My rest that night is troubled by various questions I can't shake off. Even if Dad is my Dad, and Mom is my Mom. Who were my blood parents? Where did I come from? Do I have other family out there still? As well as less personally important questions like. What is the deal with that lighthouse? Why did Tir seem so disinterested in it? Early in the morning, before even Dad wakes up, I snap awake feeling anxious about telling Tir. I mutter to myself. "Why am I letting it bother me so much? I don't, normally care about stuff like this."

I climb out of bed and creep to the window to look out. The eastern sky is just starting to change color. "Gaah. I need more time to think." I hastily dress myself in a pair of long dark brown shorts that go just past my knees, and a black shirt that fits a little snuggly to my lithe form. Then I grab a piece of jerky from my stash and hold it carefully in my mouth as I climb out the window. Once I have my hands free again I start chomping through the jerky as I sneak away from the house.

Once I've gotten into the woods a bit I pause to think about where I should go. "The gates won't be open yet if I head straight to town. Mmh. I guess, I'll try to find out more stuff about the lighthouse? Those questions seem easy." I start heading north before the sun has even reached the horizon.

The few monsters I encounter on my trip are a bit stronger than the ones I usually see during the day, but not enough to make them a threat to me. By the time I reach the lighthouse, the first rays of sunlight are touching the treetops, and naturally bathe most of the tall tower in their glow as well.

I stare up at the round tower, trying to judge its height. It looks about eighty meters tall? Hard to judge, but certainly the tallest building I've seen. The outer surface looks rather rough. "Yeeah. I think I can do this." I approach and feel around for handholds, then start to climb. About twenty meters up I find a deep crack where both of my feet fit firmly, so I stop for a brief break.

The sun is up enough to illuminate the beach now, so I look around the coast. I'd have a better view from the other side of the lighthouse, but while climbing my trail took me a little to the side so I can see enough. There are scattered chunks of chitin strewn across the beach that might be from that giant crustacean Tir and I saw yesterday. "Yikes, what could've killed it? Or maybe this is from a smaller one? Not a lot left if it was the same one. . ." I shake my head and get back to climbing, trying to move back to the side facing away from the ocean to be safe.

Around the fifty meter mark my arms are starting to feel the strain, but I see a large hole in the stone pillar a ways ahead. I push forward until I pull myself up into the hole. It doesn't lead into the structure as I'd hoped, but it's at least big enough for me to sit down in and catch my breath. At the back of the hole I notice a faint, metallic gleam. I poke around it a bit, but aside from a gap where the metal is visible, the stone is solid. The metal itself feels warm, and seems to hum faintly when I touch it.

I lean my back against the exposed metal, using the faint hum as a sort of gentle massage as I stare out at the familiar woods I've spent my youth running around with a new perspective I've never thought to see them from. Even from here, it's quite the view. I'm already three or four times higher up than the tallest trees down there. I think I can see most of the forest, I can even tell where our house is, from the way the trees are laid out and the view of the top of the barn. There are still trees blocking the house itself.

After around a twenty minute break I stretch out my arms and kick my legs over the void. "Alright! Back to it." I squirm around to stand in the hole, reach up above it for further cracks to grab hold of, and start climbing again. Having rested up, and already passed the halfway point, I climb faster in the finishing stretch.

When I climb up to the top I look around. The top has several pillars holding up a small roof, and provides an excellent view of the surrounding area. After a moment I lay eyes upon a great metal cage built atop a bowl set in the center. Within the bowl is what looks to be a whole small tree, alight with a gentle flame, but not consumed by it. "A brazier?" If it is one, it's far grander than the one in the church. "Hmm? . . . Ah! That's it! Vestria, Goddess of the Guiding Flame. Lighthouses are supposed to lead sailors to land!" That had really been bothering me.

I approach the brazier to take a closer look at the unusual tree. It's about the height of an average man, but about as thick as a far larger tree. Even the leaves are broad for their length. It doesn't feel especially warm, so I try touching the brazier, and that's when something, unusual happens.

The flame goes from a dull red to white, causing me to back away a few steps, then a figure walks out of the cage. A white, see-through woman wearing loose robes. Her gaze locks onto me, and she speaks in an oddly cold voice. "Analysis: Foreign humanoid lifeform identified. Subject possesses both the capacity and the potential for a Unique Skill. Proposition: The Guardian Light system will awaken your Unique Skill in exchange for granting a quest that will benefit Almia. . . Processing modern language: A quest that will benefit the Isles of Origins as a whole."

