Thursday came around. It was a day with no homeroom, and only one interesting class.

If it weren’t for the fact that he’d decided that from now on he’d be the breakfast guy, because Sophia had prepared several phenomenal dinners over the passing week, Andew have wouldn’t have even bothered waking up before noon.

As things stood, Andrew didn’t mind waking up early. He enjoyed making breakfast. Today’s was a savory breakfast lasagna made with duck meat instead of sausage. He also enjoyed the morning car ride to school, where he and Sophia could just enjoy being in each other’s company.

When they arrived at the Academy, Andrew didn’t get out of the car.

“Hoheit?” said Sophia.

“Oh, don’t mind me. I decided I’m going to try and see the city for a bit.” said Andrew.

“But what about school?” said Sophia.

“School’s taken care of.” said Andrew. Pointing at a duplicate-him that was already purposefully striding towards the first class of the day.

“Ah, so I see.” said Sophia.

“Then where ‘will’ you be going for today?”

Andrew shrugged.

“I honestly don't know. I wasn’t really free to wander the city before school started… Or maybe I just didn’t feel like looking Eblouir over back then. Now I kind of want to see what’s out there. You have your company… and I know you said it was just supposed to be a resource for the two of us to use but I can see that despite all that,..it’s basically your baby. You love Housecarl Industries and it loves you too. I kind of want to see if I can at least start looking for something like that for myself.” said Andrew.

“Nh… Okay, be careful though. Don’t put yourself in danger. ” said Sophia. Her expression troubled, her cheeks faintly flushed.

“Hey, I’m an immortal remember. What’s there to worry about?” said Andrew.

“Many things, hoheit... Many things.” said Sophia.

Sophia gave Andrew a quick peck on the lips before exiting the car. Andrew used the ride app to enter in a certain Address. Then the car pulled away from the curb and took Andrew to the place where he’d hopefully find what he was looking for.

*************************************************************************************************************

Andrew lay back in the seat. He felt another strange twinge from within and his brow furrowed.

“Okay… This probably isn’t just indigestion then. I better talk to Soph about it later.” said Andrew. Turning attention within and finding himself staring at a quickly spreading agitation in his internal workings.

Andrew felt a sense of anxiety building within him as he realized that just as his life was exactly as he wanted it to be, a new, possibly negative thing, was about to show its face. He distracted himself with online games and music.

Then the car arrived at its destination.

“You are here!” said the cherry voice of the car’s AI.

“Welp, thanks.” said Andrew. Opening the door and stepping outside into what sounded like a warzone.

Andrew heard the hum of an isolation field. He felt its electricity in his teeth and knew without checking his sprite, that all communication to the area was completely cutoff. He could hear the sound of bullets and beams being fired in the distance. He could hear concrete walls crumbling as men and women of steel smashed through them in the midst of pitch combat.

“Yup, this is the right address.” said Andrew.

Andrew walked up the street. The sounds of the fighting grew louder with each step he took.

*************************************************************************************************************

Oliver Asceline was doing the unthinkable, taking a day off of school. This wasn’t hyperbole. Ordinarily, it would have to be a case where either family as a whole was in danger, or he personally was in mortal peril, for Oliver to miss a day of academy classes.

The dire effect the curse had on the clan’s luck, talents, and sociability was such that the only way they could overcome it was through sheer hard work. Which meant never slacking off...ever.

To be fair, Oliver wasn’t slacking off today. In fact, one could argue that Oliver current absence from school was completely in line with the clan’s former precepts. He wasn’t here on Thirty-One Gram Drive for his own good, he was here for his family.

Even if you cut off its wings, a dragon was still a dragon. Even if you take away its claws and fangs, a dragon was still a dragon. Even if you make it crawl through the dirt and mud like a worm, a dragon was still a dragon...A dragon will never be a snake.

This was the Asceline motto, this was their clan’s secret ideal. The Ascelines may have lowered themselves but they’d never completely lost their former arrogance.

Thus for countless millennia the Ascelines had held this belief hidden deep within their hearts. A belief that a day would come where they’d overcome their curse and take back all that had been taken from them.

Now their curse was gone and the family was acting on this belief. They weren’t so foolish as to believe that simply having their potential, social acumen, and fortunes returned was enough for them to take on absolutely everyone who’d taken advantage of their moment of weakness. However, they were now beginning to try and stand up for themselves again, taking what they were owed from the minor and medium level ongoing deals.

“Just what the hell do you think you’re doing here?” said Edric Long. Head of Shades of Valhalla and Vanitas, aka SVV Inc. A small private military corporation that operated out of Eblouir city.

Edric was also the current head of the Long family. The Longs were a family that status-wise had only been marginally better off than the Ascelines. A family that had been stepping on the Asceline’s heads for quite some time. Taking thorough advantage of the cursed household.

Technically speaking, the Shades were supposed to be a group jointly managed and owned by both the Ascelines and the Longs. Edric had abused his position to turn the Asceline clansmen into cannon fodder while the Longs held the reigns of the company.

