Chapter 543 - Disguised as Himself

“Good morning, young sir,” the uniformed customs officer he approached, greeted him with a surprisingly sincere smile. “Are your parents com

“Good morning, young sir,” the uniformed customs officer he approached, greeted him with a surprisingly sincere smile. “Are your parents coming? We find it best to process our guests as a family. Better for everyone, and we wouldn’t want to scare your folk if they can’t find you.”

Eric blinked, feeling a moment’s surreal bemusement.

This clean-cut uniformed man who didn’t exert any Qi pressure at all was actually worried about him! Him! A fucking monster that had Silver fuckheads quaking in their boots. Of course that was only after he was pushed to the breaking point, after taking out all their fucking pawns, but still. He sure as fuck wasn’t some clueless…

He blinked, snapping his mouth shut and swallowing, all too easily able to imagine Bunbun’s irate scolding. “Blend the fuck in and hold it together, Eric. You know the plan. And after Yon made it clear how they treat outsiders, closing access to all the formerly public cultivation schools… you know what you gotta do!”

“I’m…” Eric swallowed, blinking back sudden hot tears. “My parents… they’re not coming.”

This earned a concerned frown from the customs agent. “I’m sorry, son, could you please clarify?”

Eric choked back a sob. “They’re gone,” he whispered. “Our world suffered an incursion. They… they didn’t make it.” He swallowed, rubbing his eyes. “I’m… alone. I’m all alone and I’m not sure what to do, now. Traders took pity on me. They didn’t even call me a stow-away. They… they fed me, gave me a place to sleep, and I did my best to help, but they said they couldn’t take me on. That… that I was too young, had no skills, and that they’d drop me off here.”

Eric’s heart was pounding. Everything depended on his intel being right as he slowly lifted his eyes to meet the guard’s stone-still features. “Is it… is it true? Am I allowed to start over here?”

After the way Yon glared… Eric braced himself. Absolutely hating how genuine the fucking tears were. That calling what he was doing method acting was bullshit because these feelings were all raw, all real. He was a kid who had never known his dad as anything but a homicidal monster. His mom had seen him as nothing more than a highly valuable tool she had ruthlessly used to the absolute breaking point to get what she wanted. And even if he had gazed into eyes filled with genuine love when she had been made whole with her ascension… a broken, bitter mother was the only one he had known throughout his enitre childhood.

His guts twisted, hating how fucking close he was to all of this being genuine. Just one more damaged survivor with a sob story who was in desperate need of a hug. A family to love him.

Ha! He’d rather be blasting through high level dungeons at that very moment, enjoying the sweet fucking rush of POWER as a balm for the ache in his heart he had learned to numb, long ago.

And what a wonderful monster he had become.

So useful for his mother’s ascension.

So choice for tearing through overpowered assholes with gleeful abandon.

So painful to ever wonder what life might have been like, had things been different.

And what right did he have to complain about anything? He grew up rich! Pampered! Ruthlessly forged in martial training sessions for exactly the kind of chaotic battleground that New York had fallen into.

Just as his mother had planned.

It was only catching sight of so many cheerful families, teenagers joking with their parents while their siblings were held in loving arms that he felt a sharp, painful ache for something that all of humanity had been denied, less than two years ago.

He had the power of a 37th level Silver! Who the FUCK was he to bitch about being forged in fire now?

All those thoughts flashed in his Battletime-enhanced mind as he forced himself to raise his hopeful gaze to meet the customs officer gazing at him not with disdain, contempt, or like he was an unwanted burden… but like a man who genuinely cared.

He actually clapped Eric on the shoulder. A shoulder Eric tried so hard to relax! So it wouldn’t feel hard as iron.

“It sounds like you had quite an ordeal.”

“Yes, officer.” Eric swallowed. “It’s been, it’s been a fucking awful year.”

“But you made it, and here you are. And you’re obviously no slouch. I take it the traders gave you NanDushian mem-tapes?”

Eric flushed. “Yes, sir. They laughed at how well I took to the lessons. Said I speak like a native, now!”

