"Have you come to a decision?" Bahamut asked, watching Vasiliki mull over her options.
"Yes," Vasiliki replied hesitantly.
She had made her choice, but couldn't help worrying if the other options would still be available during her next level up.
She had heard from Draco that the options changed depending on whether she could replicate the actions that led to them being available, but such a thing was easier said than done.
"You don't sound certain," Bahamut observed, noting her uncertain tone.
"No, my mind is made up. Please pick the mage development ability for me," Vasiliki said, her voice more resolute.
"Okay," Bahamut responded, immediately updating her choice on the status board engraved on her back.
Vasiliki had chosen the mage development ability over the others, because it was the most useful to her at the moment.
The hunter development ability had been the next best thing from her available choices but the mage development ability simple appealed more to her as a mage.
It also provided all the benefits that hunter could provide and more. Even better, she could begin her progression on the ability early. The more she used it, the stronger the skill became.
And not knowing when her next level up would be, she reaffirmed that her choice was correct.
After Bahamut was done choosing, Vasiliki's status board changed, and she was now officially a level 2 adventurer.
The drowsiness that had hovered over her also seemed to ease up significantly, as she had nearly fully recovered from her mind down.
Vasiliki was ecstatic to be the second level 2 adventurer in the Bahamut familia, even if it was only going to be brief, as Draco was going to reach level 3 the same day.
'Wait, could it be....hehehe, this might be fun' she mused about something she just realized.
'Too bad the others were too preoccupied to realize such an important thing,' Vasiliki thought with a mischievous grin.
'It will be fun making them regret it.' her lips parting wider.
"Congratulations," Bahamut said, snapping Vasiliki out of her musings.
'I know that look,' Bahamut thought, curious about what Vasiliki was planning.
'She's probably up to no good.' she surmised.
"Thank you," Vasiliki replied, getting up from the bed and putting her shirt back on.
"Your welcome. Call the next person on your way out," Bahamut responded.
Vasiliki nodded her head, grabbed her status sheets, and turned towards the door.
Just before turning the knob, she paused, adjusting her clothes and expression, then exited Bahamut's room.
"Oh, she's finally out," Vasileios muttered, seeing Vasiliki emerge.
"Well, how was it?" Nikolaos asked, eager to know the details of her updated status.
However, Vasiliki ignored him, walking straight up to Draco with a stride that exuded an air of superiority.
'What is this? What is she up to now?' Draco wondered, his eyes narrowing at her with a mix of amusement and curiosity.
Even Michalis and Clair, who were preoccupied with their own thoughts, looked up to see what she was doing.
"Well..." Draco prompted, curious about her next move.
Vasiliki stretched out her hand, handing her status sheets to Draco, then turned around to face the others.
'Don't tell me that she got an extra skill or even worse, magic,' Nikolaos wondered, trying to anticipate what could be the reason for her unusual behavior.
"Hey..." Vasileios began to say, approaching her, but Vasiliki cut him off.
"Stop, peasant," Vasiliki said, her expression and tone serious, her posture regal.
"You all made a big mistake letting me level up first," she declared, pausing to let her words sink in.
"What nonsense are you saying?" Vasileios asked, perplexed by Vasiliki's cryptic words.
His brow furrowed as he tried to make sense of her convoluted explanation.
Vasiliki let out an exasperated sigh, rolling her eyes.
"I can't believe I have to spell this out for you all, but I guess it cant be helped. By allowing me to level up first, you all have forfeited the honor of being the second-fastest person to reach Level 2 in the Bahamut familia, and perhaps all of Orario." she announced, her tone suggesting this was a monumentally important milestone.
Eleni furrowed her brow, still not grasping the significance of Vasiliki's proclamation.
"What are you getting at?" she asked.
Vasiliki pursed her lips, her tone turning condescending.
"Let me dumb it down for you simple-minded kids. Draco nii probably holds the record for the fastest level-up to Level 2, and now likely Level 3 as well, in all of Orario. So the question is, who is number two?…." she asked.
Nikolaos' eyes widened as the realization dawned on him.
Quickly glancing around, he noticed the others were still offended and processing Vasiliki's words.
Seizing the opportunity, he quietly slipped away, gently opening the door to Bahamut's room and slipping inside, careful not to draw attention.
"Hey, aren't you all going to stop him?" Vasiliki exclaimed, pointing an accusatory finger at Nikolaos' retreating form.
Vasileios cursed under his breath, his own mind now catching up to the implications. He dashed towards the door, but it was too late - the door had already closed and locked behind him.
Nikolaos had secured his spot as the third -fastest to reach Level 2 in all of Orario.
Dimitra had been the first to fully understand Vasiliki's scheme, but she had no interest in participating in the younger girl's mischievous plot, so she ignored everything.
"Aaaagh, how could you do this to me, Niko?" Vasileios cried out in frustration.
"I was meant to be next!" he cursed.
He turned to Draco, seeking support. "Draco nii, aren't you going to say something? Wasn't it supposed to be from the youngest to oldest?" he asked.
Draco merely shrugged, an amused expression on his face.
He had no intention of interfering with Nikolaos' actions.
Vasiliki surveyed the scene, savoring the interesting expressions on her familia's faces as they realized the implications of her words.
She had accomplished what she set out to do, and now she would sit back and enjoy the reward.
'Sigh, this naughty girl,' Draco mused.
'Always doing ridiculous things.' he thought.
Such a thought had never even crossed his mind, as he had been preoccupied with countless other matters.
The simple explanation was this: Draco had been the fastest person to progress from Level 1 to Level 2, accomplishing the feat in a mere month and a half.
The previous record holder, Ais from the Loki familia, had taken a full year to reach the same milestone, which had now been surpassed by Draco's impressive speed.
However, Clair, Michalis, Eleni, Nikolaos, Dimitra, Vasileios, and Vasiliki had all met the requirements to level up in less than five months.
And now, Vasiliki had managed to be the second-fastest, securing the spot for herself.
The others would be forced to settle for the third through eighth positions.
Gimme them stones. Feel free to read ahead on pat3on and donate.