My Werepanther System: Starting with Nine Lives

The rest of J.O.C.C training for Inheritence Ability User's went well. At least better than the last.

No one died in a blazing— or freezing, fury. The only problem was Rex was jumping at every shadow again. Questioning the basis of everything he was only just introduced to. His home was a collection of smoke and mirrors.

The strongest— his key to grow stronger by day, was a socially awkward welp who hid behind his gargantuan babysitter. His teacher may be his megalomaniacle attempted murderer and all of his possible allies currently preferred to kill him.

By breakfast he was tired of it all and ready to hijack a jet. Or gundam.

"You don't have a license." Imani said in response to Rex's suggestion as they walked the serving line to get glowing slop smashed on their plates by poorly performing upper classmen.

One of them— a young woman with a Mohawk and deep cleavage, gave Rex a double serving and winked at him.

"Thanks."

"Anytime, handsome. I like your tattoos. What do they mean?"

"Nothing." Imani pushed Rex onward.

"I KNOW you did not just cockblock me." Rex's day couldn't get any worse. It just couldn't.

"Getting romantically involved in your current position would be the antithesis to increased survival rates." Imani replied while having a stare down with the girl with the Mohawk.

"Who said anything about romance?" Rex asked— a little too loudly causing the seated recruits to look at him. And Imani. Who was visibly confused as they walked away.

"What do you mean?"

"Oh my— you travel the world and learn all these skills just to not know what a one night stand is. I mean…. I guess we are young." Rex shrugged and kept walking.

His nostrils flared as he caught a new scent flow from Imani.

"Stop blushing and come on." Rex said without looking back at her.

"I wasn't— you can smell hormone changes..." Imani said in a whisper.

"I guess I got my own version of specs, huh?" Rex took an empty row of seats at the back of the mess hall.

Imani sat across from him. They ate in silence for as long as Rex could take it before he moved to speak up.

"So I think it's—"

Imani held up a hand and pointed at his shoulder.

"What?"

"Bug."

"Yea— we live in a jungle." Rex said.

Imani shook her head, "No, you're bugged. Hunter, stop it."

Rex looked down at the ink construct of an ant on his shoulder. "You really need a new hobby."

Rex flicked the bug. "How are we gonna plan if everyone that sees me with you acts like it's the end of the world? A second time?"

"Everyone?"

"Use your enhanced contacts and look around." Rex said.

Imani turned and found everyone in the mess hall quickly try to cover up the fact that they were gawking.

"It's basic teenage gossip culture. Unavoidable. It dies fast. For now, we'll have to speak in a different language. How's Latin? I know a couple Snarlish dialects but if Gnolls overhear us that won't go well— I theorize the one who shall not be named is aligned with them."

"Who the hell knows Latin?" Syrus came down from the ceiling on a glowing strand of mana webbing.

"Are we famous?" Rex asked, ignoring Syrus entirely. While also trying not to imagine Remulus having an army of Gnolls.

"No. You are approaching infamy, though." Imani replied.

"Yea. Nappy-locks is the famous one." Syrus said while nodding to Victor as he exited the service line with a mountain of food. "You should see the numbers he pulls on Genposter."

"I have." Imani replies, mind clearly elsewhere based on how she forked her food.

They shared a glance. For once there was no element of antagonism or stark contrast in intelligence. They were thinking the same thing.

"So what were you guys talking about?" Syrus asked.

"Sex." Rex replied.

Imani blushed and began fiddling with her food again, "Context is needed or people will get the wrong idea."

"What's the wrong idea?" Rex teased.

"What's the right idea?" Syrus asked.

"Speaking of ideas," Rex said, deciding to stop bugging Imani, "Can someone tell me what's up with Caspien? He's…."

"Different than you expected?" Syrus asked.

"Yea."

"Caspien is a commentary on the dark side of familial responsibility. It can be an honor and a curse. For him it is the latter. He wasn't meant for this life. But it's not my business. If anyone overheard me gossiping, it could reflect badly on my family business."

"You guys are such politicians." Rex growled and slurped down his food.

"Politics is a crucial element of war." Imani said.

"You know what else is?" Rex asked, suddenly uncomfortable with all the eyes on him.

"Hm?"

"Preparation."

Victor and Syrus agreed passively before settling into their own conversation as they ate.

Imani held his gaze again.

Rex flicked his head towards the door and mouthed, "Lets go."

Imani looked around and mouthed back, "Where?"

"Out." Rex replied before standing up, "Come on."

Imani cleared her throat and got up.

"You guys done already?" Syrus asked.

"The sex convo must've got their appetites up." Victor said, getting a maniacle giggle out of Syrus as he ran a hand through his dreads.

"Yep." Rex replied as Imani walked with him.

"Perhaps we should start coming up with a diversion or excuse. Just getting up and leaving will send the wrong idea and draw eyes." Imani said while adjusting her long braids.

"We draw eyes no matter what we do." Rex said, "I'm a reject hanging out with a military-princess. That is our cover. Now play along." Rex put his arm around Imani and pulled her close.

Hunter shot up out of his seat. Mana webbing slithered across the grounds and yanked him back to his seat. In the distance, Syrus laughed at all the chaos with Victor like a mad puppeteer while other first and second year recruits took pictures.

By the time they left The Box, there was already a blogpost titled,

"Princess Price fiery new dark romance!"