Defenders of the forest
I return to my room after work and decide to sleep because I am both mentally and physically exhausted from today's events.
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I wake up and look around to see a still sleeping Emmy and Caroline. I go to sleep later than them and wake up earlier than them and it honestly irritates me a bit but I ignore it.
I look at the time piece and it shows that I still have a little time before I have to leave for work and so I decided to play with my system again nothing's changed but it still is a bit exciting having one in real life it seems surreal.
I open my system and look through it when I realized I never claimed the reward from the first competition. I decide now a good time
[Quest - "Academy Competition" completed. Distributing Rewards]
[User has gained Exp:(100×2)]
[User has gained Skill Points: 7]
[User has gained Skill: [Control]]
[User has Leveled up]
[User has Leveled up]
[User has Leveled up]
[User has Reached Max Level: Evolution available]
I looked at my earnings after all of the notifications were cleared.
[STATUS]
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[NAME: Alice
[RACE: Eclipse Black Cat (Unique)
[CLASS: [Black Cat Lv:4/30]
[GENDER: Female
[TITLES: [Child of Nature][Child of the Eclipse][Champion of Clover]
[Lv: 10/10 (Evolution Possible) Exp: 18/21
HP: 280/220 MP: 1370/370{1000} SP: 290/290 Status: Healthy
[VIT: 18
[STR: 29
[END: 21
[INT: 37
[Wis: 32
[SPEED: 45
[LUCK: 35
[UNUSED STAT POINTS: 45
[SKILLS:
- PASSIVE: [Catlike Reflexes (lv1)][Eye For Treasure][Night Vision][Lucky Strike][Intuition]
- ACTIVE: [Basic Mana Manipulation (lv2)][Basic Moonlight magic (lv1)][Basic Sunfire Magic (lv5)][Basic Void Magic(lv1)]
- UTILITY:[Universal language][Control]
[UNUSED SKILL POINTS: 8
[BLESSING/CURSES: [Blessing of the Cat God Clover] [Innate luck]
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I had gotten even stronger than I had anticipated and I had a new skill to use so I was curious as to how it worked
[Control: Allows for the user to perfectly control, limit, or nullify physical ability and emotional response]
'That skill is terrifying, I'm going to have to be very careful' I thought as I read over the skill. Theoretically I could remove any response to pain, or fear if I use it too much I could lose myself completely. This was a concept I was familiar with from my past life I had a lot of times were I wished I could feel nothing and it got me to wonder what would happen if I could, at the flip of a switch. I surmised that I wouldn't be the same person if I did that and I would essentially kill the old me if I did remove too much of myself. I wouldn't realize it was gone until I was left with nothing.
The skill made me a little nervous, but it also had an effect I thought would be useful. Limiting stats. Since I can grow at a faster pace than others shown by my ability to win first in all of the competitions with only three days of being alive in this world. I decided to try and use the skill to limit my physical strength to what it was before the level ups and and would progressively increase my capabilities as I see others grow. Somewhat removing me from the spotlight... hopefully.
The skill was passive for controlling stats, however if I wanted to completely limit a stat or block an emotion I would have to activate it Using the skill was like second nature and worked smoothly and unhindered which made me a slight bit dubious as to how it can change so much without me noticing, but it did ask for a confirmation before each permanent change so I thankfully won't accidentally turn something on or off.
The only thing I really had to look into now was evolution, but I really needed to get to work so I left it for later.
When I arrive, however, I don't see Kline, but a girl I've never met before. She was a bigger girl, not like fat or anything but just naturally bigger, more imposing, than a normal person. She had Brown hair that framed a friendly face. She had blue eyes and a wide smile that just seemed to fit her.
" Well, Hello cutie, what can I do for ya today?"
"Um, I'm looking for Mr. Kline. Could you tell me where he is?" I reply
" Kline, huh? Well, he's not workin today He typically works the weekdays, I work the weekends." She replied
" Weekdays?" I questioned. It was more to myself because I had not yet learned of the calenders here, or what day it actually was.
