“So… are there any limitations to how much I can use this AR HUD thing? It’s awfully convenient...” I asked as I made my way out of our townhouse.

Rai-chan's flat robotic voice chimed in, “Activating the HUD will consume a base sum fifteen units of mana per hour from your reserves and suspend your native regeneration. Maintaining the HUD requires magical power. Continuous use without replenishment may result in its forced deactivation. I can perform improvised HUD draws on demand, in addition to the base functions. You may experiment if you so choose.”

"Of course," I muttered, squinting at the skyline. Buildings that once reached for the skies now stood like broken, half-eaten skeletons.

It was a surreal sight, juxtaposing the fleeting memories of a bustling city from my toddlerhood against the eerie silence and dilapidation.

I toggled the HUD on again, noting the heads-up display shimmering into existence. It provided real-time data—my current vitals, relative location, time, weather forecast, and, most interestingly, a little MP bar at the top right corner which currently displayed ‘98/102 MP’.

So, I had already used some of it, probably through the morning Q&A we’d done.

The streets of the Lower-East Side I walked on were far from the busy avenues they once were. They still bore the scars of battles fought, and while the streets had been cleaned up, there were still unfilled craters and rubble littering their expanse. From a distance, I could hear the soft hum of activity as New Yorkers tried to breathe life back into their city.

"Rai-chan, can you plot the quickest route to the Market? Is that something you can do?" I inquired, navigating my way through the broken pavement and avoiding a large puddle of stagnant water.

I didn’t exactly need it, but I just wanted to see what Rai-chan could do off the cuff.

A soft beep sounded in my ear, and a translucent blue line appeared on my HUD, mapping out the best path. "This is the optimal route based on the current conditions," Rai-chan informed.

"Thanks," I muttered, adjusting my pace.

The Market was a makeshift marketplace set up along the remains of the Sara D. Roosevelt Park, which somehow survived the Fall. It was a brisk walk that took me just shy of ten minutes, and as I approached the Market, I could hear the distant murmur of conversations. Stall owners haggled with customers, children laughed, and the clatter of goods being traded filled the air. It was a bustling contrast to the silence of the damaged streets.

Colorful canopies dotted the expanse of the park, each vendor showcasing their array of items—mostly essentials. Tents and stalls lined the walkways, displaying everything from fresh produce to repurposed tech. The energy was infectious; and the shared determination to rebuild was palpable. While some shops were merely tarps spread across metal rods, others had more intricate setups, utilizing scavenged materials to create impressive displays.

I pulled out a crumpled hundred dollar note from my pocket, examining the faded green paper. A few years ago, it might have been able to get me a decent meal or a novel from a bookstore. Now, it barely equated to a loaf of bread. While the U.S. dollar still held value, its purchasing power had been hyperinflated beyond recognition due to the general collapse of faith in our government.

A familiar metallic gleam from a nearby stall caught my attention. The vendor, a middle-aged woman with vibrant blue Terran-esque eyes and a shock of bright red hair, was dealing in hard currency. A series of glass counters displayed an assortment of shining iridescent gems — the cores and remnants of fallen chaos beasts.

The cores were a lifeline for many. Their inherent stable magical energy meant they held value both on Earth and Terra. Many had begun trading in these, finding them a more stable store of value than the increasingly worthless paper money. I knew American fiat was no good across the portal, and I’d need to scrimp a bit to have some convertible currency for Terran credits when I crossed the portal.

"Looking to buy some cores, young man?" the woman asked, her voice smooth as silk.

"Just checking the rates," I replied nonchalantly, trying not to showcase my inexperience. "How much for that Baron core over there?"

The woman smiled slyly, "That would be seven thousand dollars, or if you've got salvage or any other valuables, I'm open to bartering."

I swallowed hard. The current conversion rate for even a Baron’s core was steeper than I'd imagined. "I'll think about it," I muttered, deciding to prioritize my father's grocery list first.

The next stall I stopped at was one with a variety of canned goods, produce, and eggs and dairy racked on portable refrigeration units. "Morning, kid," the elderly vendor greeted, eyeing me with keen interest. "What can I do ya for?"

"Morning," I responded politely, giving him a nod. "I'm looking for some canned goods in general. On top of that — bread, fresh produce, and some eggs if you have them."

