23 One step at a time

Izzy looked down at her clothes and saw that her uniform was a burnt orange colour. It was different from dark green she had seen the students from before wear. Underneath the uniform was a lettered pendant that looked like an ' /- '.

There was also a schedule of all her classes most of which she didn't know and had no idea where her classes were.

Izzy sighed " School...Again" she mumbled. It was stressful enough to be in a foreign land completely different from earth but now to attend an academy Izzy felt slightly bitter inside.

" System, should I attend this academy?"

Izzy felt like asking the system for advice, though she expected no response. She at least wanted someone or 'something' to reassure her.

[ Yes. The host has stated a need to return home. The system encourages the host to find many sources of knowledge to ensure survival. An academy is a safe space to learn and a place for the host to gather information and become more powerful.

Note: the host still needs to reach ancient levels within five months to commence Armoured Tiger merging.

If the host fails to meet these requirements, it is likely you will be terminated... ]

Izzy's face froze the word ' terminated' made her feel as if the system would turn her to ashes if she didn't do as told. Taking a deep breath Izzy made a decision; to become powerful and leave this place.

" Ancient levels in five months... I can do that"

Theonymphi materialised sitting on the desk looking unimpressed.

" Did you just say you want to achieve Ancient levels in five months?"

" Yeah"...

Theonymphi paused " Are you daft? Do you know how many years of practice, study and not to mention luck it takes to reach that level? The number of resources you'd need and perseverance?"

Izzy looked at him " As long as I have the system I can do it." She stated with confidence. Theonymphi looked at the black box, it was true that thing had immeasurable power and was able to power up Rueben in an unprecedented amount of time. He couldn't help but feel that Izzy was cheating using something that everyone would kill for.

" System can we power me up the same way we did with Ruben?" Izzy asked she wondered why she didn't just ask the system before.

[ Negative. Ruben's circumstances are an anomaly. Power distributed by the host must be used sparingly or could result in permanent internal damage to the host. The host must make no attempt to abuse the system's power for the host's own use.

Abuse of power will be met by punishment...]

Izzy gulped an ominous feeling surrounded her and she shivered.

[ Also the host is weak. Thus the system does not need to warn the host about the abuse of power.]

Izzy nodded, she was weak and looked down at the phone with a sour face.

Theonymphi looked at her face " What did it say?"

She looked up at him knowing that he would chastise her for trying to look for a shortcut to gain power.

" It said I can't just do what I did to Ruben to myself".

Theonymphi chuckled, " Seems the little black box knows that power isn't that easy to come by."

Rolling her eyes Izzy lied on her bed with her back facing Theonymphi. She stared at the wall, not feeling particularly lonely, she was just confused and questioning why this was all happening to her.

" Argh life is so unfair" she mumbled closing her eyes and quickly drifting off to sleep.