This Glass World We Live In

1 : Bleak Days

The clock didn't seem to have mercy, it's hands inching by so incredibly slowly that it was as if it wanted to torture everyone staring desperately at it hoping it would tick faster. Then as slow and painful as ever, the minute hand ticked over and the bell rang. Everyone started to pack ready to end the day, this particular day especially marked the beginning of summer, save one student who didn't even hear the bell ring. Alma, College freshman to be Sophomore. Her eyes scarlet eyes seemingly trained on something outside the classroom window. Her professor clears his throat and this throws her out of her daydreaming. "Alma, isn't it about time you leave the room?" Alma, having finally realized the bell rung stood up and stretched, her wavy brown hair falling in front of her face as she did so. She looked at the window once more and found again what she was staring at, herself. Her long brown wavy hair, her scarlet eyes, her tan skin, and her lean physique just looked so average to her. In all terms of the word she felt just that, overwhelmingly average. Without allowing herself to get distracted again she packed up her things, and went along her way. As she walked through the halls, she couldn't help but feel lost among a sea of people, and that made her anxious. She quickly made sure to reach the exit of her college campus and exhaled a sigh of relief as she exited the crowd. She looked out expectantly for someone surfing over the ungodly amount of people frolicking all around the campus, then suddenly she felt someone clasp her shoulders. A hushed voice whispered over her ear. "Boo." Alma jumped and let loose a small shriek, but quickly turned around embarrassed to see who she had been looking for. His Blonde messy hair, Tall almost intimidating physique, and his wide stupid grin gave her all she had to know. "You're an asshole Aaron."
Aaron began to laugh, "Shouldn't have let your guard down then."
Alma snorted in response, "At least I'm not the one with a hangover every week frat boy."
"When you're of age you'll find the appeal of drinking little one." Aaron says in an almost father like tone.
Alma can't help but smile at this. Although Aaron can be a little too much sometimes, Alma liked being around him. "So what are you gonna be up to?"
Aaron smiled. "Well, Dad had wanted to take me and my siblings to Korea for a bit, he offered to take you, but I already assumed your response would be another no." They both started walking further off campus to their apartment complex. "You were never one to accept gifts you didn't buy yourself anyway."
"Got me there."
Aaron chuckles. "It's almost as if I've known you for most of my life."
Alma sighs, Aaron and her were cousins, but she couldn't see any similarities. Aaron is carefree, loud, and looked nothing like her, sometimes she wonders how they're even related. "I would rather not be related to a frat boy like you." she says in a seemingly sincere tone.
Aaron clutches at his chest dramatically. "Ah, the shame and humiliation, whatever shall I do carrying this knowledge? How can I move on? How can I continue!" Aaron throws himself onto his knees in mock anguish.
Alma chuckles a little. It's just like him to be this dramatic.
They walked on for all but a bit longer, as their apartment complex steadily approached looming in the distance. Aaron tapped her shoulder before splitting ways. His usual goofy demeanor gone and his face now sincere. "Remember to take care of yourself this summer okay?"
Alma couldn't help but feel warm. Aaron had his moments and could be genuinely sweet and caring, she's seen that part of him since they were kids. "You should worry about yourself more as well." She spoke before parting off.
Alma walked on to her apartment, number 138. Before long she was putting her key into the lock, and she entered her apartment. On entry she found her cat asleep on the living room windowsill, basking in sunlight. Alma moved quietly as to not awake her. She then made her way to her room slowly and quietly, dropping her bag onto the floor on entry. As she catches herself in the mirror she stops and stares for another second or two. Yet still, she seemed so ordinary. "I should probably take a shower." She said to herself as she started to kick off her shoes. She lived alone, not counting her cat of course, and as that was the case her apartment was rather quiet, some would say oddly so. Alma however, liked this quiet, it was just what she needed after a stressful day.

~

Carter had walked out of the Viper's guild, he'd just gotten initiated and as such now sported a tattoo along his arm. He stared at it curiously. It was simple, a crest displaying a two headed serpent, the mark of his guild. Carter was excited, he had heard talk about the status screen which came with being a hunter and it intrigued him. He walked for a while until he came to a park, sat on a park bench, and stared at his tattoo nervously. He gulped in anticipation as the words escaped his mouth. "Status" he whispered out.
A screen shot out in front of his eyes, it startled Carter and he jumped a little. What he had felt in that moment quickly led to curiosity and then astonishment. This status screen showed a representation of a user's strengths in the form of "status points" and allowed for adding of points even. Carter found this amusing. Along the status screen he also found his level, normally people have to get their levels appraised, Carter had never done it before but had heard about it from others. Carter quickly found a "class" tab, "inventory" tab, and "equipment" tab as well. Not only did this system allow for identification of items on your person, but it allows for the marking of your class and features, and an inventory space as well. "Holy shit..." Carter whispered under his breath as he looked further and even saw a model of his body displaying even his insides and a chart of well being. "They really outdid themselves..." Carter closed his status screen and stood up. He would figure out more at home, for now he needed to level up enough to actually accept quests. "I need 2 more levels..." He muttered to himself while walking back home, still mildly excited from his knowledge of the status screen. Then he suddenly smelt rain. As he stared up at the sky he found clouds a plenty.
"It's a bleak day isn't is Carter?" A raspy voice spoke seemingly centimetres away from his ear. He flinched backwards instinctively, but as he looked back he saw nothing. He glanced around anxiously. Surely someone wouldn't use magic on me in public? He quickly pushed that thought out of his head. Only a fool would openly use magic so close to the guild. Carter would push on towards home, however he couldn't shake the feeling that something was creeping with him.

~

Alma just finished her shower, she was still drying her hair as she walked into the living room. Her cat circling around her legs rubbing against Alma and purring. Alma fed her cat, then made her way back to the living room. She turned on the TV and grabbed one of her books. She started to read. This book at first glance would seem normal, it was leather bound and rather simple looking. This book however was a beginner's guide to magic, in it the essentials anybody wanting to learn magic would have to know. However, Alma just couldn't seem to grasp even the basic concepts, no matter how hard she tried she could never concentrate her mana. She held out her hand, closed her eyes and shut every other distraction out of her mind. She could feel the energy inside her body, and she started to will it into her hand. She felt the energy amassing, as if she was holding a flame which flickered to and fro across the surface of her palm. She could feel her heartbeat quicken, she was excited, perhaps now was finally the time. But, when she opened her eyes, she saw nothing. She exhaled sharply, closed the book, and set it down on the coffee table in front of her. For a second she just stared into her hand. Why can't I grasp this. Disappointed in herself and exhausted, she grabbed the remote and turned on her TV.
"-ose of you just tuning in, we have reports of a snow giant having entered rural areas in Juneau Alaska, If you know anybody in the area please let them know to evacuate immediately, representatives from the Viper guild are on the way." Alma stared into the TV. This was the second time this month a creature has exited a dead zone. Alma shivered slightly and gritted her teeth. She brought her fist against the table slightly, tears coming to her eyes. Why is this world so cruel? She tried to stop herself from crying, but she couldn't do anything as the tears streamed down her face. Why can't I change anything in this cruel world? Suddenly she felt warmth against her arm and heard a slight meowing, her cat was rubbing against her lightly. She couldn't help but smile, even through her tears which now dropped even heavier. While others suffer, I can feel happy... it's so unfair.