Holding fast to her hand Raven helps me to my feet, contentment at the outcome she smiles at me. Still a mess of emotions, I see the strength I’m missing in how she carries herself, if there is a way forward, a second chance to make something of myself, I’ll take it.

“How did you know about my past? Who I was on Earth?” I say defeated. “Is mind reading a form of magic here too?”

“Some people have that talent, but its an exceedingly rare and dangerous ability, I don’t have anyone in my employ who can do it.”

“Then how?”

“Simple Jaxon, I got the details I needed from your sister. We’ve been talking a lot for the last two weeks. She warned me that you could be difficult.” she says smirking.

“ … Bitch.”, a hollow laugh escapes me.

Raven covers her mouth in faked surprise, “You should know that your sister could be very influential in the future, I wouldn't let those words slip in public.”

“What…?”, my laughter drops out.

“She took the preliminary exam for the Guardian’s of Gaia by storm, and was even admitted to Lord Michael’s Angel Corps, she is a rarely seen talent.”

The news is shocking, but at this point, I don’t have the energy left to doubt, “Does she know that you wanted to recruit me ?”

“Of course, she insisted that I take you in” ... “She worries about you Jaxon, this world isn’t kind to the weak.”

“Can I talk to them at least, my family?”, I wanted to confirm that they were safe, that all of this wasn’t a cruel joke before I commit myself to this path.

Raven shakes her head, “I’m sorry, your mother and father are in training of their own for noncombat roles. Your sister is even harder to get a hold of now that she has been formally admitted to the Angel Corps. You woke up at the worst time Jaxon, enough time for the selection process to be over and real training to begin.”

“How long until I can see them then?” I plead.

“That’s hard to say, your sister is still on Tera, but your mother and father have been transferred off planet, there is no telling when they would be able to see you. I do have a message from your sister though if you’d like to hear it?”

Head shaking enthusiastically I wait as Raven brings up another floating screen crackling with noise that rings out through the room.

“ Brother! This is your darling older sister Mia! If you're getting this message, you finally woke up! Leave it to you to sleep late through the end of the world, my silly younger brother.”

Tears form in my eyes.

“Now here is where you have to listen, your sister is getting serious… I stayed quiet back on Earth with how down and out you were, but that won’t cut it anymore bro. This new world, the reality we were always destined for is amazing, It's really is all our dreams rolled into one, but it doesn’t come free."

“Jaxon you know that I planned to join the military right? I only mentioned it to you about a thousand times. The last day on Earth I received my acceptance into Officers Candidate School, I was so excited, ya know, I wanted you to be the first I told. That idea went down the drain with Earth, but that doesn't mean its the end. So many more possibilities opened up for me here in the short time we've all been waiting for you to wake up. Our new home, the Empire of Humanity, needs people like me, those who are willing to protect what we have. I’m going to answer that call, and give it my best shot during selections to make sure that happens. My plans aside, I still know that I can’t protect you, mom, and dad ... alone.

I bawl, unable to stop myself.

“I’m not saying that you have to fight on the front lines Jaxon, but when I said that all our dreams were rolled into this place that means the nightmares came with. You need to become stronger Jaxon, it's how this world works. Take Lady Raven’s offer, you need her as a foothold in this place, and for some unholy reason, she decided you have potential. You may have woke up late brother, but you didn’t start with a bad hand, take the offer and get the most out of it. Don’t just do it to be better like dad says, or to help others like mom tries to do. Baby bro you need to do this for yourself, you need to stay safe.”

"No matter what happens, I love you! Mia out."

Tears streaming down my face in joy that she is actually safe, I take a few minutes to regain my composure. My sister has always meddled with my shit, she’s always been a pain in my ass, but right now I wouldn't change that for the world. If You’ve already helped set everything up, I’ll listen this time Mia, but don’t think that I’ll stay still forever while you bust your ass out there.

