I will strive beyond this cursed bloodline!

Here she was, in front of a door, it was a fine door, the wood seemed to be imported and of good quality, her [Appraisal] even told her the wood had been treated with seven layers of skills and six layers of magic to make sure it would be both sturdy and aesthetic. It was quite interesting seeing how her [Appraisal] weaved itself around her [Vault of Knowledge] to pull the right information. From the mana density within each fiber of wood to how all worked together to grant her information about what made this an [Artifact]. And that is what this was, to her [Eyes] this door wasn’t only a door, but an artifact. One terrible artifact that stood in front of her.

 

“Miss Elizabeth, Lady Singh is waiting for you.” The [Maid] spoke to her, again, as if she had been staring at this door for five minutes or something (It had been ten).

 

“Maybe the sound-suppressing layer didn’t allow my knock to be heard?” Elizabeth said, as if that was the reason.

 

“...” The maid was too professional, Aura would have pointed that her knock barely even made a sound. Why couldn’t Aura be like this?

 

“I will check on with my Lady to see if she is ready to see you.” The maid answered, and before Elizabeth could do anything to prevent that from happening…

 

The door opened, “My lady is ready now, thank you for your understanding while waiting.” Another Maid spoke as she opened the door, this one seemed to be around the age of the maid that brought her here. Was having young maids really that rare?

 

“Thank you… I didn’t want to impose…” Elizabeth said as she walked inside... And the maid that walked out didn’t walk after her, instead, she closed the door. Leaving her alone, with her Mother-In-Law… Whose eyes were shining in an ominous purple color.

 

“Welcome Elizabeth, what can I help you with?” Asked Rossie’s mother, she felt the mana wash over her and pick apart each part of her [Layered Status sheet]. “...quite interesting defense you crafted here, if I didn’t know that these [Titles] and were fake, or knew what your true status said I would buy this…But you might want to fill out your [Skills] too.”

 

…Elizabeth wasn’t quite sure if she was feeling embarrassed because someone else had seen that, or worried because the other woman implied that they could see skills.

 

“I…have a few questions and some information that I would like to share.” Elizabeth decided with that as a start. Rossie’s mother had implied that the Galaxidae dealt with information, as much as the Saintsworths did, but with other methods.

 

“Hmm….that is fine, what do you want for the information? We will not pay less than needed for services provided, the Singh will deal equally with anyone.” Said Lizbeth Singh, or more like, Lizbeth Galaxidae.

 

“What do you know about Rossie’s circumstances?” Elizabeth asked, the woman. She first needed to be sure how much Rossie’s mother knew.

 

“She is special, she had more [Fate] than any normal human should had. And that her [Soul] was damaged.” Was the answer the woman gave her, succinct to a point, and didn’t let more information than needed.

 

“Did you know she was a [Hero]?” Elizabeth started.

 

“She isn’t. If she was she wouldn’t have been in that bad of a position, at best she would be an [Hero]’s Attendant….Are you saying?” Rossie’s mother's eyes turned sharp. “So Watanabe…? But then Akira…If so…Are you the fourth? No, you didn’t have any marks of being one, if anything your position was different and only turned [Hero] After Catherine and Jack ascended.”

 

So a [Saint of Healing] didn’t qualify as [Hero]?

 

“What makes someone a [Hero]? Rossie’s skills were and are more powerful than the average, and this wasn’t even taking into consideration her [Healing]. That girl could cast some nasty spells and her wards were among the most advanced she had seen, even her [Knowledge Vault] had taken some of those designs as samples!

 

“A [Hero] is someone who was chosen by the [World] or by a [God] to do something, while a [Hero’s Attendant] is someone that is there to make the work of a [Hero] easier. The only way that a [Healer] could be a [Hero] is if some [God] wanted him or her to actually fight against a pandemic or to keep an army alive. But if you wanted to do that, there are easier ways to deal with the problem.” Lizbeth answered, and that was a fair answer indeed. “So I know that Rossaline wasn’t a [Hero], we didn’t adopt her for that reason. Even if we adopted her because her [Soul] was fragile and we wanted to help.”

 

…they what?

