Analysis

"Do you have to be so stubborn?" aunt Lyna asked. "It's a good marriage prospect. The boy is of your age, and the Panrose family is really well off. Why are you complaining?"

It'd been a week since Dori was separated from her family. Her mother had shed a few tears and left, commanding her to obey. Her sister was pretty thrilled to leave for the capital while her brother had protested a little.

A week had been enough for Dori to calm down, but doom and gloom surrounded her and her aunt could feel it all too well.

"Who said I'm complaining?" Dori retorted. Complaining would do nothing, she was brainstorming other plans. One of which was sneaking into the Panrose Household and challenging the guy to a duel. Surely the guy wouldn't whine about marrying a girl who whooped his arse.

The problem was being heavily guarded. Aunt Lyna, and her husband, Uncle Teros, had been warned by the Head that she's to be properly disciplined. Their own two girls were pretty, amicable, and they'd been trying to entice her with all the possible reward a good girl might receive. Like praises from people, acceptance, cosmetics, and similar bull-droppings.

She missed her well-behaved teacher. The girl no longer visited her and she had been receiving her lessons from aunt Lyna. Aunt Lyna was a good person, but a terrible teacher. She could read and write well, but her teaching style was so boring and dull that almost all of those ended in Dori falling asleep.

Dori wasn't entirely heartless. Aunt Lyna wasn't her mother, uncle Teros wasn't her father, so she didn't feel like making it too hard for them. So she endured, trying to reign in her rage and helplessness while waiting for any opportunity.

And an opportunity came out of the blue after two more weeks.

Her two cousins, Hila and Nori, were planning on a sort of an outing and they invited Dori as a form of reward for her recent dormancy. They bathed her, chose her dress, complimented on her delicate skin and adorable face, had a long struggle of straightening her hair, powered her face, and finally, they looked satisfied.

Dori looked at the mirror and seeing the whitened face, she rolled her eyes. They had turned her into a doll, waiting to be decorated in some kid's collection. 'These people really like fairer skin. It's a horror show,' she groaned inside but smiled because it was required. Hila and Nori nodded in acceptance.

♫ ♪ ♬ ♫ ♪ ♬ ♫ ♪ ♬ ♫ ♪ ♬ ♫ ♪ ♬

✌ New Achievement! ✌

✯ Hiding in Plain Sight ✯

🎉 Unlocked Item: ??? (insufficient access)

🎉 Unlocked Potion: 🍾Persona🍾 (50%)

Dori shook off her annoyance. Learning the ways of the world was a must, blending in was a requirement and breaking out was inevitable.

Two of the house guards escorted her entourage as they walked out of the house. There was a carriage outside, waiting to be elegantly ridden, and two elegantly dressed boys to be elegant companions. There were umbrellas waiting inside, to look even more elegant once they walked out. They'd be going to the theater, watch the show, be courted by the boys, and then be back before noon.

The theater was on the outskirts of the city, near the river. Midways there, they picked up one more guy. This one was rather young, a year or two older than Dori. Harbert Bassil. The boy looked comfortable talking to the girls without the common hints of shyness that the other two were showing, so the journey wasn't as dull as she dreaded.

When they reached near the theater, the light outside suddenly went dark. She looked out the window and saw a scary sight. The entire sky was being molested, foggy dark clouds were roiling. Dori could swear the sky was clean and blue a few minutes ago.

She saw the sound-wave before she heard it. The ripple swept over the carriage, giving it a violent shake and roared.

Even after the sound went away, the shaking of the didn't stop. Earthquake. The clouds visibly cleared in a few seconds, like it was never dark. 'What the heck is going on?'

Nori and Hila looked scared and the boys were comforting them while trying to hide their own discomfort. They walked out of the carriage and saw people trying to asses the situation. A few shops had their roofs ripped off, but other than that the only sign remained was the scared faces.

"Maybe an immortal sneezed," said Harbert, the youngest of the boys.

"Where's the booger then?" Dori asked.

"Maybe he snorted it back," the boy said, making her laugh.

Nori looked really annoyed. "Don't disrespect the immortals. They see everything and hear everything."

Harbert waved away her fear. He spoke with a maturity that didn't suit his age, "That's just a myth. They are very much like us, only stronger. The lands are big, the skies are vast and the ocean is endless. No one can see everything or hear everything."

Nori squinted her eyes. "How'd you know what they see or hear?"

Harbert gave her a mysterious grin, "Maybe because I've met one? She was injured, I helped him. Turned out she's an immortal."

"Liar," Nori snorted, then realizing she wasn't being elegant, she stopped talking.

"Are you lying?" Dori picked up the conversion.

Herbart punched his chest lightly. "I don't lie to girls. She said she was a herb picker from the Thunderbrows sect and that she was assaulted by a demonic beast."

This time Hila interjected. "Thounderbrows' nearest sect-branch is tens of thousands of miles away. Where did you meet her? And if she was mauled by a demonic beast, how did you help her?" She was a year older than Nori, almost seventeen, and more educated than her sister.

"Why are you taking the kid seriously?" Nora complained again.

