“… This is a grocery store.”

  “To be exact, a grocery store that targets species with specific needs. Which means that you sell knives, tenderizers, pots, all that stuff at a dozen different sizes,” Ryan explained, starting to walk into the store as he grabbed one of the red baskets by the entrance.

  Curiously, Silvia walked up next to him. “What, he’s going to fight using kitchen utensils?”

  “Yep. Last night after you guys left, I gave him my X-Acto knife. His skills worked on it, insanely well. But considering that an X-Acto knife isn’t particularly strong, I figured equipping him with some more sturdy things wouldn’t be a bad idea. And, you know, Awakened stores don’t really sell things that work for him,” Ryan explained, as Modak quickly took the lead.

  “That sounds incredibly reasonable. So what kind of stuff are you looking for? You mentioned knives, tenderizers, and … pots?” Modak stopped at the aisle that the three were looking for, and Ryan shrugged.

  “More like, lids, I guess. I was thinking they might make good shields?”

  “Clever, clever.” Silvia squatted down, taking a look at the items on the lower shelves. “So, whatcha thinkin’?”

  “Actually”—Ryan held forward his hand as a flood of red wisps poured out of his fingertips, and Maximus appeared on his palm—“I was thinking we’d pick together. I explained the plan to him already, and he seemed up for it.”

  Modak looked around at the shelves, picking up a few of the packages. The one he was holding now was a kitchen knife. “So what about things like this? The handles for most of these are way too big for him.”

  “A lot of the time those are just screwed and glued on, so we could pry them off and put new ones on?”

  Modak thought about Silvia’s suggestion, then nodded his head as he turned to Ryan. “Right, that could work. Silvia, do you think you could …”

  “Yes, obviously I can. Got all I need at home,” Silvia replied, excited.

  Ryan looked at his friends with a broad smile, happy to be getting their help. As she grabbed one of the knives and held it up to Maximus, Silvia tried to compare the sizes between the knife and the knight. “What about the size of these things in general? Can he even carry a knife that’s as big as him?”

  Ryan nodded immediately. “Oh yeah, for sure he can. I showed you his stats. Despite his size he has the physical strength of a fourteen- or fifteen-year-old. And that’s just at level 1.”

  As the Knight looked around the new space that he found himself in, his eyes seemed to land on a few different things. He looked at the knife that Silvia was still holding next to him and nodded his head.

  “Seems like he’s into it.” Silvia smiled, putting it into the basket Ryan was holding on to.

  “So what kind of weapons would he need?” Modak questioned. “He’s got a knife, so that’s basically like a sword, right?”

  “True, but I was thinking we could get a few different ones so he can fight in different ways. Like a cleaver, a serrated knife, one of those small cheese knives. But none of those will work against the monsters in the dungeon we’re going to; some blunt weapons would be better. So some metal meat tenderizers, and anything else that could work against stone. Though, since we’re here, I’d like to get anything I can get my hands on. I saved up a good chunk by now so I should be able to afford whatever I need.”

  And with that, the four got to work. Silvia and Modak picked out whatever they thought could be useful, and if Maximus agreed, it would go into the basket. At the same time, Ryan would show Maximus around the aisle to see if there was anything that stuck out to him. If they found something that seemed like a better fit than what they already had, they would replace what was in the basket, and if it was cheap enough, they would get multiple. In the end, they got their hands on a decent selection of things.

  Some different knives, a few forks as well as spoons, though Ryan didn’t know why Maximus wanted spoons. Silvia suggested a set of metal chopsticks, and that she could probably file down and sharpen one pair. Not only that, but a pair of meat tenderizers, small pans, like those for single eggs, small metal rolling pins, as well as a pair of scissors and the metal pestle of a mortar-and-pestle set. For shields, they picked out some small pot lids and cutting boards, though for the latter it was hard to find one that was small enough for Maximus, and that didn’t even account for the fact that it didn’t have any comfortable way to hold it. But once again, Silvia said she would take care of it and figure something out.

  “So … where are we going next? You’re gonna need more than just some stuff for Maximus, right?” As the group waited at the checkout register, Silvia looked at the items on the conveyor belt. All of it was really just for Maximus, not for Ryan.

