On the first day of term, classes were long, with few breaks.


    A week ago, before the lies were exposed, lil Davie was really excited about starting the first day to becoming something. After a week of social rejection, Davie dreaded the thought of their future school lives. Today, Davie just wanted it to have all been a dream.


    “…that you thought you were fit for the Crown? Have you no shame? Who do you think you….”


    He burned with shame, and it consumed him. He wasn’t even sure how he got through the day and if asked how his classes went, he’d have no response.


    “…pathetic. One small provocation and you predictably resort to violence, just like the thug you….”


    All he could think about all day was the stupid thing he did that ruined a magical day that he couldn’t take back. Had he destroyed everything? Could they go back to how things were before?


    “….mockery of our prestigious institution. You’d bring nothing but disgrace…..”


    A tiny figure strolled over to the emotionally drained lovable hulk who has staring blankly into space and did a little jump and a hip check.


    Feeling a ticklish bump, lil Davie looked down and saw the most sinister smirk he’d ever seen in his life. Unable to help the deep blush that consumed his face, ears, and neck, he quickly looked away. Lily wasn’t going to have any of that.


    Jumping up she clung to her darling’s neck and looked at the face that was disguised to look unchanged, hiding all the glorious transformations. An unforgivable shame. She really wanted to see his new look, blushing like he was now.


    “Are you still thinking about it?” she teased.


    Still refusing to look at her mocking smile, he looked up and mumbled, “I ono what ur talkin bout.”


    Swinging side to side from her reliable perch, she continued her new game. “I don’t know what you’re so embarrassed about. You know she was really happy when you called her mo-.”


    “ABABABABA~”


    Hands over his ears and eyes tightly shut, he tried with all his might to exorcise the demon haunting his innocent soul.


    “HEY!!! I’M TALKING TO YOU!!!!”


    Davie opened his eyes, ignoring the quakes of laughter coming from his affliction on his chest, and looked at the few unfriendly looking kids standing in front of them, the short-haired blond in the center looking like he was about to shank someone.


    “Are you talking to me? Who the fuck are you? Can’t you see I’m busy? Go away.”


    Having spent all the energy he wanted on them, Davie finally looked down with vengeance on his mind.


    Timothy Bruntwood had never been insulted like this before. Watching this asshole tickle his girlfriend, completely disregarding him, had his mind blank with rage, his whole body paused but boiling.


    Wanting to flaunt his superiority over the loser who gifted him the Crown, he’d deliberately made a show in front of a huge group of students. The coward hadn’t dared to even look him in the face as he was being given a lesson. Turned out he wasn’t paying attention.


    Rage.


    Just as Timothy was about to raise his fists and demonstrate his mastery of the Red-Swept Fist Art, he heard something. Chills ran down his body as thousands of tiny voices whispered promises of pain if he continued.


    “Do it…Do it….Do it…”


    “I DARE youuu…. I DARE youuu…. I DARE youuu….”


    “I hope you’ve said your goodbyes…”


    “See what happens…. See what happens…. See what happens….”


    “You’ll never see light again…”


    Drops of cold sweat streamed down his handsome face, drained white as paper, as the world dimmed around him until all he saw was the back of a girl who wasn’t even facing him. Still giggling and chatting with someone else, she was the picture of playful innocence, but in the senses of Timothy Bruntwood, the third son of the fourth branch of the S-Rank Ironwood Family, he was facing a terrifying monster. One that had its attention on him.


    “Step back… Step back… Step back…”


    “Get lost…. Get lost…. Get lost….”


    “No one will believe you…”


    The haunting voices that first seized his ability to move now repelled him. He had to step back. Something terrible would happen if he didn’t.


    Eyes fixed on the danger, an inexperienced eighteen-year-old retreated with trembling legs. The first step took every ounce of will, the second step was slightly easier, and the third compelled his survival instincts to wake the fuck up.


    His two friends watched with incomprehension along with the sizable crowd of onlookers as the new Freshman Mecha King ran away like a demon was chasing him. They glanced at the couple that was too busy flirting to care about them, looking for something they may have missed but hurried after their friend, filled with doubts. The crowd similarly dispersed without satisfaction, a new topic to gossip and speculate about.


    You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.


    No one noticed the small pairs of red eyes that shined from the wristcoms of the young couple.


    Lil Davie was too self-absorbed to care and Lily was satisfied with shooing the pests away, but a certain advanced self aware AI had paid attention to every word and took serious offense.


    A digital nose twitched and a Red Hacker Bunny had access to a brat’s entire life. He was about to learn what happened when someone messed with her family.


    Ignorant of the destructive intentions of their new friend, the couple that was moments ago the center of attention was busy with their own thing.


    Lily’s teasing would never end until she got what she wanted and lil Davie’s weak deflections were fated to crumble, as it always did with her. But this time, he really was too ashamed.


    His thoughts went back to that morning, an hour before classes started. Engrossed in reconnecting with each other as they played with their new toys, neither of the kids considered going back. Even Tiana and Nicole were considering playing hooky for another day.


    It was Mary who put her momma foot down and insisted they get their educations.


    In a rare show of unity, both Lily and lil Davie whined, “Awww mom~.”


    Everyone froze as they stared at the mortified boy with varying shades of shock.


    Nicole and Tiana were surprised.


    Juan and Mary were emotional.


