Chapter 13 - Climbing the Social Ladder

[Your guitar skill has been improved by one level, now it is at Musical Instrument - Guitar - 22 (Expert).]

Talon was still riding on the wave of elation coming from the audience after his duet with Maya, but eventually, he came back to reality and looked at her, "Good luck."

"Thanks," Maya replied in a soft voice.

Since her guitarist was no longer available, Maya was left with just the keyboardist, so Talon also decided to leave the stage, wanting to eat something after the emotional roller coaster of performing twice in a row.

He had thought of offering himself to Maya as a guitarist, but he decided against it as he didn't want to complicate the issues she was already having with her boyfriend, not even mentioning it to her.

Alice waved at him as he made his way over to her, sitting down next to the young woman who still had a look of enthusiasm and amazement on her face.

"It was absolutely amazing." Alice patted Talon's shoulder.

He looked at her and softly replied, "Thanks, Alice."

Alice continued, "Hey, tell me, why were you singing so soulfully like you were falling in love with Maya? Don't tell me that you really fell in love with her, huh?"

Talon seemed confused by her question. "I don't feel like it?"

Alice insisted, "You were singing with your emotion and gazed at her on the stage like you really felt the emotion. Now, tell me that you have fallen for her, huh?"

"No..." he replied. "I don't feel like that..."

Alice answered with a face of annoyance. "Tsk. Now, go eat. After this, we leave. I'm so sleepy, I want to sleep early." "Alright..." he answered enthusiastically.

Talon proceeded to devour the meal that was laid out on the table while he continued to listen to Maya's singing. He was struck by her remarkable talent and how she could capture the audience's attention and dominate the stage even without a guitarist. Her dedication to her craft inspired a smile to spread across his face.

They were still in the grand hall, surrounded by the echoes of applause and the soft murmur of the departing crowd. The atmosphere was thick with the residue of the evening's emotions—a blend of exhilaration, fulfillment, and the inevitable descent from the performance's high. Talon could feel the weight of his achievements and the surreal reality of the evening wrapping around him like a cloak.

They slowly made their way out of the hall, passing by tables littered with the remnants of celebration. The dimming lights cast long shadows, mirroring the gradual winding down of the event. His mind was a whirlwind of thoughts and feelings, the adrenaline of the performance slowly ebbing away, replaced by a quiet contemplation. The noise and bustle of the party receded into the background as if they were leaving one world and stepping into another.

Outside, the cool night air was a sharp contrast to the warmth of the hall. The quiet streets were illuminated by the soft glow of streetlights. As they approached Alice's car, the silence between them felt comfortable yet laden with unspoken thoughts. Talon paused before getting into the driver's seat.

The transition from the euphoria of the stage to the tranquility of the night set the stage for a different kind of conversation. As they settled into the car, the hum of the engine was a gentle reminder that the world was still turning despite the night's extraordinary events. Soon, they were speeding through the city streets, surrounded by the glittering lights of the urban landscape.

Inside the car, the outside world suddenly seemed to vanish, cloaking the two of them in an intimate space. The dashboard was illuminated by a warm, soft glow, casting a gentle light across their faces. Talon's hands were lightly resting on the steering wheel, feeling the cool, smooth texture of the leather beneath his fingertips. The faint scent of Alice's perfume mingled with the fresh, crisp air, bringing in a tranquil atmosphere of the night.

As they drove, the buildings and streets passed by in a blur, the city's rhythm a stark contrast to the stillness inside the car. The world outside moved at its own pace, unaware of the significant conversation that was about to unfold within the confines of the vehicle.

Alice broke the silence first. "Since when did you realize you had those incredible talents, Talon?"

Talon glanced at her before turning his attention back to the road. His mind raced as he tried to come up with a convincing answer. How could he tell her that everything had changed because of a mysterious system that had granted him supernatural abilities? It was too unbelievable to utter out loud.

"Just recently," he lied smoothly, hoping to appease her curiosity.

Alice nodded, seemingly satisfied with his response.

