Everything had happened not as I expected. I mean, the fact that forcing my little sister against what could have originally been her will turned out to be an opportunity was... well, what can I say?
Her reasons were rigid.
Mom had died in the hands of demons, which my father couldn't shamefully prevent.
The four Duchedoms of Montana were not with us either. I believe, if not for title purposes, Muna could have been in trouble for going against my father's rule.
Or, maybe, everyone doubted the possibility of me making good use of my Mana Core to pick up stronger.
Whatever the case may be, I understood that Muna wanted us to grow strong enough to prevent any future inconveniences, be they demons or potential enemies.
With that being the case, it's time to begin action.
...
"Linda... come over here."
The moment I called on her to come closer, I felt her heart palpitate, then fluctuate with crackly feelings that constituted her reluctance to heed my call.
I didn't know how the original Mobix treated her as his shadow, but for clarity's sake, I asked her to return to my shadow so I could test something.
When she did, I summoned my stats and allowed it to hover in the air, in front of me for some time, then called on Linda again.
"Yes, little Lord," she beckoned to my call from the shadow.
"Are you able to see anything? Like, a board screen flying in the air?" I asked without cause, keeping my mood as light to avoid deep suspicions.
Her response was definitive.
"Has little Lord started hallucinating during the day?" she poked her head out from my shadow, bringing them to my face to make her concerned, watery eyes glance directly at my face.
"Nothing to worry about," I assured her.
Still, a few tingles of doubt had seeped into my mind. How possible is it that my shadow isn't able to see all that I can see?
To prevent any preventable, I called her out of my shadow, and instead asked her to keep my body warm.
She, rather, responded that whatever it was I may be hiding, she couldn't see it since she was still my shadow on contract, not yet bound.
'Whatever.'
The system screen was still hovering before my eyes. I wanted to understand the function each stat played, so I could prepare better for both the training and what was to come.
As Linda was busy wrapping some white linen around my chest region, after which she covered my bare body with a blue robe, I got drenched in my system.
'System?'
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«↓ Name: Mobix Seafrost ↑»
«↓ Age: 17 ↑»
«↓ Title: The New Being ↑»
>> Host's soul was given a second chance at existence, thereby allowing him to face reincarnation. Apparently, the host has defied the old laws of life and can now survive death, albeit for a limited number of times, depending on their rank.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
After reading the description, it became clear that respawning was an advantage to my new being. Meanwhile, I didn't know how it was going to work or how many times it could be used.
It was not like I planned to die anytime soon.
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«↓ Affiliation: 1 | Seafrost ↑»
>> This is the Host's potential to join or claim multiple houses.
This meant I could also be part of other existing Duchedoms. For now, I only have Seafrost to my being.
«↓ Attunement: ??? ↑»
>> This is a bridge between the old self and the new being. Practically not about power but resonating with the world of Montana. Your ability to stabilize your existence with the new soul, adapt to the essential laws governing Montana, and, most especially, act on intent according to new instincts and senses.
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Surprisingly, attunement was more than I expected. It simply extended the original functions of experiencing the world.
Meaning that it can give birth to new titles and possibly lead to an increment in rank, right?
'Now, to my stats...'
"Little Lord, this new appearance should keep you warm," Linda interrupted at the moment, causing my attention to shift to my appearance..
An inner satin robe that would provide softness for my body, and over it, a quilted brocade outer robe that acted as an insulator.
It was a simple appearance, but it was worth the time she spent.
Yet, it seemed I was prepared for disturbance this morning.
"Can you help me prepare a warm bath?"
Her face fluttered with disbelief, knowing it would mean a change of attire..
"I have decided to join Muna for the training."
This was the least I could come up with to lighten her mood. However, the real reason behind the disturbance was to give myself a little time to review my stats.
'Stats?'
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«↓ ...Stats... ↑»
« Vitality: 11 »
>> For overall health and resistance to damage.
