Legacy of Forgotten Times 134 Such beautiful weather today

The classes for the day had ended and Linri was getting ready to leave.

"Are you planning on doing anything today?" Brie asked. He was a little surprised. Considering how he fell out with Jaime Linri thought she would also be angry with him.

"Not really. What's up?"

"Well, I needed your help with something. It's sorta private" said Brie while fidgeting. Linri raised his brows. He knew her background from start to finish so there shouldn't be anything private for her. I mean there shouldn't be anything private that required his help. And if it was girl troubles she could have just gone to Jaime.

"Hey" a guy with black hair and red eyes greeted Linri. It was the guy he met during the ceremony.

"Hey, uhhhh what was your name again?" He honestly couldn't remember his name. He was a mob according to the game standards so who cares?

"It's Arge. I actually came here to pay you my debt" said Arge. He didn't seem one bit offended. That was a first. Usually, people would look for ways to get angry at him while he just shook it off like it was nothing.

"What debt? I don't remember anything of the sort" Linri answered honestly.

"No need to act all humble. I know that you think I can't pay for your services but here is 10 million Yoki. The password is six zeroes. It might be a meagre amount for you but I don't like owing people anything" said Arge before handing him the card. Wait, did this guy seriously pay him for what he said in the opening ceremony? He was just joking around. Also, who would take out 10 million Yoki and call it a meagre amount!? Roughly put it was 100 thousand dollars!

"Fine, If you insist" said Linri while quickly pocketing the card. It was true that he was out of pocket change so he wouldn't mind the pie that fell out of the sky.

"So it's alright that I come to you if I want to learn anything in the future?" said Arge. So this was the reason. He actually wanted to make a connection with him since he knew about Zero's attack. He must have thought Linri was actually a big shot in the industry.

"Of course it is. Actually, I can even give you heads up whenever something happens in the school. If you don't mind paying again that is" said Linri.

"It's a deal then" Arge shook hands with Linri before leaving with a satisfied smile.

"What was that?" Brie asked curiously. She didn't understand anything. The guy just came in handed Linri money and asked for his services.

"Just making friends," said Linri while putting on his backpack.

"Does he want to hire you? Is he a terrorist too?" Brie whispered into Linri's ear with much hardship. I guess being short was not really working for her.

"What do you mean?" Linri frowned.

"I mean aren't you a terrorist? Does he need help to break into a government facility?" Linri wanted to smack her in the head but there were too many people around. He didn't want to be charged with child abuse so he held back.

"Do you really think I am a terrorist?" Brie nodded. Veins started to pop out of Linri's forehead. He really wanted to hit her.

"First of all in case, you forgot I am an info broker. I-N-F-O-B-R-O-K-E-R. Don't you forget that. Every time you call me a terrorist I will call you a pipsqueak. Get that?"

Brie strangely didn't get angry at being called short but nodded seriously. Now, that was weird.

"So what did you want to talk about?" Linri asked.

"Not here. Follow me" said Brie while dragging Linri. She had brought him to an unused part of the school. Actually, in the club, this place was named The Abandoned Classroom. The whole place looked creepy even though it was still day outside. The place just had a ghostly air around it.

"So?" Linri said while sitting on top of one of the old dust desks.

"Well, you see, there is this person I want to talk to but he seems to be ignoring me. And I noticed you seemed to be friends with him so, you know, can you introduce me to him?"

"Is that all?" Linri asked sarcastically. So this was it. Still, why did it feel like she could ask someone else instead of him?

"Yes"

"Are you sure?"

"Umu"

"Does that person happen to be blind?"

"How did you know!?" Brie's mouth made an O shape.

"Sorry, can't help" Brie latched on to his arm while making puppy eyes.

"Whyyyyyyyy?" She looked like a child begging her parents to buy candy.

"Ugh, it is hard to explain. How should I say? I think he is too old for you" Brie stopped the cute puppy eyes and looked angry. She freed his arm and pointed at him.

"It's because I look like a kid isn't it? I hate you! And I thought you were a friend!" Brie was about to storm off when Linri stopped.

"Wait, wait, wait! It's not because of that... Fuck, I will just tell you and get this over with. But let me lit one up first" Linri said after taking out a pack of cigarettes from his backpack. He took out and lit it with a fire bullet. It actually looked cool in a way.

"You should stop smoking that damn thing it will- ah" said Brie while sitting next to him. Then she noticed her mistake and shut her mouth.

