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Name: Maven Sears
Mana Pool: 550
Level: 6
Rank: C+
Age: 18
Gender: Female
Race: Human
Class: Water Specialist
Coins: 1350
Affinity: None
Status: Healthy
Stats-
Strength: ??
Endurance: ??
Agility: ??
Wisdom: ??
Intelligence: ??
Luck: ??
Charm: ??
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Zefer used his [Insightful Eye] to look upon Maven's stats, but when her stats came up with question marks, he couldn't help but wonder if that had to do with her level exceeding his own by a large margin for if his [Insightful Eye] was too low level.
Regardless, Zefer did not panic. In fact, he was happy to stumble across something like this. Seeing this meant that he needed to level up his [Insightful Eye] to observe stronger foes. If he came across this later on when it came time to finalize his goals, he would be screwed. Knowing your enemy was half the battle, after all.
"Nevertheless, she is a third-year," Zefer said to himself. When he glanced over the status' of the other three boys, their levels were around his level. Frank was the highest at level 4, making it right at Alex's level. Of course, Alex was a special case since he had a better upbringing than the average student.
"Wow, she must be pretty strong to be at that level." Ina said inside of Zefer's mind. "Perhaps. If I recall correctly, Maven is the daughter of the Chief of the police force." Zefer replied nonchalantly.
"Oh? That makes her your enemy, does it not?" Ina remarked curiously, musing cutely.
"I suppose," Zefer replied to Ina before answering to Maven as not to stand there blankly like some lovestruck boys did when they tried to talk with Maven or ask her out on a date.
"No need for that. I am sure you know my name and my case by now. I am only here to use the gym since it is free. I will not cause any problems, despite what people have labeled me as." Zefer said coldly before moving past Maven to return to his original plan with working out. Thanks to the treadmill, he was halfway done, so now he just needed to finish his routine.
Those watching the interaction couldn't help but glare at Zefer. How dare he talk like that to Maven. Maven of all people, the person who upheld the peace of this school and looked over all of the students. The person who deserved respect for always doing good deeds. How dare a filthy Zero treat her like that just because he gained some bullshit power.
However, Maven felt different. Her heart sank to the depths of her chest when she heard Zefer's words. His tone of voice stung her deeply, plunging further than any dagger could. When she saw him here yesterday, she didn't know who he was, but when she found out it was Zefer, she felt like she should try to talk with him.
She had seen him here before the incident. She was happy to know that he was trying his best and did offer words of encouragement from time to time, hoping that he would remain a bright student of this school.
Right, a bright student... Who was she kidding? After the incident, of course, Zefer would change. She did her best to minimize the damage to Zefer, but if she did too much, it would be considered favoritism. So, she had to hold back. She tried to talk to the higher-ups and even Principal Gill about the treatment against Zefer, but even his hands were tied.
In the end, she could do nothing. There was much that went on behind the scenes that she was also unaware of since she could not be everywhere. Even now, it still hurt to know that Zefer was like this. She quickly turned around and took hold of Zefer's wrist.
"Wait! Actually, I wanted to see if we could grab a bite to eat after your workout. There are some things I wish to talk with you about." Maven's words shocked everyone. She never asked them to grab a bite to eat after a workout, nor did she ever accept when they asked her. This only furthered people's hatred for Zefer.
Zefer could feel the glares of envy and jealousy, even hate, but he dismissed them since he was used to unsavory looks. Instead, he looked at Maven, then towards his hand, and pulled it away. "I am busy." Zefer replied coldly and carried on with his workout.
Maven felt pained once again, but she didn't want to give up. She decided to do something, something that no one would have ever expected of her. "Zefer Zillian, I challenge you to a race! If you lose, you have to go out with me!"
Now the entire gym was silent. No machines were moving. People on the treadmills slide off because they had stopped running, only to look back in awe at Maven. No one said a word, the blank expressions on their faces said it all. They couldn't believe what Maven had just said.
A prompt appeared in front of Zefer from his bracelet.
-----
Gambit's Challenge
Type: Race
Reward:
Win: ???
Loss: Go out with Maven.
[Accept]/[Decline]
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Zefer's brow twitched with annoyance. "Did this bitch really just challenge me for a date?" Zefer thought to himself, breaking character as his facial expression crumpled for the first time due to something other than his PTSD.
"Now, why would I accept this?" Zefer's voice became even colder than before, reaching sub-zero temperatures, but he never turned around to look at Maven. Instead, he closed his eyes, trying to calm himself so he could place his mask back on.
"Well... You don't have to. I won't blackmail you or anything. I just wanted you to know how serious I was. I want to talk with you." Maven's will seemed unwavering, but that was because she probably hadn't realized what she said earlier.
"Talk?" Zefer sighed heavily. He could not rebuild his mask, so he just gave up and instead decided to show his true expression as he turned towards Maven. His face held disgust, annoyance, and anger all in one. His tone remained ever so cold, like a frosty night that not even the warmth of a campfire could hold back.
"Tell me, is forcing me to go out with you part of our talk?" Zefer addressed the condition of his loss. He had yet to request a win condition. Therefore it remained blank. Meaning if he won, he could make any demand he wished, or he could add a win condition now if he pleased.
Seeing Zefer's expression caused Maven to flinch back. She had never seen such an expression before, especially displayed directly at her; however, when Zefer asked his question, she was puzzled. She glanced down at the prompt in front of her that showed their Gambit's Challenge.
"Huh?" Maven looked it over before blushing lightly out of embarrassment. "No! That isn't what I meant!" Maven exclaimed as she quickly shook her head and rose her hands shaking them rapidly to dismiss Zefer's remark.
"I would never do something like that. I just wanted to talk. I wanted to apologize to you!" Maven exclaimed, trying to correct the situation before it got worse. "Besides, I already have a boyfriend. I would never cheat on him." Maven cleared her throat, adding the last part as she composed herself.
Zefer sighed heavily once again and looked at the prompt before him. He didn't care for Maven's apology, nor did he want her pity. Why should he accept her request to talk when she did nothing to help him back then? She was the head of the Disciplinary Committee, a group of people who kept things from getting out of control around the academy, and yet she did nothing to prevent the mistreatment of him? Of course not. She was the daughter of the police officer.
Zefer thought to decline this challenge, but a little voice of mischief said something devious into his mind. "Accept it, but add a condition for your part. Tell her she has to have sex with you infront of her boyfriend. Force her to feel the humiluation and pain you had to endure. Destroy her Zefer." Ina's idea was indeed devious, cruel, evil, everything that embodied what people thought of as Destruction.
However, her remark didn't come from 'Destruction.' It came from her feeling disgusted with Maven. Ina didn't like that this woman could help Zefer but did nothing to stop his mistreatment. In fact, when she learned about the things that happened to Zefer, she wanted to watch this city burn even more.
Zefer thought about it for a moment, but he shook his head. He refused Ina's command for the first time. "If I did something like that, I would be no different from the scum who killed my sister. When I am to become a monster, it will only be through the deaths of those around me." Zefer remarked, which shocked Ina.
"Wha?" Ina was shocked until she realized what she had just said and how insensitive it was. "Sorry, Master." Ina apologized. "No need," Zefer remarked before pushing the decline button on the prompt.
"I refuse your request. Have a good day." Zefer said as he turned away from Maven. He no longer had the urge to use the gym, so he decided to leave and head home earlier, but first, he needed to go to the store to get some groceries.