The morning light slipped through the shutters, a pale gold that crept across the floorboards and up the side of the bed. I was awake before it reached me.
I'd slept deep — deeper than I had in months, maybe years — but the moment I opened my eyes, there was no grogginess. No stiffness. My body felt alert, ready, like I'd been built for mornings like this.
The voice was already waiting.
[System phase active. Starter gift allocation beginning.]
I sat up, swinging my legs over the side of the bed. "Alright. Let's hear it."
[Gift One: Desire Touch. Any physical contact you initiate can stimulate and amplify attraction in the target. The longer the contact, the stronger the effect. Full potential unlocked through repeated use.]
I flexed my fingers slowly. "So… if I shake someone's hand, brush their arm—"
[—or touch them in any way, the system will subtly alter their sensory perception, associating you with physical pleasure. Effectiveness increases with skin-to-skin contact.]
"That's… useful," I said, the corner of my mouth lifting. "And the catch?"
[Each activation draws from stamina proportional to target resistance and duration of contact. Excessive use on multiple targets without rest will trigger fatigue.]
So no marathon groping sprees. Noted.
[Gift Two: Desire Tongue. Your spoken words carry a subtle, subconscious weight, increasing the likelihood of favorable responses to your suggestions. Power scales with confidence, tone, and existing rapport.]
"That's… dangerously broad."
[It is not mind control. Targets must be predisposed to the suggestion or emotionally moved by your delivery. However, the gift allows you to bypass typical hesitation or doubt.]
I leaned forward, elbows on my knees. "So basically… it makes my voice harder to say no to."
[Correct.]
"And the catch here?"
[Extended use in a single conversation will drain stamina faster. Overuse will reduce effectiveness temporarily until recovery is complete.]
I stood, walking to the small mirror on the wall. The man looking back already carried a presence — now the system had just sharpened two blades to add to it.
"Desire Touch. Desire Tongue. Both subtle. Both dangerous."
[They are designed to give you a foothold. Early in your growth, open displays of power will draw attention you are not yet ready to handle. Subtle influence will allow you to build a foundation before moving into higher-tier abilities.]
That made sense. The last thing I needed was to be some stranger in town suddenly causing scenes that people couldn't explain.
"Let's test it," I said.
[It is recommended you begin with a target who is neither hostile nor emotionally distant.]
I grinned. "You have someone in mind?"
[There is one who has already interacted with you: the inn's proprietor. Female. Early thirties. Widowed. Exhibits signs of social hunger and mild curiosity toward you.]
I remembered the fleeting glimpse from yesterday — a woman with dark hair pinned up, full in the hips and bust, moving through the common room with the kind of easy authority that comes from running a place alone.
"Landlady," I murmured.
[Correct. She is ideal for your first field test.]
I dressed quickly and made my way downstairs.
The common room was quieter than yesterday, just a couple of older men finishing breakfast. The air smelled faintly of coffee and fresh bread.
She was behind the counter, head bent over a ledger, a pen scratching across the page. Up close, I noticed details I'd missed before — the faint sheen of her skin from working in the warm room, the way her blouse clung just enough to hint at the curves beneath.
When she looked up, her eyes flicked over me in a quick, appraising sweep. Not shy — but not careless, either.
"Morning," she said. "Sleep well?"
"Better than I have in a long time," I said, letting Desire Tongue hum just under the surface of my words. It wasn't a conscious strain — just a subtle push, like leaning forward in a conversation.
Her lips curved faintly. "That's good to hear. Breakfast?"
"Please."
She disappeared into the kitchen, and I took a seat at the counter. When she returned, she set down a plate with bread, butter, and sliced fruit. As she slid it toward me, my fingers brushed hers.
The connection was brief — a soft graze across skin — but Desire Touch kicked in instantly. It wasn't like a spark or a flash. It was more like a warmth flowing outward from the point of contact, sinking into the air between us.
Her breath hitched almost imperceptibly before she drew her hand back.
I didn't comment. I just ate slowly, letting the moment sit in her mind.
"So," she said after a minute, leaning against the counter, "you're not from around here."
I smiled faintly. "That obvious?"
"Your clothes fit too well for a traveler who's been on the road long. And you don't have the look of a farmer or a craftsman."
"Maybe I'm just good at hiding my trade."
She tilted her head, her gaze sharpening with interest. "And what trade is that?"
I let Desire Tongue thread into my next words. "One that depends on understanding people."
The air between us shifted — not heavy, but charged. She looked like she wanted to ask more, but instead, she reached for a cloth and started wiping down the counter.
[Target interest level rising.] The system's voice was calm but approving. [Recommendation: reinforce with another instance of Desire Touch to build association.]
I reached for my cup, letting my hand brush hers again as she moved past. This time, the contact lingered a heartbeat longer.
Her fingers twitched before she pulled away, and there was a faint flush on her cheeks now.
I didn't push further. Two touches, two small pushes. Enough to plant something in her mind without making it obvious.
When I finished eating, I stood and met her gaze. "Thanks for the meal."
She smiled, but it was softer now, and when she answered, her voice carried a warmth that hadn't been there at the start. "Anytime."
I walked out into the sunlight with the faint hum of satisfaction under my skin.
[Desire Points earned: 2.]
It wasn't much, but it was proof. The system worked. And now, I had the tools to start moving.