A sudden wet slap causes me to groggily wake up. Remembering what happened, I expect to see death god guy again, but looked around to see that I was in a cave, water dripping from the stalactites above to form pools of water around me. Floating next to me was the female creature that brought me here, with the biggest smile on her face.
"Hah I bet you thought I was going to kill you, halfling. It's been some centuries since I last arose from this lake, if I killed you, I'd just be bored and go back to sleep. Come, we have business to discuss." She begins to float away, and I follow her, the moss on the walls illuminating the way forward.
After walking for some time, the path ends to a clearing that's like an island surrounded by dark waters. On the clearing there's a circle table with chairs, a bed, and an orb the size of a basketball just floating, with a waterfall in the distance. She hovers over to the table and sits, using her tail to pull out another chair close to her, intending for me to sit as well.
Not really having a choice I have a seat, where she props both arms on the table holding her head up.
"What do you want with me?" I ask, fearing for my future if there is one at this point.
"Oh stop. You're so handsome and that look of fear doesn't suit you halfling, relax I'm not going to hurt you. Or are you telling me you need help relaxing?" Her tail rubs my leg from under the table and I move my leg out the way.
"Uh no I'm good, I just feel like I deserve to know what I got myself into."
"Well, halfling, that's the issue, isn't it? You're weak so you don't really have much of a choice in the matter, much less what you feel like you deserve. What if I was actually planning to kill you, what could you do? Nothing but beg for your life, which matters little depending on who you encounter. You should be thanking me for deciding to show you reality." She was right, she showed me that I was only focusing on leveling my magic, but I need to improve other aspects.
"So, who are you then?" I ask.
"No fun in spoiling the surprise. If you don't know who I am then you'll have to figure it out yourself."
I'm starting to get slightly annoyed with her, but if I want to get back to the surface, I'll have to entertain her.
"Ok, what are you?"
She rises up, arms and wings spread, "Take a good look, tell me what you think I am, I'm interested to know."
After considering for a brief moment I answer, " A mermaid?"
There's a pause of silence that lasts too long making me nervous, until she starts laughing hysterically spinning in the air clutching her stomach.
"Hey halfling, I like you. Your funny, and good looking, I have yet to see if your smart, but it's a shame you're too young."
She sits back in the chair. "In all seriousness though, your actually half right. Normally, any elf would look at me and see me as a Spirit, a ball of light. Somehow you can actually see me in my true form and see how much mana I have despite me hiding it. Plus, few beings have actually seen a mermaid or know what a mermaid is, them being the sea goddess' favorite children you know. I wonder how it is that you know what one looks like?" She once again invades my personal space.
I don't know if I'm allowed to mention that I'm reincarnated but I feel as though I shouldn't.
"That's a secret." I decline to answer as she's clearly proven that she knows when I'm lying, and I hope she can't read my mind.
She pouts sitting back down. "Fine keep your secrets then."
Having said that she quiets down waiting for my next question. I'm starting to see that this is a game that she's playing but I have no idea what the rules are or even what game this is. I decide to be a bit more direct with the questions and stop asking about her.
"Ok if you have nothing you need from me, then what can you do for me?" She beams with happiness and floats into the air again.
"Finally, you ask the right question, although your intentions are questionable on the way you asked it. Almost made me blush. You see a very long time ago, before I was a spirit, I was something else, who decided that they were tired of being weak.
Seeking power I focused on my mana, and soon gained the power unlike anything the world's seen. After my ascension, my mana also increased as well and gained the ability to bless those I seem worth a skill related to mana, which I offer to you halfling."
Hearing her story, I need to know if there's a catch or a reason, she's just giving a free skill. "What made you choose me?"
"When you attempted to use Mana Sense by the lakes edge, I could tell it was your first time. To describe it better, it was like you were walking around blindly asking if anyone was there. When someone skilled uses mana sense, they demand to know who is near them.
Being unsure when sensing allows yourself to be sensed easier. From when I felt your mana signature, it was different from anything I've ever felt before. You have a talent in mana and my skill can help your growth."
"Ok so what's the catch? What do you get from giving me this skill?" She becomes serious, and her green eyes turn red.
"Well, your soul of course."
Before I can immediately decline her offer, she bursts out laughing." You are just so fun to mess with. What's a spirit going to do with a soul? Think of me bestowing my skill as my job, and this is me fulfilling my role."
Hoping I don't regret this decision I reply, "Ok I accept your skill, what do I have to do?"
Sitting softly back in the chair she blushes. "Well, you have to kiss me."
This time I can tell she's messing with me and call her out on it. "If you're not going to be serious about giving me your skill don't offer it."
"I am serious, I'm modeled after a mermaid, who give their blessings of water breathing by kiss.
How do you think I have to give out my skill?" I have no idea if mermaids give blessings by kiss, but if so, what she said makes sense.
I stand and walk over to her and decide to just go for it. Seeing me coming closer to her, she rises from her chair and floats to my level. I kiss her, my body heating from the enjoyment of the kiss. She pulls me closer her tongue invading my mouth.
After a minute we break apart and I start breathing heavily as I struggle to calm down. While getting myself together, I notice I did not receive a message saying I got a skill. Confused I look at her and see her devilish grin again.
"Boy, you are just too easy. I thought you really called my bluff there but then you just ran at me like that."
Embarrassed that she keeps playing me so easily, I look at the ground in humiliation. A notification pops up.
[Unlocked Skill: Mana Leech- Instead of using your own mana to activate your spells, as long as you can sense their mana signature, you can use others. Spell doesn't activate if target is currently out of mana or won't have enough to cast the spell. Passive- Your mana recovery is increased by 3%.]
She floats next to me, "So, how was the kiss... I mean skill?"