Caleb sat in silence, his back resting against Kayla’s desk. He stared at the ground, picking at the grass, blade by blade, before looking back up to the empty window of the trailer home. Kayla’s crying had stopped a while ago, a few hours maybe, but the wailing screech still echoed in his head.

  He didn’t know what to do. He knew she’d take it badly, but not like this. Kayla had never been one to cry. Sure, she was loud, obnoxious at time - violent even – but she had a stiff upper lip as his father had liked to say.

  He’d promised to protect her. His father had made him promise, right after she’d been born. And he’d sworn to live by it.

  But I'm going to the stars and fighting monsters so they don't come here, he thought. Isn’t that protecting her?

  He didn’t know if it was. Didn’t know just how big this job was. It seemed important, and from what Nigel had said he knew that not doing it would cause serious problems. But leaving would cause serious problems too. To such an extent he might as well be breaking his promise. He was on his feet before he realised it, pacing around as he stuff trembling hands into short pockets. His thoughts ran rampant as he tried to reconcile the gap between what he felt was right, and what he knew was.

  He paced around for a few more minutes, before eventually sitting back down next to the table. Bit by bit, thoughts fell silent, as he stared at the sand and dry grass of the ground again. Eventually just the quiet remained, his mind echoing only the sounds and sensations around him. And like always, he was drawn predominantly to his newest sense. With closed eyes he felt at the mana all around him. He didn’t know how he could tell but it was growing. In density, in complexity, in geometry – size and shape – it was growing. The process was slow, barely noticeable. But it was there.

  He wondered what it meant. What an increased amount of mana on Earth really signalled. When he thought about it, really compared, Earth’s mana was sparse, thing, compared to the trial worlds. And now it was changing. What would happen? Would Earth become like those places? With two headed lions, scorpions the size of lawnmowers, and dinosaur dragons? What about the Ekhuts of the world? Would they get larger? Or simply stronger? How many of them would there even be?

  What kind of monsters would come here next? he thought.

  He shook his head as images of a monster twice the size of Ekhut, with ten times the power decimated LA, his step-mom and sister thrown about and decimated in the rubble. He stood quickly, taking a breath.

  Why had he even been thinking about this? The decision was clear as day. He couldn’t let something like that happen. Not now. Not ever. If he was right, if this had even the chance to stop it, he had to at least try.

  He sighed, letting the tension fall from his shoulders. There wasn’t any point waiting any longer. Not to fix things or say a final goodbye. He’d waited long enough as it was, trying to mull things over. He had to stop letting his emotions get in the way. He clenched his fist tightly and pressed his knuckles firmly against his brow.

  This was for Kayla. This was for her and all of humanity. Not just the living, but the dead too.

  The mana swirled in front of him as he brought up the message.

  [You have been offered a position on the 105th Yildaric Guard squad under Dragonbane – En Daen Avarson]

  [Congratulations]

  [Do you accept?]

  [Y/N?]

  He paused, before grabbing a crayon, and quickly scrawled a note on a blank sheet of paper. Then his eyes drifted back to the message and with a deep breath he spoke.

  “I accept”

  [Congratulations]

  [You have become an official member of the Yildaric Guard]

  He stared at the message waiting for more to happen, but nothing did.

  “Uh… hello?”

  Caleb frowned. He hadn’t expected anything in particular, but nothing was a little confusing. The message disappeared leaving him alone in the middle of the day.

  Well, guess that gives me more time with Kayla, he thought. Maybe she won’t be so mad if we get ice-cream again.

  He started towards the door when he felt the world shift around him, an intense spike of mana filling his conscious awareness, as a million stars blinded him at once, before a small splash of red arced across his vision, then he was standing once again, his body real, and the air different, cooler. He blinked as his eyes adjusted, then looked forward coming face to face with a grinning Daen.

  [Welcome to Alareon (B2-F14-D)]

  [I knew you’d make the right choice Caleb] the man laughed.

  “H-hello” he muttered half bowing.

