Val knew he had a habit of talking without thinking especially when he was stressed. This was one of those times he wished he had better control of it.

The temperature I the room dropped by several degrees making him guess he had really pissed who ever this was off. He was about start begging for his life when the being left out a hearty laugh.

"You've got energy, no wonder Reiner kept by your Side." The being said. "I'm Heris, nice to meet you. As interesting as you are I'd like to warn you never to speak to me like that again." The being leaned in closer, "I am very nice and also very, very powerful. "

Those last words were meant as a threat and Val took them to heart right away. No disrespect to the guy with purple eyes, duly noted.

"Also I do not have a specific gender if you address me as a lady I will curse you. Now where were we... ah yes, release Reiner." Heris said simply.

"Great one, you can't be serious about this?" Lady Castle scowled, "He's a fugitive and after several years we've finally managed to catch him."

"I'm actually very disappointed you hadn't managed that sooner." Heris said in a drawl, then their face lit up again as it glided to Symon's side, "Miss me, Reiner?"

"Not really, I was enjoying life without your crazy ass tailing me. And it's Symon now."

"Rude." Heris pouted before turning to the others, "I really don't understand why I picked you three as governors, I'm practically still doing this job myself. Okay listen, Symon here was part of the Incursion, he has their secrets and he could tell us but he's under an oath...do you see where I'm going here?"

Lady Stellar was the first to speak up, "You want us to use him to draw them out, brilliant, your excellence!"

"See Cissy gets it." Heris beamed, "And what better way to parade him around than letting him and his creator human go on missions. Once they see he's on our side they'll come running to get him."

"So you're saying you want to use us as bait?" Val asked, both amazed and unimpressed at the same time, how that was possible even he wasn't sure.

"Not exactly..." Lady Stellar said nervously.

"Yes, that's exactlywhat they're saying." Raymond affirmed.

"They?" Val questioned.

"Heris' pronuns are they/them, Val, keep up." Symon said.

"He/him or she/her if he transforms." Raymond added.

"All of you shut up." Heris said irritation creeping into their voice. They turned to Val and Symon, "You're talking with me now. Not those idiots just me."

"Good." Symon said managing to stand. "I'm not letting you put Val's life in danger, I've cut ties with the Incursion and you know it. I'm not going to be your little pawn."

"Symon, what the bloody hell are you saying? They're going to release you and we don't have to do that much." Val said standing as well. He placed his hands on Symon's shoulders. "I don't want you to go to Magick jail."

Symon looked up so their eyes met, "And I don't want you to die." He shrugged off the boy's hands. "The Incursion are dangerous people, they won't show mercy on anyone. I made a mistake working for them. I forgot about all the bad things I did while I was having fun as your cat. The truth is, I've hurt people I don't deserve to live happily."

"And that's why I'm giving you another chance Symon." Heris said, their voice deeply serious now. "They've been quiet over the last few years. We were relieved at first but then people started to vanish. It's another far fetched theory but I'm sure they're behind it."

Val no idea who these Incursion people were but they seemed to be very bad news.

Heris sighed, "Besides its not really your decision, you've openly proclaimed yourself 'his' cat, making him your master." They pointed to Val, "Its his choice."

Val looked at Symon then at the other people in the room, clearly no one was going to help him out. If he chose to say yes, he'd be forcing his best friend to do something against his wish, but at the same time if he said no, Symon would be imprisoned.

They'd be apart and Val wasn't sure if he was ready for that.

He turned to Symon, those golden cat eyes were avoiding his. Val was going to hate himself either way so might as well get on with it. He took in a deep breath, "I'm not his master, I'mhis best friend and whatever decision we're going to make...we make it together. " He put an arm around Symon's shoulders.

Symon stared in confusion. He was sure as hell Val would have chosen without him. This human was truly one of kind. Yet at the same time, that was a dirty trick, now all the pressure of making a decision fell on Symon. A selfish part of him wanted to remain free under the pretense that that was what Val wanted.

But the more logical side of him knew that being imprisoned secured the Cullens family safety. He wanted them to be safe but he also wanted Val to be happy.

He groaned, then glared at Heris who was hiding a sly slime. Cheeky bastard. He knew what Heris was toying with him again, and as always he had no choice but to play along. "Stupid idiot." He scowled smacking Val on the head. "If you die don't say I didn't warn you."

"Then we'll die together, like Romeo and Juliette, the best friends version."

If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

"Gross."

"So I take it you'll both be working for us?" Proxianna asked through gritted teeth. She really wasn't enjoying this, Symon was beginning to though.

