GUARDIAN OF THE END

"Nothing. It's clear that he is definitely the phantom that Brian mentioned. We don't know much about him and leaving him outside isn't safe either. He will be staying with us for the time being." Risa admitted.

"What about tomorrow then? I am sure there will be those at the ceremony who can see him considering many powerful individuals will be attending." Jason questioned.

"We will worry about that tomorrow," Risa smiled. "Go to your room and get a good sleep. Tomorrow is going to be hectic."

Jason was about to walk away when he remembered the talk Risa and Brian had had about family connections. "Grandma, how are you connected to Brian?"

"He is my younger brother," Risa replied with a rueful smile as Jason didn't pry further. He turned around and walked back to his own room while being lost in his thoughts.

'Tomorrow, I will show my skills to a huge amount of people.' He silently stood in the middle of his room and observed the objects inside.

He had enough offensive, defensive, and trick skills for a child his age who hadn't been taught much.

Jason knew that there would be noble prodigies present at the ceremony who had the advantage of good tutors and might be leagues above him.

'However, they won't have the experience of falling into so many weird situations.' Jason thought with assurance before lying down on the bed.

Though there was a good chance that he could be wrong, he didn't give that thought another thought.

'I just wish for this to be over peacefully…' Jason thought at last before sleeping.

However, deep inside, he knew that such a thing would be near impossible.

***

The next morning, he was awoken early by Alfred who seemed to be in charge of doing this with all of the Syrward family members.

"Young master, please freshen yourself up and come down to eat. If you get lost, please call out for me." Alfred spoke from outside the room as Jason yawned.

Jason wondered how he was even woken up in such a manner before remembering that the system also used a few of its alarms to wake him up.

Surprisingly, he had gotten a good sleep despite the events of the day.

[ At least you are used to such nervousness. I am hundred percent sure that there will be many children present today who are going to be nervous wrecks. ] The system reminded as Jason stood up and started his day.

After having a nice bath and wearing his clothes, he left the room and started making his way downstairs.

'Come to think of, these clothes are really comfortable to sleep in as well.' Jason thought as he reached the second floor just in time to see two children roaming around with a lost expression.

Both of them were wearing similar clothes like Jason and looked around his age.

'Wait, are those two twins?' Jason squinted a bit to see that both the children were twins, one boy, and one girl.

Both of them had flaming red hair alongside a slightly dark complexion which made them look tanned. Their eyes were bright red like their hair and the two of them seemed to be walking around while trying to figure something out.

'Don't tell me that they are lost with the stairs being barely a few meters away from.' Jason mused.

[ They could be trying to find something. ] The system pointed out as Jason shrugged and decided to confront them.

It was his natural helping nature that made him do that.

[ Just admit you want to see the twins up close. ] The system sighed as Jason didn't comment on its words.

"Um, Hello? Are you both looking for something?" Jason asked awkwardly, forgetting the fact that he was not very good at having conversations with strangers.

However, he got his wish fulfilled and could observe the twins up close.

Both of them looked at him with a surprised expression as though they hadn't seen or heard him coming toward them.

"Yes, we are looking for my pet Magmoleanader." The girl replied after a few seconds.

"Magmo… what?" Jason asked while trying to figure out what the female had just spoken. The girl seemed used to such behavior as she sighed.

"My pet magma salamander. He is about one foot long and can change his color to match the surroundings," her eyes hovered over to the symbol on his chest. "Hmm, what's your name?"

"You first." Jason automatically replied before facepalming inside. It had become a habit of his to ask the other person's name first before saying his own and he wasn't able to stop it from showing up.

"Amber, Amber Feuer." The girl replied without much thought before extending her hand forward.

"Jason," Jason replied as he shook her hand before pulling back.

[ Well, at least you didn't act as though you were touching a girl for the first time. ] The system commented.

'Hey, I am not that shy or introverted. Also, it takes time for my real self to show up when I meet someone new. Who knows whether either of us would meet again in the future.' Jason argued as the system chuckled.

[ I won't say anything. The future will tell everything itself. ] It replied as Jason turned around and was ready to walk away.

"Wait, can you help us find it?" The boy suddenly asked as Jason turned back and raised an eyebrow.

"Why would I do that and get late for breakfast?" Jason questioned. "Also, what makes you think that I can find a practically invisible creature?"

"Cause helping people in need is good for your karma?" The boy answered back as Jason fell deep into thought or at least acted to do so.

[ Why don't you help them? The girl would be happy if you help her find her salamander and you would feel good. ] The system asked as Jason felt like chuckling aloud.

'First, I don't simp and second, I met them like three minutes ago. I have had enough of helping people for one lifetime.' Jason replied with a shrug yet he couldn't move away without answering the twin.

"Look, my eyesight isn't much better than yours so I don't think I can help you. Maybe you should try attracting it with things it would like." Jason suggested as Amber sighed.

"I would have done that but I currently can't do it..." She sighed as Jason raised an eyebrow.

"And what is that?"

"Lightning or extreme heat," Amber replied firmly as Jason's expression suddenly went blank.

His eyes automatically lifted to the ceiling as he barely held himself from cursing. There was no way that this was just a coincidence!

"I can help you then." Jason sighed as he raised his right hand and focused for a second. The burning smell of lightning filled the atmosphere as sparks of lightning flickered around Jason's fingers.

He summoned a one-foot lightning bolt the next second and held the crackling power in his hands. Amber and her twin looked at the lightning bolt with glinting eyes yet they didn't look surprised by the display of Jason's powers.

'They must be used to younger kids showing off their powers.' Jason thought as something suddenly jumped past his vision.

Jason felt something sticking to his arm as a dark brown salamander suddenly materialized at his arm.

Amber wasted no time and lunged at the salamander, securing him by the waist. Her hands suddenly released bright red flames that wrapped around the salamander and forced it to stay put in her hands.

"You are quite troublesome, little flame." She sighed as Jason blinked in confusion.

"His name is… little flame?" He asked while looking at the salamander and Amber. Jason had heard some weird names back on Earth but this seemed to be a new low.

"His real name is Flamey though I like calling him little flame," Amber grinned when she saw Jason's surprised expression. "I have seen many people with that expression so I no longer mind them."

"I see… Nice meeting you." Jason replied as he started making his way down again.

"Thank you for helping!" Amber and her twin-spoke at the same time as Jason nodded, resisting the urge to flip his hair.

[ You have sudden shifts in character. ] The system observed since Jason had gone from being awkward to wanting to flip his hair.

'I need like ten minutes and a few conversations to get the other person's basic personality. I can be a bit more open then.' Jason replied as he climbed down the remaining stairs while wondering how strong the two of them could've been.

Jason had gotten to know that his inspect skill didn't work on humans as well as certain objects. He could use it on the objects in the future but according to the system, he could never see the information of other humans or other races.

'It would have been a cool power to see that.'

[ It would have meant more work for me. Do you have any idea how hard it is to keep track of multiple stats? ] The system grumbled as Jason smiled.

'I guess that's the reason my status doesn't show more stats.' He pointed out before stopping right at the entrance of the dining hall.

He then peeked inside to see that almost all of the chairs inside the dining room were full, all of them occupied by adults or at least people who were five or more years older than Jason.

No one around his age was visible around the entire hall. Jason decided to smartly retreat and ask Alfred to deliver his food.

Unfortunately, he hadn't been that quick and sneaky in glancing inside.

"Jason, come inside! I want you to meet someone!" Issac suddenly shouted as Jason inhaled sharply.

He was on the verge of running but knowing Issac, he would change after Jason.

'What's the worst that can happen?' Jason sighed before sagging his shoulder a bit and walking inside the crowded hall.