Chapter 30

  Turning Being Awkward Into An Artform

  Schools of any age and lifetime apparently suck.

  The sad part is that I find myself needing these classes. While it would seem that I would have an easier leg up on most of my contemporaries, I do. But as time goes on that margin of superiority has decreased.

  Why? Well simply put there are hundreds and thousands of minor technical nuances that make it so you have to pay attention to the minor details. Take for instance, Geography, History, and even Languages are all different. Country and territorial lines are different, even the geology and creation of the planet are different.

  While my world held to the idea of Pangea, a singular mass of land that eventually divided due to tectonic plates and faultlines. This planet started with different continents that have slowly started to merge into each other. Forming obvious geographical mountain ranges at the intersections separating the old continents from the newly connected counterparts, but it is still different. From the different geographical changes, it completely threw off the history of the world as well. What happens when once dominant naval empires suddenly find their nation surrounded on all sides by land? What happens when once worthless land suddenly becomes profitable due to all the rare earth metals that are forced to the surface due to emerging mountain chains.

  Then realizing that even though my mind understands the language that we are speaking, Aristocratic Common, has similarities to English, there are also Asian cultural influences too. Like the importance of one’s name, the reverence to the origin of one’s main family. All of these factor into the continued greeting of a family and their elders.

  Take for instance my new house Matriarch, Madame Bloom, due to her being of what would be French ancestry she is to be called a Madame. Just as Madame Voyou, who is also of French ancestry and the defacto leader of her family’s branch out here. While my mother Ms. DiVoratore, due to her clearly being the child of the family ruler Greigold DiVoratore should be called Signore, except for the fact that he is not of full DiVoratore heritage and in fact a mix between the DiVoratore and Necrotin alliance. Meaning even though he is clearly the head of this independent branch, the main DiVoratore family refuses to accept him and his progeny as true ancestors. Thus, the generic use of universally accepted Mister, or Miss for a female house leader.

  Then add in Skills, Magically Infused Skills, and Classes and the history that I once knew and had down pact was thrown out the window for odd facts. Take for instance, in this world Hannibal led his Skill infused war elephants into Rome and forced the Romans to sue for peace. Later old Rome and New Rome separated, and ended up conquering northern and southern hemispheres, but that was just the tip of the changes. Which is why, despite this being my second life, I truly need to focus. Fortunately, most of my Skills and Attributes make paying attention easier.

  While the only truly easy parts of school for me are Math, Science, and Anatomy/Biology. Everything else is a completely altered train wreck of me having to plug and replace old truths from my past life, with newly obtained knowledge from this world.

  That said, I finally realized what I was doing incorrectly with my Skill training yesterday. While the Fibonacci sequence was easy, and mentally repeatable, I could not get any traction with the Skill. Why? Well, simply put, Madame Bloom was right when she said I messed up with my Class.

  Normally, I would have an abundance of Healing energy within my body to work and play with to test out how everything was going. However, with me bottling up the healing/Life energy in my Class pathway, I made it so my subconscious way of testing out a Skill was lost to me. It wasn’t until I focused that same thought into the freely flowing healing energy contained conduit within my body that I instantly felt a swell and surge of energy.

  SWOOSH!

  I’m in Mr. Zion’s classroom when a burst of green energy explodes outward from my body, a sign that I both succeeded in trying to replicate the procedures indicated in my Skill Tome, while failing to contain the excess Mana within my condensed Class structure that I created within my soul’s space.

  That said, I was immediately greeted with a long awaited system message for all of my troubles.

  Seeing the prompt and realizing that it could only be applied to my oddly focused Class. A Class that can only be used to learn Skills focused on Life or Healing Magic, I easily accept. Particularly as the Skill is easily hovering over one of my two free Class spots that are currently available for use.

  After accepting the Skill, I pause, as I can feel the Skill being forcefully altered and transformed by my Class. While the Skill itself was fairly universal in that it could be used to massively amplify any singular type of Mana, my Class seemed to have an issue with the Skill. As I could feel my Class grabbing the Skill, and almost corrupting it with the excess green Healing/Life Mana that was being amplified within my body.

  Then the system seemed to explain the changes that I was now experiencing with the Skill.

