Ending the call, I started to walk back to my apartment. I was there in less time than it usually took. Touching the doorknob, a jagged bolt of pain shot up my wrist, my knuckles swollen purple and twisted at a wrong angle, I had forgotten my hand was still broken.
Ignoring the pain I went inside and took out a vial of a red viscous liquid from my wardrobe. I poured all of it on my hand, the serum hit my skin like liquid fire. Watching it sink into my skin was a disturbing feeling but it was necessary. After a few minutes, the pain from my hand vanished.
I flexed my fingers.'Good as new.'
'Shame I don't have enough for my shoulder.'
Grabbing a first aid kit I started to fix my shoulder to the best of my ability.
'This should do the trick for now.'
I sat down on my couch and started making preparations; I had to get ready for my vacation after all.
***
Kraven was dumbfounded by what had just happened.
He dragged a hand down his face, muttering curses under his breath. He paced the room, his steps erratic, his cigar smoldering between his fingers.
"That brat," he grumbled, shaking his head. "He thinks he can just—just take vacations?" He threw up his arms in exasperation. "Like he owns the damn place?"
His gaze snapped to the Drakonid, searching her expression for agreement. She just stared, unreadable.
Kraven didn't mind and continued his rant, "The kid's got potential, but he's just too arrogant."
"Do you see how he looks at my furniture? Not a shred of awe or appreciation for how I decorate this place!"
"What he needs is to show some respect to his elders every once in a while."
A slow chuckle rumbled behind him.
Kraven froze. The cigar nearly slipped from his fingers.
"That's exactly what I was thinking."
The voice was calm, almost amused. Too close.
Kraven spun around, but before he could react, a single finger pressed against his forehead. A warmth, then a pull. His knees buckled.
"Fade," the voice said.
Kraven fell to the ground unconscious. The Drakonid stood unfazed; it was almost like she was completely uninterested in what had just transpired. But it was the opposite; she was very curious.
Who was this strange man that had appeared?
'He took care of the annoying human in an instant, and he also killed that shadow.'
He slowly walked up to her, grabbed the chains that bound her, and effortlessly broke them.
Shocked, she asked why he was helping her. The man smiled and handed her a piece of paper.
Confused, she looked at it. It was an address.
"What am I supposed to—" As she looked up, the man was gone.
She turned the paper over in her hands. The ink was crisp, as if it had been written just moments ago. The address meant nothing to her, yet her fingers tightened around it.
She exhaled. A decision had to be made. The man's scent still lingered, fresh enough to track. But her gaze drifted back to the paper.
What was waiting for her there?
***
Preparations were finished; there was only one more thing I needed.
*BOOM*
'And there it is.'
Looking at what used to be where my door was, I saw an all too familiar woman. Her crimson eyes were as bright and fierce as they were when I first saw her. She… seemed angry.
"Why?" A simple question with an immense amount of authority behind it.
The pressure she was giving off was suffocating; it enveloped the entire room. I stood firm and unflinching, seemingly unaffected by her intimidation. But on the inside I was anything but okay.
'This pressure is unreal; if she wasn't so overconfident in our fight…'
'No, this isn't the time to panic. I need to relax.'
Exhaling, I could feel my muscles relax, my mind clear, and my eyes refocus.
Calmly I replied, "I needed to turn you over so I could close the contract."
Hearing this, my body lightened, and the room ceased its movement. It seems like she finally calmed down.
I continued, "If I took up your offer immediately and freed you, I wouldn't be able to reap the benefits from both you and Kraven."
"..."
Silence. She stood frozen in place, like a perfectly sculpted statue. Until…
"Pfft."
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!"
She burst out laughing.
It sounded like a kookaburra establishing territory.
'Her laugh is… interesting.'
"You're even greedier than us dragons, human!"
"But what makes you think the offer still stands?" She said, wearing the most amused look on her face.
Inwardly I smirked and replied, "A rematch."
She was quick to withdraw the smile from her face, almost as if she was irritated by what I said.
I ignored her mood shift and continued, "Your race is extremely prideful, and losing in such a way to a human must have been a major dent to your pride."
"So, help me achieve my goal, and I'll fight you again."
Remaining quiet for a second, her lips parted.
"What is your name, human?"
My mouth curved into a grin. "Stratus. Griffin Stratus."
Nodding her head, she replied, "I am Elara Vorath. I will help you achieve whatever it is you're aiming for."
Walking past me, she plopped herself on my couch.
"But I don't want a rematch. I want sparring sessions with you. Any time we get the chance, we spar."
'That's… not that bad.'
"Deal."
Springing up from the couch, she exclaimed, "Perfect!"
"Let's spar right now!"
"No," I said firmly.
A slight pout was present on her face.
"Why?"
"We need to leave. The people that put out your contract will be searching for you, so we're leaving town, and my shoulder still hurts since you almost blew a hole in it."
I threw her a jacket, a face cap, and some shoes.
"Wear those."
She looked at them with unenthusiastic eyes.
"..."
"I don't want to."
"I don't care."
We both stared at each other for a while before she reluctantly put the jacket on.
I still stared at her, wondering when she'd wear the rest. Noticing my gaze, she spoke up.
"I'm not wearing the rest."
Knowing I couldn't force her, I told her to at least put the hoodie on. She flatly replied, "No."
Shrugging my shoulders, I suggested that we start moving.
*
Arriving at the forest, I turned to look at the town one last time.
'I probably won't be coming back here again.'
I had spent an entire year in this town; now it was time to move on.
Shifting my attention towards the forest, my lips parted.
"Let's go."
Tensing my muscles, I shot forward; everything around me was a blur, the wind caught in my hair, and my body hardly touched the ground. It was like I was flying.
This went on for a while until I noticed Elara had stopped. Confused, I halted and turned towards her.
"What's wrong?" I asked.
She mused for a bit before answering.
"You."
"Me?"
"You're far too slow; it's strange."
"Why aren't you moving faster?"
Walking past her, I responded.
"This is as fast as I can go," I replied.
"Nonsense. Everyone knows that you humans physical abilities far exceed this."
"Not mine."
"Don't joke with me; we Drakonids are aware of your system."
"Even in our battle before, you held back your true power .Just what are you hiding?"
Stopping in place, I replied.
"You're mistaken; I'm not hiding anything."
"Ha, so what, you're just some normal human running around fighting terrors and the like?"
Partially turning my head, a small smirk was visible on my face.
***
Meanwhile, back at the Hollow hunters…
"Where is the specimen?"
A slender figure asked. Their blue eyes seemed to permeate everything they saw.
"I—I don't know. I don't remember anything." Kraven said, his knees shaking, his face beading with sweat, his eyes darting across the room.
"H-Hey, you gotta believe me!!" He screamed.
But it was directed at someone else. A grey- eyed individual sat on Kraven's chair, his legs crossed, unbothered by what was happening.
The figure stood up and walked towards Kraven.
He then asked in an indifferent tone.
"Where is Griffin?"