Out of Mana

Weiss

A thunk echoed through the room. "Wh—!?"

"What!?"

Ruby, daughter of Baron Xiao Long, and owner of the brand new Skill [Seed Creation], slammed her head against the table in front of her. She didn't move an inch afterwards.

I jumped up from the couch, running over to her and checking her out. I didn't have to use my [Appraisal] to hear her snoring gently.

"Why'd she fall asleep so suddenly!?" Coco exclaimed, standing half off her seat.

Turning [Appraisal] on silently, I looked at the status floating above her head and saw that her mana bar was flashing red, empty.

"It looks like she ran out of mana and fell asleep."

"Oh, that's right, you've got a High Level [Appraisal] Skill, huh!"

I forced a smile. [Appraisal] was a Skill that let the user see things about a target, and could be used silently once they practiced enough.

Skills were divided into 5 levels: Sage Level, High, Upper, Mid, and Low. According to a person's [Appraisal] Skill level, the user could learn the target's name, age, health points, mana points, status ailments, Skills, class, titles, all kinds of things. But for every level but Sage, the target would be able to hide things if they wished hard enough. Aside from that, statuses other than the truth could be shown, if the target had been convinced elsewise by the people around them. For example, if a kid who didn't know their own birthday was told, "today's your birthday," by someone, and they believed them, the kid's birthday would show up as that day to [Appraisal].

Things someone really wanted to hide, and things they'd been convinced otherwise of, could only be seen by Sage Level users. And there weren't even enough of those Sage Level [Appraisal] users in the world to count on one hand... But I miiiiiight have been one of those few.

Unlike all the lower level [Appraisal] users, Sage Level users were special because they could increase the amount of information shown to them according to how much mana they used to do it. Seeing the target's name, health, and mana bars barely took any mana, for example. But on the other hand, using enough mana to put me out of commission for the day, I could see everything... Including things that the target themselves didn't know, or had been hiding.

Honestly, since it was such a cheat Skill, I just told people that I was High Level instead. The only ones who knew the truth were the Queen. And by the way, I could easily count how many times I'd actually exhausted myself using [Appraisal].

"But she's only made ten seeds total. Does Miss Ruby's Skill really take that much mana to use?"

"No, the Skill doesn't take much mana at all."

"So why'd she fall asleep, then?"

"Because her total mana is ridiculously low. The Crown Princess has more at three-years-old than she does now."

"That's way too low!" Coco nearly shouted in shock as she stumbled backwards.

Ruby grew up abused in the Xiao Long Barony. Since she was barely given the absolute minimum nourishment necessary, she was much shorter than a fifteen-year-old should be, and withering away. Plus, she'd been beaten, whipped, and suffered mental abuse as well. I could tell all that immediately from the status ailments on her.

Since her situation was so severe, it would take a Sage Level [Cure] user to heal them all. Sage Level users could bring anyone to their normal state, as long as they weren't dead. Be it lost limbs, severe burns, difficult status ailments, they could all be cured. But they couldn't heal illness... Because it was such a miraculous Skill, Sage Level [Cure] users were worshiped as Saints, and there were only a few.

I may or may not also be a Sage Level [Cure] user, too... The only ones who knew that were the Queen, and the Royal Healer, Amber.

If I could, I wanted to heal all of Ruby's status ailments. But if it was discovered that I was Sage Level, the Church would make me a Saint, and I'd probably end up having to leave the country. Since I owed so much to Her Majesty, I wanted to avoid that.

"Let's move her to the sofa for now," Coco said while I was lost in thought, scooping Ruby up. "Wow... She's fifteen, right? How can she be lighter than my ten-year-old cousin?"

Coco looked upset as she laid Ruby down on the sofa. Oh yeah, when I first lifted her up from the shrubbery, she was just skin and bones... Of course she would be, since she'd barely been fed. I hadn't checked her weight when I used [Appraisal]. It'd be rude to do that to a lady.

