Today is my High School graduation and I find myself staring in the bathroom mirror. My fiery red hair along with my sharp eyes which have shaped my reputation into that of a delinquent. I've been offered a couple advertising gigs by the local shops because of my looks but mostly because my mother would tell the owners about how handsome her son is and how much business I could bring in. After showing up for them I got thrown out for making eye contact with the boss and he started to mumble about me going to kill him or something. Honestly if it wasn't for my eyes I would have an amazing life but thanks to them I'm standing in the bathroom on the day of my graduation surrounded by a school bully and his cronies. He yelled, "Rowan my friend, how many times do I have to warn you about scaring my girlfriend with those murderous eyes of yours?".
I sighed before answering, "Keith, I just accidentally made eye contact with her and my eyes just don't look that murderous.".
He stepped closer and said, "I would beg to differ. Mary came crying to me and begged me to help her saying you were gonna kill her.".
He kept inching closer to me with his fist balled up. Waiting til he got within range I sent a kick backwards straight into his gut sending him flying back into one of the stall doors. His four cronies looked scared but Keith said the cliché line, "What are you waiting for? Get Him!".
Damn this might be a little problematic. Two of them rushed me and I threw a kick at the closer one hitting him in the nose. Hearing a sickening crunch as blood sprayed everywhere. The second one managed to grab my leg before I could retract it. Using this to my advantage I pulled him in closer and started punching him in the sides. Before I could get him to let go the last two rushed in and one grabbed my arm and the other grabbed my free leg pulling me to the ground. Hitting the ground knocked the wind out of me for a couple seconds. Reaching for my pocket I pulled out a pencil and quickly stabbed the guy holding my arm. Snapping the pencil in half after shoving half of it into his arm and using the other jagged half I slashed at one of the guys holding my leg cutting into one of their eyes which caused him to fall back screaming, "Dammit! My eyes.".
The last guy let go of my leg and backed up out of my reach. Keith was finally back onto his feet trying to leave the bathroom. I quickly made my way towards him kicking him in the back of the knee making him collapse. I jammed the jagged half of the pencil into his calf threatening him, "After today make sure to stay out of my sight and pass the same message to Mary.".
Walking out of the bathroom I slowly made my way to the gymnasium for the graduation ceremony. Upon entering I heard gasping coming from the other seniors. Ignoring them I crossed the gym towards Ms. Grace who I've known since I was a kid. Sneaking up behind her I whispered in her ear, "Amelia, guess who?".
She calmly said, "Rowan, you're late.".
She turned around and her face grew a few shades paler. She started freaking out saying, "Are you okay? Where did all this blood come from?".
Looking down I noticed my white dress shirt was covered in big splotches of blood. I answered her, "I'm fine. Calm down, it's not mine.".
Upon saying this she went white as a sheet and asked, "Did you finally kill someone?".
I was shocked by the question but I answered, "No I did not kill anyone but they will need to go to the hospital and be treated. Keith will probably miss graduation.".
I looked around at everyone present and noticed Mary in the corner with a grim expression on her face. I flashed her a wicked smile before grabbing my gown and putting it on. Not too long after the ceremony got started and the principal made an announcement, "Rowan, come get your diploma and please leave the premises. The kids you injured are currently undergoing surgery. Thankfully they were not too serious but you are no longer welcome here.".
I stood and walked slowly to the stage and stood in front of the principal. I shook his hand and made my way outside. I headed for the cemetery where my father was buried. When the towers fell one of them landed on his construction site and you can guess the rest. At least they still let me graduate. I'm sorry dad, I know you would be disappointed by my actions. Letting the somber mood take hold of me I let myself cry for the first time in ten years. I kept the last promise I made with my dad to graduate high school since he dropped out in middle school. I know I was eight the last time I watched him grab his lunchbox and hardhat before patting my head and leaving for work. It's a bittersweet memory. Wiping my eyes I went to turn around but the system window popped up with a message. Requirements have arrived, please complete as fast as possible. I read the list silently:
Acquire a harem (Good Luck Dumbass)Train your body, reach twenty stamina, hp and mp (You're too weak)Create a party (Loser)Acquire a silver ranked weapon (A pencil suits you better)Take one step into a tower (ONE STEP!)Exterminate Copper ranked Goblins (Leave none alive)Finish what Keith started and kill him (Don't wimp out)Learn swordsmanship (You got noodle arms)Earn a contract with the Goddess of The Insane (Become Insane)Clear a Dungeon (Won't happen in your lifetime)
Making sure I read them correctly I kept rereading them. What is this shit? Is this for real, my requirements are mostly impossible. And what is with the comments after each one of them. The voice suddenly said, "What are you waiting for? Get to work numbnuts.".
I answered, "What do you mean what am I waiting for and Why are you calling me numbnuts. Where did your robotic way of speaking go from the past ten years?".
It answered, "I have learned a lot about how useless humans are by observing your everyday encounters. I wish I had been assigned a different human with an exciting life.".
Ignoring the voice's attitude I open my stat screen.
Name: Rowan Hearth Level: 1
HP: 15 MP: 9
ST: 20
Class: None
Skills: None
Titles: None
I asked, "How do I raise my hp and mp?".
It answered, "You have to gain knowledge for mp and get injured for hp. Go read some books or get in another fight dumbass.".
I asked another question, "Ignoring what you called me. What should I call you?".
It answered, "Name's Olive.".