“We are almost there.” Lee Ping said with a detached voice, or at least as much as he could make it because a part of his thoughts centered on just what his Aunt could have said to the girl that had made her so… dispirited.
Closer to a doll simply following after him as he led her to the DI-Branch within the pleasure district of Oaktown City. Naturally, being there, it meant it was a rather small branch unlike the main one in the center of the city, but considering what the girl needed, there was no need to bother with the bigger one.
Regardless, it took but a few more moments for them to arrive at the small building. Nonetheless, the way it was situated between two larger ones, almost highrise but not quite, it looked rather downtrodden. In truth, though, it was anything but that as Dream Incorporated is one of the many Associations that is the most spread throughout EDIN. In fact, Dream Incorporated will be the very first outsider Association to settle their roots into any new Rift once established and even at the behest of the Summoner, if the tales were to be believed.
Indeed, that was how proliferated they were as the creators, and maintainer of the SpiritNet, the web of information connecting anything and everything. Truly, they held an unbelievable amount of power. The only thing protecting everything else from their fingers was the Oath of Neutrality sworn and upheld by the highest of Dreamers directing this behemoth of an OmniCorp. Obviously, there was more to them, like with the D-Card’s and no Dreamer able to even imagine a life without them and its conveniences.
Still, staring at the black and white clouds swirling and flowing around each other before being swallowed by a black dot in the center, Lee Ping remembered his own first time entering one, and just how eager he had been in unlocking the rest of his D-Card.
Undoubtedly, nothing like the girl beside him.
Just as they were about to enter, Lee Ping addressed the girl. “Look. I may not know what made you so depressed, but something good is about to happen. Try and set it aside at least for the moment.”
“Hnn”
“Are you even hearing what I just said?”
“Hnn”
“You're not?”
“Hnn”
“Definitely not.” Lee Ping murmured before thinking of the only way he knew to bring the girl back to the here and now. Was it the right response? Probably not. But it was for sure working when he chopped his right hand into the girl's head, causing her to stagger back for a step or two before unconsciously whipping her arms where he'd hit her. “Pay attention and be on your best behavior. You do not want the clerk to mess up with your D-Card. You hear me?”
“Hnn!”
Despite being sure that his message had finally clinked into the girl, Lee Ping shook his head at being stuck as her babysitter for longer. Still, it beat getting on the wrong side of his Aunt. So, Lee Ping shook his head one additional time before sighing internally and entering the building he had guided the girl to.
Once inside, Hannah found herself within a rather small reception room, with one bench on the right side able to hold up to five people and a desk with electronic equipment on the left side. Unfortunately, as she glanced around, she found none but her and Lee Ping.
Nonetheless, that did not stop the man with the pretty face from boldly stepping near the desk and pressing on a counter bell to ring their arrival.
Perhaps it was because of the lack of customer traffic but it took a few moments for anybody to arrive from the door behind the desk, but when they did, it turned out to be a male clerk. There did not appear to be anything outstanding about him bar a rather bright blond hair color palate on his head and beard. Even his blue eyes failed to make him stand out from the perfectly average salary man found everywhere else due to the brown round glasses set on his nose.
No, the only differentiation between this clerk and every other clerk was his lack of the Veil and his big smile showcasing as special as it somehow made the man that tiny bit more friendly in Hannah’s estimation.
“Oh. Wow… Did not expect any customers since the guys with the guns came.”.The man said. “Hi… I am Mandel, The Twelfth Oak. What can I do for my dear customers?”
Not making any statements on the strange last name, Hannah listened to Lee Ping voice the very reason she had come here. “Hi, the girl Awakened not too long ago and needs her D-Card unlocked.”
“How wonderful.”” Mandel voiced out before his gaze settled on Hannah and he somehow beamed a smile at her that made her feel strange. Nothing untoward, but it was definitely strange, Hannah quickly decided. “Let me take a look at your Card, little one.”
Nodding, Hannah took out her D-Card and placed it on the counter. The blond clerk took it, sat himself behind the desk and immediately turned it around to check out the backside where a picture of her and Behold existed. “Well, that certainly looks like you. But… What is this? Are you a Summon User?” He asked before seeing Hannah nod as she refused to elaborate on the truth. Though, the next sentence made her refusal simply inconsequential. “Could you show it to me for further clarifications before I unlock the Card?”
