“Are you sure that he is someone you want to be dating?” Kai asked.

“Not that is any of your business,” Piper said. “But yes, very much so.”

“Your brother is only trying to protect you,” Trey said.

“From what Dad? Levi?” Piper asked. “You don’t even know him and you’re passing judgement.”

“I know he is an otherworlder. They are dangerous beings and often cause trouble no matter where they go,” Trey said.

“He is,” Piper said. “He’s new to magic and yet look how strong he is. When we first met him, he was naked, skinny, didn’t speak our language, and completely new to this world. That was four months ago. FOUR! How many 3-stars do you know that happened in four months?”

“That’s not possible,” Kai said. “It took me much longer, how?”

“I don’t know, but he is,” Piper said. “Look, we will have all dinner to talk to and about Levi. Right now, I want to talk about myself.”

“What is it you want to say?” Trey said.

“I’m sorry,” Piper said softly. “That I am not an assassin. I know you trained us all hard to become one. But that was never my path and I bet you sensed it.”

“You are still an assassin, Piper,” he said. “Just one who uses ritual magic instead. I should be the one apologizing to you too Kai, I pushed you both so hard to carry on our family legacy. I could have pushed you too hard. I am fortunate to have such resilient and strong kids who could bend and not break.”

“Thank you,” Piper said. “I have been so nervous to tell you that I really haven’t even looked into what exactly I can or cannot do. Once I got the evolution, we were already a few rooms deep into a dungeon. I was so nervous that I was avoiding even accepting the gains from the room we just beat. Levi and Anna, both convinced me to do it. I was so relieved to be an Arcane Trickster. Levi and Anna, both celebrated me and for once, I felt like I belonged. I felt like myself for the first time in a long time.”

“You have fought a monster, barbarians, and completed a dungeon all before 3-star. Typically, graduating from the guild is right before 3-star. You are many months ahead; I am so proud of you. I am so sorry that you have ever felt like you didn’t belong in this family,” her dad said proudly.

“Yeah, lil sis,” Kai said. “You’re a badass and are the definition of a Vendular. I am excited to see how you grow and add to our family as an Arcane Trickster. I believe that you will do great things. I’m sorry to, Pipes.”

“For what?” Piper asked, surprised.

“I’ve been spending so much time protecting you when you don’t need it at all. I still don’t know about Levi, but you can take him if he messes with you.”

“Thank you, both of you, truly.” Piper said. “I honestly don’t know if I can. Levi is strong.”

“His familiars are strong,” Kai pointed out.

“Familiar strength is dependent on the summoner,” Trey said. “If any of those familiars thought that Levi was weak, they would not have accepted summon, and he would have gotten something else. I have little doubt that he is a powerful summoner. I want to make sure you knew he was an otherworlder, but it appears you already did.”

“I did,” Piper said. “Then the next day he popped up with Anza. His first ever magical act he did in this world was summon a mimic.”

“Whoa,” Kai said. “Who is this kid?”

Levi woke up from a dreamless sleep. He felt refreshed. Getting up out of his bed he stretched. Conjuring a small orb of water, he drank from the orb directly. There was something about the magic water that he loved. His familiars all walked into his room.

“I want to summon the other crystal wisp today,” Levi said. “I don’t need the ritual room to do it. I have just enough crystal dust to make the ritual.”

“How are you feeling,” Vapor asked.

“Much better, I feel lighter. The stress and emotions I was holding onto have disappeared and it’s nice,” he responded.

Vapor closed her eyes and reached out an arm, she touched it to Levi’s core. Levi could feel something inside him deep stir. He looked down with bewilderment. “Uhhh,” he said.

Anza shushed him. He complied. After some time, Vapor stepped back and nodded to the other familiars.

“I have never seen anything like this,” she said.

“What did you do?” Levi asked.

“I checked the harmony in your soul. You have done it, very quickly for how much turmoil you had before. What I am referring to, however, is your affinity to chaos. Your soul produces the purest form of chaos I have ever seen.”

