Today was supposed to be a normal day; just like the month of normal day’s I’ve had since returning from that little trip to Earth.

Today wasn’t normal. Unfortunately.

Well, the school part was. I got up early, went to school, ghosted through my classes, and got back on the train again. All in all, an ordinary school day. I’ve had a good number of those lately. Of course, I was now celebrated as the school genius, but that’s neither here nor there.

I’ve also begun to ponder a few things.

For one, I was so busy worrying about the Awakening, and what sort of effects it would have on my life, that I had pushed all thoughts about my future out of my mind. For instance, I’m in my junior year of high-school, and haven’t even begun considering things like college, jobs, or social life stuff.

I have more than enough money to live on now—I’ve been playing with the stock market ever since the funds given to me by my “family” had started drying up.

But I don’t want to sit back on that money, doing nothing for the rest of my life. I’d like to get a good and fulfilling job. To do that, I probably need to attend a college of some sort and get the appropriate degrees. But then the question is, what sort of degrees do I go after? What sort of job do I want to have? Who do I want to be in society?

Before, all the anxiety about my Awakening pushed all these sorts of things aside. It was just too big a deal for me. Now that it’s done and over with though, I have to consider them.

So far, I’ve been doing research whenever I got back to the apartment. I don’t actually know what sorts of jobs I can go into, besides some of the obvious and popular ones. Why does everyone want to be a veterinarian, lawyer or a mech-driver? I don’t know, nor do I care. I just want to find a job that’s the right fit for me. It’s more difficult that I had thought it would be, mostly because I still have no idea what I would be suited for. Well, other than combat orientated jobs, but that’s an area I want to steer clear of. Too messy for me.

So, that’s been my past few weeks. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I wish there were fewer job options. All the potential choices aren’t helping me in the slightest.

If there’s any consolation, it’s the fact that I can engage in ‘stress-relief’ while playing Ashenload with my friends. We’re still working away at the God-Quest—which has been progressing slowly but noticeably. It’s been getting more intense, with each little mini quest having greater and greater stakes.

For instance, we had taken out a quest to scout out a cave system a while ago. I believe I told you about that, no? Well, after clearing out that system, the Rogue army sent a detachment of soldiers to occupy the cave, and investigate that odd ward blocking off the rest of the area.

Apparently, we underestimated the importance of these caves, since the Olympian army sent more men to take it back. Then, wanting to deny them something they so obviously desired, the Rogue army sent more divisions, and took back the caves once more. The conflict only escalated from there, with the cave systems becoming a full-blown battleground.

Oh, and all this happened while I was on the Earth trip. I only found out about the escalating conflicts when I got back. All in all, the God Quest itself was moving along faster than I had expected it to. Though, as an added bonus, all the staged warfare that’s been happening lately lets me blow off some steam. When working with the rest of the party, I take down targets of opportunity with my bow. And when I’m not with them, I tend to simply wade into the enemy ranks, putting the fear of god into them.

In fact, it seems that there’s now a rumor going around that the Rogue army has a member capable of decimating entire regiments one at a time. Luckily, nobody knows that I’m the source of the rumors, since I disguise myself.

Ah, there nothing quite like testing your blade against others when it comes to stress relief.

It’s just a little unfortunate that the quest should be done within the month, if it continues at its current rate. It’s so hard to find large numbers of soldiers to fight against when a war’s not going on.

Right then. I suppose I should get back on topic now, since some are probably wondering about the whole ‘abnormal day’ thing. Like I had said, the day proceeded as it ordinarily would. I went to school, learned nothing, and got on the train back to my apartment.

And that’s where the day, and my next few weeks, went to absolute hell.

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Somehow, I managed to get a seat on the train. Standing for the entire thirty minute ride is annoying, since I tend to get pushed around quite a bit due to my height and the fact that nobody ever seems to notice me until they’ve accidentally made me fall over.

Sitting is better. I was even able to pull out my homework, and knock it out. Ha, I’m not even home yet, and I’ve already finished everything I needed to. The timing couldn’t have been better though, since I finished the last math problem just as the train slid to a stop in front of my station. I packed up my notebook, and left.

From the train station, it’s a ten-minute walk to the apartment building.

