(Jacob, 16)

"Jason," I finally locate my friend, who has been ignoring every attempt at contacting him so far. "Would you kindly do me a favor?"

"Depends on what it is," he answers as he continues building a snowman in the park with a bunch of kids.

"Could you please ask Jaklenai to stop releasing his divine aura just because idiots are refusing to believe he is a god, despite many people telling him he is?"

The ancient god has been doing this over the last few days, whenever he is seen around the city. It seems that he may intend on living here for some time, even if no one but Jason knows where he has claimed as his residence. Most people are bowing to him out of respect or fear, but it seems that at least once every hour or two while he is outside, someone who has not felt the aura and does not believe it challenges him, asking him if he can prove he is a god.

So Jaklenai obliges, which has been causing problems. A god cannot simply release their aura all the time and expect society to continue as it is.

"I can try," Jason answers as a snowball hits him in the back. "I'll talk to him once I finish up here."

He lifts his right hand up, snow rising from the ground and forming into a dozen balls. I leave him to the snow fight and decide to take a stroll through town. With Papa having returned a few days ago and people believing the god's words, it is easier for me to do this now. A few people still give me hateful looks, but most look at the known Magi with wonder or respect now.

As I walk down a business street, the front window of a shop on the street I am passing by bursts outwards, several men flying out of it. They land on the street as I attempt to remember where I know them from. There are four of them, and they are scrambling to their feet. Three brothers and a father, it seems. They are all armed.

Then Eden steps out of the shop, sword drawn, body glowing with an aural sheath.

Ah, yes, I recognize the three brothers of his now. It seems they returned with their father in an attempt to bring Eden back to their home. I know Eden well enough to know that he would not have damaged the shop unless it was necessary to defend himself.

"Stop this nonsense!" His father growls as guards begin to move.

I raise a hand, and the guards cease their movements, some seeing it, others seeing those who did and following suit. Citizens are moving out of the way.

"Leave now," Eden says, his voice cold. "I am a student at university now, and I am not returning to the village to be a pawn for you to work to death."

"You are a foolish boy who needs to listen to his father!" His father lunges forward, swinging a sword.

As their weapons clash, I notice that Eden's father has actual skill with a sword. Eden is barely able to hold his own, and I can tell that he will be overwhelmed rather easily. His father was a soldier. Either a Slayer or Royal Knight.

Eden's brothers join the fight, and Eden continues to hold his own, just barely. He is wearing out, though, his breathing increasing as sweat begins to drip down his face despite the midwinter cold. The guards wish to step in, but I continue to watch.

The way his father is acting, he is scared of something. If he is so scared, why make a public scene? A soldier with that level of skill would make much more money as whatever he was than as a farmer, yet he gave up that life.

Or was he removed from it?

One of Eden's brothers manage to cut through Eden's university uniform, his dagger deflecting off of the aural sheath. Hopefully, everyone believes it to be some form of shield. Eden would not be using it if the situation was bad.

I go to draw my sword to put an end to this, and Eden shoots me a look that tells me not to intervene. If someone does not, he will lose this fight.

"Send for more guards," I tell one of the city guards who approached from this side. "Inform them that we need Royal Guards down here immediately."

"Yes, sir," he salutes, then hurries away.

I look around the street, realizing quite fast that this is a love district. The street I am on is still part of the normal businesses, but the one Eden is on is a love district. My gaze settles on the marks on the sign above the shop he had been inside.

Eden is not the type of man I would expect to see inside of a brothel.

The fight continues for some time, Eden's brothers continuing to inflict more damage against him. They must have done quite a bit to him before I arrived to easily pierce his uniform like that.

Just as his father delivers what should have been a winning blow, Eden manages to slip backwards between two of his brothers. My hand goes to my sword again, as I cannot take this anymore.

"Silver Wyvern!" Eden suddenly calls out.

The air behind him ripples, then earth appears and air shifts and turns silver, taking on the form of a wyvern eight feet in height. Did he just create a combat construct forged of two elements? While defending himself in a losing fight?

