The Earth After Rebirth

"That, just happened?" His mouth was hanging agape, not that he wasn't glad his mother didn't give him an earful, he was just expecting one.

"Your mother loves you Ki, no matter how tough she acts. Thank you for trusting me, I'll be going now."

He didn't even hear his father leave, still fixated on the fact that his mother was unbelievably cool with everything.

Loki walked into the kitchen like it was the most normal thing to do. He opened the fridge before Kiro landed his eyes on him, for a second he thought he was in the game for months and it was already school holidays.

"The hell? Why aren't you at school?"

"Come on Ki, you didn't actually think we'd still be going to school when you let us join did you?" He munched on a sandwich as he said.

"That's exactly what I thought and mum is just okay with this? Unbelievable!"

LJ walked in too, a little embarrassed about their encounter in the game. Kiro didn't really care about school if he was honest with himself, his family was set for life with the money game conversion.

"And you, why the hell did you choose to be an archer? That's pretty dangerous!"

"I know but I promise I won't enter dungeons."

"You don't have to promise that because I know you won't."

"And my class is long range so I'll play it safe. Isla is teaching me a few things. But I promise I won't be in the front lines." As annoying as this was, part of her was extremely happy that there was someone she could look up to as an older brother. Stay updated through empire

He sighed. Kiro was outnumbered, even Freya was okay with the arrangement who was he to have a problem with it.

For the first time in forever, they sat down at the table for breakfast eating cereal. It was too early so Angelina and Vada were still sleeping.

Freya made it her personal mission to ensure they clock in at 7 am for breakfast, it took some getting used to since they were trained to be up by 5 am.

"Why are you two up so early?" He tried to make conversation.

"We actually didn't sleep at all, Hiro gave us so much work. I think I'm getting there with my craftsmanship training."

"Same. But Isla did. She told me to make use of world bosses. So I've been killing them for two days straight." LJ said excitedly.

Kiro shook his head, they had no idea how scary harbingers were and if he played his cards right they would never have to find out.

"Hiro tells us you've been busy, visiting other worlds?"

"Damn him, why would he tell you that?"

"It slipped, I was annoying him. You were supposed to train me in combat and you were nowhere to be found."

The sun was fully risen. The kitchen door swung open, Angelina and Vada walked in and greeted the three. They got an earful about taking their jobs of making themselves food.

"Won't happen again, but I'll still have your eggs if you're gonna make them and coffee." Kiro told her sincerely.

She smiled and all was forgive. "I'll need the kitchen, step out for a bit all of you."

Loki quickly drank his cereal, burping in the process which earned him a slap at the back of his head.

"Come outside with me."

He took them away from curious eyes and ears. Kiro knew that if his father closed down that mine, he would make enemies for life, therefore Loki and LJ needed to know how to defend themselves.

"While we wait for breakfast, I'll teach you a thing or two about fighting. Learning out here will also improve your reflexes and movement in the game."

"Huh? How? Its just a game isn't it?"

"Yes and no. The more fighting is embedded in your brain, it helps because in the game you're constantly using your brain to move your avatar."

He was obviously bluffing but it made sense, he wasn't exactly ready for them to know about the sanctum and the bad they'd done to their world—otherwise he had no idea if real world experience affected the game.

"While you use long range, your enemy isn't going to make that easier for you. Therefore you should learn close range combat too." He told LJ who took his advice like gospel.

They went about it for two full hours before Angelina called them in for breakfast. The two amateurs were very tired but felt refreshed. Kiro shook his head at how excited they seemed, if it was Wilfred who was their trainer they wouldn't have been able to get up for another hour.

He was too lenient on them.

When they entered the kitchen, everyone was already seated. Breakfast was usually eaten at 8am but because the kids were outside they decided to wait for another hour.

"Thanks for waiting." They sat down and started eating, two hours of exercise made them famished.

"Is it true? What they say about the game?" Vada questioned.

Kiro looked around and nobody seemed like they would answer her so he nodded his head without saying anything.

"I want in." She said quicker and more nervous.

If Kiro wasn't already looking at her he wouldn't have heard her. He sighed, this job was getting more and more ridiculous in his eyes.

"Why do you guys come to me? The game is free to join, I don't hold the keys to its gates." He took a swig of his juice and got up from his chair.

"No, but you have the key to guardianship," it was Philip who interjected this time. "I want in too. I'm sure Sekani can handle the company with Wilfred."

Kiro looked to his father who was miles and miles away, "I doubt that, dad is busy."

"I'll be fine." He answered absentmindedly.

"Fine, just know you'll need to prove yourself just like everybody else. No special treatment. When you get to the capital just ask for After Dark's base that's where Hiro will be."

"What about you lil bro? Won't be there to welcome us?"

"Nope. I have a lot to do. I'll see you maybe in another week?" He left the kitchen and went straight to his bedroom and into the pod.

There were more worlds out there and they discovering and saving.