A Gift for a Sweetheart

Violet pulled the meek girl into another hug, eliciting a squeak from her. “Oh, I’m so glad you came to see me! You don’t know how ecstatic I felt when I found out such an adorable cutie like you admired my John, especially for as long as you had and not to mention before any of the magic,” Violet gushed.

As the spirit spoke, Alison was stiff as a board, not knowing what to do. Her stomach fluttered slightly at the affirmations she was given and a meek embarrassed smile grew on her face.

The ghost suddenly jumped back, holding Alison at arm’s length, seemingly remembering something. “Sorry. I didn’t introduce myself, I’m Violet. You probably want to know who I am to John, don’t you?” she asked.

The green-haired artist was still in shock at what was happening but nodded. Violet took a deep breath and then frowned slightly. “Well, to him, I’m still mostly a stranger but to me, he’s one of the most treasured people in my afterlife,” Violet stated, followed by a quiet giggle.

Violet slowly became translucent while folding her legs under herself, floating in place. “I… Well, I died, I’m a spirit,” she divulged.

Alison took a step back in shock and a little panic. Violet returned to being fully visible and stepped back onto the ground.

She explained to Alison about her being part of the Abyss prior to her ****, that she had gaps in her memory, how she’d stayed with the Newmans and gotten close to them in a one-sided relationship, and a few more details including that she was the glowing person in the tent after the dragon barrier.

The petite girl listened, calming down as Violet spoke, and once she had finished, there was a silent pause between them. Alison quietly walked over, hugging the spectre tightly.

“S-sorry,” Alison muttered. She looked up with tears in her eyes. “I’m so s-sorry, you must have been s-so lonely.”

Violet smiled and reached up to wipe a tear from the green-haired girl's cheek. “It’s fine, I wasn’t alone, I was with John and Brenda. There’s no need for you to cry,” she said, despite tears beginning to run down her face too. “I… I get to talk to people now, so I can’t be alone,” she blubbered.

Tears ran down both girls’ faces. The two took in shuddering breaths and sniffled while cuddling each other. It took five or so minutes for the two to calm down, wiping each other's tears away.

Violet cleared her throat. “So, uhm. I assume you didn’t just come here to meet me, right? Is there anything I can do to help you?” she asked, her voice a little shaky.

Alison nodded meekly. “I, y-yes. John g-gave me a gi-gift and I need help w-with it,” the moss-haired girl stammered.

Violet pulled Alison into a warm embrace again. “Oh, of course. I’ll help you with anything you need, just say the word and I’m there. I’m sure I know which gift. Come, follow me,” she said, putting her arm around Alison and guiding her towards a bench.

The white-haired spirit sat down and pulled Alison into her lap, eliciting a surprised squeak from the smaller girl.

“Now, I assume it’s the thing you have clutched there?” Violet asked, moving her hands to support Alison better.

Alison nodded, and pulled the book from her chest, holding it at arm's length so that the both of them could see the cover. “Th-this is it,” she said.

“Oooh, I didn’t expect it to look like that. We never actually took it out of John’s inventory; we didn’t look at it properly but I’m pretty sure we can guess what it does. John’s worried and thinks you need a way to protect yourself, just in case. This should give you some magic or abilities so that you can do that,” Violet explained.

Alison looked at Violet slightly shocked. “M-magic? M-me? B-but shouldn’t he ha-have g-given it to someone else?” Alison questioned.

Violet gave the petite girl a reassuring smile. “No, you’re the perfect person for John to give this to. You aren’t automatically a target in the Abyss now, but with your knowledge if you ever noticed something odd and someone took note of it, they might put you on their radar.

“It’s only a precaution. It’s better that you have tools you can use to defend yourself if anything ever happens. It’s better to have them and not need them over needing them and not having them. Does all that make sense… sweetheart?” Violet asked.

The blushed hue of Alison’s face deepened. “S-s-sweetheart?” Alison echoed, shifting in Violet’s lap.