I stare at the mysterious woman quietly. She looks like a ghost, but aside from what I can see and hear, she doesn't have a presence at all. I approach cautiously, then poke the woman's outstretched hand. To no obvious effect. I consider her offer. I know skills have something to do with Classes, but I've never heard of a Unique Skill before. "Ahh. Screw it. I accept!"

"Attention: Direct spiritual interference activating, you may experience some discomfort." There is an odd buzzing sensation, as if I were completely surrounded by angry bees, but it's only annoying, not uncomfortable. "Success: The Unique Skill: Monster Conversion has been awakened. Deeper Analysis: Subject traits identified, formulating quest. . . Quest Assignment: Conquer the Dain. . . Processing modern language: Conquer the Ocean of Chaos."

"What?!" Even for me, that's a ridiculous request. "How would I even try to do that? When would I be done? . . . What do I get for doing it?" I got a Unique Skill upfront. But usually rewards come after the completion of a Quest.

"Processing questions: Response: Become the strongest creature in the Ocean of Chaos and force the lifeforms therein to recognize you as such. Reward: Dominion over the Ocean of Chaos." Isn't that the same thing as completing the Quest though? Before I have time to question further I hear a noise behind me. I turn to look, just in time to spot a large hand on the ledge, followed by a very familiar head of rusty red hair. Dad pulls himself up onto the top of the lighthouse. Then pauses to stare at the see-through woman, likely perturbed by her lack of presence. "Analysis: Local Human identified. Subject possesses the capacity for multiple Unique Skills, but no particular potential. Proposition: The Guardian Light system will assign specialized challenges to create the potential required for Unique Skill awakening."

Dad doesn't say anything in response, but approaches me to set a hand on my shoulder. Then he pulls on my shoulder as if leading me away. I look up at him and tilt my head, but before I can question it he nods towards the ocean. When I follow his gaze I spot a massive serpent out in the ocean, its head easily level with the top of the lighthouse. It has four eyes, two of which are forward facing and actively looking this way, the other two are more widely spaced providing the creature with a broader view.

I have no idea how long that thing has been watching me, but now that I've noticed it, I can feel its strength to be beyond what I can comprehend. I can't even use Dad as a frame of reference for it. The worst part is, Dad told me once, that animals with eyes at the side of their head like that, are usually prey for something else. . .

I don't resist as Dad leads me back to the edge. Once we're there, he ties a long rope around one of the pillars, then he nods for me to climb down first. I take hold of the rope and start scaling down. The last I see of the giant snake is it starting to lower itself back into the water. Shortly after I reach the ground the rope drops down after me, I look up in surprise to see Dad climbing down the hard way. Despite that, he makes it down in a bit less time than it took me to climb down with the rope. I rolled the rope up myself while waiting for him then hand it over once he's down.

Before I can start walking myself, he picks me up and throws me over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes, then sprints into the forest at a speed I wouldn't be able to keep up with. Because of how he's carrying me, I can watch as a massive wave crashes upon the tower, though it seems like the wave actually splits around the tower. The wave isn't terribly wide, but it was about half as tall as the lighthouse.

The driving force behind the wave was great enough that even after breaking upon the lighthouse without even appearing to damage it, the water pours forth into the woods. Dad actually outruns the incoming water, and over time the wave loses more and more of its force. By the time I lose sight of the water, it has gotten rather shallow and even seems to be receding.

About halfway back to the house, Dad sets me down, then brings his fist down on the top of my head hard enough that I see stars for a moment. "Well, I'm sure you understand already so I won't go out of my way to punish you. But don't do that sort of thing again until you're stronger than me." I rub the top of my head and look up at him with tears in my eyes. He sighs faintly, but, doesn't even seem to be out of breath after doubtlessly moving as quickly as he could all the way until this moment after figuring out where I went.

"Sorry sir. I just, needed time to think. And thought I'd answer some questions I had about the lighthouse. But, I just have more questions about it now. Still, I got a Unique Skill, so that sounds pretty cool." He gives me a questioning look. "Didn't you hear what that, ghost lady, said when you showed up? She said I had the potential for one already and offered to awaken it. Apparently it's called Monster Conversion." I tactfully leave out the detail that I've been given a Quest to conquer the Ocean of Chaos.

"Unique, huh? Never heard of it. Something to do with monsters though." He scratches his cheek, then looks around. A moment later he gives me a light push on the back towards the east. When I focus that way I can sense something there. A little stronger than most of the monsters I see around here, but I can't tell what it is yet.

I walk that way for a look, and find a slime, deep blue and about twice the size of the one I gave water yesterday. "Okay, I'll give it a shot! . . . How do I use skills?" Dad walks up next to me as the slime seems to turn its attention towards us.

