Vroom!
I felt the deep rumbling of the engine, my foot subconsciously pushing down the accelerator to reach just above the limit as my new black BWM M2 began to rocket across the city.
It was close to evening, around 5 p.m., according to the neon blue clock on my cool digital dashboard.
The sky was filled with grey clouds as it seemed like it might rain soon. Sadly, the sunlight didn't last for long for my good day!
My left hand slid across the digital radio. It put on some heavy tunes, the bass unit in the back rumbling along to my favourite bands, Asking Alexander and Killswitch, disengaging while the people outside ran away.
♫Jon Branco - Gumshield ♫
"I put my Gumshield in~ ra-ta-tata-ta-ta"
Somehow, my mind felt soothed in this car, like it was some haven where nobody could hurt me, and finally, I no longer felt that insecurity that made me look down whenever walking along the streets.
I could look at the other sports cars from my wing mirrors or window and feel, "Not long, and that will be me!"
[You look handsome driving this car, Rai]
"Well, I would look handsome taking a shit with this face..." I replied, looking at myself in the rearview mirror.
Not that it was a lie either; the smooth lines, angular jaw and handsome cheekbones perfectly framed my rugged yet handsome look.
It might sound sad to you, but for me, this was something special to have my first car that wasn't a rental. Not having to worry if I scratch it, I'll be taken into a closed room and beaten with wooden bats...
I am not proud of my upbringing or poverty... However, I don't deny who I was or who I am.
"Like I said before... I cannot become the hero."
My goal was to find someone to help me make a business, take over a small gang and become a mafia or gang boss in my local area.
Crush the bastards that lusted over my mother, tried to force my sister to sleep with their leader's son for $10,000...
Ah, that was fucking horrible... I lost two molars, broke my arms and became infertile from that attack; they stomped on my balls and put my hands in a vice before twisting them tight...
The pain of my hands being crushed...
I will never forget that moment... those faces... Black Snake Gang.... you fuckers!
[Calm down, Rai...]
[It's okay; you are safe now]
[You are very fertile, and your thing is more than double the efficiency and size of most men in this country!]
My body was shuddering without me knowing the gentle hands of Eternia stroking my hand that rested beside my left leg.
"You are a little perverted sometimes... Just the fertile bit was okay. haha."
Since the beginning, you were likely helping me, right? Eternia, slowly, steadily helping me heal my wounds one tiny broken shard of glass at a time...
[...]
[That...]
"Thank you."
I couldn't think of any big words or special speeches; the sun was fading, and the night was about to consume the sun.
For some reason, we spent over 2 hours just driving around and enjoying the sights of my city from the view of those with money and not the ones forced to work 12-14 hours a day to survive.
The thought of speaking to my mother was horrifying... What if she asked where the money came from, and I stuttered or stumbled with my words...
Although I see her as a woman, she is very important to me, and I don't want to disappoint her...
"That's why I need to start a company... No matter how small... Let's go into the dungeon tomorrow morning and stay there as long as possible... Eternia, will you help me?"
I looked at her cute face, the lights just turning red... You have to obey traffic laws.
[You want my help?]
"Ah, please guide me on how to use my Ether better and fight without wasting it... Tell me if I start to act up and lose my focus..."
[Can you listen to me?]
"If you find me being too unruly... just kiss me, and I'll listen to you; I can say for sure now because my mind is lucid, and those thoughts are dormant while at ease..."
"I think you're extremely pretty... your face is my type. So hurry up, return to your normal form, and become my girlfriend."
[Hah... You are adorable when you are honest....]
[I will kiss you—are you sure?]
"Ah. I hope you don't forget."
Then suddenly, her little body flew into the sky towards my face as the light was about to turn amber. A soft, squishy sensation touched my lips before a slight warmth was left as her body fluttered away, sitting in the drink holder slot.
[Mmm...]
[Much better when I kiss you...]
[Hehe~]
"...."
VRROOM!
My foot pressed the accelerator as the light turned green, shooting towards the nightlife district—despite having a bit of money left.
It was only around $15,000, hardly super rich, but it was pretty good in this economy where a month's rent and bills were only $1,000-2,000.
[Rai... I must return to the divine realm briefly to restore my spirits.]
"Eh... really?" I answered with a shocked voice, the car almost turning into a wall. I thought she would never leave my side, so it felt a little lonely.
My eyes saw a place to park ahead with the neon signs guiding me. I quickly parked the M2 and turned off the ignition before looking at the beautiful goddess that supported me even when I took the piss or acted up because of my stupid mental issues.
[When you reach the level that I can start relying on your Ether and its natural regeneration to remain here... I won't have to go.]
[Think of it as my sleeping time?]
"Will it be the same for the dungeon?"
[Haha... no, in the dungeon, I can absorb the Ether in the air. This world doesn't have any Ether of its own yet...]
Somehow, the word 'yet' felt unsettling, but I let it go because she looked beautiful as her body began to sparkle and flicker with various colours and luminous beams.
[Don't get hurt...]
[Be good]
[I liked spending the day with you!]
[I...]
She seemed to want to keep speaking, but her body vanished, leaving me alone with my car parked just outside a relatively decent club with an alright reputation—despite being run by a gang, it was a female leader who was against hard drugs and didn't take kindly to prostitution.
The silence was lonely... even the radio blasting metalcore bands from the local scene didn't fill the voice that vanished.
Only a day, maybe two?
She was only around and already dominated most of my life and thoughts...
"Maybe that's why she is a goddess..."
Somehow, though, I felt that if she truly vanished forever, the dark place in my mind where I fear to look even in the light of day...
It might come to haunt me in my sleep...
I suddenly felt the desire to drink... To push me into a drunken stupor and forget the memories that made me into the fragmented man I am...
"The Blue Lady... Let's drink... and see If I cannot find a woman to soothe my body and soul for tonight..."
With the thoughts of loneliness of the fairy leaving and the dark thoughts that began to creep back with her leaving...
I entered the wolf's den hoping to bid farewell to my loser self and become a new me, starting tonight.
The loud booming music and the faint scent of smoke, perfume and sweat filled my nose as I entered the doors, pushing through the glass and heading down the stone steps towards the basement.
That was where the Queen and her friends normally drank and were also the safest place away from the other gang thugs that would drink upstairs to gather information from the drunk girls and clubbers.