  [Ooh, is this a new greeting?]

  “N-no” Caleb muttered, before glancing around. He stood in a small office space, various portrait paintings of family members with frames of gold hanging on the walls, beside various swords and other weapons and trinkets he didn’t recognise. A desk sat behind Daen, a quill and a few sheets of paper resting a top it. It wasn’t a room he was familiar with, but the style of architecture was enough. He was back in Daen’s palace.

  [So let’s get- wait where’s your crown?]

  “Ah, I left it at home”

  [Hm, you should really make a habit of wearing it. It’s very hard to damage and it doesn’t rust. It’s fine to wear everywhere you know?]

  “Sorry” Caleb mumbled awkwardly. “I didn’t want to draw attention.”

  Daen frowned then waved his hand dismissively.

  [It’s fine. Let’s go get it] Daen said. He felt the mana swirl around Daen’s hand as a he raised it and a red portal appeared. Daen stepped through quickly, and Caleb followed behind, finding himself exactly where he’d been before the teleport.

  He looked around confused and horrified as neighbours stared at him and Daen. He shrunk into himself before frowning, as a question immediately came to his mind.

  He knows where I live? he thought.

  [Alright, where is it?] Daen said.

  “Mom! Mom!” a kid cried out rushing for his home. “There’s a wizard knight here!”

  If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

  “It’s inside” Caleb muttered, shying away from the others as he attempted to hide his face. Daen walked forward, then came to a stop as the door opened, Casey blinking in surprise as she looked between Caleb and Daen.

  “Uh- please. Come in” she said.

  Daen nodded, then ducked under as Caleb followed him inside trying to ignore the look of confusion Casey was burning into the back of his head.

  [Aha] Daen said, pointing to the. It lifted off the counter suddenly and flew across the room into Daen’s hand’s before he handed it to Caleb, as Daen’s dancing mana faded.

  “Thanks” Caleb muttered, confused.

  “C-can I offer you anything to drink?” Casey asked, nervously

  [Oh, right] Daen said, before quickly clearing his throat. [Good… afternoon. My name is En Daen Avarson. Thank you for the hospitality. I would like a coffee please.]

  Caleb stared at the man, confused by the sudden declaration and just how proud it seemed to make him.

  “R-right. I’m Casey” his step-mom nodded before

  Daen looked to him with a smile then flashed a thumbs up, before looking around the trailer nodding to himself. Caleb didn’t know exactly what the man was so impressed by.

  “Who’re you?” a voice said from behind them. Caleb glanced back to his sister as she peered her around the toilet door.

  [I am En Daen Avarson] Daen said proudly, [What is your-]

  “Are you gonna to take Caleb?” Kayla said, glaring.

  Daen’s face fell slightly as he looked between her and Caleb.

  “K-Kayla honey” Casey started.

  “You can’t take him” she said defiant. “You can’t!”

  [I-I apologise if I’ve offended you young Earthchild] Daen said. [But your brother is very important]

  “But it’s not fair. You can’t take him!”

  “K-Kayla” Casey said, slipping between Caleb and Daen, as she scooped Kayla up. “Sorry about her. She hasn’t had anything to eat.”

  [It’s ok]

  “No!” Kayla cried. “You can’t take him! You can’t have him forever”

  [We won’t have him forever. And if you’re so against it, he can return regularly.]

  “R-really?” Kayla said, her tantrum stopping.

  [Well it will be difficult, but the wishes of family are very important in these matters. Even those of a child’s] Daen said nodding.

  “Uh- he has to come home everyday”

  [Hmm, I don’t think we can do every day. What about every double deci-cycle?]

  “What’s that?”

  [Ah right… it’s about every Earth weekend. That’s probably a bit better for you. It’s a bit irregular given the time differences, but we can make it work]

  “Every weekend?!” Kayla said excited.

  [Yes]

  “Will you come home every weekend?” Kayla said, looking to Caleb.

  “Uh if I can, then yeah” he muttered, his brain still processing his initial confusion.

