Tinkering

*Hm, maybe I can try to redirect the energy?*, suddenly an idea popped into his mind. But then he hesitated. He had read up on training skills after their teacher had offered them this one, and he had found a stern warning, that modifying an existing training skill would require a deep understanding of energy and biology.

*But it's not like I would really change the skill right? After all, it is only applying it a bit different.*, Ivan then tried to reassure himself. *Whatever, nothing risked, nothing gained.*, he came to a decision and then decisively tried to implement it.

He started with a single cell and tried to change the flow of energy in such a way, that it uniformly strengthened the cell. His first tries were a clear failure since the energy resisted his attempts to control it, but finally, it worked. He could observe as every aspect of the cell was strengthened when the energy flowed through it.

<< Congratulations, you have successfully modified the training skill 'Beauty Dual Training'

Through your modification, the skill now strengthens all stats equally as well as increases the durability of your flesh. This will increase the defense of your body.

At the same time, the increased spreading of energy has resulted in decreased growth of all stats.

Because the modification has its source at the male partner, the female partner will be assigned a bit higher amount of energy, increasing her growth speed.

Because the modification has been made only for the male partner, the male partner can now use the training skill without the female partner, while drastically decreasing efficiency.

>>

<< Beauty Dual Training (Unique) (Training Skill) (Duo) Lvl .1: Partner Irena Berg,

You can now train together with your partner by pulling the energy from your surroundings and infusing it into your cells. Alternative you can train it alone with a drastically decreased effect.

Training this skill will increase the defenses of your flesh.

Side effects will include removal of scars, better skin, faster healing or generally improved looks.

Method level 1: Hold the hand of your partner and circulate your mana in the described way.

Method level 2: Hidden

...

Remarks: You are gonna be one beautiful man.>>

There were only a few changes to the skill description, but these were quite interesting. The ability to be able to use it alone was quite good. The only question was how much the effect was decreased. Besides that the increase of defense was something highly sought after and that the side effect now was changed to be definite instead of a probability.

"What did you do?", an incredulous sounding voice ripped him out of his thoughts. It was Irena who too had gotten a notification of the changes in the training skill.

"Um....", Ivan was a bit embarrassed. He had changed the skill without consulting her first. Luckily nothing had gone wrong. Calming himself down, he then explained what had happened.

"Sigh. You are really one of the kind.", had it been half a year ago she would have surely been much more agitated, but she had long since gotten used to him being a bit weird. "Well, at least I got the better out of it. But don't do something as dangerous as this again.", she then warned him.

<< Congratulations, you have gained the title 'Skill Tinkerer'

You have messed with at least one skill, resulting in an improved version of it.

During your tinkering, you have gained a slightly better understanding of skills.

Slightly increased effect for all skills.

>>

*Wow, this titles effect is quite good. But why do I have the feeling that the title is kind of mocking me?* when Ivan read the description of his new title, he was pleasantly surprised.

After that, they continued training until their time was up and they said goodbye to each other.

A small villa in an upscale neighborhood of the capital.

Suddenly the door was pushed open with so much force, that it nearly rebounded and hit the young woman who had stormed into the living room.

"Mom, mom, look.", she exclaimed towards an old looking woman who sat in a wheelchair, reading a book while sipping at a cup of tea.

"Lucia, haven't I told you many times not to open the door like this?", the woman asked while sounding resigned.

"But mom, look at this.", the young woman ignored her mothers' admonition and instead shoved a phone towards her.

The old looking woman knew her daughters' personality, so she gave up trying to say anything and instead grasped the phone.

Displayed on the screen was the job board, which was a platform regulated by the System where one could post job offers. These jobs were then controlled by the System which ensured that the rewards would be given as long as the System was satisfied. The offer Lucia showed was one for the position of a concubine, which in itself wasn't anything special. There were many of these on the platform and many would take these jobs since they were often easy and longtime employment.

Unlike many offers of this kind, this offer had many requirements. When the woman read through them she looked at it with surprise. "I never would have expected that someone with an unstable bloodline would appear here."

"Huh? What do you mean mom?", her daughter asked in bewilderment.

"Nothing. Why did want to show me this? And why the hell did you even look at it?", the woman stared hard at her daughter.

Lucia ignored the second question and only answered the first one, "Look at the rewards. Isn't the 'Strengthening Pill (F)' exactly what you need?"

The old woman hadn't looked at the possible rewards before, but now that she heard her daughters words, she hurriedly did.

There was a list of available rewards, ranging from the most mundane, money, to the 'Strengthening Pill (F)'. Although the others weren't bad, for those that had a use for it the 'Strengthening Pill' was definitely the best possible reward.

"I didn't expect anyone to use this kind of pill as a reward.", the woman exclaimed in surprise. She had already searched for such a pill for a long time and until now the price for it had always been ridiculously high if it was even possible to acquire it.

"What do you think? It's the right pill, right?", Lucia asked in a worried voice. She had seen how her mother had aged while being unable to break through even the first barrier at level 50.

"Yes, it is. Finally, I have found it.", the other woman laughed in happiness. She had felt her body slowly giving up and knew that she hadn't had much time left. To be honest she had already started to accept that she would soon pass away, but still, there was the desire to take care of her daughter and to get revenge for what had happened back then.

Seeing her mother so happy, for the first time in a long time, the young woman too smiled happily. "Great, then I will apply for the job." She tried to grab the phone, but her mother stopped her.

"Don't. I don't want you to sacrifice yourself for this.", she knew her daughter had wanted to have her first time with someone she loved and one of the conditions was that the concubine had to sleep with the master.

"But mom, how could you then get the pill? You said it was the only way.", her daughter asked her.

"I will take the job."

"You?", Lucia stared at her mother in astonishment.

"What? You think I can't?"

Lucia nodded her head honestly. She really didn't think her mother could do it. With her old and weak body, there was no way she could fulfill the duties listed in the job offer.

Seeing her daughter not believing in her, she laughed. She hadn't expected anything else. After all her body had really deteriorated too much.

"Don't worry. If I really fail to get accepted, you can still try alright?", she pacified her worried daughter. Seeing her this way really warmed her heart. She really was lucky to have such a filial daughter.

"Alright. But if you aren't accepted until the day after tomorrow, I will apply for this job.", she agreed.

They smiled at each other and the old woman took the phone and clicked at the apply button. The System automatically filled in her personal data, so she only had to fill in the field where one should describe why one should get the job. In it she only wrote one sentence, "I can help with the unstable bloodline.".

Meanwhile, Lucia tried to see what she wrote, but she was blocked.

"Here you go.", the old woman did send off her application and then gave the phone back to her daughter.

"What did you write?", Lucia asked curiously but got no answer.

"Don't ask and I won't ask why you found this offer.", her mother shot her down.