“How can chaos be pure?” Levi asked. “That really makes no logical sense.”

“I believe you are viewing chaos incompletely.”

“Oh?”

“From your world chaos is a concept, right?”

“Yes.”

“Chaos is an element here. Just as substantial as water, earth, fire, and air. On your old world you can feel each of those, you can create each of them, sense them with your physical senses. It is similar to light energy and dark energy. One cannot control light like an element, they can create it with technology. Dark energy is not something that can be controlled either, but you understand darkness as an element.”

“I’m following so far,” Levi said. “It’s almost like how nature is an element, but on the old world, it is a more tangible concept.”

“Just so. Chaos is just like light and dark. There are those who have an affinity to light, dark, and nature. That can control it greatly. There are those who don’t control it but work with it to form a deeper connection. There are beings not native to this world that can produce pure light. There are beings from a different realm that can produce pure darkness. Druids have been known to produce pure nature.

There are some, like me, who are the purest form of that magical element. Elementals, spirits, energy beings of whatever element would be a manifested form of each of those elements.”

“Okay, so I can create chaos elementals?” Levi asked.

“Not exactly,” Vapor said. “You can create chaos energy that will allow you to summon stronger chaos elementals.”

“That I understand. What I don’t get is how that has to do with my ability to create pure chaos. Let’s say I create several pure chaos orbs and I don’t attack but leave them here unattended, what would happen?”

“I don’t know,” Vapor responded. “Perhaps it would just disappear, perhaps it could create a chaos elemental, perhaps it could cause devastating damage.”

“Hmmmm,” Levi mused. “Is this a good or bad thing?”

“It’s neither. It just is. Try not to prescribe judgment so quickly. Chaos inherently isn’t ‘bad or evil’ magic. It is disordered, often uncontrollable magic. Light isn’t inherently ‘good or pure’ magic. Having a strong affinity is good, if you are good. Having a strong affinity is bad if you are bad.”

“I see. That’s why most people associate my powers, and all of y’all as evil because of the stigma of chaos being bad or evil magic.”

“Just so,” Vapor said. “Is water not evil to fire? Is light not evil to darkness? Because of the antithetical nature of these elements people choose one and prescribe a judgment. This is not fair but that is how life goes.”

“I understand, so what do I do?” Levi asked.

“Nothing, just be aware of what is happening inside your soul, so you are not caught off guard by undue hostility.”

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

“I’m used to that,” Levi chuckled. “At least now I know. That might be helpful tonight, Piper’s dad and brother seemed pissed to meet me.”

“That was likely more due to you being a boy who their daughter and sister has strong romantic feelings for. Not your affinity. That seemed to be more of Lady Rayvin and the rest of the Onyx family.”

“Yeah, but not the king.”

“I suspect the king can sense auras better than everyone else.”

“True,” Levi said. “Alright, well I’m gonna mediate until it’s time to get ready.” Anza made a whirling sound. Levi nodded and followed his familiar into the open room. He pulled out his staff and watched Anza perform a series of movements. Her blue bioluminescent started to glow brighter and would slightly fade with like a calm heartbeat. Levi copied her movements while incorporating breath work to match the rise and fall of the blue. He would inhale when it was brighter and exhale when it faded.

Levi could feel him getting into a trance with Anza. The two of them were moving in perfect sync. Levi could feel any trouble or hardship melt away as each movement was completed. Anza finished the movements and Levi stood staring at Anza in disbelief.

“Damn,” Levi said pulling up his stats. “That pushed my stamina and mana past its limits. Thanks Anza. That was awesome! Okay, Willow, let’s get you a partner.” Levi pulled out his wand and began drawing a ritual circle, he had Willow occupy one of the rune slots. The circle started to glow crystal blue. The other rune circle that was empty started to glow bright crystal blue then turned to crystal white. There in the space was another crystal wisp that looked just like Willow but instead of blue was white.

It looked at Levi, it was in companion mode. It flew over to Levi and landed on his shoulder. Willow did the same.

