“Andre!” Julian called.

Andre shook his head, coming out of his thoughts. “What was that?”

Julian tossed his arm sling onto the table. “I asked if you’re coming. We got work to do.”

“Oh, what are we doing, exactly?” Andre stood from the table, catching up with them.

Julian left the gym with Maria and Andre on his tail. “I’m getting a shot and pain meds. Look at the map screen and tell us what you can about the tower. If we want to survive this, we need to get information and to get information, we need to get stronger.”

They marched back to the courtyard, finding the physicians and nurses taking care of new arrivals.

Julian found his nurse from before. “I hope she isn’t too angry with me,” he whispered, waving her over.

—-

“Okay, we have less than 4 hours until sunset. What do you expect to do in 4 hours?” Andre asked. His voice was less confident than it had been when they first met earlier that day. He was still distracted from the broadcast.

Julian was busy rubbing his shoulder. The nurse didn’t seem to be too angry. The needle stabbing said otherwise, along with the lack of pain meds.

“There are some SOS beacons nearby. Hopefully, we can make a difference, and also find an Eidos for Maria.” Julian checked Omen’s capsule and pressed [Summon].

Grey particles materialized as Omen fell into step beside him. Julian could feel Omen’s anticipation. He wanted action.

With a mental command from Julian, Omen fell into his shadow, hiding from the world.

Andre nodded, finding his resolve. “Sounds good to me.”

“Me too!” Maria said, busy with her bracer. “Andre, what were you supposed to do after recapturing Omen?”

“I had a rendezvous point with the team. However, I’m not so sure anymore.”

“Why is that?” Maria asked.

Andre stopped walking. “Umm,” his voice grew quiet, “because our team was under Dr. Miura.”

Maria and Julian stopped at that, turning to face him.

Andre was looking down at the ground. “I know the man personally. He wouldn’t have caused this mess. Dr. Artino needed a scapegoat, and he got one in Dr. Miura.”

“Andre, what do you know?” Julian asked, stepping closer.

Andre folded his arms. “I know enough to say Dr. Miura is innocent, and that Artino is taking credit for these bracers.”

“You know," Maria started, "technically, we have the Eidos. Why don’t we scope out the rendezvous?” Maria suggested.

Andre nodded. “Fair enough. Also, I know a few of the locations where the SOS signals are coming from. They are on the way to the rendezvous, but closer to the tower, which means a higher population of Eidos. Between the two of us, though, we should be able to pull off one that catches her attention.”

“Sounds good. Lead the way,” Julian said.

Their bracers vibrated.

[Form Party?]

[Yes] [No]

“You have got to be kidding me,” Maria groaned.

“Not so much a cell phone, more like a game, huh?” Julian chuckled. He knew Maria hated video games ever since she was a kid. She had no hand-eye coordination.

Julian hit [Yes], watching as Maria and Andre confirmed. He smiled as their contact information filled in on his bracer for messaging, and their locations appeared on his map.

“Okay, this is helpful…and kinda cool,” Maria admitted.

Julian suddenly remembered Omen’s gift from earlier. He pulled the dull red capsule out of his hoodie pocket.

“What’s that?” Andre asked.

“I don’t know. Omen found it when he took out that bull earlier.”

He placed it in his left hand, and his bracer screen lit up once more:

[Identify?]

[Yes] [No]

Julian pressed [Yes].

[Item Drop Identified]

[Technique Capsule: Support]

[Control Plants: Epic]

[Allows the Eidos with Nature Affinity control of flora within an area of effect.]

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

[Area of effect = 4x Perception Statistic]

[Add to Catalogue?]

[Yes] [No]

“Wait, wasn’t that the technique the bull was using to attack us?” Maria asked.

“Looks like it,” Andre said. He smirked at Julian. “You going to keep it? I don’t think Omen can use a nature technique.”

“Can Oryx use it?” Julian asked.

“I’m not sure, honestly. I don’t know how the system identifies Earth and Nature affinities. Besides, you might catch something else that can use it. You and Omen earned that one.”

Julian pressed [yes] once more and watched as the red capsule dissipated in his hand.

Andre walked towards the front gate, summoning Oryx. Brown glowing particles poured from Andre’s bracer. “Come on, we’re burning daylight standing here.”

Maria and Julian took off after him, mounting up on Oryx’s back like before, with Omen slipping into the large Eidos’s shadow.

As they arrived at the gate, people stepped out of the way, pointing as Oryx leaped the sidewalk, landing on the pavement and taking off towards the downtown and the first SOS beacon.

Overhead, wild Eidos were flying around the city, and a few of them were circling about. It looked like the safe zone was keeping most of the Eidos away for a block or two.

“What’s a Taurotragus, anyway?” Julian suddenly asked.

“He’s an antelope. More specifically, an Eland Antelope. The system seems to be using taxonomy to try and identify the Eidos. Well, genus classification, anyway. That helps.”

“How did you capture him?” Maria asked.

“I’ve been working with Oryx for over a year. He was one of the side effects of our research. So when the bracers appeared, it was easy enough for me to capture him.”

“So you didn’t have to get mauled like I did?” Julian sent his thoughts and emotions to Omen. He could have sworn the wolf sent a mental shrug back at him, along with an eye-roll. The bond was growing stronger between them, and it was getting easier to understand him.

Julian chuckled to himself.

Another mental eye-roll, followed by a beat of silence.

Then Julian felt a hint of regret. An apology, maybe? This surprised Julian, but he felt his wolf’s emotions. It was sincere.

“Everything okay?” Maria interrupted, eyeing Julian curiously.

“Yeah, everything’s fine.” He smiled at her, letting silence fill the ride as they arrived downtown.

He sent his resolve to Omen. Survive together and make a difference. Intention and purpose rolled into one.

