bones to pick with the bastards.

We have also taken in refugees who no longer have a place to call home. Which there are a lot and if some of the things I've overheard are true, many of them might stay here permently once the war is over. And help supply the comming war. Which is happing soon from how tense things have become as spring came and we now are halfway through summer.

And this means that soon both aunt Gharol and Thai are going to go with the soidlers and battle. Which have left triplets bitter for weeks now. And stewing in new found fear that we can lose both of them there.

Me? I'd know about this since the night I snuck and listen into the argument Thai had with our aunts and the decisions that had been made at the Grand Meeting. So I've had months to think and get used to it. That being said, it those not mean I'm fine with it. Far from it. I can feel anger ignite in my heart everytime I think about. And it just gets worse as the days of war draws near.

However until that times comes, me and my brothers are trying to spend as much time as we can with aunt Gharol and Thai. Which neither of them seems to mind much. Aunt Yotul don't mind the extra attation that we give those two, knowing full well why we are doing it. Well at least with the triplets. With me, she figure that it is my instincts and somehow sensing that something is not quite right that has me become quite clingy as of late.

If only she and everyone else knew the truth.

So why am I and the triplets here at Shagar's place at this moment? Well it all started three weeks ago when our aunts became more and more busy again thanks some morons, as our aunts called them, managed to do something or other that messed up a lot of things in stock. And created enough chaos to cause a lot of damage And with summer finally being in full, Thai has taken up his hunting duties again. To help gather food and other materials before he leaves for war.

Especially now that he dosen't need to do any more crafting with [Synthesis]. At least for now.

However this had lead to a problem with us little ones. By Orc's law and tradition, any Orc children under the age of 10 can't be alone for long periods of time unless great circumstances demands it. This comes mainly, from what I can understand, that Orc children can't be fully trusted to not harm, destroy things or cause their own deaths in some way.

Now, something that I've notice with my older triplet brothers are that they've matured a lot since the death of our parents. As odd as it sounds. Before, both Darak and Malak loved to cause chaos and fight each other on the daily. With Tarr having to be the middleman to stop most of it when our parents was not near. Or the three of them would skip chores when they got the chance. Like children often due.

Though when mother started carrying me in her womb and father explained to them that I was one the way to join the family, they changed somewhat and became calmer for both mine and mother's sake.

Or so I understand from overhearing my aunts talking about the triplets and how calm those three ended up turing to in those 8ish months the pregnancy lasted.

And all three, like any children would, loved making mischief and pranks. Apparently, being triplets is a great perk for this kind of stuff. However, like how Thai have become more protective of us and taken more responsibility now that he's our only legal guardian. With our aunts as both support and as secondary guarrdians should something happen to Thai, those three have changed as well.

Now they don't skip any chore given to them, though they are given a pass on some chores, like helping aunt Yotul clean the forge, that they can only do ones they've gotten bigger and older. The three even asks if theres anything else they can do to help around or if theres any extra works that needed to be done before they go and play. They mostly stay inside the house however and keeps a hawkeye on me at all times even when I take my naps to make sure I'm okay.

They still play together with friends that comes over, do parnks and other things kids their age do. But now I don't even hear them complain when aunt Gharol brings them through the ringer whenever a training session starts.

Beyond the occasinal curse throw in here and there as they fight aunt Gharol.

Or when Thai is teaching them diffrent ways to fight, use diffrent wooden weaponds or other things like how to track animals and what plant life to avoid. Nor do they complain about what little 'homework' they get from the 'school' lessons whenever they start up again.

To be frank, it seems like they have become somewhat mini adults over a very short time. And I will be one of the worse liars in this world to say that it did not scare me at all.

I also learned, thanks to a series of events that happened shortly after I learned about Thai and aunt Gharol going to war, something about Orc's growth rate thanks to visit form Healers or nabors.

While we do age at least twice the rate of a normal human, it only last until we are at the age of 5. By then we look 10 and will look like that for the nex five years or so before we age like a normal human would.

Then we stop aging once we hit our 20s. This comes from the fact that we live a few centuries, how long I still don't know but with what I know of that one old Orc lady that aunt Gharol knew since childhood that died around 350 years old, I'd say it's quite long. And we will look like we're in our 20s until we hit a certian milestone in age, then our bodies starts aging again every 10 years or so. At least from what I can gather.