Wait, has anyone with the [Appraisal] Skill other than me checked her out? I'd reported that she had a bunch of status ailments, but I hadn't specified any further. If I got the Queen's permission, I might be allowed to use [Cure] to heal them all!

"I just feel so bad for her..."

"So do I. Which is precisely why I need to go check in with the higher-ups."

"What? The only person higher than you is...!" I nodded at her, and left the room.

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

Ruby

I woke up to the sound of lots of bells. It was probably around midday. After sitting up and having a stretch, I looked around, not recognizing where I was. No one else was in the room.

When did I fall asleep? Having another look around, I saw that I was on a sofa, and there was a big table nearby... Ah, that's right... This was my personal lab, and Lady Coco, Lady Weiss, and I were investigating my Skill. As soon as I made a tenth seed, my body suddenly felt heavy and I fainted... Or rather, fell asleep. Was that normal?

As I tilted my head in thought, the door opened with a click. It was Lady Coco, carrying a bunch of things.

"Oh, great! You're up! I brought you a sandwich from the dining hall." Saying that, she set the plate with the sandwiches, two cups, and a jug of water on the table. She then filled the cups. Tempted by the sandwich, I walked over and sat in a chair.

"Now, let's eat!" she said, sitting in the chair across from me.

"Thank you," I said, giving a short prayer to the goddess of light before picking up a sandwich. It was about one-fourth the size of a normal one, and it was filled with lettuce, sauce, and chicken.

I was drooling, but since I didn't know sandwich-eating manners, I observed Lady Coco first. She just shoved it in her mouth, though, so I did the same. It was delicious! The crunchy lettuce and the salty-sweet sauce-covered chicken went well together. Mmmm!

The sandwiches were tiny, but I was full from just a single one. As I had a drink, I realized Lady Coco was staring at me. After that, she poked her own forehead. I wasn't sure what she was trying to tell me.

"After you made a tenth seed, you ran out of mana and fell straight asleep, like this," she said, mimicking slamming her head against the table.

"Huh?"

"Skills use up mana. When you get low, you start to get tired. And when you're completely out, anyone would just conk out like that."

While I listened to her explanation, I felt my forehead, and realized there was a bump there.

"Made a real good thunk."

It didn't hurt, but it didn't feel nice either. I furrowed my brow, while Lady Coco looked at me worriedly.

The door clicked open again, and in came Lady Weiss. "Looks like you're awake again, Ruby. And Coco is here, great."

"How'd it go?"

Giving me her usual gentle, angelic smile, Lady Weiss sat down in the chair beside me.

"Cutting straight to the chase, we're going to be cutting Ruby's Skill research time down for now."

I tilted my head, not knowing why things were changing so suddenly. "As it is, Ruby, your total mana is less than that of a three-year-old."

"What!?" Less than a three-year-old... But I was fifteen!

"If we're going to keep studying your Skill, first, we're going to have to seriously focus on increasing your mana pool," explained Lady Weiss, pausing to look in my face. "Actually, do you even know what mana is, Ruby?"

What mana is...? I knew it was in your body, but I didn't really feel it. I shook my head at her question. "They never taught you, huh."

I'd been cleaning the manor for as long as I could remember. I never went to school like common children, or got to study with private teachers like Lady Yang. I was taught how to read, write, and do basic math by the old gardener, the chefs, and maids. They excused it by saying I'd need to be able to read the cleaning products' names and directions, but now that I thought about it, they were probably doing it for my sake.

"After talking with the higher-ups, we've decided that other than Skill research time, Ruby needs time to grow her mana pool and study."

Did that mean that I'd be allowed to learn stuff...? I blinked at Lady Weiss. "I'll be teaching her. Which means, Coco, you're going to have some free time."

"Sounds like it."

"You'll be helping out the Chief."

"Y-You don't mean... Paperwork!?" Lady Coco bemoaned.

"No, you'll be working the fields."

"Really!? That's perfect!" she cheered, raising both hands in the air.

