Damn, there couldn't be a more visible red light right now, and worst of all, I couldn't choose whether to accept it or not. Well, I didn't have a choice with the last mission either, but that one was essential, so technically this one is too?
I push some dark thoughts aside and focus on the present for a moment. I can see how to tackle this mission tomorrow or on Sunday; I need to at least figure out what I'm going to do during that time.
"Maybe things will get better in the end, who knows?" I smile as I try to lighten the mood.
She lets out a light, amused huff while continuing to have her breakfast.
The rest of breakfast goes by with some short conversations here and there, that strange feeling of nostalgia accompanying this calm moment of the day. In the end, I gathered the dishes, rinsed them with soapy water, and set them aside to dry.
My grandmother had returned to sit on the couch and was just watching TV. She seemed a bit smiley while following some random TV show.
(Maybe I should try to create some skills in the basement? Yeah, that sounds good; I don't have much to do right now.) I walk calmly to the basement, giving one last look at my grandmother and the TV.)
It feels strange to call her that; I'm still not used to it. I just decided to adapt to this strange fact… Who was I kidding? I got attached to her quickly; she looked a lot like my other grandmother.
I sigh as I descend the stairs to the basement and look around the dusty space filled with some old boxes. I push some things to random corners and clear a decent space around me. Well, time to plan!
First thing, I need something to make it easier to create art or craft things, maybe try to infuse a lot of mana into paint and control it, or create something like a magical hand. Those wouldn't be bad ideas and would help a lot in the long run; I'll add them to the list.
I glance around the basement for a second.
I think finding paint here out of nowhere would be a lot of luck for a 1 in LUC... I'll see if I can buy some later; I have 100 dollars anyway.
Second thing, create some kind of illusion magic. Why? Because I'm not one for hand-to-hand combat, and I can save on costumes for a while and avoid putting myself in danger with CP. Maybe I can create an illusion and pretend that the illusion is a hero with illusion powers.
I ponder this possibility a bit before snapping back to reality.
(I'm putting the cart before the horse; I need to at least train to manipulate mana before trying those things.)
"Ugh, why do I feel like it's going to take a while to put this idea into practice?" I shake my head to dispel the thoughts.
I close my eyes, extend my hands, and slowly begin to search for something inside me.
Gradually, I start to feel something like energy within me, moving quickly and constantly, almost reminiscent of electricity. I try to slowly pull this energy through my body, guiding it gently down my arm to the palm of my outstretched hand. Gradually, a strange sensation forms on the surface of my hand until it seems to stabilize.
When I open my eyes, I see a shape resembling a bubble in my hand, except it looks like a bubble that might dissolve in the wind and trembles constantly as if it were alive.
New skill created!
Mana Shaping (Active) Lv. 1 (Exp: 0%) (MP: 15)
Description: The ability to shape mana into all sorts of forms.
Duration: 10 minutes.
Hmm, interesting; it seems like a good skill for my little arsenal so far, but if I understand correctly, it only works for mana-based skills, so it probably won't work for skills that consume MP to activate.
I continue to fiddle with the unstable mana bubble for a while, gaining three levels in [Mana Shaping] in the process. In the end, the bubble bursts, but at least it didn't damage anything.
MP: 140/160 (+16 MP per minute)
Well, a useful skill created; I probably won't be able to create much else right now or those skills I wanted, so the plan will be to focus on the mission and train the skill.
If that's the case, then I'll just be training the skill for now.
Brockton Bay, March 11, 20:14
I have to say, when you have low mana, creating skills gets a bit difficult. I didn't have much to do, so I decided to put some ideas into practice; my grandmother wasn't too happy about me skipping lunch, but I managed to convince her afterward.
Mana Bullet (Active) Lv. 1 (Exp: 0%) (MP: 5)
Description: A small sphere of compressed mana that is fired from the tip of the finger.
Mana Rope (Active) Lv. 1 (Exp: 0%) (MP: 2)
Description: A rope made from mana. It has physical durability and disappears after some time as mana scatters.
Mana Rope can be manipulated according to the user's wish, and since it is made of mana, it can even affect objects or creatures of indeterminable form. Can only be used by those who have a talent for manipulating mana.
Duration: 10 minutes.
Power Strike (Active) Lv. 1 (Exp: 0) (MP: 10)
Description: A skill that allows the user to strike the target with strong force.
Increase 15% critical rate.
Increase 50% attack damage.
Yes, all this time I only created these few skills, but there's a very specific reason for that. During all this time, I devised a plan to figure out what my grandmother was afraid of and complete that mission—a master plan, a masterpiece of planning!
[You gained 1 INT point for planning methodically]
Yes, system, I know that staying in my basement planning for hours on end is a bit strange.
"I'M HOME!" A female voice calls from upstairs, joy evident in her tone.
"Perfect, time to put my plan into action…" A smile spreads across my face. "Operation Teen Noir is underway!"
Brockton Bay, March 11, 20:47
Going up to meet my new mother was a strange experience. It was a weird feeling of joy and comfort when she hugged me. I don't think I'll get used to this easily...
But leaving aside the heavy mood that thought brought, everything was slowly unfolding according to my master plan. Well, not entirely, but it was still happening, so I had to be patient.
My grandmother, my mother, and I made dinner together, with them cooking and me setting the plates and the dining table. I wanted to help in the kitchen, but they said something about not letting kids near the stove. Damn, I'm 15 years old, I'm not that young.
In the end, my grandmother, my mother, and I were having dinner normally: a plate of beans, rice, and a piece of steak with some lettuce. My grandmother and mother were cheerfully chatting about my mother's job, news, gossip about friends, and stuff like that, occasionally pulling me into the conversation.
"So, son, you're going back to Winslow on Monday, right?" A small hint of anxiety was noticeable in the question.
Alright, time to put my full Teenage Noir plan into action!
"I guess so. It'll probably be more of the same, I think. Nothing new," I replied, poking at my food with a fork.
My mother looked at my grandmother for a few seconds, maybe doing that silent communication thing? My grandmother just shrugged as she kept eating slowly.
