{"id":86,"date":"2021-07-12T12:04:01","date_gmt":"2021-07-12T16:04:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/etherno.aarondemott.com\/?page_id=86"},"modified":"2021-07-12T20:01:31","modified_gmt":"2021-07-13T00:01:31","slug":"chapter-4","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/etherno.aarondemott.com\/index.php\/chapter-4\/","title":{"rendered":"Chapter 004: Bandits? In MY City? (It&#8217;s More Likely Than You Think)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-image is-style-default\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"290\" src=\"https:\/\/etherno.aarondemott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Etherno_logo-sm.jpg\" alt=\"Etherno\" class=\"wp-image-52\" srcset=\"https:\/\/etherno.aarondemott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Etherno_logo-sm.jpg 768w, https:\/\/etherno.aarondemott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Etherno_logo-sm-300x113.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"has-text-align-center has-large-font-size wp-block-heading\"><strong>Chapter 4:<\/strong> Bandits? In MY City? (It&#8217;s More Likely Than You Think)<\/h2>\n\n\n<aside id=\"custom_html-2\" class=\"widget_text widget widget_custom_html amr_widget\"><h2 class=\"widget-title\">Advertisment &#8211; Help keep Etherno free<\/h2><div class=\"textwidget custom-html-widget\"><script type=\"text\/javascript\">\n    google_ad_client = \"ca-pub-6329442091957906\";\n    google_ad_slot = \"2637632844\";\n    google_ad_width = 728;\n    google_ad_height = 90;\n<\/script>\n<!-- 728x90, created 3\/31\/09 -->\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\"\nsrc=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/show_ads.js\">\n<\/script><\/div><\/aside>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignleft size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/etherno.aarondemott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Kasai_md.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-88\" width=\"448\" height=\"663\" srcset=\"https:\/\/etherno.aarondemott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Kasai_md.png 692w, https:\/\/etherno.aarondemott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Kasai_md-203x300.png 203w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 448px) 100vw, 448px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Onin looked around. It didn\u2019t seem like Saija was coming back. Good. He let out a sigh and spun in a circle\u2014all the thugs had disappeared.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cWell, looks like they all got away. No prisoners to interrogate. Anyone injured?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cNo,\u201d Cerina said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cAww, man!\u201d Tannin held the tattered remains of his shirt out in front of him. \u201cThis was my best shirt!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Cerina smirked at him. \u201cYou wore your best shirt when you knew we were out here to be bait? You <em>are<\/em> an idiot.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cOnryo, are you hurt?\u201d Onin asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cMmm, hot and compassionate!\u201d Onryo gave him an appreciative look. \u201cToo bad I have to leave.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cUh&#8230;\u201d Onin\u2019s face heated. \u201cBut are you\u2014\u201c<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cYes, I\u2019m fine. See you around.\u201d Onryo winked and took a step backward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cNo, wait!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">It was too late. Onryo had already taken to the air. There was a flash of light, and she was gone. Onin frowned at the space where she had been. Could she teleport too? One day, he\u2019d get some answers from her. He sighed and sent a servitor out to search for Kasai. Something fishy was going on between those two girls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Onin ignored Tannin and Cerina\u2019s arguing and strode off in the direction he\u2019d last seen Kasai. For an S-class, she seemed to have a knack for getting knocked out of a fight. A second later the servitor came back and blinked at him, indicating that it had found Kasai. The servitor dimmed and popped, dispersing into pinpricks of light as it used the last of its energy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Kasai sat behind the next tree, her hand to her forehead. Onin squatted in front of her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cAre you okay?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cI\u2019m fine. Just a headache.\u201d Her eyes stayed focused on the ground. \u201cSorry. I wasn\u2019t much help tonight. Is everyone okay?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Onin frowned. If she had been hit hard enough to be unconscious, she should get that checked out instead of brushing him off. He stood an offered her a hand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cNo one\u2019s hurt, but the bad guys got away.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Kasai took his hand long enough to pull herself up, then released it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cI\u2019m sorry,\u201d she repeated, her voice soft enough that Onin had to strain to hear the words.