He scratched his chin thoughtfully, his skin was tanned from the sun and hands were visibly roughened from years of manual work. "Produce, eh? Got some peaches, pears, and apples. Vegetables, we got corn, peas, and beans. And bread, well," he pointed to a small stack of loaves on the side, "got a few of those left. Eggs and milk in the fridge too."

I eyed the price tags and winced internally. A single can of beans was going for a hundred and thirty dollars. The prices had crept up since our family’s last visit.

"Any discounts if I buy in bulk?" I ventured, trying to make the most of the wad of cash dad had saddled me with.

The old man seemed to mull it over for a moment, then smiled, showing off a missing front tooth. "For you, kid, I'll give a 10% discount if you buy five or more items."

I smiled back gratefully and gave him a polite bow. "Thank you, sir. Let me just take a second here to shop around."

I proceeded to pick up a basket to select a mix of cans, eggs, and fresh produce, trying to ensure a balanced diet for my family for at least a week.

Just as I was about to finalize my purchase, a commotion from a neighboring stall caught my attention. The shouting grew louder, and I put my goods down instinctively moving towards the source, my heart pounding in my chest.

A girl who looked like she was university age with light brown skin, distinct shimmering platinum blonde hair and prismatic blue eyes was fervently arguing with a stout man in denim overalls underneath a sign that said "Dan's Wholesale" with a truck parked behind it on the road. She was wearing a futuristic-looking blue techwear jacket, goggles, and cargo pants.

"You are clearly trying to scam me! That is not the rate we agreed upon!" the Terran girl exclaimed shrilly in an accent that was somewhere between… a Chinese and a Native American accent.

The stout man scoffed, "This is the new rate! Take it or leave it! You won't get a better deal than that around here. Stupid bitch…"

I frowned, feeling a tinge of sympathy for the girl. Our currency volatility was unpredictable at best, and maybe it was all just a huge misunderstanding.

Against my better judgment, I approached the arguing duo, taking a deep breath. "Excuse me," I said, trying to keep my voice even and firm, "Is there a problem here?"

The stout man glared at me, his nostrils flaring. "Zane's brat? None of your business, kid."

The Terran girl glanced at me with tearful eyes. “My siblings and I just arrived here, and we didn’t know the currency had changed so much in just a week. The money we exchanged for two weeks ago cannot cover this.”

The girl clutched a small bag tightly to her chest, its surface shimmering with advanced tech patterns I hadn’t seen before. “But that’s besides the point. We had a deal! I’m giving him this tool in exchange for supplies to last us two weeks, but he’s changing the terms now!”

I looked at the piece of tech. To my relatively inexperienced eye, it looked like an intricate power tool of some sort, compact and lightweight, but its shimmering design clearly indicated it was Terran. That was definitely worth something.

The stout man grumbled, "Terran construction tech is a dime a dozen these days."

“Could I have a look at this?” I offered, extending my hand.

She hesitated for a second, then handed it to me. Rai-chan whispered in my mind as I examined the device, "Activating [Analyze], Techno-magical assessment in progress..."

A moment later, Rai-chan provided her insights, "The device appears to be a multi-tool with a ground-down Marquis’s core for diagnostics of chaos-derived magitech devices. Its estimated salvage value exceeds most goods within the current marketplace. I recommend you proceed with caution — this is highly advanced, professional technology that may attract unwanted attention. This individual appears to be highly familiar with its use as well."

"You're selling this?" I asked incredulously, turning to the girl.

She nodded, biting her lip. "We need food and hygienic supplies. And we are trying to start over here. But the deal was two weeks of supplies. Not three days."

I thought quickly, considering the situation. This was a prime opportunity to acquire valuable Terran tech that Dad could potentially use in his workshop, but I didn’t want to take advantage of the girl’s vulnerability.

"Listen," I began, turning to the stout man, "You can't just change the terms deal like that. It's not right. But maybe I can offer a solution and we can all go home."

The stout man crossed his arms, eyeing me suspiciously. "Oh? And what's that?"

Handing the device back to the girl, I leaned forward and crossed my arms. "Well first — how much is the sticker price for the supplies she asked for?" I asked the old man. “Could I see the numbers?”

He took a moment, scribbling numbers on a worn piece of paper, then looked up. "Given the current prices, around twelve thousand dollars."

