“You're…You're still alive?!” I stammered out in shock, the disbelief in my eyes mirrored in Craw’s.

“Of course I’m still alive! But how are you alive?” the man responded.

I raised an eyebrow in confusion. “What do you mean?”

“Well, last I heard, the Fight House Gang Leader and most of the gang had you surrounded,” he said. “They were gonna teach you a lesson for embarrassing them, make an example out of your gang and all that. That was right before the insects. I just assumed that you were either killed by them or beaten up so badly that the bugs finished the job.”

I snorted. “Well, for your information, it was actually Owen who was finished off by the bugs. He didn’t last a second against them. Ren and I managed to get away though.”

Craw shook his head in wonder, sitting down on the bench next to me. “Wow. I thought that if I was going to meet anyone I knew from Earth, it would be someone from Fight House. Owen, at the very least, I was sure would survive.”

“Well, I’m surprised you survived,” I said. “Those bugs were terrifying; how’d you manage to avoid them?”

Craw laughed proudly. “I’m a survivor,” he said. “My backup plans have backup plans. I knew something was wrong the second the bugs hit, and instead of panicking like the rest of the people, I made my way to the room I’d set up just for emergencies like this.”

Ren snorted out a laugh. “You had a bunker set up for a bug apocalypse?” he asked incredulously. “You have to be the only person in the world who was ready for it.”

Craw flushed a little. “Well, it wasn’t specifically set up for a bug apocalypse – well it wasn't really set up for an apocalypse at all – and it wasn’t really a bunker either. It was more like a hidden room I had stocked with food and set aside in case things went haywire.” He went quiet for a moment, his face losing a bit of glow of his pride. “If I’m being totally honest, it was mostly due to luck that I survived. I just hid in a room and waited until I heard the old man talking. I followed everything I could through the internet, but eventually that stopped. But I gathered enough from the videos to know I was a dead man if the bugs found me, and I waited for them to come. I was sure every creak or thud I heard was them, and I would get ready to die every time.” He blew out a breath, his chest decompressing. “It was horrible. But…the hope I felt when the old man’s voice came was beyond any emotion I’ve ever felt.”

I smiled to myself as he spoke. It was obvious how desperately he’d been wanting to talk to someone from Earth, since he was speaking with a familiarity far beyond our relationship. I guess that’s just what happens when most of your planet gets massacred. Everyone you meet from your planet becomes a good friend.

“So,” I started as he stopped talking, “what’s your plan now? Did you ask these guys about what’s going to happen to you now?”

Craw nodded. “They said they’ll take me to their city and help me find a job, depending on what I’m good at and what I like. They made it sound like an amazing deal, but they’re obviously lying. Only an idiot would believe that there’s an organization that would help people out so much and ask for nothing in return. This might be a different universe, but people are the same everywhere.” Craw smiled at that. “But honestly, that’s comforting. I may not have strength on my side, but I know how to deal with people. Unless what’s waiting for us over there is literal slavery, I know I’ll be able to work my way up to a comfortable place again.”

“Speaking of which, how much do you guys know about the place we’re headed to,” I asked. “I haven’t really had the time to research much about it.”

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Ren smiled sheepishly. “Me neither, honestly. I’ve spent most of my time here either in the infirmary or the training room.”

“Well, research is all I’ve been doing,” Craw said proudly. “If my goal is to work my way up in society as fast as I can, I need to know everything I can about their society. And that means doing as much research as I can, even before I get there.”

I smiled. “Well, that’s a relief. At least one of us is taking this seriously.”

Craw laughed. “When you don’t have raw strength to rely on, you're kind've forced to take these things seriously," he said with a small smile. "But anyway, here’s what I’ve found out about the place we’re headed, and the universe in general, through asking people and reading stuff in the library. The planet we’re going to is called Adonis, and it is, based on everything I’ve read and heard, a very safe planet. The city we’re going to specifically is called Grand Order City, and it's also – from what I can tell – a great place, too. Their society is dominated by mages; it’s actually the norm in the world to be a mage. Most children have their Cleanse in their early teens, but they don’t all go on to become powerful warriors. Although being a fighter is a very common career, since there’s apparently always a need for more, there are plenty of other jobs for mages too.”

“Oh, really?” Ren asked. “Like what?”

“Well, everyone says that there are a bunch, but the problem is the fact is probably such common knowledge that they don’t really mention a lot. The ones that have been listed are Architect Mages, Chef Mages, and Healing Mages. I’m not really sure how they work, but I do know that these things called Artes are really important.”

“Oh yeah, we’ve heard of them too,” I said. “But no one has really explained what they are.”

“Yeah, I couldn’t find much of an explanation on them either,” Craw agreed. “The other important thing I found out about is the existence of the Guilds. There are quite a few of them, but the important ones are the Adventurers Guild and the Merchants Guild. They are universe-spanning organizations that have long, long histories. From what I’ve gathered, they are immensely powerful and influential entities, and every person has to register with one of them. For example, to make money hunting or even be allowed to use Flux powers in public, you need to be registered with the Adventurers Guild. Or, if you want to do any kind of business, you need to be registered with the Merchants Guild. But the important bit is that every branch of theirs is a protected place, and no one is allowed to break their rules; it’s a crime punishable by immediate execution should the guards deem it to be necessary.”

“That’s a good bit of information to know,” Ren said. “The most important thing about blending into a new culture is laying low until you understand how you're supposed to act. And to do that, the most important things you need to know are the taboos of the society.”

Craw gave him a strange look. “Why does it sound like you’re talking from experience?” he asked.

Ren smiled cryptically. “What can I say, I had an interesting job.”

Craw seemed more confused than ever by Ren’s answer, and I couldn’t help but chuckle at the interaction. “It’s good to see someone else have to deal with Ren’s inability to give straight answers,” I said, smiling.

Ren laughed at my remark. “But doesn’t it just sound so much cooler when I talk like that?”

I nodded, going along with the joke. “Oh yeah, definitely. It really gives you an air of mystery.”

Craw chuckled from beside me. “By the way, I don’t think I actually ever introduced myself to you,” he said to Ren. “I’m Craw. I was a Don at the Fight House on Earth.”

Ren nodded. “I’ve heard of you. Ruby told me about how you tried to swindle her money.”

Craw grimaced at that. “Ah yes,” he said, chuckling awkwardly. “I forgot about that. But hey, all’s well that ends well, right?”

I shook my head, chuckling as well. “Well, luckily for you, I’m a very forgiving person, so I’m willing to let bygones be bygones.”

“Not to mention,” Craw added, “I’ve given you a lot of information too. So we’re about even now anyway.”

“Well, I also saved your life, so I’d say you still owe me,” I responded.

Craw cocked his head as he considered the point. “Huh, fair enough I guess. I suppose I do owe you one.” Turning to face me directly, he struck out his hand. “Very well, then. I give you my word that I will do my utmost to fulfill for you one reasonable favour,” he said as we shook hands.

“Spoken like a true businessman,” Ren remarked. “I think you’ll do very well for yourself, Craw, wherever we find ourselves.”

Craw gave a half smile at that. “Let’s hope so.”