There days in the Valder villa where slow and relaxing everyone took the first day to relax enjoying meals often made by Rin. Valder had come early in the morning to visit, taking an entire grocery list from Rin after he spent the night looking up recipes online that he could cook.

  “I am not going to buy you beer and wine Rin.” Valder was firm on his stance. Rin holding a list of ingredients he had made pointed to a recipe.

  “ Look, I need the red wine for my braised lamb steak and for the mushrooms that I'm making as a side dish. And I need the beer for the tibimasese chili I plan on making. The bitter malty flavor should offset that gaminess. I know you tasted it in that beef. Wellington”

  Valder paused and considered for a moment before shaking his head.

  “ I'm not concerned about what you're going to cook them into; what I'm concerned about is giving four underage students alcohol.”

  “ There has to be some compromise we can come to? Maybe we can lock them into a safe where I need to contact you when I want to use it. Or I could have Sophia make sure none of it goes missing and whenever I use it I can make a record of its use.” Rin didn't even think of drinking the alcohol when he was putting his list together and was grasping at straws.Valder rubbed his forefinger and thumb against the bridge of his nose and then sighed. This argument has been going on for the better part of half an hour. He decided to agree.

  “ Okay Rin I'll get you the alcohol on one condition”

  “ And what's that?”

  “Your friend Kenji has rebuffed all of Alverezs attempts to get him to go work with him at the mages administration. And Alverez has been on my case to expel him so he has no choice.”

  “ Understandable, it's a means to an end.” Rin nodded

  “ Yes but highly unethical. Kenji's reason for declining is you. He wants to talk to you first before making that decision. It seems despite only knowing one another for only a few weeks he values your input a great amount.”

  “ I can talk to him, will you bring him over?”

  “Yes.”

  Alverez on Valder's request came to teach Rin. Liliandra, Douge, and Sophia were ostensibly done with their regular schooling and were only attending extracurricular courses to further their education. So when Alverez showed up it was only Rin who would attend his impromptu class.

  “So Rin I'm sure you have had plenty of people teach you about magic at this point but I'm here to tell you they are wrong and that you should only listen to me.” Alvarez's jewelry clinked together as he spoke animatedly. He pulled out a holoboard and transferred an image onto it from his tablet. The image was that of a perfectly square diamond with two triangles one on the top right edge and another on the bottom left edge; each triangle had three dots each on their vertex. There was a single dot in the center of the diamond; thin dotted lines connected the center dot to the other dots; only the line for the top most dot and bottom most dot were missing.

  “ This is a basic diagram representing magic as a whole. I have left out a few details and will fill those in as we progress. This top right triangle is the triangle of creations. Light,wind, and water all have points on this triangle.”

  As Alverez spoke words began to populate on the screen. Light hovered over the dot on top of the diamond, wind hovered above the tip of the top right triangle and water appeared above the final dot with the word creation forming in the center.

  “ This is the triangle creation. As you know wind and water mana can be used to create healing magic that however is just a shitty recreation of light magic. Light magic has no known user.” Alvarez paused looking towards the suit that everyone else was relaxing “ if there was any known user that would be held close to one's chest and keep a secret.’ Rin nodded understanding what Alverez was insinuating.

  “ Next is the triangle of destruction.” The bottom left set of dots began to have words from around the. The bottom most opposite of light was dark, next to that opposite of wind was earth, and opposite of water was fire. The dotted lines connected each of the four elements together. New lines began to form connecting wind to fire and water to earth.

  “Light, wind, and fire form the Energos triangle while dark, earth,and water form the Argos triangle. You might know them better as active and inactive. To form spells one must use the words of command at first it must be verbal but over time with practice it can be mental. The words of command help us connect the elemental mana we possess and shape the mana into magic spells “ Rin raised his hand and Alverez nodded for him to speak.

  “ So if I understand this, all you need to do to cast a spell is connected some dots.”

  “ In a sense.*

  “ So how does my mana manipulation work? This all seems pretty set in stone.”

