Alex watched Sam fidget at the bottom of the mansion steps. The early afternoon sun was warming the entire group as they lounged on the front steps, there to support Sam however they could. Returning from the hospital the day before, Alex felt happy to be back at his house.
Still ridiculous to think that this is my house.
The temperature was still in the low forties, putting most of them in sweatshirts or coats.
Sam's nervous energy had been palpable, and he'd frequently gone between excited, nervous, and guilty since deciding to reach out to his mom. After all, from his perspective, he hadn't seen his parents in around two years.
Valtherion shifted on Alex's shoulders, his now forearm-thick body doing better when stretched across both of his shoulders rather than wrapped around one. The mana wyrm had continued to grow since their return home, and Alex was certain that he was getting close to his Race Advancement. Luckily, in the last week, his companion had seemed to stop growing and was curling up and napping much more than normal. Despite his increased size, Alex loved that his bond still wanted to wrap around his shoulders like a scaly scarf, often even going as far as to use his [Create Lesser Illusion] skill to appear as a scarf. His head rested near Alex's chin, watching Sam with apparent concern.
A sharp flick to his ear broke Alex’s train of thought. He abruptly ended his [Parallel Mind] skill and stopped his mana-shaping practice.
“Your aura’s leaking again,” Sarah said. “It’s still getting messy when you split your focus like that.”
Alex grimaced, immediately pulling his mana back within his body. He’d been working on containing it better, but using his newest skill made it difficult to maintain the same tight control he’d developed during his time in the Epic Rift.
“How bad was it this time?”
Sarah smiled, “Not as bad as yesterday. You’re getting better at pulling it back in quickly.”
“Hey, getting better, though?” Mark chuckled from his spot a few steps higher than where Alex sat.
“Yeah, yeah. We’ve all shown some progress, don’t forget how you were getting tired just from a few laps around the back yard.”
“Hey, cardio isn’t for me. I’m happy to lift weights and tank the hits. I still don’t get why you’re making me run.”
“Oh, you don’t even know the half of what the Celestial Sect would have put you through.”
Sarah snickered in response to their banter.
Alex wanted to check the time on his phone, only to realize that he’d left it inside. Before he could move, Edwin appeared at his side, phone in hand.
“Thanks,” Alex said. He accepted the device from the butler. Edwin’s [Intuitive Understanding] trait caught him off guard at small moments over the last week. It was helpful, without a doubt, but occasionally, the accuracy and timing unsettled Alex. He thought back to the System window that Edwin had shared with him the night they returned.
----------------------------------------
{Intuitive Understanding} - When performing actions in service of your House, you gain an intuitive understanding that will aid you in completing the task or aiding the head of the House in their needs.
(Choose a House. This may only be changed once.)
----------------------------------------
He unlocked his phone and checked the date. It was Thursday, February 15th, which only gave them a handful of days before the Teams Event started. He opened the AG app and pushed down his frustration that they’d wasted three days of preparation with him going to the hospital. Some of the sting was lessened as he saw that they’d not been granted access to any Rifts in that time.
Still no response to my request for access to any of the Rifts we applied to.
He swapped the app on his phone to check the AG app but got distracted by a news ribbon notification. There was an article to read and a video linked to it. Alex skimmed the article and decided to turn the video on while waiting. A speech was given on the government finally appointing someone to the head of foreign relations for the Hunters Association.
“Oh, I like her,” Sarah said, leaning over to watch. “She seems competent and wants to make a big push to work with the UN and other nations.”
“Have you gotten to meet her yet?” Mark asked.
Sarah shook her head, causing her now short blond hair to sway. “No, she will most likely be stationed at the Washington, D.C. branch.”
Alex shrugged, closing the video. He refocused on what he’d wanted to do in the first place and opened the AG app. He was frustrated that there was still no response to his request for access to any of the Rifts that he’d applied to. It might be a bit more understandable if it were just the higher rarity Rifts, but not even getting accepted into the many Common Rarity Rifts that he applied to was starting to feel deliberate. He was glad that he hadn’t waited to awaken Edwin and Gabby. Alex wondered if it was time to reach out to Elana directly.
“They’re here,” Sam said suddenly. His voice came out loud enough for them to hear but cracked toward the end.
Nervousness or puberty?
A silver SUV turned into the long driveway, and Alex felt his own tension rise in sympathy for his young friend. The past few days had been a rollercoaster for him, but Alex knew the reunion needed to happen.
During Alex's days in the hospital, they'd finally made a plan about Sam's parents. At first, Sam had been reluctant, worried his parents would try to take him away from the group. "They still think I'm 16," Sam had said quietly one evening, perched on the edge of Alex's hospital bed. "They won't understand everything that's happened."
It was the second time Sam had mentioned the fear, and Alex had asked if he was willing to let Sarah and Mark in on the conversation. If they all put their heads together, they could devise a plan for approaching the situation.
The solution had come unexpectedly. While visiting Alex, Sam had started healing other patients in the ward. The hospital staff had quickly noticed the young man’s gift, and within days, he'd become a welcome sight in the hallways. The staff loved his personality, and the patients began to tell whispered tales of a guardian angel moving through the hospital.
