Bargaining With A Child (2)

In the midst of all this chaos, Lyrasia almost forgot about the magic system in Merlysian Realms. Sure, she'd read about it briefly in the game manual before she got too caught up in the whole "transmigration" thing, but she had no idea how much freedom it truly allowed.

Merlysian Realms was a world of infinite possibilities. There was no rigid class system for magic users.

Anyone could harness the type of magic they preferred, as long as they could tap into it and make it their own. The game's dynamic nature let players build their own unique powers based on their personality, their experience, their choices, their strengths.

People didn't have to stick to one school of magic. They could wield fire one minute, water the next, or even combine elements in the most unorthodox ways possible. It was practically a free-for-all, as long as you had the guts to experiment and find your personal style.

Hell, they could even create their own magic if they were bold enough.

The whole system was flexible and allowed for endless creativity.

That swirl of dark energy she had just narrowly avoided? That was magic.

It wasn't exactly impressive magic, but it was magic nonetheless. Meila, this strange little girl who was obsessed with calling her a demon, was clearly trying to use some form of cleansing magic. Too bad for the kid, Lyrasia wasn't just some defenseless infant.

As the kid stood there, arms outstretched, ready to cleanse Lyrasia of her "demonic influence," Lyrasia's mind raced. Magic, right? She could use magic too, if she needed to.

This wasn't a game where she had to adhere to some ancient magical rules.

She could use her own wit to outsmart a child with a weak, basic magic attack.

The thought of using her skills in negotiation, her vast experience from her previous life as a savvy, somewhat sarcastic adult, was oddly reassuring.

But first, she had to calm down. No need to rush into this. Lyrasia took a deep breath, still feeling the weight of her baby body as she stood there, trying not to make herself seem too suspicious.

She had to act fast, or she'd be stuck with a child throwing spells at her all day.

[The child is into spellcasting books, but she can't afford them.]

'Wait, is the system... helping me?'

Now that she thought about it, with unlimited money at her disposal, she could literally be a moneylender and strike certain deals. Humans love material things, don't they? If she didn't know what to do right now, maybe it was time to see what everyone else was doing and get inspired. After all, she was just a day-old baby. The possibilities were endless, right?

"Look, kid," Lyrasia began, adopting the most serious tone she could muster. "I'm not a demon. In fact, I'm the last thing you'd want to mess with." She had to admit, it wasn't the most convincing opening.

But there was something in her voice that made Meila pause for a split second. She could tell the child was starting to doubt her previous assumptions.

"I'm serious," Lyrasia continued. "You don't want to be messing with me. I'm not the demon you think I am, okay? And even if I was, do you really think your little magic trick is going to do anything to me?"

Meila hesitated, visibly flinching at the words "demon" and "magic trick," as if they made her feel unsure of herself. Perfect. This was her chance.

"You know," Lyrasia went on, smiling inwardly, "there's a much better way to handle this. Instead of trying to 'cleanse' me like a frightened little goat, why don't we strike a deal?"

The child blinked, clearly confused. "A deal?"

"Yeah," Lyrasia said, her confidence growing with every word. "Close your eyes..."

"Why?!"

"Just close your eyes."

"Ugh, fine." Lyrasia huffed, squinting skeptically, but she did as she was told.

[Will you withdraw money? How much?]

"1,000 Gold," she said, testing the system. What was the worst that could happen? Maybe a giant mountain of gold would fall on her. How fun would that be?

And just like that, poof, a shiny, heavy bag of gold appeared in her tiny hands, as if the universe had just decided to indulge her whims.

"What the...?" She blinked, looking at the bag in awe. "Is this how it works now? I'm literally a walking goldmine!"

The child stopped covering her eyes and felt something heavy in her hands. She looked at Lyrasia suspiciously, then opened it. Her mouth dropped open.

Before she could react, Lyrasia snatched it back.

"How did you—? Did you steal that?"

"What? Of course not. Didn't you see my parents? They're poor."

"Then how?"

"Stop with the questions," Lyrasia groaned. "Look, if you become my friend, teach me everything, show me everything, I'll give you coins, piece by piece... then you can save up for whatever you want. Only if you do what I ask." She paused for a moment. She saw something special in this kid. Some kind of raw magic talent. And let's face it, everyone needed a good companion in business.

The kid hesitated, clearly unsure. But the former business magnate knew one thing: she might not have magic, but she had power.

Money made the world go round, after all.

Finally, the kid gave up. "Deal. But you're gonna regret this. I'm a tough negotiator."

This kid was talking like an adult, and it hit a little too close to home. It reminded Lyrasia of someone she knew in real life. Erin.

Erin was so responsible, so on top of things, that Lyrasia's ADHD brain could hardly keep up.

The thought of her friend made her heart feel a little softer. Erin was the one who always had her back, who believed in her even when she didn't. That kind of faith? It was rare.

"I'm looking forward to it."

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[MISSION COMPLETE!]

[Rewards Earned:]

+20 Bargain Points!

+Charisma Boost Unlocked!

+Negotiation Perk Unlocked!

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