Planetary Ascension

After the fish incident Jin got an earful from his mother, and was banned from summoning it in the house again, much to the protest of Lukas. 

Settling into the house, Jin made a reservation at L'Ecrin Gastronomique, one of the most prestigious restaurants in Nunkong City. With two Michelin stars and a waitlist to match, they could only secure a spot for the next day and that was only because someone had cancelled. 

So for today they decided to have a beach day. As Jin and Lukas sat on the couch waiting for the ladies to get ready, Lukas turned on the TV, going to a news channel covering… a trial? 

Onscreen, a well dressed anchor sat in a sleek studio.

"In just a few minutes," the presenter said, "the trial of David Baywood will commence. Presiding today is Judge Christine Mayer, who is expected to issue a preliminary verdict."

The footage cut to a packed courtroom buzzing with reporters and spectators.

Jin raised an eyebrow. "What's the trial for?"

"You don't know?" Lukas asked, eyes glued to the screen. "They say he killed the mayor's son… in the Ascendant Realm. Apparently, there were witnesses. He's being tried for murder."

Jin blinked. 'A murder trial? From the other world?' He'd expected danger from the beasts, not people.'Another reason to stay away'.

Suddenly, the courtroom quieted. Two men entered from a side door. One was clearly a lawyer, wearing a sharp suit, glasses, and an air of detachment. Beside him walked his client, a lanky young man in a tracksuit, with dirty blond hair and a smug grin.

"That's David Baywood," the anchor announced, "the accused."

David strolled to the defense table and slouched back in his chair, as if he didn't have a care in the world.

The prosecution entered next. A stern man in a crisp blue suit, bald, mid fifties, face carved with grief. The anchor identified him as Mayor Ganderson, father of the victim. His clenched fists and twitching jaw made it clear he was barely holding it together.

When David caught sight of the mayor, he smiled brightly.

The mayor's chair scraped loudly as he started to rise, fury twisting his face. His lawyer gripped his arm and whispered something urgently. Mayor Ganderson sat back down, teeth grinding.

Then the judge arrived.

Christine Mayer entered from a rear door, her gray hair falling over her shoulders. She looked to be in her sixties, with a weathered face and sharp eyes. As she settled into her seat, her gaze swept the courtroom, lingering disapprovingly on David's tracksuit.

She raised her gavel.

"Let the hearing begin," she declared, slamming it down.

Just as she prepared to proceed, the prosecutor stood and raised his hand.

Judge Mayer frowned. This wasn't standard procedure still she addressed him."What is it?"

The lawyer hesitated, then spoke with forced composure. "Your Honor, the prosecution requests a postponement of the trial."

A wave of murmurs rippled through the room. Even the anchor sounded caught off guard. "This is highly unusual"

Judge Mayer banged her gavel. "Order! State your reason. We do not delay trials without cause."

The prosecutor took a deep breath. "All three eyewitnesses who claimed they saw Mr. Baywood murder Daniel Ganderson… were found dead in their homes this morning. Their hearts stopped in their sleep."

Jin sat up straighter. 'Hearts stopping in their sleep, that's what happens when someone dies in the Ascendant Realm'.

The courtroom erupted.

Mayor Ganderson shot to his feet, voice cracking with rage. "You killed them! You killed them all and my son!"

David in turn stretched his arms and yawned.

That smug gesture sent the mayor over the edge. He lunged across the courtroom, but guards intercepted him just in time, wrestling him to the ground as he shouted and thrashed.

"Order!" the judge shouted, slamming her gavel again and again. "Order in the court!"

But it was no use. The courtroom had descended into chaos.

Just then, Jin and Lukas heard footsteps behind them. Olivia and Sarah walked in, beach bags in hand.

"You guy's ready to go or do we have to wait for you?" Olivia asked with mock impatience.

Jin and Lukas exchanged a glance, both shocked by what they'd just seen. But they stood up and grabbed their things.

As Lukas clicked off the TV, the last thing visible on the screen was the mayor being restrained on the floor, while he yelled and stared daggers at David who was hysterically laughing at him.

————— 

The beach was fun, Jin swam with his family, snorkeled with Lukas and Olivia, even wrestled Lukas in the shallows, easily overpowering him while the boy flailed and shouted that Jin was cheating.

Currently Olivia and Sarah were tanning on a beach bed, Lukas was still snorkeling, while Jin laid on an inflatable donut in the ocean, drifting with the current, relaxing. And he felt relaxed, his worries gone, his mind felt clear. With his family was truly the only time he could act like this. 

Watching the blue sea sway and the occasional fish pass under him, a head suddenly poked out with diving goggles and a snorkel on, it was Lukas.

"Bro," Lukas said, still half submerged, "can you summon your fish? I wanna use it as an underwater propeller."

Jin shook his head. "Can't its a fresh water fish, it would die in the ocean"

"Aww next time we should visit a lake"

Jin nodded as Lukas ducked back under and resumed his snorkeling adventure.

Jin rested his head back and looked around, people snorkeling, families having fun playing volleyball in the water, other people lazing on floaties. Everyone was carefree. 

But then, a dark thought crept in.

'If I summoned my Payaras, assuming they could survive in salt water, they could kill the people here in minutes'.

The thought disturbed him. It wasn't so much that he could do it, it was that others could have similar power as well. And as the trial had reminded him,'The scariest beast is still man'. 

Looking at Sarah and Olivia lounging on the beach, his eyes were filled with worry.

His spiralling train of thought was interrupted, as his donut was overturned and he flipped in the water, splashing wildly.

Underwater, he saw his brother grin at him before rapidly swimming away. Jin surfaced, slicking back his wet hair and glaring at his brother.

"You little bastard!" he yelled, swimming after him. "I'm gonna drown you!"

Lukas in turn paddled faster. Jin chased after him, a smile breaking through his frustration.

————— 

The day ended with two pizzas eaten right on the beach. By then, the sky had turned pinkish, and night crept in as they returned home.

Sarah had to work early, so she turned in not long after they got back.

The rest also decided to get some early shut eye. The boys bunked together, Jin on a mattress on the floor, Lukas in his bed. The room was quiet except for the occasional creak of the floorboards and the soft hum of a ceiling fan.

Jin lay on his back, staring at the full moon outside the window, when he heard a rustling above him. Lukas turned over in bed. 

Lukas spoke quietly, "Bro I know I said the Ascendant realm is cool and all…. but it's dangerous, Like, really dangerous so like mom said I think it's better if you don't hunt anymore. I-I don't want something to happen to you", Lukas said the last part with worry. 

Jin felt a twinge of pain in his heart, had his brother been that worried about him, scratch that his entire family probably had, scared he would leave them like dad. Dammit! He wouldn't, no, couldn't be like his father! "It's okay Lukas, I wont abandon you guys". 

Lukas let out a breath and smiled faintly, "I believe you. Goodnight."

"Goodnight."

Lukas soon drifted off, but Jin remained awake, thoughts spinning like wheels in the dark. Society was changing and the world was becoming a more dangerous place as people became stronger. 'Can I protect my family without power?'. 

He couldn't answer, and that silence filled him with dread.