“Frank! Over here!”

  Jin turned, tugging the coat’s hood lower to shadow his face, trying to be as inconspicuous as possible. To his surprise, the one who called him was the same big, burly Player from the desert-themed RIFT. But the man before him now bore no resemblance to the grumpy and blood-soaked warrior who had survived the brink of death many times over.

  Brun was beaming. Beside him stood a demure woman half his size with hair dark as midnight and two children who looked like perfectly scaled-down versions of their parents – one perched on Brun’s broad shoulder, the other walking with confident steps between them.

  “Damn. It really is you,” Brun said, his voice booming across the lobby of the Olympus’ Step. “I ran into Ironshield earlier; he mentioned you were still lurking about. Been looking for you since we cleared the RIFT.”

  “Oh? You recognised me in this get-up?”

  Brun let out a hearty, booming laugh that turned a few heads nearby. “I could never mistake the man who saved my life. And my family's future.”

  Seeing that it was pointless to keep his disguise, Jin pulled back the hood and unlatched his mask, letting the cool air of the lobby hit his face. He felt a strange vulnerability being exposed in such a public place.

  Brun stepped forward, his heavy boots thumping on the marble floor, and offered a hand that felt more like a slab of granite than flesh. “Despite all the hell we went through, we never introduced ourselves proper, did we? The name’s Brun Ferth. Call me Brun.”

  “Stein. Frank Stein,” Jin replied, clasping two hands. He felt the callouses of Brun’s career spent behind within the RIFT somewhat comforting. “Not my fault, we skipped the pleasantries. You were a bit... occupied with the puzzle.”

  “And running away, tails between our legs!”

  Jin nodded with a smile. “Yes. That too. Surprised to see you run that fast.”

  “Life inside that damn world would turn a donkey into a horse. But I’m a changed man now!” Brun beamed as he pulled back, beckoning his family closer. “Let me introduce my lovely and dearest wife, Milly. And dear, this is Frank. The man I told you about.”

  The woman stepped forward. She wore a simple black dress, devoid of the flashy jewellery or high-quality clothes usually seen on the wives of successful Players. Her beauty was quiet and resilient. As she offered her hand, Jin noticed the way she looked at her husband. It was a mix of relief and profound love.

  “And these two are my dearest treasures,” Brun continued, his voice softening with pride. “Lyle and Nessa. Say hello to Uncle Frank.”

  “Hello, Uncle Frank!” Lyle chirped. The boy was a mirror image of his father’s bravado. Even at his young age, his posture was wide and confident, claiming his space in between the two.

  The younger one, however, was her mother’s shadow. She slid down from Brun’s shoulder and immediately ducked behind his massive leg, peeking out with one wide, curious eye.

  “Hey, hey. Didn’t I tell you to greet him properly? You can’t hide back there forever, Nessa.”

  A tiny, sweet voice drifted up from behind Brun's calf. “B-But... h-he is not an uncle, Papa.”

  She stepped out just enough for the light to catch the sparkle in her eyes. The shyness was there, but so was that sharp and observant intelligence. In that moment, the bustling lobby of the Auction House faded away. The chatters died, and the weight within his thoughts vanished. All Jin could see was Eleana in Nessa.

  Brun’s daughter had the same way of tilting her head, the same rose-coloured blush that crept up her neck, and the same soft, musical lilt to her voice that his own daughter had once upon a time.

  His chest tightened. A stab inside his heart, though it made his mind and eyes clearer now. It was a gentle reminder of why he joined this world of Players and played its dangerous game.

  Jin knelt, bringing himself level with the girl. He softened his features, letting the ‘Frank Stein’ persona drop for a second to show the father underneath. He extended a hand, palm up, as if offering a peace treaty.

  “Nice to meet you, young lady. I’m Frank. You don't have to call me Uncle if you don't want to. Just my name is fine.”

  Nessa looked at his hand, then at his eyes, then up at her father before once again turning to Jin. “T-then... can I call you Big Brother instead?”

  Jin let out a short, surprised laugh and almost shook his head. Not again, he thought, remembering how young he looked right now versus his real age.

  Brun looked at his daughter, then at Jin, already lost for words. The big man cleared his throat, sensing the awkwardness in the air. But introducing his family wasn't the only reason he had spent the last two hours scouring the building for a rookie Player.

  “Frank,” Brun said, his tone shifted, from jovial to solemn. “We need to talk. Somewhere with a bit more privacy.”