 

“Didn’t you adopt Rossie because your previous pregnancy got cut short?” Elizabeth asked, that had been what Rossie said as a reason for her adoption after all.

 

“Oh, Rosy told you that?” Lizbeth smirked, “Yes, that is the official reason. The actual reason was because my [Galaxidae] skills told me that she was important, and I was pissed at the [Main Branch]. So I wanted to take her before she was indoctrinated into a cult…or something worse.”

 

“Okay, then do you know the reason why Rossie’s Soul was damaged?” Elizabeth asked then, making the eyes of the other woman turn sharp, and suddenly she felt the pressure from those eyes as they started shining purple.

 

“Thread carefully Starbright, I may no longer be a [Galaxidae], but I still hold their skills. No [Lies] can deceive the eyes we have.” Lizbeth said. Elizabeth didn’t doubt that, at all.

 

“Her [Soul] was damaged when she reincarnated into this world. As her [Soul] was used as material to prevent the [Decay] of the [Skills] of the man who she was an [Attendant].” Elizabeth said as she pulled from her [Inventory] the [SoulGem] that she got from Akira, “That is the reason her [Soul] was damaged, the [Hero] she was under betrayed her, toyed with her, used her as a [Slave], and twisted her sweet [Soul] into a toy…And when danger came to him, he discarded her.”

 

The eyes of the other woman scanned the [SoulGem] and then turned to her, she felt the defenses of her [Soul] weather a storm, but in the end, the other woman didn’t cross nor try to pry her [Soul] open.

 

“I see, and since you are showing me the [SoulGem Of A fallen Hero], I am to assume the one that did that to my daughter was Suzuki Akira? The same man you cornered in a fight and whose current status is listed as MIA?” Asked Lizbeth, so Akira wasn’t reported dead yet?

 

“Yes, I got the [SoulGems] from him when Nyx removed the protection on his [Soul], Michael has his already, and Rena entrusted her to me. Rossie has her [SoulGem] though.” Elizabeth said she did not say about the fact that Michael seemed to be using his [SoulGem] as either a reservoir of mana or knowledge…Nor how she had munched on Rena’s.

 

“And why are you telling me this? I would help you cover his death even without this. Rossie loves you and we will not have her be the wife of a prisoner…Not that they would judge you. Akira had crossed enough lines in the sand that he was going to be called a [Villain] the second he rejected the offer from the MPI.” Lizbeth informed her, so Akira was going to be called an [Villain] anyway?

 

No wait, the MPI really was going to offer him something? Those people really needed a divine smite huh.

 

Et tu Mother? Where is the smite?

 

“Because…I’m also a [Hero], and Rossie is currently on my [Party].” So said Elizabeth, she didn’t want to beat around the bush too much. “And…I need you to understand what is at stake. I…am helping Rossie heal her [Soul], but…I don’t want to force her into a relationship or anything, so I need to ask. Is it okay for me to be her partner? Even though she has no way to reject me should I enforce it?”

 

That seemed to amuse the other woman, as she started laughing, all the while her eyes continued to shine with purple light. And taking the chance Elizabeth…lowered her defenses.

 

All of them, she did cover the rest of her [Shadow Haven], but the spire? She let that open.

 

She could deal with the Mother of Rossie thinking that her [Soulscape] was in the form of a spire. What kind of [Hero] didn’t have a base or two in a high-rise building or two. What happened next though, would surprise anyone that knew the [Galaxidae], for Lizbeth Galaxidae…

 

Didn’t take the chance to peer into the [Soulscape] of Elizabeth Starbright.

 

“Let me ask you a few questions Elizabeth, and don’t lower your defenses, ever again.” Lizbeth started as her eyes lowered the pressure she was emitting, “First, are you abusing or twisting Rossaline’s Emotions?”

 

“What? Of course not! I would never!” Elizabeth answered as her face turned into a disgusted scowl at the mere thought of toying with another’s person mind. “I would rather my mind be wiped clean and my [Soul] be destroyed before doing something like that.”

 

And she meant it.

 

“Okay, are you then planning to marry into the Singh’s just to restore your wealth?” Lizbeth didn’t say anything about her outburst and continued asking.

