Chapter 33 33. DEFINITELY

Walking down the street in silence, Noah and James got to a different restaurant that James said had good food.

Entering the small building, they saw that only a few people were currently in it. Sitting behind a rectangular table, James called a waiter.

A young woman attend to them, giving them a list of meals currently available since they were about to close. Both picking what they wanted, Noah looked around for a few seconds, before two men entered the building, not seeing anything weird, Noah decided to engage in a light chat with James.

"So where do you live", Noah asked, as this was something that he had to know.

Glancing at Noah he replied, "Hmm, I can't really describe it since you are still new in this city, but I can show you after we are done." James said nodding his head.

"Oh, okay" Noah replied. "It's not much so don't expect something impressive, it's just enough for me and my little brother." James added.

"You have a little brother?" Noah asked with an eyebrow raised. "Yes I do, his name is Jesse." James replied with a light smile.

"And you left him all alone?" Noah raised his voice, though not by much.

Smiling at Noah's worry, James replied, "When I mean little I mean he is significantly younger than me, but still old enough to think for himself."

"How old is he" Noah asked not feeling convinced. "He is 15.", James stated.

" And he has started the cultivation journey, though he is still incredibly weak, it's only a matter of time before he gets stronger" James added nodding his head.

"Ah", Noah sounded, he was about to say something when the waiters brought their meal.

A plate of what Noah would call rice with a mixture of something like meat and veggies, with a jar of water.

Taking a deep breath, Noah took a bite, 'It's good', he exclamained in his mind.

Taking another bite Noah ate until he was done with the whole plate, drinking the jar of water left beside him, Noah relaxed, waiting for James to be done.

After he was done, they both shared the bill, since Noah was kinda low on cash.

Leaving the restaurant, they both began to walk, the sky was already getting very close to being dark so they had to hurry up.

Walking for a few minutes in silence Noah decided to start a conversation.

"So how long have you been in Vonol?", He said.

Glancing at Noah, James replied, "It's been, I think eleven years or so" he said with a light smile on his face.

"Damn, it's been that long. what exactly brought you here" Noah asked with a look of curiosity.

"My parents, they had something doing here", James replied with a light smile that almost radiated sadness.

Noah noticed this, and couldn't help but recall that James had said he lived only with his younger brother.

He didn't want to sound insensitive but he decided to ask anyway.

"Are they okay?", Noah said. This time a tremor ran through James expression, but it returned to normal immediately after.

James heaved a sigh, "They died, ten years ago, just one year after we got to Vonol" James said.

"Oh, I'm sorry", Noah said, though he felt bad that he continued the conversation.

"Ah it's nothing I have gotten over it, it's just it's been a while I had a conversation about that" James said, turning to look at Noah.

"What about your family, I know you said they were far away, but at least tell me more" James said

A smile couldn't help but break out on Noah's face as he replied, " Yes they are far away, very far away. Actually my mother died before I knew her" shaking his head slightly Noah continued, " My dad tried to fill that space up for me and my brother, but there wasn't much he could do" Noah said.

Staring at Noah's face for a while James opened his mouth to talk, " So what happened between you and your brother?" He said.

"Oh we fought, and let's just say I was kicked out of their life" Noah replied In the most relaxed tone ever known to man.

Rasing an eyebrow at Noah's tone, James wanted to say something but he decided against it.

They walked in a companionable silence for more than twenty minutes, Noah following James where ever he turned or whichever roads he crossed.

Until eventually they got to a small building near the edge of the city, from where they were Noah could see the cities wall.

The building was cream in colour, he could still see that due to the little sunlight left. "Welcome to my home", James said walking toward the small door that led inside the building.

Smiling Noah stood beside him as he knocked on the door, a male voice ringing out "Who's there" the voice said, "It's me" James replied.

Immediately he said that the door opened, and a boy who looked around 14 or 15, had brown hair and was about 5'7ft in height walked out,, "Big brother, welcome" the boy said.

Smiling, James walked in, Noah didn't know what to do, so he simply stood outside until, James invited him in and introduced him to his brother.

"Jesse this is Noah, the one I told you about that would be my partner for Bozolom. Noah this is my little brother, Jesse" James said pointing at the two of them respectively.

Widening his eye, Jesse bowed and said, "Nice to meet you sir, big brother told me a lot about you, but left out that you were this good looking" Jesse said shooting a glance at James, who coughed in embarrassment.

"Nice to meet you too, and he didn't tell me you were way handsome than himself too" Noah said laughing at James expense, who simply snorted and turned to walk in.

Patting Jesse's shoulder, Noah walked inside.

An incredibly clean house entered his sight, which left Noah slightly surprised, most buildings that housed only males were usually dirty, and unkept, but this was far from that.

The sitting room was painted yellow like the outside, while the furniture didn't look bad at all, Noah kind of expected less but the truth left him surprised.

Shooting a curious glance at James, who understood what it meant replied, "I worked multiple jobs, saved a lot of money, coupled with the little my parents left, I managed to get this for us" James said shrugging his shoulder and going inside, probably to his room.

Sitting down, Noah studied the house, he listened to the conversation of the two brothers, and he couldn't help but feel jealous, the two of them definitely cared about each other.

Sitting for about five minutes lost in thoughts, James eventually came out, "Well you've seen my home, what do you think" James said.

"It think it's lovely" Noah replied without facing James.

"Thank you. so where are you going now" James asked.

Noah took a deep breath before opening his mouth to talk, "I'll go back to that hotel" He replied.

"Though you can say here if you want" James offered.

Laughing at the offer, Noah replied, "That is definitely out if the question, I know you know, but let me say it, we were being followed, that was why you took some useless turns in those streets" Noah said his tone growing cold.

"And I won't add you guys to my problem, I barely know you, and now that your brother is in the picture things just got more annoying" Noah added his expression radiating unfathomable coldness.

Furrowing his brows, James opened his mouth to talk, "You do know that now that they know my house I am basically in your problem, so what are you going to do?" he said.

Noah limited himself to stare at him, before turning. "Please tell your brother it was nice meeting him, but I have to go", he said walking towards the door but before he could leave James said something.

"Just be careful, you know I need you". He said smiling.

"Definitely", Noah replied, a smile breaking out on his face as he walked out and closed the door.

Immediately he got back outside, his expression returned to it's coldness, as he got ready for the eventual clash.