Tempest (III)

"What's up?" Eve looked up at him curiously as she held the cat next to her face. It was too adorable to look upon…

"I just got a real life quest….about your cat…"

"Really?"

"It's stating that I could trade it in for some kind of special ticket later on."

"Wow, you got one of those quests. I heard there was something big going on with the Growth Market."

"Growth Market?"

"Yeah. You remember how I said you could make money in real life?"

Kiyro nodded.

"Well, since the last update players were able to convert their real money into digital money to buy items in the Growth Market. People sold game items and real items through, but to use the money in real life has certain requirements. Not a lot of things could be bought in real life using Growth money." She continued to stroke the cat carefully with admiration. "The only way people could buy game items with real money was through the Growth Market. Lately there has been an increase in players setting up actual businesses through the game of Growth. They set up their company's shop and sell items through the game. People were able to look through menus and try out the products in hand before they bought it. It would digitally appear before them, and all the functions of the products or the looks were shown. When the players bought the items they wanted in real life, it would be delivered to them through mail."

"Wait. Hold up. You're saying that people are actually setting up their own shops in the game to sell their products in real life? What are the requirements?"

"It's a booming business. Let's see. There is a monthly 3% fee of net profit to use the game of Growth to advertise your company, and if you want to set up an actual shop the monthly fee is 5% of your net profit. There are a couple of documents you have to sign first before you are allowed to sell on Growth." She paused for a moment. "Can you please take care of him? I'll pay for all his expenses," she begged.

"I-"

Quest: Tempest has been updated

Eve has asked you personally to watch over Tempest for duration of time. She would pay for all of Tempest's expenses. A new communication of Tempest's profile would be set between the owner and contractor. You and Anna are not allergic to cats. The apartment lease agreement does not stop you from owning a cat. There is no pet deposit fee required.

Difficulty Level: D

Rewards: Two copper a day till you have given Tempest back

Special trade in: You can trade in the money you have earned with one ticket for any events/hotels/food etc… that is listed on Growth's special promotional webpage and will be sent to you through email.

Duration: Unknown. Once accepted, the quest will be hidden and one other real life quest can take its place. Once filled you cannot get any other quest. When Tempest is given back to its owner it will automatically update itself and the reward will be sent to your inbox.

A female automatic voice read out the message in front of him.

Please wait a moment… A call is being sent through to Anna.

"A call? Wait. What?" Kiyro was taken aback at what was unfolding in front of his eyes.

"Pleeease," Eve begged, her eyes sparkled so brightly it felt like he was blinded by it

An automated message has been forwarded to her to alert the situation.

Please wait… Connecting…

You are connected. Please go ahead.

"Kiyro? What's this quest message about a kitten?" asked Anna with a chirpy voice through the other line.

"Uh…" Silence followed after. "Cat?" Kiyro stared; stupefied at everything that was happening to him.

"I'm not allergic to cats and I just received your quest. Go ahead. I don't mind keeping one around."

"O," Kiyro mouthed slowly.

"Okay? Talk to you later. Bye."

The line dropped dead on the other side in a hurry.

Call has been completed. Would you like to take on the quest?

"I…uh…" He stumbled with his words, unable to state what he wanted to do.

"Come on, Kiyro. Please? I'll give you my best armor that I have just recently received from a difficult quest. It's called the Shadow walker armor. Plus I won't make you do things anymore. You won't have any more debt with me."

"Really?" Kiyro's eyes sparkled with the possibility of no more contracts.

"Yep. I'll even cancel our companion contract…" she solemnly said with a bit of sadness in her voice.

"Fine. I'll take Tempest."

Quest has been accepted. Quest: Tempest will be hidden till completion. Another real-life quest will be available to take.

"Now its your turn." He waited with joy. No more would he be bound to her.

"You will still go hunting with me, right?" Eve face drooped sadly, waiting for his reply. Kiyro looked upon her pleading eyes and sad face. Words that he wanted to say could not be said.

"Yes. I'll still hunt with you."

"Thank you! Hehe. Call upon Companion Contract termination…Call upon Companion contract termination. Hmm…"

"What's wrong?" Kiyro looked upon her with worry. He did not like where this might be going.

"I can't seem to terminate the Companion Contract. The only thing I can do is terminate the Heel function. Look, I'll show you by sending you the message that is in front of me. Give me a second."

A message appeared before him.

Agnis attempted to do a Companion Contract Termination. It is invalid. Heel function can be voided with the consent of both parties. Would you like to go ahead and do that?

"Well then, how about we just terminate the Heel function?"

"It's better than nothing."

"Great," she happily replied.

"Yes," stated both of them at the same time.

Heel function is no more. Companion contract has strengthened and upgraded into a Friendship Contract. New status bonus has been added. +5 permanent status to both parties.

"This is better than nothing." He sighed. It was too good to be true to be let go, but the game had not allowed that. The brief taste of freedom had completely disappeared in a wisp of a smoke. On the other hand, he was let go from the Heel function that had irked him immensely whenever she used it. At least the burden of being zapped anymore was gone.

He examined his status menu.

