Bab 6: New Skill Unlocked (Part 2)

Argider's senses were assaulted by a torrent of whispered words - a torment she could hardly comprehend, her awareness of her surroundings fragmented and confused.

Then, in a fleeting instant, she was forcefully propelled forward once again, hurtling through the expansive void toward a lone point of light.

In a flash, Argider's reality reverted back to normal, vomitting straightaway and expelled the contents of her stomach while falling on her knees.

She felt dizzy and disoriented, a sickening whirlwind consuming her senses, while tears streamed down her face.

'Heavens above, was that?...' With a hand covering her mouth, she struggled to contain the rising nausea, a churning feeling in her stomach threatening to send another wave of vomit up her throat.

— [Congratulations! You Have Successfully Used Skill: Empathy]

— [The Current Level Of Your Skill is Level One. It'll Gradually Increased Through Your Personality Traits and Personality Development Status]

— [Empath Skill Cooldown: 10 Hours]

Argider swayed unsteadily, her balance precarious as she tried to make sense of the recent experience.

Her equilibrium was teetering.

Before she could fully fall, the maroon-haired courtesan caught her, their usually cunning smile replaced by a look of genuine terror.

The crowd around them looked on in concern, their confusion evident as they observed the scene unfolding before them.

"Are you alright, my dear?!" the courtesan inquired, their voice trembling with remorse. "I only meant to assist you, I- I didn't know you were sick, I- I-..."

She managed to find her voice, responding weakly in an effort to brush off the incident. "It's fine... don't worry about it," she murmured, her gaze falling to the ground where the remnants of her vomit lay. Shame washed over her, a crawling sensation up her spine as she took in the mess she had made.

"Can we please rest somewhere?..."

"O-Of course!"

Then they entered the building - the place filled with a musky, yet seductive scent, a combination of sweet perfumes and sultry incense intertwined in the air.

Soft, flickering lamps cast a warm, intimate glow that enveloped the surroundings and gave the space a dim, yet inviting ambiance, a gentle music playing faintly in the background.

Both women found themselves inside a room that was likely intended for the pleasure of "guests," but in absence of alternatives, it would have to do.

The confident and composed demeanour of the woman who had led her here had vanished without a trace, leaving her in a fresh new image.

Argider regarded the courtesan intently, a subtle smile playing on her lips. "You're new here in Elysium Boudoir, aren't you?" she began the conversation despite her exhaustion.

"How could you tell?" The woman's face betrayed a flicker of surprise at Argider's astute observation.

Argider held back a smile, pretending she'd deduced it from some Sherlock-level intuition, though she had a much easier route: her 'Empath' skill. It was like cheating, really.

Somehow, she became more sensitive to the woman's intentions, her odd blend of nerves and kindness. It amused her to know that this woman thought Argider was some fragile, doe-eyed damsel, the delicate flower type, just like the woman she was in the past.

But Argider could also feel the courtesan's hidden desperation to leave the place. The poor girl was hoping she'd get a free ticket out of here if she played her "innocent new girl" card right, maybe letting herself slip through the cracks like a chipped vase after a few years of "service."

She wanted to offer Argider.

Beep!

— [New Notification]

— [Main Task Remaining Time: 3 hours, 57 minutes, 43 seconds]

Argider glanced at the time as a notification appeared, her expression hardening. She was on a strict time limit, only three hours left to her mission.

Argider had her target in mind—well, mostly. As she sized up the woman in front of her, she noticed the sharp, calculating glint in the courtesan's eyes. Probably too smart for this, but hey, worth a try.

Without a second thought, she popped up from her seat, leaned in way too close, and whispered, "Hey, you didn't have to bother helping me, you know. Because—get this—I'm actually a high lord's… whore." She paused dramatically, like she'd just revealed some royal lineage or something. "Yep, you heard right."

The courtesan just blinked, clearly trying to figure out if she'd misheard.

Argider seized the woman's hand and yanked it toward her fancy robe, practically smushing the fabric into her palm. "Feel that? This robe is, like, worth soooo much gold. Way more than whatever you're wearing, probably. You could resell it or, like, show it off to all the high-society ladies here. But—you know, only if you help me." She threw in a mysterious eyebrow waggle for good measure.

"Help you?" The courtesan's tone was flat, like she was talking to a very slow child.

Argider nodded, settling into her best tragic tone. "Yeah, so… the high lord I serve? He's, uh, from the Imperial Palace. Can't tell you his name—super secret stuff, obviously—but he threw me out! Left me totally high and dry." She tried to look extra pathetic, hoping the woman would buy her sob story.

With a dramatic sigh, she let her robe slip just enough to reveal her bruises—genuine ones, but from her own recent misadventures rather than any high lord. She gestured at them with a tragic flourish, as if saying, Behold! My bruises of betrayal!

The courtesan just stared, her face a mix of disbelief and pity. Argider could practically hear her thinking, How has this girl survived a single day?

Maybe getting smacked around by that damned Faeralys actually helped her cover story. Argider was all about looking the part, even if her "bruises of betrayal" were really just the latest chapter in her very complicated life choices.

She waited for the woman's response, but instead of, say, understanding or interest, she saw pure terror flash across the woman's face as their eyes met.

Oh no. Argider's heart did a little guilty flop. This wasn't supposed to actually scare the poor lady—it was just, well, a very necessary and slightly ridiculous performance.

She leaned forward, tone suddenly urgent. "Hey, sorry if this whole, you know, ordeal thing is freaking you out," she whispered. "I swear I'll make it worth your while. I'll even reward you."

The courtesan just blinked, processing this "reward" and clearly wondering what she'd done to deserve it. Finally, she said, "I don't even know your name."

"Not yet," Argider replied, trying to sound mysterious but mostly sounding like she'd forgotten her own name. "But, you know, I'd like to know yours."

The woman hesitated but finally sighed, almost reluctantly. "Addysen. That's my name. Addysen."

Argider grinned, trying to make it look noble but mostly just looking like she'd won a game of cards. "Great, Addysen! Perfect. Alright, stick with me, and I promise we're going to…do something. Something big."

— [Personality Trait: Oppenness ▪︎ +10 EXP!]

— [Personality Trait: Extraversion ▪︎ +10 EXP!]

— [Personality Trait: Agreeableness ▪︎ +10 EXP!]

— [Personality Trait: Neuroticism ▪︎ -5 EXP!]