“Shit!” John huffed as he stood at the bus stop.

“What’s the matter, sweetie?” Violet quietly asked, concern in her voice.

John rubbed the back of his neck. “I forgot to get Dahlia something to eat. I’m not sure what to do. I can’t run off to meet up with Mom or anything, maybe I should text her,” John worried.

Violet sighed. “Calm down, she’ll be fine.”

“I’m supposed to be taking care of her though, and she’s in an unfamiliar world. I should have been better, I’m supposed to be smart,” John admonished himself.

John felt a hug from behind and a chin resting against his shoulder. “You worry too much, John,” Violet muttered in his ear. “Dahlia is a grown woman. She knows she needs to stay hidden. She’s also not stupid; if she’s hungry, she won’t starve.”

John let out a sigh. “I just… she’s my responsibility. If I can’t even make sure she’s got her basic needs taken care of, how am I supposed to help the kobolds?”

John turned his head to look at Violet but she wasn’t there. He could still feel her warmth against his body not to mention when her lips pressed against his cheek in a peck. “Like Dahlia, the kobolds aren’t stupid and will take care of themselves.”

He hung his head. “You’re probably right. I should still send her a text, though,” John thought out loud.

As he pulled his phone out a **** pushed his hand down. “No, you shouldn’t. I know you’re worried, but Dahlia probably wants to impress you and show that she can be trusted with the responsibility you gave her. We basically only just separated. If you check in on her now, it won’t seem like you are worried about her, but instead like you aren’t confident in her abilities. At the very least wait until lunchtime.”

John stopped and took a breath, nodding. “You’re right… I guess this might be what my mom felt like when she sent me off to school for the first time… Hmm, I should get Mom a gift to show my appreciation.”

“Oh, bus is here,” Violet said, her presence vanishing.

The bus hissed to a stop and John felt hot air blow against him. He climbed onto the bus and trudged to his usual seat, feeling extremely lucky that Vanessa was giving Frank a quiet earful, distracting them both.

John sat down, and decided to finally take notice of the notification he had in the corner of his vision. He was thankful that he could check it out without being accosted.

Clicking on his notification he was bombarded with a bunch of windows, which overwhelmed him. He blinked hard and shook his head before trying to focus on one thing at a time.

Level UP!

You have reached level 12

’Wait, what? How did that happen? I was only level 6. I just doubled in levels,’ he thought.

[Read first, before running your mouth, dumb ass.]

John sighed and did as he was told

Level UP!

You have reached level 12
Stat Points: 10
Bonus Stat Points: 5
Global level rules have been shifted, and your level has been altered in line with these changes. (You may also notice levels of some others altered to some degree.)

’Uh, okay? Still kinda confused. Is this yet another update?’ John thought.

[I can take your levels away if you’d prefer]

John shook his head and sighed before moving on to the slew of achievements he’d gotten.

Achievement Unlocked: Go To Hell! - Get a membership for The Inferno
$100 Inferno Gift Card

Achievement Unlocked: Party Animal - Visit Pride for the first time in the Inferno
Pride pin (oops, wrong pride)

Achievement Unlocked: Shopaholic - Visit Greed for the first time in the Inferno
Greed Shopping Cart Release Key

Achievement Unlocked: Wine Connoisseur - Go wine tasting for the first time
Elvish Wine Rack

Achievement Unlocked: Go to a brothel or strip club and don’t get your rocks off (kinda lame when you think about it)
1 Endurance

Achievement Unlocked: Draconic Player - Attract two different dragons in one night
1 Charisma

Achievement Unlocked: YOU SHALL NOT SMASH! - Turn down a guy who was very interested in you
Reverse Uno

Achievement Unlocked: Diplomatic Heartbreaker - Turn down someone with power while maintaining the positive opinion they have of you.
Sealing wax and wax stamp

Achievement Unlocked: To hell and back - Visit the inferno and leave without getting lost
A Pair of Echo Compasses

Achievement Unlocked: Cougar Bait - Have 3 or more mature women in the same room all thinking about you.
Cougar Nip

Achievement Unlocked: Ready, Set, Action! - Participate in Roleplay
MystiMorph Propmaster's Cube

Achievement Unlocked: Amateur Porn Photographer - Take a series of erotic photographs using a camera
Cheap Sex Potion

Achievement Unlocked: Amateur Pornstar - Have video or images taken of you while in the act using a camera
Quality Upgrade Lens Set

Achievement Unlocked: Ara Ara - Make love to a mature woman
A Condom (Just in case for next time)

Achievement Unlocked: Slumber Party - Play games and go to sleep in the same room as others
Eiderdown Pillow

Achievement Unlocked: Gentleman’s Threesome - Share a room with two women who are willing to have sex with you, but only sleep
Generous Blanket

John looked wide-eyed at the number of achievements. It seemed as much if not more than the achievements he’d gotten at the Silverwood. As usual, it was great to get so many rewards. ’I don’t need to allocate the stat points I just got from my level up right away. I can think about it during classes and maybe talk to Ellie and Robin about them before locking in my choices,’ John thought.

[Don’t want to just jump in without thinking… again?]

John rolled his eyes and ignored the jab, though smirked because he couldn’t argue with her about it. John was distracted for long enough that by the time he looked up, the bus was pulling into the academy grounds.

