Midnight, when the cities had started to quiet down. Sparkling lights and lights glow in the middle of the darkness, making this crowded city like being bathed in colorful lights.
The traffic of vehicles is getting rarer, but a few people who are supporting them are still seen stumbling around in the narrow alley area. Seeing their staggering behavior, they were drunk.
The youth do have their period of being out of control. They struggle with circumstances in search of an identity that is still hidden. Not infrequently they have to struggle with the rigors of life and fall into a bleak life.
In the high distance, someone was standing casually while smoking an almost finished cigarette. A young man was watching a group of children enjoying their bootleg liquor from a rooftop.
I don't know what the young man was doing there, but he didn't seem afraid. As if accustomed to hanging out in the dark heights. Or maybe he did that for the sake of getting some fresh air because this country is indeed quite hot compared to some countries he has visited before.
His thick black hair moved beautifully when the breeze gently blew. His face could not be seen because it was covered by a dark shadow. His posture is normal, not stocky, and not thin either. He is probably around 178 cm tall. From his appearance, he could still be said to be suitable as a student.
The young man's name was Kai Gamma Majoris. He was no ordinary Earthling. But he came to this place only to stop by to carry out his unfinished task.
He came from a place called Amalthea. A hidden place beyond the lands of Earth. Amalthea has been experiencing an economic crisis for decades and also a crisis of justice. Major wars have occurred because of the struggle for land and natural resources that are increasingly shrinking. And now the people live in poverty and far from safe.
The main trigger was the civil war that occurred between Queen Amalthea, Aria Lorelei, and her two younger siblings, Hugo Lorelei and Edward Lorelei, who wanted the throne. However, Queen Aria prefers Edward as her future successor, because he is indeed the next in line and has a wiser attitude than his youngest brother.
But Hugo Lorelei didn't accept it. He then stole the Emrys, an immortal heirloom that was the center of life for Amalthea and the people. A great battle took place between Edward and Hugo's troops which ended in Edward's tragic death. He sacrificed himself and succeeded in imprisoning Hugo on the Black Cliff before his death.
Even so, Hugo had succeeded in breaking up the Emrys inheritance and hiding it in different places. His loyal followers then hid somewhere. They would wait until the time came for their Master to be released from Black Cliff prison.
The Emrys' largest shard was the only thing the Queen could save. He then implanted it in his own body so that neither Hugo nor his followers could steal it.
And now, the Queen is in misery. Her body and soul were dying as the Emrys shards within her body began to weaken. She sacrificed herself so that Amalthea could survive.
Amalthea needed the remaining eleven shards. If not, then Amalthea could be destroyed and Queen Aria would meet her end. If that happened, Hugo Lorelei would rise and all his plans to seize the land of Amalthea would come true.
Kai along with his ten older siblings have been selected to become Emrys Trackers. Only descendants of the Gamma family could find the Emrys shards, as their ancestors had made them. And the Gamma family is one of the descendants of a great magician who is rarely found in the country of Amalthea.
But it's been almost 3 years since Kai has been adventuring in several parts of the Earth, and he has never found the last shard of Emrys. Meanwhile, some of his older siblings had succeeded and brought the shards they found to Amalthea.
Kai took a deep breath, he was even more frustrated when he remembered that. His right hand again reached into his pocket, almost pulling out another cigarette because the previous one had run out. But a low voice immediately rebuked his actions.
"You've finished three cigarettes in just 30 minutes. Your addiction to cigarettes is very bad. Don't let you die before you finish the task."
That sharp rebuke made Kai only clear his throat softly as he snorted harshly again. But in the end, he didn't take his cigarette. Then choose to pull the left hand to see what time it is now.
"It's almost two o'clock but no signs to be seen around here. I'm getting sleepy, standing here is boring me. If you have any elixir other than cigarettes, I might as well stay up until tomorrow morning. Because I can't stand drinking liquids." black that these people drink."
"It's been almost three years, but you still hate coffee?"
"I'm traumatized. And I'll never drink it again."
"Amalthea has something even better than that. Want me to serve it?"
Kai glanced at the space beside him. Since then the sound that was heard was not visible. Making the young man seem to be talking to an invisible figure.
"There's no one here. Why are you still selling so expensive?"
That sharp satire instantly made the space to the left of Kai reveal a cute animal that thousands of people were so crazy about. Yes, a dark gray cat with bright yellow eyes stared at Kai with an expression that no ordinary cat would have.
