The Path to Knowledge

Laplace and Lucy were standing in front of their seats, Laplace seeming to react with passive aggression to Lucy's words, which injected venom with every syllable she uttered. Though for Ren and Rio this scene was new, they could sense a certain shared routine in their relationship, as if they had argued before.

— You were the one who received the young apprentices, weren't you? Don't set aside your cordiality so soon and proceed — Laplace exclaimed with a certain air of grandeur.

— Cordiality? I'm not falling for that game. Both you and I know well that this dynamic goes by turns; after all, we're both instructors. I give one lesson and you give the next, right? — Lucy exclaimed, hands on her hips.

— And don't come presuming your noble title; your father may be a viscount, yes, but you know well that my father holds that title too. So even if you entered this place through some family help, it doesn't exempt you from your responsibility. Or do you really not fear your dear students accusing you? — Lucy asked, glancing at Ren and Rio with a sly smile.

Laplace, defeated by Lucy's logic and fearful of being implicated by the kids, furrowed his brow and grumbled under his teeth. With a resigned air, he pushed toward the desk while his eyes briefly shifted to Ren and Rio, as if recalling the reason for his concern. Finally, he prepared to start the class, maintaining his usual carefree style more out of habit than true calm.

Once the required lessons for the missions were finished, Lucy asked if they would continue with another one, to which both replied that for today it was enough. At that response, Lucy abruptly lost her cordial air and turned toward Laplace, who also stood from his seat, ready to argue.

It seemed the doubts about skills would have to wait until their instructors calmed down, so, over that tense situation, they decided to go for breakfast and leave the "imperial" drama between their instructors.

Already in the dining hall, having been laughing about the past situation, they looked for someone familiar without success. Upon finishing, they spent part of the morning searching for Noah or the Chief Butler and Maid, but didn't find them, so they decided to return to their instructors.

Upon knocking, Lucy received them cordially; she was alone in the room and asked if they were there to take another lesson, which they denied. Then Lucy proceeded to walk nonchalantly to take her seat.

The young apprentices also entered, sat in their seats even though it wasn't lesson time, and Rio said:

— Miss Lucy, we have some doubts we'd like you to clarify. Would you be so kind as to take some time for us? — she asked respectfully.

— Of course, fire away with your questions — Lucy replied while opening a book she had on her side table, with total disregard for the "etiquette" she claimed to uphold.

— Could you tell us the basics about "skills"? We heard about them from a servant in the cafeteria — Ren asked, aware that NPCs might not have the interface or know the term.

— Ah, that... — Lucy replied, opening the book and flipping pages.

— As you know, skills appear generally in your interfaces — she said, downplaying the fact that the young apprentices were new to the job rather than to the world.— Also, there are secondary branches that branch off from each skill and can influence how the main version manifests. However, most believe focusing on the general skill is enough. Let me give you an example: the cleaning skill levels up with every cleaning act, but we know it also boosts a more specific skill, since scrubbing clothes isn't the same as dusting furniture. Though we firmly believe specific skills only slightly enhance the general one, so we don't give them much importance. —

— You're surely wondering if the lessons we give increase those skills, especially servant-related ones. I imagine you want to progress fast, but don't worry too much: the lessons do increase your level, but demanding too much at once isn't advisable. The best is steady progress. —

— Is that the basics you wanted to know about skills? Being worried about improving doesn't mean you forget what you should already know since you were born, or am I wrong? Relax, you're doing well. — Lucy concluded.

Ren brought a hand to his head, rubbing it nervously while trying to calm down, remembering the sphere monitors any disorder toward NPCs, and though they said surveillance was mainly about players, he didn't want to risk or cause issues.

With a forced smile, he said:

— I think with that we've resolved the doubt, right, Rio? —

Rio, seeing Ren's nervousness and analyzing they might suspect they're from another world by how Lucy spoke, decided to heed Ren and bid Lucy farewell without issue.

With midday approaching, Ren said goodbye to Rio as his Self-Defense classes neared. Ren took both of Rio's arms with his and looked into her eyes, smiling:

— Keep your spirits up, Rio; soon our skills will surface and we can go back to Noah for guidance, okay? — Ren said, tilting his head with a smile.

— While I'm away, you could do activities you regularly did in the other world, like walking, writing, or something habitual, or maybe try something new; it might make leveling easier, don't you think? —

Rio replied with a nearly simulated smile; her sadness over skills taking long to appear overwhelmed her from time to time:

— Yes, sure. —

With Ren gone, Rio headed inside intending to find the head maid to resolve her doubts, or better yet, someone resembling the "professor" Noah mentioned, as she was a magic expert.

