“Otherworlders are awful creatures who bring nothing but destruction,” Aaron said. Levi laughed. “What so funny, boy?”

“Hey now,” Levi said. “Can’t be a boy if I’m a creature,” Levi said, chuckling.

“This is the problem, y’all think you can come to our world and takeover with your special gifts and magic. That’s not right and you know it.”

“But what if they were brought?” Levi said.

“That’s not possible and not how this works,” Aaron argued. Levi laughed again and conceded the point. “You just gonna keep laughing and not defend yourself?”

“Defend myself from what?” Levi asked. He had to wipe away a tear from laughing so much.

“Coming to our world to take over,” he said, folding his arms.

“Sir,” Levi said, suppressing his laughter. “No.”

“Fine, then you’re just another creature! And you aren’t welcome in my home.”

“That’s not your decision to make, Aaron,” Trey said. “I’ve let this go on for far too long. Levi is a guest in OUR home, my family’s home, which has been here for millennia. We show respect to all guest in this household.” Aaron didn’t say anything else, he folded his arms and pouted. The rest of the night was awkward; very few made eye contact with Levi while he happily ate his dinner.

As the night ended and everyone said their goodbyes Rayvin said she would walk back with Levi and Piper.

“Did not expect it go like that,” Rayvin said.

“I’m sorry, Levi, that was rude as hell. I wish… I should have said something,” Piper said.

“It’s fine,” Levi said, giving Piper a friendly nudge.

“For what it is worth,” Rayvin said. “You handled yourself expertly, seriously, that was a masterclass. How did you do that?”

“I thrive on chaos,” Levi shrugged. “I don’t know if he believed everything, he was saying but I do know he was trying to get me to react in some manner. I don’t know if Kai or your dad or grandmother put him up to it.”

“Why do you think that?” Piper asked.

“It was outta pocket what he said. From what I saw, it was against his nature to speak so disrespectfully. My first interaction with him was full of respect. Most people don’t switch up like that.”

“I have never heard him say anything that he did tonight,” Piper mused. “Would Kai, do it?”

“No,” Rayvin said. She refused to look at Levi. Levi’s aura had significantly improved after spending time talking to Vapor, he learned that auras can also reveal our emotions. They can betray what we think, without proper aura control a person’s emotions could be read. Levi would best explain it as controlling your body language. If you had bad body language, it could be seen by everyone; having a good poker face, emotional regulation, and level-headedness, these were all things that were said on Earth that were essentially aura control. Following that lesson, Levi learned how to read auras; Rayvin just lied to him.

“Oh,” Piper said. “Then it was maybe my dad.”

“Yeah, possibly,” she lied again. Levi wasn’t sure why she was lying but he knew she was.

“Why are you lying,” Piper asked to Levi’s surprise.

“What are you talking about?” Rayvin countered.

“You’re lying about it not being Kai. Why? Were you part of this? Is that why you’re here?” Piper pressed.

“Piper, how dare you?”

“How dare I? How dare you! You’re trying to prove that Levi is evil, what are you and Kai up to?” she demanded.

“Just ask Kai yourself,” Levi said. “Come on out big guy.”

Kai dropped from the roof and faced the group. He was in his combat robes, holding his weapons. Levi had no illusions that he could beat Kai. They were both 3-star, but Kai was approaching 4 and was an experienced assassin who knew the city limits. Levi was a fresh 3-star who was not that experienced in anything.

“He’s dangerous, Pipes,” Kai said. “I’ve come to take him away.”

“That’s not going to happen,” Piper screamed. She was horrified. Was she blinded by Levi that her whole family sees him as a threat? What was she missing? “Am I missing something?”

“Yes,” Trey’s voice appeared from the shadows behind them. Levi sighed. He definitely could not beat the duke in a fight. This would be a swift loss and the end of his life. He had no idea what to do.

“Then what?” Piper said, looking at her dad in his combat robes.

“Otherworlders are dangerous and there is a prophecy.”

“A prophecy,” Levi chuckled. “This is proper video game nonsense.” He whispered to himself.

“Are you not aware how evil all of your familiars are, Mr. Winters?” Trey said.

“They aren’t evil, so I guess not,” Levi responded. He conjured his battle robes. They looked like badass ninjas, while he looked like a poor wizard.

