Darkness filled Gavin's vision as pain and exhaustion overtook his body. An unfamiliar sensation washed over him and he felt his body disconnect from his mind. He was floating in a vast emptiness, unable to orient himself. "What in the hell is going on?" Gavin muttered as he turned his head. At least he thought he was turning his head.
"It feels like I'm being pulled by some unseen force." Gavin noticed. The pull on his body was unmistakable, even in the pitch darkness.
Without warning a bright light filled his vision as an opulent room manifested in front of him. Cursing, he covered his eyes from the intensity of the light. With an impact that drove the lungs from his corporeal body, Gavin landed in a white, marble chair.
The last thing he remembered was seeing Erza ducking behind cover, narrowly avoiding getting her head blown off. He recalled the chaos of the fight; the gunfire, magical blasts, screaming from both sides and site of Aria lying in a pool of blood.
The next thing he knew, his entire body burned and throbbed in pain and he blacked out.
So where was he?
Across the room was a young-looking man with dark gray eyes and long golden blond hair down his back. He wore black jeans and a simple, red-colored T-shirt that fit snug against his chiseled chest.
Okay. What in the crap is going on now, Gavin wondered.
"I'm sure you have a lot of questions, Gavin Johnson. I will try answering a few of them in your short time here. My name is Koray. I am one of the six primal gods of your world." The man spoke.
Gavin noticed Koray's voice held a deep, unmistakable power that he almost recognized. It was like he'd heard it before. "To be more precise. I am the God of earth magic, nature, and transformation." Koray's voice had the same familiar tone akin to a father to a son.
Gavin sat still on his chair. He looked around and to say he was stunned was like saying the earth was round. "What are you saying, that the gods actually exist?" Gavin asked incredulously.
Koray nodded. "Some of us do. Others were a way for humans to try explaining the unexplainable in the early stages of human development," Koray replied, his soft voice filled Gavin with peace and comfort as he spoke. Gavin's body relaxed slightly on the marble chair.
"To start, there are six primordial gods in the universe. Each associated with one of the core fundamental elements of life and creation." Koray's voice was patient and gentle.
"Some of us have tried to guide and develop humanity on a chosen path. Occasionally, we find agents, messengers if you will, to act on our behalf. You are one such individual that I mean to ask for assistance in this matter." Koray said as he pointed a finger towards Gavin. A wave of unparalleled power went through the room at the gesture that pushed Gavin flush against the chair.
Koray paused. "I am the patron god of the shifter clans. You see, I was the one that used ancient spells to weave life into the first of your kind."
Gavin's eyes went wide and his jaw dropped. "What do you mean?" Gavin's voice was hesitant as he processed that information.
"You are a were-wolf shifter of the Lykos clan, Gavin." Koray informed him. This was perhaps the easiest of the truths Koray had to explain.
"I'm… what?" Gavin asked stunned. There was no way he heard him right. He opened and closed his mouth like a fish, unable to think coherently.
Koray nodded slowly. "You are a were-wolf shifter, my boy. Congratulations!" Koray said with a soft chuckle. "You are also one of the last in an old, royal bloodline."
Gavin's jaw dropped. "Wait, what?!" He asked incredulously as he shook his head. "You must be mistaken."
Koray sighed as he raised his hand and images began to flood Gavin's mind. Of him and Erza approaching the stairs, fighting the intruders. Gavin's shift and brutal killing of the remaining intruders.
"Holy shit." Gavin said before he covered his mouth in horror. He killed. Not just one person, but I took the lives of two people.
Koray nodded. "You were quite ferocious, Gavin. But that is only a small inkling of your potential."
Gavin's head snapped up. "What is it you want from me?" His voice was filled with nervous apprehension as he took everything in. This is way too much. I'm talking not only to a god, but the creator of the shifter clans. Plus, he tells me I'm a shifter? How is that possible? Why haven't I known before today?
Koray leaned forward on his throne-like chair and clasped his hands together in front of him. "What I want is to offer you a deal, Gavin. I offer you a path to extraordinary power. In return, I task you with finding other shifters like yourself. You will be asked to learn about, and find, the other alpha shifter clans. Once you find them, you will be expected to protect them and right the tragedies of the past," Koray continued, his voice grim and foreboding.
