Dorian woke up with twenty-nine hours left on the clock and a text from Sarah already waiting.
Sarah: Morning! ☀️ Last night was really nice. Free for lunch?
He stared at the message, his thumb hovering over the keyboard. Last night was nice. That was the problem. She'd called him sweet. She'd let him kiss her cheek and then teased him for being a dork.
Normal people things. Things he'd never really had before.
He typed back: Sure. Same place?
Sarah: Perfect! See you at 12 😊
He set the phone down and checked the system.
QUEST PACK: "PUBLIC DISPLAY"
SUB-QUEST 3A: ARM IN ARM - COMPLETE
SUB-QUEST 3B: CHEEK TO CHEEK - COMPLETE
SUB-QUEST 3C: THE INTRODUCTION - INCOMPLETE
TIME REMAINING: 28 HOURS, 42 MINUTES
The introduction. She had to introduce him to someone as significant. Romantically significant. Not implied. Actual words.
He needed her to call him her boyfriend. Or something close.
How the hell do I make that happen in twenty-eight hours?
He got out of bed and immediately regretted it. The morning situation was getting out of hand. He'd developed a new waddle—a sort of cowboy gait that made him look like he'd just gotten off a horse.
"Dude." Tyler was sitting up in bed, watching him. "Why do you walk like that?"
Dorian froze. "Like what?"
"Like you've got a load in your pants." Tyler squinted. "You okay?"
"Fine." Dorian grabbed his towel. "Shower."
He waddled to the bathroom, Tyler's eyes burning into his back.
This is fine. This is normal. No one notices.
---
Lunch was at the same coffee cart. Bad idea, in retrospect, because Maya was working.
Dorian saw her the moment they walked up. She was wiping the counter, ponytail swinging, and when she looked up and saw him, her eyes narrowed.
Oh no.
"Hey!" Sarah waved, oblivious. "Two lattes, please. One vanilla, one regular."
Maya's eyes stayed on Dorian. "I know you."
Dorian's stomach dropped. "Do you?"
"Yeah." Maya's voice was flat. "You're the spider guy."
Sarah blinked. "Spider guy?"
"He came up to my cart a few days ago," Maya said, still staring at Dorian. "Slapped my ass. Said there was a spider."
Dorian's face went red. Sarah's head whipped toward him.
"You what?"
"It was a spider!" Dorian's voice cracked. "Big one! On her... on her back. I was trying to help."
Maya snorted. "There was no spider. I checked."
Sarah was looking at him with an expression he couldn't read. Confusion? Concern? Amusement?
"You slapped a stranger's butt because of a spider?" she asked.
"I didn't slap! I patted! There's a difference!"
Sarah stared at him for a long moment. Then she burst out laughing.
"Oh my god." She was doubled over, clutching her stomach. "Oh my god, Dorian. You're insane."
Maya looked offended. "It's not funny. It was weird."
"It's hilarious." Sarah wiped her eyes. "He's such a dork. He probably panicked. Right? You panicked?"
Dorian nodded frantically. "Panicked. Absolutely. Total panic. Would never normally—" He stopped himself. "I mean. Yeah. Panic."
Sarah was still giggling. Maya looked between them, her expression shifting from annoyance to curiosity.
"You two together or something?" Maya asked.
Dorian's heart stopped. This was it. The moment. If Sarah said yes—
"We're hanging out," Sarah said easily. "He's my... I don't know. Study buddy? Coffee friend?" She grinned at Dorian. "Something like that."
Not enough. Not nearly enough.
Maya shrugged and handed them their drinks. "Whatever. Just keep your hands to yourself, spider guy."
They walked away, Sarah still chuckling. Dorian's mind raced. That was a missed opportunity. A big one.
But also... she hadn't been mad. She'd thought it was funny. She'd defended him, sort of.
Something like that. Not boyfriend. But not nothing.
---
They sat at their usual table. Sarah was still smiling, shaking her head.
