Kailan locked the door as he left the house. Walking out onto the sidewalk he looked left and then right, trying to decide which way to go. He eventually proceeded to his left, following the road down to the Marathon he would frequent when he was a child. Walking in he grabbed a bottle of water and some honey roasted cashews. They were his favorite when he was younger.

When he got to the counter to check out an elderly black woman with silky white hair turned to him. She was very familiar. It was Mrs. Williams who would always treat him to candy when he was younger.

“Hello, Mrs. Williams. Long time no see.” Kailan called out as he placed his items on the counter.

“Oh? I don’t believe we’ve met before, young man.” The woman replied. She had a curious look plastered on her face as she examined his.

“Well, it has been a decade. I’m surprised to see you still work here.” Kailan had a big friendly smile. Mrs. Williams wasn’t sure who this was but he clearly knew her. She was racking her brain trying to recall his face. It did look somewhat familiar but she couldn’t quite place it.

“It’s Kailan. From down the street. You used to slip me candy bars when I was younger.” Kailan guarded his mouth with one hand as he whispered the last part to her.

It was like a light bulb turning on. Mrs. Williams finally recognized who he was. “Oh my god! Is it really you?”

“Yeah. It’s me.” He replied happily.

Now that she looked closely she could see the resemblance. She would never forget that nice young boy that would come in 3 or 4 times a week. Even the items he purchased were the same.

“I heard the most horrible rumors that you had been taken from us by one of those rift things.” She exclaimed as she walked around the corner, taking him by the shoulders as she pulled him into a hug.

“It’s true. I was pulled through a rift. I only just got back a few weeks ago.” He replied.

She backed out of the hug when she heard this, sucking in a breath of cold air, clearly startled. She started examining every part of him. “You’re not hurt anywhere are you?” She asked with a tinge of sadness.

“I’m fine. Really.” Kailan was glad to see Mrs. Williams doing well.

He had been wondering what had happened to all of the people he knew when he was younger and how they had turned out. His mother had already said many of his school friends were either Hunters or had families and jobs. But what about the others like his school teachers and people like Mrs. Williams, he was curious.

“It’s so good to see you. Oh! Let me ring you out real fast.” Mrs. Williams rushed back around the counter and rang up the water and cashews. She placed them into a bag as she snuck a Hershey's bar in at the end.

Kailan just chuckled as he watched this. It was like old times.

“So what are you up to these days?” Mrs. Williams handed Kailan the bag as she walked back around the counter once again.

“Well right now I’m just taking a walk around the neighborhood. Later I’m heading into a dungeon and then after that I’ll be home to watch the news and be with my family. That’s basically become my routine.” He replied.

“A dungeon?! You go into those dangerous things. You should be more careful. What would happen if you disappeared into one of those ghastly deathtraps leaving your family behind again?” Mrs. Williams chastised in all seriousness.

Kailan didn’t really mind though. She had known him since he was a little kid and she was only worried for him and his family.

“Don’t worry Mrs. Williams. I’m really strong and I’m very careful.” He replied once again with a smile.

“You can never be too careful. I don’t want to go another decade not seeing you walk through those doors, you know.” She chided.

“I know. I’ll be extra careful, I promise. Anyway, I should get going. It was good to see you again.” Kailan felt that if he stayed this would go on endlessly, so it was time for him to make a graceful exit. He imagined what she would be like a decade later, probably not working here.

“You take care now. And come back and see me!” Mrs. Williams shouted out as Kailan waved goodbye to her.

Kailan left the Marathon and walked across the street to the park he and his friends once played at. As he continued along the trail, memories of the old days when he was still a human, before Gaia, flooded back into his mind. He eventually made it to the ball field, looking around he could see the silhouettes of him and his friends playing baseball.

The last time he was here, he and his friends were discussing what sports they should play. Kailan chuckled as his grin widened. He was actually enjoying digging up these old memories. They felt relaxing somehow.

He continued his trek, walking around the far edge of the park towards the river, and then down along the path. Eventually he met with the main road again. Crossing to the other side he arrived right outside of his old high school. A couple more minutes and he was standing in front of the school’s entrance.

Classes would have already started and he didn’t want to disturb them. Not that they would allow him in the building in the first place probably. After standing and reminiscing for a good 10 minutes, Kailan turned and walked down a side street into an area of houses. When he was a good ways in, he stopped and looked around to make sure there was no one around, before leaping into the sky and gently landing on the rooftop of one of the houses.

“It’s been a while since I’ve exercised. Let’s have a nice run downtown.” He thought.

He then once again leapt up and gently landed on another rooftop. Repeating this process as he made his way towards downtown Indianapolis.

After reaching the 65 / 70 highway split, Kailan jumped down to the ground in an alleyway before walking naturally around the corner. None the wiser that he had arrived by jumping across rooftops. “20 minutes when it’s a more than two hour walk. Not bad. It’s 9:15 now. I should grab some lunch on the way and meet Eva around 12:00.” He thought.

