With an hour before breakfast started, Morgan exited the VISTA training. He had been practicing with his new, shorter sword and tossing things with Pitcher. While the short sword was easier to pick up because he already had an ingrained knowledge of sword fighting, dual-wielding the wakizashi and Broken Fang was not something he would do in the real world for some time. Even with Ambidextrous, it felt awkward due to Broken Fang’s irregular size and shape.

  Still sitting on the roof, he did some shopping. Only to be surprised by an excited exclamation from Sophia as soon as he opened the kiosk window.

  Morgan started, but it was too late.

  Thirty seconds later, Sophia was back, even more excited than before.

  Morgan asked. Sophia ignored him.

  Morgan said, his mind already thinking how much more training he could do.

  Morgan thought about it for a few moments but couldn’t see a few small upgrades being better than making another Sophia.

  She declared, then her voice took on a deeper, more sinister and mechanical tone.

  Morgan said, standing.

  There was no response. Sophia started laughing. She laughed uncontrollably for a few seconds, then said,

  he said to himself.

  This time, she was gone for five minutes. Not wanting to waste time, Morgan practiced in the real world with his new short sword. When Sophia returned, she sounded a little haggard.

  There was an intense pain. A headache worse than any Morgan had ever had. He clasped his hands over his head as he collapsed to the ground. His right eye started throbbing. Pulling his hand away, he could see blood smeared along his palm. There was another surge of agony behind his eye, and then a popping sound. A small glowing disc the size of a quarter had come from his eye socket.

  “Fuck!” Morgan exclaimed. Then in his head,

  Morgan said, still wiping blood off his face with a towel from his inventory.

  Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

  he said, rolling his eyes.

  A Ring of Suppression for 145UT was purchased.

  It fit on his finger tightly, and as soon as it was on, he felt the universe constrict slightly.

  He replied. Just to be sure, he removed the ring. His world came alive again. Breathing a sigh of relief, he placed the ring back on his finger.

  Next, he had to find Mara. She was most likely in her room. She answered the heavy knock on her door, hair a wild tangled mess. A look of sinister intent on her face, and a dagger in her hand.

  “What is it?” Her bleary eyes squinted at him for a second, then she let out a squeak and slammed the door in his face.

  “Just a second, let me get dressed,” she called out from behind the door.

  Two minutes later, a much more composed Mara opened the door. She had pulled her red hair into a tight ponytail. She had on a pair of jeans, a black t-shirt with “Atari” on it.

  “Come in. Sorry, I didn’t get much sleep. I thought it was still the middle of the night.”

  “No problem,” Morgan reassured her. “I was just excited to show you something. I forgot how early it was.” He entered her room. It was small and spartan. Exactly the same size and layout as the room they had shown him, and he had not slept in.

  “What did you find?” Mara’s curiosity dispersed her morning brain fog. She sat on the bed and tapped the blanket next to her.

  “I didn’t find it, I made it.” He sat, growing aware of how strong the lavender scent was. He took a steadying breath. “It is a copy of Sophia. I wanted you to have it.” He held out the small, glowing disc.

  “Wow, you could copy her?” Mara asked in a whisper. “This is incredible.” As she held the disc, rotating it and staring into its center, it melted into her fingers. In a second, the disc was gone. “Did I break it?”

  “I think that might be how it is used,” Morgan said.

  “I don’t think it wor…” She trailed off, eyes glazing over.

  Sophia informed him.

  “Hello,” Mara said, her eyes still glazed. They stayed that way for another 30 seconds. Then she focused on Morgan. “This is the best.”

  Mara said in his mind. Morgan’s eyes widened.

  Mara responded. Then giggled out loud and hugged him. “This is definitely the best gift ever. In my whole life.” Then her lips were on his. The sweet, subtle taste of mint. With a shudder, he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close. He pressed his lips back into hers. Shallow, frantic breaths broke their frenzied kissing. Morgan’s skin was growing warm. It was entirely too hot in the room. She was scrambling to pull his shirt over his head when there was a knock on the door.

  “Training, five minutes.” Marcus called from outside.

  Mara’s wide eyes looked into his. Then down at his shirt, half off one arm, and burst into a nervous laugh. With a grunt, Morgan pulled her back to him and kissed her again before pushing her over onto her bed.

  “Duty calls. I need to go.”

  “I have to go, as well. They didn’t knock on my door for you.” Mara chided him. Then a look of horror crossed her face before going scarlet. “Did they?”

  Laughing, Morgan pulled his shirt the rest of the way on. “We will never know. I need to go give some things to Annabelle before training. Where is her shop?”

  Sophia said.

  “Never mind,” Morgan pointed at his temple. “I got it. See you in five.” And he took off.

  He dropped off the materials to fix his helmet and the new handle for Broken Fang. He summoned Broken Fang and left it with her. Hoping it wouldn’t despawn if he was too far away. Luckily, the workshop was adjacent to the training yard.

  The training was very easy. They practiced the warning bells and were divided into groups based on skill trees. Morgan just went with the melee fighters. Mara was with the archers.

  Frank led the fighters in spear forms and basic formations. Morgan was far more advanced than even Frank, but he didn’t make a show of it. They took a brief break. The other trainees were panting and worn out, but Morgan felt perfectly fine. They broke into pairs to spar with their favored weapons. Mara was sending him mental messages throughout the training. Mostly commenting on how cool Sophia was. During one of his sparring matches, Mara was watching from the sidelines. She started distracting him with talk about continuing what had been interrupted earlier. Morgan stuttered a step, recovered and with a perfect riposte, placed his wooden training sword on his opponent’s neck. Glancing over at Mara, she wore a mischievous grin and a sparkle in her eye.

  Frank talked to him during the next break. “Why are you holding back, lad?”

  “I don’t want to hurt anyone. I got this ring,” held up his hand, “it keeps my abilities from triggering.”

  “That’s not what I mean,” Frank said, sitting on the bench next to him. “You are skilled. Your form is damn near perfect. I know you are much better than this. Are you just trying to fit in?”

  “Well, you told me not to let anyone know my abilities.”

  “True, but there is more to you than just your abilities. There is a leader in you, a drive. I can see it.”

  “I’m not though,” Morgan said, exhaling loudly. “I have a bunch of random skills, but just a few weeks ago I was a failing student and security guard.”

  “I was a security guard too.” Frank chided. “What we were then has very little to do with what we are now. I have seen you fly up and fight a dragon in the sky. Few security guards I know have done that.”

  “It wasn’t a dragon,” Morgan laughed. “It was a wyvern. But I get your point.”

  “You are extraordinary. Don’t let these people push you around or tell you what to do if you don’t want to.”

  “I’m just trying to help.”

  “I know, lad. You’re a good kid. You just need to realize that the people giving you orders don’t always have your best interest in mind. Human nature is what it is. Like I said before, you can’t trust anyone till you know them. Always keep that ace up your sleeve.” He stood, patting Morgan on the shoulder with his large hand.

  Training lasted another three hours. Afterwards, Morgan anxiously met back up with Mara in her room.