"Your grandmother must have already talked to you about the GED, right?" She smiled as she asked.
"Yeah, she did, but I don't want to do it. It just doesn't feel right." I pushed the food around with my fork, trying to give my best performance as a kid who doesn't want to talk about it.
New skill created!
Acting (Passive) Lv. 1 (Exp: 0%)
To be or not to be, that is the question.
Description: The art of making others believe a lie so convincingly that they confuse it with the truth and, at the same time, don't (People have a 1% chance of believing the things you do and/or say).
Yes! I knew I'd get this skill somehow, or a skill about lying well, but technically acting is the same thing. Technicalities.
"Son, we know you don't want to go back there. You don't have to force yourself." She said in a comforting tone.
(Hmm, so it's something that would make me not want to go? Okay, that doesn't say much, but it's enough to guess a few things. Could it be bullying? That could be it...)
"We know you want to live a normal teenage life, but..." Her mood seemed to darken a bit as she gave a tired sigh.
I discreetly glanced at my mother and cast [Analyze].
[Michelle Smith Johnson] Lv. 18
Afraid.
Tired.
Eating.
Wearing a white and green shirt, and blue shorts.
MP: 175/180 (+20 MP per minute)
A slight bad feeling settled in my stomach. Looking at it now, pretending and lying like this doesn't seem right, and knowing she's so tired...
A faint sense of guilt crept in, and I slowly sighed, giving my current mother the best smile I could muster.
"Don't worry, Mom. Everything will be fine, and if anything happens, I'll let you know." I tried to sound as reassuring as possible while saying those words.
She looked at me and gave a faint smile in return.
"Do you promise?" she asked in a serious but motherly tone.
"I promise."
She smiled and slowly continued eating, a lighter atmosphere filling the kitchen. Even my grandmother seemed happier.
"By the way, son, I talked to my boss today, and I managed to take this Saturday and Sunday off as vacation days. The three of us could enjoy some time at the Boardwalk, you know." A hopeful smile crossed her face.
"Sure, that wouldn't be bad. I was thinking about buying a few things, you know." I took a bite of food, savoring the taste. "Some drawing supplies, like paint, brushes, a few sketchbooks, and stuff like that. Having a cool hobby for my free time."
"Sounds like a good idea, boy. You seemed to enjoy those art assignments they gave you," my grandmother said.
"Then it's settled. Tomorrow at 10 a.m., we'll head to the Boardwalk, and we can grab lunch at a nice place there." My mom seemed happy, a very noticeable smile on her face.
The rest of the meal passed in a friendlier atmosphere. We talked about a few lighter, more trivial things. I helped dry the dishes and put them away, and then they sent me to bed, saying something about going to sleep early to have energy for tomorrow.
I knew they probably did that so they could talk alone, so I pretended to sleep for a while, which even earned me a level in acting.
[Acting] has leveled up!
I slowly got out of bed and crouched on the floor, taking slow, methodical steps, pulling the door open as carefully as possible. I quietly walked to the stairs and crouched near them.
New skill created!
Sneak (Passive) Lv. 1 (Exp: 0%)
Stealth.
Description: The art of spies, ninjas, and assassins—moving quietly and discreetly to avoid detection (Other people have a 1% lower chance of noticing you when you're trying to be stealthy).
I wasn't even trying to create this skill, but I forget that you just need to perform a specific action to unlock one.
Getting back to the main point, I stayed crouched and leaned against the wall at the top of the stairs. From up here, I could hear what my mom and grandmother were discussing downstairs in the living room.
"Did you try talking to anyone who was there? Maybe someone saw something," my grandmother sounded anxious as she spoke.
"Yes, Mom. I already told you I tried talking to everyone I could find, but simply..." I heard a sigh and then tense silence. "No one saw anything."
"But how is that possible? Someone must have seen something, even if it's the smallest thing!"
"Mom! Keep your voice down, he's upstairs sleeping."
"I know, but I just can't accept this. How is no one trying to do anything?"
"The police say there's no useful evidence to find out who's responsible..." Despair and sadness were palpable in my mother's voice.
"Those useless people. Their only job is to keep us safe, and besides almost doing the opposite, they can't even do the basics right." Every word the older woman spoke was filled with venom and disgust.
I didn't even need to use Analyze to know she hated the police. Not that there was much to be done anyway—in a city with a Nazi gang and people supporting them left and right, some were bound to hate the police.
"And the doctors? What did they say? Any good news?"
My mom sighed deeply.
"They said that, in the state he was in, we were lucky he's not... vegetative..."
Once again, that deafening silence filled the room. I could feel the terrible tension from where I was.
"They said he might suffer from some long-term problems, things like memory loss, learning difficulties, personality changes, and other issues..." Every word seemed to bring my mother closer to tears.
I assume that after those words, my grandmother began to comfort my mother because everything else they said was whispered, too quiet for me to hear. But all those words painted a grim picture, and I could already guess what had happened to me—or rather, to the former owner of this body.
Mission complete!
[Something Doesn't Smell Right]
Description: It seems something really didn't smell right. You've discovered that one or more people attacked you—or rather, the former owner of your body—and caused severe damage, which is why you're not going to Winslow and why your mother and grandmother are so worried about you.
Reward: 200 Exp, 100 CP, important information!
Congratulations! You've leveled up!
Received 3 status points.
Despite leveling up, all I can feel right now is a bad taste in my mouth. The description says it all: this body isn't even mine... but I could at least avenge its former owner...
[New mission obtained!]
[Judge, Jury, and Executioner]
Revenge is a dish best served cold.
Description: You may not know who hurt you, but you can find out. Your goal is to track them down and deliver your own justice.
Time limit: None.
Reward: 400 Exp, 200 CP
Accept?
[Yes/No]
I could simply accept here and now, doing everything I can to start hunting down every single person who did this… But in the end? Would it be worth it? Staining my hands and giving in to all the hatred in my heart? Nothing I did would match what they did… is that what I really want?
…
No… That's not what I want to do. I can do something better. I can at least help other people, prevent things like this from happening to other innocent people.
