Spell Weaver: A LitRPG Adventure, page 53
Sarah’s breath caught in her throat, and she wondered if there were attacks that could target an aura. She almost called out, worried that a skill would target Alex’s aura. She had seen nothing like it before except perhaps one of her government clients, Johnathan. But even Johnathan’s massive aura was uncontrolled. It was simply ‘on’ all the time, whereas Rylan’s was moving with intent.
Her focus shifted back to Alex to see if he had any sort of reaction.
Do I need to call for help?
As she watched, her eyes widened. His aura’s reaction was amazing. Normally, when auras clashed, they could not occupy the same space, often one moving or shifting the other. As Rylan’s aura crashed into Alex’s, though, nothing happened.
The black-and-red waves crashed against the unmoving wall that was Alex’s will. He seemed completely unbothered.
Then Alex’s head tilted to the side. She heard him say, “Are you using a skill on me?” His posture stiffened for the first time, and there was a brief pause as he shifted and looked down at himself. “Oh, well, now that’s interesting. Is this [Intimidating Presence]? A test of wills?” His aura suddenly expanded under the onslaught of black, pushing back against Rylan’s aura. As soon as the black aura retreated, Alex’s retracted into the same reduced and even-keeled state she’d seen all evening. It was over in an instant.
How is he controlling it like that? It was as powerful as Johnathan’s for a moment, but it’s nothing like the constant and uncontrolled output he has.
Rylan’s face twisted in anger, though he took a small step back as his confidence was visibly shaken. “Do you honestly believe you can come here and behave with such audacity?” he snarled. He dropped his voice to a threatening whisper. “Tsch, your recent success is nothing but a fleeting stroke of luck, I assure you.”
“Lucky? I bet you don’t even realize how true that statement is,” Alex replied in a light tone despite the hostility directed at him.
Sarah shared a glance with Mark, who looked as dumbfounded as she felt. The surrounding crowd had grown quiet, all attention drawn to the standoff. She noticed Elena watching from across the room, her expression a mix of concern and curiosity.
Just as the situation seemed ready to boil over, Elena appeared at their table. “Rylan,” she said in a firm tone, “I think that’s enough. Why don’t we go talk about the new contract system?”
Rylan’s aura still pulsed with aggression, but he hesitated and eventually backed down. “This isn’t over,” he muttered to Alex before allowing Elena to lead him away.
As soon as Rylan was out of earshot, Alex’s demeanor softened. He turned to Sam and let out a pent-up breath. “You okay there, buddy?” he asked quietly.
Sarah watched as Alex’s aura quivered ever so slightly, showing the first sign of tension since the confrontation began.
Was he just pretending to be that confident?
She had the thought and wondered if, perhaps, the old Alex wasn’t as far gone as she’d thought.
“That was intense,” Olivia said, stepping closer to Alex. “Was that a ritual under your feet? You were doing that while he was posturing?”
Alex smiled, and Sarah saw Olivia’s eyes light up as she grabbed his arm. “What did it do? It looked so small compared to the one I saw you make a few weeks ago, and you made it so fast!”
Something twinged in Sarah’s chest as she watched their interaction.
Am I attracted to this new—no, to this unrestrained Alex?
She shook her head, trying to analyze her own reactions.
Is it just a response to seeing him so changed? A psychological phenomenon where sudden transformations trigger a reassessment?
That must be it, she decided, reminding herself that things hadn’t worked out between them before and certainly wouldn’t now. Still, she couldn’t help but admire how he’d handled the situation, showing both strength and compassion.
I’m happy for him, she told herself firmly. And it needs to stay at that.
Sarah watched the tension in the nearby area of the room dissipate, and everyone gradually returned to its previous state of laughter and chatter. She observed Alex for a bit longer, and how he seamlessly transitioned from the confrontation back to his role as a caring friend.
It’s still him. Just… more.
Alex checked on Sam with a low and reassuring voice. She could see the gentleness in his eyes as they spoke, and it was clear that he cared for the younger man. The change in his state, from the resolve he’d shown before to the smiling and caring personality that he was showing to Sam. It was a reminder that beneath the confidence, the same old and compassionate Alex she’d always known was still there.
Her professional curiosity was piqued as she watched through her trait and considered the implications of Alex having control over his aura.
Is it something he’s doing intentionally? If he could teach that level of emotional regulation…
The potential applications for her work and patients were staggering. She made a mental note to discuss it with him later, away from the busy energy of the party.
As the night wore on, Sarah found herself drawn in by watching Alex navigate the social situations around him. He engaged with various guests, and his laughter seemed easy and genuine.
He’s found his footing, and it suits him.
She sipped her drink and allowed for one last moment of reflection. She acknowledged the brief flutter of attraction she’d felt earlier and recognized it for what it was.
A natural response to witnessing such a dramatic transformation of someone I care about.
But as quickly as those feelings had come, they had faded, replaced by a warm sense of happiness for her friend.
