Nate awoke to the soft hum of the city beyond his window, the glow of morning light seeping through the curtains. He stretched, feeling groggy but rested, before rolling out of bed. The room was small, but it was home now. The faint scent of something warm and familiar drifted in from the kitchen.

  Coffee.

  The rich, slightly bitter aroma pulled him from his haze as he stepped out of his bedroom and into the shared living space. The apartment was compact but comfortable, with a minimalist modern design far beyond any standard hotel room they had back home. The window wall gave a sweeping view of the cityscape, its towering structures bathed in the gentle hues of a new day.

  Yoli stood in the small kitchen, her fingers wrapped around a steaming mug, a content expression on her face. She glanced up as he approached, lifting a small note in her free hand.

  “Peggy left us a message." she said, reading aloud. ‘I know humans from other planets really like this bean water, so I made some for you. Hal and I will be at the Nexus today giving tours, but if you need anything at all, just ask any of my children. They’ll help you with whatever you need.’

  Yoli smiled. “She’s the best.”

  “Yeah." Nate agreed, grabbing a mug and pouring himself a cup. “We’re lucky we found them for a tour.” He took a careful sip, the warmth spreading through him. “So… what’s the plan for today?”

  Yoli leaned against the counter, thoughtful. “Well, money-wise, we’ve got about two months covered. That’s counting food or whatever else we might need. At some point, we’re going to need an income. I don’t know if student loans exist here, but I figure the alchemical program isn’t free.”

  “So, you’re really doing it?” Nate asked, eyes lighting up.

  “I think so." Yoli said, nodding. “That, and I’ll probably pick up some healing magic.”

  “You’re attuning?!” Nate nearly spilled his coffee. “Did you already pick a gem?”

  Yoli laughed. “No, I totally passed out last night. But judging by how excited you are, I bet you already did some research.”

  “No!” Nate said quickly. Then he hesitated. “Okay, maybe. A little.”

  Yoli raised an eyebrow. “Uh-huh. How much reading?”

  “…A lot." he admitted, rubbing the back of his neck. “I’m pretty sure I’m going to attune, but I haven’t picked which one yet. And for you, almost every affinity has some kind of healing power, whether it’s for yourself or others. Life or Connection seem like they’d be the best fit.”

  “Why those?”

  “Well, Life is exactly what it sounds like: lots of healing magic, plant-based abilities, and stuff like that." Nate explained, leaning against the counter. “But there’s also a dark side to it. Some Life magic can be harmful poisons, some acids, necrotic stuff.”

  Yoli frowned. “What about Connection?”

  “Connection isn’t as straightforward for someone who wants to be a doctor." Nate continued, “but it’s really versatile. It lets you create magic objects or just objects in general, as long as you have the right materials. So instead of just healing people directly, you could create medical tools, prosthetics, or even whole healing apparatuses to help people.”

  “I get it.” Yoli nodded. “Both sound interesting.” She studied him for a moment. “What about you? What are you thinking?”

  “Oh, I don’t know." Nate said, exhaling. “They all have their strengths and weaknesses. Reaction was cool. I could shoot fireballs or light beams out of my hands like an anime character. Life is awesome because I could be, like, The Hulk.” He paused. “But there was one that was really mysterious. Almost no information on it.”

  Yoli tilted her head. “Which one?”

  “Void.”

  She frowned. “Void?”

  “Yeah." Nate said, setting his mug down. “The description said the gems are extremely rare because they come from things like supernovae, black holes… or the Vortani.”

  Yoli straightened. “The Vortani? Those are the really bad aliens, right?”

  “The galaxy-destroying kind, yeah." Nate confirmed. “Each gem had a video of someone using an ability, but the one for Void? It wasn’t even a demonstration. It was this weird found-footage clip, shaky camera, bad lighting. Some guy’s body turned into darkness and then kind of glowed. I know that doesn't make sense, but then he just… disappeared.”

  Yoli smirked. “Ah, so you do want to be the mysterious, broody, cool superhero.”

