Riven was passed out in his bed with Jordan on his own and Joey on the floor with a cover and pillow.
"What did I do? What did I do?" Kaden was stressed. He felt like he had just poisoned his own son, but he was also confused. "Why did Jordan and the other boy also collapse? Neither of them were touched with the resonance. Maybe it's an airborne thing… I mean, I've seen some of them when they pull back a punch so hard that I thought the air was being pulled towards them, but that doesn't make any sense at all in the context." Kaden was holding his head as he felt a tap on his shoulder. He jumped up in fear as he was caught off guard.
"What's got you so jumpy this early?" Candace asked.
"Oh, well, I was just watching the boys sleep. You look so happy that they're back home."
"I'm so happy as well—" the woman's words cut off as she saw Joey lying down in the middle of the room. "Um… who is that?"
"Oh, this is their friend. He's that Joey kid they were talking about."
"Oh my God, that's him. When he wakes up, ask him where he lives so we can talk to his parents. They could probably hang out more."
"No problem. Yeah, I got you."
"Well, I'm off," she said as she walked out the door.
"Ask where he lives, talk to his parents… his parents don't even know he's here right now, unconscious—or a better word is just asleep. At least I know they're alive."
Four hours had passed.
[System: 100/100 complete. System has adapted to this new energy known as resonance. User can now channel it, but it may damage the user after a certain point.]
When those words rang in all of their heads, the three boys woke up. When they did, they immediately went to a trash can, a toilet, or just looked out a window and all threw up.
"You're alive, thank God. I thought I poisoned my own son. Also, that I killed some kid I just met," Kaden said, embracing his son in his arms.
"It's 3 PM. How long have we been out for?"
"Well, counting last night it was around 9 PM to now—about six hours."
"Six hours?!" they all yelled out, but the person who seemed the most stressed was Joey.
"I gotta go home to my mom. She's probably worried sick." Joey then ran down the stairs, running to his home.
"Look, I'm sorry for what happened, and I'm sorry for pushing all that stuff on you. I should've let you go out and get something to eat and forget about this even happening." Kaden was disappointed in himself. What kind of father was he, offering to pursue strength for revenge? What's the point of all that if you lose what you're fighting for at the end?
"The getting something to eat part I agree with, but the forgetting what happened part—" Riven then held his hand out where a small white glow shined in his palm. This shocked Kaden, his eyes wide open.
"You've done it—or I guess I should say I've done it." Kaden closed his eyes, admiring his own self. "But anyway, it should've taken you at least three days to really use it at that level—or at least it took me three days. The masters said it took longer for people to really use resonance, but still… you are my son after all. Speaking of which, what about you, Jordan?" He then saw Jordan doing the same thing as Riven. He clenched his fists even harder. "Oh yeah, that's my boys. Why didn't they try this instead? Obviously it works, but I guess you are in excruciating pain. Still, I wonder why they never did it. I guess they probably never thought of it. Which just shows how much of a genius I truly am. Now if you need me, I'll be asleep. I've been up all night thinking of an excuse to tell your mother if you never woke up. Good night—or should I say good day." Kaden walked away.
After a few minutes of admiring the glow in their hands, they felt a sharp pain in their chests, like a knife was stabbing their hearts or something was burning them from the inside. They then put away the white light, which made the pain start to cool down.
"So what the system said is true, but we only used it for a couple of minutes before it started hurting us," Jordan commented.
"Yeah, who knew Dad was such a genius to think all it took was that and a lot of yelling and six hours of sleep," Riven replied.
"You don't really think Dad's way of doing it was the reason why you can use it now, do you?"
"Oh, not for one second. It was definitely the system. Who knew what could've happened if we didn't have it?"
"I think you mean, who knew what would've happened if you didn't have me," Jordy said, with the two boys looking at the pixelated boy in confusion. Jordy sighed. "You were right. It wasn't Dad's method that allowed you to use resonance. It wasn't even the system. It was me. It was all happening so fast it was like I couldn't keep up with it, but at the same time I still could. As soon as Riven fell over in pain I just saw… I guess codes, or I guess outcomes, that the system was just blasting all into my face. I was able to keep up with some of it, but all I could see was error after error after error. After a few minutes, I realized the reason why the system kept saying error was because it kept trying to calculate things, solve it like it was a problem, and just kept fighting against it. So I made the logical choice—if you can't fight it or beat it, join it. After putting in a little bit of code myself, I was able to make it where the system agreed—or I guess, as it said, adapted to the resonance."
