Chapter Six

-Tutorial-

The shimmering form of Helios tilted its head as if processing the suggestion, its golden eyes examining me with a newfound intensity.

 

[Helios, the sun deity, associated with light and might. It holds a sense of power, vitality, and rebirth. A fitting name.] He paused, his wings stretching slightly, causing the golden feathers to glint even brighter. [Very well, I accept this name. You may address me as Helios.]

 

I felt a sense of pride and contentment wash over me as Helios bobbed his head in agreement, his fiery plumes dancing with excitement. It felt like a perfect name for him, and I couldn't wait to see what other surprises he had in store for me.

 

"Alright then, Helios it is," I grinned, pleased with myself for the decision. "So, what's the plan from here?"

 

[First of all... there is the pressing issue on hand that you are in the company of a young child, as well as Miss Lily right now. Most Guardians cherish their privacy, and it is up to you whether you wish to disclose your new abilities to them, or keep them hidden for the time being.] Helios explained calmly.

 

I thought about it for a moment. Trust was a complex issue for me, but Lily had shown herself to be reliable, and brave enough to come back for me when she didn’t have to. Even if I decided to reveal my new status to her, there was no guarantee she'd believe me. Or worse, she could think I'd finally snapped under the pressure of our current predicament.

 

"You're right," I murmured, my gaze wandering to the closed door of the bathroom. "But I feel like I can trust Lily. Not sure why, but it's just... a gut feeling."

 

Helios' eyes shimmered, [Then you must trust your intuition, Maito. However, it would be wise to approach the subject delicately. Perhaps demonstrating a new skill or ability when the situation calls for it, rather than outright stating it.]

 

I nodded in agreement. "Alright, we'll go with that. But before I leave this room, I need to understand the basics of what I can do now."

 

Helios hopped closer. [As a Magical Guardian, you possess abilities that draw upon your internal mana. You have a System Interface – a unique tool to track your progress, allocate points, and access various functions. . Luckily, you already have a basic understanding of the special mechanics involved that will greatly assist your growth.]

 

“Mechanics?” I asked. “What do you mean?”

[Humans are an unattuned race and cannot access magic normally through willpower alone, the Zenith developed an advanced piece of Magitech to give humans access. This device is called a “Soul Gem.” During the contract ceremony, it was teleported into your brain and attached. As a side note, it is also where I now reside.]

 

“You teleported a piece of technology into my brain!?” I interrupted with a furious whisper, eyes bulging.

 

[Indeed! I assure you, there is nothing to worry about. There has yet to be a fatality from the process. At any rate, more information about the Soul Gem can wait until later. What you need to know right now is that you have access to magic through an interface specifically designed with humans in mind. This interface is designed to translate many aspects of using magic into a familiar medium. Without further ado, would you please think of the word “Status” while putting a measure of will into the thought?]

Status? I tried, still trying to process the whole “teleported into your brain” bit of information.

 

I stared at the box that appeared in my vision.

 

Wait.

 

I had a status menu now?

 

[I knew this would be a pleasant surprise,] Helios said smugly. [Considering your aptitude at Magical Girls’ Sunset: Rebellion and the amazing playtime you have racked up in a short period of time, I am confident you will adapt quickly to the System.]

 

“Wait. Just… wait,” I pressed a hand to my head. “I need a moment.”

 

I took a slow, deep breath, ordering my racing thoughts.

 

“Okay. First of all: What does Magical Girls’ Sunset: Rebellion have to do with anything? Isn’t it just a game?”

 

[Yes and no. While it is a widely popular game, it was also designed to mimic many aspects of being a Magical Guardian. Monsters in the game are based on Anathema, players use characters based on actual Guardians, and the stats that are managed directly resemble the stats Guardians possess in reality. For this reason, many attempts are made to get Guardian candidates to play the game. Do you recall the special bonus you acquired when you first logged in?]

 

I blinked. “Yeah, I got the option to pick a free five-star character, so I picked Blade Princess. Wait, are you telling me that bonus was because of you?”

 

[Indeed!] Helios bobbed his head up and down. [It was determined that giving Guardian candidates a very rare character choice not only incentivized them to continue playing but also allowed us to see what style of character you would play as. In a way, the entire game is a soft way to scout out the capabilities and mindsets of candidates without any real world risk.]

 

I shook my head slightly. “Okay, but what’s with this… status menu? Why do I have it?”

