The boy y sleeping. Lightning-shaped scars ran across his skin where his mana pathways once were. He had no presence—to the onlookers if they did not confirm his breathing with their own eyes they would have not even known he lived.

  Scale watched as the hand of the [System] reached down towards the child, following some arbitrary spellwork code. The tendrils of ancient magic recoiled. Processes were followed one by one. Information transfer required energy, but no energy remained to be paid. Like a snake with fangs closing upon its own tail, the magic circled in loops. None present but Scale could bear witness as the [System] drank from its own marrow. The event horizon colpsed and the magic weave paid the cost—it continued the connection.

  “Fascinating.” Scale’s voice shattered the calm. The father and his servant jumped forward to inspect the boy with shaking hands.

  “Is—Is he…” The father couldn’t speak out the question he wanted to ask. His hands shook like his voice and he cradled his boy, relieved at the child’s every breath.

  “Yes. He will recover.” Scale spoke with confidence. She watched corrupted characters cross the void; the [System] wailed at the child’s very existence. The boy would still be able to see and interact with the [System] even if he had no mana. What that meant for his future was uncertain. It was unique, but unique wasn't necessarily good. “He’ll be weak for a while while he heals, and I would keep him far away from any Gates or monsters.” She could foresee mana-born camities targeting the child if they were ever allowed in close proximity, much the same way a positive charge would seek a negative: opposites attract.

  “Of course. He’s no longer an Awakened. Why would I ever—”

  “You don’t quite understand,” said Scale. “Nor do I care enough to make you understand.” She raised her hand and turned towards the door. She had seen the results and her understanding of the ancient magic known as the [System] had advanced. She accomplished what she came for and now she wanted to go home and work on her garden. “Just keep what I said in mind.”

  “F-father?” The boy opened his eyes.

  “Yoru!”

  Scale didn’t wait to watch the tearful dramatic reunion. The father and son pyed out their soap opera in the background. Scale did notice the Chairman following her out. His shiny head reminded her of a promise she made earlier. Her lips curled but the smile didn’t reach her eyes.

  “Ah. Mr Association President~”

  Before the man could react a hand was at his throat, cinching his windpipe. He prided himself on his physical capabilities, but there was such a monumental difference that he couldn’t even put up any resistance.

  “From now on, you are only allowed to say your favorite word. Do you understand?” Scale tilted her head to the side.

  “Kkkkkkkchchhkkk.” The chairman made a sputtering sound, unable to speak with a vice closed on his neck.

  “Do you want to go together to one of the training grounds for some light exercise?” Scale leaned her head forward until her mouth was next to the chairman’s ear. She had to pull his head down a few inches because of the height difference, making his stance awkward and unsteady. Her voice became a whisper: “You’ll have to speak up. I can’t hear you.”

  The pressure on his throat vanished for a moment. The chairman took a deep breath through his nose and closed his eyes. A myriad of thoughts fshed through his mind, but eventually he settled on the only correct move. He replied with a single, confident word.

  “Yes.”

  “Good boy.”

  “This is channel 4 news. Yesterday, following reports of a localized earthquake, the Association Headquarters third training ground was destroyed in what officials are calling a freak accident. The Association is reporting it as a gas leak, but some sources are ciming that it was actually—”

  Click. The channel changed.

  “Returnee Princess Scale closed an S-rank Gate this morning alongside her sister, the hero Watergss. Here we have footage showing the two returning—”

  Click.

  “Ueno Industries has announced a new CFO, the current CEO’s son, Ueno Yoru. Some are questioning the decision given Yoru’s young age and extensive medical history—”

  Click.

  “This is Hana the Gossi—”

  The TV turned off. Scale leaned back and sighed. Her day had been ruined by the sudden appearance of an S-rank Gate. She ran to it immediately, afraid it might be reted to her mother, but this one wasn’t special. It was just routine. Alyssa had tagged along on the off chance of meeting Scale’s mom, but instead the two opted to train Alyssa’s use of her new skills away from prying eyes.

  “Ah.” Scale was sleepy. She looked outside but the afternoon sun was still high in the sky. She considered just going to bed but a knock at the door snuffed that idea in the cradle. Languid, she climbed to her feet and swayed to the door, her arms rocking left and right like willow branches in the breeze. She reached the door and paused when she saw Heavy Tomtom and his wife outside through the peephole. She opened the door and was immediately pulled into a hug.

  “Miss Altiman! Oh wait. I’m sorry, Miss Scale!” Mrs. Tomtom briefly forgot about being on a first-name basis with Scale.