“You have a name?” Levi asked. A textbox appeared and the writing was in crystal white like the wisp.

My name is Crystal.

“Lovely to meet you, Crystal. I’m Levi, that’s Willow there. Anza is the mimic, and Vapor is the smoke spirit. Welcome to the family.”

Family? Are we not just familiars?

“Nope,” Levi said happily. “Round here, anyone who joins us is family!”

I think I will like this very much! Crystal did a flip in the air as a show of excitement.

Familiar bond established

Crystal Wisp - Crystal

You have bonded with another Crystal Wisp. Crystal Wisps’ ability swarm has doubled in power. Orb of Fire’s power has increased.

“Awesome,” Levi said. “Excited to have you!”

In the summoner’s guild in the city of Arvendon two orbs of chaos started to manifest. Once the manifestation ceased there were too many items lying on the ground where the orbs used to be. As Levi was talking, he turned his head in the direction of the guild campus and stared. He didn’t know what it was, but he had sensed something calling out for him in the distance. It wasn’t like it called his name; it was like it pricked at his curiosity. Levi made a promise that he would not do anything strenuous and that he would rest.

Tomorrow, he would go back to the campus with Anna and Piper. That feeling pressured him more and more, but he shook his head and stood firm in his resolve. He would not go until tomorrow with his friends. The feeling disappeared as his resolve stood strong. A new feeling emerged inside Levi, a feeling of regret. Would he regret not acting now? Would whatever was calling to him be gone by the time he checked tomorrow? He didn’t know and he never would, so wondering this could be pointless. He shook his head to clear the thoughts and feelings. It didn’t matter he would check tomorrow regardless.

Just as he finished feeling better the door opened and in walked Piper.

“Oh,” she said. “Hello, new wisp! I thought we said to rest?”

“You did,” Levi said. “And I did, this is Crystal.” He gave Piper a kiss on the forehead with a big hug.

“Mmm,” she gave an assessing look. “Are you ready for tonight? Father is excited to get to know you.”

“I am, I just need to change,” Levi said. White mist shrouded him and then he was in his formal attire. He changed the suit jacket to be sage green and kept everything else the nice plum color. All his familiars, besides Anza, fused with him.

“Well,” Piper said staring at his eyes. “That’s new.” Levi went to the bathroom to check the mirror. One iris was crystal blue, and the other was white.

“Oh, wow,” Levi said. “I guess that makes sense, if there was any doubt that I had familiars my eyes definitely give it away.”

“I like it,” she said. “Their mysterious and a gorgeous color for you.” Piper was wearing what looked like a traditional Japanese kimono, it was black with golden flowers. Her hair was slicked back into a bun held up by two chopsticks.

“Just like that is for you,” Levi said looking her up and down.

“Keep it up,” she said. “I just might fall harder for you.” She gave him a kiss, then pulled him toward the door. “Come on, we have to go to my house so it’s a bit of a walk.”

“Cool,” Levi said. “I wanted to see more of the city.”

The couple walked out of the compound and toward her family’s compound. They walked through the main boulevard and past the guild district. As they did Levi looked at the guild and could sense what was calling him earlier. It was still there but he felt like he knew what it was.

“You miss the guild that much huh?” Piper teased.

“Not that,” Levi chuckled. “There is something in there for me. I have a vague idea as to what it is, but I’ll need to check tomorrow.”

“There is something in there for you?” Piper questioned. “What are you on about?”

“I just have this feeling, it’s hard to explain.”

“Interesting,” she said giving him an assessing look.

“I know it sounds crazy, but can you trust me?” He asked.

“Of course,” she replied. “We’ll go check tomorrow.”

As they passed the guilds, they entered into a district that looked like a Middle Eastern bazaar. Merchants were shouting to get the attention of customers and selling rugs, animals, food, jewelry, magical items, nonmagical items, and so much more. Levi smiled; it reminded him of a mall during black Friday. A ton of people going crazy over prices. He would always be there not purchasing anything, just sitting and relaxing, observing. The chaos of it all was peaceful for him. It was a chance to silence all the doubts, negative thoughts, or sad feelings. They were hidden behind the loudness of the environment.