Omen absorbed the intent, growing silent.

Soon enough, wild Eidos started appearing around town.

“Maria, can you mark the edge of the Eidos population on the map?”

“Done,” she said.

A vibration later, Julian could see where Maria had marked the map for them. Julian could also see three SOS markers on his map: two in the same block, with a third further down the road and a couple blocks over.

“Looks like the first stop is a block away. How far away is the rendezvous point?” Maria asked.

“About a mile away. The final marker sends us in that direction, though.” Andre replied.

“Sounds good. Maria, keep your eyes open.”

“Got it.”

Oryx slid to a stop outside a large, three-story building that looked like a bank. The three of them slid off the antelope’s back, taking everything in.

In the distance, monstrous roars and crashing noises echoed off the walls of the high-rise buildings. However, the bank itself was eerily quiet. The front doors were ripped open, the metal frames bent by sheer force.

“Well, at least Oryx can fit.” Andre chuckled.

Julian looked the doors over, stepping towards them.

Omen sent a wave of apprehension. He could smell something.

Julian stopped in his tracks as Omen slipped out of Oryx’s shadow, joining the rest of the party.

“Everything okay?” Maria asked, her voice shaky.

“Omen senses something.” He turned his gaze to the wolf beside him. "Care to check it out?” Julian asked out loud.

Omen huffed, but Julian could sense excitement coming from the predator.

“Oryx will back you up,” Andre added, the large antelope stepping forward.

Without a word, Omen slipped back into the larger shadow, and together, they stepped into the bank.

Andre stepped forward, followed by Julian.

Maria brought up the rear. “Where are you going? You said there was danger in there!”

“I did, but there are also people. We got to find them. Plus, Omen and Oryx might need backup.” Julian replied.

With a sigh, Maria followed them inside.

The bank entrance was completely in ruins. Chairs and tables were shattered, and the attendant counter was ripped out of the wall in pieces. Thick wooden columns held up the open floors above them like a balcony, and four large marble columns served as the main anchors for the floors and roof. The vault door was currently sticking up and out of the floor, jammed there from the basement.

“What the hell could do that?” Andre asked.

A high squealed screech filled the room, causing them all to jump. Swinging down from the second-story balcony was a small, furry monkey. It latched onto one of the marble columns, sliding down a bit as it sized up the new arrivals.

[Eidos detected.]

[Running identification Protocol.]

“A little late there, buddy.” Julian responded, shaking his forearm.

Maria squealed. “It’s kinda cute!”

The Eidos looked at her, turning its head as it studied her quizzically. Its eyes started glowing a faint shade of purple.

Julian felt Omen’s warning through their bond.

“Get down!” Julian roared, tackling Maria as shards of glass flew across the room from behind them, peppering the wall across from them. Soon, the glass pulled itself from the wall, unbroken and melding into slivers.

“What the hell is that thing?” Andre called out.

Julian looked over and saw Oryx had blocked the glass from hitting Andre. Brown particles were forming around Oryx, drifting back towards Andre’s bracer. Their biggest creature was already down.

[Eidos Identified.]

[Brachyteles: Level 1]

[Affinity: Mental]

“What the hell is a mental affinity?” Andre called out.

Glass slivers shot across the room towards them. Andre was knocked out of the way as Oryx used the last of his strength to move him, taking more shards before dissipating back into brown particles and returning to Andre’s bracer.

Julian used his bond to check on Omen.

Omen sent him a wave of excitement. He was on the prowl.

Julian sent his plan to Omen. Sneak around and take it out.

“Let’s move,” Julian said to Maria, helping her to her feet to hide behind a column.

The glass slivers were slicing through the air delicately, almost teasingly.

“Julian, we have to catch that thing,” Maria stated bluntly.

“It’s not that cute!”

“It’s not that. Look at how powerful it is. You just said we needed to get stronger, and that thing’s a contender.” Maria looked carefully around the column towards the little monkey.

Julian touched his bracer and clicked Andre’s name in the party viewer.

Across the room, Julian watched Andre slide under one of the teller walls for cover and looked at his bracer.

“Yo.” Andre’s whispered voice came through to Julian’s bracer.

“Maria wants this one.”

“Are you crazy?!” Andre roared.

The monkey screeched, sending the torrent of glass towards Andre’s hiding spot.

Just then, a howl erupted from under the balcony as Omen launched his surprise attack.

Ice wrapped around the monkey, breaking its concentration and dropping the glass slivers to shatter on the ground below. The monkey tried to hold on to the column, but it froze over. It fell to the ground, ice shattering on impact.

[Ambush Bonus Achieved: x2 Damage]

[Elemental Weakness: Frost 2x Damage]

“Shade Trap!”

Omen jumped from the shadows, his eyes turning dark as tendrils of shadow shot across the floor, wrapping around the money in dark ropes.

[Elemental Weakness: Darkness 2x Damage]

Purple particles were already beginning to flow from the monkey.

“Maria, it’s hurt. Now’s your chance. Hurry!” Andre called out.

Maria darted out from behind the pillar. Tapping her bracer, she pointed her forearm towards the wounded Eidos.

The particles swirled towards her bracer, taking them in. Finally, as the monkey dissipated, Maria’s bracer chimed, opening the capsule chamber to reveal an Eidos capsule glowing a deep purple.

Maria smiled, turning to face the others. “I did it! Thanks, guys!”

As Julian and Andre approached, they could see a notification had appeared in their party list.

[Eidos successfully tamed and paired to Maria Ramirez.]

“Omen, can you sense any other Eidos in the building?” Julian asked out loud.

Omen replied with a wave of boredom.

“Awesome,” Julian replied. “Now, let’s find those survivors.”