In the time that's passed, the Lucky Bonus had triggered twice, doubling his rewards and giving him a significant edge.
Still, the process wasn't without its fair share of mishaps.
"That time I tried to 'creatively' bake cookies and almost set off the fire alarm? Definitely not my finest moment," he muttered.
He could still remember the cloud of smoke filling the kitchen and the frantic flurry of opening windows and waving towels, hoping the fire department wouldn't need to make an appearance.
His gaze shifted to the unexplored section of the status panel:
[Spirit: Name:? - Guardian Spirit]
Curiosity got the better of him. With a deep breath, he tapped on it.
The screen flickered, then displayed:
[Spirit: Name:? - Guardian Spirit]
[Description]: A valiant, miniature protector imbued with dramatic flair and undying loyalty.
[Ability]: Provides temporary stat boosts during critical moments.
Before Alex could fully process what he'd read, the air in front of him shimmered.
A soft glow emerged, intensifying until a tiny figure appeared, hovering mid-air.
"Behold!"
The figure boomed in a voice far too big for its size.
"I, your Guardian Spirit, have arrived to serve and protect you, my noble master!"
Alex blinked.
The spirit was barely a 8cm, with gleaming armor that looked as though it belonged to a much larger being.
Its chest plate was comically oversized, and its helmet had an enormous plume that threatened to topple it over.
A glowing, jewel-encrusted sword completed the look.
"Uh…" Alex struggled for words.
"What… are you?"
"I am your valiant protector!" the spirit declared, striking a heroic pose.
"Destined to guide you on your path to greatness!"
Alex stared, disbelief washing over him.
"You're tiny."
The spirit's glowing visor seemed to narrow, as if offended.
"Size does not determine strength, mortal! Do not let my stature deceive you. My blade has vanquished foes ten times your size!"
"Right," Alex said, his skepticism thick.
"So… what should I call you?"
Despite his initial shock, Alex couldn't help but be curious.
"A name worthy of my valor and deeds, of course! Choose wisely, for this name shall be etched into the annals of history!"
The spirit straightened, puffing out its chest.
Alex suppressed a grin.
"How about… Dramathor?"
The spirit tilted its helmeted head.
"Dramathor? Pray, tell me, what is the meaning of this noble name?"
Alex smirked inwardly. "It's inspired by a legendary warrior of hamme..., warrior of thunder. Odinson. Mighty, fearless..."
'and… dramatic.'
Alex didn't mentioned the last word that he thought is very suitable for this tiny dramatic queen.
Dramathor's glowing visor sparkled with approval.
"Ah, a name befitting my grandeur! Very well, mortal. Dramathor it shall be!"
Alex barely managed to stifle a laugh.
"Yeah, sure. You're definitely the picture of grandeur."
Over the next few hours, Alex's life took an unexpected turn as he adjusted to having a tiny, glowing knight hovering around him.
When Alex attempted to make a sandwich, Dramathor leapt into action.
"Fear not, Master Alex!" the spirit declared, floating in front of the fridge.
"I shall guard your sustenance from any vile intruders!"
"It's just a sandwich," Alex replied, shaking his head.
"You underestimate the perils of kitchen warfare!" Dramathor replied, pointing its miniature sword at a loaf of bread.
"Who knows what lies within these shadowy confines?"
Later, when Alex tripped over a pile of laundry, Dramathor swooped in.
"An ambush! Foul garments have dared to attack my master!" the spirit bellowed, swinging its tiny sword dramatically.
Alex groaned, picking himself up. "It's just clothes, you overzealous firefly."
Dramathor huffed. "You wound me, Master Alex. But fret not—I shall continue to protect you, even from your own clumsiness."
By evening, Alex was sitting on the couch, the events of the day replaying in his mind.
Despite the absurdity of it all, he couldn't deny that Dramathor was… oddly endearing.
He glanced at the tiny knight, who was currently polishing its sword with a glowing cloth.
"So," Alex said, breaking the silence. "Can anyone else see you?"
Dramathor paused, tilting its head thoughtfully.
"No, Master Alex. Only you, the bearer of the Quest App, may witness my radiant form."
Alex let out a sigh of relief.
"Thank goodness. Explaining you to my friends would've been impossible."
"Indeed," Dramathor said, resuming its polishing.
"They would surely be overwhelmed by my magnificence."
Alex rolled his eyes. "Yeah, let's go with that."
As the night wore on, Alex found himself growing oddly comfortable with his new companion.
For all its theatrics, Dramathor had a genuine enthusiasm that was hard to dislike.
Still, Alex couldn't shake the feeling that his life had taken a turn for the even weirder.
"Goodnight, Thor." he muttered, closing his eyes.
And from his perch on the nightstand, Dramathor raised his tiny sword in silent agreement.
Next morning...
Sunlight filtered through Alex's window as he lounged on his bed, staring at the Quest App's glowing screen.
"Stats," he muttered to himself.
His fingers hovered over the display showing his profile. It wasn't just numbers anymore.
These stats shaped how he moved, thought, and interacted with the world. But what did they actually mean?
A faint shimmer beside him snapped Alex out of his thoughts.
Dramathor, his overly dramatic Guardian Spirit, materialized in a swirl of ethereal light, his tiny form clad in comically oversized armor.
"Good morning, noble master!" Dramathor declared, puffing out his chest.
"What grand quests shall we embark on today? Slay a dragon? Rescue a damsel? Save the world?"
Dramathor is full of enthusiasm and his eyes lit up especially by his last sentence.
Alex rolled his eyes. "Forget that Thor, how about explaining this whole stat thing first?"
Dramathor paused, his glowing visor flickering with confusion. "Your stats? My dear ward, surely you don't need me to explain such a basic concept."
"Clearly, I do," Alex retorted.
"What does having, say, 9 Health even mean? Am I a superhuman now? Or just a slightly less pathetic couch potato?"
Alex opened his app and showed his stats.
[Name: Alex]
[Charisma: 5]
[Health: 9]
[Strength: 7]
[Wisdom: 9]
[Dexterity: 7]
[Luck: 1]
[Creativity: 4]
[Cooking: 3]
[Empathy: 3]