Crisis’s Turn

“Ready?”

Crisis looked over his opponent. Acryoa. The skinny assistant was starting to fill out to a healthy body type, but he hadn’t built up any muscle. And with everything going on, Wonder wanted everyone under his command to at least have self-defense options. Crisis had volunteered to teach Acryoa some hand-to-hand. Since all the kids were with trusted adults, it wasn’t like he was needed for his regular duties.

Acryoa nodded, shifting into a defensive stance. It was completely full open of holes, but it was a significant improvement to when they started training. His warrior upbringing was showing.

Crisis started with a few jabs, before doing a surprise kick. Acryoa’s movements were chunky, but he blocked most of the jabs, then grabbed Crisis’s leg and tried to spin him. Crisis’s implants locked up immediately, making him unmovable. Instead of calling the exercise, Acryoa quickly moved to a variant of the dirtiest trick in the book.

Crisis grabbed Acryoa’s wrist before his balls were hit, but smirked. “Good instincts. When you can’t win normally, play dirty. Call exercise.”

They disconnected. Acryoa rubbed his blocking arm, which was clearly bruising. Crisis unlocked his implants and rolled his legs out. “Your instincts are good. We just need to build your strength a little bit.”

Acryoa nodded. He said, “I will admit, I have never heard that before.”

Crisis kinda guessed. Acryoa’s true talent was numbers. He took one look at Wonder’s gold notes, then his bank, lifestyle, and quickly chided him for living waaaaaay below his means. It got better when Wonder explained he was saving for winter and a Ranch, but Acryoa soon had multiple accounts set up. He was also ordering food, arranging higher sales, etc-etc-etc. And not one threat towards their bank account. That kind of number sense was probably notwelcomed in the Lightwraiths, or at least as Crisis understood the culture.

Crisis was left wondering where Acryoa would have ended up in Temerica. His knack with numbers would have been worshipped. He would probably be a Master himself, leading a Comp that would even be leading the world at this point.

“Penny for your thoughts, Sir Crisis?”

Crisis said, “Acryoa, please drop it. If you want to be really technical, I’m the same level as you. It is really not necessary.”

Acryoa worked his mouth. He then shut it and relaxed. “Of course. My apologies, Crisis. It’s the… Agent part of your name that throws me off.”

Ah.

Crisis said, “Ah. Well, try thinking of it like this: we are both directly under Master Wonder. So, same level.”

Crisis sighed, rolling his shoulders out. “Really, I should drop the Agent part of my name. But I spent many years to earn that title, and I’m not quite ready to let it go.”

Acryoa nodded. Crisis looked. “I also need to talk to you about something.”

“I shall not like it.”

“No, you won’t. I heard you walked in on the masters.”

“I heard my name and misunderstood the situation.”

Acryoa looked away. “You can tell what my former master preferred.”

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

“Agreed. And I actually don’t bring this up because of that.”

Acryoa looked surprised. Crisis said, “Do you not see the Messaging System that Wonder uses?”

Acryoa said, “Me… what?”

Crisis blinked. He said, “Here, let me try something.”

He typed a simple message to Acryoa: Hello. Can you see me?

Acryoa blinked, and lifted a finger in surprise. He said, “…did you just send me this magical scroll?”

Crisis said, “Yes. However, you are the only one who can see that. I actually see… let’s describe it as an energy-tablet.”

Crisis sat down. “I’m guessing that because you are usually by Wonder’s side for business, you haven’t needed this. But we call this the Messaging System, or often just message or IMfor short. This is usually how Wonder communicates with us when he cannot be face-to-face.”

Acryoa said, “I… oh. Oh.”

A blush went over his face, probably thinking of the accidental night. How it could have been avoided. Crisis said, “This was why I wanted to talk about it. Wonder won’t think too much about it, but you still need to learn the ropes. Let’s practice with the Messaging system to…”

Acryoa’s fingers were already scribbling rapidly in the air. Crisis said, “Well. You are already figuring this out.”

“This is wondrous. Instant communication, or close enough. Think of the letters saved. The less strain on voices. And this is built into Hoseki’s magic itself?”

“Are you speaking with Wonder now?”

Suddenly, an audio call appeared in Crisis’s vision. It had listed Acryoa and pretty much the whole family. Crisis’s jaw dropped in shock. Acryoa’s voice came through clear in his Implant as well as next to him. “Apologies for the sudden call, I am testing features in the Messaging System.”

Wonder said, “There’s an Audio option?!?”

Acryoa said, “Remind me to show you later, Master.”

Wonder: “Stop calling me… THIS IS FACETIME?!? DECLINE DECLINE IN SHOWER!!!”

Acryoa blushed and shut off the call. “Oops…”

Crisis said, “Maybe next time, text those you are calling first.”

“Noted. And text?”

“Another term for IM.”

Acryoa nodded. “Fair enough.”

Crisis said, “Also, if you want to be with the Master that bad…”

“No comment. No offense.”

“He’ll take none… wait, what?”

Acryoa smiled, but said nothing.

Acryoa then continued to scribble. “May I ask you something?”

“Shoot.”

“Why do you look at me like I have a bad lot in life?”

Crisis said, “You are with Wonder now. You do not anymore. No… I just feel for you because I know my world would have basically worshipped you like a god.”

Acryoa stopped. Crisis said, “My world runs off of numbers. Not always in the visible sense, but it does all the same. Your abilities? Basically god-like.”

Acryoa said, “That is… interesting.”

There was a little sorrow in his voice. But he shook it off. “But no use thinking on the past. Like you said, I am under a kind master now. I will take that lot in life.”

Crisis smiled. “Agreed.”

“One other question.”

“Of course.”

“That picture on your desk. Is that your son?”

Crisis blinked, then smiled sadly. “No, my younger brother. He’s probably all grown up now back home.”

“Ah. He did not come with you?”

Crisis shook his head. “No. He was still only 10 when I… got sent to Hoseki and died.”

He sighed. “Honestly, he probably hates me now. But he was my life for so long, I just cannot…”

Acryoa nodded. “No parents?”

“Both died.”

“No other siblings? Or cousins?”

Crisis shook his head. Acryoa nodded. “I understand. At least you had him. I have no one.”

Crisis said, “Except now. You’re part of the family now.”

Acryoa smiled softly. “…thanks.”

“I’m serious. Wonder hears you talking like that, you’re gonna get a bear hug and too much pampering for the next 2 weeks.”

Acryoa blushed and chuckled. “I hear you speaking from experience.”

Crisis smiled and nodded.

Sakura suddenly rounded the corner. “Um… Crisis? Sorry, but can you help us with setting up an obstacle course? The usual welder is down sick…”

Crisis got up. “Of course, Sakura.”

Acryoa nodded. “I shall get back to work.”

“Stay out of the kitchen.”

Acryoa lifted his hands, but smiled. He headed out.