-Radiant-

  It was now a month after Genesis had her talent awakening crisis. Everything seemed to work out on her end, as far as I could tell, and she wasn’t ‘kicked out’ of her family like she most likely had been in the past. It once again proved that the future was changeable if I worked at it.

  I was glad, and somewhat proud, that Genesis could avoid something that seemed to haunt the future Genesis that I knew. But it wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows. Although she managed to stabilize her family situation, with my help, it was still unknown if she could stay ahead of those in her family that wanted others to succeed at the cost of her failure.

  While Genesis’s family situation was relatively stabilized, I couldn’t necessarily say the same about mine. I was currently visiting with Mystdell, since it was once again her school vacation time, and she would always come to visit me whenever she could. Most of my visits with Mystdell were lighthearted and relaxing, but currently she was ranting to me about how our parents didn’t want her to chase her dreams.

  While I was pondering about what I would say to Mystdell she continued to rant, “They said it was ‘too dangerous’ and that it would be ‘better for me to work in the family business.’ But I don’t want to work in the family business, I want to explore and see the world! I mean I’m not some fragile child that needs to be protected anymore, why are they being so overprotective and controlling?” She sighed and slumped slightly, “I’m sorry to bother you with this Radiant. I should be spending time with you, not talking about my problems.”

  In the past Mystdell actually became an explorer against our parents wishes, and she ended up severely injured and traumatized by her experience not long afterwards. I remember that she ended up helping in the family business after that despite originally being so opposed to the idea. I wanted to stop her bad experience from happening, but first I needed to know why she wanted to be an explorer so badly in the first place. Given that she wasn’t permanently harmed in the future I knew, I didn’t think it was absolutely necessary to stop her from being an explorer to solve the problem.

  I said, “I don’t mind Mystdell, I’m actually glad to listen and help you out. But I wonder why you would want to be an explorer if it’s so dangerous like Mom and Dad said?”

  “It’s not that dangerous, Mom and Dad are just being controlling and overprotective.” She folded her arms across her chest defensively, “Besides I want to go out and do my own thing, live my own life and be free. I want to be able to do things without anybody getting in my way, especially not Mom and Dad.”

  “Yeah I understand how you feel.” I said this mostly to show her that I am trying to empathize with her. I doubt she would think a seven year old would understand what she was feeling.

  Thinking about what she said I could determine that Mystdell probably wasn’t as enthusiastic about exploring as she was about getting away from our parents and being independent. However she seemed to equate becoming an explorer with gaining her freedom.

  I wanted to help Mystdell, but, knowing her personality, any attempt at stopping her from doing what she wanted would cause her to block out my advice. So instead of trying to outright stop her from becoming an explorer I quickly came up with a different approach and said, “Maybe Mom and Dad just don’t think you’re capable enough to be an explorer yet-”

  “But I am capable enough.” Just as I thought, she interrupted me at the first sign of opposition to her idea.

  Mystdell seemed ready to go on another rant, but I stopped her before she got going, “I know, I know. I’m not saying you’re not capable, but just hear me out for a second.” That calmed Mystdell down enough to listen to me, and I continued, “If they don’t think you’re capable, why not show them that you are capable enough to be an explorer.”

  “I’ve already tried to do that.” She shook her head slightly, “They still don’t think that I can be an explorer even after I told them what I can do. It’s impossible to get them to see that I am capable and allow me to become an explorer.”

  “Actually I have an idea about that.” I quickly interjected seeing my opportunity, “Maybe you could enroll in a university and take some classes to show them you can become an explorer.” Seeing that Mystdell was hesitant about the idea from the look on her face, I hurriedly continued before she could interrupt, “Think about it. You’ll be on your own away from Mom and Dad, so they won’t be able to control you anymore, and you’ll be able to practice and learn how to be an explorer at the same time. Plus you could even get Mom and Dad to pay for it. I bet they’ll think that getting you to go to school will give you a dose of reality and show you that you can’t be an explorer.”

  Mystdell looked like she was contemplating what I was saying as I told her about my plan, and by the end she seemed to be almost completely convinced but still uncertain as she said, “It sounds plausible, but I don’t know if I could get Mom and Dad to go along with it. I mean they were really against the idea of me becoming an explorer.”

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  I was a little doubtful of Mystdell’s interpretation of our parent’s stand on the matter. Knowing how confrontational and determined Mystdell could be, I felt that maybe our parents weren’t as against the idea as Mystdell thought. It could be that they were just forced to take such an opposite stance because Mystdell was so defiant and single-minded about her goal.