 

[As I said earlier, it is an interface designed to help you manage the capabilities provided to you by the Zenith. While not a perfect representation, it simplifies many aspects of magic in a way that allows humans to use it. As a fairly primitive race, many restrictions and mechanics had to be put into place to even allow humanity rudimentary access to magic. Thankfully, video games, especially role-playing games, provided a perfectly functional medium.]

 

Helios’s plumed tails began to swish excitedly.

 

[Your Soul Gem offers access to two major things: the “Gate”, and the “Arcane System,” or simply “System” for short. A big part of the System is it allows you to simply purchase access to various spells and abilities. Instead of it taking years to learn even the most basic of magics, the knowledge is directly sent and stored into your Soul Gem for use. Instantaneous access and control with none of the work! A good analogy is to imagine a computer: Instead of coding a program entirely from scratch, you are simply downloading a pre-existing program to use.]

 

My eyes widened. That was insane. Now that I thought about it, books always did seem to paint actually learning magic as a long, arduous process. What Magical Guardians were doing was practically cheating by comparison. The Zenith had decided to entirely skip the step of even trying to teach us magic and were just giving it to us. Which begged the question…

 

“Why?” I finally asked. “Why are the Zenith doing this for us? Why give us so much power?”

 

[The Anathema are an existential threat,] Helios’s eyes took on an eerie gleam. [Existential. As in, a threat to ALL existence, not just humanity’s. To let humanity fall without a fight would be to give the Anathema another foothold to use in their never-ending quest of consumption. They are predators, and reality itself is their prey.]

 

I shivered, and gave a nod.

 

“Alright. So the Zenith gave us magic through the System, and we use points to buy access. Why 

not just give us access to everything at once?”

 

[Two reasons. The first reason is simple: complete access without first adapting to magic would make your head literally explode with magical energy. Soul Gems do not start at their maximum potential for this reason. Instead, they grow with their users by absorbing mana as experience, or simply “Exp.” As Soul Gems grow, your physical abilities increase too. Meanwhile, the point system is designed to restrict what spells you can access, forcing you to earn points by doing tasks that also help your Soul Gem mature. Between the two, your physical and magical abilities remain in check without surpassing your limitations.]

 

“Okay. What about the second reason?”

 

[It’s the same reason you wouldn’t give a gun to a toddler, really,] Helios’s wings and plumes somehow gave a simultaneous and distractingly cute shrug. [Except instead of a gun that shoots bullets, imagine spells capable of ripping apart the fabric of time and space. By allowing a gradual introduction to magic, the Zenith, human authorities, and other Guardians can all keep an eye on how any one individual is using it and stop those who abuse their powers.]

 

“Oh,” I said, feeling a little dumb. “That makes sense.”

[Great! Now we can begin with the status menu. I would recommend we go through the items from top to bottom, for the most part. Even if you are familiar with RPGs, some aspects require further information or might be different.]

 

“Sure. I’ve spent a considerable amount of time with free games like Magical Girl Sunset, but well, not much since middle school.” I thought, sighing wistfully. 

 

[Beginning from the top then. “Name” is, unsurprisingly, your name. “Alias” is what your Magical Guardian name is. Your alias is your Guardian name. It is how you will be referred to when discharging your duties. Usually, the name is given by another Guardian, so long as the one being named approves of it. It has also become an informal tradition for the Guardian who names another to take on a more nurturing and protective role, like that of an older sibling.]

 

The idea of gaining another older sibling made my stomach turn, but I ignored it. I assumed Helios was talking about a brother who actually cared about their family and not… well, whatever Dad had twisted my brother into. Helios didn’t seem to notice my distaste at his comparison and continued.

 

[Next is “Level” and “Points.” Both are self-explanatory as indicators of your current experience level and amount of points you have. Experience and points can be earned through a variety of activities, though the biggest source is defeating Anathema. Other things such as System-issued quests, helping civilians, and generally creating happiness also contribute.]

 

“I can get stronger by making people happy?” I asked incredulously.

 

[The Anathema feed on negative emotions. By fostering positivity and ideals of joy, peace, love, and serenity, it makes the Anathema weaker and diminishes their ability to tear rifts in reality. It is why the Zenith decided to promote the genre of “magical girls” with how the System expresses itself. The dresses, frills, and sparkles all do their part in actively combating the Anathema by inducing more wholesome emotions. As such, adorable, magic wielding warriors ended up being the best way to combat them in their entirety.]

 

“Wait,” I felt a small smile try to stretch onto my lips. “Are you telling me we’re killing eldritch monsters with cuteness?”

 

[...Yes?]

