After the day's peculiar turn of events, my mother and Raven were now on surprisingly good terms, so much so that they were currently sharing cookies at the kitchen table. I reached out, my hand inching towards the plate of cookies, but my mother slapped it away with a swift, maternal flick of her wrist.
"Can't I at least know what you're talking about?" I asked, my curiosity piqued as I rubbed my stinging hand.
"No, it's none of your business, Jade," Raven replied sharply, her voice carrying an edge that was both dismissive and final. My mother simply nodded in agreement, her eyes never leaving the plate of cookies.
"But Mom, she came here to study, not to chat with you," I protested, feeling a twinge of exclusion as I watched them bond over baked goods.
"And? She can come back tomorrow, can't she, Raven?" my mother retorted with a smile, her tone light and carefree. Raven nodded, her agreement coming as a surprise to me.
I was taken aback. In just a few hours, my mother had managed to tame the so-called villain, a feat I hadn't achieved in days. Was this the fabled maternal instinct at work? Then, a sudden urge overtook me—I wanted to see Raven's stats.
"Inspection" I murmured under my breath, my gaze fixed on Raven.
[Name: Raven Nightingale
Age: 5
Race: Human
Attributes:
-HP:20,000 / 20,000
MP:50,000 / 50,000
Magic: 60
Strength:30
Intelligence: 4
Appearance/Charisma: 99
Affinity:Darkness, Water
Skills:
- Dark Magic (A)
- Water Magic (C+)
- Fencing (C)
- Archery (C+)
- Etiquette (A)
Favorability: 50 (max: 100)
Note: She doesn't hate you, but she doesn't trust you either.]
Damn, she was far stronger than me. No wonder she was the antagonist in the book .
"How is it possible for her appearance to be at level 99?" I wondered silently, directing the question to the system in my mind.
[It's for you to discover, dear host. The higher your favorability, the more she will trust you.]
Already, another quandary plagued my thoughts, a whisper of doubt that refused to be silenced. "Why is her magic so elevated, System? If I've grasped the concept correctly, intelligence should correlate with magical prowess. Why then is her magic so disproportionately high?" I queried the System, seeking enlightenment.
"It's because she was born of noble blood, which bestows upon her this significant advantage, even if her intelligence is lacking," the System divulged, its words echoing in the digital void.
"That's patently unfair," I protested, the sting of injustice sharp in my voice. "Besides, am I not the daughter of a dragon? Should I not possess similar capabilities?" I challenged the System, demanding my due.
[Access Denied: Unauthorized Command]
A momentary surprise seized me, but it swiftly passed. One thing was clear: anything related to my mothers caused complications. With a flicker of irritation, I closed the system tab, only to be interrupted by my mother's voice.
"Jade, if you want cookies, you can fetch some from the kitchen. And while you're at it, bring us some milk," she commanded, leaving no room for refusal.
Reluctantly, I departed the living room and entered the kitchen. The scent of freshly baked cookies wafted from the oven, and I couldn't resist nibbling on a few before retrieving the milk and glasses from the fridge. I returned to the living room, delivering the milk and glasses to my mother. Time seemed to accelerate as my mother and Raven chatted away, and I found solace in the television's glow. As the night deepened, I turned from the couch to address them.
"Raven, it's time for you to head home. It's getting late, and besides, you can't sleep here—there are only two bedrooms," I said, my tone firm, yet it faltered as I met my mother's stern gaze.
"Don't listen to Jade. Raven, if you wish, you can stay the night. Jade will sleep on the couch, and you can take her room," my mother offered with a smile, while Raven's eyes gleamed with sarcastic triumph.
"There's no need to trouble yourself, Mrs. Smith. My butler is already here; he's waiting for me outside. But thank you for your hospitality," Raven replied, pulling out her phone to show us the message from her butler.
"Alright then, we'll see you tomorrow, Raven," my mother said, affectionately ruffling Raven's hair.
"Yes, see you tomorrow, and thank you for everything. And again, sorry about earlier," Raven said with a smile, scratching her head in a feigned embarrassment.
Raven began to pack her belongings, her movements deliberate and unhurried, as if the act of leaving held a weight all its own. She rose from the table, the chair scraping softly against the floor. It was then that my mother's voice, laced with a deceptive sweetness, beckoned me.
"Jade, do escort Raven out. After all, she is our guest," my mother said, her smile not quite reaching her eyes.
Obedience wasn't a choice but a necessity, for her gaze held a fear-inducing sharpness. So, I accompanied Raven, stepping out into the cool embrace of the evening. True to her word, her butler awaited, a silent sentinel by the sleek car. I had expected Raven to stride directly to the vehicle, but instead, she paused, turning to face me with an expression that seemed to hold a multitude of unsaid thoughts.
"I want to thank you. Despite everything, today was... enjoyable, even if you weren't particularly helpful," Raven said, her voice tinged with a melancholy I couldn't quite understand. "You're lucky to have such a kind mother."
I bit back a retort, doubting we were thinking of the same person. Yet, I remained silent, knowing she would discover the truth in her own time. A part of me yearned for acknowledgment, for it was I who had brought her here.
Raven continued, her cheeks dusted with a faint blush. "I also wanted to apologize for snapping at you earlier when you were only trying to help."
"It's alright. At least it allowed you to vent," I replied, offering her a smile that I hoped was reassuring.
Then, unexpectedly, Raven stepped forward and enveloped me in a hug. When she pulled back, her smile was radiant, genuine, and for a moment, she resembled an angel. It was disarming, and I found myself blushing in tandem with her. I can't recall what she said after that; her words were lost to me as she climbed into the car. I stood there, frozen, until the system's notification jolted me back to reality.
[Favorability increased by 10 with Raven]