  “ Look I know I said ask any questions you had but don't ask dumb ones.”

  “ What?! How is that dumb?” with a sigh Alverez still explained.

  “ Only gods or those blessed by one can manipulate mana directly and without any incantations verbal or otherwise. You are.well you know. Sophia is also and now that Douge guy. All three of you can manipulate mana on will power alone, for Sophia and Douge they are limited by their own brains having used chants for so long that they can't manipulate mana until they break that habit. You on the other hand have a special power that tells you can do it so your brain doesn't even back at the idea. Does that make sense?”

  “ Uhhh no?”

  “ Okay, short and simple. You have been told you can do it so you can. I can't speak for you but I would be willing to bet since you view it as another tool you can use you have no problem using it.” Alverez was already changing the screen ready to shift topics. Rin, still slightly confused, decided to drop and just continue to listen to the lecture that went on for longer than it had any right to. Once Alverezs lecture was finished he didn't leave, choosing to mill around the garden so he could watch them all train.

  He only lasted a few minutes before he interrupted everybody.

  “ No no no. What's with this inefficient spell casting.” Both Douge and Sophia were practicing combining elements in their spell casting. Sophia didn't have multiple elemental affinities however, her light affinity allowed her to create facsimiles of the other element resulting in fairly similar spells to Douge.

  “ What do you mean? That's the most direct phrasing we can use.” Douge stepped up to Alverez irritation showing on his face.

  “ Calm down boy. Your spell casting is excellent but it's inefficient. Both of you are casting two spells and then combining them, it's a means to an end that works but If you keep doing it that way your mana reservoirs are going to deplete faster and faster. It's not bad now and once you start mixing three and four different spells, you'll find yourself suffering from mana depletion pretty often.” As if to accentuate his point he conjured a chair made of plush clouds. A swirling mass of mana moved through the clouds giving them a soft auburn light.

  “ Are you going to tell us how we can improve?” Douge asked.

  “ No. I'm only here to educate Rin and since he can't cast spells I don't need to.” Alverez He gave them a shit eating grin his tusk turned it from shit eating to maniacal.

  The days continued on like this in near perpetuity. Without being allowed to leave the days started blending together in his free time Rin started exploring his map. Xulun was large and most of it was covered in fog on his map however he found looking out from a high vantage point allowed him to reveal more of the map sadly it was only the surface level but this was more than enough for Rin. He began mapping out a route back to his old block. It was easy to find as his mapping power marked Ms.Lons as a point of interest. At dinner everyone was enjoying a nice braised lamb shank that Rin had prepared after spending a few months together in isolation. Nobody had anything new to talk about so dinners were mostly silent, so when Rin spoke up everyone listened.

  “ I want to show you guys where I grew up and where I lived.” Rin said with determination.

  “ That's out of nowhere Rin.” Sophia was the first to respond as Douge still had a mouth full of lamb and Liliandra was chewing on the bone. “ Not sure if i speak for all of us but i would like to see it myself iv never really gone below floor one hundred.” Douge and Liliandra grunted their agreement. “ But where under house arrest for the time being so it's not like we can just go.”

  “About that.” Rin said, giving them a sly grin his normal emotionless voice tinged with a hair of excitement “ Alvarez doesn't share Valders concerns and he was willing to get me a few things. Albeit in exchange for the use of my interface but thats a small price to pay.”

  “What things?” douge asked, his voice muffled by the food still in his mouth. Rin pulled a burlap bag out of his inventory, dropping it onto the table. Grabbing the bottom he dumped out four maglocks; they were all newer models then he was used to a sleek metal handle with a polymer grip connected two sets of metal prongs that folded down between each set of prongs was a magnet and enteric engravings. These maglocks relied more on magic than technology and had a small indent for mana crystals in the handle. Along with the maglocks were four bracelets of smooth platinum.

  “Four maglocks and four suppression bracelets, Alvarez says these bracelets will help conceal our aura from prying eyes however you three can't cast magic while wearing them or else the bracelets will shatter.” Sophia and Liliandra both grab one each Douge more interested in his dinner keep eating.

