T rolled up in his parent's smartcar with the windows vibrating from the shitty techno music he likes. He leaned over and popped the door open but I just stood at the curb and gave him the stink eye. Finally he got the message and turned it down so I slid inside, but not without facing his disapproval.

"You're such a pussy, Chris. Turn it down, it hurts my wittle ears. "

"Bite me, T. It's not that it's loud, it's that it's terrible."

He smirks at me but pulls back into traffic without cranking the radio. I can't help but grab the dash because he's practically bouncing in his seat and ignoring the road. I know the Nav system had it under control, but it still made me nervous. Ts nerves had a completely different source, and he hit me with a dozen questions at once.

"Now that we're in person, let's talk about the trials. Or do you wanna get some tin foil hats first? I made it to the 5th trial, the one with flashing lights yanno? Went super strength, I'm not Hulk strong yet, but I'm maybe slightly shittier superhero level. Maybe Thing from the fantastic 4? How but you? How far you get? What'd you visualize in the soul realm?"

"WHOAH, T. Snort some Adderall or something. "

"Shut up and answer the question then. "

"Ok, yes. "

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

"Yes, what?"

"Yes to the tin foil hats. "

"Fucker"

I snickered, even the apocalypse doesn't mature you overnight. I was glad Trevor had hit me up this morning, because going it alone was a way scarier prospect. In that vein i addressed the heart of his questions.

"I made it way past trial 4, but uh, we need to establish a baseline. Did we even have the same trials?"

"Uh, glowy guy talking about Anima and realms merging, fight some goblins, then a maze and a puzzle deal before you fight more goblins. After each one you're supposed to visualize the Anima moVing into your soul realm to get powers and shit."

"Realms merging, what did your guy say about that?"

"Who cares? Did you not catch the super powers part? If you did the trials, what powers did you get?"

I made eye contact and gave him my best British accent, "I'm a hairy, wizzard. "

He just gave me fish eyes before shaking his head sadly. "That fucking meme was old and lame when our parents watched the movies. "

"Bite me, T. I'm pretty sure they were books not movies. "

"Whatever"

"Fuck your whatever, I'm pretty sure I know magic and shit now, and you basically just got a dose of roids."

*Excessive speeds detected. Violation reported to account holder. *

The car shimmied as the governor kicked in and T started to swear.

"It's not a school zone till 8 am, this is some bullshit. My dad's gonna spaz over this shit. "

I kept my mouth shut, uncomfortable commenting. Mr. Denner was pretty strict with his son, but come on. My dentist dad who bought me a car is gonna bitch about how I drive it? Sounded like a Damm nice problem to have but I couldn't tell T that.

Instead I tried to change the subject by pointing at the lights on in the field house up ahead. "Looks like Coach is already here. Let's finish this conversation in the weight room, see what you got, super strength."

"You're on, magic boy."