“You have two world consuming entities as familiars, apocalypse beasts. You expect me to be okay with the first summoner to roam through our little city with those beasts as familiar, with you having an affinity to chaos magic, and be, okay?”

“To be honest,” Levi said. “I wasn’t expecting anything from you.”

“Let me fill you in… I’m not. I wouldn’t have done or said anything if you weren’t involved with my daughter, but it is clear you have her under a spell.”

“Sir, I am a summoner,” Levi said. “Whatchu mean under a spell, you can’t read her aura?”

“I can,” Trey said.

“You read her aura and think, this dude put her under a spell?”

“Enough talk,” he snapped. “It’s time for you to come with us.”

He took a step toward Levi. Levi released about 50 drones to surround himself.

“Vapor, transform as something small and go with piper,” Levi whispered. “We’re going to get the boxes and we’ll camp outside the city walls.” Smoke appeared around the entire swarm of team Ember then Levi’s aura faded, and he snuck off with Anza. Levi cast a ritual spell over him as he entered the summoner’s guide. It effectively eradicated any of his aura residuals. This way, no one could see what he was doing or could follow him.

Willow and Crytal defused and acted as lights leading the way to the ritual room. It was late in the middle of the night. All of the drones had returned to Levi; he was glad because making a hundred was mana intensive. He walked back into the ritual room and found a box. It was just like the other box he had found. Levi opened it up and inside was a note.

Letter #9

I’ve accepted my role in the creation of the greatest evil this world will ever know. I am sorry. History will paint me as the villain. I wish I could deny it, but I only wanted the world to know that being a summoner was worth pursuing. In my misguided ways I created a monster… I’ll do what I must to re-write my terrible legacy. Hopefully, etch it into something better.

If you read this, surely, I have perished. Remember my other letters and I hope they vindicate me. I hope I helped. I hope my legacy isn’t only blood. I will make one final sacrifice.

Forgive Me,

M. Veluvius

“Other letters,” Levi said. “This is letter number nine; how many more letters are there?”

Levi put the letter in his inventory and went searching again. He still felt that strange call. It now felt like something was poking his magical senses. Walking through the hallways, staff in hand, he found the workout room. In the workout room there was another box. This one was much bigger, the size of a chest. He opened it up and inside were three items. An orb, a scepter, a hilt.

Item: Orb of Aura

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Legendary

An orb with the secrets of auras locked inside. Use in a ritual to unlock an aura ability.

Item: Scepter of the Acolyte of Dimension

Legendary

A scepter created by one of the acolyte to the great being of dimensions. The scepter can allow teleportation to various destination. The further the destination the more mana. Destinations can only be teleported to, if once visited.

Item: Hilt of Veluvius

Legendary

The hilt of a sword that was once held by the 5-star summoner Veluvius. Find the rest of the sword pieces to complete the sword to unlock massive power.

“Damn, three magic items all at once,” Levi said. He held out the scepter. It was made of pure gold; the top of the scepter had a strange crystal that looked like outer space. Levi thought about the location they had before getting the horses outside of the kingdom. The world started to go look like he was spinning, he felt his stomach churn upside down and poof, he was just outside their old campsite. He kneeled on the ground taking a deep breath. “That one was worse, much worse.” He sprawled out on the ground, “Vapor,”

“You sound terrible,” Vapor said. “Are you in trouble?”

“No, teleport magic… I’m outside the village clearing, where we set up our camp before heading into town.” Levi said, still feeling nauseous.

“Okay, Anna and Piper have packed their bags, they are ready to leave.”

Piper used the smoke that Vapor provided and rushed off to her room she was sharing with Anna and Levi. Tears were streaming down her face. She was very conflicted. She had just met Levi but something about him was alluring. Her dad and brother had always been protective, but this was next level. It was like they didn’t even trust her. That’s what hurt the most. The fact that they looked her in the eyes earlier that day and said they trust her. Only to do the opposite of what they said.

She noticed there was a small gray lizard following her very quickly. It was Vapor. That gave her some comfort that Levi wasn’t mad at her. She also noticed. Levi was not following her. Did he stay and fight?

“He will meet with us later, keep moving, Lady Piper,” Vapor said.

Piper nodded and kept running. In short order she was in her room. Her face covered with sweat and tears as she burst through the door.