"I wish I could intervene myself. But there are laws, treaties, and limits placed upon us by others that forbid our direct involvement in the lives of the planet. That is why we can only act out through agents or messengers to try making any kind of change," he said grimly. But there was something else in his voice, a hint of maybe regret? Gavin couldn't quite tell.
Gavin didn't understand. "What do you mean by alpha shifter?" Gavin asked the older being. He had never heard of that term before.
"There are certain species of shifters: wolf, lion, tiger, bear, and others that represent animals that were at the top of their environmental food chains. When I used ancient magic to combine the DNA and traits of the animal apex predators with human DNA to create your kind, there were certain…. complications."
Gavin narrowed his eyes. "What sort of complications?"
Koray sighed and waved his hand. "Most of the animal shifters had no problem joining society. They could control their animal selves, were stronger, faster and better at magic than most normal humans. But the ones created from the apex predator families?" Koray hesitated before he continued. "Those alpha bloodlines had an unexpected effect of being the strongest magic users of the Demi shape shifters."
He rubbed his temples and continued. "Unlike most of the world, the alpha bloodlines could naturally use all six base elemental magics of creation. You can use all six elemental magics. Naturally what happened?" He cursed and his fist clenched upon his throne.
"Naturally the world governments of mankind feared that which they could not control and sought to purge the bloodlines, fearing their strength."
"Wait, go back. What are the Demi?" Gavin cocked his head, his brows furrowed in thought.
"You will learn about them in time. But know, that there is more to the world than humans and shape shifters." Koray smirked at Gavin's curiosity.
"So, what your saying is that you screwed the pooch with creating the shifters, normal humans feared them and tried to kill off all the strong clans or bloodlines?" Gavin asked.
Koray let out a barking laugh. "Well, look at the balls on you kid. No one's exactly phrased it that way before. But sure, we can run with that."
Koray leaned forward, his elbows on his knees and his chin in his hands. "There are small bands and groups of surviving alpha clans scattered across Elyndra. Your mission will be to find them, protect them and bring to light the injustice of the past. They deserve every right to a bright future that everyone else has." Koray's tone was soft, and if Gavin had to guess, filled with pain.
"How will I find them?" Gavin asked, his curiosity piqued. This was unreal. Would the different governments really come together like that?
"That will be for you to find out. I cannot give you all the answers. If I do, what is the point of acquiring an agent to serve our needs?" Koray cryptically replied.
"How will I have the strength to do this? This sounds impossible….I'm only eighteen." Gavin asked as he readjusted his position on the chair. "According to you, I just shifted for the first time." Tears of frustration pricked his eyes. "Two people are dead because of me and I can't even remember it."
"I will give you a system. Think of it as artificial intelligence. It will bind itself to your soul and offer you paths of progression, abilities, and evolution you would never dream of having. With the assistance of the AI system, you will gain the power you seek to protect your loved ones," Koray finished the last part quietly. If this young boy were to get anything out of this, it should be the power to protect his family and kin.
Gavin stiffened in response. "How will I gain this power?" he asked again. Power like that couldn't just magically appear to him. What trials and tests would he have to survive in order to gain the kind of power to go against the governments of the world and survive?
Koray laughed nonchalantly. "I am offering you a path to said strength, if you choose to accept it," he told him. He was impressed with the way Gavin hesitated before accepting. He appeared to have a strong head on his shoulders, one willing to question everything and take nothing at face value.
Gavin still hesitated. This seemed almost too good to be true. But if this god-like being had offered him a path to acquire the power he sought, he didn't care what price he had to pay to do so. "Done. I agree with the terms," he said instantly. He would figure things out as he went, but at least he would have the strength to keep Erza safe, he thought.
Koray smiled in spite of himself. At the mention of protecting the females in his life, there was a fire that ignited in the Gavin's eyes. "Then I will grant you the AI system Veronica. In words you can understand, think of her like a cheat code system. She will explain how the system works and how you can best utilize it."
Koray held up one finger. "But, I will warn you now. Some features of her programing are locked for your safety. When you reach certain thresholds of power the system will automatically unlock the next stage in your growth. Remember your mission."
Koray ticked off his fingers. "One, find the remaining alpha clans."
Ticked off another finger. "Two, protect them."
Then a another. "Avenge the wrongs of the past and save the clans from extinction." With those words spoken he waved his hand, sending Gavin's consciousness returning through the abyss.
