The family sat gathered around the table, enjoying their breakfast. The rays of sunlight hit the table, highlighting the vast selection to choose from. Scrambled eggs, bacon, sausages, bread, whatever one wanted. Caleb had even convinced their dad to make pancakes that morning. Mom had objected, but Caleb had gotten his will. It was only his birthday once a year, after all.

Jake was enjoying one of the aforementioned pancakes, with perhaps a bit too much honey on. Which, of course, resulted in an admonishing gaze from his mom across the table. One he tried to ignore as he sheepishly put the fork into his mouth, the honey dripping down on the plate.

It was three weeks before the system arrived. Jake had gone back to visit his parents and brother to celebrate his brother’s 27th birthday.

Also at the table were his parents as well as Maja, Caleb’s wife. They had gotten married at what many considered a young age, but Caleb felt it was the right thing to do after she got pregnant. A pregnancy she was currently seven months into. Also... it made the loan on their new house a lot cheaper.

Maja sat at the table, her stomach clearly showing, as she spoke to his mother, Debra. Debra gave all the tips about having a first child, along with embarrassing anecdotes about Jake and Caleb.

“Jake used to be very quiet, while Caleb kept us up all night every night,” she said, as she jokingly added. “Caleb was quite lucky we had Jake first, or we wouldn’t have mustered up the courage to have another.”

“Mom, come on, I can’t have been that bad,” Caleb protested, getting only a giggle from Maja.

“He still keeps me up all night even now,” Maja said without thinking.

The rest of the family all looked at her awkwardly for a moment with Jake’s dad, Robert, nearly choking on his coffee.

Maja seemed to realize the meaning of what she said as she turned red, and frantically tried to explain.

“Snoring! He snores!” she protested loudly, earning only a chuckle.

In an attempt to help his wife, Caleb swiftly changed the subject as he turned to Jake.

“So, how is work these days? Heard your company is quite busy after going public last month.”

Jake, getting the hint, helped dispel the awkward atmosphere and gladly answered.

“Yeah, management is all up in our asses about putting out the, and I quote, ‘biggest numbers to date.’ I am not even sure management knows what half of those numbers mean.”

“Can’t be all bad, don’t you get along with that Jacob fellow?” Deborah asked.

“He can only lift up the average intelligence of the management that much,” Jake joked.

“I agree; they can’t be all that bright,” Caleb said, nodding. “They were dumb enough to hire you after all.”

“Cal, be nice!” Maja said as she poked him in the arm with her elbow.

“Birthday boy using up his leeway fast,” Jake said, pointing his still honey-covered fork at his brother. “Going to have to take back presents if you don’t behave soon, young man.”

“I apologize, oh bringer of the big numbers,” he answered, holding up his hands in mock surrender.

It was the last time Jake had met his family. After that, he had been busy, and the trip back to his hometown was pretty long.

his parents. It wasn’t big, but it was decently sized, having around 40.000 inhabitants. Caleb worked

family forever. She grew up next door and was over almost every day. Jake

them had started hanging out alone. Things developed as they do, and the

as much as he should. He was always in the weird paradox that going to see them seemed like such a hassle, and he always looked forward to just relaxing alone after

he could openly joke and have fun around. He didn’t feel like he had to put up any

had never put him down for any decisions

a bookkeeper and his dad as an engineer. They had neither been rich nor poor,

these four people were the most important in

your plane take off again?” Caleb asked as they were cleaning up

the airport before 5,” Jake answered as

any plans for

for that stupid conference, so

as he put on

carrying heavy furniture. The two newlyweds had gotten a bigger house a month or so earlier, and they had waited for Jake to get home to provide his free moving

on the shoulder, followed by also giving his old man a hug. With that came a promise to return home for his mother’s

didn’t need to be there much in advance, but he was still kind

a hug. The

side-note, Jake,” his brother said, “Any

“None at all.”

get your shit

answered, quite assuredly. “Take care, you two. I hope

we will. I am not one to croak that easily,” Caleb answered,

waved the two of them off. He started walking onwards, but instead of a gate, he saw a portal leading into

to himself as he walked through the

read the oversized tome in front of him. The faint frown and the serious look in his eyes, coupled with his handsome features, made it look rather picturesque. At least

at the behest of the higher-ups arranged for several

off an aura and feeling that made one unable to ignore him. Inera had been with the

recognized him. An Augur, a class she had only ever read of in old scriptures but never actually encountered. A

Augur was another interesting one - the one called Bertram. Another mystery to

bound to the Augur through karma, conviction, and personal belief - his class reforged upon becoming a guardian, now possessing

growth from the teachings her father had given him. He was even praised by the Grand Master, acknowledged for his foundation and ability to grow. His semi-immortality from his connection to the Augur was only making him

But even that was wrong, as such

with the two of them. They were very different

and her father gladly explained everything to them.

a care in the world. They questioned the pantheon’s

not one to question the Augur either. His level of recognition

of the many orders of templars under the church. As a man solidly in the B-rank, he had great

with his great title and honor, he hadn’t met any of the higher rank gods. He held the blessing of one of the

and it did nothing more than open up new paths. She was a priestess in the order and had recently been transferred to this area to help train new acolytes. What she hadn’t known was that the only ones she was meant to help train would be Jacob and Bertram. And that her father would do most of the vital teaching

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