Chapter 9: I Am Not In A Good Mood

I unlock the stall door and step out. I roll the three bloody bullets in my hands, then walk over to the sink and rinse them off. They’re system made, so maybe they’re valuable.

As the cool water runs over my hands, I remember that my backpack is still back in homeroom.

I don’t feel like grabbing it.

I go over to the towel dispenser, dry the bullets and place them in my pocket. I stretch, enjoying the lack of pain from my back.

I was unprepared for that fight. Which was stupid. I was just shot by a gang member yesterday, and I’ve done basically nothing to prepare myself for a real battle since then.

Luck saved me. Luck that I had a title that gives me resistance to Mr. Monroe’s specialty. If not for that, I’d be in some creepy guy’s house right now.

I shudder at the thought.

I need to prepare myself.

My next class started twenty minutes ago. It would be weird to enter the classroom in the middle of a lecture, so I decide to do some studying on my own.

I leave the bathroom and make my way to the gym, which is thankfully empty. I raid the lockers to grab myself an unbloodied shirt, then find a quiet spot, and pull out the book Sheyla had given me.

I smile sweetly at the book as I open it, “Hello, little book, would you be so kind as to show me how to protect my friends from mind control?”

Seeing as how you have a distinct lack of mana, we recommend Auric Enchantments. Please turn the page.

I do as it says.

Resist Control: Auric Enchantment. Will resist attempts of psychic manipulation. Enchantment is attached to a worn object. If the object is removed or destroyed, enchantment will no longer affect the wearer.

Requires: Accessory (ring, bracelet, earring, necklace).

Cost: 100 psi.

I look at the only accessory I have on me, a seashell bracelet my little sister made me for my last birthday.

I read through the rest of the page, directing me on how to direct the psi towards the object. It doesn’t look too complicated, but I should let my psi recover before I attempt it.

“Can you bookmark this page? Then show me some basic defensive and offensive psi spells.”

Gladly. Turn the page.

I turn the page to see two spells listed.

Defence Of The Earth: Psi Spell. Manipulate the ground using your root chakra. Defence of the earth creates a wall of protection.

Cost: 20 psi / use.

Force Of Many Blades: Psi Spell. Manipulate your power chakra. Force of many blades will give your strikes a cutting force.

Cost: 20 psi/use

I study the pages, memorizing the shapes I need to twist my psi into. Then I make my way to a small empty space between the gym and the cafeteria. There I spend some time manipulating my psi until I have the spells down.

The lunch bell rings, breaking me out of my thoughts. I look at my psi, and decide that it’s in a fine place to try the enchantment.

I don’t want to be too late to lunch, but I still take the time to close my eyes and enter a meditative state for the more complicated shapes required of the enchantment.

I feel it solidify into place, and open my eyes to a minor headache.

“[Identify Item: Bracelet]

Enchanted Bracelet

Owner: Elena S. Trudeau

Abilities:

Resist Control

I roll my shoulders and stretch as I put Sheyla’s book away.

The cafeteria is as full as ever when I arrive, and it doesn’t take me long to follow people’s gazes to Rose.

The popular clique sits around her at the table. Blake, thank god, is sitting next to her running interference. I don’t know how most schools work, but the popular kids here are particularly vicious.

I stroll up to the table and rest my hand on the shoulder of one of the boys I particularly hate. A rich kid named Johnathon. He just happens to be sitting next to Rose, which is extra offensive to me.

He turns around to look at me.

I put on my sweetest, ditziest smile, “Hey John! Fancy meeting you here! You look to be doing well.” I lean into his ear and whisper conspiratorially, “Has Jasmine realized that you’re cheating on her yet?” I lean away and giggle with a flirtatious wink.

His face pales.

“You seem to have taken my seat. Can I pwease have it back.” I give him a pout for extra effect.

He practically jumps out of his spot and offers it to me. “Of course Elena. Anything for you.”

Stolen novel; please report.

“Thanks pumpkin. It’s good to know I can always count on you.” I blow a kiss towards him, and he pales further at my double meaning.

I turn my attention to Rose, who has her mouth hanging open at my sudden change in personality. She shakes her head, “Hey Elena, Blake was just introducing me to these guys.”

“Of course. I know all of the… lovely people here.” I say, looking around the table.

During freshman year, I’d made it clear I wasn’t interested in joining their little group, and so they thought they could bully me instead. I of course made it my job to dig up every piece of dirt I could on them. Then I blackmailed them all.

The bullying had miraculously stopped at that point.

Most of them know me, but I can see the calculating thoughts of the freshmen and sophomores that don’t know the stories.

I shake my head, I really didn’t have as much control back then. “Anyway, Rose, I wanted to give you something.” I take off my bracelet and put it around her wrist. “This bracelet is very important to me, but I think it would look better on you. Would you wear it for me?”

“I’d love to. Thank you.” She looks up at me, and I realize that I’m still holding her hand.

I let it go, and put my hands in my lap.

Lunch ends soon after that and we all leave for class. I don’t see Mr. Monroe for the rest of the school day, and no other monsters pop up to bother me.

