“Liza! Liza! Relax!” Ozzy yelled back at the screaming woman who with little effort yanked him by a leg and began to pull him towards the door.

  “Shut it Ozzy, you don’t know what’s good for you! I won’t let this woman defile you!” She shouted, “Emil! Get in here and help me!”

  “Yes honey.” Emil walked into the room, giving Trinidad a sorry look before moving not to help Liza but separate her from Ozzy and help him to his feet, much to Liza’s dismay. “Don’t you think we should hear them out first? I’ve only been around Ozzy with a woman once and it was all it took for me to know he’s no charmer.”

  “He’s not that bad.” Trinidad added unhelpfully, and every head in the room turned to look at her.

  Liza glared at the woman before taking a step back and folding her arms with an indignant pout. “Alright let’s hear it. Defend yourselves.”

  “I invited Ozzy here as a thanks for saving my life and as a favor to him and my research offered to help him make a specialty core. When everything was said and done I…” Trinidad trailed off, looking uncomfortably over at Ozzy. “I asked if he’d be willing to absorb it with me.”

  Emil face palmed, and Trinidad looked away, while Liza’s eyebrows shot up.

  “I’m letting a slut sleep in my home.” Liza said, her tone distant as she looked up towards the heavens.

  “He doesn’t know anything about that honey.” Emil said, only to be shushed by Liza, who turned a stern look on Ozzy.

  “Do you realize what you’ve done Ozzy?” Liza asked sternly.

  “I barely just opened up my eyes, I don’t have a clue about what I’ve done or why it’s a big deal.” Ozzy said,

  Liza rubbed her eyes in annoyance. “Ozzy. Ninety percent of the time when someone absorbs a core they get knocked unconscious and don’t wake up for hours. Which is why people don’t absorb cores unless they’re by themselves, with loved ones, or incredibly stupid.” She deadpanned, glaring at him as she put very careful emphasis on the word stupid.

  “I absorbed a core in front of Emil though, I thought it was just like a trust thing?” Ozzy said, ending his statement as a question as Liza’s aura grew more and more menacing until finally, she turned towards Emil.

  “You didn’t tell him about that?!” Liza asked, more accusation than question.

  Emil tool a big step back, “It didn’t seem all that important at the moment no.” He said.

  “I’m surrounded by morons.” She said, glaring between Ozzy and Emil. “Listen, I know you’re new to this place, and things are different, but since you saved my husband and live under my roof, you’re my responsibility. Not to mention you’re an honorary member of the firelight district, you can’t just go around playing dumb!” She huffed.

  Silence reigned throughout the room, that was until Liza turned back on Trinidad. “I know you’re a full tier ahead of me Trini, but that doesn’t mean you can swoop in and pull my charge out from under me. No matter how ignorant and foolhardy he is. If you want to go about whatever this is you need to do it the right way.” Liza said and stepped away from Emil and Ozzy to converse more comfortably with the massive woman.

  “Dude, what’s going on?” Ozzy whispered, nudging Emil in the side.

  “Shut up.” Emil said, elbowing him back.

  “Seriously man, I don’t know what I did wrong.” Ozzy said.

  Emil hesitated before speaking. “I’m gonna try and explain this to you like you’re an idiot. Liza is in charge of the house that’s her job, it’s what most women do in the city. Being in charge of the house also means money, kids, and the kind of relationships they get into, romantically at least. Whenever we have a kid and they get older Liza has final say on who they date and marry.” As Emil spoke, Ozzy cringed harder and harder.

  “I’m not one of your guy’s kids Emil.” Ozzy said, feeling a wave of embarrassment wash over him.

  “Well…” Emil began.

  “Don’t say it.” Ozzy shot him down.

  “You kind of are in a weird way.” Emil admitted. “Not in the actual way of course, but more of like a responsibility way if that makes sense?”

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

  “No that doesn’t make sense, it doesn’t even come close to making sense.” Ozzy said.

  “So, since you live with us we’re technically responsible for you. Things are very household oriented here, if you get into a fight, so do we, so does the district, and vice versa. Which is a big part of why I keep trying to keep you out of fights. I don’t want you sucking everyone into another blood feud. Going back to what we’re talking about and stick with me here. Your position in society basically puts you at where our future son would be, which is very low compared to tall lady over there. Trinidad is not only the head of her house, but one of the leaders of a neighboring district. Instead of talking to or even meeting Liza, she asks you to absorb a core in front of her, and pulls you shirtless into her room. Which I mean dude, Liza didn’t even absorb one around me until we were married.” Emil explained.