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cWell, maybe if you\u2019d worn something sensible,\u201d Onin heard Cerina say. She stood with her nose inches from Tannin\u2019s face. She stopped and turned to look when Onin and Kasai emerged from the woods. \u201cFound the klutz, huh? You know, if you\u2019d come back here and, you know, helped&#8230;\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Kasai burst into tears and ran off to her dorm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cCerina!\u201d Onin glared at her. \u201cKasai\u2019s hurt! And you don\u2019t need to criticize everything! The two of you report to Professor Jekao. I\u2019ll get Kasai.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Onin ran down the street. He paused at the first intersection and peered down both streets. He didn\u2019t see footprints, or any other signs that anyone had taken either route. He didn\u2019t hear crying or pounding feet. He sighed and sent out another small servitor. It was back in seconds. It blinked at him and floated of to the right. Onin followed the servitor down the right-hand street. Kasai sat with her back against a building and her legs drawn up against her chest with her arms wrapped around them. She sniffed and wiped her eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cYou don\u2019t have to come after me,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Onin sat beside her, pulled a tissue from his pocket, and handed it to her. He opened his mouth and then shut it again. He should say something, but the only thing that came to mind was, \u2018I wanted to come after you\u2019\u2014nah, that\u2019d sound stupid. Besides, she seemed to take everything he said wrong anyway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cI\u2019m sorry,\u201d Kasai said after a few minutes. \u201cYou\u2019ve been nice to me, I shouldn\u2019t snipe at you. Actually, I shouldn\u2019t be that way to anyone, but it\u2019s hard when everyone eventually turns against you, you know?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cI do. I was the only giftling in the village where I grew up. Small town, only about a hundred people, so everyone knew everyone. My parents were farmers that lived a few miles out from the village, so that already made me an outsider. It got worse when my gift developed early.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Kasai looked up. \u201cYours developed early, too?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cYeah, I was about ten when I made my first servitor. And all the first one did was glow and follow me around. Suddenly, everyone was afraid of me, and all the other kids made fun of me constantly. Got called freak, weirdo, demon-spawn. You know all the names.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Kasai nodded. She\u2019d probably been called all the same things. Maybe worse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cMy parents weren\u2019t stupid like the rest though. They pulled me out of school, taught me at home, and I got accepted to college a year early.\u201d Onin poked at the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Kasai didn\u2019t respond. She stared at her shoes and looked lost in thought. Or old memories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cWell, enough about me.\u201d Onin stood and held out a hand. \u201cWe should go and report in to Professor Jekao.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Kasai took his hand long enough to stand. They walked back to the admin offices in a companionable silence.<\/p>\n\n\n<aside id=\"custom_html-2\" class=\"widget_text widget widget_custom_html amr_widget\"><h2 class=\"widget-title\">Advertisment &#8211; Help keep Etherno free<\/h2><div class=\"textwidget custom-html-widget\"><script type=\"text\/javascript\">\n    google_ad_client = \"ca-pub-6329442091957906\";\n    google_ad_slot = \"2637632844\";\n    google_ad_width = 728;\n    google_ad_height = 90;\n<\/script>\n<!-- 728x90, created 3\/31\/09 -->\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\"\nsrc=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/show_ads.js\">\n<\/script><\/div><\/aside>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"75\" height=\"50\" src=\"https:\/\/etherno.aarondemott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/dragon.png\" alt=\"dragon\" class=\"wp-image-41\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Professor Jekao pinched the bridge of his nose and leaned forward in his office chair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cSo, what you\u2019re telling me, is that you successfully engaged the people we\u2019re after, every one of them got away, and you didn\u2019t learn anything?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cUm, that\u2019s not quite true.\u201d Onin shifted in his chair. \u201cWe learned they appear to be organized, they might be targeting Kasai, and some weird giftling with multiple powers appears to be leading them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cUh, I thought a person could only have one gift?\u201d Tannin said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cShe said she was cheating, you moron.\u201d Cerina huffed. \u201cDon\u2019t you pay attention to anything?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cThe only thing that tells us is that we have to be very careful.