It had been a while since I last saw the familiar Quest notification screen.
Skiming through the description, i noticed there was no difference. Nothing had changed. It was still just as vague and cryptic as the first day.
Meta was right.
I really wasn't doing my best. Maybe in the end, a part of me wishes and thinks that the Great Calamity isn't real or won't happen.
I just to want to live out the days of this life peacefully. That was why I had been acting carefree and casual about everything.
But I was stuck with this damned quest. It was like a friggin' curse.
In the end, I didn't respond back to Meta's statement and dismissed the Quest screen.
But Adrianne must be crazy talented to level up such quickly. Perhaps it's a skill she's using?
Skills were minor abilities or small characteristics of an individual. There were two types of skills, and two ways of acquiring skills.
The two types of Skills were, Innate skills, and Acquired Skills.
Innate skills are the personal skills a person is born with or develops overtime. They were kind of like talents. And from what Meta said, these skills usually have no particular names or ranks, and are only manifested as characteristics or aspects in the individual.
It could be like some form of self-regeneration or high stamina, or the like. But these skills were known to be capable of growing and evolving overtime, the stronger, or older the individual may become.
This is why Innate skills are rare and precious in this world.
Acquired Skills, hence are the skills an Awakened or individual obtains over the course of their life. This can mean by buying or obtaining a Skill book or Skill card.
Acquired Skills have five known Ranks, ranging from Common to Mythic rank.
This is where my {Inspect} skills falls in, since I only obtained it after unlocking the System. But it also seems to be capable of growing or evolving, just like an Innate Skill.
In any case, perhaps Adrianne might have a rather terrifying innate skills as the cause of her vast talent and growth speed.
Hmmm. I guess it'll be something like 'Limitless Growth Skill' or 'Speed Growth' or something. Regardless, that's some almost cheat level innate skill, I mused.
'What do you think, Meta? '
[Perhaps.] Curt and vague, as always.
Why couldn't I be the one with the Limitless Growth skill? I already have the system, and since I'm strangely the one chosen, shouldn't I be blessed with my own cheat? I could almost cry, thinking of how bleak my future would be.
Just then, Meta said boastfully.
[You don't need a Cheat skill. You have me]
'Unfortunately. ' I lamented with a sigh, internally.
[...]
'Maybe, if you weren't so, I don't know...snubbish and less secretive...' I mused, with feigned bitterness.
Well at least Meta wasn't trying to kill me.
[Die.]
She said it! The accursed ai just asked me to die!
'Oi, oi, when did you become so direct with your insults? Don't you usually feign them with sarcasm and subtlety? This new transition is terrifying, don't go telling me to die when I just got back! '
[...] Meta remained sile—
[Die.]
'... '
Wearing a dry look on my face, I sat up on the grass.
The afternoon was quiet in the Bright Manor on a spring day. Everything was cool and serene, but after what just happened, I couldn't find it in me to remian as casual.
'Do better'
Meta's words kept bothering me. I knew it was right, but still...I wanted to desperately deny it. The Quest, the system, all of it!
Couldn't I have just been reincarnated peacefully?
Heck, I didn't even asked to be reincarnated. I already died, so what was the point?
All of a sudden, I thought back to the retreating figure of Adrianne. Then all the pleasantfull times I'd spent teasing her and exploring this new world.
If...if I hadn't reincarnated...how would I have come to enjoy these?
I mused inwardly with great discomfort.
"Ugghh! I! Just! Want! To ! Live ! In peace!!" I ran my fingers through my full hair and ruffled it out of frustration.
Screaming out loud... didn't help to relieve any of the rest after all.
Nope.
What are you doing, Victor?
I decided to shake those depressing thoughts out of my head with a face slap
-PA!
There. I thought in mild satisfaction with a smile, feeling my cheeks sting from impact.
And with my head now clear, I suddenly remembered something.
"Ah. Today is the day Adrianne is leaving."
***
It had been five days since the conclusion of the Ritual Ceremony with Adrianne as the victor. And in line with the long and ancient traditions, Adrianne would be 'adopted' by the main family and receive their teachings.
It was the evening of the same day.
Once more, I watched as my older sister Adrianne load unto a coach the rest of her luggage. This time they were much more than just a simple bag.
I felt strange looking at it. Conflicted.
Adrianne turned to look at me with a strange expression. The she said with a sigh.
"What is it this time around?"
I turned to look away.
