O’lord, forgive me for I had once again asked for thy wisdom. Forgive me for asking for thy strength again to defeat hypocrisy and blasphemy.

Thy art the true ruler of this world. Thy art the true savior of this world.

Let me slumber in thy embrace once more.

Dark and dreamless.

It was the same crimson eyes devoid of emotions staring right back at him every morning. The mirror showed a half-naked young man, his soaking wet hairs and his lean and toned hands resting on the wash basin.

He never liked how he looked. He didn’t hate it but he just didn’t like it.

It was the same usual morning right to his routine. He would go out to take the newspaper from the mailbox and eat his breakfast at the table.

It was a small room but it was just right for a lone man like him. Rent was pretty manageable as well. Though his work doesn’t give much, it was enough for him to get by, just barely.

A simple breakfast with some breads and eggs, just enough to fill his stomach.

Why would he care about the fancy stuffs? Food is just for filling stomach in order to survive, no?

Speaking of newspaper, the guy from yesterday was from the newspaper department, right? I think it was “Browmourn Daily”.

He met the guy once when he was working as a bodyguard for some rich noble. Seemed like a good guy. Unfortunate.

Right as he started heading out for work, he gazed back at the table near his neatly folded bed. It was the dark gem from yesterday. It was on a whim that he took it with him. He should have left it at the office but well. Maybe, I’ll leave at the office tomorrow.

Already hearing the nagging of “that” old man. Ughh.

He met his neighbor the moment he left his room. Maybe the guy just woke up, noticing his tank top and a small little green pant. He had a messy brown hair and battle scars of sleep deprivation. He was yawing constantly while walking unsteadily but slowly towards the mailbox. Why are you going to read the newspaper if you are just too sleepy to read!

Maybe he’ll just sneak away from him this time.

“Oh, hey, Merik! Great to see you. Good morning. The weather is fine, isn’t it?”

Ah, just great.

“Oh, yes. Of course. Good morning. The weather is pleasant today as well. Mr. Richard.”

“Are you heading to work already?”

“Yes, I have something to do at the garrison.”

“Well, good luck, good sir. I’m just going to read the newspaper quietly outside since Mary hasn’t woken up yet.”

Merik just tipped of his hat and left the conversation.

He was always quite a swift walker. Maybe it’s because he took wider steps than average people and also his long and slender legs might play a part.

It was always a cheerful neighborhood, the locals here were friendly enough to greet one another on every passing. Though he could feel the authenticity of the smiles, it wasn’t to his taste. But he wasn’t going to reject their good wills. He would at least nod, holding his silk bonnet.

He never like the headwear. It’s just formal requirement of their “work”. It’s what that old man told him. He loved wearing formal clothes but never the hat.

Come to think of it, just a few steps from the house and there were already a number of things he disliked. He slightly sighed to himself. He should be in a good mood after yesterday’s case but well, it’s just him and his negativities.

He quickly passed through the streets, which were now dry with the sun shining above.

It was just a normal morning within normal environment.

Funnily enough, he long expected this. As soon as he arrived at the garrison, unsatisfied shouts and grumbles were overwhelming the whole building. Everyone else in the garrison was on edge.

They were now more on edge as the main topic of the hot-blooded argument just arrived. They were staring at Merik with awkward looks and smiles.

By everyone else means it was just Davies Cooper, the guy whom he held so dearly, who was now shooting daggers with his eyes, Allen Smith, a great quiet senior whom he held great respect, and a well-clothed girl sitting on the bench who gave off some kind of righteous, judgy and prideful vibes. Maybe she was just another victim or maybe she had some complaints. Hopefully, it wouldn’t be his.

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

The other were just office workers and officers whom he never took the time to get along with nor paid any attention to.

He self-deprecatingly laughed to himself before knocking on the door. He knew that everyone else in the office was holding their breath and staring at his back. Some weird kind of pressure but it wasn’t so unfamiliar.

Right as he knocked on the door, the door was abruptly opened by a familiar face, which was now filled with blood of rage and a dark red hair.

It was “his” Landon, Landon Turner, Merik’s senior and now Merik’s superior-to-be.

He glared at Merik and opened his mouth to say something before storming out of the office. He was really mad.

Merik just looked back at all the people watching at him and gave a soft smile and went into the office.

here were balls of smokes circulating the head office, a second-handed smoker like Merik could choke on it if he was being careless. Surely, the smells were awful and Merik hated coming in here because he had to wash his clothes every time he went into his office.

