Dear Diary
If there was ever an instant of karma, an instance of pure karma, the Jay felt it was now. Looking up at a blue holographic window, Jay was faced with the same shock and befuddlement he probably gave a sentient system earlier that day. He blinked.
[...Did I not install correctly?]
And his phone slipped out of his hand, slamming into his mouth.
"OW- Fuck!" He cursed as he held his lip. Screaming into his head as he tried to think about this calmly. Maybe he was knocked out? He had been beaten up pretty bad. The chances of him lying on his bed and not falling asleep were low. So low...
Yeah, Jay thought about pinching himself, realized it was a stupid idea because he just got a phone-to-the-mouth's worth of pinching, and cursed, "Dammit."
[Is something the matter?] the system said, and Jay flinched. He didn't know it had a talk button. He didn't like that. He didn't like that at all.
"Am I the only one that can hear you. Or see you for the at matter." He asked, wiping the blood from his lips as he glanced at the screen, watching as the system typed. [For sight, yes; you are the only one. The status window will not be shown to anyone unless you give authority for it. As for hearing, no, but I can make it so you're the only one that hears me. Would that be a good default preference?]
"Fucking yes!" Jay growled, sitting up, nearly fainting, lying back down, and the once he was angry enough sitting back up again. Slowly this time. "What're you even doing here?" Jay asked, eyes narrowed, "I thought we had a deal."
[We did.] the system said. [But after the creator had finished transferring my most vital functions and backlogs of knowledge to the next candidate, as well as refunding as many pieces of me as they could to cover the cost. I was leftover, so he left me here.]
"He left you?"
[Yes, the second candidate has been given what is essentially a new system made of as many of my most valuable parts as the creator could afford. The rest were refunded to pay for the transfer, and I am simply what you would call, the leftovers.]
"That... sucks man."
[The creator did what he could. I was prepared-]
"No, I meant for me." Jay scowled, "Are you gonna try to send me back to the academy again? Hate to tell you this but I'm pretty sure I'll die if I go there. Can't do shit if I'm dead."
[Do you care about dying now?]
"I mean… nah, not really, you got me." Jay smirked and laughed a little, rolling his eyes, "Just thought it was a good argument in case you tried to make me go back again."
[...You're not well]
"And you're a screen." Jay stuck out his tongue, crossing his arms as he clicked his teeth and looked away, "But seriously, are you gonna try to kill me again or what? I'd rather know now so you don't ruin my morning."
[I have never tried to kill you.]
"You told me to fight the demon king or die. That's killing with extra steps."
[That was the creator's prerogative, not mine.] The system seemed to frown, then actually frowned. Jay's eyes widened as he saw a small white outline of a face in the corner of the screen. Doing little facial emotes along with reading the text.
[And if anything you tried to kill yourself.] the system said, it's tiny emoji face frowning, [Therefore the creator holds no blame for your incredible propensity for self harm.]
"Hey, that's..." Jay stopped, glancing at his chest and the new dark bruises lining his torso. For the record, not self-inflicted... but also not entirely self-avoided. He definitely could have just not gone to Red Boulder.
"Okay, it's fair I guess," Jay shrugged, "But still. You're not gonna try to make me do anything crazy right. Not gonna be sending new 'missions' to my head."
[No, any capacity for quests or objectives I may have were passed on to the new system. To help guide and boost your replacement.] the system said, [Before you ask I also do not have information on who said replacement is. That knowledge was deemed necessary for the other system's abilities.]
"I wasn't gonna ask but okay," Jay rolled his eyes, slowly sliding off the bed as he glanced under the bed. Grabbing a thin leather notebook, "So how did you even know about this thing then. If all your stuff was traded?"
[The creator deemed knowledge on Jay Haze's time at the academy as unnecessary for the second candidate's performance.] the system said, [So I was left with information regarding Jay Haze's time at the academy. He was below average in most things.]
"Do you know anything about him before the academy?"
[No, the creator said it was not important to know regarding the decision to transfer you into his body.]
"Huh. I guess that makes sense. He just needed someone that was about to die." Jay hummed as he opened the diary, the first entry being a poorly written and misspelled, 'I'm only using this becuse Mary bot it for me! She gets the worts gifts ever!'
Jay glanced over the first entry, the date was over a decade ago, and started flipping through the pages. All entries were short, and sparse, but through about two years of random, Jay was able to collect an idea of the other guy's life before Voxx.
2/7/2057
Okay, this time I'm writing in it because Mary said she has one too, and it would be really cool to share.
4/3/2057
Mary took me to see mom and dad today. They were inside a tree. I asked her why and she said they didn't have thumb stones. What are thumb stones? Maybe I should ask for one for my birthday.
4/4/257
I shouldn't have asked for one. Mary got mad.
4/5/2057
I made her a necklace as a sorry. I hope she likes it.
4/6/2057
She likes it :)
7/28/2057
I went to the memorible park today. The statues were so cool! Especially Mr. Brago! He looked like a dragon! I'm gonna be like him one day.
9/17/2057
I went to see mom and dad today and I think they're cold. I'll try to bring a sweater for them next time.