She nodded and turned to rejoin Mark and stop trying to over-analyze Alex’s behavior. Part of her was still unsure of how he was doing with more of the dark part of his journey, having breezed over the fact that he’d killed other humans to survive. Sarah knew it was a lot to unpack, but she’d seen men who were good at holding in their feelings and didn’t get the same impression from Alex, even in this changed form he was showing.
While there was a lot she wanted to do to help him heal and process everything he’d been through, she knew it wasn’t ever good to be so personally attached to a client. She resolved to spend some time reaching out to contacts she had through work and talking to Alex about speaking with someone for any help he might need.
For now, though, she was content to watch one of her best friends thrive in his new skin. The confidence and changes were inspiring, especially considering the challenges he’d faced.
59
UNBOUND
“No way!” Mark yelled. “How the hell is this kid so good!”
Alex laughed and tossed the control onto the coffee table after he died. He reached into the chip bag in front of Sam and chomped down on a chip before ruffling the teen’s hair.
“Man, I don’t know, but he kicked both of our butts.” He stepped over Sam and walked to the kitchen counter, where he’d left his phone. “All right, it’s about that time. Sam, you’re sure you’re good to stay with Mark?”
Sam looked over his shoulder and nodded at Alex.
“Go on, dude. He’ll be fine! You’re just hoping he says he wants you to stay so you don’t have to go to dinner.”
Sam looked back and forth between the two quickly before raising his eyebrows at Alex.
“Ugh. You and Sarah are too much. Don’t answer the door, and don’t go out there. It’s a madhouse since Taker disappeared yesterday. Can’t believe Elana saw this coming. I’ll be back later; don’t burn the place down. Val, let’s go!”
The steadily growing mana wyrm flew from the bedroom and dove into Alex’s coat.
You really like that cat tree, huh?
“Home.”
Alex chuckled and grabbed his keys. A short drive later, he was knocking on his parent’s door. His brain flashed back to the last time he’d been here, a bit more than a month ago in normal time, and a completely different person. He’d felt like a superstar during the event on Friday and felt invigorated after standing up for himself after Rylan had tried to intimidate him. It had been surprising to find that he could see through the man’s blustering.
When he compared someone like Rylan to someone like Eura or even some of the formidable warriors of the Celestial Lotus Sect, he was nothing. He was an oversized kid with some powers, whereas they were weakened warriors with decades of training. He knew that if he could hold his own against them, then someone like Rylan Voss wasn’t worth getting worked up over.
He did his best to carry that same confidence and growth to his parent’s house, but for some reason, he found it hard.
Why does the idea of talking to my parents scare me more than getting into a fight with someone who’s got superpowers and 100 pounds on me?
When his mom answered the door, Alex gave her a hug and walked into the entryway. His dad called a greeting from the living room, and they walked to meet him. Alex looked around curiously. While his parent’s house felt small, it wasn’t the same suffocating feeling as before. Instead, he, himself, felt larger than the small dwelling.
The smell of home-cooked food was more comforting than he remembered it being, and he was able to relax when he sat on the couch. It was clear that his mother was excited for Jake to arrive, and she hinted twice that he had some sort of big news to share. Alex idly wondered if he should share with them any of his own recent successes.
Nah, I guess tonight is about Jake. Knowing my parents, they’d probably just freak out if I tried to explain to them that Awakening was actually a good thing. Mom has always compared money to success, though; I think she’d weep if she heard some of the initial numbers that Elana was throwing around… Maybe I will tell them in a few days? At the very least, it might get them off of my back for a bit.
Jake arrived after a time, and they made small talk until dinner. Alex noted that his clothes were new and looked to be expensive. He also kept checking his phone for the time or a notification, which he thought was weird. His mother fussed over him some, but after some time they gathered around the table in their normal seats. Alex had to stifle his laughter as Jake casually ate his food, and their mother looked like she was about to explode from anticipation.
“All right, son. What is it that you wanted to tell your mother and me?”
What am I, chopped liver?
“Well, it’s close enough,” Jake started dramatically. “I’ve recently quit my job.”
The entire table was silent, and the clink of forks on plates ceased.
Their parents loved Jake’s job and how successful he was at pharmaceutical sales. His mom loved to hear about his achievements and share them with nearly anyone who would listen.
Jake checked his phone again before locking it and putting it in his pocket. He then stood and smiled. “Actually, before I explain why, there’s something you need to see. Let’s go to the living room, really quick. It’s important.”
Alex noticed an unusual seriousness in his brother’s normal, carefree attitude. Their parents exchanged confused looks before following Jake’s lead.
Jake muttered to himself as he fiddled with the remote and turned on the TV. It was still on a sitcom rerun station that his mother loved to watch.
“Jake, what—”
“Just one second, Mom,” Jake said while rechecking his phone. “Any minute now.”
The sitcom cut off mid-scene and was replaced by the harsh, beeping tone of the emergency broadcast. The strange test pattern filled the screen, though Alex supposed it wasn’t a test this time around.
