Changing gods to deities and True gods to Major Deities. This is mainly because I felt uncomfortable calling them gods. It also make slightly more since because the head honcho is called The Creator/The Overseer.
I get out of the bed, sobbing internally. Unlike the princess, I am sobbing in happiness. Today is the day. I can finally get my lute. The luthier from The Luter's Den said it would be ready today.
I use [Shift] and quickly clothe myself. I need to get some more clothes. All I have had is the cloak, mask, and simple black clothes. Should I visit a clothier today? Some better arrows would be nice. The [Simple Iron Arrows] that are being used now only give a +1 to attack with no other benefits. Steel arrows, at their most basic form, give +4 to attack. This isn't considering the special arrows meant for armor piercing, tearing, and impact. Those are just the basic forms. Once magic starts getting added into the equation, the end result can be massive. If my memory serves me correctly, there was once this archer that made an arrow meant to specifically kill the deities. Only one such arrow was ever made since the player died in a car wreck not too long after.
Money isn't the problem for right now. After last night, I shouldn't need to worry about money for a long time. Maybe I can start investing into a non combat trade? I'm not actually doing alchemy, it is more of a means to an end. Since I earned 13 gold, 591 silver and 1098 copper, I can get into any trade I want. Also since last night, I received 4000 Xp and raised [Performance] to level 17.
Walking down the stairs, I get a few curious looks, but nothing to serious. These people all think I am just another traveler. The Wyx they know is an outgoing elven beauty. I am currently just another cloak wearing adventurer to them.
I walk out the door and head to The Luter's Den. Arriving quickly, my feet carry me through the door to the counter. Inside, I can see that Master Luthier Drab has just carried a large black case in from the back.
Approaching his location, I call out to him, "Master Drab! Long time no see. Is it ready?"
The luthier looks startled at my entrance but quickly regains his calm when he sees it is me. "Miss Wyx, I think that you will love it. This instrument is the finest I have ever made. To be honest, I am not quite sure I can make anything of such high quality ever again!" Instead of sounding sad about that fact, he seems contented. Could the lute really be that good?
Master Drab opens the black case slowly revealing a lute. My lute. Made perfectly to my expectations and hopefully better.
The wood is smooth and made out of a black type of wood. The strings have been hand woven from silver wolf fur. Around the sound hole (Author's Note: This is actually what it is called. Yep, we humans sure are creative in our naming.) of the black lute, a white wolf has been painted as if it was trying to run out of it. The entire thing is accented with Silvarium. Silvarium is mana infused silver. This makes it a good material to work with magic. The Silvarium moves around the sound hole, blending seamlessly with the white paint of the wolf. The outline of the wolf is made from the Silvarium. Underneath where the strings of the lute are, Silvarium weaves along like a piece of thread. Upon further inspection, I realize that the wolf isn't made of paint like I had originally thought. Instead, the paint is a series of minuscule runes. The runes are so small that, from at least an arms length away, it would be seen as perfectly blended paint. It is an utterly beautiful instrument.
Too bad beauty doesn't mean anything. As long as the stats are as good as the instrument looks, it will truly be an amazing instrument. I pick up the instrument gently as I look at it. From the corner of my eye, I can see Drab smiling with pride at the instrument.
{Ding! Item Obtained: [The Wolf's Lute]}
{Ding! Items [The Wolf's Lute] and [The Mask of the Wolf Queen] have resonated with one another.}
{Ding! Item Obtained: [The Wolf Queen's Lute(pink)]
Ability: Resonance: The lute resonates with you, allowing the bonus +100% from your specialization to always be active no matter what while playing the lute. If [The Wolf Queen's Mask] is equipped too, the +100% will become +200%.
Ability: Extravagance: ¼ times when playing your lute, all who hear your music are astounded by your beautiful grace. Allies gain a moral boost and a +20% effectiveness while enemies will gain a moral crash and a -20% effectiveness. Creatures who directly attack you while this ability is active can not bear their grief at hurting you and will flee in sorrow.
Ability: Deviance: You gain the ability to sense those around you that are deviant from others in any way. Always Active.
Ability: Abundance: This lute will grow with the owner.
Depending on the actions of the owner, the lute can:
Get new abilities.
Increase effectiveness of previous abilities.
Give a permanent boosts to the owner.
