Game with unknown Rules

Chapter 9: The Union of Change

   Slowly, I let my gaze wander from the two to my other friends and their parents. Sherry was standing with Rose, Luis, their parents, and Melanie and her parents, while Nore seemed to be standing a little awkwardly to the side. He was not participating in their conversation and his eyes were just staring blankly against the wall. I didn't know him well, so I had no idea what he could be thinking, then again I wasn't also very interested. He still gave me the creeps.

   Miriam, Melissia and Friedrich were standing a little to the side. Ayumu, the mother of Lenny, seemed to try her best to involve the dark blue haired man in a conversation, but that was as easy as stealing the pray from a tiger and getting away with it without suffering the consequences. So Miriam, the angel that she more often than not was, reacted to Ayumu's, who normally is just as shy as her son, slowly dwindling advances of socialising. The blonde haired woman was visibly relieved that she finally had someone to talk to.

   "Are you alright, Hector?" Psyche was suddenly sitting next to me on the floor, still as a cat.

   "I think I am." I shrugged. "I doubt you will answer me, but who are we waiting for."

   "You have our character down quite nicely." The white cat smiled a little. "This one will be a nice surprise, although this time it has an actual reason instead of us just being a stubborn prick."

   "At least you're self-aware." I commented, making Psyche chuckle lightly.

   "We pride ourselves on that." They nodded. "There is no other way to better yourself, if you aren't. At least, we haven't seen anyone doing so without them being self-aware."

   "You must've been around for a long time." I looked at them properly. "Kara is too. Is that why you got along so quickly? Because you knew each other?"

   "We wish we could tell you tales of how we've met and how many adventures we had together..." Psyche sighed. "But sadly we only met her last Friday. She is a great individual though with many insights. Since we haven't been long in Teltow and didn't know any other none human being, she was our first contact to give us some insights of how things work around here."

   "Just like that?" I was surprised.

   "Honestly, we think Kara should be a little more selfish." Psyche shook their head. "She is so kind and so quick to aid anyone who asks her. We hope she takes good care of herself and knows how to say no."

   "There is actually a thing I wanted to ask." Kuro suddenly spoke up, leaning a little back to look at Psyche, who was now also twisting themself to look at her. "Do you 'supernatural beings' just look at one another and instantly go 'oh, that one isn't human either' or do you find out through social cues? How does this work?"

   "It's different for everyone." Psyche told her. "Psychics like Rose and her father probably figure these things out via the thoughts of others, whereas Ruby and maybe Luis can quote unquote scan their surroundings and individuals and know who is what. Demons like Scarlett and even half-demons like Melanie have enhanced senses, compared to humans. Not to mention that they feel the aura of the souls of other beings and can tell through that."

   "Wait, souls actually exist?" Lenny had big eyes.

   "They sure do." Psyche nodded. "But we're not gonna do a deep dive into them now. That would take way too long. Actually, how do you know if someone is human or not?"

   "I don't know." Lenny smiled a little awkwardly and pushed his glasses up. "I only learned of you and the others not being human when I was told... although I had my suspicions about you..."

   "Yeah... we're making it quite obvious, don't we?" Psyche sighed and shrugged. "Ah well."

   "And these corvid shifters?" Kuro was still curious. "How do they do it?"