The Kaesor family sat around the living room, and the air was tense. Sean was back home, now seated on the sofa. The doctors had given him a clean bill of Health earlier in the day with a warning that he should rest for a few more days. Dad and Vicky had brought him home at the first opportunity; neither was fond of hospitals, but then who was? Despite the questions that had followed, I had refused to answer any questions until Uncle Wolf arrived. I could practically see the steam coming out of Vicky's ears by this point. Patience was not her strong suit when she wanted answers. Unfortunately for her, I wasn't budging.

  Which leads to the glaring match going on over the coffee table currently. My sister was losing, as far as I was concerned.

  The doorbell rang, breaking the tense silence. I stood up, grateful for the excuse to escape Vicky's piercing gaze. "That'll be Uncle Wolf," I said, heading for the door.

  As I opened it, Uncle Wolf's familiar, weathered face greeted me. His eyes, sharp as ever, took in my expression, and he nodded slightly. "Aiden," he said, his voice low and steady. "I take it everyone's ready?"

  I let out a breath I didn't realize I'd been holding. "As ready as they'll ever be, I suppose, given the way Vicky’s been trying to drill a hole in my head with her eyes all morning."

  Uncle Wolf chuckled, a deep rumble in his chest. "That girl's always been a firecracker. Well, let's not keep them waiting any longer."

  We made our way back to the living room, where the tension seemed to have ratcheted up another notch. Dad looked up, his face a mixture of relief and apprehension. Sean, still pale from his hospital stay, managed a weak smile. He’d been rather subdued after his brush with death. Vicky, on the other hand, practically leapt to her feet.

  "Finally!" she exclaimed. "Now, can someone please tell me what the hell is going on?"

  I exchanged a glance with Uncle Wolf, who gave me a slight nod. This was my show to run. I took a deep breath. I wasn't usually one to be overly sensitive to whatever the situation was, but this time I could feel the weight of it. This conversation was going to change things, hopefully for the better.

  "Alright," I began, my voice steadier than I felt. "What I'm about to tell you is going to sound... well, insane. But I need you all to hear me out completely before you react. Can you do that?"

  Dad leaned forward, his brow furrowed. "Son, we know things have been strange. Things you haven’t wanted to tell us about. So just lay it all out for us, so we can understand.”

  I closed my eyes for a moment. I could explain and talk until I was blue in the face, but there was no way I was going to get out of this without showing them definitive proof. The Kaesor family as a whole was too suspicious for that. The proof was what concerned me at the moment. I was unsure how they would handle the idea that I could turn into a giant murder machine of a spider, or Vipera; I had no idea how they would handle her existence.

  I let out a heavy sigh. Best to deal with it like a Band-Aid and rip the whole thing off in one go.

  "Alright," I said, steeling myself. "The truth is, magic is real. And not just parlour tricks or sleight of hand. Real, honest-to-god magic. I know because I can use it."

  The room fell silent. I could see the disbelief etched on their faces, but true to their word, they didn't interrupt.

  "There's this... System," I continued, the words tumbling out now. "It's like a cosmic force that's come to Earth. It grants people access to magic, lets us level up, and gain skills. It's why I've been acting strange, and where I disappeared for two years. I didn't leave; I was taken. A sort of magical accident, so to speak."

  I paused, watching their reactions carefully. Dad's face was a mask of confusion, Sean looked both skeptical and intrigued, and Vicky... well, Vicky looked like she was about to explode. Pretty much the reactions I expected. Though admittedly, I was surprised Vicky wasn't shouting questions already.

  "I know it sounds crazy," I said, holding up my hands. "But I can prove it. I'd like you all to meet a friend of mine." I prodded at Vipera through our bond, and she obliged. There was a shimmer in the air beside me, and suddenly Vipera materialized, her root-like body coiling around my body, her length wrapping around my loosely. She'd grown some more; now several of her coils rested on the floor, while the rest of her body stretched around my own with her head resting on my shoulder, electric blue eyes taking in the room and the people.