Eden's brothers and father hesitate for a moment, but when Eden drops to his knees, gasping, they move forward, his father reaching for the younger man.

The wyvern strikes fast, throwing Eden's father back, and the warrior stands up, holding his sword at the ready. Then, he attacks again, and the wyvern joins him, striking and blocking with him and against his family.

The Royal Universities only take the most talented students who apply, and Jason only trains the most talented of them. Eden's ability to do this is further proof that no one is allowed to step in the way of him pursuing his dream of being a Slayer.

With the combat construct aiding him, Eden begins fighting a winning battle, taking down the much more experienced warrior and his brothers after only another minute of fighting, the combat construct pinning his father to the ground.

Eden sheathes his sword.

"For the last time," he says, his voice cold. "I am studying at university. I am not returning to the farm. Come after me again, and it will be the last thing you ever do."

"You will regret this," his father growls, and I realize that the man was casting a spell.

Of course he was, because Eden is not the only person able to do that while fighting.

An explosion rips through the air, the wyvern forged of earth and silver air splitting apart and failing, the blast moving towards Eden. I start to act, but am too slow to stop it. As the spell impacts Eden, another explosion rips through the air, breaking the glass of several more shops.

Guards start to rush forward, but everyone stops as the smoke of the explosion fades away, revealing a stunned-looking Eden surrounded by a leviathan forged of water, coiled so tightly as to leave not an opening for the blast to have punched through.

"That is enough!" A voice calls out from above, and I look up to see Alex falling from the sky, landing between Eden and his family, sword drawn immediately. "Fighting in the streets ain't permitted! Attempted murder ain't permitted! Resist arrest, and ya will be facing additional charges! All participants are to come down to the guardhouse immediately, as well as any witnesses to the start of the fight!"

Eden's father and brothers rise, and I can tell they are assessing Alex and whether or not they can take him. With the leviathan protecting Eden, they likely feel confident they can handle him. Only the wyvern had enabled Eden to take them down, and Alex is obviously a student as well, even if dressed in a warrior's outfit with light armor and a band denoting him as assisting the local guards.

They choose to attack, which is their mistake. No doubt they expect that he would either try to fight them alone, or pull the construct away from Eden to protect himself, opening up Eden for attacks.

Unfortunately for them, Alex is the reincarnation of a Magus.

He slashes forward with his sword, and a wave of water rushes out of it, slamming into the four men, wrapping around them, binding their arms to their sides and legs together, their hands bound as well.

Prison of the Depths, a spell from our time as Magi. There is a mind spell woven into it as well, one which is barely legal in this day and age. It loosens their mind, making it more difficult for them to gather the focus needed to cast a spell.

I am quite impressed Alex was able to cast it so easily at his current level of ability, but then I realize the sword he has is different from his normal one. Made of steel, with a series of blue and pink runes imprinted on it. I am more than willing to place money on the odds that he had it forged specifically for his time as a guard.

Alex sheathes his sword, then glares down at them, before turning his gaze to Eden, the leviathan releasing, turning to just water that soaks our friend.

"Sorry 'bout that," Alex says. "Forgot to move him away before doing that, Eden. Are ya alright? Your barrier seems like it barely held together."

"Yeah," Eden says, the glow around him fading as he releases the aural sheath. "They-"

"Ain't gonna hear it here," Alex says. "Gotta take ya down to the guardhouse to get the story. I can make a guess at what happened, though. Highness told me 'bout them tryin' to kidnap ya before, so it ain't gonna surprise me if they turned out to have tried to nab ya in public."

"There are witnesses," I approach. "To Eden's family saying, during the fight, that he is coming home, and Eden resisting that with his own words."

"Hello, Highness," Alex dips his head to me as guards move towards the four attackers. "That spell should last for another ten minutes, so if ya don't want 'em attackin' ya, get 'em bound up before then."

The guards nod and begin carrying away the four of them, and I try to figure out why Alex has been drinking while working as a guard. He might look sober, but the way he is talking, with his words even more streetlike than usual, is a sign he has had more than a few drinks.

"So ya some o' that?" Alex asks me as a female guard approaches, coming down an alley.