"That's it," Sarah had said the next day as she watched Sam work. "We show them what you can do now. Let them see how much you've grown. Do you remember how Edwin and I defaulted to wanting to have Alex brought to and stay in the hospital? That’s nothing against you, but it’s just because we’ve spent our entire lives being told that the hospital is where to take someone when they’re hurt or sick. Even if they’re injured, if you can get them to a hospital, they can get better. Show them your powers and how even these doctors and nurses see how valuable your skills are and the good you can do."
They'd decided Alex should make the first call. Sam's voice might shock his parents too much, and Alex could explain things calmly. After getting released from the hospital after another full day of monitoring and after everyone was back at the mansion, they made the call together.
The conversation had been tense at first. The Grants were understandably skeptical of a stranger claiming to know their missing son. They had almost hung up when Alex explained their plan to meet at the house first, then visit the hospital together the next day to see Sam's healing work. Alex emphasized that by discussing the plans upfront, they could focus on reuniting with their son, rather than talking about logistics. The Grants agreed.
If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
Only then had Sam taken the phone, his hands shaking as he spoke to his parents for the first time in several months, but to him felt like almost two years. Even from the couch next to Sam, Alex could hear the relief in his mother's voice, bringing tears to Sam's eyes.
Now, watching the silver SUV approach, Alex remembered their agreement. Today was for the family reunion. Sam would return with his parents for the evening, and they’d all meet at the hospital the next morning. Then, Sam's parents could see firsthand how much their son had grown and what he could do.
After the phone call ended, Sam had told the group again about how he’d ended up in the Rift in the first place and Sarah had made a good point that Alex couldn’t shake. He couldn’t help but wonder how the Rift wasn’t found. If Sam’s parents had reported a missing child, there should have been an entire rescue squad out in the woods combing every mile of the large property until they found some more signs of the sixteen-year-old. It seemed odd, but Alex knew there must be a reasonable explanation.
The SUV pulled up to the roundabout, and Sam stood from his spot on the bottom step and wiped his palms on his jeans. He wore Alex’s old green hoodie, and he waved nervously.
The car had barely stopped when both front doors flew open.
“Sam!” his mother called out while moving from the car’s passenger side. She was a petite woman with Sam’s same sandy blonde hair, but hers was pulled back in a neat ponytail. His father came around the front of the car more slowly as he pushed off of a gain with each step. His face showed the same desperate relief as his wife’s.
Sam took three steps forward before his mother reached him, wrapping him in a fierce hug. His father joined them a moment later, one arm around his wife and the other around Sam. They just held each other for a long moment, and Alex could see Sam's shoulders shaking.
Val stirred restlessly on Alex’s shoulders as he clearly picked up on the emotional energy. Alex reached up and ran a finger along the wyrm’s scales in an effort to soothe him. Since their time together in the Rift, Valtherion had been building a fondness for the teen.
"My baby," Sam's mother said, her hands trembling as she cupped his face. "We looked everywhere for you. The police, the Hunters Association..." Her voice cracked. "They kept telling us they were too short-staffed, that there were too many people going missing- and the Rift breaks.” Her sentences were broken, and tears began to stream down her face. “Every week, it was the same thing- another agent saying they couldn't spare the people for a proper search."
"I'm sorry," Sam whispered, and the guilt could be heard in his words. "I'm so sorry I ran away."
His father squeezed Sam's shoulder as tears came to his own eyes. "We're just glad you're safe. We never stopped looking, “ he swallowed hard, “ even when they told us to prepare for the worst."
Alex watched from the steps, his chest tight. The mother's words confirmed what he'd suspected about his parents trying to find Sam. They had tried. The country was slowly slipping into a state where the authorities were spread too thin to help put together a manhunt through miles of wilderness in the mountains.
Instead of trying to control the Awakened, they need to be using them.
He considered general combat and healing applications and knew that an Awakened tracker must be able to do what several teams could before the integration. Between skills and increased stats, someone like that could relieve an enormous amount of stress from people who were desperately searching, like the Grants.
His jaw clenched as he thought about the helplessness that they must have felt to receive that answer to their call for help over and over.
He watched the reunion with a mix of relief and satisfaction. Sam had come so far from the terrified boy that he’d found in the Rift, and seeing him face his fear and reconnect with his family felt like a victory for them all.
This is what a family should feel like. Sam is young, but it’s obvious how much they love him and want to support him.
Alex shook his head as he tried to compare this reunion to the one he’d received from his family. That wasn’t fair to his own family. His parents cared. He just found the way they showed it to be suffocating. That was as much his fault as theirs.
He pushed the thoughts away, focusing on Sam’s mother as she broke away and walked toward the stairs. Sarah nudged Alex’s arm, and he stood to greet her. Her eyes widened slightly as she took in his appearance. The scar across his nose stood out despite his skin being pale from winter. His mismatched eyes and trim, athletic build also drew the attention of others who had not seen many with an Awakened physique. He knew how different he looked now. Much more imposing than the slightly chubby office worker he’d been just months before.
