Chapter 17 – Take it easy

“H-hi, Ris.”

No, oh god no. Anyone, just not this monster this…………haaaa so cute, damn why must she be so cute. This little cute monster with those teary eyes, leaves in her hair and that smile, noooooooooo my sanity! I must make it, sister if your brother won’t make it please, forgive me.

With these thoughts I prepared myself for fight of the century. I smiled, my face completely calm but inside, surging storm of fear.

“Do you need me, Irene.”

Yeah, the cute little monster is Irene, cute cat beast loli teacher. You cannot even imagine how cute she looks in that angle with sun and those ears fidgeting.

“Uhm, do you remember our promise?”

Oh god, so it really came to that, noooooooooooooooooo, I’m still too young to get married. Someone help.

Not even I could keep my calm surface and my face a little cramped, still trying to smile.

“Y-yeah.”

“Then, you know I need to ask you something.”

Oh god, does she want to make me choose rings, or wedding dress or does she want piece of me? Sob sob, what should I do?

“T-that great then, uhm you see when I went out of my village to become teacher I promised I will come back when I will turn 30……”

Oh god, I think I know where this is going.

“…….with my boyfriend to introduce him to my family.”

Ha….ha……I-I knew it! I don’t know if I should be glad or shit my pants. The worst did not happen but still, introduction to her parents.

“I-it’s not like you need to answer me now, there is still some time left so……….think it through.”

And she started to run away, sigh I can’t see her cry, she probably saw through me and knew I was bothered by it and even though she tried to hide it, she was shaken. I know I will regret that but I don’t want to see her like that.

I used phantom step and got before her and caught her hand.

“There’s no need to give me time to think, I will do it, just for you.”

I was smiling with my true smile. I really hate to see girls close to me cry. I would destroy anyone who would make them cry but it’s not because of love, don’t mistake me. Love is not something I can feel so easily and I could feel it, after getting Soul mind it became even worse. I cannot feel hate and love so easily, now more than ever.

“Ughmsfs.”

She was looking at me, mumbling something in daze and when I called to her, she blushed and I could swear I could see smoke coming from her and she instantly used her magic to run away, like a mole.

Why? I just thought we will pretend, it’s not like our promise will come to an end. I thought she will introduce me to her parents so she could get breathing room and then try to find someone again. Did I mess up, again? Why am I so weak to tears? I need to fix this but I don’t really wanna. Sigh, let’s just leave it be, as long as they won’t wed me with Irene when I meet her parents it should be ok. It’s not like it could happen, right? Right?

I fear for my future.

I looked at the sky, stars slowly showing themselves, glimmering like they were trying to tell something. This always calms me down. It’s time to go, Alice must be worried and to hear her lecture, aren’t I jumping from pan to fire? Ha ha ha.

And with grim expression I went to my room. When I reached it, I slowly and quietly opened the door and Alice was there, sleeping on the bed. She must have been really worried.

I took my robe off and put it in my closet. I could see a piece of paper on the desk and so I read it.

Ris, I prepared food for you, eat it first so you could regain your full strength. Don’t think I will let you do anything you want tomorrow, you need to rest properly. If you will try anything, be prepared.

I shuddered at the last sentence and when I looked at the little devil that was calmly sleeping on my bed I just had wry smile. She really cares for me but I still fear her. The bad feeling still did not disappear. No reason to dwell on it so much. Let’s do just what I want now and worry about future later.

I ate her delicious food and changed and did something I never thought I do, changed Alice’s clothes. She never really wanted to sleep with here and whenever she was it was always after I slept already and now, it’s time for payback for her always changing me during my sleep. Gu ha ha.

What am I even thinking about, those maid clothes are so tight, it must hurt her, I want her to take a proper rest. In these two years she was always working so hard.

And so I took her maid outfit and she was only in her underwear. Black, is she tempting me? For her age that is really, mature you could say now, where is my t-shirt.

I was looking for it but before I could do anything she grabbed my hand and started to sleep talk.

“Ris…….no………um……..ah………..ehehe.”

What the hell is she dreaming about! Is she really tempting me?! I will show you my iron will.

I took my arm back, picked the t-shirt and put it on her. White t-shirt, little longer than her body and black panties showing, is this my fetish or did she plan this? She’s not sleeping, is she? To striking such position during sleep is impossible.

“Alice, what are you doing?”

“Ughna.”

“Don’t pretend.”

“Guh.”

“Should I tickle you?”

“I’m awake!”

Her weakness is tickling, don’t ask me how I figured it out, my heart could not take that embarrassing moment again, oh fine then, it had something to do with massage and you won’t get anything more from me!

