Zach snapped his fingers, and screens appeared in front of them.
“Don’t freak out.
Think of this as one of my abilities.” He gave them time to process what they were seeing.
Fred was the first to finish.
“Zach, this thing is asking me to accept something called a beginner’s pack and tutorial.
Should I click yes?” Zach sighed.
“That is a relief, I thought I would have to do an entire drawn-out explanation again.
Both of you click yes.
I am going to go take a shower.”
Zach disappeared from his spot.
Fred shouted, “Come back here!
You rip off Batman!
He at least waits for his friends to turn around before disappearing.” Blair laughed and sat back down.
“Fred, let’s just accept and see where everything goes.
I highly doubt Zach would leave us by ourselves if this, she gestured to the screens in front of them, were dangerous.” Fred sighed in defeat.
“On three?” Blair nodded and counted down.
“3…2…1.” Their eyes glossed over for a few minutes.
When they came back to their senses, they both took deep breaths.
Fred stood, started pacing, and mumbled to himself.
“Multiverse is real…no Omniverse is real.
Traveling to different worlds, string theory?
Does that still even apply in this case?” Blair’s eyes were misty with tears.
A letter was in her lap.
She wiped them away and focused on what else came from the box.
Her eyes widened.
She took off her shoe and chunked it at Fred.
“Fred, you doufus, check what you got from the box!”
Fred rubbed his head and sat back down.
He checked his box, too.
His eyes shone like diamonds.
He looked at Blair with a smile.
“Is this actually real?
This thing says I received something called all speak and something called Mental force.”
Fred looked at a chair, and it slowly rose off the ground.
Blair stood up.
“Holy shit!
You can use telepathy now!?” Fred started breathing heavy before the chair clattered to the floor.
He reached for Zach’s bottle and drank some water.
He moaned.
“Damn!
This water gets me every time.” He looked at the description and read it out loud to Blair.
“Mental force is the result of having a strong connection to something called the Mind source or element.
Telepathy, telekinesis, mental projection, and more can be learned.
All speak is the ability to speak any language, whether they are dead or still used today, not only that, but I can also read and write in these languages.”
Blair punched him in his arm.
“Nice!
So you can actually pull off the whole ‘these aren’t the droids you are looking for’ trick.
Never use that on me, though.” Fred playfully hit her back and crossed his arms.
He said smugly, “I suppose I shouldn’t use them on beings weaker than I.”
They laughed with each other.
“What about you, Blair?” Blair checked and grinned.
“I received all speak too.
I also received something called Living Art.
Living Art allows whatever I draw, paint, or create to become real.
The higher my level, the more realistic and the more characteristics I can manifest into them.”
Fred’s mouth hung open.
“Ok, you win, I shall respect you as an equal.” Fred smiled and gave her a fist bump. Find the original chapter at g.com.
“Never forget it either.”
Zach came back inside the room in new clothes and sat down.
“What did you guys get from the boxes?” They both grinned.
Fred lifted a chair, and Blair took out a pen and drew a crude kitchen knife.
She reached for it, and it came off the table.
Zach was shocked.
“Holy crap!” Blair and Fred high-fived.
“It feels great to shock him,” said Fred as he smiled at Blair.
Blair picked up the letter off the table and handed it to Zach.
“This is for you, Zach.
It came from my box.
You should take some time to read it when you are alone.” Zach froze for a second when he saw the handwriting on the envelope.
Fred didn’t ask about the letter.
Zach smiled softly.
“Thank you for giving it to me, Blair.
It means a lot to me.” Blair nodded in understanding.
Fred rolled his eyes.
“Ok, this is seriously messed up.
I am not going to be the third wheel.” He turned to Blair.
“I demand you introduce me to one of your friends.” Blair snickered.
“Sure, but just letting you know my friends aren’t into gingers with curly hair who wear too much cologne.” Fred opened his mouth in disbelief.
He looked at Zach for support.
Zach was too busy staring at the letter.
“Zach!
Help me out, man, I can’t be alone with you two all the time.” Zach snapped out of the memories he was experiencing.
He smiled.
“Ok, ok, little birdie.
Do you even have someone you like?
Or is this more of a my friend is talking to a girl, and now I need to as well situation?” Fred sat down with a huff.
