“Obexis, I don’t know how you found ---” Droat started, however, my father did not let him get further.

  “Shut it Droat. Everyone else out, stay in the hallway. Droat and I have things that we need to talk about that are not for the ears of children.”

  By the time my father finished speaking, my mother was already at my side, swiftly unlocking the shackles that bound me to the table. Before Droat could react, a shimmering barrier erupted between us, crackling with arcs of energy and radiating a heat so intense it made the air ripple like a mirage. The sudden surge of power filled the room with a deep, resonating hum, like a distant engine coming to life, while a tingling static crawled over my skin, making every hair stand on end.

  Light bent and twisted across the barrier’s surface, refracting into shifting patterns that cast eerie, fluid shadows along the walls, giving the entire room an unsettling, otherworldly glow. Droat took an instinctive step back, his eyes darting wildly, his outstretched hand hesitating in mid-air as though testing whether the wall of energy would retaliate. The air itself felt heavier, pressing against my chest with an invisible force, making it clear that crossing the barrier wasn’t an option. It was as if the room itself was holding its breath, waiting to see what would happen next.

  Droat’s eyes widened in shock, his hand hesitating mid-air, frozen between the impulse to act and the realization that he was completely cut off. His mouth opened, then closed again, as if weighing whether shouting would make any difference. My mother gripped my arm firmly and led me out, while my father shut the door behind us with a deliberate finality. As the heavy door clicked into place, I heard Droat’s muffled shouting, his words lost to the thick wood and the hum of the barrier, leaving only an ominous sense of unfinished business.

  “That is some serious soundproofing.” I muttered, before someone slammed into my chest. Looking down, I finally realized just how much I had actually grown. The top of Evelyn’s head barely reached my chin now, a stark contrast to when we first met. The realization hit me with a mix of pride and unease. Growing stronger and taller was one thing, but it served as a constant reminder of how much my life had changed in such a short time.

  “We thought something had happened to you because you befriended us.” She said, though her voice was muffled being buried in my chest. Robert just smiled and stuck his fist out for a fist bump. Unfortunately, for him I had grown so much stronger that when I bumped his fist it was slightly harder than he expected and had not activated his talent.

  We chatted idly while my mother did what mothers do best, fussing over me with the kind of practiced efficiency that made me wonder if she'd secretly trained as a medic. Her hands moved with purpose, checking for any lingering injuries, her eyes scanning me like a hawk looking for the tiniest flaw. Despite knowing I was perfectly fine, she still asked if I’d been eating properly, even though she was fully aware of the supplies I had in my Inventory. Some things, I suppose, never change.

  What did surprise me, though, was how much she herself had changed since The System had entered our lives. She’d become sharper, more focused, yet still clung to the motherly instincts that had always made me feel safe. She pressed me again about my meals, despite knowing exactly what I had stocked up on before my encounter with the Elves. Thinking about them almost made me reach for some of the food I had acquired, but I stopped myself just in time, not wanting to pull anything out in front of the twins and raise unnecessary questions.

  While we waited for my father to finish up inside the room, we did not talk about anything serious. With how well the door cut off Droat’s yell from before I was surprised to still hear a few thuds from inside the room. Though they did not last long before nothing, but silence came from the room.

  Marian was the biggest surprise for me. After my mother did her checkup Marian came over and smacked me upside my head for going through the exit of the Dungeon. Even though that was the common thing to do. I was also surprised to note that she looked much younger than the last time I saw her.

  Ayla acted like the little kid that she was of course. The moment mom was out the way she launched herself at me. “Jace, you were gone for forever! What happened? Did you do awesome things? Did you bring me anything home?”

  Patting her arm, I reached into my pocket and summoned a cookie that was at one of the restaurants that Liliana took me too and gave it to Ayla. I figured that it would keep her quiet for a few moments.

  Robert, surprisingly, was the quietest of the bunch. He lounged with an easygoing smile, his sharp eyes flicking between speakers as he absorbed the conversation like a seasoned observer. Every now and then, he’d offer a thoughtful nod or let out a quiet chuckle at a passing remark, but he seemed perfectly content letting the others take the spotlight. His relaxed posture and the amused glint in his eyes suggested he was no stranger to chaos, in fact, he might even enjoy it in his own way. It was clear he understood the value of patience, knowing exactly when to speak and when to sit back and watch. Probably a skill honed from dealing with his mother, I mused.