  “Why did you get these?”Liliandra asked.

  “Where gonna go out for the night? I figured it would be good as I'm pretty sure all of us are starting to suffer from cabin fever being cooped up in these places.” Rin placed the bracelet around his wrist and felt no real difference.

  “It is getting pretty boring here i dont even have my game consoles.” douge said.

  “What games?” Rin asked

  “I like shooters mostly, you know those old timey ones where the guns are still using black powder and you have to reload after every shot.”

  “Oh yeah I love those we should link up and play some.” Rin was interrupted by Sophia

  “Back on topic boys. We can't just leave, my grandfather will find out.”

  “I already thought of that and Valder doesn't really show up after one o’clock so if we get back here by morning say seven we should be fine. Plus Alverez already knows so it's not like where without permission.”

  “I think we should do it.” Liliandra said.

  “I agree but um why do we need these maglocks?” Douge picked up one and looked it over his large meaty hand barely fitting inside the grip.

  “We can't exactly take a bus where we are going so we are gonna get there by running. We will have to jump the chasm a handful of times but it should be safe especially with everyone's increased stats from their affinities.” Rin said.

  “Chasm?” Douge asked.

  “The thorofare, he calls them chasm.” Liliandra answered.

  “Thats what they are. Down in the blocks we don't really have buses or cars so the large separations are just chasm to us.” Rin having finished his food and picked up the plate, Sophia was done so he grabbed hers too and walked into the kitchen to dump the plates into the sink.

  “I guess I'm out numbered aren't I?” Sophia groaned but a small smile played across her face.

  The night air was cold against Sophia's face as she stood on the edge of her grandfather's villa estate looking out over Xulun city. The suppression bracelet was heavy on her wrist as it pulsed a strange energy. In the past few months she had grown used to pushing out with her aura to feel around and now that the ability was gone she felt blinded. She looked down into the chasm as Rin had described it. Thousands of lights lit the way down all ending in an instant leaving a dark void. She wouldn't say she was fearful but the idea of jumping down into that seemingly endless pit churned her gut. There were a few cars that were driving through the thoroughfare and that made her gut turn even more, Liliandra was feeling the same way as she spoke up.

  Stolen novel; please report.

  “Umm Rin?” Liliandra said her voice was small and timid. “Are you sure about this? It looks a little dangerous.”

  “ No more dangerous than being stuck inside a rift away from any help.” Rin spoke flatly “I used to do this all the time so don't worry too much okay. Just follow my lead.”

  And without another word Rin jumped, his duster was flapping as the wind whipped around him Sophia, Douge, and Liliandra watched as he threaded the needle between two cars. A faint flash from his maglock was the only sign he connected to the other end after falling a dozen floors a few moments later he was flashing a light for them.

  “ You first Sophia.” Douge said patting her back

  “ Why me?” She replied.

  “ You're the party leader, it's only right. Isn't that right Lili.”

  “ Yeah you know, also ladies first and all that.” Liliandra added.

  “ But you're a lady two.”

  “ You're more refined so you're more of a lady.”

  “ You're a princess, how can I?” Sophia groaned and looked back towards Rin. “ Fine.” Sophia jumped following Rin's light. She flew across the chasm hanging in the air for longer than she thought she should. Rin's light grew bright quickly and she was able to see him. He was shouting and waving at her but the wind in her ears was too loud.

  “ What?!” she asked, her voice being lost to her own ears in the wind.

  “Use the maglock and grab the power cable!” Sophia was only able to hear every other word and her reaction as fast as it was wasn't fast enough. She smacked against the concrete building, her body bouncing off it like a rubber ball and before she knew she was falling straight down into even more traffic. The section of chasm Rin had jumped to was a flight restriction zone however at the speed Sophia was falling she would quickly fall back into a none restricted section. Rin jumped down after her using his maglock to gain speed before leaping across the chasm once again. He grabbed her, changing the direction of her fall from straight down to a slight angle.