He felt the motion come to a stop. He looked around and all he saw was a vast empty abyss. Gavin felt a searing pain piercing his skull. Gavin dropped to his knees in the vast abyss as both his hands rose to cup both sides of his head as he screamed out in agony. His voice lost in the void.
What the hell is this? Why is there so much pain? Gavin wondered as he fought to keep his sanity. After what felt like an eternity, it lessened, and Gavin could finally breathe easier and without discomfort in his skull.
A soft female-sounding voice rang out in his mind.
Greetings. User Gavin Johnson identified. Status confirmed. Synchronization rate is optimal. My name is Veronica. I am the artificial intelligence program provided by Koray to assist with the assigned objectives. I have been installed directly into your consciousness. I can monitor a variety of information and statuses.
The voice, referring to itself as Veronica, was a soft cooling sensation in Gavin's mind. As if cool water was brushing against his mental clarity. Um, hello there Veronica. Gavin responded in greeting. He was uncomfortable and leery of having a voice in his head.
Greetings Master Gavin. I look forward to working with you. If you give me a moment, I will go over all the available and pertinent information. Veronica said gently and clearly in his mind. Gavin didn't respond, still unsure about this new partnership and how she would help enable him to grow strong enough to accomplish such a seemingly impossible task.
Status synchronization is complete. Accessing core status now.
Gavin Johnson. Age 18.
Royal bloodline were-wolf shifter.
Level 1.
Hp. 100/100
Mana points. 0/30
Strength 10
Speed 15
Agility 20
Stamina 15
Charm 5
Intimidate 0
Acquired skills.
Shape-shift, were-wolf form level 1. The user is capable of shifting partially or fully into a powerful were-wolf form. While in a fully shifted state, all stats are doubled during the duration.
Elemental manipulation level 1. Due to the unique bloodline within user Gavin Johnson. The opportunity to learn and resonate with all six elemental magics exists. Currently able to use zero out of six. Training is required to learn and access this ability.
Okay, Master Gavin, that is all the information I have available about you at this time.
Gavin's mind felt like someone just info dumped straight into his mind. Oh wait, she did, he thought dryly and pressed his palm to his temples.
Somehow, even with Veronica giving me so much information at once, I was able to understand everything.
That is because I am right inside your soul, we are connected on a deeper level than you've ever experienced. His stomach grew nauseous from the overload.
Veronica, where are we right now? he asked her. The infinite black abyss that he was floating in was getting old quickly. He had no sense of up and down, left or right.
After Koray bonded us together, he sent your astral body back to your physical one. We are likely within your mind in the mortal plane. However, due to the effect of your first shift, your body suffered the effects of severe mana depletion. Your body was physically unconscious while your mind, or astral body was speaking with Koray. Veronica explained kindly.
After she gave Gavin a moment to come to terms, she continued. I imagine you are being transported to, or currently at, a medical facility. However, I am unable to know for sure until you regain consciousness.
So, we are in my own consciousness right now. I had my first apparent shift, and killed two people. Gavin thought out loud, or was it mentally? This entire concept was confusing him.
I believe that is a valid summation. Veronica replied in his head. So, this was your first time shifting? She asked him curiously.
Apparently, yeah. I didn't even know I was a shifter. All my life I thought I was one hundred percent normal human, Gavin replied. Then realization dawned on him over something Veronica mentioned during the rattling of his apparent status and information. "Veronica, what did you mean by royal bloodline detected?" Gavin asked curiously.
As Koray explained; certain animal shifter clans created by the apex predator DNA, are known as Alpha Shifters. Then, within those clans is certain bloodlines, that are the strongest of their species. The Lykos pack was feared as the strong were-wolf shifter bloodline. As such, that potential for strength is what allows us to be bonded, and for you to be chosen as an agent of Koray.
What are the limits of the system? Gavin asked quietly. How many other agents of the gods are out there? He needed to know everything he could if he was going to consider this task for the god.
Excellent questions. While I am fully self-aware, my existence is tied closely to yourself. Should you die, so will I. I contain a vast amount of knowledge within my extensive database, there are limits to what information I was imparted with. During battle, i can assist and control skills and abilities so that you can fight without hesitation or pausing to consider what ability to use. Veronica informed him easily.
It will take some time for us to get used to each other. When we are in tune with one another, I will be able to automate your skills in combat with lightning speed. As for your other question, however, I am unable to provide any information on other known agents at this time.
