CHPT 97: This isn’t Goodbye.

Sunday October 21, 2240

Claude went the rest of the walk back to SkyHaven lightly conversing with Maris about systems, Elements and some of his favorite Heroes under the ever growing light of the early morning sun. He learned from her responses that she most likely didn't want to be a Hero, she just wanted to dominate— be superior. He also learned that people from villages such as hers didn't know much about Heroes and what it entails to be one to begin with. He couldn't imagine not having Heroes to look up to as a child.

Maris also wasn't very talkative or self expressive to begin with, but he found that talking with her took him out of his own mind as he marveled at hers. It made the walk short, but sweet.

As he headed back the way he came through SkyHaven with Frosty, his arms stung from the weight of the dead old woman he delivered to the hospital deeper in the city. But, he was more concerned with the memory of dropping off Maris.

He had to ask for directions to take her to the Precinct of SkyHaven— a place he'd never been to. Once they received directions and entered the giant white and black brick walled building, Claude was immediately overwhelmed by the piercing gazes of dozens of Law Enforcers. They all wore matching navy blue and dark brown armor with varying levels of coverage and a shiny golden badge.

Aside from armor and weapon designs, they all seemed to hold the same feelings for Heroes as well. He could smell their negativity directed at him for reasons he wasn't aware of. He'd always assumed Heroes and Law Enforcers were close.

Heroes completed Tangents and Infested Areas while Law Enforcers dealt with Heroes that went rogue and system powered criminals. The similarity in jobs led him to believe the two were like loose partners since system powered criminals were monsters in their own right.

He decided to ignore it and spoke to the nearest Enforcer who quickly realized Maris was connected to a previous group of survivors who mentioned being saved by "a tall man in black with scary eyes". Once the Enforcer realized Claude was the man they mentioned, the overall feeling of hostility turned to curiosity and wonder.

After writing a report— which was surprisingly easy, and constantly having to tell Frosty to stop smelling the food on the Enforcers desk, the Enforcer spoke to him and told him of the villagers situation and what was to be done with Maris.

As him and Arne assumed, she would live and train in an orphanage where other Reborn orphans stayed when they weren't at the University. With that, the Enforcer left to make some calls and left the two to say their goodbyes. That was the part that bothered him the most and stayed in his mind as he walked down the almost empty street.

"This isn't goodbye. As soon as I learn to rule over the water again the teachers at the University will realize how strong I am and let me leave. Then you'll see me in that big guildhall." She told him.

He strongly remembered the light smile on her face that looked borderline predatory at first but slowly settled into an expression of warmth. She was joking, at least partly.

He was so surprised by her sudden show of emotions that he still couldn't remember what he said to her in response. He just remembered shaking her hand. As he turned to leave, he caught a glimpse of something comparable to sadness on her face before quickly switching back to her usual blank stone faced expression.

"She's not completely cold. She's just a little different from most." He thought as he entered the SkyLight guildhall.

He entered the building at a time when Night Runners and regular Heroes were both occupying the space. The day before when he first entered, he was too mentally beaten from the deaths of the Heroes he fought alongside to notice the change in atmosphere. He was a bit better today, so he was able to notice the overwhelming tension and hostility the two groups of Heroes had for each other.

As soon as the door swung closed behind him, everyone looked to see who entered— to see if the newcomer was friend or foe.

Unfortunately, Claude knew he was neither. Being new and being the sole survivor of a squad wipe didn't do his reputation any justice. He was either seen as a traitorous monster or a coward, nothing in between.

"Let's hurry up and get the hell out of here." He whispered to Frosty before turning and entering the line.

After a few minutes, he met eyes with Ilka who immediately recognized him.

"Morning, Allblack sir." She said after a quick yawn.

"Morning." Claude replied as he dug in his pocket for the Infested Area Quest paper.

"How are you doing?" She asked with a sad look on her face.

He knew what she meant but decided to steer the conversation elsewhere, "I'm alright. Got caught up with a Goblin Shaman but I handled it."

Ilka's eyes almost burst from her skull like fireworks. "YOU WHAT? Oop—" she quickly put her hands over her mouth after realizing she was drawing attention to them.

"You did that by yourself..???? As a bronze level Assassin....?!??!!?!??!" She whispered animatedly.

"Well, yes. But the Quest was bronze ranked as well. Plus the Shaman probably wasted his sacrificial power on the villagers that didn't survive. It was enjoying torturing the remaining few when I got there." Claude responded casually, trying to explain that what he did wasn't all that spectacular.

His response had the exact opposite effect on her. As he finished speaking it looked like a bomb went off in her brain. Her bright blue eyes were practically shining like stars.

"Y-You saved....people...??" She said quietly.

Claude suddenly felt like he was being patronized. "What the hell are you talking about? Of course I did. Aren't Heroes supposed to save people??"

"It's just that, never mind..." Ilka said with a sad look on her face.

Claude was incredibly confused by what she said. Before he could think anymore into it, she spoke again.

"Anyway, I'm sure your tired. Why don't you give me the Infested Area Quest paper?" She said, the smile was back on her face like it never left. The only remnants of her saddened expression were visible in her eyes.

"Right." He quickly dug into his pockets to retrieve it.

"Still haven't found your ID, huh?" She said as Claude handed her the paper.

"No, ma'am. I'll keep searching." He replied.

"It's fine for now. Your Quest completions will continue to go into your unregistered bronze box but eventually you'll finish enough to upgrade. I just hope by then you'll be registered so you can move on to silver ranked Quests." Ilka said as she handed him his payment.

Claude nodded in understanding and took his first payment for completing a Quest. As the small bag of coppers landed in his hand, he could hear the coins bouncing and scraping against each other inside. The payment was nothing in comparison to what people made from a good Tangent, but to him it was much more than that. It was his first time being paid for his work.....as a Hero.

The thought uplifted him a bit as he headed back to the cabin with Frosty.

***

By the time he reached the entrance to the forest circle, he could feel his eyelids closing involuntarily and the aching in his muscles screamed for him to stop moving completely.

He didn't even make it out of the forest as he nodded off near the pond where he washed the camouflage rune from Frosty's head.