Julian sat on the edge of his bed, his fingers trembling as he scrolled through the new inventory. He needed an edge—something to bridge the gap with the silent boy and the dangerous father.
So, he took a look at the shop to see what it had for him.
>[Affinity Shop - Limited Stock]
>[Echoing Quill — 45 SP A pen that writes with the color of the user's soul. Effect: Allows communication with those who refuse to speak and increases their affinity.]
>[Scent of the South Oil — 50 SP A subtle cologne of lemons and sun-drenched earth. Effect: Triggers 'Nostalgia' in targets who have forgotten warmth.]
>[The Unbreakable Tea Set — 20 SP Cannot be shattered by angry students or heavy-handed Dukes.]
>[Starmap Projector — 30 SP Projects the Northern constellations. Effect: +10% focus during Lucius's night studies.]
Julian furrowed his brows. Why the hell were they so expensive? But he guessed that winning the heart of the Duke and the Young Lord isn't exactly cheap.
He took a look at the Echoing quill and decided that it should be the most important thing to purchase. It's not like he'll run into the Duke often and honestly, he didn't want to be entangled with the Duke, even if it's to win his affection.
Them being at a distance and not running into each other was already enough to keep his life safe.
He looked at his remaining 250 Survival Points. It used to be 156 but then he bought the winterizing balm for the Duke with 6 points, and then got an extra 100 after the secret mission completion.
He hesitated for a second, but closed his mind and tapped the Echoing Quill. If Lucius wouldn't speak, perhaps he would write out his feelings. And for Lucius, who seemed to like interesting things, seeing a colored quilt that didn't even need ink would impress him and win more affection points.
[PURCHASE COMPLETE: Echoing Quill acquired.]
[Remaining Points: 205]
Julian looked at the quill that had suddenly appeared in his hand. It was a feather with multiple colors. Something even the adults would find amusing.
"In the end, it's just an expensive pen." He mumbled and then dropped his back on the bed.
That night, Julian woke up to a startle. His pulse was heavy and fast... He gripped his chest, cold sweat dripping on his temples as he gasped for air, but even the air tasted heavy.
Julian felt despair. Couldn't he just have a single good night's sleep? Must he always wake up to a heavy thinking chest and a feeling like he had been running miles an hour, his feelings cold and his hands trembling?
He hugged his body, his grip on his arms, trembling and seething.
No matter how he tried to get used to it, he couldn't... This agonizing feeling was just too bad.
But there was nothing he could do about it.
He looked at the system window hovering over his vision, looking blurry because of his teary eyes.
There was a potion he could use. A potion he had noticed on the first day after he experienced these nightmares.
>[Sweet sleep nightingale: a potion that could induce sleep and keep the host in a normal body and mental condition until he wakes up.]
It was a potion that could help him, but it was only a one-time use, and the cost was too high.
—500 SP
Julian didn't have that many points, and he had no idea when he would be able to save up that much, either.
The quests don't give him that much and the only way he was able to get to 200 SPs was thanks to the secret quest.
He dropped his head back on his pillow, heaving and looking up at the ceiling.
He was drenched.
If he completed more secret quests, would he be able to afford the potion? But how will he know? They're all a secret.
Then, does he have to throw himself into danger and commit the unexpected to trigger something from the system? It was contrary to what he was aiming for here in the North but what else could he do?
Even if it was just for one night....just one night—He turned to his side, his heavy and exhausted eyes seeming to lose all light—he would love to have a peaceful sleep.
The next morning, Julian went to the morning class with a bright appeal. Despite how exhausted and drenched in sweat he was each morning after waking up, he did not let it affect his mood for the rest of the day and even hid the eye bags under his eyes with a smile.
"Good morning, Lord Lucius." Julian greeted Julian who was already seated. "How was your night?"
But Lucius did not answer that. Instead, he was waiting for his tutor to bring out the gift he had promised him.
"Hm, eager, are we? Luckily, I don't go back on my promises." He took out the rainbow colored quill and handed it to him. "This is a quill that doesn't need ink to write with and it has a very special color." He shrugged his shoulders. "Even I don't know what color it'll show because it's quite a special quill."
Lucius eyes brimmed with excitement, looking at the quill in Julian's hand.
"Here, try it. You can start by writing your name."
Julian handed it to him and Lucius nodded.
He brought his hand to the paper and slowly drew the letters of his name in the Empire's writing.
As he drew the pen on the paper, a golden light followed the streaks that even Julian was amazed by. But followed by the golden streak was a blue writing left.
'So, the color of his soul is blue.' Julian thought. 'I'm kind of curious what color my soul has.' But then, he paused, remembering his soul did not belong to this world.
What if he tried it and something ominous showed up?
He shook his head, giving up the idea. He didn't want to make such a mistake out of curiosity. He was the teacher. His job was to teach.
"So, do you like it?" Julian asked and Lucius nodded vigorously, bringing a proud smile to his lips.
He reached for Lucius's head and stroked his hair.
"Good boys get gifts like this. It's because you did so well in our last lesson that I gave you this. If you do even well, I'll give you more gifts, okay?"
Lucius nodded, his lips that had stayed in one straight line all this while finally tugging at the corner, and then his affection level chimed.
>[Affection level: 10% -> 20%]
Julian paused. From ten to twenty? That much?
He looked at the pen. Ah, it was no joke that it increased the affinity between them.
To think he could get this far with gifts.