"I hate this place." Abnor released a somewhat profound sigh as he stared up at the inky-blue sky. The sound echoed in the claustrophobic space between the walls of the narrow alleyway surrounding him as he perched on top of a half-broken wooden box. Piles of rubbish, most unbagged and scattered across the ground, were illuminated by the dim streetlights at each end of the alley.
Occasionally he could hear a few rats as they scurried around. Most darting from shadow to shadow, but a few would stop to sniff the air before continuing their forage for food.
"Even without the horrid smell, it's freezing at night, yet beyond boiling in the day." After rubbing his hands together, Abnor stuck them into the pockets of his dark brown leather armour. At the same time, he lifted his legs upwards before bringing them down abruptly, causing his body to lift up and away from the box before he landed on his feet. "Suppose I better get a move on."
Taking another brief look at the sky, Abnor clicked his tongue before starting to move towards one of the alley's exits sluggishly.
The sky had significantly brightened since he had parted with Nyx. The dark, foreboding blackness replaced with a gradually warming blue. "Could have been tucked up in bed, getting a few hours extra sleep but nooo~. Instead, I have to wander around these goddamn streets like a homeless bum. Freezing my areas off while I wait for the damn guild to open."
As he moved, even though Abnor couldn't see the origin due to the buildings surrounding him, the noise of everyday town life increased at an ever-growing rate. The once calm and tranquil atmosphere was quickly dissipating before the onslaught of voices, clangs and thumps.
"Still~."
Abnor paused as he reached the exit to the alley. After looking both ways, he darted across the street. His figure was no more than a blur causing only one of the people travelling the road to double-take. After he entered the alley on the other side of the street, Abnor quickly retreated into its shadows.
"It's totally been worth it." As he continued down the alleyway, a lopsided grin slowly emerged on Abnor's face. His cheeks were slightly flushed as he thought back to his interactions with Nyx over the last few days. She had mostly secluded herself from others, excluding the times Nyx had behaved as if she were a different person in public, and treated everyone apart from Abnor with cold indifference. Unlike the rest, for a reason unknown to Abnor, she had treated him as if he were her shadow. Changing, bathing and even using the toilet as if he wasn't there.
"Yet, still... she left me..." Abnor shook his head. Their current separation had been the longest since the pair had first met on that fateful night. While he had initially been happy for the space to organise his thoughts, Abnor also felt anxious. His stomach squirming as the queasy feeling continued to grow.
"It'll be fine." Shaking his head, Abnor forced his thoughts to return to his recent experiences with Nyx, especially the ones that would have gotten him chased from the room or beaten by any of the other women at his home. "White skin, slim, well-proportioned curves in all the right places with a cute face. And those legs ~."
Slowly, his steps started to falter as his gaze began to flicker around his surroundings. After a few moments, he chuckled and regained his original pace. "No way I'm doing that here."
He was now walking with a slightly hunched posture. Eventually, after a quick look around, he slipped his right hand into the top of his pants and readjusted himself.
"Mum was right. Devils will make work for idle hands if given half a chance." Abnor shook his head before slapping his cheeks lightly.
A small ding came from behind him, causing Abnor to glance over his shoulder as his movements paused. A couple of seconds later, he chuckled and started walking again. "She's almost perfect. It's just a pity that her human form isn't a little taller. Being so short makes her seem a bit childish."
A gust of wind blew down the alley causing Abnor to freeze yet again. After looking in all directions, including up, he increased his pace as he moved towards the nearby exit. As he did, he eyed every shadow that he passed. "Still, Runt's natural form is the best. Just over six-foot, lean, dangerously enchanting and eyes to die for. Better than any of the girls at home anyway."
After pressing himself to the nearby wall when he reached the end, letting a man who was pulling a heavy cart pass, Abnor repeated his previous actions and crossed the street without being spotted.
However, before moving too far, he turned around and waited for a minute. Eventually, Abnor closed his eyes as he shook his head and turned around and continued. "What am I doing? If she were following me, I'd have been beaten black and blue after that first sentence."
