Cain, who felt a bit stressed about the things that landed on his hand, pondered for a moment. From what he heard, the fragment was something that could be granted or even destroyed someone. It depends on how lucky the person who consumes it is.
Aside from the fragment, Cain also found some of the man's personal belongings, such as a wallet and a piece of paper that was unreadable because of the lack of light around it or he just too tired to read something. He lined up all of the man's belongings before Cain decided to take not only the dangerous one, but all of them.
*Woof!
Listening to Noir's low bark, the shadows beneath them began to move; it stretched its hand before swallowing the things before them. Cain felt utterly speechless at what Noir's ability could do.
"Noir, I didn't know you could do that stuff too?".
*Woof!
From between his legs, Cain could feel Noir's happy expression from the way its tail wagged happily. His mood also improved, which put a smile on his face. When Cain's hand reached out toward Noir's black fur, his face contorted, and a tingling sensation that stung his flesh rushed toward his veins.
'Man, I forgot that I was battered'. Cain muttered under his breath.
*Woof? Noir barks, its voice low and filled with worry.
"It's nothing Noir, let's go home for now. There is a lot we must do…".
*Woof!
Beneath the cloak of darkness, Noir and Cain left the place, which had now turned into a mess. The two finally return to the highway, which is desolated and undisturbed despite the commotion that happened earlier.
A flickering light of the street lamp basked the bloodied figure of the boy carried by its loyal partner out from the disaster. Because of the sizes, Cain's feet could only be dragged along the street, but luckily he is wearing a shoes, so the rough surface of the road couldn't scrape his skin.
In this fight, Cain was practically lucky that the man had lowered his guard at the last moment when he had been blasted earlier. Not only that, but there is also the fact that the man underestimates him, and because of that, the outcome is turned in Cain's favor.
However, this luck probably wouldn't come for the second time. Cain starts to realize that becoming the Resonator he dreams of, the path he chose would be a bloodied path when not only the Void Creature he must fought, but the Human also would become a threat that could stab him from behind.
While lying on Noir's back, Cain sees the changing scenery as his partner brings him to a place that he had been told in advance to Noir while he is lost in thought.
After awakening his power, Cain must register his partner's existence in a Guild that is responsible for all Resonators around the country. From that point, he would do some paperwork until he would be given a choice.
Cain will be given the choice to enter a military academy to learn all the basics of being a Resonator. After taking some regular tests to enter the Academy, the people there will decide which section Cain and Noir will be put off based on one's own abilities.
Thinking back at the men's ridicule when they found Noir was nothing but an Inferior Beast, all of them laughed, which gave them a ticket to their own graves.
Also, Cain had full trust in Noir's abilities; he didn't care if his partner was a Inferior or not predator-born beast. Cain is willing to chase his dream on the front line to achieve something in his life.
*Woof!
"Oh, sorry Noir, what's up?".
*Woof!
Noir's bark brought his attention back; the two were currently in the residential area where Cain's home was nearby. Cain began to point toward some direction, taking some turns before they stopped in front of a small house, a reminder of his Grandpa's remains.
"Let's go in!".
The house was a single-story floor with a grey-pitched roof. It was painted a soft grey, picturing the owner's simplicity. Also, the house seemed out of place with the appearance of the house on each side that has multiple-story floors.
A brown polished door welcomed the two; it was tightly shut, and Cain never forgot to lock the place when he was going out. Cain instinctively reached out to his pocket, but his body jerked in pain, letting out a soft groan, which made Noir stiffen.
"Ouch, damn! How are we going to enter?".
Before Cain could think about the solution, Noir began to act out of his will. A black cloth crept out beneath their shadows before it took the key from Cain's pockets, and with a trained movement, Noir inserted the key, and with a bit of twist, a 'click' resounded, which brought a nice rand to his ear.
"Ooh, Thanks Noir. You are truly a blessing".
*Woof!
Noir cheerfully barked before the cloth opened the door with a creak, followed by the dimly lit interior. From the right, there is a comfy living room with a three-seater sofa facing a small wooden drawer with an old-fashioned box of television that Cain never used again after it broke down.