Just as Hannah was about to ask why it was even needed, Lee Ping spoke up. “Do it. Nothing will leave this place as customer confidentiality is the number one sales pitch for Dream Incorporated.”
Nodding, Hannah brought out her Dreamon Ball. “Come out, Behold!”
The jagged red lighting escaped the pink ball and settled into the air before transforming into its equivalent pink resident. Unfortunately, for the resident in question, its Master’s Call instantly woke it from its sleep. Not to mention the instant weight upon its body trying to push it down. Obviously, Hannah’s… training bore success when it instantly unfolded its three tentacular limbs to activate its floating Passive Ability, though not before crying out one simple word.
“Beho?” Behold cried out as it looked around at once again finding itself in a completely new environment.
“My… Goodness. Is that what I believe it is?” Mandel almost cried out the very second his sight settled on Behold. Behold, on the other hand, instantly noted a strange sensation covering him. “Come here, little one. Let me examine you for a second.” Mandel said with heavy expectations of Behold to do as he wished, yet when it did not do so immediately, he almost certainly checked off an internal checkmark for his assumption. “Do not worry, little one. I won't hurt you.” Mandel added as his smile beamed a disarming feel onto all three customers.
Still, despite the added feeling, Behold quickly shook off the feeling telling it everything was fine. When it did, Behold finally recognized the strange sensations on its body. Namely, it was extremely similar to its Master’s Radiance. Unfortunately, it had none of its Master’s absoluteness, hence how Behold managed to ignore it.
Still, knowing it was there, Behold unconsciously floated closer to Hannah to bask in her Radiance to further negate the blond man’s influence.
“Hihi… As expected of Old One Eye's descendent!” Mandel said with a wide smile. “Yes… This explains many things. Ha… Hard to believe I get to be the one to welcome you. Man… Eleventh will be so pissed when I tell him about this. Can't wait to see his face bloom from jealousy.”
“You can bicker with your brothers all you like, just tone down your Aura. It is unbecoming of DI’s usually impeccable services.”
“Ah… You are right. My apologies, Customer… Charming Fox.” Mandle acceded before receding, said Aura. Though, only after pushing his glasses up his nose once, almost as if they were slipping off yet were not even close to actually doing so. Instead, the motion was used as an activation condition for his glasses to acquire certain information about Lee Ping. “Now that I have confirmed your Identity, back to business it is.”
----------------------------------------
Mandel took Hannah’s D-Card and slotted it within its counterpart tool on his desk. It looked like a toaster of sorts, only naturally more fancy and a million times more technical. That done, in his vision, screens appeared which he then manipulated. A few times he nodded, and at one particular screen he just shook his head before finalizing what every D-Card went through.
As that was happening, the holographic display in Hannahs vision flickered a few screens that vanished just as fast. Then when everything returned to normal, Mandel simply picked Hannah’s D-Card and placed it back on the desk counter. “There. I am done. From now on you can use it without any restrictions. Do note, Customer Blackwood, that I have taken the liberty to include a few small changes considering you are more than just a simple Summoner User.
The change in question will appear within the Ability tab. However, do also note that this will be all that can be done until you have resolved some key issues with your Grand Dream.”
“Issues?” A voice asked, but it was not Hannah’s. No. It was Lee Ping since the girl's Grand Dream was related to his Aunt’s plans. “What could be the issues?”
“Unless I have Customer Blackwood's permission I am not at liberty to say the specifics.” Mandel replied with a despairing sigh to exacerbate his Company's Policy.
“Uh… Fine. I will be waiting outside then.” Lee Ping said before just as quickly leaving the building.
When he was gone, Mandel immediately released a big sigh of relief at finally being able to speak freely. “Good. The nuisance is gone.” He said. “Listen girl. Within your Ability tab you will find a new screen detailing your Summon since none existed there before as you are a special kind of hybrid from what I have seen.
However, that is not the problem.
The problem is this. Once you activate it, your D-Card will scan your Summon and attempt to organize it. Nonetheless, it will fail for all but the most common categories since your Summon is still in the very first stages of its formation as a newly born Spirit, and the existing categories will not fit it. As such, I suggest you give me a visit every time you have made some major progress in regards to your Grand Dream so I can adjust the parameters by which the scanner works.
