Aidan and Aurora appeared in the North Cascades National Park, a bit north of the lake his family used to camp around in the summer when he and his siblings were kids. They had loved building tents and roasting marshmallows in the cool summer days. Jumping into freezing lake waters to cool down after a long bike ride through the forest. Now, the ground and evergreens were covered in a heavy snow. Thick wet flakes fell from the sky, a chilling breeze blowing in off the mountains to the East.

  The day after Aidan had returned, his mother had pulled a few boxes of his old clothing out of the storage that she had kept for memory’s sake. Though he had grown over the past five years, the clothes still surprisingly fit him. He had forgotten how jeans felt. He was used to rune enchanted clothing that kept clothes clean or protection against various elements. Now he felt the full effects of winter in every part of his body. A window popped open in his vision and he started mentally accessing his inventory. He, unfortunately, had not put a lot of clothing in his inventory before leaving, assuming that Earth’s clothes would be acceptable. He did have the clothes he had arrived in which would afford some protection against the cold. Aidan selected the outfit and it appeared on his body, the clothing he was wearing being discarded into his inventory. He pulled the hood up and tightened it around his face.

  Aurora had laid down in the snow and waited for him. Every now and again she would nip at the large flakes that fell near her; not making a tremendous amount of effort. She sniffed the air and looked South towards the lake, it’s somewhere in that direction, she said.

  “Yea, I felt it when we arrived too,” Aidan replied. “I’ll be curious to see what those Section 16 people can do. It feels strong. I’d say high forties, low fifties at least. If Max is anything to go by, he’ll hold his own I’m sure, but it’ll still be a challenge for them.”

  Aurora growled her agreement. We should go then. I can hear helicopters in the distance. It won’t be long before they’re here.

  Aidan nodded and began walking in the direction he could feel the Will of the beast coming from. Aurora padded along silently behind. A while later they passed an empty campground. Aidan stopped for a moment and turned around, Mount Baker loomed high and imposing in the distance. “I’d forgotten how beautiful this world was,” he said. “Yea it had its shitty parts, the constant competition, the wars, the poverty. But if I’m being honest, Estea is the same. Just instead of money, they also have magic. And if you have enough of both, well you’re the ones in charge.”

  Soon Earth will not be much different. Once magic is thrust into the forefront, those with the powerful abilities will be the elites, Aurora said.

  Aidan sighed and they continued walking, “You think? It could be different this time. Maybe people will choose to use their abilities to change the world for the better.”

  Aurora growled a low chuckle, perhaps.

  “I’m curious to see, though, if their abilities start to last longer. The fact that they have finite amounts of magic is worrying. These battles are going to get more and more difficult as time goes on. And that means they’re going to have to spend more and more energy each time. Can they consume more essence? In Estea we’re given the Regularity AI system, we fight beasts, defeat dungeons, level up, and get more powerful. But these guys, they eat the essence of the beast they kill and gain their power. Which inflates their level in the AI. They’re all essentially children learning how to play with magic for the first time. But they’ve been able to survive this long. And it seems agencies like Section 16 have been around for quite some time.”

  Perhaps they will surprise you, Aurora replied.

  Aidan was about to speak when a loud roar reverberated around them.

  It’s close, Aurora said, slowing down.

  The thunder of helicopters grew louder overhead. As Aidan and Aurora walked, the woods opened up to a small beach with a dock stretching out into the lake. The water had been frozen over and standing in the center of the lake was a massive beast. It looked like a Yeti Aidan noted. At least twenty feet tall, with white shaggy hair. A long white/grey beard hanging from its chin. Its arms outstretched with long talon-like nails. It bellowed again, drowning out the drumming of the incoming helicopters overhead. The ice under the creature exploded with each step and reformed again just as quick. Aidan used identify on the beast:

  Beast: Name - Unknown. Origins - Earth. Level - 48 (Estimated). Abilities - Unknown. Combat creature to learn more. Defeat creature to gain experience. Please note: Level is estimated on size of beast in comparison to AI user’s strength, abilities, and Will. Level may be higher or lower than estimated. Once beast has been defeated, run analysis of combat to learn actual level.

  “Lot of help there,” Aidan said, shaking his head. “Alright Aurora, you ready to get dirty?”