And thanks to a discussion that me and the triplest were part of, I've learned all of my brothers ages. Thai may look his in his early 20s but truth is that his near his 50s. Infact, he's turing 47 next spring.

And the triplets are infact only 9 years old, and as I've said before they still act like it even with their new upgraded ability to handle a lot more responsibility and act more mature than a avarge human child at the same age would. At least on modern day Earth.

But has I've said, by law and tradtition they can't be alone for long periods. Espiceally so since there also me to think about as well as I'm even younger the they are and still needs a main caretaker to look after me. Despite my newfound freedoms and getting more independent as the months pass by.

This is were Shagar comes in.

See even though Shagar has about 6 apprentices to help her make all kinds of things that she and other Healers needs to have in stock. Thanks to the war preparations however she and the other Healers are stretched thin. To say the least. So a arrangement was agreed between her and our family.

She looks after us when neither our aunts or Thai is unable to. And in return, when my brothers have parctice enough, helps her make some of the healer items that needs to be restocked.

This inclouds not only the Lesser Health and Antidoes Potions. But also all kinds of Ointments and Oils for burns, infections and even poison. Creams, herbal remedies or boundles and even tea mixes specially made for those that can only take it orally. Along with painkillers and other pills used for healing.

All of which the four of us learned that it's the most basic duty for a Apprentice Healer do on the daily. Along with some other duties and chores that my brothers don't need to do. Aside from fetching the water or some firewood that is needed for some of the stuff they are being taught. And the clean up after both a successful or failed attempt.

Thanks to all this, the triplets will also get the [Alchemy] skill soon enough. Or so Shagar says. I did not know this until now thanks to the fact I've have, mostly unintentionally, only gained skills that did not need this but certian skills regadless of their type or what they do, will only be acquired if you meet speical or very difficult requirements.

Or almost impossible ones if you really need them. Though those are more likely given by gods for some very importent duty or fate.

For [Alchemy] one needs to make a certian amounts of items, that can vary from person to person and most be mostly potion or liquid based as it's a skill that works best with stuff like that. Though one can make other things as well with the skill later on. Like making Charms, bombs or other magical items. One also needs to know most of the commen herbs in herbal knowledge to gain the [Herbal Knowledge] skill.

Along with the know how to make even the most basic of alchemy tools. Which could be as basic as a bowl and pestle made out of stone, wood or even bone if needed and other tools. Along with a simple made fire to 'cook' the stuff that your making.

Yeah, a good deal of the stuff made by [Alchemy] needs a fire of some form, whether or not it needs to be of magical nature or not depends greatly on what you are making, to help the process. Either by 'cooking it' or being a needed ingrident when making things like Fire Stones or fire related summon items.

Thai has been doing that part of the teaching as he wants our brothers to also earn the [Improvised Crafting] skill. This skill is actually one of the skills all Orcs in our clan needs to learn regadless of what you want to do in life, so theres now way out of it. Or so I've learned as the triplets friends complains about gaining these skills when they could have done something more 'worth their time'.

And learn at least 2 diffrent recipes of mana infused items or consumable is the last requirement to gain [Alchemy].

Shagar wants to teach my brothers how to make Lesser Mana Potions and Minior Ether Pills for this part. Not only because those two are some of the easiest things to make, at least from a healer's perspective. But also so that what little is still in stock can be somewhat replenished a little faster with my brothers help.

Shagar also sees it as a nice little way to spare a few coins when out traveling as you can find most of the ingredients needed in the wild with little problems. So knowing how to make them can spare you costs that could be needed elsewhere.

These two things are also the most commen and fastest ways to replenish the mana you'd used up either through spells or other means. Beside a good nights rest. Or skills that improves your mana's revocery rate.

However, since none of them have gone through a ritual or something of the sort thats allow them to see what the triplets natural magic aptitude is yet, Shagar can't teach them neither of these things due to safety reasons. And to avoid something knows as Mana Poisoning. A rather deadly side effects that happens when Mana is used the wrong way or something just goes real bad real fast if you don't have a high enough aptitude of magic thats needed for whatever your doing.

Or so I understand as I listen on to the lessons my brothers have had over these last weeks with Shagar.

