25 The day before the Death Games (2/2)

'The issue with Bell. I have this strange feeling that something may happen while I am partaking of the Games. Not with me, but with everyone else. I just can't shake it off. Nothing has happened since the incident at the sports field. If anything, everything is eerily quiet.' Riyku replied to Seraphina.

'Well, I mean. You did put on quite a show. Bell is the only one who knows what happened. I doubt anyone will believe her, so maybe you scared her stiff.' Seraphina stated to which Riyku would nod softly. 'I hope you are right.' He added. His attention was drawn away from his thoughts when he heard a cute voice call to him.

”Hiya, Mister Riyku. Are you okay?” It was Mary, she had this slightly worried look on her face. Noticing this Riyku would nod softly. ”I am. Thank you for asking. I was just thinking about some things. How have you been?” Riyku would reply to her with a soft smile and she smiled back in return. ”I am great! Mommy showed me how to make coffee today. Though, she says I am still too young to drink it.” Mary would reply to him and Riyku would chuckle lightly. ”She is right. Tell you what, when you become old enough to drink coffee. I'll drink some with you, and your mother as well. How does that sound?” Mary's eyes lite up at Riyku's proposal. ”Really!?” She asked and Riyku nodded. ”Yay!” She seemed to hop, skip and jump for joy. ”I can't wait to grow up now!” She chuckled softly. ”Just remember to continue to help out your mother,” Riyku stated to which Mary nodded. ”Okay!” She shouted before zooming back to Freya to tell her what just happened. Freya looked to him with a warm smile and he tipped his cup of coffee to her with a smile of his own.

'That's sweet of you. Looks like you just added a mother to your list on this Harem.' Seraphina happened to have teased Riyku who just internally sighed at her remark. Riyku would look up at the clock to take note of the time, he also noticed how nearly empty the place and decided that it was time to pay a visit to Deyo to pick up his weapons now. Curling the bag up with the leftover buns he would approach the counter and set the bag on the table. ”Thanks for the snack. I do appreciate it. How much?” Riyku inquired to which Freya shook her head. ”Don't worry about it. You are always helping us out after all. As before, I said it is least we can do.” Freya stated to which Riyku shook his head. ”I insist.” Riyku would state to which Freya mulled over her thought. ”Hmm... Then how about helping me out with some things tonight? I need to move some stuff around at my house, but it is a bit too heavy for me to lift.” Freya stated to which Riyku would nod. ”Alright, sounds fine with me. Just send me your address through wristband communication and I'll head over tonight. What time are you planning on doing this?” Riyku inquired to which Freya would reply, ”Seven or Eight. No later than Eight though.” Riyku would nod. ”Alright, see you around seven then.” With that, he would be off, cases in hand as he now headed to pick up his final piece of equipment. Seeing as how it was now dusk, the streets were not as busy and Deyo's business seemed to have died down tremendously.

The bell rang the moment the door was open and Deyo's voice called out, ”Wel-- Oh Riyku! I was wondering when ya would show up.” Deyo stated which caused Riyku to chuckle. ”Been getting everything else. Besides, you seemed like you had your hands full all day. I'll take it that I am the last person to pick up my stuff?” Riyku would ask and Deyo would nod. ”Just about yeah. Lemme get it.” Snapping his fingers, his assistant would come forth with a large case and would set it up on the counter top with a 'thud'. ”Don't know why ya want something like this, but hey, I don't doubt ya for a moment. I believe it is called a Soluna. A greatsword with a second short blade built into it.” Deyo would explain as Riyku opened the case to take a look at the beautiful black blade. There were two hilts, one normal and one in the middle of the blade as if held a second blade that was detachable.