In my entire life, I never wanted to be a hero, never understood this sense of heroism. I may not understand it now, but I can at least try to help others.
Clenching my fist, I slowly walk back to my room, close the door behind me, and sit on my bed. The mission screen is still floating in front of me. I sigh and press "no."
"Well, looks like I have a goal now, besides surviving, of course." I glance around the room, that thought still in mind.
With a sigh, I just think about the [Stats] tab, and it appears in front of me.
Spoiler: Stats
I think for a few seconds, pondering the best choices for my stats. With a shrug, I put one point into Intelligence and two points into Charisma and hit confirm.
Spoiler: Stats, +1 INT, +2 CHA
It makes sense to put points into Charisma. I can probably increase Intelligence through smart actions and Wisdom through wise actions? Probably something like that. Charisma is the only one that needs direct investment to work since it probably requires successful interactions, I think.
I push that tangent aside and just close the [Stats] tab, slowly lying down on the bed. I need to sleep because tomorrow will be the first step toward earning CP and making some changes.
Slowly, darkness takes over my vision, and I feel sleep pulling me under.
Brockton Bay, March 12, 06:00
You slept in a comfortable bed. HP and MP fully recovered!
Seeing this as the first thing in the morning is a bit discouraging… no matter, going to bed and waking up this early was a good idea. The others in the house are probably still sleeping, so I can take advantage of this and do some training.
Ha… Training… I couldn't avoid it forever, so it's better to just get it over with.
With that in mind, I decided to start with some basic exercises—push-ups, sit-ups, jumping jacks, and whatever else I could think of that might be useful.
Even with [Gamer's Body], it was still pretty exhausting doing exercises. Whoever actually enjoys working out is definitely missing a screw or two.
[You gained 1 STR from performing various physical exercises for a period of time]
It's not much, but at least I managed to get something. There's probably a limit to how much I can gain from these exercises, but I can keep trying a bit more.
Brockton Bay, March 12, 09:32
In the end, I gained three more points in Strength before being called down for breakfast and getting ready to go out. My mom was really excited and ended up making us leave earlier than planned.
Currently, we're circling around, looking for a decent parking spot. Me, specifically? I've been grinding [Analyze] and testing some of the skill's limits.
[Michelle Smith Johnson] Lv. 18
A bit annoyed.
Happy.
Excited.
Wearing a fabric jacket, a black and white striped tank top underneath, jeans, and black shoes.
[Mariane Glory Smith Johnson] Lvl. 16
Amused.
Happy.
Wearing a gray sweater, a white skirt, and black wedge heels.
[Car]
Used.
Being driven by Michelle Smith Johnson.
White paint.
MP: 185/200 (+20 MP per minute)
[Analyze] has leveled up!
Interesting, let me check the changes. I decided to focus on my mom and use [Analyze].
[Michelle Smith Johnson] Lv. 18 (HP: 280) (MP: 80)
A bit annoyed about not finding a parking spot.
Pretty happy.
Excited.
Wearing a fabric jacket, a black and white striped tank top underneath, jeans, and black shoes.
MP: 180/200 (+20 MP per minute)
Not much of a change, but at least I can see other people's max HP now and a bit more information.
"Finally!" My mom exclaims triumphantly as she pulls the car into a decently located spot.
"I thought we'd spend the whole Saturday in the car." My grandma laughs.
"Don't be so dramatic, Mom, I just wanted a good spot to park."
My mom and grandma get out of the car, and I follow them. Brockton Bay both looked and didn't look like what I had imagined. Yes, there was a certain strange vibe to things, and the Boardwalk really did feel like a different reality compared to the rest of the city. What I saw on the way here didn't look as… polished.
And by the way, seeing the Protectorate's base from here is really quite a sight. Maybe I can build a similar base, but not out in the sea. That would just be asking Leviathan to test its durability when he comes to Brockton Bay.
(Thinking about it... Why did they build it there? I mean, if the oversized aquatic lizard attacked anywhere near Brockton Bay, there'd be a good chance the base would be destroyed. Even if they had built it before Leviathan, keeping it there would be pretty bad overall.)
I just let it go. The most I could do is suggest a change in the future, but they'd probably ignore me.
"So, son, I heard about a nice little art store around here. Want to check it out?" She gives me a gentle nudge in the arm, smiling excitedly.
"Sure, that sounds good."
My grandmother lets out an amused huff as she follows us. The enforcers walking down the Boardwalk were slightly intimidating, it wasn't really something normal for me, but I'd probably get used to it.
It didn't take long to reach the store, it was an interesting place, with a facade featuring a paint palette, various paints, and a brush with the name "Painting Paradise." Pretty cliché, I think.
"Good morning!" A man with brown hair and bronzed skin greeted us from the counter.
"Good morning, sir." My mother cheerfully replied as she approached the counter.
They started talking about painting supplies while I looked around. I had a plan to earn CP, it wasn't very creative, but it could work if I did it right.
My first step was to research the gang territories in Brockton Bay. I don't remember much from the Worm Wiki, but I think the docks were ABB territory, and the Empire's territory was Downtown. I'm not sure about the Merchants, and Coil was in the city center? Probably the wealthiest part.
Doesn't matter, the second step would be the most important. Most people living in those areas have two opinions about the gangs—either they hate them, or they support them. There's no middle ground, probably…
But back to the point, the plan was to do a painting about each gang in their territory. It would work better if I did it in a place visible to everyone, but I'd need time, which could lead to it going very wrong. So, I need to do it in a spot where someone might see, but where I have time.
My thoughts are interrupted by a hand on my shoulder. I look at the owner of the hand and smile a little.
"Are you just going to keep staring at that book, or are you going to ask us to buy it?" she asks with a playful tone.
"First of all, it's a sketchbook. Second, yes, I'm going to buy it, Grandma." I grab the book and walk with her to the counter.
And surprise is the first thing I feel when I get there. Somehow, for some reason, my mother had gathered a large amount of art supplies—paints, brushes, clay, colored pencils, sketchbooks, and even 3 canvases.
"Mom, you know I won't need all of this."
