New Encounters

I whirl around to see a small group of men around my age, maybe a little older, and a couple of giggling girls in skimpy outfits in tow. “Oi cunt, get the FUCK over here.” One of the men spits, the girls cackling almost psychotically. Using observe, I can see that they’re all more powerful than me, not that that’s much of a surprise. I feel a surge of anger rising up, this situation reminding me very much of my high school years. “She’s a weak little bitch, but we’ll still get paid for 'er.” Another one slurs, drinking from a can of VB in one hand.

My mind races through my options rapidly. Given the fact that I’m outnumbered and that each one of them is stronger than me individually, trying to face them head on is suicide. The only chance I have against them is guerrilla tactics. These tactics are made much more difficult by the fact that they already know exactly where I am, so I would have to somehow escape the line of sight of people who are very likely faster than me if I tried to run.

“Not gonna fucken say it again cunt, move ya fucken ass.” The man who spoke raises his hand and it starts to glow. I decide to take a leaf from Jack Reacher’s playbook. I’m outnumbered and outmatched, so I need to do whatever it takes to survive first, and later I can figure out a plan to get away. Before I can take a step, a firm voice rings out, equal parts authoritative and composed.

“What on earth is going on here?” Olivia demands, as she struts into the room. I breathe an internal sigh of relief. Although all of them are more powerful than me, they still don’t have Olivia’s level of power. The guy with the glowing hand turns to her. “The fuck’re you?” He questions, his arrogance seeping into his tone.

“The better question is, who are you?” She responds coolly. Another member of the group beats his chest and proudly proclaims, “The Aussie dogs!” “How original.” Olivia remarks icily, her sarcasm palpable. “Do you have the slightest idea how little that narrows it down? There is about a thousand of your little gangs out there with the same name.” I simultaneously smirk slightly and groan internally at the reference, and I doubt it was intentional.

“That is beside the point however. You threaten a student of mine. You will leave her alone.” She does not raise her voice at all to convey this message. She carries herself with the utmost confidence and speaks in a way that implies doing anything else aside from what she has asserted, would be incredibly foolish. Which, comparing the level of Olivia with the levels of the gang (varying from 12-20), it really would be.

A gang member, who by this point I can presume is the leader, responds by simply scoffing. “Don’t tell us what to do, bitch.” He says, his hand glowing once more. Olivia looks him in the eye. Her eyes light up, changing from a pretty bluish green colour, to a brightly coloured and glowing neon green. The glow is easily visible from a distance. One of the scantily clad women puts a hand on the arm of the leader. “Cunt that’s Olivia White, the one with the animal shit!” She says aggressively but quietly.

The leader rips his arm away from the girl and looks at Olivia, grumbling. Each of the gang raises their hands up to the air and they disappear quickly, retreating as quickly as they came.

“Thank you Olivia.” I say, trying to convey the appreciation I feel for her having saved my ass. “It is no trouble. Do try to get stronger quickly.” I nod, and she raises her hand and leaves the barrier.

How did she even know what was going on, much less get inside the barrier? I have no idea, and mostly I’m just grateful that she was here when I needed her.

Achievement unlocked: gangs!

You managed to meet a gang and not get killed or end up as a ****!

Reward:

+25xp

I raise my hand and leave the barrier, turning around to walk to my next class. I don’t have much else interesting to use my mana on besides observe, and I’m starting to run out of people that I haven’t already observed.

Sitting down at a desk near the back, as is custom for any introvert, I get out the piece of paper I was using on the bus yesterday. I continue to use craft on it, hoping it will level the skill a little and keep me from wasting mana regeneration. Since the level up of the craft skill, I’m getting slightly more complicated results for less mana expenditure. I make a paper shuriken, a claw, a butterfly and what looks like a paper easter egg during the class.

My mana doesn’t regenerate particularly quickly, so there’s no need to make many things to keep my mana from being topped out. Even so, I leave the classroom with a full mana bar. Sadly, no new level for craft. That will come in time though, assuming I don’t die first.

With the bell signaling the beginning of first break, I decide to try completing the quest I have by talking to Mia or Skylar. Problem is, I have to find them, and the campus is pretty big. After wolfing down some snacks, I set off at a fast walking pace, searching for either of the women I need to talk to.

As luck would have it, it doesn’t take long to find Mia. She’s sitting at a table, eating with her friends. I sit down a few tables away and take out my phone to idly stare at while thinking. I’m trying to figure out how to approach her, when a figure sits down in front of me.

I look up and blink in surprise at the face of Mia, staring back at me from the opposite side of the table, and looking cheery for whatever reason. She’s wearing a white tank top today, which reveals the small tattoos on her arms. A small flower, a short phrase, a couple different random designs. They look really nice, without taking up a lot of space on her skin. “Hello there, what’s your name?” “General Kenobi.” I respond immediately without thinking, face palming after realising what I’ve just done. She giggles, apparently understanding the reference.

“I’m Gemma, what’s your name?” I say, moving on quickly. “I’m Mia. We gotta talk a bit Gemma. I can feel your mana, which means that you’re a mage. Can you tell me why you were using scrying magic on me yesterday?” Once again, I blink in surprise at this new information. I take a few seconds to compose myself and formulate my thoughts before speaking, and I decide to be honest.

“Yeah sorry about that, I’m a new mage and I’m sort of still figuring out how to do things and like….live as a mage without dying.” I reply honestly. She nods, snorting at my phrasing. “Yeah, it can be tough. It’s a cool world, but it’s hella dangerous. Tip number 1: don’t piss off more powerful abyss members by using that spy magic. Could get real ugly, real quick, if you follow.” She advises, in her somehow adorable American accented voice. I grimace and nod in acknowledgement.

“Are you gonna join a gang?” Mia asks. I pause once again to formulate my thoughts before answering, uncomfortably aware that I likely appear either slow minded because of it, or to actually be considering whether it’s a yes or no. “Well as far as I’ve heard, they aren’t exactly the most morally upright of people, so very likely not. A group of thugs tried to kidnap me earlier, so I’m not super interested in joining them.” She nods.

“Good girl. We need more people like you around.” I shiver slightly at the first part, but don't say a word about it. “We?” I ask. Mia waves dismissively. “Oh like, members of the abyss who aren’t part of any guild. Lots of people suffer because of those gangs, and the less people in those gangs, the better as far as I’m concerned. Now, tell me about your ability, what can you do?” She asks, rather abruptly.

“...what?” I reply cohesively. “Tell me about what you can do.” She says cheerily. “Um…I’d rather not tell you a lot. Doesn’t seem like a smart idea.” I say cautiously. She nods. “Give me a basic summary?”

I shake my head hesitantly, not entirely comfortable with denying her this information and possibly provoking conflict, but understanding the necessity to be secretive.

“Maybe once I know you a little more.” I say, trying to reduce the impact. Mia nods again, not appearing to take offence. “I can understand that.”

Before I can respond, the bell rings for the end of break time. “Come find me again at break.” She says, smiling at me and walking back to her friends. I blink for a few seconds, trying to process what just happened. I shake my head at my own social ineptitude. If I want to become more confident, I need to be better at processing social interaction.

Quest completed!

Make a friend

Reward: 100xp