"So, what you are saying is we are partners?" Gavin asked, getting a better understanding of Veronica's abilities and uses. The fact she would be able to help him in future battles made her a very enticing partner. Koray did say to consider her like a cheat code.
Veronica responded, "That is correct. I would, however, advise against revealing my existence to anyone. It could prove problematic if anyone discovers myself or the mission Koray requested us to complete.
I understand, for now, just try not to speak in my mind suddenly when others are nearby. I don't want to look like an idiot talking to himself.
Understood Master Gavin. Your body should wake up in a hospital room soon enough. One last word of advice; you do not need to verbally speak during our conversations. Simply think what you wish to say, and I will be able to hear it and reply." Veronica implored Gavin one last time before his consciousness faded to black, and he slowly opened his eyes to find himself in a bed in what appeared to be a hospital.
A soft, constant mechanical beeping filled his hearing. Then it hit him. His entire body burned with exhaustion and his right shoulder was so heavy it wouldn't move. Someone was beating a drum behind his eyes and he groaned from the pain. He looked around as he heard soft snores coming from his right.
A dark blue window appeared in Gavin's field of vision. It looked like a notification screen from one of those VR gaming pods that were popular.
~Alert-Daily quest received. Physical training. Run five miles. One hundred pushups. Fifty squats. Twenty sit ups. Reward. Twenty experience points. However, due to current condition, penalty will be suspended for one week.
~After one week, failure to complete daily quest will result in a fifty percent decrease of all stats for twenty-four hours.
~Current level is level 1. Experience needed for level up is one hundred points.
Gavin read through all the messages provided by Veronica and the system. So, I must do daily quests to get experience points, and if I don't then I get penalized? Man, that's harsh. Gavin grumbled as he read through all the messages.
He closed the messages and looked around the sterile hospital room. He saw a familiar pool of messy, red hair that covered an all too familiar face. Erza was sleeping peacefully, with her head on the edge of his bed.
He winced as he tried to sit up and grabbed his head. Every inhale increased the pounding drums in his head. Probably leftover from when Veronica got put in my consciousness or whatever it was called.
As he moved to sit up, Erza awoke startled. "Oh my god, you're awake!" She exclaimed as she started to fuss over his body. Her tone was groggy and breathing ragged like someone startled from a deep REM sleep.
She double-checked the wounds on his shoulder to confirm they were healing properly. She then looked over his vitals on the machine. She let out a sigh of relief and sat back down next to his bed.
"Erza, what happened?" Gavin lied. "My memory is so fuzzy. The last thing I recall was seeing Aria on the ground and those guys standing above her…" another lie, but he couldn't tell her the truth yet. His stomach was in knots as he forced the words out.
More memories surged through his mind.
A black-clawed hand lifted one of the men up before bursting through the man's chest with a still-beating heart in its black-covered paw of a hand. Then he sliced the third man's throat out. "What happened to me?" he asked. His heart rate started to spike as he slowly remembered parts of what happened. His voice quivered as he looked at her.
You need to try to relax, Gavin. Had you not shifted, you and your friends would be the ones dead. Veronica said softly as she tried to reassure her master.
Erza placed a soft hand on his arm and her voice was tender. "It's okay, my love. We will talk about that soon. What's important is that you saved us. You, me and Aria. After the battle was over and you collapsed, I called the authorities again and they brought us to Saint James Hospital." Gavin's eyes darted around while she spoke, as if he wasn't seeing or hearing her words.
"I don't really remember. Did I get hurt?" he asked groggily. He put his hand over his aching head, his shoulder still burned, so he assumed he had been shot or something.
Her amber eyes softened. "Yes, you got shot in the shoulder, but the shots went through and through," she said as she pointed to his right shoulder covered by bandages, her brow wrinkled.
"Then why did I pass out and why don't I remember anything?" Another lie. Why does this hurt so much? He hoped he wasn't laying the act on too thick.
"It was unknown at the time. After the doctors checked you out and ran their tests, they determined you passed out due to mana depletion," she said quietly, and studied his face. What aren't you saying, Gavin. There's something… off about you now. A strange scent that wasn't there before.
"But… I don't know any magic," he shook his head again.
"You really don't know what happened, do you?" Erza asked seriously. Memory issues aren't that common from mana depletion. Fatigue, passing out, exhaustion, those were the normal side effects.
