19. Sidelined

“Ugh, come on!” Mark sat up from where he was lying on the couch. “Seeing how strong Sam is this morning, and how much of a difference he can make, gets me pumped! We’ve been waiting forever to go into a Rift, dude. We’ve only got tomorrow and Sunday before the Teams Event starts.”

Alex released his main focus from cycling his mana, but left his secondary focus on his mana-shaping practice. It was helpful to shift quickly between making the basic shapes of the ritual circles and practicing, making the shapes smaller and faster. He could keep up the process for some time, and at the end of each session, he felt a slight difference.

“I know, I’m sorry. We’ve waited long enough… I really just wanted to try and get us into a higher Rarity Rift so I wasted some time with that last week. I just thought we could do training before that so you guys were more prepared than I was. I really rushed into things.”

“I get that, and I don’t think Sarah is in the same kind of rush as me to get in there. But man, I want to see the inside of more Rifts. I want to explore and see what classes I get. If we train any more out here, it feels like we’re just stalling. I’m surprised you’re not a bit more excited about this, and you’re being so cautious.”

“I think I was just too excited and not cautious enough about this stuff last year. Besides keeping a secret from you guys, my second biggest regret was rushing into things and trying to go at it alone. Getting caught in that Rift sucked, and I wasn’t sure if I was going to make it home. I don’t want any of you guys to have to experience something like that.” Alex touched the edge of the scar on his cheek under his left eye. “I think caution is the best approach.”

“Shit…” Mark’s shoulders drooped. “I’m sorry, dude. I didn’t mean-”

“No, it’s really okay. You’re right. You guys are already so much more trained and prepared than I was. Plus, we can work as a team rather than me just rushing in like an idiot by myself. I’m surprised we haven’t gotten accepted into any of the Common Rarity Rifts yet; I’ll give Elana a call. At the very least, we should be able to get in there and get you some more experience and levels while waiting for a slot in one of the better Rifts.”

“Yes! Nice- okay, sweet. Sam, you want to spar some?”

The teen looked up from where he sat on the couch, with his knees pulled up and a Basic Rune Manual in his lap. His face scrunched up. “No, you just laugh at me while blocking.”

“Oh, come on. I didn’t mean anything by it!”

Sam shook his head again before returning to his book.

I can’t tell if he’s actually interested in runes or if he’s just wanting to read it because I was. Is this what it’s like to have a little brother?

“Alright, alright,” Mark said while holding up his hands. "I’m going to work on gaining my new skill."

Alex and Sam groaned loudly at the same time. “It’s not going to work!”

Mark waved over his shoulder as he walked from the living room toward the indoor gym. “Yes, it will. If Gabby can gain a skill for chopping food by just focusing on her intent to gain a skill, then I can gain one like this too!”

Alex deadpanned and looked at Sam before rolling his eyes.

“I think I just need to let him loose in a Rift. As long as it’s a low-level Rift, there’s almost nothing I can’t protect him from. Do you mind coming too? You probably won’t get too much out of it, but it would make me feel better to know he could get healing if it’s needed.”

“Duh,” Sam said. “I wanted to talk to you, though.”

“Okay?” Alex asked, giving Sam his attention.

“Well, um, I have really liked helping at the hospital. I know I was sort of just doing it while you were there, and then we went back so my parents could see what I was capable of...”

“Alright, what did you have in mind? You can do whatever you want with your skills, Sam.”

Sam shrugged and began speaking in a rush, looking suddenly awkward. “I don’t know. Um, well, I heard on the news that a lot of people have been moving into the Safe Zones. Some of them come in hurt or sick… I thought maybe I could keep trying to help? It sounds like they could really use it.”

Alex smiled. “That sounds like a great idea. Why do you seem embarrassed by that, dude?”

“I don’t know. I just want to help some if I can.”

“Okay,” Alex laughed. “Well, this seems like a great idea. What do you need, how can I help? Do you want to borrow my car or see if Edwin will drive you into the Safe Zone a few times a week?”

“Yeah, that would be great.”

“Well, that’s easy! See, no sweat. It could even be a good time for you to meet up with your parents while you’re in the Safe Zone. I’m sure they’d love the attention. I still think your mom is taking this whole thing pretty hard.”

Sam nodded slowly and chewed on the inside of his lip as he thought about it. “Yeah, I think that’s best. I do miss them, she’s just…” he let out some air.

“Yeah, don’t worry about it. She’s just happy to have you back; I’m sure that as time passes, she will loosen her grip and let you have more space to breathe.”

“There was something else. I have been level 29 for some time now. I think that if I go and spend a few days healing, I think I’ll get my class advancement.”

Alex’s face formed into a big 'O.' “…and you’re worried you don’t know what to pick?” Sam nodded in response, and Alex thought about it for a few minutes. “Well, if you want to share your options with me when they come up, I can give you my thoughts, but the decision should be yours.”

Sam nodded again, and Alex called out for Edwin.

“Yes, Master Moore?”

“Edwin, would you and Sam look more into how class advancement works? He and I both know a bit, but I saw that was one category you looked into extensively. I can link up with you both tomorrow morning, and we can go over how everything works so Sam is ready, and I’ll need information in a few levels as well.”

“Of course, sir. I’d be happy to assist Mr. Grant. Would you like me to call Ms. Voss first?”

Alex scowled at the man’s use of his trait. “No, thank you. I’ll give her a call and see if I can’t get Mark set up to enter a Rift tomorrow. I’ll also try to text Sarah and Olivia and see if they want to come.”

Sam closed the book and smiled at the butler, who led him up to Alex’s office.

