It has been about an hour since supper, and so me and Percy were walking down a street of New York almost an hour before sunset. We were talking about schoolwork, classes, teachers and a few different kids for the last few minutes, mostly just complaining about them to be honest. But as we got closer to the strange ice cream parlor, there was a moment of silence where we just looked out at the bright nineties style parlor. Percy looked like he was interested though a bit confused as he glanced between me and it.

I just looked at Percy with an amused smile before gesturing to the enticing building. “What do you think? I just found out about this place.” I asked, interested in what Percy's reaction would be. “It's… Well it's something, alright.” Percy commented as he looked out at it, “It looked like somewhere my mom would have grown up with.” He said with a half smile and an appraising look at it. “You would think so, because of the style, but actually it just appeared like this, right here, a year or so ago. It's pretty new.” I commented without much thought, though that caused me to remember why I was concerned about this place to begin with.

‘Why did I even suggest we come here…’ I thought to myself in a bit of confusion, and looked back at my thoughts and actions for a second. The feeling I got when I did that was strange. Like there was a slight feeling in my mind that made this place the first thing my brain thought of, like a… mental effect placed on me… Right. That's not concerning at all.

“Well, let's go get some ice cream!” I announced despite my better judgement that was telling me to stay away.

I was fine, and it's not like I was completely defenceless. I had my daggers attached firmly under my leather jacket and very easy access to the Soul Forge, because I am able to summon a door to it literally on a whim. Though… my mind doesn't have any protections. Let's hope that stuff in movies about being able to protect your mind through sheer willpower and determination has some truth to it if I encounter a more malicious mental thingy. Thankfully a mild compulsion to go here when I want to get ice cream or a treat isn't… all that bad. I mean, it's morally ambiguous, but it doesn't have a malicious sort of goal, so it's fine I suppose.

Before I could let my thoughts trail off into a spiel about mental influencing though, me and Percy arrived by the double glass doors of the bright and richly colored building.

I opened the door up for Percy as I walked ahead of him and he walked into the inside of the old style parlor. Then in a flash, I swear I felt an odd feeling that made the hairs at the back of my neck stand on end. It wasn't from the system's abilities though. It was too different, more instinctual and less refined than my abilities had ever been even at level one, much less. But it was there, the odd feeling that I was being watched. I took a second to glance around while I put my hands into my pocket and carefully maneuvered Masatr onto my finger while keeping my hands on my two steel dagger’s hilts.

The street was deserted, and the sky was clear. That made me more uneasy than if I had seen a monster standing a foot from me.

Then the feeling seemed to fade, and my fast beating heart stilled while I stepped inside behind Percy. He had barely taken a few steps as he looked around, appreciating the ice cream parlor’s interior. My eyes however caught on the old lady at the counter and rested there. Cally and I seemed to share a moment of brief communication. I couldn't quite tell what she got from my eyes and face, but she nodded and gestured for me to wait before turning to Percy and tilting her head carefully. Then she looked back at me as if asking a question. I gave a shake of my head.

“Hello there! Welcome back, Ardika. And who might your friend be?” She said enthusiastically, and causing Percy to finally look at her in a moment of embarrassment. “Ah, I am Percy mam. Percy Jackson.” He introduced himself with a half smile as he gave her a nod.

She seemed to recognize his name somehow, a slight widening of her eyes giving it away. That in turn caused me to widen my eyes as a stray thought caught in my mind on her recognition. Then my thoughts were wiped away as she smiled. “Ah! I knew I recognized that face! You're not by chance Sally Jackson’s son, Percy?” She asked, making me and Percy to blink before I gave a slight grin and a small internal laugh at my own thoughts.

“Uh, yes. You know my mom?” Percy confirmed with a slight hint of confusion and hesitation in his voice, and almost causing me to laugh from second hand embarrassment but I held it in with a small snort.

The glance he gave me didn't help either and I couldn't help but smile before he turned back to Cally as she responded with a hint of amusement in her voice and smile of her own. “Yes, she visits me in the afternoons sometimes for her lunch break! She doesnt work far from here, and this place is a good spot for a treat.” She explained with a chuckle and waved around to emphasize her point.

“Speaking of treats… what will you boys be getting tonight?” She asked us then, smoothly redirecting the conversation as Percy’s eyes seemed to brighten.

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

“Right… a cookies and cream ice cream cone sounds good!” I ordered with a smile, and turned to Percy who looked curious. “What's cookies and cream?” He asked me curiously, which made me blink in mild surprise. “Oh, it's normal ice cream with chunks of chocolate oreo cookies in it.” I responded with a bit of confusion. Is it really this unknown, here in New York? It was very popular back home at least. Maybe it is an alternate universe thing. It's probably an alternate universe thing.

