The ancient gem

I'm planning to expand on the character costumization later, but first I want to focus on adding chapters. Leave a comment at the branch where you most want the next chapter!

It's been way too long since you last went eating out with your friend Amy. The choice was easy: you met up at the same restaurant you had been to on many occasions back when you were still in high school. Now, with both of you going to different universities, it's actually been quite a long time since you last went here.

The waitress walks by with the menu, but you already know what you will order: you just can't resist their delicious chicken legs (with extra mayo). You look over at Amy to see if she is just as quick at making the choice.

You always found her to be absolutely stunning - honestely, you were quite sure every person on planet earth would agree. She was undeniably beautiful, and she liked showing it to the world. Today, she just wore a tight, black v-neck shirt with a knee-length skirt. Top that with a stunning smile, big grey eyes, long brown hair and a great personality, and you have got yourself some perfect girlfriend material. But you never made a move on her, because you think she deserves better than you. Plus, she usually had a boyfriend, anyway. You are just very glad that you are still good friends, even now that you are going to different universities.

"Carl... you're gonna order the chicken legs again, aren't you?"

Half-ashamed, you say, "yes..."

She laughs. It is a warm, kind, beautiful laugh, and it makes you feel accepted.

"What are you going to pick? The cheese ravioli again?

"I was considering it... these Charleston shrimps also sound really good though..."

The waitress appears again, and you order your chicken legs (Amy chuckles) and your friend orders the Charleston shrimps. The waitress takes your menus, and you spend the 20 minutes waiting for your food by catching up on each other's university life.

...

The waitress appears with your chicken legs, which look delicious as ever, and Amy's shrimps.

You don't wait long, and start attacking the chicken legs, which makes Amy chuckle again. You take a respectably large bite of the first chicken leg.

But when you start chewing, you feel a small, round and hard thing in your mouth. You try to spew it out, but you accidentally swallow it as a result. It hurts a bit while it goes down your throat.

"Are you alright, Carl?" Amy asks, concerned.

You cough in response, but actually, you don't feel all that bad. In fact, a warm, tingly feeling starts growing from your stomach. You feel... happy.

Unknown to you, it is in fact an ancient gem that you swallowed. It was believed to have magical powers of some sort. How it ended up in your chicken is a question for another day - the more pressing question is: