SIXTY-EIGHT: The Warren

SIXTY-EIGHT: The Warren

Alden enjoyed a week of peace and anonymity before he chose to bite the bullet and attend a Meet the New Residents event.

The neighbors were getting interested in him. Natalie Choir was worried hed been left out because an apartment full of new Rabbit boys was being filled on the floor below. Her roommates had been hinting that they wanted access to the coffee machine. And the guys in 912 had invited him over to hang out with them tomorrow and watch our rock garden do something, which they promised would be worth it.

Frankly he was so curious about that one that there was no way he was going to miss out.

He was sure it was only a matter of time before his story went viral through intake. Lying sleepless in bed the night before the meet and greet, hed decided it would be better to pick the moment himself, so he could take control of the narrative before it came out as a gossip-generated mutant that was even worse than the real thing.

This is for the bestand what can a rock garden even do? he thought as he entered the crowded lecture room where the event was being held. It was decorated with neon-colored paper chains, and there was a table with drinks.

It was an optional event and purely social, so pretty much everyone whod come was in friend-making mode. He grabbed a plastic cup full of pineapple punch and a seat. There was a counselor from the Brute tower chilling in a corner, but other than standing and letting everyone know that it was time for newcomers to start going up to the lectern at the front of the room, he didnt have much to do.

Alden listened to a dozen different people talk about themselves. A D-rank Life Shaper focused on her hobbies. An A-rank Adjuster told everyone that he was planning to specialize in fire spells and attend a hero program at Li Jean Academy starting in a few weeks.

There was lots of clapping and cheering. Everyone was thrilled to share the story of how they became an Avowed. It started to get really relaxed, and of course people were showing off their new powers.

All right, Alden thought, standing up during a slight lull. Get the job done. Dont completely ruin the tone. How hard can it be?

He walked up to the lectern with his drink and took in the hundred or so people in the room. Faces around his own age from every corner of the globe looked back at him. The fact that he now lived in a place with people from all over the planet was astounding, and he still hadnt gotten used to it.

Hi, he said, Im Alden. Im a B-rank Rabbit. I got selected back in February.

A few of them looked confused, probably because that was too far back for him not to be at least a minor criminal.

I actually got summoned for the first time right after Id finalized my talent selection

Several people clapped. A Brute shouted encouragements. Alden had known that they would be excited. It was considered cool to already have a summoning under your belt before you even hit the island.

He tried not to feel awkward. He tried not to be awkward.

Yeah, he said, taking a sip from his drink. Thanks. It was a good first job. Lab assistant work. Ten days. At this really swanky wizard school. I made some money. I made friends with a griveck.

Everyone laughed.

No I really did. Shes great. I called her last night, and she was so excited. She said shed kill something in my honor.

They laughed again.

Well, I guess its hard to understand if you werent there. Alden had even toned it down for them. Sophie had actually been in the process of stalking her dinner when she answered his call, which was the most expensive one hed ever made. Apparently Earth to Sreeeakk was extreme magical long distance.

Shed said she would chase her prey more slowly to prolong its death and celebrate his return to life.

Anyway, I got an additional quest while I was there

>

Alden smiled.

And there was an accident when I teleported to Moon Thegund. Its in the Artona I system. It hasnot much on it. I got stuck there for a while. More than half a year. Because the System broke due to a minor chaos incident.

People were still grinning, but in an uncomfortable way now. Like they werent sure if he was being serious or not.

Mentioning the demons would be too high drama, right? Alden thought it would be. He was trying to keep the story true-ish but not so detailed or grim that everyone would be desperate to hear more about it. It was hard.

The Brute intake counselor was giving him a super concerned look and air typing, which made Alden think he might be texting Neha to ask what the new Rabbit boys deal was.

Since the System was broken, I couldnt teleport back home. So I lived in a vault in an abandoned laboratory to protect myself from the corruption. I spent most of my time studying Artonan. I speak it now. Pretty well. And I thought it would be interesting to prove it by finishing my introduction in that language.

This was a completely spur of the moment decision. Because everyone else had been finishing by showing off their powers in some way.

And Alden would rather be filleted with a spoon.

>

Alden blinked. He had his translator set to show him what the English-speakers in the room were seeing when he talked to make sure it wasnt coming out wrong. He hadnt expected the System to translate the word hed used for moon so literally.

Trials and Discoveries of The Goodchild Klee-pak with an Artonan friend, and I nurtured the fruit of the ground in a greenhouse.>>

What the hell, Earth System? thought Alden, staring at the translation. Are you playing with me right now?

