Blood Fractal – Volume 1
Chapter 3.5
Monday has Left Me a Complete Wreck
- My Room -
All of a sudden I was awake and sitting up. A sense of dread slowwwly fading away. My room, it looked normal. I was in my bathrobe still. Uncommon, but understandable since I was menstruating still. Slight clamminess and sweat covering me. Did I have a nightmare? Was I sick? I felt my forehead, maybe it would feel warm.
I searched my room with my eyes for any clues to this feeling. Was it fear, anger, sadness or something more complex? My computer was on. Normally I turn it off to save some power. What was it I did last night. Gaming yea, I had recalled that.
Mr. Stuffed animals did I really get spirit molested last night... twice? Mr. and Mrs. Waifu, didn't answer. Don't ask why I named them that. I was young and impressionable at the time and did not know any better when I got those two stuffed rabbits. Pretty sure it is a good thing mom also doesn't know the meaning of the word. I'd be a bit more embarrassed if she did.
Food, school, yup really real word calling. Going to rinse this sweat off first then eat. I shall return my fluffy bunnies to there business. Mr. Waifu don't be to rough on the Mrs. there. Yes they have sex on the brains more than I do. Impossible you say? Non-sense.
- School Hall locker area -
Surprise I have visitors waiting for me before first class. Three Gaming Club members are waiting in ambush with gold, loot and experience to offer. And the first kill goes to...
“Morning, game goin-”
“Thieves Guild info.” Yes they not going to let me go anytime soon, darn thieves, problem remains what the trade value is of their loot. Dora did his job faster than I thought or the rumor trading was high this time. Some of them actually had physical loot for me it seems.
“Oh, yes I do know something... Guess it would be good to sell while the value is highest after all.”
Leader Winnie looked worried. He and I had player vs. player a few times together and separately. I imagine he understood my play style well enough. Club members called him Winnie due to his high win percentage, more an insult than anything, jealousy is what it is.
“You, no. We- yea, um we know the info is worth a real world fortune and all, and none of us are that loaded. Cou-”
“Before you sell me off as the money hungry loser you want to paint me as today. There are a few things I would certainly trade for, the hidden magic's maybe. I do want you guys to get ahead and help us rule the game. Otherwise, an auction would have been done online, right?”
“True.” Interjected Josh, he didn't have a nickname yet. One of the more attractive kids in the club he would be good boyfriend material If I had the time and him any interest. Some man would be real lucky someday I imagine. His fresh look was inspiring some days.
“And, Necromancy is not one of them!” Blurting that out, the stress level off my voice jumped up for some reason, calm thoughts, calm thoughts. Nothing happened yesterday that anyone will ever learn of.
“No”, “No”, “Maybe.”
Winnie and Josh looked sad and then hopeful at Bookworm 'maybe'. “Really” can someone other than the two people who say something at the same time say, “Jinxs I guess.”
“Ha,” Bookworm looked at me and continued, “Well, there are some sources for that in-game so far.”
“I'm listening.” looking at the possible gifts they were holding at the same time, “Is that a loot distribution container there?”
“The snacks were a pre-raid buff item, here.”
“Oh, very yummy nice!”
The four of us sit down in the hall with a few minutes before class and start snacking. A taste much better than everything that was passed over in the fridge this morning.
“Let us guess, the Library or Bookstore you found or work at has lots of lore?”
“Exactly.” He confides with Winnie. “Does she always know everything in game?”
“Man, you are not that hard to figure out.”
“Really?”
“Yes. Get on with it we got class soon.”
“The lore covers all the basics you can imagine, any trainers would be secretive about it since some are outlawed like; Necromancy, and Demon Summoning and anything that controls people. Charm spells can fall into a gray area some banned others allowed. For the most part, they all have a bad image and even if you learn them taking the class is frowned on. Nobles and the like don't even touch the stuff in public. Trainers will mostly be other classes.”
Makes sense, pretty much my best guess so far. “So, a bit like the combat side in that anyone who falls into it might be available through the Thieves Guild? I hadn't thought of it that way. A return visit might be good.”
Winnie drew closer, “No way you've been inside even!”
