Doctor Skittles smiled at Karl and gestured to the four children who weren’t in hiding.
“Should we head out for the evening? I will see you all tomorrow morning along with some of the other doctors, and the students can return at any time you are free.” He suggested.
“That works for us. I assure you that Miss Sybil will be alive and better behaved by morning.” Karl agreed.
The doctor nodded, then gestured for the kids to follow him out. They all waved happily, knowing that they would not only be back, but that they had the greatest ever story to brag about with their friends tonight. In fact, they intended to practice their new skills until lights out, or until the clerics forced them to go to bed, whichever came second.
Once the door was closed, Tessa turned to Rae. “Why don’t I try talking to her about what was going through her head that made her think it was alright to attack another student?” Sybil glared at her and began gesturing frantically in Lotus’ direction.
“I can read sign language as well.” Tessa replied, gesturing along with her words.
Maybe it was an oversight in Karl’s education that he didn’t. Or it might just be a cleric thing.
While Tessa and the young Rogue had a silent conversation, Lotus came over to translate for everyone else.
“She says that she actually won the draw, but the bullies beat her up and stole the winning stick, so when the teachers came to see who had been chosen to go, John had her stick. That’s why she ambushed him and took her spot back.
Oh, that’s interesting. According to Skittles, she was previously in protective custody because she killed her foster brother.” Lotus quietly narrated.
Dana and Ophelia gave Karl dubious looks, but he was more interested in watching the interaction, even if he needed translation to learn what they were saying.
“Tessa told her that she’s considered an Elite now, and that sort of behaviour will get her drugged to limit her powers while she is locked up for life.
It looks like she understands, and now that she’s becoming more certain that she will get to stay, she’s not speaking with so much anger.” Lotus continued.
[We need to teach her Shadow Step. If she had that, nobody would have noticed the bully going missing.] Rae suggested.
[She’s a Rogue, she will get to it eventually. Did you want to teach her stealth skills first after we have helped her senses?] Karl replied.
[That should be good. Her starting skill is [Backstab], so she needs a way to get behind the enemies.]
[Alright, I will work on teaching her [Silent Movement] and [Echolocation], assuming that she can learn both.] Karl agreed.
“Are you really going to train her? The girl likely belongs in prison.” Ophelia asked, with her back turned to Sybil and Tessa.
“She likely does, but yes. I intend to train her into a proper Rogue Class Elite, and then she can take over duties that will make her childhood bullying seem like a happy memory. Besides, training is the only way that anything is going to change for her, and she’s just going to get worse if we don’t do something.
So, if we’ve got a tiny psychopath on our hands, why not train her up and set her loose on someone else?
I am certain that she would be just as happy on the Frost Giant front as she is in her dorm at the orphanage.”
Karl had forgotten that she could see him, but he didn’t miss the panic as she read his lips.
It had never occurred to her that Elites might be sent somewhere terrible. She hadn’t thought about it past the part where they had the power to get away from the bullies. So, her responses to Tessa were becoming increasingly concerned that she might immediately be sent off to war now that she was an Elite.
Tessa was patiently explaining that there were requirements, and that she still had to learn to behave before she was sent off to the Academy so that she could gain more power after their group got her started.
It was a strange situation, but even Remi was getting in on the excitement, and she had found some shadow element items from the giants, both plants and magical stones that she could grind into potions. freeweɓnvel.com
[I still need more books. Tell the delivery person that I need books.] Remi reminded Karl.
[Alright, I will have them send up some related Alchemy and Shamanistic magic books for you after they deliver dinner. Does anyone else need anything?]
[I will let you know after my bath.] Rae replied, while the others just ignored the question, as they didn’t need anything that a human could deliver them.
Instead of wasting more time, Karl took a seat at the table and started to write out the [Echolocation] skill, which he wasn’t certain would be compatible with the girl at all. Then he went on to [Silent Movement] his lone personal stealth skill.
He didn’t actually use it much, but he suspected that Rae could use it as a passive, as she was uncannily silent as she moved around the house.
Being the only thing around which was not making noise would make it easy for Rae, or a Rogue, to spot any other movement in the dark by using an Echolocation type skill. Tessa looked up from their conversation. “Alright, I think that we’ve got things sorted well enough. Were you going to teach her a skill tonight?” Karl nodded. “At least one. Likely two. Then Rae has training planned for her tonight. Our new friend might be up past her bedtime, but we won’t start the training until after dinner.”
What would happen if a Common Rank Elite ate a whole bowl of stew made from Royal Rank ingredients was a mystery. Higher Rank ingredients were great for growth, but the Academy simply didn’t have anything with that big of a power gap available. Karl hoped that having a constantly open Commander Rank dungeon might help with that, though. Elites could repeat it, though not immediately. So, they could farm resources, which should include at least some edible ingredients and potions from the rewards.
Growth Potions, the sort that enhanced an ability or physical status, were normally only beneficial once, so after the dungeon repeating group members had used them, they would become a tradable resource for others.
“Alright, Sybil, come over here and try to read these books. If they work, you will get good things.” Karl instructed, after making sure she was looking at him.