Chapter 11: First Day
[You've slept in your bed HP/MP recovered to 100%. All debilitating effects have been removed.]
Rolling out of bed, I start working my way through some basic exercises.
'Aris, how long until school?'
*Two and a half hours.*
'How long do I have until the story starts?'
*One month.*
'Alright, I'm going to need to grind up a few levels then. So about [ID Create], do I return the second I leave, or does time flow the same?'
*Time flows normally at first level, but as the skill levels, you get more control. From real-time to full-on *
'Great, thanks, Aris, that's all for now.'
Taking my first hour working out, I get a ping.
Trait Up: Strength +5/ Dexterity +5
Name: William Morgan
Race: Human
Level: 2 (15%)
HP: 400 450
MP: 200 500
STR: 25 30
END: 15
DEX: 20 25
INT: 10 25
WIS: 10 20
CHA: -10
LCK: 60
Points: 5 0
Cool, that should have me covered for my first day.
Necromancy: [Grimoires [The Liber Mortis 21/21, The Kroveri Hæma 12/21, The Liber Animas 16/21, The Promæn Caro 21/21, and The Reunu Pertemru 16/16] 86/100] {Slots: 0/10}
Cool two new slots. I wonder if I should precharge some undead or wait and summon them at the moment. Let's leave it for the moment.
Grabbing a shower and eating breakfast, I load up a bag with some necessary school supplies waving to Kaija. Her current mission is to gather as much information as possible and generally be on hand in case I'm about to die. For her level has not changed and therefore sits at… a fair few levels higher than mine. While I walk to school, I use [Map] to take a look around. There's apparently a boxing gym on the south side of town… I should take a look. The first time around, I more or less fell to Freza syndrome. I was born powerful whether a mistake in scaling or just creativity on my part is up in the air, but I never tried to actually train any skills. When I got to school, I couldn't help but notice someone waiting at the gate.
"Hello, you wouldn't happen to be Mr. Morgan, would you?" So I guess it makes sense to have the student council president meet a new student arriving a bit into the year. Alright, engage anime head scratch.
"Heh, it's that obvious I'm new, huh?" She gave me a soft nod and an apologetic smile.
"I'm afraid so, but that's what we endeavor to remedy today. Now, if you'll follow me, we can start the tour." I return her sentiment with a warm smile.
"A pretty lady all to myself for an early morning stroll, and so nice and helpful too. You Kuoh people sure know how to make a transfer student feel welcome." I couldn't help but notice a small redness hue the cheeks of the bespectacled devil.
Name: Sona Sitri
Affection: 5% (For having a certain charm)
Neat. After that, the tour began. It was all pretty standard stuff. Though I have to say the weight put on clubs was always interesting to me. The tour went on until it was time for me to be introduced to my new class. So, there I was… standing in front of a class of some thirty to forty-five people in all of my tall, pale, and sickly glory. The teacher gave me a reassuring nod to introduce myself though it really didn't make it to his eyes. This is my first time seeing the widespread effects of [Enemy of Life]. I see a lot of negative twenties all around the room.
'Hey Aris, I forgot to ask. Why wasn't Sona's starting affection at negative twenty?'
*You both share a hidden trait' Connection to the Supernatural,' which balances out to a certain degree.*
'Alright well, why did I get so much affection?'
*+10% from good first impression and +5% from a successful social check. (Social= Charisma+Luck/2 as of current system)*
Back to class, I half paid attention to my being introduced, and questions were fielded to the class to get to know me better And with such resounding negativity, obviously, the first question asked is.
"Are you alright? You look… sick." A female student two rows back, second from the left.
"Yeah, I'm just getting over something... I've got a fragile immune system. Supposedly some treatments I'm going through are supposed to at least help. But honestly, there might be days I look much worse than this." To be honest, I look pretty miserable.
Class opinion:
-18% - -5% (For varying levels of pity)
'There are some real bleeding hearts in this class.'
"Is that why you're so thin?" Huh, someone noticed… or at least someone was socially tone-deaf enough to bring it up.
"Yeah, it's hard to keep food down sometimes… can… can we move on from my health… it's not exactly a reassuring pleasant subject…"
Class opinion:
-8% - 2% (Shit man, that's sad.)
'I take it you write my backstory based on my bullshit?'
*Yeeeeep, also update to two spells*
Regenerate: Restoring the body back to its original state by stealing the health and life-force of others, leaving them a husk. This skill allows the caster to recover from almost any injury as long as there is a good supply of people to drain. It heals damage and replaces lost organs and body parts. (When used at full health, the caster steals the number of trait points equal to the number of levels above the caster with a minimum of one.)