The man nodded gamely. “See that, kid? To absorb mem-tape lessons that well means you’re gifted. So don’t ever doubt your potential for a moment. You’ll go far, if you’re willing to work for it.”

Eric nodded. “Yes, sir.”

This earned a smile. “What’s your name, son?”

“Eric, sir.”

“You’re, what…” The man frowned thoughtfully. “Sixteen?”

Eric swallowed. “That’s what I was told, sir. Sorry, I kind of lost track of time and birthdays since… you know.”

And that part was perfectly true.

“I’m Clove. Pleasure to meet you, Eric. I’ll bet you’ve got an appetite, after all you’ve been through.”

Eric forced a chuckle. “Like you wouldn’t believe, sir.”

“Well then let’s get you fed. Then I have some friends I’d like you to meet. I think they can help you out, Eric, if you’re willing to learn our customs and ways as well as you have our language.”

“Absolutely, sir!” Eric said with unfeigned enthusiasm.

He let Clove’s friendly patter wash over him as he was given a very rough overview of the city he found himself in, a true high-manatech megalopolis with plenty of public parts and tree-lined boulevards to balance the megalithic glass and steel high rises. Because Spiritual Energy and feng shui were very real things here… and he soon learned that there was always a demand for farmers and there were a number of agricultural schools for city youth who didn’t have farming family. And if he had an interest, he could easily intern at any of the city-ran farms which were actually just a tiny minority of the countless thousands of square miles filled with farmland between the major gate-linked cities surrounding this continent. Though that was only touched on lightly as he was introduced to a proper social worker who immediately made him feel welcome.

“Of course we always have a need for skilled professionals in other fields as well,” assured Sally, the plump and pretty woman with frizzy orange hair that hid her petite horns and surprisingly caucasian features who was presently seated across from Eric in her cheery dress and blouse.

Eyes that were a light pastel pink smiled into his own as Eric just grinned and nodded happily, digging into yet another dish of surprisingly delicious vegetable stew.

So rich in spiritual energy that he wanted to cry.

Qi-rich animal fare has successfully boosted your Spiritual Energy to 8! Your symptoms continue to improve!

“It’s been a tough year for you. Hasn’t it, Eric?”

Eric swallowed, surprised by the lump in his throat when Jin reached over to gently pat his once-more relaxed wrist.

“Yes, it has. It really has.”

Her lips curved in a motherly smile. “Well I’m happy to say that the worst has past, and that this can serve as a brand new chapter in what will be a rich and rewarding life.”

Eric nodded enthusiastically. “I certainly hope so!” He said between spoonfuls of what was now his third bowl of soup.

Jin’s smile turned thoughtful, tilting her head as she took his measure before giving a slow nod. “I have a good feeling about you, Eric. You’re highly intelligent, conscientious, clearly in good health, and you know that you want to move forward in life, even if you haven’t decided on the best direction yet.”

“Yes, Lady Jin.”

“Please, just Jin, Eric.” She winked. “You don’t want to make me feel old, do you?”

HE quickly shook his head. “No, ma’am. Not when you’re so young!”

She chuckled at the compliment. “Alright, Eric. You seem like a remarkably well-adjusted youth, just a few short years from being a man. But here in NanDushi, we pride ourselves on taking care of our extended families. Why, my family’s made up of immigrants as well!”

Eric looked appropriately impressed. “But you fit in perfectly!”

“Of course. This is my home. Now as for us getting your own home squared away…” She gave him a very adult look. “There is a cost. You understand that, yes? But yes. In light of your maturity and obviously good mental and physical health…” Eric ignored Bunbun’s gleeful internal chortles. “—I don’t see why you can’t be approved for independent housing.”

Eric’s eyes lit up with genuine pleasure. “Really? That would be wonderful! And the social worker will still check up on me regularly, right?”

She nodded solemnly. “Absolutely! The first few days will be about getting your living arrangements all sorted out. Then we’ll get you signed up for courses at whatever academy best suits your strengths, which we will be testing, just as soon as you’ve had a chance to rest! We’ll then sign you up for a zero interest student loan that will cover room and board for the next four years, until you’re a full adult at 20.”

