Skill Forge: Broken Extra Character

Jett stood motionless for a few moments, Freya's soft breathing and warmth leaving him with a blank mind.

'She's really warm… and her hair smells nice…' Jett caught himself mid-thought and shook his head slightly, scolding himself. 'Alright man, get yourself together.'

Carefully, he shifted to support her weight and, moving as slowly and gently as possible, guided her toward her bed. He lowered her down softly, taking care not to wake her. Just as he turned to leave, Freya's hand shot out and grabbed his wrist.

Her voice came in faint murmurs. "I'm sorry… It's my fault… I'm really sorry…"

Jett froze in place, an awkward smile tugging at his lips. "It's alright," he said softly, sitting down on the edge of the bed. He hesitated before patting her head gently. "She's still asleep, I got flustered for nothing."

Her breathing evened out again, her grip loosening slightly, and Jett let out a quiet sigh of relief. Just as he thought he could finally relax, a sudden weight landed squarely on his lap.

"Wha…" Jett's eyes widened as Ella popped out of nowhere, her tiny form collapsing against him, fast asleep while Freya gripped him harder once more. Ella hugged him like a pillow, her soft snores filling the quiet room.

'These girls…' Jett thought with a mix of amusement and exasperation as he slumped back into the bed. He sighed, brushing a hand through his hair. There was no way he'd be leaving any time soon.

'Might as well get some work done.'

*****

Summoning his stats window, Jett opened up his massive library of skills. The blue and white holographic panels spread before him, each skill shimmering faintly with its own unique glow. He scrolled through the seemingly endless list, his sharp gaze analyzing every option.

'Alright… I'll merge similar skills to strike a balance. Battle preparation, strategy, burst damage, and recovery, I'll just pray they don't suck my MP dry.'

Hours passed as Jett painstakingly tested, merged, and refined his skills. He merged weak combinations with other weaker skills and saved those that showed promise. The sheer focus in his eyes reflected his determination.

Finally, after merging over a hundred different skills, he narrowed them down to a solid twenty that suited his every need.

'It's still a lot, but at least there's variety.' Jett smirked to himself, satisfied with his progress.

He glanced down at Freya, still curled up peacefully on the bed, and Ella, snuggled against his chest as if he were her personal heater. For once, the room felt quiet and calm.

Jett's smile faded slightly as a thought crossed his mind. 'When was the last time I slept…? Ever since I started using Asher's skill…'

He hovered his fingers over the skill activation window and, after a moment's hesitation, turned it off.

The moment the skill deactivated, exhaustion hit him like a tidal wave. His body sank into the chair, and his eyes grew heavy.

"What this? I feel like I might…" he mumbled, his voice barely audible as his head tilted back.

Within seconds, Jett dozed off, his breathing soft and even. The room remained still, illuminated only by the faint light of the stats window, which slowly faded away as his consciousness slipped into peaceful slumber.

Jett's breathing steadied as he sank deeper into the first real sleep he'd had in days. Freya's peaceful figure remained undisturbed on the bed, while Ella still clung to him like a content kitten, her small form rising and falling with his chest.

The quiet of the room stretched on, save for the faint sound of wind brushing against the window panes. But in the stillness, a soft ping echoed from Jett's skill window: its notification fading into the shadows.

*****

When Jett finally stirred, sunlight poured faintly through the window, marking the early hours of the morning. His neck was stiff, and his back ached, but the overwhelming feeling was one of disorientation.

'How long did I sleep…?'

He rubbed his eyes groggily, freezing as he noticed Ella still using him as a makeshift pillow. Her small snore made him sigh deeply.

'Right. This happened. God thing she's not awake.'

Gently shifting her off him, he got up and stretched, his body protesting the sudden movement. Then, his gaze drifted to Freya, who was also starting to wake. She sat up groggily, blinking as she met Jett's eyes.

"…Jett?" Her voice was soft, laced with sleep. Continue your adventure at My Virtual Library Empire

"Morning, sunshine," Jett replied, his usual smirk returning as he ruffled his hair. "Sleep well?"

Freya looked confused for a second, but then her memories caught up. She blushed slightly, brushing her hair behind her ear. "I fell asleep? I can barely remember what happened last night."

"Really? I remember you falling asleep with me as the teddy bear. Twice." Jett teased.

Her face turned redder. "I… I didn't mean to…"

"Relax, it's fine." Jett chuckled, heading toward the door. "Guess we all needed the break."

Before leaving, he glanced back, his expression softening slightly. "Feeling better?"

Freya smiled faintly, nodding. "Yeah. Thank you."

Jett turned away quickly, hiding the faint grin tugging at his lips. "Don't mention it."

As he walked out, Ella stirred again, groaning dramatically in search of her pillow.

Jett sighed loudly from the hallway. 'These girls are going to be the end of me.'

*****

Gwen sat hunched over her desk, the flickering light of a lone candle casting restless shadows across her face. Her quill scratched furiously over the parchment as she completed the latest report for her master. Her movements were precise, though the frustration etched on her face betrayed her dwindling patience.

'Just a bit longer… and I'll be done with this whole shit show.'

Finishing the last word with a flourish, she tossed the quill aside and slumped back into her chair. A deep sigh escaped her lips as she rubbed her temples, weariness momentarily settling in. "I can't wait to be done with this whole thing."

Her thoughts were interrupted by the soft sound of wings flapping.

Tap… Tap.

Gwen's head shot toward the window. A pigeon had landed on the sill, its beady eyes staring at her as if urging her to hurry up. Its clawed feet scratched at the wood, a rolled-up letter securely tied to its leg.

"Persistent little pest," she muttered, rising from her chair. With a sharp motion, she unlatched the window and retrieved the letter, the bird taking off without hesitation. The cool breeze brushed against her face, but she paid it no mind as she carefully stretched out the parchment.

Her eyes scanned the contents quickly. Her lips curled into a wicked smile as a dangerous gleam flickered in her gaze. "Just you wait… All the pieces I need are slowly coming together."

She turned her attention to the small object resting atop her desk, a compass. Its surface gleamed faintly under the candlelight but the compass was missing the needle to complete it. The artifact, a gift or rather, a trade from Vinn, sat silent and incomplete.

Gwen picked it up, turning it slowly in her hand as though it held all the answers she sought. Although unfinished, her smile deepened, a whisper of satisfaction in her voice. "Once you're complete, I can finally start."

Clutching the compass tightly, she leaned back into her chair, eyes glittering with ambition. The candlelight seemed to dance in rhythm with her thoughts, casting her shadow long against the walls.

*****

The academy halls were already bustling as Jett made his way out, rolling his shoulders and feeling oddly refreshed. He knew better than to expect peace for long, though.

Sure enough, he spotted Rey, Finn, and Aiden waiting for him further down the hallway.@@novelbin@@

"Look who's finally alive," Finn teased.

"Ready for today's drama?" Aiden added with a smirk.

Jett snorted, shoving his hands into his pockets. "Bring it on."

For once, though, he wasn't dreading it. A full night's sleep had its perks, after all.

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Finally back. (⁠づ⁠￣⁠ ⁠³⁠￣⁠)⁠づ