Thomas got a quick shower, then changed into a set of more comfortable clothes before walking downstairs.
He immediately spotted his mom there in the kitchen cutting the vegetables while humming a song while in the living room a familiar golden-haired girl on the couch.
The moment he shot his gaze at her, the latter noticed it and stared back at him with a light smile on her face. Thomas already thought it was her, but nonetheless he felt relieved when seeing she was fine.
Adepts were created for the sole purpose of protecting the civilians and others from the threat hiding behind the rifts, he wasn't a fully-fledged Adept but he firmly believed it was the right thing to do.
"Thomas, when I saw you turning back and distracting the high-rank demon before running away, I really thought you wouldn't make it." Clarisse's face still had some bruises on them, yet, she didn't care about them as they began to chat.
"Yes, I thought the same. Even now it is a mystery how I got to survive that one time. I am really glad you got out safely as well. Did anything happen after I left?"
Oh, hearing his question, Clarisse turned a little dispirited. "Everyone back in the shop all managed to escape safely thanks to you. However, the damage done to the cake shop was heavy, and the boss gave me and the others some time to stay at home until it finishes. But it may take a while."
"I see…" After that they continued talking for an hour before he mom suddenly got back with the dinner ready and the three gathered on the table eating a hearty meal together.
After everyone finished eating, his mom got up and said. "Son, please lead Clarisse back. I'm going to wash."
Picking her handbag, Clarise thanks one last time. "Thanks for the hospitality Ms. Ries."
"No need. I should be one thankful for meeting you here, send my regards to your mom when you return."
"Yes I will."
With Thomas guiding Clarisse to the door, Clarisse turned to him. "Here is fine, I can return by myself."
Thomas gave a light smile. "No need. It's late right now, and since you came all the way here because you were worried about me it is just that I walk you back home, no? Who knows when another rift may appear."
"..." Clarisse didn't reply, but she didn't seem sad about it as the two walked on the streets.
Under the dark sky, Clarisse who was silent all the way seemed to struggle about something and only clenched his fists, only when they reached the six-story building that they stopped.
"It is where you live right?"
Clarisse then gave a nod with her head. "En. My family lives on the fourth floor."
"Then it's fine. Thanks for coming see me." Thomas, who was about to leave, was stopped by Clarisse.
"Hey, are you still going to try to become an Adept? Weren't you scared as hell yesterday so why try so much when there is not even a chance?"
"So you did notice?" Thomas smiled wryly, he really tried to make himself look strong, but those who knew him a long time ago knew how scared he was of demons and spirit-type creatures. Back in middle school he even pissed himself when they were taken to a demonstration of the types of creatures that usually come in the rifts.
He didn't think she would remember something that happened so long ago. But still, he decided to give an honest answer. "Yes I was scared, and even my talent as an adept is not a big thing, in fact it may be more as a lack of it. Being an adept for me is much more than joining the association and getting the money like others may think, just hearing from you how my help yesterday was able to save many lives. I did feel something in me I never knew existed. So yes, I plan to walk down this path I chose for myself until the end."
Instead of what he expected, Clarisse turned much brighter as she heard his words. She really got to see how serious he was about it.
"If this is what you chose, then I support your choice. I hope you achieve your wish." Saying that, Clarise rose her phone and pressed something on it before Thomas received something on his.
"I sent my ID to you. I am free for the next few weeks so call me when you need it. Goodbye." Leaving those words, she entered the apartment hurriedly with a blushed face.
Thomas on the other side wasn't blind and managed to catch something from her crimson face as she got on the apartment which made his face turn a bit hotter.
"I should be leaving now. Tomorrow is time for the demon hunt." Making his mind, he already prepared himself for the danger he was going to face with expectation.
When he got home, Thomas found his mom waiting for him in the living room, her eyes were filled with light as she had her gaze locked on him.
" I am friends with her mother, but it came to me as a surprise that you two would be in the same place the second the rift opened. But for her to go looking for me as worried as she was, hoho, I didn't expect my little boy would grow so fast."
"I am going to bed." Ignoring his mom messing with him, he went to his room.
....
Early in the morning of the next day, Thomas put on his boots, legs, the inner armor he used on training, his mom had just gone to work and there was a few hours from today's test.
He may have told Clarisse he would become an Adept with all that confidence, but truth is he didn't even know if he could escape the exam today.
"System, can that Body Reconstruction reward for the second part of the tutorial really help me in this exam."
[Aham, Physique Bestowal will change your body and increase the potential of your mortal body. At that time not even this world's present technology will be able to distinguish your body from the body of those with a genetic awakening of 70 to 80%.]
"Then I must be fast. Just where in the world can I find a high-rank demon... Oh, I think I know the place." His eyes which were dull seemed to have found a source of light, he seemed to remember where a High-Rank Demon used to hide.