The cat sat straight like a noble who was enjoying the view. On the forehead is engraved a different color of fur which is unique in shape. It can be said that it looks like a symbol that is rather complicated to explain.
That cat is magical. He can speak, has his thoughts, and can change the form or disappear. But for the people of Amalthea, it was nothing special. They call it a Guide.
Amalthea witches have their Guide which has different shapes and forms. Each Guide also has a different level and use. Depending on the job and how the witches live.
But the main role of a real Guide, they are souls that are separated from their owners. They have a strong bond with their owners. Guides appear since the new owner was born. If the owner is sick, then most likely the Guide will also experience the same thing.
And if the Guide is dying it shows that their owner is in bad condition or near death. If the owner dies, then the Guide will also die. However, Guides can die before their owners.
"Do you think we should move again? It's been almost three months, but no trace of Emrys has been detected in this area," said the cat.
Kai laughed lightly. "You think I have a lot of money? Living here is troublesome. Because to occupy a building like that requires a lot of banknotes." Kai said while shaking his head at the rickety and slum houses that lay clearly under his eyes. "I'm tired of moving all the time anyway."
"Are you comfortable here?"
"I didn't say that."
"Then?"
"My savings are running low, Rex."
This time the magic cat named Rex snorted with a funny face. He looked back at the owner who instead leaned his body against the roof of the house.
"Of course, it's thinning because you've been unemployed for almost two months. It's your picky nature that makes you end up unemployed. You have a lot of work experience, I'm sure you can get lots of decent jobs in this place. The cost of living in this country is much cheaper than in some places we've been to. And most importantly, the people here are very flattering to the newcomers."
"I know it."
"Then why are you still grumbling and not working? Or is it not what you think? But the news is that your brothers and sisters are close to finding the shards of the Emrys Legacy. Am I wrong?"
Rex looked at Kai, approached, and sat on his owner's shoulder. But Kai instead closed his eyes, lowering his front hair to the face. Impatiently Rex used his tail to slap Kai's face.
"Hachuuu…"
Kai got up annoyed while his hands rubbed his nose and face.
"Can you stop doing that? I'm tickled by your fur!" said Kai angrily, still wiping his nose because he felt like sneezing again.
"It's a reward for desperate people."
"Who says I'm desperate?"
"So what? Mr. Declan and Dallas seem to be getting on your nerves."
"Since when do you call them sir?"
"See, how irritated you are!"
Kai realized that Rex was teasing him. He did not deny that his brothers had made him jealous and jealous.
His three eldest brothers had found the Emrys shards in just half a year. Then the most beautiful sister, Samira, has also completed the task of not less than a year. The other two brothers have also done their job well. And now Declan and Dallas have done the same.
After this Kai is sure, the two twins will laugh at him. Kai doesn't get along with some of his older siblings, because they think Kai is weak in many ways. Even his parents think Kai is the last son who failed. Who wouldn't be hurt to hear that from their own family?
Rex is probably the only friend and brother who understands who Kai is. Kai is not a weak figure who fails, it's just that sometimes luck isn't on his side.
This time Kai's goal was simply to find the Emrys shard as quickly as possible. He had already spent a lot of time in this world and had almost completely turned into an Earthling. There are still two of his brothers who also haven't found the other Emrys shards. That means, Kai still has time to show that he is not a failed son.
Kai suddenly got up from his sleep, making Rex immediately jump to the side in surprise. The young man brushed his dark hair back. The moonlight battled her face which turned out to be so sweet to look at. It turns out that he has beautiful green eyes and is very seductive.
Kai's real hair color is not black, but a rather bright brownish red. He always changes his hair color and appearance when he stops in a country with a different culture. Especially in countries where the majority of the population has dark hair color.
"So what's your decision?" asked Rex when he saw the excited face of his Master.
"I'm tired of giving in and being told I'm a failure. I'm not going to let my father, mother, or my brothers insult my face again. We'll be moving the day after tomorrow, to the last coordinate in this country."
"Then what about your thinning money?"
Kai turned his head, looking at Rex with a cynical face. "You have to find me a suitable job before we move there. Who do you think costs the most to live on? Tch!"
After that Kai passed, jumping casually on the roof of the next house until he arrived on the road to his rental house which was not far from the narrow alley in front.
Rex snorted harshly. It felt like cursing that arrogant young man. But it is not appropriate if he complains and protests. Because Rex also just found out that the cost of living as a cat on Earth is far more expensive than his humans.
continued...