    Jun and Sophie smiled.


    Lily was pure evil incarnate.


    He couldn’t run away fast enough.


    Where had that even come from?


    “She raised you like her own, so what’s wrong with calling her ‘mom’? She’s always thought of you as a son anyway, so it’s fine.”


    Danny looked down, feeling touched at the confirmation he didn’t know he needed, and knew he fell into a trap.


    “So that means you’re in love with your sister. What a creep.”


    “Don’t make it weird!”


    “HAHAHAHAHA~ STOP STOP STOP! I’M SORRY! I’m sorry I’m sorry… haah haah… big bro,” the little girl squealed at the new wave of attacks.


    ——


    Juan smirked to himself whenever he felt Mary’s furtive glances when she thought he wasn’t looking. Before, he wouldn’t have, but he wasn’t the same person he was before ‘last night.’ His new perceptions felt every stolen glance, and he loved it. Casually flexing an arm, he heard a soft gulp.


    Remembering how she embraced him at their reunion, Juan was tempted to just offer up his body for exploration, but knew he’d be pushing it. Things had to be done in a slow and steady manner if he didn’t want to spook her off. Mary was a sensitive woman, and he was determined to go at her own pace.


    “Can I touch your body?”


    “Yes! Wait. What?”


    “Sophie has her visual cloak thing cast on you, so you look the same as before we changed, but I can’t understand how you can be smaller than you actually are.” Mary explained very reasonably.


    Realizing how hard it’d be to explain away so many of their group undergoing drastic transformations seemingly overnight, Sophie volunteered to have minor copies of herself accompany everyone out into the world. As an advanced AI by the standards of demi-gods, deceiving the perceptions of a rank 1 world was child’s play. She could also assist everyone with their missions.


    Although Jun had shown them countless marvels, the dangers that hung over them took precedent. They had to prepare for an eventual Second Wave and heal the planet at the same time. Before ‘last night’, they’d have been crushed with the weight of it all, wholly unqualified to the task, but after understanding the resources they had available, they felt much less constrained.


    After a whole day of brainstorming between the three of them, they even had an excited anticipation for what was to come.


    Mary and Juan, made new and powerful, were still more confident as Prompters than as fighters. Considering their strengths and passions, and Sophie’s seemingly limitless capabilities, an ambitious plot took shape. One that could help prepare the masses and scratch the creative itch every creator felt.


    They were going to create a new virtual reality Server called the School of Fighting.


    A relatively new technology introduced through GRIN (Global Rune Integration Network), VR was one of the most popular and expensive forms of entertainment in the world, offering all kinds of experiences from war and hunter simulations, casual sports and lifestyle games for a subscription fee.


    Although the base immersion levels were enough to operate simple digital avatars, higher immersion required more sophisticated Servers only larger corporate groups could afford to invest in, but even the most advanced Servers were far from complete sensory simulation.


    Sophie was not impressed.


    While a portion of her vast computational power was invested in creating a basic framework, her main focus was explaining to Mary and Juan how her Virtual Cloaking bent space and affected mass.


    Even though they looked like they were seriously paying attention, Sophie suspected whether they were internalizing anything she was saying. They made eye contact and nodded when appropriate, but their hands never seemed content to stay in one place. She wasn’t sure if she should be around for this.


    Another small portion of her efforts was diverted into modifying her Visual Cloak to hide shame from children. Honestly.


    ——


    “So my Guild will focus on gathering unaffiliated Hunters while your Rune-Workshop researches and produces new purification products?”


    “I’m thinking we can integrate Jun’s research into most household goods to popularize the technology with the masses, and when we establish our market position, we can invest into products for the Fortress.”


    “Why so roundabout? Can’t we do both?”


    “The earth side markets are simple to enter. The Gate side markets are dominated by a complex web of benefits. We won’t even be considered unless we can prove ourselves as an established group. Our statuses won’t help with that. Only results.”


    In a small but luxurious office, Nicole and Tiana calmly discussed their future directions over a cup of tea. After coming to terms on the last few issues, Tiana looked at the time and excused herself with a small smile, and shimmered out of existence.


    Nicole didn’t freak out at her friend’s stunning exit because she knew that Tiana was never in her office.


    A small red bunny hopped from where her friend’s projection disappeared and rejoined the small red lap bunny in Nicole’s embrace.


    She wondered if the greatest gift she’d gotten from last night’s experience was the digital fluff ball in her hands. Every new revelation of the humble-looking creature’s capabilities left her astounded and her heart thumping. Paperwork disappeared with a snap, complex plans sorted with complete ease, and a thousand other mundane things made easy and fun. Now she experienced Sophie’s version of a virtual call.


    Their future plans were many, each vital to their heavy missions to save the world, but with such a capable assistant and mentor, she dared to dream about what came after.


    “Sophie, can you write the cooperation proposal with the Heavens Piercing Guild and take a look at my guild structure plan when you’re done?”


    “No problem! Heres a draft of the proposal and a list of my suggestions for the Guild establishment. Take note of page 2 section 3. Certain things are much harder to do once our intentions are detected by other powers. I think more consideration needs to be paid on your misinformation strategy…”


    How had she lived before Sophie? Not well…


    ——


    Meanwhile, the orchestrator of new fates, tasked with the survival of an entire world: “Let’s get ready to host a party!”


    “YAY! What’s a paw-tee?”