I don’t have any other classes with Rose, but Blake sits in on two of my classes, and we end up chatting about a fight he’d gotten into a couple weeks ago.

I find Rose after school ends. She’s sitting on the curb, just watching the other students as they are picked up and driven away.

The sound of my shoes on the pavement makes her look up, and I sit down next to her.

She looks down at the bracelet she’s holding in her hands. “Thank you for this. It feels nice to wear, and kinda reminds me of you.” She looks at me, then quickly looks to the road. “It’s nice.”

“I’m glad you like it. I hope I’ll see it on you tomorrow too.”

She nods, and a comfortable silence follows. I don’t feel the need to say anything as we just sit there on the curb.

She stands up, “My ride's here.” She points at a sleek looking car that makes no sound as it drives up to us. “See you tomorrow Elena.” She opens the back seat of the car and steps in.

“See you then.” I say to myself, watching as the car goes over a bump.

I push myself off the ground, and start my walk home.

I unlock the door to my house, which is currently empty. Mom took Elizabeth to her soccer practice and dad is still at work.

I move to take off my backpack, then remember it’s still in Mr. Monroe’s classroom.

Tch. Irritating bastard.

I make my way up the stairs to my room, then head straight to the door to the shop.

The colors whirl and turn around me as I arrive at the empty market that is the shop. The elevator music has been replaced with classical guitar, which I actually enjoy quite a bit.

A smile makes its way to my face as I find the familiar Open sign.

The bells ring as I open the door, revealing the quaint little Information shop.

“Hello, and welcome to the Information Shop for planet Earth. My name is- Oh! Hi Elena.” Taylor, relaxes and gives me a real smile. “I didn’t think you’d be back so soon.”

I step inside, then immediately realize my mistake. “Crap. I forgot a chair.” I say.

Taylor laughs, and reaches behind her desk to pull out a fold-out chair. She walks around and sets it up for me, her green skin shimmering lightly as she moves through the room. “I thought you might need one, so I made sure to grab one and bring it here. Although, I wasn’t expecting you back so soon.”

I sit down in the chair, and lean it back onto its back legs. “I didn’t expect to be back this fast either. But something came up.” She raises an eyebrow, so I continue “I met a Beta Tester.”

“Really?” Her brows furrow. “What were they like?”

“He tried to control me using psi, then his assistant shot me in the back three times.” I smile, “So overall, I think it went pretty well.”

“Are you okay?”

“Aside from the fact that I have murder on the mind, I’m fine. Better than fine actually. He gave me these.” I pull the three bullets out of my pocket and show them to her.

She holds out her hand, so I drop the bullets in them to let her study them closer.

She whistles as she carefully turns one of them over. “These bullets come from a unique weapon in the armory.” She hands them back to me, and I put them back in my pocket. “It’s been a while since I last saw Tutorial grade weaponry.”

“How much do you think I can get for them?”

She taps her finger against the counter. “Well, I’m not a weapons merchant, so I can’t give you their full value… how about ten gold for each bullet?”

“Deal.” I immediately respond.

Would you like to trade three (unique) bullets to Taylor Flameborn for thirty gold pieces?

Yes/No

I happily click yes. Then look at my pocket as the weight of the bullet disappears. Nothing replaces the weight.

“Where’s the gold?” I ask.

Taylor laughs at my expression, “The gold goes to your inventory directly unless you ask the system to have it appear physically.”

“That’s disappointing. It would have been fun to see a pile of gold fall into my hands.” I hold my hands in the air to prove my point.

“Just so you know, this deal is way better for me than it is you. It’s hard to get your hands on tutorial grade weapons. Weapon merchants and crafters from across the realms would kill to get their hands on items like this.” Taylor rolls the bullets between her fingers.

I shrug. “I don’t need the bullets, but I can use the gold.”

“Your loss. But that does mean you can buy information.” She gives me a predatory smile.

“Sorry Taylor, but I’ve got plans to upgrade my home.”

“Oh? Are you sure about that? You’re not the slightest bit curious how Mr. Monroe found out who and where you were?” A strange look enters her eyes, as she leans closer to me.

The front feet of my chair hit the ground as my back stiffens and my smile widens. “How do you know his name? I never told it to you.”

She gives me a long look, her smile that of a shark’s. “I’m an information merchant. My job is to know these things.”

I tilt my head slightly, studying this different side of the alien figure in front of me. “How much will it cost?”

She walks around the desk and sits down on the desk, looking down at me. She holds my gaze with that predatory smile for a long moment, “I’ll give you the information on how Mr. Monroe found you, along with his status screen’s information for, let’s say… one gold?”

I snort, then quickly try to hide the sound behind a cough.

Taylor sighs and I kinda feel bad for breaking the tense atmosphere she’d been going for.

Would you like to trade one gold to Taylor Flameborn in exchange for information regarding Beta Tester Scott Monroe?

Yes/No

I look away from Taylor’s accusatory eyes as I click Yes.