  She looked up at him and growled. Aidan summoned the two short swords in either hand as they walked out on the dock. They watched as the beast brought his hands together and then pulled them apart, a massive icicle forming between them. It grabbed the icy spear and hurled it at one of the helicopters. The pilot narrowly dodged the flying projective, but Aidan saw the fighters who had been preparing to jump out get thrown back into the helicopter as it maneuvered out of the way of another icicle. Aidan took a soft step on the ice to test its strength. He wasn’t sure if the beast had formed the ice over the lake or if it was natural. He guessed the former as it never seemed to get cold enough in Washington to freeze a lake of this size. He hoped it held as he stepped fully onto the ice and started walking towards the creature; Aurora landing silently beside him.

  “Alright Aurora, let’s get Charlie the Yeti’s attention off of those guys so they can get down here and do their thing,” Aidan said walking more confidently now in the direction of the giant beast.

  Charlie the Yeti? Aurora rumbled, disapproval clearly evident in her tone.

  “What?” Aidan said. “I’m not just going to call him beasty all day. And the AI was no help. So, Charlie the Yeti.”

  Aidan felt her sigh and he smiled. As much as she had been and still was a part of him, she had grown into her own over their years together. The Yeti began forming another spear-like icicle and Aidan pushed his Will against the beast’s and punctured through. The two began running, his eyes turning their deep purple. Aidan dropped his sword, it vanished into a plume of smoke behind him. He threw back his hand and spoke Shadow’s Vengeance. A teardrop of purple liquid formed. He hurled it at the Yeti, the sword once again formed in his hand. The small teardrop flew through the air like a bullet. Just as the yeti finished the icicle and began to grab it, the teardrop made contact and exploded. Shards of ice flew hundreds of feet into the air. The Yeti was launched backwards before landing hard on its back. It screamed as it picked itself up and noticed Aidan and Aurora for the first time. It began running towards them moving faster than Aidan had anticipated. The man stopped running, sliding a few feet on the ice before vanishing. Aurora stopped, her claws digging into the ice below and growled at the beast. Her fur turned a deep purple with blacks and blues shimmering throughout. Then she began to grow. In a few seconds she was standing on her hind legs just as tall as the Yeti. Her eyes were red, her claws a deep black, thick and menacing. She let out an oppressive guttural growl. The Yeti stopped in place, frozen.

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  Aidan reappeared midair behind the beast and slashed down its back as he fell towards the ice. Two dark red lines of blood appeared on the white fur as the swords dug deeper into the creature’s back. Aidan caught himself on the Yeti’s fur. The beast yelled out in agony and twisted around trying to find its attacker. Aurora started closing the distance between her and the Yeti, but it turned back facing her and slashed at the air. Sharp blades of ice appeared in the air and started flying towards the large wolf. She deftly dodged the shards, or so she thought. One caught her in the shoulder and threw her backward. Aurora picked herself back up, grunting in pain as she withdrew the shard of ice.

  Aidan clung onto the fur as the pain from Aurora’s injury wound its way through his body. It burned his insides before settling down. He took a deep breath and calmed himself. There were a lot of positives to having a companion like Aurora; but those also came with some truly debilitating downsides.

  Careful, Aidan sent to her. We don’t know the extent of Charlie’s abilities. He has a lot of Will. If anything happens to you. He let that last part hang in the air.

  I will rip his throat out with my teeth. He will not see the setting sun, she growled back.

  Aidan chuckled and continued climbing the beast. He found the wound one of his swords had created and dove his hand inside the beast, ripping the torn flesh even wider. The Yeti flinched before sending its arms backwards trying to beat at Aidan. My flesh is your poison Aidan said as his arm lit up the colors of a dark bruise before shooting towards his hand. The beast found Aidan then and grabbed him. It brought him eye level with it. The young man smiled and waved before the Yeti brought back its arm and catapulted Aidan through the air.

  Aurora, who had been running back towards the Yeti, saw Aidan flying and made to go after him. I can’t get to you in time! Aurora growled loudly, worry in her tone.

  Just get him, came Aidan’s strangled thought. I poisoned him so Charlie should be getting weaker.

  The Wolf turned back to the beast and held up her paw. Out of her claws five black daggers appeared. She flexed her paw and the swords sailed towards the Yeti digging themselves deep into its flesh. It roared in anger and pain as she closed the distance and let one balled paw connect with the creature’s face sending him backwards a good distance.

