A heavy sigh left his mouth, "Hmm...one more for the count.", he muttered.

Looking at the clock, it was already late. 12:30 was not his usual wake-up call, but it's not like he cared much. He fidgeted the amulet on his neck, looking back to his nightmare and trying again to figure out what message it tried to convey to him. Not before long, he got up, being already fully dressed, and putting on his shoes. He never bothered to find an outfit to wear, not like he'd need to. When the only witnesses of your daily life are the four walls around you, he found it redundant to do so. He got downstairs, same as always. Some food he mustered his will to make was waiting for him on the counter. Having a late awakening anyway, he scrapped whatever was left and ate it quickly, wanting to get things done.

"What's the quota for today?", he spoke to a nearby computer.

"You have -1- order remaining. Pick up is coming in -3- hours.", the computer said.

He sighed at the mere absence of vitality to do any sort of work, but gulped down the rest of his meal with that feeling, knowing that it had to be done. Getting up, he tossed the rest of everything into the dishwasher and ordered the machine to start working. Grabbing a key card and a pair of visors, he headed to the other side of the house, entering a dark room. He put on a pair of safety, cotton-based gloves and headed further in.

"Lights on. Windows up.", he ordered.

"Welcome, Lass Leviere. Please insert a keycard to activate heavy-duty equipment.", the computer said as it turned on the lights and lifted the windows.

Lass swiped his keycard and the whole laboratory-style room started to turn on its neon, machine lights on. A screen window opened, revealing a multitude of weapons, ranging from guns to claymores and swords, to spears and lances. A mold was dashed through the lab and laid in front of Lass, waiting to be advanced further.

"Order relay?", Lass asked.

"You have -3- weapons remaining. High caliber, lightweight spear, Obsulyte conductive, series SPR-5. High caliber, extra conductive claymore, Obsulyte conductive, series CLMR-5. High caliber, lightweight sword, Obsulyte conductive, series SWRD-5.", the computer relayed.

"What the hell are all of these high-caliber weapons for?"

"Ordered by 'Ministry Of Civil Affairs' in 'Reingard-Insinia'. Will be shipped by 'Golver Industries'. All relative papers have been signed and checked by a certified official."

"So the situation is so jacked up that even the MCA needs military-grade, Obsulyte weapons now? So much for the 'Civil' part.", he scoffed, "Whatever, let's get this done."

He started going to work on the mold in front of him. His visor started to display information on the mold, as the computer lifted it and started to laser in the details, shaping it to its order requirements. Carefully and swiftly, he crafted everything that was asked for in no less than 2 hours. Not a hasty work by any means, but after countless others before it, he had gotten used to managing a multitude of weapons at once. Finishing every touch, he then began barraging the molds with a special-looking material, making them softly glow for a little bit, before finally laying before him every object requested by the commissioner. Only one thing remained for their finalization.

"Obsolete readings...stable. Thickness and weight are on par and...I think it's done. Run a quick scan on it."

The computer almost instantly completed the scan, "All weapons appear to be at 100% correlation with the orders request. They still lack confirmation on Obsulyte stability testing."

Lass sighed as he put all 3 weapons on a platform and dragged them along with him to a different room. He knew what he was about to do to them, but despite being a regularity, he still hated every second of it. Entering the testing room, on the side of the forge, a bunch of steel-based dummies appeared before him.

Lass grabbed and lifted the claymore, "Let's get this over with."

He lifted the sword above his head, it beginning to glow from his powers surging within the blade. With a simple downward thrust, the dummy split in half like mere butter. He grabbed the sword and did the same, finally coming down to the lance.

Lass paused for a moment, "Actually...give me a little distance from the dummy. Make it, uh...20 meters.", he commanded the computer.

"Affirmative.", the computer relayed, "The weight of the lance is 30.5 kilograms so the correct trajectory to avoid missing would be-", the computer was interrupted.

"Yes, I know. Let me just do my thing. Had they started spending money on bullets and laser rifles it'd make my life easier, but their pockets heavier.", he mumbled.

The normal testing would be for him to take a singular thrust to the dummy's chest to test the piercing capabilities. However, having recent memories of that familiar dream, he widened his stance, sideways and lifted the lance above his head. Without him realizing that his powers started emitting red sparks around him as he thrust the lance forward, dispersing it all at once. The dispersed energy exploded as soon as the lance left his hand, blasting him backward and giving the lance even more speed to cut forward. Landing and pinning itself on the wall, the lance had destroyed the dummy, not leaving a single trace of its existence behind.

Lass grabbed his hand, "Damn...I should stop playing with these things. How's the lance?"

"The product seems to be 100% intact and all 3 are Obsulyte conductive. I have uploaded their validity and custom-made serial numbers to the Weapon Log Administration. Golver Industries' cargo will be arriving shortly. I have already prepared a first aid kit at the main counter and additionally updated your journal on the top throwing speed of a single weapon. You have successfully attained 1.5 Machs."

"What the...it broke the sound barrier?", Lass looked at his bleeding hand, "Right...get them all sealed and packed, we're done here."

He opened the first aid kit and cleaned his hand over the lab sink. As he was finishing the application of medicine and bandages on it, the computer had finished packing up the other weapons and the new batch tested for transport. He went up to them and listed them all down, pushing them next to the pickup window. He then calmly waited for a while, sitting on a chair and removing all of his gear. Not before long, a transport truck appeared next to the house, driving around and positioning itself in front of the window. As the platform lowered down from the truck's door, the driver got out and walked up to Lass, followed by two heavily armed guards coming from the inside of the truck.

Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

"Hey Lass, how's it goin'? Been a while since I passed from here!", the truck driver happily said.

"Hi, Sonia. It was a given, I never get anything easy for the making here. Everyone just wants to strap on Obsulyte gears nowadays...are there that many Obsulyte users now?"

"No, not at all. It's just that we've actively begun looking out for them. I dunno what for, just how things are up in Reingard. So, what've we got?!"

"Huh...that's why? All these things here are for the MCA. I was weirded out but if they have Obsulyte users at bay then...", Lass pushed the cargo forward for Sonia.

"Wait, seriously?! Why would civil affairs need that stuff? Though I guess...there is unrest, so much so that it'd probably be for the better."

"Wait, what do you mean?"

"Haven't you heard? Was your TV broken or what? Everyone talks about this, the news, creators on BetterVid, and even in Semori! Enmities have begun a rampant attack everywhere in Riza, especially in Reingard, and for some reason, no one has pushed back yet. It's a weird situation to be in. Everyone is on the edge, especially places like the MCA. They're practically fighting a battle on the inside and the outside, with all the public uproar. But thanks to the upcoming Knight Of Knights tournament, they must've been able to catch a breath to resupply. Heck, the military's usual exclusion zone around the borders, especially the wastelands of Sandaco those monsters surge in rows from is already way more heavily guarded than it used to be."

"Damn? Can't even remember when the last time I was in Reingard was, and it's all gone down hill already?"

"Don't talk like an old man, Lass! You can come with me if you want, life is too short to be spent inside a small house! My boss and I can treat you to a coffee alongside Niki! She's also a friend of our girl group and guess what, she's single- wink wink!"

"Hearing you vocally say 'wink wink' makes me want to be in the middle of a warzone, unarmed. My house, forge included, is a perfectly fine size, thank you. Just...get those two silent, big-looking dudes to help you with the boxes, please."

Sonia noticed Lass's hand, "Ok...but what happened to your hand? You look like you've had it bad, recently too."

"You desperately trying to make conversation or what? I'm fine, just a small injury while testing these three out. They're fine, and so is my hand. Just getting used to it, most commissions nowadays come to Obsulyte infused, and had my old man still walked on two, he'd be the one doing this, not me. But a job's a job. No matter how much I cry about it internally or externally, it'll be done."

"Admirable work ethic!", she gave him a thumbs up.

"Just to get off the rough phase of waking up in the morning. Again, had dad actually been here, I wouldn't have to wake up to a screeching alarm clock every morning."

"Still in the rough about that? Lass, I know he was a dear face to you, but it's been enough months already. You have to let go-", Sonia was interrupted by Lass.

"I know. Hell, everyone tells me the same. I'll do what I want, ok? Besides, last time I checked, it's no one's business than mine."

"But-", Sonia tried to discuss it further.