He looked her in the eyes, his fear and confusion evident in his gaze. "Erza, I swear I don't know what happened or have any magic. Please you have to tell me."
Erza took a deep breath before she started. "We were both behind cover. They started taking shots and using magic to try to kill us. Luckily, they missed. But when a shot landed close to my head, something happened to you." She paused, her own memories flashing through her mind.
"Suddenly there was wild energy emitting from you. Your mana was exploding all around us. Your body began to change into a large black were-wolf with blood-red eyes. You threw your head back and let out this horrifying howl and attacked the men, killing them both. It all happened so fast, it was over in a matter of seconds," she informed him her voice trailed off, and she shivered, rubbing her arms. She avoided looking him in the eyes.
The fear she felt in her heart at the sound of his howl. The speed and pure ferocity of his attack. The ruthlessness in his actions and lack of mercy as he slaughtered the attackers. It wasn't the actions of an eighteen-year-old kid, but of a trained killer, or the instincts of a wild, feral animal.
"What do you mean I was a wolf? I'm a human. I'm not a shifter," Gavin argued. As far as everyone else knew, he was human. He was born a human without any kind of shifter blood or abilities.
Until that night anyway.
"Gavin you…" Erza was interrupted before she could finish by Mr. and Mrs. Johnson coming into the room. Mrs. Johnson's shriek of joy was loud enough to hurt both of their ears as she ran forward and launched herself into her son's arms, tears flooding down her face as she latched on to him.
"Thank the gods you're alive and awake," she said as she held him close, despite his protests and pain. Her words came out as a muffled sob as she buried her face in his chest.
"I'm okay, I'm okay," he said as he gently wrapped his arms around his tiny slip of a mother.
"How dare you make your mother worry like that?" She yelled at him and she cried even harder. She gripped his hospital gown in her hands, her knuckles turning white as she glared at him.
"I'm sorry mom, it all happened so fast. We saw on the news that the abductions were happening in the city now, and we had to check on Lyla and Aria and make sure they were okay," Gavin responded. He patted his mother on the back gently while his father just stood stoically by his bedside, his expression unreadable to Gavin.
"We are just glad you are both okay and survived this horrific ordeal." Mr. Johnson's deep voice filled the room as he stepped closer to put a hand on his wife's shoulder.
"What happened?" Gavin asked his parents. "Erza said I shifted into a black were-wolf? But I don't know how this is possible. I'm human. Not a shifter." Gavin looked at both his parents.
At the mention of his shifting, his mom stiffened and pulled back, the waterworks came to a quick end as she looked serious and forlorn. She fidgeted against his chest as she looked between her son and husband.
"Well. About that," she started, then bit her lip. "We have to tell you something." She stood up and pulled a chair over to the bed. She grabbed the hem of her shirt and looked at her hands in her lap as she shewed on the corner of her lip.
"You're adopted," came his fathers blunt words. His mother yelled in protest and glared at her husband. He shrugged and said, "You were beating around the bush, and our son has a right to know."
The news should have shocked him. All his life, his parents and family made it seem like he was their true-blue flesh and blood child. If he didn't have the system and conversation with Koray, he would probably have been shocked at this mention. But he had to play it smart, he had to be dumb and act shocked by this revelation.
"What are you talking about? I'm adopted?" he asked his father in mock surprise. Erza sucked in her breath, her eyes wide. She took his hand into hers and looked at Mr. Johnson.
"On one of our hiking trips. We stumbled upon what looked like a massacre of a group of several hundred were-wolf shifters. We searched around and you were the only survivor. It appeared as if they were ambushed out in the woods and the mother tried hiding you under her body to protect you," his father said with a grim expression.
Erza covered her mouth with her hand in horror. Tears pricked her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. "In order to protect you, your mom and I decided to keep this a secret until your eighteenth birthday. We had planned to tell you after you fully graduate next week," he said while he looked at his son, worried about his reaction. His face remained stoic, but Erza noticed a flicker of emotion behind his eyes.
Gavin sat there. He appeared to be stunned. He was processing this revelation.
So, he was saved, as a child, from a group of dead were-wolves. He isn't even human. And his parents aren't even his biological parents. Erza squeezed his hand. She could feel his rapid heart rate under her palm. She felt the tension in his body as he held onto her hand. The warmth was a stark contrast to how cold he felt in his heart.
