I release a breath I didn't know I was holding as the Buru person leaves.
The colour starts to return to my face.
My Mum gently holds my hand.
"Scott, hopefully we can take you home today if the doctors deem you fit for release. I was hoping we could do something as a family today?"
My sister and Dad both look at me in anticipation.
"Um, maybe a walk around the city, I'll be honest, I don't remember much of this city, like at all, maybe walking around it with you lot could jog my memory, and it would be nice to hang out with all of you for a day if possible."
Sapphire, why did you erase my memories of this city?! I say in my head.
What! I didn't; you haven't been here before, idiot. This isn't your planet; this is the one you were meant to go to after leaving Earth.
...
Oh, my bad.
Yes, it was. Don't blame me for stuff I didn't do to you.
Right.
Just listen to your Mum, yeah, we'll talk later.
"That would be great, I'll start planning on a small journey for us all to go on, and have a nice stroll." A smile covers my Mum's face, as all the worry drifts away from her eyes.
"It's good to have you back, son." My Dad has a similar look, before bear-hugging me once more, wiping his tears on my back.
"Ahh, Dad, really on my back of all places."
"Now you can't get rid of them."
"Ok, ok, Dad, enough."
"Scott, are you doing ok? Do you feel any pain anywhere?"
"I feel fine, Mum, a slight headache, but I think that's from the Buru guy."
"What do you mean?"
"Umm, to get me to talk, he put some sort of pressure on me, not sure what it was."
"Horrible people, they can see you're still in hospital, and they do that." My Mum takes a breath.
"Well, it's over now, and they have no reason to talk to you again, so it's all good."
"Sorry for this disturbance, but if possible, can we do some quick checks on Scott? The quicker we do this, the faster he can get out." A doctor said through the door.
Walking down the hospital corridors, I was let out of the hospital after some tests, and I was given some fresh clothes by my parents to change into, which was a godsend. I totally forgot I was in hospital wear.
Now I'm wearing a white top with a black flower design from the right wrist to my shoulder, some scattered on the left side, and black work trousers.
You need more trousers, Scott. Sapphire remarks.
But they're comfy.
"Scott, this is the plan for today, ok, so we are going to a nearby park, around the shopping area slightly, then going home." My Mum says with excitement.
"Sounds good."
We leave the hospital and start a stroll through the city.
Walking around the city, it's clean, I don't see a single rubbish bag on the street, nor a newspaper blowing in the wind.
It smells fresh; the scent of cut grass fills my nose, even though I don't see any nearby.
The cars are slightly futuristic, and there is no fuel smell being released as they drive by, no smoke either, they do sound like cars though, at least they're not quiet.
Scott, you know, I don't miss cities; they're too noisy for my liking, especially the modern ones, you don't want to know what I was hearing in the fantasy/ olden city I used to go through. As Sapphire says this, it feels like her fox form is floating around my head.
Really, Sapphire, you have that good hearing?
Yeah, it's annoying. Right, so when we get some time to ourselves or while you're sitting down, I'll go over some stuff, ok.
Definitely.
"Yo bro, you know you're not the only one who awakened? which is really weird for a civilian family like ours, apparently."
"Civilian family? What's that?"
"You - you don't even know that, how bad were your memories affected by the miasma from that portal?" Ruby questioned.
"Umm, more than I realise it seems."
"Right well, as bro doesn't remember, let me, the reliable sister I am, tell you, if you pay for some additional ice cream."
"Sure."
"Score! - I mean, thanks."
"No."
"But, Dad."
"You are not extorting your brother for ice cream right after he gets out of the hospital; instead, you will be giving him extra out of your pocket."
"Fine." Ruby crosses her arms in a small fit.
Cough, "Well, a civilian family are people who haven't awakened as a hunter/hero while awakened families have." Ruby answered.
"This is to see who can learn what, as apparently, if information about mana and things gets out, a lot of chaos happens as a sudden mass of untrained people try and normally fail at using magic, causing explosions of uncontrolled mana to go everywhere."
"So this is why the academies were made, it's meant to be a safe place to learn and all that."
"Oh yeah, thanks, Ruby, that helps."
"See, I told you I was reliable."
While walking, Mum mentioned we are walking towards some sort of park near a big river in the centre of the city.
The buildings are a mix of tall, short, brick, and glass.
Walking towards a large river, it even looks like they have built up the side of a hill and the river together.
Looking at the building on the side makes my head spin slightly, as they almost twist around and climb up at the same time.
