The last days of April carried with them a strange tranquility, a stark contrast to the chaos that had unfolded just fifteen days earlier during the Guild Wars. The city was still recovering, though for some, the aftermath lingered in different forms. For Belial, it came in the shape of a relentless pile of letters.
He had barely stepped outside when he noticed the mail, a stack of envelopes bound together in the usual chaotic fashion. Plucking them from the mailbox, he shuffled through the pile as he walked back inside. Among the usual guild recruitment letters, one particular envelope caught his eye. He opened it lazily, scanning the contents briefly before tossing it onto the already teetering pile on his desk.
The human realm had a certain rhythm to it, and mornings seemed to hold a peculiar magic. Belial, however, was no early bird. It was already past 10 a.m., and he was only just beginning to stir.
Nearby, his companion Xin hadn't fared much better. Though it wasn't unusual for him to sleep in, his late risings were a habit formed from his days performing at concerts. Late nights, loud music, and the bright lights of the stage had ingrained a nocturnal routine that was hard to break.
Belial eventually dragged himself into the kitchen, standing in the doorway for a moment as he surveyed the space. It was still unfamiliar territory to him. Cooking had never been a necessity in his life. His master had always prepared meals during his brutal training sessions, leaving Belial to focus solely on survival and endurance. He recalled how scrawny he had been back then, the grueling regimen breaking him down to nothing before rebuilding him into the person he was today.
Now, faced with the simple challenge of preparing food, Belial felt oddly lost. Opening the fridge, he stared at its contents in silent contemplation. The silence broke when a faint blue light flickered before him.
[Would you need some assistance?]
The words appeared mid-air, glowing faintly. It was Oracle, the enigmatic guide that had been a companion during his time in the human realm.
Belial chuckled, scratching the back of his head. "Yeah, I'd love that."
The interface shifted, listing a handful of ingredients in a clear, methodical order. Following Oracle's guidance, Belial began gathering the items: eggs, flour, milk, sugar, and butter. His hands moved clumsily, unused to the delicate process of preparing a meal.
During his time among humans, he had developed a fondness for one particular breakfast item: crepes. Their thin, delicate texture and the endless possibilities for fillings had fascinated him. This morning, he decided, he would try his hand at making them.
As he worked through the steps, carefully cracking eggs and measuring flour, Belial found himself strangely absorbed in the process. He whisked the ingredients together, pouring the batter into a pan with tentative precision. For a moment, it seemed like everything was going well.
That was, until the smell hit.
A faint, smoky scent began to fill the air. It wasn't long before the light haze of burning batter wafted through the kitchen.
Meanwhile, in the next room, Xin stirred. He had been slowly rousing himself, but the unfamiliar aroma snapped him fully awake. His nose wrinkled as the scent sharpened, and his eyes widened in alarm. Throwing off his blanket, he grabbed the fire extinguisher that had become a permanent fixture near the kitchen after several past mishaps.
Bursting into the kitchen in his white pajamas adorned with yellow polka dots, Xin braced for the worst. His heart pounded as he scanned the room, expecting flames or chaos. Instead, he found Belial standing in front of the stove, a bewildered expression on his flour-covered face.
"You almost gave me a heart attack!" Xin exclaimed, lowering the extinguisher. He sighed heavily, setting it aside. "You tried cooking?"
Belial looked sheepish, gesturing vaguely toward the pan. "I thought it'd be nice if I did, for once."
Xin sighed again, running a hand through his messy hair. His initial irritation gave way to a faint smile as he grabbed an apron from the hook by the door. "A crepe, huh? Sit tight. I'll whip one up for you."
Belial obeyed, retreating to the small table in the corner of the kitchen. He leaned back in his chair, watching as Xin took command of the kitchen.
There was a quiet elegance to Xin as he worked. Every motion was precise, every action deliberate. It was clear that he had done this countless times before. Belial couldn't help but be impressed. Despite the flour smudges on his cheeks and the faint circles under his eyes from too many late nights, Xin moved with a grace that seemed effortless.