" You know the days of the week, Monday through Friday, which are typically considered the week, Saturday and Sunday, which are the weekend. You've surely learned that much." She replied with some concern
I make an O with my mouth like I just realized I did something dumb and rubbed my eyes trying to play it off like I was tired, which wasn't completely inaccurate.
" Sorry I forgot, heh heh." I tried to play it off like an accident and she bought it I think. But now I was stuck. Do I just do my job as usual or what?
I could feel the woman's gaze harden on me like she was trying to deduce something so took a seat on the bar, placed Oreo onto the bar and stared right back until, it looked like a lightbulb went off in her head.
" Say you wouldn't happen to be Alice would you?"
I was supprized but just nod my head.
" So that's why your here, Kline left this letter for you." She then grabbed something from behind the counter and handed it to me " Now I don't know what business you have with him sweat heart, but you best be careful with strangers. Now, have a safe trip back home." and she ushered me out of the guild. To which I go right back inside to pick up Oreo and head back to the dorms.
I approach the bar again and hear The girl muttering to herself.
" Kline what kind of shady things have you been getting into? You're my friend so I will respect your privacy for now but why are you dealing with children? she barely looks six!" I quietly approach the bar while she stands in silence staring at the far wall, when she gasps and I flinch slightly.
" You couldn't possibly be a pedophile could you Kline!? How could you have fallen so low, you have a fiancee and everything." The she gained a resolute glint in her eye " Don't worry I'll be sure to sort you out. Fear not I will fix you."
I snickered when she called Kline a pedo and she heard. She turned to stare at me wide eyed, realizing she said all of that in front of a child. We make eye contact and I grab Oreo place him on my head and without breaking eye contact slowly back away until I reach the stairs. Then quickly turn and run away.
I reached the dorms and finally broke out in the laughter I was holding in and calmed myself. I didn't wake anyone.
I jumped onto my bead and opened the letter. In really nice handwriting it read.
Dear, Alice
I seem to have forgotten to mention but I do not work on weekends. Meaning you don't need to either, As I am technically employed through the guild, they gave no consent to you working, and I am paying your wage out of pocket, I see no reason for you to work when I am not. The woman you met at the bar is Katherine, or Katy. She is a friend of mine and Lily from school and is a real reliable person, however she is quick to come to conclusions that are incredibly inaccurate. I would like to ask a favor of you to clear up any miscommunication before it become a headache for me, because I know it's going to happen. I would be really greatful.
Sincerely,
Your Boss,
Kline
In the letter was also some coins of varying size and color, Which I pocket into my system to keep safe.
I giggle a little at his misfortune, then decide to be a good person and clear up the air around Kline so Katy didn't do anything rash, but when I got there she walked away, and Everytime I tried to talk to her she avoided it, or attended to another customer, pretending she was really busy. When she finally ran out of excuses to escape she ran to the kitchen and left me in an almost abandoned Guild. So I gave up and went back to bed for a bit ...
When I was suddenly shook awake by Emmy who was freaking out about me missing a day of work... Great.
I showed her the letter and explained I no longer had any plans for the next two days and she was excited until she realized she too had nothing to do.
We sat in silence, dwelling on the fact we tad a full two days to kill with nothing to do.
Caroline woke up and joined us on my bed looking like she could fall back to sleep again and We just sat there again.
An hour later were in the room still Emmy had gotten out a book to read from the small collection she had neatly stacked on her desk.
Caroline had fallen back to sleep on my bed this time so I gave up on sitting around and decided to go outside. Maybe run around a bit, I don't know, the last time I really had free time , and nothing to do was years ago.
I went for a small run and I reached the edge of the industrial area, and see the forest where Lyric lived in the distance and decided to pay a visit again. See if I could remember the way, I'll probably find something eventually right?
