Born a Monster

[Today is your birthday. You are now three years old. One development point has been awarded.]

I found that I couldn’t, though, and so began making inquiries.

[You have 42/80 health.]

[Level 0 Class closest to leveling: Psychologist [Science], 57/100 XP to level 1.]

[Level 1 Class closest to leveling: Shaman [Divine], 163/300 XP to level 2.]

[Valor/Melee Defense: +1/max 6 would cost 18 development points.]

[Valor/Melee Defense/Block: +1/max 6 would cost 9 development points.]

[Power – Firm Shield: +1 to Valor/Melee Defense (6 points), +1 to Valor/Melee Defense/Block (3 points), +1 to Valor/Melee Defense/Block/Shield Block (1 point), each use lasts 6 seconds, uses per day cost 2 points each. Minimum cost to unlock: 12 development points. Unlock condition: Level 1 in appropriate Warrior/Martial class. Currently locked.]

.....

[Cultivation method with most free XP: Siege has 28 unspent XP.]

What? When had I even GOTTEN a Siege cultivation method?

I yawned, wishing that I could just get back to sleep, but since I couldn’t, and because my System was being unhelpful, I decided a large breakfast was in order.

As stated earlier, I wouldn’t get to partake of the meal myself. There was plenty of a grain called millet, so I set two large kettles of the stuff to boil slowly. Mixed vegetables, leftover duck parts, and wide lids with weights to hold them in place.

Tea, some green, some black; more than any two normal squads would need. Again over lower fires than normal, so that it could cook slowly.

More chopped vegetables, thin slices of fruit, and diced potatoes turned the few eggs I could find into a scramble.

There were almost nothing for sauces, so I coaxed together various herbs and spices with a bit of melted fat from a jar of leftover grease.

“Ah, good. We will need large meals today.” Captain Feng said. “We have received word from First Oracular and Divination, Xinyi Shi returns tonight, just after dusk.”

# Narrator: Wa Fenya

“All I’m saying is that if neither the sun nor Lord Xho are up, neither should we be.” Gun Nong complained.

“Why ARE you out with the rest of us?” Hoo Long asked.

“I am the sergeant, Specialist Wa is our chi specialist, and both of us are needed when there is no officer present.”

“There are exceptions for severe and grievous wounds, fifth sergeant.” I reminded him. “Though, so long as you do not slow us, I very much would rather have your spear beside us.”

I looked at the path of mud and filth between the tents. “What do you think, gentlemen? Left between the yellow tents and the green?”

“We’ve been that way before, tonight.” Hoo Long complained.

“Once more past the refuse pit won’t harm me any.” He looked up at the west wall, still shrouded in shadows.

“Fine.” I said. “Let’s just get back to the inn, where cold beds await the two of you, and a report to his lordship awaits me.”

“Our orders were until the sun touches both walls.” Hoo Long reminded me.

“And if we patrol back, will the sunlight be on the top of the west wall by then?”

He exhaled, rubbing his eyes. “If not, we can always patrol nearby until then.”

Gun Nong required no such motivation, turning back without even being asked.

The tiniest sliver of light was touching the western crenelations, so I dismissed both of them to bed.

Lord Tang, assistant to Lord Xho, was eating a meager breakfast. “You and your men may wait outside.” He said.

“My men have earned their night’s rest, sir. A minimum of six hours, measured by candles, which I shall burn in my room after I make my report.”

“I am eating, and my lord has need of your soldiers today.”

“And if he had stayed awake with us, that would not be an issue, your lordship.”

He made a noise between a huff and a cough. “So sorry, sergeant Wa, but that is NOT what is happening today. I am your interim officer, and you SHALL obey my orders.”

“Within the limits of the Imperial Manual of Arms, absolutely sir.”

“I am a lord, not some mere SIR.”

“And I, sir, am a chi specialist, or specialist, and not a sergeant. And as the ranking military person...”

“You see! You see! From your own lips, you are NOT a noble, but a soldier.”

“As the ranking military person in time of warfare or siege...”