Eric blinked at this. “Wait… twenty? Not eighteen?”

This earned a curious look, then a sympathetic smile. “Oh, you poor baby. No, child. The brain doesn’t fully mature until one’s well in their 20s, but one has to take responsibility at some time… so twenty is when you’re formally considered an adult, here in NanDushi. Of course the wise youth continues to consult with their parents to help facilitate their successes, smooth over life’s burrs and assure a soft landing when unexpected troubles hit.” She gently squeezed his hand. “But don’t worry. Our social workers pride themselves on counseling calls every week for all our charges, even those who have achieved academic success and moved on to bigger things.”

Eric blinked, more touched by those words than he cared to admit. “NanDushi sounds like paradise. Where I’m from… everyone’s left to fend for themselves at 18. And even if many of us have loving families… predatory credit cards and monstrous tuition fees were banes that could have been addressed so easily by politicians from all parties and philosophies… but never really was. Not that that matters now, with our entire world falling apart.”

“You poor dear. Well, I’m happy to say that there are no ‘credit cards’ here. Just personal loans at very reasonable rates! Not the zero interest you will enjoy as an independent minor… but non-exploitative, I assure you.”

Eric grinned once more. “Sounds wonderful.”

“Good. Now let me just get this paperwork signed off by my superior, and we’ll wrap up the testing and see about finding you affordable housing near the school of your choice, first thing tomorrow morning.”

*

“Fucking fantastic! Isn’t it, Bun?” Eric muttered to himself, already knowing that the mental bunny in his mind was probably just comforting delusion, but considering all he had been through, and for the first time in a long time actually feeling long suppressed feelings he really did NOT want to feel… he was happy with the comfort of an imaginary friend.

Even if she was a bit more sassy than he was expecting.

“Oh, you are so screwed! Fearless leader.”

Eric froze, his ears only registering the raised angry voice as he finished his last spoonful of soup.

His stomach knotted with cold dread.

“Oh, fuck.”

Bunbun chortled. “Ooh, is that… what’s the phrase I’m looking for?”

“Don’t say it.”

Eric choked back a bitter chuckle, because his familiar was 100% right. What went around came around, and irony could be a bitch.

“I don’t care how ‘well-adjusted’ he seems. There is no way in hell I’m approving of some recently arrived out-world youth living independently and causing who knows what chaos in the city at large!” Snapped none other than Yon. The guy Eric had taunted so savagely before having a spike of conscience and walking away, no doubt solidifying a low-key exasperation with off-worlders to active contempt. Especially after Eric had left him angry and raw.

And now there was another person with the exact same build, even if hair, eyes, and posture were utterly different and he looked at least 10 years younger… Eric was, in a sense, utterly under this man’s power.

Eric clenched his jaw, hating himself for seven kinds of fool.

All he could do now was face the cost of his fuckup, and push through as he always did.

Though the words that his 1700 Perception now hand ringing with exquisite clarity in his ear, even with two walls between them, made it clear that it was exactly the situation he had most wanted to avoid.

“Directly supervised foster care, Jin. No excuses! No one’s going to want to adopt a sixteen-year-old youth. Not without using him as free labor or worse. You want to have one of our workers touch base and make sure no battle-touched boy explodes on native kids in the same boat? You have my consent. You’ll even get your bonus, if he joins a farming commune or graduates from one of the academies well adjusted or better. But no way in hell am I letting any damaged foreigner have free reign of our city while still just a hotheaded boy!”

Eric did his best to keep his expression cheerful and upbeat when an apologetic looking Jin came back inside minutes later.

“Eric, good news! It looks like we’re able to find group accommodations after all, so you don’t have to start your new life completely alone. Isn’t that wonderful? And if you’ll come this way, I have some new friends for you to meet, with situations very similar to your own. That’s better! And don’t worry, we have plenty of books for you to read, and we’ll be serving you three dinner in just a couple of hours.”

