My First Rank Advancement

'Activate SKILL: Lightning Strike lvl 15?'

'Yes,' I thought.

The lightning arched from my hand and struck the lime-green, monkey-like creature charging me squarely in the chest. The creature screeched as it died and blew back into its comrades.

'Activate Crush,' I thought.

Six of the monkey-things slammed into the ground with a crunch.

I leapt to the side as a razor sharp claw raked past me. I missed one.

Turning neatly, I activated slash, cutting the monster in two.

That was all of my group of monsters. I watched with jealousy as Kane released a burst of orange flame, incinerating his remaining group. I didn't have Fire Magic.

"That was ten for me." I said triumphantly. I held up all my fingers.

Kane smirked, "Twelve. Yet again, I win."

I stomped over to him, "You cheat! It's no fair how you're bigger than me!"

Kane flashed me a big smile, "What kind of a male would I be if I sat back and let you do all the fighting?" My heart skipped a beat at his smile. I'd always loved his smile.

I was about to argue when a new message appeared in front of my eyes.

'Experience threshold reached,' It read, 'Advancement now POSSIBLE. Please choose advancement path, see STATS.'

I immediately looked at my STATS.

Kylara Adamare

NOVICE: Level 15

STATS:

Agility: 42

Charisma: 33

Intelligence: 37

Magic: 50

Strength: 31

Wisdom: 32

Stat points to spend: 30.

…

There at the bottom were the three dots indicating the display continued down. I obediently lowered my head.

War Mage Apprentice

Focus: Lightning, Light, Water, Air, Earth

Destruction Mage Apprentice

Focus: Lightning, Air, Earth, Ice, Shadow

Defensive Mage Apprentice

Focus: Earth, Light, Water, Ice

Reaver Mage Apprentice

Focus: Shadow, Light, Darkness, Poison

Abyssanna Lesser

(Hidden)

Required: 30 STAT points

Strength: 40

Magic: 30

Agility:20

Miratholia Lesser

(Hidden)

Required: 30 STAT points

Strength:35

Magic: 50

Agility: 35

Wisdom: 35

Tethessia Lesser

(Hidden)

Required: 20 STAT points

Strength: 30

Agility: 40

Magic: 50

CHOOSE ONE of the above for first Advancement.

I stared at the choices. The first several made sense but the last three- I only recognized the name Miratholia. In ancient common it meant Moonchild. The name used to refer to a race of fae beings that were said to be able to harness the power of the Moon. They died shortly after the last Age of Magic ended.

I had no idea what the other two names meant. Staring at the required stats for the Miratholia Lesser advancement path, I realized that I couldn't choose that one. I didn't meet the requirements. Looking at the Abyssanna, I saw I didn't meet those requirements either.

With a sigh, I chose the Tethessia Lesser. I liked the name and the 'Hidden Focus' was enticing.

'Are you sure you choose: TETHESSIA LESSER?' A message appeared.

I smiled and thought 'Yes.'

"Kylara, what are you doing? It doesn't take that long to level up." Kane said with a frown.

I opened my mouth to say I was advancing ranks when everything went dark. The same pain from when I had gained the Nova System ripped through me. I screamed.

***

Kane watched as Kylara stiffened and dropped to the ground. He was about to grab her when Ishmael stopped him.

'Don't touch her.' Ishmael snapped.

Kane stiffened, "What's happening to her?" He asked as he watched Kylara writhe.

'I am not sure but her body is pulling massive amounts of energy from the Earth. If you touch her now that energy would cause us to explode.' Ishmael said. His tone was worried.

"But won't it kill her too?" Kane asked.

Ishmael was silent for a long moment. Finally, he said, 'I am not certain. She may or may not die from this, but we will certainly die if we touch her now. All we can do is wait.'

Kane helplessly watched Kylara writhe in agony.

It seemed to take an eternity but at last she stilled. Kane's own breath caught as he waited for her chest to rise again.

A second elapsed, then another. Kane felt his knees going weak.

"Come on, Kylara." He breathed as he knelt beside her.

She coughed, and Kane drew a stuttering breath.

'Interesting.' Ishmael said in his mind, 'We can touch her now.'

Kane swallowed hard as relief swept through him. He hurriedly grabbed her to his chest and breathed deeply in of her earthy, sweet scent. Kylara's body felt soft and blessedly warm in his arms.

Kane picked her up and pushed himself to his feet. Carrying Kylara gently, he brought her back to their waiting horses.

