We spent several more minutes in bed chatting about this and that, and eventually I sent Alice into the bathroom to do her morning routine. The moment she came out of the bathroom, we wasted no time and headed out and met up with my parents and had a quick breakfast. My parents left soon thereafter, leaving Alice and me to our own devices.
Getting down to business, I called up Bob first, and once he picked up, I said. "Mornin Bob, it's Dom."
"Good morning, Dom. I'm surprised you're calling me this early in the morning. What's up?"
"Well, I was seeing if you wanted to meet up. I have something to discuss with you and Big Tom."
"Regarding?"
"Why I haven't been able to spend as much time with you and Tom."
"...so you're finally willing to let me in on that secret, aye?" Bob said seriously.
"Yes, the time has come." I responded somewhat over dramatically to keep the conversation on the lighter side.
"Oh, ha, ha. So, what time are we meeting up at and where?"
"I'll come pick you up. When do you think you'll be ready?"
"I can be ready in five."
"Alright, I'll swing by and come pick you up first since your home is closer than Tom's."
"Catch you in a bit, then."
Hanging up the call there, I dialed Big Tom's number. "Mornin Tom, it's Dom."
"Mornin, bro, how've you been doing? I haven't talked to you in a minute." Tom responded, happy to hear from me.
"Pretty good, actually, you?"
"You know, same old, same old. So we meeting up, or are you just checking in, bro?"
"Yeah, I was going to ask you whether you were good to meet up. I got something to tell you and Bob."
"Oh, what time then? I can be ready whenever."
"Bob said he would be ready in five, so I'll go pick him up first and then you. I'll probably be at your house within ten minutes."
"I'll be ready."
"Okay, I'll catch you in a bit."
"Alright, later, bro."
The moment the call ended, Alice and I went to the garage, hopped in my SUV and departed for Bob's home. We picked him up in a few minutes and did the same with Big Tom and not a moment later, the two of them asked about what I wanted to discuss. Since it would be easier to have that conversation at our destination, I told them as such. Hence, we just shot the shit and made small talk about menial things while I drove.
Upon arriving at the Genesis Foundry, I parked in any old space near the entrance and exited the vehicle along with everyone else and proceeded inside.
"So what's this place, Dom?" Bob inquired seconds after we entered.
"I guess you could call this my base."
"You really own this entire property?"
"He does, and it's a lot bigger than it appears from the outside." Alice answered.
"Wow, that's impressive, bro. How'd you manage that?" Big Tom inquired.
"All will be explained in a minute here."
From there, we walked to the planning and relaxation area and once the four of us took our seats on the couches strewn around the large space with Alice and I seated together facing them; I opened my mouth. "So I called you guys up and brought you here to tell you about what I've been keeping a tight lip on for a while now."
"And that is?" Bob said, already knowing I was hiding something for ages at this point.
"I want to leave the undercity some day to pursue the nearly impossible goal I've set out for myself in the wasteland and Alice will be coming with me."
"Okay, but what does that have to do with you and Alice not being around as often as previously?"
"Well, I have a lot to do to prepare for the challenges that await me out there, meaning I've been dedicating almost all of my time to preparing as best as I can for them."
"I see." Bob commented.
"So that's why you and Alice haven't been around." Big Tom said simply.
"You got me curious now. What's this goal you're trying to accomplish out there? The undercity has nearly everything one could desire when compared to wasteland, so I don't see why you can't just accomplish what you want here unless it's something that can't be accomplished down here."
"That's exactly the reason. I can't exactly conquer the wasteland by remaining here now, can I?"
"What do you mean by conquering the wasteland? Do you just want to be a wasteland explorer?"
"Nope, that's exactly what Dom dreams of accomplishing and the two of us, as well as our families, are now working towards that goal together." Alice chimed in, while Bob looked flabbergasted.
"I don't mean to sound like a downer here, but that sounds absolutely impossible to achieve."
"I know, but that's what I wish to pursue in life."
The conversation continued on from there and as we talked about various things regarding the subject; we started getting off track. So I steered the direction of the discussion back to where I wanted it to head. "Now that I've revealed to you guys why the two of us have been missing in action, have either of you thought about what you want to do in the future when you eventually finish school and become adults?"
"I think I'll go into the field of science, since that's what I excel at after all."
"True, you are the smartest guy I know after Dom." Tom commented, which Bob was obviously happy to hear.
"And you Tom?"
Tom scratched the back of his head, a bit embarrassed, and answered. "I haven't really given it too much thought. But with me having a big body, maybe it wouldn't be such a bad idea signing up for the undercity security force or becoming a wasteland explorer."
"Well, if you plan on going into that line of work, why not join me in achieving my dream? I would be more than happy to have you, brother."
Big Tom was initially surprised by my sudden offer, but quickly stood up and said with a serious expression and his right hand out. "I love to bro."
Standing up myself, I grasped his right hand strongly and replied. "Glad to have you, brother."
"The offer is extended to you too, Bob."
"If it was more based in the sciences, I would take you up on it. However, it's too-"
"There certainly is a lot of danger involved in what I'm trying to accomplish, but it won't be all combat. And if I reach the point where I've conquered even just a small territory, there will be plenty of need for brainiacs such as yourself to perform research and what not." I said, cutting him off.