  “No!” Nate said quickly. “I mean I do want cool powers. Of course I want cool powers. I just…” He hesitated, looking down at his hands.

  “You just what?”

  He sighed. “I just wonder what comes after.” His voice was quieter now. “After I attune… then what? I feel like if I figure out the next step, maybe the first one will be easier.”

  Yoli grinned, taking another sip of her coffee. “That’s called planning, genius.”

  Nate rolled his eyes.

  “I think any of these gems will be valuable." she continued.

  “Sounds good." Nate replied, setting his empty mug in the sink. “I’ll change first.”

  Nate nodded and headed back to his bedroom, leaving Yoli alone in the kitchen. She lingered for a moment, staring out the massive window wall at the city beyond.

  She smiled. Nate’s finally getting into it.

  For so long, he had just gone with the flow, never thinking too far ahead. But now he was planning, researching and getting excited. And sure, these things came naturally to her, but she knew she couldn’t push him too hard. If she tried to do everything for him, he’d never really learn.

  I’m not his Mom, she thought. But I don’t want him to fail either. She felt a quiet confidence build up inside her. He’s got this. He’s going to figure it out. She thought back to her own journey. She didn’t know she wanted to be a doctor right away. She just knew she wanted to help people and make good money. She just needed to help him figure out what he wants to do with these magic powers.

  The sound of Nate’s door opening pulled her from her thoughts. He stepped out, scowling slightly.

  “Uh, are you ready to go?” he asked, arms crossed. “What’ve you been doing this whole time?”

  Yoli frowned in anger. “Drinking my coffee, turd.”

  She raised her voice slightly at the insult, shoving past him toward her bedroom.

  Nate and Yoli descended the stairs into the bar and dining hall, stepping into a space that felt entirely different from the night before. The raucous energy of the previous evening had been replaced by a calm, almost meditative quiet. The early morning patrons were a stark contrast to the rowdy partiers from the night before. Traders were sipping their morning brew, mercenaries hunched over quiet conversations, and tired workers nursing cups of something warm before starting their day.

  Despite the number of people, the atmosphere was subdued, a hush that made their footsteps seem louder as they entered. One of Peggy’s daughters, Gemma, spotted them almost immediately and approached with a welcoming smile.

  "Hey, guys. Mom said to keep an eye out for you when you came down. You want a seat and some food?"

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  "Yeah, that’d be great." Yoli said. "Do you have anything... not human, but still, you know, palatable for humans?"

  Gemma chuckled. "Yeah, I think we can figure something out." She gestured to a nearby booth. "Take a seat, I’ll be back in a bit."

  As they slid into their seats, Yoli pulled out her link and expanded the display, flattening it onto the table so Nate could see. A detailed map of the city flickered to life, its interface resembling the GPS apps back on Earth.

  "This looks familiar." Nate noted, tilting his head.

  "Yeah, pretty lucky, right?" Yoli tapped the screen a few times, filtering the search results. A series of glowing markers popped up like neon lollipops. "Okay, I think I got it. These are the closest places offering Attunement services. But I can't tell if there's a review system, so I have no clue if one is better than the other."

  Before Nate could respond, Gemma returned, expertly balancing a platter in one hand and a pot of coffee in the other. She set down two mugs before pouring steaming liquid into each.

  "Here you go." she said.

  "Thanks." Nate replied, inhaling the rich aroma.

  "My pleasure." Gemma leaned against the edge of their booth. "Did I hear you guys talking about Attunement services?"

  "Yeah." Yoli perked up. "Do you know of a good place?"

  "Oh, absolutely. Kalazan. Our whole family goes to him, grandbabies and all. He was a contractor with Dad back in the day." She hesitated before adding, "He’s... unique."

  Nate raised an eyebrow. "Unique how?"

  Gemma smirked. "Let’s just say he’s one of those guys who's in it to help people, not for the money. I mean… definitely likes his money. But there isn’t a soul in the galaxy we’d trust more than him."

  "I like the sound of that." Nate said.

