A/N: If you are interested, check out my new FF7 story. I would be grateful for a collection.
Chapter Start:
"..."
As Alex stares into Tereza's eyes, still feeling sleepy, he can't help but sigh.
"Welcome back," he says, watching her.
"..."
"What happened?" he asks.
"..."
"Oh, come on, say something?" Alex asks again.
"I'm glad I'm back! Didn't expect me to go missing, huh?" she finally says, smiling wildly.
"No, I didn't… I was kinda worried. So tell me what happened?" Alex repeats his earlier question.
Tereza sighs and begins to explain, waving her arms around for dramatic effect. "I was just waiting for you, but not even a day after you left, I was contacted by a crazed, serial-killing lunatic who kidnapped me. Can you believe it?! I fought for my life, and I barely managed to make it back here."
"...So I guess Rishi invited you to a mission he stumbled across. Another one of his 'visions'?" Alex asks, trying to guess what really happened.
"Boring! So you know. Yes. Apparently, it was a mission that required teams of two, so with no one else around, he asked me. I reluctantly accepted, since I wanted to be on the same level as you," she replies, smirking at him.
… As long as she made it back.
"I'm glad things went okay. So what was that mission, exactly?" Alex asks, curious.
"I went into the mission blind! It was a weird Japanese game world. Rishi knew about it—that guy, aside from killing his competitors, has apparently researched every game world in existence! It was quite an interesting world. It was the Trails series. Do you know about it?" she asks.
Alex perks up. "Yes… I even bought a recovery item from it some time ago. That sounds like a cool world. So, what part of it did you end up in? Liberl, Crossbell? Erebonia? Calvard?"
Tereza's face shows a hint of annoyance. "So you know about it too… According to Rishi, it was set a few years before the actual games. We ended up in Erebonia. The mission started in an underground base. Me and Rishi, along with four more pairs of players, were participating in an event to become the newest Enforcers of this shadowy organization called Ouroboros."
"That's a pretty cool storyline. So what did you end up doing?" Alex asks, intrigued.
Tereza begins to slowly explain the mission—talking about her objectives, targeting the Erebonian nation, making deals with corrupt nobles, sabotaging various companies, and even going after Bracers and the other teams.
"In the end, we won! Barely. We managed to squeeze out an S-rank, which is more than okay in my book. How about you?! I forgot—you entered the world of Mass Effect, right?! With those crazy restrictions as well?"
Alex also quickly narrates his journey.
"For real?!"
"If you don't believe me… feel free to enter my room and you'll see a certain spider playing a game with my new Supporter," Alex says.
"Benezia, huh?" Tereza whispers, looking intrigued. "I glanced inside earlier and nearly fainted. Menchi is in the Realm? I feel kind of insecure introducing myself to someone like that… You come with me then!"
"Might as well. I wonder how she likes the game."
Together with Tereza, Alex returns to his room, knocks, and then enters after waiting a few seconds.
They quietly step inside and find Benezia, wearing Alex's gamer headset, staring at the screen with focused interest. Jewel, still slumped on her shoulder, looks lifeless—and slowly, excruciatingly, turns her head around.
Soulmate… please help Princess Jewel. She can't take it anymore!
"What's going on?" Alex asks, stepping closer to Benezia.
He sees her standing in front of a gas bag—a harmless creature encountered on Eden Prime.
"Wait… It's been hours. Did you restart the game? Still on Eden Prime?"
"I am enjoying the game. I am just paying close attention to the details. There is a lot of information to process," Benezia says with a smile.
"...I think the mission took less time when I actually experienced it, compared to your playthrough. If you hurry, you can finish it in around five minutes," Alex comments.
Please Soulmate. Princess Jewel will behave. Never make her play with Benezia again… Tereza!
Jewel suddenly notices Tereza and jumps into her arms.
"I missed you too, little Princess," Tereza says, stroking Jewel.
Benezia pauses the game and turns around, standing up.
She curiously eyes Tereza, gazing at her intently.
"So you are the Tereza I've been told about? Is it true you can transform into a bat?" Benezia asks.
"Yes, Mo— Matriarch," Tereza responds, making Alex smack his own face.
"You and Menchi are exactly the fucking same. How can you both be this degenerated? I'm really starting to lose all hope in you," Alex curses.
Tereza blushes in embarrassment, her eyes dropping to her feet as she shifts one awkwardly, clearly looking guilty.
Alex then stares at Benezia. "I guess you have the ability to turn people into brainless, obedient vegetables. Can you do that to my enemies?"
"I am not quite sure what you are insinuating, Human," Benezia says, "but it seems both Menchi and Tereza appreciate me, and I am grateful for that. I have always regretted acting distant toward my own daughter, Liara. I'd love to remedy my mistake and change my attitude a little. Those two remind me a little of my little wing."
"..."
Maybe I should join another mission… now!
A few hours later, Rishi responds to Alex's message. They quickly call and decide to meet up a few days later.
