"I can't afford to live in a neighborhood like this." Seriously. This apartment complex has a gate. That automatically puts it out of my price range.

"Don't worry about it honey. We'll cover what you can't afford." Pretty generous considering just a few weeks ago I was doing the adult-ish standing on my own two feet thing with a heap of student loans thing. I wonder how Jessie talked my parents into it.

"Jessie, are these apartments safe?"

"Very. This particular complex is run by LucidTech for employees. That's not public knowledge, but most Hidden World services in town have been co-opted by the company since they've set up here. This place was run by a vampire coven before LucidTech moved in."

"Jesus, vampires are real? Should I be eating more garlic?"

"No Jack, that's the whole point of moving you in here. You'll likely be getting some extra classwork on various threats in the Hidden World as on the job training, but the Portland area is a very safe in general. LucidTech made it that way." On the coast of Maine, we lived in an uncommonly prosperous area. This gated community was nearly equally distant from campus and my parent's home. Not close enough to home for my parents to tuck me in, and not far enough I couldn't get there quickly in an emergency.

Dad sounds moderately worried, "We wanted you to live at home at first, but Jessie says that's a bad idea."

"People who know about the hidden world are in a whole different league of trouble than people who live in it. And Jack's coming out party has put him knee deep in the pool. Luckily it wasn't more public, or we'd have to keep him out of sight until he was properly trained up."

"What kind of dangers can Mom and Dad expect?"

"This early? None unless they've got children buried in the backyard. All of you are getting a background check that will go back a half-dozen generations and pry up every bit of dirt in your lives. But that's just the company at work. They need to know everything in order to protect you. There is already at least one person I've seen putting up wards around the property. Since this is the first time we've all gone out, they will likely get the first wave of security set up before we even get home. They are very good and very discreet."

"And later? Is there anything I need to do now to protect them long term?" I think the dangers everyone was talking about, including my own power, were starting to get to me.

"Just act normal. Nothing has really changed yet, but the company protection comes with a cost. Do your job. I have an idea of what that will be, but I can almost guarantee your first job will be to get stronger. You can discuss the rest at your intake interview. Oh, and since you didn't ask, you can keep me safe by sticking to the rules. I'm your sponsor in all this, so it's my neck on the line if you crap in the company pool."

"Duly noted." That only happened once and it was at a hotel pool. I was young and sick ok?

Jessie continued to give directions until we came to a nice looking building with a tall blonde man in a spiffy shirt. He looked to be in his early 30's. Ancient. "This is Matt. Matt is the company rep and handyman here. He knows that you have a power but not what it is. He is also a terrible gossip so don't tell him anything you wouldn't want your neighbors to know."

"Oh please. I'm an open book. No secrets here."

"We know. Maybe it's time you picked up a discretion skill to help with that wisdom deficit."

"No bickering children. Time to go take a look," says Mom.

Out of the car, Matt puts on a salesman's smile. "Hello everyone. Here to see the apartment?"

"Hey, Matt. These are the Webbs. Say hello Jack." Jessie seems to know Matt.

"Hello Matt. Good to meet you. I'm Jack." Smile. Firm handshake. Maintain eye contact.

"Nice to meet you Jack." Matt's salesman smile shifts into something a little more relaxed. First impression success!

My parents greet Matt and we step into the apartment. Right from the start, I can tell this is a first-class apartment. Way out of my normal price range. Fluffy carpets, an open kitchen, a comparatively large living room. Did they take me seriously when I was listing requirements? This is like a 5 star hotel after living in the dorm.

"And through here you'll find the master bedroom with private bath."

I walk through and find a nice room with windows facing east. No incredible view, but at least the windows didn't point into someone else's apartment. The bathroom is standard size but looks very modern. There are another two rooms, and space for a washer and dryer and another bathroom the same as the private bathroom.

I really liked the kitchen. Not big enough to make it a hassle to clean, but counter space everywhere. Room for more pots, pans, and dishes than I can afford. I'm in love. I want this place. The price must be outrageous. I did just receive a thousand dollars from another quest...that would probably only cover the deposit. Puppy dog eyes activate!

