Ultimate NeroMancer

Chapter 7: Homecomings and Revelations

Kaelen lost no time. He called a taxi, threw a crisp bill to the driver without batting an eyelid, and dropped back into the close, leather-scented seat. His muscles, freshly stirred and tingling with the electric hum of potential energy, could have managed the walk, but why the hell would he punish himself, when he was now so suddenly cash-rich? His home was miles away, and the Supers Association was a cruel journey that would consume at least an hour and a half, and he was not going to demonstrate how stubborn he was by dragging his weary ass through the streets of Woodstone.

Frugality was off the books with fifteen thousand federal bucks flashing happily on his phone. This was not the moment to be the poor kid who was always sweating over bus fares and day old bread.

The taxi was sliding through the streets of afternoon light and buzzing neon signs, and Kaelen sent a quick message to Aunt Velithe: Registered. I am on my way. Till later. Then, just when the car was going over a speed bump, his phone vibrated with a message that made his smile threaten to split his face.

$15,000 transferred. Balance: 15,461.

He was wealthy. Not only rich in the ridiculous, internet-meme meaning of the word, but in the real sense of the word. Somehow that would purchase actual food, actual clothes, and perhaps even some luxury that would not yell, I am a struggling student.

It was a dangerous idea in an eighteen year old world that consumed the weak at breakfast, but Kaelen accepted it. It was a new book, and he was the goddamn writer.

No reply was made now, as there had been to Aunt Velithe, in an instant. No quick “Be careful!” or “Save some for yourself!” And he was not surprised at that. She was still, most likely, behind the stoves, casting her culinary magic where it counted.

He’d been tempted to send some of his money back immediately, but damn if he wasn’t going to hold on to this little freedom for a bit. No rush. Aunt Velithe would be home later, and when she was, he’d make sure she didn’t lose a cent—and maybe toss a little extra to sweeten the deal.

The taxi dropped him off not at the door of their cramped community home, but at a nearby mall that buzzed with life. The promise of money had morphed Kaelen into a man with a mission: spoil his family just a little, taste victory through retail therapy.

He bought more than a few bags stuffed with groceries and treats—five hundred dollars spent without a single pang of regret. Meat for tonight’s dinner, fresh vegetables, little gifts for Lily. Kaelen thought about the rules etched in the Supers Association documents. Money wasn’t free. It was fuel. Investment in strength. That meant spending it wisely, but also living a little. Life was more than survival.

By the time he unlocked the familiar door, the sun had already bowed out, leaving the world painted in bruised purples and soft blues. The awakening ceremony had been hours ago, but Kaelen still felt that strange hum of potential vibrating in his veins.

“Lily’ll be back soon,” he thought, setting the bags down with a satisfying thud. “Time to tidy up.”

He methodically stashed the food—rice in the sack, meat on the plate, vegetables in the fridge. Even mundane tasks felt weighted with meaning now. It was like the world had shifted on an axis and he was no longer just a kid playing pretend.

He rubbed his eyes, a deep tiredness settling in.

Damn, he was hungry.

Thanks to Aunt Velithe’s expert tutelage, his cooking skills weren’t complete shit. Tonight, he whipped up rice and fried meat—simple, but enough to make the air heavy with savory promise.

Just as he plated the food, the front door creaked open and in bounced Lily, a cyclone of blue-eyed energy wrapped in a short frame.

Her black hair was a perfect match for Aunt Velithe’s, but Kaelen stuck out like a fucking unicorn with his blonde locks and green eyes—a family mystery that even their neighbors whispered about, a biological oddity nobody dared question aloud.

“Good evening, Brother Kaelen!” Lily’s voice sang as she poked her head into the kitchen, eyes sparkling.

“What’s cooking? Meat? Smells bloody amazing!” Her mouth watered like a goddamn puppy, and Kaelen chuckled.

“Wash up first,” he said with a smirk. “I’ll serve you soon.”

Lily bounced away but paused in the doorway, hands nervously clasped behind her back.

“Brother Kaelen,” she said softly, eyes downcast. “How was the Awakening ceremony?”

Kaelen sighed, already knowing where this was headed. Aunt and niece were a mirror duo when it came to not wanting to make him uncomfortable but also not wanting to ignore the elephant in the room.

Lily, poor kid, thought he had failed.

“Don’t be sad if you didn’t awaken,” she said quickly, voice full of hopeful conviction. “Even if you can’t reach the Land of Origin, you can still be a powerful Cultivator. The future’s still bright!”

Kaelen blinked, caught off guard by the innocence of her words. When the hell did I say I failed? he wondered, amusement bubbling up.

Then he laughed. Real, hearty laughter that spilled like sunlight through a cracked window. Tears prickled his eyes as Lily stared in stunned silence.

“No way, Lily,” he said, wiping his eyes. “Who said I failed? If I hadn’t awakened, why the hell would we be eating meat tonight?”

Her face bloomed with relief and excitement.

Kaelen gave her the rundown of the afternoon, careful to leave out the bureaucratic bullshit about the Supers Association. He did mention the money, though.

“Wow! Brother Kaelen, you’re rich!” Lily squealed, eyes gleaming.

“Stop staring like I’m a damn ATM,” Kaelen teased.

“Brother Kaelen~”

“Hey, quit it!”

“Give me some money~”

Kaelen rolled his eyes but made a few promises to keep her off his back. Watching her hum and skip away, his heart softened for a moment—this wasn’t just about cash. It was about family, hope, and belonging.

When the noise faded, Kaelen drew a deep breath, steadied his nerves, and carried his plate back to his room.

No more delays. No more distractions.

It was time to crack open the digital dossier the Supers Association had sent and finally dive into the mysteries of what it truly meant to be an Awakener.