"Alright, everyone, come on! It's time to switch partners once again!" Mrs. Terka announced, her voice ringing out over the bustling classroom. As the rest of the students rose from their seats, a symphony of shuffling footsteps filled the air.
Braxis, eager to mingle with the cute girls in his class, was caught off guard as a peculiar man in black clothes with distinct peculiar sunken eyes as well as strange horns on his head firmly grabbed his arm. With surprising force, the man steered Braxis into the empty seat beside him.
"Braxisss... It's almost time for our next rendezvous," the stranger whispered ominously, his fingers digging into Braxis's shoulder.
"Rendezvous? I'm afraid I don't know what you're talking about," Braxis replied, attempting to glean more information from the odd situation. "Could you explain what you mean by 'rendezvous'?"
The man scowled, frustration etched onto his features. "Quit playing games, Braxis! Why do you always have to act like such a freak? Just bring the stuff to the back of the academy at the end of the day. I know you have it." With that, he stood up and started to leave.
"Wait! What's your name?" Braxis called after him.
The man paused, his face a mixture of sadness and anger. "It's Harrison. We've met several times already, and you still don't remember my name? Just meet at the back of the school after class." Shaking his head in disbelief, Harrison turned on his heel and disappeared before Braxis could utter another word.
Mrs. Terka observed the unfolding scene and sighed, her palm meeting her forehead. "Braxis, are you driving more people out of my class? What have I told you about your behavior?"
Relationship Status: -1
Relationship Progress: 3/300
Raising her voice for all to hear, she put Braxis on the spot. The classroom fell into an eerie silence as everyone turned to watch the exchange. "He mentioned feeling unwell and needing the bathroom," Braxis explained confidently, albeit puzzled. "I think even you could've deduced that, Mrs. Terka. Why didn't you ask where he was headed before he left?"
Taken aback, Mrs. Terka stammered, "Ah, of course. Carry on then," before busying herself with random papers on her desk to deflect attention.
The Talaki spectators erupted in a cacophony of mixed reactions. Braxis couldn't discern who had come out on top in this confrontation, as he was still unfamiliar with the customs of these alligator-like beings.
From across the room, Dante observed the strange incident with a critical eye 'Looks like this troublemaker's stirring up more chaos.' He thought.
Seated in front of Dante was an enchantingly beautiful elf girl, but he remained utterly disinterested.
Trying to break the ice, the girl asked, "So... what do you do for fun?" She found Dante rather attractive.
"Sleep. Sharpen my daggers," Dante replied with a reluctant sigh.
"O-oh! Sounds fun... Haha... I like daggers too!" she laughed nervously.
"Cool," Dante responded curtly, his short reply making it clear he wasn't interested in prolonging the conversation.
In the midst of animated conversations and students engrossed in their activities, Braxis sprang to his feet. "I'm going to the bathroom real quick. I'll be back!" he shouted before rushing out.
"I have to go too," Dante declared, standing up and leaving the bewildered girl behind.
"Wait! Please!" she cried out, desperate not to lose her chance, but it was already too late.
Outside the classroom, Braxis was overwhelmed by a sudden, excruciating headache, his stomach churning as if on the verge of vomiting. Then, an unusual event transpired in his mind.
Various options materialized before Braxis's in his head.
{Main-Line Quest - These choices will impact the world...
1. Meet with Harrison and deliver the hidden object... [Reward] ~ +10 Reputation
2. Meet with Harrison and expose the secret organization... [Reward] ~ +150 Reputation
3. Meet with Harrison, accompanied by Dante (OR) Levant... [Reward] ~ +50 Reputation
4. Stand up Harrison... [Consequence] ~ -20 Reputation
Current Reputation: -500/25000 [Infamous Scoundrel]
Warning: Excess loss of reputation can lead to dire consequences! Tread carefully. Hint: Do not, under any circumstances, reach -5000 reputation.
Leaning against the wall for support, Braxis carefully considered his options. He was familiar with the reputation system from the game, but this reality seemed to have its own twist.
'-500? This is outrageous!' Braxis fumed, his stomach churning in distress as he mentally cursed the original inhabitant of this body.
'No wonder Gravis went mad and murdered his family...' Braxis tried to chuckle but nearly gagged in the process.
As Dante approached, he reprimanded Braxis. "What do you think you're doing? I know you're a lazy piece of shit, but that doesn't give you the right to skip class." With Dante's proximity, one of the quest options vanished, narrowing Braxis's choices.
{Main-Line Quest - These choices will impact the world...
1. Meet with Harrison and expose the secret organization... [Reward] ~ +150 Reputation
2. Meet with Harrison, accompanied by Dante... [Reward] ~ +50 Reputation
3. Stand up Harrison... [Consequence] ~ -20 Reputation
Current Reputation: -500/25000 [Infamous Scoundrel]
Frustrated, Braxis exclaimed, "I barely had time to think before one of my quest options disappeared. Why the hell is the world being such an asshole to me? Fine, I pick quest 1. Screw it. I'll just pick the one that sounds the most entertaining." His confidence surged momentarily.
But as Braxis attempted to choose the option, it too faded away when Dante came even closer. Exasperated, Braxis facepalmed.
"Stop ignoring me before I kill you," Dante threatened, his rage simmering.
1. Meet with Harrison, accompanied by Dante... [Reward] ~ +50 Reputation
2. Stand up Harrison... [Consequence] ~ -20 Reputation
Braxis felt as if god himself was intervening in order to make his life difficult. "GODDAMNIT!" he yelled, glaring at Dante.
Dante recoiled momentarily in surprise, but quickly brandished his daggers. "You should know better than to talk to me that way," he warned menacingly, adopting a fighting stance.
"Enough, little brother," Braxis retorted dismissively. "I don't know where you got this attitude, but I need your help. So quit acting like a child and come with me."
Quest option 1 selected.
Dante's expression wavered at being compared to a child. "I'm not dumb enough to fall for one of your tricks. I'll kill you right here, right now," he said, his voice softening.
"Alright, little brother, whatever you say. When you're done with your big boy talk, I'm going to need you to come with me..." Braxis trailed off, then continued with a sinister grin, "Unless you're confident that you can kill me before I kill you!" He turned to reveal the crazed look in his eyes, utterly unnerving Dante.
'After watching Dante's fight with Levant, I'm confident I could take him down with ease, even barehanded. I don't care if this guy is my little brother; I think I'm done with this world,' Braxis mused.
Dante sheathed his daggers, his gaze lowered in shame. "I can't believe how differently you've been acting these past couple of days. It's kind of scary. You're like a completely different person all of a sudden, since when did you grow a pair?" he admitted, taken aback.
Dante's Impression: +50
Dante's Impression Progress: -152/300
Together, they navigated the labyrinthine corridors of the school, making their way to the back where Harrison was supposedly waiting. Dante trailed a few steps behind, maintaining a cautious distance from Braxis. As they walked, an uneasy feeling gnawed at Braxis, leaving him with a sense of foreboding about the impending encounter with the mysterious Harrison.