  Vicky let out a strangled yelp, stumbling back and nearly falling over the coffee table. Sean's eyes widened to the size of dinner plates, and Dad... Dad just sat there, his jaw hanging open.

  "This is Vipera," I said, trying to keep my voice calm and steady. "She's my familiar, bonded to me through the system. She's not dangerous... well, not to us anyway."

  Uncle Wolf stepped forward, his presence seeming to ground the room somewhat. "What Aiden is saying is true," he said, his voice carrying a weight of authority that seemed to momentarily quell the rising panic. "I've known about this for some time now, and I can vouch for everything Aiden is telling you."

  The room erupted into chaos. Vicky, having regained her footing, was firing off questions at a mile a minute. Sean was alternating between staring at Vipera with fascination and shooting bewildered looks at me. Dad, however, remained unnaturally still, his eyes fixed on the serpentine creature wrapped around my body.

  "Hold on, hold on!" I raised my voice, trying to restore some semblance of order. "One at a time, please. I know this is a lot to take in."

  "A lot to take in?" Vicky scoffed, her voice pitched higher than usual; she was nearly screeching. "Aiden, you just materialized a... a... what even is that thing?"

  Vipera's head swivelled towards Vicky, her electric blue eyes narrowing slightly. I could feel a mix of amusement and indignation emanating from her. "Be nice, Vic, what you're calling a thing, has saved my life and sanity more times than I'd care to admit. She's my friend." I said with an edge in my voice as I reached up to pat Vipera's head. She settled down immediately, resting her head on my shoulder, watching the room.

  Sean, who had been uncharacteristically quiet, finally spoke up. "So... this is why you disappeared for two years? You were learning magic?"

  I nodded, grateful for a straightforward question. "Yes and no. I was involved in the equivalent of a magical accident. One that dumped me into a strange place full of monsters. It was learn or die, so I learned."

  Dad finally seemed to shake off his stupor. He leaned forward, his eyes intense. "Aiden, son, I... I don't know what to say. This is... It's beyond anything I could have imagined. But I can see it's real." He gestured towards Vipera. "She's certainly real enough. But why are you telling us now? Why not before?"

  I exchanged a glance with Uncle Wolf before answering. "Because things are changing, Dad. The world is changing. Magic isn't just going to stay hidden anymore. And after what happened with Sean..." I trailed off, looking at my brother.

  Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  Sean's eyes widened with realization. "The hospital. That wasn't just some freak accident, was it?"

  I shook my head. "No, it wasn’t. Sturm was involved with some nasty people.” I took a deep breath, steeling myself for the next part. "What happened to Sean... it was magical in nature. A group called the Vish were behind it. Sturm was just a pawn for them. They're a criminal organization that deals in magical goods and services. They've been causing trouble, trying to destabilize things. Uncle Wolf would know more about them."

  Vicky, who had been uncharacteristically quiet for the last few moments, spoke up. "So you're saying Sean nearly died because of... magic?" Her voice was a mix of disbelief and anger.

  I nodded solemnly. "Yes. And that's part of why I'm telling you all this now. The world is becoming more dangerous, and I need you to be prepared."

  Dad leaned forward, his face etched with concern. "Prepared for what, exactly?"

  Uncle Wolf's voice carried a weight of authority as he addressed my father. "The world is changing, Robert. Magic is seeping into our reality at an unprecedented rate. What happened to Sean is just the beginning. We're likely to see more incidents like this in the coming months and years.”

  I could see the colour drain from my father's face as the implications sank in. Vicky, ever the pragmatist, was the first to speak up.

  "So what do we do?" she asked, her voice steady despite the tremor in her hands. "How do we protect ourselves against... this?" She gestured vaguely towards Vipera, who tilted her head curiously.

  I took a deep breath. "That's why we're here. To prepare you. To teach you what we know and help you defend yourselves."

  Sean leaned forward, his eyes alight with a mix of fear and excitement. "Can we learn magic, too? Like you?"

