Chapter 6: Liza Garnet
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"Hi," Arios said, his voice calm and even, as Liza Garnet looked up from her books. Her eyes, usually so lively, held a flicker of surprise, her chewing gum montarily still.
He had approached her after the final class of the day, when most of the other students were already filing out, eager to escape the lingering tension left by Instructor Bale’s announcent. The classroom was emptying, providing a feel of privacy.
Just as Liza processed his greeting, a familiar translucent screen overlapped into existence before Arios’s eyes. Only he could see it.
[Bond Attempt Detected.]
[Quest Update: Bond with Liza Garnet.]
[Objective: Create a genuine bond with Liza Garnet.]
[Ti Remaining: ???]
[Tip: Review bond candidate registry to review requirents for a bond.]
[Bond Rewards: Bond log unlocked | 5 STR | 3 INT | 1 E-tier Martial Manual | 30XP]
Arios ntally cataloged the rewards. A significant boost to Strength and Intelligence, a martial manual, and a bond log. This was exactly what he needed to prepare for the mid-sester test and to start building his power.
The Martial Manual was particularly intriguing; an E-tier skill, likely a basic combat technique, but a start. And the 30 XP would be a welco addition to ascend. He knew that the more bonds he ford, the stronger he would beco. This was the core of his strategy.
He looked at Liza again, now with a more focused gaze, even as he maintained a casual deanor. Her bright orange hair, styled in thick braids, frad a face that was undeniably cute. Her eyes, wide and expressive, were a striking shade of green. And her chest... yes, his assessnt of "K-cup" was accurate. It was a prominent feature that certainly contributed to her social magnetism. No wonder she was perceived as the center of social life in the class, constantly surrounded by a small entourage of admirers.
In his past life, Harry had been far from a ladies’ man. He’d been awkward, introverted, and generally terrible at initiating conversations, especially with attractive won. He’d often stumbled over his words, blushed, or simply avoided eye contact. Liza Garnet, with her vibrant personality and undeniable looks, would have been utterly out of his league. A conversation like this would have been unthinkable. But now, as Arios, with the guidance of the system and the clear objective of gaining power, the intimidation factor was significantly reduced. He wasn’t pursuing her out of infatuation, but out of strategic necessity. The system was his guide, his confidence booster. It provided the frawork, and he would follow the steps.
"You have a really nice smile, Liza," Arios said, making sure his tone was sincere, hitting the first requirent for bonding: "1 Sincere Complint." He watched her reaction closely.
Liza’s eyes widened slightly, and a faint blush touched her cheeks. She seed genuinely surprised, her usual boisterous energy montarily subdued. "Oh, um, thank you," she replied, a little softer than her usual loud voice. She fidgeted slightly with a strap on her bag. The complint seed to have caught her off guard, which was good. It ant it felt genuine, not like a pick-up line.
Arios maintained eye contact, a small, polite smile on his face. He needed to keep the conversation going, to transition into the next phase. "I was wondering," he continued, "if you’d be open to grabbing a coffee soti? Just, you know, to talk about the academy, the classes, everything that’s been thrown at us." He kept his tone casual, making it sound like a friendly, academic discussion, not a romantic overture.
Liza hesitated for a mont, her gaze flicking between him and the almost empty classroom. She seed to be weighing her options. "Coffee, huh?" she mused, then a sly grin spread across her face. "If I’m not spending my points, then yeah, I guess I’d definitely co. I an, free coffee is free coffee, right?" Her tone was light, almost dismissive.
Arios allowed his smile to widen. "So, it’s official then," he said, injecting a hint of playful teasing into his voice. "It’s a date."
Liza’s eyes imdiately narrowed, and she made a face that was a perfect blend of disgust and mock horror. "Definitely not!" she exclaid, her voice returning to its usual volu, though a nervous laugh escaped her. "Don’t even think it, Arios! I just see no reason to reject a free coffee. It’s a strategic alliance for caffeine, nothing more." She put her hands on her hips, her expression firm.
"Understood," Arios said, his smile remaining. He knew this was part of her way of maintaining her social image and keeping people at arm’s length. He wasn’t deterred. "Just making sure we’re on the sa page. So, coffee. My treat, obviously. When would be a good ti for you?"
Liza relaxed slightly, though she still eyed him suspiciously. "Hmm," she tapped her chin thoughtfully. "Most of my afternoons are free after classes, especially with this new test looming. We’ll probably have more study ti now." She shrugged. "Just text . I’m usually free."
"Perfect," Arios replied, pulling out his school-issued tablet. He opened the ssaging app. "What’s your number?"
Liza rattled off the digits, and Arios quickly typed them in.
Lizzza
UDR 567 890 890
He saved the contact. "Got it. I’ll text you with a ti and place. Thanks, Liza."
"Yeah, yeah," she waved a dismissive hand, though her expression was softer now. "Just make sure it’s good coffee, Arios. I have standards, even for free stuff." She then turned and walked out, her usual confident swagger back in her step, already pulling out her own tablet.
Arios watched her go, a quiet sense of satisfaction settling over him. The first step was complete. He had initiated contact, delivered the sincere complint, and secured a future interaction. He knew the "Shared Vulnerability" and "Mont of Genuine Support" would be harder, requiring more ti and careful planning, but he had opened the door.
He turned to leave the classroom, his thoughts already moving to the next phase of his plan. He needed to start gathering information on mana manipulation and swordsmanship, even before the official classes began next week. He also needed to consider how to subtly influence Rian Blake towards failure without drawing suspicion. This was a delicate balance.
As he reached the doorway, he noticed a figure still lingering inside the classroom, near the back. It was Greg Tunley. Greg was sitting at his desk, pretending to read a textbook, but his eyes were clearly fixed on Arios. He had been watching the entire interaction with Liza. His expression was unreadable, a mix of curiosity and perhaps sothing else – envy? Concern?
Arios paused, contemplating why Greg would be staring. Was it just curiosity about his interaction with Liza, the social butterfly of the class? Or was there sothing more to it? Greg was supposed to be his target for "saving" from expulsion, a pawn to be protected against Kyousuke’s plans. His observation of Arios was an unexpected wrinkle.
Before Arios could dwell on it further, the translucent system screen flickered before his eyes again, displaying a subtle update.
[Quest Progress: Bond with Liza Garnet: 33.3%]
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