 

“No, even if we ended up living in a dumpster I would still be with Rossie, not like we will. I will build a Conglomerate if I need to, but Rossie will never ever be in need of money.” Elizabeth said, once more with conviction as her eyes turned draconic and a sedated azure fire burned within them.

 

“Please just don’t conquer the world of finances doing so, the Singh do need to have their spot.” Lizbeth joked, but Elizabeth’s eyes didn’t waver, at all. “And finally… Will you love and respect Rossaline’s wishes should she decide that she doesn’t like you anymore? That girl is just learning about [Emotions], what she thinks is love may be just a fancy after all.”

 

…Would she?

 

Yes, she would be happy so long as Rossie was happy. Even if she decided that she didn’t want to spend time with Elizabeth…Even if she could no longer kiss her lips…Even if it meant that she would wake up in a cold empty bed…Even if it meant she could no longer snuggle the pink-haired girl…

 

“...I will respect her wishes if she decides to leave me. But I will still love her, and I will be ready to kill anyone that hurts her.” Elizabeth answered it wasn’t the correct answer, she knew that.

 

The normal answer would be something along the lines of “I will respect her wishes and move along.” But she couldn’t do that.

 

Rossie had been her first love, even if she was able to drown herself in pleasure or laze around for years without having to work a single day…She would still Miss Rossie. And she would still be ready to pounce at her at the first chance that presented itself.

 

“That is okay, so as far as I’m concerned I don’t see a problem here.” Lizbeth said smiling as her eyes stopped shining in purple light, “If Rossaline wants you as her partner, then you are her partner. You aren’t abusing her using your [Authority] over her as a [Hero], nor are you abusing your [Skills] to tamper with her…I would rather you don’t have any extra [Partners] while having my Daughter, but so long she's okay I can’t complain about it.”

 

….ASDFASLDHASDFLKSAF

 

“...I don’t…” Elizabeth started saying, preparing an intricate excuse for Rena.

 

“Please don’t lie to my face Elizabeth Starbright. I know about Catherine’s proclivities, so it isn’t that weird that her daughter would have her inclinations of wanting to mess around. You are lucky that my Rosy allows you to indulge in those… [Activities]. Jack didn’t allow your Mother to do so after all.” Lizbeth said while pointedly looking at her, “So be thankful, I do know that Catherine contemplated leaving Jack because of that, but in the end, she decided that her love for him was greater than her Lust for other girls. I just ask you to always remember to put your [Love] above your [Lust].”

 

….Okay, she didn’t need to know that her parent's marriage almost ended because her Mother was Gushing over Magical Girls. She really didn’t want to know that.

 

“...Yesh.” Was all that Elizabeth was able to say.

 

“And now we can speak about the reason I wanted to talk to you.” Lizbeth happily turned to a new topic.

 

As if they hadn’t spoken about heavy topics that included the [Soul] of her daughter…This family was nuts.

 

“What do you see?” Asked the woman, while extending her arms to the side, as if making a presentation of the things behind her.

 

“A fancy room? A very nice decoration? What am I supposed to see?” Elizabeth asked.

 

The room? It was fancy yes, white wallpapers with some frescos on the wall. A nice bust of Rossie made at the image that she suspected her girlfriend had when little. A family photo of the three Singh’s, a velvet red carpet. And of course, her Mother-In-Law.

 

“Not the room, use your [Skills], didn’t you upgrade those? Or did you spend that time just ogling my daughter?” Lizbeth said, smirking as Elizabeth blushed at the ribbing. Of course, she spent the time ogling Rossie, she was very much oglable!

 

Was that a word? Ooglable? She didn’t know, but it would be now! And she would use it to describe what she loved the most in this world! To stare at Rossaline Singh!

 

“Right, then excuse me but… [Appraisal].” Elizabeth intoned and felt the skill take hold, her eyes turned sharper for a second, and…information flooded into her mind as a new blue screen manifested in front of her. The information of the woman in front of her.

That was interesting, and she felt like there was more than she needed to know, like for example…Rossie’s Mother hadn’t left her family on good terms, but on bad ones, at least that was what she got from the name of those [Titles].

