- Chapter 01 : Felix -

"Finally, my fellow captains! We've successfully reached Midgard" they entered the magical barrier and suddenly, they're in front of a fountain, in the middle of the crowd. Some were looking at them but some didn't mind. They were wearing armours and unfamiliar outfits which intrigued some people.

"I feel uncomfortable with their stares. Is there something wrong with our how we look?" Lucian asked but they didn't answer as they also don't know the reason why the people were staring.

"Let's not waste time and start finding the guardians" they nodded at each other then they started to move.

**MIDGARD - LAND OF MEN (20 Years [200 Days outside Midgard] After King Odin's Death)**

Peaceful wind blew on the hanged laundry, children running around like wild dogs, and laborers entering their workplace- trying to earn for their living. It's another sunny day in Midgard, a perfect day to run errands and tour around the busy town of Felix.

"I promise to pay you when I find a jo- Ah-!" the young lady exclaimed when her things got thrown at her. "Don't ever come back!" the woman in her 30's yelled then she slammed the door close.

"*sigh* it will be a long week" she said while picking up her clothes and other belongings. "How did I end up suffering like this?" she sighed again as she began to walk away from the apartment she used to live in. She sadly sat on a bench and tried to think of a solution.

"I am done dealing with those ill-mannered customers!" a man said while dashing out of an eatery. "Marcus! Come back here! Marcus!!" she automatically smiled when an idea popped into her mind. "Excuse me sir, are you looking for a worker?" the middle-aged man looked at her from top to bottom and pulled her inside.

Laughters, chatters, bickerings, and even flying plates and mugs were seen and heard inside the eatery. It was such a mess inside- so messy that even the wall paintings were covered with tomato and butter. "Hey, new girl!" the man called.

"Sir?" she went closer to him and the man brought our dark colored half aprons. "Bring your things down and sart working. Serve this to table 5" she immediately nodded and did what her new boss ordered.

>>

As the night began to fall deeper, customers, one after another, started to leave and go home until no one's left except for the young lady and her boss.

"Yes, you can spend the night in here- BUT! you have to clean everything up in exchange" she looked around and a pancake fell from being sticked to the wall. "What, you don't like it? Okay. Suit yoursel--"

"No!- Uh.. I mean, thank you for letting me stay in here. I'll clean up everything sir" she said as she didn't have any other choice. It's better than spending the night outside.

"Alright then. I will be taking my leave" she smiled as she continuously waved her hand until her boss completely left. She looked around again and sighed. "Well, at least I got to stay here until I find a decent home" she stretched her arms and grabbed the cleaning supplies.

- CAPTAINS -

"Captain Silas, do you sense anything? We've been going around for days. We don't have any more time to waste" Captain Nero said as they walk on the dark alleys of Midgard.

"You can't blame me. The magical barrier suppressed our abilities, making it hard for me to use my hunting senses. I bet Captain Lucian can't even pull off a snow show" he said and Lucian almost came for him but Captain Sage stopped him. They had been bickering for days and no one knows why.

"Wait!" Captain Sage yelled and the two captains automatically stopped arguing. His red eyes glowed as his ability activated. "I can smell the stone, it's faint but I'm sure that it's in here. It's somewhere in this town"

--

The young lady woke up when she heard that the main door creaked open. She went outside the quarter that she's staying in and opened the lights of the eatery to see who it was. "I'm sure that I closed this" she said to herself. She peeked outside but saw nothing but a newspaper drifting through the cold wind of the night.

'It's exceptionally cold tonight' she thought. She closed the door again and made sure that it is properly locked this time.

As she was about to go back inside her quarter, the bell chimes rang and the wind blew hard on her. Her eyes widened and her body refused to move. 'It must be the wind, right? Yes, it must be. IT BETTER BE!' she thought, trying to convince herself.

She gathered up her courage to slowly turn around but again, saw no one. "I must still be sleeping" she pinched herself only to realize that everything is not a dream.

"What are you doing, standing over there at this hour? Oh, and good work on cleaning the place" her boss came in and she was so thankful he arrived. "N... Nothing, sir. But, isn't it too early for you to come to work?" she asked as she approach him.

"It is?" she nodded and she suddenly noticed her boss' eyes. They're drooping and his hair is also beginning to fall. "Boss, what's happening to you?" the man turned around completely and his hand became claws. His tongue also extended and his mouth had a slit from ear to ear.

"You can see me?" she took a step back and was shaking in fear. Sweats covered her entire body and again, she didn't have the courage to move her entire body and run. She was paralyzed by her own fear that she can't even scream for help.

"How wonderful. Finally... " the monster grinned as his body started to increase in size and it's visibly decaying. ".. a meal"

[ END OF CHAPTER 01 : FELIX ]