January 16th, 2022
***
The coffee shop half a block away was an old favorite of his — back when he'd spend mornings in line to grab a cup before training. Those times were the best, when he was the student and not the teacher; able to spend a few fleeting moments of normality with his fellow disciples.
It was the only time they treated him like an insider. The only time they didn't view him as a threat.
At some point the front display had been blown open, allowing the cold winter air to breach the interior. They sat in the back corner at one of the few tables not covered in dew. The shop was empty, devoid of customers or employees.
"It really is a pleasure Richter. I used to watch your matches when I had time. Once again, I'm Alecia Lambert, the Lead Researcher and a Project Manager at Telltic."
"Never heard of it."
Alecia flashed a wry smile and leaned forward in her seat.
"It's a private company - pretty plain on the surface. But about ten years ago we were visited by an extraterrestrial being. Someone involved with the System. And from then on, Telltic was responsible for discreetly disseminating information about the System to the masses; which is why we developed Mirage."
"So everyone who played your game was unknowingly being prepped for all this?"
"That's correct, no one but my team knew the details surrounding its development."
But could he believe that? He'd bore witness to Wesley's dealings with the private sector in the past. Sleazy characters who had a hand in every project; be it infrastructure or expanding commerce, they always ended up better off than before. So if a company spent 10 years and countless resources to help the world...What were they getting in return?
He took a deep breath and filed this away for later, earning a sigh of relief from Alecia. Now wasn't the time to be aggressive with her. And above all, there were two other breathing reasons to hold off.
"You have no idea how good it feels to finally be able to tell somebody. And there's nobody I'd rather tell than you right now, Richter."
"I'm touched." He squinted his eyes, sliding his hand down to the sword on his hip. "But I'd feel a lot better if your friends stopped glaring at me."
Alecia held up a hand sign, pleased with his reaction. Two figures dressed in blue and gold slipped inside the shop. Tight leather tunics hugged their masculine frames with their faces obscured. Both had swords sheathed in hand and their eyes glowed blue through the sockets in their masks.
He sensed them outside moments ago. The two men were huddled up in a nearby alley. But more than that - he sensed the foreign aura radiating from them.
They weren't from Earth.
"Relax, these guys are my bodyguards. They're from allied planets." Alecia looked smug as she motioned to them. "As a Special-Grade prospect, I get some benefits. But never mind them."
She took a deep breath and raised her hands, interweaving them together before slowly drawing them apart. Blue light flickered in her eyes as mana surged like tides through her veins. The collected energy pooled in her palms, slipping out as wisps that hovered a few inches above the surface of the table.
By now, Alecia was breathing heavily by now from exertion, wiping the sweat from her brow with the back of her hand. The mana shifted, stretched thin into a sheet with a neat trim and a curl along the edges. She cried out and spread her arms wide, sending a ripple of mana through the shop to complete the formation. Several tables were knocked over outside the epicenter of the wave.
"Never gets easier..." she murmured.
The construct was something Richter could recognize with his eyes closed. A contract. One made entirely of mana.
Alecia cautiously slid the form across to Richter's side. She could see the distrust scribbled across his face.
"Careful, It's delicate. And I really don't want to make another right now." Alecia accepted a water bottle from one of her guards and took a long drink. "It's a Summoning Contract. Just hear me out.
She motioned for her guards to give them space.
"Right now, Earth is still acclimating. We have limited outside interference and are mostly doing our own thing. But that'll change once we reach World Tier 2. The Ëinhãŕl will arrive, along with the Portal Stations. Through them, we'll be connected to the rest of the System.
She slammed her hands on the table, chipping splinters off the surface from excitement.
"Just think about it Richter: alien planets and civilizations, human societies from other Solar Systems, neutral space stations, commerce, arenas - it's a whole new ball game. And also...a new risk."
She tapped the edge of the contract. Her eyes crinkled. The bait was about to be cast.