Eric suppressed his sudden desire to scream, settling instead for a polite nod. “If you think it’s for the best, Jin.”

“I do, Eric.” She assured. “Look, I know you were thinking about independent living, but it really would be good for you to make friends and socialize with others in a similar position, and this will let you make friends with children your age. Friendships that could last a lifetime! Forming a far more natural and healthy support system than social services alone can provide.” She gave him her best smile, gently patting his hand as he dutifully stood.

“Wow, you are a tall one, aren’t you dear? Almost six feet! Now let’s meet our other guests and get you all ready for your new group homes. No need to worry, Eric. Your life will be full of assignments, activities, and friendships before you know it!”

Eric quickly dipped his head with agreement as he walked down the narrow rug-lined hallway, instincts screaming warning as none other than a still irate-looking Yon was glaring his way!

Eric didn’t flinch, didn’t let any jerk in his movements register as he slouched just a little bit, following in Jin’s wake.

Realizing his mistake only in that moment. He had changed his age, features, and voice, but not his height or build. Nothing to interfere with his hard-fought martial instincts or skills. But that also meant his build was the same. Another thing that would have his very existence rub Yon the wrong way, even if he couldn’t quite put his finger on why.

Either way, he didn’t bother look at the still scowling man, because why would some teenager be worrying about a stranger’s stare when a far friendlier Jin was happily chatting his ear off and promising him good things?

“Now that you mention it, foster care sounds like a wonderful option!” Eric enthusiastically said, while mentally filing away any clue or hints she gave and mentally promising himself that he’d take steps to see how he could legally apply for his majority and be free of anyone’s thumb… just as soon as his presence here, and ID cards, if they even used such, was official.

For now, best to act like a frightened survivor who was desperate just to fit in and not be rejected or imperiled.

Jin’s features lightened with his agreeableness, her own guilt at flipping the script on him easing before his own docile agreeableness. She gave a quiet nod. “I have a good feeling about you, Eric. I can tell you’re a sweetheart, and wouldn’t hurt a fly!”

Eric bowed his head. “Of course. I had a younger sister I was really close to. Before… life happened and…” He bowed his head, refusing to say another word.

Jin gently patted his shoulder. “It’s alright, Eric. It just so happens we have two girls who were also orphaned by a violent ascension. Regrettably, we only have the one processing room… so can I trust you to be the big brother these girls desperately need until we have them squared away?”

Eric blinked, more surprised than he wanted to admit by the request. It showed a level of trust that he found almost concerning. But this was a new world with a very different culture.

He quickly nodded. “Of course.” He grinned. “If they want to control the TV remote, no problem at all. I’ll just chill in the corner with a good book.”

Jin snorted. “As if we had an entertainment complex.” Her eyes twinkled. “Something to shoot for, once you finish your education and no doubt launch a wildly successful career!” She sighed. “Sadly, we only have books, art supplies, toys and building blocks, but all they do is huddle in a corner, refusing to talk to anyone. So, maybe if they saw someone young like they were, who was also, well, from rough circumstances… they might trust you? Anyway, just knock if there are any problems or if you or the girls need anything.”

Eric blinked at this before slowly nodding. “Sure,” he said, allowing himself to be led into what looked for all the world like an old school classroom, complete with desks, chairs, a bookshelf full of childrens’ books, and a container filled with wooden toys. He saw as well a pair of bathrooms and a plate filled with what looked suspiciously like chocolate chip cookies and milk.

Of course, what his eyes were immediately drawn to were the pair of girls with wide, frightened eyes the exact same hue as her sisters… with a green tint to their hair and skin that was alien to any Sylvan tribe.

He flashed them his best smile. “Hi, I’m Eric.” His thoughts then froze under the pair of too judging eyes as Jin gave him an enthusiastic thumbs up before closing the door behind her.

He tried not to wince when he heard it click shut.

The two girls just stared at him.

He blinked, his too Perceptive ears picking up harshly whispered voices uttering things that made him more than a bit angry… but he already knew that his best move was to just keep putting his best foot forward, and that’s when he saw it. The box of tarot cards on the bookshelf.