It starts to rain lightly as I walked along, forcing me to bring out my umbrella. Others around me make shields of their power, creating a transparent dome around them that forces the rain to bend away from their bodies. It’s in these sorts of situations I’m glad I look so young. That way, people simply think that I’m some girl how hasn’t gone through her Awakening yet, and thus can’t form the water repellant domes.

I actually don’t like the rain too much—at least not the stuff from Jor. It’s artificial rain, which comes down more like mist. The umbrella’s pretty useless, since the mist simply curls up under it, soaking me anyway. Oh well, at least it catches some of the stuff. It looks like I’ll have to change when getting home though. And maybe take a nice, warm bath. Yeah, that sounds nice.

Walking a little faster now, I rounded a corner and the apartment building came into view. Great, just a little bit more, and I’ll be home.

The outdoor stairwell gave me a few problems since they were slippery from the rainwater. Honestly, you’d think that the building owner would put in mats to prevent people from slipping and falling down the stairs, especially after that incident with Ms. Roberson. Thankfully, I survived the three flights I had to traverse.

Well, not that I’d die from falling down some paltry stairs. Hell, I could probably be dropped off one of those skyscrapers and still survive. My strength ability can come in handy like that.

I swiped an ID card in front of my apartment door, and it swung open to admit me.

I threw off my sopping wet clothes and grabbed a comfortable pair of sweatpants and an overly large hoodie. I set them off to the side so that they’d be ready for me after I get out of the bath. I turned the water on, and waited until a tub full of steamy water was in front of me. I sunk down into the hot water, letting out a quiet sigh of relaxation after my body was fully submerged.

I stayed in the bath until my fingers turned all raisin-y. I even dunked my head underwater to wash my hair. I toweled off after getting out, and blow-dried my hair. Everything felt perfect as I reclined into my couch, baggy clothing wrapping around me oh-so comfortably. I was even contemplating taking a brief nap, when I was brought from my stupor by a knock on the door.

In hindsight, I probably would have fallen asleep, ignoring the knocking. However, I don’t have that almighty power at my disposal in the present moment.

So, of course I went and opened the door, wreaking my next few weeks.

Why?

Well, Joel was standing out there, soaking wet and with an apologetic smile on his face.

Yeah, Joel. The brother who didn’t know I was still alive until I went with him to Earth. The Joel who should still be on Earth, going to school there and being with the family. Who shouldn’t be here, standing on my doorstep.

“Ah, um. I was wondering if I could stay with you for a while? I had a bit of a falling out with Mom and Dad.”

Argh! Damn me and my curiosity, since I actually invited him in!

He trailed wet footprints to my small living room, and immediately sat down on the couch, an equally wet suitcase in front of him.

Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

…Really? You could at least take off your shoes, right?

“Do you have something to dry clothes with, by any chance?” He asked, looking down at himself. Oh—so he is aware that he’s currently soaked. Why the hell did you sully my nice couch then?!

I pointed towards the bathroom angrily, which also has a washer and drier inside. Let’s hope he knows how to work them.

He walked into the bathroom, leaving me to clean up the mess he had tracked into the apartment. I sighed and grabbed a towel to mop up the water.

I heard the shower running, and assumed that Joel decided to clean himself up along with his clothes. When he walked out of the bathroom with only a towel around his waist though, I knew that he hadn’t been able to figure out the drier.

He smiled sheepishly, and my suspicions were confirmed.

Even worse, he had put his clothes into the washer, making it necessary to bring them through a full washer-drier cycle. So, it was only an hour later that Joel’s clothes were ready. By the time he was sitting on my now-clean couch, fully clothed and dry, I was more than ready to hear about this falling out he’d had.

He happily went into the story of what had happened after I left Earth.

“Well, um—Basically, I didn’t approve of what Mom and Dad did to you. They always told me that you had died in an accident right around your fifth birthday. I had no idea that they had forced you into exile.” He said.

I sighed, and shook my head sadly. I walked away from him, and went to my computer. Joel got up, following me anxiously. I could tell that he was clueless about what I was doing, and curious as well. He'll find out in just a second. 

I logged into my computer account, and booted up the webcam as well. A few commands into one of my custom programs got me past the Al’Verath firewalls, and an extra command had me connected to that woman’s personal computer. Luckily, she was using it right at this moment, and so I opened up a chat link between us.

Her surprised face showed up on my monitor as the link connected.

“How did you do that?! I made sure to strengthen the firewall after you left!” Said the woman, shocked and surprised.

