Beyond The System
Chapter 116: I’m Back

“Peter, you will return to training. As for your lost orb, meet with Sir Ironscribe within three days,” Drake commanded.

I nodded, swallowing the dozen questions I wanted to ask, trying to actually follow advice for once.

“You are dismissed. Return through the gate,” he said.

I hesitated, then blurted the one question I couldn’t leave alone. “Prince Drake, do you know anything about Trevor?”

His face shifted into something I’d never seen before. It was cold, unreadable, and stripped of humor. “The Unbound have no place to speak. Learn your place.”

Marcus and I both turned, entering the gate in silence.

‘He was a bit rude,’ Luna said, her voice light.

But I understood. ‘He was warning us. I don’t think it’s safe to speak freely around him anymore.’

Marcus added his own question as I slumped down inside the gate. “You said you taught my daughter?”

I nodded.

“It seems the State is watching for potential threats now. Keep an eye out. Anything suspicious, report it immediately,” he said, slipping into another unfamiliar tone, one that brooked no argument.

“Yes, sir.” I agreed, but I needed to know more. “If I’m searching for dangers, where would they likely gather?”

“Private homes, maybe... or the wilds. It's difficult to monitor such places. Enough questions. You're not hunting; just observing. Report if you find something, no need for anything else.” He barked it this time, cutting off any further conversation.

Movement jerked us into motion, and I braced myself against the familiar sickening lurch.

‘Something wrong, boy?’ Wyrem asked, voice almost concerned, though probably more for himself than me.

‘Looks like I can’t talk about my training methods openly either anymore,’ I answered, frustration bubbling up.

‘Why, on all the planes, would you return here?’ he said, astounded. ‘You should’ve found a quiet spot to train properly.’

I ignored Wyrem and focused on the real question. Why did I come back?

Well… Thea, of course. Elric, Lyra, Sia, Trevor, and, naturally, Miss Star’s cooking. Even just reuniting Marcus with his family felt like reason enough.

But... beyond that?

The elevator jolted to a stop, throwing me out of my thoughts.

The doors opened and chaos flooded in. Recruits shouting over one another, stall owners hawking their wares, and the ever-present cries of pain from sparring matches or worse.

Oh, right.

I forgot.

I hated this place.

I had survived a nightmare and somehow tricked myself into thinking I'd be happy to return to this place.

Marcus grabbed me by the collar, yanking me out of the elevator before flashing his black orb at the attendant. “We have business.”

The attendant barely glanced at it, offering the same disinterested stare I remembered all too well.

Still gripping my collar, Marcus leaned in and spoke low, the noise giving him cover. “Something feels off here, Peter. Take me home first. My wife will know somewhere safe to talk.”

Then he shoved me forward like I was an unruly recruit. “Walk, trainee.”

‘It’s hard to see,’ Luna complained in my mind. ‘The energy... it’s moving in strange ways. Very unnaturally.’

‘Maybe it’s the systems here,’ I guessed. ‘You didn’t notice anything with Marcus?’

‘Different,’ she replied. ‘It's not just the people. The place itself seems weird.’

I kept moving, scanning the crowd for any sign of the others, but they weren’t here. I could only pray they weren’t out on a mission and instead, just around in the crowd or in the training hall.

Glancing back, I caught Marcus glaring around with visible disgust. The healing tents drew the worst of it, his face twisting like he’d just smelled something rotten.

I turned back and broke into a run, hoping to speed this awkward crawl along. Thankfully, Marcus followed without a word.

I pushed my speed faster, weaving through the town. Faces turned as I passed, but I barely caught more than a blur before they disappeared behind me.

Before I could even process, there it was. The Gathering Flame.

“Sir. Marcus. It’s here,” I said, skidding to a stop and turning toward him.

Marcus approached the door in slow, deliberate steps, not even bothering to breathe. He extended a hand toward the handle, trembling more than I’d ever seen, even more than when he spoke of facing the beast in the underground garden.

I wanted to give him time, truly. But after a minute... then another... and another...

Yeah. No. I reached forward and nudged his frozen hand aside, giving the door a solid tug.

The door swung open, and the sound of clattering pans drifted from the side room. Feeling helpful, I slapped a hand on Marcus' back and shoved.

He stumbled forward, landing awkwardly in front of the empty front desk. I closed the door behind us as the six dogs trotted in, tails wagging like they owned the place.

