T.R.I.A.D

"An adoption agreement?" Henry repeated, his eyes scanning the tablet info

Emily nodded

"Yes, that is correct, we want to adopt you into our family."

Henry's mind reeled, she had indeed mentioned something like "loyalty to the family" earlier, but henry ignored the fact, thinking it was some kind of guild fanatic. Who could've known, it was an actual family.

"Woah, that was unexpected. But why would you want to adopt me?" he asked, still surprised by what was happening

Emily leaned forward.

"Why would anyone want to adopt a child in distress? she asked rhetorically

"Besides i think you should be more focused on the advantages you'll get," she continued, while maintaining eye contact with henry

He once again had his cautious thoughts replaced with consideration

"You can really help me become a mage?" he asked, feeling uncertain of her true motive

"My family has a lot to offer, Henry. We're influential, wealthy, and well-connected. We can definitely try and help you become one." she assured

Henry's skepticism grew. "try! what does she mean try, she might not even be able to help at all." he thought, with a firm stand of achieving his dream of becoming a mage, a dream he only had since 5 minutes ago.

"What's in it for your family?"

Emily smiled, leaning back on her chair again "You really are adamant, aren't you, it's a good thing. But we simply want nothing more from you, other than your loyalty,"

"You'll be a part of one of the most powerful families in atlas. You'll have access to exclusive resources, training, and networks. You'll have protection and a certainly better future, you'll be part of the family. As long as you continue to do what is expected of you," she continued, getting more persistent

Henry's eyes narrowed.

"And what do you expect from me?"

Emily's expression turned serious.

"Loyalty, dedication, and representation. You'll carry the family name, and with it, our legacy. So you cannot do anything to tarnish our image," she said

Henry hesitated, he didn't know this people, or their true intentions. He couldn't just go about signing agreements just because of the juicy offers, they only led to trouble in the end.

And this was an adoption of all things, in a way, he would be signing off his life to them, and that included his freedom. He was an adult so, he could make whatever decisions he pleased. Or so he thought.

"This is not my style at all, I'll be part of some family i know nothing about, what if they're bad guys. They probably go around recruiting helpless children like me, adopting them and promising them the world. But then turning them into their own personal slaves." he thought

"I'll rather sweat and work my way to the top, than to have it easy just to become some puppet in the end," henry made his resolve, one that his past self would never believe he could.

He took a deep breath.

"I appreciate the offer, Emily, but I think I'll pass."

Emily's expression turned surprised.

"Why?"

Henry stood.

"I don't want to be tied down. I need to find my own way, make my own decisions."

Emily's smile faded. "What! he actually said no, fuck, what am i supposed to tell her now," she panicked inwardly

"I understand. But know this, Henry; you're passing up an opportunity of a lifetime."

Henry nodded.

"I'll take my chances." he said, feeling pretty badass in the moment

But emily suddenly burst out laughing, she laughed for about thirty seconds, before replying

"You must think, you're pretty cool, don't you; but you're just a naive, stupid little brat, who has literally no idea of the real world," she replied in a cold, chilling voice, one in contrast to the sweet, persuasive voice of before

"You're going to get yourself killed, this was the only chance you had to be something in a world where power is everything. You want to become a mage, what a joke," she continued, chuckling at the last part

Henry was a bit shocked at how she switched, wasn't she just trying to make him join their precious family. But now she was insulting him, but he wasn't going to have that

"You know what, screw you, and your lunatic family. I don't want anything to do with you guys now or ever, so you can take your goddamn offer and fuck off!" he retorted loudly and boldly

Maybe too bold

"You will take everything you said about my family back, this instance!" emily said, her voice even more cold and terrifying

She had a stoic look on her face, ice shards began to form around her left hand, creating a large deadly claw made of ice

But henry didn't get the memo, he didn't notice the change in her hand, as he was lost in his act of boldness

"Or else what, you'll threaten me with your family's name," he said, forgetting this was a world of magic, a place where the strong preyed on the weak

"You're a brave one, you know. She would have really liked you." she said, as she stood up from her seat,

That's when henry saw it, the crystal shiny claw, on the hands of a cold lady, she was an elemental type, with ice abilities

She moved closer to henry and raised her hand, about to strike him, when henry suddenly pleaded for his life

"Woah woah wait! he said loudly, raising his hands over his head, he knew trying to run would be pointless, so why not just plead

"I'm sorry, i take it all back. Your family is the best and I'm a complete jerk and I deserved to be punished, but please don't," he pleaded with her

It seemed to have worked, as she dropped her hand, and it reverted back to it's normal form

"I can't believe, i thought you were brave for speaking to me like that without caring for the consequences, but you're just another annoying kid, who trembles in the face of power," emily said, as she took a seat

"Yeah, maybe because I have none, and I don't want to get killed, he said inwardly

"Hmm, pathetic. So does this mean, you've accepted the offer?" she asked

"Oh, absolutely not, I'm just another terrified kid. But aren't you too young to be my mother?" he asked, also taking a seat

"What! Fuck no, gross. I'm not the one adopting you, that would be my mother," she immediately said in a defensive, cute voice

"Wow, she can be like this," he thought, seeing as emily suddenly acted like a teenager, and he made use of that insecurity

"Oh, so there's still another big boss i might still have to deal with," henry sighed

"Indeed, mother doesn't take no for an answer. You'll have to face her eventually," emily replied

"So you're like 25, or something?" henry asked

"Ah...no, I'm only...20," she said, in a cute voice. She was like a completely different person

Henry smiled,

"Oh, so you're just a teenager too, a kid," he said, trying to continue his teasing.