"Enough buts! Sonia, please...just take them and go, alright?"

"Hah...", Sonia sighed, "Fine, fine. Sorry, I know I was a little pushy. Just want you to be alright and all. Everyone around town that I talked to has been pretty worried as well. Might be a simple transporter, but it's hard to miss that info while it's the only thing everyone talks about."

"Let me guess, Rita at the coffee shop?", Lass said with a straight face.

"Yes, it was Rita."

"For boasting about the Sister Knights, I'm pretty sure her gossiping could be considered hell's largest sin.", he muttered angrily, "And had dad not died the way he did, they'd all probably shut up about it. I love living in a small town where it's quiet and relationships mean at least something, but a side effect of that is...well, this. Not like those shits held back anyway. Limb from limb, inch by inch, no matter how much he screamed. And my Obsulyte powers were, of course, useless enough to backfire on and injure me into retreating with his sacrifice. I'd rather have just woken up one day and found him dead of a heart attack or something."

"Yikes...", Sonia briefly paused as she tried to find out any words to say.

"Again, if you stop for more than a few minutes, you'll most likely hear everyone in there regurgitating the same gossip ten times over. Biggest happening in years around this place, apparently."

"I stop by for coffee every time, it never changes.", Sonia said with a smile, trying to make Lass feel a tad bit better, "Alright, and check! All signatures are done, and so is our little chit-chat. Gotta go, unless I wanna fall behind schedule. See ya later Lass and hope you get well soon, on both your injured hand and mind!", she quickly boarded the transport truck back, followed by the two guards loading the back.

"What the hell was that supposed to mean?!", Lass angrily yelled.

Before he could have a word with Sonia, the truck was already loaded and its wheels started to turn, building distance away from the house. Lass deeply exhaled as he shut down the lab, heading back to the living room. He looked outside the window to see raging storm clouds approaching. Quickly grabbing something to eat and sitting on the couch as if he was in a hurry to catch that comfortable feeling of watching TV while tucked underneath a blanket, inside his house, and away from a storm. The first channel that appeared was ironically enough, the travels and tourism channel that posted about Reingard and its beauties.

"Yeah, right. I don't care about any of what Sonia's travel invitation was.", Lass said out loud, immediately changing the channel.

He angrily exhaled as he ate the remains of his leftover food. Thinking it was some twisted joke of fate, he rapidly changed channels until he, once again, found nothing notable to watch. Changing his mind, he instead logged online and started looking for something there instead, an activity he had saved for rainy days, among his constantly rolling and exhausting work schedule. If anything today was the perfect day for it. Work was done early, the weather was exactly what he asked for, what more could he want?

He grabbed a blanket from the side of the couch and put it on his feet, putting his food on the table next to him and clicking on the first movie that actually caught his interest. Between the choice of an idealistic romance or the thrills of horror, what was he to pick?

Horror, of course. Romance to him was a faded concept of a long-lost era. An era where he could still have dreams and hope for the future...the will to go on. In the world he lived in today, he could only count the curses but ignore the blessings. A child among many to be born at times when pasts were dark and futures were grim, given the constant unrest. It felt like anything he was to love, starting from himself, would ultimately go to waste, as monsters and countries alike sought nothing but other living beings' harm.

Regardless of it all, he adored those few moments of comfort from the rainy weather outside and the warm blanket on his body. Really, who wouldn't? As he finished his food and rested on his side, he covered himself up with the blanket. Soon enough, he started to fall asleep from the rain's ambiance combined with the screams and shouts of innocents slaughtered in an abundance of brutal ways by a horrifying monster. In the movie, of course, not like anyone would fall asleep to this in actuality.

For once, he was happy to drift into darkness. Not a sound or image to accompany his sleep. Compared to the usual scene he would find himself in, a nightmare to go through until waking up, the ever-consuming dark was somewhere he could be at ease.

He had done a number on himself. Consuming and consuming everything beyond the skin, he was quick to adopt an almost sadistic need to keep going. Where he'd instead prefer for it to end there, not having to wake up every day to hurt more, he lacked the courage to do anything about it, let alone end it himself. It always felt as if the world built him up just to watch him fall, but, no one, not even he, knew who was to truly blame.