“Hey Lisa, are you enjoying the game so far?” Ethel said as she and Phil walked up to one of the games. Lisa was one of the older girls they had been rescued and was currently sitting in on a D&D game Bug was running. She was one of the kids Ethel was most worried about, as she had apparently been captured by the Agency as an infant and more or less tortured since then.


    “Yes, Bug is letting me play a wizard that specializes in math,” she answered. So far she had been most comfortable with the animals, especially Bug.


    “Bug is good at making sure everyone enjoys their games. So tell me, have you managed to feel any force inside you at all?” Ethel asked gently.


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    “Like some of the other kids?” she asked, looking up at Ethel almost longingly. It was the first time Ethel had seen that look on her face.


    “Yes, would that make you happy? What kind of mana spirit would you like?” Ethel asked.


    “Hmm, I think it would, but um, this is going to sound weird, but I once saw a kangaroo with boxing gloves, and um, I think something like that would make a good bodyguard. Is that possible?” She asked meekly. Now Ethel understood the longing look. The poor girl desperately wanted someone to help keep her safe, and she entirely understood her pleas.


    “From what I’ve seen, I think that’s a reasonable request. What do you think, Ethel?” Phil asked, smiling gently.


    “Completely reasonable,” Ethel agreed.