My jaw dropped and my eyes widened at the sudden statement. Me? Getting killed? I thought it was absurd to just die in order to "follow the storyline" heck I didn't even know what it meant by that.
A thought crossed my mind "How was it going to kill me? "
Curious, I asked her with a doubtful voice "How are you planning to do that then?"
[Simple... ]
The chatbox turned into some form of energy and manifested itself into a humanoid form.
The way it transformed really looked like something from a fantasy media with how flashy it looked. Really reminds me of that one show about a schoolgirl gaining magical powers... What was the name again? Sailing sun?
The chatbox had fully turned into its humanoid form and took the appearance of a beautiful girl aged around 20-25. She wore a gorgeous, intricate dress and had long silky silver hair.
I was slightly taken aback and reflexively took a few steps behind.
She extends her left arm and opened her hand, conjuring a bright-white liquidlike form of energy which molded itself into the shape of a sword.
The color white began to fade like ash from the blade's tip all the way to the handle. Revealing the weapon's features.
It had turned into a long-sword with noticable otherworldly carvings on the blade itself. As it did she quickly assumed a defensive stance, preparing to charge while our eyes met.
I gulped and quickly thought of what I should say the next and hopefully not the last time I open my mouth.
"H-hey there's no need to—"
She stepped an inch closer and I flinched but as I did wind blew from her sheer speed alone. I looked down only to see her sword's tip pressed on my chest.
My heart throbbed, my chest felt tight and my hairs stood up from sheer shock. Fear overwhelmed me.
Her movements were fast, faster than my eyes could process. If I didn't control my cowardly urges to run I would've probably been dead on the spot. Wait that reminds me how am I not dead yet??
"If you are to die by my sword then I'd atleast give you the honor to speak your last words."
Ah, my luck is all over the place today.
But hey atleast she's noble about it. That's a good thing.
This in itself was a great opportunity to get out of this sticky situation. Hence, I scoffed and a smirk appeared from my face. This was a smirk of cringing from the cliche line that will come out of my mouth.
"Go ahead then."
She tilted her head slightly.
"Kill me."
I said so shakily
Even if the chances are low it's not zero. With this knowledge in mind (and an embarassing memory to keep me up at night) I took the risk and challenged her resolve to kill me.
Her eyes widened, finally understanding what Jean the Peasant Orphan meant. She didn't expect his bold choice of words.
"H-huh?"
I felt her pressing down the tip of the sword more but I suspected that she wouldn't dare stab me, let alone kill me.
I noticed it then, when our eyes met—her eyes showed no bloodlust but rather a sense of pity. Really, my luck is everywhere.
She grits her teeth in frustration before throwing her sword onto the ground.
*CLANG*
"AAAH! THIS JOB IS SO D*MN FRUSTRATING"
"Whoa whoa whoa missy over here pulled out a bad apple from her dictionary."
I wanted to be cunning and tease the lady a little. I prepared myself and placed my hand on my hip. Assuming a pose you'd see models do on the runway.
"A beautiful lady wearing such an intricate dress, cussing?"
I crossed my arms and scoffed.
"You're showing your inner ugline-"
She glared at me with piercing eyes and like a lost puppy I bit my lips while backing away, hitting the wood wall as I did.
I loudly gulped.
I shouldn't push my luck here. After all, I had close shave narrowly escaping death a moment ago.
"Shut up Jean the Peasant Orphan you don't know how I feel. "
"And you don't know how I feel working a nine to five. We're practically even."
At this moment I started to question something, why is she referring to me by such a long title? Though curious I refrained from asking the question as to not blow my cover.
She lets out a long, loud sigh.
"Maybe you are right about it being poetic."
"She believes my bullcrap??"
"Sorry for almost killing you... You are the first character I was tasked with after all."
"I can't believe I'm having such difficulties with a peasant's storyline."
She crouched down on the floor and pouted. Dang it, now I feel bad for teasing her.
I crouched down to her level as a form of gentle approach. As I did I placed my hand on her shoulder—patting it multiple times.