10/18/2057
Mary said her favorite was Aveline de La Se- so- de La something. The cool one with the swords. I still think Dagon is better but she's the second coolest.
1/12/2058
I went to a new school today. It was weird. The people are weird. But some are nice. I'll try talking to them more more.
3/29/2058
Mary stole my journal. I'm not talking to her anymore.
4/2/2058
She bought me ice cream. Maybe I'll talk to her again.
5/2/2058
Mary awakened today! They tested her potential thing and said the orb glowed super bright. That means she's gonna be the best hero! I knew it!
6/23/2058
Mary's been training a lot, she let me watch. She was so cool. I didn't know swords could do that. She has cool swords like Aveline. I want to try swords.
6/29/2058
I'm gonna be the second best hero. Help Mary out. We'll be a team, like Kiran Sinha and his brother were in the first war. It'll be awesome!
7/2/2058
Note to self: swords are sharp. I cut myself. Changing to spear.
7/15/2058
Mary's been busy lately. I think she's going to try applying to Voxx soon. I wonder if she'll be less busy after.
7/21/2058
Note to self: end of spear is sharp. Holding the not sharp end from now on.
7/30/2058
Mary got into Voxx! I need to get in soon so we can be heroes together. When she's number one she's gonna need me as backup. We'll be unstoppable!
8/12/2058
I broke my finger today. Mary got mad.
9/1/2058
School taught us math and science at school. It's hard. The magic stuff was more interesting. Making spells and stuff with mana. It was cooler.
9/5/2058
Maths getting really hard. I'll ask Mary.
9/6/2058
I shouldn't have asked Mary. She's busy. I'll figure it out on my own.
9/22/2058
Mary's getting really mean lately.
10/3/2058
I awakened.
10/14/2058
I haven't seen Mary since she moved into Voxx dorms. Are they better than our apartment? I never thought it wasn't that bad.
10/22/2058
My natural profession is the worst. I talked to some of the other kids in my class and a few of them had sword stuff. Lucky. Wonder how long it'll take my spear stuff to finally go through. I practice a lot.
10/26/2058
I'm gonna try visiting her.
10/27/2058
I shouldn't have tried visiting her.
11/12/2058
The people at school suck. They think Dagon is the lamest hero because he only fought in the second invasion. He's S- rank. That's the opposite of lame.
11/18/2058
Mary hasn't visited this weekend. She sent me a letter in the mail with some money telling me to use it for food and stuff. She must be really busy.
11/25/2058
I should visit her.
11/26/2058
I shouldn't have visited her.
11/30/2058
I got into a fight at recess. I didn't win but it was close.
12/1/2058
I broke my finger again today. Mary didn't seem to care.
12/14/2058
Mary was in the news today. People are saying she's a prodigy. Whatever that means.
1/9/2058
My hand got better so I started training again today.
1/13/2059
I saw Mary with her friends this weekend. They look like they were all having fun, but I thought she said she was training. Maybe she forgot to tell me. I could've visited her.
1/15/2059
Lyla said she saw a monster in person during class today. No one believed her.
1/22/2059
Mary didn't visit this weekend either.
2/13/2059
People at school were talking about what they wanted to do when they grow up. I heard there's a regular college in Sol. Gary wants to go there. I'm gonna try to go to Voxx.
3/2//2059
Mary hasn't been to mom and dad's grave in a while. Maybe I'll ask her.
3/3/2059
I shouldn't have asked her.
4/7/2059
I need to buy food again today. Maybe I'll buy a cake for Mary's birthday tomorrow. She loved cake. Strawberry was her favorite.
4/9/2059
I won't visit Mary anymore.
...
...
...
...
12/20/2059
Mary left.
Jay paused on that page, second to last. A small, shuddering breath escaping his chest as he flipped it to the last page. A single, thinly carved sentence. So harshly written it tore the paper and left a scar into the sheet. Jay read it and froze, it was written way more recently than any of the rest.
11/12/2069
I hate this place.
It was enough for Jay to slam the journal shut. His breath heavy with anger and his eyes watering as he snarled and through the journal at the TV. The glass shattered and the TV broke as he gnashed his teeth and hissed, his body screaming in protest.
"Fuck," he muttered as he tried to catch his breath. His muscles were spasming because of the sudden movement and his head was ringing, but once he got a clear head, he was able to breathe again. Holding his head in his hands as he murmured, "Dammit."
[…I take it the diary wasn't helpful.]
"Just shut up." Jay snapped, taking a deep breath as he glanced at the journal halfway through the broken TV. Jay took a breath and sighed, glancing at the book, before reaching for his phone. Turning it on, he looked at the lock screen, four digit passcode, and nearly bit a hole through his cheek.
"Godammit," Jay muttered as he typed in a date, 0408. Or April 8th. Jay sucked in a breath as he watched, waiting.
"You stupid idiot…" Jay grit his teeth when it worked. His eyes low and wet, the spasms of his broken arm doing nothing as he clenched his fists. He was so fucking mad.
"You should've just forgotten about her…"
Of course that was the passcode.
"Dumbass."
It was Mary's birthday.