\u201d Professor Jekao looked at each of them in turn. \u201cAs far as we know, a person only has one gift. So we need to be extremely cautious until we figure out what\u2019s going on. I\u2019ve notified the police about what you\u2019ve learned tonight. Right now, they want us to lay low while they investigate and see if they can find out anything about the unknown giftling. Stay inside while possible and don\u2019t go out alone.\u201d He stood and walked around the desk to stand directly in front of Tannin. \u201cIf I hear <em>any<\/em> rumors about this, you all will be back in this office, and I might even haul you down to the police station.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Professor Jekao leaned forward until he was inches from Tannin\u2019s face. \u201cUnderstood?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cYes, Professor.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Onin stood and left before Tannin gave some smart-aleck answer that would get him in trouble.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Again.<\/p>\n\n\n<aside id=\"custom_html-2\" class=\"widget_text widget widget_custom_html amr_widget\"><h2 class=\"widget-title\">Advertisment &#8211; Help keep Etherno free<\/h2><div class=\"textwidget custom-html-widget\"><script type=\"text\/javascript\">\n    google_ad_client = \"ca-pub-6329442091957906\";\n    google_ad_slot = \"2637632844\";\n    google_ad_width = 728;\n    google_ad_height = 90;\n<\/script>\n<!-- 728x90, created 3\/31\/09 -->\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\"\nsrc=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/show_ads.js\">\n<\/script><\/div><\/aside>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"75\" height=\"50\" src=\"https:\/\/etherno.aarondemott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/dragon.png\" alt=\"dragon\" class=\"wp-image-41\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">There were no incidents on campus over the next few days. Onin sat in the mostly empty cafeteria and poked his spoon into his oatmeal. He almost wished something would happen, for a few reasons. One, he was worried that the other students might be attacked. Kids like Tannin, Kasai, and even Cerina could take care of themselves. Some people thought all giftlings were like that, but Zinako? She couldn\u2019t fight. Well, not unless she got really lucky with where a sneeze was aimed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">On a more personal level, if something happened, Onin would have a legitimate excuse to miss the ethics test coming up. He smiled. That would be nice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">The clinking of silverware interrupted his train of thought. He looked up to see Kasai sitting across from him. Her hair was down today and draped over her right shoulder. She actually seemed to be enjoying the oatmeal. He made a face. She couldn\u2019t really be enjoying the oatmeal. Somehow the cafeteria had managed to make it lumpy and watery at the same time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cAm I disturbing you?\u201d she asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cOh, no, not at all\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">The bench creaked as Tannin flopped down onto it. \u201cHow can you eat that stuff?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">She shrugged. \u201cIt\u2019s not that bad.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cI don\u2019t know.\u201d Onin wrinkled his nose. \u201cI\u2019m gonna have to agree with Tannin on this one. Today\u2019s batch is bad even for university oatmeal.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Kasai\u2019s brow creased as she took another bite. She took her time chewing. \u201cNo, it\u2019s okay.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Onin and Tannin exchanged looks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cWhat on earth have you been eating before you came here that makes you think this stuff is good?\u201d Tannin asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cThe monks were good cooks.\u201d Kasai crossed her arms. \u201cThey just liked bland food, that\u2019s all. Oatmeal was a special treat. They even made an exception for me and let me have fruit in it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Tannin leaned over and sniffed Onin\u2019s oatmeal. \u201cIf they made it like this, it\u2019s a wonder you aren\u2019t dead. And I can\u2019t imagine a food more bland than oatmeal.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cKnock it off.\u201d Onin punched Tannin\u2019s shoulder. \u201cQuit bugging her. The oatmeal\u2019s not quite that bad, and you don\u2019t like it even if it\u2019s made right anyway.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cSheese, I\u2019m just teasing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cWell, quit it.\u201d Onin glanced over his shoulder and motioned for Tannin and Kasai to lean in closer. \u201cHave either of you heard anything more about those thugs that are harassing the students?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Both of then shook their heads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cI hope they\u2019ve left for good. A lot of students can\u2019t defend themselves like we can,\u201d Tannin said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Kasai choked on her oatmeal and stared at Tannin. \u201cWhat?\u201d She turned Onin. \u201cHe can pay enough attention to others to not clown around sometimes?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Onin chuckled. \u201cYes, he does care about stuff other than partying.