"Well, who knows? It's always good to have variety." She says playfully, crossing her arms.
"At this rate, you're going to buy out the store, honey." My grandmother laughs as she slowly walks over to the counter and looks at the prices. "Good heavens…"
"Pffff, it's not that bad."
I swallow and approach the items.
"Look, Mom, I won't look at the prices so I don't get horrified, but are you sure you want to buy all this? I don't really need that many things."
"But I want to, please, son. I make a good salary, but we hardly spend any of it." A smile crosses her face.
"Alright, but please, don't spend too much."
"Deal!" She giggles a little while savoring the victory.
Well, at least I have a family with a lot of money. In the end, we bought all that stuff and made a few stops at other places. The first was a flower shop because my grandmother wanted to plant some flowers in the garden, and then we went to a clothing store.
It was at this place that I realized I'm basically a character from a children's show. Why? Because I grabbed as many pairs as I could of the same clothes—a black-and-white striped sweater. Why? Because I thought they were nice, and I wanted multiple pairs.
"I still think you should have tried on other clothes." My mom grumbles while drinking coffee.
"And I told you I didn't want to, Mom." I reply while stuffing a piece of orange cake into my mouth.
We were currently having lunch at a random café we found. I was eating some pieces of cake—yes, pieces, more than one—my mom was eating some donuts and drinking coffee, and my grandmother had cake and coffee as well.
"How long are you two going to keep this up?" My grandmother asks.
"Until he picks different clothes."
"Which will never happen." I retort.
"Hmph." My mom lets out an amused and annoyed huff at the same time and focuses on her lunch.
It had been a nice day. I had hoped that with my luck, something would have happened, but everything had gone surprisingly well. I guess nothing difficult would happen, but everything has been normal. I guess I was expecting too much.
I even saw Aegis patrolling the Boardwalk. There was this whole moment where he stopped to sign autographs before he left. I didn't try to get too close, though. I had nothing to do with him, so I just ignored it. I have to say, it was weird seeing him fly. It wasn't natural to me, but what could I do?
By the end of the day? Everything went well. I bought a few interesting things I found—a toolbox because it would be useful—and a little something my mom wanted me to have, a can of pepper spray, which I'll definitely end up using.
In the end? We went back home with happy smiles on our faces and happy memories in our heads. From my point of view? This was a good reason to keep fighting for a next tomorrow, and nothing will convince me otherwise.
Brockton Bay, March 14, 06:50
This Sunday, I couldn't do much, mainly because I didn't have time, and a little because I wanted to fully enjoy time with my family before diving headfirst into my plans. We did a bunch of things—went to the movies, had lunch at a nice place, walked along the boardwalk, and so on.
Right now, I was sitting on the steps of my porch, waiting for something. What exactly? For Taylor Hebert to leave her house and head to Winslow. Because, one, I didn't know which bus to take, and two, I wanted to see how she would react to me.
My mom had already left for work, and I was wondering if this was really a good idea. The chance of me standing up to Emma, getting humiliated, and crying in the hallway was pretty high. Teenagers can be dark creatures when they want to be.
I heard a noise coming from the neighbor's door and took a peek. There she was, in all her intimidating glory, Taylor Anne Hebert, closing the door to her house and starting to walk somewhere.
I decided it was now or never and approached her.
"Hey!" I called out as I got closer.
She seemed to flinch slightly as she slowly turned in my direction, her eyes looking at me with suspicion and a hint of fear.
"Uh… Yes?"
"You're Taylor Hebert, right?" I asked in a friendly tone.
She seemed a little conflicted about answering the question, her hands slightly tightening their grip on her backpack straps.
"I'm your neighbor, remember? Thiago Smith Johnson. I think we share a few classes at school," I tried to start a conversation.
"Oh, I… sorry, I don't really remember much about you," she said as she resumed walking.
"Well, I can't blame you for that. I never really tried to interact with you." I walked beside her, matching her pace.
Wow, great social skills, Thiago—telling the girl who gets bullied that you've never interacted with her because you didn't want to. Fantastic.
An awkward silence settled in as we walked, heading toward what was probably the bus stop.
"Sorry for coming out of the blue like this, you know? I kind of ended up in a bad situation a while back and had to stay home for a bit." I tapped the straps of my backpack as I spoke. "I kind of forgot the way to the bus stop, you know?"
"I… understand. I hope you're okay now," she responded evasively as we walked.
"Do you have any hobbies, Taylor?" I tried again to spark a conversation.
"Not really."
"I see. Me neither, but I wanted to start something cool. I went out with my mom and grandma yesterday to buy some stuff and try getting into drawing."
The silence became even more uncomfortable as we neared the bus stop.
(Did I say something wrong? Or was it… I mentioned my MOM... Great, Thiago, brilliant…)
I could literally feel my muscles tensing as we walked, my movements slowly becoming more difficult and robotic. Every small social mistake felt like a complete failure. Calm down, Thiago. All you need to do is take a deep breath and try again.
"D-Did you see that a group of villains recently robbed a casino last week?" (Damn stutter!)
She seemed slightly—very slightly—interested in the topic.
"No, I don't read the news much." Her voice was a little timid as she spoke.
"I think they're called the Undersiders or something. It was at a casino called Ruby's Dream. They're a group with some interesting powers, you know."
We sat at the bus stop. She still seemed suspicious of me, but at least she was listening to what I was saying.
"They've got a Shaker named Grue who can create this really thick black smoke, you know? Some people think it blocks signals. And they've got a Master called Hellhound, who can make dogs super strong and bigger." I rambled calmly, trying to hold her attention.
"Shaker and Master?" she questioned.
"They're classifications for parahuman powers. A Shaker is someone with powers that affect a large area, like Vista from the Wards. A Master is someone who can control minions or other people, like Crusader from the Empire."
She seemed thoughtful for a moment but snapped out of it when a bus approached the stop. She stood up and signaled the driver to stop, and we both got on.
There were a few empty seats inside the bus. Taylor walked to a seat near the rear door, and I followed her, sitting next to her.
