"This is so sudden, Robbie," mom exclaims over the phone, "I really don't know what to say."

Paul and Sara are quietly talking to each other in their corner of the limo, giving me the privacy needed for some much needed family time. Ever since the ion storms cleared up, I had been on the phone trying to contact mom who's still working in that rift. For the last few days, all I got was a busy tone. Apparently the ion storm knocked out some of the lines, causing the work camp mom's at to be cut off. Thankfully the moment the problem was fixed, mom contacted me immediately.

"This is a good thing." I reassure, "I know dad had his issues with taking up the inheritance but this is really for the best."

"Becoming a knight." mom muses meditatively, "That's quite a big deal, right?"

"You know it. Especially when you become a knight to the family who owns Wyvern Conglomerate." I confirm and Paul stifles a smile at the implied praise. For all his issues with being the heir of Wyvern Conglomerate, Paul still takes pride in his position.

"I'll talk to your father." mom finally says, "Not as if we can do anything about it now, can we? Spilt milk and all that."

"This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for me." I insist, "How many people get the chance to become a knight?"

"At the risk of your own life, Robbie." mom sighs, "That girl, Yvonne, was it? We received her email about your time in the hospital."

"Yvonne said everything had been paid for." I share a quick glance with Paul and the boss man nods in the affirmative.

"Money's not the issue." mom grabs the figurative bit between her teeth and doesn't let go, "Its nearly getting murdered by hired killers."

I shudder slightly at the memory of the fight against Carl as the limo slows to a stop at a red light. Nevil shifts in the driver's seat to get more comfortable.

"I made a complete recovery, mom." I explain, "I'm literally feeling better than ever."

"But when will it end, Robbie?" mom wails like a heroine in a teledrama, "Putting your life on the line for someone else. Nothing good can come of this."

"Look, I really can't go into this topic right now." I glance worriedly at Paul, hoping he didn't catch any of what mom was saying. Good thing the boss is too engrossed in chatting with Sara.

"Alright, alright." mom relents, "You've got your own life. The best we can do as parents is give our blessing."

"Please don't say that." I rub my glabella, "I'm going to take this family out of the rut we're in. Just wait."

"Money was never important to us, Robbie." mom replies over a squawk of static, "We just want you to be safe and happy."

"I'm happy mom." I say with supreme confidence, "Doing this, being a knight, makes me happy."

"If that is your choice, we'll support you all the way." mom's responds with calm simplicity, "Love you."

"Love you too, mom." I whisper back and the line goes dead.

"I like listening in on your family conversations." Sara grins at me, "They're sweet."

"Oh please." I grumble and go red in the face.

"There is something I must confess as well," Paul rubs his cheek with embarrassment, "You make be feel rather envious, Robbie."

"Damn, this is plenty of feeling just for one conversation." I chuckle to myself.

"A good family relationship is like a treasure." Paul says with certainty, "Treasure it."

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"No worries about that." I smile back at my friends, "I know how lucky I am."

"Oh, there's something I wanted to ask -" Sara pipes up but is suddenly cut off by the harsh honking of the cars behind the limo.

"NEVIL!" Paul snaps angrily as we all realize the light had turned green while Nevil's busy daydreaming in the driver's seat.

"Sorry." the driver mumbles and the limo jerks into motion. Paul shakes his head and presses the button which raises the privacy screen, separating Nevil from the three of us.

"I swear, if Nevil wasn't loyal to me," Paul grumbles, "I would have let him go by now."

"Don't sweat the small stuff." I shrug, "I think Nevil almost getting himself killed for your sake earns him some slack."

"Its just annoying, that's all." Paul composes himself, "Though I'm probably more used to servants of Yvonne's caliber."

"Yvonne, yeah ..." I murmur. Ever since that night, Yvonne has been nothing but professional with me. But I sense she's waiting for my decision on what our relationship will become. Sooner or later, the question will rear its head again. I just feel that I'm nowhere near reaching a satisfactory answer.

