Shit!
I immediately jolted upwards in my bed, my bed? Why exactly am I in a bed? That's not the last thing I remember.
The last thing I remember was, was, was...now's not the time to forget about things Felix. Just remember, it should be that hard, it shouldn't be that hard to remember.
Streetlamp.
I remember a streetlamp. It was light out, yet the streetlamp was on, I went to it because it provided light.
But it was the middle of the day, why would I do that?
Ah, I remember, I was looking up, deep into the sky, feeling terrified. Terrified of what, I almost have it's image, it was something I saw everyday but somehow different, it was...
"Felicius?" A voice called out to me.
Jolted out of my thoughts I turned to find a maid standing by my door, it looked old and expensive, almost like an refurbished antique.
Looking around I realized that my entire room looked like that, fancy and refurbished.
"Felicius, ça va? Tu as besoin d'aide?"
"Huh." I blurted out.
"I said Felicius, are you okay? Do you need any help?" She reaffirmed
That language, it sounds like french. My hands are paler than they used to be, my fingers are also lightly longer.
It's obvious that I've either been put in a high-tech VR simulation or this is the bone fide transmigration every reader dreams of?
But if it is, why do I feel so scared?
"Oh, yeah I'm okay, just fine, really, I'm sorry for worrying our prestigious family." I said, attempting to consul her.
"Master Felicius, I'm sorry, but what are you talking about, the Fontaine name isn't prestigious at all."
Fontaine, that's my last name and moreover, not prestigious? Then what did I do to deserve this room and maid?
If what she's saying can be taken at face value then it can be assumed that I, Felicius Fontaine, did something to warrant such lordly treatment in a setting based in 20th century France.
"How much longer until I have to go to the thing." I asked her
"You have three days before you are set to depart to Watson Académie" She responded
Non.
Non. Non. Non.
I got up out of bed and tore open the scarlet red curtains of my window.
Looking down I saw a bustling street full of pedestrians with a few horse carriages. I scanned each of them swiftly looking for the visage I read about countless times but I couldn't seem to find it.
After a short while I slowly closed the curtains. I then turned around and asked a question to my ever so patient maid,
"Watson Académie, it's named after our emperor right?"
"Yes it is, Emperor Watson the III"
'More like 1st, 2nd and 3rd' I chided to myself.
It really is it then, I am really in 'A Difference Foretold?'
The book was a hit and a big one, this was because it was very unique.
It wasn't a true hero story, Vanites Valentin was not a good person. It wasn't a typical villain story, Vanitas wasn't outright evil either. He was just an extreme person with questionable morals and a certified genius level of intelligence.
I'm so dead. Vanites Valentin and his merry band of Alchemists go and sacrifice everyone in the world to ascend past the stage of God. That's the way the first book ends. As for the second, it didn't come out yet but I did hear that it was in the final stages of production, not that it matters much.
Well, focus on the positives Felix, or should I say Felicius. You are going to go to the académie, that means you for whatever reason managed to achieve ascension. That means you have magical abilities.
'status' I muttered under my breath
.................
Name: Felicius Fontaine
Soul Rank: Ascended
Authority: Answer Manipulation
*Note* Tier values are based upon the average value for the soul rank which is C. An Ascended who is SSS+ is only SSS+ for an Ascended.
Endurance: B-
Dexterity: S-
Speed: SS+
Strength: D-
Constitution: S+
Agility: SSS+
Luck: C
*note* only Ascended with authorities directly correlating with fortune or misfortune have augments to the luck stat
.................
Answer manipulation huh. All authorities held by Ascended are broken in their own right making fights really unpredictable. This was one of the reasons why 'A Difference Foretold' was so beloved.
My authority, let me activate it. I'm pretty sure I know what it does.
I quickly put my left hand where my maid couldn't see it very suspiciously.
I then deadpan stared her in the eyes with a small smile.
She looked uncomfortable.
"Uh, lord Felicius, what exactly are you doing?"
"I'm just grabbing an apple." I said
I then felt lightheaded like I just ran a quick mile.
Opening my hands I came to find a small apple laying on my palms.
So that's how it works.
It takes energy to do so but essentially it seems like I can make anything happen as long as it's a reasonable answer to a question asked.
Such bullshit seems in line with the average power level in the book.
Let me try something else, "Do I know your name?"
"Um...yes, you should?" She responded
I then felt lightheaded again but a lot less than last time.
An image of the word appeared in my mind, "Let's go then, Jean."
"Go where, Master?" She asked me.
"Outside."
The scene changed.
I immediately collapsed on the the cobblestone street with a dull piercing pain in my head. Oh yeah, each authority has a problem with it, a flaw if you will. One that's directly related to the said authority.
The flaw is directly derivative of the authority and manifests after first using the authority. It's scaled proportionally to the power of the authority relative to other authorities on the same level.
'Status.' I said.
.................
Name: Felicius Fontaine
Soul Rank: Ascended
Authority: Answer Manipulation
Authority Flaw: Authority cannot be deactivated.
*Note* Tier values are based upon the average value for the soul rank which is C. An Ascended who is SSS+ is only SSS+ for an Ascended.
Endurance: B-
Dexterity: S-
Speed: SS+
Strength: D-
Constitution: S+
Agility: SSS+
Luck: C
*note* only Ascended with authorities directly correlating with fortune or misfortune have augments to the luck stat
.................
This is a problem.
This means that any answer I give will come true regardless of fact. I can't dismiss things using a phrase like 'I can't tell you that.' because if I do, it will make me physically unable to the person in question what I'm thinking which will of course also consume my energy.
I need to find a workaround, fast.
I got up and sat down on a bench outside to calm my mind.
"What did you do?" She asked me.
"Used my authority to make us go outside because I hate exercise." I said truthfully.
Nothing happened. No energy drain. I smiled at this development. If something is true in all accounts nothing changes.
"Oh, okay." She affirmed to me.
We then started to walk down the crowded cobblestone street, "I want chocolate macaroons, please take me to a sweet shop." I ordered not asking.
Not asking.
Just as I thought there was no energy drain, my authority wasn't activated. Finding these loopholes left in right, I realized that such a flaw was very manageable.
Approaching the cafe glass window I began to notice my reflection, pale white skin, long black hair and golden eyes. I looked stunning. All thanks to my ascension no doubt.
When one becomes an Ascended their skin becomes flawless, if their hair is fluffier and curlier it becomes straighter, if their hair is straighter it becomes fluffier and curlier and their jawbone and face size approach a level they consider perfection.
Colors in their eyes become more distinct and brighter, legitimately glowing at night and so does their hair color, becoming a vibrant shade of it's originating color.
"What are you doing." She asked me with a small smile on her face.
"Just admiring myself." I said, too afraid of what lying would entail.
We then went into the store and bought a couple chocolate macaroons. I did anyway, Jean went for strawberry ones.
Sitting down outside the cafe and enjoying our meal of sweets, she asked my a question from across the table,
"Is it scary, going to meet so many powerful people?"
I took a bite of my 3rd chocolate macaroon before speaking, "Yes, it is scary. I am frightened. It's actually a lot scarier than you'd believe, after all Ascended are exceedingly rare and powerful, so we get good treatment but not everyone are our friends. People from the kingdom of Caelus might attack us and we will have to deal with the danger of the chasm. Moreover, even our brothers and sisters right here in Auclaire might have reason to go against us."
"That is scary, well whatever happens you know that I believe in you, right?"
"Yes, you do." I answered her, probing.
My authority didn't activate, this meant that as of now she believed in and abided those words. This thought made me gently at her as she ate her strawberry macaroon.
Soon life's about to be hell, I hope you're prepared, Jean.