EgoPlex

"Gordon! Why are you late? The awakening ceremony is right now!"
Jessica said urgently when she saw Gordon come through the doors of the awakening center.
Shrugging Gordon didn't say anything. The last thing in the world that he wanted to do was tell this beautiful girl that he had been tripped and beaten on the way to school today. 
It was times like this that he wished that he bruised more easily. Then maybe he could get some attention. But this thought was fleeting in his mind. Gordon actually preferred to deal with his problems in his own way. 
And awakening to become a beast tamer and maybe even have his own talent would be the first step. Once he had a powerful beast the bullies wouldn't dare pick on him. 
"Come on, let's get in line."
Jessica whispered to Gordon when she realized that he wasn't going to tell her what had happened.
Together they went to the back of the arena type auditorium to wait for their turn to awaken.
They had been friends since childhood and had been there for each other through thick and thin. Jessica had been the only friend that stuck with him despite all of his quirks.
Slowly the line inched forward. Occasionally some people in their class would cheer if in addition to becoming a beast master a student also awakened a talent.

Lichen Tree Beast Tamer

<p>Suddenly Master Zhenren frooze. Distracted with his own thoughts Gordon didn't register that something was weird for a moment. But after the silence went on too long he realized something was the matter and looked at Zhenren tracking her eyes to see where she was looking. Sure enough now that she was standing and had moved to the side where several large book cases were covering the wall she could plainly see and was staring at his crouch. </p>

<p>There was no help for it Gordon couldn't back down now. If she showed any shame or embarrassment it would reflect badly to master Zhenren. Instead he calmly kept steady and when she looked at him he pulled his shoulders back and defiantly returned her look.</p>

First Philos Quest