A little more than half an hour later, Abnor had travelled across most of the town and arrived at a large square. A massive, ornate fountain stood at its centre. At its edges, a few mercenary-looking groups were milling about.
Most were chatting idly as they occasionally glanced over to the entrances of the various stone buildings nearby. The majority of those people were wearing dull, simple leather armour, similar to Abnor's but a brighter colour, or a mixture of cloth and plate. The only variation was the few sect disciples, their grey or blue robes standing out against the muted, natural colours worn by the rest, as they wandered throughout the crowd.
After taking a few moments to carefully scan the crowd, his gaze slowing when it reached those sitting at the tables on the far side of the square, Abnor moved away from the alley's exit and leaned on the cold stone wall nearby. While he waited, occasionally glancing at the billboard depicting a sword and shield on a building next to the cafe, he watched a group of young women dressed as maids as they delivered hot drinks and snacks to those sitting at the tables.
However, even with the distraction, it wasn't long before Abnor became bored. Groaning as he stretched, Abnor's fingers released light cracking sounds. "I dragged my heels as long as I could. Surely it can't be that long until eight?"
Slowly, as if in agreement with Abnor's statement, the sun crested the Adventurer's Guild and its nearby buildings. As it did, it revealed a dark shadow across the square, leading up to the wall above Abnor as the rays warmed the uppermost bricks.
"Take out the people, and Runt might have liked this. She was always staring off into the distance at dawn."
As the sun rose into the sky, and the shadows started their agonisingly slow retreat, the square began to get busy as small swarms of people emerging from the side streets or alleys. While most had ignored Abnor's presence, the worst being a casual observation before they moved on, Abnor felt the essence he had subtly pushed out stir as a small group approached from his right. Before he had even turned, he could tell who it was by the familiar voices.
Just as he was about to turn his head, the rays of sunlight finally reached low enough to enter his eyes, forcing him to squint as a young boy's voice came from his right.
"Well, well, well. If it isn't little shade. Finally stopped hiding under your mother's skirt?"
"By the gods Charlie~." After thinking for a moment, Abnor sighed loudly, knocking the back of his head on the wall as he rolled his eyes. "Don't you have anything better to do? Like sleep or watch grass grow?"
Standing a couple of dozen feet away, was a short, slightly overweight kid with curly red hair. The colour stood out in stark contrast to his pale, almost sickly-white skin. Behind him, just to the left and right, were a smaller boy and girl who seemed to share the boy's characteristics. To their side was a taller girl, appearing to be around the age of fourteen or fifteen, with long brown hair tied into a ponytail thrown over her shoulder.
"Fuck off shade." After thinking for a few seconds after hearing Abnor's reply, the leading boy's face started to turn scarlet. "Always acting like you are better than us because you reached the third layer first."
"Yeah!" The younger boy's face twisted as he revealed a sneer and folded his arms. "And that's not anything special. Charlie and I have already caught up. It won't be long till we surpass you then you will be even worse than nothing. No ability, skill or background."
"Hey Bruce," Abnor revealed a smile that held no warmth. "Thinking for yourself yet or still letting others do the honour?"
"That all you got? You're a broken recording stone. You're just jealous." The smaller boy shook his fist in Abnor's direction. "You don't scare me."
"You're right." Abnor held his hands up, palms outwards with mock horror etched on his face. "I'm so~ jealous that your mother is a sect elder and wastes enough cultivation resources on you that a small village might have become an elite fighting force if she gave to them instead. What will I ever do with myself?"
"Fuck off!" Bruce and Charlie spoke at the same time, stepping forward as they clenched their fists. Their finely decorated white leather armour creaking as they did.
"Why should I? I was just standing here, minding my own business until you muppets showed up?"
Bruce was about to throw himself as Abnor, but his brother held out an arm stopping him. "Drop the act Shadow. We aren't stupid enough to fight you inside the town again. We know you are trying to get us in trouble because you're angry because we kicked you out the team."
