Arlan sent the catamarans staff away with a disinterested wave. The men and women scurried away like, well, rats. It was almost fitting Ozzy thought that even people in the rat gods employ who knew the plight of dwelling underfoot cared little for the ones that dwelt beneath their own feet.

  “Our mutual friend spoke highly of you.” Arlan said, offering out a conversational olive branch.

  “That surprises me,” Ozzy admitted, “I don’t think I’ve moving at his speed.”

  “You might be wrong there, most people are more alike with rats than you’d expect. We’re both social creatures after all. All of the negative rep the world gives us is but a smokescreen.” Arlan said.

  “Our mutual friend” Ozzy mimed Arlan’s evasive language, “told me something similar when we met. You’re one of the members of the circle then?” Ozzy asked, getting to it.

  Arlan nodded appreciatively as Ozzy got to the point. “Correct, I work as the circles administrative head. The woman you saw get off with Trinidad is also a member, though her role is a much bloodier one than mine.” He explained.

  “She’s our backup then?” Ozzy asked, only for Arlan to shake his head.

  “She is your witness. Despite our exceptionally competent abilities our arrival would only take your defeat from a certainty to a near certainty. She is just on the cusp of arriving to the fourth tier while I am a freshly minted member of the tier. Together we might be able to hold the Saint off for a time but he has been a tier 4 since I received my first core. No, she is here to ensure the Saint and all of his starry-eyed goons behave and don’t force you to see the light.”

  “What about Trinidad? Why’d you bring her?” Ozzy asked. “I’m happy to see another friendly face don’t get me wrong but I don’t get why you brought her of all people.” Ozzy asked.

  An eyebrow quirked upwards as the ghost of a smile touched Arlan’s lips. “We brought her mainly to keep that fiery district leader of yours in check. After doing some digging, we found she has the bad habit of lashing out when she feels her control of any given situation slipping. Not to mention we want to sow a few seeds of good karma with our new friend.” Arlan said, not caring in the least for subtlety.

  “I hate being surrounded by old people.” Ozzy groaned, looking with interest back down at the train as Lucy began yelling even louder.

  “Hey, I’m simply a victim of absorbing cores late in life, I’m only 114.” Arlan said proudly, a frown creasing the ancient man’s face as Ozzy’s jaw nearly hit the deck.

  “A hundred and fourteen????” Ozzy asked incredulously.

  “And what of it?” Arlan asked, a tone of confusion entering his voice.

  “You know I’m a cosmic stranger right?” Ozzy asked, his voice warbling slightly as he realized he was talking to a hundred- and fourteen-year-old who could probably fight a Rakthim and win.

  Nodding Arlan said. “It was mentioned to me.”

  “Where I’m from, the average person only lives to about 70.” Ozzy said.

  “That’s low certainly, but we have plenty of core users who only make it that far.” Arlan rationalized.

  “No, that’s not what I meant by average, people don’t fight in my home like they do here. That’s the life expectancy of someone who lives a completely safe life, even the wealthiest people around only get a few extra years on the average schmucks that run around. If someone’s 114 on my world then they can’t even feed themselves.” Ozzy explained.

  It was Arlan’s turn to look confused and slightly horrified at the notion of such a short life. “Then how old are you?” He asked, his voice telling Ozzy that the the man probably wasn’t sure whether or not he truly wanted an answer.

  “I’m 21.” Ozzy said, and Arlan’s jaw went slack.

  ***

  The booming cry that came out of Arlan’s mouth shook the roosting trees from their nests and probably vibrated the surface of the swamp from there all the way to the Murk. “You’re WHAT?!?!?!?!”

  Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

  Covering his ears Ozzy felt his head literally vibrate from the force of Arlan’s shout. It was like standing in front of a concert speaker, and as tinnitus inducing as a shotgun blast.

  “I’m 21!” Ozzy shouted back at him, doing his best and failing to match the inhuman volume of the old mans shout.

  Shivering into a look of disgust and confusion Arlan took a step back from Ozzy and turned. Shaky hands reached up to the old man’s unkempt hair as he ran fingers over his scalp in frustration. Muttering something to himself about ethics and gods.

  Wheeling back around to face Ozzy, Arlan had a look of world changing determination chiseled across his features.

  “Alright, we’re taking you back to our headquarters where you can go ahead and mature for another decade before ever even looking at Trinidad or another monster again.” He spoke in rapid fire succession before leaning over the railing to shout at Trinidad and his Circle companion. “Change of plans you two, get up here!”

