“I would have died…?” I asked Agent Gunderson numbly.

“That’s right.” He told me with a serious and straightforward demeanor.

“It’s bad enough that I’m supposed to fight these crazy alien monsters, but if I fail one of these quests, I die anyways?” I asked him incredulously.

Gunderson looked down and let out a long weary sigh.

“Look…” He started before pausing to gather his thoughts. “The world you live in, the one we all live in, is far more dangerous…”

Gunderson’s explanation was interrupted by a knock at the door. After a brief moment, it opened to reveal Principal Temple returning to the office that we had commandeered.

“Ah Mrs. Temple, I can only apologize for occupying your workspace for so long.” Gunderson gave her a large friendly smile. I guess this is the mask he puts on when dealing with the ‘mundanes’ as he called them. Although, that’s assuming that Mrs. Temple fits that category.

“Oh please, it’s quite alright, I understand and appreciate the gravity of what you must have been discussing.” Mrs. Temple responded.

‘Not likely.’ I thought.

“No doubt, we were just wrapping up Ms. Morrow’s account of that night, and I was just asking her some clarifying questions about what she saw.”

“Of course, I wouldn’t want to interfere with your job Agent Gunderson, but is there any possible way I could make use of my office again?” Principal Temple asked carefully. “I am completely swamped with paperwork and phone calls dealing with the aftermath of what has happened.”

“Right, your right of course Mrs. Temple. I only meant to borrow your office for a short bit, but it seems that Ms. Morrow and I still had a bit more to talk about.”

“It’s nothing to worry yourself over, but please, could I offer you a different office to take all the time you like in? Preferably one without all my important documents and my office phone in it.” Principal Temple offered with a big pleading smile.

“I’m tempted to accept, but…” Gunderson paused, turning to look at me with a questioning expression.

Did he want me to say something? I’m not sure what he expects me to say to the principal of all people about this stuff.

“I have a strong suspicion that our talk will take a fair amount more time. With that in mind, why don’t I take Jenni here off school grounds with me and go somewhere to get a bite to eat and to have a longer discussion?” Gunderson asked the question to Principal Temple, but he was looking at me when he asked it. Was he trying to get my consent as well for his idea?

I had to keep in mind that from Principal Temple’s perspective, Gunderson was a Special Agent of the FBI, and not someone who just minutes ago knelt on the ground and pledged his service to me.

Even so, leaving school and getting in the car of some strange man seemed like a next-level amount of sketchy and dumb.

But he does have the answers I need, and I’ve already been over this in my head. I’m pretty sure I can trust him and worse comes to worse I do have my weird blue box magic I can use.

But if Gunderson is working for some organization that deals with this stuff, he likely has his own crazy stuff that he can do. If I don’t do or say what he likes then I could still be in danger.

So, do I trust him and go, or do I play it safe and try to stay here?

New Quest!

Side Quest: Looking for Answers

Agent Gunderson has offered his time and his wisdom, but they can only be acquired with a leap of faith and a courageous heart.

Success: 150 Exp.

Well, it seemed like the blue box thought I should go, or maybe it was just echoing my thoughts.

“I think…lunch somewhere other than the cafeteria sounds great.” I told them both with a hopefully sincere-looking smile.

“Fantastic, so we’ll both just get out of your hair Principal Temple, and relinquish to you your office and all its properties.” Gunderson told her with a cheerful wit.

“It is appreciated Agent Gunderson, do take care of Ms. Morrow and return her safely and promptly if at all possible.”

“No worries on that account Ma’am, I swear on my life that Jenni here will be returned unharmed and hopefully in better spirits.”

“I hope so as well, the same would be nice for all of us I think?” She replied.

Standing up Gunderson made his way out the door, I stood and followed after him.

As I passed Principal Temple, she placed a delicate hand on my shoulder to make me stop for a moment.

“I do still want to have another conversation that’s just the two of us sometime Ms. Morrow, but in the meantime, please take care of yourself and know that everyone here appreciates what you did.” She whispered to me in a low voice, the smile she gave afterwards seemed much more sincere than her regular and practiced business one.

“Ah, that would be okay, and I appreciate you also Mrs. Temple. Thank you.” I said, smiling back politely.

With that, I left and met Gunderson out in the front office where he turned and led me out and we eventually reached the school’s front parking lot.

It was there that I saw a quite out-of-place vehicle. Waiting there parked in the guest parking section was a bright, cherry red classic convertible. It had a fine white leather interior and the paint and metal on the outside were all polished to a glossy shine.

So of course, this was the vehicle that Gunderson led us towards.

“This is your car?” I asked rhetorically.

“A real beauty isn’t she.” He asked me, beaming with pride at his vehicle.

“Um yeah, it’s pretty nice I guess.”

“Nice? Nice!? This is a genuine 1957 Kord Thunderhawk. I’ve probably spent more time, care, and money on this car than I did on my past relationships.”

“That doesn’t seem like…” I tried to say before Gunderson continued right on.