  “For now, I’ll just get things for the dungeon I’ll be going to. The Awakened Center had a computer where I could log into Awakened-exclusive forums. It’s super fucking cool, by the way, so much sick stuff on there, but they had some info on the dungeon itself. The monsters in there are made of stone and metal, so next I’ll try to buy a sledgehammer and a pickax at that home improvement store a few blocks down,” Ryan explained, looking at the list that he had written down on his phone.

  Modak glanced at the list for a moment and curiously looked at his friend. “Why a home improvement store? Wouldn’t a weapon store be a bit better? Since you’ve registered, you should have access to those now, right?”

  “Well, yes, but everything in there is super expensive. And while I was having lunch in the Channel earlier, I met this guy, an Awakened Chef, and he told me that there’s really not a massive difference between tools for Awakened and non-Awakened. He said he was using the same knives he’s used since before he awakened.”

  “Then why are those Awakened stores even a thing?” Silvia asked, confused, and Ryan quickly glanced at her as he paid for everything with his phone.

  “I mean, there’s a difference when you get to higher tiers, apparently. A regular joe isn’t gonna need some highly enchanted pickaxe, so those aren’t sold in regular stores. They’re pretty expensive to make too. Not to mention things made of mithril or adamantine. Also, they sell swords, bows, axes, guns, and whatever else some classes depend on that are too dangerous to just be sold elsewhere. Though you’ll need licenses for a lot of specific types of weapons anyway. The Awakened Center apparently offers a bunch of courses for that.”

  The group made their way out of the grocery store, then quickly walked to their next destination, when Modak was reminded of something else. “By the way, won’t you need something like armor as well? It sounds kind of dangerous to go without any kind of protection.”

  “I’ve got that one covered too,” Silvia pointed out smugly. “Once we’re done here, we’ll head down to Driftwood to the fabric store I usually go to. They sell a ton of stuff, including some materials for basic armor.”

  Ryan smiled a bit awkwardly at Silvia before turning back toward Modak. “Yeah, she told me about that earlier while we were waiting for you to finish. Said she wouldn’t let me pay for it either . . .”

  “… Aren’t materials like that pretty expensive? And hard to work with? Will you be fine?” Modak questioned, just as confused as Ryan was when Silvia mentioned it to him earlier.

  “I love giving gifts to my friends, so what? And you know I’ve got the money to spare.”

  “Right, I keep forgetting that you’re actually already a professional … why are you going to uni, by the way?”

  “The fine arts course at New Riverside University is pretty good, and one of my professors is actually an Awakened with the Painter class. I figured it’d be helpful,” Silvia explained with a broad grin on her face. “Plus, because of my history, I was able to get a special admission to the school where I’m allowed to take some classes in other courses, like fashion design, architecture, stuff like that. It’s pretty neat.”

  Modak sighed deeply as he looked down at the ground. “Can we count that as nepotism, somehow? So unfair …”

  Ryan scoffed, “Dude, you serious? One of your mechanical engineering profs went to you for your opinion on his work. You’re not really one to talk here.”

  “Says the most famous first-year student in the history of our school, our knight in scuffed-up armor,” Silvia pointed out, but Ryan just looked at her as he tried to hide his reddening cheeks.

  “Please don’t call me that … Also, that doesn’t help me with any of my classes, just makes people either scared of me, or hit on me. Though that last part is pretty nice …”

  “You bet it is. Oh, that reminds me, that really cute changeling girl invited us all to some club, right? When was that again?” Silvia thought, and Ryan let out a long sigh, as though he had only just remembered.

  “I forgot about that with everything that’s going on … It was this Saturday, actually … I might skip out on it this time, honestly. You guys feel free to go without me, though.”

  “Seriously? You’re the one that drags us out to pubs every other night,” Modak complained.

  “And again, we were invited by a really cute changeling girl,” Silvia emphasized, but Ryan shook his head.

  “The dungeon stuff is more important right now. Depending on when I go, I might join, but no promises. Also, Silvia, she might have invited us through me, but she’s clearly super into you. And from the sound of it, that goes both ways.”