Description: A lute made by a master Luthier. If anyone knew this is a divine equipment, you will definitely get hunted down and killed for it. Cheers! (Usable by only Wyx)
Bound upon pickup.}
{Item: [The Wolf Queen's Mask(pink)]
Defense rating:30
Ability: Wolf Queen's Agility: Increase Dexterity by 5 * level as long as the mask is bound. Does not need to be worn for ability in effect.
Ability: Wolf Queen's Cover: When being observed, the status of the wearer is obscured. To all who try, only the name of "The Wolf Queen" will be readable. The mask needs to be worn to be in effect.
Ability: Wolf Queen's Howl: All lupine creatures that can hear the howl of the wolf queen will submit to your authority. The creatures still have their free will. As long as your orders are not suicidal, the creatures will follow them. Do not need to be wearing the mask to use.
Ability: Wolf Queen's Guard: Once per day, summon a small pack of wolves to defend you. Their abilities, skills, level, and stats are based on your own.
Ability: Wolf Queen's Vigil: While wearing the mask, you gain Vigilance. While Vigilance is active, you gain true sight, allowing you to see through all illusions, spells, and falsehoods.
Ability: Wolf Queen's Growth: This mask will grow with the owner.
Depending on the actions of the owner, the mask can:
-Get new abilities.
-Increase effectiveness of previous abilities.
-Give permanent boosts to the owner.
Description: This is a unique item that has changed due to it resonating with the wearer. This mask represents the true Wolf Queen. (Useable by only Wyx).
Bound upon pickup}
{Ding! Title Obtained: The True Wolf Queen: All rulers look nice, right? Well now so will you!
Effect: +2 charisma per level.}
That really is good! It even caused a resonance! Resonances are extremely rare but sometimes happen when an equipment/skill/title/ability resonate with a person. The reason they are so extremely rare is that they don't resonate with the player-character but the real player. I guess it makes sense that I got a resonance so early since I am a real wolf now.
I am extremely shocked to see a divine item on this planet. It makes sense for there to be a few relics per planet, but divine items usually only occur with either extremes, a resonance, or a deity playing a part in their creation. An extreme would be like an excess amount of anger, fear, death, life, happiness, or cheer. Even more rarely than a divine relic's creation, sometimes there can be two extremes tied to a single item. Resonances can create divine items because most resonances increase the item's rank by one. Deities can create relics up to divine rank. Major Deities can create relics up to the rank of Angelic, Bedlam, or Demonic depending on their nature. Chaotic deities like Fenris can create Bedlam relics and so on. The final tiers have always been extremely rare and will always be. They are nearly impossible to gain since only The Overseer can give them out. If I remember correctly, during my seven years, the number of final tiered can be counted on just two hands!
The lute has some pretty rocking upgrades, and it seems like my mask has also been upgraded.
"So what do you think?" Drab draws me out of my thoughts as he watches excitedly.
I can't help but answer him with an equal amount of excitement. "This is truly the best instrument I have ever seen. It has everything I wanted, and the flute looks good while doing it. How much do you want for this masterpiece?"
Drab gets a greedy look in his face before it goes back to the excited one, "Well, we agreed upon ten gold pieces. I'll give it to you for nine if you can play me a few songs. Deal?"
I nod my head at him as I lovingly stroke the side of the lute. "Sure, what do you want me to play?" I hand him back my old temporary lute as I look back up at him.
He laughs as he vigorously shakes his head at me, "Not here girly. We are going to the Queen's palace. I want you to play a few songs up at the palace. The Queen is throwing a huge party to celebrate the Princess's safe return. After the band's performance, they will have an open music hour when anyone with skill can come play some music."
Why haven't I been invited yet?
I hear the door ringing behind me and see a small elven male walk in. He immediately starts to walk towards us. Is he the messenger? As he gets closer, I see that he has a red eagle painted on to his arm.
"Master Drab, I come with urgent news from her majesty, Princess Ilway." The elf says as soon as he gets a person's length away. Dang, I guess he isn't my messenger.
Drab looks over at the elf from the Red Eagles with interest as he speaks, "Yes? Is there something I can help you with?"
The elf gives me a quick glance before nodding his head, "Yes sir. The band that we had thought about hiring has left the city before we could approach them. As the most masterful musician in the city, we were hoping that you can come tonight to play music. The royal family will be very appreciative."
Drab laughs excitedly as he slaps my arm lightly, "You hear that Wyx? This is the perfect chance to impress some higher ups! Since you are more skilled than me, would you like to fill in? If you do, I'll give you that lute for free!"
