ISMUND
Sensory issue? That’s not unheard of.
Quickly recognizing the problem, I take the bandana from my neck and tie it to her arm.
> [Strange Bandana unequipped. Enhanced sight has been revoked.]
yep, I was right.
Letting go of her ears she smiles a bit. Her previously mismatched gray and blue eyes now had a ring of gold around the pupil.
“Too loud.”, I state.
“Yeah, I’m good at hearing stuff now, but it didn’t put in place any protective measures,” she says unhappily.
gesturing at the red cloth around her wrist I tell her, “I’m taking it back now.”
Concern washes over her face.
“This is mine,” I tell her, as I grab a second out of my box, “here’s yours. Don’t ruin it”. I emphasize. She quickly nods at that and replaces the previous expression with interest.
More and more of the things meant for my brother are slipping away by the day.
I think unhappily, frowning in discontent.
Eagerly taking the new bandana from me, she ties the bandana up in her hair and hands me back my own, which I swipe away quickly.
“So how does it work?” She urges, gesturing to the bandana.
“Just read the notification” I respond, not sparing her much attention.
“But I don’t want to read it.” She says simply.
I just answer her in silence, looking at her from the corner of my eye unimpressed.
Be patient, be patient… you only have to deal with this for a little longer. Then she’ll leave you alone.
Eventually, she seems to have finished reading the description and nods, piecing it together.
“So basically I can enhance or mute one sense. But it looks like whoever it’s attached to has to be able to hear one thing at ‘normal’ volume.” She tilts her head to the side, “Makes sense. So you tied yours on me because it doesn’t need permission, and then just made it so I heard you at normal volume. That’s smart. How did ya know it was sound?”
“You were holding your ears,” I say getting irritated with all of this unnecessary talking. I just wanted to go to bed.
“So would these be good for sneak attacks then?” She inquires excitedly.
I nod.
“Wait but if I can hear only one thing, then how do I hear myself?”
“It only messes with stuff that’s not originating from you. Done?”
Nodding her head she goes to leave… and then turns around at the last second.
“Oh yeah, I forgot about the bite I got. Lemme see, according to my status it was called [Frost Bite]. The System has a sense of humour, eh? The freezing is gone now and won’t keep giving me damage. But it looks like I’ll have a bruise, and it’ll start bleeding and, ow, hurt too because it’s not numb from being frozen anymore.
I don’t need to know this.
I toss her a few scant bandages and get her to leave. Just as she closes the door I get a notification.
> {The text is special! See, look it’s golden! Ooh, that means it’s important right? You’re correct! Ding, ding, ding! This is a System contract that has been set in place as a special protective measure which Involves Ismund, Drifa, and the System itself. User Drifa will be unable to return to her original timeline. If either one of the User’s die, the remaining one will have all their tiers halved as a penalty. Be responsible! Team work makes the dream work, or whatever. If Drifa or Ismund interacts with the invaders energy for personal uses other than purifying it they will be immediately penalized with death. Users will receive a warning if they are getting close to breaking the rules. In turn for doing this for the System both users will naturally repulse corrupted magic, however if they come in contact with it they will take increased damage. Sign now!}
Staring ahead of me with a small frown, I sign it.
I see since I didn’t like taking responsibility for somebody who’s only a burden, you made me do it. I don’t see much benefit, but if I don’t do this the System will probably Zap me out of existence, and I’d much rather be alive.
> [It was user Ismund’s choice to gain help and this was necessary to ensure safety of the System.]
Sure, you definitely didn’t just find it funny or personally lucrative. Mhm. Totally.
Deciding that it’s late I grumpily turn out the lights.
* * *
DRIFA
Half running half limping into my room I let out a silent little squeal of success as I start to bandage myself to staunch the admittedly slow bleeding.
I did it, I did it, I did it! I finally unlocked the System! And my path is great as well!
Pausing in my rejoicing I see a notification for a contract and quickly sign it, not thinking much of it, too excited to care.
I can do magic!
Imagining I’m shooting some sort of spell at my wall I make little sound effects, “pew, pew! Boom! ‘Ah, she’s too powerful. we need backup '” Grinning to myself like a fool, I think of all the possibilities. But after settling down a bit my mind wanders back over to the contract.