Kailan hadn’t been in a hurry so he wasn’t leaping as quickly as he could have, but he was still going at a fast pace. He continued to walk along the street until he met up with Massachusetts Avenue, then followed the road down. He would eventually run into downtown this way.

As he walked he took note of all of the changes in the past decade. He had been watching as they drove by, but seeing it through a car window going 40 miles per hour down the road versus walking in the middle of it were two entirely different things. There were familiar things but just as many new ones. There also didn’t seem to be as many homeless people.

Every city had a problem with homeless people walking the streets. It was inevitable as the world as a whole had trouble helping people to maintain their lives. Oftentimes they were on their own. And when things got really bad they would be out on the streets. Indianapolis was like any big city, the homeless people congregated downtown because it was crowded, warm and safer than other areas. But Kailan barely saw a single homeless person.

The one he did see was holding a sign that said. “Need money for beer. God bless!” Kailan of course stopped and handed the man a $20 bill. “At least he’s honest.” He thought.

Continuing down Mass Ave, he eventually made his way to the Hunters Mall. It was busy as usual. Kailan only stopped at a few shop windows to look inside, before continuing on. He didn’t bother to stop in on Olive or old man Clarke. His purpose today was only to take a walk.

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Leaving the Hunters Mall, Kailan continued until he came to the BRU Burger Bar. He stood in front of the bar recalling his mother’s hilarious day of drinking. “Speaking of drinking.”

Kailan walked inside and pulled up a stool at the bar. It wasn’t packed but there were a number of people around. The bartender walked over and asked what he would like.

“Do you have any meads?” Kailan asked.

The bartender contemplated seriously as he used the bar to prop himself up. “Sure. I think I have a Super Bee under the counter.” The bartender eventually replied as he dug underneath the counter a few feet away from where Kailan was seated.

After searching for a couple minutes, the bartender pulled out a large bottle filled with pure golden liquid. Grabbing a wine glass down from the wooden holster above the bar, he was about to pour when Kailan stopped him. “In a mug please. Fill it up.”

The bartender put the wine glass back and pulled a glass mug out before filling it to the brim nearly emptying the bottle. He then handed the mug to Kailan.

Kailan was excited to try it. He took a large sip as he savored the flavor in his mouth. “It’s not as good as mead in Valhalla, but not bad for humans.” He thought.

As Kailan sat enjoying his glass of mead, a man wearing a Journey t-shirt under a black leather jacket and bluejeans walked over and sat next to him. Kailan had noticed him checking him out some time ago. This wasn’t that type of bar so he was curious as to why this guy kept looking at him. “I’m conflicted. I wish he would stop looking at me but at the same time I’m curious what he wants.”

“Hey, you’re the guy from TV. The one that told Gaia to open that dungeon gate, right?” The man quietly asked.

Kailan slumped and almost fell out of his stool. “Of course it’s about that.”

“Uh, yeah. I guess so.” Kailan replied with the same low volume.

“Wow. That was so cool how you charged into that dungeon fearlessly and rescued those people. That’s how a man should be. Not like that prissy as***** Alex or whatever from Twilight Garden.” Just when Kailan thought that this man had some tact, he blurted out loud in excitement.

“I’m Pagan. Pagan Rheed. I’m also a Hunter, freelance, not guilded.” Pagan held his hand out.

Kailan reciprocated by shaking his hand in greeting. “Kailan Jones. Also a freelance Hunter.”

“Yes! Freelance is best. Never get guilded. They’re nothing but a bunch of capitalist pigs fighting over authority they don’t even have.” Pagan held his mug of beer up.

“Agreed.” Kailan smiled as he also held his mug up. They clinked their mugs together. “Cheers!” As they burst out simultaneously, before taking a large swig of their beverages.

They continued to chat as they drank. Pagan asked what rank and level Kailan was at one point, but Kailan just told him that his information will be released in a press conference tomorrow. Pagan didn’t push any further and instead changed the subject to the dungeon Kailan had gone into. He wanted to know more about the lizardmen that Kailan had faced.

They chatted for a while before Kailan had to excuse himself. It was 10:30 and he still wanted to walk a little more before grabbing a bite to eat. He and Pagan exchanged phone numbers and agreed to meet up for drinks again.

As Kailan walked out of the BRU Burger Bar, he wore a wide satisfied grin. “And now I have a drinking buddy.” He thought.

He continued down the road eventually running into Circle Centre, the very heart of downtown. It was busy as cars crowded the streets. No matter what time of day it was there always seemed to be a traffic jam here. Kailan walked across the street and through a glass doorway into the Circle Center Mall. He had come here with his family last time to buy clothes. This time he was looking for something interesting to eat.

