The sword tapped against her thigh as she walked.
It was new to her, the weight unwelcome. It made her conscious of the danger around her in ways she hadn't expected.
Mia never wanted to use it, but the longer it hung there, the more likely it became that she would have to.
The warriors were amused by its presence, knowing instantly that she didn't have the skill or training to use it. It wasn’t for them.
It was for the others. It worked against the vagrants she was surrounded by. The newly minted scavengers that fought and cussed like it was a sport. But she saw the outliers, the few who noticed the sword, but wanted to test her anyway,
The sword at her hip wasn’t an effective threat to them.
Mia walked from the outer camp and noted the changes.
The inner camp was quiet.
The warriors were tense, weapons in hand, as they watched their surroundings.
The commanders’ tents were empty, and the number of guards was reduced.
Mox’s table was missing.
The feel of the camp had changed.
Something had happened, or something was going to happen.
Mia just hoped it happened far away from her.
Hands on her hips, she tilted her head back and let out a heavy breath.
It wouldn’t be far. She felt it in her bones. Mox’s absence was also a signal or a warning.
Despite seeing how busy everyone was, Mia knew he was avoiding her.
Her instincts said he was waiting. But she couldn't figure out what.
Ten days had passed with the ledger burning a hole in her soul.
It was always at the back of her mind, urging her to use it.
The problem grew to the point where she had to put it into her storage space, or she’d spend hours staring at it.
If you check, you’d be better able to protect her.
The ledger was a heady power, and after accessing it, she understood why the division centered around Mox. She also knew she had far more access than the average scribe.
They saw the name of an item and how many points it was worth; she saw…
Mia forced the thought away.
Her steps were heavy as she walked to the outer camp, the feeling of danger growing with each step.
***
Mia sat with the ledger in her hands.
It was too late for her to be up with only a day left to rest until she was back on the battlefield, working as a scavenger, but she couldn’t sleep.
In two days, it would be the third week since she’d arrived in Cinderwild. The third week since she’d lost control of her life and her future as she expected.
The ledger felt grounding, like having it gave her back the control she’d lost.
Mox was absent.
Mia should know; she’d checked every day, the ledger getting heavier and heavier.
She pressed her palm to a page.
Name: Ben (Allias)
True Name: Mia
Age: 16
Race: Human
Affiliation: Second Division (Attached Dependent)
Occupation: Junior Scribe (Probationary)
Points: 500
[Information Restricted.]
To access restricted information, please contact the primary holder.
The information changed every time she accessed the ledger.
It was Mox’s way of telling her he was watching, that he knew everything she did.
Mia held up the sword she’d taken from one of the Nazirians. It was shorter and lighter than the sword Sir Benson gave her. Smaller, but no less dangerous. The edge was coated in a poison that could kill from the smallest cut.
She pressed it to the page.
Name: Grok’s Saber
Rarity: Common
Value: 60 points
Weapon Class: One-handed Saber
Stat requirements: Strength (4), Agility (2), Endurance (5)
Durability: 48/50
Special abilities/effect: Blood boiling poison
Material: Reinforced iron
[Simplified View]
[Information Restricted.]
To access restricted information, please contact the primary holder.
Mia’s body thrummed.
This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.
She lifted the sword and slashed it down with ease. It whooshed through the air. Strength, agility, endurance. They were familiar words, but the context was new. It had taken her a while to figure out what they meant.
Strength was raw physical power and force. That affected how much damage she could do, and most likely, an increase in strength directly increases damage. It
Agility was straightforward. It was a measure of speed, reflexes, nimbleness, and coordination.
Increased agility meant faster movement speed, reaction time, and the ability to dodge attacks.
Endurance represented toughness and stamina. She hadn’t quite figured out what an increase did, but she assumed the time she could wield a weapon would increase.
Mia also didn’t know if there were other stats or how to increase the numbers.
Check. It won’t change anything.
Mia glanced at Nessa, who slept on the floor by Mia’s cot.
She glanced at the ledger, hesitating.
It was a constant nag.
For days, she’d debated whether to check Nessa’s information, but each time she held back, unwilling to violate the girl's trust.
It felt like a line, one she shouldn’t cross, but each day that passed, it became harder to remember why she shouldn’t cross the line.
She glanced at Nessa, making sure her breathing was even.
The girl had given up on sleeping outside, so plagued by nightmares, she only felt safe beside Mia.
What could it hurt? Mox already had this information, and if Mia knew, she’d be better able to protect and support Nessa.
Mia placed the ledger on Nessa's back. She held it there, watching the rise and fall of her body as she breathed.
