Chapter Twelve - The cake is a lie

"I know! I know! Let me explain!!!" replied Tia, excited "Get ready for a class!"

The fairy floated in the air and, with a sparkle, her clothes changed, she was now dressed like a typical teacher, glasses and everything, a system screen floated beside her and in her hand she had a pointing wand.

"First: Abjuration!" a drawing of a beautiful shield appeared on the screen. "Protect stuff!"

"Second: Illusion!" The drawing changed, now it was an eye. "Make stuff seem like other stuff!"

"Third: Conjuration!" a drawing of a magic circle with a hand coming out of it. "Make stuff appears!"

"Fourth: Mentalism!" A drawing of a brain. "Make things do stuff!"

"Fifth: Divination!" A drawing of a crystal ball. "Make you know stuff!"

"Sixth: Arcanism!" A drawing of lightning striking a rock. "Break stuff!"

"Seventh: Hexcraft!" a drawing of a skull. "Do creepy stuff!"

"Eighth: Spiritualism!" the drawing of a flame with eyes. "Make spirits do stuff!"

"Ninth: Witchcraft!" the drawing of a chalice and a dagger. "Use stuff to do stuff!"

"Tenth: Alteration!" a 'gif' drawing of a circle became a square "turn stuff in other stuff!"

"Eleventh: Runology!" a drawing of a complex rune "engrave runes in stuff to do stuff!"

"And finally, twelfth: The Exclusive!" the drawing changed to a big question mark "That's stuff who only you can do" said the fairy, falling down sitting on the pillow as if she had made a monumental effort "did you understand everything?"

Locke wanted to complain about the fairy's explanation, to say that they had been stupidly short, extremely vague and overly lazy, but he... he couldn't... The truth is that Locke had understood that short, stupid, vague and lazy explanation, better than if it were a long and detailed explanation, it seemed he and the lazy fairy flow on the same wavelength.

"Maybe we are both same cut..."

"Huum?"

"Nothing, thanks for the explanation, now what? Should I open these pages now? "

The fairy gave a thumbs-up without getting up, she was concentrating on watching the tv, a cliché drama was going on. Locke opened the system and with a thought start the redemption process

[calculating user affinity... complete calculation, generating pages...

• Arcanism - Shadowmancy: creates and controls shadows. The greater the mana used more control is possible.

• Illusion - Camouflage: disguises itself in the environment.

• Mentalism - Memory seek: obtains memories of the mind of others through touch, the more powerful the other part is, the more dispendious the process is.]

Locke read the description of the three new spells and started experimenting with them. He had to skip the test with the memory seek because the only possible target was Tia and he felt that it will be wrong test in her.

The magic of camouflage was interesting, with a simple thought he felt his mana envelop his whole body, at the cost of one third of his mana the air began to distort and soon Locke became translucent, although he was not really invisible it was very difficult to seeing him, he felt almost like the Pred*tor, the effect will perdure for one hour.

Shadowmancy was the most interesting, a shadow piece was separated from its own shadow and floated in the air, Locke started to manipulate it, made it grow, shrink, stretch, transformed it into a cube, a sphere, a pyramid, it was quite fun and he spent time playing with the shadow, changing the shape of this shadow was easy and spent almost no mana, he then tried to change the properties of the shadow, he tried to make it solid.

Turning that small piece into a solid shadow took a great deal in his mana, a quarter of Locke's mana was gone in an instant, but he felt that the shadow was now solid as metal.

Manipulating the solid shadow was more complicated, the mana used was not as large as what he used to solidify the shadow but it was almost five times greater than he used playing before. He transformed the solid shadow into an arrow, a dagger, a shuriken ... He made the solid shadow circulate his body at high speed, he divided the shadow into a group of sharp needles

"This is going to be very useful..."

His mana was dropping fast and he stopped the magic, the shadow disperses in the air at the same moment, he calculated that he could use a shadow attack four times.

"I need to increase my mana"

He decided that he should train more, if he managed to combine the fighting techniques with his new spells, his abilities would grown up, but first he would meditate to regain his mana, sitting on the floor with his legs crossed Locke prepared to meditate.