  Newly Accepted Skill Permanently Altered: Golden Ratio Mana Regeneration (Unique), has now been transformed into Golden Life Ratio Mana Regeneration* (Unique*).

  I paused as, I realized the asterisk (*) at the end of the Skill all but implied that it was now a wild Skill. Much like the Skill crystal I gained while next to the open spirit rift in Bloom Park. This one was apparently altered by the excess Healing energy that was compressed into my Class’s condensed network of tubes.

  There was likely a lesson here on exposure to condensed Mana types leading to wild or corrupted Skills. But that was just outside of my mental reach. Particularly as I saw the System grab hold of and evolve this newly acquired Skill.

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  This was another difference, the fact that this Skill immediately called out the special Attribute created by increasing this Skill.

  Then the full details of what this newly altered Unique Skill would proved became imprinted within my mind.

  Seeing the changes, I exhaled. Then giving myself a slight indulgence, I only opened half of my status page. Revealing my Skills and current layout, while making sure to hide my Attributes, Skill Levels and the like.

  Suddenly the asterisk next to my Class’s name seemed like it was for more than just highlighting a note.

  Culmen Vitae*

  It did have the special note *Culmen Vitae Class Skills can only be Life or Healing aligned. But now I wonder if it would do this for all future Skills? Was this a part of my Class? A sort of compensation prize for being forced to only be able to use my Skill slots for Life or Healing aligned Skills?

  That or could my wild class have been influenced at all by my odd Luck Attribute? An attribute that by itself seems to offer nothing, but since gaining it I have become increasingly lucky. Honestly, I didn’t know. But I did know that everyone was now staring directly at me. Well doubly staring at me.

  Silence.

  Mr. Zion just stared at me with wide eyed shock for a moment. His look caused a chain reaction as quickly everyone started staring at me. While I was sort of used to being stared at by everyone from the shadows and from the side-eyed glares, this was different. As this all seemed to be focused.

  Even the normally caustic Ithica seemed to at a complete loss for words as she just stared at me, chest heaving like she was three heartbeats away from a full-blown panic attack.

  Ding-dong-ding.

  Hearing the bell Mr. Zion, who had just been staring at me a moment ago, suddenly remembered his location and apparent role for today, where he snapped to attention and quickly dismissed the class.

  “Yes, just practice ahead and come back to me if there are any questions tomorrow,” Mr. Zion stated. Then going back to his desk, he gave an odd over the shoulder glare at me.

  However, I was too lost in whether I should keep my book out and use it as an impromptu weapon, if needed, for a third day in a row? Or put it away and hope it stays safe. I ultimately chose to put it away. While I was tempted to take out the second, smaller book and use it as a potential weapon, if needed, I ultimately chose not to. Instead, I hoped I could use some of the moves and footwork that I saw last night, if needed.

  Already, I was remembering the way Jade the Floral Assassin managed to flow like water, seamlessly moving behind her charging opponent and hitting her on squarely on the back of the head, before delivering a second strike to the small of her back on the way down. Ruthless efficiency at its finest.

  That was of course how I got to meet Leah the Destroyer and ultimately managed to get a second go around today. Still curious about that, but whatever happened I am glad it all worked out in the end.

  With my hands actually free due to using my backpack for its intended purpose I go out in the hallway and am sort of relieved to see Mousey right there. I mean, Quin, Quin Mossey, but I still like Mousey for him.

  As I go out into the hallway, I can almost feel dozens of sets of eyes all staring at me, in the completely obvious way that only teenagers can manage, when they try not to be obvious. I just ignore them and am surprised to see that Mousey is holding a polished cheery wood box.

  Seeing the way he is cradling the box, it is clear that the box is somehow important to him. A fact that is enforced by the slight trembling of his fingers.

  “Oh, that’s pretty,” I comment, and mean it. The box is clearly of exceptional craftsmanship and quality.

  “Yo-you like it?” Mousey’s entire face lights up at my compliment.

  “Yeah, it’s a nice box,” I reply.

  “Oh-oh, you haven’t seen one of the-ese boxes before then?” Mousey asked, a slight note of confusion to his words.