Sunlight filtered through the window, casting a warm glow over the scene. It reflected off Xin's hair, making it shimmer faintly as he moved between the counter and the stove. Belial studied him for a moment, his thoughts wandering.
From the bits and pieces of information he had gleaned, Belial knew that Xin's life hadn't been easy. The glimpses into his past—his time on the streets, the struggles he endured—painted a picture of someone who had fought tooth and nail to survive. And yet, despite it all, Xin had this uncanny ability to make even the simplest tasks look radiant.
"You're staring," Xin said without looking up, a teasing lilt in his voice.
Belial blinked, caught off guard. "What? No, I'm not."
Xin chuckled softly, flipping the crepe with a flick of his wrist. "Sure, you're not."
Belial huffed, crossing his arms. "I was just... observing. You're good at this."
"Living alone kind of forces you to be," Xin replied, his tone light but with a hint of something deeper. "You pick up a few tricks when it's just you and an empty fridge."
The silence that followed was comfortable, broken only by the gentle sizzling of the pan. Within minutes, Xin plated a perfect crepe, golden and thin, and slid it onto the table in front of Belial.
"Bon appétit," Xin said with a mock bow, handing Belial a fork.
Belial took a bite, his eyes widening in surprise. The crepe was light, fluffy, and just the right amount of sweet. "Damn, this is good."
Xin grinned, leaning against the counter. "Told you I've got skills."
As they settled into the moment, a sudden knock at the door broke the calm. Belial glanced toward the sound, his brow furrowing. Xin's relaxed posture stiffened slightly, his instincts kicking in.
Chapter: A New Rank
The morning sun bathed Silva City in golden light as Belial and Xin finished their breakfast. The aroma of crepes still lingered faintly in the apartment as the two tidied up, preparing to head out. A letter from the Phoenix Guild had arrived earlier, informing them that their ranks had been updated following their participation in the Guild Wars. They were to report to the guild to collect their new rank cards.
Belial, dressed in a white cap, a loose white shirt Xin had gotten him during a recent outing, a black compression shirt underneath, black shorts, and white shoes, fidgeted slightly as he glanced around the apartment. Now that spring had passed, his usual coat was no longer necessary, though he'd grown strangely attached to it.
"Where is that thing?" he muttered, rummaging briefly through the closet before giving up with a sigh.
Resigned, Belial moved to the living room to wait for Xin. He settled on the couch, his gaze drifting to the wall where three guitars were mounted. Each instrument seemed to tell a story: one saved from a fire at their last apartment, another earned during the summertime beach event, and the last picked up during one of Xin's spontaneous outings. Belial had no musical talent himself, but he respected Xin's passion for it—it was one of the rare times the elf seemed truly at peace.
The soft shuffle of footsteps caught his attention, and Belial looked up as Xin emerged from his room. His companion's outfit was a blend of practicality and his own unique flair: a straw hat perched atop his head, a loose yellow tunic, jean shorts, and brown sandals that complemented his horns. Sunglasses dangled casually from his hand before he slipped them on with a grin.
"What do you think?" Xin asked, striking a playful pose.
Belial smirked. "You look ready for a vacation, not a guild visit."
Xin shrugged. "Every day's a vacation if you dress for it."
They left the apartment and began their walk through Silva City. The streets were alive with activity, vendors calling out to passersby and children playing in the parks. It was a 15-minute walk to the Phoenix Guild, but their journey stretched to 30 minutes when Belial insisted on stopping for rocky road ice cream at a nearby cart.
"You really can't resist, can you?" Xin teased, watching as Belial savored the treat.
"It's the little things, Xin," Belial replied, licking the edge of the cone to keep the melting ice cream from dripping onto his hand.
When they finally arrived at the guild, they were greeted by Natalie, the receptionist. She had blonde hair pulled back into a neat bun, oval-shaped glasses perched on her nose, and wore a crisp white blouse tucked into a pencil skirt. She greeted them with a warm smile.