"Tia, call me when you're hungry"

The fairy waved her hand, still keeping her eyes on the TV. Locke started the meditatin.

***

The next morning Locke was running in the city park, his first daily mission had been chosen, the mission required him to run for two hours and he was rewarded with two exchange points for the Assets, but Locke's was surprised, run for two hours without a break earned him a permanent point in his endurance.

After that he realized that doing exercises had the potential to increase his status without leveling, so he starts to try all types of exercices. He found out that aerobic exercises, like running, increased his endurance and anaerobic exercises, like lifting, increased his strength, he was testing to see if there were ways to raise other stats without needing to level up.

He had been exercising since eight in the morning when Tia complained of hunger, and they went to lunch at a random cafeteria.

While Tia was eating French fries with extreme care not to be discovered Locke looks at the system informations.

'Hummm ... I spent half of night in the basic martial training and I only reached 92%..."

Locke had spent hours the night before trying to reach 100%, the time inside the training arena was slower than the time outside, all the movements were already engraved in his body, but he still lack in finesse to control the mana perfectly.

Locke also tested a new training method, he tested the Basic Battle training function, after activating he found himself in the dojo again, but this time instead of the instructor, he was facing a semi-translucent full coated man.

[Basic Battle Training - Level 1 Challenge] the system warning came up as soon as his entrance, followed by a countdown [3 ... 2 .. 1 ..]

Locke wanted to ask more, but at the end of the count the man moved forward violently, leaping over Locke and executing a spinning kick.

Locke narrowly dodged the blow and tried to respond with a punch, but the man moved as if he had eyes in the back, moving like lightning he launched another attack on Locke.

Locke tried to defend the blow with his arms but regretted it, the impact was greater than he expected and he was thrown away, the man waited for him to rise.

"Damn it, this motherf*cker is strong," said Locke as he rubbed his aching arms.

The man charged again, but this time Locke was prepared, he deflected the attack and mended an uppercut on the man's face, knocking it to the ground.

"Did you like that?"

The man stood up, this time Locke did not wait for him to attack, he used everything he had learned during the other training, he and the man entered in a battle of attrition, exchanging damage, the fight became a challenge of who fall first, even if Locke had not yet perfectioned his dragon punch his blows hit the enemy hard, in the end Locke's willpower was greater and soon the man broke up into particles of light.

Locke fell sitting on the ground after the fight, he was all sore from the cross attacks, the enemy was strong and he narrowly won, training ended. A concluding note was given, Locke had received grade C.

After the fight Locke went to sleep, the damage suffered in training really hurt but it wasn't real, and the pain was gone as soon as he came back to reality. A small voice brought him back to the present.

"Hey i want more french fries!"

Locke smiled and asked the waitress more frys, the waitress, the overly friendly middle-aged lady agreed with a smile. Soon the fairy returned to her gourmand delight. Locke's phone rang with a beep.

Locke unlocked his cell phone, he received another message from Hanna asking if he knew her address, Locke confirmed that he did not and she gave the address shortly thereafter.

"Is the goth chick?" asked Tia with a ketchup-smeared face.

'Will people be able to see the ketchup floating or will they be unable to see anything?' Locke thought as he wiped the fairy's face with a napkin "Yes, she gave me the party address and the time"

"Good, I'm dying to eat cake!" said the fairy with bright eyes.

Locke smiled at the Tia's animation, 'sometimes she is overly mature, and sometimes so childish...'

***

That night Locke found himself facing the entrance of a condominium in the rich area of ​​the city, after giving his name to the security guard he followed the sound of the music and soon he found himself in front of a large and beautiful house.

"Damn boy! Goth chick lives nice!" said Tia, sitting on Locke's shoulder, invisible to the rest of the people.

"A beautiful home indeed" replied Locke.

Locke entered the house, there were some people in the place, most were holding drinks, Locke recognized the majority, they were almost all from his college, Locke greeted some people with a nod, but these people looked at him with surprise even when they waved back, as if they had no idea who the tall, handsome guy was.

"LOCKE! YOU CAME!" Hanna screamed from the top of the stairs to get Locke's attention, she was wearing a red skirt and a black corset, with a leather boot up to her knees and a fishnet waist, she ran up to Locke and gave him a hug.