  “Dont panic, okay panic will only make things worse.” Rin said as they were both falling he had a single arm wrapped around Sophia holding onto her tightly. Her heart was pounding. She had never felt so out of control even isolated away from everyone she knew she had a modicum of control over her situation.

  “If those cars hit us, we're gonna be paste at this speed.” She said her eyes darted around looking for something she could do.

  “ When I say so, kick off my chest back towards the building, no questions asked okay.” She opened her mouth to refuse but closed it and decided to trust him.

  “ Now!” Rin shouted. The cars now only a few feet below Sophia kicked, pushing Rin towards the cars and sending herself back towards the building. She watched as they arched away from one another, pain shot up her back as she landed sliding onto wet grass.

  “What happened?” Liliandra asked as she climbed down and onto the same level as Sophia . She had the easiest time crossing the chasm besides Rin. The beastkin race granted her a more feline-like agility that had helped her cross. Sophia was sitting slumped against a wall catching her breathing Douge had walked over to check in on her. Both Liliandra and Douge had watched Sophia's blunder and seen Rin jump after so save her both of them jumped fearful for their friends using the maglocks they managed to ride the power cable down to Sophia but Rin was nowhere to be seen.

  “I messed up and now Rin is.”

  “Fine he is fine.” Rin said Interrupting Sophia. Sophia jumped to her feet and watched as he walked away from the edge he had his bone white breast plate on.

  “ How? You were going straight into traffic.” She asked surprised.

  “This breast plate has a skill embedded into it so I equipped it using my inventory then used the skill. I wasn't sure if it would work while I was in the air but it did and it's good to know that it does. I'll work. We're a few floors lower than I planned, but this should be fine. Let's keep moving. We got to run through this block. It's a bit of a maze so follow me.” Rin did give anyone a chance to ask any more questions as he broke into a sprint leaving everyone else to catch up.

  The rest of their journey through Xuluns underbelly went without incident. Everyone gradually grew used to jumping across the chasms. Rin would direct them towards restrictive flying zones the best he could to minimize the danger. Each new block was a maze but with Rin's mapping ability filling out the area around him as they went. He was able to navigate it fairly easily. Nightlife in Xulun city was busy. As the team ran through residential areas, it was fairly quiet with most people sleeping so they could work the next day however, as the area slowly turned from residential to commercial life, it picked up again. People working through the night as well as shopping and living out their daily routines. Occasionally they would get an odd glance. However on Rin's advice the team had dressed in mostly black casual attire and so to the average citizen, they simply resembled some parkour runners that were often seen running through the blocks at night Rin was unsure at first worried that the parkour runners or something exclusive to the blocks around where he grew up but seeing the reactions of everybody else alleviated his worries. Not before too long, they were in familiar territory Rin started recognizing key locations he had learned while on the job supply cabinets, various access, hatches and even the occasional Park that he vividly remembered as rally points in case the crew needed to evacuate. Finally Rin and everyone else arrived at Ms.lons after about three hours of non-stop sprinting. All four of them were thoroughly exhausted. Douge exhaled with a loud boisterous laugh.

  “ This was amazing!” He said very loudly.

  “ Keep it down. We're back in a residential area where there are people trying to sleep.” Rin scolded.

  “ Who's there?” The door to Ms.Lons opened revealing an elderly woman with no hair. Her skin was gray and patchy causing Liliandra to gasp in surprise. Cancer had taken its toll on Ms.Lons and the healing magic used to cure it had been shot at best to Liliandra trained eyes she could see every mistake that was made during the healing process. Cancer was bad but with medicine and magic working together It was no longer a life-threatening illness no matter what kind of cancer it was.

  “ I'm sorry children but I'm out of food to give out. You'll have to come back tomorrow when I get another shipment in.”

  Douge and Sophia glanced at each other then Rin.

  “ Where not here for food Ms.Lons” Rin said, stepping forward Ms.Lons head whipped to look at the familiar voice.

