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Finding My Husband in Another World: Season 3: Chapter 4: Assessments

After helping Ren and Toque cleanup we turned in for the rest of the night. I insisted the Prince keep the room he had been occupying, though I wasn't foolish enough to leave him unguarded. If he tried to leave or anyone approached Sky would alert me immediately. Chaza insisted that she and Ember share a room. I figured Chaza was going to spend most of the night interrogating the poor Red Panda. Skit and Toque took another and Epee tried to join them, but Skit wouldn't have it. He said that now that I'd accepted Epee as one of my husbands only single males were allowed. It seemed Rider and Ren wouldn't let him share their bed until he had my approval, which was sweet, but I just hoped it didn't hurt Epee too much. When we were preparing for bed I realized I'd been too vague with my description of what the Queen had done to me because Epee broke down. I guess he thought I was going to consummate our marriage immediately. Ren was able to help by telling the crying ringtail that the same had been done to him but I'd used a regeneration crystal and everything was fine. It's just that everything was so tender after doing so that I wouldn't want to move for at least a week afterward and we really needed to rescue Rider first. Epee agreed that a few more weeks wouldn't be so hard to wait and he fell asleep held between Ren and I. It took me quite a while longer since my imagination wouldn't stop conjuring all the horrible things the King and Queen might be doing to my Wolf.

***

I know I didn't get a lot of sleep but there was a lot to accomplish. I woke Ren and Epee and we made our way to the mansion training room. I had vague memories of the room but honestly that time was like a faded fever dream. I did know that it was warded so that no sound could escape since the sounds of training had upset the noble ladies tea socials. Of all rooms in the house this one would be the safest place to make as much noise as we wanted.

"Okay Epee, you're first. I need to know all your skills and training, even if you think they are insignificant. In my planning its little details that can make a real difference."

He sighed. "I've been trained to read people. By appearance, smell and demeanor. For example a coyote enters and removes his leather armor. He's slow and smells of sand and exertion. So far I know he's been in the desert and it would be best to offer him watered wine rather than anything strong since he is likely dehydrated. He is probably an adventurer since he is wearing armor rather than the light cloth of a desert dweller. Since he is coming to me he prefers males and since he is slow he was unsuccessful at whatever his task had been. The fact that I am seeing him at all means that the network needs to know any details he left out of his guild report."

"So you've been trained in appraising using your senses rather than a skill. That can be very useful in battle. It will allow you to notice small mistakes and weaknesses your opponent may not even know they have."

"I- I never thought of it that way."

"Go on."

"There aren't many sword skills taught in the network, but since I was also being trained to dance my instructor thought the needle blade technique, Rider called it fencing, would suit me. At least enough that I would focus on the dancing anyway. Basically I aim for the small openings in armor, it is rare to get a killing stab but I can injure my opponent until he can't fight back any longer. The problem is it is only effective in fighting a single opponent since it takes so much concentration. Also it is risky since I can't block heavier weapons."

"You weren't taught any sword arts like strengthen weapon or quick strike?" Ren asked.

"No, skills are something you are born with and the only one I had was storage pocket." Epee responded.

"Not true, yes there are born skills, but also learned skills depending on your chosen path. There are a lot that you can learn, a few of which I can teach you including some basic magic. Not exactly helpful right now since it'll take time we don't have but it is something we can work on." Ren said.

"Anything else? Hobbies and things you like to do in your spare time?"

"Until the guards came, beat me and then sent me into the room with all of you the only time I had to myself was spent at meals or sleeping. I-" He glanced at Ren. "I know it's foolish but just once I'd like . . . You know what I have in storage, I'd like to have many of that and just disappear into the pile and pretend I'm one of them without a purpose or care."

"That's not silly, I've actually known of a few people in my former life that did just that. In fact since it is close to Solstice I think we can start making that dream come true."

"Wait! Now! But what about . . ." Epee gestured frantically toward Ren.

"Don't worry, when he sees what you want he'll think you are even cuter."

"Are you sure? I mean it's going to be tough making him cuter than he already is." Ren laughed.

I pulled out the laptop and booted it up. Then panicked. I'd shut it down to save the power. I never even thought about it, but the pop up that read "reconfigure for new user or shut down" made me realize I may have turned a powerful hero artifact into a common laptop. Not having much other choice I chose reconfigure. A few seconds later it asked for a password and then again to confirm. What opened wasn't the site I'd ordered the shotgun from instead the site name was very familiar and everything corresponded to Rider's and my world. That would make things easier. I pulled up several plushee sites and ordered four customs. I wasn't sure how it worked but I immediately received a digital receipt saying the artist had been paid and the product had been delivered. I looked up and sure enough Epee was holding a life size feral tiger in my colors and a ringtail in his own. While Ren was holding a wolf in Rider's colors and a fox in his colors, and looking very confused."