“Your jinxs is still in effect, we can talk after.”
“?”
“Go on.”
Bookworm was running out of information you could tell he was thinking for anything to help. “There are stories about all types, not sure any of them helpful right now.”
“In Village Acdin me and a few co-workers found the normal trainers, it was my hope they might have an organization or some such place for the darker sides.” Fireballs are fun for a while but the interesting game-play has to be support in combination with an attack.
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“Acdin, yes that is my town as well.” Josh started there too interesting. Might have to see what his avatar looks like.
“Your jinxs is not over yet either. But, my class is novice tailor and am at the 'Stitch in Time' store we can meet up for drinks or shoot the shit later.” He nodded. “Hmm, guess I can share that the guild there uses a chit token system for entry in to the actual location. I got it from an NPC of course.”
“I'll buy you what ever I can for $20 if you tell me how you got the chit. Plus,..” He started looking for anything of value at hand.
Winnie was just too excited. He wasn't even thinking anymore.
“Give you Josh and Dennis as slaves for a week.”
“Hey offer yourself first.” Josh didn't approve of being my love slave how dissapointing.
Dennis looked at him like he was crazy, “Just be a slave yourself for two weeks, leave me out of it.”
“No good, Josh is not into me and Dennis here said no.”
“Three weeks!” Are you going to be that bad of a slave that you went from 2 to 3 just like that?
“Dennis, find out about Charm, Illusion, and Shadow magic if you can. Time or space if they have it, feels like those would be high profile capital city magics. Josh can help me in game or get me the local contact or something. And you well I don't need a crappy slave, One week helping and a decent computer chair. Mines about to break.”
“That seems like a lot...” one of them says.
“Auction time huh?” I pop a snack into my mouth and head to class as the bell rings.
“Not that, OK, OK!”
“Dennis, we got sold to the devil.”
“Josh, you are in the same town as her. You know moving sounds really hard right now.”
“What he gets to actually go to the guild with her and not get a chit maybe.”
“Winnie, were breaking up if I have to do anything unpleasant you know.”
“Since when were we dating?”
Bookworm nodded, “Yes if the devil has us do anything unpleasant we are breaking up the band.”
- School classroom -
First class of the day, Chemistry, would be good to sleep in but a group assignment prevents that. Lazy teachers, don't you want to work either? Deal completed I just had to pass on the details and get my loot. I might have earned enough for a semester at college on the 'GmoreInfo' auction site. I'd still could maybe if we hurried. Taxes, darn-it that would be annoying. Maybe one of the three had an account? Or Dora?
Before the second class started, Winnie became a free worker for a week. A chair would be found soon. I let them know all the details of how I got the chit. Guild Itself and the 30 silver price to buy skills. Proposing that a training position like any trade skill might be the best route although difficult to train. We discussed selling the information for real funds, that was left up in the air for after-school.
Second class was Phys Ed, and the dreaded locker room. Not awful since Claire would be there one of my few non gaming connections. She was short and a bit cute if you must know, date-able guess you might consider it. Normal has an appeal, I don't know her dark secrets though so don't ask. Moving on gym clothes.
Got out the t-shirt and shorts that were required. Some of the larger girls changed into sports-bras so the sight of them bouncing painfully wasn't forced on us. My nearly B cup, not so painful to exercise with. Not sure if it was a good thing or bad that girls and boys still had separate classes at our school only one gym room made things hard to manage that way possibly. Myself was of the position of indifference, they didn't look at my small chest and I didn't get to see them working hard sweating.
“Claire did you start the part-time yet?”
“Yea, that was the other day. Boring not as fun as I thought.”
“Too bad, you going to pass math this year?”
“!”
“Maybe, OK then.” I pull off my shirt and drop my skirt.
“Having your period?”
“Yup.” She could tell, not to hard if you pay attention. “Bad enough to sit out today?”
“No, think this one is different half the problems, less pain.”
“Really? That's so lucky.” One of the other girls looks over. Chu normally has the worst menstruation of the group from what I remember. “First one like this ever.”
Clair liked Chu a bit, but they had liked a similar boy for a while as friends they had drifted apart since then, “Jealous Chu?”