***

As soon as Kylara's sweat soaked body lay safely tucked in her bed, Kane sent for High Lord Volanti.

The High Lord entered the room at a run. His eyes frantically found Kylara lying in her bed, pale, sweaty, and obviously exhausted.

Kane saw the High Lord's fist clench.

"Why am I always finding her like this after spending time with you?" The High Lord demanded with an icy gaze at Kane.

Kane swallowed hard as his hands started shaking. What if the High Lord said he couldn't spend time with her anymore?

'Then we'll kill him.' Ishmael snarled in Kane's mind.

"We were just training. I don't know what happened. All the monsters were dead and she wasn't injured. We were talking and then she stopped and I thought she was leveling up, but then she collapsed. I would have brought her back immediately but Ishmael said…" Kane trailed off under the cold look in the High Lord's eyes. He paled and swallowed again, "Will she- Is she going to be alright?"

The High Lord grimaced and slowly walked to the bed. He placed his right hand on Kylara's forehead. His eyes widened and he blinked. He lifted his hand and replaced on her forehead.

High Lord Volanti let out a sharp breath, "Go get a healer. Tell them I need blood work done immediately."

Kane blinked as yet more blood drained from his face and a wave of fear rushed through him. Had Kylara been poisoned?

"Now!" Ordered the High Lord.

Kane jumped and immediately ran to get a healer.

Kylara couldn't die. She wouldn't die. He loved her. He was going to claim her one day. She wouldn't die.

***

Soft, warm sunlight shone down upon my head and skin. I looked at my golden, tanned arms and laughed in delight. Catching my shimmering, loose skirts in my hands, I spun around in gleeful circles.

I don't know what had made me so happy, but I felt like I'd been born anew. The soft, loamy soil squishing between my toes; the lush, verdant trees and grasses filling my vision; even the gentle caresses of the light breeze playing over my skin; they made me feel alive and at home in a way I had never felt.

My feet got caught on each other as I spun and suddenly, I was falling. The ground was soft and cushioned my fall. The scent of grass and crushed flowers filled my nose.

I wiggled, reveling in the feeling of the grasses on my skin.

'WARNING!' flashed across my eyes. I stiffened, shocked that something could invade my revelry.

"You know my cousin once had a bunny that did that." Lord Alecai's rich voice drawled.

I shivered as a cloud passed over the sun and I felt as if I'd been plunged in ice water.

Sitting up, I looked around. My eyes found Lord Alecai leaning against a tree with a roguish smirk on his too-handsome face.

'WARNING!'

His light brown eyes were hot like liquid bronze as he gazed at me. I shivered again.

Slowly, his hands began unbutton his unfamiliar uniform jacket. I frowned. It really was unfamiliar.

The pants were black with silver trim. That wasn't that unusual. However the jacket was longer than any uniform that I knew. It fell to his calves and was open down the front except for the top third which was closed by buttons down the center of his chest. This was different as most uniform jackets in use button on one side of the chest.

The insignia's on the jacket were also different. On the sleeves was a horned skull with three chevrons framing it on the top and the bottom.

The jacket fell open and Lord Alecai threw it on the grass. The shirt under it was not a design I'd seen before. It had inch thick straps and clung to his muscles. My mouth went dry at the sight of his bronze skin.

Deliberately, he sauntered over to me.

'WARNING!'

"Do you like what you see little one?" He asked with amusement. I felt my cheeks flush.

He knelt in front of me and began reaching out towards.

"Lord Alecai," I said. Lord Alecai froze. His hand twitched and he blinked. "Even in my dreams, I won't be your plaything."

I frowned as Lord Alecai smiled. Maybe I didn't get the reaction I wanted because of the breathlessness in my voice.

"What's your name, Beautiful?" He asked. His eyes caught and held mine as his hand started reaching for me again.

'WARNING!WARNING!WARNING!' warnings began blotting out my vision. I could barely make out Lord Alecai's hand nearing my cheek.

Suddenly, it was as if an electric jolt ran through my body.

I sat upright in my bed, blinking in the semi-darkness. Kane was sleeping in a chair by the fireplace. High Lord Volanti was asleep at the desk.

Putting a hand over my racing heart, I let out a deep breath. That dream had seemed so real. But why would I dream about Lord Alecai of all people and why would the System give me warnings?

I lay back down on my pillow and stared at the canopy above me. Eventually, sleep found me again.