That evening, Colette had hid in the bathroom after everyone was asleep. The room was tiny, cold, dark, and smelled of sweat and other unpleasantries. Nonetheless, she sat huddled in the corner as far away from the door as possible, eagerly awaiting the alone time she needed to check out the game shop privately.
"Shop" she had whispered in the dark, the green shimmering menu materializing out of thin air. Her clear baby blue eyes sparkled.
There were several items available depicted as if she were online shopping, but she had no way of knowing what effects they had, how much they were, or how much she had. They were all potions. All different colors. Pink, blue, yellow, and purple.
She guessed she would have to just buy one to find out. Biting her lip, Colette selected a pink potion- her finger pressing on the image of the pink bottle. her fingertip tingled and the menu glitched slightly, making her blink rapidly.
[…You are about to purchase The Potion of True Intent. This first purchase will be free, but every item thereafter will cost experience points.]
[Experience points can be gained 1 at a time for every 10 affection points earned from any/all characters.]
[ Only 1 shop item can be purchased per day. Current balance is 3 XP.]
[Do you wish to proceed with the free first purchase?]
"Yes."
[…Potion purchased. Thank you for using the shop.]
With a flashing glow of green light, the shop window disappeared and the potion, a glass bottle wrapped in a leather strap and sealed with a cork, was left in Colette's child sized palm.
Colette squinted as she stared at the swishing pink liquid inside- then gasped as a new window popped up. Colette noticed now that when the system was speaking directly to her, the tone of the words changed…At times like this when the system simply laid out rules and information- it was more like the original game, more matter of fact and robotic. But it wasn't perfectly consistent, as if certain words were exact and automated or directly copied, whilst others were personable and generated. She did not know what to make of that…but seeing as she was here in this game now, it was a given that things would be different. It just slightly unsettled her how the system was now being so cold and mechanical, after speaking to her like a guide seemingly just hours ago.
[…Potion of True Intent]
[…See the true feelings of character, and detailed thoughts of characters upon request.]
[Lasts 10 days in game.]
[Active effects: The window will open when a target is approached that depicts the target's general intent.]
[…Use Limit: 10 game days.]
[…Restrictions: Cannot see all thoughts as they appear, only the dominant ones of the target character. Cannot see memories of characters.]
This was a game changer. With this, she could more easily navigate winning over the romance interests who were the most difficult to deal with. It's a shame it was only 1 bottle that lasted 10 days- but who's to say the same item wouldn't appear sometime later and she could save it for later if she bought it? It would make the game as seamless as possible…she might actually be able to reach her ideal ending and find that secret love interest….
What a crazy cheat.
Colette flinched as a new window popped up- just as the clocks of the town struck 12.
The ringing from outside startled her and made her heart pound. She was not sure what would happen outside of main storyline game scenes as she was moving about- if things would change because she wasn't doing what the original Colette was doing, etc…. So she was a bit concerned about being caught.
Would she just cease to exist if she died here? Or would she just respawn? She didn't want to risk it. But she had to at least in this manner.
Colette turned her attention back to the brand new pop up window. It was pink again, and the system's tone shifted once more.
[…Congrats on clearing your first tutorial mission today. You befriended the character Manon. This action means the tutorial will proceed.]
[…For your first reward, the system will grant you 2 of 4 possible gifts. Please select 2 gifts.]
[Easy Recovery]
[Starter Affection Points]
[Information]
[Right Your Wrong]
Colette stared blankly at the choices in front of her.
"Um…can you explain what each of these are?" she whispered softly. The system didn't answer right away.
[….We cannot do that at your current level. As you increase affection across all characters, more perks may be available. For now, you must choose blindly.]
In that case, Colette had a better idea of what she should probably do. She absolutely needed to get as many affection points as possible as soon as possible if she was going to fully take advantage of these perks.
"Will the gifts take effect as I select them or after I've selected them both?" She asked, hoping for the first.
[…They will take effect after selecting both.]
Colette cursed under her breath. Still, she did decide what her first choice was. It had to be this since she couldn't garner too many affection points until she enrolled in the academy.
"The first gift I want is Easy Recovery."
[…Understood. You selected the gift "Easy Recovery" please confirm.]
"I confirm."
[…Okay.]