"But wait, that doesn't explain something. Both Jordan and Joey weren't touched by Dad at all, yet they still started feeling the pain, nor did I have any of them in the party."
"It's because, Riven, they're still connected to the system even when they're not in the party. None of you knew that, but since I'm in the system, I can still see where they are. I can still see their health bar. I can see everything about them. I can even see their POV. I could also see all of them going through the same thing as you guys."
"Oh shit. We should contact them," Jordan said.
"Are you trying to deal with all their mouths right now?" Riven replied, rubbing his eyes.
Jordan thought about it for a moment and shook his head no.
"Yeah, good idea. Let's not tell them right now at least, but they'll definitely notice a change."
Riven and Jordan then heard a prompt.
[System: New title acquired — Resonator X Evolver. You are the first of your kind, a person who can use their soul in two different ways while still keeping it intact. As for your reward, the system has created you a new title. This title allows you to use your resonance 20% more, allowing you to use the power longer without feeling the burn, but there is still a limit.]
After the prompt disappeared, Riven immediately turned on the title, knowing they would most likely be using this more than anything else. He also realized something else—when it comes down to titles, everyone could have a different title on at a different time instead of them all having the same title. He still put Resonator X Evolver on everyone, since this is the only title that is actually useful at this time.
"So what do we do now?" Jordan questioned.
"Well, I say go check on Joey and then we all go out and the four of us get a sandwich. You down with that, Jordy?"
"Yeah, just wake me up when we get there." Jordy pixelated the bed he showed up on and then disappeared.
"All right. Two against one, let's go."
"I didn't even know there was a vote."
The two boys put on a casual hoodie, sweatpants and shoes. They walked out of the home, then started walking up towards the gate with them, knowing where Joey lives since his name was literally posted on the lawn.
"You sure we should be bothering him? He still seems pretty upset with all the stuff with Wren," Jordan said, concerned, with Riven taking his words to heart.
"Yeah, you're right. Well, I guess you're gonna get three of us." But as the two were starting to walk down to a fast food place they saw a woman walk out.
"Oh um, can I help you young men?"
"Uhh, yeah, we're friends with your son Joey. We were wondering if he could come out to get something to eat real quick. He'll be back before five," Jordan said politely.
"Oh, I'm sorry but he's asleep right now."
"Oh, we'll come back another time."
Jordan then heard his brother in the telepathic link.
"He's a fast sleeper, isn't he?"
"You're one to talk."
"Well, you could come in. I could make you something to eat," Joey's mom said.
"I could eat," Riven said out loud and followed the woman inside of the house.
"You have no manners, do you?" Jordan shook his head as he followed behind.
"Please, please sit. My little Joey doesn't really have that many friends. On the contrary, you're the first ever friends I've ever met since he was in elementary school." The woman got in the kitchen, heating up the stove while getting pots and pans and ingredients out. "So when did you meet Joey?"
"We met on the bus when we were on our way to the academy. After that, we just started hanging out and helping one another," Jordan replied honestly.
"I'm glad he has friends who would stay by his side at all times, but I am sad that I won't be able to see my son when he grows up. He'll most likely be too busy with the Fallows to come and see me."
"No way ma'am. Joey would never do you like that. Even if God himself held him back, I think Joey would still push on," Riven responded, which put a smile on her face.
"God himself… who do you think Joey is, Kratos?" Jordan thought, which, thanks to the telepathic link being on, Riven heard as well.
"I'm trying to give her words of comfort. I don't see you doing anything."
After a couple of minutes: "Food's ready."
She then gave the two boys the meal. It was eggs and sausages with toast on the side. They both said thank you and started to chow down.
"Joey! Get down here now and come eat and greet your friends!" This tone caught the two boys off guard and made them cough a bit.
"Yes ma'am." Joey then ran downstairs.
"What happened to him being asleep?"
"Oh, that's just an excuse he always makes up to not come downstairs and eat with his family members, but he did say his stomach hurt so I gave him that."
"Also, did you say friends? Hey guys, it's not like I didn't just see you like an hour ago," Joey said with a face of awkwardness. He was kind of getting tired of how many times he'd seen the two boys.
"Yeah, we just wanted to check on you dude. We're on our way out anyway. Thank you for the food." They both said the last part in unison as they put the plates inside of the sink and started to make their way out.
"Yeah, see you guys later," Joey waved as he closed the door behind him.