Yes. That was technically what he was saying. But that wasnt what it sounded like in Artonan. It was somehow coming across as both stiff and kooky, but it was really everyday talk. The Artonans could lay bothof their feet on the gas of the poetic formal when they wanted to. This was not it.

He started deliberately dodging the words he thought would come out the worst, and went on.

>

That one was probably my bad. There were a lot of synonyms for preservation. It was hard to pick the right one.

> he clarified. Uhwell, I guess Im not quite as good as I think, since I cant make the words come out right. Its just a preservation skill. It freezes objects I hold, and it keeps them safe.

He took another sip from his drink.

I would rather not show it off. I had to use it a lot on Moon Thegund, and Im kind of taking it easy on things that remind me of that place. Therapists orders.

It wasnt. But it sounded like something she might have wanted him to do. And what else was he supposed to say? The second best idea hed come up with was telling them all that he was abstaining from power usage right now because hed missed his chance to do it during Lent.

Got all the hard parts out. Time to prove I am totally normal by finishing with something less serious.

I think I might be really good at pinball. My apartment has a machine in it. Feel free to text if you want to come use it some time.

Done.

No, its normal, said Alden, sliding Emilija the latte. It didnt look half bad in his opinion. They dont have any sex-specific names, hair styles, or clothes. I can almost always tell with adults, but with kids Im completely clueless. They dont care if an alien gets it wrong, though. Most of the time they dont even bother to correct you.

> Emilija asked.

Alden considered the question. Were they nice to you?

He tried to remember how hed felt that first daywhat hed expected and feared versus what hed actually experienced.

Apparently he pondered for a little too long, because all the girls got really quiet.

Sorry, he said, I met a lot of Artonans during my main job at the college helping with the entrance exams. Not the one that went wrong. So I was taking a minute to think it all through and give you a real answer. Theyre just people. Some of them are terrible. Some of them are great. Most are somewhere in between. The difficult thing is

>

Its the power dynamic, he said finally. I was freaked out by it for the first few days. You cansay no to things. Even things that arent covered by all the specifics in the human morality rules. From what Ive seen, most Artonans arent lunatics who are going to force you to do some unimportant errand if you make it clear that you have a real problem with it. But it is an alien culture and they're in chargeit was stressful to know that seriously refusing to do something was going to be way harder and more complicated than it would be in most situations on Earth.

Did you have to refuse an assignment? Natalie asked, sounding appalled.

He looked over at her. She was holding the serving spoon in the air and letting the porridge shed made drip on the floor.

I should clarify that my skill is unusual for a Rabbit, he said. Its good for medical emergencies. And carrying things that are on the verge of exploding.

bombs?>>

>

Potentially. So Im more likely to have assignments where refusing is something I would want to do more and be able to do less. Or not at all. Because, you know, emergency stuff. I might just be oversensitive to it. And I did have to refuse one. I had to call a wizard to bail me out when some of the students asked me to do something that was basically impossible.

What was it?

Mmmits a secret, said Alden. Because they were stupid, and they embarrassed themselves. And they have really important families.

>

No, he said. Im just not interested in pissing off potential future summoners.

He briefly considered telling them he did have a contract tattoo for another reason but decided against it. Rabbits mostly seemed to fall into the camp of Avowed who thought they were cool, but some people were weird about them.

Okay, Natalie said ten minutes later while they were all polishing off their insanely delicious breakfast. So, the most important questionAlden, they gave you a lot of money right?

>

>

>

I dont mean I want you to tell me what your pay was, Natalie said quickly. I mean you got enough to go ahead and do it in October, right? The Spree?

thats the shopping thing, isnt it?

>

>

>

>

Alden raised his eyebrows at Emilija.

fixes chipped paint. I know its not special. I know Im not a real Avowed. But the other classes dont have to laugh in my face when I tell them about it.>>

>

>

I havent been summoned yet, Natalie said. But Ive been selling meals to lots of people, and Ive made enough that I should be able to do it in a few weeks. You could participate, too, right?

Itslike a horrible rich person conspicuous consumption thing? Alden said doubtfully.

Yes, said Natalie.

>

Stylish conspicuous consumption.>>

>

How much do I have to spend to do it?

Its a five thousand argold minimum to officially be part of the Spree, said Natalie.

Ill think about it. It doesnt really sound like me.

> Emilija whispered. >

Im buying a new wardrobe and changing my clothes every hour, said Natalie. I wanted kitchen equipment, but its not conspicuous enough. I cant carry around a two thousand dollar mixer all day without looking like a crazy person.

They were all staring at him expectantly.

I guess if I could think of something practical?

Ill think about it, he said noncommittally.