 

I had to cover my mouth to hide my smile as I gave Helios the most serious nod I could manage. “Right. No, of course. That makes sense. Please continue.”

 

[...When you earn enough experience, you “Level Up.” This gives you 10 “stat points” to spend on your Statistics however you wish. We’ll get to those soon. “Health” and “Mana” track the overall healthiness of your body and your magical energy. I will skip the “Basic” section for now,] Helios continued, [we have “Statistics.” They do not represent your normal physical abilities, but rather how much of a boost you gain after you do your “transformation sequence.” By raising these “Stats,” you will grow stronger. Please note: when you are not transformed, only a small fraction of these stats apply. While it still can be a noticeable boost, it will never reach the superhuman levels of your transformed state.]

 

I wanted to ask what transforming was exactly. I mean, I’d seen the infamous magical girl transformation sequence in shows before, where light surrounded the girl and clothed them in cute outfits, but I was curious to know what it meant in reality. 

 

How did it work, why did it happen, and would my previous clothes really just disappear before my outfit materialized on me? Those and a dozen other questions bubbled up inside of me. Remembering Helios’s reaction earlier, though, I instead just chose to give him a tip of my head to keep going.

 

[The stats are as follows: Strength determines your physical strength and damage with strength aligned items.

 

Dexterity determines your finesse with various things, how well you move, how graceful you are, and your damage with Dexterity aligned items. Your speed slightly increases as well as you become more proficient in moving the most effective way possible.

 

Vitality is how much health you have, how sturdy you are, and your physical resistances.

 

Agility determines how quickly you move and your reaction time.

 

Willpower determines the raw power of your spells, your resistance to hostile magic, and the size of your mana pool. Every point in Willpower adds 10 maximum mana.

 

Spirit determines your finesse over spells, meaning how quickly you can cast them, how much you can modify or aim them, how well they penetrate through magic resistance, and your mana regeneration rate. Every point in Spirit adds five mana regeneration per minute.]

 

Helios stopped, giving me a moment to mull the explanations over.

 

Strength, Dexterity, and Vitality were all what I expected to see from my experience with games. Agility was interesting though, as it increased speed and reaction time. I suppose it made sense, as reaction time would be necessary for someone as their own speed increased to beyond what humans could normally process.

 

Willpower was basically Strength and Vitality rolled together except only for magic, and Spirit was the same way but Dexterity and Agility combined. I was slightly surprised there weren’t more stats governing magic considering I was a Magical Girl, but I wasn’t going to argue. More condensed stats meant less agonizing on what to spend my level up points on.

 

[Next, we have “Permissions.” The Grimoire and Vault section shows what you have spent points to gain access to. Grimoires and Vaults can be viewed as “catalogs” for magical spells and physical items respectively. You must unlock them to first buy the items they contain, and I suggest you start with a weapon containment Vault at the (Common) level. The (Common) tag indicates its rarity as the first of eight tiers, each tier providing a selection of better items or spells but also costing more.]

“What are the other tags?”

[Common is first, then Rare, Masterwork, Arcane, Legendary, Mythic, Ascendant, and finally Divine. There is also a second set of tags used for more… esoteric items. The Arcane System, while useful, also has some oddities. Magic is not something that can be entirely codified or neatly labeled, and as such, the System sometimes does surprising things in its translations. The esoteric rarities are used to help label such idiosyncrasies.]

I resisted a frown. It didn’t fill me with confidence that I was placing my life in the hands of something that had what even the Zenith considered “oddities,” especially when they were the ones who made the thing.

 

[The next section is your Abilities and Augments, together commonly referred to as your “Skills.” Slightly different from spells, Abilities do exactly what they prescribe without being able to be modified. They can cost mana to use or have a cooldown period before they can be used again. Augments are the passive or toggleable versions of abilities, constantly being active. Each Augment takes away from your total mana regeneration rate, even when not in use. You can have a total of seven Abilities and seven Augments, but acquiring them is slightly different. They are only unlocked through raising your level, your class level, or the corresponding stat requirements. Many require a combination, and once unlocked, they must also be purchased with points.]

 

“Can I see the requirements of them in advance?” I asked, wondering how far I could plan ahead.

 

[Only on the most basic, well known Skills,] Helios replied. [The System keeps most Abilities and Augments hidden until the person has either unlocked them or is simply missing stat requirements. The Zenith have attempted to… “patch” this quirk, but have been unsuccessful. There are information brokers who specialize in collecting such knowledge and selling it. As such, it can be quite lucrative to sell any details should you acquire a rarer Skill.]

