A Night Ride

Salen and Khaz were on their way to the warehouse, the motorcycle roaring as it cut through the deserted road. The wind whipped against their faces, but the conversation flowed uninterrupted, as if the rumble of the engine served as a backdrop to their thoughts.

"And you, boss? How are things? And our boy Cyrus? And the others?" Salen asked, raising his voice over the sound of the bike. He always cared, always tried to understand what was going on in everyone's heads, especially those who carried heavy burdens.

Khaz kept his eyes on the road, his hands steady on the handlebars, but his expression was serious. He knew Salen's question wasn't just out of politeness. There was real weight behind it.

"Well, as much as I'm hard on the kid, you know I try to keep the bad stuff from repeating... Even Nathanos, who loves sowing discord, seems to care about him in some way." Khaz's voice sounded deeper, as if each word carried a hidden meaning.

Salen let out a low laugh, but the tone of suspicion didn't fade.

"Now this Magnus guy... Wants to offer a spot at the Divine Academy as if that's something possible for someone who clocks in at seven every morning, scrapes together enough to pay rent, and barely avoids starving..."

Khaz's expression remained unreadable, the wind tousling his hair as he continued:

"Something smells off. When the handout's too good, the saint gets suspicious."

Salen furrowed his brow, the discomfort evident in his voice:

"Wait... When you say 'Magnus,' are you talking about the SS-Rank Avatar?"

The name carried weight. The surprise in Salen's tone didn't go unnoticed, and Khaz felt the tension between them grow.

"How did this happen so suddenly?"

The motorcycle's engine hummed beneath Salen's feet, but his gaze was fixed on Khaz, waiting for an answer. Something felt out of place, and the unease only grew.

Khaz sighed, not taking his eyes off the road.

"For now, that's all I can tell you. Even I don't fully understand that old man's true intentions."

The tone of his voice made it clear the subject was closed. Salen realized pressing further wouldn't help.

After nearly an hour of driving to a remote location, the two finally arrived at the warehouse. The place was an old shed, surrounded by an unsettling silence.

As soon as the bike came to a stop, a rough, sarcastic voice greeted them:

"Finally, our dear little boss has arrived!"

Gideon emerged from the shadows of the warehouse, a man of average height with short, red hair. He wore only black pants and worn boots. His body was covered in scars and tattoos, details that only made his presence more intimidating.

Khaz stopped the bike, letting out a low chuckle before giving his order:

"I'll park. In the meantime, get everyone to gather at the table and pour the whiskey."

He gave a slight nod to Salen before walking away, guiding the bike to the parking area.