I guess I don’t have to worry about being left behind by Mr. Grumpy. I wonder if I can use that energy repulsion to get rid of the gross stuff in the rabbit meat? I can find out later. I think out of the two of us I’d probably die first, so I’m not too worried about that consequence. I might be stuck with… what's his name? Oh yeah, Ismund! I might be stuck with Ismund but he’s just a fixer-upper, and it’s not like he seems particularly dangerous to myself, only irritable.
Looking down at the new clothes I have makes me happy as well. You don’t get those every day, and these were neat. It had puffy sleeves and pants that gathered around my wrists and ankles. It also had a full skirt layered on top of the pants and above that was a coat with large sleeves and a belt.
I guess they value warmth here huh? Well, that makes sense.
Feeling around the coat I find pockets. Feeling giddy I grab my butter knife and shove it in there.
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“Hey System! Can you wake me up when Ismund does with an alarm?”
> [Affirmative]
“It is a game changer using the System!” I state to myself.
> [Affirmative]
“You weren’t supposed to answer that,” I complain.
> [Affirmative]
Getting irritated, I ask, “Can you stop please?”
> [Affirmative]
Maybe this is why Ismund is so grumpy.
***
> [BEEP!
>
> BEEP!
>
> BEEP!]
>
> [User Drifa is awake.]
Not a pleasant alarm.
Sitting up from my bed I stretch my arms and yawn. Getting my stuff on for the day, I quickly brush my hair and re-adjust my bandana, deciding that it’s probably best If I can hear Ismund, otherwise that would be somewhat problematic.
As soon as I’m all the way ready I head on over to my door and stand there. I’m ready this time, which means I’ll be able to eat something other than the same jerky I’ve eaten since I’ve gotten here. I’m surprised I haven’t gotten protein poisoning yet. I bet he thinks he’ll be able to have a nice meal all to himself and that I’ll struggle to get out of bed again. Not today! He’s going to have to pay for some actual food.
A smug, self-satisfied grin, works itself onto my face as I stand behind the door.
Just a little bit longer.
After standing for what feels like forever, I eventually feel some vibrations on the floor.
Man, it’s weird not being able to hear much of anything. I should be able to hear the knock on the door because it’s from Ismund. Wait, I didn’t hear the footfalls, so that means it’s not him. I guess it’ll be helpful in some ways, even if they’re not exactly obvious.
Thump,
Thump,
Thump.
Aha! That one is Ismund.
Knock!
Knock!
Reaching for the door handle I open it, and look at him with my still-smug expression.
“I’m ready this time,” I tell him happily. Ismund just continues on his way downstairs ignoring me.
Upon reaching downstairs I quickly look up at the menu and decide to get a salad before I’m shoved into the same protein diet again.
Seeing as Ismund is already at the counter, and ordering I walk up behind him.
“… I don’t want the complimentary water, that probably adds some hidden fee.” Ismund looks behind him and sees me, giving me a frown.
Looking up at the lady taking our orders, who is Brook according to her name tag, I ask, “Could I have a salad, please?”
Only for Ismund to cut in, “Child size.” I frown at him, but only a little. I’m just happy to get something different.
As soon as we’re done we head over to some random nook with one chair. Seeing the problem I promptly grab another chair from a different table nearby.
After we sit down I continue giving him the same expression.
“What?” he says, starting to get impatient with me.
Not a morning person or not a people person? Meh.
“I’m up in time for food this time.” At that, I finally let go of the expression and the pain I was starting to feel from it.
After weighing the idea for a second I decide it’s worth asking.
“Could we get some sort of dried fruit so we don’t get scurvy?”After he starts to squint at me I hastily add, “It doesn’t have to be expensive or anything. Just enough that we don’t have our teeth fall out and die.''
He seems to start running some numbers through his head and hesitantly nods.
“Fruit is expensive but money does need to be used sometimes.” he says thoughtfully and then adds, “You probably think I’m stingy, but right now it’s not like I have any source of income. And I still won’t until we fight some monsters and harvest materials off of them. Which I guess has to be the pelt, teeth, claws and the like.” Ismund comments finishing with a frown. After a few seconds, I think of another thing, feeling like I’m on a roll.