Dad is looking at outlets and stuff. Maybe Mom will be more receptive. “Mom, this place is amazing.”

“I don't know...look at all this grime.”

There might be a spot on the stove that's ever so slightly worn. “I don't think that's grime.”

“And the neighborhood is questionable.”

“There's a gate! It's gated!”

“And you would be living on your own...I'm not sure if you are responsible enough for that.”

“All three of you would be over here all the time. If nothing else my cooking would draw you here.”

“I'm so glad you feel like that honey, because Jessie is going to be your neighbor.”

Wait. What? “Like...in the neighborhood?”

“Oh no dear. Right next door. We are putting you here so you can be safe you know. And she is the only one who knows that we trust right now.”

“But we can go look at other places right? I'm sure Jessie would be fine checking up on me if I were a little further away.”

“Do you know how much this, or any other decent single occupant apartment costs around here? You will be staying here Jack.” Puppy dog eyes were ineffective.

“Dad, back me up here.”

“Listen to your mother.” Not cool Dad.

Fine. I can put up with this. I can be reasonable.

“But I don't need a babysitter.”

“Yes you do,” says the expressions of everyone in the room. Except Matt. I'm coming to like Matt.

“Matt, what are your opinions on college students living solo?”

“I have no opinion. But, if I were to have an opinion, I would say a newly awakened power requires close supervision.” Matt is not going on the Christmas card list.

Defeat. It is a bitter taste. On the bright side, I still love the apartment. Only the location could use work. Maybe I'll get a skill to make the front door invisible or something. That reminds me...

“Are people going to see me doing weird things through the windows? Keeping the blinds down all the time would kind of ruin the light.”

“These apartments are fully warded. Privacy, protection, security, maintenance, weather, it's all covered. Unless you are setting off explosives large enough to take out a wall, no one will notice anything and the apartment will be fine.” Nice. No need to go through the motions to cook. I could even walk around naked if I wanted to. Weird. Do people do that?

“Well, looks like I'm going to be staying here. When do I move in?”

Matt smiles. “I have the papers with me, get these signed, pay the deposit, and you can pick up the keys tomorrow at the gate.”

The adults pass pens around signing what seems like a phone book worth of paper. Where was Matt keeping that? I have to sign in a few places and I actually take the time to read a bit of this mammoth contract. It is pretty light on the legalese but that just makes it longer.

Skill 'Speed Reading' Unlocked!

I flip through the contract faster and faster as I get the gist of each page. Not quite flipbook fast, but close. Everyone is looking at me again. Whoops. I'm going to have to keep a lid on things like that if I'm going to keep my cover. Well. “Everything seems to be in order.” Lawyers sound like that right?

Dad snorts. He's writing out a check, presumably for the deposit. I get to keep my money! Matt collects all the documents, hands out goodbyes and business cards, and asks Jessie to lock up when we leave.

One last look around my new apartment and we head out. It's getting dark. We drop off Jessie at her car, and she reminds me about the meditation practice. I think tomorrow's training will be harder than today, but hopefully my increasing stats will help out.

* * *

I lay in my bed watching the glowing star stickers on the ceiling again. It's been a long day, why am I not tired? I decide this is more important than meditation practice. I pull up my skill list, and see a wealth of new skills. A few look like things that should have been there all along. Unarmed Combat. Ranged Combat. Archery? I've fired a bow maybe three times in my life. Ooh. Pain Resistance. That's a nice one. Maybe help a little against those shocks.

I scroll through and eventually find some that aren't obvious by their names.

HP System Level 3 (66%)

Non-superficial wounds will damage your HP before affecting your body. Higher levels will have different effects.

That explains the red bar. I had kind of expected something like that. Maybe experiment tomorrow.

Data Entity Conversion Level 6 (10%)

This skill notes the conversion into a full data entity. Higher conversion levels will have different effects. Current effects include protection from negative mental status effects.

