AA. 16 (Patreon)

Nil got a haircut and shaved prior to his meeting with Katherine Park. He had made no such attempts for his fight at the Pits since Emily claimed he looked grossly different and considerably uglier when not clean-shaven. It had been a while since he took care of himself, mostly settling for disposable razor shaves and trims that only cost him a fiver. Andrew used one of his endless connections to get him an appointment at the only decent and affordable hairdresser in South Harrow. It cost Nil almost five times what he usually spent on haircuts, but the service and pampering made it worth it.

The woman who attended to him brushed aside all of his opinions and requests and had her way with his hair. Nil walked out of the building with the hair along the sides and back of his head cut so short that it felt like bristly velvet when he ran his fingers over it. Meanwhile, she had respected his wishes and not altered the length on the top. The hairdresser used a toothed scissor to create an uneven effect and then brushed it backward.

It was the first time Nil got such a haircut, and didn’t know how to feel about it. Apparently, it was the previous year’s most popular style and made him look like he was in his early, instead of late, twenties. According to Emily, the increase in his Might score already made him look a little younger and more rugged. Nil also gained a quarter of an inch in height. He couldn’t wait to find out how a Finesse increase would change him.

Emily declared Nil’s wardrobe outdated and ugly. Though only twelve years old with a social life that mostly involved going to the cinema or hanging out in the local park, Sam, in his expert opinion, agreed. Fortunately, Nil believably convinced them that he didn’t have money to spare on clothes until his next summoning. Emily accompanied him to the scrapyard, and they went through his and Andrew’s wardrobes together.

Nil had a broader chest and shoulders, but Andrew stood six inches taller. As a result, a lot of their jackets, hoodies, and jumpers fit the other. Instead of fighting with his sister, he followed her sage advice. Emily dressed her brother in blue jeans, a casual salmon shirt, and a light grey jacket.

“Not too formal, and it doesn’t look like you’re trying too hard,” Emily declared. “How about some eyeliner or contouring? I think you could look great with—”

“No, Emmy,” Nil cut her off. “This is more than enough.”

Sam had accompanied the pair for the adventure to the scrapyard, and the entire experience had him clutching his stomach and laughing. “You’re giving her too much control, Dada,” he said—dada being the Bengali word for older brother. “Next thing you know, she’ll want to paint your nails.”

“And what’s wrong with that?” Emily frowned, hands on her hips.

“Nothing,” Sam said quickly, sitting up straight. “I don’t care as long as it's not me.”

“The most I’d allow would be a bright yellow smiley face on my middle finger,” Nil told his sibling and cousin and got chuckles from both. Because of the age gap, neither were used to him cracking such jokes. They only saw him with Udit around, and as a reasonably conservative Indian man, he didn’t appreciate swearing around minors or his children. Nil had to deal with occasional reprimands from his father whenever he slipped up.

Nil arrived at the meeting spot ten minutes before noon, doing his best not to look at the visage in tow. Andrew reminded him to be wary, given their less-than-illegal activities the Thursday prior. It wasn’t illegal to attend or participate in the pit’s activities. But the second money changed hands, whether it was for placing bets or collecting earnings, it turned into a crime. So, he repeatedly reminded himself not to bring up anything related to the Pits or training.

A surprisingly pretty visage awaited him. When Nil first met Officer Katherine Kim, he was too preoccupied to notice much besides her uniform. Now, a beautiful woman in a knee-length sky-blue pencil skirt, a white blouse, and a jean jacket greeted him. He couldn’t tell whether she looked shorter because of her flat ballet pumps or the little height he gained from the Might increase. Katherine was already at the ice cream stand, carrying a couple of shopping backs. She flashed him a pearly white smile when she spotted him.

“Punctual,” Katherine commented. “That’s always a positive.”

“It's nice to see you, Officer—”

“Nope!” She wagged a finger at him, eyes narrowed. The expression and her high ponytail made her look like a kindergarten teacher playfully telling off one of her students. “Katherine or Katie. We're not meeting on official police business, so no Officer nonsense.”

“I'm sorry.” Nil laughed. “Regular brushes around Regents Street and Oxford Circus—”

“I'm just teasing. Don't worry about it. Thank you for coming out to see me. A social call from the police is probably pretty weird.”

“To be honest, it is,” Nil said. “My friend and sister told me to stay on my best behavior and not say anything incriminating.”

“Why? Have you been up to anything criminal off-late?”

“Nothing comes to mind.”

Nil tried to shake Katherine's hand while she came in for a hug, leading to an awkward moment that ended in chuckles and giggles. They walked as they talked. He didn't know where they were going and let Katherine take the lead.

“So, how did your family react to your new status as a Summoned?” Katherine asked as they exited the mall and walked through Harrow Town Center. It was crowded, as expected on a Sunday afternoon.

“They weren't happy. I don't think the reality of it has sunk in yet. They only see the danger. I thought the money would make it better, but it didn't. It's clear they're terrified but don't want to say it.”

“Civilians don't get it. They only see the danger but not the value or opportunity. That's why living in a ludus is nice. You're surrounded by people going through the same thing as you. The training facilities help you get better and stronger. Your chances of survival while on quests increase, and the family worries less.”

“How long have you been a Summoned?” Nil asked.

“Six years. I had just turned eighteen.”

“How did your folks react?”

“Mum hated it,” Katherine answered. “I'm pretty sure she still does. Now that I'm Bronze Realm, I only need to go on quests every four to six months. Also, because of how my power developed, I don't get particularly dangerous assignments. So, she's more or less accepted it now. As for dad.” She sighed. “He really only gets in touch when he needs money.”