I took the paper which he handed over, and looked it over, verifying the numbers. It was true — based on what I'd seen around the marketplace, it was even at around a ten percent discount to what was offered and it'd been wrapped up together to order. If anything, I had a sneaking suspicion he had an inkling of the value of her tool and was just trying to take advantage of her for a shortchange.

I winced inwardly. It was a lot, but I had an idea.

Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

"How about this then," I suggested. My family pays for half the supplies out of pocket, and you wash your hands of all this Terran tech nonsense."

The stout man's eyebrows rose in surprise, "You'll pay? Why would you do that?"

I glanced at the Terran girl, her hopeful eyes meeting mine. "Because everyone deserves a fair shot, especially those trying to start over. My dad’s probably gonna kill me over this, but she and I can figure something out together. Get out of your hair in the process."

He seemed to consider it for a moment, then grunted, "Fine. Not like I wanted to deal with one of her kind anyway." He mumbled the last bit under his breath, making sure the Terran girl didn't hear him.

I caught what he said, but decided to hold my tongue. It was a bit shocking sometimes to see how they were viewed by some despite the sacrifices they’d made to save us. On the other hand, stereotypes often found a way to thrive, even in the face of reality. A ton of people harbored jealousy or resentment towards them.

The Terran girl gave a grateful nod, her eyes shimmering with tears. “Thank you,” she whispered, clutching the tech-device close to her heart. “Uh, is this alright?” she asked, staring at me with a brief flash of suspicion. “What’s the catch?”

I gave her a reassuring smile, even as my eyes landed on the callused cracks on her left hand.

“Yeah, uhh, when we’re done here, why don’t you meet my dad? He’s a mechanic and he’s been setting up shop around here. You look like you’re good with a wrench and… whatever that thing is you've got there. You might be able to work something out together. If you're interested, of course. We live nearby and I can call him out here if you’d like that. Meet out in the open. No sketchiness.”

She blinked in surprise, then smiled weakly, her demeanor brightening considerably. "I'd appreciate that. And no need to go through too many extremes. I will meet your father directly. My name is Malinalxochitl for the record."

“Mal…in…,” I blinked, mouthing her name out.

“Just call me Malina,” she answered hurriedly, tilting her head with a smile.

"Ikazuchi," I replied, shaking her outstretched hand. "Let's finalize the deal here and then I'll introduce you to my dad."

The two of us quickly wrapped up our transaction with the stout man, and I felt a twinge of satisfaction when the girl loaded her supplies onto a cart. It was a small act, but it felt like the right thing to do.

As Malina and I turned to leave the market, the elderly vendor I’d been shopping with earlier waved me over.

"Hey kid," he called, a twinkle in his eye. "You’re Zane’s boy, yeah? That was a good thing you did there. Not many around these parts would've stuck their neck out for a stranger, much less a Terran."

I scratched the back of my head sheepishly, "It was just the right thing to do, sir."

He chuckled, then gestured to the basket of food I'd selected earlier. "Tell you what. I'll give ya everything you picked out. On the house. Consider it a thank you for advocating for the lass over there."

My eyes widened in surprise, and I bowed with a gigantic blush on my face. "Thank you, sir! I really appreciate it."

He waved a hand dismissively, "It’s nothing. Just make sure you use that heart of yours wisely, lad. Not everyone out there has good intentions. Besides, your old man's a good one. Helped fix my generator last week. Wouldn’t take a dime. Least I could do for his family."

I nodded, "Thank you. He's always telling us to help when we can, and do the right thing."

"Well," he said with a twinkle in his eye, "seems like he raised you right."

I loaded up my basket, offering my gratitude once more. With Malina beside me, we made our way out of the market.

As we walked, she occasionally glanced over with a mixture of curiosity and suspicion. "So, you said your father is a mechanic?" she finally asked.

I grinned, "Yup. He's always talking about how he could use someone with knowledge of Terran tech around him. I’m his assistant, you know? And I’m moving off to Terra for school in a few days."

She exhaled, some of the tension leaving her shoulders. "I'm still trying to understand Earth tech, to be honest. I just finished a magitech vocational program back on Terra. We've had some… complications, which brought us here. Earth is so different here."

I laughed, "It's a little more... analog here. But I bet you'll adjust in no time."