  Aidan curled into a ball as he flew through the air. He landed hard on the ice, breaking through it and finding himself in the frigid water. Luckily the ice wasn’t as thick as it was nearer to the Yeti. Still hurt he thought as he swam back towards the surface. He climbed onto the ice and laid face down breathing heavily. An armored boot crunched the ice next to his face. He opened his eyes, flipped over, and looked up.

  “Nice of you to show up,” Aidan said looking up at the armored man with the overly large sword. “Thought your people in the helicopters would do that really cool paramilitary thing where they jump out. Oh and maybe help. But it seems they’re just enjoying the show.”

  “Yea, well the Director’s an optimist. Believes the best in people. These guys,” Max looked up at the helicopters, “They’re good fighters but they’re still just humans. And when you see a twenty foot Yeti fighting a twenty foot wolf thing, you might pause for a moment.”

  Aidan laughed at that and nodded his head against the ice. Max held out his hand and Aidan took it standing back up.

  “So I’m assuming that’s your white wolf fighting the Demon?” Max asked as they began walking back towards the battle. “She could have killed me without a second thought, that day, couldn’t she?”

  Aidan smiled, “Nah, she’s more bark than bite most times. Though she does have a bit of a bloodlust thing. Not sure where she gets that from. But you probably could have held your own.” He stopped and looked Max up and down. The bigger man looked at him quizzically. Aidan continued walking, “Yea. You would have been fine. But you hurt her, you hurt me. So I would have to fight too. And I would have killed you.” Aidan was serious as he said that. But then smiled again and said, “Come on, she can’t hold that form forever. It takes a lot of energy. I poisoned Charlie so he should be getting weaker.”

  “Charlie?” Max asked, looking at Aidan as they began running back across the lake.

  “Yea,” Aidan replied. “Poor guy didn’t have a name. So I gave him one; Charlie the Yeti. Unless of course your Section 16 has fought one before and named it?” Aidan looked at Max expectantly.

  The bigger man shook his head, “No. Not that I know of. Grace would know better though. They just tell me about open Rifts and what to kill. Never came across a Yeti though. Alright let’s go kill Charlie.”

  Aidan could feel Aurora getting weaker in her current form, That’s enough Aurora. Thank you for your help.

  The wolf sent him a low growl, I’m not done yet. I want to taste his blood down my throat.

  No! Aidan replied, shuddering as he ran next to Max. I think we really need to have a long chat after this. Maybe get you a therapist.

  The wolf didn’t respond. She ran back towards the Yeti and grabbed its throat with her claws. The beast roared and choked before lifting its legs and kicking Aurora in the chest, sending her backwards and losing her grip. Max’s sword began to glow as he held it up while running. He stopped and slashed the air; a golden light slid off of the blade and made its way to the creature. The light slammed against the beast’s chest and forced it to turn its attention away from Aurora and towards the two men. Aidan’s swords appeared in his hands and the two came into contact with the Yeti. Max went from using his sword to throwing fireballs at the creature. Aidan shifted through space, constantly slashing at the beast. Aurora had returned to her white wolf form.

  “Alright Max, when I say now, aim for the head with that big sword of yours and don’t miss,” Aidan yelled while still shifting from one place to the other.

  “I never do,” Max yelled back.

  Aidan smiled and stopped directly in front of the Yeti. The beast was tired and done, they both knew it. “I truly am sorry my friend. You were a worthy adversary.” The creature bellowed and lifted its arms to smash down on Aidan. Before that happened Aidan took a breath, his eyes turned that deep purple, and he spoke Your Will is mine! A white streak of light flashed past Max and Aidan and through the Yeti. The beast fell to its knees, hanging its head low.

  “NOW!” Aidan yelled.

  The golden light appeared once more on Max’s sword blade and he slashed at the air. The light found its way to the beast’s neck. The next moment the head of the Yeti rolled before stopping at Aidan’s feet. He sighed sadly before a prompt on his screen asked to loot the body/ He accepted. There was a loud crack in the air and the ice started breaking and melting. Answers that question Aidan thought to himself as he noticed Max start running towards the shore. He laughed and ran to catch up with the Warrior Mage. He grabbed the man’s arm and a moment later they were standing on the dock. Max looked under him and then around. He found Aidan’s eyes and the young man chuckled and patted the Mage’s shoulder.

  “C’mon. I want to have a word with your Director,” Aidan said walking back towards the shore. “Oh, and good work back there.”