What the hell? I'm turning into data? I mean...I knew everything was cataloged and organized in my skills and stats, but I am more than just information aren't I? Maybe the wording is just confusing. Everything is data at its core. Information on electrons spinning around protons and neutrons, lattices of cells making up organs and brain matter. Anything fully simulated is indistinguishable from the original....But I can't help but feel a little put off from the idea of being just a bunch of numbers. Especially the way the skill puts it. Conversion. Like I'm being assimilated by a greater collective or something. On the other hand, sleep seems to be a negative status effect, and I am protected from it. It would make sense that things like mental fatigue wouldn't affect a digital entity.

Since I'm not being given a choice, I'll have to find out more later, and look at the bright side now. What wouldn't affect digital entities? Bad habits. Definitely. Headaches! Sleep is what made me go look for the skill in the first place... Hangovers?

In any event, I'm not going to go looking for counter-evidence. Willpower will make it so!

Breaking The System Increased In Level!

* * *

So. No need to sleep. I'm laying here resting my body, so what now? Oh right. Homework.

I begin to meditate. Toss out everything from the day. Is it just me or is this getting easier? I get down to just the emptiness and me. The trouble before came when I kicked myself out and was acting on instincts. Instincts might be useful but not so much if I want to do anything productive. Let's try something different.

I take myself and instead of tossing myself out of my mind, I try to place it in a different place. This is harder than it sounds when there are no places, or distances, or size. Eventually, I kind of half-push my mind out from where I am. Now I am half in and half out, or at least half elsewhere. Things are starting to get strange, especially in the elsewhere.

There is a castle on a cloud

I like to go there in my sleep

Aren't any floors for me to sweep

Not in my castle on a cloud…

I've got two spaces now. One inside, and one fully elsewhere. My mind is in the elsewhere, and I am on the inside. This is so trippy. I remember why I am here, but at the same time I am fully at peace with oblivion.

I take my castle on a cloud, and make it smaller. Not less, just smaller. It resists. I push harder. The stones start glowing under the pressure. The clouds compress to into water and boil. The whole mess crumbles into a ball, and flashes into the tiniest spark of light. I push harder. The spark starts to dim, and light everywhere is suddenly gone.

Just as the light disappears, streams of color appear flowing from outside. They are twisted, pulled around where the tiny black hole is. Some pass by the hole in space a dozen times like water swirling around a drain. The amount of pressure I'm channeling into the hole is immense. My mind tells me the light is mana, and I have far more coming in than I'm using to compress the hole. I experiment and try to rebuild my castle. It is pulled towards the hole twisting into long strands of plasma. The speed of the mana coming in increases.

This is starting to get scary. I'm absorbing mana and it has nowhere to go. I don't even know how to spend it without making it worse. This has to end.

I let go.

For a moment there is an impossibly bright flash and I blink.

Skill 'Mind Partition' Unlocked!

Skill 'Mana Vortex' Unlocked!

My health bar has dropped about 5%. Just barely enough to notice, and tell me bad things about what might have happened. I decide I'm done experimenting tonight, and drift off to sleep.

* * *

I woke with the sun again. I thought about coffee. I probably was immune to the mental effects of withdrawal, but I wasn't sure if there were any physical effects, so I had to trudge down the stairs where I knew my parents would be waiting.

After just enough time for coffee, I was once again dragged out back for a morning run. Last night had been eye opening. I could really do things with my mind, even if I wasn't quite sure what they were. I wanted to see what I could do with my body. Transcend was supposed to help me surpass my limits, so why not go all out?

Dad was content to keep pace with me while I moved along pushing into full-on running. It wasn't long until my everything was burning and there was dad grinning like a maniac. I kept pushing myself whenever I got a little energy back, but we ended after only an hour. Pushing myself so hard tired me out much faster, but gave impressive results in stats.

Mom was still waiting with weights, and I was more responsible there. I wasn't sure if HP would take up the slack if I hurt myself lifting, so I didn't try anything crazy. After an hour of that, a shower, and breakfast, Jessie showed up. Seeing as nearly everything last night had me a little freaked out, I was glad for her presence.

