THE MOMENT
"It doesn't feel right," Wattley shook his head. He was a mousey, spectacled man in wizard's robes, one of two people in the spacious garage. It was as large as a warehouse and open on both ends to allow a cool breeze through. He was talking to the garage's owner, Aurelio. The chubby teen's appearance was initially a surprise to Wattley, but the young man quickly proved himself to the wizard. "Not enough, you know?" he finished his thought, and Aurelio nodded knowingly.
"I know exactly what you mean," Aurelio grinned, and his brown eyes sparkled. "I can promise you; there are far worse things than death." Wattley's eyes lit up as a smile took shape. But, Aurelio didn't notice. He was too distracted by the sudden appearance of Oren.
"Like what?" Wattley asked eagerly.
"Like having friends....," Aurelio sighed and shook his head. Then, he gave Wattley a clear glass card. "I'll have to revisit with you at a later time," he added as he nodded at the tall, lean teen who stood by quietly. "Something came up. That node...," he nodded at the glass card. "...will explain my services to help you decide. In the meantime, please leave," he added. The wizard shrugged and nodded. He'd waited decades for his revenge. He learned how to traverse universes specifically to find the most punishing act he could, and it looked like Aurelio was the guy he needed.
"Alright, I'll see you again," Wattley agreed and disappeared in a flash of black smoke.
"Can I get a heads up before you barge in?" Aurelio asked Oren once Wattley was gone.
"I'm here because you're not answering," Oren replied with a flat expression.
"Oh yeah," Aurelio cringed internally as he realized his own mistake. "I turned off my Whispers, 23 wouldn't shut up." Oren chuckled and glanced around the garage.
"Well, it looks like she's off your hands temporarily at least. Up for a game?" he asked.
"Might as well, since you already interrupted business," Aurelio nodded as Oren opened a portal and stepped into it. Aurelio followed him, and they emerged in a bustling city. They stood on the sidewalk as pedestrians filed by alongside morning traffic. "She's fine in the box," he finished replying once they were already on the new Earth.
"What?" Oren asked with a smile. "Your idea of taking care of her is keeping her locked up in a box?" They hadn't decided on a game yet, and the comment drew some uncomfortable looks from strangers as they walked by.
"What's to take care of? It's a broken node," Aurelio shrugged. " Jenny wanted me to keep the card in the box, and I'm doing that, at least until I figure out how to put the card back together."
"She's an Awakened Unique Soul and very convinced you're her dad," Oren reminded him.
"Yeah, don't remind me," Aurelio shook his head, but Oren chuckled.
"If you're her dad... I wonder. Does that make Jenny her mom?" he asked with a broad smile.
"No! And I'm not her dad! 23 is an accident that came into existence. At best, she's an A.I. program that gained sapience; it's not like there's anything biological connecting us."
"What about metaphysical?" Oren asked with a persistent grin. "You used La Espada, didn't you?"
Aurelio shut his mouth instantly, and dropped his shoulders. He exhaled a heavy sigh. He opened a new portal and walked through it to return to his garage. Oren, thoroughly amused, followed him. La Espada was itself a Unique Item. And, in order to wield it properly, a person needed to let their soul guide the intent. It was at that moment that Aurelio realized he might have had a small part in the accident.
"So, no game?" He asked. Aurelio shook his head.
"Lost interest. I'm gonna see if I can figure out how to put 23 back together," he said.
"You know Jenny's soul is all over that card, right?" Oren smiled as he brought up the topic again.
"I know...," Aurelio grumbled without looking up. He'd wandered over to his work desk and began pretending to be busy.
"Your soul and Jenny's soul made a little baby soul," Oren couldn't hold back the laughter anymore and erupted with cackles.
"Here," Aurelio gave Oren a clear node. "Quit bothering me and go help this guy, give him a freebie," he said. "It's the wizard that was just here, he's got someone in mind that he wants to give a fate worse than death to."
"What...," Oren prepared the question as he opened a portal and stepped into it. He wanted to be gone as soon as he got the comment out. "... you want me to help the victim start a family?" He laughed as the portal closed behind him.