Jaris always thought that life sometimes couldn’t be more wild. When Chairwoman Myra suddenly requested his presence in her office, he just resigned himself to the hands of Fate. Among the executives there were rumors about her and he got small tidbits from Elice slip up from time to time, until he got the gist of what Chairwoman Myra was. Strangely, there were always interesting rumors about her. How ruthless she was, sometimes how kind, but one thing all the Watch certain were that she consistently succeeded in securing the Watch interest. either solving major conflict or preventing it.
She was part of the original founder of the Watch around 200 years prior. At the end of the Madness period, Elice said. Still quite young when compared to the other Chairman that lived long before that era. But her influence on every decision-making has always become top priorities. She has an intuitive type of power, rumors said. But what Jaris didn't expect was why she opened up to him and explained her abilities when he sat across from her. No formalities whatsoever.
Before Jaris could announce to the standing guard in front of her office door, Olav approached him first from across the room and guided him straight to Myra office and without salut or any procedures she asked him to sit. unlike what Jaris usually does when meeting with the other executives, and she started talking about her powers. Just like that.
She said her powers had a strong boundary but still have an exploitative side. The rules, Myra emphasized, allowed her to glimpse about where the flames were and what it might have affected, and decided where or when to set her board; intercepts, cuts, executes, guides or contains it. Jaris didn’t ask, just absorbed the main points and where his assignment was estimated to be. Such as his duties when dungeoning or during the Watch operations. All Adventurers and survival related charms that often could save his own neck and teams in every possible situation. After that Myra inquired his insight about Greg, well that was unexpected.
But then it was easier to swallow rather than listening to explanations related to Myra powers that even all the executives try really hard to know. Kind of making him really uncomfortable and feels lame too. Then he recounts what he knows about Greg, just the critical part. She looked lost in her own thoughts after Jaris was done.
He patiently waited, around an hour later she started to assign him as Greg escort to the inner part of the Watch around this week after the meetings. She just said, you know what to expect when the time comes. She apologizes to him because she can’t give him a more detailed task except what she already has. Well Jaris thought that he had more odd and ambigue assignments before. So he accepted, and Olav escorted him outside.
—
“He has sharp insight. It’s not unusual considering his background. His loyalty to the Watch also remains strong, there is no doubt about it. Maybe Elice’s influence. Oh and he respects Greg. Huh, So Greg’s has an interesting character that even makes a person like Jaris respect him.” Myra analyzes after the door shut, activating the enchantments.
“Olav please acquire Elice, the head department of administrators. Thank you.” She said after Olav opened the doors. Olav gave affirmative and closed the door behind.
“Greg and his friends, I think his name was Jack? They’re both from Calsmonport, based on the information I had, it indicates that they both moved to Symara a year after the tragedy. I hope they both are not one of the casualties. But my instinct said otherwise. Godmother’s mercy, I know that small flames were a portion from the bigger ones but how can I be so blind? Something was not right, and it felt dangerous. We must prepare.” Her eyes start glowing while using her Skill.
—
Myra finally could breathe calmly after Olav informed her that Greg was already in the room. She didn’t expect to see her blunders about Calsmonsport incidents could shape one of the worst possible outcomes ever. So it makes her relieved and grateful at Jaris quick thinking.
After she suspended one of the meetings with the defense department, she began walking with Olav, her personal guard, into the room.
—
Then on the third day after his meeting with Myra, Jaris got the report about the assault on one of the restaurants in the market district. Just did what he always does, not thinking about any of the problems related to Greg, well not after Billy and Alric provide the explanations regarding the incident. Until he later knows that Greg and his friends were part of the people around the assaults. Only then Jaris mind recalling his meetings with Myra and start making plans about what he must do and what he expects to happen. So after he completed the matters, he asked all the Watch to track the trio from a distance. When he got to their destination, he rushed to the main square exactly in the near vicinity of the library which happens to be a part of the green horned post. So he talked with some of the fresh recruits until the trio left the library.
After she said her piece, she didn’t expect to receive very strong reactions from Greg. Even her Skill doesn’t register that Greg awakened already. The two reactions were so overwhelming that it tweaked her subconscious, it made her remember her worst state. How frustration, relief and hatred become one.
And that's how he started playing Greg's usual silly games in the specified room. Also watching their meetings with Myra that splendidly become disasters. After Olav's doings and especially after Myra explanations.
—
After she said her piece, she didn’t expect to receive very strong reactions from Greg. Even her Skill doesn’t register that Greg was awakened already, and the two reactions were so overwhelming that it tweaked her subconscious, it made her remember her worst state long before she had the powers to change anything but herself. How frustration, relief and hatred become one compact emotions.
