-Callen-

  The whole family was in a good mood as we walked through the streets making our way back home. Father’s new hands seamlessly intertwined with Mother’s, unconsciously holding her hand while he focused on his other hand adjusting to the sensation of the fake hand.

  “If I’m being honest, Callen, this is beyond my wildest imagination.” Father grabs a stone from the ground and easily adjusts his grip between the thumb and each finger as a test of dexterity. “I don’t feel the pressure or heat of holding anything, but the hand’s dexterity is just as good as my original hand.

  Even if you gave me some kind of gripping hook, I would’ve been proud. I suppose I somehow managed to underestimate you even with your grandpa bragging every day about ‘the future of humanity.’” Dad teasingly nudged me while a big grin stretched across his face.

  Dad’s mood cools shortly after that before starting up again.

  “I regret not being around. I heard you don’t need to worry about skills. I might not know a whole lot beyond my specialties, but would you be interested in learning what I know?” He pauses momentarily before adding on, “Callia, if you’re willing, this offer is for both of you.” His quiet trepidation feels almost uncomfortable when compared with his former confidence. We are not deterred, though, and without hesitation we both nod in acceptance.

  “Dad, you're going to need to bargain with Grandpa over our mornings. I already have two masters, and both are Earthkin.” I rub my head ruefully. “I don’t know if it’s just them or their people, but both my masters seem to think physical correction is mandatory whenever they think I’m slacking.”

  Our willingness to accept his presence into our lives seems to brighten up his spirits. He quickly gives Grandpa a determined look and receives an exasperated sigh in return.

  “I suppose I can share my pupils with an absentee father.” Grandpa sharply retorts towards Dad, but even the mean-spirited comment doesn’t seem to faze his spirits.

  “Not anymore! I’m going to be around my Callen and Callia so much they will be sick of me!” Dad’s spirited reply seems to satisfy Grandpa.

  “Good, that’s the spirit I raised you with!” Grandpa boldly claims the last word, but that makes Mom burst into giggles. Mom clings to Dad’s hand and steals Grandpa’s moment, declaring.

  “What absentee father? I remember my dear Marek complaining about his home all the time. With his grumpy old man who was always out training recruits or on patrols in the woods!” Mom’s comment clearly hits the mark as Grandpa flinches but quietly accepts her judgement. “I’m pretty sure you’re responsible for making my husband such a workaholic! Even if I love him for who he is.” Mom finishes her statement softly while pulling Dad down into a kiss. I can barely hear it as Mom whispers into his ear, “I expect some more time with you too.”

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  I decided at that moment to escape before they got even more sappy.

  “Race home?” I catch a glimpse of an eager smile, and in sync we take off. Sis is already far faster than me, but I was only looking for an excuse to leave. I give it my all running back home, but Sis easily outpaces me and even gloats, running backwards around me. We make it home and find Grandpa standing at the doorway and proudly proclaiming.

  “I win!” Shameless, that’s all I can think as he proudly puffs out his chest with a smug grin. Sis, on the other hand, is provoked, and the two head inside bickering in a familial way.

  Master gives me a day off to test my project, but in their usual manner, they expect a full in-depth report regarding everything I learn. Dad and I to one side while Grandpa and Sis begin their daily routine off to the other side.

  First I have him push through the main functions of the arm, testing the variable modes from direct powering to dexterity. Originally I was worried he would deform his hand by trying to shape it outside human limits, but apparently it could only move in ways his original hand could. Which I felt was promising.

  Check after check we pushed his hands to the limit, and he eventually came to the conclusion that with his new hands he had about a quarter of his former strength. I check the residual mana inside the wood and find it already half depleted. If this is the daily consumption after a couple of tasks, regularly maintaining the hands was beginning to feel unfeasible. But I quickly shook aside that feeling and checked the durability of the runes themselves.

  Using sense mana to feel out the changes, I could feel the wear on the mana originally used and tried to reinforce the existing enchant just to see if it was possible. It was definitely hard, and at the rate of deterioration, I would need to fix them every day, but that was more manageable.

  “TROUBLE,” My thoughts are interrupted by Grandpa’s shout. Three men in black step out from the surrounding trees. “Callen, Callia, whatever happens, stay behind me and your dad.” The two sides face off. Tension is thick in the air as both sides get a measure of the other.

  The face-off is brief before I hear the central one quietly whisper to the others.

  “The old man is trouble. Three with me, and Two grab the cripple.” Then in the blink of an eye they rush forward. This fight is somehow even faster than when we were escorted across the countryside. However, this time using my skills, I can begin making an impression of the fight, and I can feel from Callia that she is also reaching the minimum necessary to perceive at such extreme speeds.

  I feel the motion of Grandpa’s mana as he ducks and dives between two of the masked men. His spear keeps them just out of reach while he struggles to hold his ground. The other rushes straight at Dad, but in the next moment a hole is blown straight through him.

  I expected some shock or reaction from the others, but instead they smoothly break their 2 v 1 against Grandpa, and the leader shifts over to Father. Immediately I notice the hand Dad attacked with has burnt away, and the metal plating has fallen to the ground.

  Dad uses his remaining arm conservatively, keeping most of his motion in the arm itself, trying to buy time or an opportunity. His opponent seems fine with keeping a distance after the other was skewered. The two move back and forth with wary jabs and feints.

  As I monitor Dad’s fight, I know Sis is watching Grandpa’s, and I can feel a surge of triumph from her right before the sound of splattering meat and blood reaches my ear.

  The leader of the intruders can see his man drop, and he reassesses his tactics. It only takes a moment for me to feel his bloodlust shift to us. On instinct from Grandpa’s relentless training, I activated my Runic Mana Projection, skill I made by using Manifest Mana to write runes onto my Mana Zone. I rush a new runic command, ‘No projectiles,’ and pour everything I have into my skill. All this while I move between my sister and the man. I feel a throwing knife headed straight at me collide with my runic field and push in with the force of a car speeding down a highway. I focus with all my being on the simple words I shielded us with, ‘No Projectiles,’ and I feel the air tear open as my mana bottoms out and everything goes black.