"I don't know what to say," he finally admitted out loud. "You are still my parents, whom I love and cherish. So, I'm not human, so what? Now I have something to figure out, and a past to hunt down," Gavin grinned as he decided nothing had changed. The information, while shocking and new, didn't change how much he loved his parents.
Both his parents teared up a little at his proclamation. Their shoulders relaxed and the barest hints of smiles lifted the corners of their mouths.
"We love you, son," his father said as he reached down to hug his beloved son. Erza sat there with a broad smile on her face as she watched the scene. She knew he'd respond this way. He had such a kind and loving heart. He was always like this. Until the night he shifted, she had never really known him to show a mean or vicious bone in his body.
"So. Not only am I a were-wolf shifter, but I also killed two people yesterday," he said quietly, and looked down. He was barely eighteen and had killed two people. Granted, they were scum, but he still took two lives.
His stomach was in knots, and he leaned over the bed as he emptied its contents into the trash can next to the bed. The full ramifications and weight of his actions felt like an oppressive force crushing him.
"Umm. That was two days ago, love." Erza whispered and rubbed his back. "You've been out for two nights. "It's Monday evening."
"Where's Aria? What about Lyla?" he asked suddenly. Gavin looked from face to face and searched for an answer.
Before anyone could respond, the door opened again. Lyla and Aria both walked in. Aria was covered in bandages and Lyla stood on crutches with a cast on her right leg. Erza smiled as they both shouted and ran to Gavins' side excitedly.
Well, Aria ran while Lyla did a sort of limping hurry to his bedside. "You're awake." Aria said in appreciation as she looked him over. Both girls had bright smiles on their faces. No matter what anyone said, he was a hero in their eyes.
"You're alive!" they both exclaimed in tearful joy as they held onto him, crowding his small bed. Lyla let the crutches fall to the ground in her excitement of seeing Gavin awake. Aria sniffed her tears back as she held onto his chest.
He let them go and looked at them. Aria had a few bandages on her arms and one on her cheek. He could see some bandages under her shirt around her torso. Lyla had a bandage wrapped around her head and a black boot on her right foot.
"I thought something had happened to you, Lyla. Where were you?" he asked her.
"They burst in the studio and I was caught by surprise. One of them knocked me unconscious pretty quickly, and they threw me out the window. Probably intended to grab me when they were done grabbing Aria," Lyla said and winced as she touched the back of her head.
"The medics found her outside when they arrived and brought the three of you into the hospital," Erza said.
"I'm glad we are all alright. But I'm more determined than before about going to the academy." Gavin said. A hint of steel entered his voice. He felt a primal need. A hunger for power. Of a desire to protect his loved ones. A strong desire to protect his mate. His mana flared out around him at those thoughts, startling everyone in the room.
His parents glanced at each other, taking a small step back from the bed. His father's eyes narrowed on Gavin, but he remained quiet.
Erza shivered at his words as she held onto his arm. "We will figure this out together. Remember. If we stand together, there is nothing we can't grab by the throat and beat down," she declared. With her words, Gavin's mana thinned out and faded away entirely.
The door opened and a tall, slender, gray-haired woman entered. "Good afternoon Mr. Johnson, my name is Dr. Aliza." She introduced herself. She brought a tablet out of her coat pocket, glancing at his chart.
"It's good to see you awake. You gave these folks quite a fright, you know." She walked over and examined his vitals.
"Nice to meet you, Dr. Aliza," Gavin said. He adjusted himself to sit more upright. "So, am I good to leave?" Gavin asked her. "I have things I have to do." I hate being useless and tied down. Honestly, after everything I learned, I just want to be alone for a little while.
"Gavin!" Erza chided him as she smacked the back of his head. Gavin yelped and winced as he rubbed the tender spot. "You just woke up, and you will stay as long as the nice pretty doctor decides you need to," she demanded as she glowered at him, anger in her eyes.
"The young lady is right. You have just gone through a traumatic event. From what I understand, you shifted for the first time?" She asked him. This young man astounded her. From what I understand, he had no prior knowledge of being a shifter. By all rights, the mana depletion should have kept him out for another day at least before he awoke.
"That's what they tell me," he responded and inclined his head towards Erza.
"I'd like to run a few more blood tests, maybe find out your family lineage if you'd consent," Dr Aliza asked, as she handed over a tablet with the request to be signed. "This could be an easy way of finding any living relatives."