  “No, I assume they are rare?” I ask, getting close and taking a closer look at the box. Though I do make sure to move a step or two outside the doorway to make it so others can also get out of the classroom.

  “Well, th-this is for you,” Mousey stammers out, and holds the box up with both hands, a sign that the box is both valuable and important. Seeing the gesture, I immediately try to shut it down. I don’t have the money to be exchanging gifts, and if I take a gift from a boy, and don’t return an equal value gift, then it will be a sign that we are dating. And I do not want any type of commitment at the moment.

  “Oh, sorry, but I couldn’t possibly take something so valuable, as I have nothing to return of equal value,” I reply and bow graciously.

  “Wa-wait? You think thi-this is from m-me?” Mousey asks.

  “Isn’t it?” I pose.

  “N-no. I, sorry,” Mousey begins and then turns away, draws in a deep breath to calm himself, then turns back to me. “I need to apologize, this is a gift from my uncle. Who wanted me to make sure you were rewarded directly for your work last night.”

  At his clear words, words that didn’t stammer or have any sign of hesitation, I can feel more and more people staring at me. Great, now everyone is going to think I am a courtesan. But wait, how did Mousey know what I was doing last night.

  “Your uncle?” I ask, trying to place who his uncle might be. I did meet a lot of people last night, and quite honestly everyone from the second half of the fights on were a complete blur to me.

  “Yes, my uncle Matthias,” Mousey continues.

  “Who?”

  At that, Mousey seems to pivot not wanting to state his uncle’s stage name and apparently shifts to an even more obscure response.

  “My mother’s maiden name is Gravely,” Mousey states somehow hoping that this makes more sense as he looks up at me.

  I know this should make some sense to me, but all I can think about is this kid would not survive in my past life. All I need to know is his pet’s name and I could all but steal his identity at this rate. Meanwhile, Mousey looks around and sees that everyone is just looking at us. Which is when he takes a step closer and almost intimately he whispers at me.

  “The Mountain.”

  The Mountain? I pose, my slightly tired mind trying to go through everyone I met and saw last night, only to remember the giant brute of a man who nearly ripped the wrist of his opponent off.

  “OH, the MOUNTAIN?” I cry out in loud recognition. I say loud, as I only remember afterwards that he had spoken quietly, likely for a reason. Taking a moment, I look at the small kid before me, and think back to the towering mountain whose grip strength was enough to crack bones. Bones that were then fractured by slamming his opponent wildly from said wrist.

  “Yes,” Mousey replies and looks around at everyone, before pushing the box towards my hands.

  At that my hands automatically grasp the box. Taking a quick moment, I open the ornate box and see a silver vial that looks oddly familiar. Only after a moment do I realize this is the exact container that Mr. Yi gave me last night to help replenish my Mana.

  “Oh wow, thank you,” I begin, then belatedly realize, “and thank him as well.”

  With that Mousey just nods shyly and is about to leave, his nerves nearly shot from so many people staring at our display.

  “Hey wait up, let’s go together,” I reply.

  Only after I say that, and have the box in hand do I realize that others might think this was his confession to me. Still, it didn’t matter, the gift wasn’t from Mousey himself, but from his uncle who seemed to want to reward me personally, which I appreciated. Especially as I was not getting paid for my actions.

  I also felt bad for Mousey always getting targeted by Johny every day, which was why I made sure to walk him to class again today. Keeping the box out, as it could be my next Improvised Weapon, if needed.

  ***

  (Johny DiVoratore)

  Little did Catarine know, that one of the very sets of eyes watching her, was the very same person she wanted to protect Mousey from. A person who gnashed his teeth in anger at the blatant display and acceptance of courtship.

  In his hands he held his own wooden box, a box that contained a special necklace earned from his money gained from his fights.

  Still, he had time to correct this situation. All he had to do was remove an obstacle and step in to fill the void. It had worked before on his sister when she lost her pet. He consoled her for weeks, working her way into that vacant void that only losing a loved one could offer.

  The process would be simple, and he was far stronger and more capable than he was back then. Johny had long ago learned how to hide his activities, even from grandmother, well his former grandmother. His new mother encouraged this untamed side of him and had shown him ways to achieve far better results than originally thought possible.

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