“One moment please,” a familiar voice called out from the kitchen.

“Helen?” Marcus barely managed to whisper.

Footsteps approached. I watched in disbelief as the man who had survived over a decade of hell took a step toward the voice and immediately retreated toward the door.

Naturally, I grabbed him. The pups helped too, forming a furry blockade around his legs.

“Yes, can I help—”

CLATTER!

Apparently, Helen didn’t believe in putting down pans before greeting customers. Both it and the wash rag hit the ground and she froze mid-step.

Marcus froze too. I slowly let go and stepped back, giving them space.

‘This reminds me of something I watched in your memories,’ Luna commented lightly in my mind.

‘You WHAT?! How could you not share this with your master?’ Wyrem asked, betrayed.

‘Shut. Up.’

Helen’s eyes widened to saucers and her mouth opened, but no words came out, just a short, broken gasp. With a step, steady and unbothered, she extended her arms, the complete opposite. Trembling and uneven.

Marcus didn’t move, allowing her to come closer, step by step until she placed a hand on his rough and scared cheeks. He leaned in.

Man, I really feel out of place here. Invisible, no movement. Be invisible.

She brushed her hands across his cheeks and tears formed in her eyes. “There—the letters… They just stopped.” She forced out.

“I’m sorry,” he raseped, voice low and cracking.

She shook her head fiercely, grabbed his rags and pulled him in, embracing him desperately, burying her head in his chest as he reciprocated, his head on hers.

They didn’t speak, just stood there, sharing in a warmth not exchanged in more than half my life.

‘I’m astonished that someone who cries so much is completely fine now.’ Luna commented.

I was trying, really trying hard to hold it in. Tears threatened to breach the walls of my ducts, but I resisted, trying my best to keep the moment between the two of them.

After a while, Marcus pulled away reluctantly before turning serious, despite his red eyes. “Helen. Is it this place… Have there been any suspicious activities here?”

She wiped her eyes before clearing up quickly, seemingly understanding the situation. “It is safe here for now.”

Marcus let out a breath then turned to me. “Sorry about that Peter. Didn’t mean to make you watch that.”

I nodded. “No problem.” I quickly forgot about that turning to Sia’s mother. “Ummm. the others, are they around?”

She smiled and picked up the pan, walking to the dining area, gesturing to me to sit down. “They should be here soon. Elric has been talking with his brother often trying to search for you, and Thea… She will be happy to see you.”

The familiars found comfortable spots and piled up.

I guess Drake didn’t tell Elric his theories, or maybe they are recent. I still don’t know who released the information, it could’ve been spies, but maybe it was one of those other groups that stood by arrogantly in the trial.

“What’s happened? Is all of this because of me?” I asked. 

She looked confused. “What? No… Maybe. Peter, those identity orbs, they reflect the system, bound to you.”

I thought about the changes to the system, the species, but that was never shown to anyone right? Only the class was announced during matches. Maybe stats too for sponsors.

Marcus borke in next. “After completing the mission, the system has changed Peter.”

Now it was my turn to look confused. “Changed how?”

“System.” He called out, not that I could see it, but it seemed as if he himself was analyzing it. “It is, I don’t know, simpler? I would be more concerned considering I have ranked down significantly, but that just means I can grow more. This was my reward I suppose.”

“You ranked down?” I asked, confused.

“Same for the others,” Ms. Star explained.

“I didn’t rank down. I have a level now. And my class, it’s different. Maybe evolved, or, I don’t know.” He scratched his head. “Have to find out with training.”

He was going to continue with something, but I heard the door click and open.

“Stop bragging so much.” It was Lyra’s melodic voice. “Next time Sia and I will win.” 

“Thea you should help us.” Sia’s voice came next. “This guy is getting too full of himself.”

I stood hearing them.

Then ran straight out.

I came face to face with Elric, nearly crashing into him.

He froze mid-step, obviously about to have retorted to the girls. Hand raised in preparation I’m sure for some grand gesture complimenting himself.

My eyes flew past him at a figure standing half behind Sia and next to Lyra. She didn’t speak or even look up, eyes glued to the floor.

I couldn’t see the flicker of her stormy eyes, but could tell there was a punch gone to the demeanor I knew so well.

My heart stopped, and all I could muster to say, catching Thea’s face was,

“I’m back guys.”