He strode there at a very human pace, carefully opened the hardwood container, and gingerly pulled out the handful of exquisitely rendered cards.

He then turned, flashing the pair of deathly still girls his warmest smile. “So, who’s up for magic tricks?”

The pair of girls exchanged anxious glances, their words the melody of birdsong bright and cheerful, and flutes given voice in the evening breeze.

“Ella, what does he want?”

The taller girl frowned. Deep green eyes so filled with despair shown with a flicker of desperate hope. “I think… maybe he wants to play cards with us?”

Maja, who couldn’t have been over than seven, gazed at a grinning Eric with a look of sheer wonder. “Ella! look at the way the cards dance and spin. Like will-o-wisps or a fearie’s wings!”

Ella stiffened, gazing at Eric with sudden desperate hope. “He couldn’t be Fae... could he? The magic here feels so strange and nothing is as it should be. I’ve seen no trace of trees since we came to this building of steel, dead wood, and stone.”

Eric dared to wink, his voice now ringing with the throaty trill of a swallow that somehow felt so natural. “That depends. What exactly do you mean by Fae? That word is too filled with conflicting meanings to translate correctly.”

Maja’s eyes grew wide. “He can talk to us. He can actually talk to us!” She burst into sudden tears.

Ella flinched, holding her sister close, gazing at Eric with guarded hope. “How do you know our tongue? You’re not from the Svelan trading clan, are you?”

Eric shook his head with a sad smile. “Nope. It’s a System-implanted Universal Language Translator. And if by Fae, you mean Sylvan…”

The girls exchanged an odd look. “You’re an elf?”

Eric solemnly dipped his head. “Well… sort of.”

“What happened to your ears? Did the orcs clip them?”

Eric solemnly shook his head. “No… I was born this way. My dad…” Eric winced. “My mom was a member of the Roundear tribe. My dad was no elf at all. I was born on a planet called Terra, far away from here.”

***

“What did you tell him?”

Jin sighed, taking a sip of her coffee as she viewed the children through the one way mirror looking into the play room. “That we’re short-staffed. I laughed at the idea we had anything like widely available television, and asked him to be a dear and be a big brother to the little ones.”

Yon gave a cool nod, arms crossed. “Did he raise any concerns about security? Give any other tells?”

Jin shook her head, her cheerful demeanor of before replaced with that of a calm, dispassionate professional. “None. I’ve seen no hints of anger, impulsive tendencies, or anything that would lead me to think…” She snorted. “His eyes didn’t even wander. Deferentially on my own, or with a lowered head. His family obviously taught him manners, before he lost them.”

“Assuming it’s not a mask.”

Jin gave her partner a look. “So what bit your ass this morning?”

Yon’s jaw tightened, eyes flashing with momentary heat, before he took a calming breath, seeming to deflate. “Sorry, Jin. It’s just…” he gave a rueful chuckle. “I was reminded today why I left Hummingbird Monastary and came back home.”

Jin winced. “I’m sorry. Did a cultivator challenge you?”

Yon sighed, shaking his head. “No. Though the way he carried himself, with the smirk of a young master looking for a fight… he’s obviously a classer with blood on his hands.”

Jin gave him a pointed look. “But he sensed that you were…”

Yon’s features hardened. “Worse than that. He sensed my rank, and the stage where a single mistake cost me everything.”

Jin winced. “Sorry, Yon.”

Yon snorted. “It’s something I made peace with, long ago. Still, just seeing those knowing eyes taunting me, it was all I could do not to do something really stupid.”

Jin blinked at that. “No. Surely not! Any foreigner, especially a foreign classer, daring to mock that which is taboo even to mention? Our supervisor would have made sure you escaped judgment with no more than a slap on the wrist!”

Yon flashed a bleak smile. “It’s not fine and censure that I’m worried about.”

Jin blinked, before nodding her head. “I understand. The temptation to go too far… you don’t need an arrogant fool’s death on your conscience.”

