Conversations and Connections

Janet leads us down the sidewalk as if we're school children who need looking after.

Monica comes up to me when we start up.

"So, about those questions?"

"What questions? Ah, the ones you wanted to ask in the room?"

"Yeah. What happened to all that mana in you? I checked you last night, and you were still brimming with it. Where did it come from? What did you do to it, and how, in a comatose state, did it not kill you?"

She walks in time with me, staying on my right side so that I can see her. Her eyes light up

"Well...did Shawn mention how that Door went?"

"No; only that you had a fight with a pretty strong mage, and somehow became engulfed in lightning."

"Well, first off. It's all his fault it ended like that." I correct, "As soon as we stepped in, he took out an air horn and blew it. Without giving me any warning."

"Ah. Yeah, that's what he did with me and Will as well." She says.

"I can't believe they're putting him in charge of people. He's an idiot."

"But he's powerful."

"So?"

"...have you ever actually seen him fight seriously? He's a force of nature. So is she." Monica motions to Janet in front. "She was chosen by Chaac — a Mayan God of Lightning and Rain, and the way she fights? It's actually...well, I can't think of anything other than to say it's beautiful."

"Really? Is she high in the rankings as well?"

"Yeah. Rank 78."

"Really?"

"Mhmm. When you get the time look up, 'Storm'"

"I might."

"Also look up, 'swashbuckler,' as well."

"Is that you?"

"Maybe."

She flashes a smile so bright that it competed with the glaring headlights rushing in our direction. I look away, lest I be blinded by it, and take to keeping my eye on the ground in front of us as hot pressure builds in my cheeks.

"Back on track; I...do you know what, 'invocation,' means?"

"Yes, when you summon a spirit in you."

"Yes. I did that."

"And that's how you got that mana?"

"Yes."

"...what kind of spirit? I invoke spirits while fighting, but nothing like that has ever happened."

"Zeus."

She stops in her track a step and a half in front of me, and I nearly collided with her.

"Zeus? Did you invoke a god? That explains it. Holy shit man," She spins on her heel and faces me, "Is your Patron related to Greece? Let's see... Orpheus? Odysseus? No...hm, Jason?"

"No, my Patron comes from France. He was pretty pissed that I called upon a supposed, 'Helenite.'"

"You've met your Patron? Holy moly, man There are probably not many people in the world at the moment who could say that. Who is it? France...huh, I'm drawing a blank. Don't really study much French folklore in University, you know? Studied Greek, but only as an elective. What did you do before all of this?"

Ah, how could a person be so bright? I look away.

"I was an aspiring writer." I state confidently, "Though I never really found...much success."

"Ahh, still living with your mom and dad? Yeah, William was the same. He was trying to make video games before all of this. I guess that's why your brother called you a leech, huh? Don't let it get to you. He's an asshole."

"Ah, I'm used to it."

"You don't have to be. No one deserves to be called those things. You're a human being, not a leech."

Her words smash into me like a sledgehammer. My steps stagger as I regain the composure that had been shaken.

"Thank you. I don't know how long it's been since someone has told me that."

Her pink lips curl into a soft smile.

"You're welcome. Ah, let's put the other questions on hold, we're almost there. Tell me the story of how you met your patron later, okay?"

"Alright." I answer back.

She casts a quick smile before she hurries forward to talk to her brother as we passed by the burned building near the end of the road. The gate comes into view as we pass the curve just past the charred remains of the building; I had seen it before when I walked to All-Mart from the motel; it was a rather large one, that stretched from one side of the road to the other; riveted onto the metal poles that held the stoplights in place. It seemed to be made of deep blue wood and had gold, curling accents, and two large brass knockers in the middle. Level 28, if I remember correctly. Would the three of us be alright? I was nowhere near that level. Well, William was a dedicated healer, right? So we should be alright.

"Here we are," Janet said as she came to a stop at the intersection.

There was a group of military men waiting there for us, and when they saw Janet, they began to move. Some of them got into a pair of cars and went down the street a little to the closest intersections on either edge, while others went down the street just a little to redirect traffic through a side road to direct traffic down a side street.

The soldiers set up barricades to block traffic together and allowed what cars were left to drain completely out of the street. A few people pulled into the parking lots nearby and got out to record with their phones.

"Our goal for today is to clear the section of the road between there," Janet points from one of the pairs of Humvees that sat at the far intersection west of us, "and there." She points to the other.

I follow her finger so that I can. It must have been about a quarter of a mile worth of road to cover. Including the gate in front of us, there

With that, she sits on the edge of the bed of a truck parked on the corner of the nearby parking lot. It's surrounded by armed men guarding it, and an array of people ranging from medics to communication officers

"You're not going in?" I ask as we wait for the last of the cars to drain from the street.

"I will go in if there's a door above level 30. That's it."

"Why?"

"Why? Because I'm an officer, and you're not." She sneered. "What army sends in their officers first?"

Uh-huh. I won't say anything more, however. I could probably fight better without her watching over my shoulder. I was anxious to see how William and Monica are already near the gate. I hurry over just as they step through the gate.