Edric also used his position to hoard the majority of the profits that the company made. Exploiting the Ascelines’ weakness so that he could breach multiple legally binding agreements. Aware that their curse would ruin any attempts to find legal, or extralegal, remediation.

“Edric, dear sweet Edric, what a strange question to ask... Nine and a half decades ago my father gave your family his trust, bringing you into ‘our’ company, and barely a moment after the ink had dried you Longs have never stopped stabbing him in the back. So you tell me what you think I’m doing here?” said Reese Asceline. One out of the three vice-heads of the Asceline family.

Reese was a green haired half-elf like the rest of his family, handsome and broad bodied. He strode into Edric’s office, his aura surging, a blade of aether and plasma held in his hands.

Edric snorted.

“Looks to me like you damn fools have come all this way to die. No matter. Since I’ve been such a good friend to your family I wouldn't mind doing you this one last favor.” said Edric. Sneering.

“Warriors of the Shades, send these idiots to Tartarus!” roared Edric. Siccing all the mercenaries that were loyal to him on the small group of Ascelines that had made it to his office.

The sounds of fighting within the company property redoubled as the two sides began to clash in earnest then suddenly there was a sound. A soft coughing noise followed by lightly spoken words.

“Excuse me…Would everyone mind calming down, please?”

The fighting within the building abruptly slowed and stopped as the voice rebounded throughout the halls of the SVV Inc HQ. People looked up at the ceiling with confusion and fear as the voice touched parts of them that it shouldn’t have been able to touch.

Reese and Edric’s fierce expressions faded as they found their former aggression and agitation dissipating. Their auras diminishing despite their intentions.

The two clan heads looked down and saw a third party sitting between them. A handsome young man with orange hair, orange eyes, light brown skin. Dressed in a school uniform.

“Who the fuck are you?” said Edric.

“Me? Oh, I’m the new boss of this place. Isn’t that obvious? I’m the one holding the company charter after all.”

“What the?! How in blazes did you get your hands on that?!” roared Edric. His outrage quickly sputtering and dying like a matchstick in a damp cave as the strange compulsion forced him to calm himself.

“A-, Andy?” said Oliver. Gaping as he watched from the back of the Asceline family’s forces.

“You know this person?” said Reese. His thin brows joining together into a silky green caterpillar.

“Y-, Yeah. He’s a...He’s a friend from school. He’s the one I told you and all the other family elders about.” said Oliver.

“Hm? Oh, hey Ollie. What are you doing here?” said Andrew. Noticing his schoolmate standing near the back of the group.

“I...Uh, my family owns half of this business and I guess you could say we’re here trying to settle a contractual dispute.” said Olive. Laughing nervously.

“R-, Really? Damn. That’s what I get for not really scoping this place out...Hold on...Shit. Yeah, I can see it now. They ‘really’ screwed you guys over didn’t they. The paperwork is so thorough even ‘I’ couldn’t see this place’s connection to you. They were basically on the verge of completely phasing out any all ownership rights you guys might have had.” said Andrew. Seemingly unaware of the effect his words were having on the Ascelines.

The fact he’d stolen away their anger was the only reason that the family of half-elves didn’t return to fighting the Longs in earnest as they were reminded of how thoroughly they’d been cheated.

The air of strangeness around the orange headed boy was so thick that everyone ended up turning their attention to the green haired youth instead.

“This little bastard is a friend of yours, Oliver?” said Edric. Snarling outwardly but despairing inwardly because he found himself feeling alarming empty inside. His head feeling light and airy in a way that reminded Edric of a number of less than pleasant experiences with mind altering substances that he’d had in his youth.

“ Yes, si-...I mean, yes.” said Oliver. Looking uncomfortable. Not entirely sure how to handle the current situation now that they were no longer fighting, because up until a few hours ago, the gruff human had been “Uncle” Edric to him.

“Young sir...No, Young Master. Might I ask what you came here to do today?” said Reese. His deferential tone grabbing the attention of Edric and everyone else in the room.

“Nh? Oh, I’m mostly here for this, that, and a few other things.” said Andrew. Answering vaguely because even he wasn’t sure what his end goal was. He was just going with a feeling. Painting in broad strokes, figuring that he’d add in the final details later.

“However, now, that I see Ollie here, I’m rethinking a few other things. Like I probably won’t be killing everyone here. Though the people who really deserve it. The ones who hurt little kids and enjoyed it. The blood starved beasts who killed for fun. The vile lechers who touched things that shouldn’t be touched and took things that they had no right to take...You guys can just go ahead and save me the trouble of finding you, right now, please.” said Andrew.

Despite light and almost irreverent tone, the boy’s words carried a heaviness that weighed down one’s bones and made one’s blood flow sluggishly.

Andrew’s voice turned into countless invisible fingers that flowed through the bodies of everyone present touching things that ought to have been unreachable.