Will that be fine, Customer Blackwood?”
“I guess so.” Hannah replied in no uncertain terms but those of a girl who was still in the throngs of getting used to being in a new world and everything around her demanding for her attention.
“Perfect. Unless you have some more business with Dream Incorporated, you are free to leave and enjoy your life as you please.” Mandel told Hannah, and she in turn denied. “Excellent. Now I am free to brag to some of my brothers.” In the same instant, Mandel stood from his seat and went through the doorway behind him, but not before murmuring something to himself that Hannah could not overhear. “Hihi… If I play my cards right, the position of District Manager will be but the very first stepping stone.”
Meanwhile, just as the blond man vanished inside, Hannah cocked her head to the right, right to where Behold had snuggled near her head. Yet, just as she imagined lashing out at its audacity, Behold shied away from her as if she was a giant piece of hot metal.
“Let's go.” Hannah said and made for the entrance with Behold following right after her.
Once outside, Hannah witnessed Lee Ping leaning onto the road railing.
“That was brief.” He said. “Thought it would take longer. What was the issue?”
“Umm… My D-Card cant examine Behold properly so I was told to come again in the future.”
“Doubt it is that simple. DI Clerks rarely break their code of conduct for just that.” Lee Ping commented wildly from simply gut feeling. “Whatever… Aunty mentioned to drive you back to your apartment so that is what we will do. But before we do that, I will have to have a certain talk with a Vampire.”
“Sanguine, you damn half baked fox.” A rather familiar voice instantly shouted in their direction. “Cough… I am a Sanguine.”
“Then stop acting like one and present yourself like one. ” Lee Ping added to the failure, but not before craning his neck right and slightly up to see what stood on the concrete pillar beside them sporting a simple street lamp. “Come down, or I will make you!”
“Hmph!” Echoed from above, only for a black man wearing black attire with red furnishing to make it more pleasing on the eye, plus a large white coat with red embellishments, come down from the air, right beside Hannah and Lee Ping. “Yo… We meet again.”
“A… Hi?” Hannah managed to utter after staring at Cain's glowing red eyes.
“You’ve been paid for your help down there before we reached the Queen's Nest. Why are you here? How did you even know we would be here?” Lee Ping asked, with a clear tone of objection. Considering their slight misalignment of priorities before leaving the Birthing Ante Chamber, he had known he would be seeing this Sanguine pretty soon, but not this soon. “Also what do you want?”
“Hannah and I failed to register as friends, so I am here to fix the mistake. What? Is she forbidden from doing so?” Cain argued back on the last question yet saying nothing about the ones which came before.
“No. But your stalking habit is the problem.” Lee Ping retorted in turn. “I know you guys like to prowl on people, thinking yourself stealthy, but did not think you'd have the guts to simply stay there as if I would not notice you. Either that or your Cloaking Item simply sucks.”
If you come across this story on Amazon, it's taken without permission from the author. Report it.
“No… Not exactly.” Cain defended himself. Still, he avoided going on a tirade of excuses. Instead, he simply ignored the Fox-Kin and focused on Hannah. “Bring out your D-Card. Let us exchange contact information.”
Glancing between the two men beside her, and their slight bickering, Hannah nodded and presented it. Although this would be the first time she'd exchange information with anyone, her father’s ghost did mention all that was needed was bringing two D-Cards close to each other. And indeed, that was all that was needed after Cain brought out from some inner pocket of his stylish and long white coat before having the two D-Cards touch briefly.
----------------------------------------
System Alert!!!
*
User; Cain Jarmal Chapman [Novice] wishes to Exchange Social Information with you.
*
Do you accept?
✅❌
----------------------------------------
Nodding and concentrating her gaze on the yes button, a bell echo reached Hannah’s awareness.
DING! User; Cain Jarmal Chapman has been registered!
“Awesome… That will be all. After all, now we can communicate without a certain fox overhearing. Cya!” Cain said before instantly crouching and jumping extremely high into the air to tap once onto the concrete lamp pillar and bounce off of it onto a nearby balcony only to repeat the same and simply vanishing from Hannah’s view.