After shaking his head and tutting a few times, Charlie turned and spat on the ground, a few feet ahead of Abnor. "Sickening really. Once a loser, always a loser."
"Whatever helps you sleep at night." Abnor didn't even gaze in the direction that Charlie had spat. However, his eyes had slightly narrowed as his hands moved closer to the handles of the multiple daggers hidden in his armour. "Then again, you guys have the qualifications to know what makes a loser, a loser."
Charlie and Bruce glared at Abnor, their breathing somewhat heavy even though they hadn't done anything strenuous. Abnor was the first to break eye contact, turning his attention to the two girls that stood slightly to the side. They were close enough to hear what was going on but far enough that to cause anyone looking to doubt if they were part of Charlie and Bruce's group. "Hey, Rose, Abby. How's it going?"
Abby huffed, folding her arms and turning her head. Rose, on the other hand, her hair looking like dull flames under the morning sun, gave a weak smile. "Hi, Shadow."
"These morons still forcing you to go hunting outside the walls?" Abnor nocked his head in the direction of Bruce and Charlie as he spoke.
Rose slightly blushed as she shook her head. "It's not like-"
"Fuck off Shadow." Bruce cut off his sister, abruptly moving to her side before pulling her behind him. "You know we aren't forcing her to do anything she doesn't want to do. She's strong and able enough to fight for herself, even if she can't cultivate."
"Bruce is right. If you had your way, Rose would be stuck what? Waiting to become someone's wife or a mere shop clerk? Be at the mercy of society as a bottom dweller?" Charlie shook his head, a mocking smile appearing on his face. "Unless that's what you wanted? Wanted to make it so she wouldn't be ashamed to hang with a prostitute's child? Maybe even had delusions of being someone you're not? We all know you have a soft spot for her."
Abnor's breath caught in his throat as a small vein popped on his forehead. Clenching his fists, he forced himself to inhale deeply and internally count to three.
After a few moments, he sighed and shrugged as he turned away. His eyes moved over to the double doors of the adventurer's guild, noticing that they had just opened. "If you believe that shit, you're even more hopeless than I thought. Whatever. I've said my bit. If you get your sister killed, it's on your head. Then again, more people are being born with the inability to cultivate so maybe-"
"Your mother can't cultivate." Bruce stepped ahead of his brother, dodging the outstretched arm and raising his fists, forcing Abnor to take a step back as he raised his own.
"Guys, leave it," Rose spoke up as she tried to step around her brothers, only to be forced back.
"Rose? Don't you want an apology from him?" Bruce tried to poke Abnor in the chest but only found Abnor 's shadow as he stepped away again.
"I've not said or done anything wrong." Abnor shook his head as he let his eyes linger on Bruce and Charlie for a moment. "What you do is up to you. Anyway, laters."
Before turning and moving away, Abnor casually waved to the two girls. His destination was the guild on the other side of the bustling square, forcing him to weave in and around the various sized groups that had started converging on their destinations.
Though he didn't turn around, Abnor was able to catch Charlie and his group following some distance behind. They were whispering to themselves while keeping him within their sight.
It wasn't long before Abnor was walking up the stone steps, dodging a group of heavily armed men exiting the guild. Without pausing at the impressive, somewhat intimidating engraved doors, Abnor made his way inside only to loudly sigh as he rolled his eyes. "Should have waited closer."
At the opposite end of a large hall were six counters manned by guild staff. Before the kiosk-style booths were long queues of people all looking moderately impatient. On the right side of him were many doors leading off to other areas of the guild while on the right, a sizeable open-planned restaurant stood — the stale smell of ale a testament to its most common usage.
Abnor waited for a few moments, trying to judge which queue was moving the fastest before picking the one on the left. After reaching the line, getting a few curious looks from the much older adventurer's around him, he glanced over his shoulder.
Charlie and the rest had moved towards a table in the restaurant area nearby. Rose and Abby were looking at the notice board next to the bar, while the two brothers were staring in Abnor's direction.