"Prowl, I'm guessing these are all for Epee, but I don't get how this helps us." Ren said.

"Really? Look at him." I said, pointing to Epee. He had a dreamy look and was clutching both plushees tightly.

"You win as usual. He is even cuter. And he wants to just disappear into a pile of these things?"

"That's right."

Ren glanced at Epee, and then whispered. "We're going to need to get him a lot more then. Also I ask to be allowed to see the look on Chaza's face when we get him one of her."

"Her or Knockers?"

"Oh gods a giant soft hammer! She'll be so jealous and confused. I love it."

"Do you really like them too, Ren." Epee asked. "They are so soft and huggable and I never imagined they could be made so large before."

Ren bit his lip when he realized he was still clutching the two plushees to himself. "Uh, yeah, maybe we should put them away. We wouldn't want them getting damaged since It's my turn for assessment."

They put them into the pocket and then Epee sat off to the side, though I couldn't help noticing he was clutching the fox to his chest. It seemed Ren had earned a lot of points by not making fun of him.

"Okay you know I have servant's training and Rider has been teaching me to cook, which I do enjoy especially when I see how satisfied everyone is. I can use some basic offensive magic like fireball and Ice shot. And during our travels I've been focused on sword arts magic. The basics like strengthening, heightened block, and quick strike. I prefer twin blades because it allows me to confuse my opponents. It's just that I don't exactly have mastery over it and the two magics that are currently activated."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, watch." He pulled out the twin blades but nothing seemed to happen. "See normally I activated fire on one and Ice on the other."

"And nothing happened. Yeah that is a problem."

"Uh, what?" Ren asked in confusion.

"Are you saying you can't see what's happening?" Epee asked. "One sword's blade is just gone and the other keeps changing shape."

"Wait." I closed my eyes and concentrated I'd been using my assessing eye. When I opened them again the swords were just as Epee described them. "Invisibility and illusion blades. Ren, what are you playing at?"

"I'm not playing I tried to activate fire and ice."

"Ren, what is your born talent?" Epee asked.

"I don't have one."

"I think you do. It's just super rare. You're a mimic."

"Take that back. I'm not a monster!" Ren yelled.

"He means power mimic. Basically you can use whatever magic others around you know within the limit of your own mana. Since Rider is obviously blocked you're copying my illusion and invisibility skills which can be really useful if you train them. I'm betting right now you can't actually use any fire or ice magic."

"Yes I can." He put his blades away and focused on what I assumed was a fireball.

What formed was, a fireball, sort of. I snatched the dark fire from his paws and snuffed it. "Not good. I never imagined you'd be able to access those abilities."

"That was a death magic, wasn't it." Ren asked visibly shaken.

"Yes. Epee, now that you're our mate you should probably hear this as well. In my former life I made a pact with death. I was young and foolish. Anyway I didn't hold up my end of the deal when I was resurrected here. However, unlike most spirits death is the same in all worlds so when we encountered him here I already had an existing pact with him."

"So you really are the master of death?"

"No. No one is my master. In fact I can take over Prowl any time I feel the need. Which I often do when he is about to say too much. However your world actually lets me manifest my own physical form. It took a little time but now you will see me as Prowl does, rather than what you believe death looks like. I have given Prowl three skills all of you as his teammates are immune to. And yes Ren, now that I know you can replicate my power they are immune when you use them as well. However, my powers are not to be used indiscriminately. Black fire, the weakest ability drains mana, health, hope, desire, and the will to fight from those around you. If used for too long your victims will also lose the will to live. Next is fear, this is directed through looking into your opponents eyes. Most will run from you but others will die of fright. The last power is death touch. All you have to do is touch the person while wanting them dead and they will be in my care before they realize they died. Ren because of your mana levels this may take several seconds so you will have time to rethink you intent. Be careful if you concentrate too much mana you may also join me. Prowl, I probably don't have to tell you-"

"All I have to do is point at them and they are dead."

"Well yes, but even Ren can do that if he uses enough mana, No with your mana levels all you have to do is be able to see them. Imagine being on one side of a battlefield, viewing your opponent through a telescope, and striking them dead. That's the sort of power and range you have, so be extra careful." With that said, Reaper was gone again.

"That's- That is really scary." Ren mumbled looking at his hands realizing he carried the power of death now.