Name: Nessa
True Name: Nessa Sophia Castle
Age: 10
Race: Human
Debt Status: N/A
Affiliation: Second Division (Attached Dependent)
Occupation: Scavenger
Points: 300
Skills: Potion making (Basic). Herb Identification (Basic). Needlework (Basic). Embroidery (Medium). Reading (Basic). Writing (Basic). Arithmetic (Basic). Piano (Basic). Dancing (Basic). Horsemanship (Negligible).
[Simplified View]
[Information Restricted.]
To access restricted information, please contact the primary holder.
Mia’s breath caught in her throat.
What part of that was a simplified view?
She felt exposed. How much did Mox know about her? Who had he shared it with?
Palms sweaty, she locked the ledger.
With a thought, she put it into the storage space, disgusted with her actions.
Nessa was a noble. She had a last name and could ride horses, make potions, and dance.
Mia remembered the skinny, swollen belly figure of the girl who approached her, hand worrying the edge of her shirt.
It didn’t change anything, her past. Nessa’s family had obviously fallen on hard times. That was common even in the Drunn Empire.
She reached for the candle, but didn’t blow out the flame. Having the light helped her sleep. It helped Mia sleep. That's why she left it burning. Both of them needed as much sleep as they could get.
Writing (Basic). Reading (Basic). Arithmetic (Basic).
Mia had noticed that Nessa was skilled at numbers, but she’d taken it for natural talent, encouraging her and focusing on the reading and writing where Nessa struggled.
Was that all an act?
No. That was impossible. The girl who reached for a stick to scratch at the dirt every chance she got wasn’t faking her proficiency or lack thereof. Mia had seen Nessa's frustration when she couldn't remember a letter or a word.
She turned the problem over in her mind, wondering if she should double-check the information in the ledger. Maybe she’d missed something. Maybe there was information she’d skimmed over that would clarify the situation.
Her hand twitched toward her neck, but she forced it under her pillow.
It wasn’t that odd. While most nations used the common language, others held onto their traditional languages, refusing to adopt the common tongue. Those countries had long magical histories tied to their native languages. Power the nobles monopolised.
Did Nessa have magic?
Was Mox’s real interest Nessa?
What was her role then? Why all the interest and games?
Focus.
Her nails dug into the palms of her hands.
Common was spoken in Cinderwild, and that was what Nessa was learning. That’s what she’d need in the future. The rest didn’t matter.
She tossed and turned precisely ten times before she pulled out the ledger.
The page was blank.
Mia hesitated.
With trembling hands, she tapped it against Nessa and immediately regretted it.
Name: Nessa
True Name: Nessa Sophia Castle
Age: 10
Race: Human
Debt Status: N/A
Affiliation: Second Division (Attached Dependent)
Occupation: Scavenger
Points: 300
Core Attributes:
Strength: 3
Agility: 7
Endurance: 4
Intelligence: 11
Perception: 12
Charisma: 13
Class: Healer (Emergent, Growth Class)
Primary Aptitude: Restoration Mage
Secondary Aptitude: Potioneer (High Natural Affinity)
Combat Proficiency: None
Mental Resistance: Low (age-appropriate)
Note: High emotional resonance. Monitor growth. Survival probability statistically below the division average.
Behavioral Trends:
Shock Recovery Time: Unstable (rapid emotional response, gradual stabilization)
Adaptivity: Moderate (experience-dependent)
Empathy: High (unfiltered)
Authority Compliance: High (trust-based)
Note: Subject adapts through emotional processing rather than rationalization. Displays moral consistency across stress events.
Psychological Indicators:
Moral Rigidity: Strong
Survival Prioritization: Moderate (self, primary to others)
Attachment Risk: High (Subject Ben primary anchor)
Emotional Leakage: Frequent but regulated
Assessment: Fragile in body, resilient in principle.
Note: Subject serves as a behavioral counterweight to Subject Mia. When exposed to identical stimuli, reactions diverge predictably. Long-term survival is unlikely without external protection. If maturation occurs, potential value exceeds current projections.
Skills: Potion making (Basic). Herb Identification (Basic). Needlework (Basic). Embroidery (Medium). Reading (Basic). Writing (Basic). Arithmetic (Basic). Piano (Basic). Dancing (Basic). Horsemanship (Negligible).
[Simplified View]
[Information Restricted.]
To access restricted information, please contact the primary holder.
Mia slammed the ledger shut and threw it across the room.
She imagined a mocking laughter ringing around the room.
Her hands trembled as she pulled the sheet up to her chin.