The President of the United States appeared on the screen, standing at a podium. There were people standing to either side of him, but Alex’s eyes widened as he looked at the country’s leader.
Holy shit. He Awakened. There’s no way he didn’t. He has to have increased his Vitality.
The current president was at the end of his term in office. He’d been old at the start of his term, but the stressors and pace required to live in the White House took its toll on the man. In the last year, there had been countless memes and jokes made about his slow intellectual responses or failing memory.
The president that stood behind the podium looked at least ten or fifteen years younger, and his eyes were bright and attentive as he looked into the camera. He had a solemn expression as he glanced down at the podium and waited for several long moments.
Alex could imagine that even though they were quiet and watching in the living room, the odd silence and seriousness of the situation would likely cause a hush to fall over even the rowdiest of sports bars.
“Good evening, my fellow Americans.” There was a slight whine from the microphone before he continued. “Today, I address you not only as your president, but as a concerned citizen of this great nation. Over the past two months, we’ve faced an unprecedented challenge. One that has changed everything we thought we knew and will continue to do so. The emergence of the Rifts has brought with it dangers that we must confront head-on.” He shook his fist in a show of force that all but confirmed to Alex that he was Awakened.
“Yesterday, we witnessed a truly tragic event. A beloved member of our online community, known to many of you as Taker, entered a Rift in an attempt to understand the unknown, only to be lost. Despite the camera’s inability to work within the Rift, he and his team set the livestream pointed at the portal and entered with promises of returning victoriously. The live broadcast of Taker’s disappearance was seen by hundreds of thousands. I understand the fear and uncertainty that many of you are feeling. We mourn the loss of Taker and recognize the grief this event has caused many of you at home.
“But from this tragedy, we must find a way to rally together. We must use our collective strength to move forward. Not just for ourselves… but for our families and our future. The Hunters Association was established to protect us from these very dangers, and it is now more important than ever to support their efforts.”
Their dad immediately began to grumble and huff about the fake news and propaganda that was being pushed by “The Media.”
“Dad,” Jake said while waving a hand.
He got up from his recliner and called their neighbor. “Rob, are you watching this shiet?”
Alex tuned out his father and listened with rapt attention to the public announcement. He realized that this was an event that would be recorded in history, and nothing would ever be the same moving forward.
“The Hunters Association, led by brave individuals like the Crimson Warrior, is here to protect us and guide us in this changing world. These Hunters are ordinary citizens who have stepped up in extraordinary ways to defend their communities, and we are asking more of you to join their ranks. To all who have the strength and will to protect others, we need you. To those who cannot fight, we will continue to do everything in our power to keep you safe.
“We understand that these times are frightening. We understand the anger, the frustration, and the questions without clear answers. But we must turn that fear into determination and that anger into resolve. Together, we will face this threat, and together, we will overcome it.” There was cheering, and the president raised his hand with a smile and waited for the noise to die down.
“To help protect our citizens, the government has designated Safe Zones across the country. These cities are places where you will find protection, support, and community. We ask that those in more remote or isolated areas consider relocating to these Safe Zones, where we can concentrate our efforts and resources effectively. Our goal is to provide assistance with relocation, including temporary housing and financial support for those in need. Our aim is to ensure that no one is left behind.
“In the coming weeks, you will see increased military and Hunters Association personnel in your communities. They will be there to provide security, assist with relocation efforts, and help establish local defenses. We are also coordinating with state and local governments to set up temporary shelters and provide essential resources for those affected.
“We have also established community support programs that will help those relocating and provide training for those who wish to assist in the defense efforts. These programs will be vital as we move forward.
“We are not alone in this fight. The Hunters are our shield, and they are fighting on behalf of every one of us. As we honor the courage of those we have lost, we must also look ahead and build a future where we can face this threat with unity and strength!
“Please, everyone, listen to a few words from our strongest shield in this fight. Many of you have seen this man from afar, closing Rifts alone and fighting against the unknown. This man has recently joined the Hunters Association and is working with our full support to continue fighting against the Rifts. The Crimson Warrior.
“Thank you, and may we all find strength in each other in the days to come.”
He’s closed Rifts by himself?
Alex’s eyebrows rose unintentionally, and he wondered what level the man must be at. He was impressed by his sheer size and clear physical power as he stepped forward into the same space that the white-haired president had been. The current speaker, who introduced himself as Jonathan Reeves, seemed like he could crush the podium in a bear hug.
Jake turned down the volume once the main speech was over, and the room remained silent for several moments. Jake stood before them, his usually confident smile replaced by a searching look.
“That’s actually why I wanted to talk to you tonight,” he said. He looked at their dad, who had returned and was staring at the TV in shock. “You see, I got an offer for a better job!”
“A better one?” their mother asked, confused.
“Yes! Well, you saw the speech and the government incentive program, right?”
No…
“Bah, it-it’s just got to be a fake,” their father said, but the normal conviction with which he dismissed things was absent.