Harbert started yammering. "What do you know? Immortals can travel really fast and cover great distances. When I was searching for treasures in the forest across the river, I saw her flying over, and then she fell from the sky and fainted. I merely gave her a whiff of my socks and she woke up. She thanked me and gave me a kiss on the cheek. Then she said if I ever try their sect-recruitment, I should go and find her."

More and more he spoke, less and less they believed him, but Dori was still curious. The shock-wave came from across the river, she'd seen it. Even if the kid was boasting nonsense, maybe the guy did see an actual Immortal. Her father was a strong guy, and the family Head was the strongest she knew, but she also knew none of them could be called an immortal. The Head had reached the pinnacle of the 'Body Refinement' and looked really young for his age but he didn't have the talent to break free of the shackle that bound the mortals.

Dori focused on the part that interested her. "Did you say sect-recruitment? When is that?"

Harbert looked at her suspiciously. "Why do you care? Do you have good spirit roots?"

Dori was confused. What's a spirit root? She looked at Hila.

Hila noticed the question on her face. "We were all checked when we were five. Sects won't allow you in without strong roots. We can still be Mages, but not Immortals."

So many questions, so little answers. She wasn't clear about the details but she knew anyone who can fly on their own was an immortal. She looked toward the river and saw a few people flying over the water on their hover-planks.

She pulled Nori to the side and whispered, "I need to pee."

Nori widened her eyes at her shameless cousin. "Hold it in!"

"Why? Don't tell me the theater doesn't have a toilet," Dori rose her voice.

Harbert laughed. "There is, but it's not suitable for noble girls. Run home if you need to evacuate."

Dori took a mental note. One kick, saved for Harbert.

Hila was face-palming. The weeks-long etiquette lessons were for naught. She asked the guard to check if the toilets in the theater were available.

When they came back, Dori followed them.

The toilet was pristine so Dori couldn't tell what Harbert was snickering about. There weren't many girls inside, she only spotted one occupied stall. She chose a stall and squatted.

Once relived, she took her time to check the new potion she got.

🍾Persona🍾 (50%)

[Cost: 50 RP]

[Overuse Restriction: 1 day]

[Change your persona.]

Dori looked at the lack of information compared to the other potions she got as rewards, yet the cost was higher. What did 'changing persona' even mean? She noticed the absence of 'effect duration', which she had seen in every other potion so far. Was the effect permanent? That'd be scary for an effect she wasn't sure about.

Then she recalled her 'Analysis' feature. She bought a potion and then used 'Analysis'. She got the same few lines of info.

'Dang. What does the potion actually do?' Dori thought, frustrated. Then to her amazement, a new line appeared on the screen.

[Consumption of 🍾Persona🍾 creates an illusion of desired physique, appearance, and voice.]

She was suddenly elated. The seemingly useless feature turned out to be very useful all of a sudden. 'Can I be anyone?'

[User can use the personas user has memories of. More memories and clearer memories ensure better effect.]

Yes! She fist pumped. 'What's the fifty percent on the title stands for?'

[The percentage shows a potion's purity.]

'How long does the effect last?'

[The effect of 🍾Persona🍾 lasts until broken or until the flow of Spirit Energy is interrupted.]

Dori's face fell. Such a useful effect, but she didn't have a flow of spirit energy. The only person she had seen using the flow was the pedo healer.

Useless potion. She suddenly had an epiphany. Potions could have hidden pits and perks that she needed to force out with 'Analysis, by constantly nagging at it.

Wait, she had another potion that might be of use! She immediately asked the system, 'How much spirit energy do I need to use the potion?'

[Effect does not cost Spirit Energy. A constant flow of Spirit Energy can trigger and sustain the effect.]

No restriction on the time limit, no cost of sustaining the effect, yet the potion is merely at half its purity? 'How strong is the effect? Can people see through it?'

[Effect can be broken by external probing. Repelling external probing costs an equal amount of Spirit Energy.]

She laughed. Now she probably had a way to get out. 'Can I use the spirit energy flow enhancer to trigger and sustain the effect?'

No answer. Dori frowned. She still wasn't sure what she was allowed to ask. So, she bought a 'Spirit Energy Flow Enhancer' and gulped it.

This was her second time using one, and like the first time, she didn't notice anything happening. Then thinking about the guy she had a crush on years ago, she drank the 'Persona' potion. This time, she felt it. Like a warm quilt had been wrapped around her body.

She looked at her own arms, no longer flabby, young girl's hands. She touched her face, it wasn't the same contours she was used to. Her clothes had changed to a white t-shirt and a blue jeans pants like she remembered from the music video she used to play over and over. She tried imagining more immersive clothes for this world, but nothing happened. Maybe she was hoping too much.

Making sure it was safe to go out, she left her stall. The toilets were separated for men and women, so being spotted there in her new illusionary persona would be bad.

But then she realized that there were guards outside, waiting for her to come out. Dori didn't know how to sneak past them. For the second time, she felt like the new potion was incredibly useful yet useless at the same time.

She looked around. Stone walls and stone roof, with tiny ventilation-slits near the top. Basically a prison.