  My father apparently decided not to waste time and came out a few minutes later, shutting the door behind him. The glimpse I got of Droat showed that he was bloody and bruised and shackled to the table where I had been. Though he was still breathing so there was that.

  As we stepped out of the interrogation room, I couldn’t shake the tension still clinging to my shoulders. The weight of everything that had just transpired pressed heavily on me—my father’s imposing presence, the unsettling reality of the situation, and the lingering sense that this ordeal was far from over. The sterile hallways stretched before us, their eerie silence amplifying the echo of my footsteps, a constant reminder of how much my world had shifted in such a short time.

  “Uh, dad? Don’t we need to do something with him?” I asked, my voice low but filled with uncertainty. It felt strange to simply walk away, leaving a man we knew was involved in an attempt on the prince's life shackled behind us.

  “No need to worry about him. He won’t die from what I did to him, and he won’t be able to go anywhere with those shackles on. I will inform someone on the way out about him.” And that was exactly what he did. Apparently, the room had a way to record everything that was said and done in it. My father found that Droat had been recording it to give to whoever his employer was, my father did not tell me that, so dad was able to use that as evidence against Droat.

  Every time I walk through the city, I am captivated by its fantastical charm. The towering spires of the castle dominate the skyline, their intricate designs shimmering under the golden sunlight, making them look as if they were pulled straight from a fairy tale. The streets bustle with life, lined with vibrant market stalls where the scent of freshly baked bread mingles with the spicy aroma of exotic herbs and sizzling street food.

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  Trees and flowers are thoughtfully arranged along the roadsides, not just for beauty, but to combat the ever-present smells of a densely populated city. The waste channels, a marvel in themselves, are maintained by tiny, palm-sized slimes that wriggle tirelessly through the murky water, their translucent bodies shimmering faintly as they cleanse the city's underbelly with a quiet diligence.

  Magic is woven into the very fabric of daily life—floating lanterns cast a warm glow over the winding alleyways, enchanted signs flicker with inviting text, and the hum of mana-infused machinery creates a subtle, ever-present thrum in the background.

  The castle, a sprawling structure that stands nearly twenty stories tall, dominates the skyline with an imposing presence, a testament to both grandeur and history. Its towering spires, adorned with intricate carvings and shimmering banners, seem to reach for the heavens, swaying gently in the breeze. The ancient stonework, reinforced with subtle arcane energy, gives the entire structure an air of unyielding permanence, each block telling stories of rulers long past.

  From below, the castle’s countless windows gleam in the golden glow of the enchanted city lanterns, almost as if they are watching over the bustling streets with a silent vigilance. The streets beneath are alive with activity, a colorful tapestry of market stalls, street performers, and enchanted constructs weaving through the crowds. Walking beneath the towering arches, I felt a strange mixture of awe and intimidation, as if the weight of centuries of power and decision-making pressed down upon me with every step.

  Despite having lived here for a while now, I still catch myself marveling at the seamless fusion of magic and reality that makes up daily life in the city—where the extraordinary is woven so effortlessly into the fabric of the mundane.

  It was always fun to be able to see everything that the city had to offer. Though it did not take long for us to get back to our house. My father on guard in case anyone came to kidnap either I or the prince and princess that were in our care. “I know it’s a little late for me to be asking this, but shouldn’t you two have guards? I mean someone did try to poison you already.” I asked as the thought came over me.

  Robert looked at me as though he was surprised it took me this long to figure that out. “We snuck out of school of course. Why would we openly tell people where we are going?”

  Nodding at his response we made our way inside and all sat around the table. Ayla, having wanted to ride on my shoulders all the way home finally took a seat and waited patiently for about three seconds before she bombarded me with questions. “Hold on for a bit squirt.” I said reaching down to take the ring off my finger. “Hey dad, catch.” I said tossing him the ring.

  After tossing the ring, I shot the twins a smirk and pointed at them. "Oh look, perfectly timed plausible deniability," I said, my voice dripping with mock innocence. Evelyn’s deadpan stare could have melted stone, while Robert, halfway through turning his head, caught on just in time and snapped back to glare at me with a mix of annoyance and reluctant amusement.