"What the fuck do they want?" Abnor mumbled to himself, turning back around and facing the direction of the line with a frown on his face. Eventually, his attention shifted to the guild workers.
They were gracefully moving with speed and precision, almost dancing around the adventures, which seemed to be in a daze in comparison. The most notable were those near a barred hole in the far wall, behind the desks and guards. The guild staff there all looked powerful and intimidating, even if they were only handling documents, quest items and rewards.
The hall was noisy, the low murmur of people talking, the clank and creak of armour and weapons as well as the occasional jeer or a round of applause if one had failed spectacularly. Occasionally, Abnor would look over his shoulder at Charlie or Bruce, only to find them whispering to each other as they watch him in return. Smirks etched upon their faces.
After around five minutes, Abnor started to look at the group more frequently. It wasn't long before he began to fidget with the handle of the dagger on his belt. When Abnor wasn't looking over his shoulder or around the room, he checked the clock on the wall in front.
"Easy kid, your neck's going to fall off." A middle-aged man in plate armour chuckled as he patted Abnor's shoulder. "First time? Registering?"
"No." Abnor shook his head, a small blush creeping onto his face. "Got a deadline for my master and got some frenemies staring a hole in my back."
"Frenemies, huh? Use it as a training experience." The man smiled as he folded his arms. "Being able to notice another's gaze is an important skill, especially if it's hostile. It's almost critical for any adventurer that has to go further afield than the hunting grounds. It's all about the flow of essence and how it affects your spirit. Probably nowhere safer you can practise such a skill."
"Thanks. I think I'll do that." Abnor revealed a polite smile, interrupting the man before he could continue, giving a curt nod of his head and turning around to move into the vacant space left as the queue decreased in length. The moment Abnor was facing the other way, he rolled his eyes.
The adventurer shook his head chuckling. After scratching the stubble on his chin and revealing a thoughtful expression, he moved his body so it would block Abnor's and Charlie's group's line of sight.
"Hi, Welcome to the guild. My name's Ellie. How can I help you?" Eventually, it was Abnor's turn. He quickly fished out a metallic looking card and placed it on the desk in front of a young, somewhat attractive woman.
The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.
Ellie smiled, her green eyes moving from him to the card before picking it up and holding it under a strange lamp to the left of her desk. The colour of the lamp's light started as a yellow-white but quickly changed to a darkish purple. Strikingly similar to the colour of Abnor's essence.
After several seconds, a few stones on top of the lamp brightened while some of the others dimmed. Seeing this, Ellie nodded and started to write something down on a ledger in front of her. "Congratulations on the increase and purity of your essence. Are you here to update your power rank?"
Abnor nodded, revealing a warm smile of his own. "I also want to change my alias."
Ellie nodded her head, placing the card down in a small groove of the desk, so it was standing vertically. "Would you like to take the public or individual assessment? Private costs extra and-"
Abnor held up his hand to stop her. "Public please."
"That won't be a problem. An alias change normally costs two silver, but as we have to update your card anyway, we can waive the charge this time. As you opted to have the public test, please place your hand on the metal plate here." Ellie pointed to the edge of her desk where a metal square lay embedded into the wood.
Abnor moved without a shred of hesitation, placing his right hand on the metal plate. Moments later, three purple rings formed above his hand.
Those nearby glanced over for a few seconds before returning to what they were doing. However, that changed moments later as a dark purple ring appeared above the others. A few gasps and muted whispers emanated in Abnor's surroundings as those that could see nudged or drew the attention of their friends.
However, that wasn't the end as a faint, misty fifth appeared just above the dark purple ring. The surrounding crowd became a little noisy as Ellie blinked a few times. Then her eyes travelled from Abnor's face to the stones on top of the lamp and back again as her mouth opened and closed a few times.
After clearing her throat, Ellie revealed a dazzling smile. "Wow, not even ten years old and already working on your fifth layer. Your family must be so proud."
Abnor shrugged as his lips twitched upwards at the sides. His posture straightened as his chest slightly puffed out a little as he watched the expressions on people's faces out of the corner of his eye.
