The days of training and education carried on. A week passed on by and every day Ellena went out, she got a step closer to evolving. She also noticed that whilst she may not be over the loss of her parents, she was at least not completely hung up on them. Even when the Mushling began her training, she still found herself in tears occasionally. Now though, she was actually starting to enjoy herself. The fighting, the danger, it was… Fun.
As for her education, the first few days were spent learning a little more of the current nations and political situation of the world, including relations between the Monster Continent and others. Near the end of the week though, Ellephwen asked her kin if she wanted to know anything in particular.
That was when she asked if the wise Dryad knew more in detail about skills. Obviously Ellena knew what skills were, what they did, but it was something that was just kind of known by people, with so few knowing the details. She was curious if someone who had lived so long had a little more to say.
Ellephwen began with the basics of course. Skills were essentially gifts, likely from the Gods themselves. They are mostly given through hard work or inborn talent, for example [Unarmed Combat Novice] was given to the little Mushling due to a level of inborn ability and talent. So, whilst the skill gave a boost to her strength, reaction times and general fighting prowess, it was merely that, a boost, her skill still remained behind it.
On the subject of the [Unarmed Combat Novice] skill, there was apparently a very specific reason it seemed to level so quickly. The ‘novice’ part of the name. Certain skills, like monsters, could evolve when they reached level ten, they generally leveled faster as there are multiple levels to each one. Most start as novice, then grow to journeyman, experienced and finally master.
Another important kind of skill Ellephwen wanted to teach her kin about was unique skills. Something that Ellena had only heard about before this life, with her [{Mushroom Helmet}] skill. Unique skills also have several origins. Some may be another gift from a particularly powerful being, or a particular god, or it could come from one's actions, which was much rarer. The Dryad believed Ellena received her skill from whatever being reincarnated her. Also, unique skills level to one hundred instead of ten. No one really knows why, perhaps the Gods just found it interesting.
Ellena did not really know what the skill did. That was one issue with unique skills. All skills have been studied and researched, so there is knowledge on all, barring the unique ones. Her best guess was that it made her head, her mushroom helmet to be exact, really really tough. A knife may have pierced the flesh once, but it did not get deep and she recovered quickly.
This particular education did not help when in the middle of training one day, a few new skills popped up for the young Mushman.
“[Dormant skill [Warriors Heart lvl 3] has awakened]”
“[Dormant skill [Warriors Will lvl 2] has awakened]”
A dormant skill? What in the name of the God’s is a dormant skill? It was something never mentioned in any of Ellephwen’s lessons thus far. So, obviously, as soon as it popped into her head, Ellena decided to run home to ask her kin, but did not go in with high expectations.
At this point, Ellena was looking at level 56. The experience gained from the kind of weak creatures she could fight with little risk was not very high and it was getting less and less with each level up. She had been fighting with as little risk as possible though, no day since the first had she achieved so many kills.
When she popped in through the front door, breathing heavily, the poor Dryad seemed quite surprised, nearly jumping to her feet. “Ellena? What’s wrong? You’re back early, are you hurt?”
Ellena looked up at Ellephwen who had already ran over, and blinked. What’s a dormant skill?
Ellephwens face lit up in surprise. “A dormant skill? Child, you have a dormant skill?”
So you know what it is? You seem surprised though, is it rare?
“Well, they’re not on the level of unique skills, since they’re not… Well unique, but it's certainly a rare thing to have.”
What about two of them?
The Dryad looked shocked, but regained her demeanour with practised haste. “Sit down Ellena, I suppose there is another kind of skill you must learn of, I had not expected the need to.”
Ellena waddled over and hopped onto her chair by the fire, which she had now become quite skilled at. Ellephwen sat next to her, she handed Ellena her treat plate, which mostly held her favourite dish.
“Well then,” she cleared her throat. “Dormant skills are exactly as they sound. Skills that lie dormant deep inside you. They are different from normal skills which anyone can learn through training. Of course some do come more naturally to others, but dormant skills cannot be earned, they must be born with. Though they still do require an awakening.”