But wasn't field work hard? I tilted my head confusedly at Lady Weiss, and she gave me another pat.

"Coco has the [Earth Magic] Skill, so she's good at working in the fields."

"Yep! It's great, seein' all the crops lively from my magic!" Lady Coco' eyes sparkled. She must have really loved working out there.

"So for today, Ruby will have the rest of the day off, while Coco..." Lady Weiss started.

"I can go to the fields, right? Got it! See ya, Miss Ruby!" Lady Coco said quickly before leaving the room with a skip in her step.

"No, err... I was going to tell her that she'd be starting in the fields tomorrow, so she'd have today off, but..." Lady Weiss mumbled, watching after her with a conflicted look on her face. "Whatever. Since she's gone, we can talk about something else."

What would we talk about? She looked really serious, so it must have been important. I sat myself up, looking at her.

"I did it yesterday in the carriage, but I want to heal your wounds today." My hands shot to the bump on my forehead from when I whacked it against the table when I ran out of mana.

"Other than your forehead, you've got lots of other cuts and bruises, right? Since I used [Appraisal], I know all about them."

Since she'd appraised my Skill too, I wasn't surprised to find out that she knew about everything else.

"I'm going to heal everything, but I've got one request, okay?" I nodded.

"I dunno if you trust me or you're just pure-hearted... I'd think you'd ask what's going to happen before you'd agree..." She was muttering something with a strained smile. I was about to ask what she said, but she shook her head at me lightly. "I'm going to be healing all of your status ailments too, but my request is for you to keep this all a secret."

"Okay." I nodded, lower this time. I didn't know why she'd want me to keep it a secret, but if she wanted me to, I would.

She gave me another gentle smile, patting my head once again. "It'll probably be pretty bright, so you should close your eyes."

I immediately did as she asked.

"Heal all of her wounds and status ailments — [Cure]!"

The moment she cast it, it felt like a wind started blowing through my body. It'd stumble and stop in places, but it eventually faded.

"You can open your eyes now."

Opening them slowly, I saw Lady Weiss's dazzling face in front of me. "How do you feel? Anything off?"

Spurred by her words, I touched my forehead, only to feel no bump. I could move my arms and legs like normal, but they seemed even lighter than before.

"I don't...think so," I replied.

"Have your maids check out your wounds when you get back to your room. I'll walk you there," Lady Weiss said, getting up.

Though the lodging house was really close, I was really tired. I thought I'd fall asleep walking.

"Are you okay?" I could hear Lady Weiss asking me, but I couldn't answer. I felt something hold my hand, though. It was warm... Holding someone else's hand is so comforting...

While I was spacing out, we reached my room. Right as soon as we walked in, Lady Weiss explained things to Militia and Melanie, "I had a healer use [Cure] on Ruby. Her wounds should all be healed, so check for me."

"As you wish."

"Other than that, she had a bunch of bad status ailments like Inhibited Growth, so they cured those as well. There might be some big changes, so just watch out."

"It seems like she's already falling asleep..."

"Yeah. It might be a side-effect of healing those status ailments. Take care of her."

Militia and Melanie bowed deeply to her. They were talking about something, but I was so sleepy, I didn't catch any of it. Just as I was about to collapse, Lady Weiss caught me. After that, she just lifted me up, but I couldn't move.

"I'm...sorry..."

I managed to squeeze out an apology, but I couldn't stay awake any longer. Her face was so close. Idly thinking that her snow white hair was sparkling, I fell asleep.

Extra

Yang

My name is Yang, daughter of Baron Xiao Long.

Just yesterday, Lady Weiss, a nationally-recognized Appraiser—who was wonderful and as beautiful as an angel!—appraised me as needing to go through special training for my Upper Level [Fire Magic]! Those who were deemed as needing training were to be sent to the Royal Research Academy. This was an incredible honor among nobles.