 

I nodded as I glanced back at my status menu, frowning.

 

“Um… I’ve been meaning to ask, but what’s with the creepy looking red text in the Grimoire and Vault section? And why do I have a ‘Unique Augment Available,’ for that matter?”

 

[Unfortunately,] Helios sighed. [Those both have to do with the “Basic” section that we skipped. We’ll get to that in a second. Back on Abilities and Augments, know that both have levels of their own that increase through use. Their max level is limited by either your level, or your class level.]

 

I squirmed. I really was getting curious now about some of the things we were skipping, and seeing two entries on my status menu with colored text bugged me. It made something inside me itch not knowing.

 

[Finally, your “Inventory” lists any weapons or equipment you have purchased and currently have on you. Other than the Basic section, that concludes the status menu. I should note that you can customize how your status menu appears at any time, as well as create additional sub-menus. Any questions on what we have covered so far?]

 

Having none but the ones I’d already expressed, I shook my head.

 

[As for the Basic section… let me simply say that I have hidden both your “Origin” and “Aspect” as knowing them will only cause further questions that we simply do not have the time to properly explore. Both are very important and have far-reaching implications, but I truly believe it is in your best interests to simply skip the explanations on them for now. Is this… acceptable with you? I do not relish the idea of hiding information, and if you insist, I will reveal them and their meanings to you.]

 

Helios seemed sincere in his words, and I watched as his tails twitched slightly, almost in nervousness. I thought about it for a second before giving a gradual nod.

 

“I think… it’s okay for now,” I sent the words slowly, still trying to decipher my own feelings as well. “But maybe only because you told me? I think because you said you were hiding something but explained why you were doing it, I’m okay with it? It worries me that it seems to be a big deal, but… well, you’re supposed to be the expert. It would be kind of stupid not to trust your judgment, I guess.”

 

Helios gave me a deep, relieved nod.

 

[What I can tell you about them is that they provide bonuses. For you, your Origin gave you a special Grimoire. While you cannot currently use it due to the issues I am keeping from you, it will undoubtedly provide an invaluable edge in the future. As for your Aspect, it gave you a Unique Augment that we can explore later. The next field, “Class,” is locked until you reach level 10. Class refers to your combat style, and choosing one gives you bonuses as well as unlocks specialty Grimoires, Vaults, and Skills. Many games have similar systems, as you are aware.]

 

Nodding, I wondered what kind of Class I would end up going with. Normally, I played quick, dexterous types, but I wasn’t sure how that fit with being a real life Guardian

 

Helios resumed speaking, pulling me from my trance.

 

[Finally, your “Signature” or “Signature Magic” refers to your entirely unique magical ability. All Guardians have one, but no two are the same due to no two individuals being the same. While your Signature Magic is still technically magic, it is not something that will ever be truly replicated in a Grimoire. Signatures are incredibly powerful and capable of almost anything from actually stopping time to temporary invincibility. They do not function by the normal rules or limits of magic, and as such, are incredible resources.]

 

“So… it’s like my own original superpower?” I asked.

 

[Exactly! For now, though, it will remain “Unawakened.” It is best to unlock your Signature through the proper facilities and observational tools. Certain Signatures can be hard to figure out or downright dangerous to their owners without knowledge about them.]

 

“Yeah,” I agreed, thinking about some of the crazier superpowers I’d seen in shows. “That might be for the best. So, what’s next? That’s the entire status menu. I think I have a good idea of what's going on now.”

 

[Yes… there is still the issue of the “transformation sequence” that Guardians have access to…]

 

He trailed off, then let out a soft sigh.

 

[The official name of your “transformation sequence” is your “Astral Shift,” and it is currently locked due to reasons beyond our control. As such, the benefits of your stats are greatly reduced. You will also be missing out on the significant protection your conjured outfit would provide. For now, the best resources to rely on would be the Arcane Gate and whatever you can purchase from it with points. While not ideal, it is… manageable.]

 

I peered at Helios carefully. It really didn’t make me feel good knowing he was keeping secrets, even if he told me he was doing it. Something about not knowing was starting to bother me on a fundamental level. Maybe it was because I relied so much on making plans just to get through even the simplest of days. Without the proper knowledge, though, how was I supposed to figure out what to do?

 

No, I shook my head at myself. I was thinking about this the wrong way. Helios was most definitely trying to help me. Besides, as nice as talking about the role-playing game mechanics had been, it didn’t take away from the fact that we were still in an Usurpation Zone. As time went on, only more and stronger Anathema would start flooding the area. Already, our relatively brief conversation felt like too long.