"I can't believe you. Slapping a stranger's butt because of a spider."
"It was a really big spider."
"Sure it was." She sipped her latte. "You're weird, Dorian. But I like weird."
Dorian felt that crack in his chest again. The one that happened whenever she said something genuine.
"Hey," he said, before he could stop himself. "You want to grab dinner tonight? Like, actual dinner. Not coffee."
Sarah's eyebrows went up. "Like a date?"
Yes. Say yes. Say yes and then introduce me to someone as your boyfriend.
"Uh. Yeah. Like a date."
She smiled—that dimpled, genuine smile. "I'd love to."
Dorian's heart did something complicated. Triumph? Guilt? Both?
One step closer.
---
Dinner was at a cheap Italian place near campus. Sarah wore a dress—a simple one, nothing fancy. They got a table and ordered. Sarah talked about her day, her classes, her annoying group project partner. Dorian nodded along, stealing glances at the door, hoping someone—anyone—would show up.
Halfway through the meal, a girl walked up to their table.
"Sarah! Oh my god, hi!"
Dorian looked up. Blonde. Bubbly. Friend energy.
"Jenna!" Sarah jumped up to hug her. "I haven't seen you all semester!"
"I know, it's crazy." Jenna's eyes landed on Dorian. She gave him a quick once-over, her expression politely blank. Nothing special. Just some guy. "And who's this?"
Dorian's pulse quickened. This was it. This was the moment.
Sarah glanced at him. Smiled.
"This is Dorian." She paused. "My boyfriend."
The words hung in the air like music.
Jenna's eyebrows lifted slightly—not impressed, just mildly interested. "Oh. Cute." Her tone suggested she was being polite more than anything else. "Since when?"
"Couple weeks," Sarah said smoothly. "It's new."
Couple weeks? It's been like four days.
But Dorian didn't correct her. He was too busy watching the system window.
SUB-QUEST 3C: THE INTRODUCTION - COMPLETE
PROGRESS: 3/3
QUEST PACK COMPLETE!
REWARD PROCESSING...
Then the warmth started.
Dorian felt it building—that familiar tingling under his skin. But stronger this time. More intense.
Not here. Not in front of them.
He stood up abruptly. "Bathroom. Be right back."
Sarah blinked. "You okay?"
"Fine. Just... need a minute."
He walked—didn't run, but close—to the restroom, pushed open the door, and locked himself in a stall just as the wave hit.
LEVEL UP!
CONGRATULATIONS, HOST!
YOU HAVE REACHED LEVEL 3.
AESTHETIC ADJUSTMENTS IN PROGRESS...
His body convulsed. He grabbed the stall walls, breathing through it. His face tightened, bones shifting. His shoulders broadened. His stomach pulled in, more dramatically this time. When he looked down, he could actually see the difference—his shirt hung looser, his pants felt baggy.
When it stopped, he was drenched in sweat, breathing hard.
He looked in the mirror.
The face staring back was... handsome. Actually handsome. His jaw was sharp, his cheekbones defined, his eyes clear and bright. He looked like a guy who played sports. Like a guy girls noticed.
He grinned, and the grin looked good on his new face.
Then he remembered Sarah and Jenna were waiting.
He splashed water on his face, dried off with a paper towel, and walked back to the table.
Both girls looked up.
Jenna's mouth actually fell open. "Wait. What?"
Dorian slid back into his seat. "What?"
"You look..." Jenna squinted, tilting her head. "Did you just... change?"
"Change how?"
"I don't know." She looked at Sarah for confirmation. "He looks different, right? Like, way different."
Sarah was staring. Her eyes traced his jaw, his shoulders, his face. She didn't say anything for a long moment.
"You do look different," she said quietly. There was something new in her voice. Something warmer.
Dorian shrugged. "Must be the lighting."
Jenna glanced up at the ceiling lights, then back at him. "That's not lighting."
