Zenon felt as if he slowly lost control over his body.
His eyes were focused on those two lifeless purple eyes that seemed to watch over every movement, every breathing, every single thought Zenon had. His legs started giving up - wiggling like jelly - and began lowering to a position he swore never to make. A position that would make him the joke amongst all jokes.
Kneeling.
*Screech!!*
The Leviathan screeched once again, making his body heavier and his legs weaker. It took a moment for Zenon to realize that this was his Familiar's will... but he can't accept it or rather, he won't.
He called the void and its answer was to wrap Zenon's legs, giving him better control over them, and started pushing up to avoid falling. The Leviathan watched this scenario with amusement as he laughed in a deep voice.
'What kind of Familiar rebels against his master?!'
Zenon was still trying not to touch the ground, but even with the void augment, the Leviathan was still stronger, somehow. Not giving him a second to relax, the Voice continued.
"Your Soul and the Leviathan's have formed into one! Your thoughts are shared, and emotions are in touch!"
Just as Zenon was about to touch the floor the Voice sent its final message.
"Wake up Void Bringer! Wake up and prepare for the First Layer!"
—
Zenon slowly opened his eyes.
The first thing he saw was a blinding light right on top of him. He tried to block the light with his hand but it felt… restrained. After growing accustomed to the light, he realized he had two belts around his wrists.
'Didn't I just have two around my chest and legs?'
*Click!*
With a click, the light went away, leading way for a more subtle intensity that won't burn his pupils. The first thing he saw once the light was gone, was an old man sitting in front of him.
Well… calling him old was an overstatement. He looked young yet seemed to have lived for some decades based on the look in his eyes. It wasn't Dan, as opposed to the young man since this one had beautiful blue hair… along with a long scar through his left eye.
Not only that, he seemed to be extremely muscular as well. With the T-Shirt he was wearing, his arms really stood out, and perhaps his hand could cover Zenon's face perfectly.
His blue beard was centimeters away from touching his crossed arms, showing how time really made an impact on him. Still, just looking at him made Zenon feel as if he owed him an apology for whatever.
"The fuck you looking at? The Awakening damaged your brain or what?"
Honestly, this reaction took Zenon somewhat aback. Sure, he was acting all serious but he didn't think of him as an aggressive person. Nonetheless, he took his thoughts for himself and replied calmly,
"Say that once again and I'll send you five feet under."
The second he finished the threat, Zenon's eyes widened as he tried to cover his mouth, to no avail. He looked away from the man as if he couldn't believe what he just said. He looked again at the man who stared at him nonchalantly.
He touched his beard and said, "You aren't from those rich families… Perhaps from near the outskirts? Lived inside?"
Zenon quickly nodded, which brought a smile to the man's face. He took a cigarette while saying,
"Then learn how to shut your fucking mouth then. Luckily, I'm a chill guy, but others would have beaten your daylights out."
He lit the cigarette under the eyes of a really, really embarrassed Zenon. The man offered one to the boy, who quickly declined as he got up from the chair, making some of his joints crack.
"You can call me Harbor or however the fuck you wish to, I can't give a bigger shit anyways. I happened to arrive here while you were in middle Awakening and Dan has told me to watch over you."
Zenon looked at him with confused eyes, making Harbor sigh before loosening the straps around his body.
"I don't care about your Awakening, if you got a First-Tier or a Seventh-Tier Soul, if your Familiar is fucking nuts, or any other shit like that."
'Well… I'm already liking his attitude.'
Getting up from the chair, Zenon cracked all of his joints, making him almost moan in relief. He touched his forehead to put his hair away and noticed the inhuman amount of sweat he produced.
One swipe and his hand was already drenched in that liquid. Suddenly, the door opened,
"Harbor, are you done wit- What the-! What's that smell?!"
Aurea stepped inside and instantly clutched her neck warmer firmly to her nose. Zenon looked at her with widened eyes before bursting into laughs, receiving the middle finger from her.
Harbor remained indifferent as he said, "I smelled worse things. He's done and ready... and I suggest you give him a room already."
"No shit, Sherlock. Come here, we have it ready." Aurea said before disappearing behind the door.
Zenon quickly followed her while putting his hoodie on. After some walking and climbing stairs, they reached a specific zone with two different wings.
Aurea stopped at the intersection and said, "Left for girls, right for boys. If you dare step inside the left wing, I won't contain myself. No excuses."
"Do you think I am that kind of person?" Zenon said while trying not to chuckle.
"We already had some incidents, and it's not like we need more. Now take this key and please, take a shower or a bath. I can't even block that damned smell."
Zenon watched as Aurea disappeared behind the corner. He waved goodbye at her and walked toward his apartment. It was fairly easy to find, as the key had the number inscribed on it.
Stepping inside, Zenon was surprised by the contents of the room. Apart from the gray concrete walls, everything was tidied up, and even had a proper bed.
Not like he never rested in a comfortable bed before. It even had a small TV set up on the wall and some books on a small bookshelf alongside it.
'How much money does that Dan guy make?'
After checking the bedroom for a while, Zenon stepped inside the bathroom. It wasn't very spacious but it was big enough to not feel cramped. And it even had a bath! So Zenon didn't think twice.
Slowly letting the bath fill, Zenon stripped from his clothes and decided where to put them. Then, he found near the door a small, squared metal... thing? He took a small piece of paper beside it which said,
[Use this to clean your clothes or underwear, takes around fifteen minutes.]
Neat!
Making sure that every single piece of clothing was in its correct position, Zenon threw everything inside and pressed the green button. The machine started making somewhat silent sounds which meant it was working.
Sighing, Zenon stepped inside the bath and let the hot water relax his stiff muscles. Slowly but surely, he made sure to get his entire being inside the tub and let the water relax his body. When the water was high enough, he closed the tap and sighed in relief.
He stayed like this for some seconds, letting the gentle hot water caress his body while getting rid of that tiredness.
'Mhm... this is so good.'
Zenon lay inside the tub, immobile for at least five minutes. It was so comfortable that his body became one with the water as if he couldn't feel anything else.
Until something scratched his foot.
"Huh?" Zenon looked to his feet, but couldn't see anything, "Must've been the drain."
He touched the drain again with his foot and realized that the sensation had nothing to do with what he felt two seconds ago. Startled, Zenon sat on the tube and looked at his foot, confused.
After looking around for a while and finding nothing, he sighed and lay again on the tub.
*Splash!*
And something came out of the tube.
Surprised, Zenon almost jumped off the bath but slipped and faced whatever the hell came out of the water.
Snake-like body, white scales, violet lifeless eyes, and two horns.
'Fucking hell.'