Chương 143: Chapter 133-First Chosen Attempt

Okay. I've put this off for far too long. I mean, considering how this could change everything… Was I right to wait this long, or was my fear driving me? There's one way to find out. The spatula sits steady in my hand. The gentle sway of the plants calms me. The sunlight focused through the greenhouse glass forms a bead of sweat on my forehead. Swallowing from nervousness, I gently place the last puffy pastry on the edge of the circle. As I watch it settle, I think back to the multiple days of preparation.

One full day to create the puffy pastry, 38 hours to get the right consistency of the cream, and multiple days of taste testing to get the right level of salted caramel. Everything leading up to this moment. My perfect creation. Gâteau Saint Honoré, one of the most difficult and time-consuming pastries to make. One small mistake could end in- The door to the greenhouse slams open as Ruby and Helia walk in.

The puffy pastry slips and shifts the entire cake sideways, causing some of the cream to spill out of the edges. My whole world flips inside out as I watch days of work go to waste.

"I swear to the Gods. If father sends back another condescending letter, then I'm going to give him another piece of my mind," Ruby says as she plops down.

"We could employ a different tactic. At least a more effective tactic than the one you're doing now," Helia suggests as she closes the door behind her.

"What's wrong with the one I'm doing now?" she asks as I look at my failure.

"Well, ignoring him isn't going to change his mind. If anything, it's going to reinforce the image of you that he has in his head," Helia says as she gently touches the legumes.

"Hmm. Okay, what's your idea then?" Ruby asks with a hint of attitude.

"We could ask Mother to-""Out of the question. You know how intense Mother can get. Last time we asked her for something, she got us an 80-foot statue of a dog," Ruby says as she reminisces.

"It wasn't that bad."

"We asked for a dog."

"Scruffy was a good boy."

"Scruffy was a statue! Of course, he was going to be a good boy," Ruby laments. With a sigh, I slowly slice up the Gâteau Saint Honoré and sadly eat a slice. It's so good. The consistency was just right, and the puffy pastries were so puffy. This could have been a masterpiece, but…

"How's it going?" I ask.

"Oh, Chosen One, we didn't see you there. Baking, again?" Helia asks with a hint of surprise.

"Yes, I was [Cooking]. Emphasis on the was," I say with a hint of annoyance. Ruby looks over at the disaster she created.

"Looks a bit lopsided."

"Oh, jeez. I wonder why? Ruby, don't you have somewhere else to be?"

"My club is out for the day. So, not really? Why, want to do something?" she asks, completely oblivious to the situation.

"Ruby, maybe you should-" Helia goes to warn, but I cut her off.

"You know what? Let's hang out. Ruby, how's it going with Viola?" I ask with a devilish smile.

"Uh, what are you talking about? Nothing is going on. Not a thing. Why have you heard something?" Ruby asks as the roses in her hair suddenly grow.

"Hmm. No, of course not. I was just wondering how two of my friends are doing. You know… friendship-wise. That's what you are, right, friends?" I say as I take a bite of the disaster in front of me.

"Yeah… we're just friends. Nothing more," she says with a hint of sadness.

"Oh, good. My friend has been asking me if she's single. I guess I should-" I [Lie]"Don't!" Ruby says, surprising herself, "I mean… don't be so hasty. What if Viola isn't looking for a relationship right now? It would be a bother to her."

"Well, I guess you could be right. I suppose I should ask her myself. I think she's at the Art Club," I say as I stand up and go to the door. Ruby stands in my way with a worried look.

"Uh, uhm. Chosen One, why are we worried about Viola's love life? Let's leave her alone and talk about something else. She's busy, you know."

"I think that's enough. Stop teasing her," Helia says as she takes a bite of the cake I made.

"Teasing?" Ruby asks.

"Ah, you took all the fun out of it, Helia," I say with a sigh. Ruby looks between Helia and me.

"What's happening?"

"He's teasing you because you messed his cake up. This is good, by the way," Helia explains as she takes another bite.

"Thank you. It would have been better if someone hadn't opened the door like a brute." This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

"So, there's no friend who's interested in Viola?"

"Not as far as I know," I say in between bites of my failure.

"Thank the Gods," she says with a sigh. I give Helia a knowing look. Helia rolls her eyes and then gives me a nod. With a smile, I turn to Ruby.

"You seem awfully relieved. Why would that be?" Caught red-handed, Ruby gives me a frightened look.

"I… I was just… There's nothing… You already know, don't you?" she says, giving up the facade.

"It wouldn't be more obvious if it were written in the sky. Hells, the only person who doesn't know is probably Viola herself." Obviously, Viola doesn't know because she also likes Ruby, but I can't exactly tell Ruby that. Even if it would end up with the two of them together, it's not exactly my secret to tell. Well, I did tell Penelope. What I mean is… It's not my secret to tell Ruby or vice versa. They're just going to have to figure it out themselves. Just like Hopper.

