After getting over the slight awkwardness that appeared at their table at the mention of Aileen's Innate Ability, the four ordered something to drink, so as to not have taken up a table for the sake of conversation. While the younger ones got some common beverages that served as energy drinks, Audu stuck to his normal routine and ordered for a cup of calming tea.
"Calming tea gives you a level head at all times. It's exactly what you youngsters need to survive in the Towers nowadays. Sometimes, you might run into a difficult situation that will require you to analyze it with a level head. A tea bag of calming tea would be very helpful then." Audu explained as he slowly sipped at the tea.
"You should open up a tea shop, old man." Abel chipped in, earning himself a glare from the the older man.
"Well, we should probably be going. We had no idea we would run into you guys here, and so, we didn't plan to spend any extra time catching up." Heather smiled as she got up, excusing herself from the table. She patted Aileen's shoulder, before thanking Abel and Audu. Aileen did the same before turning to leave, but not without a final glance at Abel.
.....
Time flew by as the blue haired men went about their day. They returned to their home by the time the sun was setting, their hands overloaded with luggage.
"Gramps, where did you even get all the money to buy this stuff?" Abel asked, his hands on his hips as he panted lightly from exertion.
"I got them at the Core Exchange Center. Gnoll Cores fetch a pretty good price, especially after I did away with most of them last week." Audu grinned, flipping a gold coin.
"Oh, so you took the Cores? No wonder. I should have known it was you when Aileen said that all the beast Cores were missing. How much did you get for a single Gnoll Core?" Abel snatched the coin from Audu, pocketing it smoothly.
"Err... Four gold coins?" Audu scratched his head slightly as he thought.
"What?! Four gold coins?! A Ground Rate Core only fetches between 1 to 4 silver coins on a good day!" Abel almost had his head blown off when he heard the price. If he had known that Gnoll Cores could fetch such a hefty price, he would have tried to find a Gnoll hunting party long ago!
"Hold your horses there, kid. Don't forget Gnolls roam in packs, and you would most likely crumble the moment you see one." Audu popped Abel's bubble before it even had a chance to take proper form.
"Oh..." Abel's grin faded the moment he remembered his ordeal the week before. Although the Reincarnation System helped a bit in mitigating the mental trauma, it was still very much there. "Erm, I guess I'll lay off the Gnolls for now."
"Good. By the way, I have a present for you." Audu said and led Abel to his room. Unlike the rest of the house which was painted in a warm brown shade, the inside of Audu's room was like a different place all together. The walls depicted an ancient ruin. Its deep, vibrant colors gave Abel the feeling that he was stepping into an actual Tower Floor. Broken pillars wrapped in tendrils of shadows were painted on the walls, those shadows slithered on the floor, waiting to latch onto anyone unlucky enough.
"Gramps, your room is creeping me out." Abel gulped, taking careful steps, contrary to Audu who was walking as though he didn't have a care in the world.
"Grow a spine, kid. Come on, or you won't get your gift." Audu waved away Abel's doubts. The younger blue haired man hesitantly stepped behind Audu, wondering what the older man wanted to give him.
Audu reached under his bed, and pulled out a small gold-blue ring. He rubbed his thumb over it, making it glow slightly. The glow triggered the System that had been resting silently within Abel.
[System Item detected... Void Space Ring - Legendary Item. Previous User of the Reincarnation System has granted the Void Space Ring to the new User through a Legacy. Exchange confirmed.]
After droning on about what was going on, the System returned to its normal dormant mode. Abel blinked, slightly stupefied at the words he heard. The ring Audu was presenting him was a Legendary Item, something that couldn't even be bought with money.
"I want you to have this, Abel. The Void Space Ring can has an internal storage of up to forty cubic meters. Use it wisely in the Towers, and do not let anyone know its name." Audu warned Abel carefully.
"Don't worry, gramps. I'll be careful." Abel nodded, accepting the ring.
"Also, there's one more thing I want to give you." Audu pulled out a small wooden box from under his bed next. The box was unremarkable by all means, but Abel had long since known that unremarkable was valuable when it came to Audu.
The older man opened up the box, revealing a glowing green Core. Abel gasped, surprised at what he saw.
"G-gramps... Is that-?"
"Indeed it is, kiddo. A Core that carries a Beast Soul."