“...what?”

  Davie replied, spitting with venom, “I just checked what else Danny could have done besides terminating your Live Stream at and being a piece of shit! He emptied your shared ats from the streaming a a letter of evi. It says they have rights for forceful evi of viotion over bullshit. They're going to clear out your studio. We o get over there now.”

  Uncle Juan lowered his head in shame, uo look at his third son for what his first had done.

  Lily looked panicked as more tears streamed down her face.

  Aunt Mary got out of Uncle Juan's embrace as all frailty left her tenance, repced by the strict authority figure of their youth.

  “Okay,” she said, wiping the moisture from her eyes as she took charge.

  “Juan, you take the boys to the studio and figure out what's going on while Lily and I take care of things here. We think about everything else afterwards. Got it? Good. Now go.”

  And with that, Aunt Mary turo address the crowd when a group of distinguished professors rushed over with crazed looks, demanding answers.

  Jun was still dazed when a pair of firm hands found his tired shoulders.

  He looked up to see Professor Kindley's fa inch from his own, their noses so close that he could feel the elder's breath on his lips.

  Gross.

  Jun jerked back but couldn't escape the clutches of his professor that itting in his face as he asked questions in rapid fire.

  “JUN! Was that spirit fire?! You've asded to S-Rank?! What did your fmes do to the runes?! The RUNES Jun! The RUNES!”

  Jun was getting dizzy from all the shaking as he tried to protect his face. Fmes? That's right, people were on fire? Frozen? Drugs?

  “You hid a perfected third tier spacial Rune Jun?! SPACIAL RUNE?! And what are these runes?! These RUNES!” the Professor shouted, red faced in agitation as he'd lost all posure after what he'd experienced. His poor old heart couldn't handle so many surprises from his monstrous prized disciple. He was in so much shock he didn't even know what he was doing anymore.

  “PROFESSOR! port yourself! You are a distinguished professional and a leader of the unity. Now please unhand my son.” A sharp reprimand cut through the professor's meltdown.

  Jun looked to see a seething Aunt Mary. She looked like she inteo get physical if he wasn't let go in a sed. The professor looked embarrassed as he quickly let go of Jun's shoulders, clothes wrinkled.

  Jun didn't pay attention to his apologies, having not stopping looking at his Aunt Mary.

  She'd called him son.

  Sensing lil Davie's impatience, he looked to his professor.

  Ohing at a time.

  “Professor. The Garden is a gift to the Uy. I hope it find a home here somewhere. I have to take care of an urgent matter.... and sorry fging up the ground. Cough.”

  Not giving ce for a reply, he addressed the drone cam. Gates, how long has that been that close?

  “Thank you so much for everyone's tinued support for my work. I holy wouldn't have been able to bee who I am today and e as far as I have on my journey without you. Thank you.” Jun said before looking down at a virtual s that only he could see that ected him to the Loexus Market, messed around and hit a firmation key.

  “To show my appreciation to all of you for your tinued support, I've sent you all a gift. I'm excited for my work to find its way into the hands of those who will treasure them. Until ime...”

  Jun signaled Davie to cut the feed before leading the others past the gawking crowds. Familiar and unfamiliar faces crowded all around, but made way for the three without any fuss.

  Stand in the way of an angry S-Ranker? Do you have a death wish?

  Uncle Juan drove his beloved cssic cherry red Titan 32 Ruhrough traffic as if a demon were chasing him.

  If any other person tried driving like that, Jun would never get in the passenger seat, but Uncle Juan was the best driver Jun had ever met.

  A skilled but reckless, illegal street racer in his youth, Uncle Juan raced dangerously through traffic with one hand while his other was tightly ed around a pe at his neck. His ay had nothing to do with the road.

  The ride was silent, each to their own thoughts.

  Pulling into the old warehouse lots where Jun was renting from Danny, what they saw draihe remaining blood from Jun's and Uncle Juan's faces while the safety handle lil Davie had been depending his life on was threatening to break from his trembling hand. That fucker.

  Several roughly ized rune cars, along with one garish luxury rune car that jun reized, were parked messily in front of his studio. All three doors, including the rge garage door on the front side, were left wide open while everything he owned was beiroyed and piled into heaps out front by a group of young thugs.

  All his work.

  The hundreds of finished and unfinished projects from his journey as an artist.