"Damm Boy, she's hot" remarks Tia.

"I really thought you were going bail me again! Glad you came!" Hanna spoke teasingly.

"I wouldn't miss it for nothing" Locke replied with a smile "Here, this is for you, happy birthday" Locke handed Hanna a small package.

"You even brought me a gift!" Hanna picked up the package and opened it, it was a choker made of intricate silver chains with black jewelry attached to the front, a pattern of a red rose shining inside the stone. "Wow! Is beautiful! Totally my style!"

"See, I said she would like it!" said the fairy with a proud smile, she had created the necklace herself with her power.

"Put it on me!" said Hanna, turning her back and raising her black hair so that Locke would attach the choker.

Locke was surprised by the request, but he did what Hanna asked, soon the choker was adorning her beautiful neck.

"I'm glad you liked it," said Locke with a smile, trying not to show that he was embarrassed.

"Let's have a drink!" Hanna grabbed Locke by the arm and dragged him into the living room, a group of young acquaintances was laughing and playing around on the couches.

"Dude, you are so in there!" said the fairy as she floated following Locke.

Locke looked at the fairy over his shoulder and ignored the comment. When Hanna arrived in the room, she sat down with Locke.

"The birthday girl is back and well accompanied! Who's the handsome guy? Aren't you going to introduce us?" said a blonde girl with a typical cheerleader style, her face red from alcohol.

"But you already know him, we studied at the same college" said Hanna with a smile, she still hadn't let Locke's arm go.

"Hmm? This is impossible!" replied a brunette "I know all the hot guys in our college and I certainly wouldn't have lost sight of this big stud!" she smiled wickedly.

"Hi Whitney, hi Brianna," replied Locke with a shy smile.

"Wait, I know you!" replied another person, a beautiful black girl, tall with a supermodel body dressed in a purple dress, Aliyah, she was Hanna's older sister and a famous model "He is that boy who fixed my computer!"

"The guy you always asked to go out with us! Lance right? The silent guy!" say's Brianna.

"The silent guy? That silent guy???? Dude, how did you do to look like that?" asked Whitney with extreme surprise, common to everyone in the room.

"Locke! His name is Locke! Stop it already!" replied Hanna slightly upset, 'the silent guy' was the nickname her friends and sister used to call Locke, she was afraid the comments would offend him.

"It's Okay Hanna, i don't mind" replied Locke with a smile "It's all healthy food and exercise"

"And lots of fights against monsters in the midnight" Mocked Tia, only for Locke ears.

"Dude, please, you have to give me the diet you did" replied Brianna.

Everyone laughed at the comment, Locke laughed too, many chit chat followed, and Locke felt Hanna's hand on his leg.

"Hehe Boy" said Tia with a provocative smile "The goth chick is marking territory!"

Locke ignored the nasty comment, Brianna handed him a glass with a liquid in it.

"What is this?" Locke asked.

"Punch" replied the girl "spiked" a wink followed.

Locke had never drank alcohol before and was a little afraid to try it, but he thought it would be impolite to deny the drink and so he drank. It tasted better than expected, he didn't even feel the alcohol, only the fruits.

"That's good," said Locke with a smile.

Brianna handed him another glass and Locke took in one sip.

"Go slow, Big boy!" said Aliyah "The birthday girl wants you all night!"

"Aliya!" Hanna replied, blushing.

The girl laughed and left the room. "I'm going after my prince since you've already found yours!" the other girls also laughed and followed Aliyah.

"Don't mind them Locke..." said Hanna, lowering her eyes, her white skin a pink shade of shyness.

"Now boy! Go Big or go home!" said the fairy with clear anticipation.

'Well, why not' thought Locke, he turned to Hanna and held her face, looking into her eyes, the girl's breath grew heavy and her blush increased, Locke went right for a kiss.

"YEEEESSSS! TOUCHDOWN! And the crowd goes wild!!! LOCKE! LOCKE! LOCKE!" said Tia in a cheerleader cosplay, shaking pom-poms.

Locke and Hanna continued to make out for a while.

The fairy pretended to wipe a tear of pride. "They grow up so fast..."

