Chapter 11: Baptism by Veve
It started with a whisper. As always.
Peterson lay stretched out in the old metal tub his mother used as a washing basin. It was late afternoon, the kind where the Cap-Haïtien heat clung to your skin like guilt. The tub was halfway full with water he'd begged his sisters to fetch from the pump. Altagrace had gone to the market and wouldn't be back until sunset. The twins were at school late for group work—or so they said.
Peterson had locked the bedroom door.
The medallion sat heavy in his palm. Still warm. Still whispering. But now, the words were more direct:
"Place me on your chest. Let the water carry you. Accept what you are becoming."
He hesitated, breathing deeply. His ribs still ached from the fight with the Galipots. The memory of his skin turning dark and veves lighting up his body was still fresh.
"Here goes nothing."
He pressed the medallion to his chest, lay back, and let himself sink just enough for the water to cover his ears.
Silence.
Then—
"Welcome, player."
The voice wasn't in his ears. It was in his mind, resonating like a bell underwater.
"You have successfully accepted the contract of the Veve's Path. You are now linked to the Voodoo System."
His eyes snapped open, but the world around him wasn't the same.
He was still in the tub—but the ceiling above him glowed with veve symbols he didn't recognize. The water around him shimmered green. His chest burned—not in pain, but as if something was being written on his skin.
"Initializing system. Player Level: 1. Access to system interface granted."
Suddenly, floating panels appeared in his vision.
[VOODOO SYSTEM ACTIVE]
Name: Peterson Joseph
Level: 1
Status: Alive (Barely Holding It Together)
Energy: 45/100
Skills Unlocked:
• Basic Combat (Lv1) – Slight increase in reflexes and muscle memory.
• Crafter (Lv1) – Allows the user to create blueprints for equipment using imagination. Must gather physical materials to manifest them.
• Summoner (Lv1) – Can summon up to 2 skeletal minions with basic physical strength.
• Bestower (Lv1) – Can grant abilities to others by marking them with a Veve. Must meet loyalty requirements.
Peterson blinked. "What the hell…"
Then—BOOM! The system short-circuited.
No, wait. That was the bathroom door rattling.
"Peteeeeerson!" Miranda shouted. "Ou ap benyen toujou?!" ( Are you still bathing? )
"I'm bathing!"
"You've been in there for over an hour!" Amanda chimed in. "You better not be killing a fish in there!"
"I said I'm bathing!"
The voices faded. Peterson sank back into the water.
He whispered, "Crafter… show me something simple."
A new panel popped up:
[CRAFTING INTERFACE UNLOCKED]
Choose blueprint type:
• Weapon
• Armor
• Accessory
Peterson smirked. "Weapon."
Select Base:
• Stick
• Metal rod
• Broken fan blade
"Let's try the stick…"
Choose design:
• Machete
• Spear
• Baton
He picked baton. His thoughts shaped it—grooved handle, wrapped cloth grip, steel core.
Blueprint created. Required material: 1 sturdy stick, cloth, 1 piece of scrap metal.
"Okay… this is sick."
Later That Evening
Jean-Daniel barged through Peterson's window. Again.
"I brought painkillers, bread, and a stolen mango," he announced.
"You're supposed to knock," Peterson said, half-laughing.
"You're the one who leaves the window unlocked."
Wilkens poked his head through behind him, breathless. "Why… does your house have so many stairs?"
"Because my poverty comes with altitude," Peterson replied.
They sat in a triangle on the bed. Peterson, glowing with excitement, told them everything.
"The system spoke to me. I got powers. Like game powers. And I think the medallion fused with me."
Jean-Daniel whistled. "No kidding. You did levitate and look like a voodoo superhero."
"White hair," Wilkens whispered. "Still not over that."
"I got four skills," Peterson continued. "Combat, crafting, summoning, and bestowing."
"Bestowing?" Jean-Daniel asked.
"I can give powers. But only to people who trust me and are loyal."
Wilkens raised his hand. "I kinda trust you. Like 70%."
"Then you get 0% powers," Peterson shot back.
Jean-Daniel laughed. "So I'm your first party member?"
Peterson nodded. "Let's test it."
He placed a hand on Jean-Daniel's shoulder. The medallion in his chest pulsed. A symbol—glowing white—formed on Jean-Daniel's forearm.
A panel appeared before them.
[New Party Member Added: Jean-Daniel Jean]
Skill Randomized: Brawler's Instinct (Lv1) – Can sense movement before it happens. Slight boost in reaction time and durability.
Jean-Daniel flexed. "Oh yeah. Ohhhhh yeah. This is what I'm talking about."
Wilkens tilted his head. "So… I'm the nerd. Jean gets super reflexes. And you—"
"—am turning into a supernatural RPG protagonist," Peterson finished.
Training Begins
The next few days were ridiculous.
Peterson spent every morning dodging Jean-Daniel's surprise punches in the yard.
"Why are you hitting me?!"
"I'm training you!"
"You're enjoying this too much!"
Wilkens sat with a stopwatch, occasionally snacking and rating Peterson's dodge rate.
"Missed 3 out of 5. Still a rookie," he muttered.
They scavenged for materials—cardboard, wires, broken chairs. Peterson crafted a rough chestplate with cardboard and scrap wood. It lasted about five seconds in their mock battle.
But each attempt gave him XP.
[Level Up! Player is now Level 2]
New Crafting Tier Unlocked: Thatch + Cardboard
Progress was slow. But steady.
At School
Lycée Philippe Guerrier was back to business. Exams were looming, teachers shouted louder, and the school fans worked even less.
Peterson sat at the back as usual. But now he was different.
Naëlle walked past him once and did a double take. "You good?" she asked.
He nodded too fast. "Great. Totally normal."
Amanda and Miranda watched him too—whispering, following him from a distance.
"You think he's in trouble?" Amanda asked.
"Definitely," Miranda answered.
But they said nothing. Not yet.
Meanwhile…
Jean-Daniel spoke with a man named Serge, the street recruiter for a local gang. "Peterson's quiet. But he's sharp. You need runners? He'll do it. No questions."
Serge nodded. "We got a job. Couple pickups. Carrying merchandise. You in?"
Jean-Daniel hesitated. "Just don't put him in something that'll get him killed."
Serge smirked. "This is Cap. Everything can get you killed."
End of Chapter 11