"Even so, there are still too many risks for me to justify it."
"Oh, come on, Bob it'll-"
Stopping Big Tom with a gesture, I said. "Understandable, but let's see if you still have the same opinion after seeing what I've accomplished thus far."
"I doubt you'll be able to change my mind, but have at it."
Getting up from the couch, I led the way and exited the planning and relaxation area we were just sitting in and began giving my two buds a tour of the facility. As soon as we arrived at the first location, the armory, they were more than excited with what they saw and soon asked about shooting one of them since they've never been lucky enough to fire a gun before.
So after promising to let them have a go at it with some of the lower caliber ones, later on we moved to the following destination and then the next and so on and so forth. And with each new section, we visited the awe they expressed verbally and through their expressions continued to increase with each new area they visited.
...
"So how about now, Bob?"
"...Dom, I'm astounded at what you've managed to accomplish in such a short period."
"Right, and I'm sure you can see from what I've already established that I, at the very least, have a fighting chance at accomplishing my goals if this is already what I'm capable of as a kid." I responded, which Bob nodded his head to in agreement.
"Thus, I'll extend the offer to you again, Bob. Won't you take the challenge and join us in achieving my dream? It may seem like an insurmountable goal right now, but in due time, I'm confident we'll be able to one day bring about a new age for humanity, leaving our names in history as the rebuilder of human civilization."
Bob looked conflicted for a brief few moments. Nevertheless, his childish face hardened, and he said as seriously as he could for a 12-year-old boy. "Fine, I'll put my faith in you, Dom. Don't let me die too early."
Grabbing his presented hand, I responded happily that I got to add my two young friends to the small but growing list of people I could rely on. "You won't regret this, Bob. I assure you the crazy adventure we'll be going on in this life will be well worth the effort."
Following that, I began disclosing the rest of the secrets I had been holding back from them and once they learned of my system and magic that Alice displayed in the way of conjuring a mass of chaotic lightning, their jaws just about detached from their heads. Alice and I had a good laugh at their expense and when they came out of their stupors, they quickly began hounding us about learning it.
"Yeah, you guys can learn it now. However, I would advise you to wait till you've built up your physiques so you can become even stronger mages, especially you, Bob."
*Sight* "Okay, when do we start?" Bob said, ready to get right to work and not the least bit perturbed.
"If you're that gung ho about it, we can start today if you want."
"Let's go then." He said impatiently, eager to begin right this very instant.
"Yeah, let's go, bro."
Looks like that childish excitement is getting ahead of them. They have no idea of the hurt that is in store for them.
"Alright, we'll start your guys' training now, then."
Adding another couple of people to the growing number who know of my secrets could be potentially problematic. But they're both tight-lipped and trustworthy boys, therefore they won't willingly give up what they know. The only way I can see them disclosing that information is if they get captured and maybe not even then.
I have no plans of putting anyone in any sort of position where they could be captured, thus that should be pretty much a nonissue. And even if one of them disclosed information regarding my system and it got to my enemies, all these two know is that I have a gamelike system and not the specifics. Hence, there ain't a whole lot anyone can do to harm me with just that, since it doesn't tell you anything about what sort of abilities I possess.
Alice's and my family, on the other hand, still pose a risk. Although not a lot because anytime I undergo a mass level up, my strength and abilities improve massively in both power and versatility to the point I normally gain a whole new set of tools to use, along with the many I already possess. So good luck to anyone who even dares to try to use that knowledge to their advantage, they're going to need it.
That said, the risk they pose won't remain the case for much longer since I have been able to allocate a bit of time before bed every night to eke out some magic circle design. The solution I developed from that short bit of time for the problem I made was to create a sort of oath magic that would seal off the memories of the bearer if the information I didn't want disclosed was ever in danger of being exposed or leaked.
I have it almost completed, so I'll finish the rest of the design today and implement it later this same day when everyone gets off work. We can also use this matter to have a get together too. I'm sure everyone will enjoy that. This method can also be applied to Bob and Tom too, which will limit the risk of information getting out substantially. It's not totally full proof, but it's a decent enough band-aid until I can come up with a permanent solution when I get set up in the wastes.
Continuing with Bob and Tom, should I give them my All Element Core Technique… On one hand, the technique will allow them to become stronger and rise through the mage ranks faster as well as passively. On the other hand, I kind of want to keep it as a secret technique that only a select few are allowed the privilege to cultivate it like my family, for instance.
Keeping it to a select few would also give me a reason to develop other magic cultivation techniques which Bob and Tom can choose from. I could also eventually disseminate those new techniques amongst the population of whatever country or entity I decide to establish one day…
Making specialized techniques for each of the elements would also speed up magic innovation and research, since people's focus would be centered around a single element instead of 18 of them. Not gonna lie, I like the sound of that plan and if I want to later on, I can use the All Element Core Technique as a reward for those who earned it through merit.
As I was finishing the magic circle design in my head via my second thought process, the four of us got up from the couches for another time. From there, we quickly left that nice cushy room behind us and proceeded to the onsite gym so that my two buds could begin their journey in the pursuit of strength and power.
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