Bab 2: Fifi

[Downloading data…]

[Data downloaded]

[System initiating]

[Awakening in 3…]

[2…]

[1…]

An electrically charged thunderbolt was injected into my skull, electrocuting every fiber of my being. It instantly caused my eyes to snap open.

I hissed in pain, massaging the space between my brows.

[Good morning, Exo!]

I gasped.

A pair of yellowish eyes blinked in front of me. Or rather, it was a translucent screen with curved lines imitating a robotic eye.

It blinked several times, playing the staring game with me. My mind had trouble processing what just happened and where I was.

I tilted my head to the side, watching it follow my movements. Not satisfied, I did it again, going in the opposite direction this time.

When it continued to mimic my movement, I sat up, roughly pushing myself back against the headboard of the single bed.

"Wha-what are you? Where am I? Who is Exo?"

A fit of giggles answered my query. Her child-like laughter sent goosebumps across my skin.

[I'm Fifi, a gift from Master Nichen. You met him earlier, but you probably won't remember]

I narrowed my gaze but kept my opinion to myself. Blurting it out would garner me another fit of giggles.

Women's logic.

While I was still trying to grasp the situation, Fifi continued her monotonous introduction.

[You are currently in Harrith, and in this life, you are no longer Elijah Iveya. You have been given a new identity from the moment you left the passage. You are now called Exo]

I had a another stare-me-down contest with Fifi. Her yellowish eyes were pixelated. I don't know if I should find that hilarious or pitiful.

But set that aside, everything she just said made no sense. However, I did realize something. I was talking to a system, one that I only heard of from Bronn. He mentioned it one time during his mandatory address to the people in our Universe.

But he didn't elaborate nor talk about it more in his subsequent speeches.

Shaking my head and closing my eyes for a brief period, I let out a sigh.

"So let me get this straight," I narrowed my gaze at Fifi. "I'm in Harrith, and apparently, my name is Exo. So you're what? My guardian? My guide? Why do you seem like you're inside my head rather than a separate being?"

It was Fifi's turn to blink in my direction. Her eyes looked confused for a moment before they lit up.

Another burst of giggles echoed in my surroundings, following the undeniable enthusiasm in her features.

[Initiating transformation]

The pair of yellowish eyes disappeared from my view.

After a few seconds, a small, impish figure took form in front of me. Though the figure was no larger than my hand, her curves still stood out.

Fifi's yellowish eyes caught my bewildered gaze. She was dressed in sparkling blue apparel. Blonde curls were ponytailed in pigtails on top of her head, bouncing as she did a full circle.

She proudly showed off her new body. Feeling dumb, I clapped my hands in an attempt to applaud. It was received with a gracious bow.

[Is this better?]

The question rang clear in my ears, but Fifi's heart-shaped lips didn't even move. Yet, her eyes were fixated on me, waiting for a response.

Hovering in the air, Fifi reminded me of fairies. Thanks to that comparison, I no longer found it necessary to pressing myself against the headboard and looked at Fifi with utmost curiosity.

"Could anyone else see you?"

[No]

I blinked.

[Only the system owner could see, hear and feel me. Fifi and her friends are not for everyone]

"Friends?" I immediately shook my head, putting my hands together to form an X and stop Fifi from answering my dumb query.

"Forget that. I have a more impor—"

But my words were cut off by the sudden opening of the door. A sudden force slammed me onto the bed. The bed sheets muffled my scream.

[Oops]

[Fifi is sorry! Fifi is scared of the woman]

"What woman?"

The translucent screen grew larger as it displayed the following:

[Name: Priscilla Oliviander]

[Age: 47]

[Occupation: Finance Manager]

[Relationship to Exo: Mother]

[Evolution points: Null]

[Danger level: HIGH]

"Brat!" a shrill voice that almost broke my eardrums gave me a start.

[Fifi sensed Exo's heartbeat accelerating. Do you wish to check your vital signs?]

"No!" I immediately replied.

"What! No?! Get your lazy ass to school!"

Wham!

Something hard connected with my skull. Gratefully, it wasn't hard enough to break it.

[Heart rate: 105 beats per minute]

"Fifi," I warned, whispering it to avoid another lashing out from the mother I am well aware was not the same mother I had grown up with.

How could I be sure? First of all, my mother never called me a brat. She was the sweetest and most caring person in my life.

Second, my mother would never hit me. She despised raising her hand to discipline me.

It was my father who was the disciplinarian. One could imagine my mother running to my aid whenever she heard my father raising his voice.

Thirdly, what did I just hear her say? School?

[Heart rate: 107 beats per minute]

Fifi's annoying heart rate check was only making me more agitated.

My confusion was pushed to the extreme. At this point, I might as well start palpitating.

Before fully processing what was going on, the collar of my shirt was yanked back, and I was pulled to sit, finally seeing the mother who had doll-like eyes, round and bluish. It reminded me of Nichen, the Divine's right hand.

Along with her prominent lovely features, my eyes followed the large chest that was almost touching my cheek.

[Heart rate: 110 beats per minute]

[Initializing rest m—]

"NO!"

I pulled myself free from the strangled hold only to find that the woman read my answer to Fifi as defiance of her order.

[—ode]

[Rest mode activated]

However, before she could do anything, I felt my consciousness fading. My eyes started to flutter close. My whole body went limp.

I felt the woman trying to wake me, slapping my face left and right. But I had no strength left to stop what was happening.

'Fifi…'

I tried to call out but to no avail. My vision became a haze of blurred images.

Before I could fall unconscious, my unclean thoughts made me wonder about one thing: How did I become Nirvana's favorite?