“Might be.” Ah, she escaped to the classroom.
“Isn't it time you two stop being bitches to each other?” Looks like a few of the girls felt the same way.
I pull up my shorts and notice one of the girls on the other side watch me or my crotch at least. Yes we can guess we have someone interested in me today. Should I flash her my chest? No, leading her on would be unkind. I pull on my shirt and tuck it in and wait for Clair and her Sports-bra to finish.
“Great let's go pretend to exercise.”
Showering after class Gym was optional, feeling gross for the rest of the day was an option a few choose. Today would be acceptable I had everything needed in my bag or locker in case. Towards the end I felt like the person interested before was watching again shyly from as far away as possible. Hope I am not her only interest. A stalker would be uncomfortable. She can look today, if we catch her again then we might have to say some honest words.
Walking out I dry my hair with the towel instead of covering up like most do exiting. Passing her there in the corner I ask politely in a neutral voice, “Sorry should I cover up, or have we seen enough?” Not waiting for the answer I go to get my clothes. Yes towel moved into place leaving the shower, not everyone needed the naked show.
Next class I got my nap in, after the teacher notice he had me stop sleeping. Twenty minutes more than enough to feel better. Doing the assignments due tomorrow the rest of class passed by quick. Wiping the imaginary drool from thinking about lunch off, I head out after the bell.
- Lunch Room -
Josh and I had the same Lunch time they had two times so they didn't have to build a bigger kitchen, and hire enough to make meals for all the students and faculty at the same time. Winnie had the earlier one so he missed buying me desserts. Josh had his crushes he hung out with and Bookworm Dennis might not even eat lunch. So sitting with a few that knew who I was, enjoyed whatever the stew was they served and left the stale bread. Better than Mom's creations any day.
“Clair if you need help with math we can find a person to help you.”
Cleaning up the drink she spit out she complained, “Evil, its just numbers, why do we even need them once we can count?”
“Who is cute in your class, get one to help you!” Random girl offered.
“Even worse they see me, and I at my worst.”
“No you know that is perfect. Real Men want to help the maiden in distress and drop their pants at the first sign they helped out. As if it's a due reward or something.” That girl has been reading way to many web romances. Not far from the truth, still often times fiction is based on the real world.
“I think it would be OK.” Accepting you then would be a great start.
The girls gossip about that for a while, was it better being quite at the beginning? What class was next? Brain tired not enough naps today. Or the food has a drug effect to put us to sleep at 4th class. Must be it. Time to go.
- Class room -
Yup over and done with, whatever they taught us I have already forgotten it and moved on with my life.
- Front of School -
The three boys from the ambush are waiting out front. Dennis, Josh and Winnie had found a chair and would bring it later today. Surprised that I lived in the apartments a-joining the school on the same block. As for Winnie's work as an indentured servant, he would do the delivery after. Having 3 boys walk me home was a first, and If Josh had given me any attention other than about games. It would have been cause for celebration. Some lucky guy future, I hate them without even knowing them. Maybe I could get them to send me an adult video of them. Wait if I did that he would totally know I was a pervert. Forgotten like all the stuff in the last class.
“So the information, do we sell it?” Sitting on the railings and steps of the apartments we chat.
“Could get a new machine or parts.”
“Does anyone we know have an account first?”
“Sure someone in the club has one, or one of us could open one.”
“If I remember, the options for sale are limited number of transactions, unlimited purchase for a base rate, or single unit sale.”
“All would make money, which you think would profit the most.”
“Well, other than not having to declare taxes here. I agree with what you three decide.”
“Why”
“Don't ask.”
“kay”
They started to work things out on that end. I told them I'd be logging in now and check the forums. Gave those without my email my current one and put them in my contact list. If they found a decent NPC that they would consider shady I recommended trying to impress or entice them to get a chit or access locally. Josh I'd just walk him to the Mighty Coinpoorium and see if we could get him one. The hand to inventory trick might be enough for them, we shall see.
Was nice to get something taken care of other than school work at school.
New chair, you are so going to be welcomed here. Yes the evil grin I don't have is not on may face as I raid the fridge for snacks.
End Chapter 3.5