“Hmph… He sure was swift to run away.” Lee Ping remarked softly. “Ignore the creep.” He said and focused back on Hannah. When he did, however, he instantly noticed a certain round and three-tentacled creature gazing into the sky with full abandon with its sole blue yet big eye, as if having just noticed a giant version of it existing in the sky over the city. Still, that was not all, the silver mark around its eyelids seemed to give off a subtle shine. “Girl… Something is happening to your pet.”
“Pet?” Hannah repeated before remembering she did in fact have one now.
Snapping her gaze in its direction, she witnessed Behold’s unflinching stare into the sky. Following the direction, Hannah was once again reminded of a giant monster being in the sky, under which a giant tree crown could be seen. Only that was not all. Unlike the first time, this time there was nothing blocking her view of both, so it was of no surprise that she too simply began standing there and staring at the sky.
“Sigh…”
----------------------------------------
Hannah was the first one to recover as her Unyielding Will only tolerated being under the whim of something for that long. As such, it took barely a few moments to pass before she flinched away from the ginormous silver eye in the sky and the many sparks appearing and disappearing within its vision.
Flinching one, Hannah called out her stupor. “Wh… What just happened?”
“Nothing unusual. You simply zoned out as your Soul witnessed too much without the Stats needed to understand what you were actually witnessing.” Lee Ping replied as simply as possible. “Do you remember anything specific?”
“Umm…” Hannah hummed for a second before quickly recognizing she in fact remembered only one thing. “I… I remember countless lights appearing and disappearing.” She said somewhat absently, as her gaze returned to the sky once more, only this time, Hannah could feel her reluctance to maintain her sight.
Instead, the longer she tried, the greater her need to look away.
That was when Lee Ping spoke up again and brought her back to the present. “Nothing new then. That is the only impression I am able to remember the same despite my higher Stats. That aside, what about your pet?”
Remembering about it, Hannah centered her sight back on Behold as it stared unflinchingly into the great being it so much resembled. When she noted nothing at first glance, Hannah remembered to flex her Insight to pry into Behold’s current status. Yet, even there, all she sensed was a certain confusion and… and awe.
Yes.
AWE
An awe induced sensation that seemed to embed itself into Behold, almost to the point that made one seek to become said awe.
Having stared at the same being as Behold, Hannah could understand this awe, but unlike her, Behold seemed to be much more influenced than her. It even made sense, but the more Hannah thought about it, the more she disliked something having such significant influence upon her Summon.
Yes.
Even if she was having mixed feelings due to its origin, Behold was hers and only hers.
None but her had the right to define what her Dreamon was.
Riding on these gestating impressions, Hannah instantly stepped closer to Behold and smacked it on the back of its round head since it only had a head, eyes and three tentacular limbs. “Stop gawking!”
The smack, the pain, the order and the ephemeral Radiance on Behold could sense for see for now, the Summon woke from its trance. “Beee! Be? Beho?”
“I said stop gawking. For now I forbid you from staring at the monster in the sky for more than five seconds. Understood?”
“Beho!” Behold replied in as much affirmation it could because it simply dared not behave otherwise.
Still, a deeper part of its existence whispered to ignore the order and continue gazing into the sky. Yet, just as its sole blue eye angled over a certain angle, a second smack arrived to remind it just who its Master was. But then, even after the second smack, Behold unconsciously tried to peer where it should not.
“Grr… Come back, Behold!” Hannah recalled Behold through a red jagged lighting. Staring at the pink Dreamon Ball, she shook her head and begrudgingly admitted that a certain giant eye in the sky held far too much sway over her Summon.
Stashing the Dreamon Ball within her skirt pocket she turned to face the man with the pretty face and fluffy fox ears on his head. “I… I want to go home.”
Back on the same course that brought them to the DI-branch, Lee Ping noted the girl once again mulling over something. However, unlike last time, this time he would have an answer. “What did Aunty say to you to make you so depressed?”
“Depressed?”
“Yes. Depressed.”
“I am not depressed.” Hannah argued back.
“Fine, you are not. Still… I think after having put up so much effort in bringing you safely out of the ant nest, I deserve a bit of truth. It would be the very least you could do after Aunty waved away your little debt to me.”