“So you know how we got that contract? It says that it repulses the corrupted energy, right? So does that mean we can make the monster meat edible and save money?” Ismund doesn’t seem convinced, but he pulls out the rabbit leg anyway.
Setting it on the counter I can practically feel the nastiness emanating off of it, and it.
That would make sense, at least according to the description of pure magic.
After staring at the meat for a long time it just smells bad without any change other than it wasn’t in whatever spot Ismund seems to put it. Looking like he came to the same conclusion Ismund puts it away.
Does he have an inventory? Can’t believe I only just thought of that. Lucky!
After some awkward silence, Brook walks over.
I can tell she’s saying something, and rather loudly too, the table even vibrates from it. After she talked for a bit and there was a nice coating of spittle on the counter she delicately placed the food on the counter and tried to whisper something to me. Not being able to hear anything, I just stare at her dumbly. As soon as the woman leaves I take a look down at my food to what looks to be a grape tomato with a single spinach leaf on it.
Frowning, I poke it with my fork unhappily. Deciding it’s best to just eat it and not seem ungrateful I decide to eat it, which only takes one bite.
Meanwhile, I look across the table to find Ismund with a giant omelet.
“What was she saying?” I inquire.
A look of confusion passes over his face, only for it to resolve itself again, “Nothing important.” He practically mumbles to himself.
“Should I switch who I hear back and forth when there’s a conversation?” I say intrigued by the prospect, only to be let down a moment later.
“No, it can only be switched once every 12 hours.”
Once he finishes his food he quirks his brow as if he remembered something. “What's your path?”
“Oh, right. It’s called [Snows Whisper]. I get to do snow magic with pure energy. Which also includes a healing element.”
“Interesting, practice with it. Talk quieter next time, we don’t want the whole building to know. Not that anybody heard this time.”
Pursing my lips I look down red-faced, embarrassed at something so obvious.
Should’ve thought of that. Be secretive. I guess they all use corrupted energy from what I’ve gathered out of the System. They wouldn’t like the opposite of that.
Lowering my voice to a whisper this time I add, “I also have the title [Help], which means I’m better at doing anything that could be helpful to you.”
I even have a title called Help. This ought to convince him I’m a worthwhile investment.
Instead of being happy like I expected, he scrunches up his face and looks away in distaste.
“We’re leaving.”
Holding my sweater, I ask him if I can put it into his pack. He takes off his pack, pops open the top and carelessly shoves it in. Resuming his walk towards the fruit stand he looks at the available options. There were lots of dried-up raspberries, blueberries, and mushrooms at the stall. Blueberries were the cheapest, so they drew his eye.
“I’ll take some blueberries.”
The young man behind the stall with a shaggy mop of black hair obliges and gets a small basket full.
“Would you like this basket with it? It’s very well woven and you won’t get another like it.”
Declining the offer, he pulls out his money bag and spends the rest of our money on the berries. Looking back at his face he seems pained and winces at the last coin that hits the counter.
I’m suddenly less annoyed at his frugalness. I sure hope the monster pelts are worth some. Wait, that means we're going to be fighting some, doesn’t it?
Becoming nervous with the thought, I start fiddling with my sleeves and stare holes into the back of his head waiting for an opportunity to ask about that.
Once we leave the town I quickly find the advantages of [Snow Affinity].
Once we go past the guards Ismund pulls out a map of where the dungeons were located. But oddly enough they’re just labeled ‘gateways’.
Weird.
Knowing this was a good opening I ask, “Where are we going?”
“Frozen Dungeon.” He responds, surprising me. While I snicker at the name he adds, “Adventurers aren’t always the most creative.”
“So what’s in it?”
“Probably some rabbits.”
I squint up at him confused.
“Rabbits attacked the village and considering the name of their attack, [Frost Bite], it sounds like they come from that dungeon.”
“Wait, does that mean the monsters can escape from the dungeons?” I say bewildered.
“No, but creatures that are similar to a monster might mutate from the energy leaking outside of it.” He says, spitting out a toothpick.
“Then why aren't there mutations happening all the time?”
“They are, just not with any of the dungeons that are more alien.”
“Are you saying that all of those rabbits, I mean monsters, were mutated all around the same time?”
“Ever hear the saying ‘multiplying like rabbits’?”