Jake spent the next day doing what the system called "environmental familiarization". which really meant wandering around the city looking at allmthe weird shit.
The supernatural world was everywhere once you knew how to look. Void entities clustered around hospitals and prisons, feeding on pain and despair. Wisps of colored energy drifted through parks where emotions ran high, red near the basketball courts, soft blue around the duck pond, sickly yellow near the parking lot where people argued.
And then there were the other Awakened.
Jake had passed at least three people who clearly could see what he saw. They had that same sharp awareness, eyes tracking things invisible to normal humans. One was an older Asian man in traditional clothing who nodded at Jake knowingly. Another was a punk-looking girl with purple hair who'd given him a suspicious glare. The third was a businessman who'd simply pretended Jake didn't exist.
No one approached him. No one offered guidance. Apparently, the supernatural community wasn't big on welcoming committees.
[Note: Awakened individuals often keep to themselves. Many belong to established factions or organizations. Solo Awakened are common but vulnerable. Sisterhood will provide strength through unity.]
"Yeah, well, the Sisterhood currently has zero members, so I'm vulnerable either way," Jake muttered, sitting on a bench in Volunteer Park.
His phone sat heavy in his pocket. Sarah's number was saved, but he still hadn't called. What was he supposed to say? "Hey, remember me from the coffee shop? Want to grab lunch and also join my magical organization that fights demons?"
[Quest timer: 48 hours remaining]
Jake sighed. He needed to make the call, but his old anxieties kept creeping back. What if she thought he was weird? What if she was just being polite at the coffee shop and didn't actually want to hear from him? What if—
"You're Awakened."
Jake jerked up from the bench. The punk girl with purple hair stood a few feet away, arms crossed, studying him with intense green eyes. Up close, she looked maybe twenty-five, with multiple piercings and a leather jacket covered in pins and patches.
"I... what?"
"Don't play dumb. I can tell. You've got that fresh Awakened look, seeing things for the first time, trying not to freak out." She tilted her head. "What happened? artifact? Ritual? Near-death experience?"
Jake's mouth opened and closed. He hadn't expected to be confronted. "Is that... a normal question?"
"In our world? Yeah." She dropped onto the bench beside him, pulling out a vape pen. "I'm Raven. Not my real name, obviously, but it's what I go by. You're radiating newbie energy so hard I could spot you from three blocks away."
"Jake. My name's Jake." He hesitated. "And yeah, artifact. Two days ago."
Raven whistled low. "Two days? Damn. You're handling it better than most. I've seen fresh Awakened have complete breakdowns." She took a hit from her vape, and Jake noticed the vapor came out faintly purple. "So what's your deal? You join a faction yet? Got a mentor? Or are you flying solo?"
"Solo, I guess. The artifact gave me a... system. It's training me."
Her eyebrows shot up. "A system? Like a game interface?" When Jake nodded, she let out a low whistle. "Shit, man. That's rare. Like, really rare. Most of us just get raw abilities and have to figure things out. What kind of system?"
Jake hesitated. Should he tell her about the Sisterhood? About his mission?
[Warning: Information security is recommended until Sisterhood is established. Revealing mission parameters may attract unwanted attention from hostile factions.]
Right. Probably shouldn't tell a random stranger that he was rebuilding an ancient organization that was destroyed by demon worshippers.
"It's... complicated. Helps me level up and learn abilities."
Raven studied him for a long moment, then shrugged. "Fair enough. Everyone's got secrets." She stood up, fishing a card from her pocket. "Look, Seattle's supernatural scene is small but intense. Lots of factions, lots of politics, lots of assholes. You seem okay, so here's my number. You get in trouble, you need information, you call me. First consultation's free."
Jake took the card. It just said "Raven" and a phone number. "Why help me?"
"Because I remember being new and scared and having no idea what the hell was happening." Her expression softened slightly. "And because solo Awakened tend to die fast. Consider me your welcome wagon."
