After an hour or so, Philip and Jeffery were finally able to understand a few things. The scenes had changed a lot during that time before they finally settled on the present again.
It turned out the boy from before was Tory, the main character and she was just cross-dressing. The reason why Vic called her brother was that she was already used to it.
Tory had been cross-dressing since they met their uncle. What happened was not that complicated we'll to Jeffrey oy wasn't.
Their dad and uncle were both spies great ones at that but after their dad fell in love with their mom he retired not wanting to be away from his children their mom convinced him not to retire, turns out she loved him because he was a spy.
Anyway not too many scenes were shown about that so Jeffrey and Philip didn't know the real reason their parents left but after that scene, Tory and Vic's childhood was shown and unlike the author made it sound, Tory was the one always forcing her uncle to teach her how to be a spy.
Even after he explained how difficult it was for a girl to be a spy. Tory was relentless and even cut her hair and started dressing like a boy just so her uncle would give in, which he did. Though he tried one last time, warning her that she could never turn back she paid no heed and that is how Tory grew into a boy and Vic grew used to calling her big brother.
"Wow, I like this book already" Philip commented before focusing on the scene that was before them.
"The book is just starting..." Jeffrey said indifferently.
"So, their background is cool"
"There's nothing unique about it really, her past, her being a crossdresser, the only thing I find a bit different is the fact that she's a spy, which doesn't change much" Jeffrey shrugged.
"Give the author a break, it's not easy to come up with something fresh most things have already been found. Your standards are too high, what are you expecting a new gender that has never been discovered?" Philip rolled his eyes.
"That is not a bad idea, someone that comes up with such deserves much praise" Jeffrey nodded, leaving Philip speechless.
"You are so like my dad, how come you guys didn't kick off right from the start?"
"Like poles repel"
Philip could only laugh at his friend, their short conversation made him look forward to his book.
* * *
After changing out of her clothes, Tory came back down for lunch.
"I got in..." she finally said after letting a long silence permeate the room.
"Really, that is awesome, finally you will be doing what you have always wanted right?" Vic asked somewhat unsure. She knew her sister always wanted to be a spy but she had refused to tell her how it had been coming along.
"I going to HQ tomorrow morning and you might be alone for the rest of the day. Don't leave the neighborhood understand?" Tory warned with a frown.
"I...was sort of planning to get a job," Vic said with one eye open.
Tory raised an eyebrow before she continued eating in silence.
"Say something, I'm 18 like you I can take care of myself as well" Vic stood up after seeing that Tory was not replying.
"Mom and dad were grown-ups as well but they couldn't take care of themselves. It will be stupid to let you go out on your own" Tory scolded. "Listen, Vic I know...you might think I'm caging you on purpose but...you're old enough to know how the world works. You're too..."
"Weak?" Vic completed the sentence as she felt sadness wash over her heart.
"I didn't mean..."
"Not all jobs require you to have superhuman strength. I can just be a babysitter, Mrs. Smith requires one and she lives in the neighborhood, please please just let me help" Tory could see tears coming out of Vic's eyes and sighed I'm defeated.
"I'll think about it okay, now eat"
Vic nodded frantically with a broad smile.
As Jeffrey and Philip watched, the scene shifted to the next day as Tory made her way out of the house.
After bidding Vic goodbye she left for the train station where an agent waiting for her. After meeting up with the agent she was led somewhere else and then given a metallic ball.
With some clicks and clanks from the metal ball, white smoke was released which was absorbed by Tory's pores before she fell unconscious and the scene changed again.
* * *
Jeffrey and Philip observed that they were in some sort of office, before they could observe more, Tory and the agent walked in.
"Agent Stone reporting for duty sir" the agent saluted.
"You may go" the man behind the desk responded.
After the agent left, the man stood up. He was still pretty young but one could see his experience from his eyes.
"You're Black's nephew, I saw the recommendation letter and decided to handle it personally"
"Thank you, sir" Tory responded right away. She knew she wouldn't have gotten in without her uncle's help. His code name was Black Blade but most called him Black.
Tory had no idea what relation this man had with her uncle but she did not intend to take advantage of it. He had already helped her enough and now she wanted to climb the ladder herself.
"You do know that your fact your uncle is Black doesn't change anything. You will go through the same entry test as others"
"I understand sir"
"Good. Follow me, your fate is about to be decided, we do not accept weaklings in Maked" after that he slowly started walking away and Tory followed right behind him, knowing fully well that she was about to face an obstacle course.