Violet took note of Alison’s bashful body language, her smile widening and excitement rising in her chest. The spirit brought a hand up to gently pat and stroke Alison’s green hair, causing the shy girl to let out a quiet whine and nibble on her lip.

Violet’s smile turned predatory. “Aww," she cooed. 'Oh my Gaia, I wanna poke and prod her to see what makes her blush more like that… I shouldn’t, though, I don’t want her to feel unsafe with me, and I’d like to actually help her,’ she thought.

"Okay, help now, tease later,” she muttered. “Let’s take a look at the book together first and see exactly what it does. After that we can make an informed decision. How does that sound, sweetheart?” Violet asked.

Alison fidgeted and blushed at the new nickname. She rested the book on her lap and ran her fingers across the leather cover before opening it.

The inner cover featured a flowing design which focused around an indentation in the centre. The hollowed-out section reminded Alison of children’s books with removable card pieces. On the page opposite was a short explanation

This tome provides the user with the unique opportunity to acquire foundational proficiencies, tools and attire suitable for one of the three character classes expanded upon within the pages of this book.

Upon selecting your preferred class, insert the accompanying bookmark into the front cover. It is essential to note that once the bookmark has been inserted, the option to alter the class is impossible. Thus, it is of utmost importance to make your selection with judicious deliberation.

“I get the feeling you’re not really a gamer so does all that make sense to you, sweetheart?” Violet asked. Without letting Alison answer, she continued, “I think that confirms what I’d assumed, though. You essentially get a number of abilities and gear like swords or staffs and stuff depending on the class you choose. Come, let’s continue on and see what classes you have to choose from.”

Alison nodded and began to thumb through the book. The pages of the book were high-quality, textured and thick. The pair flicked through page after page, each with a repeating pattern of a sword, shield and helmet, finally, they reached a thicker card page.

At the centre was a bookmark or tablet made of leather, it was black with an imprinted design with a shield and crossed swords.

The two looked at the left page and Violet read the inscription out loud.

The Knight

Distinguished by a code of chivalry and revered for unwavering honour, unyielding valour, and steadfast loyalty, the knight embodies the epitome of noble virtues. Draped in formidable, imposing armour and frequently astride mighty steeds, they are a mighty presence on the battlefield.

As paragons of weapon mastery, knights have etched their names into the annals of legend, their stories echoing through time. They stand as the valiant guardians of the defenceless, champions of the oppressed, and gallant rescuers of those in dire need.

Selecting this class equips you with the tools and expertise required to wield arms in defence of your core principles, safeguarding those whom you hold dear and shielding the **** from harm's reach.

Violet let out a light giggle. “Kinda reminds me of John, thinking before he acts, putting others’ safety before his own. Maybe if he hadn’t become the dragon, he might have been the knight in shining armour,” she said with a fond smile on her face.

Alison smiled too, nodding in agreement and remembering the times even before he had strange powers that he’d stood up for others. Making himself the target when Frank focused on someone smaller and weaker; helping others never stopped the rumours that spread and made him an outcast though.

“Let’s keep looking,” Violet suggested.

Alison nodded. “A-Al- okay,” she agreed, beginning to flip the pages once again. The pattern changed after the thicker page, with the knightly items replaced by books, staves and pointy hats, this continued until they reached a similar page to the knight.

This time the leather piece had a pointed hat and a staff behind it and was dyed a deep purple. Once again the left page bore text.

The Mage

Renowned for their profound wisdom and unparalleled command of the arcane, the mage stands as a beacon of enlightenment, sought after for counsel on a myriad of subjects.

Possessing the capacity to channel formidable magical energies, mages wield these forces with astonishing mastery, whether it's bending the elements to their will with devastating results or bestowing life-saving healing upon the wounded.

While their mental acumen is unmatched, mages may find themselves lacking in physical prowess, frequently occupying the rear lines of combat, where they offer invaluable support and fortify their allies with their unparalleled magical aptitude.