 

“Okay,” I said, gathering my thoughts. “So. I have a slight boost to my physical abilities now, and each level will help with that. I also have 280 points to spend, and that unique Augment. That’s what we’re working with, right?”

 

Helios looked at me for several moments.

 

[You are taking this remarkably well, but yes that is the gist of it. As such, I would recommend unlocking a weapon Vault and buying something. The vault will cost 100 points, leaving plenty for assorted weapons. That should be more than enough to purchase something capable of ensuring your safety on the journey to a shelter. Judging by your playstyle in Magical Girls Sunset: Rebellion, I would recommend Dexterity and Agility based weapons. Two enchanted blades or a spear would fit you well.]

 

“Why not a spell? Wait, no, I think I get it. If my stat bonuses are reduced, any spell I use would be much weaker than normal anyway. Plus if I ran out of mana, I’d be left without a weapon.”

 

[Correct.] Helios nodded. [Even if your transformation weren’t locked, a conventional weapon with an enchantment is the best option for now as spell casting does require some explanation.]

 

I nodded and went back to thinking about his analysis about my playstyle. He had a point that I did play characters that were usually more focused on speed, but… this wasn’t a game. Remembering how hard it had been to fight with my makeshift weapon, how tough it had been to even hurt the Anathema, it made me feel less than certain. I had no idea how to actually use a sword or spear beyond “stab them with the pointy end.” Ideally, I needed something that wouldn’t make for a long, drawn-out fight.

 

“What exactly are those enchanted weapons you mentioned? What would they do?”

 

[With access to only Common quality gear, it won’t be anything too special. You could get a weapon enchanted with sharpening, making it capable of slicing through low level Anathema like paper. Alternatively, something more flashy like a fire or ice enchantment would be equally viable and effective. The only thing to consider is enchanted gear will draw from your mana. As you do not have much currently, you won’t be able to keep the enchantment active for long.]

 

“Right, and if I ran out of mana, it would take a long time to regenerate it. Which would only be more time for more Anathema to come in…”

 

I went quiet as my mind worked through the problem. A weapon that I could use without much training, one that I could confidently use to take out Anathema without drawing out the fight. The problem was that I knew nothing about weapons. My only real experience would be using what I’d seen in movies or games. 

 

I had a makeshift scythe MacGuyvered out of a broom and ice axe, a chef’s knife, and some odds and ends I’d picked up at the sporting goods store right now. 

Something simple and effective would be ideal, I decided. I couldn’t afford to waste time fumbling with a weapon I didn’t know how to use. 

 

Maybe I could make do with enchanting the chef's knife I had for now in a pinch, so I wouldn't raise too many questions with Lily? I really didn’t know what I was doing with the jury-rigging, but I wondered if Helios would be able to help out in a pinch.

“What about crafting? Like a pipe bomb or other booby traps?” I pondered. "Something that's easy to make and doesn't require much skill to use."

 

Helios blinked, tilting his head at the suggestion. [While such things are unconventional in terms of a Guardian's arsenal, they are possible. The SYSTEM is rather flexible in its approach, accommodating human ingenuity. Given your situation, it might be an excellent idea. The immediate firepower and simplicity of such devices might serve you well against the Anathema. In theory, you could pack away quite a number of them after purchasing an Explosives vault for 100 points]

 

I nodded, feeling a spark of hope. "Alright. Could we get blueprints or materials from the Gate?”

 

[Yes, we can. There are certain restrictions in place to prevent misuse, but in an emergency situation like an Usurpation, those restrictions would be lifted. I can access a basic recipe for such devices.]

 

“That makes sense," I said, considering the layout of the mall. "If we head to a hardware store or some other similar shops, we could find the materials we need. Other than that, perhaps I could… Hey Helios, what do you think about guns?”

[Guns are… effective,] Helios hedged. [And are generally only employed by the MSDs, the Magical Soldiers who are outfitted with Zenith technology from Magical Guardians. There are only six other Magical Guardians who use firearms as their signature weapons.]

 

I shrugged. “So?”

[Guns are generally… bad for optics. MGs are supposed to be bringers of hope and peace, to make people feel safe. Swords and magic are of fantastical symbology, the imagery of heroes that gives people something to believe in. Guns conjure more realistic and sober feelings, ones of war and conflict. For that matter, combining firearms with your proposal to use explosives would prove to be problematic in the long run.]