"There are several types of classifications for powers. As far as I remember, they are Mover, Shaker, Brute, Breaker, Master, Tinker, Blaster, Thinker, Striker, Changer, Trump, and Stranger." A smile spread across my face as I rambled. "There are even threat level classifications, from 1 to 10, I think. Or was it 9?"
Stopping to think about it, would mentioning the Undersiders now affect things in the future? Well, I already talked about it, so worrying about the butterfly effect is a waste of time. Just my presence here probably causes some kind of butterfly effect.
After finishing my explanation about the PRT classifications, I fell silent as I watched the city pass by on our way to Winslow. Maybe I should compliment her? But that would sound like flirting, which she'd probably find weird. Asking about school wouldn't be good either, since she hates that place... What the heck should I do?
[New Mission obtained!]
[Protector of the Weak]
A strong man defends himself; a stronger man defends others.
Description: Taylor suffers daily at Winslow, the victim of relentless psychological and physical torment by people who hate her for no reason at all. Find a way to put an end to this senseless suffering.
Time Limit: 24 days, 17 hours, and 42 minutes.
Reward: 1200 XP, 600 CP, Taylor Hebert considers you a close friend.
Failure: Sophia Hess hates you, Emma Barnes hates you, Madison Clements hates you, likely to be a target of bullying.
Accept?
[Yes/No]
I didn't need to think twice before pressing yes. I had already planned to do this anyway, and now I'd just be rewarded for it.
Suddenly, Taylor stood up from her seat and pressed the button to signal the driver to stop at the next station. I quickly got up with her, and we waited until the bus stopped before getting off.
After walking for a while and thinking about what Winslow might be like, I realized the school had been a bit demonized by the fanon. Sure, it wasn't in the best shape, but it wasn't falling apart either.
As I walked alongside Taylor, I noticed the inside of the school wasn't that bad either. Sure, there were some gang graffiti here and there that the janitors were cleaning, and some kids who looked tough, some giving me dirty looks, others ignoring me. Nothing that screamed "den of juvenile villainy."
"You don't need to… check in with the principal or anything?" she whispered as she walked to a specific spot.
"Nope, the principal sent my mom a notice yesterday. The teachers are going to give me some extra assignments to help me catch up. By the way, we have the same classes." I smiled.
"Oh… that's… nice." I could almost hear the hint of annoyance in her voice.
Well, at least it was a good first step. I knew she wouldn't be too comfortable with me suddenly showing up and talking to her, but having a friend wouldn't be so bad.
Unsurprisingly, we didn't run into the trio of horrible creatures on our way to class, probably because Taylor used her power to avoid them, and we arrived just as a teacher was opening the door.
The first thing I did was take the seat next to Taylor. It would be nice to sit there and talk to her, and someone might get mad that I took their seat, but who cares?
The classroom quickly filled up with students. No one complained about the seat I took, so I considered that progress. The class started not long after the students settled in. It was math class, specifically, with a teacher named Quinlan.
At first, I thought he'd announce my return and all that—typical stuff when a student has been away for a while—but apparently not, so that was a win for me.
In the end, it was just a math class. Nothing special, except for the fact that I gained a new skill.
Math (Passive) Lv. 1 (Exp: 0%)
What the heck does ∆=b² - 4ac even mean?!
Description: Numbers and math are everywhere, whether it's in your grocery shopping or the movements you make throughout the day. This skill is about understanding those numbers (Creations that directly involve calculations and/or numbers are built 1% faster).
And who would've thought? Math actually does have a purpose.
The next class was interesting, if I may say so—Art class. I didn't bother to notice the teacher's name, but the most interesting part was the activity he assigned. He was talking about different types of art, their impacts, and so on, and he asked us to choose a type and make a drawing that corresponded to it.
That's when I was truly able to test the [Graphic] tab for the first time. I chose realism and tried to draw myself. I wasn't exactly a beginner when it came to drawing, so I managed to create something that didn't look like abstract art and even earned a bonus in the process.
New skill created!
Drawing (Passive) Lv. 1 (Exp: 0%)
Yes, I don't draw the Background, sue me.
Description: The ability to capture the image of things, express thoughts, ideas, feelings, and much more without the use of a single word (Creations in the "Art" category have 1% more overall quality).
I focus on [Graphic], and the tab opens in front of me. I realized a long time ago that no one else could see it besides me, so all I had to do was act discreetly.
Looking at the tab, I noticed something new in that larger rectangle, which was previously an empty space—a box with the drawing I had done on paper in it. Focusing on this box, information appeared in the smaller rectangle.
Spoiler: [Art Activity]
It seems that viewing my own work doesn't count as a view, though it wouldn't make much difference anyway. I dismiss the screen.
Strangely, I feel quite happy with this first creation. I looked around and decided to show my work to the only person I know here.
"Hey, Taylor," I called her quietly.
She didn't seem to hear me, still focused on her own drawing. It looked like she had chosen impressionism, as she was drawing something resembling a beach, and some parts were slightly distorted.
"Taylor!" This time I leaned closer to her chair.
"What?" She finally noticed me.
"Look!" I eagerly showed her my drawing.
For a few seconds, she seemed to examine my drawing.
"It's… nice… I guess."
"Thanks!"
With that brief interaction, she simply returned to working on her own project.
(I feel like I forgot something important during that moment, but I can't quite remember what it is…)
Suddenly, a tiny ball of wet paper flies into Taylor's hair. She grips the pencil she was using and glances toward the back of the classroom.
Following her gaze, I see a girl with short brown hair, a youthful appearance, wearing two light blue hair clips. She seemed to be giggling softly with a few other girls while looking back at Taylor.
There's no need to use [Analyze] to know it's Madison; she completely matches the description of her appearance and behavior from the canon.
Taylor runs her hand through her hair and removes the spitball from it. Her face seems full of frustration and anger, but she slowly takes a deep breath and slightly shakes her head, refocusing on her assignment.
I couldn't do much. Taylor would probably get annoyed with me if I called the teacher, drawing attention to her, and I didn't have much I could do about Madison right now. Maybe I could try to cheer her up during lunch?