Ellie's gaze had moved onto Abnor's clothes before drifting to the hand he held on the plate. It was only then that she noticed the black sigil causing her head to slightly move back and her chin to dip.
Ellie cleared her throat again, but her voice was a little colder and more distant than before. "May I ask, who are you affiliated with?"
"Holy shit guys, Shadow's fourth layer," Bruce's voice rang out to the side.
"Excuse me, Sir, May I remind you that interfering or interrupting someone at the counter is a finable offence." Ellie's smile faltered for a moment, her eyes travelling to a nearby guard.
Bruce's gaze moved to Ellie, then the guard who had started to approach before turning and retreating. Within moments his figure was lost in the sea of people. While most were interested in what was going on, none had left the queues.
Abnor ignored Bruce, the smile he had been repressing breaking free as he missed the subtle changes in Ellie's expression. "Can I change my alias now?"
"Of course." Ellie nodded, killing the repeat question before it escaped her lips, waving off the guard as she returned her attention to Abnor. "What would you like it to change it to? It can't be anything offensive or-"
Abnor took a deep breath, the smile on his face almost faltering. "Regent, please."
"Like a monarch? Spelt R.E.G.E.N.T?"
"That's the one." Abnor nodded.
A slight, almost unnoticeable frown appeared on Ellie's forehead. "You sure? To change it again will incur the cost of one silver."
"Yeah, my master insists."
Ellie lent forward, her hand brushing past a yellowish crystal embedded into the wooden desk on her side. "Would you like me to register your master on the card as well? You can share and exchange guild points as well as avoid some of the taxes when forming a party?"
Abnor paused, wetting his lips. "That sounds good, but I'll have to ask her first."
"Not a problem, if you let us know their name, profession and contact address we can mark it as temporary. If they don't want to, we can remove the data free of charge."
"I'm not sure." Abnor hesitated as his raked his left hand through his hair. "I really should ask her first?"
"Are they a legal member of the Sect or its territories?" Seeing Abnor hesitate, Ellie's smile vanished as she stared directly into his eyes. "If so, they will already be on record, and this will not inconvenience them in the slightest."
Abnor's facial expressions hardened as he stared back. "My master is a Sect Executioner under Hall master Fang. I need to get her permission before I say anything else."
Ellie's hand, which had just been about to press a hidden button under her desk, froze. "Your master is a Sect Executioner?"
"Yes." Abnor stuck his chest out, his voice easily carrying to the crowd eavesdropping nearby. "I was also tasked with reporting the completion of three outstanding missions. The ones for the elimination of the Jakner, Marley and Franks Gangs in the north. Also, not sure if it was a quest, but we destroyed the mauler nest that had been attacking caravans."
"You and your master completed the A-ranked bounties?" Ellie swallowed as she straightened her back. Her smile had returned, but it held a fraction of the warmth it had earlier.
"Me, no. My master? Yes. She slaughtered every man, woman and child in the gangs and…" Abnor chuckled, shaking his head. "Barbecued and ate the maulers."
Ellie's eye twitched. "Eating beasts that prey on species capable of metacognition-"
"She's a beast." Abnor interrupted, looking slightly flustered. "My master is a beast, so the interspecies laws don't apply here. Only sapients are restricted to the second stage consumption of tainted sources."
"Kid." The middle-aged adventurer that had been standing behind Abnor in the queue spoke up. "You might want to keep stuff like that to yourself. You're putting Ellie there in a bit of a tight spot."
Ellie waved off the man, her eyes never leaving Abnor for a moment. "Are you sure your master is a Sect Executioner? I heard they are pretty secretive and-"
"She doesn't care about rewards or fame. Told me to claim them for myself or report them and forget about it."
"Why didn't she come in-"
"My master's senses are a little sensitive, and she doesn't really like large crowds or people in general. Tends to make her cranky and that never ends well for anyone involved."
