Book 1: Chapter 74: Cynthia

Book 1: Chapter 74: Cynthia

Scarlet

After doing a quick use of the clean skill which I have to say, is a life saver and probably one of my favorite things outside of combat that I get being a Guardian, since I dont have to do anywhere near as much getting up from bed anymore I glance at the clock once, briefly noting that its already evening on Thursday before I head towards the living room. Then I halt in my tracks at the doorway and do a double take towards the clock.

Ive been out for almost a day?!

Been wondering how long itd take you to notice that, Tar mutters, sounding slightly amused.

I ignore him as I stare at the clock for a few seconds, briefly mourning the lost time that I couldve spent studying or training. But after a few more seconds, I get over it and continue walking out of my room, closing the door behind me. And right when Im about to reach the front door to my suite, I hear a set of footsteps passing through the hall outside in my direction.

Wait, I can hear through the walls?

Remember? Your hearing improves with your stats, Tar says, vanishing on account of the person walking down the hall, although part of it is likely because your right next to the door, closer to the source of the sound and with less walls in between you.

Hmm. Im not sure how I feel about my hearing anymore. Although I guess I could always switch ears if I end up hearing too well.

Actually, come to think of it, I know some Guardians tend to change appearances as they advance to the next Classes. Will that happen to me?

Tar doesnt say anything for a few seconds, leaving the only sound in the hallway to my suite being that of the clicking of what sounds like boots outside stepping down the hall. Then he eventually sighs and mutters, I guess nows as good a time as any to tell you. But we should wait for this conversation till after you see whoever is waiting outside your suite.

And right when he says that, the footsteps stop outside my door, making me briefly wonder just what he is able to see from that place he goes to after vanishing.

I stare at the ground for a few seconds, wondering just what he meant and what hes planning on telling me, only to shake my head and tap on the terminal, making the screen display live footage of whats outside of the room. And immediately after seeing it, I wish I could find some other way out of my room.

Right when Im wondering what to do, I hear the door buzzing, followed by Cynthias voice, I know youre on the other side of the door. Might as well open it, sweetheart.

I sigh.

This is gonna be a pain.

She seems a little disappointed with my answer as always but follows our little routine to the letter and answers, Its been slow. No real progress has been made towards taking back the island from the demons. Mostly because that damned bastard Satan keeps changing up his attack plan as if the sky would fall should he use the same tactic more than once!

I grimace at the mention of the Oni that managed to sneak his way through the only Class V Fracture that was opened in Japan before the fall of the old nation and before that Fractures core was shattered.

Whoever let that bastard out of the cores range of control before they shattered it should be drawn and quartered for all of the problems that demon has caused, Cynthia continues complaining, seemingly uncaring of the fact that Im pretty sure the one who let him out of the cores range died in the process of doing so.

In all honesty, humanity is just lucky that only three Class V Fractures have appeared in all of history. Only one of which was stopped. The other two one that led to the downfall of Japan, and the one that led to the downfall of the northern pole of the planet werent. Although everyone was rather surprised about the one at the northern pole of the planet considering the lacking number of people there in the first place.

Another reason why no one could stop that one.

The third one happened somewhere around nineteen to twenty years ago, right here in this city. And three of the Knights were present and managed to stop it.

Honestly, the only reason the world is still free from demon control right now is that there appears to be a limit on who can actually come through the gates that the cores manifest into, and how strong the ones who can pass through can be. Along with a cap on how many at once without reality becoming shaky around the gate, possibly collapsing the thing in the process.

Well, enough about that, Cynthia suddenly says, surprising me that she isnt gonna drone on and on about how much she hates Satan. Or Blue for that matter, who is in charge of the assault on the old island nation. Youre probably starving by now, so go ahead and get something to eat. Meet with me and Allen in his office once youre done, okay? she adds this last part while reaching out and caressing my face, making me want to back away from the physical contact. But this time I let her, purely because I know she was worried about me.

Okay, I answer with a light nod of my head, glancing behind her to see Michael and his team turning the corner in the hallway. Then I focus on her again.

At least its not the ears.

She glances at my ears.

I narrow my eyes.

She pulls her arm back and begins to walk away while waving and saying, Ill see you in a bit then, sweetheart!

By the way, she touched your ears while you were unconscious, Tar whispers into my mind, making my eyes flare as I shout, You stars-damned sneak! Do not touch my ears!

Cynthia just starts walking faster while waving behind herself.L1tLagoon witnessed the first publication of this chapter on Ñøv€l--B1n.