With that thought in mind, I continue working on my drawing until the end of the class. At the end, the teacher collects each drawing and shows them to the class, giving some final information about art and tips for future assignments.
Taking advantage of the moment, I check [Graphic] again and my drawing.
Spoiler: [Art Activity]
A good start. I close the tab, and the bell rings for lunch. I see Taylor quickly leaving the classroom with her backpack in hand. I quickly pack my things and follow her.
"Hey Taylor!" I called out as I quickly approached her.
She seemed to take a short, deep breath before turning to look at me.
"What is it, Thiago?" she asked, walking quickly toward a staircase that likely led to the second floor.
"I was wondering, does the school have a rooftop?"
"As far as I know, yes, but it's locked," she answered hastily.
This! It would be a good idea to take her there. The bathroom would probably be discovered anyway, and the rooftop could be a good place for her to have some peace and eat lunch. Maybe that would make her less abrasive towards me?
"Well, I was thinking we could have lunch there."
She sighed and then stopped for a second, her gaze directly focused on me.
"Look, Thiago, I don't know what you're trying to do or accomplish, but please, I just want to be alone." Her voice was filled with resolve.
"I... Sure... okay..." I felt a bit thrown off and a slight, strange bad feeling in my chest.
"Great, thanks."
She then continued her quick pace and climbed the stairs hurriedly, disappearing from my sight.
(Damn... Did I do something wrong? I was polite the whole time, tried to make conversation and all... Did I offend her at some point?)
I wasn't sure what went wrong. I guess I was just a bit naive to think she'd see me as a friend so suddenly. I just hope I didn't offend her...
Well, there's not much I can do during lunch now. Following her would be completely wrong and weird, so my options were to go to the cafeteria or the rooftop. The latter seemed like the better choice.
Finding the ground floor wasn't too difficult; the staircases were basically side by side, so it wasn't that hard to locate. The problem was the darn locked door. I didn't have many ways to open it, so the best idea was to use [Mana Shaping] and create several lockpicks to try and unlock the door.
And I must say, spending 20 minutes to unlock a door is completely absurd. Not having a phone to look up lockpicking tutorials and relying purely on my memory to create these tools from mana was a total test of patience. On the bright side, making so many different objects with [Mana Shaping] earned me an extra level.
[Mana Shaping] Leveled Up!
Mana Shaping (Active) Lv. 2 (Exp: 0%) (MP: 15)
Description: The ability to shape mana into all kinds of forms.
Duration: 12 minutes.
And I also gained a skill and an extra point in dexterity.
Lockpicking (Passive) Lv. 1 (Exp: 0)
Description: The ability to pick locks. No lock will be able to stop you! (Attempts to open non-digital or electronic locks are 1% faster).
[You gained 1 DEX for your subtlety in picking a lock]
MP: 110/200 (+20 MP per minute)
I probably won't use this for anything other than opening this door, but who cares?
I happily spent the lunch break on the rooftop, doing two specific things. The first was drawing random things to level up the [Drawing] skill, which was a success.
[Drawing] Leveled Up!
Drawing (Passive) Lv. 3 (Exp: 0%)
Yes, I don't draw the background, sue me.
Description: The ability to capture the image of things, express thoughts, ideas, feelings, and much more without using a single word (Creations in the "Art" category have 3% higher overall quality).
The second thing was trying to create a skill to make illusions.
"According to the anime I've watched, mirages are optical illusions that are often caused by light reflecting off something and creating some kind of effect." I began to ramble to myself. "So, if I use mana to create an optical illusion by reflecting light into some kind of shape, technically, I'd be creating an illusion, and therefore, the system would create a skill for generating illusions!"
With that idea in mind, I started trying to form objects that could reflect light. The main problem was that objects made of mana couldn't reflect anything. Creating reflections from them was technically impossible for some reason, which was really frustrating.
MP: 0/200 (+20 MP per second)
[You gained 1 INT for using known facts and creativity in an attempt to create a skill]
"Damn, I had this whole plan for it, and now it's all gone down the drain."
All that's left now is to buy an illusion-creating skill from the [Store], but I only have 110 CP, and that probably won't help me much... Looks like taking risks is really going to be the option in the end.
"Damn... all I wanted was to take it slow, but it seems like I'm really going to have to start doing things that are slightly more dangerous... whhyyyyy..." I lay down on my back on the rooftop floor.
All I wanted was just a bit more rest, but the bell ringing quickly crushed my last hopes.
(Ugh... I'm already going back to completely hating school.)
Brockton Bay, March 14, 15:10
I have to say, going back to the classroom was neither interesting nor fun; in fact, it was completely torturous. Who would have thought school could be so torturous?
The first class after lunch was English. Strangely, I didn't gain any skills from this class, but it wasn't a surprise. If the system didn't count my knowledge of Portuguese as a skill, English probably wouldn't count either.
I didn't do much during the class; I had no one to talk to, and the lesson seemed boring, so I slept through most of it. Luckily, the teacher didn't notice.
The current class was chemistry, so we ended up pairing off. Unfortunately, Taylor ended up with someone else, someone I guessed was Greg Veder based on how much he was talking (as I would in his place). But there were so many blonde people in this school that I wasn't entirely sure.
I ended up partnering with a random girl from the class. We talked a bit while doing the assignment the teacher gave us, and it was actually pretty interesting, I have to say. I found out her name was Jayne.
"So, we just mix these two things and gently swirl the flask?" I asked, a bit apprehensive, holding the two flasks away from my face.
"The teacher talked about this last week, so if it goes wrong and explodes, it's his fault," she said, laughing lightly.
I swallowed nervously and mixed the two liquids, then slowly began swirling the bottom of the flask. The two substances blended and took on a new color.
New skill created!
Chemistry (Passive) Lv. 1 (Exp: 0)
Mix, mix, swirl, mix.
Description: Whether for creating medicines, poisons, antidotes, or illicit drugs, chemistry is always the foundation for understanding the makeup and constitution of these things and many others in our universe (creations involving direct matter transformation are produced 1% faster).