The blade itself held a similar design to his armor and gloves with the red strips here and there. Though, Riyku did not seem displeased. ”Why doncha give it a swing or two,” Deyo stated. Riyku would reach for the hilt of the greatsword to lift it from the case. Moving to rest the weapon against his shoulder he would maneuver to an open area of the store. More so, an area tailor-made for trying out various weapons. Inhaling softly the male would exhale before giving the weapon a deft swing downward, then turning the blade to bring it back upward before resting it upon his shoulder again. Deyo was in awe at how weightless the weapon seemed in Riyku's hands. ”Damn boy, I shudder to think what will become of those who battle ya. I also doubt anyone else could swing that weapon around as easily as ya did. Then again, It was a request ya made specifically. So, I guess ya know what ya are doing.” Deyo stated to which Riyku smirked before returning to the counter to place the weapon in its case and closed it up. ”I appreciate all you've done for me, Deyo. Also, Congratulations on making Natalie your fiance. Took you long enough.” Riyku stated which caused Deyo to fluster a bit. ”Yeah, yeah! Thanks, mate.” Deyo stated. Riyku was about to head off until Deyo stopped him. ”Oh, almost forgot. Me, Nat and Yumi will be watching ya. So, put on a good show for us.” Deyo called out to Riyku who would wave while leaving.

Taking a look up at the sky again, he could estimate that he had time left before meeting up with Freya. For now, he decided it would be best to store his luggage into his inventory, but to do so without being noticed was another thing entirely. Thankfully, there had been an alley nearby so he wouldn't have to walk all the way to the mansion or even to his dorm room. Moving into the alley, he would make sure the coast was clear before using Weapon Return to store his luggage. Surprisingly, that did not take long. Well, maybe it wasn't a surprise, but the time it took was not what he expected. ”Well, that's that.” Riyku was about to leave the alley when he heard someone shout. Turning his head back to the depths of the alley, he would proceed onward until he came across three people. One of which did not appear to be from around here. That one is a female, while the other two looked as if they belonged to the Lower District.

”Leave me alone!” The girl shouted as she struggled to break free of the two guys who had been carrying her. The two men didn't have much to say until Riyku appeared before them. Stopping them in their path. ”Geez... here I thought I cleaned up a good amount down there. So tell me, what do you plan on doing with her?” Riyku inquired as the two men glared down at him. ”Who the hell are you!? Out of the way!?” They both shouted, ignoring the male's question. ”Help me!” The woman called out to him. By the looks of it, she was being kidnapped. ”Look, guy, this has nothing to do with you. This woman stole from us, so we are bringing her in. Plain an simple.” One of the men stated. Riyku's brow rose at this statement. ”Bullshit! You took what was rightfully mine!” The woman exclaimed. ”Shut the hell up already!” The other guy shouted, and Riyku would sigh heavily. ”Well, I don't know the full story. But what I do know is that women in the Lower District are not treated properly soooo...” Riyku seemed to dash towards the two men, which caught them off guard. A quick elbow to the first man's gut caused him to hunch over and drop the woman. Well, the woman would have dropped to the ground she had not wrapped her arms around the male's neck. Causing the rope that tied her hands together to dig into the man's throat. The other guy had clicked his tongue as he released the woman's tied up ankles to withdraw his blade. Though when he did that, Riyku had already been in front of him with a fist aimed straight for the man's jawline.

CRACK!

The sound of a jaw being dislocated and broken at that could be heard as the man flew back into the wall of a building and became unconsciously. This left the other man who so happened to have been put into a comatose state thanks to the woman who had choked the man out. Since she finished that she was just sitting, waiting for Riyku to at least help untie her, and untie her did.

”Thanks.” The woman stated as she dusted herself off. ”No problem. So, what was that all about?” Riyku asked mainly because he wanted to know if this had anything to do with Bell. ”That? Oh... Well... They stole something precious to me. Priceless even...” She would dig down her leather vest to pull out a pendant that had been hanging around her neck. ”A necklace?” Riyku inquired. ”Yes and no. This pendant may appear to be some ordinary necklace to anyone, but it is more than that. It is the last remaining thing I have of my brother.” She stated which caused Riyku's brow to raise. ”I see, I am sorry for your loss...” Riyku stated softly and the woman shook her head. ”No need to be. I thank you for assistance, but I need to get going.” Without delay, the woman seemed to make her up onto the rooftop of a nearby building with ease and leave the area.

”Well, she certainly appeared to be the part. With her roguish attire and all.” It was then he noticed that night had drawn in. ”Guess it's time for me to get going. I did tell the girls I would be late tonight. But, I should call them just in case.” And with that Riyku would proceed out of the alley, and proceed with his ordeal to meet up with Freya.