“Why this little angel right here has been with me for almost three decades now, through all the good times and the bad.” Gunderson said while rhythmically stroking the hood of his motor vehicle with true love and affection.

“Um, that’s great, really. But are we leaving or…?”

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

“Sure, you can throw your backpack in the trunk, or can just keep it with you.”

“It’s fine I’ll keep it at my feet.”

Taking our respective seats, Agent Gunderson started the car and revved up the engine a little bit. He gave me a cocky smirk as he did so, and put on a large pair of black aviators he pulled out from inside his coat pocket.

“Let’s get going then.” He said as sped out backward from the parking space and then floored out of the parking lot entirely.

“Where are we going exactly?” I struggled to say as I was pushed back into my seat by the g-forces Gunderosn’s driving was inflicting on me.

“We’re headed to the office, the local office for the IDPA that is.”

“I’d been meaning to ask what that actually stood for, I’ve never heard of it.”

“Nor should you, if we’ve been doing our job right. The IDPA stands for the International Department of Paranatural Affairs.” He told me while keeping his eyes locked on the road ahead of us. It was somewhat gratifying that he seemed like a competent, if a bit reckless, driver.

“Although that’s just the modern name that was picked after we went through a rebranding phase. Before that, about a century or two ago, we called ourselves the Silent Order.”

The International Department of Paranatural Affairs, and the Silent Order. Both of those names seemed more than a little scary and intimidating.

“So what all do you do, other than meeting and pledging your undying loyalty to random teenage girls.” I asked him cheekily.

“I promised to help with things related to the Akashic Record, and saying something is undying has a very different connotation in our circles. I have no intention of becoming some ghoul or revenant.” He told me with complete sincerity.

“Ah right, I guess I’m still not used to all this.”

“I’d be shocked and a little suspicious if you were. But like I said, that’s what you have me for. We can eventually go over the no doubt long list of questions you have about this stuff, but why don’t we start with you.”

“Me?”

“You, if I’m going to be giving you advice on things, it would help a great deal to know more about you. Though I don’t mean information about how you get along with your family or your GPA in American History class, I mean the information that the Akashic Record would have shown you.”

“We get along well, 4.0, and you're talking about the text in the blue boxes?”

“Ha you’re a brainiac I see, Principal Temple did mention how well you did in school, but yes the things the blue boxes had written in them.”

“I mean, it told me a lot of things, can you be more specific.”

“I should have shown you your status screen early on, and before you continue I should give a warning about sharing information.” This time Gunderson did briefly pause to look me in the eyes for a moment to convey the seriousness of what he wanted to say.

“Okay…” I offered.

“As I told you before, you don’t have to tell me a single thing. While it would help me in my job to help you, it would be completely acceptable and reasonable for you not to share any details about yourself or your abilities with me.”

“Well, I already decided that I need to trust you somewhat, and you’re right that knowing more about me will only help you do your job of advising me better.”

“Good.” He had a smile on his face even if he wasn’t looking at me. “But that said, you should avoid and be careful telling people information on what you can do. The life of being a supernatural is a dangerous one, and not every non-monster that you meet will have your interests at heart.

“Okay, that sounds ominous and scary, I’m feeling super happy about being dragged into all this stuff.”

“Don’t worry, in time you’ll be the thing other people are scared of. Until then, you should listen up, and pay attention to my warnings instead of continuing to interrupt.”

“Sorry…”

“That’s fine, but as I was saying. There are many dangerous people out there. Many supernaturals like yourself are territorial and competitive, and many paranaturals beings are jealous, suspicious, and even hostile towards supernaturals.”

“So keep my mouth shut, and unless I’m sure I can trust them.”

“Basically. You’ll have to use your judgment, but with time, experience, and possibly some supernatural skills, it’ll come to you.”

“I think I get it.” I told him.

“Good, back to what I was saying before this, those blue boxes you saw should have shown something called your status.”

“Yeah, I remember that pretty well, it was a long list of information with lots of numbers in it.”

“Yep, and it has also likely changed since you first saw it, have you looked at it since then?” He asked.

“Uh no.” I answered with a bit of embarrassment. “I’ve been trying not to think about this stuff, mostly in the hope that it would all just go away.”

“Ah well, not the best strategy, but I can understand the impulse. I was just worried you didn’t realize you could call up the blue box with the status screen just by saying it out loud or even just thinking about it.”

“Wait, I can?” I asked in surprise. Though in hindsight, the blue boxes did seem to disappear when I wanted them to, it would make sense the opposite was true.

“Yep, why don’t you give it a try.” Gunderson instructed.

“Okay, status…?” I asked the empty air

-Status- Name: Jennifer River Morrow Species: Human Age: 17 Class: Magi - Lvl 3

Rank: E Essence: Shadow Exp: 350 Health: 102 Stamina: 106 Mana: 251 Level: Rank: Strength: 55 F Dexterity: 65 F Constitution: 45 F Mind: 82 F Spirit: 53 F Aura: 56 F Luck: 60 F