The night sky was covered with neon lights. The people conversing and enjoying their lives as the confusion that the [Goddess's Arrival] brought finally subsided and the world leaders managed to quell and calm the raging masses. Ashley's apartment was located quite a ways away from the center of the city of Kander, situated in the Republic of Degran.
Kander is split into 5 different sectors. The dingy alleyways where Ashley currently resides is located the farthest away from the center of the city. It's formally known as a residential district but it's more akin to a slums area.
Inside of a cluttered and messy apartment, Ashley sits in front of a TV, leaning against the stained wall. Looking towards a corner of this one bedroom apartment, there lays some paper scribbled with ideas that sprung forth from Ashley's desperation to make her worth known despite her [Skill]. With a slow and tired motion, Ashley walked over to the papers and walked through memory lane.
The papers detailed prototypes of devices that utilize her [Steam Conjuring]. But due to the lack of people with the same [Skill] as her, approval for it was non-existent even with her position as her father's daughter. She tried everything. Reducing the quality of materials, making it more flexible with other people's [Skills], even just turning it into an accessory or a fashion item. Due to the stigma against low-ranked [Skill], every single proposal that Ashley had was rejected. Due to how recent [Skills] have been introduced into the world, companies and corporations became weary in investing in [Awakened] technology without solid proof that her product would succeed in this new market.
It didn't help that her age was also a point of contention that made her credibility less formidable, even with the support of her father. In the end, she was thrown out due to her lacking performance and the optics of the CEO's daughter being a disgrace.
Ashley threw the papers back to where she got them and went towards her bed to finally rest for the day. She tried her best but no matter what she did, she still ended up here.
Not wanting to dwell too much on the past, Ashley turned off the lights and went to bed. Dreading the coming morning when she will have to endure the stares and ire of her peers.
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Morning came. The chirping of the birds rings throughout the city. Ashley slowly wakes herself up, pushing her body upwards despite her mind wanting to stay in bed. A relic of her old habits. She looks towards her alarm clock and sees that it didn't even ring despite being past the time she put it in. It's a good thing that Ashley now started setting it a couple hours before she needs to wake up alongside the proper time to ensure that it at least works. But it seems that her luck wouldn't even allow that as it just didn't work at all.
Sighing to herself, Ashley walked over to her bathroom to wash herself for the day. She jokingly thought that she might as well not even take a shower since she'll be drenched by the end of the day anyway. A somewhat cynical way of thinking that she pushes aside as she lets the cold water drip towards her body. The function of the shower to release hot water is broken again so she has to suffice with this.
Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.
She can't even say that this is all because of her horrible Luck Stat. What does the Luck Stat even measure, anyway?, she thought. She didn't want to think that the Goddess or whoever gave them this power just knows what fate they have. And in the two years ever since [Skills] were given out, people have been able to increase it. It's just so bizarre how hers is in the negatives.
She patted herself down with a towel before putting on her Raventhal uniform. A beige cardigan with a dark blue blazer on top. Her plaid skirt reached down to above her knees while her feet adorned a pair of brown flats.
Reaching towards the door, Ashley noticed a slip in her mailbox. She dreaded the act of even checking it but she pushed through. What she found inside left a grimace on her face.
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[From: Your Landlord]
[To: Ashley Williams]
[Regarding your Rent]
[Status:] two(2) months overdue
[Deadline:] Seven(7) days or one(1) week
Good day to you, miss Williams. This letter is here to remind you of the deadline for you to pay for your rent. You have currently missed two(2) months of payment and if you are unable to pay within the next week, we will unfortunately have to force you to vacate your room. If you are able to pay for this month's rent, we will allow you to get an extension to pay for the other two(2) months you have missed in the next 3 months.
I hope this message reaches you and may you have a good day
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With a tired sigh, Ashley opens the door and leaves her apartment. She instinctively covers her eyes as the warm ray of the sun shines down on her, flashing her. And thus, her walk to her University began. It was overall uneventful. People going to and fro, cars running across the roads, businesses setting up shop, Ashley has seen this quite a bit.
As she stands in front of the gate of her university, she breathes deeply before finally stepping inside.
The murmurs and snide remarks of her peers fill the hallway as she walks through.
"Wow, I can't believe she's still coming here." One of the girls standing near a classroom whispered to her friend.
"She should just switch courses or something. It's already hard to compete with all the top students here, let alone people with just [D-Rank Skills]", another girl added as they talked among themselves. Her words almost sounded like advice.
"Hey, go ask her to use her steam to iron your shirt. It looks like you didn't even bother with it.", a young man jokes at his friend while poking him for his attention.
It was the same thing as always. They used to tolerate Ashley when she still had her status as a CEO's daughter. But now that she lost even that, the murmurs grew louder and the disrespect grew more apparent.
Ashley has heard all of this before. Not to the point where it didn't bother her but she has heard it.
After a few minutes in the hallway, Ashley managed to reach the lecture room for her first class. There were already some students inside, conversing among themselves. Ashley took a random seat and sat down, waiting for the class to start. Soon enough, students came pouring in, filling the room to the brim.
A set of heels hit the floor, making a sharp sound as the professor entered. Her long lab coat, her silky black hair, and her sharp eyes were the first thing people notice when they see her.
"Good morning, class. Before I start today's lecture, I have an announcement to make." Nikita clears her throat before proceeding.
"Tomorrow, we will have our first mock battles." Murmurs spread throughout the class as the announcement shocked everyone, including Ashley.
"Silence," Nikita declared before continuing. "It may be called a mock battle but it is more about how each and every one of you utilize your [Skills]. Even if you lose, that doesn't mean you failed. As long as you showcase proper control of your powers and showcase its strengths, all of you will pass."
Nikita's eyes subtly looked towards Ashley's direction. "Of course, 'some' of you may not have abilities that will work in a combat setting. But that's all the more reason you should consider whether or not this is the class for you. Although, it will be surprising to see the type of things some of you will come up with to supplement your shortcomings."
Ashley could feel the side eyes and glances in her direction without even looking for them. They all know who Professor Nikita is specifically saying this to.
"This will be a substantial part of your grade so I hope that all of you do something that showcases your abilities. That will be all for the announcement," Nikita ended.