Alice's eyes sparkled with excitement as she looked at Talon. "Now that you've discovered your incredible talents, the world is your oyster! I have no doubt that you will receive countless opportunities in the future."

She turned to him with a grin. "So, what's your plan?"

Talon hesitated before answering, unsure of how to articulate his thoughts. "Well...I guess my first priority would be paying the rent," he said sheepishly.

Alice burst into laughter at his response. "Come on now, don't tell me that's all you're aiming for. There must be something bigger, a grander plan in mind. After all, you won't stay in my tiny apartment forever!"

"A bigger plan?"

Talon repeated softly, his mind racing with endless possibilities. He had always dreamed of using his newfound abilities and talents to make a name for himself. With the help of the mysterious system that had granted him these powers, he could do anything he wanted. The thought of it made his imagination run wild.

"Aside from paying rent, what else do you want to achieve?" Alice pressed on eagerly.

Talon's eyes lit up as he began to share his ideas.

"Well, for starters, I want to write my own songs and make them popular. And then I'll sing them and make them my signature songs."

His voice was filled with determination and passion as he spoke about his dreams.

Alice chuckled in response. "Now you're all confident. You've got to be kidding me - why didn't you do this sooner?" she asked.

"Alice, I have the money now. I'll take care of the rent right away," he replied in a soft voice.

[You have been given a new quest!]

[As the initial step of your journey to stardom, it is essential for all public figures to have an active presence on social media, and your next mission is to accumulate an audience of fifty thousand followers on one platform.]

[Clear Rewards: 1 to 10 points of a new skill, depending on your profile, plus an additional 10 skill points.]

[You have one month to accomplish this task; if you fail, one of your skills will be randomly chosen to be taken away.]

"Fifty thousand followers?" his voice was barely a whisper, but the weight of the challenge hung heavy in the air.

He had no idea how difficult it would be to complete this quest, but he knew he had to try. Social media was a whole new world that he had never ventured into before, and now he realized the importance of having an online presence.

With a deep sigh, he realized that he would have to create his own social media account. Instagram, Facebook, X, Youtube, TikTok - the options were endless and overwhelming. How would he even begin to gain such a massive following in just one month?

Talon queried, "I was wondering how difficult it is to get fifty thousand followers on social media? Have you ever tried to reach that goal?"

Alice appeared perplexed, "I'm not sure. I've had my Instagram account for many years and still I only have thirty thousand followers. Why do you ask?"

He continued, "What about YouTube or TikTok? Have you tried any of them?"

"I have no talent to show, so I don't bother creating those accounts," she continued. "Actually, I'm not very active on social media, but I think thirty thousand followers is still quite a lot for me." She said this with a proud face.

Talon swallowed hard, coming to the realization that he would have to put in a considerable amount of effort if he wanted to achieve his goal. But with this newfound challenge came new expenses. He would need a new smartphone or laptop to create quality content and engage with his potential followers. And that meant postponing paying the apartment rent again.

"Alice..." he sighed, bracing himself for her reaction. "I'm afraid I have to postpone paying the rent once more."

Alice's eyebrows shot up in surprise as she turned towards him. "What? Why?" Her tone was incredulous.

He couldn't bring himself to tell her the truth. Instead, he simply replied, "It's just something I have to do. I'm sorry for being shameless like this."

"If you don't tell me the reason, how could I trust you? You have a lot of money, so what will you use it for?" She asked, her brow furrowed in suspicion.

"Some urgent matter, but I need a new smartphone," he replied.

"Oh... so you're finally coming out of the stone age, huh?" She responded, her voice laced with amusement.

"Alright, I can accept that excuse as long as you promise to treat me to a meal tomorrow. I'll accompany you to pick out a new phone for you," she added, her enthusiasm evident in her tone.

"Sure, let's make it a date tomorrow," Talon suggested.

"Not a date, just eating together!" She quickly corrected it. "Don't get any ideas," she added sternly, although her lips twitched with a hint of a smile.

Talon chuckled softly in response to her words.