As she slowly regained consciousness, a throbbing pain pounded in her head, intensifying her disorientation.
A parched sensation gripped her throat, emphasizing her urgent need for water. Confusion clouded her mind as she blinked open her eyes, only to find herself in an unfamiliar and disheveled environment-it was the garbage side.
Her mana, the wellspring of her abilities, felt depleted, leaving her feeling weak and vulnerable.
She instinctively raised her hand to her wrist, discovering a seal firmly etched into her skin. It was a bewildering sight, leaving her wondering who had the audacity to seal her powers and why.
"Ugh, I've had enough. I swear, I'll never set foot in that bar again," she muttered, the image of the bartender and the sudden appearance of those rogues still fresh in her mind.
As she struggled to make sense of her surroundings, her memory flickered. Images of a chaotic battle and a desperate struggle from a tall boy who look like a servant.
Yet, she couldn't recall who had come to her rescue or how she ended up in this...uhh-garbage dump...
She checked to see if anyone had touched her body, but then noticed a pleasant fragrance emanating from her jacket. It was a luxurious lavender perfume that was priced twice as high as other perfumes in the shop and had a limited stock of only 15 bottles per year.
Could the person who saved her be a millionaire? No, perhaps even a billionaire?
She decided to stand.
A tiny creature suddenly appears out of nowhere, unfazed by the situation. The mice scurry towards her feet and begin fussing with her shoelaces. She pauses for a moment, contemplating her options.
Should I kill it?
Or should I capture it and release it in this dump?
Opting for the second choice, she carefully removes the mice from her shoes and gently places them in a nearby trash bin.
"Find some food in there, little mouse, not my shoelace," she remarks softly. With a sense of bewilderment, she resumes walking, trying to figure out the place where she has been slept.
-⚜️-
"Excuse me, miss, what brings you to my shop?" The middle-aged man asked, eyeing the young woman who had entered.
Her gaze immediately landed on the black cloak hanging on the rack, a sense of recognition coursing through her.
It was her cloak, the one she thought she had lost. Anger welled up inside her as she stared at the price tag, which read a staggering $450,000.
Who could dare to sell her precious cloak here?
The manager, sensing her frustration, regarded her suspiciously and motioned to his assistant to approach her and ask her to leave the shop.
"Miss, I'm sorry, but we kindly ask you to leave the shop," the assistant stammered nervously, his gaze shifting uneasily under her furious glare.
She disregarded his plea with a heartless tone, her eyes unwaveringly fixed on the cloak that held her attention.
"I couldn't care less about your job," she coldly retorted, her focus remaining locked on the coveted garment.
The assistant, offended by her callous remark, mustered up his strength and forcefully pushed Aster out of the shop.
Though taken aback by the assistant's unexpected strength, Aster knew she had no other option but to leave.
Her mana reserves were depleted, leaving her unable to resist or fight back. Disappointment lingered in her eyes as she reluctantly turned away.
The cloak, bearing her name that had been intricately carved into it, was now lost along with her cherished abilities.
Desperate attempt to rekindle her flame, Aster resorted to cutting herself, hoping to draw the necessary blood. However, her efforts proved futile as her flame remained dormant. She let out a heavy sigh, disappointment etched across her face, and reluctantly shifted her attention away from her bloodied fingers.
She frequently found herself lingering around this City, trying to recall the memories of her past. Despite all those years, she had no recollection of where she was dropped off; all she knew was that it was in the garbage side of the city.
Finally, she arrived at the City gate of Brisk, a place quite distant from Cluster Dome, where she was born.
Cluster Dome was a unique City that operated without the need for a god or deity. Instead, its inhabitants possessed extraordinary powers and abilities, much like gods themselves. And she was one of them-a flame user who had often clashed with others in this City, resulting in her frequent encounters with death. However, her powers were eventually sealed by an unknown servant who apprehended her.
That despicable person, she vowed to make him pay for his actions.
As she made her way towards the gate, a sudden rain shower began.
-⚜️-
Felix was at a loss as to the whereabouts of his skull. He had no idea if Sole had destroyed it or stashed it away somewhere.
That kid needed to learn a lesson.
Resting his head on the table while sitting in his favorite swivel chair, Felix couldn't shake off the guilt he felt after hanging Lin. Now, he didn't know where to find a new servant.
His pen rolled off the table, and without thinking, he called out for Lin to pick it up.
"Lin, pick that up-" Suddenly, he jolted upright, remembering that Lin was no longer there.
"Well, that's..." he muttered. A shift in his mood was accompanied by the darkening hues of the sky, as if a thunderstorm was approaching. The guilt of what he had done to Lin still weighed heavily on him.
Once again, he rested his head on the table, gazing out of the newly fixed window, absentmindedly tapping his desk with two fingers.
"He deserved it... no, he didn't," he said with a somber tone. The rain began to fall, the sky growing darker. The absence of Lin made the comparison stark, and without him, it was perilous for the people in the City.
But as a god, Felix cared little for the lives of those around him. He knew that other ability users could save them, even if they were struck by his lightning.
"Master Fo- Felix, there's an urgent call waiting for you," a human guard called out, standing outside the door of the condo. His expression remained serious as he observed the raging thunderstorm unfolding outside.
"I don't have time for calls," Felix replied, his voice steady. He paused his tapping on the table, straightened his posture, but his gaze remained fixed on the window.
The human guard insisted, maintaining his bow. Despite Felix's initial dismissal, the guard remained dutiful, understanding the gravity of the situation. Sensing Felix's growing irritation, the guard cautiously proposed an alternative.
"Sir, if you allow me, I can take the call and deliver the message to you directly," the guard suggested respectfully, hoping to ease Felix's frustration and still fulfill his duty.
Felix, recognizing the guard's dedication, paused for a moment to consider the offer. Realizing the importance of the call, he relented, albeit reluctantly.
"Fine," Felix conceded with a sigh, gesturing for the guard to proceed. "Take the call and inform me of the details immediately."
The guard nodded, though he couldn't help but roll his eyes at Felix's remark. He understood that his master's temper was flaring, but he remained focused on his task.
After ten minutes, the guard returned and relayed the details of the phone conversation. Sensing Felix's growing impatience and anger, the guard hesitated for a moment, fearing his master's wrath.
"If it's of no importance, I apologize in advance, but it seems Sole is inviting you and Lin to the Cluster Dome," the guard stammered, his voice trembling with a mix of fear and anxiety.
Felix's eyebrows furrowed, his curiosity piqued. The Cluster Dome, a city known for housing powerful humans. While he wasn't scared, he couldn't help but wonder about this audacious invitation, especially after the incident involving his beloved skull.
Frustration and anger filled his voice as he responded, "That insolent child dares to invite me after disposing of my favorite skull?"
"I will give it some thought, one week," Felix said with a smirk, clearly enjoying the discomfort of the guard.
"But, master, the party is in just 2 days," the guard protested, his anxiety palpable.
Felix's smile vanished, replaced by a look of disbelief. "I don't care. Leave this instant, or I'll curse you."
Fearful of the consequences, the guard hurriedly left the room. Felix let out a deep sigh, frustration evident as he rubbed his temples.
"Now, where in the world can I find Lin?" he muttered to himself, contemplating his next move.