“Whoa,” Anna shot up. “What happened?”

“My dad tried to take Levi. Vapor created a distraction and Levi went somewhere. I have to go.”

“Okay,” Anna said without question.

“Wait,” Piper said. “You’re coming with me?”

“Don’t be dense,” Anna said. “Of course, I am. Pack and explain what happened.”

“First Rayvin was there at the dinner, that should have cued me that something was happening. Then my grandfather was being an ass to Levi.”

“How did he handle that?”

“So, well that it shocked Rayvin,” Piper said. “He just laughed all the horrible things my grandpa was saying.”

“Interesting, then what?” Anna asked.

“Then we left,” she left the room, then came back. “To have Levi notice Kai following us. Then my dad showed up too! BOTH of them were following us. Levi looked at first like he was going to fight Kai.”

“That would not have been good…”

“No, it would have been awful. But then once my dad showed up, his demeanor changed to escape. Of course, we are all assassins so escaping is not the easiest. I honestly have no idea how he managed.”

“He performed a ritual while your dad was talking, if he had stepped any closer then there would have been a massive flash.” Vapor said. “Then he told me to follow you and inform you of next steps.”

“He doesn't think you’re in on it?” Anna said. “Why?”

“I have no idea,” Piper said.

“Because Lady Anna. If either of you had any intentions of taking him away, you could and would have done it days ago. Not after you told him to rest up and recover. If anything, the perfect time would have been during the day today.” Vapor responded.

“That’s a good point… he may not be a complete idiot after all. Where is he?” Anna said.

“He is away,” Vapor said.

“I’m almost done, are you ready, Anna?” Piper asked.

“Yes,” she said.

“Why are you so cool about this?” Piper asked.

“I will explain when we are with Levi, he needs to hear this too. Come on, leave the lights on and we’ll go through the underground passage. Your dad will surely come looking for you.”

“Done,” Piper said. The two girls went out through the garden and Anna pushed back the water in the garden fountain, small tile slid open. One after another they jumped into the tile. Once inside she used a spell to turn the water back on and the tile slid closed. Anna grabbed a torch that was next to her and struck it against the wall. Flames erupted from the torch and lit up the pathway.

“I remember these,” Piper said. As they walked through the tunnel. It was a cramped tunnel that they could only walk in a single file line.

“Yes, I remember telling my dad we found an entrance and he told me to keep it between the three of us. I never asked him why though,” Anna said.

“Hopefully Rayvin doesn’t know about it,” Piper mused. “You don’t think I am under any spell, do you?”

“Why would you ask that?” Anna said looking over her shoulder.

“I don’t know, I mean I’ve known Levi for what 4-months, and I chose him over my family! Doesn’t that make me a crazy?”

Anna chuckled, “no Piper, that doesn’t make you crazy. You’re not under a spell. For as long as I have known you, you’ve never liked bullies. You’ve always stood up for the little guy, no matter who it was. This is you doing that again, except it’s for a guy you loooove. In all honesty, I’d be more concerned if you weren’t upset at how your family treated Levi.”

“Thanks Anna, that means a lot. It just seems odd I guess; you would never do this for someone you met four months ago.”

“No, but I am a natural skeptic and don’t trust easily. But you’re not me. Thank the gods for that because I would not have a best friend who would force me to see the world differently, even when I am stuck in my ways. Look at us, Piper. We are running through a small tunnel system with a smoke spirit to help a guy with three familiars and a chaotic affinity. That’s our life right now! That has to be one of the coolest things we have done. That’s all because of you. I would have never given Levi another glance, but you did. This was even before you had feelings for him. You’re awesome. Be awesome.

Levi may not be the most charming, best-looking, or smoothest person I know. He’s awkward, goofy, and he’s better looking with magic now but he’s the best thing for you. Not for any important reason, except he sees how badass you are and brings that out in you. I’ve never seen you so confident before. It’s sexy. Confidence looks real good on you, Piper, keep that up.”

Once again, Piper was crying. This time, it was because this was the sweetest thing Anna had ever said to Piper. She was so filled with joy that it spilled out in tears.

“I love you Anna,” Piper whispered. “Thank you being my best friend.”

“I love you too Pipes,” she said. “You’re always picking me up and helping me out, it’s about time I can do the same for you.”