Despite both Tereza's and Menchi's peculiar first reactions, things quickly normalize.
Benezia, now with her own properly furnished room, quickly gets used to the real world.
Slowly but surely, Alex begins to relax. After a full day of rest—during which he briefly visits his parents—he finally turns his attention back toward the Realm.
"I'm going to the Realm," he announces. "I want to finally learn my new skills. Rishi will meet up with me later, since I have a few things to discuss with him."
Benezia, Tereza, Menchi, and Jewel all nod, standing up as well.
Looks like I'm not going in alone.
Alex enters the Realm with his two Supporters, this time teleporting directly to their guild headquarters.
"Before we leave," Alex says, "1337. Can you explain Benezia's Support skills to me? It looks like she herself doesn't quite know about them. I mean, Diplomacy and Trading seem pretty self-explanatory. I guess they let her negotiate with different characters in worlds, influencing their reactions. But what is Teaching supposed to do? It sounds useless."
[Benezia]
Level: 19 (0%)
Rarity: Deep Purple
Free Skill Slots 3/3
Skills:
Support Skills: Diplomacy (Master -), Teaching (Expert +), Trading (Expert +)
Weapon rank: Deep Purple
Armor rank: Deep Purple
Benezia shakes her head. "I think I've never heard someone say that teaching people is useless. Not even my most unwilling students in the past have uttered such an outrageous thing."
Alex sighs. "I'm talking about system-related skills! Of course, teaching is important—but you can do that without a skill. So what exactly do these skills do? That's what I want to know."
"A valid question. You should try to be more precise with your words and stop making careless statements," Benezia replies calmly.
"..." Alex stares at Menchi and Tereza, who smile at him silently, saying nothing.
"Having fun, are we? Now 1337, explain already!" Alex yells.
[As Host has correctly explained, the Diplomacy and Trading skills are most effective on NPCs in various worlds. You can gain various advantages and even coax people into taking world-altering actions that would normally be impossible. The Diplomacy skill is probably the most fearsome skill a Supporter can possess, as it allows them to change the very fabric of the world. Please be aware that a higher-level Diplomacy skill also allows your Supporter to influence players, other Supporters, and pets. It not only raises the verbal skill of the Supporter but changes their entire being into one of authority and influence. I believe the foolish reactions of your other Supporter and Host's ally are enough proof of that. Host, you yourself—despite hiding it—are notably influenced, despite your increased SPR stat. As Supporter Benezia's level is 19, you would require at least twice as much SPR to be totally immune to her skill.]
Alex blushes a little. "Nothing to do with her skill. Don't call it influenced."
But with her massive ti— whatever, no time for that!
"Go on already!"
[Trading allows for generous offers from NPCs. Sometimes you can even buy things that are not available to other people. It's quite useful for obtaining items in other worlds at a cheaper price. As with Diplomacy, this skill is somewhat effective on other players. This skill does somewhat, albeit with reduced effectiveness, stack with other supporters having the Trading skill, as well as the player's basic skill and CHA stat.]
"Okay, these two skills are great! Benezia will be helpful. I have to carefully think about how to best utilize these skills. What about Teaching?"
[Teaching allows Benezia to quickly teach various NPCs concepts and practical skills. The effects are quite significant. However, the most important aspect of Teaching is her ability to teach her own skills—including the skills she may learn in the future—to other Supporters, including those belonging to other Players.]
"Really?!" Alex says, his jaw dropping a little.
"That sounds quite strong!" Menchi adds, her smile widening.
Alex rubs his chin, already calculating how much to charge for Benezia's services and how to best advertise them.
I'm gonna be rich! She is at Expert+, that is insane! I can make a fortune! Both Trading and Diplomacy are useful skills; most players would be interested!
"Alex. You are mainly thinking about financial gain again? Your greed is outside my tolerable limits. I think I need to teach you once we are back," Benezia says, gently removing his hand and grabbing his chin instead, staring directly into his eyes.
"Yes, M—Matriarch!"
Menchi and Tereza both stare at Alex in shock… before smirking.
"What was that, Alex? Please speak more clearly," Menchi teases.
Tereza giggles. "And you were looking down on me earlier? Pathetic!"
"I was just stuttering because she's holding my chin! Also, she's using her skill to brainwash me! Stop it!"
[Host is not under the effect of Diplomacy. He is merely arous—]
"Shut up!" Alex interjects.
"We have important things to do," he mutters, trying to salvage what's left of his dignity.
------------------------------------------------
A/N: Always thankful for Power Stones, Comments, and Reviews. Thank you for reading!
If you are interested, then please support me at patreon.com/FRWriter
65+ Early chapters available - I will still release on WN daily!! Thank you!
New Chapters every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday!
Bored? Complains? Demands? Check out the Discord: https://discord.gg/puVqWsf3y9
Thank you for supporting the story with Power Stones!