Name: Zero

Title: Beacon of Hope

Race: Drezo Regalia

(human form)

Level: 131

Main Job: Record Keeper of Historia

Secondary Job: Scribe

Health points: 7501

Mana Points: 8,951

Attack: 501 (+15)

Defense: 276 (+5)

Agility: 550 (+5)

Endurance: 340 (+5)

Luck: 40 (+15)

Leadership: 0 (+5)

Magical Attack: 850 (+5)

Magical Defense: 650 (*5)

Wisdom: 502 (+5)

Intelligence: 3750 (+5)

Dexterity: 456 (+5)

Fame: 300 (+20)

Under a Friendship Contract with Agnis.

All Three Forms:+ Transform beginner level 5 (35%)+ Camouflage beginner level 7 (60%)

+ Skilled hand mastery beginner level 9 (80%)

+ Kicking Mastery beginner level 5 (88%)

+ Keen Hearing beginner level 5 (28%)

+ Communication with the dead (Active)

+ Sensing the dead (Active)

+ The last stand (Auto)

+Creation of Oculus-Morpheus beginner level 3 (2%)

+ Recording of O.M

+ Destruction of O.M

+ Restoring of O.M

Human Form Specialties:

+ Ninjitsu Training for Mastery

+ Five Elements of Hiding: Fire, Water, Earth, Wood, and Void (Auto)

+ Weapon Mastery beginner level 5 (77%)

+ Pressure points beginner level 5 (35%)

+ Herbology

Hybrid Form Specialties:

+ All the abilities of the Human and Origin Form can be used.

Origin Form Specialties:

+ Fire Breath beginner level 3 (25%)

+ Keen Nose beginner level 5 (70%)

+ Crush beginner level 7 (20%)Elements: 15% increase of defense against dark elements, 7% increase of light elements,Info: A hybrid human that is born from an Egg. The title Beacon of hope draws in lost souls that will appear before you to ask for help. Your aura will stand out to the dead. Shadowy dark apparitions are wary around you. The bounty price on your head has decreased. In Origin form the status is doubled from the human form.

"So what do you want to do with the cat? I do not want it to have any fleas or be dirty." Kiyro shifted his bag of groceries into his other hand. He still did not feel completely comfortable in doing this quest, but he did not want to leave the kitten out on the streets.

"Let's go grab the things Tempest needs at the store. You can put your groceries in my car. It's really close by. I parked over there." She pointed across the parking lot to a grayish blue sporty looking car.

"Not bad. Is that an automatic or a manual?"

"Manual."

"Really? How long have you had it?"

"Three years. I thought it would be cool if I drove a manual, but that was a stupid idea. My right hand hurts from shifting and my left leg gets cramps at times during traffic hours. Overall, though, it's not bad driving it. I do enjoy the shifting, just not in traffic." Eve sighed at the thought as she clicked her car key. The trunk popped open. "Do you drive a manual?"

"No, I know how to drive one though." He walked up to the trunk of her car and dropped his grocery bag in it.

"I'm surprised that there are people who still drive manuals. In the fifteen years since those self-driven cars got popular, most people don't seem to want to drive even automatics even though it's installed. Usually, people are watching movies, playing games, or sleeping while their car drives, but you are on a whole different level. I'm impressed."

Agnis slightly blushed and smiled. "Thanks."

"Now, I am not sure if the grocery store is friendly to cats. I'll just wait out here and you get the stuff for the cat." He reached over to pick up the cat from her, but she slightly shied away.

"But… Fine." She stopped for a moment. "You promise you will wait?"

Kiyro closed the trunk close as the kitten meowed.

"Yeah. I'll wait at the bench over there." He directed her to a side bench that was a couple feet away from the car. "I won't be too far, and I have the Alive gear, so you can call me anytime."

"Ok-ay." She handed Tempest over with reluctance. "I'll be right back. Stay put." She stroked Tempest's head one last time. She turned around and walked towards the store.

He sighed with relief as he too turned towards the bench. Pulling out his phone, he checked his time. He had about a couple hours left to spare before he needed to get home. Sitting down comfortably, he once again reviewed all the events that had played out today.

Finally he was alone to think. Today was oddly enough an interesting day: from the calling of the top twelve warlords to meeting with Isabel.

Isabel. She was just his type. Cute petite face, ladylike, her height came up to his nose, and her mesmerizing eyes. How could he forget those eyes? Then, just like a whirlwind, Eve came over to him and dropped a cat on him.

He stroked Tempest lightly over his head and heard him purr. It was too sudden, more like an unlikely circumstance that the world gave him to have more headaches. He did not mind cats, but the thought of interacting with Eve in the real life bothered him. Even in real life he could not get too far from her. It was like having another sister that he had to take care of.

Now that he was free from that wretched Heel ability, he did not mind her company in the game. Zeraph and Agnis made the game a bit more enjoyable. His friend list consisted of only four people: Zeraph, Agnis, Flora, and Alan. It wasn't because he didn't meet many people; it was because he just did not want to interact with others at the moment.

He had things he had to do, and friends would come later. He was satisfied with the amount of people he had at the moment. Eventually he would get more, but not right this moment. Not until he passed the test.