  “… Shut up, just come join!”

  “Seriously, I don’t want to be the third wheel all night,” Modak sighed loudly, but Silvia immediately turned to him with a raised brow.

  “In that case, if Ryan can’t come, I could invite Yanna,” she pointed out, watching Modak’s face turn a dark green.

  Ryan grinned with a chuckle. “In that case, it might really be better if I don’t come, huh?”

  “… Le-Let’s just talk about this later, alright?” As he stuttered, Modak picked up the pace so that his friends wouldn’t see his face. Though of course, they both knew exactly what expression he was making.

  Chapter Eight

  Dungeon Air

  Ryan wiped the last of the tables clean, getting ready to open the café for the day, glancing over toward his uncle stood behind the counter.

  “You know …” he said, feeling a little awkward. “What was my dad like? From your perspective?”

  Runar snapped his head around in surprise. “Uhh … Where’s that coming from?”

  “I’m just curious … Mom sent me some of his old stuff the other day, and I realized that I don’t really know that much about him beside what mom told me, and she … doesn’t talk about him that much,” Ryan explained, not fully turning toward his uncle.

  “I mean … what do you want to know? There’s a lot to say about him. He was always honest, helped those around him whenever he could … got in trouble with our father a lot.” Runar leaned onto the counter in contemplation, a small, bitter smile on his face. Ryan didn’t see him like that a lot.

  “Why did he get in trouble?”

  “Ah … Our father …” Runar sighed, as the topic moved to a direction he didn’t particularly seem to like, but he still explained as best he could. “He was very traditional, I guess? He put a lot of pressure and expectations on Hayden, wanting to turn him into something that he just … wasn’t. And Hayden would not stay quiet about the fact it really wasn’t what he wanted. And then, when our father died, he … he left. Moved somewhere quiet, away from the rest of our family, met your mom and … you know the rest of the story.”

  Ryan looked back at Runar with a frown. “And just left you alone?”

  “Oh, I mean, it was fine, I wasn’t like, alone. Our mom was still around back then, our cousins and friends supported us a lot … I guess I was mad at him for a while, though. I was fifteen, so obviously, you know? But there was also a ten-year age gap between us, so we hadn’t been super close until later anyway. We only reconnected about a year before he passed,” Runar explained, even if he seemed a little nervous. But seeing Ryan’s expression, he quickly tried to clarify, “There’s no hard feelings or anything. I get why he left, and honestly, it was the right decision for him. Things worked out really well, and if he had stayed … he wouldn’t have been happy. And that’s what really matters in the end.”

  Ryan looked at the ground, trying to figure out how to word his next question properly. “Okay, this is gonna sound weird, but was he interested in magic at all? Like, spirits or something, maybe?”

  Runar froze up for a moment, something that didn’t get past Ryan, but he soon shook his head and replied, “Not that I know … But it’s possible, obviously. You never really know. Why?” he asked with a slight frown.

  Ryan slowly held forward his hand. “I found something in his things when Mom sent them to me, and when I grabbed it, well …”

  Red wisps of light started to flow out of Ryan’s fingertips, gathering on the table in front of him. And soon, the light itself dimmed, revealing a small model-sized knight.

  “I awakened,” Ryan started. “This is Maximus, a spirit. He … well, his core was with dad’s stuff, so … I figured maybe you’d know something about it.”

  When Ryan looked back up away from Maximus, for a fraction of a second, he spotted an expression of shock on Runar’s face that Ryan wasn’t able to pin down exactly. But just a moment later, Runar himself seemed to realize, and relaxed his face into a smile. “Holy shit, that’s … that’s fucking amazing! But a … a magic class, huh?”

  “Yeah, I know, I know …” Ryan replied, smiling awkwardly as he looked down at Maximus. “I had hoped for some kind of a physical class, but this one seems pretty fun too, I guess. I mean, it’s really not easy to get disappointed by awakening, so I really can’t complain.”