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cYou don\u2019t have to stare at me like that, Kasai. You think this straight-laced four-point-average here\u2014\u201d Tannin jerked his thumb at Onin. \u201c\u2014would tolerate me if I didn\u2019t have at least one redeeming quality? Just don\u2019t spread it around. I\u2019ve got an image to maintain.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cAs what? An idiot?\u201d Kasai said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cNo.\u201d Tannin frowned. \u201cI\u2019m the happy-go-lucky, non-threatening guy that everyone likes to hang with.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cAnd share study notes with,\u201d Onin added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cThat doesn\u2019t hurt,\u201d Tannin muttered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Kasai giggled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cHa! I made you laugh! Yes!\u201d Tannin pumped his fist in the air.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Onin shook his head and stood up from the table. \u201cYou ready for the ethics test?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Tannin stopped laughing and sat up straight. \u201cWait, is that today?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cYeaaaah\u2026\u201d Kasai said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">The color drained from Tannin\u2019s face. \u201cUh-oh.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cI\u2019ve been trying to get you to study for that for the past few nights.\u201d Onin grabbed Tannin\u2019s arm and pulled him toward the door. \u201cCome on, slacker. Time to face your doom.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n<aside id=\"custom_html-2\" class=\"widget_text widget widget_custom_html amr_widget\"><h2 class=\"widget-title\">Advertisment &#8211; Help keep Etherno free<\/h2><div class=\"textwidget custom-html-widget\"><script type=\"text\/javascript\">\n    google_ad_client = \"ca-pub-6329442091957906\";\n    google_ad_slot = \"2637632844\";\n    google_ad_width = 728;\n    google_ad_height = 90;\n<\/script>\n<!-- 728x90, created 3\/31\/09 -->\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\"\nsrc=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/show_ads.js\">\n<\/script><\/div><\/aside>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"75\" height=\"50\" src=\"https:\/\/etherno.aarondemott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/dragon.png\" alt=\"dragon\" class=\"wp-image-41\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Professor Jekao waved them over in the hallway. \u201cAh, good, three of you are together. I need you to come to my office right away.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">The professor wasn\u2019t smiling, but he wasn\u2019t frowning either. Onin couldn\u2019t tell from his expression if this was bad news or not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cCan it wait? We have an ethics test right now,\u201d Onin said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cDon\u2019t worry about that.\u201d The professor pulled three slips of paper from his pocket and handed them over. \u201cI\u2019ve already arranged for you to take the test later.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cYes!\u201d Tannin pumped his fist. \u201cSaved!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Onin rolled his eyes and shook his head. \u201cYou still have to take it, you know.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cAw.\u201d Tannin\u2019s face fell. He sighed and trudged after Onin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Onin sank into a chair across from the professor\u2019s desk in his office.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Professor Jekao frowned and picked up the phone. \u201cCerina was supposed to be here. I found her before I found you. If you\u2019ll excuse me for a moment\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Tannin leaned over to Onin. \u201cSo, do you suppose we\u2019re in any kind of trouble?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Onin stared back at him. \u201cI\u2019m not. What\u2019d you do this time?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cIt\u2019s probably about those guys that attacked us,\u201d Kasai said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cOh yeah, that.\u201d Tannin stretched out in his chair. \u201cI\u2019d almost forgotten about that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Onin looked over at Kasai, and both of them rolled their eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">The professor hung up the phone, and a few minutes later there was a knock at the door.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cCome in,\u201d the professor said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Cerina stepped in and slipped into a chair. \u201cSorry I\u2019m late.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Cerina dropped her backpack on the floor next to her chair. Onin frowned. She didn\u2019t look flustered or upset about being late, but her usual haughty expression was absent as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cI\u2019ll get right to the point.\u201d The professor frowned at Cerina and leaned forward in his chair. \u201cThe city has had a handful of robberies over the past week. All the victims have been giftlings, and all of them have been injured.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Kasai gasped and put a hand to her mouth. \u201cAre they alright?