"Honey? Honey?"
Dashon groaned, rubbing his eyes. He had passed out much to his embarrassment, not what he wanted to do in front of his wife's grandmother. Thinking about it though what he had seen couldn't be real. Maybe he was jet lagged? Maybe it was the chilli dog he had for lunch? Whatever fever dream that was though was just his imagination running wild. "Ugh what happened?"
"You passed out," Yuna said, clutching her husband's hand in concern. Dashon now opened his eyes seeing the worried look on Yunas face and the white cat sitting on his stomach. "Sorry," he blushed. "Didn't mean to frighten you babe."
"So this is the guy you married Yuna," Rexie exclaimed. "Pssh you could do better you know."
Dashon's eyes went wide, his jaw dropping as he gazed at the fat white cat. "Did that cat just talk," he exclaimed.
"Rexie," Yuna hissed. "Stop being an ass!"
"I'm just saying," Rexie countered. "I mean if a talking cat is going to make him pass out then how is he supposed to look out for you."
A mixture of anger and fear now rushed through Dashon, the man sitting up as he glared at the cat. "Okay what the hell is going on," he exclaimed. "And why is that cat such an asshole!"
"Apologies," Akira stated. "Rexie is, how do you say, unfiltered." Dashon now glanced at the tall six tailed fox man. "Holy crap," he whispered. Dashon now looked to his wife, quickly turning between her and the others in the room. "Wait so your telling me all the crazy stories I've heard about your grandma are real?"
"I guess you could say that," Yuriko replied. "Although i am interested in what those stories are?"
"Baby," Yuna said calmly. "Yeah, the stories are real. My grandmother is a sorceress. She is friends with magical creatures and she runs a real life Magic Shop."
"Anything else," Dashon exclaimed.
"I'm also psychic," Yuriko added. "Which is how I know you didn't believe my children's stories or Yunas cousins. You thought they were trying to scare you off."
"You never said anything about my family telling you stories about grandma," Yuna replied angrily.
"I thought they were trying to scare me babe," Dashon answered defensively. "You know freak out the college boyfriend at Thanksgiving or something. I mean my cousins have done stuff like that to my little sisters boyfriends"
Dashom now slowly stoodbfrom the couch, examining everyone in the room. "Damn this is like something out of an anime or something," he whispered. "I mean I wouldn't of believed it if i hadn't seen it."
"Yeah," Yuna sighed. "I've known all of them my whole life."
"So you gonna introduce me," Dashon asked.
"Okay," Yuna said slowly. "This is Akira and his wife Ayami." Akira now bowed as Ayami waved politely. Dashon responded in turn as Yuna now gestured to the cat. "Thats Rexie shes a cherub."
"Like an angel," Dashon asked, raising an eyebrow. "I thought angels were supposed to be nice."
"I'm not that kind of cherub," Rexie scoffed. "More like an angelic familiar and guardian."
"So thats why you talk shit," Dashon countered, causing Rexie to smirk. "I like this guy Yuna," she grinned. "He has spunk."
"And this," Yuna stated, trying to move on. "Is Sachiko, Akira and Ayami's daughter. Me and her used to play all the time when I was growing up." Sachiko now skipped forward beaming up at Dashon as she extended her hand. "Nice to meet you," she smiled.
Dashon now smiled, shaking thw kits hand as he now gazed at Darren. "So who is this? Another angel or something?"
"My grandmothers magical student apparently," Yuna sighed.
"Not just my student, " Yuriko stated. "A Catalyst."
"Whats a Catalyst," Dashon asked. Yunas eyes went wide as she now stared at her grandmother. Despite none of Yuriko's children or grandchildren having any magic of their own, Yuna was well aware of what a Catalyst was.
"Grandma are you sure," she asked. "I mean their hasn't been a Catalyst since, well, before I was born."
"Care to fill me in," Dashon asked, raising his arms. Yuna sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Catalysts are basically wizards that alter reality, changing the world into an idyllic reality. Usually based on their idea of what a Utopia would look like."
"I see you paid attention to my stories," Yuriko grinned. Yuna narrowed her eyes as she gazed at her grandmother. "Well duh," she exclaimed. "I mean usually grandmothers teach their grandkids how to bake cookies or knit ir something. Instead my grandmother told me stories about wizards, demons, and time line conquering deities. You know how weird kids thought I was when I was growing up?"
"I prefer the term imaginative and unique," Yuriko grinned.
"Wait hold on," Dashon exclaimed. "Are you telling me that their are actual wizards that can change reality?"
"Pretty much," Yuna shrugged. Dashon now frowned as he looked first to his wife then Darren.
"Okay so why do things like hatred and racism exist," he asked. "In fact if there was a Catalyst before this one then why didn't they change those things?"
"The Catalyst works in mysterious ways," Yuriko stated. "The last one, Katie, used her powers to form bonds of love between couples. Fun fact, everyone she changed found their true love. We just didn't realize it until much, much later. She alsohelped to save the magical world from extinction"
"True love," Dashon asked. "So all the rotten things in the world and the last Catalyst played matchmaker. What about you, what are you doing? Spreading holiday cheer?"
Darren shifted nervously, he wasn't really sure how to answer that. "I'm trying to make things easier for humanity," he said quietly. "I um, helped make the Soul Drives."
"Wait what," Dashon said quickly. "You made the Soul Drives?" Darren nodded, causing Dashon to pause. "Damn," he stammered.
"What," Yuna asked.
"Well," Dashon stated. "After reviewing the data the schools have taken from the Soul Drives they discovered a correlation. People that have Soul Drives working for them have shown more tolerance for different societal groups."
"So your telling me this kid is actually bringing about world peace," Yuna stated, raising an eyebrow. Dashon simply shrugged, in a way Darren was.
"I told you Catalysts change the world for the better," Yuriko smiled. Yuna and Dashon simply gave Darren an odd look as they now all sat down. Thwy young married couple still had so many questions.