…
I'm totally going to level this up like crazy.
I mentally dismissed the pop-up about the new skill and refocused on the flask.
"Okay, now we just give it to the teacher."
"You do it. I want to avoid any potential explosions," I said as I carefully handed the flask to her.
She laughed lightly as she took the flask, along with some notes, and walked up to the teacher.
[You gained 1 CHA for a successful social interaction]
That left me feeling a little offended, but I'll let it slide.
I found Jayne to be a nice person. We hit it off quickly, and I even discovered that she likes to draw as well. I was thinking about suggesting that we find other people who like art and maybe start an art club at school. It would be a pretty cool idea.
On a more important note, I found out that Sophia and Emma are in this class. Well, it was hard not to, as they were literally sitting at the table next to mine. Madison, it seems, isn't here, which makes things easier.
My current plan, aside from minimal socializing, is to ensure a getaway route for Taylor. It's already clear that those two have bad intentions, judging by the way they whisper and look at her. And, by some stroke of fate, they ended up sitting near the back of the class, close to me and Jayne.
And I already have the perfect way for this plan to work—perfect in quotes, that is. All I'll do is bump into Emma, keep apologizing, and try to slow them down.
"The teacher accepted our work," Jayne said cheerfully as she approached and sat beside me.
"Good to know. So, what do we do now?"
"Well, you said you wanted to improve your drawing, so I think I could give you some tips."
With that in mind, we started drawing during the free time in class. I ended up noticing an interesting fact about my [Drawing] skill bonus. It didn't work like some supernatural force that made everything better in the end. From what Jayne said, it seemed like I was indirectly correcting mistakes without noticing in my drawings—corrections that improved the final quality of the work.
That was a good thing. I hadn't thought before about how these buffs on the things I do actually worked in reality. But if they were just supernatural corrections out of nowhere, I could end up being outed as a possible parahuman.
[Drawing] Leveled up!
Spoiler: [Drawing]
Our little art training session was interrupted by the school bell. I barely needed to look to know that Taylor was already rushing out of the room, and Emma and Sophia too.
Alright, it's time. I just need to bump into her, Thiago, nothing major. Seeing Emma stand up, I quickly stood up too, but instead of standing up normally, I lightly threw myself against her.
"Argh-" Emma let out a small yelp as we both ended up falling to the floor.
Damn, what was supposed to be fake ended up being real, thanks to my poor balance. I slowly searched the floor for my glasses.
"Hey, watch where you're going!" Sophia complained as she approached us.
"S-Sorry." (Damn stutter, not now, come on!)
"Here, Thiago." Jayne bent down, picked up my glasses, handed them to me, and also helped me up.
"My bad, I just lost my balance." I said timidly while adjusting my glasses on my face.
Emma seemed annoyed as she got up, her gaze sweeping the almost empty room as the other students were leaving.
"It's fine..." She responded reluctantly, looking at me with faint tones of anger hidden behind a fake calm.
I swallowed hard and quickly left with Jayne. Outside, I couldn't see Taylor anywhere, so that was a win.
"Hey, Thiago, are you okay?" Jayne looked slightly worried. "That was a nasty fall back there."
"I'm fine, I just lost my balance a bit." I answered with a smile.
"That's good. By the way, I forgot to ask for your phone number so we can talk later."
"Oh… well, I don't have a phone right now." I replied, a bit embarrassed.
"No phone? Seriously?" She looked visibly surprised.
"Yeah, I lost mine in an accident a while ago, so I've been without one for a bit."
"Well, okay then, what about your PHO account? We could talk there."
Ah, PHO. I hadn't taken a look there until now, kind of forgot about that site.
"Uhuuuuuu…"
"You don't have one either, do you?" She asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Yep."
"Try to make one today then, and tomorrow you can give me your username, okay?"
"Okay, I'm heading home now, bye!"
"Bye!"
I quickly followed the flow of students and left the school. If I'm not mistaken, I can still catch the bus to get home. I'll need some time if I want to do something tonight.
"Who would've thought I'd end up doing something so dumb…"
Brockton Bay, March 14, 22:50
I have to say, going out at this time of night isn't very nice, especially sneaking out like I am now. My master plan was to do some paintings in parts of Brockton Bay and hope for the best.
Direct fighting wasn't my strong suit at the moment, even with my mana-powered brass knuckles + [Power Strike] combo, I wasn't too sure about fighting anyone right now.
I was going to try and avoid Downtown as much as possible due to the super-strong Nazi group in that area, stay as unnoticed as possible around the docks, and avoid the Merchants if I could.
I didn't really have a big plan at this point. CP was going to be hard to come by at the beginning, and I didn't have even a little bit of resources to get started.
And to think I'm considering all of this while hiding in some random alley. Getting lost in Brockton Bay was one of the last things I thought I'd manage to do.
And you know what the worst part is? If my memory isn't failing me, and I really hope it's not, I somehow wandered around aimlessly and probably ended up in E88 territory. I'm pretty sure it has something to do with that 1 point in LUCK!
I took a deep breath and slowly peeked out into the street from the alley. A few people were walking here and there, but I wasn't really sure where I was. From what I remembered, most of this part of the city had skyscrapers and a mix of old and new buildings.
But even that description wasn't much help, so all I could do was try to leave this part of the city by myself to avoid trouble. Not everyone in Downtown was a Nazi, but I wanted to avoid the ones who were, and also avoid possible lynchings.
I slowly started sneaking through the alley I was in. Strangely, it was connected to a few other alleys in the area, which was a good thing since it allowed me to move through places out of sight. But on the downside, there was a chance I'd run into some troub—
"HELP!" A female voice screamed, the desperation clear in her voice.
le…
I knew this was going to happen, but not so quickly. I hurriedly followed the sound of the scream to a nearby alley. Pressing myself against the corner of the alley, I took a quick look inside.
"Shut up, you bitch!" a man shouted angrily.
The scene inside the alley was anything but pleasant. A man wearing a large gray coat, his hood covering his head, also seemed to be wearing a cap, black pants, and black shoes. He had a gun pointed at a woman. The woman, dressed in a blue shirt, jeans, and beige flats, looked terrified as she tried to back away.