“So after I found out about the digital assimilation thing, I made a black hole in the workshop and the mana was coming in too fast. I couldn't do anything with it, is that normal?” I felt like an embarrassed patient confiding in a doctor.

“What digital thing? What black hole? You were supposed to meditate! I can't leave you alone for two seconds before you try and break something, you are incorrigible!”

“Well, good news on that front. I don't have any bad habits anymore!”

“That is just not true.”

“It might be true. You don't know.”

“Yes, I do know.” I think she could use a skill that erases headaches. “One at a time. Start with digital assimilation.”

“Ok, so my skill says I'm being converted into a data entity and I can't be affected by negative mental effects.”

“Like, a computer? I've heard of people who can interact with computers on pretty weird levels, but not someone who actually became one.”

“I don't think it's a computer. It's not digital, just data. Like, conceptualized information? Maybe? Aren't you supposed to know?”

“Alright, give me a second.” She's staring at me again and my face is itching. I'm almost certain it's her doing it. This goes on for a few minutes and she snaps out of it. “I still see the cubes, but a few look newer than before. Can you think of anything that would add or replace parts of your aura?”

I think back to last night...I did lose a little HP. “After the black hole...”

“No, we are not talking about the black hole yet. As far as the data assimilation goes, I can tell you powers very, very rarely harm their hosts. They are almost sentient in that way. If it has severe negative effects, we can try different things to fix it, but right now it sounds like a good thing. Don't mess with it.” She pauses and thinks for a moment, then shakes her head. “The things you've told me about your power so far are all good. You need more experience, but that's not the same as a negative trait. You really shouldn't have to worry about anything. Now, tell me about the black hole.”

I'm feeling a little relieved about the data assimilation, I had worried I'd be heading to TRON or some kind of sci-fi adventure. “Well, when I ran out of mana you told me about making black holes to bring your mana back, right?”

“I mentioned it off hand once and didn't give you any specifics. So you went and tried to create a black hole?”

“Uh, nope. I did create a black hole. Or at least what I think was one. I crushed stuff until it turned into a star, then crushed it some more until light stopped leaking. Then there were strands of light and when I tried to make more stuff without crushing it, it got sucked in. Very black-holey. And I got a skill called Mana Vortex.”

“You are lucky you aren't brain dead! Jesus Jack!” She is really worked up now. Maybe there is a bad habit here somewhere I can stop. But I did get two new skills, so the argument could be made that it's a good habit.

“I also got the mind partition skill! And it only took like 5 percent of my HP!”

“Like video game Hitpoints? You lost 5 percent of your entire health?”

“About that much, just barely pushed my red HP bar back. That's like a scratch or something.”

“Or it could be like carving your brain out of your skull! The black hole technique is incredibly dangerous if you don't use or store the mana right away, which you don't know how to do! I've seen talented mages with blood pouring out of their ears by botching that skill!”

“Well that's just gross.”

“Has your HP gone back to full?”

“Yes, I took a nap after and it was full when I woke up.”

“Good. Sit right there.” Cue ominous feeling. She goes to and from the kitchen quickly, and stabs my arm with a fork.

There is a fork in my arm. THERE IS A FORK IN MY ARM! “OW! WHAT THE HELL? YOU PSYCHO!”

She grabs my arm with one hand, the fork with the other, and yanks. The fork comes out. Some part of my mind notices that it doesn't seem like the first time she's stabbed someone with a fork, or removed a fork from someone. “You are fine you big baby.”

That shuts me up. Nobody likes being called a big baby. And she's right. It's not bleeding at all. There are four angry red marks where the fork pierced, but they don't look bad, and it only hurts on the surface. Huh. Still, I think this calls for retribution. I quickly form my sweater and balloon thought bubble and push it into my hand closest to the fork. Zap! “Ow!” Ha, I am revenged!

There is a loud, bright pop, and my arm jerks up and I slap myself. Damn! I'm going to have to learn that one too.

Dad peeks into the room from the kitchen, “Everything going alright in here kids?”