"Yes," I answer. "I was passing by this street when the fight moved to the street. It was clear based on their words that they were attempting to force Eden to return to the village he grew up in, much as they did when I had two of the brothers arrested."

"Alex!" The woman snaps at him. "You are not to run off like that! And jumping onto the roofs? What were you thinking?"

So the reason he came from the sky was because he had jumped off of a roof.

"I was thinkin'," Alex says. "That I'm tired o' all those glares ya all keep givin' me for no reason at all, and that I was hearin' a prolonged fight goin' on, which meant the nearby guards ain't got the ability to handle it. So I decided to go and step in, since I've got the ability. Now, if ya ain't mindin', I've got to get Eden here down to the guardhouse, along with witnesses from the shop."

Alex looks at the different shops, then gives Eden a bewildered, but amused and sly grin.

"The brothel," Eden quickly says. "Was looking for a new guard. I was talking with them over the possibility of me being hired as a guard for them. I'd be in the front, away from all of that stuff, Alex. I'm still freeloading at Jason's place, and want to make some money."

"Ya could have started doing hunts, ya know," Alex grins.

"I was nervous of my family attacking me while outside," Eden shakes his head. "I didn't expect them to come after me in the city again, after Jacob arrested two of them and sent the others running."

"Jacob?" The female guard asks, then looks at me, her eyes then moving to the pair of personal guards behind me, then to the Royal Guards who made themselves visible and drew close due to the fight. "Prince Jacob?"

"Yes," I answer, and she suddenly looks nervous. "Alex, do you want to know why they give you those glares?"

"'Cause they think I'm just some prissy noble there for a fun time," he rolls his eyes.

"Because you are a noble," I answer. "Someone with wealth. You were introduced to them by a Captain of the Royal Slayers. They think you are there to assess them for a higher authority."

Alex starts laughing.

"What, like ya?" He asks, then laughs even harder. "As if I'd tell ya anything like that, Jacob! If they're asses, I'd deal with 'em myself!"

"Really?" I raise an eyebrow. "Is that before or after you sobered up?"

"I ain't drunk," he rolls his eyes.

"You're drunk," Eden says.

"Nah," Alex shakes his head. "Ain't had enough to drink to get there yet. Havin' a few drinks is the only way I can deal with Lady Sour here. 'Do this, don't do that, don't walk like that, stop letting the rats get off just 'cause ya can', and all that shit. Going on the hunts with the Slayers is a lot more fun, but I can't go with the normal hunts 'cause their fights are too easy for me. I've only gotten to go on two 'cause of that, since they don't want me going unless it's something which requires the captains."

"Interview the witnesses here," I look at the guard. "Eden was likely attacked first, and acted out of self-defense. Ezekiel, head down to the guardhouse and interrogate Eden's family yourself. Judging by the level of skill displayed by his father, he may be a fugitive."

"Yes, sir!" The Royal Guard salutes, and I turn my gaze to Alex.

"I will have you moved to a different guardhouse," I tell him, then I look at Eden. "I am not sure how well your request went here, but if you are looking for a job as a guard for a business, Eden, I know a place which is currently looking for one. A temporary job, only for a few days. It pays well, however."

"Are you sure?" He asks uncertainly.

"Yes," I answer. "The food exhibition needs a lot of guards, and we cannot use Royal Guards for everything. There will be some there, as well as guards from various guardhouses. We are also hiring outside of those as well, invitation only. The pay is two thousand varru per day, a total of eight thousand varru if you work all four days. Those hired outside will have a room to meet in, where they will be issued a uniform to wear during it. We have five more slots we can fill for this position. Would you like me to put in a recommendation so you can be tested for it?"

"Yes," he says. "Thank you."

"Okay," I tell him. "I will inform you tomorrow at university where to go to be tested. For now, you should answer their questions regarding the fight."

"Thank you, sir," he says.

(Alex, 17)

"Thank ya, Jason," I say as Jason opens up the gate.

"You're welcome," he says.

I step through the gate, followed by Niko, Connor, and Adam. Jason brings up the rear, then closes the gate, and I look around. We are at Jason's home in the Unwild Lands. His own home, not his family home.