"I must ask you again. A claim of this nature wh-"
"I'm a hundred per cent. Check my card, and I have the bloodline of a truth demon." Abnor folded his arms across his chest. "Can we get this done? My master's expecting me, and I'd hate to tell her I was late because someone doubted her identity."
Ellie sighed as she shook her head slightly. "I'm sorry. We will need the correct paperwork or to speak to your master in person to validate these claims. I hope you understand, but I can't just take your word for it. Bloodline trait or not."
She paused for a moment. "I also suspect from your words that she may be mistreating you. As you are so young and unaffiliated, I am required by law to hold you until we resolve this matter. If you resist or try to subvert any investigations, you will be fined or could even face jail time."
The man behind Abnor sighed loudly. However, Ellie ignored him as she continued. "If everything is verified and there are no infringements, you can be registered with your master and take your allowance from the Sect and guild monthly."
"Why?" Abnor frowned. "Why is this an issue now? Before you were happy to let-"
Ellie’s face slightly twisted as she took a deep breath. "It's for your safety as much as societies. Having too much power, too early, can end up causing a lot of problems. These laws were put in place to make sure children like you have a suitable mentor and emotional support. Please don't try and run. I have already alerted the guards, and it will only make things worse."
As she said this, the guard that had approached earlier stopped at the side of her desk. After crossing his arms, he remained motionless. His face was masked by his metal helm, making him seem cold and unapproachable.
Abnor frowned, his foot tapping on the floor as he thought. After a few moments, he sighed. "Can't we just pretend this didn't happen? Just update my card, and I can go?"
"Sorry. Please wait here a moment." Ellie stood up and after making sure Abnor wasn't going to run, moved towards the back of the room. She stopped near a desk and started speaking to an old, balding man in green robes. After a brief back and forth, the man waved another guard towards him and started walking towards Abnor with Ellie in tow.
"You're in shit now." Bruce and Charlie appeared at Abnor's side. The smirks on their faces, as well as the visible excitement in their expressions, making the reason for their sudden appearance clear.
Those that were waiting in various lines nearby and even the opposite receptionists were all watching Abnor. A couple where whispering but, unlike the rest of the room, Abnor's surroundings were hushed.
"Shouldn't pretend to be so high and mighty." Bruce continued to celebrate, moving a little bit further to the desks so he could see Abnor's face. "You know what they say, the higher the wall, the higher the fall."
"Why don't you piss off?" Abnor slightly turned his head, keeping Ellie and the green-robed man in his peripheral. His left hand was resting on the dagger at his waist.
Just as Bruce was about to open his mouth, the balding man reached the desk and coughed lightly. Ellie stopped just behind him and to his right. "Good Morning. My name is Mr Cameron, the acting manager today."
He turned to look at Abnor. "I take it that you are Mr Kingsman?"
Abnor's eyes narrowed. "That information shouldn't be stored on the card."
Cameron chuckled. "The card is just for identification. The real information is stored in our archives. Save and discreet."
"Yet I haven't seen you access any ‘archives’?" Abnor's muscles tensed, his palms becoming slightly sweaty as he chanced a glance at the two guards. One was standing on either side of the desk.
"Good. Just as sharp as our records indicate. That makes this a lot easier. Would you mind stepping into the back office to fill out some paperwork and answer a few questions?" Cameron's left eyebrow slightly rose as if challenging Abnor to reject his offer.
"I don't have time." Abnor looked up at the clock on the wall. "Unless you insist on making this hard? You might not be afraid of me but my-."
"I'm sorry, but you have made claims of a certain nature that need to be cleared up before we can allow you on your way." The man flicked his wrist slightly, and the two guards moved past each side of the desk, so they were effectively surrounding Abnor. "I will only ask once more. Please come with me to one of our meeting rooms."
Abnor laughed, his tense shoulders relaxed slightly. "Do you even understand what you are doing?"
"Of course I do. I'm doing my job." The older man smiled back, his wrinkled face displaying the signs of years under the baking sun.
"Ahh, is Shadow getting arrested?" Charlie chuckled as he elbowed Bruce next to him. "Looks like there is such a thing as karma. How I have looked forward to this day."
