Erin woke up that morning pleasantly surprised to find that she had gotten 5 EXP. Upon a quick check of her notifications history, it was from staying out of sunlight.
[10/100 EXP]
There was also a little bonus 5 EXP she wasn't sure where it had originated from. The most she can guess was that it a small reward after evolving into a vampire. Either way, the EXP requirement reset to when she was at level 1, meaning she could level up faster now just like when she first got the system.
It was pleasant news, making Erin happy. Not happy enough to smile, but happy enough to be in a good mood. She was going to need to be in a good mood to prepare for the green portal expedition.
However, Erin's good mood didn't last long as she was heading to class with Layla, and stepped right outside the dormitory building. It was then that Erin realized that there was a nice shining bright sun outside.
"Is something the matter?" Layla asked, noticing Erin suddenly stopped.
Thankfully, Erin was still in the shade, but there was no way she could find a way to class without stepping into the sun.
'System, be honest with me. Will this hurt like hell?'
"Why not step into the sun and see for yourself?" The system said.
Erin frowned upon hearing the AI's words. For something that was meant to answer questions about how the system worked, it acted more like an annoying uncle than anything.
Determined to not let it bother her, Erin stepped out of the shade and into the sun itself. Immediately, she stumbled a little feeling the effects. She was quickly able to stand upright, but not before Layla came over to help.
[You are being hit by direct sunlight]
[All stats will be reduced by 70 percent]
Erin swore under her breath as her eyebrows contorted into pure unbridled rage.
"Are you okay? Is this because of your… condition?" Layla said, now slightly fearful of Erin's visible anger.
{Erin} I don't care how I'm going to do it. I'm going to give you a body just so I can shove as many sharp objects into every holepossible, and just when you think you'll die from the pain, I'll put you into a new body and do it. All. Again.
{Quinn} WHAT DID I DO?!
{Erin} That was not meant for you. That is meant for the system AI.
{Erin} I needed to make sure it heard me loud and clear.
"…See, this is why I didn't want to tell you sooner because I knew you were going to act this way," The system quietly spoke.
'Just when I max out all of my stats, I'm back at a 6 in everything,' Erin thought.
"If I'm going to be honest, I never really had this problem before. Back then, we had plenty of items that stopped the sun from affecting us. If you had access to the shop then you could see a ring that would've been given to the weakest of our men."
'So you're being talkative NOW that I'm threatening you. Maybe I should make through on them,' Erin angrily thought back, 'You might actually give me some ANSWERS!'
While Erin was making threats to a voice in her head, Layla took out a pitch black umbrella, and hung it over her friend's head. Ever since their tests back at the gym, Layla took it upon herself to keep the umbrella on hand at all times for times like this.
[All stats have returned to normal]
Erin let out a sigh of relief, and quietly whispered, "…Thank you."
Layla smiled with a chuckle, "Well, what kind of friend would I be if I couldn't do this? It's the least I can do for you."
Layla wanted to make it up to Erin for failing to get her help back on the red portal planet. However, she was surprised when Erin moved in closer under the umbrella, and subsequently getting closer to Layla herself.
Getting a little flustered by the closeness, Layla handed the umbrella to Erin.
"Here, you can have it since you need it more than me," She quickly said, a slight blush on her face.
Erin took the umbrella, and the two continued walking.
"Look, I can see you're… angry," The system said, "How about this?"
It then opened up Erin's shadow skills tab, showing that out of the 10 skills, 2 had been unlocked, but 8 were still greyed out.
"All you want to do is be able to fight in the sun, right? You see this skill named Shadow Void? I would recommend you unlock it next. It only costs a total of twenty skill points, and you're already halfway there! The skill allows you to create your own space of shadows, blocking not only the sun, but outside viewers as well."
As the two arrived to class, several people began chatting away.
"I saw those two walking here under an umbrella. Are they a couple?"
"Forget that! Wasn't she one of the missing students? They really did come back!"
"I heard they got pushed in by a second year."
"Why would anyone push her in? I'd rather jump off a cliff than push a beauty like her."
"God, I hope the ice queen is into boys. She's gorgeous and a level 5! That's basically the whole package."
"So what if she likes girls? I bet I could change her mind. I'm stronger than that level 2 chick."
"Even though she froze me last time, I bet that if I confess to her again, she'll have to give me a chance."
"What about that boy who also came back? If he wasn't a level 1, I would've tried dating him by now."
"Shh! Don't let her hear you!"
Erin quietly groaned hearing all of these boys make comments about herself. With her becoming a vampire, her sense of hearing had greatly improved, as well as her appearance, meaning that more and more people had now 'fallen in love' with her.
It was annoying with how they wasted her time over confessing their feelings for her, even though they barely knew each other at all. With the way they spoke, they treated her less like a person, and more like a prize to be won.
She knew it was because of her appearance that made people act this way, but in her mind, she always thought it was something stupid to obsess over. Having a pretty partner was something they wanted from her, but they never gave anything genuine in return.
In her mind, Erin felt that if it ever came down to it in a life or death situation, they would rather leave her to the beasts than take a stand for someone they 'loved'.
Erin took a seat next to Layla near the front, and soon enough Peter and Quinn entered the room.
'Okay good, she hadn't noticed us yet," Quinn thought, hiding Peter behind his body.
However, Erin felt a familiar presence as her system buddy arrived to class. Instinctively, she glared in Quinn's direction, meeting Peter's eyes. His whole body shriveled up.
'Why did I have to jinx myself?' Quinn sighed.