Xavier reappeared in the same alleyway where he had first entered the personal dungeon. The cool night air greeted him, and he instinctively glanced around to ensure no one had seen his sudden arrival. The city streets were quiet, the distant hum of passing cars the only sound accompanying the flickering glow of nearby streetlights. Pulling out his phone, he checked the time—11:30 PM. His brows furrowed slightly. Had it really been that long?
With a sigh, he pushed aside his concerns. The real issue was getting home—Boxer hadn't been fed yet. Just as he took a step forward, he caught sight of his reflection in a nearby puddle. His clothes were in complete disarray—torn, smeared with grime and dust, and marked with sweat stains. He looked like someone who had just crawled out of a collapsed building.
Clicking his tongue, he tilted his head back, staring at the night sky through the narrow opening of the alley. He placed a hand against the brick wall beside him, murmuring to himself, "That might work."
Moments later, Xavier was soaring over the rooftops, his body moving effortlessly as he leaped from one building to another. The wind rushed past his face, and his heart pounded with exhilaration. His newfound strength and agility allowed him to clear gaps between buildings that should have been impossible. Twisting midair, he landed on a rooftop's ledge and immediately pushed off again, flipping onto another structure below. He felt weightless—free.
With each bound, he felt more at home in his own body. This power, this strength—it was something he never could have imagined before.
Minutes passed in a blur of movement until he finally landed back onto the street, his apartment complex in sight. He took a deep breath, composing himself before stepping inside. He had barely taken a few steps toward the stairs when he heard a familiar voice.
"Welcome back, kid."
Xavier flinched slightly, turning to see his landlord standing near the entrance of the complex, arms crossed with a small smile on his face.
"Oh! Uh… thanks," Xavier responded, rubbing the back of his head. Then, as if suddenly remembering, he quickly added, "I'll have the rest of the rent soon, I promise."
The old man waved a dismissive hand. "Save it for tomorrow. Go get some rest."
Xavier blinked, momentarily speechless, before lowering his head slightly in gratitude. "Thanks. Goodnight, Mr. Reynolds."
With that, he hurried up the stairs, reaching into his pocket for his keys. The moment he unlocked the door, he called out, "Boxer, I'm home!"
The rapid sound of paws against tile answered him before he even finished speaking. Kneeling down, Xavier braced himself just as Boxer launched into his arms. The dog's excited yips and playful kicks against his face made him chuckle.
"Alright, alright! Calm down, buddy—I know I'm late."
Boxer barked happily, licking Xavier's face in rapid succession. He ruffled the dog's fur affectionately before standing up, about to head to the kitchen to grab Boxer's food. But before he could take another step, a voice called out his name.
Xavier froze, his head snapping toward the narrow hallway leading to his bedroom. There, leaning casually against the wall, was Anna.
His eyes widened. "A-Anna?! What are you doing here?!"
She tilted her head slightly, her arms crossed as she studied him with an amused expression. "I wanted to check on you. After leaving the hospital, I figured you might've wanted to continue talking."
Xavier opened his mouth to respond, but she cut him off with a raised brow, her gaze shifting down to his tattered clothes. "But it looks like I have soemthing else to worry about. What happened to you?"
Glancing down at his ruined attire, Xavier quickly pieced together an excuse. "Ah, I took a porting job earlier. Some monsters got a little too close for comfort. A healer patched me up, but… my clothes weren't so lucky."
Anna remained silent for a moment, her sharp eyes analyzing his face. Xavier did his best to keep his expression neutral, not wanting to make her worry. Finally, she sighed, shaking her head with a small smile.
"You really need to stop worrying me like this."
Xavier let out a nervous chuckle, rubbing the back of his head. "Sorry… I'll try."
Anna simply rolled her eyes before stepping forward, lightly flicking his forehead. "Just be careful next time, alright?"
"Yeah… I will."
As the tension in the air eased, Xavier felt a small smile creep onto his lips. Despite everything, it was nice knowing someone cared.