“We wait now,” Stefan said, plopping down in his chair.
“How much can we get? He said they’re running low,” Kidd said.
“Whatever we get is better than nothing,” Stefan said. “We can also look for the Ryvia module replacement here, see if we find a decent one.”
“Did you finish studying it?” Ewan asked. “Can you install the replacement now?”
“Yeah, I should be able to,” Stefan said. “I just need some practice with it.”
“I’ll leave it to you then, I don’t want outsiders touching the core system. It’s better if we can do it ourselves,” Ewan said.
“Boss, should I check the black market for more Rigen?” Kidd asked.
“No, not this time, we’ll get what we can and leave,” Ewan said. “The longer we stay here, the higher the chances of conflict. Let’s avoid the unnecessary ones until we get Nana.”
“Our next stop is the egg, and then we’ll beeline for the area of her star map,” Stefan said. “We’ll get there soon.”
“We might need to look around for her island once we’re there,” Ewan said. “Will make my life easier if we could get the Ryvia module here, and if you reached your peak.” Kidd was within his arms’ reach, so he grabbed his hair and yanked him around amidst his oscillating screams. It had been well over a year since these brats melded together and practiced the meditation method Ewan devised for them. A simple cast of
“We’re almost there, Boss,” Kidd said with tears in his eyes, fixing his nest of a hair. “We’ll definitely reach the peak by the time we get the egg.”
“I have a set of leftover materials from my rite, and I also have the potions,” Ewan said. When he succeeded with the Step-1 potions back then, the remaining ingredients netted him a batch of each, but he only used one for his rite. “Reach your peak, then I’ll prepare the rite for you.”
Regardless of the path they walked on, the rites of evolution could accommodate them all. The rites triggered their advancement, and the direction depended on the walker. So, Kidd could also complete the Prairie Fire rite that Ewan used to reach his now.
“I’ll definitely succeed, Boss, don’t worry,” Kidd said, inching away from Ewan’s reach.
“Sir, I had something to ask of you,” Lance said.
“Hmm, what?” Ewan asked, flicking Kidd’s forehead with his Ryvia when his hands couldn’t get to him.
“If possible, can I also have a surname, sir?” Lance asked.
“Huh?” The question out of the left field only wrung a short response from Ewan. “Why?” he asked.
“I always dreamt of having my own surname since I was a kid. I planned to take the Ensil’s name when they deemed me qualified, but I don’t want it anymore,” Lance said.
“Then just pick whatever you want and call yourself that,” Ewan said. “What’s the issue?”
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“Can you give me one, sir?” Lance asked.
“Not fair, you all will have one then, I also want one.” Kidd whinged, rubbing the pinkish spot on his forehead.
“Lance, you don’t work for the Ensils anymore, they don’t control you,” Ewan said. “You need to change your mindset of a subordinate. If you want something, get it.”
“You deny my whole life when you say that, sir,” Lance said with a rueful laughter. “I’ve always lived as a subordinate; that is all that I know.”
Ewan gave him a deep stare, reflecting on what he said and whether he’d just shoved his own version of ideals down his throat because it was ‘better’ for him. “Silvester, Lance Silvester. How does it sound?” he asked. “Or if you want, you can take up the Radon’s name, since you have their legacy, Lance Radon. You decide.”
“Lance Silvester…,” Lance muttered, then beamed. His back straightened, and a halo of confidence embraced him. “I like it, sir, thank you,” he said, and the second option faded away without a shred of consideration.
“Me, what about me, Boss?” Kidd butted in.
“Willy will be happy if you take up his surname,” Ewan said. “Kidd Yales, it rings nicely.”
“Kidd Yales…” Kidd said under his breath and a grin pulled on his lips. Willy phased in beside him, smiling ear to ear and baring his pearly teeth, contrasting his hollowed eyes.
“Kidd Yales, I’m the elder brother,” Willy said with ghostly chuckles, and Lance backed away from him with a gulp.
“You’re still not used to him?” Stefan laughed.
“He’s a ghost…,” Lance whispered.
“I’m a Wraith, not ghost,” Willy said, staring at Lance.
The communication channel flared up again and its white noise killed the conversation and drew everyone’s attention. “You have the permission to enter and dock,” the man said. “Your temporary I.D has been issued, please be mindful of its expiration date. You may initiate the process of permanent citizenship once it expires, else you can have it renewed for a price. Please pay heed to our laws when you’re inside the walls. That will be all, our oligarchy welcomes you to Okona key, we hope you have a pleasant stay.”
The bottom part of the wall split before the canal, the metals clanged, and the current of water flooded in through the widening gap. The influx of river saturated the insides and the rush settled down when the doors opened all the way. And the clamorous colony lay beyond the entrance.
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Status: Healthy
Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]
Subtype: Step-0 Elementalist
Name: Ewan Ayres
Species: Human
Vitality: 7.0
Spirit: 25.4
Anima: [Fire – 25.4 | Ice – 25.4 | Blood – 25.4 | Mystic: 25.4]
Astylinds: 4 [Potential: 1]
Rolling Cat [Toast]: Step-1 Severynth [Spirit-Nebula: Zeroth Surge]
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Fire Monkey [Orange]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]
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Imp [Frost]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-B]
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Bloodthorn-Lotus [Iris]: Step-1 [Level-10] [Grade-D]
Equipment: Common Clothes; Yurn [Neck Gaiter]; Moonkeeper [Crystal-Ball]; Rainwarden [Staff]; Blackfeather [Overcoat].
Storage: Journal; Elementalist—The Path of Anima [Subtype-Book]; Spellbook; Bloodlust [Spell]; Transmute [Spell]; Unknown Book [Radon’s Legacy]; Anima-Crystals [Novas Coins]; Hub-Connector; Ingredients.
Novas: 25,145
Crelith: 1,014