"Was Prince Jacob too busy to come?" I ask. "He left immediately after ya spoke to him."

In quite the hurry, too, which struck me as odd.

"Yes," Jason answers. "It appears there's a bit of a mess he's working on dealing with, so had to leave as soon as the training session ended."

"Does it have to do with yesterday?"

"Somewhat," Jason nods. "It turns out that Eden's father and three of his brothers work for a rebel faction which wants to see the current royal line fall. They're desperate to get Eden out of here because they don't want their son associating with Jacob."

"Ah," I say.

"Yeah," he says, then starts stretching. "Alright, everyone! Let's get stretching!"

"Is it me," Connor says. "Or is it as cool here as back in Varilsy right now?"

"A cold front passed through the middle of Varil," Jason says. "It came down from the northern mountains on a southeast path, so it missed here."

"What is a cold front?" Connor asks.

"Terminology from our lives on Earth," I answer. "The weather moves in 'fronts' of cold and hot, among other things. That's… all I can really explain about it."

I look at Jason.

"Yeah, same for me," he shrugs. "I never really paid attention to stuff like that as Lucas. Let's get to the training, then."

"Why did ya only invite male Magi for this?" I ask.

At the start of the training session today, I asked Jason if he could take me out here so I could do some personal training on a stronger level, so that I could get stronger. He told me he could, but since we are courting, we would need others present as well.

Once we returned to the university after leaving the usual spot, Jason asked the other male Magi about coming out with us, and all except for Prince Jacob accepted the request. Then he opened up a gate to here, rather than to the spot a little north, where we usually train.

"Here he comes!" Jason exclaims, and I realize he brought us here for the dragon.

The dragon soars to its normal spot, and Jason and Niko each launch an attack at him at the same time, probably out of habit. Everyone knows that Jason and Niko performs extra training here most evenings. I am impressed by how often they do it as well, considering all of the other stuff they do.

After their attacks hit the dragon's shield, Jason's breaking through it and Niko's splashing against the dragon's scales, the great beast leaves.

"Oops," Jason grins. "I forgot that I'm powerful enough to break his shields, now."

Niko snorts as Jason opens up another gate, then passes through it, and we follow him through, finding ourselves in our usual training area for the training group.

"To answer your question," Jason tells me. "I only wanted Magi here because I know there are probably techniques from the old days that you all want to practice, but don't want non-Magi to see."

"And only us guys?" I ask.

"A guy's afternoon training!" He declares as I wonder why he hasn't dismissed his gate yet. "I'll head to the house and make dinner for everyone, you guys do your thing, and I'll return soon."

He steps back through the gate, which vanishes, and I look at the others.

"I was planning on pushing myself," I tell them. "I ain't got a lot of new things I can do or want to try using against people."

"I suggest," Niko says. "That we each train individually for now, as Alex wishes. This way, we can train without worrying about hurting each other. When Jason returns and we finish eating, we can ask if he could lure some trolls down here."

"Trolls?" Adam asked. "I thought those were made up?"

"I did, too," I say. "Jason sometimes claims he fights them, but I ain't ever seen one before."

"I have," Niko nods. "Jason sometimes chases one or two down here so I can practice some of my upper-level spells. As trolls have high regenerations and typically have immense mana pools, allowing their regenerations to restore them quickly, their hides tough, they make for perfect targets for practicing such spells."

"How often do you two come out here?" Connor asks. "I am relatively new to the interactions with all of you, but from what I have heard others say, it seems like you and Jason come out here every evening, even though both of you have other obligations."

"We usually come here for an hour or two after the training session ends," Niko nods. "At least four days a week, though sometimes all six days of university. We also come out here for one or both days each weekend as long as we do not have other obligations, such as the practical training. If it is something like a dance at the palace, Jason and I will leave here for that."

"Mind if I ask why?" Connor asks. "Why you two come here so much, I mean."

"Because," I say. "Niko is more powerful than the rest of us. It's difficult for him to push his limits and grow if he trains only with us. Training out here with Jason, he can push himself, which makes it easier. Once more of us are in the upper magical powers, we'll probably be sparring with Niko as well."

