Rosanna's P. O. V:
6:59PM
I glanced at the digital clock hanging on the wall of my room. Hearing a knock on the door. I suspected it had something to do with the 'gift' meant to be delivered at 7PM today.
These few hours I used to organize myself and accept the strange fact my world had flipped. And it was more of survival than living.
Awful, simply state. Understatement of the year. And it took a whole bunch of tissues, stress eating and restless sleep to placate myself. Not even novels or Korean dramas could placate me. My head was in too much disarray to actually focus on reading a novel or watching something.
Regardless, after reading the email sent by GCA, I more or less knew what I needed to do. Comforted that I at least had a general outline of what I needed to do.
However, that was all safely documented in my notebook. Which I'd review during the few days I had before the academy. Compiling knowledge and assimilating anything related to my survival.
Hibiscus Wisps was not some random fantasy romance story- it barely had romance! It was more of, 'kill kill kill, demons, death, war, scheme, haha we all psychopaths'.
And what to do when you're in the center of it all? Ultra University is the setting and that should not be taken lightly.
It's either you're a main character or you're a background character. And background characters usually dwell in dug out houses with erected stones. Or became nutrients for the 'wild' animals, eventually becoming manure. Interesting, isn't it?
Walking down the stairs, I shoved my hands in my pockets, contemplating life for the hundredth time today.
I arrived at the door and opened it.
There I see a small white box placed on the floor.
I looked right and left on the street and concluded it would hurt my brain to figure out where it came from.
So calmly, I took it in with a dead expression.
Shutting the door back with a lock and double checking.
Wouldn't want some random psychopath to barge into my house, now would I?
Brain cell 99 reminding me a door wouldn't pose a dime.
I walked into the kitchen, placing the box atop the dining table, anticipating what lied within.
It was quite light when I took it in, considering it's big size.
But first, I ripped off the sheet which had,
From: GCA
To: 033
Written on it. I guess I should get used to my codename '033' but that's somewhere in the future- if I still exist by then.
I opened the box slowly, traumatizing myself with the dreaded mystery.
And to my surprise, I saw a uniform, shoes, watch and a... Necklace.
You'd think it was for your average day purpose.
But that's nigh impossible.
The uniform was of Ultra University. That I could understand seeing the school crest and name, printed upon the transparent leather which had the uniform in it. And the uniform's color conspired of the colors; purple, silver, and black.
Battle suits, I thought.
I recall that being the standard dress code for the Mages in the University. It was supposedly a high tech runic design suited for the classes in the Institution. Classes that included broken bones, blood and... Possible death.
I'd sincerely rather study maths. That's 1% off crazy than possible death. Exaggerating but really I'd rather take maths and that's something!
Can I go home?
I grimaced internally.
The only thing positive about this uniform was that it was beautiful and offered good protective features.
...If it was Earth. These defenses are sometimes like cotton in the face of real threatening battles with magic and advanced weapons.
Females do not wear skirts when on uniforms. That's highly stupid. Or you just don't like your legs and wish to provide your opponent a chance to maim you or injure you easily.
Must be an M.
The uniform's top was a turtleneck long sleeved fitting type. With a silver zipper. It was dark purple in color and had swirling silver stripes by the rib area, elbow, wrist, chest and neck.
They were runes. For protection. And moderating temperature to a certain degree.
Next on was the pants. Black in color with sliver runes around my thighs and ankles.
The runes glowed and the material was clearly of high quality.
Simple but artistically beautiful.
The shoe was similar. Black, silver rune. A sneaker.
As I examined the uniform I'd come to be familiar with in a few days, I turned my sight to the others. Accessories that I wondered how they'll be of aid.
The necklace and watch was placed in a glass box. Shimmering and screaming; 'glamour don't touch!'
But I did anyways. My sixth sense tingling.
A premonition to abnormal happenings. Something I've come to accept, understanding that the supernatural did exist.
And these clues should not be taken casually.
Picking up the watch first, I saw my reflection on the black surface. Assuming it to be a digital watch but it was far from normal.
With a low gasp, I stumbled back, watching in mortification as the watch turned alive.
Alive in the sense it slipped off my right hand and jumped to my left wrist.
What the-!
My scream was stuck in my throat as a light click sounded.
The watch successfully enclosed around my wrist and clasped together in a manner of seconds.
I tugged the watch and tried pulling it off. Cursing my touchy hands even when it's not my fault-
"Damnit, damnit! get off my wrist you alien weird extraterrestrial thing!"
It didn't budge and my skin was hurting from the forceful pull. Anymore and I'd rip my skin off.
'Hello, Master'.
I paused. Hallucinating?
No. I tried that last time and it was a lie. Now, I heard that clearly. Where was that voice coming from?
"Five seconds come out or I'll smash you!"
False. False. False. With these trembling legs? Or with my fragile fists? I don't even know where that thing or person is-
'Master, I am the watch. My voice is in your head'.
Okay, Jael. Calm down. It's not like some alien sh!t got in your head. So, be calm. Yes, calm.
Oh, who am I kidding? Some alien sh!t did get into my head!
