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

Walking away from the accessories shop Joce was in complete silence. Thinking about something she eventually said.

It wasn't an admission of guilt for trying to drive up the price or admitting that she had fun. But it was enough for Gordon to understand that Joce was realizing that he wasn't just some object for her to manipulate.

Was all he said back. In the future he hoped that they could work together to achieve common goals, but he wasn't too hopeful. He wasn't even sure Joce really understood that it was possible to work together. She had been infected with Monica's sociopathic world view of being one against the world.

Conscious Ring