"She's a good woman." Sara answers my unspoken question as she quests for a packet of snacks from the limo's minibar.

"Uh huh." that's all I can manage to say with the turmoil roiling my heart.

"Hey!" Sara protests as she grabs a torn up packet of crisps from the minibar, "Who's been leaving trash about?"

"No one." Paul grimaces, "Must be the doing of that rodent that's been living with us. I'm going to call an exterminator when we get back from our field trip. Glue traps obviously aren't working."

"Good luck with that." I mutter distantly. Why am I not surprised Maus is tagging along with us? At least the talking rat has no plans to harass Yvonne when I'm not around. I wouldn't put it past that petty rodent.

"But Paul, you didn't need to buy all those clothes for Robbie and I." Sara gets back on track with the previous conversation with the boss, "All of it was made to measure, right?"

"If I'm going to teach both of you how to hunt with class," Paul sniffs, "we might as well look to part."

"Don't feel comfortable with all this money spent on me." Sara frowns and folds her arms.

"Its worth it." Paul says before whispering to himself, "You're worth it."

I tune the conversation out as the limo hits the last stretch of highway leading to the rift zone. Already I can see in the distance the telltale emerald tears in reality hovering just over an expansive empty plain. I wonder which portal leads to where mom and dad are working? There's a constant traffic of vehicles going in and out of the rifts comprising of workers, adventurers and even holiday makers like the three of us. Whatever you're looking for, there's probably a right that can satisfy your needs.

Amazing to think that this isn't the only rift zone near the city. There's an even bigger one near the northern sector, serviced by a monorail terminal. All the exotic radiation from the rifts bombarding the city can't be too healthy, despite what the experts say.

"We're almost there." I state, noticing a crowd of Rutger's students gathering around a line of buses. A number of teaching staff and armed guards are busy guiding the students to their seats and loading luggage.

"The school hired rangers?" Paul nods approvingly, "That's a good idea when there're wild animals about."

"Nothing too dangerous?" Sara looks through the limo's window nervously.

"Nah." Paul shrugs, "We're going to be camping in a safe zone. But even the odd scavenging dog can be dangerous, so it doesn't hurt to be careful."

Nevil turns the limo smoothly and stops near the crowd of students. There are a few odd glances at the limo but nobody really pays much notice. Rutger's is after all, a school for the elite. Whether in scholastics or money.

"Let's get going." Paul opens the passenger door with gusto, "I need to stretch my legs."

Sara quickly joins the boss while Nevil busies himself with unloading our luggage. In addition to our clothes, Paul had readied three cases of guns and ammunition for the hunting trip.

"Nevil's going to need help bringing all this to the bus." I inform Paul and Sara, "You guys go on ahead and save a good seat for me."

"Not a problem Robbie." Paul gives a thumbs up to me, "Thanks for pitching in."

As I pick up my share of the luggage, I realize Nevil looks like complete shit. There's dark circles under his eyes and the driver is close to being dead on his feet.

"You okay there?" I ask the driver.

"Been busy the past week." Nevil grunts without any further explanation. As silence descends on us, we steadily make our way to the buses.

"Robert. You were talking with your mother just now?" Nevil asks out of the blue.

"Yes?" I adjust my grip on the heavy bag.

Nevil seems to be struggling with what he wants to say, alternating between biting his lip and casting sideways glances at me. Finally the driver speaks up.

"Have you seen your mother in person recently?"

"No. She's away on work." I explain.

"Ah."

We put down the bags and join the line of students queuing to load their luggage.

"Robert, you need to know something -" Nevil manages to mutter softly to me before a sharp whistle catches my attention.

"Robbie! There's one last free seat in our bus!" the boss yells, "Move it or lose it!"

"I'll leave the bags to you." I pat Nevil on the shoulder and run off to join my friends.

Nevil merely makes a dull sound of acknowledgement as he shuffles along.

Whatever he wanted to say lost with the wind.