A New Roommate

Minafallen's elite security force, specifically trained to handle Passageways and Krepsunas, were a blur of movement as they rushed through the streets.

Their armor glinted under the district's lights designed to protect and enhance their speed and strength. Each soldier carried a specialized weapon, signifying their readiness to combat the corrupt energies of the Krepsunas.

Their captain, a tall human with a hawk-like gaze, barked orders as they neared the area where the alert originated. The closer they got, the quieter the streets became, save for the distant crackling of residual energy from the Passageway. Civilians had already evacuated, leaving behind a tense silence.

But when the platoon turned the final corner to the scene, they came to an abrupt halt.

Instead of chaos or a battle in progress, they saw two figures casually sitting on a slightly crystalline rock formation.

The woman, with radiant silver hair, was clearly annoyed, gesturing animatedly at her bloodstained clothes. Beside her, a masked man leaned over, his hands glowing faintly blue as he drew runes on their garments using his index finger.

"These are ruined," Elyonari huffed, tugging at the hem of her sleeve, which was splattered with dark Krepsuna blood. "Do you know how expensive this outfit was? It was custom-made. And this staff? Ugh, I hate this black gunk!"

Vastarael didn't even glance up, calmly finishing a glowing rune over her sleeve.

"Relax. It's just blood, not acid. You're lucky it didn't burn through. Stop squirming."

The rune pulsed faintly, its glow spreading across the fabric of her sleeve and, as if by magic—it was actually mystic—, the stains vanished entirely. He moved to another spot on her clothes, repeating the process.

"Easy for you to say. You're used to getting blood on you. This is my first time dealing with this level of mess."

"No, this is my first time, which is why you should sit still and let me work," Vastarael said with a teasing edge to his voice. When he finished with her clothes, he traced the same rune on his own garments. As the glowing blue symbols faded, so did the black blood that had stained his T-shirt.

"There. Happy now?"

Elyonari looked herself over and sighed.

"Fine. Thanks, I guess. But my hands—"

Before she could finish, Vastarael raised one hand, a small orb of water materializing from the air. He manipulated it effortlessly, letting the water swirl around her hands, washing away the Krepsuna blood. He then directed it toward her staff, cleaning it thoroughly before the water dissipated into the air.

"Better?" He asked as he flexed his fingers, the faint glow of sapphire essence fading from his hands.

"Better," she admitted grudgingly, though her annoyance was quickly replaced by curiosity. "Wait, what about your glaive—"

The sapphire glaive he had wielded mere moments ago dissolved into particles of blue light, disappearing into thin air. He leaned back against the sapphire rock he created, resting his hands behind his head as if nothing had happened.

As the pair continued their casual exchange, the squad stood frozen, staring at the carnage around them. Dozens of Krepsuna corpses littered the ground, some with clean cuts, others charred or battered beyond recognition. The massive beast that had emerged from the Passageway was nothing more than a scorched pile of ash.

"Is… is this real?" One of the soldiers muttered, breaking the stunned silence.

Their captain, recovering first, signaled for them to approach cautiously. As they neared, Elyonari finally noticed them, her eyes widening.

"Oh no, our shopping bags!" She exclaimed suddenly, turning to Vastarael. "We left them behind, didn't we? You were holding them! Don't tell me the outfits—"

Vastarael, still lounging on the rock, raised an eyebrow at her. Without a word, he flicked his wrist, summoning a small starry portal beside him. Reaching inside, he pulled out their shopping bags, each one untouched and perfectly intact.

Elyonari's mouth fell open. "How—what? Since when do you have that?"

Vastarael smirked, "Dynasty Starisnova sent an inventory skill through World System Axia during Anamorsia's birthday for Dynasty Richinaria. It's basically infinite storage."

Elyonari crossed her arms, her disbelief clear.

"Several square kilometers of space just handed out like a birthday present? Must be nice being a Richinaria."

"It has its perks," he said with a shrug, casually tucking the bags back into the portal.

Meanwhile, the platoon finally approached, their captain stepping forward cautiously.

"Greetings. What… happened here, Esteemed Prince of Anqerise?"

Vastarael glanced at the soldiers, finally acknowledging their presence with a tilt of his head.

"We dealt with it," he said simply, his tone almost dismissive.

Elyonari rolled her eyes, though her expression was amused.

"He means we handled the Krepsunas before you arrived. It's safe now. Mostly."

The captain looked between the two in disbelief and confusion.

"You handled… all of this? Alone?"

"Clearly," Vastarael replied, gesturing lazily to the bodies around them.

Elyonari sighed, standing up and dusting off her now-pristine clothes.

"Though, the Passageway is still there. You should take care of it before it fully destabilizes. Shouldn't take too long. It's already diminishing."

The captain blinked. "Wait, you didn't close it?"

"Nope," Vastarael said, standing and stretching lazily. "Not our job. You guys were supposed to handle it, right? We've already done enough for today."

Elyonari smirked, her earlier frustration gone. "He's right. You're late. Besides, we wouldn't want to completely rob you of your purpose. Consider this a team effort. Sort of."