“Old man, come on. Why not just eat all of the cigars instead of inhaling them? It might even be better than this. Just put them all in your mouth. It’s awful around here. Do you ever take bath?”

The man in question was sitting on a chair and smoking a cigar leisurely like it was the only thing he had ever been affectionate with in his entire life. Despite being called old man and the amounts of nicotine he had been consuming; it would be an exaggeration to call him an old man. He was in his early forties but the youthful luster in his blue eyes and the neatly shaved manly face was shouting nothing but youth and fire. He was a handsome man and it annoyed Merik every time he saw him.

“It’s Head Captain for you, rude boy. If I don’t take bath, how would the women ever approach me, little boy. Hmm, never mind, a lonely runt like you could never know it anyway. Forget about the warmth of a lady, does your blanket even give you the warmth for you to sleep well?”

This rude old man was Albert Shaw, the Head Captain of Overseers of Peace of Browmourn division.

Merik just blowed the smokes and waved them away with his eyes and just sat on the chair across Albert. Why would he want to sit in front of the smoke machine, which was even worse than the industries.

“So, why did my little Micheal storm out like that?”

“We both know you already know the reason and really, you should give him some respect. He’s your superior now and yes, a certified superior now.”

Albert just shut the mouth of Merik from ever making an attempt of retorting.

“Why didn’t you follow the order, though I would know what you’re going to answer.”

Merik seriously replied.

“Rather than not following the order, I just gave into my feelings of wanting to end the tragedy of that family. Something like that.”

“Hmm, this is the first. I have never once heard something like this from you. What got into you all of a sudden. A sense of righteousness? Wanting to play hero? You?”

Albert stopped insulting, seeing a change in expression of the crimson-eyed young lad. Albert was positively surprised but didn’t show it in his face.

“Anyway, I reckon you understand what you did and accept the consequences that follow.”

“Sure.”

Albert sighed slightly at the sight of the boy, his boy.

“Though, you might get suspensions from this behavior, due to my benevolence self, I’ll let you go this time.”

Merik was visibly surprised. The “old man” was genuinely smiling.

“One last time, that is. Although I had to take out all of my weapons at disposal against the red-haired gorilla.”

“---”

“Don’t make such a face, now, Merik. It’s not like I will be gone for long. I will write you, of course. Maybe a letter or two.”

“Don’t get ahead of yourself, old man. I wouldn’t care about any letters from you.”

They both looked at each other and smiled genuinely. The room which was always filled with books and unwashed clothes, was now only filled with smokes and two adult men. A little part of Merik felt off.

He really was leaving him alone, huh?

“You’re going to be fine, Merik. I know it.”

Before he knew it, Albert put his hands on his shoulders. He left the cigar on his table, though.

“Just be yourself. Don’t worry too much about anything. At the same time, don’t be too much of yourself. Alright? Giving me headaches constantly was fine but I wouldn’t say so for the others. Especially for Micheal. Just as much as he is a pain in the ass, he’s reliable, responsible and greatly cares about his work and colleagues. It would be the best if you two could get along.”

“---”

“Merik, you are one of the strongest assets of our division and I would hate it for you not be able to utilize your abilities. Remember your lessons, remember what I taught you and always remember, be kind.

“Still, strongest asset or whatever you are, before any of those, you will always be my boy, my treasured one at that.”

Albert was standing in the middle of the room, smiling and layers of light were shining on his handsome face, making the scene a lot more, profound and emotional. He was the same man, same respectable man, just as the time when he had found Merik and took care of him.

Merik’s heart could not help but sank. Albert was the only one who had been with him all his life since the “incident”, so this was all too weird for him to part with the only family he had left.

“Ah, I’ve already practiced a lot in my mind but when the moment of truth hits, it’s really embarrassing, huh? Bahh. Don’t let me see you again, boy. I might want to peel my face off.”

“Heh, who would want to see your face again, old man.”

“Right, sure. Well, then. I have some meetups to do with the tiresome superiors at the Church. I’ll catch you up later, alright? Come meet me at my house in the evening before I left.”

Albert put on his blazer and bonnet before handing out. Just as he pulled the handle.

“Albert.”

“---”

“From the bottom of my heart, thank you so much for everything you have done for me so far. I will remember you as long as my consciousness resides within me.”

The sight of his boy bowing deeply towards him made Albert’s eyes welled up with tears.

Oh, how my boy has grown. Praise the Light. Praise the Light, indeed.

Albert nodded gently, smiling before leaving the room with Merik.

The smokes already dispersed a long time ago.