Rubbing my face ungraciously with my robe I turn to face Raven again, her face still calm despite my waterworks. So many questions pop up, and I haven't gotten any real answers. I've just been strung along, and it’s time to change that. Taking a seat from one of the tables, Raven offers to set up the booth again, but I declined. I’m not risking getting planted back into the ground if she has another speech lined up.

“I’ve been out of the loop long enough so its time to get moving. Since I’m your ward now that means you’re my teacher or master right? Well, your ward really needs answers now, a rundown of what's going on if you could.”

Growing out a seat for herself Raven sits, contemplating my question. “Formally I am your Master now yes, but before we do this, do you trust me.”

“Yes I do, I’m already in this far, so please lay out all the cards on the table.”

Raven begins with a sigh, “Okay then, normally I wouldn't gloss over so much history, but if you insist. First how much do you think you know?”

Leaning back in my seat I reply, “This one I’m prepared for. I already got the fact that magic exists, and from the names, and no offense by how Gaz looks, I’m pretty sure that the races, gods, and magic from our myths on Earth are all more or less true. My old world actually was a miracle made by Gaia, that helped raise souls to fight for humanity right?” I say with a tired smile.

Raven, doesn’t correct me so I guess that means my theory holds enough water.

“I also know, maybe even better than my sister, what twisted shit could be lurking out there. She confirmed that the empire needs people, and you said yourself that all the Guardian’s of Gaia are drafted to military service.”

“What I want to understand is how much danger are we facing?”

Seconds pass and I started to grow nervous, Raven sits there pondering my question like she was judging how much I could handle.

After the uncomfortable silence, she finally responds, “In my best calculations we have twenty-five to thirty years left.”

“Thirty years before what?”, I prod her on.

“ We have that much time left until our grace period is over until The Jade Emperor's Embrace leaves us completely.”

“Who or what is the Jade Emperor’s Embrace?”

“The Jade Emperor, may he live forever, is both our ancestor and master. He taught us how to wield the forces of the world, and lead us to conquer this system from Tera. For our service he gave us one final gift before he ascended, that gift is the Jade Emperor's Embrace. It has kept our people and borders safe, a shield that covers the whole of the system.”

Raven narrows her eyes.

“He also gave a final decree, that when his embrace eventually fades that Humanity must stand on its own among the stars, grow stronger, and then join him in ascension. That is the danger we face Jaxon, our neighbors outside our borders have had their own time to prepare, war looms on the horizon.”

I let out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding, all-out war is not something I want on my bucket list, even thirty years down the line.

“You honestly think that working with, and studying me, will help humanity in this war?”

Hunger and desire for knowledge flash in her eyes, “Any unique soul carries potential, I’ve studied others, but none have your traits. I've never seen a soul actually reject the body that Gaia made for them. You hold secrets Jaxon, that I need to unravel.”

I let out a small sigh, “Okay Okay, if I can help you, and you can help me, then Master Raven please teach me well.” I say with a bow.

She gives a small smile in return before we move on to discuss what my new life will look like. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A thick brown paste sits in a bowl, one large bubble struggles to the top popping with a squelch. My eyes dart between the suspicious goo and Tarain. The self-proclaimed nurse, maid, and all around caretaker sits at the other end of the table pushing me to eat breakfast, ruining the quiet in my new apartment on floor B86.

Tarain woke me up out of a dead sleep. Rolling me out onto the floor, insisting that I start off each day properly with breakfast and time to go over my daily schedule. Said breakfast was still sitting untouched, bubbling, as I gave her a judging look.

“As Lady Raven’s Ward, you are given the best that we can offer. This is military ration paste, top of the line in nutrition for developing a strong body,” she explains, puffing out her small chest in pride.

“Okay... but would it kill them to make it look like food?”

Wagging her finger at me Tarain stares me down as I take my first spoonful of soldier slop.

Smooth, slow flowing paste slithers down my throat. The texture is closer to honey than anything else, and it tastes like cheap protein powder, an attempt at chocolate that falls somewhere in between. To get my mind off of the “high quality” goop that serves as my breakfast I ask Tarain to go over the schedule that Raven worked out for me yesterday.