  ***

  The lobby of the Olympus Steps was too loud for what came next. With a simple wave of his Athena’s Auction House Platinum Card, Brun summoned a flurry of attendants. Minutes later, the group moved to a private VIP suite – a room where velvet draped the walls, and the air smelled of expensive sandalwood. Once the staff laid out refreshments, Brun dismissed them with a firm wave, mirroring Master Haephastus’ authority but without the temper.

  “So, you’re the one who sold off the Stat Seeds, eh?” Jin said, a smirk playing on his lips. “Ironshield and I had a hunch who it could be. Looks like we were right on the money.”

  “Hahaha! With this, I can finally hang up the shield for real,” Brun replied. His eyes glittered with a long-awaited relief, finally surfacing after having it buried deep in his heart for years.

  “The same as Ironshield?” Jin asked, taking a seat on a plush leather chair. “He’s retiring, too. Going off to the Caribbean or something.”

  “That’s him alright,” Brun said, a cryptic smile cracking his face. “But I heard from that old bastard that you and he are planning something big.”

  The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  “Something big?” Jin feigned ignorance, sipping his tea.

  But the act didn't fool Brun. He laughed, the sound bouncing off the soundproofed walls. “'School' big, I’ve heard. Am I right?”

  With the cat out of the bag, Jin saw no point in maintaining the fa?ade. The project he had started only yesterday now found itself standing in the spotlight. “The Chairman gave me the challenge, but to be honest, it’s been more of a fleeting thought and a loose tongue than a concrete plan.”

  “Knowing you, I’m sure you’ll get it done.”

  “In three years?” Jin shook his head. “Maybe in ten, if it’s ever possible. Asking for a fully functioning academy in three years is like asking me to grow money from trees.”

  Brun laughed again, then turned to his wife. A silent, heavy nod passed between them – the kind of look only people who have spent years together can share. He turned back to Jin, his gaze grew in intensity. “You know what's most important for parents, Frank?”

  “Let me guess,” Jin said, looking at Lyle and Nessa playing between themselves in the corner of the suite. “Your children, right?”

  “Aren’t you a smartarse?” Brun chuckled. “See, Milly? Told you this guy was too sharp for his own good.”

  Milly nodded, her smile radiating a maternal warmth that made Jin’s chest pound. Looking at the two of them, Jin couldn't help but wonder if he and his late wife, Elyzabeth, would have acted the same way. She had passed years ago, but the memories were as vivid as if it happened yesterday; the smell of her perfume, the way she laughed at his jokes, the blood still felt warm in his hands…

  “Frank? You listening, Frank?”

  Brun’s voice snapped him back to the present. “Oh, yes. Sorry. What did you say?”

  “I said, you’re right. Our children are our dearest treasure. Even a hundred of those Rainbow Stat Seeds would never replace our beloved son and daughter.” Brun’s voice was gentle and warm. Almost endearingly so, unlike how Jin remembered him.

  “I get you, Brun. Milly. So, what can I do for you? For the children? If I can help, I will. Judging by his age, Lyle might be entering elementary school next year. Do you want a recommendation?”

  “You hear that, Milly?” Brun nudged his wife as a chuckle escaped. “Not only does this bastard have the looks to turn even you shy, but he’s got the brawn, the brain, and the wit to match. And he’s a damned good guesser, too.”

  The laughter died down, replaced by a more sombre weight.

  “Yes, my son starts Grade One next year. My daughter, two years after. But... here comes the problem.”

  Brun pulled the two children to his side. They looked like tiny peas tucked into a massive pod, side by side, sitting on his lap. “If they’re anything like me, soon they will awaken. And you know what that means for an awakened child in this world?”

  Jin shook his head. He missed Eleana’s schooling years, but judging from her reports, once she awakened to her power two years ago, she stopped schooling altogether.

  And through Brun, Jin knew the other half of the truth that he wasn’t aware of.

  “Our education doesn't care about ABCs for the awakened children,” Brun murmured. “Once they awaken, normalcy ends. Even if they stay with the other unawakened children, they’ll be ostracised soon or later.”

  “If they didn’t drop out of school first. Most within a year,” Milly added. “And if we don’t include the children losing their ways earlier.”

  “Or worse,” Brun said, his expression darkened, “they’ll be recruited by companies that don’t give a fuck about putting children inside a RIFT.”

  Jin’s face turned pale. “I-I didn’t know about this.”

  Brun let out a bitter smile. “Of course. You aren’t a parent yet, Frank.”

  Something about what he said hurt Jin more than he could ever admit. “So, how do they get their education?”

  “Most of them are home-schooled,” Milly replied. “That or any good companies that will both train and educate our children. But those types of companies are few in between. And the waiting lists are long.”

  “And SeComm did nothing?”