"...No. it's nothing. "
Strange. I guess I've grown more attached to this world than I realized in only eight years.
No. I'd grown more attached to Adrianne.
It was strange how hard I found it to feign a casual expression right now. I usually never had such a problem with controlling my emotions or facial expression after being exploited back on Earth. But right now, i couldn't even wear my usual nonchalant smile.
Was it because Adrianne was leaving?
"I'm not leaving." Just, then, Adrianne said out loud.
I blinked my eyes, emptily then turned to face her?
"What?"
Did I say my thoughts out loud?
Adrianne laughed mildly then came closer to me. She raised her hands and held lightly my cheeks in her palms, squeezing them a little.
I was momentarily confused and found it a little hard to speak. But Adrianne's lips moved first as they parted and said.
"Your face tells it all."
And slowly my eyes mildly widened by just a bit.
What? When have I become so easy to read?
I took pride in masking my thoughts and emotions. One couldn't survive in the Mafia and the underworld without wearing a smiling mask and a velvet glove.
But here I was, like an open book for Adrianne to read.
As if guessing my thoughts once again, Adrianne laughed with my face still in her hands.
"Don't look at me that way, I'm just happy I've got to see you make so many types of faces just today. Especially this one." Cutting her laughter short, my older sister said wearing a smile I had seen only once before.
I was confused by what she meant, and my eyes probably said so.
Adrianne smiled a little wider and her eyes cast low.
"You've never looked this way at me before. You've always done so with a smile so bright, it was fake and flattering. But this is probably the happiest I've been in my life, I guess."
"..."
I was shocked enough to be speechless. And if it weren't that Adrianne held my face, my lips would have been gaped open.
She knew? No, she only felt like that because of now. It I hadn't shown her this side of me, she wouldn't have realized. This was my blunder. Instinctively, I began analyzing the situation silently to provide a reasonable and logical conclusion.
It was for my pride and ego.
...and to hide my embarrassment
But for my pride!
Adrianne's smile became warmer and reassuring. Her strict and firm eyes became brighter and softer with only my reflection, and her cascading brown hair fluttered lightly in the wind.
My senses were sharp enough to detect from her pulse that she really meant what she said; Adrianne was glad I genuinely worried about her.
Adrianne's hands let go of my cheeks then traced down my neck, down my shoulders and down my arms, ultimately locking fingers with mine.
"I'm leaving to stay with the Main family doesn't mean I'm gone. I am only using them to get stronger. I'm a Bright, this is my family. You are my younger brother, and I am your only sister," she firmly said, her gaze deeping and swirling like two pools of darkness as she looked into mine.
Adrianne's grip in my hands tightened slightly, and her aura became almost overbearing.
"Nothing can change that."
I almost gulped. Dazed and mildly intoxicated by the intimidating feeling she exuded because of me, I only nodded.
But Adrianne was right.
She was my only sister.
At that very moment I, too, decided in my heart...
"Nothing can change that." I softly uttered.
Adrianne finished off her farewell with the rest of the family; Dorian my father and Alisa, my mother.
My big sister was firm and resolute as she met eyes to eyes with Dorian, conveying her resolve and more.
The time to depart grew near, and I watched as her coach drive pass the gates and slowly further down the path with repressed emotions.
Adrianne, with her exceptional potential and talent, shone as a beacon of hope for the branch families. However, she was not the first to be in this position.
The Main branch's history of assimilating or eliminating talented heirs cast a shadow over her future. As I watched her coach disappear into the distance, I realized that my sister carried a heavy burden.
She had not only her own destiny to consider but also the collective hopes and trust of the branch families. This weight was both crushing and inspiring, a constant reminder of the stakes involved.
But she was standing strong. Adrianne Bright was strong and unmoving.
My big sister was incredible.
Weighed with the hopes and faith of others must certainly be more heavier than having to survive a calamity all by yourself.
I took in a deep and calm breath and exhaled. My mind felt calm, my heart was settled.
Most importantly, my mind was made up.
'Meta, how long do you estimate I need to breakthrough to Mortal?'
[If you truly intend to, considering your potential and circumstances, it'll take only a couple of years to breakthrough. Three to five at maximum]
'A couple of years?! And what do you by 'my potential ', that's rude! '
I scratched the back of my head, looking oddly.
I just have to get stronger and survive the Calamity, huh? I mused inwardly.
'Fine, ' I sighed.
'Let's Rank up.'