The Dragon Queen of Thelvadore

With both profiles written out, she handed the paper to the other woman, who wasted no time studying it attentively.

Lucy Kallen

Titles: [Traveller of Realms]

Race:[Beastkin - Feline Lineage]

Age: 25

Level: 26 (Rank Equivalent: Copper)

Class: [Courier]

Health: 182/182

Mana: 52/52

Stamina: 360/360

Strength: 21

Agility: 29

Vitality: 15

Intelligence: 28

Wisdom: 31

Skills:

General Skills:

- [Counterfeit Sense Lv. 4]

- [Haggling Lv. 6]

- [Endurance Lv. 9]

- [Etiquette Lv. 2]

- [Catnap Lv. 3]

Class Skills:

- [Sense of Direction]

- [Pickpocket Resistance Lv. 9]

- [Eye for Detail]

Cecily van Laarstin

Titles: [Follower of the First Voidborne], [Voidblade]

Race:[Changeling]

Age: 28

Level: 92 (Rank Equivalent: Silver)

Job: [Laarstin Style Spellblade]

Health: 1120/1120

Mana: 2325/2325

Stamina: 1959/1959

Strength: 144

Agility: 207

Vitality: 162

Intelligence: 223

Wisdom: 192

It didn’t surprise Lucy at all that Miss Cecily’s main focus was on her own status. Of course, she had told the swordswoman that she knew some things about her, but she hadn’t ever fully divulged her status.

After a moment, she continued her explanation.

“Notice how for us it simply says ‘Titles’. From what I’ve learned, the reason for that would be that our titles, while certainly important to who we are as a person, don’t differ greatly enough in how important they are to us, as to necessitate further categorisation. That said, it is generally accepted that anything listed under ‘Titles’ would later be found under ‘Minor Titles’, should further categorisation be needed. Major titles are things that don’t only affect yourself, but also the world around you. And while most people earn a title two in their life, often to do with their profession or their lineage, very few earn major titles.”

She paused, thinking for a moment. Vuthe had given her permission to dive deeper into her profile, and to discuss it with Miss Cecily. She was grateful for that, but also still a bit apprehensive about actually going through with that. At the same time, though, she was really curious what those titles actually looked like, and it might even be a good example to explain to her companion where the differences lay.

Taking a deep breath, she let it out in a long sigh, then sat herself back down again, continuing her explanation for now.

“Most minor titles are basically just that, something that someone has accomplished through hard work or study. They are just achievements that are important for their lives, and something they can mention when talking to others. They don’t hold any particular power, although there are some exceptions to that rule. For example, I know of a scholar who had achieved mastery over his preferred element, which was water. In turn, he received the minor title of ‘Water Savant’, which naturally purified water in his vicinity. It wasn’t as if he could walk up to a massive swamp and purify it with his presence alone, but if he were to fill a waterskin with swamp water, it would be safe for him to drink the next day.”

Giving the adventurer a moment to absorb the information, she continued. “Major titles are often different. There are a few common ones–for example, all monarchs get a title as the ruler of their kingdom unique to said kingdom–but most major titles are unique and dependent on the person. And it is common that each major title has a very unique power depending on the person and the achievement that has led to its existence.”

“Makes you wonder just what the hell Vuthe’s titles are all about,” the adventurer muttered, finally looking up from the paper. “Like, these ones,” she gestured to the paper, “seem fairly self-explanatory. You come from another world, so you travelled the realms. By choice or otherwise. I am a follower of the Lady of Secrets. The First Voidborne isn’t a title I’ve heard for her yet, but it doesn’t surprise me either. And I was trained in my family’s unique style of casting. But some of Vuthe’s titles…” She shivered. “I get some of them, but others?”

Lucy nodded, giving her a smile. “You mentioned [Abyss Touched] and [Otherworlder] before. Those the ones that worry you?”

Miss Cecily nodded slowly. “Not just them, but they just stood out to me. As I explained to her, the other titles sound scary, but are to be expected for someone over three millennia old. All ancient beings have tales about their ruthlessness somewhere in the world. But those two… [Otherworlder] might be more of a personal interest, because of what it implies, but [Abyss Touched]? That sounds like something to do with the Great Lady or the Void. Neither of which is something to take lightly. Especially if it ends up a major title, from what I understand.”

Again, the courier nodded with a smile, before she turned to grab another piece of paper. Since she was already at it, she decided to transcribe all the major titles listed on Vuthe’s profile.

Or tried to, anyway. Perhaps she should’ve seen it coming, but not all of them were something the system was too generous with.

[???]

She knows.

[Divine Authority: Shiarex of the Shadow Armory]

A title earned by the individual Vuthe de Thal through fierce dedication and sense of responsibility. This title, and the authority it holds, represents her commitment to her people, to those oppressed, those lost, and those without hope. It matters not into what status one was born, to what race one belongs, which place one occupies in society, or what offerings one can bring. The shadows see all. And they protect those under their watch. From the wrath of the universe, should such be required.

“For as long as I draw breath, I will be your shield. For as long as I can walk, I will be your guide. You have given me your undying loyalty. Allow me to repay you in kind.”

[Soul Fragment: Indomitable]:

An indomitable fragment of a soul once whole, now shattered.

[Abyss Touched]

There are things in the vastness of the multiverse that leave their mark by sheer proximity. Few survive an encounter with the endless abyss, fewer still do so with their sanity intact. Those that were touched by the unfathomable and walked away stronger are the rarest of them all.