“Yes Frank. Jack just needed a little lesson. Everything is fine.”

“She stabbed me!”

“Play nice.” He goes back to the kitchen where I hear my mother snickering. This is so unfair.

“Why did you stab me?”

“For so many reasons. But how is your HP bar looking?”

Hmm... ”It's not full, but only barely. A tiny sliver missing on the end.”

“And compared to last night?”

“I would say this is about one percent or less, and last night was five-ish.”

“So you fried your brain and your power saved you.”

“Looks like. Damn.”

“You are a problem student. Anything I mention, no matter how dangerous or difficult, you just grab and run around with like a kid with scissors.”

“Well where are the textbooks for this stuff? It's not like I knew I wasn't supposed to shrink wrap you, or actually make the black hole.”

“That's a good question. You need more formal learning materials. We'll get you some on Monday. Until then, no magic practice.”

“So what are we going to do? More exercise?”

“Nope. Now that I know you can't be hurt too badly, you are going to learn to fight.”

* * *

I'm gaining a sort of love / hate relationship with the earth. On one hand, I like standing, and laying, and sitting. On the other hand, landing is really awful. I'm supposed to be learning how to fall, but I feel like gravity has that covered for me, and I'm just being thrown around because it's endlessly entertaining even after who knows how many lifetimes.

“You are terrible at this.”

“Well I've never done it before!”

“I guess we can start you with something easier.”

I knew she was just throwing me around for the hell of it. So next I struggle through some strange motions, feeling like I'm in a surreal yoga / kung fu fighting studio. She stands in front and demonstrates, and I try to follow. Egregious errors earn me some correction, and I'm not getting zapped today, so I guess I wasn't slacking off as much as usual. I'm not really a martial art aficionado, but I've seen some Bruce Lee movies, and The Karate Kid, and I can't recognize anything that we are doing.

“Martial Arts are mostly for fighting men and women. This is for fighting men, women, and monsters. Don't think because you are moderately tall you will have a reach advantage on a troll.”

That makes sense. I struggle through some more katas, feeling like I'm learning at least a little. Or at least not flailing about so badly.

Intelligence +1

Your Intelligence Has Reached 50! For Passing Peak Human Intelligence, Skills 'Eidetic Memory' And 'Perfect Recall' Are Unlocked!

I fall over. I remember everything. Sort of. Older memories are foggy. But I can feel out the edges of my memories and fill in some of the blanks. Most of everything. I've forgotten a lot of stuff over the years evidently. But my new memories, all ten seconds of them, are perfect. I'm not forgetting anything anymore.

Jessie is staring at me, but not the kind of stare that makes my face itch. “What happened this time?”

“I remember everything. I've got Eidetic Memory now.” Jessie grins. I grin. She grins more. I stop grinning. We go back to throwing practice.

It doesn't go that badly this time around. I'm learning much faster, and I gain a few levels in acrobatics and a new skill appropriately named Falling. I don't think this is taking much effort for Jessie, since we've been at it for two hours and I think I've fractured my wrist, neck, and ankle at least once each, and she is still grinning. I only know they fractured because of the intense stab of pain followed by my HP bar decreasing a little each time. It doesn't stop me from bruising, which has extended to my entire body, but I'm not limping around on broken bones. I think. Only when my Health gets down to about half do we stop. Without that health buffer, we would never have been able to practice this hard, and I gain a few points in Transcend and Pain Resistance. I don't think I'm getting enough credit for the training I'm going through.

“Are we ever going to stop? I'm literally half dead.”

“I could use lunch. Magic us up some good food and then we'll go move your stuff over from your dorm to your apartment.”

I want to argue she is just using me for my powers, but I enjoy the perfect meals too. After a few aborted attempts, the kitchen dances to my command. The last of the Thanksgiving leftovers turn themselves into a salad and side dish bonanza. The whole family is around the table when I suddenly realize I'll have to take the bed from my room, as the dorm bed isn't mine. For some reason, the idea of my room here without a bed makes me weepy.