 

“So? What did you find?” Asked with a smile the woman. As if tempting her to answer, no wait. Was this one fake?

 

Elizabeth injected more [Mana] in the skill, focused more with her eyes…But couldn’t see anything out of place, no hidden skills…Nothing. If anything the skill section hadn’t anything interesting, besides someone else with [Identify]. Or another version of her former skill, even if this one felt…like it was closer to what she had before, like Rossie’s skill.

 

“You…didn’t leave the Galaxidae on good terms.” Elizabeth started.

“So the [Titles] huh, your skill feels more or less the same, but the [Weight] is different, did you upgrade a base skill? Or is the application?” Lizbeth wondered aloud. Was she supposed to answer? “Don’t answer that, any information I get is transmitted to the Galaxidae, even if they will not use it for anything, it is still dangerous. Especially if you are a [Hero].”

 

Wait, she just dealt with a problem! And the student council hadn’t done anything to her, and here was Rossie’s Mother telling her to be wary of the Galaxidae?

 

Were they supposed to be dangerous to her? Was she going to have to fight a hidden council of ancient caretakers? Couldn’t they just laze around, snuggle, and smooch each other for a few months till she had a night of excess and pleasure at eighteen!?!?

 

“...I don’t have any idea of what are you thinking, but the Galaxidae aren’t your enemies per se. It’s dangerous for your information to spread because you aren’t something that is recorded. You are closer to someone that should [Record], and yet…You are also being recorded as you move.” Lizbeth said, not making any sense at all, “Imagine you are reading a story, but suddenly one of the characters in your story starts speaking with you, and yet, continues to interact with other characters. The story would become a mess right?”

 

“I mean yeah, what kind of story has a character starting writing at the side with the author? It’s like the author is pretending to be a smart ass by having a character that has input in the story. When in reality all of it is coming from the Author, and he just pretends to have no control over what is being written.” Elizabeth answered she wasn’t sure if she would even read something like that, wouldn’t it be obnoxious? Like the author pretended to be special or something.

 

“Well, that is what you seem to be according to my skills. You are someone that should be writing the information of the [World], but are mingling with those that are such information.” Lizbeth said as she brought a notebook, “I’m here, Rossie is here, my husband here…your parents….my niece….our maids...”

 

And started writing in the paper, the names would be put in different spots, the important ones higher and the irrelevant ones lower, her parents were at the top for example. As Titles [Framework] and [Odyssey], while the [Galaxidae] was low, it was still above everyone else. And then grabbing a marker, Lizbeth closed the book and wrote in bold letters [The World] on the outside of the notebook.

 

“So, where am I in this example?” Elizabeth asked, she hadn’t seen her name, at all. Even though the name [Stardust Weaver] had been written at the side of [Sylphie Starheart] and other Magical Girl’s names.

 

She knew that didn’t refer to her when she saw the name Rossaline Singh written among the normal people.

 

“Here,” Lizbeth said, and writing in smaller font she wrote [Elizabeth Starbright], at the bottom of the notebook, where one would usually place the name of an author. “You should be only here, as someone who [Writes] the information. And yet….You are also here.”

 

Lizbeth pointed at her name as [Stardust Weaver], “And here…” Then she wrote [Elemental Weaver] among the names, and [Shadow Empress]. “And let’s not forget this too.”

 

And then she also wrote [Daughter of the Gods] below [Framework] and [Odyssey].

 

“You are everywhere, and yet….You don’t have the [Power] to stand there, or there…Or even here.” Lizbeth said as she pointed at the author's name. “You are too weak to be important, and yet you are important. Your foundation is strong yes. I know that, and it is even stronger now…But you need to flourish, you need [Time].”

 

Well yeah, she needed that, but how was she supposed to get it? She had been running all over!

 

Her first year at the MPI she only enjoyed half of it! And even that half was mostly a few classes and then she was ejected to the midterms! And of those she only enjoyed half a week of them!

 

The [Advent] happened and that ate the other half of the first year and half of the second year!

 

And in the second year, she spent most of it training!

 

She had wasted two years without smooching Rossie every single day already!

