Chapter 8: Chapter 8: Moving into an apartment [2]
After some searching, I finally found an apartment in a distant part of the city.
The prices were significantly lower here compared to the areas closer to the institute.
However, even with the reduced cost, I still had to shell out around 5000 Leus every three months, totaling to roughly 20,000 Leus annually for the rent.
As I settled into my new living space, a sense of dissatisfaction lingered.
Sure, the apartment offered some semblance of privacy and independence, but knowing that I could move into the luxurious dorms once the institute session commenced made the expenditure feel somewhat futile.
Plus, I'd have to vacate the dorms during vacations, adding an extra layer of inconvenience.
Nevertheless, as I pondered the situation further, I realized that investing in my own apartment had its perks.
I could customize it to my liking and transform it into my personal headquarters, a sanctuary where I could strategize, study, and plan without any distractions.
The idea of having a dedicated space to call my own appealed to me, and I decided that the additional expense was worth it for the sake of comfort and convenience.
As I settled into the new apartment, I took out a pen and a journal I bought.
I opened it and stared at it, wondering where to begin.
I was thrust into this unknown world, and the weight of the situation hit me hard.
My family in this world was destroyed. Though I didn't show it at the time, it shook me to my core.
Here, my mother was dead, and my father's words rang in my ears: 'I no longer have any son.'
The thought of my older brother's fate haunted me—was he even born here, or did he share the same tragic end as my mother?
Tears threatened to fall from my eyes as I considered the possibilities.
I couldn't bear the idea of them suffering.
It was then that I made a decision, my goal and my life from now on:
"I cannot stay here. I do not belong here. I was brought here by force, and I want to go back to my world."
I didn't care about the magic or technology of this world—all I wanted was to return home to my family.
The loneliness I felt here was suffocating, and the realization that I was nobody without the Blackstar name felt crushing.
The memory, in the game, of my sister and Arthur cheerfully planning to beat me into a pulp than report it to the head of the Blackstar family and than finally getting me kicked out, without a care for me or my existence filled me with a mix of anger and despair.
To them, I was nothing more than an obstacle to overcome. As doubt consumed me, panic set in, and a searing pain ripped through my chest.
Not only did I lack allies, but even my own family seemed to stand against me. It was a sensation I had never experienced before—a profound sense of isolation and betrayal.
I couldn't pinpoint when it started, but I found myself hyperventilating, struggling to process the overwhelming flood of emotions since my arrival in this unfamiliar world.
"I just need to return to my world,"
I tried to rationalize, seeking refuge from the turmoil within.
But my mind was a whirlwind of doubt and uncertainty.
Was my previous life a fabrication? A figment of my imagination?
The pain in my chest tightened, intensifying with each breath.
"Aaaaarghh!"
I cried out, the agony overwhelming me as I doubled over in anguish. The world blurred as my consciousness began to slip away.
"Am I dying again?"
I whispered to myself, the thought of eternal slumber offering a tempting escape.
But amid the darkness, a memory flickered to life—a distant echo from my childhood. In it, a young boy, tears streaming down his face, stood before his parents, trembling with fear.
"Why didn't you tell me, Aren?" a voice pleaded, filled with concern.
The boy remained silent, his heart heavy with guilt and shame.
Then, a gentle touch—the warmth of a mother's hands on his cheeks, a soothing voice cutting through the darkness.
"M-Mom?" the boy sniffled, his voice barely above a whisper.
With unwavering love and compassion, his mother reassured him, her words a beacon of hope in the darkness.
"Aren, no matter what happens, even if the world is against you, always know that we will be there for you, okay? Don't cry, it's not your fault."
* * *
As I stirred awake, my head throbbed with discomfort.
Fumbling for my glasses on the nightstand, I realized they weren't there.
Confusion clouded my thoughts momentarily until the memory of my father's slap hit me—my glasses had fallen off, leaving everything a bit blurry since then.
With a sigh, I rose from the bed and began to unpack my bag.
Among the luxurious clothes and extravagant gadgets, I found a small box containing a fresh pair of prescription glasses.
Putting them on, the world snapped back into focus, relieving the strain on my eyes.
Glancing at my phone, I saw that it was already noon.
Sleeping in after what went down yesterday I couldn't complain really.
Dragging my weary body to the restroom, I faced my reflection.
Puffy face, messy hair, acne-ridden skin, and a less-than-impressive line of facial hair greeted me.
I'd never been overly concerned with my appearance, but the state of my reflection gave me pause.
I wasn't the most attractive person and I did not care much about my appearance at all.
However I have to fix myself up, because not only I was sure that my reputation, which determines the social standing of a person in a society; is rock bottom but it's not a good idea to make an enemy out of everyone I come in contact with.
I am weak in this world after all, and wouldn't want to paint a target on my back.
I brushed my teeth, took a quick shower and applied benzoyl peroxide to my face which will treat the acne and other grooming products that I bought yesterday.
While some may argue that 'looks don't matter,' countless studies had shown otherwise—that you receive favorable treatment if you are attractive no matter the gender.
A subtle pang pulsed through my head, as if my brain were trying to convey a message. I closed my eyes, and there it was—the familiar sight of my status window.
======Status======
Name: Aren Blackstar
Age: 17 ↼(25)
Overall Rank: F- [↑]
Strength: F+
Speed: F- [↓]
Stamina: F- [↓]
Endurance: F
Durability: F
Agility: F- [↓]
Mana-grade: F-
Mana-capacity: 10/10
Charm*: [F-] ⇀ [F]
================
A subtle uptick in my charm rating caught my attention.
"It's working," I murmured to myself, taking in the changes.
I than looked at my overall rank.
"F- huh? I'll need to reach at least F+ by the start of the semester."
With only five days remaining, it seemed like a daunting task.
Most of the cadets set to join this year's semester were not only a year younger but also boasted an overall rank of E, one full rank plus a sub-rank higher than mine—a significant gap.
And then there were the protagonist and his comrades, all hovering around the E+ rank. But that didn't deter me; I already had a plan in motion.
I clenched my jaw. Though I wasn't thrilled about it, I knew I had no other choice. If I wanted to grow quickly, I had to push myself beyond my limits.
And sometimes, the quickest route to growth was through a good old-fashioned punch in the face literally.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone