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.
wasn’t big, but it was decently sized, having around 40.000 inhabitants. Caleb worked as a teacher at an elementary school, while Maja studied at the university half an hour
practically been a part of the family forever. She grew up next door and was over almost every day. Jake had been the older brother, with Caleb and Maja
of them had started hanging out alone. Things developed as they do, and the two ended up going out, getting married, and were now looking to start their own
as he should. He was always in the weird paradox that going to see them seemed like
to. The only ones he could openly joke and have fun around. He
- the supporting and loving kind, who had never put him down for any decisions
had neither been rich nor poor, growing up solidly in the upper-middle
Jake, these four people were the most important
your plane take off again?” Caleb asked as they were
to be at the airport before 5,” Jake answered as
plans
have already prepared everything for that stupid conference, so
now you do,” Caleb said as he put on a
bigger house a month or so earlier, and they had waited for Jake to get home to provide his free moving service. At least he paid him back by making his brother offer a free taxi-ride
he gave his mom a hug, his dad a slap on the shoulder, followed by also giving his old man a
With only his carry-on bag, he didn’t need to be there much in advance, but he was still kind of in a hurry. Not
Maja, Cal,” Jake said, as he gave his brother a hug. The manly
Jake,” his brother said, “Any progress on
“None at all.”
get your shit
pretty sure it never will turn to anything,” Jake answered,
one to croak that easily,” Caleb answered, as
the two of them off. He started walking onwards, but
right, Cal,” he said to himself as he walked through the portal, the dream
and the serious look in his eyes, coupled with
since she had come here. Inera’s father had at the behest of the higher-ups arranged for several ancient and expensive tomes to
He was weak, yet he gave off an aura and feeling that made one unable to ignore him. Inera had
Mother herself recognized him. An Augur, a class she had only ever read of in old scriptures but never actually encountered. A
Another mystery to her, as he
karma, conviction, and personal belief - his class reforged upon becoming a guardian, now possessing one just
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
would more easily be compared to a summoned familiar. But even that was wrong, as such entities very rarely reached the level of sapience, and they all were more comparable to monsters rather
of them. They were very different from anyone she had ever met
They asked questions even small children knew, and her father gladly explained everything to them. She had a hard time
without a care in the world. They questioned
once. Almost as if he expected it. Inera also knew that her station was not one to question the Augur either. His level of recognition from the gods was far
father held the title of Grand Master of the Templars of Morning Bright. One of the many orders of templars under the church. As a man
hadn’t met any of the higher rank gods. He held the blessing of one of the
her status screen in place of the blessing, 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
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
The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!