“Not strong enough. Have brother.” I said, summing up the situation as succinctly as possible. I even dragged Joel into that woman’s view.

“Joel?! That’s where you went?!”

“I’m not coming back, Mother. No matter how much you beg…”

“No, no, no—That’s perfect, actually. Stay there for the moment. If Revian’s as strong as I think she is, she’ll have no problems keeping you safe.”

“Safe?” I asked.

“Oh, well, we’re having some difficulties with Klein’s brothers at the moment.” She clarified in a throwaway manner.

“I’m not concerned about Joel’s siblings, since they’re at the boarding school and completely safe. I was worried about Joel, since he just ran away, taking one of our yachts with him. Now that he’s with you, however, he should be fine.”

I nodded.

“He’s okay here.”

“That’s good to hear. He can’t come back right now, since your uncles would likely try and kidnap him for leverage. We would be in your debt, if you could do Joel the favor of taking care of him for a while.”

I nodded again. I’m not so heartless as to deny Joel the safety of my home. My issue with the Al’Verath family lies solely with Joel’s parents. Not with Joel himself. So, I’ll gladly grant him sanctuary. Though, I am still a little curious.

“Why’d he run?” I ask.

The woman laughed a little.

“I tried to set up an engagement for him. Apparently, he would rather continue a ‘bachelor’ lifestyle.”

My head tilted a little to the side in confusion.

“He’s fifteen?”

“Yes, and most High-Family members have engagements by the time they’re ten. It’s a fact of the world we live in. Apparently, that was the straw which broke the camel’s back, and Joel ran away in the middle of the night.”

I looked at Joel and quirked an eyebrow at him. He looked away a little guiltily.

So it turns out my brother’s a bit of an idiot, and not always completly truthful. Hopefully the other brother's a bit better.

I cut the chat link, though I still kept a few feelers inside the Al’Verath system. I was a little amused to see that the woman tried find out how I’d gotten in—without any luck of course.

I then began setting up a bed on the floor of my apartment for Joel to sleep on. I get the feeling that it would be better to keep him close to me, since I could be assured of his safety in this way. I had to punch Joel once, since he started looking through my things. I didn’t use any power, but it was still sufficient to double him up for a moment.

“My house. Not yours.” I told him. He quit looking through my stuff after that. He simply sat on the couch, looking terribly bored. Throwing him a bone, I gave him one of my old tablets so that he might be able to entertain himself. When I looked back at him, he was engrossed in some sort of television program. A closer inspection revealed it to be a documentary I’d had in my library on the nature of quantum communications. It was one of the simpler ones I’d had on there.

I decided to go ahead and make some dinner, and began cutting up vegetables and meat for a nice stew. I also found that my refrigerator was nearly empty; and that I would have to go and restock it soon. I have enough for tonight though.

The stew was done after leaving it for an hour or so, and I also brought out some bread and crackers as a side. I set up the table, and got Joel some water while telling him that the food was ready. When I came back, he was eagerly sitting at the table. I put the glass of water in front of him, and a glass of wine in front of my place.

“Aren’t you still too young to be drinking?” Asked Joel. Technically, he’s right. However, I think that it’ll be fine as long as I only have a single glass. That’s the rule I’ve been using. Besides, as a member of a High-Family, I sincerely doubt that Joel’s inexperienced with alcohol. Parties on Earth can get a little wild.

Besides, some people can handle alcohol very well, due to their Awakenings and abilities. For instance, it’s impossible for Ussen to get drunk, since his Awakening is an undead type. It’s the same sort of thing for me, since my strength abilities won’t allow alcohol to take too deep a hold of me. Actually, I think that simply calling it a strength ability isn’t enough, since it boosts all aspects of my physical body.

In the absence of a better name, I’ve continued calling it a strength ability.

Huh. It just occurred to me that I don’t what sort of Awakening and abilities Joel has. Did I really never ask him? Now’s as good a time as ever, I guess. Especially since it might come in handy, should it become necessary to protect him in more obvious ways.

“What’s Joel’s Awakening?” I asked him.

He hastily swallowed the spoonful of stew he’d just placed in his mouth, before answering.

“I never told you?” I shook my head. “Huh. I was sure I did. Well, I Awakened as a Nine-Tailed fox. I have control over fire, and strong telepathic abilities.”

