Chapter 15
Back to School
With a sigh, he pulled up his implant stats.
Subject: Leo
Sex: Male
Age: 12
Strength: 5.3
Vitality: 3.9
Agility: 4.4
Intelligence: 5.1
Charisma: 4.9
Common Sense: 4.1
Class: Undetermined
Special skills: None.
Demon Tears: 5
Corruption: 0
Strength was up by 0.1. Considering he'd had the implant less than a day, this was astounding progress. But he needed to do better.
Vitality was down to 3.9. This was caused by the punishment he'd inflicted on his body the night before. If his Vitality went below 1.0, it would be difficult for him to remain conscious. If it dropped to 0, he would, of course, be dead.
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Leo dragged himself to the bathroom. He started showering with the water as hot as he could stand it, to relax his muscles, then forced himself to switch to cold water to shock his system. By the time he'd finished his shower and gotten dressed, Lydia was pounding on the door to the bathroom.
“Finally,” she grumbled, pushing past him as soon as he opened the door.
Mom had come back from her graveyard shift early that morning. But Leo's memories told him he and his sister were expected to fend for themselves, eating breakfast cereal and walking to their respective schools.
He thought about skipping school, but honestly, he had no idea where else to go. Maybe school would give him some ideas, or raise his intelligence? Unlikely, but possible.
He inhaled a couple bowls of cornflakes. He'd forgotten how good cornflakes were with cold milk. Then he grabbed his pack. His school was only ten blocks away. Even sore as he was, he made the walk in less than 15 minutes.
Stepping onto the school grounds, he immediately wanted to turn around and go home. A boy stuffed in a metal garbage can rolled by him, shouting something Leo didn't understand. Two others fought nearby. He walked through the school's main entrance, passing a sign that said “Home of the Destiny Dogs.”
Three boys in the hallway surrounded a smaller boy wearing glasses.
“I'm giving you your second quest, Leo,” Imp said. “Defend the defenseless. Stand up for the boy who's being picked on. The reward is 10 demon tears.”
“I remember this quest,” Leo said quietly, doing his best to remain unobtrusive. All three boys in question towered over Leo. He was pretty sure they were eighth graders. The small boy wearing glasses was Jason, his best friend since the start of middle school. This made the situation more difficult. “If I stand up for him, who's going to stand up for me when they pound my ass?”
“I don't know, Leo, and if you don't try, you will never know either.”
“Over the years I've learned cowardice suits me,” Leo said.
“Does it really? I sense the shame you feel when you say that, Leo. I think you would find bravery suits you much better.”
Last time around, he'd refused this quest and skulked past them. Friendship only went so far after all. But he needed those Demon Tears, and Imp was right. Cowardice might suit him, but he sure as hell wasn't happy about it.
“Okay, Imp. I accept your quest, but if I die, it's your fault.” He walked over to the four boys.