Callie woke several times after that, each time to more fear, and each time, once her panic became too much, Gray would place his spell on her and put her back to sleep.
At least, after several instances, that was what Callie figured was happening.
When another stranger appeared to poke and prod at her, Callie showed little regard. What was one more man compared to all of the undead creatures she was surrounded by all the time now?
For some reason, her family seemed to have taken up residence at Gray's Hall. So, there was no chance for Callie's fear to ebb. However, Callie slowly began to notice after about 10 or so times being awoken, the fear actually was getting better...
Callie's eyes blinked open, but this time, there was no overwhelming fear to greet her as she awoke. Instead, she felt anxious. Not truly afraid, certainly nothing like she'd grown used to in recent days. But anxious. A low-panic anxiety that told her something was wrong, and she should get ready to fight or flight.
'System?'
For the first time since she'd forced the system to give her too many stat points at once, Callie called out. She smiled when the Stat panel instantly appeared. Apparently, the System didn't hold any grudges.
--Fear Resistance has Leveled Up!--
--Fear Resistance has Leveled Up!--
--Fear Resistance has Leveled Up!--
--Fear Resistance Has Maxed Level! Upgrade This Skill Now? Y/N--
--------Stats--------
Name: Caliope (Callie) Griever
Level: 3
Exp: 60/80 (+60)
Race: Human
Life Stage: Newborn
Cultivation Level: 0 (Locked)
Magic Level: 0 (Locked)
Health: 430/430
Mana: 0/0
Recovery: 1400
Effects: Fear
Stamina: 15
Strength: 10
Dexterity: 10
Agility: 16 (8)
Intelligence: 30 (60) (+20)
Wisdom: 25
Willpower: 25
Endurance: 35
Control: 25
Charisma: 60 (15)
Perception: 20
Luck: 150 (15)
Faith: 10
Skills: Observation Lv. 1; Necromancy Lv. 1; Healing Lv. 1; Steal Lv. 1; Flight Lv. 1
Abilities: Fear Resistance Lv. MAX; Sleep Resistance Lv. 4; Mental Resistance Lv. 2; Pain Numbing: Lv. 1; Stealth Lv. 1; Study Lv. 1
Traits: UNKNOWN ERROR DETECTED; Curiosity; Necromantic Legacy; Fear of the Undead; Quick Learner; Cute
Professions: N/A
Blessings: UNKNOWN (Error Detected); UNKNOWN ERROR DETECTED; Goddess of Sacrifice; Goddess of Luck; God of Power; Gray the Lich
Curses: God of Cruelty
Titles: N/A (Locked)
Stat Points: 9,950 (-20)
Skill Points: 52,116 (-40)
System Points: 37 (+12)
Mission Points: 19 (+8)
Building Points: 0
Gold: 510 (+400)
Karma Points: 2,415,866
Divinity Points: 108,528 (-40,000)
Universal Points: 2
Ally System: (Locked)
Past Life Reward System: 10 Past Lives Rewarded
'So, I'm not so afraid because of this Fear Resistance skill, right? Great! What can it upgrade into?'
...Fear Resistance Ability can be Upgraded to the Fear Tempering Ability for 10 Skill Points. Upgrade Now? Yes or No...
'Yes, please. And can I see pop-ups again? I want to hear you only if I am in dangerous situations where my vision is needed or I'm somehow incapacitated and unable to read.'
--System Preferences: Saved--
--Purchase Complete. Fear Resistance Ability has been Upgraded and is Now the Fear Tempering Ability Lv. 1--
Another pop-up shortly appeared. Before Callie even read it, she could feel the anxiety in the back of her mind finally abate, and she sighed in relief as she read the pop-up.
--Fear Tempering Lv. 1--
The Host has endured great terrors and has upgraded the Fear Resistance Ability to the Fear Tempering Ability! The more fear the Host experiences, the better this skill will become! +100% resistance to fear-related emotions. +5% focus when fear-related emotions are triggered.
Callie couldn't help but start smiling now. But as the screens were dismissed from her view, she finally saw her mother's concerned face once more and her smile faded.
Hadn't she just promised herself she would cause her mother less problems? And here she'd been, terrifying the poor lady with her behavior. Maybe she should hurry up and prep for creating her Mana Core and Dantian so she can be like a, relatively speaking, normal baby.
Of course, that would probably involve a few scary moments for her mother as well, considering Callie's luck thus far.
The strange man Callie had ignored earlier suddenly came into view, pushing Callie's mother behind him. Callie didn't like that and scrunched her little nose at him in annoyance.
He began speaking very loudly, annoying Callie further. For the first time, Callie wondered if there was some way of cheating with the System and learning this new language faster, so that she may understand what these strangers were always saying around her. Not knowing was getting really annoying. And, who knows, it might even be a matter of life or death for her to know the language a little earlier than she could learn it naturally.
'System, is there a skill for this language I can buy?'
--Unlock Skill Store for 30 System Points? Y/N--
'Yes, go ahead. And unlock Gacha Game and Lottery while you're at it!'
--Purchase Confirmed. Search Skill Store for Arian Language Skill? Y/N--
'Yes, please. Also, is there an option to use an Invisibility Rune on Skill Books?'
The Store panel overtook her vision, followed by a quick search and then a pop-up message. It was too fast for poor Callie's brain to follow, happening in mere seconds.
--Arian Language Lv. 1--
This Ability allows the Host to speak, understand, and, eventually, read the Arian Language! +5% understanding of spoken Arian.
Cost: 5 Skill Points
Cost w/ Invisibility Rune: 15 Skill Points (14 Skill Points)
'Perfect.' Callie thought, with another little smile. She didn't even care what the stranger thought of this, as she quickly agreed to the 15 Skill Points.
Anything, to just know a little more about what was going on around here!
As Callie agreed, and quickly opened her Inventory to use the Skill Book, she braced herself for the experience. Thus far, she hadn't had much luck with the Skill Book experience. Even if it was useful.
But the expected pain never hit. The book touched her skin, and Callie once more felt the familiar rush of numbness spread across her entire body, until she couldn't feel a thing. Callie found herself exceptionally focused on the sensation as it spread throughout her body, until there was nothing left to feel.
The man began to poke and prod her again, much to Callie's chagrin. She couldn't feel anything as he did it, but her senses were still strangely focused. She saw the movement and watched the man closely as he began to examine her.
Slowly, a few of the words he spoke began to make sense to Callie.
"...sick...baby needs...little...help."
Callie almost growled at the little information this gibberish gave her. Of course, the skill had said she'd only understand 5% of the spoken Arian language. Still, hearing how little this translated into in actual conversation was nothing short of aggravating.
Before Callie could try to puzzle more of the meaning of this conversation, however, those strange symbols appeared once more over her head. Callie couldn't even muster more than a passing resistance before she succumbed to the spells call, quickly dropping back to sleep.