We reached a quieter street, the city sounds dimming into the background, and I dug out my phone to call Dad. "Hey, it's me," I started as soon as he picked up. "Good news and bad news. The good news is… I'm bringing someone over who might be able to help out at the shop when I’m gone."

I heard my dad sigh from the other end. “Alright Ikki, what’s the bad news?”

I took a deep breath. "The shopping trip cost us a bit more than we planned. I may have blown the budget helping her out, but... I think we can work something out together."

There was a pause on the other end, and for a moment, I thought the connection had dropped. Then, his gruff voice answered, "You always were one for the bigger picture, even if it does get you into a little trouble now and then. Bring her over, then. We'll see if she fits and... cry about the spilled milk later."

Relief flooded me. "Thanks, Dad. We'll be there soon."

As I hung up, Malina was giving me a side-eye that was sharp enough to cut glass. "What?" I asked.

"You're too nice," she said, flatly. "I keep wondering… how do you guys say it here. When the other shoe is going to drop today?"

I chuckled. "That's just how my family is. We try to be decent, y'know?"

Her lips curled into a small smile, just a little one, but it was there. "I hope that is true."

I had to believe that little interactions like these, tiny threads of connection, were what would slowly pull the two worlds together. Not the big political movements or flashy heroics, but regular folks trying to make the best of things.

The short journey home felt longer with the weight of the day's events. Every so often, I'd catch Malina glancing around as if she was seeing everything for the first time. It wasn’t hard to understand why. Despite the recovery and repopulation, remnants of the invasion still lingered on the New York streets. Crumbled buildings, graffiti tagging the walls, streetlights flickering inconsistently – there was still much work to be done.

Malina glanced around. "These buildings," she said softly. "The energy… It's as if the whole city has a story to tell, one of pain and rebirth."

I nodded in agreement, my mind drifting to the harrowing tales of the extradimensional monsters that plagued our world. Memories of our own recent encounter with the gangs bubbled up, making my pulse quicken.

“I… I wanted to thank you again,” she said, breaking the silence. “Not many would have done what you did back there.”

“I did what felt right,” I replied. "Besides, you're trying to start anew here, and that's commendable. Heck, I’m going to be in the same spot in a week or so, crossing over to Terra."

“What do you mean?” Malina asked in surprise. “You are a bit young to be crossing over to Terra are you not?”

I smirked, trying to hold back my pride. “I got a scholarship to St. Antonia’s Academy on Terra. First kid from Earth to do so, apparently.”

Malina’s eyes widened in recognition and disbelief. "St. Antonia's? That's... That is one of the academies that serve the global elite of Terra. How did a child out here manage to get a spot there?"

I shrugged, not really sure of the full details myself. “I’ve actually… kinda been the team ace in a couple of competitions here called the B.E.S.T and FIRST robotics competitions for my freshman year, and I’ve been doing it since middle school. I guess I caught someone’s attention.”

She paused, taking a moment to reflect. "That is most impressive. You know, it's strange. Back on Terra, we are taught that Earth is this chaotic, backward place, where every man is out for himself these days. That refugees and migrant workers only steal and debase themselves. Yet you, you've shown me the opposite. There's hope here, even amongst the ruins. Perhaps it's naive of me, but I believe there's still a lot of good in the world."

"Believe me, there are moments I wonder about that myself," I confessed. "But it's moments like these, when strangers help each other out, that remind me of the good in people. Sometimes it's buried deep, sometimes it's right on the surface. Either way, it's always there."

The closer we got to my family’s townhouse, the more I felt a wave of anticipation. Izumi would likely be home by now, and she wasn't the most trusting, especially of strangers.

We reached my family's townhouse, and she hesitated at the door. "Are you sure about this? Introducing me to your father?"

I chuckled, "Trust me, he's seen and heard stranger things. Besides, he's always been open to new ideas and people. You'll be fine."

Taking a deep breath, Malina nodded, "Alright then."

We entered the townhouse, and the first thing I heard was Izumi's voice, "Ikki! What took you so long? Did you get the –" She paused when she saw Malina.

“Who’s the stranger?” she asked, her eyes narrowing suspiciously.

"Whoa, easy there," I began, holding my hands up in a placating gesture. "This is Malina. She might be helping Dad out at the workshop."