“Oh, that’s why,” Levi said.

“Huh?” Piper asked.

“I’ll explain later,” he yelled. It was too loud for him to speak at his normal volume. He didn’t want to yell that he had an affinity for chaos openly. He saw a vendor that sold flowers.

“Hello young friend, these flowers are a sign of a healthy and prosperous womb,” the vendor said to Levi. Despite knowing that the vendor was talking about him and Piper, Levi bought a bouquet.

After they walked through the bazaar with a bouquet of flowers in hand, Piper finally asked what was going on.

“What did you say? Why did you buy those flowers? Are you expecting to have children anytime soon?”

“Come on now, it’s clear these ain’t for us. It's for your mom, she’s pregnant, right?”

“Yes, that’s correct. That’s very sweet,” she said, sounding put off.

Levi chuckled and kissed her cheek. “I figured out why I have an affinity for chaos. I’ve always felt calmed by being around a lot of noise. I hadn’t realized until we were in that market square.”

“That was calming for you??” she asked emphatically.

“It was. Very calming.”

“You are a bizarre man, Levi Winters,” she said, shaking her head. “That’s why I love you.”

“I am who I am,” Levi shrugged. “It’s hard to be this awesome. Sometimes it leaks out in my sweat.”

“That’s disgusting,” she said, making a face. “Anza, how do you deal with this all the time?” Anza made a whirling sound.

“That’s just rude,” Levi said to Anza. Anza and Piper laughed at the affronted look on Levi’s face.

“Hello Piper, Levi,” two people were at the gate of the compound waiting for them.

“Hi Lady Rayvin,” Levi said formally. “Sir Kai.”

“Oh, cut that off, I’m not that much older than you, no need for all the formalities,” Rayvin said. “Just Rayvin.”

“Keep calling me sir,” Kai said sharply.

“Kai,” Rayvin said slowly.

“It’s alright Rayvin,” Levi responded.

“Your eyes changed,” Kai said. “What happened?”

“When you reach a certain threshold for being awesome your eyes will undergo serious cosmetic changes,” Levi said. “So, I guess I hit that threshold, lucky me.”

Kai growled, unamused. While Piper and Rayvin both giggled at how easily Kai could get frustrated.

“Are you joining us for dinner, Ray?” Piper asked.

“I am,” Rayvin nodded.

The four of them walked into the main house. The compound was indeed smaller, but smaller does not mean small. Spanning three city blocks, there were three separate buildings. The largest building was a chateau-style house. It was built with dark gray stone with a light trim and black stone roofing. They walked through a large grass field, which had a few hedges and a fountain in the middle.

“Welcome to Vendular Manor,” Piper said softly. “It’s a bit much for only two kids but it is generational.”

“It’s huge,” Levi said, staring in disbelief.

They were guided into the dining room, which was about the size of Levi’s apartments if all the walls were removed and it was one room. The Vendulars were sitting at the table, waiting for the four young adults to join them. Maddi and Trey were sitting at the head and foot of the table. Then, two older-looking people were sitting next to Maddi.

“My grandparents,” Piper whispered. “On my mom’s side, my dad’s parents sadly passed.”

“I’m sorry,” Levi said.

“I never actually met them. Magic makes us live longer; you know. They lived to be about 200 years old, then were killed, and that was 30 years ago.”

“Wow, that’s crazy. On the old world, you were lucky to live to a hundred.”

“That’s alright though,” Piper said. “I guess that’s fair, you don’t have magic users like we do.”

“What’s the average here?” Levi asked.

“If you’re a magic user 200, if you’re not a magic user 120,” she said.

“I see, I’m interested to hear more, but we should probably have a seat,” Levi chuckled.

“It is good to see you again Levi,” Maddi said. “These are my parents, Kyra and Aaron.”