  “Betty, it’s nice to see you,” said Scale, her head wedged into the heavyset woman’s chest. She pulled her head free. “What do I owe the occasion?”

  The couple exchanged gnces. A conversation occurred entirely through their eyes. Scale wasn’t privy to it, but she admired the closeness the two shared. Finally, Mrs. Tomtom nodded.

  “It’s about Harper.”

  “I figured. Do you two want to come in and sit down?”

  “Yes. Please.”

  Scale led the way and showed her guests to the living room. “Do either of you want something to drink? Water? Coffee?”

  “No, we’re fine, dear.”

  Scale shrugged. “Suit yourself.” She grabbed a juice box from her fridge, strawberry kiwi, an option she hadn’t presented to her guests, and sipped from the straw as she sat down in her favorite chair. “So, tell me what this is about.”

  Mrs. Tomtom sighed. “You know about Harper being bullied at her school, right?”

  “Yes. You told me that you were looking into it.”

  “We were.” It was Heavy who spoke this time. “But there’s a problem.”

  Scale frowned. “You’re an S-rank. What kind of problem could possibly—”

  “It’s her friends. Her friends are the ones who are bullying her.” Mrs. Tomtom fanned herself. “We want to step in but Harper won't talk to us about it, and these are kids she’s been around for a long time. She insists it’s only horsing around.”

  “Ah.” Scale froze. “So these kids and her have been friends for—”

  “Two years. They’ve been together for two years. We knew these children. They’ve been to our home. I don’t know when it started, but something’s changed.”

  “Have you asked the school?” Scale rubbed her wrist.

  “The principal told us that he has no idea what we’re talking about. None of the teachers will talk to us either.”

  “They can just ignore an S-rank?”

  “The Principal who runs the Association School is also an S-rank, and numerous members of the School Board are also A and S rank. I don’t have the weight to throw around there.” Heavy leaned forward and put his elbows on his knees, completely ignoring the pun he unintentionally made.

  Scale fought hard to keep a serious expression on her face. A man named ‘Heavy’ talking about throwing his weight around tickled her. She fidgeted and sipped on her juice box again.

  “So, you need proof and the school won't provide any. Is that the gist of it?”

  “Mhmm,” Mrs Tomtom nodded. “Your connection to Harper isn’t widely known and you are the most famous person in Response City right now, so you're a hot commodity. We want to have you become a guest lecturer at the School. You’d be able to enter and leave at will, and no one would suspect you intervening if you happened to see some kids horsing around.”

  “Harper would avoid me like the pgue if she saw me at her school… Not to mention I have no credentials outside of my strength. How would I even get a job like that?”

  “The Association Chairman owes me a favor and he seemed more than willing to cooperate when we talked yesterday. In fact the moment we mentioned having you go to the Academy he almost jumped out of his seat. He was exceptionally willing to have you go there, for some reason. He can get you that position.”

  “Ah.” Scale sighed and wore a sheepish smile. She might have been a bit too rough yesterday… No! It was the Chairman who was in the wrong! She only killed him three times and she even healed him fully afterwards. As far as she was concerned she had been a saint! Admittedly, threatening him to not charge her for the damages to the training ground was a little less saintly, but she had simply been using the training ground for its intended purpose. Training bad habits out of people was a good thing.

  Scale wanted to refuse this 'job offer'. She desperately wanted to refuse and not touch this issue at all. She liked Harper but she didn't want to interfere if the girl didn't want her to, and Harper had been explicit in not wanting help. The whole situation felt too close to home in many ways, as well. Harper would never forgive her for stepping in. Scale closed her eyes and leaned back in her chair. She sighed and was about to say ‘no’ when images fshed through her mind—she remembered the girl’s ragged soaked uniform and then she remembered the girl walking home barefoot on bleeding feet… Scale grit her teeth. Her nose wrinkled and her hands clenched.

  “Fine. I’ll try.” Scale gred at the couple. “But I can’t guarantee anything. The moment Harper finds out I’m working at the school she’ll avoid me like the pgue, and I doubt any kids are going to just start bullying their peers in front of a lecturer.”

  “Thank you, Scale!” Mrs. Tomtom jumped from her seat and wrapped Scale into another dizzying hug, spinning the small dragon girl around in circles. She completely ignored Scale's worries as if they were air.

  ‘Ah,’ thought Scale as she got another face-full of rge boobs. ‘I’ve made a mistake.’