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cMost of them were attacked from behind and can\u2019t tell us anything.\u201d The professor\u2019s face was expressionless, and his voice was flat. \u201cOnly one of them was seriously injured, and he\u2019s stable now. I want you four to go talk to him. See if you can find any connection between these attacks and the criminals that assaulted you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n<aside id=\"custom_html-2\" class=\"widget_text widget widget_custom_html amr_widget\"><h2 class=\"widget-title\">Advertisment &#8211; Help keep Etherno free<\/h2><div class=\"textwidget custom-html-widget\"><script type=\"text\/javascript\">\n    google_ad_client = \"ca-pub-6329442091957906\";\n    google_ad_slot = \"2637632844\";\n    google_ad_width = 728;\n    google_ad_height = 90;\n<\/script>\n<!-- 728x90, created 3\/31\/09 -->\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\"\nsrc=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/show_ads.js\">\n<\/script><\/div><\/aside>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"75\" height=\"50\" src=\"https:\/\/etherno.aarondemott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/dragon.png\" alt=\"dragon\" class=\"wp-image-41\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Onin kept glancing over at Kasai as they walked the six blocks to the hospital. She had her arms wrapped around her chest despite the warm spring day, and she stared at the pavement for the whole walk. She\u2019d been that way since Professor Jekao had mentioned that multiple giftlings had been attacked. Did she know anything about these attacks? Cerina had said something about destruction in the Northlands or something the first time she\u2019d met Kasai. Could these incidents be connected?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Kasai didn\u2019t seem like the kind of person who would ever hurt anyone. But that Onryo girl seemed to follow Kasai around. She did seem like the type who didn\u2019t care about collateral damage. How were they connected? He wanted to just ask Kasai about it, but she closed up even tighter whenever the topic came up. Onryo was right about one thing. Kasai did need a friend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cHey, Kasai\u2026\u201d Onin stepped closer to her. \u201cAre you doing okay?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">She glanced at him for just a second before she returned to studying the pavement. \u201cYeah.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cYou\u2019ve been awfully quiet, even for you. It\u2019s horrible that other people are getting attacked now, isn\u2019t it?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Kasai\u2019s head snapped up and she glared at him. Her mouth opened, then closed. She took a deep breath and dropped her gaze again. \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Kasai twirled her hair around her finger and stared at the sidewalk. Was she still feeling guilty about those attacks? Onin stepped in front of her. Kasai stepped to the side and Onin touched her shoulder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cLook, I\u2019m sorry if I said something to offend you. I didn\u2019t mean too. I really do feel bad that other people are getting hurt, especially if it\u2019s because I let those guys escape.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cIt\u2019s not your fault. It\u2019s mine,\u201d Kasai said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cNo, it\u2019s not.\u201d Onin looked her in the eye. \u201cWe were all there. Those people choose to try and hurt someone, not you. And now they\u2019re picking on giftlings with less power. I have the power to stop them, and if I choose to not do anything about that, then it\u2019s my fault.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Kasai smiled. \u201cNow you sound like the monks.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Onin grinned. \u201cIs that a good thing?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cYes. The monks were the only people in my life that didn\u2019t end up trying to kill me.\u201d They took a few more steps and she sighed. \u201cI have a hard time trusting people. You\u2019re right, people at ABG seem to be different.\u201d She frowned in Cerina\u2019s direction. \u201cWell, most of them anyway.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cFriends?\u201d Onin held his hand out to her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Kasai nodded and blushed as she took his hand.<\/p>\n\n\n<aside id=\"custom_html-2\" class=\"widget_text widget widget_custom_html amr_widget\"><h2 class=\"widget-title\">Advertisment &#8211; Help keep Etherno free<\/h2><div class=\"textwidget custom-html-widget\"><script type=\"text\/javascript\">\n    google_ad_client = \"ca-pub-6329442091957906\";\n    google_ad_slot = \"2637632844\";\n    google_ad_width = 728;\n    google_ad_height = 90;\n<\/script>\n<!-- 728x90, created 3\/31\/09 -->\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\"\nsrc=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/show_ads.js\">\n<\/script><\/div><\/aside>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"75\" height=\"50\" src=\"https:\/\/etherno.aarondemott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/dragon.png\" alt=\"dragon\" class=\"wp-image-41\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Onin was the first one in the hospital room. The others filed in behind him and stayed clustered near the door.