I gaped at the new stat numbers. For the first time, the System felt real. It wasn’t an imaginary friend or a delusion that my stressed out mind conjured. It could actually change my physique. It even gave me an ability.

Curious, I opened the Ability screen – and got another shock.

There wasn’t just one ability listed there, but two. Bubble and Regen (Limited). Both seemed impossible, but especially Regen. I thought that was something only a select – and very powerful – few had. Only, what did ‘limited’ mean?

I quickly opened the explanation for the ability. [Regen (Limited): While resting, health will heal at the rate of 1% per minute. The effect doubles while sleeping. Limitations: Cannot regrow severed appendages or heal poisons. Seek medical help in such cases.]

“That’s … so cool,” I whispered, still shocked that I had something like that.

Hang on, did this have something to do with this morning? Last night, when I went to sleep, I was bruised black and blue. But in the shower this morning, the only bruise I found on me was the one I got when I kicked the coffee table. Hunters naturally healed over time, which is why they aged slower, but E’s were practically like humans. I didn’t realize it at the time, but looking back, I should still have the injuries from yesterday, since I never visited a healer. So Regen (Limited) was working then. Before I got the Guide pearl and the System fully downloaded.

When did I get this ability? I knew for sure I didn’t have it yesterday. And how did I get it? Was it a package deal with the System? Did the same thing apply Bubble? It was a part of the System, so I got to use the ability since the System was attached to me? But at what cost?

I opened the explanation for Bubble. [Bubble: 10 MP. A water-based magic attack. Long or short ranged.]

Oh my god, I wasn’t going crazy in the battle with the unknown. I really did have magic. Water magic.

Every fiber of my being was screaming to cast Bubble and figure out more about it, but right here wasn’t safe. It would be better to do that behind the safety of the city wall.

A strong presence suddenly approached me at a fast speed. I froze and turned just as Shiva burst through the treeline. She blinked her big dark blue eyes at me and hurried over. She pressed her cold nose to me and sniffed me all over, gently nudging for attention.

I grinned and hugged her hard. “Shiva! Uncle was right, I am a mage! And I got stronger.” I couldn’t resist chattering – albeit quietly – at her like she could understand everything.

She blinked her calm eyes, as if humoring me.

I rubbed the flat of her forehead. “Hang on, I gotta get the other monster’s drop items, then let’s go home.”

Her ears perked when I said ‘home.’ She must know that term, but where did she associate it with? Today wasn’t the day to find out though. Night was coming fast and there was still a lot I had to do – including the unpacking a million boxes like I promised.

I glanced down at my blood covered armor. “We should probably swing by uncle’s to clean up before we go home, though.”

It wasn’t just about getting clean. He was an expert on monsters. He’d know what this ‘unknown’ was.

*****

By the time I got back to Mist Haven, the shadows were growing long, eating up all the sunlit ground. I didn’t bother going to the forge – it was already closed for the day. Instead, I went straight to Uncle’s house.

I turned Shiva onto his street … and subconsciously pulled her to a stop.

There were only three houses on this dead-end stretch. The two houses on each side of the street each had an acre lot. Enough distance between the houses to give space, but close enough to form a comfortable unity. Thick trees enclosed the lane in all directions, completely cutting off the rest of the town and leaving a piece of gorgeously maintained forest paradise. Just behind the tree canopy, the city walls rose up, cutting into the dimming sky. Just behind, the twin moons gleamed like pearls in the heavens.

Uncle Maveric’s rustic modern house sprawled across the end of the short street. It was a classy blend of stone, wood, concrete, metal and glass. Multiple vaulted ceilings rose up, making the large house feel even bigger. Floor to ceiling windows covered entire walls, giving the owner a forest view, no matter where he was in the house. It’s been a couple years since I’d been inside, and I’m sure that was just spectacular. Uncle had a habit of renovating – and enlarging – his house often. Behind his house, hidden behind the trees on the left was a full stable and field, and taking up a half acre on the right was his personal forge.

On the right side of the street was Grandpa Moore’s house. Structure wise, it was like a little brother to Uncle’s house. They had the same characteristic and style, but grandpa’s was much smaller. I asked why once, and Grandpa just said that he didn’t need that much room. He’d rather spend his time roaming outside, instead of spending it cooped up. Even though grandpa had passed away, the house was still meticulously maintained – courtesy of Uncle. The deed was actually under Dad’s name, although Dad never visited.

The reason why was because of the house on the left side of the road. Our old house.

I hadn’t stepped foot in it since we moved away, but still remembered what it looked like inside. Remembered the wide open spaces, laughter and warmth inside that modest farmhouse building. Remembered the hugs and kisses, and gentle love. The walls covered in crayon laden papers, the kitchen full of sippy cups and snacks, the large coach meant for snuggles while a funny movie played.

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That happy home crumbled to the ground, leaving behind an empty skeleton … because of me.

Dad tried to recreate the home Mom made, but it wasn’t the same. We weren’t the same without her. Dad and I were still dealing with that scar. Micah, who was too young to carry the emotional damage, instead had to tiptoe around our bleeding scabs. Thank god he didn’t resent us for it.

Uncle had built a wall of trees in front of our old house, so all I could see was the slanted metal roof over the green tips. But it didn’t change the fact that I’d only been down the street a handful of times since Mom’s funeral. Dad couldn’t bear to sell or destroy our old house. But he also couldn’t bring himself to look at it. I … felt the same.

No one knows how I ended up on the other side of the city wall in the dead of night. Uncle found me, miraculously unharmed, covered in blood – my mother’s blood – next to her monster-mutilated body. I had no memory of the event, just a shit load of trauma.