  “Well it wouldn’t hurt to try.” I said, “Even if they refuse to pay for university there are still other ways to pay for it, like getting a scholarship or something. And, think about it, after you finish with your schooling, Mom and Dad won’t be able to stop you from becoming an explorer because you’ll be a legal adult by then.”

  My arguments seemed to have convinced Mystdell because she was nodding with a faint smirk on her face, probably fantasizing about being a legal adult and being able to do whatever she wanted. After she got done thinking, nodding to herself Mystdell looked at me and said, “Well I guess that I could try your idea. But that’s enough about me, what about you? Have you made any friends or done anything special since the last time I was here? You promised me you would try and make a friend.”

  “Yes, I did make a new friend.” I smiled at her question. Not only because she had taken a liking to my idea, but also because I really did get a friend. “His name is Friochró and he’s a Syskótisi.”

  Mystdell exuberantly smiled, “That’s great Radiant. I’m happy for you, why don’t you tell me more about this new friend of yours.”

  If Mystdell was surprised by the fact that I had made friends with a Syskótisi then she didn’t show it on her face. I didn’t know if she just didn’t know what a Syskótisi was, or if she genuinely didn’t care that my new friend was one.

  “He’s a bit strange, but he’s less strange than other people here. He came here a while ago, and we became friends almost instantly. I don’t think he’s going to stay here too much longer though, but maybe you could help me keep in touch with him once he leaves?”

  “Sure I would love to, anything to help my Little Light and his new friend.” My sister seemed absolutely ecstatic that I had made a friend and wanted to keep in touch with them. However, what Mystdell didn’t know was that I wanted to stay friends and keep in touch with Friochró for another reason. That reason was that, in the future, Friochró would be known by another name, Farsight.

  I didn’t personally know Farsight in the future I came from, but I had heard a lot about him just because of his reputation. Farsight was known to awaken some sort of clairvoyance Unique Talent, and he made a name for himself in certain circles by selling information he gained via the use of his Talent.

  By the time I had escaped from the government’s control, Farsight had already become a big shot, meaning I had no chance of making a connection with him, but now I had the opportunity to become friends with him when we were both kids. I was positively overjoyed about my good fortune.

  In the future, if Mystdell continued to help me keep in touch with Farsight, then after he awakened his unique talent I would be able to get his help with information gathering. Although being friends with Friochró wasn’t a crucial part of the plans I had, I wouldn’t pass up such a golden opportunity when I saw it.

  Mystdell interrupted my fantasizing, “What does a Syskótisi look like anyway? I’ve heard of them before, but I’ve never looked them up or actually seen one.”

  So she didn’t know what a Syskótisi is after all. I explained to Mystdell, “Syskótisi are very similar to Humans, with two arms and two legs, except that they are a little shorter, or at least my friend is. His skin doesn’t reflect any light, and his eyes and nails glow with a neon light. He also doesn't have any hair, and his mouth is all dark gray. Friochró’s eyes and nails are violet.”

  “That’s interesting, can you tell me anything else about your friend?”

  “Yeah, sure. Friochró told me that he doesn’t have to eat like Humans do, he said that instead they eat the heat from around them. He’s fun to talk to and says some really funny things sometimes. The first time I told him my full name he just said it was stupid, I laughed so hard when he said that without any emotion in his voice.” I chuckled at the memory, “You know that I don’t usually like to talk to others during recreation time, but I’ve been talking to him basically every day since he came here. I was wondering what I should do about him leaving soon, but I guess that I won’t be too sad once he leaves because you’ll help me keep in touch with him.” I gave her a happy smile.

  “I’m looking forward to it.” She gave me her own smile, “I might have to get him an Epicell if he doesn’t have one though. Just make sure to get his address or a way to contact him, then you can tell me the next time I come here.”

  “I will.” I replied, “Do you want to play some card games before you leave?” Now that everything important was taken care of it was time to spend some quality time with my sister.

  “Sure I would love to.” She got a stack of cards out of a container and spread them out in front of her face, “What should we play my dear brother?” We then continued our brother sister bonding while playing games together for over an hour.

  I was glad that I could convince Mystdell and hopefully prevent her from having a traumatic experience. If she goes to an academy for around four years, then hopefully by the time she’s through with that she’ll be more mature and less impulsive than she is now. Hopefully Mystdell would be able to learn the danger of the outside world without directly exposing herself to danger like she had in the past.

  However, I had a feeling that Mystdell would probably change her mind about what she wants to do with her life during her time at school. Only time would tell, but for now I was content to just spend time with my sister and forget about the future.