Beauty X Beast ~ Twenty-Seven!

- Danielle -

The door to the library burst open, causing Danielle to look up from where she sat at an oversized oak table, scribbling away at a design she’d been working on since breakfast. Thick books and handwritten technical manuals were blocking her view of the Beast floating toward her, so she carefully pushed them to the side and gave him her full attention. “Is something the matter, Beast?”

“I see you have been productive, as usual.” Blue light gently reflected off the thick stack of paper and empty bottles of ink directly adjacent to the Enchantress. “Commendable, especially with Comte LeKrout having already informed you of your impending reward. This may come as a shock to you, but-”

“But you've come around to my presence here, and you're glad I showed up in the first place.” Danielle popped a cork in the open bottle of ink, raising an eyebrow and smiling at the towering machine as it faltered. “What? You don't think I've noticed how much nicer you've been over the last few weeks? Some of the engines I've been studying in here couldn't have been moved by anyone but you—they're at least two to three thousand pounds each. That, and no one else took credit for your efforts. Thank you, Beast. I like you, too.”

*Eh-hrrm.* The grinding of gears was almost a perfect mimicry of someone clearing their throat. “Yes, well, you have proven yourself less intrusive than I had first expected. I know you wanted to take a look at some of the larger designs. It was not an issue to move them here. In fact, it was… rather nice to feel like I was working alongside someone, instead of simply managing them. Enough of this. That’s not why I'm here. Follow me?”

Though it had been phrased as a question, it was clear the Beast expected her to immediately get to her feet and chase after him. Danielle complied, more out of a sense of interest in this odd behavior than a feeling of obligation. “Did something good happen, Beast?”

“As a matter of fact… yes.” The Beast stepped into the hallway and turned around, “I am pleased to inform you that the rescue mission was successful. Your father has been safely extracted, though there were… complications.”

 Danielle let out a shriek of delight, throwing herself forward and wrapping her arms as far around the machine as she could reach. “I can't believe it! He's safe? He's on his way here? Wait! What do you mean, ‘complications’?”

“He is safe and in good health. His arrival is expected within the next few days.” The Beast held very still at that moment, perhaps concerned that he may accidentally shift too suddenly and squash the frail human like a bug. “I would be happy to explain further, but please step away. I am unused to being grappled.”

“It's called a hug, Beast. If you're going to keep doing such nice things, you’d better get used to them.” Even as she teased the massive automaton, Danielle complied, easing back and away.

“A solid justification for me to outsource ‘nice’ actions.” The growl from the Beast only served to make Danielle laugh. “Yes. Unfortunately, there was a slight complication. Baron Gasteel managed to land a powerful blow against one of the dispatched soldiers, revealing our involvement in the rescue. At last check, they’d been waiting on orders from the crown, but now they are moving in our direction. As they are moving here with their full force, they are moving slowly.”

Danielle slumped as though the gravity of the situation had actually increased the weight on her shoulders. “This is bad… they're coming for us. What do we do, Beast? Can we fight them?”

“Yes, and at the same time, very much… no.” The gears in the Beast’s body literally began spinning, their lack of proper housing showing clearly that he had just started thinking about something very intently. “There are some ideas floating between myself and the Comte, but we will include you in the deliberations before we've made a final decision. Before all of that, as a celebration of your father's successful rescue, I'd like to show you something else to lift your spirits. Behold… Doc's new form!”

At that moment, a flash of motion in her peripheral caused Danielle to look up—just in time to see a massive mechanical spider drop from the ceiling. It hit the stone floor with a surprisingly muted series of *clangs as its eight legs moved with eerie precision to reduce the impact. The creature looked over at the duo, its eight glowing eyes holding her attention for a bare moment before her gaze was directed toward a clacking* set of razor-sharp mandibles. 

Despite its terrifying appearance and abrupt arrival, Danielle's face lit up with a beaming smile. “Doc! Just look at you! How does your transformation feel? Is it everything you hoped it would be? When did they complete the prototype?”

The spider’s body was sleek and polished. As her eyes roved over its thorax, Danielle noticed how there hadn’t been a hint of alteration to her final submitted design. A thrill rushed through her when she realized that meant the Artificer hadn't been able to find a single place to improve upon the blueprint. That tingle swirled, becoming a physical sensation before traveling to her left arm.

“Madame Danielle, it is good to see you… and even better to be seen.” The spider bowed slightly toward her, its eyes flickering ominously. Doc's voice was similar in cadence, but gone was the chiming quality his tiny form had previously necessitated. Now when Doc spoke, his voice resounded from the center of his body and echoed in both his thorax and abdomen sections, adding a cavernous quality to the words.

“Well, you look amazing. This is exactly what you wanted, yes?”

“It’s everything I hoped for and more.” The spider looked back and forth ever so slightly then leaned in, as if to share a great secret. “I can shoot a harpoon out of my mouth… and my butt. I'll be able to travel through the trees surrounding the estate by swinging on the attached coiled chain. When we're done here, I'm going to go practice.”

“That's… that's wonderful, Doc.” The Enchantress’s smile wobbled slightly as she tried to get on board with the sheer enthusiasm the automaton was expressing. “I'm glad you're happy. When I was working through the design, I figured, if you wanted one so badly… you'd really be excited about having two.”