But emily saw through him, she immediately returned to her terrifying demeanor

"Call me that one more time, and you'll be pulling tiny ice shards out of your lungs for the next 10 years,"

Henry gulped hard, this woman was not having his taunts anymore, he knew better than to continue

"Scary lady," he thought, she was indeed terrifying "one moment she was nice, cute and all, and the next thing you know, she's a monster," There was no way henry would want her for a big sister. No Way

"It was just a joke, is all. But you know for someone who is trying to persuade me into becoming a part of their family, you are quite the bad advertiser," he said

"Hahaha, you think i care, well I don't. I don't know why mum would even want to adopt a weakling like you, it doesn't make sense, but don't think you're some kind of special person we would beg to join us," emily replied, with a hint of pride

"Oh, perhaps she should have been the one to show up then," henry replied

"Believe me, even i would rather be somewhere else, but don't think mother would personally come here for someone as insignificant as you," she said, in a proud tone

"Well too bad, i really don't want an elder sister or a new mother, so I'd have to reject the adoption, i can right?" he asked, looking her hand

"Yes, but just know that this is a bad decision, I'm quite sure that they would come for you, this is the only way to be safe from them,"

"From who? you said something like that before, what do you mean?" he asked with curiosity

"Well i guess i could tell you, afterall it would be your undoing," she said, crossing her legs

"Triad, they would want you," she continued

Henry had seen that name somewhere on the internet, but he too busy learning about the mages, he didn't entirely check them out

Emily seeing his look, continued

"Of course, you can't know them yet, no memories," she sneered, before tapping on the bracelet on her right wrist. A wide holographic screen popped up showing everything about triad

T.R.I.A.D - Technological Research and Innovation of Magical Beings Development, Authority, and Enforcement Division

They are the biggest organization in the world, they have the same power a leader holds, and were even more of a powerhouse than the leaders because they maintained the world

They were literally the federation, in charge of making some rules, laws and other regulations on earth

They dealt in almost all sectors, from military, to research, to government. They were also in charge of ability humans, making sure to keep them in check, so there won't be an issue of an uprising or any taking over the world nonsense.

They also deal with beast's of higher threat, and make most of the advanced technology and weapons the world uses.

They also deal with other threats like; the O.D.D, the black rose empire, the mutants and every other thing they deem as a threat to humanity

They had a special force for dealing with threats from the bad organizations, they were the intelligence division.

They were like cops, or to be more polite, a special force. They monitor and neutralize threats or attacks from the bad guys, but dealing with beast's was not their main priority

They investigated mostly on dark dawn(ODD) and black rose; the criminal, underworld rulers, but critically are trying to locate mutants.

"Their division would be the one coming for you," emily said, taking a sip from a smoothie she had gotten from, lord knows where

"We don't know that, but even if why?" henry asked

"Well, because they would think you're a spy," she replied

"A spy! for who?" he asked

"Dark dawn, black rose, the mutants, some other enemy, i don't know," she replied fully enjoying her drink

"Why would they think that?"

"Isn't it obvious," she said dropping the cup

"You were found in a forest, you seemed to have survived a galactic beast's attack, that not even a F or E rank mage can, you claim to have no memories and you don't even have an identity. Believe me that is enough to put you in jail," she said seriously

"But the attack missed me, and i truly have no memories," henry said defensively

"Well, you'd have to tell them that, but I doubt they would be too nice or even keen to listen. You see i don't trust them one bit, even mother doesn't like them much,"

"They tend to use the law of 'whatever it takes' and 'sacrifices for the greater good' which means they would use whatever means necessary to get information from you, even if it kills you," emily replied

Henry had mixed feelings, he had seen everywhere on the internet that Triad were the good guys and would never hurt the civilians, and here a woman who he had just known was telling him otherwise, who could he trust

There was no way, he would trust emily, she knew a lot on henry, and he didn't even know her motives

"What if they don't come, it just a maybe, they might not even know i exist," he said

"Yes that is true, they might not, but that is why they certainly would, you don't exist, there isn't any information on you, and they usually have information on every single person in the world." she replied

Henry didn't need to hear more to know that she was right, but he didn't need to panic, at least not until he confirmed that they were coming for him.

"But chill out, I'm not trying to scare you or anything, just stating the facts," she said with a smile

"I'm not signing your agreement," henry replied, knowing her true goal

"Hmph, trying to scare poor little me, so I would have no choices but to give in, not a chance," he thought "I still don't know how she knows so much about me,"

He was about to ask her a question, when the door to the room suddenly opened, revealing xavier

"Oh, there you are kid, been looking everywhere for you," xavier said with a smile on his face

Henry was so happy to see xavier standing there, he won't have to deal with emily any longer. He was about to ask xavier about triad, when xavier suddenly spoke

"Some people are coming to pick you up, be prepared to leave," he said

"What people?" henry asked, his voice filled fear and anxiety. Emily had truly scared him to death

"Triad," xavier replied, dropping the bombshell