Mine are both called warrior something. Do you think they awakened because I’ve done so much fighting recently?
The tall woman nodded. “I would say that seems likely. Since you are born with them, dormant skills are generally a lot easier to awaken than normal skills are to earn. They’re also generally more powerful. Oh, and then for whatever reason they grow to higher levels than normal skills.”
As high as unique?
“No. To twenty five,” she watched Ellena’s face scrunch up. “Again, I will repeat, no one understands the choices of the Gods.”
Can I tell you my new skills? I want to understand them a bit better
Ellephwen nodded. “I am not the most knowledgeable, but I’ll help if I can.”
Ellena proceeded to describe the new skills to her kin, and what seemed to have triggered them, but the expression that the Dryad wore seemed to say that she had no idea.
“I’m afraid to say I have no idea,” she stood and made her way to one of the several large chests she kept around the house, rooting around inside it. After a sound of joy, Ellephwen returned with a large book, or rather an album, with a metal spine. The title on the front read ‘An encyclopaedia of skills, by Silver Bart.’
The Dryad sat down and grabbed Ellena, sitting the Mushman on her lap, then opened the book before them. “It may be a little outdated these days as it was gifted to me over a century ago, but there are not many books like it.”
Does it have every skill? How do you own something like this?
Ellephwen giggled. “It’s rare, not one of a kind. There are a few Elves and other long lived species that will have a copy. You’re just lucky enough to have one adopt you, hmm?”
It was difficult to deny that. So, does it have my skills.
“Hold on, don’t be impatient,” The Dryad muttered under her breath, turning to the glossary at the back of the book. Her finger slid across the pages until it found W, then slowly wandered down reaching the warrior section. Heart and Will were not the only entrants, Ellena even spotted one called Warriors Bane, which made her spine grow cold for whatever reason. “Here it is, page 12,032. That’s in another volume it seems.”
Ellena blinked. I’m sorry. Page what?
Her kin stood back up and walked back to the chest. “How many skills do you think there are? Every job imaginable has learnable skills, they’re not all combat related. You were a farmer, you should know that.”
Why did that particular book have W in the glossary if its in another book?
“Ah here we are!” The Dryad pulled another similar looking book from the chest, walking back to sit down and repeat the same cycle as the last. “The entirety of that book was the glossary, W is just at the back.”
Logic is an unfair weapon on a newly birthed child.
“You’re almost twenty inside,” Ellephwen retorted whilst continuing her search. “Found the entry. Seems like these ones used to be quite common, but are a little rarer these days. No idea why, there are still plenty of powerful warriors around.”
It’s related to powerful warriors?
“Ellena. I don’t want to be rude, but the names literally have warrior in them.”
Though she never felt she was particularly unintelligent, Ellena often found herself missing the obvious, this was one such case. So what does the book say they do?
Ellephwen chuckled. “Glossing over that? I don’t mind,” she cleared her throat. “Well, according to his [Warriors Heart] improves your general battle prowess, improving your stats across the board and giving you enhanced strength. It also gives you an aura that makes those with honour trust you more and those without more likely to fear you, but I’m not sure what decides those factors. Skills can often be so vague, yes?”
Honour was something intangible for most folks living in the world. The average peasant had no time to think if their actions were honourable, maybe right or wrong, but that could be a little different. A white lie is often good, but is it honourable? It made Ellena unsure of whether or not that was a good thing.
“Then there is your second skill, [Warriors Will], yes? It will apparently help you stay calm and rational in battle, and, oh my… At higher levels it will even give you a resistance to fear, help you develop an iron mind and will.”
Ellena pondered on that. That also seemed incredibly helpful, if not a bit risky. Sometimes fear was handy wasn’t it?
“I can understand your worry, but fear is also a double edged sword. This skill gives you the mind to think on whether its best to run from danger, fear or otherwise. Think on that.”