"You got it Proxy." He grinned.

"Splendid." Heris clapped. "Pay the boy but don't pay Symon, he should consider this as working off his debt to society."

"I get paid?" Val gwaked.

"Yes, five gold a week, since you're a teen worker." Lady Stellar said enthusiastically. Val felt really bad for yelling at her now, she seemed like a genuinely kind person.

"That's about fifty pounds kid, you ready for that kind of money?" Symon said turning to see Val was no longer at his said but hugging a very excited lady Stellar.

"You're amazing Miss, please tell me you'll be in charge of me." He pleaded.

"No dear that would be Raymond and call me Narcissa."

Heris coughed to bring attention back to themselves. The room fell silent once more. They nodded. "Seems my work here is done, train Valerian in the art of using his cre-reformation powers quickly so he and Symon can get to work."

"One more thing." Symon called.

"What now, Reiner?" Raymond groaned.

"I want to be a cat again, after this I want to live like a normal house cat. No more Magick and the madness that comes with it."

Val wanted to scream at him and ask him why the hell did he want that, but it wasn't his choice. He stayed quiet and felt a comforting hand on his shoulder. It was Narcissa, could she feel his pain?

"After your mission Symon, then we talk." Heris said before melting into a mound of purple sand in the center of the room.

"Glad they're gone." Raymond sighed in relief, he then turned to Val and Symon respectively, "This has been a difficult day but there are still a number of things to do, but you can choose to either do them today and start working tomorrow or..."

"Today!" Val exclaimed racing for the door, suddenly filled with energy, why wouldn't he? He was literally going to be paid fifty pounds a week and he wasn't done with high school yet. Imagine all the books he could buy with that money.

Symon rolled his eyes and stretched out his cuffed hands, jingling them to get the attention of the governors.

Cissy gasped, "Sorry." She snapped her fingers and the cuffs fell off.

"Sy, Mr Raymond, let's go, I've got work to do." Val called. He had barely stepped out the door when he was tackled by a blur of blue.

"I am so sorry for what happened in the alley." Someone began apologizing. It was a girl who looked older than him by a year or two, her skin was a golden brown shade, she was wearing a blue tracksuit and had navy blue streaks in her hair as well. He could make out a bow and arrow quiver slung over her shoulder and she was holding his hand very tightly.

"Excuse me but you're..."

"I know, I know you're mad but I didn't mean to. Transpacing is a new skill I'm still getting the hang of and-"

"Kenta shut up." Raymond snapped finally stepping out, he gestured to Val, "Kenta Gravestone, she was sent to rescue you but she thought it'd be cool to use her newly learned transpacing power to bring you here."

"We ended up in Bristol, hope you know that?" Symon said, his voice with underlying hints of mockery.

Kenta shrunk under his gaze and laughed nervously. Val would behave the same way if the shortest person in the room had made fun of him as well.

"Come on let's get you registered." Raymond said leading the way.

Val used the opportunity to look around, it was then he realized they were on a corridor of a circular building kind of built like donut. He went to the inner railings, looking out he could see they were on the highest floor. Above them was a sky with few clouds.

He gasped. "Where are we?"

Kenta moved closer. "The middle of Nowhere, it's another realm different from the ones humans exist in. There's a Nowhere everywhere and all Magick Committees are built in them because only bug strong buildings can survive so long in the void."

Val nodded, taking in every word she said. She seemed friendly enough and also very talkative. He struggled to keep up with most things she said and was glad when she mentioned running to her workspace to get notes that would help him out.

He moved closer to Symon now, "Sy?"

"What?" The other sighed, Val could hear how tired he was, Maybe they should have done this tomorrow.

"I'm sorry for everything."

Symon gave him a confused look, he had the dumbest human in history. "Nothing is your fault Val, don't apologize."

Val nodded and remained quiet for a while before speaking again. "I know you might not want to tell me the whole story but please...fill me in so I don't feel like you don't trust me. I...I don't want you keeping yourself from me because if something should happen to you...I'll..."

"Shut up brat." Symon snapped but not harshly. "There's not much you don't already know anyway. I was who they say I was. I worked for the Incursion, they didn't give themselves the name the EMCC did. They consisted mainly of Animalia before but a few years ago they started recruiting wizards and witches. To them they're fighting for they're rights. At least they were at some point." Val saw the white haired boy's eyes gazed over with sadness. "They were fighting for the good before but later on things went down hill, now they're trying to usurp the MCCs all over the world."

