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

Orignally Gordon had wanted to give a gift to Jessica and in doing so ask for a gift back, one that he could offer as a sacrifice during the Philos clan's first required quest for new initiates. However, Jessica had not given him a gift and he had not felt like he could ask for one.

'Is it really a gift if it has to be asked for?'

Asking himself an important question Gordon shook his head. In the end it didn't matter Jessica was always doing something for him. Most likely she would give something to him before the dungeon run.

Putting aside the gift from Jessica, there were three places that Gordon had to go to find what he needed. He wanted to go to his old place of work, the laundry. Going by to pick up a couple new lichen fronds from the Beast Center was also on the list and finally going into one of the ruined sections that he used to frequent as a child.

Bully