  [Consider it done] Daen said.

  Caleb looked between Kayla, and Daen before realising how stupid he was. He hadn’t even considered the idea of both.

  What an idiot, he thought. Of course you get holiday.

  -

  Daen was both weirdly caught up on Earthen customs, but also very oblivious. He knew a lot about greetings, and random details about Earth history, but his questions were weirdly direct, and he seemed almost entirely unaware that the living conditions were less of a choice and more of a forced circumstance.

  He also seemed to be giving Kayla’s words a bit too much credence, especially concerning her stories about how heroic Caleb had been in ‘saving the world’.

  Caleb had a bunch of questions he wanted to ask, but it seemed rude to interrupt when Daen was explaining to Kayla the complex migration patterns of the pink unicorns native to Alareon with a hologram. Kayla seemed more interested in the hologram of the unicorn than the topic itself.

  Caleb glanced to the window as he took a sip of his water. A few neighbours had milled around outside, but they were gone now. He couldn’t hear the sound of kids playing outside, which worried him. He wondered if they’d all gone inside, if anyone had filmed him and Daen. Though he also wondered how likely it was that any of them had any cell phones. At worse they’d just called the police on the landline.

  [And that is why we can only hunt them in the later months of the cycle]

  “You hunt them?” Kayla said, looking away from the hologram.

  [Of course. It is an important tradition.]

  “You shouldn’t hunt them. That’s mean” Kayla said, shaking her head.

  [Hm. I guess you are right in a way Souza Kayla Caseysair. I will bring this to the attention of the family at our next meeting.] Daen said nodding.

  Kayla giggled at Daen’s use of his people’s version of her name, as Casey tried to calm her down.

  “Kayla why don't you go draw something for our guest?”

  “Ohh, would you like me to draw you something!?” Kayla said excited.

  [It would be an honour]

  Kayla leapt up and rushed out of the caravan, outside. Caleb stood, glancing out the window. A few of the neighbours were doing the same, staring at Kayla as she drew. But she seemed blissfully unaware of the neighbours stares as she scribbled away.

  “So… uh Mr Daen?” Casey muttered.

  [Just Daen is fine]

  Casey nodded, drawing her hands together as she looked to the floor.

  “I- how dangerous is this job?” Casey asked. Daen’s face grew serious, his smile fading.

  [It’s a dangerous] Daen said. [But Caleb will be in good hands. We will train him, and he will excel. This I know.]

  “Alright, there's just- I don’t understand. What is the job exactly?”

  [We will be fighting against the evils of the other realms. Save the universe from monsters, myths, men. Anything that we must face, we will face] Daen said. [But we will win. We always do.]

  “But he could get hurt?”

  [I won’t allow any grievous harm to come to him. I’d first sacrifice myself. And should he receive injury, he will wear the scars with pride, like the ones he already has]

  Casey’s eyes moved to Caleb’s arm, as he shifted uncomfortably in his seat.

  “He… I just worry, because he’s so young and- he had cancer. Before all this. Bad"

  [Yes. But this too is a battle he must overcome]

  “Overcome? I thought-” Casey frowned as she looked to him. Caleb averted his eyes quickly, looking to the floor. “Caleb? Caleb are you… is it still there? Do you…” she trailed off unable to finish. Caleb played with the leg of his shorts, his tongue fiddling with the gap between his back teeth.

  “Caleb?” Casey repeated, harsher this time. "Caleb answer me."

  “Uh… I still have it. It’s… I think I can get rid of it?” he mumbled.

  “You think?! You’re doing this and you still have cancer!?” she shouted, her eyes wide. “I- no! Why didn’t you- no!”

  [He can recover] Daen said. [His skill allows it]

  “I don't... are you certain?” Casey said, her tone serious.

  [Yes. Many of my ancestors have recovered from this. All it takes is patience and commitment.]

  “Good” Casey said, sitting back down. “I- I still don’t want him doing anything. Not until he’s healthy.”