  All the gss and crystal sculptures were shattered into mountains of glittering trash. He could reize the gss hand, now missing fingers and a body, of a piece that was made for Lily. She’d always admired the dancers she’d see in the old era vids, but with her health dition, couldn’t even dream of dang on her own, so Jun had been sculpting a series of crystal dancers for years. That oook over a week to get just right.

  Stone, cy, metals, gss and crystal, each had designated mounds, weirdly anized for such destru.

  Jun pushed down lil Davie's shoulder, preventing him from rushing out.

  “Uncle, please stay ih the doors locked. Don't let this kid out.”

  Uncle Juan looked at Jun hard before nodding gravely while lil Davie struggled to tain himself.

  “I help,” he mahrough gritted teeth.

  “Davie,” Jun's grip tightened in reassurance, “sometimes a man's gotta take care of his personal matters, personally. Don't worry. I'm not weak. I'm stupid strong.”

  Jun waited to see Davie give a grudging nod before he left aloh heavy footsteps.

  Seeing Jun sloroach, ohug called out to someone inside his home.

  Walking inside, Jun saw he was too te.

  Everything was gone.

  Years of work. Hundreds of sculptures that had so much of his heart.... all destroyed.

  While Jun was looking bnkly at what remained of his sanctuary, fifteen kids pying men carrying sledge hammers and crowbars leisurely encircled him.

  Sm! X3

  Click X3

  “...what have you done, Jonathan?” Jun didn't see him, but of course he was there.

  The sounds of boots stepping on the shattered pieces of Jun's life’s work revealed his presence. He turo see the smug face that had been tormenting Jun for the st four years.

  Jun didn't care about the sneering idiots and their childish attempts of intimidation with their backstreet ons or that they'd foolishly locked themselves in there... with him.

  “Junny Boi! It's so great to see you!” Decked out, head to toe, iest bring trends and the most prestigious brands, Jonathaower, AKA Johnny Steel - blegh - swaggered over like he'd seen an old friend. His butt-lickers made way for their boss as his weling smile transitioned into a proper vilinous sneer.

  It was impressive. It was just the right mix of pride and dession with his head tilted back just right, so that it was clear he was looking down on you.

  He must have practiced a lot.

  “Believe it or not, this isn't personal. We just got issioo do some good, ho work.”

  Jun ighe mog ughter as he looked at the idiot who still didn't know how far beyond the line he'd gone.

  “Your ndlord called up, needing some muscle to clear out his old tenant's trash so that he could have it ready for the enants. There was so much juhat we really had a hard time, but we made it fun for us so the work went by so quick. You missed out Junny Boi, we had all kinds of fun. ing out the trash be such a tonic for the soul, let me tell you. I feel like I've really tributed to society, you know?”

  Jonathan came from a separate branch of the Vaults Family then Danny's mother. Apparently, the two had gotten along well enough in their youth before their paths were forcefully cut with Danny's mother's abando.

  When they reunited years ter, it was as hostile rivals, but when Danny's talents bloomed, he left Jonathan's mediocre talents so far behind it was despair indug. He couldn't do anything to Danny, so he quickly set his sights on his weak little friend that he found more hateful than even his annoying cousin.

  Jun never knew why Jonathan hated him so much, but uanding a bit about his pain and seeing as how the harassment never escated beyond childish pranks and name calling, Jun ook him too seriously. Just a yapping dog on the side of the road. Pitiful thing, really.

  He'd been rather scar the st year, so Jun was surprised to see him here like this.

  “You know Junny Boi, I used to hate you. Some nobody orphan brat getting so close to the princesses of the Silverwave and Firestorm families. The. Fug. Nerve.” He'd spoken calmly enough, but the st three words were spat with such sudden venom that Jun feared for his mental health. Look, he just switched bailing in a blink. That 't be normal.

  At least that was one question answered. Maybe they could go find a therapist together.

  “But then when I found out you were living that cuck life, well, I thought I should y off you a bit. I mean, that's fug rough, man. Having your own bro bangin’ your chick behind your back for over a year like that? I heard she got knocked up too. Is it too soon for you to see who the daddy is yet? Hahahahaha!”

  Jun had been trying so hard to hold back.

  “Wha- ACK – Kegh - KIK!”

  He was fully aware of what kind of damage he could cause if he didn't trol himself.

  “SHI- ARGH!!”

  He'd promised himself that this new life would be a peaceful one.

  “GATHER TOGE- hurggg ARRRGH~!”

  He cealed his cultivation base and his past from even his new family, only to reveal it live-streaming to who knows who. Foolish.

  “FIRE?! HE, H- KEHACK!”