  “ Rin? Oh sweet child I thought you were dead.” Tears swelled up in her eyes and began to stream down from her face. Each tear was flecked with red spots, another sign of the third rate healing done on her Rin stepped forward and offered her a hug. He didn't feel compelled to do this. However, he knew this was an appropriate response. Ms.Lons stumbled forward into his arms. The other remained silent watching the two hug once Ms.Lons had finished crying she stepped back wiping away tears.

  “ Who told you I was dead?” Rin asked

  “Paul. He said you gone off and became an adventurer to forget all about us. Then he said he heard some from some adventurer buddies that you died to a lurker.” A scoff came from Douge.

  “ Lurkers, that's a whole lot of nonsense.” Lurkers were some of the weakest monsters that appeared in Xulun slums. They held a close resemblance to slimes however, they lacked the physical resistance and could be easily killed.

  “ Who are your friends, sweetie?” Ms.Lons asked in a sweet grandmotherly voice.

  “ Allow me to make introductions.” Douge stepped forward and offered his hand. “ My name is Dougelee Vlounderparts. I'm the heir to the Vlounderparts space station and fabrication. This is Liliandra of the Xulun mountains and Sophia.” Douge paused but Sophia picked up

  “ Sophia Hunst heir to the Hunst Academy.”

  “I'm a princess of the Xulun mountains thank you very much Douge.” Liliandra added.

  “ Sorry but you know it's impolite to drop titles like that on someone else's behalf.” Douge said

  “ Now care about manners and politeness. When just hours ago while we were eating dinner, you were eating like a slob.” Liliandra replied with a playful tone and Douge just rolled his eyes.

  “ They are my friends, ones that I can be myself around.” Rin said Ms.Lons looked at Douge, Sophia, and Liliandra with a shocked expression.

  “ you're friends with them?” she asked and then realized she was staring. “ You're welcome to come on in if you'd like.”

  “ Where good I plan on showing them around where I lived and pay you back.” Rin pulled out a credit chip. Valder had taken all of the loot they gained in the rift and sold it to a broker in The adventurers administration. You didn't make as much money selling to a broker. However, it was easier in less time consuming so is often the way most adventurers did it. They had managed to get a significant amount of wealth for Rin that meant enough to pay Sophia back and have more money then he would have made in twenty years at his old job and he had decided to give back to the woman that gave him so much when he was seven.

  “There's one hundred thousand credits on this so don't lose it okay.” He gently placed the credit chip in Ms.Lons hands and walked away.

  “Wait Rin!” Liliandra said, grabbing his arm and pulling him back. “ You've been studying ritual magic with Alverez right?” Rin looked at her confused as to why she would ask.

  “ I have, he's been teaching me how to form a ritual circle with words of command and mana crystal incorporation but I've yet to actually get a ritual to work successfully.”

  “ I want to heal her but the healing magic used on her was so abysmal that I'll need a good ritual. I can see it. It's hard to explain but I think it's a power from my aura”

  While Rin had been studying with Alverez and training the four forms with Douge Liliandra had thrown her self into personal growth meditating most the day working with her own aura despite the suppression bracelet, she could still see the maledictions that ailed Ms.Lon

  [Aura: caretaker: Effect: your aura will highlight ailments injuries and maledictions you'll have an instinctual understanding of any ailments injuries or maladdictions highlighted by your aura. Or produces a calming effect helping to soothe ally minds.]

  “ Okay let me know what you need and I'll help. Should Sophia and Douge help?” Liliandra looked at Sophia and shaked her head.

  “ I'll have to remove my bracelet to perform the ritual and if they already have our aura that'll be dangerous enough.” Rin nodded his understanding and walked back to Ms.Lons and started explaining what they wanted to do. She was hesitant at first but ultimately she trusted him. She let everybody inside her apartment. It was small. A one-bedroom apartment that was mostly kitchen than it was home. She had a large variety of fridges and freezers set up throughout her living room with hot plates and even a few gas burning stoves. Douge and Rin started moving around furniture. Making room for the ritual circle Rin was going to draw up Ms.lons, unsure what to do with so many high-profile people in our house, decided to make some coffee and hand it out to them when it was done. Thanks to Rin's ability to overlay the words of command in his vision, he was able to quickly construct the ritual circle using his interface as a guide. On Liliandra instruction he made the circle out of iron filings, pulling out a few wind and water crystals to place in specific points of the ritual circle. The wind crystals weren't strictly needed since Liliandra had a wind element affinity; however , they would help supplement her mana supply. Ms.Lons was moved to the center she carefully stepped over the iron filings making sure not to mess up the ritual circle.