  "Very funny," Robert muttered, crossing his arms. Evelyn, however, just kept her unamused stare locked onto me, unimpressed.

  With a grin, I continued, "Hey, I’m not trying to be rude or anything. I just wanted to make it clear that I have absolutely no idea what this thing does. And honestly, I didn’t want my dad to have to part with his shiny new toy, because, let’s face it, I have no clue how valuable it actually is."

  At my words everyone began looking at the ring in my dad’s hands. “I am not positive here, but I think you need to drip a drop of blood onto it?” I said in a questioning tone to me father. He looked at me for a second before nodding his head and producing a barrier with a point so small that I was not able to see the tip.

  The drop of blood hit the ring and then just sort of slid inside. The moment the blood vanished my father’s eyes widened in surprise. “Hopefully there is something in there that explains what he was doing out there.” I said, hoping my father might find something of note.

  As I waited for my father to respond I felt at the link that I had with Nixy, realizing that I should have mentioned something before we made it all the way back, I looked at my mother. “Oh, mom, on a completely unrelated note, that is completely just in case. If someone were to bond a beast let’s say. How would one go about getting the animal inside the city?”

  My mother let out a sigh, “What kind of animal is it? And where did you leave it?”

  “It is currently wondering around in the woods to the Northwest of the city and it’s a Nyxalith, she is super sweet and cuddly, and her fur is so soft. I named her Nixy” At my words everyone at the table just sat there staring at me. Even my father who had been messing with his new spatial ring, something I did not even know existed, had stopped to look at me.

  “I take it from the incredulous look everyone is giving me that I either, A did something really bad, or B did something that was considered impossible? In the case of A, it is not my fault, and in the case of B I refer to my previous statement. She wanted to bond to me after we killed the Revenant!” At my words my mother’s eyes narrowed dangerously, and I knew then that I might have made a mistake in saying that.

  With the most sickeningly sweet voice I had ever heard come from my mother she spoke, “Jace, my love, why don’t you tell us all about your little trip. Then we can go and handle the fact that you are bonded to a beast that is said to be a myth.”

  “Yes ma’am!” I said with a sort of squeak. I don’t care what world you are from, or how powerful you are. When a mother or father gives you the voice, you feel it physically.

  So, that’s what I did. I went through the Dungeon and how there was nothing but goblins. I talked about the rogue goblin that almost got me, making my mother grab my hand as hard as she could. I spoke about the number of groups I had to fight and finally about Grull. My dad squeezed his chair so hard he snapped the arm rest on that.

  I recounted the moment I stepped out of the Dungeon, only to find the elves already waiting for me. Their sudden appearance had left me stunned, a jarring contrast to the isolation I had faced inside. It was as if they had been watching, waiting for the exact moment I emerged, their presence an unsettling reminder that I was never truly alone. The memory of their silent, unreadable expressions sent a chill down my spine, making me question whether my escape had ever really been in my own hands. How I was knocked out and then made friend of the Elves because of the guardian of their god. Throughout the entire retelling, my parents sat there knowing that I was leaving out large amounts of the story due to trying to keep The System secret from the twins.

  When I mentioned that the elves had a way to teleport vast distances, Robert muttered a curse under his breath, his brow furrowing in deep thought. Despite his initial reaction, he quickly refocused, hanging onto every word as I continued. I explained how I had run for several days before finally encountering Ravros the Revenant. Describing the eerie way he had killed the male Nyxalith, I couldn't help but shudder at the memory. With some unsettling necromancy magic, he had somehow reverted the female Nyxalith to an infant, a sight that still haunted me.

  When I explained the battle, my father became confused, though Robert seemed to catch on pretty quickly. “Damn liches.” Robert muttered, to which I nodded my head at him. Once I got to the point about how Nixy clawed Ravros in the face and accidently broke his necklace my father looked relieved. I then went on to explain how I thought the ring I gave him was some type of spatial device. Using my skill with “knowing things”, as I explained to the twins previously, as to how I knew what it was.

  After I finished speaking everyone seemed to try and process what I had said. Well, almost everyone, “Looks like we are going to need to teach you how to add some more oomph behind your punches kid.” Marian said when I was done. I gave her a look that said she was crazy and left it at that.