—
From seeing Greg and Jack’s very unusual bloodlust and witnessing Greg choking somebody without moving an inch. Ah, right. Greg was the one who knocked the perpetrator in the restaurant. Can normal civilians do that? Jaris thought while assessing who the poor soul was. Until he realized everyone was fine—except Lyla who fainted and especially Elice and Myra.
Then who? Jaris gave up and stepped a little bit closer and stunned seeing Mr. Blue who should be in the most strictest detention part of the prison specifically for the awakened. Jaris starts gripping Greg's shoulder, not wasting time by asking why because that could make you killed on every dungeoning. What made Jaris concerned was the punishment that would be imposed on Greg, no matter whatever the reason.
“No. Let him be.” Myra orders him. Because she knew what reactions it could create when in that state. It's better if his rational thought dominates his emotions.
“Greg, think, damn it. Think about the consequences. He’s not worth your future.” Jaris said instead while hand still on Greg.
Olav’s face contorted and turned mad after seeing Jaris blatantly ignored Myra’s orders. Myra, already seeing the new flames brewing, decides to take actions.
“Enough.” She unleashed her powers and used her mana control to grab Olav and Jaris. Elice just started hauling Lyla into another couch and that made Myra a little calm.
“Let him, Jaris, and Olav if you do something reckless...” Myra stated, hanging the threat so Olav could behave and not escalate the situation. Fortunately Olav's choice was wise this time.
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Greg focused entirely on Mr. Blue faced from the beginning. That’s why he didn’t hear or knew why Myra was mad. Greg tried to put a clue on the man's appearance, and still he couldn’t. He struggled, as if watching any specific notes on Mr. Blue face could reveal his most wanted answers.
“That’s part of why this man was dangerous and nightmare to catch Mr. White. Because he could change not only his appearance but his mana signature too. I guess it must be from a rare or unique Class of his.” Myra explained with the same intonations before Greg used whatever his Skills were.
“So, that’s why.” Greg answered curtly but still choked the man.
“Yes, it and him always puts our agents' jeopardize.”
Then silence. Greg gripped on the man was still strong that it started turned Mr. Blue’s face purple.
“If you killed him now, then you’ll have your vengeance but the traces will simply disappear. So it was just a matter of time before his acquaintance, or another criminal like him could create havoc similar in Calsmonport. You could choose what result is better from here. This is your crossroads into the future.” Myra stated the matter factually. Letting Greg decide what to do with the man on his hands.
That gesture actually made Jack snap back from his emotions and act, looking at Greg and asking him to let go of Mr. Blue. Then Myra used her control suppressing Mr. Blue’s mental and spirit, as to not wake him up and restrict him using any skills during the meetings. Myra thought it's pointless to move Mr. Blue into the prisons if Greg could use his Skills like before. Instead it is relatively safer if the unconscious man is in the same room with them.
“Hate to let the man live, but what the lady said was true, bud. His information was worth more than his dead cold body.” Jack forces himself to say, despite his desires to behead the man right now, right there.
“Yeah, what have I done…” Greg answered but with a look of despair. Jack patted Greg on the shoulder to provide equal support and mutual encouragement. Then Jack turned and asked Myra.
“So, I know what my friend did here was wrong, but could you…No, I could do something in exchange… I have some contact’s in the underworld so perhaps it could…I don’t know…alleviate” Jack tried negotiating with Myra for Greg's sake, hoping his friend's punishment could be reduced.
“Normally actions such as this can be categorized as actions against the Watch authority and the punishment is usually very severe. But what happened in this room cannot be included in any normal procedures. So I as the singular representatives of the Watch interest granted forgiveness to Mr. Gregory White. Just this once.” Myra said. She talked to all of them and decided these meetings were confidential even for all the executives. They all of course agreed. Especially Jaris and Elice that already enforce the meeting into legal documents so that it wouldn’t bite Lyla and her two friends in the back.
Not long in the middle of that, Lyla woke up and was confused seeing herself lying down on a different couch, also watching the tension in the room. But then remembered why, and chose to see her friend well being first. After confirming that Greg and Jack are not in any kind of trouble, her awareness began skimming the room and seeing one unconscious man on the floor. Before Lyla could ask, Elice and Jaris finished with the documents and asked them all to give a signature and testimony as proof.
Myra then closed the meeting and asked the trio so that they could chat another time if they chose. Then Lyla, Greg and Jack excused themselves from the meeting while being escorted by Jaris and Elice out.
“The room walls were cracked. Even though he just awakened around this day looking through his mana path. But his control and mastery was as if he had awakened at least a decade. Do you know why Olav?” Myra speculatively asked her.
“It’s because he was one of them, they called them the Irregulars. I’m very sure now. And one thing is certain. That Greg was very dangerous now, the next two or five years ahead? Perhaps he could take down one of the calamities. But every time one of the Irregulars pops up, the history always changes, one of them was the shattered continent in Hivell two thousand years ago. It even made the Madness period like any strong weather when compared. We need, no we must build good relations with him. Fortunately that job was taken seriously by one of us. Why must it be in my lifetime?” Myra closed her eyes while massaging the bridge of her nose.
