Thicker than water (2)
Elijah and Lisa spent the evening together, reconnecting over dinner. Lisa's endless curiosity about the Other World had Elijah answering question after question, and he found himself smiling more than he had in a long time. It felt good to talk, to share, to be an older brother again.
When morning came, the first light filtered through Elijah's window, but he was already awake, staring at the Cores in his storage ring with a grin. He began absorbing them, one by one, feeling the rush of power as his stats subtly increased.
---
Name: Elijah
Status: Awakened
Physical Condition: Crippled
Realm: 1st Realm of the Apprentice Stage
Ability: Avatar (Level 1)
Soulshards: Jackal's Stealth (Basic)*17
Soul Level: 6.69% (+3.2)
Strength: 14 (+1)
Agility: 11 (+1)
Endurance: 12 (+1)
---
"Awesome!" Elijah exclaimed, noting the increases in his stats. "I didn't know that every 5% increase in Soul Level would up all my stats by 1." He nodded in satisfaction before getting out of bed and turning on his computer.
"I need to deal with the high school exams situation," he muttered. Although Elijah had dropped out, he was technically still enrolled, and it was time to make some changes. Scanning the replies from various groups and companies he had contacted earlier, he found nothing but disappointments—rejections or absurd demands in exchange for their help.
"Greedy fucks," Elijah muttered, deleting the emails in frustration.
Next, he logged into the Wanderer Union's website to submit a 'major change' request. In the last three years of high school, students choose a major to focus on. Elijah's major used to be Computer Science, but now that he had awakened, he needed something more aligned with his new reality.
"I lack professional training, martial arts skills, and detailed knowledge of the Other World," Elijah mused. "I could either buy training manuals and study materials myself or join an academy."
The choice was clear—he needed professional training. After submitting his request for the Bellatores' path major, he received a quick acceptance from the Union and immediately forwarded it to his high school.
He closed his computer and stood up, pondering his next move as he inspected the 17 Black Jackal silhouettes rotating around his Core.
---
Meanwhile, the Wanderer Union's market buzzed with the news of the sudden influx of 16 Black Jackal Soulshards, each selling for a hefty 10k credits. Apprentices all around were asking the same question: "Where did all these Soulshards come from?"
---
As Elijah and Lisa sat down for breakfast, the atmosphere between them was noticeably lighter. They had grown closer after their conversation the night before. A *ding* from Elijah's watch interrupted their meal, signaling another successful sale.
Elijah smiled and turned to his sister. "Lisa, do you want to leave this place?"
"Leave? And go where?" she asked, puzzled.
Elijah explained his recent good fortune in the Other World, how he had hunted Daemones, sold their Cores, and amassed enough wealth to move them to a better place.
"That's great, Elijah, but shouldn't you be using the Cores for yourself?" she questioned.
"I will, but I want to invest in us first," he replied.
"Use the money to buy equipment or something. Don't waste it on unnecessary things; we're living fine," Lisa insisted.
"We can't stay here," Elijah said, more firmly. "I'm going to be in the Other World a lot, and I can't leave you here, especially with those people still out there."
After thinking it over, Lisa agreed, though she made Elijah promise not to overdo it.
Without wasting time, Elijah found a secure apartment in the heart of the city, renting it for 5k Union credits per month. The move was swift; they packed their things and hailed a cab. As they approached their new home, the giant gate of the exclusive area opened with a scan of Elijah's watch.
The difference between their shabby old neighborhood and the luxurious new one was night and day. The new area was clean, well-maintained, and secure—a far cry from the rough streets they were used to. The building they moved into was modern, with 24-hour security and amenities that made Lisa's eyes widen in awe.
Once they were settled in, Elijah bought his sister a new watch, replacing her old, battered phone. He even gave her a generous allowance, despite her objections. In the end, Elijah won the argument.
"Alright, I'm heading back in," Elijah said, donning his armor and strapping his hunting knife to his hip.
"Be careful," Lisa urged, worry tinging her voice.
Elijah nodded and activated the tattoo. The familiar wave of nausea hit him as he re-entered the Other World, though it was less intense this time. After regaining his bearings, he unlocked the platform at the Union base and immediately headed out, leaving the settlement behind. Using his Soulshard's stealth ability, he moved through the trees, careful not to leave any trace.
When he reached the Jackals' den, he was surprised to find it crowded with hunters, all fiercely hunting the creatures.
"What's going on?" Elijah asked a passing hunter.
"You don't know?" the hunter replied. "Apparently, these Daemones can drop Soulshards, and everyone's trying to get one. Someone sold a bunch of Black Jackal Soulshards, and now everyone's here trying their luck, though no one's gotten one yet."
Elijah facepalmed, shaking his head. "Thanks," he muttered before entering the den. It was packed with hunters, and dead jackals littered the ground.
"Damn it, it's going to be hard to kill even a single jackal," Elijah grumbled. Everywhere he looked, hunters were ganging up on the jackals, leaving none for him.
Activating his stealth Soulshard, he moved through the den, searching for prey. Hours passed, and as the sun began to set, Elijah returned to the settlement with a heavy sigh.
"Damn it, I only managed to get eight Cores. These guys are ruthless. I actually pity the jackals," Elijah muttered. "Hopefully, they'll give up after not getting anything for a while."