Cherreads

Chapter 2 - [2]:Embryo

[Balance the Scales] was a bit scarier. When I activated it, I generated a Trump field around my body out to a maximum of a 10 meter radius (I could make it smaller if I wished, but only when I activate it. Once activated the size was set until it deactivated) that lowered the physical stats of anyone who entered it to equal mine. Since my own strength was…negligible at best, this was a very good thing.

Both Skills were linked to Iustitia's 'First Form' and could only be activated while she was in that state.

[Justice over Earthly Authority] apparently gave Iustitia the ability to render judgement onto others. It was a bit like the Penance Stare from Ghost Rider, except it didn't leave the victim a vegetable. Instead, by locking eyes with someone, Iustitia could instantly learn any crime that the person had knowingly committed, even witnessing the person's own memory of the crime if she so chose to. It wasn't really rendering judgement in my opinion, but it was still a very useful ability and one that could be very useful for a hero.

Finally, [The People's Welfare is Supreme] allowed her to heal people. When this skill was activated, either by her or me uttering its name, her Maiden Form would suddenly begin to glow brightly and anyone within the light's reach would be healed. Like [Justice is Blind] and [Balance the Scales] it had a range of 10 meters centered on wherever Iustitia's body was manifested. It was primarily focused on healing physical trauma; cuts, bruises, lacerations, torn muscles, and could even reduce swelling in the brain to heal concussions and similar trauma. Sadly it was ineffective against diseases, cancer or anything like that; though it did affect poisons, both burning through them with time and undoing the damage they caused.

These two skills could only be activated while Iustitia was in her 'Maiden Form,' which was apparently the form I'd been speaking to.

"Whew…that is one impressive set of abilities that you have." I muttered, looking at my…Embryo…with appraising eyes.

"Yup. Especially considering that's only my First Form." The little goddess girl smirked.

"Yeah, the status page did say that you had access to seven of them." I noted, absently flipping the screens back to said page. "How do you gain them?"

"You have to get stronger, Master." Iustitia stated. "At the moment, you are Level 0, weak. As you grow stronger and walk down your path, I can grow stronger myself and evolve as your convictions and personality grows."

"Huh?"

Iustitia walked over to me and tenderly grabbed my hand. "Master…Taylor, I was born from your desire for justice. Your need to make things right. As you walk along your path, I will grow and it will shape my path as well. I may change to a different type as opposed to a Maiden with Arms."

"What types are there?" I wondered.

"The main types are Arms, Guardian, Chariot, Castle and Territory." Iustitia explained, ticking each off on a finger. "Arms, as I explained, are weapons or armour. Guardians are similar to Maidens, but take the form of a creature that either attacks your foes, protects you, or offers some form of support abilities. Chariots are vehicles; they can literally be any kind of vehicle that the Master can control and ride and offer a wide range of abilities based on the form manifested. Castles can manifest as entire buildings that their Master can live in and often comes with defensive and supplementary abilities. Finally, Territories are barriers that enclose areas and inflict their abilities on all who stand within them. There are also rarer types like Legion types. They are rare Embryos that produce multiple creatures, not unlike Guardians though they often trade quality for quantity, which the player can command. Typically, they are the Sixth or Seventh Forms of a Guardian Embryo."

"So…you could become a Type-Maiden with Territory?" I clarified.

"Depending on how I grow, yes." Iustitia confirmed. I had to drive an episode of Earth Aleph's version of Red Dwarf out of my mind, the one with the cornily named Justice Field in it.

"Okay, so I guess the question is…how do I get stronger?" I mused. "I need a costume to go out as a Cape and I don't have one."

"Well, you're close to levelling up, Master." My Embryo noted. "I'd guess the experience points are from learning those three skills. Learning another one should do the trick."

"OK, what skill? I take it you have one in mind?" I questioned.

"Command me to transform into my Arms form." She said with a small smile.

"Uh…OK. Iustitia, take on your weapon form!" I said.

"By your command, Master." Iustitia curtseyed before vanishing in a flash of light. In her place was a sword. It was about the same size as her Maiden Form and had a leaf-shaped blade. Floating next to it was a set of scales, looking to be made of gold.

"This is my First Form, Master." The Embryo said. "Form One: [Sword and Scales of Justice]."

"So…sword fighting?" I asked.

"Sword Mastery, but yes." Iustitia answered. "Thanks to having an Embryo, you will learn skills by doing repeated actions. Swinging my sword form will gain you the Sword Skills tree and possibly a Job."

"A Job? Do I get paid?" I joked, rather lamely I will admit.

"Not in the way that you mean." Iustitia answered, evidently needing to learn when someone was joking or being sarcastic. "Earning a job and levelling up that job gains you boosts to your stats, HP, MP and Stamina, as well as Class-specific Skills. You can even have multiple jobs equipped at once. Some Rare Jobs require that you have certain Jobs equipped as a perquisite."

…wow. I was in a RL version of an MMORPG.

'Whatever. Roll with it. Just roll with it, Taylor.' I urged myself not wanting to go back into Blue Screen Mode.

"OK…this still leaves the question of where to hide you." I frowned. "Dad can be a bit dense, but even he isn't going to miss a ten year old dressed up like Lady Justice walking around, and he might find you if I leave you like this."

Iustitia transformed back to her Maiden form. "I can store myself inside of your Crest, Master."

I blinked. "My what?"

She pointed at my left hand and, resting where that odd circular scar had been, was now an elaborate tattoo depicting Iustitia in her sword form. "That tattoo is a Crest, the mark of the Master of an Embryo. I can store myself inside of it and speak to you telepathically if needed. This way, I can come out whenever you need, and I can assume whichever of my forms you need when I emerge."

That…did sound convenient. The telepathy thing was weird and a bit unpleasant to think about, but hey, she had basically been downloading information from my mind for the entire month she had been in Zeroth Form, so a little bit of telepathy was scarcely something to be concerned about at this point, I suppose.

"OK. Sounds like a plan." I smiled at her. "Looking forward to working with you, Iustitia."

"And I you, Master." Iustitia nodded back at me with a smile. "I am looking forward to becoming a Superior Embryo."

"A what now?" I asked.

"It is very hard to become a Seventh Form Embryo." My partner explained. "Those that manage it are known as 'Superior Embryos' and their Masters are known as 'Superior Masters,' or just Superiors for short. I have a good feeling I will reach that level while walking by your side, Master."

"Is there anything special about the Seventh Form?" I wondered.

"Yes." Iustitia nodded emphatically. "At the Sixth and Seventh Forms, an Embryo learns their two ultimate skills, ones that involve their name. Mine would start with 'Iustitia' and then have the rest of the attack name after that. They are the pinnacle of an Embryo's existence and a symbol of their pride."

"Wow…OK, I really like the sound of that." I nodded. "I'll definitely try to get you that far, Iustitia."

"Thank you, Master!" my Embryo hugged me around the waist. "Now we'd better find a place for you to practice with the sword so you can earn a Job."

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