“That is our choice then.” Olav murmured while inspecting the cracked reinforced room, she was sure that even using her major Skills could never even leave a scratch on the wall, well except her sword.
—
Greg nodded and gripped Jaris arms as a thanks and they departed from the Watch Headquarters. There’s nothing that needs to be said rather than the essence of Myra’s actions.
“Nanny and the Watch don't want any bad blood between us.” Greg said after long inhaling and exhaling.
“Yeah I thought so too, but it doesn't feel that simple, right? And by the way, who is ‘nanny’? I don’t remember meeting someone that old.” Jack chimed in and asked. Lyla just rolled her eyes.
“Of course it was Myra, Jack. She already lived exactly 200 hundred years and likely more if what she said was true.” Knowing Greg’s antics, she played along in hope she could lighten up the tensions a bit.
“Whoa. I didn’t know we could live that long. Did every person that awakened like that?” Jack looked honestly shocked
“Of course, if you are not dead in The Tower that is. Why is it wise to know your own limitations.” Greg lightly said. They all walk calmly to the market district not expecting the representative from Adventurer and Delver guilds still in Billy’s place.
The market district was still busy at this time of late. Then after nearing Billy's restaurants, Greg abruptly stopped. Sensing the contained mana from the inside, before Lyla and Jack could ask him why, Billy was already out of the restaurants. While standing in front of his shops they caught him looking around, but after seeing them his eyes sems to light up and he started approaching them.
“You guys better hurry up before my shops become rubble. It's so hard to entertain them, but they still insist on meeting you Greg, right now. Lets go!” Billy explained, he looks really worried as if his ‘guest’ could explode like some bog fish.
Following him entering the shops, Greg’s nose assaulted with a strong scent of storms and ...lightning? It was strange smell but that was what Greg’s mind registered the smell was. There sat Alric that looked exhausted while pressing his head with both hands and two more men. One was full armored men, even with full faced geared helmets, a cape and even a sword. The other men were wearing casual clothes with shopping bags on his wrist.
The two looked the same and different. The difference is the armored man has the storm's smell and executioner vibe while the casual guy smelled like lightning just sitting and leaning on the chair. The similarity is that they both have huge bodies, even more huge than Billy, and they both are the real deal. They emit primal instincts while watching Greg in the eyes, but before they all could take a step into the shops, the armored man was already standing in front of them. Watching one of them one by one.
“Well looked at him, just like excited lesser elementals after seeing some shining new things.” The casual guy laughed while commenting on the armored man. He just side glaced at Greg and Jack, pretending by scoffed at the armored man and looking not interested, at all.
“Call me Femur.” The armored man said after he opened up his visor and saw them down. He had gray eyes and looked rather handsome than scary, Lyla thought. After he said that, he closed the visor and walked back into his former chair.
“You heard the man, you all called him Femur. And you all call me Grave. Pleased to meet you folks.” Grave casually said nodding along as if his job already done.
“I'm a representative of Adventurer guilds.” Femur next introduced. His accent was not familiar to them all. Unlike Aszphera's.
“And I, from the Delver guilds. So!” Grave pointed with his chin to Greg after clapping his hands loudly.
"You are Mr. Greg, right?" Startled, Greg just nodded, waiting for them to deliver their intentions.
“Good because you really are awakened, then our job’s done here. The guild masters could handle the rest.” The two started standing up.
“...ah sorry, Mr. Grave and Mr. Femur, sir. It's unfortunate, but apparently I’m not.” Greg coolly said while asking the receipt to Lyla. Then he showed them what the consultant made.
“What do you mean? Our testimony was solid—Aszphera the son of Hivell huh, he must be blind then.” Femur's booming voice declared. But the casual guy brow already crossed.
“Do you have more copies? Nice, then we could teach this man a lesson about manners, softly. That was dangerous accusing someone as the Called Wails. Well if he still wants to live peacefully that is. Thanks. Come Femur, we apparently need to give the library a visit.” Grave began to rush to the general directions of the main square.
“Oh and one more thing. Tomorrow you are expected to come to the Royal’s Inn. Bye then.” Grave coming back and added not long after they went.
“Well just the last pile Greg.” Jack said to him with pity. They were too overwhelmed by the events from the early day. So they chose to go back home and rest. Of course Billy and Alric insist they share what happened first. But they demanded some light drinks, otherwise they preferred to come back. Billy then asked Alric to prepare the drink and they chatted until Billy and Alric squeezed the three about what happened. Satisfied, they let the trio back.
“What a day.” the trio murmured