So it’s just really good, is what you’re saying?
Ellephwen nodded. “Even if combat was not to your tastes, it appears your skills think differently. Though, I feel like you’ve been enjoying fighting more and more recently.”
That was something Ellena had already had to admit to herself. Perhaps it was a little messed up, but fighting felt good. She would like some skills that were not related to bludgeoning others to death though. It wasn’t like she was against knitting for example, though maybe she just had to wait until she had hands.
I really don’t get it though. I’m just a farmer's daughter, in the body of a giant mushroom. Why do I get these dormant skills? I even have a unique skill!
The book in front of Ellena shut, with a gentle and dusty thud, then her body was turned to face her kin, who wore a sympathetic smile. “You don’t understand, and it may be many many years until you do. Reincarnated folk are never random, or well, not entirely. One of the Gods always has a purpose for you, but that purpose is for you to discover and choose what to do with.”
So if I find out I’m supposed to do something for a God, you’re telling me I can just ignore it.
“One of the many reasons people are reincarnated is because of how little power the Gods can use on the world itself. Yes, they can answer prayers, change the very laws and what have you, but they cannot interfere directly. They require assistance and reincarnating a mortal with great power is one way of achieving that.”
Ellena tilted her head at the Dryad, it was an answer, but not really an answer.
Ellephwen sighed. “Yes Ellena, fate is dictated by your actions, so if you choose to follow your patrons path, so be it, if not, the patron could do little to protest. That is of course, if that is how you came to be reborn in the first place.”
That time, the message reached its recipient. To put it simply, she wasn’t going to be some puppet, or at least not for the divine. The small Mushman never would have guessed that coming into ask about skills would result in finding out that a God may have brought her here as a weapon, but she was getting surprise after surprise recently.
Well, thank you Ellephwen. She thanked her kin with a quick thought and wriggled out of her lap, dropping to the floor and headed for the door.
“Where do you think you’re going?”
Small plodding feet stopped in their tracks. Back to training?
The Dryad stood up, hands on hips. “At the time? It’s going to get dark soon, this is about time you would have started heading back anyway.”
But I missed out on an hour or so.
“An hour?” Ellephwen walked over and picked up the small child. “Ellena, there is no rush to grow up, slow down and enjoy yourself?”
Ellena could feel her chubby cheeks squished together, if she could speak it would come out quite muffled. I just want arms back as quick as possible. There was also the fact that she rather enjoyed it these days.
Even after saying that, she did not resist as her kin gently placed her back on her chair. “I understand, but that doesn’t mean you have to put yourself at risk. The forest is more dangerous at night. The nocturnal animals can be quite a bit more ferocious.
That was a little something that Ellena had thought about, related to her parents once again, she still had them on her mind daily. Still, somehow they ran into almost no hostile monsters, even at night. The more dangerous monsters coming out at night was a common occurrence the world over, so how is it they seemed to avoid any. Perhaps they just got lucky, or perhaps her father somehow had an inbuilt sense, a skill or something.
“All of the above I’d say and the fact that you were a family of Mushmen,” Ellephwen stated.
The Mushling stared at her blankly, which the Dryad caught. “I realise that sounds a little contradictory given that I won't let you go out and you’re still very much a Mushman, but you’re no longer an ordinary one. You won't give out the scent of a harmless beast anymore.”
A reasonable point and it was true that she had no real reason to rush, outside of her desires to return to arm-life. So whilst she may have grumbled a little, Ellena got back into a comfortable position.
Ellephwen smiled. Good. Then, for your actual lesson tonight, how about I teach you what has changed in the written language whilst you’ve been gone?”
This was the first lesson that did not fill the Mushling with excitement.
I do apologise for the weekly uploads, I know that to get popular on these sites you need to be posting at least a few times a week, but I have far too many hobbies and work too many hours to do that, hopefully there's still some out there enjoying it!