Chapter 63: The leveling never ends

Chapter 63: The leveling never ends

... then I grabbed the lightning attack and died, I guess, then I woke up here. A bit of a risky play if you ask me but I didnt really have many other options. Also Id already died twice by then so

Hey, Sof, its ok.

It was out of character for Alith to be patting Sofias head but she wouldnt say anything about it. It felt nice, actually. Relaxing.

No more dying ok, Im the only one whos allowed to do that. I can be brought back, you cant. Think a bit about how Ill feel then before you jump head first into this kind of shit alright?

No answer.

Alith sighed.

"I'm serious Sofia. You brought me here from the dead. Now don't you fucking die on me. I'll never forgive you if you do..."

"Sorry Alith. I... It's just... I've been feeling on edge for a while. It's been mounting up and up. No matter what I do now. I'm more... Impulsive? Like I think less and act more? I try to forget it but... I feel like it's been getting worse."

"Is it the stress from the threat of the Church? It's less dangerous now but that's still a thing... Who knows how long until they teleport you back..."

"Maybe that's part of it but no... I think it started before I left the Church so.... But it wasn't too bad back then. Even now I don't notice it most of the time... But it's strange when I do.

"I feel like I've been getting more and more unhinged for a while. Maybe it's just my personality shifting... Or I didn't know myself that well..." Sofia concluded.

Alith looked worried, "It does sound like the stress is getting to you... I'll see if I can brew you a little something relaxing. Or at least some herbal tea. Get back to sleep alright? I'll go look at what plants I can find outside. Might need you to identify them to be sure though, I'll wake you up when I'm back."

"Okay... Thank you, Alith."

... and after I leveled up I came to wake you up.

The level up didnt hurt?

Not that much, like a bad fever maybe.

Sofia stared daggers at the culprit for her suffering in her passive skills. If it wasnt so potentially useful shed delete it right then and there. Instead she took a sip of her cup of hot tea. How many stat points? she asked as she focused back on the conversation.

Two and a half thousand health and stamina, mana still only the ten thousand I leech from you. I got some clothing too apparently, havent opened the box, Alith pointed at a small pile of boxes near her bed.

Thats way more than one box

Yeah since the skill level boosts were useless to me they gave me those instead, one for one, so I got nine. Gachapon box theyre called, no idea what it is.

No clue either Wait, NINE?

What do you know, I was in there for six whole months, did a lot, I skipped a mighty load of things in my recap earlier, wouldve taken forever if not. And I didn't even get a specialization point like you.

What about your skills?

...

Yes it finally answered, followed by another silence.

I need food, please, give me your shirt

Alith looked back at Sofia, they exchanged worried and confused looks. Seeing Sofia shrug, Alith threw the thing on her bed and started to take off her pajama top. Youre really going to give it your shirt? remarked Sofia, dismayed, as a topless Alith threw a pajama shirt on the talking piece of cloth.

Ive learned not to ask too many questions when things make absolutely no sense, made life much, much, much easier in the place I was in for my trial. Sometimes you just need to trust the process or you end up in an endless cycle.

I-... If you say so

Meanwhile on the bed, the pajama shirt was sinking into the black ring of cloth. As if pulled into a sand pit, it completely disappeared into it. Which was followed by a loud burp and some sighs of satisfaction.

You dont have to stare, you know, thats rude. But thank you for the meal, the thing on the bed expressed, its voice neutral, different from before.

Sure Who are you though? A shirt crazed cloth demon? Alith asked.

Who? Are you alright? Im clearly a piece of clothing, the thing said as if addressing the dumbest child it had ever met. Oh, unless, are you asking for a name? Thats a thing you breathers like to have, well, anything is fine really, I do not really care much for such things.

The band; magical strapless bra; the pec ring; tube top; censor bar; annoying fucker; the jiggle canceller; priceless artifact you name it, Ive heard it all, pick whatever you like and put me on already, or do you like exposing yourself?

Annoying fucker? Yeah I already feel I can get behind that one.

So thats it? Youre clothing, and we should wear you?

We? Uh. No can do sorry, I mean, your friend over there, too much for me, Ill get nauseous, no thanks, I dont go on breather males either, once was more than enough. Oh and I need some free space for myself ok, no capes, no shirts, coats, jackets, armor, no huge straps across the chest or anything like that, and no pants that go too high either, please keep that stuff far away from me.

The more the thing talked the less Alith managed to keep up with the situation. All the while, the cloth kept blabbering ...its disgusting, really, I mean, you put legs in them! Can you believe this? LEGS! Disgusting! It makes me sick just thinking about it, these sub-clothes have not an ounce of self respect I tell you, and It was Sofia that cut his rant short.

Do you always prattle this much?

Are you insulting me, nauseating breather? Well, I will let it slide, it is beneath me to get mad at the likes of you, I suppose. The answer youre seeking is no. I sleep most of the time. Then I eat. And I help a bit in battle, I should pay for my meals, after all. Today is special, as I see myself forced to educate you. This whole thing irked Alith quite a lot and it showed on her face.

Youre talking an awful whole lot of shit for something that was begging me for food a minute ago.

She grabbed one of her mithril sickles.

Hey, hey, no need to get violent! I- Ill be good! Please. I- Im sorry? Get awaAyaay-

The mithril blade stopped right above the thing.

Now you speak when I ask you to.

Y-yes master!