“Can we pick up a new bed today? Maybe a desk and some chairs?” It's not Black Friday anymore, but everything surrounding the Maine Mall is sure to be intense. The weather is still nice, we should be able to use the truck.

Dad seems to understand the problem and gives mom a little elbow while saying, “Sure Jack. Don't worry, your room will always be here for you.”

Jessie interrupts this touching moment, “I had wanted to keep you away from the Mall until you had a chance to get settled at your new job, but I guess it can't be helped. As long as we are in the area, you might as well get to see some of the benefits of being part of this whole Hidden World. We'll need to take precautions, but when I'm done with you nobody will be able to recognize you.”

Suddenly I'm inundated with ideas about stores solely dedicated to broomsticks. Pet shops with owls and other strange creatures. Maybe even a wand all of my own? It makes sense the Hidden World would have it's own Diagon Alley. With only the vague descriptions of the threats out there, I haven't thought too much about what kind of good things would come from all this weird stuff.

* * *

We make our way out the back and a few streets over until we get to Jessie's car. She's still hiding the fact she's spending so much time at my house lately. If her parents found out, they might not get the right idea. After all, it's mostly physical at this point. Probing the depths of my flexibility and stamina. Tossing and turning on the late fall grass. Sharing our innermost secrets. Ok...bad brain. She's like a billion years old. Or at least a billion times an 18 year old. So weird. At least that hasn't changed.

It doesn't take long to get to the dorm, and everyone accompanies me up to the room. Looking at this mess, I can't help but wish I had cleaned up beforehand, and wonder why the hell we didn't bring anything to pack with.

“How are we supposed to get all this crap over to the apartment?”

“I keep any lookie-loos from seeing or wondering, and you shove it all in your inventory. You have a pocket dimension, you should learn to use it.” At least Jessie is on the ball. Now I don't know why my parents are here, as it looks like I'll have to do all the work. Dad seems to have an idea of how this is going to go and starts shoveling my stuff onto my bed and Mom leans back against the wall pulling out her cell phone and browses cat videos or something. There's no sound, I can't tell.

I shovel the stuff around into my inventory. There doesn't seem to be any limit, and there was only one hiccup when we came to the wardrobe slash makeshift desk that was mine. It turns out it doesn't need to be small enough to fit in the window. Things can be made to fit. Dad's eyes get big when the wardrobe starts to twist and deform as it gets sucked into the window. Well that answers that question. Don't use the inventory where people can see. It's depressing how little I actually have here. We are soon finished, even peeling the sheets off the mattress. I leave a note for my roommate, telling him I had gotten a part time job and decided I wanted an upgrade. No hard feelings. He was a cool guy.

After we were done, Jessie drew some of those glowing pictographs in the air. These weren't the simple demonstration runes from before. It looked like a mathematical proof if you spoke Egyptian. After glowing more brightly for a moment, they vanished and I felt a pressure like when she was first testing me.

“These will keep people from questioning anything related to the room for a while. No one will wonder how we go things out so fast, without going through the front door, or why you left.” I should have thought of those things before I went packing everything into my inventory. Oh well. She has it covered.

A couple blocks after we get away from campus Jessie pulls over. “You all need disguises. I'll magic some up, and most people will know you are wearing them, but won't be able to see through them.” Cue more runes. They flash and suddenly there are strangers in the car and I can smell myself. I check the mirror and I look as old as my parents.

“The smell is strange,” comments Mom. She's giving Dad a look. He's quite handsome as a blonde. Dad is giving her the same look. Oh. My. God. Brain bleach activate.

“People get used to their own smell, and individual scents can be tracked. The disguise wear off by itself before dawn.” Mom and Dad start smiling. This is awful. Are we there yet?

We start moving towards the mall and now I pull out my phone and look at cat videos.

Jack Ambrose Webb's Statistics

Strength

33

Wisdom

22

Agility

38

Charisma

27 (+1)

Dexterity

41

Luck

3

Vitality

32 (+1)

Transcend

2

Intelligence

50 (+5)