Which is why, instead of moving into the already made home here, Dad chose a smaller home in the middle of the town when we returned. Our new house was as far away from the surrounding city walls as he could find.

And I threw all his good intentions out the window and became a Hunter the moment we moved here. Hopefully, I’d be able to forgive myself for that when I reached level fifty and figure out what happened that night.

Unable to stomach the sight of our old house anymore, I clicked my tongue and guided Shiva down the lane. As I passed the houses, an iridescent balloon shimmered over them. Oh, a magic barrier was placed over them. Just like the one around Uncle’s shop in Boulder. I guess, to him, these houses were just as valuable as the treasures he commissioned. Or was it the memories inside these houses that he treasured so much?

Uncle must be home right now because the barrier around his house wasn’t activated. Just like the shop, I could get in with my DNA, but I was glad he was home. The main reason why I was here was for him.

I left Shiva in a paddock just to the right of the impressive wood and steel awning that stretched out from the wrap around porch. She happily nibbled on the tall grass growing in the corner as I walked over the overly large front double door.

“Wow,” I whispered, looking at the misted glass, black steel and aged wood. It was an artisan’s masterpiece.

I always knew that my family had money, but Dad preferred to raise us on a budget. Even all of Uncle’s shops were low-key classy. Seeing him blatantly flaunt his money now felt a little weird. I mean, there weren’t a lot of houses in the town that were this nice.

My uncle always said that family didn’t need to wait at the door, so I rang the doorbell and tested the front door’s handle. The door swung open smoothly. I poked my head inside. “Hello, Uncle?” I stepped onto the mat inside and shut the door quietly behind me.

It was just as nice inside. Large smooth creamy tiles covered the entire floor, giving unity to the open concept main floor. To my left was a pair of slightly open French doors. If I remember right, that’s where Uncle’s office was. To the right was a front sitting area with comfy coaching set around the window – perfect for enjoying the view. Behind is a large rustic classy kitchen, a dining table, and a huge sunken living room around a floor to ceiling stone fireplace. Vaulted ceilings rose high overhead, crowned with gorgeous wooden beams. Everything was homey and expensive.

Suddenly, I felt a powerful presence. I stiffened and looked toward the office. Something about the feeling was familiar, but I couldn’t place it.

The doors swung open and Uncle stepped out of the office.

I blinked at the title over Uncle’s head. For the first time, I could see his level. [Maveric Moore LV 48.] Wow, I knew he was strong, but I didn’t know he was that strong.

“Ria? What’s my little princess doing here?” He paused, taking in my appearance. His gaze lingered on every flaw in my armor, as if trying to assess if I was injured underneath.

I stiffened. Oh, that’s right. I was still a mess from the fight with the unknown. The gore from the horned monkeys’ disappeared when I took their drop items, but there was still dried blood – some of it mine – from the other fight. As for my injuries, they were practically gone already. Apparently the Limited Regen ability accepted sitting on a mount as resting, so I had watched my HP and MP bars slowly rise on the way back to Mist Haven.

I forced a smile, as if this was no big deal. “Hi, I wanted to use your shower really fast. Ah,” I looked down at the expensive tile, “but maybe I should use the one outback in the stables.” Even if I took off my shoes, I could trek gunk through his house. I should think about that first, next time I visit.

He shook his head. “No, no.” He waved toward the back of the kitchen. “Just use the one west suite. But hurry, I have someone I want you to meet.”

I glanced towards the mostly shut French doors. The presence that I felt earlier wasn’t Uncle’s – there was someone else in the office. Quite a few A ranked Hunters lived around here. Was it one of them? That meant they were a client of Uncle’s. If so, I should greet them – but definitely not looking like this.

“Okay.” I put my boots in my Items Bag, ducked my head and hurried to the hall behind the large kitchen, trying to minimize the mess I made.

Twenty minutes later, sporting freshly dried hair and the spare clothes in my Items Bag, I hurried back to the office. I’d been in such a rush, I didn’t take time to clean my gear, but that would just have to wait.

I could hear two male voices talking inside, but I couldn’t make out their words. The office must have another one of Uncle’s barrier spells, but in place to give privacy. I heard that he didn’t used to be that good at barriers – his natural affinity was fire – he’d made it his life’s mission to perfect them in the last eight years.

I knocked softly on the glass and waited.

The door opened, revealing a tall man. His pale blond hair fell around his way-too-handsome face, a face I’d never forget. He had central heterochromia eyes, with a bright blue on the outside and an intense gold ring around his black pupil. His street clothes — jeans and a casual shirt – all of which screamed money.

My lips parted in surprise. It was the guy I saw in the Hunter’s Association building this morning – the one with the strange aura. Unlike this morning, when he wore his Hunter aura like a cloak to suppress others, his aura was tucked away so I wasn’t uncomfortable at all.

He smiled softly at me, so handsome that it was almost painful to look at him. “Hello.”

I blinked, my mind shutting down. “Ah, hi.”

The sound of my own voice startled me out of my stupor. My god, I had been dumbfounded by his close up looks. That was so unprofessional. I could feel an embarrassed flush threatening to burn my cheeks, but I refused to let it surface.

Uncle Maveric stepped into view, fortunately giving me something to ground myself in. “Good, you’re back.” He looped an arm around my shoulders and pulled me into the office. “Let me introduce you two.” He squeezed my shoulders then motioned to the other man. “Ria, this is Terre Noble. And Terre, this is my grandniece, Ria Moore.” He paused and gave a stern look. “And she’s never available.”

*****