They got to a door, Raymond threw it open and gestured for them to come in.

Val took a step forward while Symon stayed back, "Aren't you coming in?"

"I'll wait out here." Symon said easily, he noted the worried glint in Val's eyes, "I'm not running kid, relax." He chuckled.

Val nodded and went in.

During the registration, he had to fill out forms and answer a question but all went well until they asked about skill.

He turned to Raymond, "What's a skill?"

"An aspect of Magick you're born with; everyone has at least one, some are born with two, but you can also train to acquire more since there are certain spells you can't perform unless you have a particular skill." The man explained.

"Oh like that Transpacing Kenta spoke of?"

"There are also skills like Necromancy, Time manipulation, Mind reading, Cre-reformatio, Forshadowing, Healing, Elemental abilities and Retrofying. Kenta will give you notes later." He turned to the lovely blond lady at the desk, "Cre-reformation. We saw him use it."

"But has he done the test?" She asked.

"Heather, come on sweetie, we don't need that, the proof is outside, he turned his cat human."

"Amazing but I'm not entering any info without a test."

"But that's half way down the building."

"Better get going oh powerful governor." She said earning a few snickers from those around them.

"Val, let's go." Raymond said forcing a calm smile unto his features.

They got outside and Symon seemed just as vexed as Raymond was about the news.

"Your trainer's workspace is on the way down, do you want to meet him?"

Val surprised to find out he'd already been assigned to someone else, but he guessed Raymond had much more work to see to than training him. "Sure." He decided he was going to make the governors jobs easier since he noticed almost everyone they came in contact with didn't accord them much respect. What was up with that any ways.

Meeting his mentor hadn't gone has Val expected it. In his mind he has imagined a wise old sage with the scars of battle and hair probably more white than Symon's.

Not some model perfect pretty boy that was shameless eyeing him up. "You brought a pretty one, Ray." The brown haired male said.

They were inside a room that looked like a martial arts dojo. Val spotted two guys sparring in a corner, one had wild red hair that almost looked like it was in fire. He was having the upper and against whoever he was sparring.

"Blaise, you are meant to train this boy, nothing else." Raymond said sternly.

"What about his friend." Blaise said stepping closer to Symon.

"Touch me and you lose an eye." Symon hissed. "Pervert."

Blaise only smiled, "That's what they all say at first." He tilted Val's chin up so their eyes met, "My you are quite handsome."

Val blushed and let himself be pulled back by Symon who spoke to Raymond, "You guys really have no one else."

"Blaise may be...touchy, but he's good at his job."

"Which one? Training kids or laying them?"

"Both actually as long as they consent." Blaise grinned. Symon sat at him.

"Come on, let's go get your test." They left the room, went down a few more text till they finally reached their destination.

It looked like a smaller version of a hospital but Val mainly saw beakers and jars full of objects he'd rather not think of. There were also beds but those did not look comfortable.

He was pulled into a chair by a grown man in white robes who after listening to Raymond gave him something to drink.

"What is this?"

"Its a potion that will mess around with your insides a little." The kind doctor like wizard said.

Val's eyes widened.

"Don't worry it won't kill. It's just so the device we'll put on you will detect which skill core is trying to protect you. All skill cores react differently to dangers inside the body. Some fight back, others defend, or detoxify, etcetera. Now drink up." The wizard smiled.

Val shuddered, the pink liquid did not smell as appetizing as it looked. He closed his eyes opened his mouth and gulped it down with difficulty. A second later the doctor placed something on his head.

Val wanted he ask what the weird headband was for when the burning at the back of his throat got so uncomfortable. He tipped of the chair and fell to the ground shakingand clutching at his stomach. He bit his bottom lip to keep himself from screaming and drawing attention

"What's going on old man?" Symon said kneeling next to his friend.

"Quiet an unexpected reaction." The doctor said calmly. A few nurses had paused their work to watch. Val sat up and let out screaming, the beds and chairs turned to dust and crumbled to the ground.

"What power." The doctor said with an impressed smile before kneeling next to Val to retrieve the headband. "Sorry lad, that dose many have been too strong for a beginner."

Val said nothing, he leaned into Symon's touch and enjoyed the coldness of the floor.

"This is coming out of your pay." Raymond said before turning to the doctor. "Alright, what do we have? One, Cre-reformation, right?"

The doctor nodded, "And that's already very rare but he has two skills actually and the second is a rare one as well, Forshadow."

*Governors: all magick Committees around the world are overseen by governors who are chosen by one of the Supreme beings in charge of mortal affairs.