"There there. "
"What if I get fired for not following the storyline..."
What I understand so far is that she's a worker? Trying her best to keep an event as it is. In this case, that event is this "Jean" person's death. Huh, so she does know how it feels to work a nine to five... That only makes me feel more guilty for judging her.
Putting my guilt aside, I tried to convince her that it'll be fine and told her that she could kill me whenever she is ready. Which is quite messed up may I add.
"Okay... Okay..."
She sobs
"I haven't told my co-workers about your storyline so...you could go out and be yourself while I build up confidence to kill you."
"Oh I'm a free ma—"
"Oh, don't think you're that free you'll still need surveillance. In case you act up. "
Another problem arose. How does this "Jean the Peasant Orphan" act?
The lady opened a small sci-fi looking portal, enough to fit her small hands. She took out what seemed to be a green digital watch. The touch screen in itself was circular. Afterwards she called out to Jean the Peasant Orphan.
"Jean the Peasant Orphan?"
I'm not sure if all of them are tasked to keep this "storyline" though.
"Hello?"
Nonetheless, I'll still have eyes on me so I have to stay in character.
"Hey!"
She broke my inner monologue.All this time I spent doing an inner monologue she was calling me. As to keep her temper as it is I responded gently and politely.
"Sorry... Yes? What is it? What can I help you with?"
"Whoa, you are like a new character."
"Crap I broke character already?"
"Here."
She threw a digital watch towards me. I however failed to catch it.
"That's a new model by the way."
"NO! DID I BREAK SOMETHING EXPENSIVE?"
I swiftly picked it up and inspected for any scratches.
The lady looked at Jean the Peasant orphan without him noticing.
"Like usual its my time to clock out."
She looked quite cool when saying that. I admired her for a second.
"Ow my knee."
It was when she pointed it out I too felt pain on my knee. I helped her up to gain her trust—after all she'll make a good indirect guide for a little while.
By the way, she was quite comfortable opening up to this peasant. Was the peasant friends with this lady? Or did she vent because she was feeling pressed?
"Thanks, Jean. "
I replied with a scratch on my neck and an awkward chuckle.
"Yea, don't mention it."
Hmm guess for now I have to live the life of a peasant whilst simultaneously finding a way to avoid her from killing me. I certainly don't wanna die yet.
Measuring her full strength by just looking at her summoning a sword would be a challenge. On top of that she is also really fast. There's really no way to tell if that was her full speed, not yet atleast.
Keeping a close eye on her is a must. The more knowledge I have of her the more likely I'll be able to fight her if the worse were to come.
"I'll come back as fast as I can if I were to see you do something suspicious."
She turns away from me before turning into the energy from before and manifested herself back as a chatbox.
[I'll say this again, I have my eye on you. Don't do anything stupid]
bzzz bzzz bzzz
The chatbox turns into static before turning itself off similar to an old television.
Good for her, she's clocking off.
Now that I'm alone I should learn more about this person. After all, I haven't looked everywhere in this dumpster fire home.
***
A strange pod-like machine releases hot steam from small rusted pipes on its left and right side.
psssshhh
It's door opened outwards and a woman in a seemingly casual fit emerged from it.
Her short wavy black hair reflected the light illuminating the room.
She opened her sharp eyes, revealing her alluring ocean blue irises waiting to pull you inside and drown in its beauty.
Thenceforth, she looked over to her left and there on a desk—a small wooden box decorated with carvings. She reached out to it, grunting as she did before opening it.
The wooden box contained a few random items such as a number four fridge magnet and a candy wrap. But out of all of these there were three notable items within; a hand sewed chibi doll , a pair of glasses and a collection of keys.
She grabbed those pair of glasses, wearing them afterwards before stepping out the pod.
To the right of the pod there was a screen hung on the wall. There were a few sentences written on the screen. Among all of it, only one sentence really stood out.
"Jean the Peasant Orphan dies from poison."
There was no mention of that being "The End" of Jean's story.