'What is family? Is it a feeling, place or people?'
Breakfast was an awkward affair, but it wasn't unpleasant. At least, that was what [Name] thought. It seemed his father was quite happy with him showing up for breakfast, leading him to assume that the original wasn't one for family meals, and often just upped and left, with no desire to spend time with family – especially, with the soft spot his father had for the original goods, it meant that the original was allowed to get away with a lot. Subsequently being stricter on the elder brother. Making the resentment natural for Declan towards Leo.
[Name] sighed as he continued walking down the street, checking the directions again on his phone as he continued walking through the streets.
The weather was nice, it wasn't warm, a strong brisk wind out, and the jacket that [Name] was wearing kept the cold wind out. There was something about the jacket that brought a sense of comfort to him as he continued walking down the streets.
The streets were busy, and given the time, it seemed that one thing that stayed constant through the different worlds he's been was due to the constant bustling of the streets that are always kept alive at set times due to the ever prevalent workforce; [Name] regarded the rest of them almost pityingly. Then thinking further on it, he guessed he should pity himself the most, at least they have meaning and a home to go to. Most of them, at least, he assumed.
The campus wasn't far, it was a prestigious looking campus, and [Name] wondered how the original goods even managed to get into one that looked so… illustrious. He stopped slightly, just outside the gates, and then glanced at the other students around him. Feeling almost out of place, before shrugging and stepping in.
He supposed that he should at least have some fun in this world. The previous ones had been too sombre.
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University life was supposed to be a lot of things, but most of it, if not all of it, apart from his classes fell short of the mark. Henry thought to himself, walking through the halls, and stepping into the elevator – his thoughts were stopped briefly when another person rushed into the elevator just as it started to close.
Henry continued to keep to himself for a few moments, before curiosity got the better of him and he glanced at the other man out of the corner of his eye. He noted that the man was tall, lean, and looking wholly out of place compared to the way the other students dressed, even compared to Henry himself.
The man wasn't dressed the most classily, but neither was he scruffy nor dirty, but there was an almost rough vibe to him. Henry glanced at the man's face, noting there was a faint bruise and a few cuts.
Should best stay away from him, Henry thought to himself as he got ready to get out of the elevator. The man shifted slightly behind him, moving a bit to maintain distance between the two. Before following him out of the elevator.
He's getting out too, Henry mused as he stepped out.
The man got out with him and they both headed to their class, where a few other students were standing outside of the door, in the hallway, Henry stood by the door, a few minutes early. The man situated himself a bit further away from the others, and leaned against the wall, scrolling on his phone.
Henry averted his gaze, moving to the floor, and wondered who the man was.
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[Name] was sweating.
He was starting to think that attending this university and maybe completing his task was something that wasn't needed, hell, he'd take whatever punishment he would be given by Lucian if he failed to keep up his studies.
[Name] didn't think he'd meet the stealth protagonist, Henry Saxe, so soon in the story. He guessed that the original goods didn't attend their classes enough to bump into Henry. [Name] aimed to keep his distance from the other, ignoring the fact that the other reminded him of Darnados, the prince from the previous world.
He wondered how the other was doing – [Name] did miss each of his lovers, he doesn't know whether he wants to believe that they were manifestations of his lover, or if his mind was getting addled with all of this world-hopping at this point. He sighed quietly, before glancing up and walking into class with the rest of the other students, ignoring some curious glances.
[Name] opted for a seat near the back, and close to the wall – he got his laptop out, opening it up to the notes app, and a few moments later, the lecturer entered the class.
The lecturer was a middle-aged man, and from his speaking and comfortability in his dress and way of addressing the class showed his experience, [Name] noted, and there was a slight hint of a smile as he started the class. It was a history class, and [Name] relaxed further, it was about the Age of Enlightenment.
It was something [Name] was familiar with, and he was mildly relieved, glad that this module wasn't a hard one.
'Lucian?' He reached out through the mental link.
'Yes, Host?'
'So you say I have to maintain a certain level of… I guess, academic performance, what's the minimum requirement?'
'You have to gain at minimum, 70%.'
'I feel like you want me to fail this world.'
Lucian didn't reply and [Name] refocused on the lecture, making notes and half-heartedly started making notes and skimming through the rest of the readings for this class.
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'Do I have any debts currently? Where am I in the timeline of the story?' [Name] asked Lucian, as he leaned back in his chair, sitting in the quiet corner of the library, gazing up at the ceiling.
'No, Host. Not currently, although you'd have to adhere to the story plot.'
[Name] grimaces, 'This feels like there's no winning.'
'Technically, you never win, Host.'
'Sounds really OOC for you, Lucian. But, you are right – do I get penalties if I don't?'
'Yes. However, you are at liberty to upgrade some skills that improve your chances at winning and increasing probabilities.'
[Name] sat up slightly at those words, and made a note on his laptop, pretending to skim over some of his notes, 'Really?'
'Yes, Host. And with your previous successes in your other worlds you are at liberty to spend your hard earned points.'
'You're telling me this, now?'
'You never had thought to ask, Host. Additionally, you've been mentally overloaded, I was going to inform you later when we approach the main plot moments.'
'I guess you have my thanks.'
Lucian didn't respond, but he could pick up on the subtle displeasure from [Name], making him wince slightly.