A small girl dashed toward the waiting horse-drawn carriage, her feet kicking up little puffs of dust. Just before reaching it, she launched herself into the air with a joyful energy. She tucked into a somersault, then twisted into a front flip, landing lightly on her feet with practiced ease. Her short, snowy-white hair fluttered in the breeze like drifting ash.
This was a world of swords and spells, of invention and monarchy. And this girl... Well, she was just trying to find her place in it.
Beaming with pride at her overly dramatic entrance, the girl planted her hands on her hips, chin tilted high, a smug little grin curled across her lips.
"I, Ashrosaliera, am officially attending the royal academy starting today! Prepare yourselves, world! Dun-duh-duh-DUN~!"
She swayed her hips side to side to the rhythm of her own theme music, her face lifted to the wide, blue sky. Her smile was so bright, it made her eyes crinkle into cheerful little crescents.
"I'm going to become the [Elemental Empress]! Woohoo!"
But just as she struck her final pose, a firm hand settled on her shoulder. Her body stiffened. Slowly, she turned her head.
The hand belonged to a very large, very muscular arm.
Ash's confidence vanished.
"H... Hi, Mommy."
Standing behind her was a towering woman whose shadow stretched far across the cobblestones. Cecilia, Ash's mother, had broad, powerful shoulders, a thick braid of brown hair, and a scar slashing down across her left eye. Her entire presence was... formidable. And at only five feet tall, Ashrosaliera, despite being eighteen, had already been towered over by almost every other teenager she met.
Cecilia's voice came out low and gravelly. "Ashrosaliera Säpphroaleryst, did you forget something?"
"I… I forgot my necklace." Ash answered, tapping both of her index fingers together embarrassingly.
"AND more importantly: your luggage. Do you think you're going to spend the next 4 years at the academy not bathing, young woman?"
===
Quest: Reach The Carriage Without Inconveniencing Anyone
Reward: +0.01 System Point
Status: FAILED
===
"Aw… I failed another quest." Ash pouted when she saw the system message board appear in front of her eyes.
"Well, that'll teach you to think twice before going anywhere without your stuff. God, it's like you never grew up. And don't say your secret thing out loud, we told you this."
Cecilia scoffed, all disappointed and defeated, dealing with her bratty daughter.
She then kneeled down on one leg, and took out a necklace with a fire-shaped crystal as the pendant, before putting it around Ash's neck, the large woman took great care in making sure it wouldn't fall off or choke her daughter. After finishing up, Mom gave Ashrosaliera a big kiss on the cheek.
"Remember, Ash."
Mom tapped the necklace pendant, making it glow bright red.
"This necklace is for us to monitor you. If you take it off or if you dare to use your SSS-Rank skill, I'm going straight to the academy, and I'm going to spank you in front of all the boys and girls there."
She gave Ash a warm smile, a threatening smile that didn't seem comforting.
"Y… Yes ma'am :<"
Ash was feeling more and more down, but then Cecilia pressed her hand down on the girl's hair. Giving her head pats.
"Now, go get 'em, tigress. Don't come home stupid."
They hugged one last time, holding on to the embrace for a long time before Ash would finally leave the safety and comfort of her home, and set foot in a brand new world, without any friends or family members to help her navigate the cruel world out there.
Ashrosaliera was small enough to fit in Cecilia's arms and more, so much so that Cecilia was touching her shoulders.
"Thank you… Momma, for all those years… Send Dad my regards when he's home from his business trip, too."
"Sure thing, honey… If anyone bully you, make sure to kick their asses."
Cecilia would look at the small figure of Ashrosaliera as the girl approached the horse carriage, set to depart for the royal magic academy. A tear streamed down her eye, and when she thought she finally could turn around and let her daughter fly off into the skies with unchained wings.
She noticed a briefcase on the ground.
"So help me god… ASHROSALIERA! You come back here right now!"
"Oopsies~"
Ashrosaliera ran back to where Cecilia was and jumped up to kiss her mom on the cheek one more time before finally remembering to grab the briefcase with all her clothes and necessities inside.
"Off to the academy, I go!"
Getting back on the carriage, Ash poked her head out of the window to wave goodbye to Cecilia, and her mom waved back.
"Blehhhh." Then Ash suddenly pulled her eyebags down and stuck her tongue out to tease her mom after the carriage had started rolling its wheels.
"Why you little…! Don't make me come over there and spank you in front of our lawn for the neighbors to see!"
"Bye, mommy! I'm going to miss you! I'll send letters!" Ashrosaliera chuckled happily after yelling out, filled with hopes and dreams, as she yelled out to her mom.
Cecilia was mad, very much so, but deep down, she'd miss the girl dearly, and the house wouldn't have those annoying sounds of running and singing of her energetic, fiery soul.
"Whenever you need, just come home or call me! It's fine if you don't get a government job like your father! We have a farm!" Cecilia yelled back.
"I'm not picking any shovel back up ever again, Mom!"
This is the story of Ashrosaliera, the young woman who shall one day be the [Elemental Empress]
===
Name: Ashrosaliera Inmopotalten Empyreanel Säpphroaleryst
Age: 18
Unallocated System Point: 0.95
Status:
- HP: 150/150 (Requires a minimum of 1 system point to upgrade)
- MP: 300/300 (Requires minimum of 1 system point to upgrade)
Skills:
- Fireball: SSS (Unable to upgrade any further)
- Fire Flight: B (Requires 2 system points to upgrade)
- Blazing Blade: F (Requires 1 system point to upgrade)
- Warm Heal:? (Requires 1 system point to unlock)
- Flame Pillar:? (Requires 1 system point to unlock)
- Ignition Armor:? (Requires 2 system points to unlock)
- Flash:? (Requires 2 system points to unlock)
- Soul Marker:? (Requires 2 system points to unlock)
- Spiritual Kindle:? (Requires 3 system points to unlock)
- Total Marker:? (Requires 4 system points to unlock)
- …
===