This earned a bleak chuckle. “Someone would have certainly died. What troubles me is that I’m not the one who would have faced charges.”

Jin stiffened at that, concerned eyes meeting her partner’s. “Yon… are you serious? A random tourist radiated that much strength?”

Yon’s nostrils flared. He took a steadying sip of coffee. “For a heartbeat. Just a heartbeat, I glimpsed the soul of a ruthless killer.”

Jin paled. “Oh no. How much trouble are we in?”

Yon shrugged. “It was… very strange. I only caught a quick glimpse before his mask slid back in place and he turned on his heels and left, radiating no spiritual pressure at all.”

Jin tutted, shaking her bring orange curls, taking a quick look at the kids under observation as she spoke on. “Someone that powerful, arrogant enough to taunt you like it was nothing... have you made a report? Someone like that doesn’t belong here in NanDushi.”

Yon sighed. “Of course we tailed him. Yet somehow he blended right into the crowd.”

Jin’s features paled. “An enemy operative. One of the other cities. It has to be!”

Yon shrugged. “Maybe. Or maybe it was a Contender, hearing rumors of the gauntlet that the academies above will be putting into effect within a season. Two at most. When that happens...”

Jin closed her eyes, rubbing her temples, cursing under her breath. “Mother’s mercy! The last gauntlet was just five years ago, and we only just recovered.”

Yon nodded in agreement, then he blinked in surprise. “Is that boy actually performing card tricks for the children?”

Jin’s gaze turned toward the three youths, her concerned features lightening in a genuine smile. “He is! And look at that, the littlest one is laughing!”

Yon rubbed his chin, tension easing to thoughtful approval. “I would have been perfectly content if the boy had politely ignored them and didn’t cause any trouble… or act in any way that would have resulted in his immediate expulsion.”

“Agreed,” Jin concurred. “With the girls complete inability to communicate with any of us, with no baseline language to align with standard mem-tapes, they’re effectively mute. It will be some months before they can communicate with us to any degree, with no common language or interpreter to access.”

Yon frowned, taking a closer look, before blinking in surprise. “Jin, turn up the audio.”

Jin gave him a curious look, then did so, the air filling with the melodious notes of the girls’ native tongue, which no one could make heads or tales of, only to be joined by a third voice ringing harmoniously with their own.

Jin’s eyes widened, her expression turning incredulous. “That boy… he’s speaking to them!”

Yon nodded. “He is.”

“But how! How is that possible? They’re clearly unrelated. From what we were able to gather, their ascending worlds are thousands of light years away from each other!”

Yon gave her a look. “I think it should be obvious, Jin.”

Jin took a thoughtful sip of her coffee before it hit. “Shit. His an actual classer! He must have been granted one of those outworld System abilities, right? Or he has a linguist class or something?” Her wide-eyed wonder turned to a thoughtful squint. “I thought System powers didn’t work as classers expected, here in the true world?”

Yon chuckled softly. “Clearly, that can’t be completely true.”

Jin sighed, her gaze turning reflective. “That means he probably has blood on his hands. If that’s the case… we can’t take him. It’s just too dangerous.”

Yon snorted. “So, you want to exile the boy for showing the girls magic tricks with coins and cards? He who’s now the only interpreter we have for those perfectly innocent children?”

Jin put down her cup, crossing her arms and glaring at the bemused looking Yon. “Are you serious? I thought this whole thing was just a pretext to see if he’d make a single mistake that we could exile him for.”

Yon smirked. “Maybe it was.”

“But now you want to give him a chance.”

Yon sighed. “It’s not always easy coming down from the mountain, Jin.”

His partner froze, cheeks bushing as she bowed her head. “I’m sorry, Yon. You would know as well as… shit. I fear my city bias was getting the best of me.”

The pair watched in bemusement as their newest refugee continued to entertain and converse with the pair of girls. When the littlest burst into tears, his words soothed even as her sister held her. The pair of agents exchanged a thoughtful nod.

“Maybe there’s a place for him here, after all.”