“I have thoughts on which would suit you better out of the two, but I think we should take a look at the last one. Feel free to flick to the next option when you’re ready, sweetheart,” Violet said.

Alison nodded in agreement, a blush still colouring her cheeks. “I-I, uhm… y-yes,” she replied, flipping the pages until she reached the next. The pattern for these pages included daggers, bows, bear traps, manacles and a little campfire. The leather tablet this time bore a dagger and a bow, and the leather was dyed a worn brown colour.

The Survivalist

Mastering the art of adaptability, the survivalist excels in conquering diverse challenges, whether they unfold in the untamed wilderness or the bustling urban jungle.

Their trademark attributes encompass a blend of agility, stealth, finesse, and cunning, crafting them into adept scouts, cunning thieves, and even formidable rangers.

In the heat of battle, the survivalist effortlessly assumes a variety of roles. They become a nimble combatant, deftly dodging attacks while delivering precise, graceful strikes in close quarters, a shadowy enigma that ambushes unsuspecting foes, or a marksman who rains down arrows from a distance with unmatched precision.

Violet let out a quiet sigh. “They don’t really tell you all that much, do they? Other than the survivalist, it’s pretty self-explanatory what the mage and knight are. I think the survivalist is a rogue and ranger combo with a fancy name,” the ghost thought out loud.

Alison looked up at Violet, her eyes wide and an expression that told the spectre that each word had gone in one ear and out the other.

“Would you like me to explain everything a little better? To give you a better idea of what you might expect from each class?” Violet asked

“Y-yes please,” Alison said, nodding.

“Okay, the first two are pretty simple. The knight would likely be what you might expect, giving you some physical skills. I think you can expect that a sword, shield and armour would make sense, with the wording it might even be possible you get some kind of animal riding skill too.

“Next up is the mage. I think this one is even simpler. I’d guess that you’ll get a handful of magic spells, like fireball, some kind of shield spell and maybe something for utility like a light spell. You’d be able to fire spells off from the sidelines and help without being in too much danger.

“Finally, the survivalist. From what I can tell, like I said, it’s a bit of a rogue and ranger combo. I can only go from what it says so I would guess that you would gain a bunch of utility options: making traps, skills to hide or keep out of sight. I’d hazard a guess that weapon wise you would get a dagger, maybe a shortsword, and either a bow or crossbow.”

There was a thoughtful silence before Violet started again, “I know you came to me for help but I think that this choice is quite personal. I don’t want to over-share my opinion here because I’d hate to sway you in a direction that you eventually regret and possibly resent me for. I do think all of these classes will give you combat and out of combat skills.”

Violet stroked Alison’s green locks. “You don’t need to rush your choice, and no matter which class you choose, you won’t be limited to what the item gives you,” she explained.

“If you want to grow your abilities, I’m sure that we know someone to help with any of the classes. First off, if you choose the knight, I was formally trained for a time, so I would be more than willing to help develop your talents.

“I think John’s friend Robin might be able to give you some advice or at the very least he would be able to point you in the direction of someone who can help if you took the mage class.

“Finally, Ellie should be able to give you some tips regarding herbs and alchemy that you might make use of as a survivalist, but we might also be able to ask for help from a group of magical hunters we know,” Violet explained.

Violet’s arm wrapped around Alison’s waist and she pulled the meek girl tightly into a hug. “Just spend some time mulling over your options. Like I said, I’d rather not taint your choice with my opinions, but you did come to me for help, so when you’ve looked over the choices and thought about it a little, I’d be glad to help if you need it.”

Alison nodded. The shy artist flicked back and forth between each page, studying them, tracing the design of each bookmark. Violet was content with cuddling and rubbing the smaller girl’s back.

After a while Alison closed the book and looked up at Violet with a meek smile. “I th-think I might have m-made a decision,” Alison stated.

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