  “They do. But getting qualified instructors to teach awakened children throughout their formative years is harder to pull off. A week might work. Or a month. But if that child awakened at ten?”

  Jin’s mind right away imagined Timothy Hayes, his ‘classmate’ for the Player Assessment and Evaluation Examination. The boy and his friends awakened at the tender age of ten, and most likely, within a short period of time, they would stop schooling altogether.

  “This school of yours is light at the end of the tunnel for parents like us,” Brun said, his expression relaxed but still serious.

  “It could be. But I haven’t even had a plan on what to do yet. Heck. Forget the plan. I don’t even have the money.”

  Brun laughed. “Money? We have loads of money. Loads and loads. Even seven generations of our bloodline couldn't spend what we made today.”

  Jin felt the air leave his lungs. He knew where this was heading.

  “What’s the point of hundreds of millions if we can’t ensure our children get an education?” Brun continued. “Strong they might be, but we want them to be proper people first. Educated with common sense. Might not be as mouthy as you and far away from being the suicidal idiot, of course.”

  The couple laughed.

  Once it died down, Brun added where he left off. “But good enough to live a life worth living. Right, dear?”

  “As you say, darling,” came the sweet reply.

  Juin rubbed his chin, admiring the couple. If nothing else, these two were in unison in their decision and action. “So, my school is your answer?”

  Brun nodded. “I’m not the only parent thinking this.” Once again, he turned to his wife, and she gave a nod before he continued. “Is it the real answer? Who knows. But we’re willing to bet on you, Frank. We want in.”

  “In? Are you– “

  “Enough talking. Now, give me your bank account. I’m giving you half of everything I earned from that Rainbow Stat Seed.”

  “W-wait a minute!” Jin stood up, his voice shaking. He took a deep breath, trying to regain his composure. “Think this over. Twice. Thrice. No. A hundred times! You can’t be giving me money like that! And if you still want in, then we’ll need a contract. Black and white. Not verbal talk over some tea. Don’t your family need it more than I do?”

  All the excuses Jin could think of at that moment, he said them all. But Brun and his wife, Milly, remained unmoved.

  “Bullshit! I’m retiring, Frank. I don't need to buy gears anymore. I don't need a ten-million-dollar shield.”

  “B-but you got to think this more thought. I mean, way more than this."

  “I did,” Brun replied before turning to his wife. “We did.”

  “My husband is right,” Milly spoke up, her voice a calm anchor in the room. “We have lived a modest life. What we earned today, we spent it all the next day. Most of it is for our children. And we are happy that way. But because of you, our lives changed. We don't need a palace. Even after giving you half of this fortune, it is still enough to last us generations.”

  “You heard the lady,” Brun added, his eyes flashing with a protective fire. “Give me the account number, or I’ll have to force it out from you. And as a father, I’ll do anything to secure my children’s future.”

  Jin had no choice. He insisted that the Ferths draft the agreement in black and white immediately, and they agreed to his terms. Under their watchful eyes and heavy hearts, he accepted the transfer. The Auction House’s internal banking system took over the rest, handling the transaction without fuss. Nifty, secure, and instantaneous.

  [300,000,000 Alliance Dollars have been transferred.]

  His phone’s message stated the obvious. That night, Jin was three hundred million richer, but also, his shoulders now had the seeds of future generations weighing on them.

  “Where do I send the formal contract, Brun?” Jin asked, massaging his shoulders that stiffened out of nowhere.

  Brun laughed, picking up Nessa and tossing her into the air. “Wifey wants to see the Swiss Alps. We’re taking a long holiday. So, you can send it there, or wait until we’re back.”

  “And when will you be back?”

  “Sometime next year. Before Lyle starts schooling.” Brun’s laughter echoed inside the room as he carried his two children away. Milly was the last to leave, and before she did, she bowed and Jin, saying her thanks over and over again.

  Once they left, Jin fell onto the seat, putting his hand over his face and heaving a deep sigh. His mind was spinning with ‘what-ifs’ and ‘whens’. He had the money now, but he also had the burden of a thousand awakened children’s futures on his back. Not something he had in mind when he started this journey to become a Player. After all, he only wanted to be closer to his daughter, Eleana.

  “School, huh?” Jin mumbled to himself. “I wonder what they would even teach Eleana if she were sitting in a classroom right now?”

  He drained the last of the tea, the bitterness matching his mood. He had come to the auction house to appraise some items and experience the vibes here; yet, he left with the responsibility and hope of an entire generation. His head was still spinning, trying to figure out the first brick of that foundation. Or perhaps, that first brick would start with some paperwork.