The Royal Research Academy was on the same grounds as the royal palace. Being sent there meant that they could enter it earlier than when they turned seventeen and became an adult. And in doing so, they could also search for a marriage partner earlier than other nobles. But that wasn't all. If you were especially skilled, you could go on to become a researcher, knight, or mage. Your success in life would be guaranteed, but my useless twin sister was here, too... What's the big deal about having some new Skill? Trash like her shouldn't be here!

"This is your room. Wear what's in the closet under the bed. You can't do your training wearing anything else. If you need anything, you can buy it from the shop inside the gray building next door, the Royal Research Institute. Before the eighth bell, we will be meeting at the reception desk right inside there as well. I could explain anything you don't understand, but you didn't want to shake my hand, so you must be fine on your own, right?" My instructor, Velvet, gave me a challenging glance before leaving my room. All I did was not shake her hand because I thought she was a commoner. I didn't know why that would anger her.

"Why is she so bothered that I didn't shake her hand!? It's not my fault!" After yelling that, I looked around the room I was shown to. On the right side of the room was a ladder and upper bed, with a closet and storage space underneath. On the left was a desk and chair. That was it. There was no maid to take care of me.

"Why is my room so small!? And why isn't there a maid for me!?" I yelled again.

A second later, there was a knock on my door. "May I say something?" Suspicious of who could be at the door, I opened it. There I found a very unhappy looking dark-haired girl who seemed to be around my age. "Hey, I completely understand that you've just arrived, but could you quiet down? Your screaming is too loud."

My face burned at her words. I hadn't meant to be that loud!

"And I'll let you know another thing. Your family is renting this room for you," the dark-haired girl sighed. "Screaming about how your room is too small, and you don't have a maid... Aren't you embarrassed to be spreading that your family is poor?"

I lowered my head, humiliated.

"If you need a maid, have your family send you one. But they'll also need to rent a room for them," she said flatly before turning around and leaving.

Frustrated, I could only bite my lip.

After that, I spent a while emptying my bags into the closet. As I did, I saw the ugly black clothes Velvet had mentioned. Telling me to wear this... Is she just bullying me? Not feeling like doing anything else that day, I went to bed with an empty stomach.

The next morning, I woke to the sound of footsteps in the hall. Putting on a yellow dress that I'd brought from home, I looked out my door to see what was happening. Everyone was wearing those ugly black clothes with a gray robe on top, and heading somewhere. I went to follow them, but the dark-haired girl from the day before stopped me.

"What are you wearing? Control trainees can't enter the Royal Research Institute wearing their normal clothes. Didn't your instructor tell you?"

"Huh?" I know she had said something when she showed me to my room, but I couldn't remember what.

The dark-haired girl continued, "Just go put on the black uniform from your closet—and a gray robe. As a control trainee, you won't be able to get into the Institute after the eighth bell."

I rushed back into my room, quickly getting changed. Once I stepped back into the hall, it was empty. I ran through the halls, and as I was going down the stairs, the bells started ringing. Somehow, I managed to get inside the Royal Research Institute before the eighth bell chimed. As I was gasping for breath, Velvet spoke up.

"You're late. I thought you weren't coming. We're going now."

Velvet started walking away without waiting for me. I'd never been treated this way before in my entire life. My mother and I were always treated with reverence by the maids in the manor. Even my useless sister bowed to me... I couldn't believe this!

Still out of breath, I chased after her. She led me to her room, and gave me an introduction, but...

"You trainees are doing your control training here at the Institute for us. Which means you can leave whenever you want, if you don't want training."

Leave? To my tiny room with no maid... I was about to announce I was going home. But before I could, she continued.

"Those who leave before completing their training will have to live wearing a Mana Sealing Bracelet," she said, pointing to a bracelet displayed off to the side of the room. "Those bracelets are only used for criminals and failures. So, what are you going to do?"

"I'm staying!" I screeched angrily. I'd never become a failure like my sister.