“Why did you pretend to sleep?”

“I wanted to surprise you but then you started to take my clothes of and so I ……”

“Wanted to tease me as repayment for always teasing you.”

“Uhm, did I do something bad?”

“Silly girl.”

I patted her and it almost looked like she would start purr any moment.

“Let’s go to sleep now.”

“Huh, in this t-shirt?”

“When you want to tease someone you should be prepared for consequences.”

“That’s not fair.”

“Yep.”

And with embarrassed Alice we went to sleep. In king size bed there is lot of space and I did not have any intention to do anything. Alice became quite bold. I need to protect myself it seems.

With fear gripping me from Irene and Alice I went to sleep, not truly.

I woke up, Alice already doing choirs and I wanted to get up but it did not work well.

“You can’t! You need to rest. You must be mentally and physically stressed so now, I will take care of you for the whole day.”

“Alice, could I at least go to the bathroom?”

“Wait a while, I will come back with a bottle.”

With a frightening smile I replied.

“Are you prepared for consequences?”

Alice shuddered and did 180°turn.

“Just go, I don’t mind.”

“Good.”

I went to bathroom and cleaned myself. I wanted to train a little but Alice always reprimanded me with her devilish smile so not good in that way but I was able to make her let me read a book, to relax myself. It was book about elf princes and human prince, nothing else would Alice allow me. The story was nice, elf princess betrothed to man that thought of her as a thing and dirty young man, found by her in the forest while she was thinking about her fate, falling in love while taking care of him and then finding out he is prince from far away kingdom and to protect her, fighting against all odds. The ending was the best. He left her and their child she was expecting to go back to his kingdom, to save his family and that was how the book ended. It probably was supposed to be book with continuation. And guess what, it was written by Arthur Blake. That guy is everywhere I tell you.

This is how I spent my whole weekend. Lying in the bed, while Alice was hopping around me and taking care of me. She even wanted to bath me! I’m really scared of her. Is it because of my collapse? I need to speak with her.

So we spent whole weekend together and finally, on the last day, she went home and so I started to train, finding anything different. I couldn’t do it after my collapse so I had to do it now. I used meditation to find out my mana and health leapt by 100 each and I could feel my soul being stronger. While I was doing that, I could feel the ding in my head. I quickly looked at my status.

Level up

TitlePhantom style apprentice

For reaching rank of apprentice in phantom style

NameRisielAge12Level3Stage ChildGenderMaleRaceHumanAffinityVoid, ManaAttributeChaos and OrderHealth500Mana1100TitleDifferent oneStrength124Agility132[/tr]Vitality167Dexterity141Inteligence255Wisdom293Endurance89Luck±15Willpower74Dignity27Honor41Charm122ResistancesFire5%Water5%Earth5%Wind5%Void22%Poison45%

Hm, it looks good. Level up, title and stat increase.

In these 2 days of doing nothing and after my collapse I started to think a little about status and such. I figured out few thinks so let me summaries how stats work.

Stats does not show your strength at all. It just misleads you. Stats just show your upper limit. The limit your body can endure so when you have higher stat it does not mean you’ll run faster, just that your limit increased. When someone has 10 on agility it means let’s say he can ran 10 meters in 1 sec but no one would run so fast. They would run just 7 or 8 meters in sec. This happens when you don’t know your limit. Let’s just say there would be a child with 1000 in strength. He should be able to pick up tree with one finger but because he does not know and looked at other kids, he won’t be able to do it. This is just his own suggestion but if his life would depend on it, he would pluck whole tree field with his hands.

You shouldn’t think of someone with higher value in stat that he is stronger than you. If he can’t use his whole potential than it is the same as giving sword to a kind.

I trained for while longer but nothing else changed, at least what I could find out. I went to sleep and to get ready for headmaster’s speech. I should visit him or something. He should be lonely.

I woke up another day and prepared to leave but as I was touching the door knob, someone knocked. I opened and Lily and Sani were there.

“Oh, why are you here?”

They looked at each other and nodded.

“We just wanted to ask if you want to go with us to headmaster’s speech.”

Something is fishy. Are they the same as Alice? Let’s try it.

“Oh, so you came just for that? Not because of what happened last time we met, right?”

“O-of course not.”

Yeah, right.

“What’s the matter, Lili?”

Yeah, Lili looks……..sad.

“It’s nothing, let’s go.”

Sigh. I will regret it.

I took both of their hands and tightened my grip and lead them on the way. Sani was saying wawawa and Lili was just smiling happily. She really was lost on what to do.

“Lili.”

“Yes.”

“Don’t forget our promise.”