Vanessa persisted ridiculing the jock as they exited the bus. John was in no rush to get on their radar so held back for a moment. As he stood and exited the bus, he noticed a short redhead wearing the academy uniform standing on the path.

To John she seemed to be waiting, quite impatiently, tapping her finger on her crossed arms. John couldn’t help but look at her chest. He’d usually avoided looking at the class president, he already had trouble with people thinking he was a perv due to Vanessa, so proving them right was at the bottom of John’s to-do list.

The Warden was quite buxom, and he had to wonder how the armour she wore managed to contain her ample bosom, going so far as to make her look on the small side.

As John stepped off the bus, Moira’s demeanour softened and she gave him a warm smile. “John,” she started, taking a step in his direction, “I’ve been waiting for you. My father wishes to have a meeting with you regarding a few things, including what happened in the barrier with Miss Kaen as well as the shield amulet you possess.”

“I’m not sure about that,” John replied, his hand going to the pendant in question, clutching it. Moira held her hand up, stopping him from arguing further.

“I understand you may have reservations about this, but you are new to the Abyss. When you receive a request like this, it would be extremely rude to refuse, unless you have a good reason, and unfortunately school doesn’t qualify. I will personally go through your class work with you if necessary to ensure you do not fall behind,” Moira stated.

John let out a long sigh. “Sounds like I don’t really have any choice in the matter, so I guess I’ll go,” John said. He sighed and felt a heavy weight as anxiety began to rise.

Moira nodded and turned towards the school. She began walking in the direction of the main door with her hands loosely held behind her back. “Before we go, I will need to inform the office of your absence as well as retrieve any class work you might need. Please follow me,” the Warden ordered.

The hallway was loud and the redhead stood silently outside the main office. Once the bell rang, it became uncomfortably quiet in the hallway, and after entering the office waiting room, John was left alone, while Moira vanished inside the principal's office.

“This is quite odd,” Violet said quietly. “I don’t know if I like this.”

“Well, not like I have any choice, right? Plus, it does get me out of PE,” John muttered.

Violet hummed. “I hope everything goes well. I guess there are at least two upsides,” she whispered.

Confusion crossed John’s face. “And what would those be?” he asked.

“The first is that you’ll get to stare at the Warden, she’s got a great rack and a pert tight ass.” Violet laughed, John could feel her breath on his ear as she got close to him. “The second is that I have a feeling you’re going to forfeit your dare from last night, seems you won’t be giving Alison that class item today, so you’d better get ready to propose to me.”

John flinched as he felt Violet kiss him on the cheek. “I should probably take a look at the item in the first place, we’re only really guessing what it actually does,” he said after letting out a grunt.

He opened his inventory and looked at the item, using Observe.

RPG Class Starter Kit

(Consumable)
This item allows you to choose between three classic RPG classes to gain some basic skills/spells and equipment according to your choice.

“Wow, that’s pretty dope and would have been great to have gotten the first day I got my powers,” John half-griped, as he chuckled. “I think Alison would probably be best going with the mage. If we ever got into a fight, she could keep her distance and support from the back while everyone else makes sure she’s protected.”

Violet chuckled quietly. “Seems someone is getting a little protective, guess I shouldn’t be surprised with how you threatened the Warden for her safety,” she whispered. “Oh, shit…” Violet paused. Before John could ask what was wrong, she spoke again, “I don’t think it would be a good idea for me to join you at the Order HQ.”

John raised an eyebrow. “And why would that be? You were a member, right?” he asked.

“Yes, but, well… I’m a spirit. I don’t know how they operate now, but when I was alive, if they came across ghosts, they would exorcise them in order to avoid them becoming a more powerful malevolent spirit, and it didn’t matter how much awareness the ghost had. I just think it’d be better not to risk it and to make some excuse for why you don’t have the shield with you,” Violet answered.

John hummed and nodded. “Where would I leave you though? I hardly think it’d be a good idea to put the shield in my locker.”

“Well, I wouldn’t mind trying to control this new glowy power I’ve got… How about the gym in the old wing of the school? From what I remember you saying when talking to Robin and the Merry Men, they’ve barred the gym door from the inside right? I could pass through the door, remove the block and then lock it again so no one comes in,” Violet suggested.

John nodded. Before leaving he wrote a note letting Moira know he needed to get something from his locker and that he’d be back soon.

On the way to the old wing, John stopped and stared for a few seconds, his eyes almost piercing through Alison’s locker. He reached out and placed his hand on the metal door before using Theft and dragging the RPG Class item into the locker.

“Dare complete,” he muttered before hurrying towards the unused gym. True to her word, Violet passed through the door and a steel bar was removed allowing him entry. The gym was in disrepair. John felt it was a shame. It wasn’t close to the size of the sports facilities the school had now, but it was still a big area that could be utilised.

John took a quick look around before finding an old and smashed fire emergency box. Taking off the shield pendant, he hid it underneath some of the broken glass and plastic.

“Alright, when I leave, bar the door and don’t let anyone in. I don’t know how long I’ll be with Moira, but hopefully, I’ll be back before the first break, if not then maybe lunch break?” he said, with an unsure tone. “I’ll see you later, Violet.”

Violet bid him farewell with a peck on the cheek, and after he’d walked out of the gym, he heard her replacing the barricade, and he began striding back towards the main office.

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