{Aw-ooo! Quest Obtained: Fenris' Interest(Difficulty Rating:C): I have taken an interest in you, Wyx. This is the perfect opportunity to prove yourself. Gain at least 10% interest in me and I will allow you to continue.
Reward: A derivative ability from Fenris, 5000 Xp
Failure Result: Stripping of class and forced restart to level 10.}
"Yes, we have a deal as long as I can use it tonight." I stick out my hand to shake. I would've agreed with or without the quest and offer for the free divine relic. This is the perfect opportunity to surprise Princess Ilway. The reward is a nice sum of Xp, but more importantly, I can get a derivative ability! Derivative abilities are abilities that come from abilities but have been mutated in one way or another. A derivative ability of [Defensive Boost] would be [Magic Defensive Boost]. Derivatives are like the original, but slightly different.
He shakes my hand laughing. That laughter quickly turns to a look of fear as 50% of both of our health gets drained away.
{Ding! Skill: [Pact Magic(lvl:4)] Level up!}
Quickly explaining to him, I lie, "I'm not a demon. This is a bard skill."
He gets over his fear and bobs his head up and down, "That makes sense. What a relief, I thought I had just lost my soul or something."
The elf from the Red Eagles watches us curiously before finally looking at my face, "Have I seen you before? You look familiar."
I deny his true allegations quickly, "Of course not. I just have one of those face, you know?"
The Red Eagle nods his head before heading out of the shop. I turn back to look at my lute lovingly as I ask Drab, "What time do I need to show up?"
"Around five should be good. Also, wear something nice, all I've ever seen you in is that cloak. It is always pulled tight and over your head. While that is fine in most of the capital, it is not in the royal palace."
I acknowledge him as I head out of the door with my new loot. "I'll be there. See you in a few hours. As I look for a clothier making black clothes, I realize that [Gambler] has reset. Quickly using it, I look at my new spoils. It seems to be a small sword.
{Ding! Item Obtained: Ceremonial Sword(blue):
+30 Attack
Effect: Insta kills any incapacitated enemies that are below your level.
Description: An ancient elven(Galos) sword used by the elven high-priestess for years.}
A new sword! It actually seems excellent. The effect is quite good for a rare weapon. Too bad it is built for sacrifice, or I would use it myself. Maybe I could sell it to a player? This blade is from the elves of planet Galos. Just like not every planet is the same, so to are their inhabitants. If I remember correctly, Galos is a wild planet where the native species, elves, attack all who approach them. They then tie them up and kill them during their meetings every night.
A minute of searching passed after I used [Gambler] before I found my desired location, "Clothes-You-Need". It has a simple name, but it is much better than the puns I had seen earlier! It is a two storied tree building. If my memory serves me right, the top floor is a place for clothiers and a place where players can learn the hidden class of clothier. It is a weaker non-combat class, so I definitely don't want it.
Walking in, I quickly cast [Disguise Self] one myself to hide my features. Nothing more than a simple cover over my ears and tail while putting elf ears on my head. I see that the there are rows and rows of clothes. From my understanding, most women love to go shopping for clothes. I absolutely despise it. This probably has something to do with my inability to leave the hospital. Since I couldn't leave, I couldn't shop for clothes. Most of the time I wore a simple hospital gown. During my years, one of the nurses bought me an oversized black hoodie with the hospital symbol on it. I think that was the first gift I have ever received that I didn't have to do anything for.
Instead of walking down the long row of clothes, I walk to a nearby counter where two female elves and one male human sit.
The human is the first to talk to me, "Can I help you miss?"
I look at his uniform quickly. All three of them are wearing simple white clothes that have name tags on them. "Yes Daryl, I need help shopping for clothes. Something really nice looking."
The three look shocked as they stare at me, "You mean you want us to choose clothes for you?"
I nod my head and the two elven female squeal happily, "Yes! I can't wait to dress someone as cute as you up!"
At least she called me cute. That is way better than adorable. Still, not quite my desired adjective of beautiful, but it is getting closer.
-------
I have spent the last three hours being tortured worse than when I was in the hospital. All they ever did is have me change, over and over and over and over and over... and over *10000 and over again. It was pure torture. At one point, I was even worried that I would miss the party tonight. Luckily, I still have an hour to get there.
Looking into the mirror, I have to admit, I look fairly good in the dress the two elves finally decided on. It is a black dress that has long whitish silver streak running along it like wolves fur. They both said that they didn't know why, but it looked superb on me for some reason.