  "Here, let me pull up his info for you." Gemma set down the platter, a spread of food piled high almost like an alien take on an appetizer sampler. She retrieved her link from her pocket. She navigated to a profile labeled Kalazan’s Emporium & Attunement Services, then extended her device for Yoli to tap hers against, sharing the location.

  "Like I said, he’ll ask you questions, try to get to know you before suggesting a gem." Gemma explained.

  "He doesn’t just let you pick one?" Nate asked.

  "Oh no, he really tries to match you to a gem. It’s always your choice in the end, but…" she shrugged, "he’s never been wrong."

  "Sounds like we’re going to Ollivander’s." Nate mused.

  Gemma frowned. "What?"

  "It’s an Earth thing." Yoli clarified.

  "Ah, gotcha. Well, if you need anything else, let me know. Oh, and make sure you call Mom at some point. She’s gonna want to know what you guys are up to."

  "Why?" Yoli asked.

  "She’s got a real soft spot for new folk in the Union."

  "She gives a ton of tours every day." Nate said. "Does she treat everyone the same?"

  "Oh yeah, as long as she gets a good vibe from them. And she can always tell the innocent ones, the ones truly coming here with an open mind." Gemma glanced at Nate, her expression shifting slightly. "You probably remind her of Tonk."

  Nate blinked. "Who?"

  Gemma sighed slightly. "Tonk, our adventurer brother. I can see the look in your eyes, too. Do us and Mom a favor: don’t get yourself killed, okay?"

  "I’ll try not to."

  Yoli tilted her head. "I thought your brother was a treasure hunter?"

  "He was." Gemma said softly. "He died earlier this year."

  Yoli’s expression darkened. "I’m so sorry."

  "It’s okay." Gemma replied, though the weight of it lingered in her voice. "Comes with the job."

  "But… your Mom talked about getting updates from him." Nate said carefully, "like he was still…"

  Gemma exhaled. "She’s still in denial. Dad won’t talk about it at all. So if you do go that route, just… be careful. It’s a sore spot for them. Probably always will be." She turned and walked away, leaving them in silence.

  Yoli reached across the table, taking Nate’s hand.

  "I know you want to shoot fireballs or whatever." she said softly, "but promise me you’ll be safe? Don’t make me go home with your dead body to Mom and Dad."

  Nate looked at her, then gave a small, lopsided grin. "I promise."

  Yoli wasn’t sure she believed him. She could see it now the same look Gemma had recognized. The same one Tonk must have had before setting off on his last adventure. Nate was going to do something dangerous.

  They finished their food in silence, the quiet atmosphere mirrored the rest of the dining hall.

  Nate's thoughts churned. I think danger might be what I need. Everyone in my life has always been right about me, especially Dad. I’ve always played it safe. But I don’t want to be safe anymore. I want to take a risk. I want to find treasure. I want to fight evil space aliens. I need a gem that’ll help me do that.

  Across from him, Yoli ate without a word, her mind equally troubled. “He’s going to get himself killed. He has no idea what he’s doing. Idiot. Freaking turd. If he dies, Mom and Dad will kill me. I’m going to have to help him. I’m going to have to go with him.”

  Nate and Yoli finished their meal, thanked Gemma, and said their goodbyes before making their way to the elevator. The lift hummed softly as it carried them to the first floor. Yoli held out her link, its holographic display glowing faintly in the morning light.

  "Looks like Kalazan’s is pretty close. Should we just walk?"

  "Yeah, sure." Nate replied.

  Yoli turned, still studying the map, trying to orient herself. "I think it’s this way?"

  "You think?" Nate teased.

  "If we get lost, we can always call that taxi service." She shot back quickly.

  "Allllrighty." he said, dragging the word out with exaggerated sarcasm.

  The streets were lively but not overwhelmingly crowded. Vehicles of all shapes and sizes moved along the wide, textured roads, each one more bizarre and advanced-looking than anything Nate had seen back on Earth. Some hovered just above the surface while others rolled on actual wheels. The majority looked like expensive luxury models with either glossy or matted exteriors and glowing accents. Yet, there were a few economy-class models among them: boxy, unadorned, with no elaborate trims or showy propulsion systems. Without any other frame of reference Nate couldn't really tell who were the high rollers and who weren't. Nate's curiosity was piqued though. How do these even work? Are they all magic? Some still had tires touching the ground, which didn’t seem particularly advanced. But maybe the engines were magical. He made a mental note to ask someone later.