[First gift confirmed. Easy Recovery: This gift will allow the player to recover lost affection points at any time, up to 50 points, up to 3 times per character. Can be used at any time as long as there was a time when the affection points of the target were higher than they are at the time of usage.]
"Whoa….." Colette was wondering what exactly she did to deserve all this. Just as fast as her smile came- it went.
Why exactly was all this happening to her? She felt like she was living a dream she didn't work for- one she shouldn't have. After all she had done.
[…The system detects that the Player is unstable.]
[…If we may suggest a gift to select as your second reward, we suggest choosing "Right Your Wrong".]
Colette's brows furrowed, confused. "But you can't tell me what it is…"
[…No. But based on the player's worries and concerns, this gift will help the player the most.]
Help her the most…. Colette thought about it. The system seemed to know her life, her traumas, her last actions before her suicide…all of it. She had no reason to not trust the system, especially after being given all these perks.
"Okay…I choose Right Your Wrong as my second gift." She spoke slowly and quietly.
[….You have chosen the gift: Right Your Wrong. Please confirm. Colette pursed her lips, hands clenching in anxiety.]
".....I…Confirm."
[….Okay. Second gift confirmed. Right Your Wrong.]
Unlike the first time, the system screen glowed a golden color. It was nearly blinding, and Colette didn't know where to even look. By the time the light had faded away, Colette felt like she had been holding her breath for hours, her red hair wildly floating around her head.
[…Congratulations. The player has chosen a premium gift. Due to the gift level, the gift cannot be fully described immediately while the system prepares your gift. Please standby and monitor the loading bar until preparations are completed.]
Huh? Colette was once again at a loss for words. She would have nearly felt cheated- well, she did- but she would feel more angry that she wasted a gift if not for the fact that she had already received a pretty great one all things considered.
"So I have to wait?? Why?" she breathed, trying not to get louder due to her displeasure.
[….The system needs to make preparations for Right Your Wrong by fully scanning the player's wrongs.]
That changed things…a scan? "You mean you'll find out the worst thing I have done and fix it for me? Is this not limited to the game?", a strange, clenching feeling gripped Colette's chest tightly. A chance to be free of the guilt she had held onto- the guilt that ate her up so badly that it ruined her life and caused her to end it herself. She would be free of this?
[…Yes. We will scan the player's life in their original world to make preparations and then reveal the generated perk based on the information gathered. Please wait for the system to finish preparing.]
Colette could only agree, bewildered but unbelievingly grateful and full of hope. She watched as a loading bar appeared in the upper portion of her line of vision. She guessed the golden bar would fill up once preparations were completed.
It wasn't just about the game. It was about her.
She would do anything….anything to be free of this guilt and shame.
To right her wrongs.
To feel like a good person again.
....
Colette had woken up to a hand shaking her. It startled her awake, the sensation feeling so realistic, and she still was not used to it.
It was Madame Delores, smelling of milk and oats, her nails digging into her shoulder only covered by thin material. This was not good. In the game, there was a 25% chance you'd wake up late the morning after befriending a child. If you did, you encountered Madame this way. It was a challenging task, requiring you to build rapport with Madame or make her hate you.
"Wake up now, Colette. Everyone else has made their beds. What is wrong with you? This is not a palace." She sneered.
Madame was very nitpicky and getting on her good side was tough and required patience. Her response here was extremely important as it was more difficult to correct mistakes later. Failure meant dropping from 5 AP to 1, and suffering more blatant abuse later at her hands. What you could do was always different, and her responses were 1 of 3. Anger, pity, or annoyance. Pity was the best option, but it severely depended on context clues as her mood in the morning and the circumstances were different each round. She was a smart character.
Suddenly the redhead remembered her other reward. Surely she could use it now? Not sure how to activate the ability, she stared at Madame Delores, who raised an eyebrow. Suddenly, floating, swaying words appeared above the woman's posh but atop her head.
Delores believes the girl may be sick because she heard her wheezing in her sleep. She is uncomfortable as she knows the manager will be angry if he sees the youngest one who just arrived ill.
Ah, perfect. Colette had the perfect act prepared to avoid the worst case scenario.
Colette coughed, wheezing pitifully. It helped that she was thirsty from yesterday as all the big kids got to the water before her and Manon could.
