xXxCallMeBigCookiexXx: So yeah, that’s what happened TwT

ケンジー・イズ・マイ・ワイフ!!!: Saints be damned Dx How many times have you gotten sick this far?

xXxCallMeBigCookiexXx: I think this is the third or fourth time today! ;w;

man don’t you lecture me with your $30 haircut 8): be careful girl, that shit can kill you

xXxCallMeBigCookiexXx: Can it!? O.O

ケンジー・イズ・マイ・ワイフ!!!: Bah, only if you push it too hard =w= right now you’re building up that zenkai boost! Think about it that way!

jeepers creepers man: the what boost?

ケンジー・イズ・マイ・ワイフ!!!: Ze-n-kai!

jeepers creepers man: like lactic acid?

man don’t you lecture me with your $30 haircut 8): nah mort they talking anime shit

man don’t you lecture me with your $30 haircut 8): don’t worry your pretty little head about it

Gal continued to observe the screen of his computer with mixed feelings swirling on his stomach. So Tav was really being trained by 82 after all, huh? And not only that, she was complaining about it!? Did she not realize that many would give their arms and legs for the chance she had right then and there!? The young boy sighed softly, shaking his head. No. Tav probably didn’t realize that at all, she was a recently awakened sleeper, after all…

Now that she thought about it, all of them were Awakened Sleepers, right? Only Mort came from a Magic Family.

Maybe… maybe instead of feeling so petty and angry, he should be doing them a favor and explain a little bit the situation they were in, right? That would be the right thing to do, after all! Gangan always told him to do the kind thing whenever it was possible!

Urgh, why did he have to feel so bad about it all? He was almost about to rat on Tav’s situation with his coven last night, just out of spite! Thankfully he had managed to keep quiet…

With a little sigh, Gal decided to give them a little nudge in the right direction. Actually, he was surprised Mort hadn’t at all!

Galaxy Taco to your rescue!: you know Tav? this chance you’ve gotten is not super common!

Galaxy Taco to your rescue!: I know you gotta be careful but, try to take notes of everything 82 does and says.

Galaxy Taco to your rescue!: she’s kind of a big deal

xXxCallMeBigCookiexXx: Is she? o.o I’ve been wondering about that for a bit now.

Galaxy Taco to your rescue!: yeah! she’s a big shot in our world! an expert of many things

jeepers creepers man: she also appreciates her privacy a lot, gal

jeepers creepers man: so please don’t say much about her unless you want to invite her here.

The young boy gulped softly. Mort? Why was he stopping him from telling them about 82? Well, the rumors were probably true, that he had been scouted by 82 and 28 themselves! Maybe that’s why he hadn’t said much before. With a heavy sigh, Gal decided to simply relent and let go of the situation for now.

Galaxy Taco to your rescue!: oh, okay

Galaxy Taco to your rescue!: sorry mort

jeepers creepers man: you’re fine, no worries

xXxCallMeBigCookiexXx: Maybe I should ask her about it? o.o She has been super quiet about herself…

Galaxy Taco to your rescue!: go for it!

jeepers creepers man: the worst she can say is no

man don’t you lecture me with your $30 haircut 8): that’s what they said when I saw this cutie the other day man

man don’t you lecture me with your $30 haircut 8): got burned to the hells and back

ケンジー・イズ・マイ・ワイフ!!!: You have no game Canny-kun =w=

man don’t you lecture me with your $30 haircut 8): guess not?

Canny always knew how to make the ambient feel a little less tense. Gal thanked the heavens for him, before suddenly hearing the old desk phone ring. Sigh, work never ends! With a nod, he carefully got up his chair and ran out of his room, sliding down the stairs and going straight to the phone. It was resting on a table in the middle of one of the hallways in the house, besides an ancient and dusty phone book and some old ‘Felix the cat’ comics.

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

“Hello? Lee Residence?” Gal said as soon as he picked up.

“Hi Jason!” A well known voice asked from the other side of the phone. “How’re you doing, how’s Minerva?”

“Commissioner Jackson! I didn’t expect you until next month!” The young boy smiled and leaned on the table. “Gangan is fine and so am I! She’s been full of energy lately, and says she misses the active service.”

“Hahah, ahhh, I guess that’s a normal sentiment among veterans…” Jackson’s tone of voice made it clear he was smiling. This wouldn’t last for long, all joy seemed to abandon him the second he resumed talking. “I am sorry to bother you but, I needed to inform you of a certain situation in Bisontia…”

“In Bisontia…?” Gal immediately straightened his position. “Is it bad? How does it concern us?”

“It’s bad.” Jackson never minced words. “There has been an attack in the Bisontian Capital. Several dead. Including the emperor.”

The boy’s eyes widened. He wanted to ask if the man was kidding but, he knew for a fact the Commissioner never joked about these things. He remained silent.

“The world is in chaos, authorities all around the world are demanding protection and we are short on trained people.” Commissioner Jackson continued. “So, we’ve made a raffle to select soldiers around the world for new assignments.”

Gal swallowed saliva, sweat starting to roll down his forehead.

“C-Commissioner…” He knew what this meant.

“I am sorry, Jason.” The older man didn’t even pretend it wasn’t obvious. “We need your coven in Bisontia. A Minister has demanded personal aid. Your Coven Leader is supposed to tell you all but, I wanted to deliver the message in person…”

“B-But Commissioner! My gan–my Grandma, she needs someone to take care of her. I can’t take her to Bisontia either, much less if things are not safe!” Jason’s first concern had always been the one person in the world taking care of him.