The platoon stood there dumbfounded as Vastarael and Elyonari casually walked past them, resuming their conversation as if nothing had happened. The captain shook his head, signaling his team to move toward the Passageway.

"Seventh Enlightenment Students," one of the soldiers muttered under their breath, glancing at the retreating figures. "They don't just fight differently. They think differently too."

°°°°°°

The evening had settled over the city, casting long shadows that stretched across the streets of Minafallen. The entire city was buzzing with excitement over the Krepsuna incident earlier, the streets filled with holograms broadcasting the news.

Elyonari, seated on the couch in Vastarael's living room, absently sipped on a milkshake (they bought some before heading back) while her attention was fixed on the holographic news broadcast. The projected image of a charismatic news anchor flickered in front of her, a bright smile on their face as they recapped the day's events.

"…and the mysterious heroes who arrived at the scene just in time, swiftly dealing with the Passageway incursion, have now been confirmed as none other than two powerful students from the Academy. The Ingenious Prince and The Elven Princess have successfully saved the 13th District of Minafallen Borough, ensuring the safety of countless civilians. The question remains: why did these divine beings intervene?"

"They make it sound so dramatic," Elyonari muttered, shaking her head as she leaned back, taking a moment to reflect on the day's events.

She had already seen the footage a couple of times and each time, the weight of their actions settled a little more heavily on her.

Vastarael, meanwhile, was busy in the kitchen, a faint hum of sizzling vegetables and the soft scrape of a knife on the cutting board the only sounds in the otherwise quiet room. He glanced over his shoulder at Elyonari, his usual calm demeanor more relaxed now that the chaos had settled.

"You know, they make it sound like we were the only ones who did anything," he grumbled, tossing a few more ingredients into the pan with a flair. "That platoon are the ones who had to deal with the Passageway. We just… well, you know, stopped the Krepsunas from causing too much of a mess."

Elyonari chuckled lightly, "True. But you can't deny we did all the hard work. Besides, they're calling us heroes. Again."

She rolled her eyes but couldn't help the smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. He sighed, looking slightly exasperated as he set the knife down and moved to stir the contents of the pan.

"Ugh, I hate that word," he muttered, cutting through the vegetables. "Hero. Just because we stopped a few dogs doesn't mean we deserve to be celebrated." You know, it's just… exhausting. I didn't ask for any of this."

Elyonari raised an eyebrow, teasing him lightly.

"Are you complaining about your life? After everything you've done today?"

Vastarael shrugged, not looking up from his work.

"I'm not complaining. Just stating facts. This whole 'save the world' thing gets tiring sometimes. But, yeah, you're right. It's not that bad. I guess I should be grateful. But it doesn't help that you're staying here now."

Elyonari's eyes glinted with amusement as she leaned forward, propping herself up on her elbows.

"I can't believe you're really complaining. It's not like I'm going to take up that much space. Besides, the dorm's already so empty. You won't even notice me."

Vastarael's shoulders sagged as he turned the heat down, finally giving in to the flow of conversation.

"Fine, fine. I didn't say I mind. It's just… unexpected, that's all. You didn't even ask. You just… decided to move in. I'm not even sure what's going on anymore. Why are you staying with me again?"

Elyonari laughed, standing up and moving closer to where he was cooking. She leaned against the counter, giving him a playful look.

"Well, I'm sure I'll be a great roommate. I'm tidy, I'm quiet and, I don't leave my laundry all over the place. I'm a dignified princess you know. Besides, you didn't mind before when I broke in so... why start now?"

"So you did break in—"

"That was in the past! Let's focus on the present okay? So? What do you say?"

"I guess you're right. It's not like I have a say in the matter anyway. Welcome, I guess?"

The comment hung in the air for a moment, before he gave a half-hearted shrug.

"I just don't want to be some sort of distraction. I mean, with my looks and all… It'd be weird, right?"

Elyonari raised her eyebrow, knowing full well what he was referring to. He still wore the mask, as usual, and though it was something they'd both gotten used to, it was still odd sometimes.

"You know, you're really not as good at hiding your insecurities as you think you are. You don't have to keep hiding behind that mask. It's not like I can't still tell you're not the typical guy."

Vastarael didn't meet her eyes, instead focusing on the food again, but there was a noticeable shift in his demeanor.

"It's not about the looks. It's about the... effect I have on people. You can still feel it, right?"

Elyonari sighed, stepping closer, her tone softening.

"Yeah, I can. But I don't care about that. We're friends, right? And friends don't need to worry about looks or any of that. It's the least important thing about you."

Vastarael was quiet for a long moment, allowing her words to sink in. Finally, he looked up, meeting her gaze for a brief second.

"Thanks," he muttered, his voice barely audible.

The tension in the room lifted a little as the aroma of dinner began to fill the space, the light chatter between them continuing casually as they worked in tandem. Despite the weight of the day's events and the complexities of their respective lives, the simplicity of their company felt grounding, almost like a breath of fresh air.

And just like that, Elyonari's presence had become a part of his routine, something he never expected but was slowly beginning to appreciate more than he had imagined.