She walked away before Jake could respond, disappearing into the park crowd. He looked down at the card, then at his phone.
Two contacts now. Sarah, the normal woman who didn't know the supernatural world existed. And Raven, who lived in it.
Different paths. Different possibilities.
[Quest reminder: FIRST CONTACT - 47:23:15 remaining]
Jake pulled up Sarah's number. His thumb hovered over the call button. The old anxiety tried to surface, what if she doesn't remember you, what if she's busy, what if—
He pressed call before he could talk himself out of it.
It rang three times. Jake's heart hammered. Maybe she wouldn't answer. Maybe she'd let it go to voicemail and he could just—
"Hello?"
"Hi, uh, Sarah? This is Jake. From the coffee shop yesterday? You gave me your card about employment lawyers."
"Jake! Yes, of course I remember. How are you?"
She sounded genuinely pleased to hear from him. Jake felt some of his anxiety ease.
"I'm okay. Managing. I actually wanted to thank you again for the help. You didn't have to do that."
"Oh, it was nothing. I know how rough sudden unemployment can be. Have you had any luck with the job search?"
They talked for twenty minutes. Sarah told him about a few firms that were hiring, offered to pass his resume along to contacts, asked about his background. Jake found himself relaxing, actually enjoying the conversation. She was easy to talk to, professional but warm.
"Hey, I know this might be forward," Sarah said, "but I'm meeting a friend for lunch tomorrow at that little Italian place on Pike. If you're free, you should join us. My friend Rachel is a recruiter, might be able to help with your job search."
Jake's breath caught. She was inviting him to lunch. With her friend. This was either networking or something more, but either way, it was a chance.
"I'd like that. Yeah. What time?"
"Noon? The place is called Lombardi's."
"I'll be there. Thanks, Sarah."
"See you tomorrow, Jake."
The call ended, and Jake sat there, slightly stunned.
[QUEST COMPLETED]
[Rewards: +2 Charm, +1 Leadership, 20 XP]
[Sarah Chen favorability increased: Stranger → Acquaintance]
[Note: Continued positive interactions will increase favorability and unlock recruitment opportunity]
Jake checked his stats.
[Charm: 7/100]
[Leadership: 4/100]
[XP: 45/200]
Seven charm. He was still pathetic, but less pathetic than three days ago. And he had a lunch date, or networking opportunity, or whatever it was, it was with an attractive, successful woman who didn't look at him like he was a loser.
[WARNING: Supernatural activity spike detected in Pike Place Market area]
[Void entity concentration increasing]
[Recommended action: Investigation]
[Optional Quest Available: MARKET INVESTIGATION]
Jake looked toward downtown, where the market would be bustling with afternoon crowds. Somewhere in that crowd, supernatural entities were gathering. The system wanted him to investigate.
He thought about his MINOR SPIRIT BOLT ability. He still couldn't use it,not enough Spirit points. He thought about the void feeder he'd seen, how it had been the size of a dog and made of living shadow.
He thought about Sarah's smile on the phone, about the lunch tomorrow, about the possibility of normal human connection.
Then he thought about the shadow creatures in his apartment, the green mist choking Seattle's streets, the way the supernatural world was bleeding into the normal one.
"Show me the optional quest," Jake said.
[MARKET INVESTIGATION]
[Investigate supernatural activity spike in Pike Place Market]
[Locate source of void entity concentration]
[Difficulty: D-Rank]
[Reward: +3 Spirit, +2 Wisdom, 50 XP, Rare Shop Item unlock]
[Warning: D-Rank difficulty may present danger to Level 2 HOST]
[Accept Quest? Y/N]
D-Rank. One tier above what he'd done so far. The warning was clear, this might be dangerous.
Jake stood up from the bench. His hands weren't shaking anymore. His heart was calm.
"Accept quest."
[Quest Accepted. Good luck, HOST.]