Ariana sat cross-legged on her bed, her eyes fixed on Teddy as he hovered just above her pillow. Despite the surreal nature of the situation—a magical flying teddy bear explaining a system that sounded straight out of a video game—she found herself leaning forward, genuinely curious.
"Alright, Teddy," she said, brushing her hair out of her face. "You've got my attention. Start from the beginning. What exactly is this... system?"
Teddy clapped his tiny paws together and floated down to sit beside her. His button-like eyes sparkled with enthusiasm. "The system is a magical framework designed specifically for you. It works by assigning you tasks that align with your goals—revenge, personal growth, whatever you need. When you complete a task, you earn system points."
"System points?" Ariana repeated, raising an eyebrow. "And what do I do with those?"
Teddy grinned. "Ah, that's where the fun begins! You can use system points to unlock abilities, tools, or resources that will help you. For example, you might earn a skill that makes you better at persuasion, or gain access to hidden information about your enemies."
She frowned, her fingers tracing the edge of her blanket. "That sounds... useful. But also a little too good to be true. What's the catch?"
"No catch!" Teddy declared, puffing out his tiny chest. "Well, except one: you have to complete the tasks. No points, no rewards. And the tasks aren't always easy, so you'll need to think on your feet."
Ariana crossed her arms, skepticism lingering in her gaze. "And who decides these tasks? You?"
Teddy shook his head, his wings fluttering gently. "Nope! The system generates tasks based on your current situation and what you need to achieve your goals. I'm just here to guide you and make sure you don't mess up too badly."
"Gee, thanks for the vote of confidence," she muttered, rolling her eyes.
"You're welcome!" Teddy chirped, completely missing the sarcasm.
Ariana sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Alright. Let's say I believe you. What's my first task?"
Teddy's eyes glowed faintly as he waved his paw in the air. A translucent screen appeared in front of Ariana, floating midair like a hologram.
Task #1: Gather Intel
Objective: Observe your enemies discreetly and gather critical information about their habits, alliances, and weaknesses.
Reward: 50 system points and access to the "Enhanced Perception" skill.
Ariana stared at the screen, her mouth slightly open. "That's... not possible. How did you do that?"
Teddy smirked, crossing his arms. "Magic, of course. Now, focus! This task is simple but important. Knowledge is power, Ariana. If you want to outsmart your enemies, you need to understand how they think."
She glanced at the task description again, her mind racing. "Observe my enemies discreetly... What does that even mean? Am I supposed to follow them around like some kind of spy?"
"Exactly!" Teddy said, nodding enthusiastically. "Well, sort of. You don't have to wear a trench coat and sunglasses—unless you want to, of course. But you do need to pay attention to the little details. What do they do? Who do they trust? What are their routines?"
Ariana frowned, thinking of her enemies—Jason and Sophie. Both of them had played a role in her downfall. Jason, her ex-boyfriend, and her previous life husband had betrayed her in more ways than one. And Sophie, her stepsister, had always found ways to make Ariana's life miserable, acting like the innocent victim while secretly scheming against her.
Ariana's jaw tightened as the memories flooded back. She looked at Teddy, her resolve hardening. "Alright, I'll do it. But I'll need a plan. How do I gather this information without getting caught?"
Teddy beamed, clapping his tiny paws. "That's the spirit! Step one: start small. You don't have to dive into enemy territory right away. Begin by observing from a distance. Who are they meeting? Where do they go? What patterns can you notice in their behavior? The key is subtlety."
Ariana raised an eyebrow. "Subtlety? You're talking to someone who's never been sneaky a day in her life."
"Ah, but that's where I come in!" Teddy said proudly. "I'll guide you through the process. Think of me as your... stealth coach."
She smirked. "Stealth coach? You're a flying teddy bear. You're about as subtle as a neon sign."
Teddy gasped, placing a paw over his heart. "How dare you! I'll have you know that I am very sneaky when I need to be. Watch this!"
He fluttered to the floor, landing softly on the carpet. With exaggerated care, he tiptoed behind a chair, his tiny wings folded tightly against his back. "See? You didn't even hear me!"
Ariana burst out laughing, shaking her head. "Teddy, I can still see you."
He popped his head out from behind the chair, pouting. "Okay, so maybe I'm not that sneaky. But that's not the point! The point is, you'll get better with practice. And trust me, it'll be worth it."
Still smiling, Ariana leaned forward. "Alright, Mr. Stealth Coach. What's step two?"
Teddy flitted back to the bed, settling on her lap. "Step two: listen. People say more than they realize, especially when they think no one's paying attention. Keep your ears open for gossip, arguments, or even casual conversations. You'd be surprised what you can learn just by being in the right place at the right time."
That sounds... doable," Ariana admitted. "But how do I know what's important and what's just noise?"
"That's where your instincts come in," Teddy said, tapping her arm with his paw. "You're smarter than you think, Ariana. Trust yourself. And if you're really stuck, you can always ask me for advice. I'm here to help, remember?"