All manner of men and power celebrated on a silver palace. Kings, Magistrates, Necromancers with their death guards, radiating their power for all to see.

Milyaa wondered how could their faces not cramp from all the smiling but what does she know? She never handled foreign negotiations. Her grandma never imposed lessons on her and so she felt apprehensive.

Right now, she wasn’t Jane Fishbrook the scout. She was esteemed Milyaa Mendeleyev the granddaughter of Lyudmilla Mendeleyev. So, she was in the raised platform surrounded by silver rails, along with the more important personages. The scouts and simple officials were surrounding them, two meters below.

‘Still, it’s not like those scouts don’t wield great power.”

The scouts used to be made of former explorers themselves since their main duty was to select the worthy. Now it’s a symbolic position for the lesser scions, mistresses and subordinates of the powers. Explorers were powerful weapons and resources that needed to be recruited early. She had a proper example in front of her.

Telo de Fezzan was not too subtly flirting with her. He wore his military dress in black and red. In his right was his chosen sword and his left was energy pistol. Both blessed by their main deity, God of Balance. It’s the bane of all creatures made of pure spirituality.

“There is the Marquis of Bronze, over there the chieftain of the Nskipaya.”

A good guy but there was something dead within those eyes. He has funded a lot of projects and charities while also being a commander of his own small fleet. Due to his victories, he earned the nickname “Young Admiral” that makes him the likeliest successor for the Theocracy’s naval fleets.

Only, she can’t help but not like him. He could joke but only standard ones, never anything weird or offensive. Knowledgeable at all matters but never an expert.

“Hey, there’s going to be a fishing contest in Sanctus Mur. Would you be ok with going? Feel free to invite your cousins or friends.”

“I’m sorry Telo. I’m going to be honest. I know you’re trying to hit on me but I’m not feeling it with you. You’re a good person so I’m sure you don’t have to worry about finding someone else.”

“Thank you for the compliment. I understand and I don’t mean to be a bother. Enjoy the rest of your evening.”

His face got serious but the amiable smile returned with that farewell.

‘I hope I didn’t hurt him. It’s better this way anyways. Say it to him early.’

She had never rejected anyone before so she had to improvise with what she felt was the right way.

“The opening ceremony is about to begin!”

*

‘I got to say she was correct.’

The great fear of drowning at the first dunk made him panic. Soon, they rescued him and afterwards made him describe the feeling. She asked him to describe the feeling then explained the cause. Soon enough the process was scientifically broken down and with each throw, his fear lessened.

‘F*ck. I’m sulking, aren’t I? I don’t want to be irritated but I just want to slightly gently give her slaps.’

She was smirking with the face ‘See? I told you so’. It was taking all he can to preserve his poker face. The words ‘I will not give her the satisfaction’ was being repeated in his mind.

He really doesn’t mind losing in anything and he never aimed for the best grades in school but for some reason Sun Hee made him heated.

“The countdown. The countdown is down to 30 minutes.”

“Indeed. Indeed. No need for thanks.”

***

Bouts of laughter escape from her mother’s mouth as she watched old comedy shows on their old television. Bought 20 years ago, it never needed to be repaired since. It’s also able to stream movies online and view other sites despite the initial lack of ability to. The added wires and asymmetric screws were the only sign of modification.

On the walls of the living room were proudly displayed awards like “Most Intelligent” “Most Industrious” “Physics’ Brightest Star” and “Junior Robotics Champion” awarded to Lee Sun Hee from 4th grade to 10th grade. She was honestly embarrassed how her parents showed it off whenever people visited but their pure smiles made sure she never complained.

“I’m back.”

Her father had come back from his carpentry work. Since he was older now, he only does it for fun.

“Get some soup from the stove. Wash up too stinker.”

“Yes, dear.”

They shared a short kiss despite her words calling the her sweaty father stinky.

Her mother was pale and had a bit of the shakes. A combination of excessive smoking and drug abuse turned her to this way at age 55. She knew of her mother’s past since her parents never shied away from telling her the truth. It applied to every facet of how she was raised. Nothing was ever sugarcoated and somehow she still grew up a positive child. How could she not be for she had a great example of human triumph in her own home.

Her father served for 20 years. A hopeful young man came out as a disillusioned mess filled with anger and general apathy. The military’s incompetency, failure and lack of true benefit to the people dried her father’s soul. Added to that was the blood of “enemies” and his brothers-in-arms and it was no surprise his father turned to alcoholism.

So, in a drunken haze for 3 long years he was until he met what would be Sun Hee’s mother. Her mother was a divorcee who ate, drank and did drugs in the same regularity. So it was luck that the broken cracks in their hearts managed to fill each other’s half and despite chances managed to make a baby.

Despite all their hurts and their past, they experienced a second life. She saw their efforts growing up. How they battled their reliance on substances through discipline. She saw how her mother enrolled in college at 45 while her father supported her through odd jobs.