“I know, but the thing is, I don’t know how to use a sword or anything like that. Besides, without stat bonuses, would I really be able to effectively use them?” I argued. "I'm not exactly a star athlete."

Helios seemed to think about it for a moment.

 

[I see your point. My only issue is that I have some… concerns about certain things I am not telling you, and the addition of guns will almost certainly make some of those issues worse. Knowing this, are you sure this is the path you want to choose? I know the idea of branding is the least of your concerns right now, but I assure you, I wouldn’t recommend a path if I didn’t believe it was possible. Stat bonuses or not, the melee weapons you have available will most certainly be capable of getting you to the shelter safely.]

 

I chewed on my lip as I thought about it. I knew how I looked. I was too self-aware of it. A creepy, scrawny Japanese boy who wore a black hoodie over his tsume-eri button-down uniform. I had a gaunt face, messy hair, and my eyes had always carried that haunted, distrusting look that made others uncomfortable. The image of me with a gun practically screamed school shooter. 

 

But did it matter? I wasn’t using the gun against people. The Anathema were the threat here.

 

“Helios, I don’t want people to be afraid of me. But right now, all I can think of is getting everyone to safety,” I said earnestly. “If that means using something unfamiliar or uncomfortable to others, then so be it. I’m not a hero,”

 

Helios gave me a long, searching look, his golden plumes shimmering under the dim light.

 

I continued, “ I guess a good question here is why can’t I just use guns for now and then decide on something else later? I can’t transform, so it’s not like I’m committing anything to my image anyway.”

[The issue is, you would be spending a significant amount of points to unlock the Vault and purchase any weapons plus ammunition.]

 

“How much are we talking about?”

 

[Unlocking the Kinetic Handguns (Common) Vault and the Kinetic Explosives (Common) vaults would cost 100 points each. Then, depending on the weapon and ammunition choice, it varies]

 

“What would be the cheapest option for a gun? And how much would something like a grenade cost?”

 

[For two points, you can get a five-shot revolver loaded with normal ammunition. You could also obtain a three-pack of normal fragmentation grenades for 1 point, and some of the more specialized anti-Anathema ordinance could cost up to four points.]

 

“Only two points for a gun?” I recoiled. “Shouldn’t a gun cost more?”

 

[No. Keep in mind this is an unattuned and unaligned firearm, a mundane item you could purchase in the real world for a relatively low cost. Beyond the lowest level Anathema, it would hardly make a dent.]

 

“Unattuned and unaligned?” I asked.

 

[Unattuned items mean they can not be enchanted, they are utterly mundane and capable of being produced by humanity without Zenith technology. Any item that is not Magitech is most likely unattuned. Unaligned means it would not benefit from your stats. Most Vault weapons are aligned by default, meaning as you grow stronger, they will as well depending what stats they are aligned with. For example, buying a strength-aligned sword would make it grow sharper, sturdier, and heavier to offset your strength bonus. It would essentially always feel the same weight to you, but in reality, it would be heavier and therefore more potent as you swung it at opponents.]

 

“How would that work for guns?” 

 

[Same as for a bow and arrow. Faster and stronger projectiles with more kinetic power. The weapon itself would also gain some benefits to durability, but this is a digression.]

 

“Right,” I shook my head. “Okay, let's start with the traps and any other basic defense tools then. But let’s also keep the gun option on the table. I won’t rule it out, especially if we’re backed into a corner.”

 

Helios seemed impressed by my resolve, even if there was a hint of wariness and trepidation in his sun-patterned eyes. [Very well. For now, let's prioritize getting to the hardware store. We can gather materials there for the traps and possibly other weapons. You have yet to unlock your Unique Augment, however, and I urge caution until we have an opportunity for another reprieve.]

 

I took a deep breath, feeling a wave of resolve wash over me. I looked in the mirror, seeing a reflection that bore more life than I’d ever seen in myself. With Helios by my side, I felt an odd sense of camaraderie, and strangely enough, hope.

 

I sighed, and turned around, stepping out of the restroom, I found Lily and Brian looking at me with mixed expressions of concern and curiosity. 

 

“You okay, Maito?" Lily asked, concern evident in her tone.

 

Taking a moment to gather my thoughts, I nodded. "Yeah. Just... needed a moment."

 

Lily's eyes searched mine,  "You sure? You were in there for a while, and... well, we need to move."

 

I offered a small, reassuring smile. "I'm ready. And I promise you — I’m more okay now than I have been for the rest of the day. Let's… take a detour before we head for the mega shelter on the ground floor. I have a plan."