Cyrus chuckled as he walked under the illumination of the golden hue of the evening sun hanging in the sky.
'Let's pray she doesn't go and wreak havoc in my house as payback for deceiving her.'
His eyes roamed the street, watching a few cars moving across the busy road coupled with carriages pulled by horses. Due to the location of the town, positioned close to the Green Forest, a place teeming with powerful monsters, there were few cars and mostly beast modes of transportation. But it was thriving because of the high wall, even though it gets periodically attacked.
When Cyrus got to his house, a simple bungalow that was neatly decorated and surrounded by a short fence, he used his fingerprint and eye scanner to unlock the door. In an age where there are numerous Classes, keys would be useless against some people while for others… well, the door is basically useless because they could bypass it. As for the last group of guys, which are the top dogs, the whole house is useless because they could just demolish it, or tear the door apart.
But the protection and alarm system in the town increases, with the cities having very high security. That's why the government pays Elite well, so that they wouldn't bother stealing from the weak when they could easily gain those things by working less and doing risk-free jobs.
Cyrus hurried through a quick shower and a rushed meal, before collapsing onto the bed, surrendering to sleep like a weary child. The weight of exhaustion clung to him. As he drifted off, the dark fog that had clouded his mind since he awakened was expunged, revealing the fruits of his five-year struggle. At that moment, a sense of happiness blossomed within him, even amidst the lingering tiredness that wrapped around him like a heavy blanket.
***
A thunderous knock made Cyrus jump out of bed as he became alert. He switched on the light and saw that the time was still 5 AM.
With calculated steps, he walked to the living room and peeked outside through the peephole in the door. There, he saw Tracy, dressed in an oversized pair of pajamas, her eyes filled with impatience as if she were contemplating tearing down the door.
"Huh?"
Cyrus quickly unlocked the door, staring at her with an incredulous expression.
"Seriously? Banging on the door at this hour? What happened to the doorbell?"
"I used it and it was not loud enough, because you weren't waking up. Thank goodness you came out, or else I would have entered through the window because I thought something had happened to you," Tracy said offhandedly, pushing him aside as she carried a bag into his house like the house was hers.
Cyrus could only shake his head and lock the door.
She plopped down on the couch and began surveying his house.
"It has been a long time since I got here and your house is as neat as ever. But that is not why I'm here." She turned to face him. "Tell me your plan and I will give you these daily necessities, or forget about leaving Silvaran in my presence."
Cyrus shrugged and answered, "I have a cloak that can reduce my presence and I have equipment that easily slices through the Awakened beasts when I get close to them. So, you can relax, and stop behaving like an elder sister because we are the same age."
"What is with that last statement? Are you saying I have the character of an old woman?" She snarled at Cyrus.
Cyrus didn't reply because anything he says will be used against him.
"Tsk! Coward." Then she passed him the bag before relaxing on the couch.
Cyrus began checking through the things she brought.
"How much is everything?"
"Are you saying I can't give you things?!"
Cyrus raised an eyebrow at her response. "Why are you being so annoying this morning? Did you wake up on the wrong side of the bed?"
"It's one damn client of mine who's pushing me into a dangerous deal. It's really getting on my nerves," she said, exhaling with frustration.
"...and you signed it?" Cyrus asked, his uncertainty evident.
"I can't go against their power." Her frustration was so palpable it felt ready to explode.
"Sigh! That's why you should learn from me and stop standing out in town. Look where it's gotten you."
Cyrus shook his head like an elder imparting wisdom.
"You want me to be a coward like you? No thanks!" Tracy snickered.
Cyrus's expression darkened. "You can leave now. I need to prepare."
"If you're going to hunt in another location apart from the Green forest, then you will need me to give you a ride to the train station, and the train for the morning leaves by 6 AM. The next will be by 11 AM. So, should I still leave?" She smiled victoriously.
Cyrus exhaled in defeat and went inside with the bag. When he returned, he was dressed in a large, black robe that had a hood behind. His long, untied black hair cascaded backward over his shoulder, with a few strands falling across the side of his face.
"Looking different from your coward and laid-back self. But why do you feel a bit… blurry and weak?" She questioned but Cyrus merely replied with a chuckle.
"So, you're really going, huh?" she asked with surprise in her eyes.
"I already said I'm going, and I even ordered daily necessities."
"The actions of a ball-less coward cannot be predicted; you might decide to change your mind. Let's go."
She stood up and walked away, with Cyrus trailing behind, carrying a backpack. Tracy first went to her house to change into her battle attire before returning with the new sword Cyrus had given her. Then she led him to her off-road orange truck parked in the garage.
"Why is your bag a bit small? Where are the daily necessities?" she asked as they entered the truck.
"Inside my spatial ring."
"You make me envious." Tracy leaned closer, a glint flashing in her eyes as she whispered, "But, if I may ask, do you have any more of those spatial rings?"
"Do you think it's cabbage that I picked up here and there?" Cyrus retorted.
"Fine." She exhaled weakly. "Remember to sell it to me when you get another one. Let's roll!"
She ignited the engine and drove slowly as they made their way out of the town, white fog still shrouding the town. It was a bit empty in the early hours apart from some Elite soldiers patrolling.
When they got to the gate, the soldiers saluted Tracy, and they drove into the wilderness.
***
Meanwhile, two people, covering their bodies in a black cloak, stood in front of Cyrus' shop.
"Are you sure this is the shop?" One asked with a deep, commanding tone.
"Yes, Sir," replied the second person.
"Good! Let's go in and see what we can dig up on him."
The second person hesitated a little before saying, "But if you involve him… he might die."
"What are Artificers for if not cannon fodders? Besides, stop playing the good guy as you would also benefit."