“Levi will be waiting outside the area where we set camp up prior to getting the horses,” Vapor said.

“Great, let’s hurry.” Anna thought back to when she first met Piper. Anna was younger, around twelve, and being raised to run the family. The two girls met at a city leader’s meeting, it was on the Onyx compound and all the families who were either of the royal family, dukes, or aristocratic were invited to this gathering. Anna had been non-stop swarmed by boys who had huge crush on the strikingly beautiful daughter of the lord. Anna was well aware of the politics of her role and her life. These boys were partly sent here to flirt and gain information, gain an advantage so the next family could grow in power.

It was the polite thing to do to entertain and have the parents reject them at a later time. This is what happened with her older sister Rayvin, until Kai Vendular returned from his guild. The two of them hit it off a little more than most people had expected. Anna had spotted them walking very close to each other with hushed tones. She also noticed a girl she hadn’t seen in a long time; she had curly hair and gray eyes. She was following around Kai from a safe distance.

Anna rushed over to her and introduced herself to save her from having to be the awkward third wheel. Ever since Anna had been close friends with Piper and the two of them did a lot of things together. Piper had always kept some distance because of the power dynamic, Anna was set to be the next ruler of the Onyx kingdom should she choose to do it when Leandro passed, of course that wasn’t for at least a century maybe more.

Anna had always wanted to push passed those barriers of power but never had the opportunity, flash forward to meeting Levi and the craziness that was this year’s break, she had found her moment. Anna had the chance to stand up for Piper, like Piper had always stood up for her. Without question Anna knew that this was the best decision for her and Piper’s friendship.

Levi was sitting in front of a fire the wisps created. It was warm and calming. He was staring at the sky he had never noticed how distant the moon was but how close other planets were. His eyes could pick out at least three other planets that were smaller than moon, denoting a further distance but not too far that it was out of reach. He wondered if interplanetary travel was a thing. The night sky was beautiful, he stared off into the cosmos and felt relaxed. All the craziness of the night took a toll on him, but he was fine now.

He stood up to watch Piper and Anna run up the hill to meet Levi. Piper gave him a huge hug and kiss. Anna gave him a big hug and kissed his cheek.

“Where did you go?” Piper asked.

“To the guild,” Levi responded. “I had to figure out what it was that I felt. It was a letter and these items.” He held out the items and told them what they were. He read the letter out loud. Neither of them had heard of Veluvius, to Levi’s disappointment.

“So, what’s next?” Piper asked.

“I’m going back to Arcross for the rest of the break,” Levi said.

“So, we’re going back to Arcross,” Anna said. “Good, we have to discuss our next path forward as a team.”

“Wait, you’re going to come with me?”

“Are you both dense?” Anna said. “Of course we are! Why would we stay, we’re a team!”

“Well, then I’m thinking we all ride mimics back instead of taking our time through the valley,” Levi said.

“Sounds good to me,” Piper said.

“I have to tell you something,” Anna said. “Wait are there two wisps now?”

“Oh yeah,” Levi said. “This is Crystal, Crystal this is Anna. She’s also part of the fam,” Levi said.

Crystal flew up to Ana and did a backflip to show joy then went back to playing with Willow.

“That was adorable,” Anna murmured. “My dad suspected that the Vendulars were up to something. He sent me home early to warn you, Levi, but I was too late. The two of you had left early as well. My dad doesn’t think you’re evil Levi, he actually thinks you’re as good as they get. He spent time trying to convince uncle that you’re a good guy trying your best. Uncle argued that you don’t have to try to be good, which of course, my dad laughed at.”

“I’m glad,” Levi said. “That’s crap. No one is naturally good; we all have tendencies that make us good people, but the ones that make us bad people get us in trouble. We have to ignore and fight constantly. Beware of anyone who says they are a naturally good person.” Anna stared at Levi in disbelief. “What?”

“That’s exactly what my dad told me. Almost word for word, especially that last part. I think my dad sees a younger him in you Levi. I haven’t seen him react so kindly to a stranger before. I also know my dad and he is definitely aware of something that the rest of us are not. He trusts you, which means that I trust you fully. I was already getting there, but he convinced me. I’m sorry it took me so long.”

“I’m glad that you got there anyway,” Levi said with a smile.