  “Why does it matter though?” Ozzy asked, getting where he was coming from but still not really seeing the point.

  “She disrespected Liza by going behind her back making her think she’d be doing something for you. Instead she skipped all of the normal steps and I’ll give it to you normally that wouldn’t be a big of a deal. If let’s say it was someone like Laina tried this Liza would be mad but just blow it off. Trinidad is two tiers ahead of you, and important. Imagine if Colber started stealing other wagons fishermen. It might be weird to you, but it’s important to Liza and most of the other women around.” He said, finishing his statement with a shrug.

  “So I can’t get to know someone unless Liza is okay with it?” Ozzy asked, perturbed.

  “What? No, Liza’s not gonna let someone two tiers above you take advantage of you. You might not see it man, but you’re special. You’re strong at tier zero, way stronger than I am with half the amount of shards I have. You have a gods blessing, and if what you were telling me is true maybe another one on the way. People can see that power and they’ll want to chain you to themselves.” Emil said.

  “Do you think that’s’ what she was doing?” Ozzy asked Emil.

  “I don’t.” He admitted. “Trinidad’s a good person, but she might’ve gotten a little carried away with you saving her life and all that. It can be hard for people at her level to feel equal to the rest of us, you might’ve just been on the wrong side of several years of dormant passions.” He said, winking at Ozzy.

  “You know this has all been very unpleasant and confusing.” Ozzy said, frowning at Emil as he watched a still upset Liza talk to Trinidad.

  “Whatever you say… son.” Emil said, his tone deadpan and as serious as Liza was angry.

  “You’re the worst.” Ozzy said.

  In his heart he didn’t feel all that wronged by the woman. Sure he’d unconscious but deep down he’d known he’d probably get knocked out absorbing the artifact, and she’d asked to stick around after being the sole reason he’d gotten it in the first place. Plus there’d definitely been some chemistry there, alright maybe it was a little unusual that she was basically half giant, but he’d be lying if he said he didn’t think she was pretty.

  If anything he probably just needed for Liza to calm down and then he could figure out whatever connection had been had between them. If there truly even was one.

  They left the watchers district in silence. Trinidad had apologized to Liza and had given the excuse she had been caught up in the moment of things. Liza had told her to stop by some time if she felt like it and turned to leave, forcing Emil, who forced Ozzy, to follow her out.

  Trinidad waved awkwardly to Ozzy as he left and he returned the wave, only for Emil to yank him out.

  ***

  When they made it home Liza and Emil excused themselves to presumably go talk about Ozzy, which was fine by him. Quite frankly the whole talk about them being responsible for him had left a bit of a sour taste in his mouth. After the army, he shuddered at the memory, he’d been mostly a free agent. Going and doing as he pleased and living life like it held no value save it were for his own enjoyment. A terrible way to live but he’d found at least a modicum of comfort in it.

  The idea of being beholden to someone had never been something he’d enjoyed however. He’d had it beaten out of him in the army and then slowly re-found the trait afterwards. Now the emotion prickled angrily in the back of his mind, pushing him to make a decision that would set his life and choices as his and his alone. He had to shake it off.

  Emil was not only his friend but someone he didn’t think he could survive this world without. After nearly dying several times together he trusted the man implicitly, and he wasn’t willing to give that up for anything, not even Trinidad.

  Mulling over his thoughts for a few minutes longer felt as the lull of sleep begin to come for him, but before that happened, he had something he needed to check.

  *BEEP BEEP*

  Artifact Tome of The Endless Void absorbed.

  Artifact Tome of The Endless Void contains traces of a deep power that lies within the vast bounds of the outside.

  Cosmic form has synergized with Artifact Tome of The Endless Void, new Cosmic Stranger ability has been formed.

  Void soul

  Ozzy clicked on void soul.

  Void Soul

  Linking your soul with the void has deepened your connection to the outside, further empowering abilities belonging to cores whose prime concepts lie in the outside. Your mana pool has been deepened and its rate of recharge increased. Furthermore, hostile spells or abilities that seek your soul as their target must withstand the cosmic winds which sweep all debris clear of the void.

  Artifact ability unlocked

  Unholy Darkness

  The ability Unholy Darkness creates an area of darkness so deep and pure that neither light nor sight can pierce it, save for eyes which have been attuned to the void all trapped within the darkness will succumb to blindness and the caustic effects of the void which will sap both mana and life force.

  Ozzy whistled, now this was something he could see coming in handy.