Extract Soul: Often, a soul that has been trapped in an item may wish to be freed, or it may be necessary to remove them. This spell allows the caster to forcibly separate a soul from the object in which they reside, setting them loose. Any object that was powered by or granted powers by the soul inside it will lose these powers. (Extract soul can be used to harvest sacred gear or break soul bindings[Fatal unless counteracted with increased mana cost.])
'Are… are you telling me to murder my classmates?'
*No, just updating some things to help with this world.*
'Man, I'm glad you actually like me. I can't imagine how shit a time I'd be having if you hated me.'
Back to the class, a couple of hands are raised. Taking the time to answer all of the other questions was over pretty fast. Where I'm from, my favorite color, do I have any siblings, and so on. All in all, thanks to the use of human sympathy, I've got myself out of the red for the most part. After that, classes were… well, classes went well for me. I guess my Int must be a lot for highschool because fuck am I bored out of my mind. I'm practically staring a hole into the desk at this absolute insult of a math sheet.
'Aris, what's the average spread for a human?'
*Usually a range from the late twenties to early thirties with a few exceptions.*
'O'course we got the fuck'n hero reincarnates to think about… but fuck most of those guys.'
Lunch rolled around. It's weird to need to eat again. I decided to sneak off campus to chow down at the nearby mall food court. Now I know they're in town and all but running into Raynare and Mittelt to get her just hanging out seems like it should have been on the statistically low side. In the end, the question is if this is a passed luck check or a failed luck check.
Name: Raynare
[Affection:55%] (For making a good impression on her subordinate.)
Name: Mittelt
[Affection: 25%] (For being her favorite human.)
Making eye contact with Raynare first, I give her my best 'You don't know me.' look getting a nod in reply. When Mittelt finally notices me walking towards them, she starts to cast worried glances to Raynare—seeing my b-line for their table. As I get closer, I notice the worried look they give me at the sight of my school uniform. I know they're both aware of my going to the school, but they must have heard something to cause them to worry about me. Either that or they just don't like being reminded of the devils' undisputed territory or maybe the fact that I'm there.
"William… what are you doing here?" Mittelt asked, shooting Raynare worried looks.
"Decided to go out to eat… my first day was more or less an indictment of my medical history and some almost insulting work," I say, giving her an unenthusiastic shrug. "Do you mind if I join you? I'd love to share a meal with my first real friend in town and her beautiful friend."
This, of course, brought on more worried looks from Mittelt. Raynare, on the other hand… is shooting me looks that say either 'You should be glad I like you' or 'Silly little human.'
"I don't…" Mittelt starts before Raynare cuts her off.
"We would love it if you could join us." Raynare said, pulling out a chair, waving for me to sit. Mitty, if you keep side-eyeing Raynare like that, your eyes are gonna pop out. I take the seat with a thankful nod to Raynare. Man, was that meal awkward the whole time Raynare was looking at me with a small smile… while Mittelt looked like she was about to burst a blood vessel trying to ask Raynare not to take an interest in me psychically.
Spending some time with my favorite fallen angels helped raise my spirits as I walked back towards the school. The meal was mostly small talk and awkward glances around the table. Man Mitty's gonna be pissed with me when she finds out Raynare knew me the whole time. I was drawn out of my musing as I'm yanked into a small alley I was passing—pain arcs through my back as I'm slammed into a wall.
HP: 449/450
…
HP: 450/450
I regained the point almost immediately, but it still added insult to injury. I soon find a knife pressed into my neck.
"Alright, kid, this is how it's gonna go, you're gonna empty your wallet, and then I might let you leave alive." I raise an eyebrow at that. Well… at least he made a cool sounding threat before he died. Quickly I cast [Ray of Enfeeblement] at third level, totally paralyzing the dickhead.
MP: 425/500
Hmmm. [Observe]
Thief
Level: 17
HP: 225/225
MP: Locked
'That's fifteen points if I use [Regenerate] now, right?'
*Correct but only one trait you can't spread them out.*
'Damn, alright.'
Casting [Regenerate], the guy quickly withers away into a desiccated corpse. Quickly stomping him into dust, I look at the small screen that's popped up.
15 points choose stat.
'Charisma duh.'
Name: William Morgan
Race: Human
Level: 2 (15%)
HP: 450
MP: 500
STR: 30
END: 15
DEX: 25
INT: 25
WIS: 20
CHA: -10 5
LCK: 60
Points: 0
'Thank you, Aris, you're a doll.'
*No, I'm a voice in your head.*
'I'm not even going to validate that joke of a joke with a response.'
That over, I wonder my way back towards the school, cutting it very close. But as if sensing a disturbance in the force, my eyes were drawn to the roof of the main school building. It takes a second, but I find it… a small white cat watching me from the gate. Walking over slowly, I offer my find for the small cat to sniff. My worries were confirmed when said kitten made a show of sniffing my fingers and snootily turning its head away. Making a show of being sad about the cat not liking me, I trudge back to the school. That's just great I'm being watched by Rias… yaaaay.