I decide I have nothing better to do and run to the forest. I started navigating the trees but eventually got lost in running among them. It was fun, and rather liberating. I was at peace and got a childish excitement from running, jumping and, climbing, blurring by the colossal trees. I stumbled upon a house and saw faint traces of a network of bridges, a tell tale sign that the center of the forest was in that direction so I decide to follow it. After some walking, and admiring the structures that are becoming more and more frequent. I heard a voice from above me.
" Alice, your back!"
I look up and see a group of people, children peering down on me from the trees. Harmony was the one who called out to me.
I waved back, " Hello Harmony" and she climbed down to give me a hug. The others followed and when Harmony let go there was about thirteen other children on the ground.
" Alice, do you want to play with us!" Harmony asked in an excited tone, but before I could answer a boy from the group stepped forward and spoke.
" What's the deal with you anyway. Ever since yesterday our leader has been obsessed with you. What makes you so special?" It was the same elf boy that I had seen the day before and asked grandma about me.
" Alice is like super cool and strong and fast and she's just amazing." Harmony said with stars in her eyes.
" W...Well our leader may approve of you b-but we don't so you'll have to prove yourself before you can be apart of our club." The elf boy said and the others around him nodded with him.
' Who ever said I wanted to be apart of your group?' I though to myself, but Harmony started squealing. " Yes! Alice you have to join, you could be like the secret weapon of the Defenders of the forest!"
" No, I don't think so... also Defenders of the forest?"
" That's our club name, pretty cool right, we the defenders of the forest keep the order amongst New Home." Harmony said enthusiastically
She then immediately switched gears to a commanding voice. "Defenders what is the Defenders First rule" She called out
And in unison all of the children shouted " To defend New home at all cost"
Harmony then yelled "What is the second of the defenders sacred rules"
Silence ensued until one girl raised her voice " Harmony we don't have another rule." the silence again
Harmony turned her back to them facing me and tapped herself on the head and stuck her tongue out a bit " TeeHee~"
"Anyways. your going to have to pass a test to join our club." The boy said after a moment ignoring their boss.
" No I'm ok, I don't really want to join." I say and try to walk away ...
" Oh, so your too scared and don't want to admit it."
but I was bated with the most childish comeback that still somehow worked. So I turned around and was ready to crush some children. We were the same height so it's fine, no one else would know.
" Oh, so what would I have to do then.' I say in a mocking voice as my eyes turn to an eerie red, making some of the children noticeably unsettled.
" Hmm, Tag" he replied
" What?"
" Tag, your it and you have to catch all of us but the end of the day each of us have a member card with our names and the club collect all fourteen by the end of the day and you can join." I start walking to children touching them and taking their cards.
I think they were waiting for start to be called, but the boy kept talking about how I would lose and I had twelve cards before he finished his rant, just by slowly and calmly walking to each of them shaking their hand, introducing myself and taking their card which by the rules they were obligated to give me. Walking up to Harmony I get my thirteenth, he finally yells everyone disperse but no one moves, confused until I touch his shoulder I send him a smile asking for his name and his card.
Trevor was the boys name and after I got his card I placed the rest into his hand and was officially a member of a group of children that I knew nothing about, lead by my friends little sister. Trevor was momentarily shocked at how fast I got the cards so after giving them back to the other members he said something about how I cheated and ran off... so maybe I'm not a member?
Harmony brought me to her home and I started to talk to her mother about what just happened and she seemed to find it absolutely hilarious. We chatted for a little until Lyric showed up. He too, had nothing to do today so he came home for a visit. We had lunch together which was an interesting sandwich, that tasted vaguely familiar, but I couldn't put my finger on it. Regardless it was one of the best meals I've had up there with the Omelette from a few days ago. I have had some amazing luck with food since being reincarnated, I've yet to have anything worse than decent.
After Lunch Lyric said he wanted to go practice outside and I decided to accompany him.