David walked out of the examination room, and leaned against the opposing wall. He'd gotten caught up in the thrill of this underground world. His parents would be worried. They must be. What did it all mean?
The doctor had diagnosed him as a level nine, meaning he had the power to rival almost any conduit on the planet. He felt a little disappointed. The power wasn't flashy, it wasn't complicated, he just couldn't die, at least for now.
David stopped abruptly. If he had already "died" yesterday, and the doctor was correct in the diagnosis of people being sacrificed for his life, who had been killed?
The doctor hurried out after him.
"I'm sorry, son." He said. "I completely forgot about the emotion you channel."
"Huh?" David rose from thought.
"It's love. You reacted with love. I'd bank on your power being influenced by it too."
"Oh." Said David. He made way for the doctor as he hurried past. David leant back against the wall. He wasn't sure if this was real or not. He was certain that the level nine situation was bigger than he assumed, but he was sure he was missing something.
What is it?
David stopped leaning. He froze, then bolted down the stairs into the common room. He swung his head around, searching for Seiju. He found him in the corner, talking to Jenna and a tall, bearded man. He grabbed his shoulder, and Seiju swung around.
"The fuck are you grabbing me for, man?" He said.
"Sorry man, do you have a phone?" David asked.
"Why do you need it?" Seiju leant down.
"I really need it, dude. Phone call."
Seiju sighed and handed David the phone. David hastily typed in his parent's phone number. The line was picked up.
"Hello?" David heard.
"Dad?" He said. "Is everything okay?"
He heard a sob on the other side of the phone. "David, oh my God, I've been so worried. I've been calling you non-stop. Camila- I mean, your mom, is dead. She died at work. It wasn't pretty, but the death was quick."
David's heart dropped.
"Dad, you have to tell me what happened." David spoke into the phone, after pausing.
"No, buddy. First of all, I saw what happened at your building. Are you okay?"
"I wasn't there when it happened, Dad. You have to tell me what happened to Mom." David spoke quicker.
"Are you sure?" David's dad paused. For a long time. "They said it was like she was crushed. Flattened. Out of nowhere."
"Oh my god." David slumped onto a chair, and stifled his sniffles. Seiju had turned around in surprise when he heard faint cries coming from him.
David held the phone back up to his ear.
"I gotta go now, Dad. I love you."
After a brief moment of silence his dad responded.
"I understand. Call me later, though." And hung up.
David handed the phone back to Seiju and wiped his eyes. He took a deep breath, and looked up to see Jenna and Seiju standing around him, the bearded man not to be found.
"I think there's some stuff you should tell us." Seiju said bluntly, only to wince as Jenna threatened to punch him.
"He meant; did you wanna talk about it?" She said.
David chuckled glumly and motioned for them to sit down, trying to ignore the noise of the other conduits in the room.
"I'm a level nine."
The people around them stopped, and stared.
"Funny." Seiju said. "Usually, basing your power off your paths and reserve, my estimations are almost never above or below one level off. You're supposed to be around a level six."
Seiju paused.
"I couldn't see your paths, could I?" He said slowly.
"You couldn't." David affirmed. "In the simulation thing, when I died, a bunch of energy was sent to nowhere. The doctor said I reacted with love, so that's the emotion I channel."
"You loved dying, huh?" Jenna injected.
"You know that isn't how it works. The doctor said it's where I draw my power from, and it influences it, but it doesn't make the power themed about love." David said.
"You're acting as if we don't get that." Said Seiju.
"Anyways," continued David, "The basic rundown is I can't die."
"And you're only level nine? Cool power, though, don't misunderstand, but wouldn't that be like, level eleven?" Jenna said.
"My power is influenced by love. When I fell from that apartment building, I wasn't killed. My mom was. People I love get killed instead of me."
The three fell silent.
"That's rough." Seiju said.
"I know" David replied, dryly.
"Were you close?" Jenna asked.
"Not really. But I loved them, all the same." David said, wiping his eyes.
More silence. Everything was silent. Why wasn't there noise anymore? David rose his head, and felt dozens of eyes watching him. He looked around, finally noticing everyone staring. Jenna sighed.
"You're a level nine. At this point, everyone expects you to be some physics-defying, God-fighting conduit." She offered, helpfully.
Oh no. David thought to himself.