"I'm sorry, Madame. I'm just," she coughed, it came out dry and convincing "so sorry" she sat up to get up and Madame's upper lip curled. She looked displeased, but the pity act still worked.
"You may rest for one more hour. Manon will bring you some water. The manager is coming this afternoon and I don't want any issues." she huffed, sauntering away, her skirts swishing.
It worked well enough, Colette receiving the message that affection points from Madame had raised to 10 total. Out of all the scarier characters from the game, Madame was the easiest of course, as she was just a minor tutorial boss. She was simply here to show you how to act for the best results. She was the perfect test subject for her new ability.
Colette decided to snoop around since she was alone in the sleeping quarters. By now, the rest of the children would be cooking breakfast.
She gingerly climbed out of bed, pushing her hair out of her face. Her feet hit the floor and she flinched at the coldness. Nonetheless, she knelt under her bed, searching. Nothing. She checked under the next bed, and the next, until she had made it all the way around the entire room. Still- what she was looking for was not found. Huffing, Colette sat on her bottom, leaning back on her hands. Her frail body was exhausted from the exertion. She had to make sure she ate breakfast today or she would be in trouble. She hoped Madame would order it- but if Manon didn't manage to get past the bully kids, they'd both likely starve regardless.
She had to do something…quickly.
Her other task forgotten, Colette crawled over to the door and peered through the keyhole.
There. Right on schedule, the older kids who bullied them, a little trio of two boys and a girl, were waiting against the wall across from the room Colette was in. They looked like they were whispering, huddled together with the girl keeping a constant lookout so they knew when Manon would approach. Colette bit her bottom lip in worry. If she didn't act soon, Manon would be in trouble. Doing things in a game was one thing- but even though she knew what she had to do, she still hesitated.
Would it hurt?
Shaking her head, Colette told herself it was a small price to pay for the reward.
Based on the game, she had about 10 more minutes before Manon came around the corner.
So she opened the door and stepped out, coming face to face with the 3 children under 14 who looked at her like she was an annoying bug.
Stella, George, and Remy.
This is where the tutorial began blending into the game storyline.
Remy, soon to be Remy Castan. Now 9 years old, scrawny but still the least hungry kid in the orphanage. He had come here at 6, was adopted 3 times by nobles who liked his appearance, and returned 3 times for bad behavior and a potty mouth.
He appeared rather harmless at first. A handsome face even for his age, a face one knew would only grow to be much more handsome. Stormy dark grey hair, rare and almost unseen but not unwelcome in this world. And his clouded grey eyes and strong eyebrows topped off his look. Like a diamond in the rough. A talent waiting to break out.
"The foul smelling fox has blessed us with her presence." Remy grinned.
Remy was a male love interest. And Colette's least favorite character.
"Madame won't stop us from taking your breakfast." Stella quipped, her plain brown hair unruly and falling in impossible fairy knots. It was tamable, just thin and frail- something madame detested. She was frequently reprimanded for it and frequently took this out on others.
George was quiet- but he was the burliest kid in the orphanage at 14, with short black hair and a deadpan expression. He didn't need to be loud.
Remy hummed as he walked around Colette, observing her in a circle.
"You'll probably get adopted quickly with that face and hair. You won't need that food, little fox."
Little fox- it was what his character often called the player- Colette. It was how she recognized him later on years down the line. And it annoyed Colette to no end. Of all character types, Colette hated the ones who bullied others, teased her, and called her names. It was all too similar, too familiar, and too hurtful.
She had to grit her teeth as she stared at Remy, but the ability worked its magic just in time. Thin, willowy floating words appeared above Remy's head.
True intent.
[Remy thinks Colette is adorable like a delicate flower, but smells like a terrified skunk run over by a carriage. He intends to steal her food as soon as Manon returns and kick Manon to the ground for being ugly. He intends to spare Colette the abuse since she is pretty. Current AP: 8]
Colette's smile became genuine within a second. It was light, shy, dainty and delicate just like Remy perceived. "Remy…I-", she forced a cough out her throat, making it dry and painful. "I'm really hungry though…I didn't even get", another pitiful cough "water….please…please spare me this one time…I will do anything." Colette pleaded, her fingers clutching onto Remy's ragged coat. The whole performance had Stella's face crimson with anger and George's thick eyebrows raised in shock.
