[We have faced the very gods themselves and yet you heart has never quaked to this extent.] Kenos chuckled as the taxi I was in stopped by a certain coffee shop.

I ignored him and exited the taxi.

I then entered the coffee shop with a certain box in hand.

I scanned the shop and saw, sitting in a casual set of clothes, some peach track pants and hoodie, was Rina.

I made my way towards her but stopped just as she raised her eyes to see me.

[Keep moving, moron.]

I swallowed and continued towards her table.

“Hello, again.” I greeted but the only response I got was a hum of acknowledgement.

The two of us then sat and Rina’s gaze did not leave mine for even a second.

“Ahem! You said you wanted to know more about Katsíki. Did you have anything specific in mind?” I asked while tightly gripping the box in my hand.

Rina looked up in thought for a moment, her gaze then returned to me.

“You spoke of a woman that day and it sounded like he cared about her very much. What ever happened to her?”

My eyes widened.

“She… died.”

“Oh- I’m so sorry-“

“No, its fine.” I said while fresh tears filled my eyes.

“Ah- crap. Sorry, give me a moment.” I said while messily wiping my tears.

“Umm… here. A gift.”

Rina accepted the box of chocolates but looked at me with a concerned expression.

“Ahem! Yeah, umm… she meant the world to him. There was never a time when the two weren’t together and if there was, she was all he ever thought about.” I said with a pained laugh.

“I… I know this may sound insensitive but could you tell me more about her.”

I nodded before summarizing Yna’s life story, although I left out certain parts.

“My goodness.” Rina muttered while I wiped away the fresh tears that had fallen.

“Yep.”

“What did he do after that?”

“He took us on down the path of revenge. We crossed all of Lanceberg and eventually came face to face with a certain golden asshole.”

“What happened afterward? Did… did he kill him?” Rina asked with tightly clutching her phone.

“Hehe, nope. The sword that was meant to kill Caligo was also strong enough to spit the continent in two. We had to choose. Ruin the lives of countless innocents, from Coh to Lanceberg or kill Caligo. We chose to keep the sword from stabbing the world. Luno then had us apprehended and he took my legs.” I laughed.

Rina took several deep breaths as she seemingly gathered her thoughts.

“So… what now?”

“Mmm?” I sounded.

“You’re gonna be stuck here for two years and even then, it’s not guaranteed that you’ll be taken back when the next collision happens so… what will you do?”

“If I can’t go back then I’ll just live here and… let the days pass me by. I know my people in Coh are doing well and who knows what’s going on in Lanceberg but I have a feeling that everything will work out.”

Rina nodded before tapping her chin.

“I don’t suppose you’d accept a job even if I offered it to you.”

“And why would you do that?” I asked.

“You are the last person who saw my brother alive, it’s the least I could- wait a minute! I forgot to ask… was Caligo the one who took his life?”

“Oh- no. He… umm… died of hunger and blood loss. By the time we reached the capital, we were starving and the final battle took its toll on him. We were tossed into a dungeon somewhere in Lanceberg and I was told he died in the cell next to mine.”

Rina frowned.

Her eyes then fell and she sighed deeply.

“Alright, what about you? You said you met Riley when you were both in a bad place. Could you tell me what led you there?”

[Hebe, go ahead. My story isn’t that complicated.]

You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

I told Rina Kenos’s life story although I kept out certain details.

“So… you saved each other.”

“Yes.” I said with a big smile.

Rina nodded.

Her phone then vibrated prompting her to check it.

“Mmm… I’m needed back home but- you’re going back to Acan, right?”

“Yep, why?”

“I really enjoyed learning about the life my brother led. If I can be completely honest, part of me always hated how cold and uncaring he was. It’s nice to hear that he actually did something.” Rina said with a smile.

“I honestly want to hear more about his fantastical adventure and I hope he shares these stories with our mother when they meet.”

“What?” I asked with a heart the threatened to cease.

“Oh- our mother died not long after Riley left.” Rina sighed.

I

What

I took a single deep breath and deeply exhaled.

“You have my deepest condolences.”

“Yeah- anyway, I gotta go but I was wondering, if you didn’t have anywhere else to be, you could stay in Ix Chel and we could talk some more tomorrow since I have the weekend off.”

“Oh, of course. I’ll get a room at a nearby motel and we’ll meet up again tomorrow.”

“Thanks!” Rina said before rushing out of the store and getting into her car.

I then left the store and made my way to a nearby motel where I got a room.

I then sat in the middle of the room for a moment that lasted for what felt like an eternity.

I didn’t even know…

I wanted to cry but I was tired of crying .

Crying was painful and I didn’t want to hurt anymore.

Yet there I was.

Crying.

I didn’t even bother wiping my tears.

I didn’t bother lowering my voice.

I just cried.

.

..

Hours had passed and I had grown quite hungry.

“Is there anything you want?” I wheezed.

[Ramen is next on the bucket list!]

I nodded before ordering some.

I then allowed Kenos to eat it when it arrived.

I entered the bathroom where I undressed and tossed myself into the shower where I allowed the water to run.