She tilted her head and started to think what I meant. When she understood, she blushed and was trying to hide it. I mean the thing about the bed but it’s just to let her get confidence. I don’t want her to not do her best in the tournament and when it comes to the bed thing, I will just let her take a nap with Sani and Alice. I don’t think I should do anything else. See, I learnt from my mistakes.

When we reached the place of headmaster’s speech I let both of their hands go and looked around to find seats. While I was looking around, someone tackled me from my back.

“Hi, Ris.”

“Hi, Liz.”

“Oh, who are these two beautiful ladie……”

When she looked at Sani, cough her chest cough, she became depressed and fell on her knees.

“Don’t think you won. I’m still growing. You must feel the same, right?”

Ehm, I don’t think they will grow anymore, they did not get much bigger since we met and that was during your growth spurt and stop hugging Lili.

“This is Sani and Lili, they are my friends.”

“Oh, is one of them your girlfriend?”

They both blushed at this.

“How could I betray you, Liz?”

“Heh, heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeh.”

She blushed but eye for an eye, right?

I could feel murderous intent from Sani and Lili.

“What does that mean, Ris?”

“Yeah, what does that mean?”

“It was just a joke, yeah joke.”

“Huuuuuuuh.”

Don’t spread oil into the fire Liz!

“Shouldn’t you go already Liz? You must have many things to do.”

“Yeah, let’s meet later.”

“Yeah, and I did not forget our promise.”

She smiled.

“What promise?”

“She is forced to marry a douchbag so I promised to do something with it.”

“I see.”

“Let’s go find some places.”

As we were looking around once again, my eyes met Irene in her fake form and she turned her gaze away and had red tint on her cheeks.

We finally found some places, Irel was holding for us and so we waited for headmaster’s speech.

“Dear students, your testing period is over and not all of you reached qualification for it but many of you did, in fact too many and because only top 100 can participate, many of you will be disqualified even before the start of the tournament. Rankings and participation will be decided with how good you were doing in your tests and you will be able to see it on the board. Tournament will happen in one week time so prepare yourselves. In the tournament all your abilities will be tested, everything you learned will be allowed to use. Support can be used in type of potions, enchanted gear and pets. As headmaster I hope you will try your best and show what you are made of. Don’t forget whole kingdom will be watching and the winner will have one wish granted and even can increase his family’s status. Show us what you are made of!”

“Hooooooooo!”

Whole arena shouted.

I need to reach first place to help Liz.

“And now, top 3 contestants. 3rd place Lilian Fiodora Astaroth, 2nd place Fulminen Moonlick and 1st place Azir Dragnaught. These 3 will be your biggest hurdle to overcome.”

“All other contestants can be seen on this board behind me. This is everything from me.”

He went away and after that everyone pushed to get there to see if they made it. We just sat and waited.

“Nice work Lili, being the 3rd.”

“Thank you.”

We just waited and I could see Lili was nervous so I did not speak with her and just patted her head and she calmed down.

After everyone went away, we went to see which place we got.

I was 9th, Irel 7th and Sani 12th. I’m not surprised, beast taming did not go well and I had 100th rank in that so still good enough.

“I need to go train more.”

Irel just said this and went away.

“Muscle head.”

Sani said this.

“It’s nice we all qualified.”

“Yeah, let’s all do our best, right Lili?”

“Yeah.”

“I thought about it and let’s after the tournament go together to the City. It will be fun.”

“Are you inviting us on the date?”

Where did she come with that?

“Huuuuuuuh?”

“I-Im not against it.”

“If you think so Lili than ok, it can be counted as a date. I will be killed though, such 2 beautiful girls together with me.”

They both blushed.

“Let’s go then.”

“Yeap.”

“Un.”

And so that’s how my easy days went, let’s just hope I won’t have to take Alice on a date too or else I will have it even rougher.

Lili was much happier and so were I. Lili changed so much in these 2 years and she is so quite now, not like when we first met. I hope to hear her speak openly again and Sani is still Sani. Girl that hated me and now acts like we knew each other from child hood.

I like them. They are great friends but now my priority is tournament.

Let’s do all I can to win.

///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Whew, finally tournament next time. I won’t do it too detailed or else it would take countless chapters and don’t know how much detailed should do it with fight of others so need to think about it. After tournament will be over I will do time skip of one year and after that time skip again and then something fun will start. After that time skip again and end of school. So you see it will take quite some time but there are some plots I did not really plan in my rough draft like date and Irene’s parents visit so need to think where I will put it. So hard to write story with so many characters which many of you want to know more detailed. I do it just for you guys.

Hope you enjoyed.