 

And the third year? What was she even supposed to do in her third year?

 

“But for that, we have your third year, it is time that you prepare seriously. So while usually, your third year would be an internship 24/7 in the same place you did the midterms but with more responsibility….” Lizbeth started speaking, making Elizabeth grimace.

 

She couldn’t do either, her internship as a magical girl was in a clinic that had left her to her own devices and where she almost got raped (According to Rossie). While her internship as a [Villain] was with an organization that no longer existed and with an identity that she didn’t have anymore.

 

She really needed to check into that.

 

“About that, do you know of a way to recover a lost [Shift]?” Elizabeth asked, might as well ask the one who had access to the part of the reservoir of knowledge in this world right?

 

“A lost [Shift] explain.” Lizbeth queried Elizabeth.

 

“My [Shift] the ones I used for the midterms [Elemental Weaver] and [Shadow Empress]. The skill I used to make them shows them as unavailable, and they told me that since those were the [Shifts] made by Elizabeth Starbright and I was [Elizabeth Starbright] I couldn’t use them anymore.” Elizabeth recounted what her former shift said to her. But then again, perhaps she had been hallucinating?

 

It wouldn’t be the first time she had been mind-tampered, even if it shouldn’t be possible for anyone to mess with her.

 

“Interesting…And you say they spoke to you?” Lizbeth seemed intrigued by this, “Usually when a [Shift] is lost, it is because the Magical Girl changed in some way, be it because of trauma or realization of what they loved. Some change when they grow older, when a [Magical Girl] changes into a [Witch]. Some when they start dating, like they match with their lover.”

 

Those were all good examples, and that made Elizabeth realize that…she did change.

 

“But no one ever spoke about their [Shift] speaking to them, these aren’t sentient things, they are a reflection of you. Of your [Soulscape], they shouldn’t have emotions or thoughts. The mere idea of them having them is…” The eyes of the woman seemed to take a dangerous glint, the same one Rossie had before pouncing on her…Stop Mother-In-Law, you aren’t my type!

 

My type is the [Highly deranged and somewhat broken girl] type!

 

“It means that either whatever skill you used to evolve or grant a [Soul] to your [Minions] was in effect when your [Shift] moved, so….” Lizbeth turned to look at her and then to a phone in where she started typing, “...Either you have a few rogue [Minions] roaming around… Or there is one extra Elizabeth Starbright and one extra Alice Ashcroft somewhere in the world.”

 

She doubted that a [Minion] would go rogue…

 

“We would never!” “We would die first before betraying you, Mistress!” And [Beatrice] and [Aura] seemed to agree with her, as both girls had chimed in. But…She didn’t get the feeling that her previous [Shift] was moving, if anything they seemed to have been dormant before she met them. And went back to sleep after that.

 

She had tried to prod at the connection before, but nothing had come, neither towards her [Shift] nor towards the [Shadow Minion] that she left there, that one wasn’t even on her list either!

 

So what to do…

 

“Either way, for now, we have more important matters to attend before breakfast…Tell me Elizabeth, had you ever pointed that fancy skill towards yourself?” Lizbeth asked her with interest. “It seems to show quite an amount of information, I hadn’t ever seen one that could display the [Skills] and [Status] in one combo, what more can it show?”

 

“Well, I did when I got it, that’s how I found out about my skills and status, and while I didn’t think too much it even showed…” Elizabeth started saying when her eyes darted back to her [Status], it wasn’t there…

 

Her [Origin] wasn’t there….

 

But she had been able to see others…She had seen [Akira]’s…And the information…

 

So…no wait… “Can…I use it to see my own [Origin]? What is even…I know what is called…but…what does it say about me?” Elizabeth turned to look at the blue screen that was hers, the one that didn’t have her [Origin] anymore…

 

“[Appraisal]” And she intoned while closing her eyes and focusing as much [Mana] as she could into the skill, she pointed it at herself, at her [Existence] at her [Soulscape], at her [Shadow Haven].

 

Elizabeth Starbright, formerly [The Inheritor of the Akashic Records]. Pointed the skill at herself, for she wanted to know…What was her [Origin]?