Chapter 101: First Meeting (1/2)

”So, how did you meet Rak?” Allan asked in curiosity as they watched Evelyn reducing a full-sized orc to ashes with her black flames. They were currently on the Third Plateau, helping the succubus leveling up. They had also come to learn that even as a Phantom and bound to an object, she still needed to complete Trials on her own to climb Plateaus.

”I'm curious as well,” Nyx followed up the blond's question. ”While I do believe Rakna is honorable and generous to some extent, I don't think he would take in someone on a whim. He even allowed you to both inhabit and wield his prized weapon.”

Evelyn smiled wryly as she jumped back from the last orc. She pulled Sonata from her neck and mentally commanded it to turn it into a bow. She drew the string and three arrows appeared. She then activated her magic and the arrows were coated in black flames. She promptly let go and the orc was skewered in a second, advancing her new archery skill up to level two.

She sighed and lowered the weapon. ”He and my brother… made a promise to each other. Though it was more a sort of agreement on which I had no say,” she answered their question.

Flavia scowled at that. ”A promise? Are you sure?” She inquired with a serious tone.

The succubus tilted her head in confusion. ”Well, yes? I believe it was. I was present, after all.”

The beginner witch was about to retort when Allan beat her to it, ”You said that they promised something to each other,” he reiterated. ”If Rakna's promise was to, I guess take care of you, what was your brother's promise?”

Evelyn smiled sadly. ”To forever stay true to his wish, even in death.”

Her answer surprised them all. That sentence carried more information than they expected. This especially suggested that Rakna had been there when her brother died. Flavia was first to recover as she pieced things together. She let out a helpless chuckle and caught the attention of everyone.

”That does sound like him... Rakna rarely makes promises because he's aware that nothing can be predicted with 100% accuracy. More than failure and disappointment, he hates false hope and baseless words. But, at the same time, he would never ignore a dying wish. Really, exchanging promises with a dying man; there's only him to do that.”

”Heh, that's true,” Allan snorted.

”I see…” Nyx whispered. ”The more I learn about him, the more I find myself mystified. I've never met someone so…”

”Twisted?” Flavia finished the sentence for her with a somber tone. They all turned toward her with widened eyes. ”Well, I guess twisted isn't the most accurate way of saying it,” she added with a bitter smile. ”Perhaps 'distorted' would be a better label.”

”…may I ask how you met him?” Evelyn broke the silence that had ensued her words.

Flavia glanced at her and sighed as she extended her arm in a certain direction. Twenty meters away from them, three orcs who were rushing them had their necks rotate 180 degrees. They fell on the ground lifeless and Evelyn blinked several times. Allan snickered and Nyx just smiled.

”I first met Rakna around five years ago,” she started. ”I moved in the house next to his with my grandfather who then told me to go with him to greet our neighbors. When we went to Rakna's house, he was the one who answered the door.”

At this point, this training session had completely turned into story time and Evelyn had even cast a barrier around them to make them undetectable by the monsters outside.

”That's a day I'll never be able to forget. My grandfather was a good man, someone who was warm to his family and always smiled at them. But when he saw Rakna, he instantly grabbed me and distanced himself from him...”

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Flavia was confused as her grandfather urgently pulled her away. Even though he was old, he still was incredibly strong and quick on his feet so she was quite shaken.

She managed to take a look at his expression and stiffened when she saw the coldness on his face befitting of a former general. But there was something else on his face, something she had never seen from him before; unadulterated horror.

”You are?” A voice unfamiliar to her resounded and she forced herself to not shudder. She looked over the arm her grandfather was putting in front of her, as if to protect her, and spotted the person who had opened the door to them.

He looked no older than twelve but that was a detail she couldn't even focus on as her breath got stuck in her throat when she saw his eyes. Hollow, cold, uncaring, and analytical.

”…we are the new neighbors,” her grandfather finally found the voice to reply.

”Hm?” She watched as the boy raised an eyebrow. ”Oh, the old man did mention something like that,” he muttered with a voice so empty she never imagined possible. ”Is that it?” He then asked them. ”If you want to see my uncle, you'll have to come back another time. He's not here.”

”That'll be fine,” her grandfather said. ”We merely wanted to introduce ourselves. My name is Cole Jeina Walker. I hope we'll get along in the future,” he said politely but she knew better. It was forced and it concealed the apprehension he was feeling.

”Cole J. Walker?” The boy muttered. ”Former General of Aurora. Second Generation Augmented Soldier. Retired four years ago because his family was targeted by a terrorist group.”

Flavia widened her eyes and she saw his grandfather shake and clench his fists. ”How do you know that?” He inquired with a growl.

”Let's say that your story interested me,” the boy said indifferently then looked at Flavia. ”And this is? Your granddaughter? Orphaned, I assume.”

She gasped when she crossed eyes with him and even lowered her head. Why? She was several years older than him. Why couldn't she raise her voice at his inconsiderate mention of her late parents? Why… was she scared?

”That's enough,” her grandfather said and pushed her behind her. ”I don't know what a… monster like you is doing here but I'll never let you hurt my grandchild.”

The boy took some time to answer this time. ”You're not my enemy, Walker. As long as you stay as such, you're not a target,” he replied coldly. ”Rakna Xiorra is my name. Have a good day,” he uttered and closed the door on them.

Cole gritted his teeth then released the breath he was holding. ”Let's go back. I don't want to stay here for any longer,” he hissed and she quietly followed him.