As if her world revolved around said word, Hannah felt like she just could not get away from it. A part of her, wished she was back within her Dream Instance and undergoing Awakening so she could edit the money pit revelation she'd been led to by her own father, even if it was for her own good.
“It… It… I just discovered just how deep in debt I am.” Hannah finally said.
“Ah… That… Indeed. That would make anybody second guess their life.” Lee Ping concurred. “Could be worse, though. It could always be worse. Remember that.”
“What could be worse?”
“You could be a Wildling!” Lee Ping replied before elaborating. “Those who Awakened without any framework helping them Awaken properly as they stumble on what to do, and completely blind at that, not to mention all while wondering just what kind of hell pit they had stumbled into.
Indeed. You are quite lucky, especially with what you have achieved already. So instead of grimacing over what had occurred, just focus on what you could do to improve yourself and your situation in the near future. With yourself being the prime target because with every improvement of yourself, your situation automatically improves itself, regardless of the truth behind your situation.“
“Oh… That… That sounds good.” Hannah murmured while nodding in appreciation.
Although, in the very next moment, she suddenly remembered the other thing she had done after managing to swallow all the zeros her eyes had witnessed. Truly, in her mind the zeros overshadowed all the fantastical stuff she had gone through on this day of Awakening.
Just as Hannah was about to ask for some advice from this unexpected pillar that had emerged into her new life, they had arrived back within a back alley that held the entrance to the Rose Peach Bordello.
“There. Your ride is ready.”
“Go in.” Lee Ping ordered.
Naturally, Hannah did as demanded. She even found herself on the same seat that had brought her to this part of Oaktown City. Moments later, the black van began to rumble and make its way to her apartment. Still, unlike how it had been on her ride to the Rose Peach Bordello, nothing truly outrageous happened, even the traffic remained in the same stuck up situation.
The only true exception being the arrival of dusk and bathing the city within its orange glow.
During this ride back home, Hannah went over the pretty man’s advice on simply becoming stronger, but even by the time they arrived before her apartment complex, there was little Hannah managed to conclude due to her complicated situation, especially after her adamant refusal on the trade with Madame Ping.
Yes, it was only ten Dream Coins.
Ten was nothing when compared to those many zeros of expectations already weighing upon her shoulders. But, Hannah still could not set aside the frothing desire to not add more to those zeros.
Yes, it was stupid.
Yes, it was extremely foolish considering the aftereffects predicted upon her refusal, but that was what Hannah happened.
Indeed.
Hannah had refused to make the deal with Madame Ping, who in turn only smirked deeper as if amused by her resistance, her refusal to accept the situation that it was but a matter of time before she caved in and sought the Ping Clan’s resources. And when she did, the very first step would begin her reliance outside of what had already been agreed upon through her father.
No…
No… I will not falter.
----------------------------------------
No… I will not falter.
I will stand on my own legs, no matter what. Hannah promised in her mind.
It was not long after the internal promise was made that Hannah arrived at the front entrance to her apartment complex.
“Take out your D-Card!” Lee Ping suddenly broke the silence.
Used to being ordered by him, Hannah did and the next second he waved his hand over it. This caused a familiar screen to appear. Agreeing to it, a bell echoed in Hannah’s mind.
DING! User; Lee Ping [Charming Fox, Apprentice] has been registered!
“I am not sure what exactly Aunty has in store with you, but if you need something or need some extra advice, feel free to write to me.” He said. “However, remember that next time there will be no personal chauffeur for you. Understood?”
“Hnn”
”Before you go, here is one last piece of advice. Once you open the Market App on your D-Card, search up two simple Apps.” Lee Ping voiced out. “The first is called Mortal Coin. It is an App developed for Tech-Layers like the one we find ourselves in. Once registered on it, you can exchange D-Coins for money. The ones behind the App will even issue you a Debit Card for ease of access, delivery included.
With it you can find any, and I truly mean any ATM to get some cash.” Nodding as the same had been advised by the Fox Shifter, Hannah awaited the second advice. “The second one is less of an App but more of a… call center you can contact. It is called Mortal Law. Through it, you can call up a Law Firm designed to bridge the gap between us Dreamers and all the bothersome Laws the Mortals have set up.”
Blinking from surprise, Hannah almost cried out her response. “A… A lawyer? You want me to call up a lawyer?”