"Okay, is it just me or his house looks—"
"Amazing, right?" Jordan changed his brother's sentence. The house had tons of pictures of Joey as a child and with what seemed to be a man, most likely his father. But they couldn't focus on that. All they could see was how good the carpets were, clean white, the couches dazzling, the chandeliers and the lamps with what seemed to be diamonds all around them.
"Maybe we should stop giving his mom money. By the way it looks, even with all that stuff she probably didn't spend all the money. Maybe she's putting it in the bank or something, so she should be well off for now."
"So what now Jordan? We visited our friend. Should we still go to a restaurant even though we already ate?"
"Yeah, we still gotta go to a restaurant real quick to get Jordy something."
"We should probably start stacking up things. Jordy doesn't have to eat, but he did say he enjoyed it."
The two went to McClonald's—this is not the same as the other fast food restaurant with a name sounding like it. It is entirely different. They bought a cheeseburger and a large drink for their clone brother. They welcomed and put the food in the system. They went to a convenience store to start buying snacks so they could throw it in the system and either keep it for Jordy or just eat on their own accord.
As the two were getting out of an alleyway after putting all the snacks up, they felt something—like eyes being tracked on them. Maybe it was because they were awakened, maybe because they'd prestiged, or maybe it was because of their new resonance. Something allowed them to just feel those eyes on them. The two decided to call it here and start to walk home. But after a certain distance, they were stopped.
"Hey there. What's your name?" A female and two boys stopped them right in their tracks.
"What's it to you?" Riven asked aggressively. He didn't like the vibes he was getting off these three.
"That was very rude. I was just trying to be nice. Yet you're just gonna spit in my face like this. Just a quick question: what camp are you from?" the girl asked.
"We're not from a camp," Jordan replied.
But something told Riven that's what they wanted to hear.
"So you're gonna be the academy," the boy walked down. "Meaning you're evolvers. It must feel so good for you to have all this power and to think you're on the top of the food chain."
The skinnier of the two boys then walked up. "Well, we're here to make you feel a bit demoted." The boy had a big grin on his face, looking like a person of insanity. He then slipped a dagger from under his shirt, trying to strike at Jordan, but the boy easily dodged.
"Weapons. Wait, those aren't just any weapons—beast weapons. You guys are obviously from the other academy by your word choice. But even then they shouldn't have been able to take their weapons home, meaning they somehow snuck it in." The boy then tried to stab Jordan in the leg, but he once again dodged it effortlessly. Riven then, using the power of gravity, pulled him in to Jordan, which caught him off guard. Jordan clotheslined him, making the boy flip, then hit the ground.
"It's obvious they're not trying to do damage. Instead, they're just trying to wound us to the point where we most likely won't be able to move a certain body part," Riven warned through the telepathic link.
"The ability of gravity—a tricky one. Hmm… it looks like I might have to get involved." The girl rushed in, pulling what seemed to be a sword out from under her shirt. She tried to slash at Riven, who was able to defend, but he noticed that the girl's speed was on a whole other level than the other boy. After dodging, he received a cut on his stomach. He didn't have enough of her games, using gravity to lift her up, but when he did, the one who seemed to be as buff as an ox came rushing towards him shoulder first. But then Jordan appeared right in front of him, meeting the boy in the middle and blocking his advancements. Then Riven slammed the girl on top of him, making both of them hit the ground with immense force, but the female got up once again, which shocked the two.
"Okay, so she's a resilient one, but he also seems more like a speed type," Jordan deduced.
"How is this possible? You're holding us off with such ease. Sure they have abilities, but their speed and power with ours, and we're using beast weapons!" the girl said, shocked, but she then put on a calm expression. "We'll let you go this time, but next time we won't hold back." She then dropped what seemed to be a smoke ball. After the smoke filled the air and disappeared, all three of them were gone as well.
"Oh yeah? Well, next time you come back, we won't hold back as well," Riven and Jordan said. They were surprised, though—their speed had improved, most likely the effects of prestige still showing. The two then quickly ran home.
"So it seems like the Broken Veil's academy has it out for people who are part of the Sigil Gate Academy," Jordan concluded.
"That, or they're just attacking anyone from a camp who has an ability. It seems like they're trying to weaken people who are part of other academies or camps, most likely just to get an edge. But at least the question on how they were able to sneak weapons in here—everything should've been confiscated by the school. And even so, how are they able to get it into the walls?"
"And then there was that girl. Something seemed off about her. Something familiar," Jordan responded.
"I guess now we gotta sleep with one eye open, but there is one thing I do understand: Mom and Dad are not to know about this. If they do—"
"They'll never let us out again. Agreed."