"No worries. I don't mind dying that much. I already knew this would happen when I signed up" said Linri was patting her head.

"So you really are gonna die huh?" said Brie with a sort of melancholy in her tone.

"Who said anything about dying? I never make a losing deal. If I want I can cure myself tomorrow"

"No need to lie to me." Brie hugged her legs and lowered her head. He really didn't think she would be this upset. He took a puff from his cig.

"I wasn't lying. Anyway, where to start. How about I tell you about my illness. I promise at the end everything is going to tie up to why you shouldn't date that blind bastard"

"Okay"

"So, you remember about how I told you that I was a Kitsune right? Well, that was somewhat of a lie"

"Huh?"

"I said somewhat! I am actually a half-kitsune and a half-werewolf. Normally that's something that shouldn't happen. Even if they have kids, they either shouldn't have any powers or have one of the two. But I possess both of their powers. Do you know why?" Brie shook her head.

"It's because I made a deal with ancient deities. In exchange for power, they would give me part of their own. However, the powers they bestowed me actually awakened both of my bloodlines. And the more I use my powers the stronger they get"

"Isn't that a good thing?" Linri took another puff.

"*Exhale* No. Because the Fox and the Wolf can't coexist together. They are constantly fighting inside of me. If they get strong enough their fight will kill me. That's why I only have a month left at most"

"So that's why"

"Don't be so downcast. Haven't I told you that I have a plan? You see my mom is a genius in magic. She is devising a ritual to combine both bloodlines and make a brand new race. I decided to name it Woxen. Since you know wolf and a fox become wox, and someone who comes from a wox would be woxen. See, I told you I won't die"

"But what if your mom can't create that ritual?"

"No worries, I am sure she will because I wrote it that way. I am actually one of the people that created this world"

"Yeah, right. That would make you a god wouldn't it?"

"Actually I thought so at first but it doesn't really work that way. Anyway, let me tell you a story. I used to be a college student named Maxwell Walker. In my teenager years, I RP'ed in an online club. You know what RP means right?"

"Nope"

"It means roleplaying. You know like those games but instead of with visuals we control our characters through words. Basically, we would write down what our character would do in any given situation and others would also do the same. Name of the club I played in was Autumnfall Highschool and my character's name was Linri Harclaw. Can you guess where I am coming from?"

"Pfft, so you are saying you are like a main character from those reincarnation novels"

"Not exactly. Because I technically didn't die. My body was high jacked by the OG Linri. So now he is living as Max while I am inside his body"

"So you are trapped inside this world?"

"Maybe? Who knows? He and the others got strong enough to steal our bodies so shouldn't we be able to do the same?"

"There are others like you?"

"Yeah, and you already know two of them. For confidentiality sake, I can't give others' names but Jaime and Fosse are also like me. That's why you can't date Fosse. He is actually too old for you. Oh yeah, fun fact; Jaime was also the one who created you"

"I don't believe you one bit but let's say what you are saying is true. Does that mean my life is like this because of her enjoyment?" Brie looked a little angry when she asked that question. I guess this was the natural response when you learnt that your whole life was written for someone's entertainment.

"Not exactly but she had a part in it. You were actually conceived when another friend of ours Diego wanted to make a joint character. Meaning two characters with intersecting backgrounds. You and Jaime can be called one. Since you know, you grew up together. It was Diego who created Tory. He was somewhat obsessed with demons you see. All of his characters had something to do with them. At first, Jaime didn't know it would be like that. Though considering the other two she should have guessed"

"Why are you telling me all this?"

"Because I need someone to lend me an ear" Linri's eyes looked empty like he had given up on his life.

"I can't trust the others because they each have their own agenda. I can't talk with Jaime because she is angry with me and as for Kris? Who would take that old fart seriously? So that only leaves you. Actually, if you hadn't called me today we wouldn't even be having this conversation. I guess it was a spur of the moment decision. I might come to regret it in the future" said Linri while smiling. It was a lonely smile. He was honestly sick of everything. His will was slowly crumbling away.

"So that was why?" replied a melodious voice. Linri's back instantly covered in cold sweat. His face paled and his hands started to shake.

"That would explain your soul" the same melodious voice talked again. His mouth became dry and he had a hard time swallowing. He should have noticed. The connection he had opened at the class was still open. How could he make such a crucial mistake at this moment!

"H-hi Solas? Such beautiful weather we have today isn't it?"

Chapter end