  "Yes, that's one of the reasons we're having this conversation now," I said. "Sean, what you were drugged with was something high in Mana, or magical energy. What I used to save you was also high in mana. Uncle Wolf tells me that it's been too much and too fast for you to not end up connected to the System, end up like me. A Ranker." I explained, turning to Vicky and my dad, "You both can be connected to the System as well; it'll just need a bit more effort."

  "That word, Ranker, what does it mean?" The question came from Vicky.

  “It’s what the White Banner, the people Uncle Wolf works for, call people like me. People with access to the System.”

  "But what does it mean, Aiden?" Vicky was practically growling now; she was getting frustrated.

  "I'm faster, and stronger, more durable than any other human on the planet that isn't also connected to the System. And I can do magic, well, sort of." I said, grinning at Vicky, even in this situation, I couldn't resist riling my little sister up.

  Vicky's eyes narrowed, her frustration evident. "What do you mean by 'sort of'? Either you can do magic or you can't, Aiden."

  I sighed, realizing I'd have to explain further. "It's not that simple, Vic. The magic I can do... It's not like waving a wand and speaking some Latin words. It's more... innate, physical. What everyone can do is different person to person." I explained. "And you don't want to see what I can do, probably give you nightmares, little sister. Besides, I'd rather not have to move all the furniture." I let out a chuckle, thinking of what her reaction would be to having a hulking spider in the middle of the living room. The thought was both worrying and amusing.

  Sean leaned forward, his eyes wide with curiosity. "Come on, Aiden. You can't just say something like that and not show us. What can you do?" I hesitated, glancing at Uncle Wolf. He shrugged.

  "He's not wrong, we'd have to move the furniture unless you wanted it getting crushed." Uncle Wolf chuckled. "Thankfully, you have a large living room, Robert."

  Dad's eyebrows shot up. "Crushed? Aiden, what exactly are we talking about here?"

  I rubbed the back of my neck, suddenly feeling self-conscious. "Well... I can transform. Into something... big."

  Vicky's eyes narrowed. "How big are we talking?"

  I hesitated, then decided to just rip off the band-aid. "Bit bigger than a car last time I checked. I’m still growing.”

  "Hence the need to move the furniture," Uncle Wolf chimed in, a hint of amusement in his voice.

  Vicky, ever practical, was already on her feet. "Well, let's get to it then. I want to see this with my own eyes." I sighed, dismissing Vipera, who slipped back inside my soul with barely a flicker. I moved over to the couch and picked it up simply from one end. With Sean still sitting on it.

  "What the hell!?" Sean's shocked exclamation had everyone in the room staring as I walked several steps to settle the couch against the far wall of the room. It had been heavy to be sure, but it wasn't a huge strain or anything.

  I couldn't help but grin at the shell-shocked look on my family's faces. "Told you I was stronger. Now, let's get the rest of this furniture out of the way."

  With Uncle Wolf's help, we quickly rearranged the living room, pushing everything against the walls to create a large open space in the center. My family watched in stunned silence as I effortlessly moved heavy furniture that would normally require at least two people.

  Once we were done, I stood in the middle of the cleared space, suddenly feeling very exposed. "Alright," I said, taking a deep breath. "What you're about to see... It's going to be shocking. Try not to freak out, okay?"

  Dad nodded solemnly, while Vicky and Sean just stared at me with wide eyes. Uncle Wolf positioned himself near the door, ready to intervene if needed.

  I closed my eyes, focusing on the familiar sensation of my transformation. As always, the transformation was nearly instantaneous. My family found themselves staring into the eight eyes of a massive black spider that looked like it was covered in plates of armour made of chitin. My spider form nearly took up the entire living room of the house, crowding my family back against the wall.

  The room erupted in chaos. Vicky let out a piercing scream, stumbling backwards and knocking over a lamp in her haste to put distance between us. Sean's jaw dropped open, his eyes wide with a mix of terror and awe. Dad... well, Dad just stood there, frozen in place, his face pale as a sheet.

  I remained still, not wanting to startle them further. My eight eyes blinked slowly, taking in their reactions. I could feel my mandibles twitching, an unconscious response to their fear.

  "Holy shit," Sean breathed, breaking the tense silence. "Aiden, is that... is that really you?"