“And you were so right,” Doc muttered as he bobbed his head at her a few more times then spun around and began *clattering* down the hall faster than a regular man could sprint. “I'm going to go practice!”

Watching the machine run away, Danielle could only blink in slight shock at how the interaction had played out. Releasing a sound somewhere between a scoff and a chuckle at the audacious situation, she turned her eyes to her arm to view what new information the system had for her. 

Skill increase! Unified Radiance [Level 8 (Extensive) → Level 9 (Master)]!

Requirement to advance to level 10-

Then, to her shock, even as she read the words, the golden text was wiped away and replaced with a pearlescent light so intense that it would have blinded her if it hadn't been gentle system energy pouring in and altering her.

Skill increase! Unified Radiance [Level 9 (Master) → Level 10 (Perfect)]!

Unified Radiance is a passive, continuous skill representing the culmination and fusion of the skills Resplendent Self, Aura of Refinement, Alluring Assemblage, and Graceful Movement, seamlessly integrating them into a symbiotic relationship where the admiration you receive will [Minimally] fuel the enhancement of your surroundings and yourself, and vice versa. The radius of this effect extends up to [10] meters from your body.

Building upon the original skills, Unified Radiance extends this skills effect to a broader range of activity. Any task or action you undertake is imbued with [Perfect] inherent beauty. This effect also [Perfectly] increases the value and appeal of objects and people you are involved with, both for sales and social interactions. As this passive skill grows more potent, it will allow you to adeptly evolve to new situations, allowing yourself and those impacted to be [Perfectly] adept at navigating social scenarios. 

This creates a positive feedback loop between yourself and your environment. As your beauty and grace increases, so does the beauty and appeal of your surroundings, in turn further amplifying your own allure.

Advanced Skill Unlocked!

Advance Skill gained: Holistic Refinement, a Damsel of Distress: Level 0/10. 

Holistic Refinement allows the user to synergize and direct all previous skills into a powerful enhancer. When actively crafting something new, whether it is an object, design, or idea, all factors of the final product are taken into account and enhanced [level x 10%] by the System. Legacy creations will only benefit half as much as new creations. 

All previous skills remain permanently and passively effective on the user of this skill, but the user now has [no] control as to what is otherwise impacted. 

Requirement to advance to level 1: use this skill a single time. 

Special modifier applied: You have been granted a modifier ‘Damsel of Distress’. 

Against seemingly insurmountable odds, you transformed a set of skills or circumstances which nearly guaranteed failure or even death into a foundation for success with far-reaching and profound effects. By taking your fate into your own hands, you have broken free of the Codex Arcane Ledger’s predicted outcome. 

Effect: When in the presence of another ‘Damsel of Distress’, you will be able to recognize each other as kindred spirits and [Minimally] share the benefits of your skills, if so desired, while in range. This will increase in potency with the skill it was acquired in tandem with. 

Danielle nearly choked on her tongue as she swallowed back a scream, followed by spinning on her heel and sprinting over to the table she had vacated in the library. Yanking over a clean sheet of parchment and abruptly popping the seal off a bottle of ink without concern for how it would splash on the oak table, she furiously began scribbling down the most basic design she knew by heart. 

Only a few minutes later, the blueprint for a singing bird toy stared back up at her, and she slapped the quill to the table and looked up, announcing to empty air, “Done!”

Looking down, she saw a slight glimmer rush across the page, ever so subtly shifting the gear positions of the bird and cleaning up droplets of ink that had splashed in her haste. That same light collected at the tip of the lower left corner of the page, then jumped to her arm like static. Danielle's arm glowed, but even before it did, she was impatiently swiping her finger along her skin. “Come on… there's only one line I care about…” 

Skill increase: Holistic Refinement [0 (none)→ 1 (Minimal)]!

Holistic Refinement 1/10. 

Holistic Refinement allows the user to synergize and direct all previous skills into a powerful enhancer. When actively crafting something new, whether it is an object, design, or idea, all factors of the final product are taken into account and enhanced [10%] by the System. Legacy creations will only benefit half as much as new creations. 

All previous skills remain permanently and passively effective on the user of this skill, but the user now has [Minimal] control as to what is otherwise impacted. 

Requirement to advance to level 2: Create 5 objects or designs you have never created before, without using a schematic provided by someone else. 

She gasped as the air around her dimmed slightly, just enough that it would’ve been missed if she hadn't been specifically watching her surroundings so intently. Tears filled her eyes unbidden as an immense joy welled up within her, and Danielle choked out a few words as she turned to offer an explanation to the Beast, who had followed her and remained by her side, greatly concerned. 

“I… I got an active skill, Beast! It gave me control of my passives. I mean, it's not Perfect yet, but eventually it will be. This changes everything. For the first time since the day I turned eighteen, I don't have to be afraid that someone will keep me in a room and use me as their makeup routine.”

“That is a very specific fear,” the Beast mentioned in a slightly confused tone. “Congratulations on your advancement. I am pleased to hear you are happy with the results.”

“For the first time ever, Beast.” Danielle couldn't stop the tears flowing from her eyes, even as the brilliant smile on her face stayed right where it was. 

“I'm going to work so hard to Perfect this skill… you don't even know.”