« Stamina: 5 »
>> Denotes physical endurance, depletes from fighting or heavy movement.
« Mana: 7 »
>> Food upon which power survives in Montana. Magical energy for elemental abilities.
« Intelligence: 15 »
>> Affects elemental control, spell damage, and strategy.
« Willpower: 4 »
>> Mental resistance to backlash of any kind.
« Skills: - »
>> Extra abilities attained.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
After reviewing the stats I was less familiar with, only one understanding crept into my memory.
'If I want to stand out in a training with the likes of Muna, I will need an increment in certain stat points.'
That being the case, I resolved it was time to test out the full purpose of my Harem Sharing System.
"I will just wait for Linda to return."
...
Soon enough, Linda returned and announced that my warm bath was ready.
A look at her weary face revealed that she was already unhappy with the stress I had caused her that morning.
'But, she should take it as a blessing from the little Lord.'
Drawing her up from the squatting posture she had taken for the feedback on the task given to her, I brought her close to my embrace.
Her heartbeat increased immediately, thudding faster with each second against my chest. She rested her two hands beside her, possibly to avoid taking claims of accepting being that close to me if we were caught.
"Hmm," a small smile tugged at my lips as her status hovered before me.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
«↓ Name: Linda Seafrost ↑»
«↓ Age: 19 ↑»
«↓ Title: Healer, Mobix's Shadow [Contracted] ↑»
«↓ Affiliation: 1 | Seafrost ↑»
«↓ Rank: Adept [Lv. II] ↑»
«↓ Power: Healing ↑»
------------------------------------------------------------------------
«↓ ...Stats... ↑»
« Vitality: 65 »
« Stamina: 42 »
« Mana: 71 »
« Strength: 30 »
« Agility: 48 »
« Intelligence: 70 »
« Willpower: 35 »
« Water Mastery: 69 »
« Water Resistance: 50 »
------------------------------------------------------------------------
'That's all?'
Meanwhile, I stole a glance at Linda and realized she had even become more comfortable in my embrace by reciprocating it.
'I wonder if this was how Mobix treated you.'
Whichever, it would buy me time.
She was a healer, yet I suffered that kind of misfortune to almost face everlasting death?
Was it even a mishap, or was she clouded by fear, knowing the only possible way to save me?
That aside, she was on Level II Adept rank. The last rank before her breakthrough into the Expert rank.
Rank is a good and main source of power distribution in this world. Each has its different levels.
There was the Novice, consisting of 3 levels starting with zero. Then, the Aspect has two levels, from 1, and subsequently, the Expert rank.
The only two Ranks that didn't have to end at Level II were the Master rank, ending at III, and the Ascendant, ending at IV.
So, was my father even naive enough to place a healer as my protector? A level II Adept healer at that?
How was she going to save me from combat attacks?
That aside as well.
Now, her stats were comparatively large compared to mine, but were astoundingly low compared to her rank and level.
A Novice-ranked individual should have stat points limited to 10, 20, and 50, according to the three levels. Similarly, an Adept was limited to 100 and 200, respectively.
Increment in stats came from regular involvement in quests, and for Linda, who had presumably remained static since my inactivity, it could be worse.
From the look of things, her willpower had been drastically drained due to this fact.
'That won't be your problem anymore, Linda. Just, soon enough.'
'System, how can I share her stats?'
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«↓ Harem Sharing Ability [HSA] for Linda: 30% ↑»
>> This feature will enable the host to share the stats of his Harem members, solely dependent upon the emotional connection between both parties.
>> Host can only share the "Stats" of members above 10%.
>> Host can only share the "Power" of a member above 50%.
>> Host can only share the "Title" of members above 80%.
«↓ Share Stats ↑»
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Seeing Linda's HSA left me bewildered, with a hint of surprise. I expected to see a higher percentage, at least 50%.
However, I responded "Yes" to share her current stats, then figured out later how to increase her HSA.