Chuma’s perspective:

This is a bad situation and unfortunately for me, this thief managed to break into the Landlord, Elimu’s, room (which shouldn’t even be possible, unless…). They must be here for the Mad landlord himself! They must be extremely powerful to achieve such a feat! I’ve got my head stuck in a ntare’s jaw, now I just need to pull it out slowly,

I can get out of this… I just need to be careful and get as much information as I can.

Chuma: *Sigh* “Look, I don’t know what you want. But I guarantee I don’t have it”

Viola: ”What makes you think you don’t have what I want?”

Chuma:” You want pesa rig-”

Viola: ”No.”

Good, that confirms they're not average thieves, tho I don’t think anyone would piss off a

world-shaper-level Mchawi just for some pesa. then….No. I need to be sure.

Chuma:” Are you here for something else then? How about you lower the knife and I help y-”

Viola: ”And you call for help? Not a chance. Not until I know you're not a threat.”

Ok, whatever she’s doing is covert. But she must know every room has privacy enchantments. No one would hear me unless…. Oh gods, she’s after Elimu Spirit Contact.

FUCK! Of all things why did it have to be the ONE THING that would also get me killed! Why does lif-

Viola: ”Look. I just want a room to…stay in.”

Wait what?

Chuma:” Y…You want a room?”

Viola: ”Yes. Yours was open so I’m taking it.”

I drop my hands to my sides too baffled to keep them raised anymore.

Chuma:” You. Broke into my room, the LANDLORD’S room might I add, Hold me at knifepoint. Just to ask for a room to rent?!?”

Chuma:” OK I’ve already been told how stupid of an idea it is, but I feel I must point out that I didn't break in. The door was left open. That part was on you, so hand me your keys and please don’t call the cops.”

Excuse me, but what the fuck is going on with this woman?!? What in the abyss is going on? Is this some kind of drunk dream? Did I drink too much and pass out somewhere? Because I refuse to believe that I’m being mugged out of an entire apartment administrator job no matter how temporary a position it may be!

Rage building up from the day's failings

I’m sick and tired of these goddamn trials, taking and taking without ever giving!

I wheel around to face my aggressor, apparently faster than she was expecting, and scream in her face

Chuma: “I’M THE FUCKING LAND! LORD! AND I’VE HAD IT WITH TODAY'S BULLSHIT! AND NOT JUST TODAY, OH NO! MY WHOLE FUCKING LIFE HAS BEEN FILLED WITH FAILURE DOUBT AND BULLSHIT! AND IF YOU FUCKING THINK I’M GOING TO BE FUCKING MUGGED OUT OF MY HOME AND JOB IN MY HOME AND JOB YOUR MIS-FUCKING-STAKEN! SO GO AHEAD AND STAB ME, BUT I’M NOT GOING…Going.”

Before me stands a statue-no. A woman, staring at me with determination but.. wearing my Blanket as robes and slightly shaking. Is it really that cold? No that's not it. She's not shaking because she’s cold.

I know that look

She’s shaking because she is afraid of taking a life. Like a boy killing his first cattle. She doesn’t want to kill me. I can see it in her stance, and her movements. Despite her face. She desperately doesn’t want to kill me. It’s so obvious.

My rage quickly fades, replaced by a bit of sympathy for some desperate enough to kill just for a place to rest.

Viola: ”Look. I’m sorry. But…. I don’t want to kill you but I need a room for me and my sister- You can keep the room but…Please ”

Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

She’s keeping her composer and maintaining her emotional mask. but…I just know she’s moments from breaking. That she can’t withstand the pressure much longer than she thinks she can.

“What happened to you?” I hesitantly ask.

Her face shifts to surprise at that question. She appears…disarmed; Why am I using that word? It’s odd for this situation as she is still very much armed but something just feels right about describing her as such.

Viola: “Wa- I, I’m not completely sure, to be honest”

She lowers her blade, which I see now is her arm.

Viola: “Look. I’m sorry for your shit day man. but-”

Chuma:” But, you need a room. Yeah…”

She looks tired. Like something big happened or... Keeps happening and honestly. I can empathise with that level of exhaustion

Chuma:*Sigh* “Ancestors guide me. Look. I’m really too tired to fight or be someone’s first desperation kill so how about we talk about all this tomorrow”

Viola: “Wait really? But aren't you afraid I’ll kill you or something?”

