Two young children rolled around on the ground, punching each other with tiny fists. One was a boy with straight brown hair, his eyes squeezed shut as he pummeled his opponent angrily. The other was a girl with orange eyes that glared at the boy with unmatched ferocity. Her green scars glowed brightly all over her body as she gritted her teeth. They screamed and struggled, eventually attracting the attention of the adults.

"Nora!" one yelled sharply. "what on earth are you doing?"

The girl opened her mouth to reply, but before she could explain herself, she was dragged away by the scruff of her neck.

"Nora! He's unblessed! You're supposed to be protecting him!"

"but he stole my-"

"He's unblessed! You have to understand, Nora. There's a reason the Mycelials didn't give those people powers!"

"What reason? If I can get away with stealing other people's food I want to-" She was slapped across the face.

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"Look here, kid. One day you're gonna be that kid's partner."

"A partner?" Nora's eyes widened. "Is that good?"

"No." came the reply. "It just means you'll have to help him put together enhancements that might make him almost as strong as you."

"But,but that's unfair! He gets to do whatever he wants and gets cool powers?"

"You don't have to worry about that. Once he gets older, he'll be taught his place."

"His place?"

"He'll learn to respect the blessed. He'll learn to respect you. Plus, the unblessed are lazy, sneaky people. That boy Mark will probably just get impatient and make a stupid, weak toy, instead of actually becoming strong."

"So he won't be as strong as me?"

"Of course. The unblessed are always weaker than the blessed. And when you're finished with helping him, you can come and join the rest of us hunt and provide for the whole clan."

"Hunt? Like catching the food we eat?"

"Yeah. Just wait a few years and you'll be able to join us."

"How many years exactly?" She asked, her eyes narrowed.

"Haha, skeptical, just like your old man. You're eight right now, right?"

The girl nodded vigorously.

"Just ten more years. alright?"

"Alright." Squaring her shoulders, she watched bravely as the boy, now crying, ran to the other adults with his stolen meal and snuggled in their arms.

Just a few more years.