Chapter 2: Gamble and Luck

Stroph felt a severe headache, but it wasn't a big deal compared to the notice floating in front of him.

<History? What the hell is going on!!!>. Stroph was perplexed by what was happening. But the next moment he heard a voice in his head and the pain was immediately dulled.

[Greetings to you, Master, I am Bookmark and I save your histories.]

<Аh? Histories? I`ve simply bought some food. Okay, let's say, why do I need the histories?> Stroph was in a real confusion, but he still decided to make sense of all the information coming down to him.

[Histories can be any, great and unbelievable or the most ordinary ones. Most histories have some effect that makes you stronger in one aspect or another, and, also besides the histories you get coins and points.]

Stroph was silent for a few minutes, trying to figure out if this was real or if he was just imagining these things, and after some time of reflection his back was drenched in cold sweat, because he remembered a fragment of his dream that he had completely forgotten. Almost at the very end of the dream, he got some kind of Bookmark, but he had no idea that an ordinary, even if it was very beautiful dream would become a reality.

<And does it make any difference what kind of histories I do, like good or evil?> Stroph worried a lot that he would have to become a good hero and help one and all for the sake of strong histories.

[The character of the histories is completely unimportant. Influence on the world is the main criteria for judging the importance of the histories.]

<Yeah... So even if I become a villain, I'll still get histories and stronger?> Stroph decided to clarify it, just in case, because a lot of decisions in his life might depend on the answer.

[Yes, you're absolutely right. For getting a common history level - "Food for friend". Master also received 10 wish points and 10 history coins. Points and coins can be spent in the store, but you can spend them only when you reach the third level, also because of the low level the information about the effects of the histories is not available yet].

Hearing about the level Stroph smiled a little, because finally he began to understand something and feel that Bookmark was like a computer game, with its own rules and rewards, but in the real world.

<Level? Do I have some sort of status and characteristics?> After Stroph's words, an information window with the data about him immediately opened in front of him.

[Name: Stroph White]

[Race: Man]

[Level: 1]

[Titles: 0]

[Histories - 1]

Stroph began to examine each parameter carefully, but after a few seconds he frowned heavily and asked grudgingly: <Bookmark, why is there so little information in my status, and what are the titles?>

[All because of your low level, the titles also like the histories have their effects, but they have differences that you will learn about in the future.]

Gradually Stroph understood all the information, then the reward he had received for the history came to his eyes.

<Does it seem to me, or did I get too few points and coins? Is there any way more?>

If Stroph had got into this game, he wanted to get as much as he could, and to his delight, Bookmark had one suitable option.

[Master, I can offer you an opportunity to earn extra points and coins.]

<Hmm? Go on, I'm listening to you very carefully>

Stroph wasn`t going to miss the chance to get even more points and coins, at least, he had to know what he would have to do.

[You can play roulette and either multiply the points and coins you just received for the history or lose them. Also, if you fail, you can play one more time by betting the history itself.]

<I thought I`ve got into a video game, but it turns out I'm in casino>.

It seemed that Stroph wasn`t so happy with the option where everything depended on luck, but after a few seconds, he had a slight smile on his face: <Pull your wheel out! It`s time to try my luck and feel the excitement!>

Immediately after his words, a silver wheel with many patterns and pictures on the rim appeared in front of him.

The wheel was divided into two equal parts, there was written WIN on one of them, and LOSE on the other. And, in the center with the thick ink was written x2.

Stroph wanted to tell Bookmark to start spinning the wheel, but as soon as he thought about it, the wheel moved.

The wheel was spinning at an incredible speed, everything was a blur, and it was completely unclear what result to expect. After about thirty seconds the wheel stopped.

<Bitch! Fuck, there was a whole fifty percent chance of winning, how could that be?> Stroph was very angry about his loss, he thought that all was lost, but suddenly he remembered that he could put history on the line and play again.

<Bookmark, I want to put the history on line play roulette one more time>. Stroph just couldn't contain his desire to win back.

[Master, are you sure? If you lose, history will be burnt down.]

Hearing Bookmark's words, Stroph began to doubt his decision, but in the end, he decided not to think about it anymore and bet everything on luck.

[The bet on the history "Food for friend" is accepted. The odds of winning are 80%, the odds of losing are 20% and the reward multiplier is x5.]

Upon seeing such numbers, Stroph decided that victory was already in his pocket and he didn't take such a big risk for nothing.

Immediately after the notification, a wheel appeared in front of him again, only this time it was very different from the last one. It was a round, black piece of rock with many cracks, through which a lava was slowly flowing. It looked as if it were not a wheel, but the part of some volcano or even of the underworld.

The wheel began to turn with a crackle, but to Stroph's surprise, even after a couple of minutes it did not stop. Five minutes later, the whole wheel was enveloped in red infernal flames and finally there was nothing left of it. Immediately after this stunning spectacle, a series of notifications appeared in front of Stroph.

[Common level history - "Food for friend" burnt down]

Stroph already wanted to scream with rage over his failure, but the next moment he realized that actually the fortune had turned to him.

[A new tittle of common level - "Loser of History" was received]

[A rare level title - "Burned History" was received]

[The level was upgraded. Current Level - 2]

Seeing that he had received so many rewards at once, Stroph calmed down and decided to himself that since now he wouldn`t risk his histories without any good reason. Even though Stroph received many different and interesting awards, his very first history was lost forever.

<Eh, okay, it`s enough, my head is already buzzing>. With those words, he headed on his way to school.

Some people looked back at Stroph and this happened quite often. He was used to it, for all the attention of the passersby was because of his unconventional appearance. He had thick white hair and multi-colored eyes. His left eye was blue like the sky and his right one was green like a dense forest. Stroph had a heterochromia. And, unlike those who dye their hair and use colored lenses, his appearance had been that way from the birth.

Stroph was walking slowly and leisurely, but suddenly he got a message on his phone that made him walk a little faster than a turtle.

"You have 30 minutes left, I hope you're on your way to school, I wouldn't advise you to be late, Mr. Hardy is obviously in a bad mood today. Gather up the rest of your strength, after a hard and exhausting many hours` sleep and drag yourself to school."

After reading the message, Stroph frowned slightly and thought to himself, <Charles would have been a good manager, well, or warden.> Then Stroph accelerated his step slightly, perhaps, he still had a chance to be on time.