  [I’m afraid that’s not possible] Daen said. [He’s already part of the order. He will have to fight or he will have to die]

  “What?!” Casey cried.

  What? Caleb thought.

  [Ah, sorry. This is one of our sayings as you call it. In my culture most would rather die than face the dishonour of betraying the order by leaving]

  “…right” Casey said, pinching the bridge of her nose. "But he can leave? He can stop at any time?"

  [Technically yes] Daen said. [But he shouldn't have to.]

  The room fell into silence as Casey tapped her foot against the ground, still pinching the bridge of her nose. Daen sipped at his coffee before looking to Caleb and offering a small smile.

  Does he think this going well or something?

  “I finished!” Kayla cried suddenly bounding back into the room. “Look Mr Daen! Look!”

  Daen took the drawing, his eyes scanning it quickly as he smiled to himself.

  [It is wonderful Souza Kayla Caseysair.]

  “Really?” Kayla said, bounding up and down with excitement.

  [Yes] Daen said with a nod. [I shall frame it in my office. Maybe my son will take inspiration from it in his later childhood]

  Kayla grinned to herself, as Casey pulled her into her lap, calming her down. Then Daen, stood offering a half bow to Kayla and Casey.

  “Are you leaving?” Kayla said, her joy vanishing.

  [Yes we must go now. We cannot to be late for Adar Vedys.]

  “Adar Vedys?” Casey said, looking between Daen and Caleb. Caleb shrugged.

  [It’s a holiday celebration. Very important for the Protectorate orders. Lots of people.]

  Caleb looked to him frowning.

  “Lots of people?” he mumbled.

  [Yes] Daen replied grinning. [Millions will come to watch and celebrate the existence of the orders. We must get you dressed up before we show you to the universe!]

  Oh jesus, Caleb thought.

  “Can I come?” Kayla asked.

  [No I’m afraid. I’m sorry earthchild. Though maybe next year]

  “Ok” Kayla nodded, frowning to herself. Daen looked to Caleb - expectant - and Caleb stood slowly, placing the crown atop his head with a nervous gulp.

  [Thank you all for hosting me in the Souza abode. It has been an honour and a pleasure. Goodbye] Daen said with a wave, before stepping outside.

  “Bye” Kayla called out to him, before looking to Caleb.

  Caleb knelt quickly and hugged his sister.

  “Promise you’ll come back on every weekend?”

  “I promise” he nodded.

  “You pinky promise?”

  He locked their pinkies then pulled her into a hug.

  “I’ll miss you.”

  “It’s ok” Kayla sniffled. “You’ll be back every weekend.”

  He chuckled to himself then pulled away as Casey pulled him into a hug. Theirs was briefer and as she pulled away he noticed the tremor in her hands, and the fear in her eyes.

  “Please Caleb” she mumbled. “Stay safe.”

  “I will” he mumbled. “I will”

  Then, with a final wave to his sister, he started out of the trailer and onto the lawn outside where Daen stood waiting amongst the watchful eyes of the neighbours.

  [You ready?] Daen asked. Caleb nodded. Daen raised his hand, but as the mana swirled around them Caleb stopped him.

  “I know how expensive teleports are. It’s- I already have teleportation privileges or whatever you call it”

  [Really? From Yuniea?] Daen said, looking to him with a sudden intensity.

  “No, from one of our planets representatives”

  [Oh. Was it the rude one? I’d rather you use my favour than his. We don’t want any bad karma]

  “Uh… it was Nigel” Caleb responded confused.

  [Oh, that’s alright then. Nigel is nice]

  Caleb chuckled to himself, and nodded, then raised his hand out in front of him. He remembered, the rolling hills of green and the mixture of hope and despair he’d felt as he and Sierra had looked out over them in the moments before the trial. His mana leapt outwards, mixing with the worlds as an unseen power from above ignited the magical, splitting and joining reality as a portal of red appeared in front of them.

  He took a deep breath, lowering his hand then smiled to himself, both nervous but also excited. It was time to start saving the world.