She never liked superhero movies for they felt fake. Her parents were more than them to her anyways.

That’s why she would do her best despite her difficulties in 10th grade. Due to her smarts, she had enrolled to a rich private school and was also advanced in grade. For some reason, her achievements were somehow an insult to other children and parents. She had no friends and the knows themselves were faintly hostile to her. Only the principal remained impartial but still he didn’t console her at all and ignored the matter.

‘I wish people are less emotional and do their best for the best no matter their feelings. People should never rule themselves for only an observer’s point of view is most fair.’

She banished the thoughts and continued watching the show with her mother. All the problems that can’t be dealt should be dealt with only when one can.

*

When the countdown hit zero, a giant coil like structure appeared. It was pulsing and distorting. In its center, the space was folding like paper then going back to normal repeatedly. Whatever was happening, it was loud and there was the sound of repeated miniature explosions in the center.

He was honestly scared and had the urge to make himself small. His mind was making him choose between fighting or fleeing but he had no instincts built up from millions of years of contact with such a phenomenon thus he stood shaking.

[ Please, adopt a comfortable posture. ]

They laid down in a sleeping posture then his vision changed immediately to a grand hall and the cheers of countless.

On the stage was a quadruped golden lizard that’s somehow still 3 meters tall. The vocal cords should be completely different but words appeared in Izo’s mind. It sounded confident and charming.

“Welcome candidates to the grand opening conference! To those watching at home, I am your humble host for today’s awaited Welcoming Day!”

What’s stranger was all around him was darkness but his brain could feel billions watching them. They were there while not being there. His five senses were relaying emptiness but a different sense, above the possible 21 and the proposed 53 senses, was feeding information straight to his brain. He grasped above his head for he was sensing a sort of energy radiating from his brain.

“For the candidates, feel free to take your time. It’s completely normal to feel disoriented and ill. The feeling will lessen in a minute.”

It did lessen. Once he felt more accustomed, Izo observed the place.

Up above him were floating palaces: one made of bones, one who erupted with fire every once in a while, one of machine radiating holy light and two dozen others.

“It seems that the candidates are feeling ok now! Welcome to the Nexus!”

“Welcome!”

“We’ll cheer you on!”

The invisible crowd cheered.

“You must be confused so let’s start with introductions first. This would be a little lengthy so pardon me for a bit.”

“The nexus is a closed off Galaxy the size of 1.5 times the Milky Way in your own dimension. While physical, it’s found in the spiritual realm. Know that only a small portion of the realm is physical.

Once an intelligence level is met, organisms gain spirituality. Some have a special spirituality that can naturally get pulled to the spiritual realm.

A 3d map appeared from behind seeming more like hair or branching rivers. It was messy and there were a lot of vacated regions in between the colored ones.

“It used to be that you were transported to any place in the spiritual realm even the Death Fields,” a number of red spots appeared on the map and the whole outer area was red. “But we have developed technology to bring you to a cozier place.”

A scene of energies and vortexes fighting each other in titanic bursts capable of destroying planets was appeared.

‘This is crazy.’

Izo had an inkling that something mind breaking was going to be announced but not to this extent.

“As of now, you are being broadcasted to the whole Nexusnet to celebrate the joyful arrival of your people here. Though if you wish to bring your brethren here, we would need the coordinates and maybe one of you will be the one to find it. Before all of that however, we wish you luck in your future training. Don’t worry you can quit at any point but we ask that you try first.”

The lights on the stage dimmed and instead new ones focused on them. There were 1,000 of them with 200 Earthlings.

A ranking board appeared from 1 to 100.

“Petro #7?”

Also, Nabih was at #10.

“Since we’ve introduced ourselves. It’s only fair to reciprocate as we’re also deeply curious about you. To start, Jae of the desert warriors of Cilae!”

They were humans or it seems like for they were all above seven foot tall. They resembled classical barbarians from Earth but they wore silken robes and engraved swords. Tan and strong features, they looked intimidating.

Jae appeared within their ranks, hidden previously due to her shorter stature. Her features were fully hidden in a veil.

She stood on the stage and as if she was informed earlier she wasn’t surprised when a metal box teleported on stage. She touched it with her little finger and the steel grey color turned brown. She punched it and it cracked. Ceramic fell to the floor.

“Powerful physically but also naturally in tune with nature. They are the Cilae people!”

“Now to represent its peers, Miner-8001 of Station 13!”

A robot slick and silver materialized in the air.

‘Invisibility?’

Then it melted into mercury and transformed into the host.

“What an amazing ability! Truly the greatest of their warriors! Let’s give a round of applause to the great Miner-8001!”

The audience roared even though its Miner-8001 who copied the host’s voice.

“I hope you haven’t forgotten about the real host here ahaha. Don’t forget as well as the final representative, Petro Popov from Earth!”

Izo was a bit far from Petro but he could see that he was hesitating.

‘Really? I never really detected anything special from Petro.’