Chapter 8 - Unforeseen Changes

Chapter 8 - Unforeseen Changes

"Well, that's rather odd. You have absolutely no change whatsoever. What class did you choose? Or did you decide not to have one? Let's see," the jester said, pulling up his own panel to examine John, tilting his head in confusion. "Forever Second? What the heck kind of name is that? Furthermore, why choose something like that? There seemed to be far better choices like druid or even necromancer. Heck, you even had Day Dreamer! Do you know how rare and strong that is? I've seen it before, and it could change reality itself when it's high enough level! Sigh, what a loss. So, tell us a bit about this class. If it's interesting enough, maybe you will keep some views. I mean, it can't be as bad as it sounds, right?" The jester said to John in an odd tone, as if he were one of those sleazy TV hosts trying to sell the show to the audience.

"No, afraid not. It's exactly like the name says. No matter how hard I work or try, I will forever be second place in anything I try to do. It was a miss-click because I had wanted to click right above it, and my finger hit it instead," John explained, mixing truth with lies, while rubbing the back of his head and looking embarrassed. This caused the jester to sigh.

"Honestly, it seems you have some crappy luck. I won't say it's never happened before, but you, my friend, have lost all the gods' interest now. It seems it's going to be hard for you from now on, and some may even go out of their way to make things difficult later to keep themselves entertained as you're an easy target now. Heck, looking at my panel, it seems even the god you got the class from isn't bothering to watch you. Here, keep your mouth shut, and let no one know I've done this. I'd be sent to a very bad place if the higher-ups found out, and I will end you if they do understand! I'm only taking this risk now because there is 0 interest in you, and honestly, you make me think of myself when I first started out," the jester said to him in a voice filled with pity and sadness, handing a dagger and a small sack to John.

"And before you ask something stupid like why I'm doing this, it's because a long time ago, when I first started out in a situation like yours, someone in my current position took pity on me and stuck their neck out to try and help me. It left a deep impression, and I still remember his words back then when I asked him why. He just smiled at me and told me he had been where you are, and someone did this for him—a random act of kindness—to one day do it for another and keep the cycle going," the jester explained, his voice carrying deep emotions, too many to express with words, before giving John one last look and disappearing into a slice in the air in front of them.

"A random act of kindness, huh? I promise to remember this and will pay you back for it, return kindness 100-fold and enmity 1000," John muttered to himself as he hooked the dagger to his pants and checked the sack he was given. The coins inside looked crystal-like, with an almost rainbow-like appearance and strange markings. He counted them and found there were a total of 30 coins in the sack. Taking out 12, he put them in his pocket before tying the sack to his side and grabbing his phone to type a message to his friend.

"It seems our wish for change has happened lol, but please be careful with your choice if you haven't chosen already. I know you're smart, but it seems there are plenty of traps and tricks hidden with our choices. Also, let me know what you choose when you do choose. For me, it's called 'Forever Second' -sweatdrop emoji-. It's exactly as the name implies, but I feel it's one of those overpowered but hidden classes. I mean, it takes a bit of effort to get going, but used right, I feel I can make the most of it -wide smile emoji-. On a more serious note, please make sure you and the others there try to keep safe. I know you will probably be fine, but I worry about the others. They're going to really need you," John typed out to his friend, feeling a deep unease settling in the pit of his stomach as he awaited her reply.

While waiting, he tried multiple times to contact his brother and parents, only for the phone to do nothing but ring, causing him to feel frustration towards them. "Damn, knowing them, they either chose something wrong or are corrupted, damn it," John said aloud to himself, squeezing his phone in hand but being careful not to break it. He was still fully coming to grips with all that had happened. Just because he looked forward to something like this and had plans for it didn't mean he would instantly be a fish in water during it.

"Kay is gone… children under 15 apparently aren't going to be a thing. The system said she's been put in a reality parallel to ours and is with their version of her as a twin. I am grateful she's safe, but I am going to rip this entire thing apart for taking my child from me!!! -3 angry red faces- You will help me with this, please. Even I can't get her back, I want these assholes to pay for this. I won't forgive them!!!!" Ouch, yeah, no, John was not about to poke that beehive. All his self-preservation screamed to try and change focus and not touch that. Thankfully, a message came through.

"Yeah, I figured you would choose something odd. You're always like that. I took something called 'Moonlight Writer,' which lets me change reality very minutely. Nothing truly major though, maybe if it grows stronger. Can only use it when the moon's out, though. Ray took the class 'Gamer,' pretty much like the name implies. Things are one big game for him now. He created a party and had me join it. We tried to add you, but it seems there's a distance issue. He is acting slightly different, though, nothing too out of it, but definitely a bit different. I'm going to try something. Since my powers or whatever can change reality a tiny bit and lets me see a little bit ahead and shift things, I'm going to try and make the most of it. Now, since we can't get you in the party, I plan to try and use my power to change your phone. This should work, I hope."

Before John could ask what she was planning, his phone took on a slight glow and formed a hard plastic-like cover. A new icon appeared on the screen with a symbol showing there was a message there. He also noticed that the battery indicator was now gone along with the signal symbol.

"So I tried to change things slightly now since the moon is poking out this side. Guess I should be glad this all happened while the night was coming. Anyway, what I did was write how your phone changed into an item allowing certain people to keep in contact with you through mediums. Being an item, it no longer required power to work. I hope this worked. The downside is I can only chat with you on it through writing in the book I got from my class, so only at night if the moon's out -sweat drop emoji-," John read, seeing the message.

He typed back, "Fae, you really are a damn genius! I would never have thought of something like that. Honestly, my plan was to try and steal and jury-rig a charging system for my phone and snag as much mobile data to keep connected for as long as the cell towers last -sweat drop emoji-. Will still try to jury-rig a simple solar system and batteries, though. Never know when I may need to power something like a radio or who knows what." John put the phone in his pocket and began to search the office and the rest of the building for anything that may be of use.