Skill tree and a small breakfast

I stood close to Maple while she was still asleep on her bed. I was recommended to go get some rest, but I needed to know if she was okay. She was calm, seems the medicine from the flower was working, probably the poison was neutralized and she only had to recover now.

The place was silent. I made sure I did not make any noise so I wouldn't wake up anyone else. Reynard was sleeping in my bedroom, so basically I was doing the night guard by myself.

Even with how tired I was, I was not feeling like sleeping.

I decided to check what was different for me after this day.

I was level 3 now, and so it was my sword. My stats were lower than my weapon's, yet I felt like improving myself with each point. Each time I leveled up it was like something on my body changed. Probably was the System causing changes inside of my body.

What I wanted to know was my skill, [Fang].

"Fang is a skill that takes the ferocity of a wolf's bite, translating it into a high-damage attack. Cause between [Damage Category F]. This skill can be specialized into [Staggering], [High damage], and [Multiple Attacks]" I began to read its description. "I got it after the big one used it against Dara. But I did not get any of the spells and skills I have seen from others, like [No Mercy] and [Nether Bolts]. What was different?"

That is when I noticed that I could see a skill tree for [Fang]. I went to see it on the screen and saw that it was a complicated skill tree. "Are all skills like this?" I wondered. The skill was in the middle while 3 branches came out of it. Each started on a single node.

[Staggering Fang]

Your bite causes your enemy to stagger and falter their attack. If timed correctly, cause your enemy to cancel their skill cast and force them to take a DEX Check. If failed, they will fall to the ground.

[Crushing Fang]

Your bite causes a great amount of damage. Double the damage your skill causes, surpassing its current [Damage Category]. However, MP is doubled as a consequence.

[Vicious Fang]

Reduce the damage your Fang causes to 40% of its normal amount. However, you can immediately cast it on another enemy with no additional cost up to 2 times more.

"So I can change the way the skill works. I remember Balor and Kali's skills working differently" I said while I remembered the battle in the village. Balor's [No Mercy] skill caused an area of attack that crushed its enemies. Kali only attacked a single target for more damage and pushed it. They probably chose different branches."

I had 2 skill points to use thanks to the 2 levels I have gained so far. I wonder how fast was to I going up in levels considering this is my second night here.

Then I noticed the skill was level 1, and there is a progression bar beside it that was halfway filled. I will have to ask Dara how skill increases happen when I remember.

"I wonder, maybe I can mess up with that special attack…" I said and chose the [Staggering Fang] skill node. The skill points available number went down by one and the node illuminated itself.

[Now [Fang] is called [Staggering Fang!]]

[Staggering skill branch unlocked!]

The rest of the branches went darker and became smaller. I could not choose them anymore.

"Damn it. I did not know I only could use one of the branches. Should have asked Dara before I chose anything" I said, regretting having unknowingly locking me out of the other progression paths. If I had known, I would have waited a bit before I made my choice.

I tried to go further on the branch, but the rest of the nodes were gray. When I tried to see one more close, a message popped up.

[Unlocked at Skill Level 2]

So I must continue leveling up the skill to continue specializing in it. Now I have a skill that allows me to stop attacks if I am fast enough and react at the correct time. It is probably a useful skill and will help me a lot against Balor.

"Am I actually thinking about fighting him again?" I asked myself, looking at the ceiling of the infirmary. "I could have been killed at any moment" The only reason I managed to stay alive was because of Nayleth healing me and that innate skill of my class. If I did not have it I would have been killed on the spot.

And then the question was why? Why would I look to fight him?

"They imprinted on you" I remember the words that Dara told me earlier. I suppose that is what is making me feel responsible for them. I don't know them and I just met them the other day.

And I knew that, if Balor attacked this place, they would be in danger. And that idea was terrifying me.

"This is a mess. I just got here!" I said, and then chuckled.

I woke up the next morning feeling stiff from sleeping on a chair. Maple was not on her bed. I got startled and decided to go out to look for her.

"Maple?" I called while looking around the infirmary. No response, some of the other patients looked p at me.

An old vulpin man spoke to me.

"The little girl stood up and went out after she saw you sleeping by your side" he said.

"T-thank you!" I said while bowing my head.

Where were the nurses that they let her leave? She just recovered from a deadly poison, she shouldn't be out of her bed.

I went out of the infirmary and took the exit. I was going to find her and scold her. I was sounding like she was my daughter already.

But as soon as I came out I found her and Reynard carrying a wooden tray with a cup with a hot liquid and some bread on the side.

"Maple! Reynard! What are you doing?" I asked, confused.

"Mister Marcel!" Reynard answered "We bright you breakfast" 

It was hard not to like these two.

"What about you two?"

"We had breakfast already," Maple said "The nurses got us something when I woke up and my brother came to see me. We went to look for something for you to eat"

They brought a cup of coffee with a piece of bread. I miss having something to put inside of the bread, but at least it was going to help me fight the hunger for the moment. Besides, for some reason, that tasted like the best piece of bread and coffee I had in a while. Instead of going anywhere, I sat in the same hallway outside of the infirmary and ate there with both children beside me, moving their tails while looking at me..

"So, what happened, Maple", I asked when I finished "Why did you get poisoned"

"Uuummmm…" She stuttered and looked to the floor "I went to gather some plants to make you a gift we usually do in the village…"

"I was helping her, but we did not recognize the plant she touched" Reynard continued, I could see certain guilt in his expression.

"A gift?"

"Y-yes. A bracelet made of local flowers and plants" Maple nodded "We noticed that something is bothering you and I heard you discussing with lady Dara yesterday"

She must be talking about the moment I realized I was running into real danger when we returned. I yelled at her a lot.

"Sorry, I still have not finished it and I lost all the plants!" She said.

"N-no, don't worry. I am glad you are okay" I said back.

"And when we asked you questions that night you often mostly nodded or answered without looking at us" Reynard added "You are sad too, right?"

Did they ask me questions that night? I barely could remember what was happening around me after the events of my arrival. I just remember one.

I have barely had time to process what was happening around me. And I still have a hard time accepting this is a reality now. Maybe I will wake up at some point, something will look weird on a corner and I will be awoken while being dragged to an ambulance or on my bed.

At that point, Dara appeared through a corner. She was wearing a different tunic that day, black with red.

"You woke up, good. I hope you are not feeling too stiff from sleeping on a chair" she said, fixing her glasses "Kali asked me to check on you, she wants to ask you something."

And then there's the demon queen, the one with which I have had very little interaction and they were not good at all, mostly threatening me or diminishing me. Whatever was her deal, she wanted to speak about something with me.

I looked at both children as I stood up. They looked at me with curiosity. They somehow managed to continue smiling and living their lives after witnessing their parent's deaths. And somehow, they seem to have imprinted on me, looking for me and seeking me to feel themselves safe.

I made a choice.