Inspecting the cream-colored letter, Dean realized it had a seal on it with a crest, he would recognize even in his sleep.

The sigil of a burning crescent moon.

The Gray family crest.

His heart suddenly calmed again as he pulled open the wax on it.

"It came in yesterday, and I had to give it to you personally,"

"So you’ve read it?" Dean asked as he pulled the letter free from the envelope.

"And yet...it’s sealed...?" Richard raised a brow.

Dean scoffed as he murmured in a low tone. "It isn’t impossible if you’re psychic."

Opening the letter, it read.

Dean,

Your coming-of-age ceremony is in two days. The family expects you home. Of course, this isn’t optional.

Ying

Dean read through even as Ash stretched his neck to look as well. Dean could confirm that the handwriting was definitely Ying’s.

Folding the letter, Dean slid it cleanly into the envelope as he raised his head to Richard.

"I might–"

"Don’t worry, you can have a three day exemption, starting tomorrow."

"Thank you," Dean nodded before he got back to his feet. Placing the envelope in his pocket.

"Is that all sir?"

"That is all," Richard replied, still in a seated position as his eyes moved from Dean and then to Ash.

The slime suddenly went still immediately Richard’s eyes fell on it. Dean noticed the change.

"That summon of yours.. it’s very unusual," Richard said with a rather unreadable expression.

"I know--"

"Keep it close, very... close," Richard said as he got on his feet.

"The longer you are in the academy, the more people would notice and–" Richard paused as he gulped directly from the bottle.

"And?" Dean asked curiously.

"I can’t protect you all the time," Richard finished as his eyes dwelled on Dean.

His expression went completely solemn and then darkened again.

For the first time. Dean didn’t see any smile sneaking at the edge of the man’s lips or his eyes.

"Don’t let them take it away," he said in a calm as yet heavy tone.

Dean’s chest tightened but he managed to gave the man a slow bow. "Thank you,"

Before leaving, he watched Richard going through the rows of dusty bottles again. Searching for something else.

Dean left the cellar, but even as he went through the seemingly endless flight of stairs. He couldn’t help but think about what Richard had said.

People were definitely coming for him, that was obvious enough. There was Rogue, and even the Hel’Khar he just signed up.

But even Ash wasn’t safe either. But how was that possible? Isn’t Ash bonded to him? How could anyone take it away?

It made no sense and yet somehow it did. After all, this world itself made no sense, so how could he come to conclusions about things, he obviously didn’t know enough about to understand, yet.

’We just have to get stronger,’ Dean thought as he looked at Ash who was still on his shoulder.

That was a general rule of thumb in any world. If he actually wanted to live free, then he had to be strong.

Strong enough he wouldn’t mind eyes watching him or Ash nor anyone he cares about.

Speaking of people that he cared about.

"Olsen," he spoke inwardly.

He might have a clue or two of what a coming of age ceremony was all about.

***

Outside the workshop was exactly how he left it. Metal pipes and scraps here and there.

Pushing through the doors, the chaotic noise of machines welcomed him, alongside the smell of oil and scorched metals.

Olsen looked up from his workbench. He had a pair of goggles tightly clasped on his eyes.

Grease and wires were stuck on his cheeks as he grinned. "Hey mate..."

The gentle giant set down the tools he was working with. "Thought you forgot your way here."

"Almost did," Dean sighed as he walked towards the boy.

"It seems like you had a busy day,"

"Yeah...and it isn’t over yet," Dean said as he traced his hand around a gauntlet.

"Heard you challenged Marcus to Hel’Khar."

"He challenged me," Dean replied, raising his index finger. "Don’t get it wrong."

"Still crazy, mate." Olsen replied as he put down his googles and tried cleaning the grease off his face with his apron.

"So... when is the rite going to happen?"

Dean who was still looking at the gold plated gauntlet almost missed what Olsen said. "I think he said something about the student festival."

"Ohh.. but he is str-"

"What’s this?" Dean finally asked Olsen who squinted.

"It’s a prototype." Olsen picked it up the other pair and turned it over in his hands.

"It’s meant to be a verge amplifier."

Dean rolled his eyes. "English?"

"It’s supposed to channel verge essence through the palm and make barriers around the wearer’s fists."

Dean’s eyes widened. "Does it work?"

"Don’t know yet." Olsen looked at him. Then at Ash on his shoulder, waving at the slime that purred to the attention.

"Want to help me find out?"

Dean raised an eyebrow. He wanted to say No. But the concept interested him.

"Sure, why not?"

Olsen clapped his hand excitedly, "Put it on and channel verge through it–"

Dean picked it up, still inspecting at it.

"--Let’s see if it explodes."

"Explodes?" Dean suddenly looked at the gentle giant.

"It probably won’t," Olsen said, wearing the goggles over his eyes.

"Probably,"

Dean still stared blankly at the man, weighing his options.

"Don’t worry mate, it’s a seventy to thirty odd."

Dean stared at him. "Of what?"

Olsen shrugged as he balanced the goggles. "Exploding, of course."

That was by no means re-assuring but he took the gauntlet and slid it on. After all, what is life without risk. Right?

When he wore the gauntlets, they were heavier than they looked with the metallic surface feeling cool on his hands.

"Now what?"

"Channel," Olsen said. "Like you normally would. But push it through the gauntlet."

Dean closed his eyes and focused as he felt the weight of verge in his chest. The familiar pull that came with channeling.

He directed it towards his hand and then to the gauntlets.

The metal suddenly hummed to life as the blue crystals on it glowed and began spreading out in a semi-circle.

Dean could feel his body resonate with the gauntlet like it was an extension of him.

"It’s working. It’s working." Olsen yelled excitedly, while Ash reached forward.

Then–

The forming semi-circle cracked and it immediately began spreading all the way to the crystal.

"Ohh shit," Both Dean and Olsen chorused together and Ash squirmed.

Boom!