Luckly for my brothers, they are turing 10 this fall and thats when this ritual/test thing is taken as thats when our Mana Cores are, for most of us anyways, finsihed forming.

Whats a Mana Core? It's one of the most importent part of any living or unliving creature. From what I've come to undestand as Shagar has given my brothers quite a few lessons on this mater over the weeks as to both prepare them and make sure they understand what they can and can't do yet.

But what dose a Mana Core do?

First and foremost it servers several functions in our bodies. It allows us to use the mana that flows through our body and around us to use magic. Or let us use the mana to strengthen our bodies whenever we want through combat arts and what not. Let us gather more mana as we grow stronger but also makes sure that the mana we absorb dose not cause things like Mana Poison or some other horrible side effect happens on a daily bases. To a certian degree.

There have been many cases, as Shagarr have made it clear, where the core fails at this and thuse one has to be careful no matter what you use your mana for. Regadles if you are a mage based class or not. Or how high or low you magic aptitude is.

Second, it also helps us evlove for the most part safely and naturally strengthen our bodies to a certian exstend by using a small part of the raw mana, or Ether as some calls it, that we take in on a daily basis as natural building blocks to help our growth.

Everyone has a Mana Core at birth, though it's formless for a while and depending on what your born as it takes time before it becomes 'solid'. Which is when one is able to use the mana at will. For the most part as you need help learnign how to control it.

Theres a reason why the [Mana Control] skill is a must for pretty much 9 out of 10 classes or professions in this world.

Beasts and non magical creatures Mana Cores takes about a month or less. Insects even less. Though there are exceptions here and there.

Though those of the repital race, both of the magical and non-magical kind, the waiting time is the equal to a russian roulette on drugs as some cores become solid just within a few hours or minutes after birth or hatch to a few decades.

Birds are even weirder on the timeframe as some rare cases have a solid core as soon as they hatched. Or don't even develop a core at all. Which is dangerous for reasons Shagar has not yet told.

But for beings or races that are far more advance or sentient and live a lot longer, it takes longer for their Mana Cores to beome solid or take the proper form.

The exact timeframes for when the Mana Cores for Humans, Beast-Folks and many other races that live somewhere between 50 to 80 years on average for when the cores are solid aren't very wellknow. Mainly since it vary, especially if your of the Beast-Folk race, on how long it can take from person to person. And sometimes even the era one is born in can give some dramatic changes to the timefram.

Though many scholars agree that it can't take more then a decade at the longest for most. Bare drastic changes.

Us Orc's and Dwarfs have a similare trait to this as well. Despite being beings who live for a few centuries it doesn't take long for our cores to be finished. Just somewhere between 10 to 35 years at the latest. And thats without taking the fact that most races can evolve their own race into something else. Which can change our Mana Cores as well. From what I've managed to undestand.

While for bings like Elfs, Titans or Dragons all who can live for tens of thousands of years, need anywhere form 100 to 500 years before their core is solid. Though depending on what type of Elf, Titan or Dragon they are born as, and according to Shagar there are a lot of diffrent types within the Elfs and Dragons Family Trees especially that makes them some the most diverse among long lived sentient races, it can take even longer or shorter time for the core to be ready.

These lessons have made me wary to try anything that allows me to use mana or magic until I'm at the right age or I feel like I can do it without getting royaly screwed over in one way or another. It also dose not help that Shagar have a book with pictures or drawings of what have happened with those that ignores these types of warnings.

Which she of course showed to my brothers to make her point clear as daylight. And give my brothers nightmares or being unable to eat most of their food for days.

Thanks for that Shagar.

Theres also a bounch of other stuff that Shagar taught to my brothers about this subject and a few more that went way over my head. I still lack a good deal of knowledge of my new home to understand anything more than the bare basic of most things that I learn by eavesdrop and trying hard to overhear as much as I can. And what I can get away with thanks to being a 'toddler who dosen't know better'.

And use what little I already knew of Orcs from Earth to fill in blanks when needed.

That method is only temporary, as I've realized just within weeks after my birth that I can't fully trust what I knew from Earth. And sometimes it gets even more confusing when I compare the difference with what I learn now and what I learned on Earth.

I don't think academics where one of my strong points back when I was human. It certianly is not right now either. Or so my gut tells me.