Meanwhile, Ren was at the spot in the wing where Noah agreed to meet, then they headed to the service door.

There, a guard received them, had them write a log with their names, and asked where they were going. Ren mentioned heading to the central library, and Noah said he'd only go out briefly to wait for a girl and return.

The guard noted Noah's shyness and thought it typical of a timid youth asking a bolder friend for courage to ask a girl out; though he found it childish, in reality Noah just disliked being outside the mansion.

Moments later, outside the mansion, the feline girl with tigress features arrived with wild, aggressive impetus, running on all fours, stopping right where Noah and Ren were.

— Hi! Hi! So you finally mustered courage to leave the mansion, huh? — the girl said, kicking Noah's butt as her "form" of greeting.

— No! Not at all, I'm just here for a favor. See, I want to introduce you to a summoned, he's interested in "reading books" — Noah said, winking and simultaneously signaling with hand and fingers "reading," as if reading Braille.

— Oooh, yes, reading books, so that's it! Great that someone like us is interested in that, and since the library's on my way, I could guide him... Is it him? — she pointed with her thumb while the other hand rested on her hip. — Hmm, hi, what do we have here? You look great in that suit, though — the girl hurried to squeeze Ren's forearm with some force, scrutinizing his body. — Yeah, I knew it; you're a bit lacking muscle. Well, that's how it is. I'm Nina, nice to meet you! —

Ren was confused and blushing at Nina's manner but didn't dwell and introduced himself.

— Nice to meet you, my name is Ren, at your service! — Ren said, rubbing his neck with one hand while showing the palm with the other in greeting.

Noah asked Nina to take good care of him, handing Ren a briefcase he'd left with the guard.

— Carry this briefcase at all times, Ren, as if you were Nina's servant, and if anyone asks, you're carrying her belongings since Nina plans to move to the city — Noah said, a bit paranoid, looking around for a golden aura.

— I wish you good luck. I think nothing will happen but better safe. I don't like being out, so I'll leave you — he said, heading back inside.

— He's always been a house cat — Nina said referring to Noah. — Well, shall we go?! —

Ren and Nina began the journey from outside the mansion to the library. Nina pointed out each turn they needed to take, and Ren followed through streets barely changing vibe.

— I know why you decided to go to the library, or at least I'm almost sure. Every summoned gets curious once they know... what you know — Nina commented openly as they walked.

— Actually, I didn't learn the other language — referring to the book, gesturing holding one and running a hand over it. — Actually, I'm pretty dumb at that, but I don't mind; I trust Noah, and everything he says must be true because even to me it makes sense. You know? There haven't been incidents between "people" — she said, making air quotes with fingers referring to players — in town. —

As they walked, Nina asked Ren to tell his story, so he gave a general account of recent days, without touching FAQ "talks" or naming Rio, just calling her a friend.

After Ren finished, Nina asked no questions and continued.

— My arrival here started very similarly to yours — Nina said, hand to chin in reflective pose, fingers extended. — I dressed as a feline girl from one of my favorite online games for a cosplay contest; I really wanted that money to invest in the game — Nina said frustrated, thinking she'd win.

— Everything happened exactly like with you, the buzzing arrival sound, the introduction. But I think the sphere didn't find a profession as fitting for me, so it turned me into another race. Though you know? It's weird the same rule applies to me: "you must stay in that role"; haha, it made it easy, my current race migrates a lot, I can come and go as I please without issue. —

— Plus, even if not this race, getting scared of those golden types is contradictory; nervousness would raise doubts, but you know? They have no way to tell we're different from NPCs. If you went out all day, just have a reason in mind, like the briefcase, or easier, if someone says something, you're just waiting for your master, and then the players should leave you alone; no player interacts much. But anyway, if I haven't had issues, I can't imagine you would have... —

Ren could only smile nervously; it was too much info, and he stayed alert to any player, though possibly thinking Nina sensed his nervousness and told the story to calm him.

The library was close, and Nina finished her adventures.

— ... so, hunter work can vary a lot, but that keeps me from getting bored! Though you know? In recent missions, more monsters than usual appear, especially in cities and outskirts, but that's fine for me! The guild prefers monster missions 'cause they're better paid; they leave "hunt" ones, and I can take all! I don't complain; anyway, here we are. —

Ren and Nina arrived at the library, a huge building in a busy city area, so without delay, they entered.