NOVEL NEXT Chapter 26: Usual suspects
“The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn’t exist.”
The Usual Suspects
Life moves slowly here. Mother still weaves while Aleera helps and Father still sails and fishes.
I have yet to convince anyone that Fairies did it and I am still the prime suspect in the case of the missing pewterware. Which the family is still talking about and wondering where they are and what happened to them. I’m beginning to worry that maybe the bottom of the lake might not have been the best place to hide them. Even if it was the easiest place for a person as limited as a baby to put them. If they do get found there, will somebody mention them, and if they are mentioned it won’t be too hard to connect them to me.
However, my worry is balanced by anticipation. I have now found out to my excitement that Fairies do actually exist. How exciting is that! A new world to explore and learn about as well as a new species to see.
Now that I am a little older Mother has taken to reading stories at bedtime rather than trying to sing me to sleep and they are full of a wealth of information. I’m not sure which bits are true and which bits are false but it would appear that Fairies are real and are known for their tricks. The only problem with my assertion that it was the Fairies who took the pewter utensils is that they tend to stick to the forests and none have ever been seen in town. Although apparently, they are very, very fast, far faster than humans, and therefore difficult to spot. So, it isn’t entirely impossible that it might have been them apart from the fact that they have never been seen here before and no one else missing any pewter. Neither do they have a reputation for stealing pewter. I wonder if they are naturally maxed out on their dexterity stat or have an advantage in it, maybe a trait. Do they have a status like humans do? What other species are there?
The book mother is reading to me at night is from my father’s parents and appears to be on loan to us rather than an actual present. Although they were pleased I was interested in it when they brought it around. It is easily the most expensive book I have seen here so far. So expensive they are keeping it under lock and key and I have no chance to peruse it when they are not looking. Their argument is that this way the ‘Fairies’ will not be able to get their hands on it. I cannot wait to hear the rest of the stories but looks like it will take some time to hear them all.
I have been asking mother if Aleera and we can go explore the forest to find the fairies and the missing pewter ware but so far, my pleas have fallen on deaf ears. Apparently, although it is relatively safe outside the town walls, it is not completely safe and if we are allowed to go we will have to be accompanied. Probably by a relative to make sure we stay safe.
Night-time Ninja baby training has finally paid off! I have passed 100 in my Senses Stat before hitting age 1!
Senses reached 100 before age 1 awarded the trait, Super Senses.
When I achieved it I was glad it was nighttime for a couple of reasons. First, the room that I had been struggling to see even with my Lv10 sight suddenly brightened and I could see it as clear as day simply without the depth of colour. I would have enjoyed the sudden improvement in resolution if it was the only sense enhancement. Instead, I was overwhelmed by the abrupt deluge of extra information from all 5 of my unexpectedly heightened senses.
The quiet breathing of my parents that I always kept an ear out for with Lv25 Listening to see if they were waking or moving towards me suddenly sounded as if they were right next to me and I was still in my box but this time on the bed next to them. Whilst at the same time I could hear my sister as if she was on the other side of the box and in the bed with us.
The scents of the room were also swiftly becoming overpowering so strong I could practically taste them on my tongue. I could smell the ambrosial scent of my mother's milk at the same time as the nauseating stench of an unemptied bedpan. A revolting combination that would have soon made me throw up if I was not completely overcome by my last sense, touch.
It felt as if my skin had been set on fire. The abrasive slide of cloth over my skin felt like a rough razor moving across my body dangerously close to hurting me. The air on my face felt cold and clean when a second earlier it had merely felt cool. As a tear fell from my eye I could taste and smell the salt in it, as well as see a scintillating sparkle of moonlight reflected in it as it dropped to the floor. Curling into a ball I cried silently as I felt my icy tears carve tracks across my face before soaking my night tunic. Afraid of making a noise lest the sound hurt my ears I lay on the floor shaking and shivering as my senses overwhelmed my body and my mind.
My last thought before passing out was, ‘I may have made a mistake.’
True Status
Level: 10 Name: Kai
Experience: 47,300/ 204,800
Age: 13 months, 1 weeks, 2 days, 1 hours
Health: 1100/1100 Stamina: 513/513 Mana: 940/940 Psi: 1070/1070
Trait: Long Lived, Fast Learner, Super Senses
Vitality: 110
Endurance: 22
Strength: 22
Dexterity: 22
Senses: 101
Mind: 107
Clarity: 38
Magic: 94
Free Points: 20
Skills:
Tier 1: Time sense (LV 21) Listening (LV 25) Meditation (LV 30) Swimming (LV 23)
Humming (Lv 20) Sneak (Lv 21) Whistling (Lv 20) Singing (Lv 20) and Drumming (Lv 20)
Running (Lv 10), Acting (15), English (Lv 15), Spanish (Lv 15), Japanese (Lv 15),
Scent (Lv 10) Detect (Lv 10) Taste (Lv 10) Bulosa (Lv 1) Draw (Lv 1)
Tier 2: Sense Mana (LV 28) Eavesdrop (LV 21) Memorisation (LV 20) Composition (Lv 20)
Recall (Lv20) Pain tolerance (Lv 5) Piano (Lv 20) Violin (Lv 20), Trombone (Lv 20),
Saxophone (Lv 20) Linguistics (Lv 15) Translation (Lv 15) Stealth (Lv 10)
Tier 3: Echolocation (LV 21) Expel Mana (Lv 28 Absorb Mana (Lv 28)
Mana Manipulation (Lv 11) Ignite (Lv 10) Freeze (Lv 1)
Tier 4: Mana Drain (Lv 20) Multiple Minds (Lv 10)
Tier 5: Mind fortress (Lv 15)
Skill experience: 6200
Origin experience: 0
Combat experience: 0
Crafting experience: 0
If you want to keep reading I have posted up to Chapter 27: Sensory Overload on royal road and . . . up to Chapter 32: A journey of a thousand miles on patreon!
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Notlimah