I sought comfort in the white noise created by the splashing water.

It didn’t help but it was something to think about-

But… I couldn’t distract myself anymore.

I thought back to the last time I saw my mother’s face.

We had been arguing for weeks since I wanted to move out and live on my own in Acan.

She kept asking that I go to college and get a job in the neighborhood but I… I didn’t want any of that.

I didn’t want anything and so, without saying a word, I left.

I remembered arriving I that shoddy flat in Acan.

I was content with living out the rest of my days there and so I did.

Day after day I lived without having lived at all.

My apartment got broken into a few times but since I didn’t own much, I didn’t lose much.

I wasn’t much.

I lightly slammed my head against the wall.

I then struck it even harder-

[HEY!]

WHAT?

[Rina is still there!] Kenos said but this only made my chest ache that much more.

My eyes then widened as I heard my phone ring.

I shut off the water before grabbing my phone from my jacket.

My eyes widened even further upon seeing that the person calling was Rina.

“Hello?”

[Hey. Sorry for calling so late. I just put my daughter to sleep but I myself can’t seem to catch a wink, hehe. I also keep thinking about everything you told me about. It all sounded so… painful and yet… so fulfilling. I… I’m just happy he did something with his life.]

I didn’t respond.

I couldn’t.

I didn’t know what to say.

[Mr. Kenos?]

“Err… just call me Kenos. And yeah, yeah. It was… a good life. Is there anything you’d like to hear about?”

[Well, I’m curious, could be use magic?]

“Yes. Although I acted as a conduit for him. You see, I, as the host of darkness, allowed him to use my powers.”

[I see. So, was he some kind of battle wizard?]

“What? No! He assumed the role of a tactician. He would go around yelling at people, telling them what to do and stuff. Oh- he would also build stuff but don’t, for even a second, think that he fought anyone face to face, haha!”

[Hehe, oh? That sounds like him. It’s always someone else’s problem, huh?]

“Well, no. He always had everyone’s best interests in mind. He was a very small being in a very large and dangerous world, so there was not much he could do.”

[Oh… I get it. So, he ordered people around during epic battles, right?]

“Pretty much.”

[Did he ever just randomly leave and let someone else do the thinking and planning?]

“Nope. He was there for almost every plan, strategy and deal.”

[Mmm…]

“Why do you sound disappointed.”

[I’m not… I’m just trying to figure out where Riley stops and Katsíki begins because to me, at least right now, they are like two different people.]

“Ah… that’s understandable, I guess. Oh- also, I may have said all that, but that doesn’t mean he was any good at it. He messed up quite a few times, hehe.”

[Oh? How badly did he mess up?] Rina yawned.

“Well, his actions once led to a temporary civil conflict between two groups of an underground tribe.”

[Hehe, that’s what he gets for not minding his own business.] Rina said sleepily.

“Yep. He also went to war against a kingdom full of supermen.”

[Mmm…] Rina sounded.

I waited a moment and it seemed as though she had fallen asleep and so I ended the call.

I lightly chuckled and showered properly before making my way to bed where I rested my head.

I fell asleep while taking comfort in knowing that not all was lost.

I could keep going.

.

..

I woke up the next day and sent Rina a text asking when she wanted to meet.

She said ten AM and so I wondered how I would keep myself busy.

[We could-]

No.

I already knew Kenos was itching to terrorize people and I couldn’t let him do that.

At least, not in Ix Chel.

Mmm…

[Mmm…]

I then suddenly got s great idea.

I sunk into the dark world and recreate Coh in its entirety.

Well, I created Coh as it was before… well, you know.

This took a few hours and so by the time I was finished, it was time to meet up with Rina and so I rushed to the coffee shop and, upon meeting her, I asked that she follow me back to the motel.

“Eh… no, thanks. I’d rather we speak here.” She said. Her outfit was the same as the one from the day before.

[Saw that coming.]

“Aww but I have something amazing to show you.”

“Oh? And what is it if it can’t be shown in public?” Rina asked with a raised brow.

I sighed before leaning forward and gesturing that she do the same.

She let out a skeptical hum before complying.

“It has something to do with magic.”

Rina gasped as the words left my mouth.

“We can’t do anything magical. I really don’t want to deal with the E.R.T.” She whispered but I shook my head.

“They won’t even know anything is happening since I’ll be taking you to a different dimension.”

Rina’s mouth hung agape for a moment.

“And… you’ll be able to bring me back safely?” She asked with a pained expression.

“Totally.” I grinned.

“O… OK-“

“Great! Follow me!” I said before leading Rina all the way back to the motel room.

She cautiously looked around but before she could even think about running away, I offered her my hand.

She fearfully accepted it and with a chuckle, I took us into the dark world.

“AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!” Rina cried as we landed in a dark city, in front of a certain cabin.

“TAKE ME BACK! TAKE ME BACK NOW!” Rina screamed while grabbing my arm.

“Haha! Don’t worry this is completely safe-“

“AHHHHHHHHH!”

[I suppose this is a reasonable reaction.] Kenos commented as Rina continued to scream.

All I could do was sigh in response.