"Ren, don't think about it. Remember in battle you have to be ready to kill, only you use your swords. This is no different as long as you don't consciously activate it you won't use it."

"I guess."

"It's okay. You told me you wished you could do more for Prowl. Now you can. By sharing the burden he's obviously carried through two lives you now probably understand the pressure he has always felt. Now he can always rely on you to help him remember not to let his fear and anger prompt him to use such powers. Besides it also means you can use healing magic, right?" Epee asked.

"Plus enhanced senses and speed and likely assessing eye as well." I added.

"No. I've tried. It was hard enough learning the ice and fire magic and only then because I was attending class. Obviously it was because I was just mimicking Rider."

I smiled. "I think I know the problem. You can use my skills through your swords without any problems. I bet you could use the other skills if you had a focus."

"A what?"

"An object to focus the magic through. And I think I know just the thing. At least if it wasn't something I imagined. I think we've covered your assessment. It's still early enough that if I remain cloaked I shouldn't be observed. Go start breakfast and we'll test your skill when I retrieve your focus item."

They nodded and headed off while I cloaked myself and headed toward the back garden.

"I hope he is okay. That is a lot for a young mind to take in." Reaper said, quietly.

"It's a Hell of a lot for me to take in and I knew about them. Though I noticed you left out the most powerful ability."

"You have the mana to pull it off in this world. Even though you're not supposed to know about it."

"How could I not know about life transfer? It's the only power you gave me access to in my former life and even then it was limited to being almost useless."

"If it wasn't limited you'd have killed yourself with the first use."

"Yeah, you're probably right. So what is my limit here?"

"With your heal skill and mana level as long as I haven't transferred the soul you'll be able to resurrect the dead. Just remember what happened to the one man on your world who had that sort of power."

"Yeah, I don't want that sort of attention."

"Good."

"Were you-"

"No, and I've told you before I don't know anything. Other than I transported him and then he passed me again. That is all I know. I have been present for the deaths of entire universes but in every one that person has, does, and will inhabit the events are basically the same."

"Understood, it just means neither one of us is meant to know."

"Doesn't mean I'm not going to keep pondering it. Now be careful I sense something new is coming."

"Probably Ren's ability to heal using a focus." Reaper didn't answer meaning he'd gone back to sleep again.

***

I exited the door into the back gardens. I really hoped the focus I was going to have Ren use actually existed and wasn't something imagined by the other me. I mean I didn't remember much since I was only about four and a half. I remember finding a smooth river pebble and thinking it was pretty. I'd brought it to the capital with me and father found it. He ordered me to take it into the garden and throw it away since 'nobles don't pick up worthless stones'. I walked down the path to the first crossing and turned left. I counted the stones that lined the path until I reach the thirteenth. I pried it up. It wasn't large, but the ground had been soft from spring rain the first time was now frozen solid. Beneath the stone was a small depression and inside was the palm sized gray stone. Splitting it in half was a thin blue crystal layer. I held it up to the rising sun and the crystal glowed in the light.

"Well it's about time. I make a pact with you, promising my powers and what do you do? You stick me in a hole and put a rock over me. That is no way to treat a holy water dragon."

I would have fallen if I wasn't used to my summons appearing whenever they wanted to. This one was a blue Eastern dragon with dark blue accents. He actually looked a lot like Dawn except he had webbed feet, fin like ears, and small fin structures along his body. I'd have been worried considered the filled up most of the back garden, but I remembered Rider telling me that only I could see the summons unless I wanted others to see them.

"Hello Levy, I wondered where you disappeared to." Dawn laughed.

"Don't call me that. You know I hate it. And for the record my master here didn't release me. Instead he stuck me in a hole under a rock. Can you believe that? A water dragon buried in dirt for an eternity? Wait. What are you doing here?"

"Ah little brother. Up to your old tricks again. You tried to manipulate a child before their talent had fully awakened so you could dominate them. Well this time it backfired on you."

"So you got him instead. Well you can just relinquish your claim. There's no way he has enough mana for two holy dragons and I bonded first."

"Leviathii," I noticed Dawn wink at me as he used the blue's true name, "You can't imagine the trouble you're in. As you have guessed I chose him, as we Holy Dragon's do, However I wasn't his first, or even most powerful summon spirit."

Suddenly I was wondering just how powerful Moon and Star really were. "All summon." I called and was surprised that even Reaper appeared. "Leviathii, pact accepted."

"No! You can't! You are evil! You have a pact with death!" Levy yelled.