  I nodded my massive head slowly, careful not to make any sudden movements. My voice, when I spoke, was a deep, resonant rumble that seemed to vibrate through the room. "It's me, Sean. This is... well, this is what I can do."

  Vicky, who had backed herself into a corner, finally found her voice. "This is insane," she whispered, her eyes darting from one of my eyes to another. "You're... you're a giant spider!"

  I shifted slightly, trying to make myself appear less threatening. It was a futile effort, given my size and appearance, but I had to try. "I know this is a lot to take in," I rumbled, my voice vibrating through the floorboards. "But I'm still me. I'm still your son, your brother."

  Dad, who had been frozen in place, finally took a hesitant step forward. His face was a mixture of fear and fascination. "Aiden," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "This is... incredible. Terrifying, but incredible."

  Sean, ever the risk-taker, suddenly stood up and approached me. I could see Uncle Wolf tense, ready to intervene if necessary, but Sean just reached out a hand and touched one of my legs. "Whoa," he breathed. "It's warm. And... kinda smooth?"

  Vicky, still pressed against the wall, shook her head in disbelief. "This is crazy. This is absolutely insane. My brother is a giant spider. A giant, talking spider."

  I couldn't help but chuckle, the sound coming out as a low, rumbling vibration. "Trust me, the introduction you’re getting to all this is gentle compared to what I got.”

  "This is what you meant by nightmares, isn't it?" Vicky asked, her voice shaky but regaining some of its usual sharpness. "You weren't kidding about that."

  I nodded my massive head again, careful not to bump into anything. "Yeah, this form tends to freak people out. But it's saved my life more times than I can count."

  Dad, who had been quiet, suddenly spoke up. "Son, when you say it saved your life... what exactly were you fighting?"

  I felt a pang of unease. How much should I tell them about the horrors I'd faced? "Monsters. Things you wouldn't believe existed outside of nightmares. Some worse than me, some not."

  Sean's eyes widened. "Worse than a giant armoured spider? That's... that's hard to imagine."

  "Trust me, Sean," I rumbled, "there are things out there that make me look like a cuddly puppy. Picture a giant T. rex with extra spider limbs, as smart as a human. Had one of those chase me around for a while once."

  Vicky, who had finally peeled herself away from the wall, took a tentative step forward. "Can you... change back? It's a bit unnerving talking to a giant spider."

  I nodded, focusing on my human form. In an instant, I was back to normal, standing in the middle of the room. The sudden change seemed to startle them almost as much as my transformation had.

  "That's... going to take some getting used to," Dad said, rubbing his temples.

  Uncle Wolf stepped forward, his presence seeming to ground the room. "I know this is a lot to process," he said, his voice calm and steady. "But what Aiden has shown you is just the tip of the iceberg. The world is changing, and we need to prepare you for what's coming."

  Vicky, still visibly shaken but regaining her composure, turned to Uncle Wolf. "You knew about this? All of it?"

  He nodded solemnly. "I've been aware of the magical world for a long time, ever since Aiden went missing. When I went looking for answers, I was pulled in by one of the organizations in the know, so to speak. It's part of my job to keep it hidden, to protect people from the dangers it presents. But now, with the changes happening, we can't keep it secret anymore. Not from you, not when you're at risk."

  Dad sank into the nearest chair, his face a mixture of confusion and concern. "So what happens now? Do we all... learn magic?"

  I exchanged a glance with Uncle Wolf before answering. "That's the plan, Dad. We want to connect you all to the System, give you the ability to defend yourselves. It won't be easy, and it won't be without risks, but it's necessary."

  Sean leaned forward, his eyes bright with excitement despite the gravity of the situation. "So we could end up with cool powers like yours, Aiden?"

  I couldn't help but chuckle. "Maybe not exactly like mine, Sean. Everyone develops differently with the System. But yes, you'll gain abilities far beyond what normal humans are capable of. Magic.”

  “Sign me up for magic powers, I want my spider bite.” He grinned.

  "No, you don't," I replied, grinning evilly. "I'm venomous."