In the end, Mother actually taught me two different arias. One for the 'stun' lightning with low damage, and one that improved my body's stats.
I practiced them by almost reaching the point of actually casting, just to memorize the aria, and then released them harmlessly. It was something I was able to do now only because my mana control became very refined from the years of training.
But something was bugging me in one word she used. Stats.
She told me that in the Adventurer's Guild, there are tools that evaluate you and produce what she called a 'stat sheet'. She also told me that there is a leveling system, to which you have access by registering at the guild. Through it, one can get a 'class' and unlock 'skills'.
I asked about those stats and she flaunted a bit about their own, but there were so many for me to memorize everything. Whomever designed this system would make the creators of Dwarf Castle cry in shame for the lack of depth in their game.
Yeah, game. It all sounded a bit too gamey to me. Like, really? Numerical values to our capacity - not only of body, but also mental and social?
It looks like a game.
And if it looks like a game and works like a game... There should be glitches and exploits.
My grin probably looked devilish at this moment, but I don't care.
:::
It was only a couple of days later that they came to call me again. Sadly, it wasn't Andrey who called me, but another overseer.
I was ready with my illusion in place on the collar.
While I was walking to the staircase, I heard some of the guards whispering between themselves.
"So, she really has the anti-magic collar."
"Yeah, I wonder how they overlooked that they had two and not one."
"Andrey must've gotten addled in the head."
I did my best to stop a chuckle from escaping. Of course, when I entered the room, I couldn't maintain the illusion in the collar outside, so its appearance reverted to its original one. That must have gotten them really confused.
I'm just happy they didn't suspect illusion to be the cause. The preconceived notions that make them think of magic as immediately elemental probably played a role in that.
I was again led to the Duke's office. I wonder if this is his actual office, or if it's just a room he uses when he comes to this building.
Mutton was already there, positioned between the windows, blocking escape.
The windows are open, showing how much they felt sure that I wouldn't be able to be anything.
The Duke was also there, sitting on his chair. A lavishly decorated collar was on the desk in front of him.
The new overseer also entered the room, closing the door behind him and standing by my side.
It's now or never.
:::
To be honest, my chances don't look too bright, but if I don't go for it now, I'll never have another chance.
I can create an illusory copy of myself and make it move, but it's imperfect and lasts for less than a second. It serves only for diversion, right now.
I start the stat improving aria as soon as we enter the room. I was a bit afraid I could misfire it, as it was my first time going all the way to the end, but it went smoothly.
Or, almost smoothly.
"H-how? That collar shouldn't allow you to..."
I didn't anticipate that my skin would be crackling with electricity. It was a very small VFX, but it was there, and anyone could see it.
And everyone saw it.
Suddenly, the air in the room changed. The Duke was babbling incoherently, shouting at his henchmen, Mutton stood in his place waiting for me to go to one of the windows before tackling me, and the nameless overseer tried to get me.
"Too slow!" I shouted, gleeful with the energy boost. I felt as fast as lightning itself.
Of course, what I felt and what was reality weren't in agreement. Though I was quick enough to evade the first tackle by the overseer, he still made me lose balance.
I stumbled for a second before regaining my footing, and Nameless was already on me again. I jumped forward with all my might and sprinted straight in the direction of my 'father'.
His reaction was exactly what I expected. He panicked and ducked below the table with a shout. I jumped on the table, and there was only Mutton between me and freedom.
A seasoned warrior against a 7-year-old who just learned her first combat spell.
Yeah, the odds are not good.
I quickly cast an illusion of me running to the right window and dove to my left.
Mutton hesitated for an instant, then came right at me, as he saw through the illusion. His tackle didn't manage to grapple me, but it was enough to send me flying against the wall.
Ouch, it hurts.
I was quick to get on my feet again, the benefits of being a nimble little girl, but that guy wasn't joking around; he came to me with a vicious smile.
There was no time to think. I went through the aria of the stun spell right as he was reaching me. I dove between his legs, feeling like those prankster kids who are left home alone in old movies.
As I passed through his legs, I spun and touched them, calling forth the spell. His body jolted in pain, and he didn't move. My relief was short-lived, though, as the Nameless one was already on me again.
But now I was the one closer to the window, so I just turned around and sprinted as quickly as possible. The window was just some steps away.
Right before I reached the window, the nameless overseer caught me. Actually, he caught my shirt and pulled.
I was already preparing the stun aria again, so as soon as he pulled me, I turned around and landed both my palms on his chest, discharging a big amount of electricity.
'I'm a human taser!' I mused to myself, but I knew I shouldn't rest on my laurels. Mutton was already back on his feet, and the nameless guy would also regain his bearings soon.
I yanked my shirt off his hands and finally managed to jump over the window to the outside world.
:::
"WHAT THE FUCK?"
What I saw outside was not what I was expecting. I felt like a complete dumb right now, for not expecting it.
A score of henchmen was already on high alert, waiting for me.
Of course it wouldn't be that easy.