“Don’t quote your military regulations at me! This is now a task of the nobility, and your precious manual of arms does not apply!”

I blinked at him. This was the conduct you expected from noble children, not adults.

“Furthermore, any noble has ABSOLUTE control over all of you. Even if I say...”

“Your lordship should NOT say...”

But he did say the words.

I sighed.

My hands remembered the old patterns, my mind and soul the associated sigils. “Ren, Kuan, Tetsu. By the power of my soul, I empower you. Strike now my enemy. Blade of Chi!”

I left his body, split from base of the ribcage to top of his skull. The spray of blood had spattered me.

“You, breakfast server.”

He fell prone onto his face. “I have no choice but to tell what I saw.”

“And what you’ve heard?”

“So sorry, but it is exactly so.”

“Fine, draw me a bath, and tell whomever comes for me EXACTLY what he ordered the ranking soldier to do.”

“I do not think that will save you from an unfortunate fate, ma’am.”

I shrugged. “Draw up the bath in any case. If I journey to meet my ancestors, at least I can be clean when I get there.”

It was during the bath that Lord Xho thrust open the door. Not brazenly, to my surprise, nor were there military men crowding the door frame.

The surprising part is that he was prone upon the floor, his face downcast.

“I am sorry,” he said, “for the buffoonery of my attendant. I hear that he pronounced one of the four unutterable orders.”

I leaned back into my bath. It was scented of jasmine and sage, and honestly was far more luxurious than it had any right to be.

“The young do sometimes try to take advantage, Lord Xho. So sorry, but honor to my caste required that I not permit him to live.”

“He... I cannot protect you from his family, but none of them here are within the walls. I humbly ask of you not to depart, but to remain on task.”

“The task is not overly onerous, I see no reason to depart. However, you will understand if I insist upon this morning’s break as demanded by the Imperial Manual of Arms. I am certain that we will not need to hold to every point of it, as this is not standard work. But neither will I throw the health or welfare of soldiers under my command away – unless it clearly aids the mission, of course.”

“I would be honored to receive your report after your break.” He said.

“If it is all the same to your lordship,” I said, “I could give the report first.”

He looked up, quizzically. Then, when he saw I was serious, he shuffled into the room and closed the door behind him. “I had three sisters, one of whom is still in this world. Please make your report on last night’s patrol. What did you discover?”

# Narrator – Rhishisikk

It was a thing of beauty, fashioned from white steel, and I just spun it watching the light prism off its polished surface.

“It’s a gift from all of us.” Kang Shi said.

“Go ahead, strap it to your arm.” Said Hyu Song.

I did so; as perverse as it sounds, I wanted to see how well the shield could stand up to Xinyi Shi’s thrusts. We’d been discussing tactics, on and off, particularly how do take advantage of his blind spot, should he have lost an eye.

“We worried that it might be too heavy.” Sister Yoshi said.

“Nonsense.” I said, doing a few practice maneuvers. “I mean, yes, but nothing I can’t handle. How did you possibly afford such a thing?”

“Its former owner was buried here, a victim of the recent bout of plagues. He had no family, but I know the shield would want to be used by a skilled armiger like yourself.” Captain Feng said.

There was a moment of tension.

“Does it already have a name?” I could see the edges of a runic circle of protection on the inside of the shield.

“None that we know of.” Hyu Song said. “What SHALL we name it?”

There was a round of proposed names, Mirror Lake, Steel Moon, and Wall Against Xinyi Shi being among the most common. Struck by an inspiration, I put my Reticule on it.

[Shield.]

[Shield, White Steel, Resistance: 6 (16 points all physical), Durability: 9 (224/240 condition).]

And, finally:

.....

“Dawn’s Protector.” I announced, holding it high.

“A round of drink for Dawn’s Protector, may it keep our Monitor, and us, alive!” Captain Feng announced.

“You are between me and Xinyi Shi tonight.” Kang Shi told me. “Between the two of us, let’s see if we can take his other eye.”

“If a man cannot see, he cannot fight.” I said.

I know. But silver grey steel doesn’t sound as cool.