Skipping school for another day

Moira listened patiently while John explained the situation to her, only occasionally interrupting for further clarification.

“I see,” she said once he’d finished. “Consider yourself lucky, John Newman, not many would have survived as long as you have under the same circumstances.”

“So you’re not mad?” John queried, surprised at her level-headed tone. He immediately regretted the question.

“Of course I’m mad!” she snapped back, before audibly composing herself with controlled breaths. “You chose to live in the Abyss, despite my warnings; it was inevitable that you make enemies. However...” Moira sighed, “I admire your willingness to stand against the morally corrupt.”

“So you’ll help then?” he asked hopefully.

Again, Moira sighed. “I want to, John, I do…”

John grimaced, sensing a ‘but’ coming.

“... but what you described sounds like quite a complicated situation. I cannot guarantee an Order intervention in the matter, though I will, of course, speak on your behalf to my father about this.”

“Thank you so much, Moira,” John said, grateful she was willing to do such a thing for him.

“If that’s all, I’ll contact you later today,” Moira finished. “Oh, and I suggest you don’t attend school today. This matter is more important,” the paladin added as an afterthought.

John let out an uneasy laugh. “I hadn’t planned on it.”

“Good, I wish you well then, John.”

“Yeah, uh… you too!” John replied before she hung up.

John pocketed his phone before turning to Red and Saccharine. “Moira said she’s going to try and help us.”

“A girl, huh?” Red winked provocatively. “Is she hot?”

John recalled the Warden’s luscious red hair, sparkling green eyes, and the cute blush she couldn’t control sometimes. Then there was her figure, that of a toned athlete, with perky C-cup breasts and a decent ass too. “Yeah, she’s pretty damn hot,” he admitted.

“Oooh,” Red voiced, a fire sparking in her eyes. “Reckon she’d be up for it?”

“What?”

“Do you think she’d want to fuck you?”

“Why is everything about sex with you?” John complained half-heartedly before he gave her a kiss on the lips.

“Your fault. You’ve got me hooked,” Red laughed. “And the more you use those skills of yours, the better it’s going to be for me; you could say I’m making an investment for the future. But you haven’t answered my question,” she reminded.

Three days ago John wouldn’t have said anyone would want to sleep with him, but things were different now. He was smarter, faster, and stronger than he was before, and he was even more charismatic. But did that mean Moira was interested in him? John couldn’t be sure, but he somewhat doubted it. She didn’t strike him as the kind of girl who was interested in dating him, or the kind of girl that would receive the idea of being a member of his ‘harem’ with jubilation.

“I doubt it,” John said to Red, causing her to pout.

“Shame.”

“Oh, yeah,” Saccharine added sarcastically. “Such a damn pity every girl isn’t so keen to jump his pants like you are.”

Sarcasm or not, both Red and John nodded their heads in agreement. ‘It is a pity,’ John sighed, thinking he’d very much love to spend some time with the red-headed Warden. ‘Guess I’m gonna have to raise that Charisma stat.’

“Alright then,” John began, deciding they weren’t going to waste any more time chatting. “While we wait for Moira to call back, I’ve got a quest to complete. Then we should do some grinding.”

“Sounds like a plan, darling,” Red beamed, hopping to her feet.

They made their way downstairs, and John made a show of passing his mom in his school uniform. “See you tonight, Mom!” he waved as he opened the front door and let Red out.

“Bye, honey!” Brenda called back, smiling happily at the sight of her son and his girlfriend.

Not long after, John was preparing to cast the Arena Dungeon.

The Arena:
Starts off with only the basic training regime unlocked. Enemies, game modes, and more will unlock when milestones are achieved in 'The Depths' I.D. Professional MC and Pundits included.

Currently unlocked:
Basic Training Regime
Floor 1 Mobs (Pit Fight)

John didn't recall seeing a single mob enemy on the first floor of the Depths, but that was probably because he'd stuck to the main path the entire time. It made him wonder what else he'd missed during his adventures there. However, that was a question for another day. Now was the time for some easy XP. John clicked on the pit fight option and launched the dungeon.

No, fuck you. You might be skipping school but you’re still gonna be taught something today! So complete your goddamn training regime!

‘Okay then?’ John blinked as the message appeared in his vision before the party appeared in a shabby arena. John looked around the arena, but honestly, there wasn't much to look at. It amounted to a dirt pit, about the size of a small garden courtyard with grimy stone walls forming an enclosure and an iron gate on either side. A small, tiered wooden stand was also pushed to one side, but there wasn't even a guardrail separating it from the arena.

“Well… this place looks like a shithole,” Saccharine snorted while emerging from Red’s pocket and sitting on her shoulder.

“Thanks…” a dreary voice spoke, startling them all.

They whirled around just in time to see something phase into existence. That ‘something’ took the form of what looked to be an undead soldier. Its transparent body was severely rotten, with bits of meat and skin dangling in nauseating chunks. The jawbone was exposed on its mangled face, and its left eye was missing from the socket. In parts, John could see straight through the tattered armour it wore and into the dark cavities of its chest. It didn’t smell, being a ghost and all, but if it had smelled, John imagined the stench would be quite foul. Probably a good thing too, considering how sensitive Red’s nose was.

“... I’ve only spent the last twenty-four hours cleaning it up for you,” it continued miserably. “So nice of you to finally turn up, Mr. Newman.”

“Who the bloody hell is this charming fuck?” the Dessert Fairy asked with a total lack of sincerity.

“Oh, joy,” the ghost drawled. “A fairy. A loud, obnoxious, foul-mouthed fairy. I swear, they’re all the same…”

“Your name, rot-sack,”

“I had a name…” the ghostly soldier tilted its head upwards, as if thinking, before he shrugged his shoulders; “but I can’t be bothered to remember it.

John cast Observe on the undead soldier, hoping it’d enlighten him as to exactly what the fuck was going on.

While John was looking through the window, Saccharine continued goading the soldier. “Alrighty then, I christen thee… Bagof Bones.

John blinked as the Observe window changed the spectre’s name to just that.

“Oooh, it seems someone thinks they’re clever,” the now dubbed Bagof said sourly. “Make fun of the dead man, why don’t you?”

“So, you’re supposed to teach me something?” John cut in before Saccharine could unleash whatever scathing reply she had begun to cook.

Bagof turned his head toward John. “I suppose that’s my lot, isn’t it?” he sighed. “Roused from the grave to teach some brat how to swing a stick. Don’t expect me to share my insights with your friends, you hear? My only purpose for existing right now is to teach you… anyone else is unpaid for overtime.”

“Wait, so what the fuck are we here for?!” Saccharine demanded as she spun in the air to face John.

“Sorry, I meant for us to all fight some enemies, but Gaia **** us here. My guess is there’s a skill she wants me to pick up here.”

“I don’t particularly think a dead guy is the best combat teacher…” Red added with a frown.

“Of course,” Bagof drawled, “what would I know? I’m just the basic proficiency teacher. You all are clearly more knowledgeable than I. So be on your way then… let me sleep.”

John resisted the urge to laugh at the melodramatic ghost, trying to muster a serious demeanour instead. "I'm sorry if my friends have offended you," he said, trying to be diplomatic before turning to Red. "Do you mind waiting a bit? If this is to just pick up a new skill, I don't think it'll take too long."

“Okay,” Red pecked John on the cheek before going to sit on the small stand.