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cMr. Tonoda?\u201d The nurse squeezed past everyone to stand next to the bed. \u201cThe people the police asked you to talk to are here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Onin estimated that Mr. Tonoda was about thirty-something years old. His leg was in a cast, and a few shocks of black hair poked out through the bandages wound around the top of his head. His entire chest was also covered in bandages. Despite that, he still managed to look alert.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cYou have five minutes.\u201d The nurse slipped back out into the hallway and closed the door behind her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cYou were attacked, too?\u201d Mr. Tonoda asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cA few weeks ago. What did the guys who attacked you look like?\u201d Onin asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cI don\u2019t know. They wore all black and had masks.\u201d Mr. Tonoda spoke slowly and his voice was a high tenor. \u201cI just got home from work and was putting groceries away when they appeared in the kitchen. I know I locked the door, so I don\u2019t know if they picked the lock or what.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cDid they say anything?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cI don\u2019t think so.\u201d Mr. Tonoda drummed his fingers on the armrest of the bed. \u201cThree of them started beating me while the other three ransacked the house. I don\u2019t remember much after that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cSix of them. Dressed all in black. Same as the ones we fought.\u201d Kasai said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cSounds like it, but it could be a coincidence,\u201d Onin said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Tannin and Cerina started to protest, and Onin raised his palm. \u201cI said \u2018could be.\u2019 We can\u2019t jump to any conclusions. Mr Tonoda, do you remember if anyone else showed up at any point?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cNo, I\u2019m sorry, but I was unconscious for most of the time.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">The nurse poked her head into the doorway. \u201cTime\u2019s up.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Suddenly the window exploded into a thousand fragments. Onin jumped backward. Where did that come from? Kasai raised her hand and generated a kinetic field that blocked the glass shards. Onin crept over to the window. If someone was trying to kill their only lead, Onin had to stop him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cStay here to keep him safe. I\u2019m going out,\u201d Onin said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">He leapt out the window and generated small servitors that attached to his hands and feet covering them with a transparent golden energy bubble. He pushed out power to them. They glowed blue and his rate of decent slowed. A black hover car floated a few stories directly below him. Onin flew toward it, and the hovercar banked off to the west. Onin followed it. After about a half-mile, the driver of the car apparently decided that he couldn\u2019t outrun Onin and started weaving between buildings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Onin spread his arms and feet out wide so he could use the thrust from the servitors more efficiently. The hovercar wound around, under, and over buildings, billboards, and anything else in the way trying to lose him. Onin grinned. The driver did his best to lose Onin, but Onin was way more maneuverable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">The hovercar pulled up and started a vertical climb. Booster jets with after-burners flared to life. Onin pumped more power into the servitors on his feet. The servitors left a blue energy trail as they put out more thrust.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cHow high\u2019s he trying to go?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Onin struggled to breath. <em>Ah, higher altitude, that\u2019s his plan.<\/em> Onin frowned, sucked in another breath, and generated a servitor around his head. He took an easier breath as the servitor recycled his oxygen. The car leveled off and put on more speed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cNot gonna work,\u201d Onin said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">The servitors on his feet flared and left a longer energy trail behind him as they increased speed. Was this guy ever gonna give up? Hopefully, he\u2019d try to run and show Onin where he came from or something.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">The car started to bank again, then flipped around and headed straight at him. Onin jerked to a stop and hovered vertically. The hovercar charged at him. Onin held out his right fist. The servitor covering it changed from translucent blue to solid gold. The hovercar got within a quarter mile and started firing lasers. Beams from each servitor reached out and sucked up the laser beams. The hovercar veered off at the last second\u2014within yards of Onin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">He launched himself forward and punched at the belly of the car with the servitor that covered his right hand. Something exploded and sent shrapnel flying out in every direction. Energy tendrils sprung from the servitors on Onin\u2019s hands and twirled around him, deflecting the debris.