Oh! I bet his Awakened form is cute then! But, beyond that, control over fire and telepathy. Those are both good abilities to have, and can be extremely formidable when used properly.

“Can read minds?” I asked him.

“Yeah! I try not to do it, but I can. See, watch!” He said, Awakening into a white fow with nine tails. (I didn't count them, I just assumed the name to be self-explanatory.)

“No! Wait!” I cried out. Immediately, I felt a foreign element enter my mind—small enough that most people wouldn’t be able to tell. I’m not most people, as Joel suddenly found out.

His fur instantly stood on edge, and he curled over, spitting up the stew I’d made him.

I sighed, and got a few paper towels to wipe up the puddle of sick on the floor.

When I returned, the human version of Joel was sitting in his chair, recovering from the experience of trying to enter my mind. He looked at me as I cleaned up his mess again.

“What the hell were those defenses?” He asked weakly.

I shrugged.

“Warned you. Have strong mind.”

“Strong? Strong doesn’t include something like that—It felt like your entire being exists in an entirely different realm from other minds. Like you think from a higher reality then the rest of us.”

I shrugged again, and warned him to not peer into my mind. I would like to avoid having to clean up again, after all. As I left to throw away the sullied paper towels, I heard Joel think aloud.

“What sort of ability would a mind like that even get? What would be worthy?”

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While Revy and Joel were having their dinner, a ship pulled into one of Jor’s docks. It was a sleek black thing, looking deadly and fast as all hell. It stopped without any noise, anchoring itself with astounding precision.

A docking tunnel unfolded from the dock, and suctioned itself to the ship. The airlock hissed open, and a group of people walked out. There were seven of them, and though all were different, they each had the same sort of atmosphere about them.

One of them, an older gentleman with craggy features, walked in front. He was the leader of the little group, and by far the most experienced among them. A sultry looking woman walked just behind him, her lips pursed in perpetual amusement. She carried a long black case on her back, without any markings. There were lots of little scratch marks on the case, testament to it having been used for quite a while.

Three of the men in the group looked exactly the same, down to the clothes they were wearing. However, there were subtle differences between each of them. Namely, one was obviously frowning, while another had a light smile adorning his face. The last was completely emotionless. A mousy looking woman followed behind them, lugging an extremely large backpack like it didn’t weigh anything. Her glasses mostly hide the bright glint of curiosity always burning in her eyes.

And the last member wasn’t remarkable in the slightest. He was totally forgettable, especially among such a diverse group of people. Is it a bit cliché to mention the fact that he was by far the scariest in the party?

The group left the docking station, and immediately requested transportation to a hotel nearby. They got there without an issue, and rented five rooms, since the triplets didn’t have an issue sleeping in the same area. They gathered in the room occupied by the leader of the party.

“So, what’re we doing first, Boss?” asked the sultry woman.

“Idiot. Were you even listening during the briefing?” Said the leader in a rocky deep voice. The woman looked away abashedly.

The man sighed.

“First, we need to find the boy. Kara, you can hack into the city mainframe, right? Try and see if any cameras spotted him. We’ve already confirmed that his parent’s yacht docked here, so he’s in the city somewhere.”

The mousy woman nodded, and a few holo-screens popped into existence around her as she checked out the systems holding the cities camera data. The leader continued speaking.

“Raphael, I want you to poke around the city lord’s residence. See if the boy’s taken up residence there. If not, go down the list of important people in Jor, and see if he’s staying with them.”

The forgettable man nodded, and vanished from the room.

“Sylph, I want you to grind the rumor mill. See if there’s a reason for the boy to come here, of all places.”

The sultry woman smiled coyly, before walking out of the room. She left her case in the room.

“Josh, John and Jacob, you guys can relax for now.”

The triplets left for their own room.

Now, only the leader and Kara were left.

“Sir, I think I’ve found something.” She said.

“What is it?”

“All the city’s camera data for a period of about an hour today has been deleted. We have visual of the target walking out of the docking station, but nothing after. Someone’s gotten ahold of the system before I was able to, and wiped away everything that could be used to find the target.”

The leader sat down on the bed, holding his grizzled chin with a scarred hand.

“Mh. It looks like the boy had a good reason for coming here after all, if there’s someone willing to do something like that for him. Try and figure out if there’s a way to recover some of the data. For now, that’s our first lead.”

“Yes sir.”

And so the bounty hunter party known as Starfall arrived on Jor.