Cameron glared at the two brothers. However, a moment later, he looked away and back to Abnor. "Please don't make a fuss, Mr Kingsman. I'm sure someone as smart as you have already realised that everything isn't as it seems on the surface."
"Make a fuss?" Abnor took a deep breath, letting go of the dagger's hilt before crossing his arms. "Do you even know who you're messing with? I will have to crawl through the seven hells if I am late."
"I will explain everything." Cameron held his hand out to the side, indicating the walkway between desks. "This way, please."
"Even to a Sect Executioner?" Abnor didn't move.
A mocking smile appears on Cameron's lips, "Yes, even to a Sect Executioner. Now if you are done stalling, shall we proceed?"
Abnor released a mirthless laugh, letting his arms drop as he started moving in the direction Cameron indicated. "You're fucked. I might be dense, but I know she's got something important to do today."
"May I remind you that bad language will be treated at an assault on staff-" Ellie started to walk beside Abnor as he passed the desk and started following Cameron. The two guards following in their wake.
"Whatever. You've pushed things this far. Let's see what happens when my master turns up." Abnor shrugged, putting his hands into his pockets. "She pulled a guy's intestines out while he was alive just because he hid from her when she was slaughtering his comrades."
"Mind games will not work with my staff, Mr Kingsman." Cameron shook his head slightly, causing a few wisps of the hair on the side of his head to come loose.
Abnor snorted. "Before seeing that, I’d have said I had a stomach made of steel."
Ellie nervously glanced at Abnor out of the corner of her eyes.
“Something you picked up from your master?” Cameron turned his head so he could see Abnor from one eye.
Abnor smiled, revealing a few of his teeth. “The pulling of intestines without killing someone or the mind games?”
Cameron shook his head again and turned his head back in the direction he was moving without saying anything else.
It wasn’t long before the group had reached a large, metal door that was guarded by four men in plate armour. Each of the guards saluted Cameron with a fist to their chest before opening the door and allowing them to pass.
"Not going to ask or search me for weapons?" Abnor frowned as his eyes scanned the lavishly furnished corridor.
Ellie smiled. "The guards here are all gem rank-"
"In the past, that might have impressed me. But now, not so much." Abnor yawned unnaturally, his eyes never closing. "I've seen a core rank kill a gem rank four without giving them the chance to blink. Slit one of their throats from ear to ear in front of his guards, family and in the middle of his camp. One minute he must have been thinking about when to make his breakthrough and leave the continent, the next how to keep the blood from leaving his neck."
“Miss Klein. Please refrain from talking with Mr Kingsman. His supposed master has been assigned the professions of Manipulator, Orchestrator, Assassin and Hunter. All ranked A or above. While their time together should have been short, it seems he has picked up some of these traits.”
“Yes Sir.” Ellie lowered her head slightly in Cameron’s direction.
"So, Mr Kingsman, I believe you were referring to Marley Banks? He was renowned for being a coward that prefered to hide and ambush his foes." Cameron's lips twitched though the smile never left his face.
"No Jakner. Marley died while he was taking a shit. Claw through the temple. Probably had the best death out of all of them. Well, least painful anyway."
Cameron's smile faltered. However, when he had turned his head to see Abnor, a mocking smile was in its place. "I'm sure he did."
In response, Abnor just shrugged. "I'm one fourth truth demon. Mother's side. Wouldn't lie over something so pointless. Not when you are digging for information even though you just told off Ellie for doing the same thing."
Cameron's smile became awkward. The procession fell into silence as they walked down the long corridor. At the end was a set of double doors. Without pausing, Cameron pushed them open and revealed a room with three large windows and comfortable looking sofas. Two windows lined the right side of the wall. The other was on the opposite side of the room.
"Please take a seat." Cameron walked to the desk on the far side as the two guards closed the doors and stood on each side.
"Do I have a choice?" Abnor didn't move far from the door, ignoring Ellie who had moved to the side of the room and started preparing drinks at one of the cabinets.