Shortly afterwards there was a cacophony of gunfire. Those who didn’t have guns used their powers instead. Bullets, beams, firebolts, and other implements were put to work. The wielders of these weapons each targeting themselves with a look of great reluctance on their faces.

The sound of weapons being used was followed by the sound of bodies falling. Which was followed by a shocked silence as every other soul within the building watched cohorts, clan members, and friends, that they’d thought they knew well, lose hold of themselves and self-terminate.

Some not understanding why their friends had suddenly taken their own lives. Others understanding completely and feeling a cold draft flow over them as they considered who very close they’d been too death themselves.

“What...What did you just do? What did you just fucking do?! What did you to my-...” said Edric. The blood draining away from his face.

“Shh…Can’t you see I’m thinking?” said Andrew. His expression annoyed.

“Now where was I? Oh, yeah. Ollie, I kind of really need this charter but I didn’t expect you guys would be part of the management of this place. Think we can figure something out?”

Oliver froze. Wishing his new ‘friend’ would read the room and leave him out of any other decisions he might be about to make. The heads of the two clans looked to the green haired youth. One with a measuring gaze and just a hint of approval. The other with hate and just a hint of desperation.

“Go ahead.” said Reese. His voice soft and encouraging.

Taking heart from his step-father’s encouragement, Oliver stepped forward and addressed the orange-haired boy whose words were apparently capable of doing the impossible and directly ordering men to take their own lives.

“… What are we figuring out again?” said Oliver.

“Keep up, Ollie. I need this charter, but you technically half-own it. While the rest of this company falls within the range of acceptable targets for me, since you and I are buds, I can’t very well just take it from you. So we need to come to an agreement.” said Andrew.

“Ah...Er, okay. What were you thinking, then?” said Oliver. Wondering why the other boy...no, the monster pretending to be a boy, didn’t just take what he wanted and go.

Andrew frowned. Crossing his arms and tilting his head one way and then the other.

“Alright, I’ve got an idea. You guys are probably here because these guys owe you, right? After all, half the business was initially meant to be yours. I can give you that owed sum. I can also give you half of the other side's holdings because honestly the charter was the most important part of the deal for me.” said Andrew.

Oliver frowned as he got the gist of what he was being told. He turned to Reese who nodded slightly and said,

“That… That sounds fair.”

“Excellent. It’s done.” said Andrew.

“What’s done?!” said Edric. Finally finding his anger again.

“Do you think you can waltz in here divvying up ‘my’ company and get away with it you little-...”

“Shh...Read the room, friend. You’re no longer relevant to this story.” said Andrew. His words carrying the same strange weight they’d had before. Instantly silencing Edric and making him swallow the heart full of fear and rage that he’d been about to spew out.

“Alright, I’ve done what I’ve come here to do… Do you want me to wrap this up… Or do you want to handle it yourselves?” said Andrew. Standing and stretching. The action filled with a lazy grace.

Similar to Edric Reese had also managed to recover from the strange air that surrounded the orange-haired boy. All the same, his tone remained genial and almost respectful. He smiled and took the opportunity to introduce himself.

“Reese Asceline...I’m one of Oliver’s fathers.” said Reese.

“Ah...Well, nice to meet you Mr. Asceline. I’m Ollie’s friend, Andrew Oddvar. Feel free to call me Andy.”

“A pleasure to meet you as well. Might I ask what you mean by wrapping this up?” asked Reese.

“Killing off those who might be trouble later. Wiping the memories of others… Erasing the evidence of my presence here. That sort of thing.” said Andrew.

Reese blinked. Hiding the cold fear he’d felt sink into his gut at casual manner the youth used when referring to the task of tidying up a mercenary corporation like the Shades.

“I… I suppose there’s no harm in leaving it to you. Young Master Oddvar.” said Reese. Deciding to completely take his hands off of the situation, because he was curious to see what methods the young man would use.

“Alrighty, then.” said Andrew.

Suddenly all the Ascelines found themselves standing outside the building, alongside a handful of confused looking men and women.

The building that formerly served as homebase to the Shades of Valhalla and Vanitas was nowhere to be seen. All that remained of the building was the empty lot it was built on.

Oliver gaped and then turned to the young man at his side, a look of fear and reverence on his face.

“That’s...I guess that’s one way to get the job done.” said Oliver. Deciding to play things cool.

“Yep… Not the most elegant solution, but eh, I was never one for needlessly fancy methodologies. Anyway… I’m going back to school. It’d be a shame to miss Intro to Power Channelling.” said Andrew.

Oliver bit his tongue, and refrained from asking what exactly the other boy was planning to learn from a class with the word “intro” in it, when he was already at the stage of disappearing whole buildings full of people.

Reese spoke.

“Is that so… Then why don’t you and Ollie share a cab? We’re done here so he might as well had back to the academy as well.”

“Nh, okie-doke.” said Andrew. Smiling a smile that was far too innocent and free for a man who’d just killed dozens of people less than a few seconds ago.

“Yes, father.” said Oliver. Finally regaining his composure as he was reminded of his duty and role as scion of the recovering Asceline family.