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">The hovercar was making a run for it, heading away and slightly down from Onin. Only one afterburner was lit now. Onin stretched out his arms and sped after it. Something popped up from the top of the car and spat energy blasts back at him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Onin banked into an erratic spiral and returned fire from the servitors around his hands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cOw, screw this. This guy\u2019s too smart to lead me back to his boss. Time to end it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">The servitors on his hands grew to three times their size, and two servitors split off and chased after the hovercar. They took positions on either side and arced a lightning bolt between them and through the hovercar. The car smoked a little but kept flying. It must have pretty good shields.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Onin generated four more servitors and sent them to assist. The servitors regrouped into two triangle formations above and below the front of the car. The triangles started to counter-rotate, and white dots appeared in the center of each triangle. A white energy beam sprang to life and connected the triangles now. It lit up the night sky to daylight. The hovercar\u2019s momentum carried it through the beam, and half of the car fell to either side.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">The servitors broke formation and dropped after the pieces of the hovercar, catching it in a net of energy. Onin followed them down to the ground. Three police cars waited for them. He reabsorbed the servitors on his hands, legs, and head, then walked over to the gathered policemen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cOnin?\u201d One of the officers called out to Onin when he touched down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cYes, Officer?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cWe\u2019re supposed to relay a message to you from Deputy Jekao. You\u2019re to meet the rest of your team in the Itachi district. We\u2019ll take care the rest here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Onin frowned. The Itachi district was a crime-filled cesspool. Why was the rest of the team there?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cThank you, Officer,\u201d Onin said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">He generated four more servitors and shot up into the darkening sky.<\/p>\n\n\n<aside id=\"custom_html-2\" class=\"widget_text widget widget_custom_html amr_widget\"><h2 class=\"widget-title\">Advertisment &#8211; Help keep Etherno free<\/h2><div class=\"textwidget custom-html-widget\"><script type=\"text\/javascript\">\n    google_ad_client = \"ca-pub-6329442091957906\";\n    google_ad_slot = \"2637632844\";\n    google_ad_width = 728;\n    google_ad_height = 90;\n<\/script>\n<!-- 728x90, created 3\/31\/09 -->\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\"\nsrc=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/show_ads.js\">\n<\/script><\/div><\/aside>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"75\" height=\"50\" src=\"https:\/\/etherno.aarondemott.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/dragon.png\" alt=\"dragon\" class=\"wp-image-41\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Everything in the Itachi district looked peaceful\u2014but then a plasma beam shot up into the night sky off to his right. Okay, so it wasn\u2019t so peaceful. Onin flew in closer to his friends. Four figures dressed in all black were clustered back to back in a circle in the middle of an alley that lead between two dilapidated brick buildings. Tannin, Kasai, and Cerina surrounded them. Tannin had some kind of metal stick in either hand. Kasai had an array of junk orbiting around her. Cerina didn\u2019t look like she was doing much, but she had a tuning fork in each hand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Onin generated two servitors and sent them into the fray.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cIt\u2019s him,\u201d one of the thugs said. \u201cNow!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">They threw something on the ground, and a forcefield sprang up around them. All four of them concentrated their blaster fire on him. White energy tendrils arced out from both servitors to soak up the beams. Onin grinned. This was going to be too easy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">All four thugs dropped to the ground simultaneously, and a black portal opened above them. The energy tendrils from the servitors were sucked towards it like metal to a magnet. The thugs opened fire again. New energy tendrils arced out from the servitors\u2014and were also sucked up by the portal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Onin\u2019s jaw dropped. Crap. This wasn\u2019t good. He twisted around to the right and managed to dodge most of the beams. One of them hit his leg, and he screamed as fire shot up his leg. A healing beam came out of the servitor on his foot, and that too was sucked into the portal. None of the other beams from the servitors would disengage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Onin kept trying to dodge the blaster fire, but the beams from the servitors were like ropes, tying him to the portal and limiting his maneuverability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">The rest of the team just stood there, poking at the force-field that separated them from him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cHey, help,\u201d Onin yelled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cI\u2019m trying,\u201d Kasai shouted back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI\u2019ve got problems of my own here,\u201d Cerina said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Tannin just saluted him and slammed a flurry of attacks against the thugs\u2019 shield.