  “ I'm sorry you have had to live with this Ms.Lons who ever healed you last was a scam artist at best.”

  Ms.Lons had gone to the local hospital to get her cancer. With medical technology her cancer would have been incurable but manageable with chemotherapy and weekly visits. She would have been fine, The same for magic. Neither could have cured her cancer on their own. However, together they created a powerful force, the magic incapable of completely healing her without sending her body into shock and killing her would have been helped by medical technology reducing the strain on her body, allowing magic to remove it completely however, the local hospitals in the block weren't blessed with doctors that held good, magical talent and so though the cancer was removed, the ill effects still remained in her body.

  Liliandra removed her bracelet and began to chant her voice carrying the all too familiar gravelly tone of the words of command, however to Rin's ears she was speaking common again.

  “ As your life is to live? Mine is to heal tempestuous winds and cleansing water bring forth the healing power and cure this woman.” The ritual circle lit up in bright hues of blue and green shifting back and forth. Ms.lons body glowed faintly and she groaned in pain as sweat started dripping off her. The rituals, circle and mana crystals all dissolved into thin air as the glow died down Ms.Lons became more visible Her once pale gray skin now had a ghastly pale to it and even though her breathing was ragged she was smiling and then she started laughing happily.

  After Ms.Lon was healed Liliandra checked her over the color of her skin slowly returning to normal.

  “ Your hair should also start to grow back soon so look forward to that.” Liliandra said with a smile. Ms.Lons was beaming in the years since she had her cancer cured; she had never felt so good.

  “ Thank you so much. I had, had no clue that I was still suffering. I just thought that this was my penance for getting my cancer cured. I can't thank you enough. Rin, thank you for bringing your friends. They are such amazing friends. I won't have to worry about you anymore. The young starving boy whom I feed every morning has really grown up.” She smiled and hugged him, holding him tightly.”

  “ Thank you for caring. If you see Paul tell him I'd like to meet up.”

  “ I will. Oh and Rin be careful around the block the gangs have gotten worse.”

  “Worse how? I didn't see as many as I normally did outside. I thought it was just getting better.”

  “No.” Ms.Lons shook her head side to side.” They've all consolidated into one large gang. I heard this morning while handing out food that they were planning on tackling other blocks taking more territory.”

  “ Doesn't the adventurers' administration or the police force take care of that? "Douge asked.

  “ No.” Rin said. “ We're down far enough in the city where the adventures administration and even the police force don't look at us. There are few precincts but they don't do much and are filled with corruption.

  “ But the slums are just a few floors down. I know for a fact the adventurers' administration sends people down there all the time to clear out monsters..”

  “ That is because the monster can affect infrastructure and business on the surface, Douge. Businesses post contracts for the adventurers administration to take care of the monsters. Doesn't your family do the same?” Sophia said

  “ No, we don't really deal with anything surface level.”

  Ms.Lons moved to give Liliandra a hug good bye as Sophia started explaining how despite how run down and seemingly unimportant the slums where a lot of business located on the surface use it to house low wage factories and transport hubs.

  “ Thank you so much sweetie. I can't thank you enough. I haven't felt this good in years.” Ms.Lons said to Liliandra

  “ Please don't worry about it. Me and Rin will be coming back to check on you when we can play.Isn't that right Rin?” Liliandra said

  “Huh?” Rin shifted his focus from Sophia and Douge to Liliandra.

  “ We will come back to check on Ms.Lons right?”

  “Oh yes. We will come back. We spent too much time here anyways and need to return so I think coming back would let me show your guys around more anyways.”