Alivia stood in the ankle-deep water of the river bend, her fingers tracing the knotted leather cord around her neck. That piece of animal hide smelled like sour milk and old sweat. She couldn't wait to tear it off.
Ding!
A sharp electronic sound exploded in her head, and she flinched, covering her ears with her hands. She crouched down, her eyes scanning the empty river bend, her hand reaching for a sharp stone on the riverbed.
Nothing at all. Only the rustling of leaves and the murmuring of a stream. The sound was in her head.
"Initializing..." announced a voice, smooth and arrogant, with the tone of a Silicon Valley tech geek, "Super Charm System, codenamed Kai, at your service."
Alivia pressed hard on her temples, convinced she was hallucinating. "Great," she muttered, "The toxins have finally fried my brain."
"Don't press it," Kai said with a condescending tone, "I'm not a brain tumor, lady. I'm your only golden finger in this savage world. No thanks."
A translucent blue holographic screen flickered into existence, hovering in front of the retina. Numbers and statistics scrolled past.
Appearance: -50.
Charisma: -100.
Survival probability: 2%.
Alivia stared at the number, her eyes twitching. "Negative one hundred charm value? Are you kidding?"
"Main quest activated," Kai continued, ignoring her question, "Conquer your five designated partners. Collect affection."
Alivia let out a sharp, humorless sneer. "Sorry? Conquer those five bastards? The one I just kneed in the groin and now wants to kill me? I'd rather go gamble in the wilderness."
The harsh alarm screamed in her mind. "Warning. Refusal will lead to system energy depletion, immediate soul erasure. You have no choice."
The threat was real. Alivia could feel the system's cold tendrils wrapping around her consciousness. She hated being backed into a corner. She hated being forced to comply. But she was a survivor.
She stood straight, threw down the rock, switched to negotiation mode. "Fine. I'll do your stupid task. But I need upfront payment. Show some sincerity."
The screen flickered. Kai was silent for a moment, clearly not used to a host who argued back. "Given your current... hygiene condition, which severely affects the visual experience, the system has approved the 'Beginner Cleaning Kit'."
A golden gift box icon appeared on the screen. Alivia clicked it in her mind.
A flash of light, three items appeared in her palm: a lavender soap, a soft-bristled toothbrush, and a fluffy white cotton towel.
Alivia stared at them. The scent of lavender, artificial, chemical, yet utterly sacred, rose from the soap. It was a corner of modern civilization, a lifeline in this stinking hell.
She didn't hesitate. She draped the towel over the rock, dipped the soap into the water, and lathered up a thick foam. The white foam looked particularly beautiful on her dirty skin.
She scrubbed vigorously, the rough soap grinding away layer after layer of dirt. Black water slipped from her body, swirling downstream.
"When you get the advanced whitening cream," Kael chattered in her mind, " Swipe it on, and that waxy skin will--"
"Shut up, Kael." Alivia said sharply, rinsing the soap from her arm.
She picked up the toothbrush. There was no toothpaste, but even brushing with water and crushed mint leaves made her mouth no longer like a sewer. It took half an hour, using nearly half a bar of soap, but finally, the first layer of grime was washed off.
She was still fat. The rash was still there. But the skin had returned to its natural color, and the smell was replaced by the clean scent of lavender.
Alivia wiped her body dry with a towel, the soft cotton clinging to her skin-a luxury. She felt light, human again. She wrapped the damp, barely clean animal hide back around herself and turned to leave the water's edge.
Then, the hairs on the back of her neck stood up. A change in the air. Someone was behind her.
