Chapter 15: Welcome to the new world - Memories
A bright ray of light shone through the crack between the curtains, illuminating the empty bedroom. Quiet. Still. Dust particles floating mid-air. Eren watched them dance around the room, unblinking in his trance, eyes fixated on the spinning specks.
Eren was getting used to awakening in his own bed, no touchy reapers hands, no poorly designed rooms, and no being dragged out of your slumber to go fight monsters. Just rest, a wonderful thing after years of none. Not sure what time it was; Eren picked up his phone (which Baelor replaced) seeing several notifications pop up; mostly from his stats window.
---
Name: Eren Heart
Level: 1
Rank: Ex
Class: Harbinger
Current Jobs: N/A
Current Guild: N/A
Gates cleared: 0
Abilities:
- Apex instincts: LvEx
- Weapon proficiency (Close combat): LvEx
- Bone tendril: LvEx
- Human physiology (Body conditioning): LvEx
---
Eren also looked at his ring, displaying the exact same message instead in AR form. However, Eren grunted at his stats.
"Of all the human imagination; why is this the exact same as something you would see in a fantasy manhwa or anime." He sighed aloud.
"Only an unimaginative idiot would be so lazy, they couldn't come up with something original?"
Eren put on his pants; throwing on a shirt and jacket, heading downstairs. In a huff, still disgruntled about the lack of creativity.
"You're awake Eren, Good Morning." Mr. Heart greeted, livelier than he has been recently.
"Morning dad. Where's Emi?" He asked inquisitively.
"Still asleep. Teenage girl's need their beauty sleep." His father joked.
"Fair enough." Taking a seat at the table.
"Any luck breaking through to your sister yesterday?" Mr. Heart inquired. Eren kept silent, a look of failure written across his expression.
"Oh. Sorry Eren." He replied sadly, lowering his gaze, focusing on his bowl of cereal. Silence loomed heavy in the air, the two-remaining seated; lost in their own thoughts.
"What are you doing today Eren?" His father asked after sometime.
"Going out, there's someone I need to visit." Rising from the chair, pushing it under the table.
"Rika?"
"Yeah. Rika..." Eren's response was curt, voice lacking emotion.
"You know that she is married?" Mr. Heart spoke softly.
"I have no intention of interfering... She moved on and that's fine. I would too if I was her." Eren glanced out the living room window, watching the world pass by.
"Tell her I said hi."
"Sure…" In truth Eren was as nervous as he had ever been. Seeing a man that betrayed him and a woman who loved him. How much have they changed?
After Eren bid farewell, He began his journey downtown, perturbation weighing him down with every step; dreading meeting the person he left behind.
'Perhaps I should see Akira first. Make me feel more at ease.' Thinking to himself, deciding on a detour, searching for his previous guild master.
***
First stop is Akira:
Glancing at Haruto's note with the address of Akira's new guild, via his local train station. In his previous life, his neighbourhood station was small but clean; the smell of fresh paint clung to the platform walls, floors scrubbed to a gleaming shine each night. Tracked freshly polished and maintained. Everything neat and tidy. But now, the tracks were rusted with age, no trace of polish to be seen. Station walls coated with a grey haze; a stale musty aroma seeped from its crevasses. Walls tagged with crimson ink in various designs; graffiti marring what was once a pristine building.
The train ride was next to empty, save for a couple of families and elderly folk. Smiles wide spread among the group, laughing, and joking; joyful. All things Eren once considered normal, now only reserved for children, family, and friends, for others it was rare. Eren stared out the window blankly into the world of light; the sun now fully risen, cascading yellow rays of light, stretching out as far as his eye could see, warmth spreading throughout.
At least Eren had something to be thankful for.
A large white tower loomed ahead, dwarfing everything surrounding it in both size and width; smooth glass exterior reflecting the sunlight like a prism of rainbow, casting its lights on the ground below.
'This is the place. Kitsuwa banking group.' The name emblazoned in golden characters and a matching tiger statue adorning the entrance.
The lobby was just as extravagant, polished granite floors shone brightly, tall elegant columns wrapped in gold rose high to the roof, stretching out like skyscrapers themselves. Grand fountains rain down water from hidden sprinklers. Various employees scurried around like ants; moving in chaos between sections, scanning ID's, carrying documents and packages; rushing to their destinations with frantic steps.
"Good morning, sir. Welcome to the Kitsuwa Banking Group. Are you looking to open an account?" A young lady greeted Eren cheerfully from behind her desk, smiling warmly while bowing low.
"No. I'm here to visit someone." Eren replied politely, handing her a slip of paper.
"Ah, you would be looking for the gold tiger's guild. 25th floor suit number 27." Her eyes darted over the document, noting the visitor pass.
"Here is your guests' badge. The elevator is straight across from here, press the button with the symbol of the tigers, thank you and have a pleasant stay." She responded dutifully, a robotic customer service tone permeating through every word.
"Why is everyone working? Isn't it a Sunday?" Eren asked curiously.
"Yes, it is sir. However, monthly reports a due soon and everyone is busy trying to finish it off. Please enjoy your stay." Giving a dismissive smile; bags under eyes more prevalent than before.
Eren found his way to the elevator; followed in by a flurry of workers. The ride is slow and cramped, filled with destitute strangers and uncomfortable silence. The stench is horrid, these salarymen & women smelt like they had not bathed in days. A combination of cigarettes, alcohol, and cheap cologne. They rode in silence up to their destinations; doors chimed at every level, each employee departing hurriedly. One by one leaving only three standing at the top.
'GOLDEN TIGERS'
Eren is greeted by the loud signage as he exited. 'A subsidiary of Kitsuwa Banking group'
This section of the building was vastly different. Considerably smaller than the lobby; yet as magnificent. Another large tiger greeted him at the entrance, made entirely from gold; its eyes glistened emeralds, and its mouth opened wide, bearing ferocious fangs of onyx.