Taking a sit on the chair, I asked despondently.
"Who are you?"
'Your records states you've read enough webnovels to know what a 'System' is. That I am. I will be assisting you through the rest of your journey on the missions assigned by GCA. You may refer to me as Konah'.
Deep breaths. Inner peace. I am a tree, I am a tree, I am a tree, I am a cannibal tree- no, I am a tree.
"So... System, eh? Where are the... Um, stats? Skills?"
I scoffed by the end of my sentence. There's no way-
A light blue holographic image appeared from above the watch. It's length being like that of a small computer screen.
I raised my hand up and stared at the image.
Okay.
System it is.
S t a t u s
T a l e n t
S k i l l
HQ Message ² >
I stared for a few seconds before I thought of clicking the 'Status' part. Of which I saw I didn't need to. It opened automatically.
Name: Rosanna Graymond Age: 17 Health Point: 100/100 +(Average HP status 100/100) *Once HP drops to 0, target dies. Or enters death state- an abnormal condition of suspended death. Mana Point: 250/250 +(Average capacity 100/100) *MP used to cast out spells of varying degrees. Intelligence: 125 +(Average INT 90) *Used to understand skills efficiently. Strength: 80 +(Average STR 90) *Level of STR determines level of damage output. Stamina: 75 +(Average STA 90) *Level of STA determines level of damage input. Agility: 100 +(Average AGI 90) *AGI determines level of speed. Status Point: 50 *Currency to buy stats. System Evaluation: E+ (Ranking: F- SSS) > Well. I am a genius mage. Although some of my stats were below average. Come to think of it, the prospect of magic was exciting in reality. It made me somewhat speechless yet thrilled. So... I really might be going 'Wazow!'. Which brings me to something important. I need a catchphrase. As I thought of exiting the page, it went back to the menu. There I 'clicked' the As the new page turned over, I remembered Konah. "Say, Konah. What exactly can you do for me?" 'Konah is master's companion. Certain times, Konah gives master hints to survive better. Information and the free skill; 'appraisal', to know the common knowledge of this world'. I more or less understood. But if it's exactly like the system in webnovels, I understand better. I really am living a fictional world. How beautiful. I could taste the sarcasm on my tongue. If I've always complained about normal- I'm sorry. Wishing at least this wasn't too abnormal. A normal isekai, please? Certain a times, normal could be the best dream of a person. And it just became a fantasy for me. Snapping out of my thoughts, I focused on the page before me. Mana Manipulation: X (0%) Water Affinity (Ice variant): A+ (0%) Fire Affinity: A (0%) Water Affinity: B+ (0%) > "Konah, please explain my talents." This information will determine my survival rate in this mission. 'Talents are each individuals personal asset to their overall strength. More often defined as affinity. Each person is innately born with a body that connotes with one or more mana elements on varying degrees. Common mana elements are 'Air, Water, Fire, Earth'. The affinity to any is the ability to control it. But there are levels by which one has progressed skill over those elements. Listed 'Lvl 1, 2, 3' etcetera. The rarity of the attribute and your innate affinity to it is graded from F to X. F being the lowest and X being the highest. Determining how much your body can absorb of such element and how rare the talent is. In your case, you have Mana manipulation- which is a very rare attribute and I advice you not to let anyone know'. Konah paused while I let the whole thing sink in. 1. Affinity grades are decided by your body absorption rate and how rare the ability is. 2. Affinity skill is entirely different. It shows your progress rate in controlling such affinity. Okay okay, got it! And... Three. Don't let anyone know of 'Mana Manipulation'. "Continue, Konah." My feelings for the System easing up into a positive due to the help. 'Mana Manipulation ability is mostly unlimited. You simply provide the needed Mana Point and it's usage is unlimited. Can be likened to telekinesis, gravitation, speed and just an all round boost. I suggest you do practical research yourself to understand such effects. Next on is Water Affinity; Ice Variant, Fire Affinity and Water Affinity. I suppose you understand what they entail'. I took in a deep breath, pressed my head on the dining table and responded; "...Yes." While the info dump was large and needed extra processing, it isn't too big to claim I understand completely. Konah's words plus what I read in the novel are all coming together for better understanding. "Konah?" I muttered. 'Yes, Master?' "What are my submitted records to the institution? You told me I shouldn't mention the Mana Manipulation talent. So I'm guessing that's not on my application." 'Your records are that of an Orphan, with outstanding talents of variated water Affinity, and the two water and fire Affinity'. 'Rosanna' is not me. My family do not exist in this world. I figured when I couldn't contact them. Unknown numbers or some random strangers. And yes, it did hurt like sh!t when I realized I might not be able to see my family once more. I... Who the heck is in my former reality? This 'Rosanna' is more of a mystery than my... Transmigration? Reincarnation? Sigh. "System, one question." I paused. "What about my former world? Was I declared dead or missing?" 'No. Rosanna has ceased to exist in the first place. However, you have a chance to go back and be that 'Rosanna' once you've completed your mission'. I need yogurt to drown in my sorrows and curse GCA. Complicated is an understatement.