***

It was getting late and there was still no sign of an end to the party, Locke and Hanna were no longer kissing but the girl was leaning against Locke and he had his arm around her waist, it's clear to everybody whats happening with the two, people were talking everywhere and everyone seemed be having a lot of fun.

Hanna excused herself for a moment and went out to talk to her friends. Locke smiled and leaned against a wall, oblivious to other conversations, even with his changes he was still not very social.

"Hey, I already looked around and I didn't see any cake! Shouldn't have a cake at a birthday party? " said the fairy with concern.

"I don't think it's that kind of party ..." replied Locke in a whisper.

"What do you mean it's not 'that kind of party'? Why wouldn't there be cake at a birthday party?" said Tia desperately. "Did the TV lie to me? The Cake... the cake is a lie?" the fairy's eyes are now filled with tears.

"I think this party has a more adult themed..." replied Locke.

"THE CAKE IS A LIE!!!!!" Tia cried.

"Don't worry, tomorrow I'll buy a whole cake just for you!" said Locke, trying to comfort the fairy.

"Do you -snif- do you promise?" asked the fairy wiping the tears from her eyes, now for real.

"I promise!"

"You are the best!" the fairy raised her hands in the air in celebration "Now go tap that goth ass!"

'From acting like a child to acting like a pervert' Locke sighed 'this fairy...'

"So, are you together now?" the question brought Locke out of his thoughts, he turned to see Aliyah with two glasses in her hand, she offered one to Locke.

"I think so" replied Locke, taking the glass.

"This is good, you know, I've known her since elementary school, I remember the day my parents adopted her, she was always like that and at that time almost everyone avoided her... for a long time I was her only friend..." Aliyah took a sip of the drink, Locke did the same. "Things started to change when she entered high school, puberty made her beautiful, and it attracted a lot of people, good and bad, I dealt with the bad ones…" an evil smile crossed her face "but she never left a man approaches her soo much before... not until she met you..."

Locke was surprised, he knew that Hanna had a lot of friends, and he thought she must have been like at least one or two boyfriends by now.

"You see, it's her nature to try to help everyone she feels is being excluded, always has been, but she tends to leave the person alone if they don't want to get close... for some reason, she tried in every way to approach you... even when you didn't want to get close she couldn't leave you aside, you know, even I tried to make her forget you..."

Locke paid more attention.

"Of course, that was before you helped me with that computer issue, you saved me that time." Aliyah smiled.

"Don't mention it." replied Locke

"It may not seem like it but Hanna is the sweetest and most innocent person I know Locke, so I'm going to make you a sincere request" Aliyah was now facing Locke

"Don't hurt my sister Locke," said Aliyah seriously. "I know you are different of these stupid jocks from our college, I remember that even when you were quiet, you always helped everyone who needs, damn it, I remember you saved my ass. when you resolve that shit on my computer, you never asked for anything in return... but I also know that a physical change can make with someone..." his face turns a little sad "I just want you to know one more thing ... "

"Hanna already liked you, even though she didn't know it at that time, I knew that she likes you, even before your change, so make sure you appreciate that girl or i will made you regret!"

Aliyah drank the rest of her glass at once and walked away, Locke watched as she left while processing what he had heard.

"Dude, this is the big sister that every girl needs!" said Tia admired "What does she mean by the computer shit?"

"You see, she is a model. Some dipsh*t broke into her computer and got some pictures that could end her career. He was blackmailing her, I tracked the *sshole's IP over the net I ended up with the guy's pc before he could cause any serious damage, luckily the motherf*cker was an amateur and we managed to end the story without repercussions." Locke explain to the fairy.

"Boy, you rock with computers" reply Tia "Your goth was back!" Hanna was coming back with a smile on her face.

"What are you and Lya talking about?" she asked.

Locke smiled and hugged her from behind, she blushes. "We were talking about how beautiful you are and how i want to kiss you all the time"

Hanna blushed a little more at the comment. "Right in the bull's-eye!" said Tia with a smile.

Locke was aiming for another kiss when a furious scream caught his ears.

"HANNA! HANNA! WHERE'S MY GIRL???"