Chuma:” Despite my shit luck, I think you’ll find I’m a good judge of character…or I can tell when someone is WILLING to kill and you, my lady, have the killing intent of a kid being told to put down his favourite dog”

She collapses to the ground once she hears that, she lets out a breath she probably didn’t even know she was holding as her knife hand…HER KNIFE HAND JUST BECAME A REGULAR HAND WHAT THE SHIT!?! No, no. not tonight, that's a ‘tomorrow me’ problem

Viola: “Thank you so much…sir?”

Chuma:” Chuma Kalejaiye of the Dumuu. ”

Viola:”Viola. Just Viola.”

Clanless and without a family name? That explains so much. Better save those questions for after I sleep.

Viola’s perspective:

I collapse to my knees, officially DONE with the longest day of my life.

All things considered, this turned out well.

We’ve got a place to sleep for the night, we escaped capture and likely experimentation, I got a sexy body with superpowers I barely understand, and we aren’t going to be raped and/or murdered due to my stupid idea to run into the first open home we saw. But that man…

when I scanned Chuma, a character sheet much like the one me and Sis have appeared.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

User Name: “Chuma Kalejaiye of the Dumuu”

Level: |You are not at a high enough level to view the information|

Race: Binadamu

Race Type: Earth aligned

Type Description: |You are not at a high enough level to view the information|

Body Attributes:

Strength:1.7

Dexterity:0.8

Constitution:2

Magic Attributes:

|You are not at a high enough level to view the information|

Skills & Perks:

|You are not at a high enough level to view the information|

Abilities:

|You are not at a high enough level to view the information|

Talents:

Heightened Intuition:

“The second level of the Intuition Talent, Heightened Intuition allows owners of the talent to subtly read the intent, drive, and overall willingness of actions provided they are emotionally charged by a strong emotion.

Heightened Intuition upgrade speed is dependent on social interaction and usage.

More is better. ”

|You are not at a high enough level to view any more information|

|Alert: Due to the target's lack of awareness, information has not been obscured by the target's subconscious. Informing the target will lead to awareness and subsequent obscuration.|

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

It’s clear that this “Heightened Intuition” was the reason Chuma could tell I was bluffing and based on its description, he could probably pick up on any inconsistencies if I tried lying to him.

Chuma:” Alright, I’m going to sleep, Viola. I would get you my spare blanket… but you're currently wearing it.”

And it’s not as if I’m a good liar anyway. I distinctly remember Kabiliti’s more extreme Ideas failing and getting caught because of her god-awful lies. And I would rather not discover that I inherited that flaw while losing this guy’s goodwill.

Chuma:” You ok Viola?”

Viola:” Yeah. Just…thinking”

Chuma:” I know I just met you and in the worst way possible, but you should get some rest. we’ll do some thinking tomorrow. Trust me,”

Chuma let out a heavy sigh

Chuma: “I know from experience, that rest is best after stress .”

As if my body wanted to prove him right, my mouth decided to share my thoughts

Viola:” I’m just debating whether I should lie to you about me and my Sister’s origins because I’m afraid you’ll turn us into your government ”

It took a moment, but then I realised what I said

I looked up to see the face of a tired man debating whether or not he should investigate the clear threat to his safety or just go to bed like he desperately wanted.

It was a stressful and dead quiet moment but eventually, he reacted to my brain fart.

Chuma: “Viola.”

I shoot up ramrod straight, feeling like a kid about to be told off.

Viola:” Yes.”

Chuma: “Should I fear you?”

Viola:” No.”

Chuma: “Are you going to harm me?.”

Viola:” No.”

Chuma: “Do you have any plans that will affect me negatively in any way?.”

Viola:” No.”

Chuma: “Good! I’m going to bed.”

Chuma starts heading towards his bedroom

Bed? Bed….HIS BED!!

In a panic, I jump up to try and stop him from seeing Kabiliti’s egg

Viola:” Wait no don’t-.”

Chuma: “Nope, I’m sleeping now .”

I start pulling him away from the door to his room

Viola:” Please don’t disturb-.”

Chuma: “And so are you.”

With a flick from Chuma’s thumb, I suddenly started to feel extremely sleepy

Viola:” Don’t…hurt…her… please.”

losing consciousness I collapse on the floor, the last thing I hear being a scream of surprise and horror.

I hope we're not screwed tomorrow.

But that's not my problem right now. Right now I got to count these sheep; there are just sooooooo many of them.