"It seems everyone loves you Reaper." I laughed.

"You serve your purpose and Rider accepts me. That's good enough. Still, coming out just to see one of the holy dragon's panic, even though they elude my job having their own special realm to go to, was worth it. Now I really am going back to sleep." And he disappeared, again.

"I break the pact. You are not powerful enough to stop me."

"He is that powerful, but would likely let you go, however we won't allow it." Moon growled.

"Oh sure like lesser spirits of the moon deities out power a holy dragon."

"Little brother, I think you should be a little less arrogant and look closer. Moon and Star, are the moon deities. The only ones that outrank them are Reaper and probably the Life deity. Plus, if it is a beast summon, I wouldn't put it past our master to be able to tame him as well. Look at him. We're all here in the open and Reaper was also here. What is his mana like?"

"It-" Levy looked confused. "It isn't changing. That isn't possible."

"Look again, but really open your eyes and look at the mana flow."

The blue dragon slowly looked upwards where the moons still hovered above the horizon. "They are feeding mana into . . . no they are draining mana from him. Nothing has that much mana." Levy muttered in shock.

"Our master is a mana battery one more powerful than has ever existed before. If Moon and Star weren't constantly draining him . . . Well, the outcome wouldn't be good." Dawn explained.

"Wait it dropped for an instant and then stabilized again."

He was right, I felt the momentary drop.

"Sorry, I thought I'd do my part." Reaper said in my mind.

"What did you do? Wipe out a universe?"

"No the opposite in fact. I know you're going to love this. As long as you continue to spew such massive amounts of spiritual energy I'm directing much of it into a new universe. In effect you are now the god of your very own universe."

"You little bastard."

"And you. I will admit I didn't expect your body would compensate and start generating more energy though. There is more going on here than even I know. While I'm napping here I'm sending other parts of myself to check if anything like this has ever happened before."

That frightened me. If forces that eluded even death's knowledge and connection to all things, I really was dealing with forces I wouldn't be able to understand. I shook my head. "Do what you do best and focus on what has to be done. Levy, is this stone still connected to you or is it like the temples I collected the others from?"

He glared at Dawn. "It's just a pretty rock now nothing more."

"Perfect it'll work for my intended purpose. By the way what skills do you provide?"

"Water control, magical liquid crafting, and water breathing."

"Magical liquid crafting?"

"You create mana charged water and then mix in a type of magic like if you use heal you get healing potion. It normally takes teams of clerics and mages to craft such tings but you can do it alone in minutes, though as powerful as you are I suggest extreme caution. Making a water breathing potion would likely make the one who drinks it unable to breathe air ever again."

"I'll keep that in mind. Oh and I'll call you River since you don't like the other nick name."

"I suppose I can accept that."

I returned to the house and gave Ren the stone as an early solstice gift. He was confused at first until I explained it was magical and he could use it to focus non-combat magic through it. It was a little lie but I fully intend to tell him eventually that he didn't need the focus and he can simply use the magic when he needs to. I'll never admit it to Rider, but I sliced my own hand, then let Ren heal the wound so he would know the stone focus worked. I also informed him of River and of my new abilities.

Skit and Toque had woke up so the three of us headed for the training room.

***

Okay Skit, we'll start with you. I need to know all of your talents even the ones you don't think are important."

"As you know I'm a bard, but it wasn't really by choice. When my innate talent developed I discovered I could flawlessly play any instrument, replicate any song I hear, and easily read any written music, though most times I don't know what the words are or mean. I'm not as good at actual singing but I get by using my playing to cover any mistakes. I'm good at learning and observing and since most music is based on old folk tales I've done a lot of research into customs and history of this world. Unfortunately singing and playing, even though it can boost my allies abilities isn't the best for battle, So I started training myself to use a bow; given my species climbing ability a bow used from the tree tops has some good advantages. My skills really improved with the powerful bow you gave me and during the trip back from the Beast Continent Rider further upgraded it and created new magic arrows for me."

"Can I see?" I asked.

"Of course." Skit pulled out the bow. It now sported range and distance sights, counter weight, silencing fringes, and a trigger release. Basically it was an advanced competition bow. "These are the arrows. I won't use them since I don't know how many Rider was able to make. He pulled out one of each kind. "Normally I just pull the arrow from storage when I draw to cut down on time. Red is fire, white is ice, amber is stone, and yellow is lightning."

Each arrow had a glass point meaning Rider had generated magic infused glass in the shape of arrowheads and infused the glass with magic. "No wind or plant arrows?" I asked.