I pay only 7 silver for the dress and give the three workers a tip of a silver a piece. All of them refused, but took it when I told them I needed a dress for the Princess's returning party.
I continue to wear the dress underneath my cloak as I walk back to the tavern. I need to make some minor adjustments to my face with [Disguise Self] and tune my new lute.
The lute tuning barely took a minute in my skilled hands. The disguise, however, took a lot longer than I want to admit. In the end, I decided to make my skin a little tanner, put on some "makeup", cover my noticeable features, and make elf ears on the sides of my head.
Once all of that was set up, I walk back to The Luter's Den. I get a few catcalls as I walk down the roads towards my location, from both men and women. Not quite sure how I feel about that...
"Aw! Wyx, you finally arrived." Drab observes me for a solid minute before speaking again. He is wearing a simple green suit and has on a mask made of leaves. Huh, weird. "You look stunning girly. This should pass for the party. I have been informed that this is a masquerade, so we need to get you a mask."
"Don't worry about it, I got this covered. I just need a back room for a few minutes and I'll be ready to go." I really hope he doesn't force me to wear a mask of his.
He nods his head and points to a rear door near the back of the store, "You can use that. Don't take long because we need to leave in soon to get there and set up before it starts."
I walk into the back room and pull out [The Wolf Queen's Mask]. This is the first time I have seen it since it resonated. The mask is much the same, but it reminds me more of my fur than a mask. The eyes have also changed. Now they are a red color with some silvery highlights around the pupil. I put it on and deactivate the title cover up from [Wolf Queen's Cover]. Next, I cover the mask with [Disguise Self] and make it look like a dark-gray wolf with silver eyes. I also make it look like the mask is made of a plastic substance. Hopefully, this should remove the possibility of anyone recognizing the true form in the future.
Walking out of the room, I quickly approach Drab. He offers his arm to me like a gentleman, and we walk out towards the palace. As we walk, we talk mainly about my song plans and what will be expected of me. Mainly, I am expected to be polite and play wonderful music. While we talk, I notice plenty of envious stares and looks of admiration.
Once we arrive at the castle, instead of going in the front entrance, we go around to a back entrance. When I asked why, Drab simply told me that it is the servants entrance. We were check at the servants entrance by guards, but it was a very loose check when I secretly flashed my golden pass. We went through without trouble.
Walking into the palace from the servant's entrance gave me a fresh perspective on things. The servants are constantly moving around, carrying various items, foods, and drinks. The chefs are always cooking more and more food. The waiters and waitresses are reviewing their lists so they will know the names of the people they are supposed to serve. Overall, it is a bustling place. Since most people use the front of the tree, almost nobody will know about this place.
I say almost because I see Princess Ilway talking to the servants. She is calling each of them by name. She is wearing a red dress that flows around her like fire. Her hair is tied up into a loose ponytail, but I suspect that will change before long. She has on next to no makeup yet. Even without being pretty upped, I would give her a 8.5 out of 10.
Her sweet, musical voice calls me out of my thoughts as we approach. "I thought all guests were supposed to use the front entrance. What are you two doing back here?"
"My Princess Ilway, we are the bards that have been hired to come tonight to play. We are to wear masks as well since we will be out there too." Drab easily answers giving the princess a deep bow. I quickly follow, bowing low to the ground like him.
When we get up from our bows, I see that the princess has a slight sadness in her eyes. "I was hoping one of my close friends would come and play with you two, but my messengers can't find her anywhere."
I quickly try to cheer her up without giving anything away, "My Princess Ilway, It isn't my place to say, but I am sure that your friend would still want you to be fun and have a good time even if she isn't here anywhere."
Drab gives me a sharp look but stops when he sees the princess nodding her head. "Yeah, I guess you are right. She is that type of person. It's funny, you kind of remind me of her... "
"I must have one of those faces..." I say motioning to my mask.
She laughs at my joke, "Hahaha, that's a good one. Weirdly enough, the mask is actually what reminds me of her. She has a very wolfish personality."
Drab looks a little uncomfortable at the chatter and give a deep bow to the princess again, "I am sorry Princess, but we must take our leave and prepare for the masquerade."
Drab quickly pulls me along as I give a deep bow too. From just behind me, I can hear the princess talking to herself. "That bard is right, Wyx would want me to be happy and have fun..."