  Runar stared at Maximus, not averting his gaze as he spoke, “So, you found that spirit’s core, and that made you awaken? And you’re sure it was with your dad’s stuff?”

  “Yeah, I’m sure. It was with some model-building stuff.”

  “… Right … And this happened the other day?” Runar asked. His eyes were still stuck on Maximus, and Ryan really didn’t know what was going on, but it was freaking him out.

  “Yeah, on Tuesday, after my shift. I went out to get it registered yesterday in the morning, and then Silvia, Modak, and I went—”

  “Wait, you registered already?” Runar asked, his face even more pale than usual.

  “Yes? Was I not supposed to?” Confused at his uncle’s sudden worry, Ryan just stood there, unsure what was going on. “If you’re mad that I didn’t tell you beforehand, I’m sorry. But yesterday was one of your random ‘break days.’ I tried telling you on Tuesday already but you weren’t in your room, you wouldn’t reply to my texts, and the basement was locked, as always. What did you want me to do?”

  “… What about your mom—does she know?”

  “Of course she knows. I talked with her for like three hours last night about what my plans are and how this changes things. She trusts me to do the right thing, so why are you acting so weird?”

  Runar kept staring at Maximus, something that the Knight continued to reciprocate. In the end, Runar just let out a long sigh. “I’m sorry, I just … I’ve seen a lot of people’s lives changed by awakening, and not just for the better. I’m the only family you have here in the city, so I want to make sure that you’ll be alright.”

  Ryan sighed deeply. Until now, Runar mostly acted like a friend, taking on more of an older brother position. Seeing him this worried was unusual, especially considering his normal demeanor.

  “And I appreciate that, I really do. If I need your help with anything, I’ll tell you, but I know what I’m doing. It’s not the class that I expected, but I’m pretty happy with it. Maximus is great, and man, it’s a unique class! I’m so curious to see what’s gonna happen if I keep growing this.”

  Runar looked at Ryan, still clearly concerned. “Just tell me if you need help with anything. I’ve got some friends that know a thing or two about spirits, so I can ask them. And text me some updates on big stuff that happens, alright?”

  “Right, of course. Well, right now, the only thing you’ve gotta know is that I’m going to a dungeon tomorrow, and someone from Bluesky tried to buy my class yesterday. That guy might come here too, so just tell him I’m not interested if he does. Oh, but if you want, just use this whole thing to get some free stuff.”

  “… Text me this kind of stuff right away from now on.”

  Ryan stood in front of the factory. He was wearing the clothes that Silvia had specifically designed for him. On it were specific hooks and pockets to hold all the makeshift weapons that Ryan had bought for Maximus, so that Ryan could easily give Maximus whatever he could need. Of course, at the same time, it was all positioned and attached in ways that allowed Ryan to move without constraints so that he could fight as well.

  On Ryan’s legs and torso, hard protective pads were attached as armor, and Silvia had even customized the helmet that Ryan bought. She even borrowed Ryan’s backpack and added some loops to them that could hold the hammer and pickaxe for the dungeon.

  “That girl’s fucking insane,” Ryan muttered to himself with a grin on his face. Silvia had done all this in just two days. Though, Ryan didn’t even want to think about how much all these materials were worth … if he got his hands on some item drops in the dungeon, he definitely had to buy her something. But that wasn’t what he had to concentrate on right now.

  Ryan looked at the checkpoint that had been set up just a few steps behind the old, rusted entrance, stepping up to the reinforced entry gate. He held his Awakened license up to the scanner at his side, and a green light quickly lit up in front of him as the gate opened up, allowing him to step inside. Once he was through, he could feel the quality of the air change considerably. Not that it was worse, just different. Ryan heard about this tons of times before. “Dungeon air.” Due to the high concentration of mana, there was a tangible difference in the quality. This presence of mana emanating from the dungeon’s heart was what caused the “dungeonification” of the surrounding area, and if regular people lived in this ambience for a long time, they would end up with “mana sickness.” If you had generally high aptitude for magic or awakened, getting mana sickness was a lot harder, though still possible. For high-risk dungeons with particularly high concentrations of mana, even an Awakened would collapse and vomit within minutes.