  There were so many important siderations for his as and decisions if he wao protect his future peace.

  “Pl, pl, plea- ARRGH!”

  But all he could see was his lover ying with his brother.

  “FUC- shhGAH!”

  For over a year? Of course, he could just be lying. But why would he o?

  “I gH - puk!”

  Looking back, suspicious signs had appeared starting about that long.

  “Regroup! Toge- HACK - ACK!”

  Just little things that seemed straime lihat didn't quite add up. Excuses that were a little odd. Gatherings that were a bit random. But he trusted them, so he had never even sidered it.

  “Open the doors! Hurry u- KEH!”

  But looking back with clearer eyes, they were fug suspicious.

  “The windows! Out through the win- ARGH - KA!”

  Was the child... not his?

  “We're all going to die he- KEH!”

  Jun had thought their lives had been perfect.

  “STOP NOT THE- hiiingg ~ ”

  They had been perfect.

  “Mommy was right, moomy wa ri- KAK!”

  But a year was a long time to fake it. Weren't they tired?

  “I swear I didn't do noth- bllleagh!”

  How many faces did they have, he wondered.

  “Get back I, I, I HAVE A KNIF- KEEEEEK!”

  In the end, what did it matter? Diving any further was only an exercise iorment without destination.

  “Haah haaah plea – ACK!”

  If he let himself sink into the 'what if's?' he'd lose his mind. It was better to focus on what was in front of him before he thought about the problem.

  Twitg bodies y in heaps, with limbs twisted a in odd dires.

  Even momentarily blinded by rage, Ju it to mere violehe sequences of this were enough to alter his pns further already. He didn’t he deaths of is tying him down.

  Doing a st sweep, Jun found a single sculpture that had missed the purge. On sed thought, it ossible they merely saw it as a random misshapen piece of dried cy.

  This had been the first gift he had made for Desi.

  All those years ago, Desi came home one day and found their families had adopted a wounded feral child that needed guidand she had made him her personal responsibility. She tutored him in all the basics of being a kid and was there for every step of his jouro being civilized. To Jun, she was the most beautiful girl in his little life and he wao give her a gift. So he dug into the ground and found some d made a cy flower like he had done in a distant memory for someone else that was beautiful.

  She had nnized what it was when it reseo her, so Jun had kept it away in shame behind an embarrassed smile.

  He'd make somethier. Aer. Aer.

  This oddly shaped piece of earth was the ter. This was where Jun's journey had started.

  A heartfelt gift that wasn't good enough.

  Jun never expis significe to anyone, even to Danny, merely keeping it close.

  Jun stretched out his hand.

  As his fingers grazed familiar surfaces and ridges, polished from years of caresses, a pulse from his index finger reduced the dried cy to dust.

  His art didn't hat kind of insecurity at its ter.

  Since everything else was ging today, might as well start anew here as well.

  He'd find a new ter.

  —

  Kig away a twitg body, Jun calmly unlocked his door for the st time and stepped out to meet a group of anxious faces.

  Aunt Mary and Lily had caught up and were standing with Uncle Juan and lil Davie. Nicole and Tiana again stood awkwardly by the side. Those two seemed to have really booday.

  They rexed when they saw he was unharmed, but couldn't hide their many other emotions.

  “Um Jun, the screams from inside,” Nicole asked in a stammer.

  “Don't worry, nobody was hurt too bad.... probably.” Jun said, looking almost certain.

  “More importantly, now that we have a moment, did Nicole catch everyone up on her end?”

  Seeing the round of unfortable nods, Jun pressed on.

  “I'm sure you noticed that I've hidden some things from you all. I just want you to know that it's only in your is that I've always withheld getting into my past. The more you know, the more dangerous it be. Even for you, Nicole and Tiana, and your families.”

  The two would normally scoff at anyone inferring their families incapable of anything, but they khat the one who spoke wasn't some ignorant brat. It was an awakened S-Ranker. If he said it was better for them not to know, they wouldn't question it, but it paihem to be so useless in this man's eyes.

  “The major families have powerful abilities. Their interrogators will see through all lies aion, but it's fine since I've only been what I want to be with you all as the people that I love that have accepted me as family. Nothing you know of me will endanger you, so if they e, just cooperate, please, don't fight back.” Nobody liked the dire the versation was taking.

  “Nicole, Tiana, I hope that I ask this favor from you. you look out for my family and make sure nobody bullies them? I'll owe you biggies.”

