Chapter three - info
The clothes were much bigger on Jahad but they felt snug and warm. The two boys were led down into a basement area of the warehouse. Jahad's hand was healed. The same stone and the same chant were said by Ron. His bones welded back together in a sickening crunch and squelch, the pain was excruciating and he saw sinews reform in front of his eyes. His eyes practically shot out its stalks. It was fascinating yet repulsive. It was only Ron that had taken them into the basement. Lepic had sauntered off.
“Our line of work is harsh. A man needs to know how to defend himself and how to prove himself." The trench coat he wore had a strap on the side that Jahad hadn’t noticed before. It held a massive hammer but the bulk of Ron blocked viewing it. The hammer was a work of art to say the least. It was a huge weapon, its head forged from a shimmering black metal that seemed to absorb light. The hammer's design was both brutal and elegant, with ornate engravings that told tales of ancient battles and heroic deeds. The handle seemed to be from sturdy oak, polished to a smooth finish and wrapped in dark striped leather for a secure grip with a metal pommel at the bottom. The centre of the hammer's head housed a glowing deep scarlet gem that seemed alive, pulsating every second. Jahad's gaze was fixated on the gem. Ron took off the black trench coat and hung it on a handle. Beneath was a tight vest pronouncing his huge figure even more. Veins popped from his defined arms.
“Lepic said we’re taking it easy today, buuut I decided to change that. As one of our runners, the most important thing is…” he smacked his solid thigh. “Running.” “Your main job is to deliver merchandise. Some folks won’t be happy about it, and others will want what you have. You need to be quick and slippery, like a serpent. For this exercise, I want both of you to avoid getting caught. Do whatever it takes—if I grab you, you’re out. Time to build up those legs.” Ron yawned and stretched before getting into a low stance. The room was big but not enough to constantly run away from someone, especially of that size. Jayce was still comprehending what to do but Jahad was ready, like a cat ready to pounce he was in his stance. He wasn’t going to fight, he was going to use his—his thoughts were abruptly halted.
Ron moved with frightening speed. Jayce turned to run but he launched a vicious kick that sent him spinning into the wall with a dull thud and a loud groan. Ron wore a huge grin as he looked towards Jahad, prowling towards him. Jahad's instincts were screaming at him to move and so he listened. He unconsciously swivelled to his left and ducked a low kick that narrowly missed him by the breadth of a hair, irritating Ron. Before Jahad could return to a normal stance and plant himself to dart again, a giant fist came from above. Ron sent an overhand that dug straight into the top of Jahad's head. He felt his entire body compress and he slammed backwards, the wind knocked out of him. Ron’s annoyance quickly dissipated and his smug grin appeared. “You got spunk kid.”
Jahad's head thumped and he started to drift off. He woke up this time back upstairs sitting in a dingy wooden chair with a circular wooden table in front of him. Jayce was seen in the corner sitting listening to Ron rambling. Lepic was in front of Jahad. “Rough time?” Jahad croaked back, “how’s he that fast and that big?” This caused Lepic to chuckle a bit. “He is, ain’t he? He told me you managed to dodge a hit of his. I'm impressed.” The compliment made Jahad feel a bit better about himself. “Ron wasn’t being serious but not many can dodge him and at your age and rank I don’t think there is anyone who could.” Lepic cusped his hand around a cigarette before lighting it up and puffing on it.
“Jahad, your memory seems to be scrambled up. If you got questions, ask me preferably now. If you ask Ron, he might get annoyed and smash your face in and we don’t have enough of them vitality crystals.” And so Jahad did, he asked away. Lepic leaned back in his chair nonchalantly pulling out his pocket watch and staring at it as he explained whatever Jahad asked. Jahad had come to terms with the fact that he had been placed in a different world. He had been taken and was around the same age, maybe a bit younger. His systems, many of them became underdeveloped since he wouldn’t be able to bear the stress of them in his newfound body without serum. He looked the same but his internal wares did not operate as well as his former body but still well above average. The world he was in did not rely solely on technology but magic. Lepic described that there were three classes of magic, briefly touching on them: knights, sorcerers, and summoners.
The unveiling was a process where many unlocked their magic potential. A priest will send down a blessing from the gods and you will have your awakening. Many can still use magic without this; however, not having this awakening is and will always be a limiting factor for someone. Someone who hasn’t been unveiled is considered unranked. The ranking system was a power-based system starting at H minus rank then going up to H rank then H plus rank. This went all the way up to A+ rank which then you would ascend to S minus rank, S rank, S rank then SS and finally SSS. No one existed at SS rank or above nor did any threat. The thought of an SS yet alone SSS threat seemed to linger in Jahad's mind but he kept quiet. The information that Lepic spewed was priceless for him at this moment. Lepic explained how unveiling isn’t rare but it can be expensive. There are many people that are not unveiled but there are many more that are unveiled. It’s something that people will sell parts of themselves to do. In this world, magic and power were everything. Lastly, he and Jayce were in line to get unveiled after a year. Lepic said it was important to cultivate their strengths now in this year and use it as training. Becoming fully dependent on your magic was a death wish and those who did become fully dependent never lasted long.