"Ah," Connor says.

"Though also," Adam says. "We suspect that Jason has been teaching Niko other things as well. You've noticed his accent?"

"Yeah?" Connor nods. "It's better than the accents of the other Marrans, but still noticeable."

"If you pay attention enough," I say. "Niko's accent is a mix of Marran and Jason. His accent used to be quite thick, to the point that it could be hard to understand him if he got flustered."

Niko's face reddens.

"Oh," Connor says, then looks at Niko. "So Jason has been teaching you Varilan as well?"

"So that I may speak better," Niko nods. "I am set to live in Varil until the Gathering, which means it is vital that I learn to speak more like Varilans do. Jason has also worked on me using contractions for when I am in a casual setting such as now, though it can be difficult to remember when to use them."

"The Gathering?" Connor asks.

"The Gathering of Power," I nod. "It's a time when all magic becomes one. Supposedly, humans won't be able to use their magics during it, though I don't know how long it lasts."

"Twelve days," Niko answers. "One for each Divine Beast."

"Niko," Adam says. "You said you're only living in Varil until the Gathering. Why end then?"

"Because the Gathering forces us back into our true selves."

"Our true selves?" Adam asks.

"Yeah," Niko hesitates for a moment. "You would all remember for sure once you turned grey in magical power and all of your past lives began assimilating back into you properly. I only remembered because of something I left behind from our last life here."

"What?" Connor asks.

"We are the Divine Beasts," I say, and they look at me. "I only just found out, myself."

"According to Jason," Niko nods. "On the day of the Gathering of Power relating to our true selves, we ascend back into our true forms. It's why our corpses from our old lives as Magi are pristine. Our souls simply left, and the bodies are immortal, so they don't decay. Nolan built the tombs for them, then his own tomb, and sealed himself inside of it, burying himself on the last day."

"This is… a lot to take in," Adam says. "If it's true."

"It is," Niko nods.

"And you've seen your corpse?" Adam asks.

"Yeah," I say. "I thought Jason said ya didn't want to see your old body?"

"I asked him to show me later," Niko admits. "The curiosity was too great. I know he's shown Jacob his corpse, that was the first one, and when Jason realized he had the keys to the tombs."

"And we really are the Divine Beasts?" Connor asks.

It's clear he and Adam ain't too sure about this.

"Yeah," I nod. "Jason told me himself, and Niko remembered it 'cause of something funky. Prince Jacob figured it out on his own. It's why there's one Magus for each Sacred Beast – we are the Divine Beasts. According to Jason, he got pissed at the gods and decided to teach them a lesson, and we all went with it. I ain't sure how true that part is, but if our true selves are anything like our current ones, I know I'd go with him if he got mad."

"It's why," Niko says. "The gods who are not evil are trying to convince mortals we are not heretics. We are gods, even if in mortal forms at the moment."

"I ain't sure about ya guys," I say. "But I want to get to training. There's no telling how much we'll be able to do, and if we keep talking about this, we'll never get to it. I'm heading over there."

I indicate an area, then head over and activate my aural sheath. I also summon my combat construct, making it a thirty-foot one. Once it's manifested, I enhance my body, then begin performing attacks against imaginary foes.

Jason returns after another half hour, and the four of us are exhausted, having pushed ourselves after a day of university and an advanced training group session. We devour the feast he prepared for us as Niko asks about the trolls again.

"Do you guys want me to bring a few trolls down here?" Jason asks. "I can do that if you want. One for each of you."

We agree, so Jason leaves after we finish eating, and a few minutes later, four gates appear, each one opened where we had been training, keeping them a fair distance apart. A moment later, trolls charge through them, and I get my first look at a real troll.

They are vaguely human in appearance, with ashen skin, naked bodies, matted hair, and green-brown eyes. They each stand around ten feet in height, and they are ugly, even if their bodies are muscled.

"This is going to be fun," I stand, then start making my way towards one.

Hopefully, Jason didn't pick ones too far above our abilities.