I reached the door from the other side's endless hallway.
On the other side of the white door, was a flourished garden. It was my first time seeing so much green vegetation.
The trees' branches were cruising in the wind. The sun shone brightly on my hair and skin. The garden that surrounded me was secluded by blue steel fences.
As I stepped out from the door onto the cobbled pathway, I could feel the cobble's rough texture beneath my feet. Slowly, I stepped onto the lush green grass, and I could feel my feet sinking in slightly as if the soft earth was embracing me.
I let the air hit my body as it ran rampantly. The environment was all too surreal.
For the first time, I saw nature in [Give Up? Never!]. This moment sank in and time passed unknowingly.
I took a look forward again to be greeted with another white door. Its handle was the color of gold.
I was drawn towards it. I walked towards the white door and opened it without hesitation. I let my curiosity get the better of me again.
Past the door, I was greeted by a bald man, he had on a black suit, with black pants and brown loafers. Prominent wrinkles were shown on his face. He put on a smile as he made eye contact with my face, he looked as if he was waiting for my company.
"Master Dorian, the Duke has requested a summons for your presence at his office right now." The deep tone of his voice reverberated through the hallway.
Who was he?
He looked like he was a butler of the Andras Family considering we are within the house right now. He had told me that Duke had requested my presence at his office.
Donte Andras, my father, has asked for me to meet him. This wasn't good news.
If this man had come to deliver such news, then he could only be my father's personal butler; Joseph Viso.
Lucy most likely told Donte that I didn't have the necklace on me. So Donte probably told Joseph to go and fetch me to try to see if I had the necklace...
That man is willing to chase me to the end of the earth for this damn necklace I shoved up my butt.
The only way I can get away from that man is if I seek protection from the academy.
The reason why Dorian lived so long was because he hid in the academy.
Convallaria Academy was famous for protecting its students from ever being harmed by the outside world even, including the student's families.
If the Andras Family was found out for attacking their son in the academy, they would gain severe backlash from the Empire and the district Setrus alone.
All Dorian had to do was somehow get into there and feed off their protection for four years. A complete rat move.
After he graduated from the academy he was on the run again.
But for me, . If I grow strong with this system I can easily escape them. Four years was enough time to grow powerful enough to not worry about the Andras Family.
"Yes..." I didn't know what else to say to Joseph. I didn't even know where Donte's office was. Where would I find it if the hallways stretched as long as the one I saw behind this old man?
I knew that I would be completely screwed if I completely ignored Donte's summon, I would be at worst imprisoned for life or executed!
"Young master please allow me to guide you to the Duke's office, if you please." He became a life-saving old man.
I nodded and found myself following him as we trailed on the red carpet. The sound of our feet striking the floor was very loud. Each corner we turned kept creating longer hallways, this place felt like a maze.
What do I do now?
How will I trick Donte into thinking I didn't have Shaping Will?
I don't know how to use my [Faker!] trait so it's become completely useless now. The system didn't tell me how to use it.
Status Open!
The two windows appeared in front of me again. But this time the blue screen was empty while the red screen still appeared with the same display:
----
| [SHOP] - SP
[SHOP] - VP |
----
I quickly clicked the [SHOP] - VP:
----
[Current Traits]:
| [Faker!] Tier 2 - Able to create a mediocre fake illusion or scenario of oneself and other people. Able to act out some of it underwhelmingly convincingly. (Upgradable) |
[Trait Shop]:
[Currency]: 20 [Villain Points] |
[Trait List]
.
.
.
----
I clicked on [Faker!] but I was left with the same question of wanting to upgrade the tier again. This didn't answer any of my questions.
I don't care about the tier, how do I use [Faker!]?
The long corridor was gradually coming to an end. The carpet floor that stretched out before me ended in front of a white door.
Joseph was still walking forward towards it and I still followed him.
Past the door was Donte Pron Andras...
There was no run or escape place I could go to. This mansion was a complete maze, and if I get lost in this place, I'll get caught by Donte in no time and be killed.
The white double door in front of me looked bigger than the other usual doors we passed by. It practically signaled that it was the room of a Duke.
This situation started to become dire. There was no escaping and my life and future were on the line.
Status Close!
The floating windows disappeared again, I needed to think. Think hard. The situation was hard to comprehend, and I would most likely be caught with the Shaping Will in my back pocket.
Think!
What possibility was there in avoiding confrontation with Donte? There was basically none!
What possibility was there in avoiding him questioning where I put the Shaping Will; none...
Wait!
Lucy had to have talked with Donte before I came in, that would be the only reason for Donte desiring to talk to me. Then the only method Lucy could've used to convince the Duke that I didn't have the necklace in the first place was by showing him her history data of her Memory Gem.
Joseph suddenly stopped in front of the massive white door and began to grow in my perspective. We stood and found ourselves simply staring at it. His face started to look troubled.
"I am sorry Master Dorian but please wait in front of the Duke's office for a moment." He proceeded to slowly open the door and snuck in between the closing of it.
I waited anxiously as time began to pass. I could hear murmuring on the other side, but my ears could not pick up any recognizable words. It felt like hours as I waited right in front of an office that could change my life.
The door from the other side was pushed open and I was greeted by that same man who had entered moments ago.
"You may enter to see the Duke." He bowed at the door, then closed it behind me as I entered the large office.
It was just me and my father.
Donte's figure was wide and bulky, and his gray hair was short and smooth, it was combed back to show his wrinkled forehead. He sat up straight in his black chair, his gray eyes meeting me. His posture has not changed an inch since we examined one other.
I felt my posture starting to become awkward as we made eye contact, his atmosphere had begun to make me fold under his pressure. All I felt was this uncomfortable feeling swelling in my head and heart.
"Where is the soul necklace?" He didn't hesitate to express the problem. His voice was rough, and his seriousness had put me vastly more on edge than when I first entered the room.
What do I respond with? What do I say to his question?
I began to feel disoriented while I considered an answer; my body was heating up, and I could feel sweat pools forming beneath my black clothing. I gulped back all of my spit, and my throat became as dry as a desert.
What 'lie' could I come up with?
Ding!
[Quest!]
The blue window appeared in front of my eyes, it finally displayed text on its screen.
I'm totally screwed.