"I see. If you're staying, then you'll have to obey our rules here in the Institute." Velvet peered at me with a stern look in her eyes. "Just like I told you yesterday, control trainees must all wear their black uniforms and gray robes. They serve as your identification, and wearing them lets you eat for free in the lodging house."

So I have to keep wearing these drab black clothes the entire time I'm here!? I wanted to complain, but Velvet kept on speaking.

"There's a communal bath and laundry room in the lodging house for your use. If you don't want to wash your clothes on your own, you can pay to have the laundrymaids do it for you."

I've never done laundry... And I don't have any money. I've never used it before... My mind blanked out as I realized that. What should I do... What could I do... But an idea suddenly came to me while I was worrying. That's right! I could use my failure-of-a-sister as a maid! Once I realized that, I was able to listen calmly to Velvet's explanation.

She went on to explain how living in the lodging house worked, and how we'd be trained. Afterwards, we headed to a hall on the first floor of the building. Inside were lots of people wearing white robes with different colored stoles.

"Go stand with the other trainees over there."

I scowled at her ordering me around, but I did as I was told. Why are there so many people gathering here?

After a while, a bespectacled woman with blond hair stood on a platform in the middle. The woman was acting self-important, just like my grandfather Marquis Branwen acted back at home in the manor when he came.

"I've called you all here today to introduce a new colleague." After she said that, the whole room began buzzing.

A new colleague? She must mean me! Why else would all these people be gathered here! Just as I was about to step forward, the woman looked towards the entrance.

"Ruby, over here."

What? Why is she calling my sister's name? While I was in shock, my sister stepped onto the podium wearing a red and black dress. She wasn't wearing the same black and gray outfit we were, even though it was supposed to be mandatory.

The blond haired woman clapped her hands, silencing the room. "This is Ruby. She just awakened to a new type of Skill. Make sure you treat her well."

My sister timidly bowed. Why should I treat my trash sister well!?

"I'm the Chief of the Royal Research Academy, Glynda. The kids in gray robes are the control trainees, and the people in white robes are all researchers. You can tell who works where by the color of their stoles. Yellow means martial arts, red means magic, green means technical, and blue means unique. We'll be doing research and observation of your Skill, but I will promise you that we'll never be rough with you. That's it; meeting's over."

I didn't get a chance to complain before all of us control trainees were shuffled to a big room. The moment I entered, I could hear people talking.

"Lady Ruby, was it? I'm so jealous that she's awakened to a brand new skill."

"I heard that she won't have to wear a robe because she'll be treated as a special researcher."

"She might not have to usually, but she might in formal situations."

"Huh? What color stole would she wear?"

"I think it would be the highest rank, purple."

"Isn't purple the color that only royalty can use!?"

"That's amazing!"

"That isn't amazing at all!" I spoke up, causing all the trainees to stop and look at me.

"Do you happen to know Lady Ruby?" The dark haired girl who spoke to me earlier asked.

"She's my younger twin sister! Let me take this opportunity to tell you all about her," I said. Everyone edged in closer to hear what I had to say.

Listen to me as I explain just how much of a failure my sister is! I went through everything that happened at home for them. How her appearance, personality, and actions were all completely inferior to me. How she was such a failure that we had her do the cleaning. How she'd always have to be whipped for not cleaning properly.

"Do you understand how my sister is trash, now?"

As I finished my explanation, everyone who had listened started whispering to each other, glancing in my direction.

"Lady Ruby was very cute...but she did seem quite thin."

"...Rather than thin, she looked like skin and bones."

"If they're twins, why is one withering away while the other is perfectly normal?"

"And making Lady Ruby wake up so early to clean the entire house..."

"They whipped her as punishment!?"

They all turned to me at once. The dark-haired girl stepped forward, almost as if she was representing them all.

"So your sister was abused?"

"No! My sister is garbage. All we did was discipline her!"

The only thing I had wanted to do was tell everyone how much of a failure my sister was, but for some reason, it made everyone stay away from me