"So, bro, is your fox spirit nice? What can she do?"
"Yeah, Sapphire's nice, she helped me out - I helped her out, we both helped each other out."
"What she can do, mmm, well, she can put people to sleep with some great music. Her main magic is some weird type of ice element. It's black in colour."
"She can help me learn my aura style, which she provided, and it seems she can give me more as I get stronger."
"Well, she sounds interesting. Is she cold to the touch?" Ruby asked.
"I don't know"
"Right, when did you learn she can put people to sleep? You never mentioned that to the Buru person." Ruby pointed out.
"I-Oh, Ruby, what did you mean by I'm not the only one awakened?"
"Oh well-"
"Let's sit down over there for a bit, it's a nice spot. Also, Ruby, come with me, we're buying the ice cream and some other snacks," my mum waved towards herself, talking to Ruby.
"Why can't I tell Scott yet?"
"Let's not have Scott worry just yet; he's just got out of the hospital, let's tell him after ice cream."
"If you say so, Mum."
"You can tell me after Ruby."
"I guess."
I go and sit down near a sunny spot by a cluster of trees within the park, my Dad joining me.
"Scott, I know this is all sudden, but I hope you do well at the Academy when you get there, and that you know you can rely on us. We are here for you any time, anywhere, ok." Dad said with a warm smile.
"Ye, I know, Dad, and thank you."
Scott, about that talk, we should have time now.
Ok, Sapphire, let's talk.
Right, so first of all, I don't do mental manipulation lightly. Second of all, I can't do it very often, I had to use a unique kitsune ability, mental manipulation is not something I specialise in.
And that means what exactly?
The ability makes it so I can get a magic proficiency I normally don't have for a single use, but I lose a chunk of power and can only get that power back in like 100 years.
Along with that, when you learn to summon me as a spirit companion, I won't be as strong. You won't be able to summon me at full strength either way, but I am going to be a lot weaker than I should be.
Ok, that's some fantastic news there, Sapphire, just great.
Don't be sarcastic with me, man.
So I can gain your trust, Scott, I will make a binding contract with you. Imagine we are making a promise, but reinforced with magic, so there can be consequences for breaking it.
This binding contract will make it so that if I want to do something, like gain access to your body's reactions, see through your eyes or change something.
I'll have to ask, give you a reason why I want to do said thing, and then you can agree or disagree. If you disagree, I can't make the same suggestion again for 3 days. Is that enough?
Sapphire, I'm adding something else; you have to tell me the truth behind the action.
That's fine, is that it?
Can it be modified at a later date?
Yeah, I think so, as long as both of us agree for the change to occur, it can happen.
Let's do it to them.
Thanks. I can feel a relief come from Sapphire as she spoke.
My vision blurs slightly, and a blue flame appears on my chest.
{A binding contract has been made.}
{No penalty will occur to Scott if Sapphire breaks this contract; she will suffer immediate loss of all abilities, lose all her strength for 24 hours, any gain of divinity, and all stored resources. All of this will be transferred to the will of the world and the will of the moon.}
Uh, Sapphire, what's all this extra stuff?
I made it so that if I, for some reason, broke it, I would be powerless against anything you did, along with all my resources going to the planet and moon. I thought that might help you trust the contract and make it look more reliable, so you can trust me a bit easier.
That's too much, Sapphire. Get rid of all that.
A binding contract needs harsh consequences, or it can't be formed, especially if only one person is affected by the said consequences. Most magic beasts or spirit beasts can make them.
Great, also what divinity? Also, what's the will of the moon and world?
Just a type of resource, anything can get access to it, but it's easy for a strong creature to do so. The will of the world is, um, how do I explain this quickly? It helps determine how things on a planet evolve and what can occur on said planet. The moon, I don't really know how that got a will of its own, sorry.
I'll try to give a proper explanation later. Your dad has been trying to get the courage to speak to you about something for a few minutes now.
He has?
Sigh, " Scott I- this is a sudden question, how much of what you said to the Buru person was true?"
"What!"
"Y- your Mum wanted to keep this a secret, but I don't think that's the best thing to do. Your mum and I have been here for three weeks.
"We know you haven't been here that long."
"Your sister doesn't seem to remember much of Earth."
"And how dangerous is your quest compared to ours?"
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Word count 1904
Yo, hope this chapter was ok, I know no combat stuff happened this time, but it hopefully fleshed out the family ever so slightly.
Hope everyone has a great day/night :3.
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