A Gunslinger’s System in a World of Magic

But of course, whatever questions were forming in their heads were smoothed over by the effects of Henry\'s \'Gangbanger\' Title.

Charles broke the awkward silence in the hall by clearing his throat,

"So about those Vykers…"

"I say we run," Tony said, "We get as far away from here as possible. If two of those kinds already made it here, New Freudein and this whole countryside will be unbearable to hideout in."

Devon nodded,

"Running is certainly a choice, but we still have a few things to take care of before that. One of our own was injured. Those Langlots deserve to pay for taking the deal to work with our enemies."

As Devon ended his short rant, all eyes went to Angus Dionisio. As a leader, he had to give the word.

Angus looked between everyone who had spoken so far. His lips pursed and a contemplative look in his eyes and then, Henry raised a hand.

"I have a question."

Angus smiled,

"What is it, son?" He asked.

"What\'s a Vyker?" Henry asked.

"Are you— Are you being serious right now?" Devon asked as though Henry had just asked the stupidest question anyone could ask.

Henry didn\'t allow himself to be intimidated and with a clear voice and a calm tone, he said,

"Of course, I\'m serious."

Dana scoffed,

"So you mean to say, you killed two Vykers and you don\'t even know what they are."

Henry furrowed his brows. He didn\'t like how they were trying to make his question seem foolish when all they had to do was answer.

"One of the Vykers I killed told me what they were. But I don\'t know what a \'Vyker\' is.

If you have the time to glower at me, then you have the time to give me a proper answer, don\'t you think?"

Dana clicked her tongue and looked away.

Charles and Tony smiled at yet another put-down she had suffered that day but it was Angus who spoke and answered Henry\'s question in a grave tone,

"Henry, some people in this world are born special. They are born with the ability to manipulate the elements of the world and make it bend to their Will…

… Vykers are not those people. We —They are \'made\' special. It\'s an occult mutation ritual that involves various ingredients and the vital involvement of a Witch or Wizard and is usually performed on slaves to forever tie them to their creator."

"Oh," Henry said, and then his brows furrowed, "For a moment there, I thought you said \'we\'."

Angus nodded,

"Yes, I did. I am a Vyker. Or at least I used to be. My creator died over a decade ago, freeing me of my bonds and allowing me to roam the world and meet wonderful people. Majority of whom are currently in this room."

Henry\'s mind went to the two Vykers he and Triss had fought,

"So, you\'re very powerful then?"

Angus laughed. A sad laugh deep with loss,

"I used to be. Why, when my creator was alive, I could do so much, and advancement and Evolution stretched before me probably for years to come. Once she died… *Sigh*

The death of their Creator is traumatic and almost always fatal to a Vyker. I managed to survive but my powers became very diminished.

My ability to \'Persuade\' is all I got to keep."

"I\'m sorry," Henry said.

"Don\'t be," Angus said, "I was happy to be free of my bonds but I do miss the \'glory days\'.

Now, on to business. Devon is right. We have to strike back against the Langlots but we must do so with caution while being ready to leave this place at a moment\'s notice.

This Mansion has kept us safe and given us privacy because of the legend of a Curse but that was never going to hold forever against the Langlots and will certainly not help against invading Vykers."

"And what about that Chest?" Stefan asked with a gesture at the treasure that set all this in motion.

"Ah," Angus said with a nod, "It\'s sealed with Magic but I will continue to work on it. I\'m sure whatever it holds will prove vital to our survival."

"I have a few leads on a Langlot base," Tony said in a serious tone, "I\'ll follow up on it."

"I\'ll go with you," Charles said and with both giving each other nods of solidarity, they left the meeting hall.

Devon and Dana walked out soon as well. Followed by Stefan. But when Henry turned around to leave, he heard Angus call out to him,

"Wait."

Henry turned around and saw Angus looking at him with an amused smile and a stare that threatened to bore a hole right through him,

"Yes?" He said when the Gangleader just kept on staring without speaking.

"Henry, you\'re special."

"I am?"

Angus chuckled,

"I have seen many things in my life but to think I would witness a late Awakening."

"A late what?" Henry asked, not following.

"You\'re now filled with confidence. You\'re suddenly so good with the gun. And now I see you\'re even capable of wielding a Magical weapon. If I didn\'t know any better, I\'d say you were magically mutated— A Vyker, like me.

But I know better and I can tell when a person\'s gifts are as natural as yours are."

Angus touched the Treasure Chest as he continued,

"What is in this Chest will indeed be of great help to the Gang but it\'s special people like you that can guarantee our survival.

I will be looking forward to how much else you can accomplish."

[Angus Dionisio Approves of you]

[Your Status within the Gang has improved]

[You have received 50 Exp]

[The \'Gangbanger\' Title has been updated;

Members of the Dionisio Gang will address you either as Kin or with begrudging respect. Depending on their existing relationship with you.

The Gangbanger Title will remain for as long as you are a member of the Dionisio Gang]

•••

Henry left the Meeting hall and went straight for the Medical bay. He had barely raised his hand to knock on the door that it swung open and Stefan carried his sister out. Her injuries were all healed but she was asleep.

"I\'ll take her to her room to rest," Stefan said.

"That would be best," Yelena said with a nod.

Stefan gave Henry an acknowledging nod before edging past him and down the Mansion\'s hall.

"So you came to get healed too?" Yelena asked.

"Well…" Henry said as he looked down at his body. His wounds hardly hurt so it was easy for him to ignore.

"Oh, there\'s no need to act tough," Yelena said with a small smile as she grabbed his wrist and pulled him into the Medical bay.

Henry chuckled,

"\'Act tough?\' I wouldn\'t dream of it."

Yelena directed Henry to a seat and began the Healing process. It took all of one minute.

[You have recovered 19 Hit Points]

[Hit Points: 40/40]

"All done," Yelena said as she moved away.

"Thank you," Henry told her.

"So who did all that to you and Triss?" Yelena asked.

"Vykers."

Yelena looked confused,

"What are those."

Henry laughed then. Remembering how the Gang had acted like it was strange for him not to know,

\'See? It\'s normal.\'

That triumphant thought aside, he gave Yelena a quick explanation of what Vykers were and how they are made.

"I see," Yelena said with a nod, "Must have been a tough fight."

"It was," Henry admitted, "But I got something good out of it.

And speaking of getting something good out of tough fights, I have something to ask you."

"What is it?" Yelena asked, slightly wary because of the look on Henry\'s face.

"It\'s simple really," Henry said with a smile, "Kill me."