*Ping*
You spent the day learning *Kinda*
+10 Intelligence
Name: William Morgan
Race: Human
Level: 2 (15%)
HP: 450
MP: 500 550
STR: 30
END: 15
DEX: 25
INT: 25 35
WIS: 20
CHA: 5
LCK: 60
Points: 0
Honestly, just glad it's over… now then time to plot some murders. There are two sacred gears attached to two complete idiots that need to be rescued [Absorption Line] and the [Boosted Gear]. The truth is, I'm not even sure I want either of them… I just don't want Issei and Saji to have them… or continue breathing. But who to start with. As I walk home, I can't shake the feeling I'm being watched. Kitten's kitten is still following me. I don't know if the damn thing can sense magic. As I get home, I'm greeted by my magic warning me of the second presence in my home. Hmm, Raynare or threat… well, you can never go wrong with jarring disinterest.
Walking through the front door, I'm met by three things… what I expected was Kaija. What I wasn't expecting was Kaija in a skimpy maid outfit. Next on the list of things I wasn't expecting was a completely redecorated apartment… that seems I don't know bigger a little bit at least and last but not least was Raynare sitting relaxed with some tea.
"Happy as I am to see you again so soon does Mittelt or any of the others know you're here?" My words get me a wry smile from the fallen.
"Awww, aren't you happy to see me?" She said, trying to be cute. Not to imply that it's not working mind you.
"I'm sorry. Raynare, darling! How are you? You never just stop by anymore!" My voice, dripping with sarcasm. This earned me a somewhat angry look from the attractive fallen. "Sorry, sorry I've just spent my whole day having my intelligence insulted by the mortals. The closest thing to the fun I've had today is a run-in with a mugger and I'm sure you could guess how long that little bit of excitement lasted." This just got me a nod from the two present. "Weakened human body or no, my knowledge of my other arts are intact even if my connection to the force is severed." This got Raynare's attention.
"You know you never really explained all of that force business to me." She seemed honestly curious. I give her a pondering look after a while to respond.
"The force is… or well was everything in the world we left. It was an interconnecting entity that tied everything animate or inanimate together. I guess… in many ways it's similar to what a lot of people in this world believe God is. All-encompassing all-knowing, capable of great love and wrath, will often work through those with the proclivity. I don't know much about God's system… but it feels similar to me."
"You can feel the god system?" Raynare asked with a somewhat shocked look.
"No, all I feel is the lack of the force." Talking out of my ass… "I thought I felt something when I first arrived but I'm fairly certain it was just the retracting presence of the force." Raynare was looking at me with fascination. I can see it; some of her worship of Azazel is being transferred to me. Good I'm glad that's continuing apace.
*Ping*
Quest Complete:
First Impressions:
Objective: Make no more than three enemies by the end of the school day. 0/3 [Complete]
Side Objective: Raise all of your classes status with you to at least 0% [Complete]
Reward: 15 points, Random Weapon (Side Objective Rewards: 10 points, Skill: Swordsmanship lvl 3, Skill: Marksmanship lvl 10, 1 Free store selection of your choice.
'Fuck'n a man. Character sheet and store please.'
Name: William Morgan
Race: Human
Level: 2 (15%)
HP: 450
MP: 500
STR: 30
END: 15
DEX: 25
INT: 25
WIS: 20
CHA: 5
LCK: 60
Points: 25
{Shop}
Skills:
(1 redeemable free item)
[Random Skill] 2p
[Specific Skill] 4p
[Level Skill] 1p to 1 level
Stats:
[+5 Select Stat] 1p
[+10 Random Stat] 1p
Spells:
[Random Spell] 2p
[Select Spell] 4p
[Random Grimoire] 12p
[Select Grimoire] 14p
Companions:
[Select Companion] 8p
[Random (select universe) companion] 6p
[Random Companion] 4p
Lovely, I wonder what I should pick up. I pat my legs before standing back up.
"I'm glad that you've visited but this body is limited. I apparently have to sleep for eight hours to be considered rested." This… didn't please Raynare. I could see it plainly on her face. "Please don't think I'm shooing you away. I'm still adjusting to this…" I throw some blase waving arm gestures. "Please feel free to stay as long as you wish." She definitely seemed placated by that.
"As much as I would love to, I must get back soon… the others will miss me if I'm gone too long." She said standing up herself.
"Yes well, that last thing we need is your employees wandering around here while I'm so weak." My words had an unintended effect; she seemed worried and fidgety. She left quickly, her obvious worry for my safety is reassuring. For now, time to head to bed.
[({Evening all so sorry for how long this took. This damn chapter didn't want to be written. Not even really happy with it as it is now so be gentle in the comments. But in the end, live long and prosper.})]