She sighed. Seventy points, wasted. She broke the persona effect and walked out. Now that she had a way, she could wait patiently, even prepare a little before running away. She still had to secure some currency and plan on what to do with freedom.

Looking for a sect to join was an option. Surely People would give some crap about her opinion if she became an Immortal. Or at least growing stronger than her great-great-grandfather would suffice for a while.

When she joined her cousins, it no longer felt suffocating. She looked at the River. It was so wide, she could barely see the other end. Something was out there.

The play was delayed for half an hour due to the unexplained incident that occurred. It was a play about a young, handsome, talented, rich boy who suddenly lost his parents and his wealth. His fiancee broke off their marriage, his close relatives shunned him. Then he went out on an epic journey, became a strong mage and then came back to rub it to his family. His fiancee was so regretful that she was driven mad. In the end, his parents' death turned out to be a ploy of a stronger foe and the protagonist vowed for revenge and it kind of ended there with no proper resolution. Probably as a hook for the people to attend the next show.

Theater audiences gave quite the applause, especially the boys seemed really hyped up. Dori wasn't that mad. She had laughed at a few gags the performers pulled off. She could even relate to the girl who played the fiancee. It was a young woman, probably Nori's age. The rest of the cast and the script seemed pretty bland to her.

During their return journey, Dori participated in the heated discussions, keeping her real thoughts deep inside.

When she was supposed to bid Harbert farewell, she whispered into his ears, "I can help you earn a lot of money. Meet me near the back of our house."

The boy looked at her in disbelief. But he finally showed enough sense to understand the purpose of a whisper.

"What did you tell him?" asked Hila, but Dori just waved her hand casually.

Arriving at her room, she immediately got out of the layers of clothing. She could smell her own stink over the heavily perfumed dresses. She washed her body clean and put on more comfortable clothes. Then she picked up papers and quill, and wrote, 'Drink it when alone. The next one won't be free.'

She didn't know how useful would the 'Nutcracker' potion be to the boy. The duration was barely a few minutes and she had bought one without the added effects for ten points. But considering it was still ten times more expensive than any marketed potions she had seen so far, it shouldn't be that shabby.

The boy had self-proclaimed good spirit root, though he had refused to answer why he had yet to join a sect. Maybe she could try selling a few 'Spirit Energy Flow Enhancer' too, but those were twice as costly as the Nutcracker potions.

If earning money didn't involve convincing her cousins, it was worth a try.

The boy came in time. Dori saw him through the window, lurking behind the house. She wrapped the letter around a 'Nutcracker' potion and threw it at him. The boy picked it up, read, and left confused.

Next morning, the boy came through the front door as her visitor. She was well-behaved now, so her aunt didn't frown too deep when a boy came to visit Dori. Nori was close by, probably keeping an eye out. She had advised her to not mingle 'too much' with boys, lest the young lord of Panrose was discouraged by such 'openness'.

Dori didn't know whether to laugh or cry. That young lord of Panrose chose her after she beat up his cousin. She didn't know what the guy expected of her. Maybe a rumor could discourage his enthusiasm, and her one problem would be solved, but then she'd have to bear the brunt of the outcome.

"Where did you get that potion?" The boy asked while seeping on a cup of tea, looking all business-like.

Dori showed displeasure on her face. "Keep your voice down." Then she looked around to see if he was heard. "Doesn't matter where I got it, I still have a few and I plan on selling it. Did you use it?"

"Yes." The boy nodded. "It's a decent potion. How many do you have and how much?"

Decent? Dori couldn't tell if the boy never used any potions or used too many. She pulled out another vial.

"Twenty Aures for each. I can sell you five, for now."

The boy shook his head. "No way. Even the best potions are sold for a few Denes. Twenty Aures is way too much. Two Denas per vial. "

Dori laughed. She had no idea on what the actual values should be but she could hear a hint of tremble on the boy's tone. "Neh. Twenty is my lowest offer. If you want, you can increase the price."

The boy's face faltered. "I can't go over five."

"Twenty, or I'll look for someone else."

The boy looked despondent for a while. Then he smiled and sneered. "What if I tell your aunt that you are secretly selling their potions?"

Dori was smiling, but it faded. She wasn't expecting a threat from the boy. He looked arrogant but otherwise harmless, until now.

"Sister Nori." She called loudly. A few seconds later, Nori came. "Brother Harbert gave me this potion as a gift. Could you ask aunt Lyna how much it's worth?"

Harbert and Nori both looked at her incredulously, both for different reasons. Nori quipped, "You shouldn't ask how expensive a gift is." But she still left with the bottle, probably laughing inside at the peculiar gift.

Dori looked at Harbert. "I have four left, twenty-five each. It'd still cost you the same one hundred. And don't ever threaten me. I'm known for holding grudges."

Harbert didn't look fazed. "Whatever."

"Then get the fuck off."

Harbert seemed momentarily stunned and then walked out.

'That went poorly,' Dori sighed. She knew how much she would be relying on those points in the future once she ventured out and without a reliable way to earn points, using those for gold was already giving her a heartache.

Now she had to find another person to sell, or another way to earn the money she needed.