“Mrs. Grant,” he said, extending his hand. “I’m Alex Moore. It’s good to finally meet you.”
She surprised him by ignoring his hand and pulling him in for a quick hug. “Thank you,” she whispered. “Thank you for taking care of my baby.”
Alex caught Sam’s eye over his mother’s head. He was still wrapped in his father’s one-armed embrace but watching the interaction. “Sam’s part of our family now, too. We couldn’t let anything happen to him.” Alex said as Sam’s mother stepped back. “I know Sam already told you this over the phone, but you two are welcome here anytime.”
Mrs. Grant stiffened at the words. “No. We just got Sammy back, I don’t think-”
Sam cleared his throat. “Mom, Dad… we’ve all got a plan for the next day or two. Let’s just see how that goes.” He hurried on before they could respond, hoping to head off any protest. “I want to come home and tell you about everything that happened. Is that alright?”
Alex smiled, feeling pride and relief at Sam’s use of his own voice. It made him want to jump up and down and hug the boy who was expressing what he wanted rather than just accepting whatever was happening around him.
Mr. Grant looked up at the mansion, then at Alex. “You live here?”
“I do. Sam has his own room, and we have plenty of space. He’s been training and helping our chef, Gabby, with her cooking and his own garden.”
“His own garden?” his father asked, looking down at Sam with a smile.
“What about his studies?” Mrs. Grant asked at the same time.
Studies? Shit, I didn’t even think about that.
She could see his hesitation. “Sorry, this is a conversation for another time.” She turned and walked to Sam, grabbing his hands as she said, “We’re just happy to have him back safe and sound.”
Val chose that moment to lift his head, which caused the weak illusion to break and for his sharp teeth and round eyes to appear. The movement drew a startled gasp from Mr. Grant, who was still looking toward the group.
Alex smiled reassuringly. “This is Valtherion. He’s completely harmless, especially to Sam. Actually…” Alex winked at Sam, who grinned in return.
Sam moved out from under his dad’s arm and reached into the spatial pouch he had under his coat. It likely looked like he was just reaching into an inside pocket to his parents. He pulled his hand out and threw a small blue Mana Stone across the front yard.
Valtherion let out a happy chirp that could be heard by all and let his illusion skill fully break. He unwound from Alex’s shoulders and flew across the open space to chase after the Mana Stone. Mr. Grant watched on open-mouthed as the companion took off faster than a modern drone.
Sam walked to Alex and extended a closed fist, mimicking the greeting and farewell that he’d seen Mark and Alex share many times. Alex bumped his fist and resisted the urge to ruffle his hair. "See you tomorrow at the hospital," he said.
“See you tomorrow,” Sam said, his voice steadier now. His parents nodded to the group, though Alex could still see the overwhelmed look in their eyes.
From the back seat of the SUV, Sam turned to wave one final time, a genuine smile on his face. Val finished with his Mana Stone, curled back around Alex's shoulders, and hummed contentedly. The car disappeared down the long driveway.
"Well, that went better than expected," Sarah said, standing up from the steps. The mid-January air was getting colder as evening approached. "Should we head inside?"
The group made their way into the mansion's warm living room. While Mark and Sarah settled onto the couch, Alex pulled out his phone to text Olivia about how things had gone.
"Texting your girlfriend?" Mark asked while drawing out the last word. He sprawled across the couch cushions.
Alex rolled his eyes. “Yes, Mark. She’s my girlfriend. We’re not in high school, can we be adults about this.”
“Oh, can we be adults about this?” Mark mocked, purposefully making his voice go an octave higher than normal. He caught the look Sarah gave him and quickly changed the subject. “Hey, whatever happened to all of those rune books you were studying? You had your nose in them nonstop for a couple of days, then that was it.”
Alex leaned against the arm of the couch while considering his response. “They’re still upstairs, but enchanting is…” he gestured vaguely in the air. “It’s not just about understanding the runes. The way I understood it is that I need to build up this massive foundation first before I can even produce an enchantment. Right now, I think it’s better to focus on what will be most helpful to my immediate growth and the team.”
“So you’re just dropping it, then?”
“More like… putting it in the queue. The theory is fascinating, but with everything going on, I need to prioritize. These modified rituals?” Alex created a small air ritual on his palm and blew through the backside as he pointed it toward Mark. The resulting gust caught Mark square in the chest, causing the couch to slide back several inches. As the wind collided with his chest and spread out, the upward draft made his hair poof up in several directions.
“They’ll give me some immediate results, especially since I’ve been working on the foundational shapes and combinations for a few months now. I need to find some more combat-effective rituals to use like this and my ignition ritual, rather than just utility ones that I can use like traps.” He signed and thought about the idea of enchanting his own magical gear. “Once things settle down, I’ll get back to the runes. They’re not going anywhere. It’s time to get more focused rather than just jumping between different things.”
Mark ran a hand through his hair, laughing. "Show-off. At least warn a guy next time."
"Where's the fun in that?" Alex said, but his mind was already on the next day’s hospital visit. They had a plan, and he was determined to help Sam show his parents just how much he'd grown.