I'm rudely interrupted from my thoughts and musing as I hear a solid bang ring out of nowere. Making me let out a small scream of surprise and quickly hidding behind a box just a foot or so away from me. I soon hear Shagar yelling coming out from the large black could that have swallowed her and my brothers, once I dare to peek my head out to see what was going on.

I just shake my head as the apprentices comes to check what happened now. And return to my play area, already used to my brothers failed attempts explode when they do something wrong somewhere in the process. Or make a poison cloud if it's really bad. It was something Shagar had said herself, even if she will curse or shout when it happens from frustration, that it's all normal. For the most part as one can't expect everything to go right every damn time.

It's especially so if one is still new to everything. Which my brothers are as you aren't a excpert within a few days or weeks of practice. Never mind if your trying to gain a skill out of it as well. Heck, most of the things Shagar has been teaching my brothers are things even someone without the [Alchemy] skill, or have any other heal related skills, could make. Even in a pinch.

It's just that [Alchemy] has a effect that makes it less likely for something bad to happen, a almost 25% less chance at Rank F. And a secondary one that slightly boost the chance of getting a higher end product. No more then 10%, but that is still pretty damn good for just getting the skill alone. So most are more willing then not to try and gain the skill while going through almost endless trials of errors and possible death if it goes bad enough.

I know for a fact that I'm going to get that skill too, once I'm old enough as I doubt theres anyone with a lick of sense is willing to teach a toddler any kind of skill like [Alchemy].

By the way, this dose not mean Alchemists are commen in this world. Far from it, Alchemist are somewhere inbetween uncommen to rare when it comes to classes. Mainly because it's not a easy class to gain to begin with. Never mind the other more advance classes you can get over time as you advance and gain experiance.

See, aside from the [Alchemy] skill itself, you also need skills like [Chemistry], [Herbalism], [Elemental Magic], [Potion Maker] and a few others to simplely gain the Apprentice Alchemist class. The start of any Alchemist's career path.

You also need to gain certian knowledge skills as well that will help boost your other skills and class. Especially when you start to become more specialist in this class. Magic also play a part in getting the Alchemist class as well. Though I have no idea how much as Shagar dose not have very much knowledge on the class itself. Aside form what her brother told her from time to time. Or when she felt it was right to ask when she had to give him a helping hand here and there. He was the former Alchemy Master of our clan, before he died a few years before the triplet's birth.

He's students are still around. Though some of them have moved to other clans after finding themself a partner or other reasons.

I know all of this thanks to Tarr's almost non-stop questions, who as I've learned thanks to small talk between him and his brothers, wants to be a Alchemist or a Shamen once his 15. Two respected classes among our race and with Alchemist being the rare of the two among Orcs for reasons unknow to me. Since he was so eager to learn the craft, Shagar said she will ask her brother's former students if any of them are looking or willing to take a apprentice once Tarr is older.

With the warning that she could not guarantee anything.

Neither Darak nor Malak seems to mind what Tarr wants to be and are very supportive of it all. Thai and our aunts as well is given support to. Though they've all given a few more class choices for Tarr to consider, just incase it turns out that Tarr can't be either for reasons I, once again, don't know. Tarr still got some years yet though, so nothing is set in stone yet.

Oh and both Darak and Malak wants to be of either the Ranger or Warrior class paths. Though they are still uncertian of what. Our aunts and Thai have been trying to help as best as they can. With friends that our aunts and Thai have called on to come over to both teach and explain what they do and what not.

To see if their class is something that interest them.

This sometime means even taken Darak and Malak with them as they do their duties for a few days. So that the boys gets a little first hand experience. It's a commen thing to happen in Orc culture as it's helps many young Orcs to find what they want to do in their adult life. This happens to Tarr at times too. Willingly I might add. Being forced into doing it is very frowned upon among Orc culture and traditions.

And will most likely be my turn as well once I start looking for a class of my own.

I gently shake my head and start to refous on my toys. I could already sense a headache was starting to forrm and knowing that it was at least going to be a few more hours before either our aunts or Thai came to get us. I knew that it was better to keep myself occupied to starve off the sheer boreddoom that comes with being this small and being unbale to other things.

* Now, where was I again? Ah yes, Lilly was just about to pluck the berries when the big bad wolf showed it's face....*