Beyond the living room, there is a dining area, a table surrounded by chairs, and a functional kitchen that comes as a set. A door and a room beside the Living room lead to a bathroom.
"Noir turn left there!".
*Woof!
Listening to Cain's order, Noir brought him toward the left side of the room, which then stood before a wooden door that slightly opened. Inside, there was a single bed beside the window, a closet on the side, and a study desk in front filled with crumpling books.
Slowly, Noir walked toward the bed, using the black cloth to carry its partner above and gently moving it to the bed.
Cain's body landed on top of a soft bed, which absorbed his exhaustion, and he felt his eyelids growing heavy every second.
"Come up here and let's go sleep together!".
Noir hesitated at first, but upon another urging from its master, it jumped before resting its lower jaw on Cain's chest. Noir growled comfortably. The exhaustion that kicked in and the warmth from his partner's body transmitted upon contact made his consciousness blacken out.
"Good night, Noir".
*****
The feeling of a light pierced through his consciousness. A slight nudge that swayed his body roused him awake, and Cain reluctantly opened his heavy eyes, which were submerged from a comfortable rest.
*Woof!
The first thing he saw when he opened his eyes was Noir, who let out its tongue bare.
"Good morning, Noir!?".
*Woof!
Hearing his partner's energetic bark and the presence of someone who greeted him in the morning truly brought a smile to Cain's lips. All this time, he used to be awakened by his Grandpa yelling and telling him that he would be late to school, but when he was gone, Cain had to undergo the fact that he was alone; no one would give him a call in the morning, greet him when he came back, or even talk to him to fill his day.
However, those lonely and desolate feelings were now gone, replaced with a new page he would write with beautiful words about how happy Cain was, that he could have another family who was willing to walk on the same path until death parted them.
Cain tensed the muscles around his body. He didn't feel another pain; instead, he felt a tremendous power gushing through all his veins. This was probably the result of his rank going up.
"This is amazing!".
Feeling elated, Cain left the bed and began to do some shadow punches to check his condition. His mannerisms are poor, and the way he positions his footwork and transfers his power is all a mess.
Noir, who observed its master practice some weird movement, sat silently before a rumbling noise echoed within the room, and Cain stopped in place. He rubbed his stomach and realized that Cain still had no dinner that night.
"Well, let's go get something to eat!".
However, when Cain and Noir left the room and checked the storage cabinet in the kitchen, it was devastatingly empty. There was only a bottle of milk, which contained only a quarter of its contents.
"Damn, I forgot that I threw the Ingredients to them last night. A glass of milk will do. Noir, do you want some?".
*Woof!
Noir barked happily, followed by its wagging tail, trying human food for the first time. For the most part, a Guardian Beast has no need to eat. They could manifest and maintain living for as long as the Resonator is alive, but it didn't forbid them from tasting some human food, for they were once beasts that lived on the same planet.
Cain poured the milk into a steel bowl and placed it near Noir's mouth. He began to down the other, and soon, the milk was gone, still not enough to satiate his thirst; Cain filled the glass with water from the basin and downed it two more times.
After enjoying their simple breakfast, the two sat comfortably on the sofa, deep in thought. Even thought today he must go to school but his mind wander something else and eventually decide to abort the school. A dozen of minutes passed in silence, Cain began to set his mind straight: to chase his dream.
"Noir, Listen to me!".
Cain began to describe his dreams and his situation. He didn't know if his partner understood his words completely, but for the most part, Cain just wanted someone to hear his ramblings.
"So, Noir, are you willing to walk the same path as me?".
Without a shred of hesitation, Noir stood up from its position and looked toward its master proudly.
*Woof!
"Thanks Noir".
Cain stroked his partner's head, making the dog growl pleasantly. He began to play for a bit, but the time was ticking, so the two prepared to officially register themselves as Resonator and Guardian Beast.
"Let's go, Noir".
*Woof!
The two of them left behind the empty house, unbeknown to them that they would leave the house for a long time as they started their new Journey.