"Of course you do. You can stand there and get sore feet, or you can sit down. The choice is yours."
Abnor sighed. "Can't you just ask your questions and let me go?"
"I'm not the one who wants to speak with you." Sitting down at the desk, Cameron leant back in the chair. "So my advice is, sit down and enjoy the wait."
Abnor's frown returned. "If not you, who?"
"A real sect elder. Funnily enough, its the mother of those two who was near you in the lobby." Cameron chuckled as he organised some of the papers on his desk in an absent-minded manner.
"Ahh." Abnor rolled his eyes before taking a deep breath. Moments later, he walked forward and, without ceremony, flopped onto one of the sofas. "Seems like the mighty independent Adventurer's Guild is still corrupt."
"Not at all. Whatever issues you have with Angelica's children is an issue for another day. This is an official request from Sect headquarters."
“Sir? This isn’t about the claims or the fact that he might be being mistreated?” Ellie paused her actions, making a tea-like drink, before looking over her shoulder.
“I’m dead.” Abnor closed his eyes as he muttered, not allowing Cameron to answer Ellie’s question. “I’m fucking dead.”
Cameron frowned as he rested his chin on his knuckles. "I'm sure Elder Angelica won't do-"
"Who gives a crap about that old bat." Abnor sighed noisily. "It's my master that's going to kill me. Late because of a dispute between kids. I'm so fucked. Literally, I’m almost tempted to stab someone to escalate this into something more."
Cameron didn't say anything, the frown on his forehead increasing, as he let Ellie place a cup down before him and Abnor. After, she retreated behind him and to the right.
Time slowly continued to pass as Abnor started to fidget and tap his foot. He was occasionally muttering about how much trouble he was in and if he should try and flee the town. His complaints were eventually interrupted as the doors were abruptly pushed open, and a tall woman dressed in dull, grey armour with fur trimmings marched into the room.
White feathered wings hung folded on each side of her back. An enormous sword, small flickers of flame leaping from its edge, hung from her waist as her silver hair seemed to flutter in the draft created by her entry. All across the metal armour, faint red and blue runes occasionally flickered. Almost indistinguishable in the bright sunlight passing through the windows and warming the room.
"Elder Angelica. You seem prepared for war?" Cameron stood up, slightly bowing as he greeted the woman. His gaze moved from the runes on her armour, to her weapon before finally resting on her eyes.
Behind the woman, Charlie, Bruce and Rose entered the room. Unlike earlier, they were all quiet and without being prompted, moved to the corner of the room and remained silent.
"When dealing with an S class threat, being prepared can the deciding factor between in life and death." The woman responded, her eyes scanning the room before signalling for the two guards to close the door.
Abnor remained rooted to his chair, his heart hammering in his chest as his complexion paled. "You're not here for me, are you?"
Angelica revealed a smile that wasn't a smile. "Mobilising a sect elder for a little core three-layer? I think someone's a little too full of themselves."
Angelica's gaze moved to Cameron. "The others are on their way. You may want to put the guild on alert but don't do anything to cause suspicion or panic. We still have eyes on her outside the arena. Seems like she is waiting for him."
"Elder Falks has already informed me what to do." Cameron bowed his head slightly but didn't make a move to leave. "But if she is waiting for him, won't the plan have already failed?"
Angelica lifted her fist and used her thumb to point over her shoulder towards her children in the corner. "The kid has some issues with them. Once we agree and get a soul contract in place, they can fight it out. A few bruises and maybe a broken bone or two should be a good enough diversion. He's a kid after all. Disappearing off to where they shouldn't be and causing mischief is bred into them."
As she said this, she sent a glare to her children. They all lowered their heads and stared at the floor.
Letting out a huff, Angelica moved towards the sofa opposite Abnor. As she turned to sit, he was able to see the gaps in her armour that allowed her wings through. After sitting down, she crossed her legs, the metal armour scraping together, and leant forward. "So, Abnor. Why don't you start by telling me what you know about the one calling herself Runt and what she has been up to the last few days?"