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">The ground was getting closer. Onin looked around. The black portal pulsed every few seconds, and with every pulse it sucked in a foot or so of the energy streamers from his servitors. Onin tried again to get them to disengage, with no success. He sent a burst of energy to the servitors and was yanked a few yards toward the portal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">What was with that portal? He\u2019d always been able to control his servitors before. Was the portal from that girl from before? He looked around. No mostly-naked women in sight. Could it be some kind of technology?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">There\u2026 a small blue light blinked on the ground below the portal. It could be generating the portal, or focusing it, or whatnot. A burst of energy from a servitor might take it out\u2014if it wasn\u2019t all being sucked inside.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cGuys,\u201d Onin yelled. \u201cThere\u2019s some kind of device on the ground under that portal. Try to destroy it!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">As soon as the words were out of his mouth, one of the thugs took off running.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cI\u2019ve got him!\u201d Tannin took off running after the thug.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cNo, come back and help,\u201d Onin yelled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Tannin either didn\u2019t hear him, or didn\u2019t listen. He was out of sight in seconds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">Another thug pulled out something, and a cone of flame shot at Kasai. She spiraled her array of debris into a shield but had to keep it around her to keep the fire from burning her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">They seemed to ignore Cerina. Onin waved to her and pointed to the device.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">\u201cYou don\u2019t need to tell me what to do.\u201d She twirled the tuning forks in her hands. \u201cI\u2019ve got this.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"bookws\">The forks vibrated, and she sang a high note. Pain lanced through Onin\u2019s skull, something exploded, and the world went dark.<\/p>\n\n\n<aside id=\"custom_html-2\" class=\"widget_text widget widget_custom_html amr_widget\"><h2 class=\"widget-title\">Advertisment &#8211; Help keep Etherno free<\/h2><div class=\"textwidget custom-html-widget\"><script type=\"text\/javascript\">\n    google_ad_client = \"ca-pub-6329442091957906\";\n    google_ad_slot = \"2637632844\";\n    google_ad_width = 728;\n    google_ad_height = 90;\n<\/script>\n<!-- 728x90, created 3\/31\/09 -->\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\"\nsrc=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/show_ads.js\">\n<\/script><\/div><\/aside>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><a href=\"http:\/\/chapter3\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"chapter3\">&lt;&lt; Previous Chapter<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/etherno.aarondemott.com\/index.php\/table-of-contents\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"34\">Contents<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/etherno.aarondemott.com\/index.php\/chapter-5\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"91\">Next Chapter &gt;&gt;<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<script type='text\/javascript' src='https:\/\/storage.ko-fi.com\/cdn\/widget\/Widget_2.js'><\/script><script type='text\/javascript'>kofiwidget2.init('Buy me a cup of tea', '#29abe0', 'V7V05ASUY');kofiwidget2.draw();<\/script> \n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Chapter 4: Bandits? In MY City? (It&#8217;s More Likely Than You Think) Onin looked around. It didn\u2019t seem like Saija was coming back. Good. He&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-86","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/etherno.aarondemott.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/86","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/etherno.aarondemott.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/etherno.aarondemott.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/etherno.aarondemott.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/etherno.aarondemott.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=86"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/etherno.aarondemott.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/86\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":159,"href":"https:\/\/etherno.aarondemott.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/86\/revisions\/159"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/etherno.aarondemott.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=86"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}