Izumi looked Malina up and down, her intense gaze unwavering. "You’re from Terra, aren’t you? You've got that fancy look about you."

Malina shifted uncomfortably. "Yes, I am. Is that a problem?"

"Depends on your intentions," Izumi shot back, crossing her arms.

"Enough, Izumi," my dad's voice boomed from the kitchen door as he walked in, wiping his hands on a rag. "Let's give our guest a warm welcome, not the third degree."

Izumi huffed, stepping back, but her curious eyes never left Malina.

Dad extended his hand, shaking Malina’s as he eyed the cart of supplies outside. "Zane. Nice to meet you. I've heard you've got some skills with Terran tech."

Malina offered a cautious smile, nodding as she clasped my father’s hand. "Yes, sir. I just finished my training but had difficulty with finding stable work on Terra. I've been searching for opportunities here on Earth, and brought my two younger siblings over. Your son kindly offered me a chance."

Dad gave me a knowing look, one eyebrow raised. "I'm sure he did. He's got a soft heart. Sometimes softer than it should be." The corners of his mouth twitched in amusement. “So, what about her caught your interest, Ikki?”

I paused, considering my words carefully. "Well, she's got skills we don't, Dad. I saw her back at the market, and she was waving around a device that's way beyond anything I've seen on Earth. Plus, with me heading off abroad, you're going to need someone who knows their way around Terran tech, right? I thought Malina could be that someone and she’d definitely know more than just the basics."

Dad studied Malina for a moment, then turned to look at me, a glint of amusement in his eyes. "Always thinking ahead, huh? Well, Malina, let's see what you can do. Tomorrow, why don't you come by the workshop? Show us your skills. And we can talk terms."

Malina seemed taken aback by the quick progression of things, but her face lit up with gratitude. "Thank you, sir. I'll give it my all."

"That's all I ask," Dad replied with a nod.

Izumi, ever the protective sister, stepped forward, looking Malina up and down. "Just remember," she said with a hint of menace in her voice, "you mess with my family, and you’ll see a side of me you won't like."

Malina gulped audibly but nodded, holding Izumi's gaze. "Understood. Hey if I might ask, how old are you miss… Izumi?”

“Twelve, but trust me, age doesn’t mean much in these parts,” Izumi replied, holding a sharp gaze. But there was a playful smirk tugging at her lips.

Malina blinked, trying to make sense of the younger girl's words. “Right, noted. My younger brother and sister are actually ten and twelve respectively. Maybe they can meet and get along with you.”

Izumi seemed to consider it, her tough exterior softening for a brief moment. "We'll see," she finally said, noncommittally crossing her arms.

I watched the exchange, my chest swelling with fondness for my little sister. Always fierce, always protective, but with a heart of gold beneath it all.

“Anyway… there is still the matter of repayment. Ikazuchi here paid for a batch supply package out of pocket, and it would not be right to not settle that debt,” Malina said with a short bow.

Dad let out a hearty chuckle. "No rush on that, Malina. Let's see how you do at the shop first. We'll discuss the rest later."

I shot a surprised look at Dad, a soft smile playing on my lips. It was always amazing how he seemed to know just what to say to put people at ease.

"I… thank you. You are very kind," Malina murmured, clearly overwhelmed.

"Don't mention it," Dad replied with a wave of his hand.

I felt a strange sense of accomplishment. Despite the weirdness of the morning — from the unexpected expenses to my chance meeting someone from Terra who could help dad out things were turning out better than expected. Maybe this was just one of those weird quirks of the universe where things just lined up in odd ways.

“Okay, enough chatter,” Izumi piped up, heading towards the kitchen. “I’m hungry. Ikki, help me prep lunch. Let’s get those peach cans popped open.”

“And you,” she pointed at Malina, “better help too since you’re here. Consider it an initiation.”

Malina laughed, looking slightly nervous but in good spirits. "Alright. You talk strongly, little miss. I would be more than glad to help."

As we moved towards the kitchen, I glanced at the HUD Rai-chan had provided me.

"Thanks for the scan, Rai-chan," I whispered, too low for anyone else to hear.

Her robotic voice responded inside my head. "It is merely the beginning, Administrator. There will be time in the future."

That cryptic note hung in the air, and I couldn’t tell if it was a promise or a warning – I wasn’t sure which.