But Jenna had to leave, and the moment passed. Sarah reached across the table and stole a piece of his bread, but her eyes kept drifting back to his face.
---
Later, walking her back to her dorm, Dorian checked the system interface hovering in his vision.
NOTIFICATION: SIDE-EFFECT REGISTRY
SIDE-EFFECT FOR LEVEL 3:
GENITAL DIMENSIONS HAVE BEEN INCREASED BY AN ADDITIONAL 1.0 INCH.
TOTAL INCREASE: 3.0 INCHES.
Three inches. Total.
He tried to do the math in his head and immediately stopped because it was too distracting.
At her dorm entrance, Sarah turned to him. "I had a really good time tonight."
"Me too." It came out sincere. Because it was.
She leaned up and kissed his cheek—soft, quick, exactly where he'd kissed her before. But this time, she lingered for half a second longer. "Goodnight, boyfriend."
She disappeared inside, leaving Dorian standing there, heart pounding.
Boyfriend.
He'd done it. He'd completed the quest. He'd leveled up. He was closer to Tristan, closer to Chloe, closer to everything he'd ever wanted.
So why did he feel like garbage?
---
NEW QUEST PACK AVAILABLE: LEVEL 4
The blue screen flickered to life in front of him.
QUEST PACK: "MULTI-TARGET"
DIFFICULTY: B
REQUIRED COMPLETIONS: 4/4 SUB-QUESTS WITH 4 DIFFERENT ATTRACTIVE FEMALES
SUB-QUEST 4A: "LIP SERVICE"
OBJECTIVE: Kiss an attractive female on the lips. Kiss must be sustained for minimum 3 seconds. Recipient must be conscious and consenting.
SUB-QUEST 4B: "PRIVATE ACCESS"
OBJECTIVE: Enter the private residence (dorm room, apartment, etc.) of an attractive female and remain inside for at least 30 minutes.
SUB-QUEST 4C: "PUBLIC CLAIM"
OBJECTIVE: Be publicly claimed as a boyfriend or romantic partner by an attractive female in front of at least 5 witnesses.
SUB-QUEST 4D: "OVERNIGHT STAY"
OBJECTIVE: Spend the entire night (minimum 6 consecutive hours) in the private residence of an attractive female. Hours must be between 10 PM and 8 AM.
TIME LIMIT: 7 DAYS
REWARD: +1 Level. +75 Aesthetic Points. +40 Charm.
FAILURE PENALTY: System deactivation for 120 days. Ring remains stuck. Additionally, host will lose 3 inches from all previous gains.
Dorian stared at the screen.
Four different girls. Kiss one. Enter another's room. Be claimed by a third. Spend the night with a fourth.
He had Sarah. She'd claimed him tonight—in front of Jenna. That was only one witness, not five, so 4C wasn't complete yet. But she was willing. She'd called him boyfriend.
But 4A, 4B, and 4D required different girls. He couldn't use Sarah for everything.
Who else? Maya? Absolutely not. Chloe? Impossible. Some random girl he'd have to meet and charm in seven days?
His phone buzzed.
Unknown: Nice level up. Three already? You're faster than I expected.
Dorian's blood ran cold.
Unknown: But don't get too comfortable. Level 4 is where the real game starts.
Unknown: And by the way—your girlfriend's friend? The blonde from dinner?
Unknown: She's cute.
Dorian whipped around, searching the darkness. Students walked past, laughing, chatting, oblivious. No one watching. No one obvious.
Unknown: Sleep tight, boyfriend.
Dorian's hands shook. They knew about Sarah. They knew about Jenna. They were watching—had been watching—the whole time.
He looked down at the ring. It pulsed faintly, almost mockingly.
Four different girls. Seven days. And someone in the shadows who knew everything.
He started walking back to his dorm, faster than usual, checking over his shoulder every few steps.
Somewhere behind him, a phone buzzed with a reply he couldn't see.
And in the darkness, someone smiled.
[END OF CHAPTER 4]