"I'm thinking of sending a letter with you." John walked into the living room and brought in two plates of beef stew.
The magnificent smell was lifted to Casey's nose, and the warmth from the steam touched his face.
"What's Gavin Wiley's part in all of this crap?"
"I think it has to be something big. They said online that he doesn't do anything to stop it."
He picked up a spoon full of the stew covered rice. Sweetness lifted his mood. Only for a moment.
"I'll also make some calls tomorrow. Maybe I can get some agents up there to investigate what's going on?"
"Do that, dad. John, the kid's been totally quiet now. With some of the things I've read online, I think the quicker we do something, the better for a lot of people."
"Yes, but that brings up another important point. I need you to get a little stronger before you leave Case."
He scooped up the biggest spoonful so far. John tilted it to one side of his mouth. Apparently it hadn't cooled enough.
He spoke. "So over the next eight days we'll cover the basics. Particularly compression and projection. And there's something I need to ask too."
"What is it dad?"
"What's stopping you from using your sword?"
And suddenly his words were much harder to find. Casey looked away from his father for a just a bit. He tapped his feet and found his words.
"I don't know who I should kill. And it is kinda confusing to me. Is it my right to make the decision? Can I be right?"
His father nodded. "Because you're a good person, Casey. That's why you're having this problem. I guess it's kind of a confidence thing, right? For me I kill for who and what I love."
Casey raised an eyebrow. "That's alright, then?"
"I don't know for sure, the scriptures are mixed on this" He leaned into the chair.
"Well, I'll think about how I'll do it too. They don't really get into killing. I think it says that I'm not supposed to fight, unless the other person starts it, or provokes me. It also said that I shouldn't kill brothers or sisters. Those are people in the faith."
"Yeah. But it doesn't mention much about non-believers and conflicts. I still think you're a good person. You'll get it son."
....
Rap played in the Steady as they stretched. They also wore shorts and tees today. The A/C felt comfortable.
It would be continuation of the same for Casey. He planned to practice mostly projection today.
John had him taught more advanced techniques, and the steps toward mastery were starting to develop.
Targets had been set up against the Steady's far wall. Blue rings filled with red centers. They looked small from where he stood.
He held up his right hand and concentrated. The feeling of composite mana made his hand bulge. Probably too much. He dropped the dosage, and sent elemental mana to, through, and out the node.
The composite made it move as Casey had wanted it. A ball of orange fire scorched amid the air. The impact obliterated the target.
"Nice, nice. Now, Case, try to make a beam with two fingers. Without destroying the wall."
....
"I can remember that time at breakfast, you said that you can maybe control fire, and stuff? What's your stuff?"
"May be electricity? I didn't try it because I never had a chance. Lightning is pretty dangerous, dad."
John paused his gaze on Casey, and squinted.
"What's wrong dad?"
His dad looked up at their ceiling. Seeing everything clean, he wondered what his father was thinking about.
"There are people that orient themselves with physical things, like totems? Like things in nature that make you want to worship. You see Cory? His mana is oriented towards the moon, Casey."
"He's a pagan? But I'm still a little lost with what you're getting at exactly?"
"When there is someone that can sense enough types of similar mana. And the types are cumulative in nature to a totem. They can dedicate their sorcery to it."
"So what type of person worships the moon?"
"I don't know. But it's not a first. Totems like the Great Sphere have servants." John grinned. "Your spirit friend."
Casey shook his head. "That's not my friend."
"Well it warned you about Crane, so it's pretty useful. Which is really weird." John leaned forward. "You may have more to your magic than you currently know. You'll have to find out what your actually sensing. But, Casey, just don't ever take a totem."
"I wouldn't. I'm a second heaven believer." He fixed his mouth in disgust. "What do they get from worshipping totems, dad?"
"There is power in focus."
He understood that in some cases specialization was the better call, especially in combat. You'd always reach for what would keep you alive.
He tapped his feet.
"We're going out on Tuesday. That's me, Rico, and Cory."
"Well just be careful". His father stood. "I'll bring the little giant home. We'll probably have to make a decision, too. About him going with you or staying with me?"
.....
Casey watched as boaters slid into George's pond. Their lights bobbed like dandelions, thistles, or cat tails in the wind.
A dark smeared mirror. Any lights from above were lowly replicas.
The sea breeze swept Casey's group.
Tonight they were all dressed nice. He had worn blue and white, and Cory had worn red and brown, and Rico had worn black and white. They would be a mess of interpretive art on a wall.
Even though his judgement was biased, he knew people would agree, that they looked good.
The lot was tared recently tared, the small nuggets that hadn't been smothed well crunched from their steps. It looked glossy; almost wet in a way.
They wove between parked cars and small lingering groups. Weed and alcohol floated around most.
The complex rested about twenty feet away from the water's edge. When he had been younger, he thought that it seemed dangerous but it had lasted until now. So he knew that he had been wrong. The walls around it would stop any storm surges in the summer. Those surges hadn't worn them. The stones near the shoreline were all pointed and rough instead.
They climbed up the stairway to Dodger's, one of only four night clubs in old Providence.
Rico said. "This place is really beautiful, Casey you should buy it?"
"And what would I do with a club?"
"Profit a lot. Very much."
Cory nudged his shoulder.
"Hey, we're single. Remember that you're in love Casey." He put on a thinking look. "Just bring them to me and tell them I'm better."
Casey laughed and shook his head.
The doorway had purple LEDs around a glass frame. Purple, became blue, bright blue as it strobed on the other side of the windows.
They entered passing through security. Casey shook his hand. It was the big guy from the cadoo fights. They smiled, and said hi.
All the lacquered wood and blue expensive wall paint surpassed any requirements he had ever known.
Cory said . "Let's get some drinks, dudes."
The room was huge. They had two bars inside. A lady with puffy hair, and shapely, served at the first bar. That was the one nearest the entrance. There were also sections far too their right. A few were on a raised floor to their left, and a balcony.
Light roamed across its glass doors.
Casey saw a lot of new faces as they waded to the bar. He smiled and ordered three beers. That would probably be his last drink for the night. His one beer.
Cory said. "Hey, so you guys feel ready for this?"
Rico said. "Yeah, I can't wait to get this over with. Shit is stressful as can be."
"Only a little bit to go."
Casey's mind had ran on the little giant. His father had brought him over tonight. The boy seemed so young, and shaky. He shook his head, and sighed.
His brothers were missing, and they had chosen to go to a bar. He supposed that they would be placing their lives in danger on this journey, so maybe that had made it alright?Maybe they could relax for tonight?
"To be truthful, I'm already thinking about what we could do after we're back. How do you guys feel about catching abberations for a living?" Cory said. "All of us are really strong, and we could make a huge difference in the rural areas around Bimini."
"I don't know if I can come back right now. Mr Knowles said that Altheia started asking for me already." Rico looked into his eyes. "Someone must have told them or something."
"You'll be free soon. It isn't like they can hold you against your will. Well hopefully not."
"Man, you're really bad company."
Casey laughed, as phone started to vibrate. He held a finger up to his friends, and walked through the crowd towards the balcony. The lights were ship lights on the pond.
The clouds had moved away so he could see their forms.
The mirror-like haze had left George's pond, so all of the reflections were better now. A wind blew his face as he called Kiana.
"Hi, you good?"
"I'm good." He could hear her smile. "You're busy tonight?"
"Well, um, we're at Dodgers to unwind before the trip." He tasted the bear on his lips. "I'm probably going to join the department of special interest. What do you think about that?"
As he told her about the view, and his view, and the night passed.