  “Woah what the hell’s going on?” Ozzy asked him. Following his gaze and watching as the two women talking to Lucy shrugged and leapt up to the other side of the Catamaran.

  “I am many things Ozzy,” Arlan said, a strange firmness entering his voice, “but before anything else I am a father. I will not be party to letting children fight, and neither would Remulas.” He said, using the Gods name for the first time.

  “I’m not a child Arlan.” Ozzy shot back angrily. “I don’t know how it works here but I’m more than enough of an adult to do whatever the hell I feel like. What are you talking about with this taking me to your headquarters and letting me mature?” Ozzy asked, feeling hot anger rising up in his throat as Arlan dismissed him as a man.

  That was right about when Trinidad and the other woman arrived. Trinidad smiled when she saw him, and despite himself Ozzy felt some of that anger flow from him to be replaced by another less predictable emotion.

  “What are you freaking out about now Arlan.” The new woman asked as she sashayed into view. She was average for the people around here, only a little bit shorter than Ozzy. Jet black hair, delicate features, and practical traveling attire made her look less like the object of violence Arlen had described her as and more like any other well prepared swamp goer.

  “He’s a kid Aria, Remulas sent us to bring a kid into the circle!” He ranted.

  “I’m not a kid Arlan!” Ozzy spat.

  “You’re younger than all of mine! And they haven’t even started to think about leaving the nest.” He whirled on Ozzy, pointing an accusatory finger at him.

  This stopped the two approaching women, both of them looking at Ozzy with confusion, concern, and in Trinidad’s case a look of potentially being sick.

  “Arlan, you said your youngest was 47, right?” Trinidad asked hopefully. “Didn’t you say something about them being late bloomers?”

  Turning to face Trinidad Arlan looked both sorry and somewhat grossed out. “…You should just ask him-”

  “I’m 21! What’s wrong with that? Back home you’re considered an adult when you turn 18!” Ozzy said, giving each an annoyed stare down.

  While Aria seemed surprised but not all that put out Trinidad looked downright distraught. It was like she was going back through all of her decisions and mentally punching herself in the gut for each one.

  “SEE?!?!” Arlan shouted, stretching a hand out at and waving it at Ozzy as if they all didn’t already know he was the current topic of discussion, making Ozzy throw his hands up in the air in frustration.

  “I don’t see what’s wrong with it. We already know he can fight.” Aria suggested, leading to the other two “adults” on deck to look at her like she’d just grown horns, Trinidad opening and closing her mouth as she searched for anything to say to refute her.

  “Thank you!” Ozzy said loudly, looking between Arlan and Trinidad as he waited for them to come to their own senses.

  “I’m going to be sick.” Trinidad said, not meeting any of their gazes as she turned to leave.

  “Wait you have to back me up here!” Arlan shouted, “This barbarian doesn’t know anything other than violence!” He hissed at Aria who just shrugged in confirmation.

  “If Trinidad is leaving then Aria and I outvote you.” Ozzy suggested, catching a toothy grin from the so-called barbarian.

  Hearing this Trinidad turned on her heel and stomped back to the group, but right before she could open her mouth to refute Ozzy’s vote a power settled over the Catamaran.

  “Arlan, what have I told you about going with the flow?” A ball of smoke formed on the deck, slowly solidifying into the form of none other than Remulas.

  “My lord.” Arlan and Aria said synonymously, both bowing deeply as Trinidad went slack jawed and also made a hurried bowing movement. Everyone offered their respect, everyone save for Ozzy.

  “As entertaining as it is to watch you all tear each other apart with your lack of understanding as to worldly norms I was moved to intercede by Ozzy’s true patron.” He explained. “Ozzy is from a place with rules much different to this one. He is not a child and is as developed as any normal tier zero. That I have to explain this to you, and you weren’t able to figure it out yourselves is as concerning as it is entertaining. Aria, good work as ever.” Remulas praised.

  “Thank you.” Ozzy said, feeling completely vindicated and letting out a weary sigh.

  “That being said.” Remulas began and Ozzy felt the hope he had for an easy resolution begin to slip. “He is not like you. Ozzy is a pure-blooded human with the traits and powers of a stranger. That includes all of the downsides as well as the advantages of being human. You will all need to teach him how to overcome them. Chiefest amongst these problems, a distinct lack of experience. While it is not the case, he might as well just be some kid as you so eloquently suggested earlier Arlan.” Remulas said, and Ozzy glared at the rat god who slowly began to fade away. “And Ozzy, do tell the Lady of Light I say hello.”

  Looking around at the now awe filled core users Ozzy let out a second weary sigh. He was seriously starting to hate today.