Joy woke to the muted hum of early campus life.
A narrow shaft of sunlight angled through the gap between his curtains, cutting across the room to pool on the floor beside his bed. Dust motes hung suspended in the golden light, turning lazily in the gentle draft from the window.
For a moment, he lay still, letting the familiar scents and sounds settle into focus: the faint citrus tang of last night's cologne, the distant clatter of crockery from the canteen, the muffled tread of footsteps along the corridor outside.
Charm System bloomed to life in the corner of his vision completed task 3. complete a threesome with two different partners .Reward charm system- Advance assistance.
On the desk was a cold cup of chai. No steam. No note — at first glance. Then his eyes caught the edge of folded paper peeking from beneath the saucer.
He pulled it free. The handwriting was hurried, almost breathless:
You'll see us soon. But today… find her.
No name. No hint. Just that.
As soon he read it , joy try charm system- Advance assistance. Then
text[Status: Solitude] [Energy Level: 68%] [New Quest Triggered: Unknown Target — Code Name: "Her"] Probability Matches: 42% — Mrs. Harper 31% — Maya Sen 27% — Unregistered Profile Tip: Begin search in high-affinity zones — garden, archives, debate hall.
Joy let the paper drop lightly to the desk, a slow smile forming.
They were setting him a challenge — and he never walked away from those.
The corridor outside his dorm was already bustling — doors slamming, faint echoes of laughter, the smell of soap and starch from students passing with freshly laundered clothes.
Joy nodded at a couple of acquaintances but didn't stop to engage; his mind was already charting the three probability paths the Charm System had laid out.
Outside, the campus morning was in full swing. The air was cool but carried the promise of heat to come. Birds wheeled overhead, crows cawing from the tamarind trees. Somewhere near the sports ground, a whistle shrilled, followed by the chorus of trainers pounding the turf.
Joy made his way down the stone path that curved past the canteen. The smell of frying parathas and spiced potatoes drifted out, mingling with the sharper tang of chai and strong filter coffee. In another life, he might have stopped — but not today.
The garden was closest. Probability was on Mrs. Harper's side. Besides, she was never easy to ignore.
The sky had turned the soft bronze of late afternoon, the kind of colour that made the old stone walls of the south garden look warmer than usual. Joy walked the narrow path between the rose trellises, the muted crunch of gravel beneath his shoes announcing his presence long before he reached her.
Mrs. Harper was at her usual post — knee‑deep in her work. She wore a faded olive apron over a pale cotton kurta, sleeves rolled to the elbows, exposing forearms browned and strong from years under the sun. She was focused on a low bed of roses, carefully lifting each branch to inspect for early signs of insect damage.
The Charm System hummed awake:
text[Target: Eleanor Harper] [Emotional State: Calm Focus / Openness: Moderate] Tip: Step into her pace before steering the flow.
Joy didn't rush in with words this time. Instead, he walked to the other end of the bed and crouched, mirroring her posture, gently brushing away a few fallen petals from the soil.
Mrs. Harper's eyes flicked up, just enough to note his presence.
"You again," she said, but her tone carried none of yesterday's guarded edge.
"I was in the neighborhood," Joy replied, settling onto one knee. "Thought I'd see if the roses still like you better than anyone else."
She shook her head, but faint amusement touched her lips. "If they liked me that much, they'd stop getting aphids."
Joy picked a leaf, turning it between his fingers. "Maybe they just want a little extra attention. Works for plants… and people."
That made her pause — only for a heartbeat. Then she returned to trimming, but slower now.
"You always talk like you're fishing for something."
"Not fishing," Joy said lightly. "Just listening for the right answers."
They worked side by side — she genuinely tending the plants, he occasionally passing her tools, commenting here and there. It wasn't silence, but a rhythm, the kind where words came easily without forcing them.
She told him how her day started before sunrise, about the seasonal patterns of the soil. He asked about the old banyan at the far corner of campus, drawing her into a story of its planting decades ago.
The Charm System chimed again:
text[Engagement Level: +14%] [Trigger: Nostalgia Response] Recommendation: Share a small personal detail to deepen reciprocity.
Joy leaned lightly against the stone border, watching her hands. "I used to have this little balcony garden when I was a kid," he said. "Only grew one plant right. A jasmine vine. I thought it was because I gave it more water. My mother said it was because I kept talking to it."
Mrs. Harper smiled faintly, clipping away a wilted bloom. "Your mother might've been right."
"You think I still talk too much?" he teased.
"I think," she replied, looking at him directly now, "you notice the right things to talk about."
The late sun slid lower, laying golden light over everything. A breeze picked up, carrying the warm, peppery scent of marigolds and the faint salt from her skin. He didn't crowd her space, but occasionally stepped near enough for their shoulders to almost brush.
At one point she stopped, leaning on her trowel. "You know, most people in this place look straight past me. You… don't."
"Maybe I'm not most people," he said quietly.
Her gaze lingered on him for a few seconds longer than necessary. Then she looked away, but her hands moved slower, her posture more relaxed.
When the bells from the nearby chapel chimed the hour, she straightened up, wiping her palms on her apron. The shadows had grown long.
"You should go," she said, though it sounded more like a suggestion than a dismissal.
"I'll go," Joy said, stepping back toward the path. "But I'm not done with this conversation."
"And what conversation is that?"
"The one where you finally tell me," he smiled, "who makes you thrive."
Mrs. Harper didn't answer — but the curve of her lips and the softness in her eyes were answer enough for now.
The Charm System flickered:
text[Attraction Level: +22%] [Status: Momentum building — re‑engage within 48 hours]
Joy tipped his head in a parting nod and left the garden, the scent of roses and fresh earth clinging faintly to his shirt.