"Rider hasn't thought of a way to implement an air arrow yet. The wood arrow is . . . Honestly I don't know what it does." He passed me an arrow with a wooden bulb for a tip. I figured out right away what it was for. "Draw a wood arrow and fire at one of the practice dummies."

Skit shrugged and followed my direction. As the arrow made impact vines whipped around the dummy. Had it been alive it would have been immobilized. "There are times when you might want to take your enemy alive. I bet those vines tighten if they struggle."

"Wow, Rider is a genius."

"So, do you think those are all of your skills?"

"Well, I can read and write both human and most beast languages. That is uncommon but I figure it is just part of my bard skill."

"Okay, I'm getting everyone an early Solstice gift. Is there anything you would like?"

"Yes! I've seen Rider and you make things from your world appear here. Do you think you could get me some of your world's music?"

"Uh, yeah give me a minute." I opened the laptop in the generic order site I typed in 'music anthologies 1950's - 2030's' I knew such anthologies didn't exist but the search brought up anthologies for every genre and even suggested others that didn't include dates. I didn't want to overwhelm Skit so I only chose four tomes: Folk, Rock, Country, and one covering all animated movie music in the time frame. I was just about to order when another one caught my eye and I had to have it. Music from anime with English, French, and Spanish translations. I regretted the animation music was English only, but I bet if Rider logged in with his own account he'd be able to pick it up in French. I hit order and they appeared. Each volume was at least a foot thick. These really were meant for archive purposes. Still as Skit lifted the first cover he looked ecstatic then a little disappointed.

"I hadn't considered that. I can read the music easy enough but the writing is completely indecipherable. Still I love it."

"And that's just a couple of genres."

"There's more!" He asked in surprise.

"Yeah, a lot more."

"I've got to learn to read these!"

"To be fair there is one that is in multiple languages."

"This is going to take so long." He mumbled as he flipped pages.

"Maybe not. Let me try something." I removed a bottle from storage and filled it with magically infused water. I had no Idea if I could make a potion that could gift my ability to hear and read every language as English, but I was going to try. I concentrated both on the ability and keeping my mana infusion to the most minimum. The result was a bright green potion that reminded me of animated nuclear waste. "Listen, I'm not sure what this poi-potion will do. I'm hoping it will give you the ability to read those books."

He grabbed the potion and drank it all. I quickly readied to use purify and cure.

"Ugh, you need to work on the taste." He ran over and opened the first book. He didn't say anything he just started turning pages and I quickly pulled out a minute timer. I flipped it twice before he stopped.

"It's gone. I mean I still understand and remember everything I read, but it's like it was all translated into my own language and I don't understand anything else."

Two minutes and a few seconds, I was going to need to order a digital timer for future experiments. Then I realized what he'd been doing. "When you read something you always remember it?"

"Yeah, can't everyone?"

"No, I certainly can't. It was a rare talent in my old world and we had eight billion people."

"I'm sure that's a lot, but I don't really get how many that is."

"You know your numbers right?"

"Of course it's part of music."

"Okay." I knelt down and scratched an 8 in the dirt.

"Eight, eighty, eight hundred. That's the size of a town." Skid explained letting me know he understood what I was doing.

I continued adding zeros up to eight million.

"Wow, that's eight billion I can't-"

"Eight million." I continued adding zeros up to eight billion. Skit stared at me in complete shock. "That is eight billion. Now maybe you can see why Rider and I often think we're insignificant. However that means there are a lot of people with different tastes so there is a lot of different kinds of music which is really good for you."

"I suppose, at least if you make that potion stronger so I can get more read." He glanced at the empty bottle.

"Okay but only one more, then you'll have to wait a couple of days. Just to be safe and to make sure there are no ill effects. I'll also see if I can do anything about the flavor." I did some rough calculations on the amount of mana infusion. I did everything the same except adding more mana and at the very end concentrating on a hazelnut flavor. I doubted the flavoring would work but it was worth a try. Whatever the effect the potion was a deeper green and now sort of reminded me of mossy swamp water. "Okay, this should last until midday. Place all but one tome in storage. I want you to take just a small sip to make sure it works. If it does go find a place where you can read comfortably and drink the rest."

Skit nodded and I let him take the bottle. He held it like it was the most valuable treasure in the world. He took a sip. "Mmm, you infused it with a nut essence. I don't recognize it but I really like the flavor." He put the bottle in storage and opened the rock and roll tome. "Oh! These are really different. It worked! I know just the place to read. See you when the potion wears off." And just like that he was running for the door, likely not wanting to lose a second of reading time.