"If nothing else, you can say the name while deciding to act. Easiest way to test new skills."

I reach out towards the slime and shout, "Monster Conversion!" Then I feel an odd sensation of something starting, then stopping before it could act. "No good? . . Maybe I have to beat it up first?" I walk closer, kick the slime into a nearby tree, and try again. "Monster Conversion?" It still doesn't work.

The slime pulls itself together, then lunges at me. I lift my foot up and bring it down on the slime hard enough that I feel its core crack underfoot. I shudder at the feeling. "Urk. That was gross. Oh." I step away from the spreading puddle of slime, then reach out for it. "Monster Conversion?"

The slime disappears, and words appear in my vision. [5 units of Slime Material obtained] [Recipes unlocked; Slime Jelly Cup 1 Slime Material, Small Lesser Healing Potion 20 Slime Material, Slime Resin Dagger 40 Slime Material, Slime Resin Buckler 50 Slime Material and -Unknown-]

". . . Uh. It seems like I can turn monsters into, stuff?" I turn to look at Dad, and he stares expectantly. "Right, I'll try it. Though I only have enough, slime for one kind of item?" I click my tongue. "Monster Conversion, slime jelly cup." A small clear container with blue contents a lighter shade than the slime was, appears in my hand. It's not, rigid enough to be glass and it has some kind of, thin similarly clear skin on top. The cover has a loose edge, so I hold the cup upright and pull the top off. Then I sniff the contents. "Oh! Smells sweet!"

Dad grabs the cup before I can do anything. "Seems suspicious." He tilts the cup into his mouth, chews the glob for a moment, then swallows. "Hmm. Slime fresh from the ocean, sugar, honey, and syrup?" Three different sweeteners?! Now I have to try it! Before I can make another one, I see him furrow his eyebrows and raise a hand to his side. "Feels like it has a minor healing effect too."

"Eh, huh? You were injured?" He lifts his shirt to show a poultice stuck to his flank. He peels the bandage off to reveal a now mostly healed wound. After inspecting it a moment, he puts his shirt back down and tosses the poultice into the woods.

"Nothing major, just got gored by a monster in one of my traps that had a little more fight in it than expected a few days ago." He turns his gaze to the cup still in his hand, then squeezes it lightly, deforming the shape. "The cup is weird too."

"Yeah, I guess it is. I kinda want to try one too. But now that I think about it, the other recipes are probably better. . ." I frown thoughtfully. "Well, slimes are pretty common. But, I'll need to play around with the skill a lot more still."

Dad pats my head. "Not just yet. We've still got a lot to tell Tir." With that, he leads the way back to the house. When we enter the house, Tir is cooking, which is a little rare, but he's not terrible at it. He turns to look at us.

"Sorry, I ran off to get more time to think, and clear my head a little. Instead I just have even more questions now." I grin wryly. "Can I do some chores until breakfast is ready? Or did you do those before Tir told you about our trip yesterday?" Dad shakes his head, so I walk back outside.

I check the barn first. Looks like the animals need more water first thing. We've mostly got small livestock like chickens, but we have a couple goats too. I grab a spare bucket and go to draw water. Only to be greeted once again by that small slime from yesterday. I consider killing it to use monster conversion, but I still don't feel right picking on really weak monsters, even if there's something in it for me.

I sigh and pour some more water on it. Then I carry the bucket back to the barn to start refilling the large water trough. By the time I finish the chores in the barn, Dad steps out to call me in. I start feeling anxious again as I approach my seat at the table. But I sit down so Dad and I can explain everything over breakfast.

After we've explained how Mom and Dad found me, and what happened in the lighthouse, more or less, Tir fidgets, then shouts. "You mean I only have a couple months to get stronger than her?! I thought I had over a year!"

Chaos_Sinner777

That's right. We recycle monsters here! I actually kinda wanted to photoshop little monster faces or coins or something into the recycling symbol, but, I had a hard time finding images I liked, and am not sure I remember how to photoshop.

Monster Conversion is basically an RPG loot system huh? But, you can save up the loot potential of a ton of battles to get good loot from even basic monsters. So that's nice.

As I mentioned the height of the average man for the tree in the brazier, I'll specify. Men on the Isles of Origin average six foot four inches tall, women average five foot ten, and Aradain is five foot four. Small enough to be noticed as petite, but nothing truly unusual.

Also, Almia would technically translate as "Dawn Island". Since that's cool, but the modern name was adapted to Isles of Origin.

Also also, Aradain has excellent senses, but she didn't notice the giant serpent because she doesn't subconsciously "feel" danger/strength/whatever yet, only consciously.