“Right now it’s breakfast which will last until 6:15, after I will prepare you for the day, and we will head down to training courtyard nine on floor B80. Lady Raven has reserved this courtyard just for your physical and combat training, so be sure to thank her next time you see Lady Raven.”

I give the over-enthused woman a half-hearted smile.

Satisfied she continues, “ Physical and Combat training will last from 7:00 until 11:30 when you will break for lunch. After that Lady Raven will teach you, and have her assist her in the lab from 12:30 until 6:00. From there you can choose to have dinner and use the remainder of your time until curfew at 9:00. I will be here ensure that you are not late for any of them, and I will come looking if you do not arrive at your room by 9:00, Sir Jaxon.

I roll my eyes at the last part, curfew I can deal with since this place is like the fanciest military academy I will ever see. Tarain’s obsession with calling me “Sir” after I accepted Raven is what really annoys me.

“Tarain, you really don’t have to call me Sir Jaxon, it doesn’t really suit me.”

Taking away the finished bowl she fixes me with a glare. “It would be disgraceful to Lady Raven if I did not show proper respect to her ward.” The same canned answer that I got the first three times I tried to convince her rolls off her tongue with added venom. I feel that this is a battle that I won’t be able to win, Tarain is downright Zelous when it comes to Raven’s honor.

Throwing my hands in surrender I back away from the table into my bedroom, making sure to close the door behind me to prevent the nosey maid from following me in.

This time I’m prepared for the shape-changing clothes and put them on without squealing like a stuck pig. My outfit for today is another black robe, that apparently, is a theme since most of my wardrobe carries black clothes, except for several “Formal” designs that actually add color.

Ready for the day I step out of my room, only for Tarain to try and float a comb through my hair with magic. She claims my hair is a mess, even though it’s barely more than a buzzcut. I fight off the floating comb as we head out to the elevator. Tarain finally gives up in a huff when I open the elevator door, a trick I remember from watching Gaz yesterday.

After a quick elevator ride, my first reaction stepping out into the courtyard is that I’m swept away by how big it is. Easily the size of two football fields, various equipment, and weapons line the walls. The floor is open, with plenty of room to move, only broken up by faintly glowing lines on the floor.

A stern man with arms crossed stands at the center of the courtyard. He has sharp features, blonde shoulder length hair, and a blue robe trimmed with gold. His figure is smaller than Gaz but radiates a different sense of power, something more focused and dangerous, he measures me up with keen eyes as we approach.

Tarain moves to introduce me, but the man waves her off and she retreats away without protest, head lowered.

“I am Lugh of house Fomor, Captain of the guard, and Honorbound to tutor you in combat by Lady Raven’s request."

My stomach flips around in a panic for a few seconds before I remember I am supposed to reply.

“ I-I am Jaxon of house Ward, Lady Raven’s well ward.”

“Don’t stutter boy, it doesn’t fit your position.” Lugh belts out making me flinch.

“I am going to be teaching you the art of combat, normally I would have lines far beyond the horizon if I said I was accepting a student, but for Lady Raven, I am putting my standards aside.”

Well, that makes me feel great about myself...

"Today will be a testing period so I can gauge who you are, and how best to teach you. To start I want to see if you can form up into a fighting stance, show me!”

Scrambling to attention at the sudden start to training, I fall into a clumsy version of an MMA stance that my sister once tried to drill into me. Spreading my feet, I lead with my left leg, dropping my weight into my stance as I raise my fists. Lugh moves around me, correcting my stance with small nudges before giving a nod of approval.

“Not as bad as I thought you’d be runt, now then let's see if you can hold it.”

A fist then cracks into my ribs dropping me to the ground, gasping for precious air.

Lugh stands above me fist outstretched.

“I said that I put my standards aside to accept you, but doesn’t mean that I won’t hold you to them since your here."

Pushing myself upward, I kneel still gasping.

"Prepare yourself boy, because of your luck, or your misfortune, you now stand in front of me." "Stand and we will try again!”