Family sounded like a sore topic. So, Nil transitioned the conversation to thoughts regarding the Nexus, the Schema's gifts, and quests. Katherine only took quests when necessary. As a result, her growth was slower than most. She didn't care for the combat side of things. Her power put her in the reasonably rare Psionic category—a mage variant that focused on abilities like telepathy, telekinesis, empathy, illusion, and other mental arts. Her quests usually involved solving crimes, rooting out spies, or foiling terrorist plots.

As the pair got to know each other, they walked away from the malls, shops, and restaurants. Katherine led him past office buildings and other commercial properties. He grew increasingly more confused and concerned as government buildings surrounded them. Several carried the metropolitan police force's logo.

“Where are we going?” Nil asked. “You didn't change your mind about whatever happened on the night of my summoning, did you?”

“Of course not.” Katherine laughed. She pointed at a building ahead. “I thought you might want a look around a government ludus. Seeing how we do things and what our available roles are might help you make your decision. You're well suited for a career with the police. Its—”

“Hold on a moment.” Nil stopped mid-stride. “Is this some sort of recruitment meeting?”

Katherine raised an eyebrow. She silently studied his expression for a moment. “What did you think this was?”

Nil shrugged. “I don't know. Perhaps a date.”

“Oh. I'm sorry if I misled you.” Katherine smiled sheepishly. “You just impressed a lot of people with your heroism. Your biodata and registration details are also pretty great. The higher-ups asked me to show you around and discuss the possibilities.”

“Oh. I'm sorry, Katherine, but a government job isn't for me. I have no interest in joining the Metropolitan Police.”

“Why? Do you have other plans?”

Nil nodded. “Apocalypse Arena.”

Katherine frowned. “Risking your life in quests isn't enough? It's not as glamorous as the screens say, you know. A surprising number fail to climb the ranks and end up in the police, military, or private security forces. I know we just met, and this might come across as rude, but do you really want to throw your life away in the arena? Someone like you really belongs in a profession where they’re helping the vulnerable.”

“It's for the greater good, isn't it?” Nil asked. “I’ll still be helping people but in my own way. I know this will sound rehearsed, but I’ve been preparing for when my family finds out. Victories on the multiversal stage strengthen our universe’s defenses against the Void. Our Earth and city will win resources, too. Once my rank is high enough, I can also influence how the resources are spent and make real changes.”

“Is that really why you want to get into it?” Katherine appeared unconvinced. “It's not for fame, money, and power?”

“I don't care about fame. But the money would certainly be nice. My father is in his sixties and still working, and has two minors to support. The three of them live in a tiny two-bedroom house on the verge of falling apart. Almost all my quest earnings went into repairs and refurbishments, and there is still much more to do. Life for the non-Summoned is getting harder every day, Katie. I'd like to ensure my sister and cousin have the best education and opportunities so they can have decent futures as civilians.”

“I'm sorry,” Katherine said. “Questioning your reasoning and motivations was out of line. It's none of my business. I'd still like to show you around the ludus.” She grabbed Nil's hand when he tried to protest. “I promised you lunch, and there's someone who really wants to meet you.”

Nil relented. Discovering that the meeting wasn't a date only stung for a moment. Relief replaced his disappointment a moment later. He found Katherine incredibly alluring, doubly so in her civilian clothes. Bronze Realm did wonders for her physique, and she had all the physical qualities that attracted Nil. However, the presence of the visage still irked him, and he wouldn't need to deal with guilt or other discomfort later. The attempt at luring him to a government job annoyed him, but his parents raised him to be friendly and polite. So, he played along and let Katherine show him around the ludus. He remained wary of her as they continued walking and talking.

Psionic mages often had mind-probing abilities and used them for convincing or manipulating people. Katherine didn’t come across as the type of person who would use her abilities in such a way, but Nil worried that’s precisely the image she wanted to project. He also wondered whether her superiors had ordered her to try to recruit him specifically because of and using her powerset.

Would I even know, given my low Mind score? Didn’t Layla say it improves psychic defenses?

It felt as if he had stepped into a brochure. Young, beautiful people of several ethnicities walked the halls and trained in the high-end facilities full of Arthurtech equipment—Nil doubted it was the same quality or models as Wilson Luduses, but the machines still intrigued him. It was indeed impressive, and a government job ensured subsidized accommodation and membership, but it wasn't what Nil wanted.

Katherine showed him to her suite, where a special guest awaited him. It was Officer Johanssen.

“I couldn't live with myself if I didn't thank you personally, Mr Roy,” she said, shaking his hand. “The bastard would've killed me if you didn't interfere. If there is anything I personally or the Metropolitan Police can do for you, please don't hesitate to ask. Thank you.”

Nil didn't know how to respond. He hadn't expected to see the woman ever again. “You're welcome, Officer Johanssen. I—”

“Susan. It's Susan.”

“Well, it's nice to meet you officially, Susan.” Nil glanced at Katherine. His embarrassment peaked as the woman grasped his right hand with both hers and continued shaking. “I wasn't expecting to see you today.”

“Susan and I have been speaking often since the incident and your return from your first quest,” Katherine explained. “When she found out I'll be showing you around, she insisted on meeting you.”

“I hope you don't mind,” Susan finally released his hand.

“Not at all. I was dreading this walk around, but seeing another familiar face makes it better.” He paused, glancing at the door. “Officer Jones isn't on his way up, is he?”

Susan’s shoulders drooped. “The medics were late getting to him. He suffered permanent damage and left the force.”

“Do you like fried chicken?” Katherine asked cheerily. Nil didn't know whether it was her Schema-given ability or a natural skill, but her question injected levity into the morose awkwardness.

“I love it,” Nil replied. “It's my guilty pleasure food.”

“Great. I'll order some Korean Fried Chicken and some beers.”

“You're allowed to drink in here?” Nil raised an eyebrow.

“Of course. I'm not on duty, and this is my home.”