  The sidewalk beneath their feet was made of the same textured metallic material as the road but was an off white color to show clear distinction. As they approached a street corner, the scene felt eerily normal as pedestrians waited for the signal to change, their gazes shifting between the light and their links. But instead of an all-human crowd, the mix of people was straight out of a sci-fi movie.

  Towering lion-like figures, similar to the one Nate had seen in the Nexus, stood side by side with smaller humanoid creatures. A gorilla-like alien idly tapped at a device in its hand. Two gray-skinned beings resembling Clive and Clover stood chatting in hushed voices. The sheer variety of species, all casually waiting for the light to change, made Nate pause. It was normal, this was normal. The craziness from yesterday, the sheer overwhelming shock of seeing Peggy, Hal, and all the other non-human people was already starting to fade into familiarity. His mind was adjusting, normalizing everything at an alarming rate.

  The pedestrian signal flickered from red to green, accompanied by a subtle ping. The sign read Go, whereas just before it read Stop. He made a mental note to look up the language Galactic Standard and the Union’s practices embedding it on developing planets. What other ways did they intervene in our history?

  As they continued down the street, the surrounding city was waking up. Storefronts were coming to life, vendors rolling up shutters, setting out displays, and flipping signs from "Closed," to "Open." A produce stall caught Nate’s eye, its shelves stacked with fruits and vegetables that looked both familiar and alien.

  One fruit resembled an oversized star, its textured skin peeled like an orange’s rind. Another looked like a zucchini that had naturally grown into the shape of a donut. Further down, a different kind of shop had a wall of stacked cages, similar to the kind used for lab mice back home. But these cages contained a variety of small creatures.

  A humanoid cheetah, or maybe a leopard, emerged from the stall and grabbed a pair of long-handled tongs to reach into one of the cages. With practiced ease, they plucked out a spider-like insect and dunked it into a vat of sizzling liquid. The sound of frying filled the air, accompanied by a faint, almost sweet aroma. Nate grimaced and quickly looked away.

  The city was growing busier by the second. The sidewalk filled with a steady flow of pedestrians, some hurrying to work, others leisurely browsing storefronts. The street traffic became more dense as well, with vehicles weaving smoothly past each other in ways that defied typical Earth road rules.

  Yoli, walking just ahead of Nate, slowed slightly and turned her head to call back over the crowd. "It should be in this next building!"

  At the end of their short walk, they arrived in front of what looked like a standard Earth office building. Tall, clean, professional. The entrance had large glass doors that slid open automatically as they approached.

  Inside, the lobby was minimalistic but comfortable, furnished with plush lounge chairs and low tables. There was no reception desk, no doorman, just a large illuminated sign listing the businesses inside.

  "Kalazan’s Emporium and Attunement Services." Yoli read, scanning the list. "Top floor."

  "Looks like we’re going all the way up." Nate said.

  They stepped into the elevator and instead of numbered floors, the panel listed the business names. Yoli pressed the one labeled Kalazan’s and the doors slid shut.

  At first, the elevator was dimly lit by soft ambient lights. But as it ascended, the back wall suddenly turned transparent, revealing a breathtaking view of the Hub outside.

  Both of them turned, drawn in by the sight. The city stretched out endlessly before them. As the elevator rose higher, the city seemed to fold in on itself, curving in ways that defied Earth’s physics.

  "So cool." Nate whispered, pressing a hand against the glass.

  "Yeah." Yoli breathed, equally mesmerized.

  The elevator smoothly came to a stop, but neither of them noticed until a voice snapped them out of their awe.

  "Uh… hello?" A sweet yet confused voice called out.

  Startled, they whipped around. The elevator doors had opened, and they were standing at the entrance of Kalazan’s Emporium and Attunement Services.