Remy- well he was also surprised. Colette's eyes were locked onto the air above his head, staring daggers into something no one else could see.
[Remy thinks Colette is painfully adorable. He is contemplating treating her well but also wishes to mess with her. He still detests Manon and intends to mess with her.]
Colette cursed internally. It wasn't good enough. She had 2 personal objectives for this scene that needed to happen or things would be annoying later. She needed to eat, and Manon needed to feel safe around her. If she lost her favor, it would be a headache finishing the tutorial. She wished she had the options the game usually gave for interactions, but the options she usually chose were slipping from her mind at the moment, the distraction of Remy's thoughts proving to be a bit overwhelming to work with in the heat of the moment. Or was it something more? She felt frustrated...and a helpless, like she wanted to throw a tantrum.
With little else she could do and childlike emotions bursting through her unexpectedly, Colette felt tears well up in her eyes. Fat droplets that slipped over like someone had stolen her candy. Though her mental age was 21, her physical age was 7, and it was with a dauntingly horrifying realization that she came to truly understand that this was her new reality.
She cried, hiccups retching their way through her dry throat unforgivingly. She was unable to stop the small gasps for air nor the tears.
And just like that- it all stopped.
"Hey- Hey Colette. D-don't cry!" Remy pleaded suddenly, his tone miles different from the haughty one he had been using.
"What the hell? The kid sheds a few tears and you're falling at her feet, Remy?" Stella complained, her face still flushed with anger and staring daggers towards Colette.
"I don't know…I feel bad now that she's crying. She isn't weird like Manon the decomposed mummy." Remy sighed, rubbing a hand over his face in distress.
"George, say something!!" Stella demanded the bigger male, waving her hands frantically. George only shrugged.
"Colette is cute." He commented. Short and curt. Remy nodded in thoughtful agreement. Finally, Colette managed to look at the trio again through her blurry tears.
[Stella believes Colette is a conniving little witch who plans on stealing her spot next to Remy. Even if forced to comply with Remy and George's wishes, she intends to bully Colette on her own later. AP: 5]
[George intends to agree with whatever Remy wants. AP: 8]
[Remy intends to honor Colette's wishes, but with a price. AP: 12]
Something was better than nothing. Colette wiped her tears as she felt a hand on her small shoulder.
"Little fox, I'll leave that mummy and you alone for today- but after this meal, you and the mummy have to give us your bread every dinner. I don't like going to bed hungry." Remy hummed, an amused expression on his features. Colette nodded without a second thought. There were other ways to get better meals after this event. This was a small price to pay for safety.
"Okay Remy." She replied shortly. The boy's lips twitched. Colette's blue eyes lifted over his head once more. 15 Affection points now..
[Remy likes the way Colette says his name. He intends to bother her in a friendlier manner now as long as she complies with his demands.]
Colette fought off the urge to roll her eyes just as Manon rounded the corner of the hall, almost tripping over a bump in the runner carpet. She managed to right herself just fine, muttering under her breath.
....Muttering under her breath...
Odd.
Colette could not understand the feeling she was having at the moment, only that something was very very strange. Very wrong. She stared at Manon's approaching form.
Manon had been walking quickly.
Manon never walked quickly. She dragged her feet, a hopeless child with no friends and nothing to rush for.
Furthermore, by her calculations, Manon was not supposed to appear for another 2 whole minutes. She appeared after Remy left, still giving her time to wait for her in the bedroom. Every time. without fail. Over 1000 games played. She was never early and never late.
Just as her mind was reeling like this, Colette looked at Manon carefully this time.
Same drab clothes 3 sizes too big due to her growth being stunted by malnutrition. Same unruly inky black hair that covered her- no wait….it was not covering her face.
Her hair was parted down the middle now, still ratty, matted, and unbrushed. Her face was clear. Her eyepatch was off. A single cerulean blue eye fracturing the normalcy of her appearance. The plainness of her looks. It shattered expectations and drew attention. Too much of it.
But Manon never took the eyepatch off until the final episode of the tutorial….what was going on??
Colette slowly registered what was happening, but nothing could prepare her brain for the absolute trauma of truly looking at Manon's bare uncovered face for the first time ever and seeing…..
[….Notice: Preparations for the reward- Right Your Wrongs have been completed. The player may now view the reward at any moment.]
"Hana?"