"Speaking of arenas, you'll find them everywhere. Fighting is a universal language. But more than that, it's a chance to get ahead. Every planet has to participate in various battle formats in the System. The rewards range from currency to items to knowledge to even reducing challenge requirements, so every planet takes these seriously.
Alecia saw a shadow of intrigue in Richter's eyes. She just had to push a little further.
"And of course, these fights are broadcast for anyone to watch or attend."
Richter crossed his arms as the pieces fell into place.
"You want to recruit me. That's why you wanted to meet me so badly."
"Correct again. But it benefits us both, right? Come on Richter, get real for a second. What are your plans for the future? Float around listless doing whatever you can to squeak by? That's not the Richter Maier I know. That's not the Richter I used to cheer for. You love fighting. You love the spotlight. And let's not pretend like there's any career path waiting for you on Earth — You demolished every competitor. So join the team. While it's a damn shame you didn't play Mirage, you can still make something of your prowess and get attention while doing it."
And honestly, she wasn't wrong. It was tempting. Richter popped his jaw and met her gaze, searching for something in her. His Sense, like a specter, slithered out to encompass the entirety of the interior. The two guards clenched their weapons tighter while Alecia just had that same sly smile, unbothered or unable to feel the presence he emanated.
"I guess I'm down." He reeled in his presence. "You'd make a great salesman with a pitch like that. But you mentioned 'team', who else is on it?"
She held a finger to her lips.
"It's a secret. And by that I mean I'm still recruiting. But the goal is to get the strongest Earth has to offer. I've got contacts in every major country, and we're sorting through the trash right now."
"You're not thinking of putting yourself on the team, are you?"
Alecia chuckled, "It's crossed my mind. I'd say I'm pretty capable, and who better to lead the team than the most knowledgeable human on Earth?"
"I'd advise against it. You'll get your ass beat."
Richter's blunt honesty didn't go over too well. A vein bulged on her forehead as she riled up her mana.
"Then fight me. Show me why it's a bad idea. I wanted to see how I stacked up against you anyway."
A guard stepped forward to talk her down, but she held up a hand to silence him.
"Relax, this won't take long. Besides, this is an important lesson for him. He needs to learn how different fighting is in the System. Especially before he encounters any significant danger."
Richter drew his blade with a single, clean motion. A heavy, unspoken promise accompanied the steel. His expression relaxed. His posture shifted. If she wished to face him as an opponent, he'd meet her in earnest.
Both guards grew tense. Their bodies grew taut. They drew out of instinct.
"It's for your own good, Richter. Don't blame me. And don't worry — your position on the team is already guaranteed, so don't feel bad."
She let herself get immersed in the swirling, tugging, pumping, addicting sensation of boundless capability. Her mana circulated in a fashion similar to his own, earning an eyebrow raise.
[Teleport.]
She appeared at his left side, arm outstretched to deliver a punch. She held the advantage. It should connect. His body hadn't even moved yet.
But his eyes did.
[Transcendent Bloodlust]
Her body stopped on a dime, frozen in place just inches from delivering the blow. Sweat beaded down her forehead as she started to hyperventilate.
"W-what is this? How?..." She choked.
Richter frowned, sheathing his sword. "Sorry, was debating how to handle this. I don't have mana regen like you do, so I decided this was the most efficient. I can't be wasting mana. You might not find this satisfactory, but it should help you understand what I meant.
He reigned in his bloodlust and sat back down at the table with the contract. Alecia collapsed onto the ground as she regained control. Her guards helped her to her feet and into the chair.
"Okay, I guess I'll hold off on joining the team."
She wiped down her face with the hem of her shirt and cleared her throat, trying to move on.
"A-anyway, time for the Summoning Contract. This is pretty important to your inclusion on the team."
"So I have to sign it? What's the point? What are we summoning?"
Her former confidence returned as she grinned, looking quite pleased with herself. She leaned in close and whispered:
"You."
***