“We will send a few rookies with a proper background to take care of her.” Jackson reassured. “Good kids. Kind and vigilant.”

“She’s not gonna like this…” Gal sighed.

“I am sorry Jason. But it is important… you’ll be leaving this Monday, so please tell Minerva the details, alright? And rest assured, we’re not abandoning either of you.”

Before he could say anything else, the Commissioner said his goodbyes and hung up. The young boy was heartbroken. It’s not like he didn’t want to work and protect the Balance, that was the reason he joined Exodus in the first place! This was, honestly, the chance of a lifetime to actually make a change!

But leaving his Grandma behind? That was a little too soon, and a little too hard. It would be the first time he left her alone since his time in Tranquility. She was not getting any younger, and despite her good disposition and energy, every day she showed signs of exhaustion and lethargy that constantly worried him…

Of course, Gangan herself never showed concern, at least not to his face. She braved through the years without fear. Honestly, that only made the boy fear even more for her.

With a heavy expression, and without being able to conceal his worries, Gal walked over to the living room. That’s where Gangan spent most of the time, either watching TV, reading a book or tending to the little potted plants around the circular room. He expected her to be doing exactly that, but when he arrived with her, the old lady was sitting back on her chair, looking… distraught.

Gal sighed.

“... You heard it all, didn’t you?” He didn’t need to ask, and yet he did.

“Nothing happens in this town without me knowing, Jay. Especially not in my own home.” The lady sighed heavily, taking a few stray blonde hairs off her face. “I am so sorry, my boy…”

“You are sorry? You didn’t do anything Gangan, don’t be silly.” Gal smiled bitterly. “If anything, I am the one who has to apologize. This all is happening so fast, I am honestly still processing the whole deal.”

“Things like these don’t happen all the time, dear. And from what I’ve heard, it is worse than we may be thinking.” Minerva rubbed her temples slowly. “I knew something like this was coming… but alas! No one listens to the old lady!”

“Come on Gangan…” Gal walked closer to hug his grandma.

“Heheheh, you’re right, I’m probably exaggerating.” She hugged him as tightly as her old arms allowed her. “We will prepare you a little backpack and everything. You will be super prepared to leave your best impression in Bisontia!”

“They said they will bring people to take care of you. Will you be okay?” He loved his grandma very dearly, but he was aware the lady had some temper issues. “Be patient with them.”

“Hah, they are being paid to help, so I am not making their jobs any easier, you hear me!?” Minerva smirked. Despite her old age, she still held most of her teeth in place, and this was a great source of pride to her. “Now, let’s think about what souvenirs you will be bringing back from your little trip.”

Gal was already feeling the tension leave his shoulders… but the fear would never leave him completely, no matter how much both him and his Gangan tried.

There was this foreboding feeling that, somehow, things would only get worse from this point on.

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Before I know it, I am resting on my couch once again. Mustafá was kind enough to lift me with her magic and throw me here, so she can finish making tea. I want to at least think that she worried a little bit about me. While I drink my tea and idly chat with the group about nothing in particular, I wonder… how much do I exactly know about this person? I know that she seems to be some sort of big shot, that she tried to kill me once, that she is surprisingly open minded and progressive.

I also know that she’s kind of an ass. But apparently that assery just gets directed to people who annoy her or get in her way? Or something like that.

My eyes lay on her. She’s still lounging on my horrible pink couch, checking the pages of my book while softly blowing on her cup of tea. I want to know more of her, but honestly, I don’t know where to even begin to ask.

“You know where not to begin. Don’t ask her age!”

Right right, I almost forgot that one order.

I cough softly on my hand, clearing my throat and setting my cup on the floor for a moment as I focus on gathering all the power I have left in asking a new question.

“...Who are you, really?” I blurt out, not really thinking much about it. I immediately facepalm.

“What’s this about?” Mustafá doesn’t stop reading the book while talking to me. “I thought I told you to rest.”

“I am serious! You’re just this magical, mystical woman who came out of my computer, tried to kill me, and now is lazily chilling in my house and eating my food!” I frown a little bit. “I want to know more about you.”

“My name is Mustafá, I am a mage, and I am also your teacher. That’s all you need to know.” She passes the page.

“If what you’re trying to do here is like, applying power dynamics or something? I am sorry, but that isn’t working. You lost all chances of having that effect on me when you tried to kill me, and then proceeded to eat my only Mastodon™ burger!” I pout softly. “Come on… let’s at least try to get along!”

Suddenly, she closes the book and looks me straight in the eye. Standing up, she walks over to me and continues to stare.

“...You want a friend in me?” She says and I gulp, nodding sheepishly. “I don’t make friends easily. But if it really is necessary to continue your studies…” With a snap of her fingers, she produced a crystal bottle and passed it to me. “Capture a piece of the Sun in this bottle.”

“W-What?” I blinked a few times.

“When you figure out how to bring me a piece of the Sun, I will tell you my story. Until then, continue studying.”

WIth that, Mustafá returns to her couch, opens the book once again and continues reading. All while I look around the bottle with a growing curiosity and a sudden objective in sight. I can say many things about this woman… but really, she knows how to get me to work.