He'd only been in one fight his life, and he walked away from it with a black eye, broken nose, and a myriad of embarrassing photos posted online about it. Whispers spread across the common hall.
David looked to the front of the room, where Doctor Alder was hurrying up onto the stage.
"Everyone." He began. "This is our guest, David. You might all know him because you all won't stop staring at the poor kid."
Eyes were averted from David.
"You've probably overheard, but he's level nine." Alder continued. "Very high indeed. Please show him the respect and courtesy you show each other."
Everyone resumed their activities. Alder shuffled to David, motioning to come with him. As he followed Alder, whispers followed them.
He followed the doctor up the opposing staircase of which David made his entry, explaining that this staircase led to the housing of the guild, whereas the other stairs led to a plethora of training rooms, labs, and recreational facilities.
"Funds aren't a problem for the guild. It turns out when you can solve pretty much anything with the use of our powers, it attracts a lot of high paying clientele." Alder said. "Each conduit's power is unique, making our guild size of about 300 able to take on many jobs at once. If you decide to join us, you'll probably be tasked to run errands as well."
"Are you the only guild?" David asked.
"Heavens, no." Alder replied. "Many guilds exist, but few as big as Raijin."
After a thought, the doctor spoke again.
"We are one of the only Japanese guilds, though."
David's stomach dropped.
"We're in Japan?"
The doctor looked at him weirdly.
"Were you not told? Damn that Seiju kid. We should not be sending out that idiot on non-spec recoveries."
David wasn't sure why he was so caught up on being in a foreign country.
Though, I guess since they can bring us here, they can also send us out.
David, in thought, bumped into the doctor, who had stopped. They had reached the end of the hallway of rooms, and were looking at a large pair of elevator doors. As the elevator dinged, the doors opened, allowing the doctor and David to walk inside. There were 10 level buttons, and the doctor pressed the tenth, on his tiptoes.
"You will be housed and provided amenities for free." The doctor broke the silence of the elevator ride.
"Thanks, I guess." replied David. "I'm still a little disoriented."
The doctor smiled.
"Understandable."
"Where are we right now?" Asked David, as the elevator doors opened.
"Underground, actually. A couple of our early guild members had some neat tricks that worked best under the surface. We aren't too far down though, and you can always leave by asking Jenna or taking the door directly in front of the training side staircase."
"What's Jenna's power?"
"Equal exchange is the nickname. She can swap any two objects, as long as they have a mass within five kilograms of each other. She channels the emotion of regret."
"Depressing." David said. "But why doesn't she just make a bunch of money teleport here from a bank, or something like that?"
"Pretty simple," said Alder, "our guild's moral code."
That's stupid. David kept that thought to himself.
The doctor halted at the furthest room from the elevator, and handed David a keycard.
"Yours."
David nodded, and opened the door. The room was spacious, and from entering the apartment, David immediately noticed the quality of the room. Dark marble countertops on a spacious kitchen, a large, plush couch opposite a decent TV, and a fully furnished dining set laid on a well designed table.
He opened a door to his right, peering in on a luxurious bathroom that he could not wait to try. Wandering over to the other door, he twisted the handle to reveal a large bed, with dim lighting and a comforting atmosphere.
David was now very interested in joining this gang of loonies.
He fell onto the bed, and a tear rolled down his cheek. The excitement of the day was fading. David was exhausted. And sad. Why did he have to feel like this right now?
He thought back on the memories of his mother. Never were they close, but she was reliable. David was going to miss her.
David stood up and walked to the bathroom, peering at himself. Level nine, huh? He felt like he couldn't be any further from it.
David hadn't had a day where he was stalked, teleported to Japan, deemed a powerful superhuman, and given a free luxury apartment, but he wasn't complaining.
His train of thought was broken as there was a knock at his door. He opened it, and raised his gaze to look at Seiju.
"You need a phone, right?" Seiju asked.
"It'd be appreciated."
Seiju pulled a nice-looking mobile from his back pocket, and handed it to David.
"Alder said you were cleared for it, even if you aren't a member. He likes you, y'know?"
"Tell him I appreciate it."
"Tell him yourself, tomorrow. As well as that, you'll be deciding if you want to join Raijin or not. Keep in mind, if you do, we can show you how to get strong."
"Mkay. " David said. "I'll see you then?"
Seiju nodded, turned and walked down the hallway.
David flopped onto the bed, and didn't make it under the bedsheets before starting to snore.