"I told you to hand over the damn bag!" he yelled as he pushed the woman against the wall.
[Urgent Mission Obtained!]
[Vigilant Savior]
Description: You've stumbled upon a dangerous situation, a thief robbing a woman in an alley. Your goal is to save her somehow, no matter how.
Reward: 250 Exp, 200 CP
Failure: Severe damage, medium chance of death.
Damn, not only did I feel compelled to help and save the woman, but now the system had given me a mission to do so, making me feel even worse.
Damn it, I don't know if I can do anything here. The only thing I can think of is attacking him from behind since he's facing away from where I'm hiding. But the lighting in the alley is terrible, and I can't see anything on the ground clearly.
(Damn, damn, DAMN!)
Screw it, I have to do something. The way this idiot is waving that gun around, he might shoot her and run away.
With a shaky breath, I decided what to do. First, I used [Mana Shaping] to create a helmet to hide my face. Then, I crouched down and slowly entered the alley, each step careful to avoid making noise or accidentally kicking something.
"T-T-Take it, sir! Take the bag!" the woman shoved the bag into the thief's hand, trying to back away from him afterward.
"Wait! Don't think you're just walking away!" he said, grabbing the woman's arm.
"B-But you said—"
"Shut up! After all the trouble you gave me, you owe me!" he said, pulling the woman closer, his voice sending chills down my spine.
It's now or never. Holding my breath, I stood up from the ground, my hands already raised. I used [Mana Shaping] to form a hammer with spikes at the end.
Taking advantage of the hammer's weight and gravity, I swung it down with all my strength onto the man's head.
"AAAARRRGH!"
With a loud cry of pain, the man collapsed to the ground, his gun falling near my foot while he lay motionless. A large red mark spread across the hood covering his head.
[Sneak leveled up!]
Spoiler: [Sneak]
"Oh my beloved universe…" I started breathing heavily, my hands shaking as I dropped the hammer and looked at the woman. "M-Ma'am, are you okay? Is everything alright?"
"Y-Yes! Thank you! Thank you so much! He came out of nowhere, grabbed my arm, and dragged me into this alley. I-I didn't know what to do, and…" She started sniffling, visible tears beginning to fall. "He… He said that…"
"C-Calm down, ma'am. E-Everything's okay now," I quickly said. "Do you have a phone? We can call the police, and soon enough, you'll be safe and comfortable at home." I tried to comfort her as best as I could.
She nodded shakily and quickly retrieved her phone from her bag, her fingers struggling to dial the numbers on the keypad.
[Mission Completed!]
[Vigilant Savior]
Description: Like a true savior, you emerged from the shadows and took down the thug with a single hammer strike, without taking a single scratch.
You received 250 Exp, 200 CP
Bonus: By defeating the thug with one blow and without taking any damage, you earned the title "Night Vigilant," 400 Exp, and 300 CP.
Congratulations! You leveled up twice!
You received 6 status points.
"Hel-Hello, is this the police? I-I want to report a..."
While the woman spoke to the person on the other end, I just kept watching the man lying on the ground, my breath suspended as I waited—waiting for what exactly? Everything. I hadn't processed it yet; to me, everything bad could still go wrong.
I slowly crouched down and placed the weapon in my inventory, the anxiety still gnawing at me like a centipede crawling through my mind, sending chills through my body.
The woman was still talking to someone on the phone. Neither of us expected what happened next. A strong light suddenly flooded the alley, and a figure, seemingly the source of the light, slowly descended in front of us.
[You are suffering from the debuff Paralytic Fear]
I can't express how cold my heart went at that moment. In my entire life, I never thought I'd literally see my life flash before my eyes at such speed.
No matter how many fanfics there are about Purity's redemption, I know very well that she wouldn't even consider me for a single second— a potential parahuman, black, in an alley with a possibly white guy with a bleeding head on the ground, and a white woman panicking on the phone.
Instinctively, I used [Mana Shaping] and created two gloves on my hands. I needed to get out of there fast. My mana helmet had only minutes left before it wore off, and I didn't want my face to be seen by someone like her.
"Is everything alright here?" Purity asked as she hovered in the alley with us.
The woman seemed to glow with the question from the shining flying artillery, as if some kind of angel had descended from the heavens.
"Of course!" She responded with comfort in her voice. "I was saved by this hero before anything bad could happen."
…
I'm just going to avoid thinking about E88 sympathizers for now. I noticed the parahuman's attention focus on me somehow, probably because she was completely turned in my direction.
"Thank you so much for helping her." She said with sympathy.
Now was the moment when lying and acting would save my life.
"No problem, people like us need to help each other." Saying that sincerity was in my voice was a blatant, fragile lie.
"Yes, some criminal scum from the ABB have been trying to make their presence known in this area." She said, looking at the man with visible disgust in her voice. "It's good to know there are other heroes to protect the good people."
ABB? What the hell... Oh... crap, looking at someone and saying they were from the ABB just because they had slanted eyes and barely perceptible Asian features was crazy.
"Yeah, I've noticed that too." My voice almost cracked at the end of the sentence.
"Do you have a name?" She was probably asking for a cape name, something I hadn't really thought about before.
"Toymaker." I answered the first thing that came to my mind.
"Toymaker... so you're a Tinker?"
"I... prefer to keep that a secret." Crap, crap, CRAP! I COULDN'T DIG A DEEPER HOLE FOR MYSELF!
"Alright, it's smarter to keep your powers a secret." She said kindly.
"Well... if it's not a bother, I need to go now." I moved my body with effort, each muscle stiff and heavy as lead. "Please be more careful with the alleys, miss." I say as I put all my strength into my muscles to try to get out of here as quickly as possible.
[You lost the debuff Paralytic Fear]
She waved with a smile. I quickly left the alley and started running the same way I came earlier.
As I ran as fast as I could, I began to rethink every decision I had made in my life up until today, all with a single thought in mind.
(I NEED TO GET BACK HOME).