[Otherworlder]

A title bestowed upon those reborn with their memory intact. Be it through external influence, eccentric rituals, or a stroke of luck, they met their end yet did not find the Shepherd of Souls at their doorstep.

[Daughter of Destruction]:

A title held by those who were born under the stars of prophecy. Descendant of the ancient evil, of Destruction incarnate, the holder of this title is destined to be an apocalyptic force of nature, bringing ruin to many, and suffering to everyone else.

[The Living Nightmare]:

When fear comes alive, when dread becomes palpable, when the deepest horrors of one’s imagination run free, such is the time the Living Nightmare awakens to haunt the life of those that witnessed the first account. There is no way to hide, there is no escape. When the Nightmares claim you, all you can hope for is a swift demise.

[Blade of a Thousand Screams]:

A title unique to the individual Vuthe de Thal, earned during the Night of a Thousand Screams. It stands as a reminder for the thousands of souls she claimed that fateful night, when reason and resolve left her, unshackling the raging beast beneath.

[The Bloody Queen]:

A title unique to the individual Vuthe de Thal, signifying the chaos she brought upon her enemies in times past, and the ironclad rule her existence represents in the eyes of those standing against her. Few dare to go against the Bloody Queen, even fewer survive to tell the tale.

[Dragon Queen of Thelvadore]

A title bestowed upon the individual Vuthe de Thal, signalling her authority over the throne of Thelvadore. Founded as a safe haven for the oppressed and those without a home to return to, Thelvadore and its Queen stand as a beacon of hope against the dark machinations of their enemies.

[Conqueror of Fendalyr]:

A title bestowed by the people upon the individual Vuthe de Thal after she and her forces finally conquered Fendalyr through millennia of war. The actions of her and her kingdom have shaped the history of the continent, and will forever remain a part of its future, one way or another.

Lucy chuckled to herself as she finished, reading over the collected descriptions once more, before handing it off for her companion to read. These weren’t the first major titles she had ever seen, although it was certainly the first time she’d so many attached to the status of a single person. Of course, intellectually she knew of others, but she hadn’t seen those herself, simply heard the legends belonging to them. Although, she doubted that they had the same long list of minor titles.

The thought made her finally glance at those for the first time, while she waited for Miss Cecily to finish reading. Much as she had expected, many of them were rather simple, although that didn’t necessarily make them any less dangerous. Between [Murderer], [Assassin], [Contracted Killer], and [General], there was certainly a lot of bloodshed obvious in the former Queen’s past, even if one were to ignore her slew of major titles which accounted for that as well.

Interestingly enough, titles such as [Sadist] or [Torturer] were absent, which was atypical for someone with [Murderer] or [Contracted Killer]. Granted, that was a bit of a generalisation, but one born from observation and statistical significance. Not that she knew the exact numbers, but she knew that anyone with such a title was bad news.

Sadly those were also often the people dedicated and driven enough to obtain one of the very few ways to obscure part of a profile. That was no easy feat, but it wasn’t completely impossible either. Lucy had no idea about how any of that worked, but she knew it existed.

What surprised her the most was the fact that most of Vuthe’s minor titles were actually quite positive, in comparison to her major ones. [Protector], [Guardian of the Weak], and [Selfless]–a title many people considered on par with most major ones, considering how hard it was to obtain, signifying true, and almost endless, selflessness–were just a few of the ones painting her in a more positive light.

Then there were the stranger ones. Titles very obviously unique to her and her past. Such as [Order of the Scythe: Dark Rank], or [Touch of Divinity], among others.

She was just about to check what the System had to say about a few of those, when her attention was drawn by her companion.

The adventurer sat there, eyebrows raised up high, her gaze switching between the young courier and the piece of paper she still held.

“Those are… Not what I expected.”

The surprised and confused tone made Lucy chuckle. “I know, right? But they aren’t really all that out of the ordinary. Well, okay, the contents might be, but the way it’s portrayed isn’t. The System tends to get a bit cryptic with major titles.”

“I see… But how do you know what those titles do, then?”

Lucy shrugged. “As the holder of a title, you should have an instinctive idea of what it can do, from what I heard. But it’s not like I can speak from experience. Mostly you have to guess.”

“And do you have any idea what these ones do?” The swordswoman asked, waving the paper with a thoughtful look, which made her red hair swing softly left and right.

Again, all Lucy could do was shrug. “I’m not exactly the right person to ask for that. This is as new for me as it is for you. The insanity of Vuthe, that is. I’d wager that [The Living Nightmare] lets her do some mind magic stuff, something to do with fear. [Daughter of Destruction] seems to be more of a passive thing, one could even conceivably call it a curse. [Dragon Queen of Thelvadore] should allow her to channel her authority as a form of identification and for ritual and political purposes. That’s probably the most normal one among them all.”

A moment of quiet passed over them, as the adventurer skimmed over the document once again, before she put it down with a sigh. Shaking her head, she seemed lost in thought for a moment, before she focused back on Lucy. “Well, it’s not like we are likely to find out more without asking her. Unless your System has told you more than you told me so far.” Lucy shook her head, and the woman continued. “If so, we should probably discuss what to do next. Specifically, what our response to her request is going to be.”

Lucy nodded slowly, and she shifted on her chair to lean back a bit.

Knowing Miss Cecily, this would be a longer discussion. Not that she would complain about it. As much as her impulses told her what to do, she was very aware that she wasn’t the best when it came to making decisions like that, so she let the other woman take the lead on that.

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