His face blushed a little.
Blair picked up on it.
“Ouuu someone has a cruusshh.
Spill, who is it?” Fred wasn’t speaking, so she started to shake him.
He finally caved in.
“Oh, fine!
But I don’t wanna hear too many jokes from you two.
AND no judging.” He pointed at them each.
They nodded their heads and sat up straight.
Fred took a breath and spoke.
“I like Cynthia Valdez.” Zach looked at Blair.
Blair was floored.
She looked at Zach.
“Zach, do you not know who that is?” Zach shook his head, glancing at Fred from the corner of his eye.
Fred covered his face and put his face on the table.
“I know, I know, ok.
I can’t help it.” Blair chuckled.
“Oh, I know you can’t, you little freak.
It’s true, you can’t predict what ginger is capable of.”
“Zach, I will explain who Cynthia ‘Cyn’ Valdez is.
Cynthia is a 5’9, beautiful, goth, and strong Latina.
She is on the powerlifting team and has won first place in every category she has competed in at our school for the last three years.
She is snarky and aggressive, and rumor has it she is a sadist.”
Blair crossed her arms and sat back, looking at Fred.
“Listen, Fred, every guy has their prefrence.
I’m not hating on you or judging.
If you want her, then go get her.
This, however, explains why it was so easy to talk you into coming to the gym with me.”
Fred groaned.
“Dig a hole, and I will jump inside of it.” Zach patted his shoulder.
“It will be fine, Fred.
I’m sure deep down she is a nice person.” Fred groaned again.
Zach cleared his throat.
“Tell me about your powers in detail so I can help ya’ll get the right techniques,” Blair told him, and Zach thought about it.
Fred recovered enough to look at them again.
“Ok, for you, Fred, I am thinking of getting you a Ki meditation technique, and mental fighting styles.
The question for you is, do you want to use weapons?” Fred asked questions first.
“First, what is Ki, and second, why do I need one?”
“Ki is a form of energy that strengthens your spirit, mind, and life energy(Courtesy of Google).
It’s what the system recommends you use, given your powers.
You need it because it will help make you stronger.” Fred nodded in understanding.
“That’s fair.
I don’t want to, but I probably should learn a few weapons.
I don’t want anything too heavy, though, or too eye-catching.
It’s not like I can just go around with a weapon on me all day.”
Zach nodded.
“I can buy a spatial storage for you, so that should make things easier.
For now, I think daggers, wires, and short-swords are the best options.
You can go into the armory and choose some from there.” Zach bought everything and handed them to Fred.
Fred looked at the ring and tried to store everything, but nothing happened.
Zach slapped his forehead.
“Of course, you need to drop blood on it.
Fred, you have to make a small cut on your finger, and I will heal you afterward.”
Fred listened and tried again; this time, everything was sucked into the ring.
Zach turned to Blair.
“Your powers seem to be more suited for support, at least in the beginning stages.” Blair seemed down to hear that.
“That doesn’t mean you can’t kick ass, just until you get more familiar and level up.” Blair nodded and smiled.
“You’re right!
So what do you have in mind, coach?” Zach browsed around before telling her.
“A Qi meditation technique fits you more.
It’s also an energy technique, but it focuses on the fundamental energy that animates the universe(Courtesy of Google).
Seeing as your powers literally bring to life everything you draw, it makes the most sense.”
Blair’s eyes brightened.
“I’m not done yet.
I will also buy you a full set of art supplies and techniques that teach you about formations, arrays, and talismans.
Each of them can serve as a means of attack, defense, and support.”
Blair nodded her head excitedly.
“Gimmie, gimmie.” She smiled and held out her hands.
Zach smiled, and everything landed on the table.
He placed a bracelet on her wrist.
She cut her left finger and dripped blood on it.
She then stored everything.
“You should head to the armory and grab some well armor.
The Qi technique will strengthen your body, but until then, you always wear some form of protection.” Blair’s eyes lit up.
She stood up and gave him a kiss on the cheek.
She grabbed Fred to go with her.
Zach smiled and placed his hand over the spot where she had kissed him.
‘Still gives me chills and butterflies.’ He took out the letter and looked at it.
‘I should open this now while I have the chance.
I wonder what you wrote to me, Sonya.’