"Is that really necessary?" Eren grumbled aloud.
Everywhere he walked people moved about, each wearing expensive suits, briefcases, and sunglasses. On the surface they all look calm, composed but Eren can sense that underneath it all, they are all imbued with anxiety, desperation, and hunger; a need for something unknown, or perhaps... greed.
"Hello, sir. What may I help you with?" A polite man at the front desk welcomed Eren in. The secretary's face is perfectly chiselled, sharp eyes like black diamonds; black hair neatly combed to the side. Face sculpted with immaculate precision.
"I'm here to see Akira." The reception gave a look of mild amusement, giving a curt nod.
"Oh, that old dog... I'll lead you to him."
He walked Eren down a hallway, stopping outside the lunch room. There Akira sat all by his lonesome, drinking a hot cup of coffee and eating a bowl of instant ramen. He had kept his hulking build through the years, his short office shirt showed faded scars of glory days past, rippling muscles covered his arms and legs. Though now they seemed tired and fatigued, no longer radiating determined vigour.
Eren hadn't thought about what would happen if he ever saw Akira again. The man who betrayed him, sent Eren to the world of death. And yet in the final moments tried to do right.
'Why?' It bothered him, why try to protect him? Why the double betrayal? Should he punish him? Forgive him... Kill him?
"We're just in time for the show." The assistant broke Eren out of his trance.
"Akira! Where are you!" A thunderous voice bellowed from behind the wall. The two peered around the corner.
A man half of Akira's age stood menacingly over his table. Slim and well-groomed in appearance; pale complexion, slick hair combed into place.
"What the fuck is this! Typos, formatting errors, double sided sheets! What kind of report is this!?" The youth slapped a pile of paper hard into Akira's face.
Akira kept silent taking the verbal lashing head on. His assistant chuckled quietly beside Eren.
"You'll need to start again... this... this is fucking trash!" The younger one spat venomously.
"Yes... I understand sir. I will redo it immediately." The old warrior replied calmly, lowering his head in shame.
"Fuckin hell, get it done by tonight!" the lad barked in response, turning to walk away; fists tightly clenched in rage.
For a fleeting moment, their eyes locked. Eren searched for something—recognition, guilt, anything—but Akira's gaze remained empty. No spark, no flicker, just the tired, hollow stare of a shackled man. A cold feeling spread through Eren's chest; a deep seeded disgust blooming from within. Anger. But not at Akira.
The assistant gestured for Eren to enter. However, Eren vanished. No warning, no goodbyes, just gone.
Back in the elevator, Eren was once more alone. 'Why did I go see him?' The elevator arrived on the bottom floor. Stepping out. The sign of a broken man, whatever Eren thought about doing; it would pale in comparison to what Akira's current situation must be. His own special kind of hell.
***
Last stop is Rika, Eren's Ex-girlfriend:
'She never cared for grand romantic gestures, always said I worried too much about those things, rather brighten her day, smile.' Eren reminisced. Passing through several neighbourhoods, taking in his surroundings.
Everything was different. Old haunts replaced with modern structures. People too. All absorbed into their little bubble, tapping away on their phones, ignoring the outside world. This isolation continued to fester within himself, a leech growing fat off despair.
'Unit 24.' The note read.
The apartment's door was a rich shade of blue; fading paint on a cracked surface, blending seamlessly with the aged brickwork behind. Paint chipped at the edges, rough to the touch.
Eren raised his hand.
*Knock* *Knock*
Footsteps echoed behind the door. Heavy steps drawing closer.
Suddenly, the door opened wide. Stood in front of Eren was a young lady, short black hair with violet streaks; hazel green eyes sparkling in the light; skin lightly bronzed; bony build with some curve to the hips and bust. Her clothes fitted tight, hugging her feminine features nicely. She looked the same as last they meet, however, her face seemed gaunt
A brief pause, neither knowing what to say. "Hi, Rika..." Eren started softly, sheepishly glancing around, trying to avoid eye contact.
"It's me, Eren..." The woman looked taken aback; slowly, realization dawned on her, shock washing over.
"Eren?" She whispered in disbelief.
Her eye's role back collapsing to the floor.
"Shit, not again." Eren caught her; carefully pulling her close to him. Eren scooped her up into his arms, entering the house closing the door quietly. Laying her on the sofa inside, resting her head down gently, fanning her with his hand. Eren took a moment to appreciate his surroundings.
The room was modest. Wood panelled flooring, plastered walls a beige colour, well-kept and cleaned; a brown sofa set with cushions to match; Everything kept to a high standard of cleanliness. However, a foul odour permeated through the apartment. One that Eren couldn't quite place. Like a sickness infected the air, poisoning the very roots of the foundation.
Suddenly a soft murmur drew his attention. "You... came back..." Rika groaned weakly. She forced herself upright, wrapping her slim arms around his shoulders; holding tight to her beloved. Tears ran from her eyes, falling onto Eren's shoulder.
"I mourned you... I cried every night; hoping... wishing it was all a dream." Her voice breaking with emotion.
Eren hugged back awkwardly patting her softly, trying to comfort her in the moment. "And now you're just... back."
After a few minutes Rika released her grip, wiping her eyes dry.
"I know, the world has gone and gotten itself in a big hurry." Rika let out a weak laugh; puffy cheeks stained red; eyes slightly swollen.
"Oh, there is someone I would like you to meet..." She rose from the sofa, disappearing into a hall; returning moments later. In her hands, a small girl; pale white skin, thin black hair; bright sky-blue eyes shining from beneath.
"Eren. I would like you to meet my daughter... Makoto."