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With all of that having been said, Lepic clicked his stopwatch and pushed it into his trench coat's side pocket. He clasped his two hands together and stretched upwards, releasing a relieved groan. Jayce and Ron seemed to have been done too. Jayce ran up to Jahad eagerly, his face bright. “Jahad, you need to hear everything Ron’s been telling me. He was telling me how he fought twenty class C men unarmed and and—” Jahad cut him off with the wave of his hand, he already had enough information to digest. Cracks of light that seeped through the boarded windows dimmed, it had become nighttime. Ron had explained to the two kids that this was where they took on missions. There was a blackboard wall that had different files pinned onto it, each containing different types of tasks. Jahad only had a glimpse of it, he still did not understand payment or the value of money in this world. To accept a task all you had to do was grab a file and go upstairs, the pretty lady had an office where she would debrief you. The building they were in was only used for this matter, Lepic and Ron had many facilities under their name.
Ron undid the bolts and chains that locked the creaking door, he swung it open with a gush of wind filling the room, swirling grime up into the air. "We will give you both a place to stay, it's secure but not lavish," he said with a smirk. Lepic had gone upstairs, the two boys followed Ron to the outside. The underground was utterly captivating; it was a realm truly beneath the surface. The sky wasn’t illuminated by the sun, but by colossal orange gems that radiated a warm glow, casting a surreal light that stretched across the expanse.
As night descended, these gems would dim and flicker, enveloping the area in an enchanting twilight. The underground felt like its own sovereign nation. There were no official laws or authorities to maintain order, yet the residents had forged their own intricate system of rules and customs, creating a unique society that thrived in the shadows.
The two boys walked alongside Ron. The rows of houses they strolled past were a fascinating blend of mediaeval architecture and industrial factories, everything tightly packed together giving a sort of claustrophobic essence. Some houses were built with a crude, rustic design, their rough-hewn timber and stone giving them a sense of age and history. Others stood tall and robust, reinforced with iron and brick, giving an air of resilience and strength. This eclectic mix created a striking contrast, showcasing the ingenuity and adaptability of the residents in this underground world.
They had walked down the street and arrived at another boarded-up establishment. Jahad could hear noises from inside but could not identify what they were. Ron banged his huge fist into the door repeatedly in the same rhythm as Lepic had done in the warehouse. The door swung open with a creak, revealing an expansive indoor barn, where hay lay strewn across the floor in disarray. The pungent aroma of horse manure assaulted the boy's nostrils, a sharp reminder of the animals that called this place home. Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the steel beams, casting dappled shadows on the ground, while the sound of horses whinnied added to the lively sanctuary.
“It's not pretty, nor does it smell like it. But it's safe and warm.” Jahad looked at Ron as if he was joking but he maintained a dead serious gaze. Jayce, however, seemed elated; he ran towards a horse and started stroking the docile creature. Jahad sighed. He had been through worse though he thought Ron and Lepic were big time, he didn't think he would be sleeping in a barn.
Ron had left the barn, slamming the door shut. He told both of them to memorise the pattern of the knocks to open it. Tomorrow they had an early start. They were to be there at 4am before dawn. Ron had left a device that Jayce explained was an alarm clock. Jayce had already become relaxed within the confines of a hay bale and a well-built horse. Jahad was crouched, inspecting the device. It was different to Earth's technology. This device only ran on magic. The front was a clock and the 4 was highlighted. He flipped the device over and saw small magical circles. The magical circles on the back of the device were intricate and mesmerising. Each circle was adorned with delicate runes and symbols that shimmered with a faint glow, pulsating softly as if alive. Some circles were filled with swirling patterns that resembled stars. Such an intricate pattern, and this was only for a clock. Jahad had wondered what else was possible.
He glanced at Jayce; he had fallen asleep and was snoring, the rhythmic rumble of his snoring echoed softly in the stillness. The horses had seemed to calm down and fallen asleep as well. Jahad looked at him for a bit longer seeing his chest heave and fall in a steady pattern. He realised he needed to sleep as well; he had no clue what was in store for him tomorrow. Laid back into a small hill of hay, sleepiness overtook him. His heavy eyes shut and he drifted off.