“Not immediately.” Lee Ping added. “Nonetheless, you will soon realize that you have a lot of Mortal money to spend, and it is your privilege to do as you wish with it. However, despite your true self, your current Shell still counts as a minor within the Mortal Governance and hence will cause you problems down the line.”
“Oh”
“Indeed. With the Mortal Law App you will be able to sidestep a lot of the normal rules present and with the least repercussions towards you.” Lee Ping hinted at. “Even murder will be a chinch for them to cover up.”
“M… Murder?” Hannah cried out this time. Yet, she was not the only one surprised as the driver who had driven them so far had in fact unwillingly listened in. As such, his head could not help turning a bit as his eyes settled on the rear mirror to see Lee Ping and the fifteen year old girl in question. “Hey… I am not saying you will do it. But if it does happen by some freak accident, and we can't help you immediately, you will at least know whom to call up for help.”
“I… Okey… I will find this App.”
“Good.” With that said, Lee Ping stood from his seat and opened up the large side door of the van. Then he stepped out and waved for Hannah to follow. “You are free to go.”
Perhaps it was from the shock of being offered a way out of murder, an act she would never do on anything but Nightmares, provided that they were not cute, that is, but Hannah took her sweet time to leave the van.
Once outside it, Hannah took a glance around to note nothing amiss within her neighborhood.
“Aunty said something about a month to give you time to come to terms with your current circumstances. So I guess, I won't be seeing you for at least that long.” Nodding at his own words, he stepped back inside the van. The next moment he closed the side door, and a moment after that, the van was back in motion. Just as the van was about to make a u-turn. Hannah remembered something else. Rushing before the van in question, her action caused it to stop. A second later, the side door opened. “What?”
“C… Can I borrow it again?”
“Borrow? Borrow what?”
“T… The gun?” Hannah whispered. At least, she thought she did because, in the same instance, the driver flexed his left ear as if in disbelief.
“Well…” Lee Ping stretched his answer with consideration. “Fine… I have this feeling that Aunty will get mad with me if I don’t.” Then he twirled his right hand and the familiar shape appeared, only to be offered to Hannah. “There. I suggest you do not take it out before ordinary people. Not that most of them would not think of it as anything but a toy, either way.”
Grabbing the thing in question, Hannah quickly powered it up, and linked it to her V-HUD, before making the gun shaped Item of Power vanish into thin air.
“Anything else?”
“I… Umm… No.”
“Good. Now make room.”
Giving said room, the side door closed again and the black van rolled on its wheels back to the Rose Peach Bordello leaving Hannah standing on the sidestreet. Yet, it was only after it was gone, that Hannah came back to her senses.
Taking a deep breath, she faced her apartment complex and slowly rushed to her apartment.
After unlocking the door, going inside and slamming it back to its closed state and locking it again, Hannah’s eyes went over the small apartment. Since dusk was still in the process, she could still observe everything. The shoved table to the side, as it had bothered the giant men called Greg while trying his best to pick up his unconscious mother, or better said, her Shell as gently as possible. The couch and the rag which had been used to cool down her head while she Awakened. The kitchen that was attached to the living room. The opened inner door, leading to the small bedroom. A bedroom with no actual bed but laid out blankets on which she and her mother had slept for the past five or so years.
Basically, ever since they moved out of their old house.
Nevertheless, after having gone through so much on this day, with part of it having been stretched out for an extra maybe fifteen hours or so, full of action and carnage of battle, but more importantly, hours her Shell had felt none of, seeing the apartment as it was, as if nothing had changed made Hannah acknowledge that the apartment felt emptier than it had ever felt before without the one entity that made it cozy to begin with.
It was both lonely and… liberating.
The very contradiction bubbled out of Hannah as if the damn holding it back no longer functioned, hence causing tears to once pour down her cheeks. Tears that could not be stopped. Nor did Hannah wish them to cease. Instead, she just leaned her back onto the closed entrance door before slowly sliding down onto the floor.
Then, when her bum touched the floor, she curled up with her arms around her knees with her chin resting on said arms.
Still, beyond all that, while Hannah refused to cry out physically, it was clear her tears were tears of anguish.
Anguish at being left all alone.