  “The fuck is 'biggies'?” Nicole couldn't help herself, fighting the growing moisture in her eyes.

  That wasn't important right now.

  “Where are you going Jun? Why do you have to go? Just stay here with us!” Lily cried out as she rushed into Jun's arms. The strong protective arms that was her third favorite after her mother's and Davie's.

  The thought of losing her big brother, right after what her sister had doo his heart, she couldn't accept it. It wasn't fair.

  “What's the matter Honey? We figure it out together, so let us in,” Aunt Mary plead, almost begging. It wasn't fair to her either.

  Jun ed an arm around his seother and brought her in close beside her crumbling daughter. He tried to be reassuring as he spoke gently to the lovely dies in his life.

  “It's only temporary. I'll be back to you all soon. It's just that my mother and I had some flicts that I'm very close to being able to resolve. It will just take some time.” Jun hugged them tighter and whispered in their ears, “I love you. Thank you for helping me find myself. Mom. Little Sis.” The st words were spoken with all the feeling Jun could pack, and Mary and Lily trembled, their little faces buried in his tear soaked chest.

  He embraced them o time before he went to his Uncle Juan and lil Davie. Jun gave his lil brother a fierce hug and whispered something only lil Davie could hear. He diseo grab his little brother's shoulders in a firm grip while demanding a respoh his eyes.

  Davie looked back with firm vi and gave his response. “I got it. Leave it to me.”

  Jun smiled with pride before repeating the process with his uncle. Only when Jun looked at Uncle Juan, the response was a bashful mumble of sent.

  Jun's grip firmed while his eyes grew more demanding. Only then did Uncle Juan roll his eyes before saying out loud, “I got it you little bastard. I will!”

  Jun's teasing smile was so revolting that Uncle Juan wished he could kick it.

  Finally, he looked to his friends for a response.

  It came quick.

  “You have my word as the daughter of the Silverwind family that I, Nicole Silverwind, third daughter of the main line, will do my utmost to protect your family's pead safety.” Nicole said, hand saluted over heart.

  Tiana stepped up and made a simir vow as a daughter of the Firestorm with an equal passion.

  His friends were awesome.

  He was grateful.

  'I'll repay this debt,' Jun vowed deep in his heart.

  It would be better to move faster from now on. He wanted clear records of his departure from the city to lessen any potential i in his family. He could only have faith in his friends beyond that.

  After dispersing his relut family and friends, Jun did something very ordinary. He rode the public tram.

  The route towards the Southern City Station was even duller than traveling through the Middle City.

  The Outer Ring was where most of the city's industrial and 'agricultural' facilities were rooted. Vast stretches of nd were dominated by the ugly, lifeless automated monstrosities with their stant belg clouds of foul odors.

  The areas around the city entrances along the boundaries were different. All the facilities associated with the Southern City Entraation was stantly alive with human and vehicle activity by design.

  The routes eg the different Gate Cities were only sustaih stant use. Too much time between travels could lead to unknowable dangers. This led to the current system of small armored voys dispatched on a staggered schedule that meant each voy was traveling at a distao provide support to another when in need.

  Jun's pn was simple.

  Bully his way onto the voy to anywhere with a discreet dispy of his strength. Learrade routes and the locations of the surrounding Gate Cities and disembark to.... somewhere.

  Gates. Where was he going?

  All he had been thinking about was making his exit as fast as possible to make as much distance from the st people he had left worth proteg.

  But then, where was he going?

  So much had happehat day that he really needed a moment to process his shit.

  It was in this state of mental wearihat he approached a well dressed portly man that seemed to be the voy leader. A n of heavily ized all terrain rurucks atiently waiting for their turn by the giant steel gates that served as one of four portals that allowed access in and out of the rune barriers that protected the Gate City.

  The man had just received some kind of firmation and was just about to ehe lead truck when an iron hand cmped down on his shoulder and brought his rising jiggles back down to the earth with a heavy thunk. Without a ce to react, another hand came around from behind and presented a loosely ched fist.

  “Please allow me to freely offer my services along this perilous journey. Behold, an insignifit demonstration of my strength.” After the lifeless voice whispered something ridiculous into his ear, the fist was ched.

  A ripple of pressure that only a master of peak third sing was capable of produg proceeded an even more shog pulse of ethereal white fme.

  This was an awakened S-Ranker.

  He wanted a ride?

  No problem.

  Does he want his whole voy? Fuck! Who dares to grumble?!

  No?

  Oh, thank the Nexus...