Alone in the living room, Alex looked around and let out a contented sigh. He pulled out his phone and checked the Adventurers Guild app to see if there were any movements on the Rifts he’d put their names in for.

He let out a sigh and shook his head.

What the hell? We can’t even get into the Uncommon Boar Rift that I was in before.

Scrolling through his contacts, he pulled up Elana’s number and hit ‘Call.’

“Hey!”

“Alex, how are you?”

“I’m good, thanks. I was really trying to avoid calling you; I’m sure you’re busy… but my friends and I have been on the waitlist for, like, six Rifts for a over a week now. Is there a reason we can’t get in? I would assume it would be easy, especially before the Team Event starts.”

Elana groaned on the other line, “Yeah, stuff has been pretty quiet the last month, but we’ve lost access to several of our better Rifts. It just means there is more competition for the ones we have.”

“Lost access?”

“Yeah, with the Hunters Association announcing these Safe Zones, they’ve backed off of their pressure from us a bit. At least openly. They’ve been moving their ‘community protection assets’ into positions that are conveniently close to valuable Rifts. Which ones did you put in for?”

“Uhm, hold on, I can check the app,” Alex said.

“Actually,” She said before he could pull the phone away from his face, “I’ve got one of our Peacekeepers calling me on the other line. I’ve got to take this. Do you have Derrick’s number?”

“Derrick, from our meeting? I don’t think so.”

“Alright, I’ll send it over to you, but I wouldn’t hold your breath if I were you. There are a lot of people interested in those slots, and it may just not be something he can make work.”

“Hmm, even the Common ones, though? Alright. Thanks, Elana.”

There was a brief pause. “No, that’s strange. There are plenty of Common Rifts within driving distance that you should have no problem getting in. Let me just send this over, Derrick can check for you. I’ll talk to you la-”

“Oh, wait! Before you go. Sam has been healing some people in the Safe Zone and wants to start making it a regular thing. Is that alright? It’s not going to cause issues for you, is it?”

“I can’t imagine that it would. If anything, it’ll just look great for us. I’ve got to go; if you need me, send me a text, and I’ll call when I can.”

“Sounds good, thanks.”

Alex stared at his phone for a moment before pulling up the new contact that Elana had sent him. He wasn’t thrilled about having to pester people about answers, but Mark was right… they’d waited long enough.

Derrick answered, “Alex! Elana said you’d give me a call. You didn’t waste any time! What can I do for you?”

“Yeah, we’ve been having some trouble getting into any Rifts, even Common ones. She said you were the one to talk to. We’ve been waiting for a couple of weeks now. I just checked the app again, and I can see open slots in two of the Rifts we applied to.

“Ah.” Derrick’s voice took an apologetic tone. “The situation’s a bit complicated. The Hunters Association has been… let’s say, assertive, about their presence near valuable Rifts. They’re not officially blocking access, but…”

“But they’re making it difficult,” Alex finished.

“Exactly. And, well, actually, I’m looking now and…” Derrick hesitated. “There’s a note in the Guild system that says your group wouldn’t mind waiting to get into Rifts, given your already elevated power levels.”

“What?” Alex’s face scrunched up in incredulity. “Who would- that makes no sense. We need the experience just as much as anyone else. Especially my friends who are just starting out.”

“I can understand your frustration. I would have assumed you asked someone to put this note in here. I’m looking at the logs now. It seems that the note was put in about about a week ago. I apologize. We should have reached out to you, but… you’re something of a VIP around here now. I didn’t think you’d want to be bothered.”

Alex paced across the elevated portion of the living room behind the couch.

Was it Rylan?

He’d wasted time being patient and playing by the rules. At the same time, it seemed like someone was trying to prevent them from getting into the good Rifts.

And I just let it happen by trying not to make waves or inconvenience anyone. Fuck.

“Does it say who put the note in the system?”

“Hmm… no. It just says that it was put in by a Peacekeeper.”

So, not Rylan? Olivia? Why would she do something like that without telling me first? That makes no sense.

“Right,” Alex said. “Well, can you put us down for some immediate Common Rarity Rifts in driving distance? I don’t care if they’re low-level. We just need to get into a one or two before Monday.”

“Of course. I’ll make sure your names get applied. You should see entry access come through this evening or tomorrow morning. So sorry, Mr. Moore.”

Alex sighed. “It’s alright, thank you. And Derrick… please remove the note from the System. I’d like for us to get into an Uncommon or Rare Rift soon.”

After the call ended, Alex put his forearm against the glass at head height and leaned his head against it. Looking through the double doors and out past the courtyard. He watched Mark in the training area while he thought through his next steps.

He’d tried to be careful, to be strategic and not step on any toes. He wanted the group to be safe, sure, but other than Olivia and Sarah through their work, none of them had made progress but in a few skill levels. He had made big promises about them being a team and growing together, but that was almost a month ago, and there was basically nothing to show for it.

Sam was close to advancing, which would potentially be a big power increase for the group. Alex had felt his own frustration growing at his lack of personal progress, but had pushed it off as a selfless gesture to help his friends get stronger. Yet, here Mark was, still level four and Sarah only a level higher from her noncombat experience gained at work.

Unless they found a high-level E Rank Rift, Alex thought he would be hard-pressed to gain enough experience quickly to advance. But Sam was on the cusp, which could be a game changer and the only consolation prize in the current situation.

He’d also been waiting on Valtherion’s evolution, hoping to find a better material than his Mana Pearl. In the new light of this situation, that also seemed foolhardy. The article said that Val needed to consume a high-quality material to push his race to advance and would enter hibernation for a period. There wasn’t any reason to wait, and the idea of looking for something more valuable than a Rare D Rank Material seemed asinine.

Time to stop being so damn passive.