Gods, is there something in the air this spring? What's with all the romance? Not like I mind. It is entertaining. Viola goes to take a bite of my failure, but I gently smack her hand away.

"Ouch."

"The one who caused the disaster does not get to taste it. Especially because she hasn't apologized," I say with a hint of stubbornness.

"I apologize, Chosen One."

"For what?"

"For messing up your cake," she says with a sigh.

"Good. Now you can have some." Ruby takes a bite.

"Gods, this is good." Stretching is the core tenet of any thief. If you don't stretch, you might pull a muscle or get a cramp when you're committing your crimes. I can't think of a worse time for that to happen. Stretching is also important when you're getting ready to run. Why might I be running soon? Well, I have no idea what's going to happen next. So, a bit of caution is a good idea… I think. Would you like to attempt an [Attribute-Skill Acquisition]?

The [System] message blinks to life in the corner of my vision. Viola recommended doing this in a large, open space if possible. Which is why I'm standing in the middle of one of the training fields. Rented out the whole place for this too. Luckily, this would be considered a school expense, which Abrigon gets to pay for. Did I have to rent out the biggest training field? No, but I'm not the one paying for it. Alright, enough stalling. Time to give this my best shot. Focusing on the message, I select [Yes].

The moment I do, the entire field falls out of existence and is instead replaced with ethereal blue walls, floors, and ceiling. Basically, a big blue box. Fun. I obviously didn't move, so this must be some sort of illusion. Placing my hand on the nearest wall, I don't pass through as I thought I would. Hmm. Not an illusion then. Some sort of construct? I wonder what this looks like to somebody else? [Attribute-Skill Acquisition] has been initiated. Please stand by as a suitable challenge is selected for you.

Why do I have a bad feeling about this? Suitable for who? I hope the [System] isn't going to overestimate me. It has to know that I'm not actually that strong, right? Wait, what if it decides to throw a Dragon at me? Technically, I did beat a Dragon, but that was entirely because of The Chosen Blade and Blue.

"There's no chance that you are going to help me, right?" I ask The Chosen Blade, but find nothing at my side. Oh, that's not good. As I continue to search around me, I also notice that Baggy and just about everything else other than my school uniform are gone. I sense shenanigans. A suitable challenge has been selected. All equipment has been temporarily removed. All Skills have been temporarily disabled.

"What?! That only leaves me with my [Attributes]. What kind of challenge are you giving me here?" I ask the void. Defeat the Luck Devourer. Depending on the method of defeat, you will be rewarded with a suitable [Attribute-Skill]. What in the fuck is a Luck Devourer? Across from me, a creature no larger than a bunny appears. Two black beady eyes, dough-like skin, and seemingly no weapons. Huh, kind of looks like a raw gingerbread man. Maybe this won't be that hard.

"Aren't you a cute-" Fear ripples through me as the room is filled with a sense of danger. Dodging out of the way, a small pebble cuts the edge of my cheek and shatters the wall behind me. What in the fuck was that! Was that [Throw]? The Luck Devourer gives me a devilish smile.

"What, already scared stiff? Don't give up on me yet. Else this won't be fun." An overwhelming urge to attack fills me, but I pull myself back just in time as another pebble ripples through the space where my head would've been.

"Close, but no cigar. Shame, I was hoping you would be out faster than that. Kinda have something to do after this. Would you mind just giving up already? I mean, not like you're going to win anyway," he [Taunts]. The same urge to attack overwhelms me, but not as strongly as before. That was definitely [Taunt]. [Taunt], [Throw], and…

"Are you using my [Skills]?" I ask as I dodge out of the way of another pebble.

"No, of course not. Why would you even think that?" he [Lies]. Sounds like he's telling the- Wait a minute! That fucker! He is using my [Skills]. Ah, hells no. I'm not getting done in by my own [Skills]. Even if they are really cool. Ducking out of the next attack, I throw one of the loose pebbles on the ground. It flies past the Luck Devourer, barely missing him.

"Ah, not used to doing that without your [Skill]? Guess you really are nothing without your [Skills]. Why don't you try crying? I think I left you that [Skill]," he [Taunts]. Pushing past the anger, I grab multiple pebbles and chuck them straight at that [Skill] stealing asshole. Every one of the pebbles somehow misses him, creating a perfect silhouette around him. What? I may not have [Throw] right now, but I still know how to throw.

There's no way I could have- Pain pulses through me as a pebble hits my side, cracking one of my ribs.

"Oh, no! Are you okay? Are you going to need a little break? Oh, wait! You already have one," he [Taunts]. Looking up at the [System] message, I sigh.

"Suitable challenge, my ass. Stupid ass [System]." Your complaint has been recorded.