After entering he took the escalator up to the second floor and then turned left, following the shops to the food court. “Let’s see… Taco Bell, Asian Chao or Chick-fil-a?” He contemplated his options. There were of course more restaurants here, but he had singled these three out as his possibilities.

Looking around he finally decided on Asian Chao. He sat in a corner near the balcony and quietly ate his orange chicken and a bourbon chicken and rice. Watching the people move about.

After he was finished he got up and walked around the mall. It was different when his family wasn’t here. They rushed around which didn’t give Kailan time to explore. Since they weren’t here he could slow down and enjoy looking at everything. He had missed a decade of development so there was plenty to enjoy.

When the clock struck 11:30, he made his way back out of the mall and along the street towards the Hunters Bureau. He walked at a leisurely pace as he examined everything around him. He arrived at 11:55 and walked into the East lobby.

Walking up to the receptionist, he said in a laid back tone. “I’m here to see Agent Eva. Could you let her know that Kailan Jones has arrived.”

“Do you have an appointment?” She asked pleasantly.

“Sort of. She was supposed to meet me at 12:30 but I arrived here a bit early.” The receptionist didn’t really mind that he was early, she would let the agent determine whether that was a problem or not.

She picked up the phone and called Eva’s extension. “Agent Eva said she’ll be down in a few minutes. You can have a seat over there to wait.”

“Thanks.” Kailan walked over to the seating area and sat in a blue chair facing the receptionist and the North hall door that Eva would no doubt come out of.

A few minutes later Eva came rushing out of the doors as expected. “Why is she always in a rush? Seems stressful.” Kailan thought.

“Kailan, I didn’t expect you to be here so soon. Did your parents bring you?” She asked as she led Kailan through the lobby and into the North hall.

“No, I walked here. Spent most of the morning downtown just walking around. It’s been a while so I wanted to see all of the changes. Met a drinking buddy too.” He explained casually with his usual smile.

“A drinking buddy?” Eva asked with a curious expression.

“Yeah. I stopped in a bar to try some of their mead and met this Hunter who seems really nice. We’re going to go out drinking again sometime.” Kailan replied.

“Well that’s good. It’s important to make friends and network.” Eva didn’t really think much of Kailan walking all the way from Broad Ripple to downtown Indy. Hunters had incredible stamina and speed. Kailan would be an extreme example considering he’s a God.

They made their way into Eva’s office and sat down. Since Kailan was here early it gave them plenty of time to go over tomorrow’s press conference.

“Do you want anything? We have juice, coffee and hot chocolate.” Eva asked as she pulled out some documents from her bag.

“A hot chocolate would be nice.” Kailan replied.

“Sure, I’ll go and get one for you. I need to let Douglas know we’re not heading out to pick you up anyway.” Eva got up and walked out leaving Kailan alone.

Kailan didn’t wait long. No more than 5 minutes passed by before Eva walked back in, carrying a mug with steam rolling out of the top. She handed it to Kailan and then took her seat again. Kailan blew on the top of the mug to cool it down before taking a sip.

“So tomorrow. Like I said, you’ll need to be here by 10. The press conference is at 11. It’s very likely that you’ll need to speak and answer questions so prepare yourself. The media are bloodhounds and they will try and sniff out every nuance in what you say.” Eva stated as she handed Kailan a sheet of paper.

“I understand. I’ll be careful.” Kailan replied as he took the paper and examined it.

“This is a list of common questions that arise for Returnees in press conferences. We’ve taken it from past experiences. Try to keep them in mind since it’s very likely you’ll be asked at least half of them.” Eva continued.

“Right.” Kailan glanced down the list of questions. Most were pretty standard and expected. Things like where did you go, or what was it like, or what can you tell us about, dot dot dot.

“Oh, and another thing. Be careful of Dana Warshank. I believe you’ve already met at the last press conference when your Returnee status was released. She was the one that spoke out even after you said you wouldn’t answer any questions. She’s a pitbull, highly arrogant and with little to no regard for your privacy or safety. It’s likely she will go after you hard. She will do ANYTHING to get the story.” Eva put on a serious face as she warned Kailan.

“I remember her. She seemed quite upset when I ignored her.” Kailan grinned as he recalled a certain face in the crowd of reporters from that day.

“Her ego won’t let her be snubbed by anyone, especially not someone your age. Or rather the age you appear to be. Despite her bad attitude and strong arm tactics, she has a massive fan base of boys your age. To her, you're just another young man she can conquer.” Eva wore a disgusted look as she explained this point.

“Sounds like there are a lot of weirdos out there. Sadly for her, she has no sway over me. She’s going to be so disappointed.” Kailan’s grin twisted, becoming more sinister and playful.

Eva smiled at Kailan. She had already come to the conclusion that he was far more cunning and devious than anyone gave him credit for. And honestly, she couldn’t wait to see how he plays that snobbish hag.