I was now sitting across from B class hero Adam Kane wolfing down sandwiches as if they were the most delicious thing he had ever eaten in his life. It was hard to believe that this was the same person who was on the verge of death a few minutes ago. Color had fully returned to his skin, and he was now able to move his arms comfortably without feeling much pain, but his legs were still in bad shape.
"Hey, can I ask you a question?" Adam asked with his mouth still full.
I nodded.
"Who are you? I mean you don't look like a corrupted awakened and you look too young to be a hero. I'm still thankful that you saved my life, but I don't even know your name."
"Ajax and I'm neither."
"Then what's with the clothes?" He said pointing at the clothes I had gotten from violet fang.
"Violet fang, right? I saw some of them fighting not far from here." He continued.
"I took supplies from their abandoned base, it's the only building I found that's still standing."
"Wait. So, you're just a civilian who got caught up in this? Shouldn't you have evacuated a while ago?"
I didn't know how to respond to that as I didn't exist in this world until yesterday.
"I... couldn't."
He didn't seem satisfied with that answer but decided not to question further. Instead saying.
"We need to get you to safety, that sadistic fucker could still be around here." He said with a serious tone.
"Who?"
"The bastard who messed me up. Me and the other heroes were able to defeat the group that attacked us but, in the process, only two of us survived. Just when I thought I could rest, some swordsman cuts the other dudes head clean off and begins attacking me."
His tone then changed to one of shame and guilt.
"I was no match for the guy, one strike from his sword and my axe went flying. Then he began to torture me, slicing tendons so I couldn't move, cutting off my arm and more. Said he wanted to watch me die a slow and painful death but couldn't stick around cause he had to do 'something important.' "
I wasn't sure what to say.
"Well, it's not all bad, because he didn't finish the job, you were able to save me and because of that, I can see my family again." He spoke with genuine gratitude and joy in his voice.
"I didn't do much. As for the corrupted you are talking about, he should have retreated with the rest of them."
"They retreated?" He asked surprised.
"Yes, about a day and a half ago."
All of a sudden, his face became grave as he tapped his space ring and pulled out a phone. Opening it he looked at the date and time which caused him to frown even more. Then he began frantically tapping on the phone screen, trying to contact numerous people but it was useless.
"Damn it! this is bad. I don't know what exactly is going on, but it can't be good. Kid, do you know where the heroes are?"
I nodded saying " All surviving heroes retreated shortly after the corrupted to take defensive positions around the city border."
"Ok, that's not far from here, we can't let them win twice." he spoke with determination.
"Twice?"
"Look around kid, they won. We thought we outsmarted them for once, and all heroes were put in charge of evacuating citizens but while we were clearing out the city, they began destroying it. They were smart, they took out communications first, so heroes in the city couldn't talk to each other and by the time we were able to put together a proper responsive force, a quarter of the city had been razed to the ground."
He continued in a defeated tone "It will take way too long to rebuild this place, and, in the meantime, countless citizens are displaced without a home to go to and now they might do something even worse, but I won't let them."
He spoke with determination and stood up, attempting to walk before stumbling and falling. I stood up and rushed to him catching him before he could fall and placing him back on the marble platform he was on, when I noticed him looking back at me with wide eyes.
"Ajax, you're an awakened?"
I didn't mean to hide it from him, but he had somehow realized it.
"With that speed and the mana emanating from you, there's no doubt about it, you're an awakened but you don't have a mana core? Did you awaken recently?"
I was surprised by how he had gotten so much information so easily, but I responded, nonetheless.
"Yes, I awakened yesterday."
He had seen my momentary surprise and responded with a chuckle.
"Once, you get good enough perception, you can sense dense gatherings of mana, which is what a mana core is.
He paused for a moment, before declaring with pride.
"Alright as a part of my repayment to you for saving my life, I will teach you the basics of mana circulation."
"Are you sure?" I asked a bit surprised.
"Yep, don't worry I helped my sister with it when she awakened and not to brag but I am the youngest B rank hero ever and besides it's not like I can do much else right now."
I hadn't expected this at all. I was afraid of learning circulation techniques because they were difficult to learn on your own and especially with vague descriptions from a novel and the backlash of doing it incorrectly were severe with the best case being a reduction in the speed of my growth and the worst case being severe injuries to the abdominal area. However, with an experienced awakened like Adam guiding me throughout the process it would be much easier and safer.
"Okay."
"Alright then come closer, face your back to me and close your eyes."
Upon hearing these instructions, I hesitated.
Seeing this Adam sighed and said "Come on, you saved my life and helped me back to health, you think I'm gonna harm you?"
I knew I was being paranoid, the novel told me he could be trusted and so did his behavior and my instincts but leaving myself completely vulnerable to him was difficult but at the end the reward far outweighed the risk. I may not have such an opportunity again.
So, I walked towards him and sat down and faced my back towards him and closed my eyes.
He laughed excitedly and said "Ready?"
I nodded in response.
"Alright, but before that-"
"I need you to take off your shirt."