Percy ordered the cookies and cream ice cream cone as well and after I paid, we received our cones and both went to sit down at a table, one by the door.

“Ah, Ardika. Would you come here for a second?” I heard Cally ask from behind the counter just before I could sit down beside Percy at the table. I paused, then turned my head to her and gave a nod before turning to Percy and giving him a pat on the shoulder. “Be right back.” I told him with a slight edge to my tone that I couldn't quite repress before I turned and walked to the counter before Percy could respond.

“What did this place do to my mind? Some kind of magic?” I whispered, a little annoyed to the old woman behind the counter who just smiled. “It's simply a feature of the parlor. I could remove the effect from you and your friend if you want? Though I assure you that it's entirely harmless.” She responded, looking amused. I just sighed. God… this is a situation. I have no knowledge about this at all and whatever this woman is, or this shop for that matter, it's powerful.

I slumped on the counter a bit as I leaned forward. “Yes, please. Even if it is harmless, I don't like my mind being messed with. And I really don't want the plot to derail because Percy over there gets an ice cream craving during the Battle of Manhattan…” I muttered to her, and caused her eyes to widen as she smiled curiously. “Battle of Manhattan, you say? So… I suppose you aren't from around here after all. I had a feeling. Reincarnated with some meta knowledge?” She asked me as she leaned forwards herself. I took a lick of my ice cream that was starting to drip a bit while studying her. “Of course. You?” I asked with a curiosity of my own as she smirked.

“Well, it's a rather long story but I got hired by a friend recently. Got access to his system as well. Though I can't say I know a lot about this world beyond a few hints from my friend.” She responded rather curiously and causing me to tilt my head with a smile of my own. “So I suppose you aren't from modern Earth? I am from the 2020’s on an Earth a lot like this one without the monsters. I think so anyway.” I commented, a bit disappointed and giving her a bit of my backstory and fishing for a bit more information.

“No, I suppose you could call mine a sci-fi universe compared to here. Spaceships and everything.” She explained and making me give an appreciative nod.

I took another lick of my ice cream. “What are your plans then, Cally?” I asked, turning serious for the moment and looking at her intently. She didn't seem bothered however and gave another of her trademarked smiles. “Oh, I think plans are overrated. But, I suppose the only real plan I have is to serve ice cream and live the rest of my life. I don't really want to get involved in this world all that much, beyond protecting my parlor.” She explained to me, seeming casual but I could see a bit of her truth in her eyes.

She seemed tired. Like a soldier when they come back from a war and the only thing they want to do is rest. I had a grandpa like that. I could respect that.

I gave a nod and flashed her a smile. “Well, I can't say that I am the same way Cal. But I can respect that. Maybe we will see each other around? I don't think cookies and cream ice cream exists or is popular in this universe, and I can't live in a universe like this without my favourite flavour of ice cream.” I offered with a chuckle and raising a hand to shake.

She took it with a smile and shook with a nod. I turn to head back to Percy with a weight off my chest. I have been a good judge of character before, and my instincts tell me to trust her.

“One last thing, Ardi.” Cal called out, making me turn to face her again with a tilted head. “If you are up to it, I was wondering if maybe you could deal with the little stalking problem the store seems to have picked up? I could deal with it, but I thought you might want a quest to pass the time.” She gave her offer and my face froze a bit. So I hadn't imagined it after all. Not that I had passed it off as one to begin with.

The system gave me a notification about the quest as well as I looked it over before I accepted.

New Quest: Parlor Protection

Difficulty: Mid-difficult

Requirements to succeed: Kill the monster or group of monsters that have been watching Hope Ice Cream Parlor.

Rewards if succeeded: 85 Ring Gold along with three free levels in a Passive Ability of your choice.

It's not a bad quest, and the rewards were pretty good. The difficulty wasn't that high either, same as The Long Game, so it's probably not that dangerous either. But did I have the time for something like that? I could do it, of course, but should I?

I looked back to Cal with a pensive expression. Then I gave a nod, accepting it. I had some free time tonight if I played my cards right anyway. Plus… I think that this could be more than a deal between us. This could be the start of something. Anyone with a system in a world like this is likely to become powerful, even if that system is about running an ice cream parlor. And powerful friends are good to have.

Cally smiled and gave a nod of her own, turning away and letting me walk back to Percy, taking another lick of my ice cream as I sat beside him again with a bright smile.