"Welcome back, Belial, Xin," she said, adjusting her glasses as she picked up two envelopes from her desk. "Congratulations on your accomplishments during the Guild Wars. As a result, your ranks have been updated. But before I hand these over, I'll need you both to go through the ether scanner again."
Belial and Xin nodded, stepping into the scanner one by one. The machine hummed softly as it analyzed their ether levels, a faint blue light washing over them. Moments later, the results appeared on Natalie's screen.
"Everything looks good," she said, handing each of them their updated rank cards.
Belial turned his card over in his hand, his eyes lingering on the phoenix emblem etched on the back. The detailed design shimmered slightly under the light, symbolizing their membership in the Phoenix Guild. On the front, his name and details were neatly displayed:
Corporation: Hunters Association
Guild: Phoenix Guild
Name: Belial Noctis
Race: Human
Rank: C+
Sex: Male
Class: Duelist
Fighting Ability: B
Ether Capacity: D
Belial's lips curved into a small smile. The trials of the Guild Wars—the unplanned suffering and unexpected challenges—had finally paid off.
Beside him, Xin examined his own card with less enthusiasm, though there was a glint of satisfaction in his eyes.
Corporation: Hunters Association
Guild: Phoenix Guild
Name: Xin
Race: Elf
Rank: C
Sex: ---
Class:Duelist
Fighting Ability: C-
Ether Capacity: B
---
The guild hall buzzed with its usual cacophony of voices, clinking glasses, and the occasional burst of laughter. The air was thick with the mingling scents of ale, polished wood, and the faint metallic tang of weapons freshly cleaned. Belial stood near the bar, his sharp features illuminated by the warm glow of the overhead lanterns. He slid the small, embossed card into his pocket with a practiced ease, his lips curling into a faint, satisfied smile.
"Well," he said, his voice low but carrying a note of triumph, "looks like we're moving up in the world."
Beside him, Xin leaned casually against the bar, his arms crossed over his chest. His dark eyes flicked toward Belial, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "Guess so," he replied, his tone light but laced with amusement. His posture was relaxed, but there was a sharpness in his gaze that betrayed his awareness of their surroundings.
Belial turned his attention to Natalie, the guild's ever-efficient receptionist, who was busy organizing a stack of papers behind the counter. Her auburn hair was tied back in a loose braid, and her green eyes sparkled with a mix of curiosity and warmth as she looked up at him.
"Is Cole in his office?" Belial asked, his voice steady but with an undercurrent of purpose.
Natalie nodded, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "Yes, he's upstairs. Should I let him know you're on your way?"
"No need," Belial replied, offering her a small, appreciative smile. "Thanks, Natalie."
As he and Xin turned toward the exit, Belial raised a hand in a casual wave. "See you around," he called over his shoulder.
Natalie's smile widened, and she called after him, "Make sure he doesn't burn himself out!"
Belial chuckled softly but didn't respond. Instead of heading for the door, he pivoted smoothly toward the grand staircase that led to the guild's upper floors. The polished wooden steps gleamed under the light of the chandeliers, and the intricate carvings along the banister seemed to come alive as shadows danced across them. Belial gestured for Xin to follow, his movements deliberate and unhurried.
Xin tilted his head slightly, his smirk deepening. "You're going to see Cole?" he asked, his voice tinged with curiosity.
Belial nodded, his expression growing more serious. "Yeah. There's something I need to talk to him about." He paused, glancing at Xin. "I guess I'll see you at home, then."
Xin gave a small nod, his smile softening. "Sure thing," he said, raising a hand in a casual wave. "Don't keep him waiting too long."
With that, Xin turned and made his way toward the guild's main entrance, his footsteps echoing faintly against the stone floor. Belial watched him go for a moment before starting his ascent up the staircase. The noise of the guild hall gradually faded behind him, replaced by the muffled creak of wood underfoot and the distant hum of activity from the floors above.