Zenoir
— Emma… why the hell am I carrying your stuff? — I asked as I tried to balance her guitar and her overstuffed suitcases.
— You talk too much and do too little… — she replied, walking off the ship.
We had been together for a month. Although I had completed most missions partially on my own, Emma always stayed nearby. But whenever we arrived at a new continent, she would leave me behind and head to her shows.
"I didn't know this damn woman was so famous…", I thought, pushing her suitcases off the ship.
Despite having gold and considering herself "rich," once I became her apprentice, I had essentially become… her "do-it-all."
— You should be… training me! — I complained, dragging her incredibly heavy suitcase. — What the hell is in here? Are you carrying slaves?
On every trip, Emma bought every slave she saw, even those pretending to be slaves, and then freed them immediately. I always tried to warn her:
— They will likely become slaves again.
Emma never listened and did whatever she wanted.
— At least help me carry this junk! —
Back on Zero Island, after missions across the continent of Alicia and some in Vernécia, I realized we had spent more time away than planned. Emma constantly taught me mana control. Since her affinity matched mine — light — it was natural for her to pass on her knowledge. I spent long periods training my aura, increasing and then slowly releasing it. Results were good, but my control eventually plateaued.
The port was crowded. Ships arrived and departed, including the cruiser that had brought us. Upon disembarking, Emma spotted another group of slaves for sale. Humans, ferals, and half-elves. Her eyes fixed on the seller, covered entirely in a black cloak.
— How much? — Emma asked.
— Ten gold coins each, my lady! — the man replied, holding the chains.
Emma examined each slave, pressing their wrists.
— They aren't worth that much. They're dehydrated and malnourished. I offer five coins each. There are five of them. Do you accept? —
The man hesitated but agreed. Emma snapped the chains with her hands, one by one. The steel collars fell to the ground. She gave some gold to the slaves and whispered words I couldn't hear. Then, she approached me.
— Emma… what are you doing with all these slaves? — I asked, curious.
— Don't worry about it. Shall we go? — she replied with a forced smile.
— Are you coming, or staying behind? — she asked, walking toward the main hotel.
— Hey! Help me carry these things! —
////
After dropping our luggage at the hotel, we went to a high-end restaurant. It was around one in the afternoon; we were eating oysters with wine.
— W-where are we going next? — I asked.
— I think it's time for us to take on a higher-level mission… — she replied, inhaling the aroma of her wine.
— Really? — I was surprised. Until now, we'd only done level B or lower missions, which paid very little.
"Maybe she's running out of gold… or not."
— Yes, and I want to teach you something else. —
— Finally! What is it? — I asked eagerly.
— Finally what? It's not like I haven't taught you anything… Haven't I taught you fire magic? — Emma said, putting down her cutlery.
— That only works to light torches… and maybe a fireplace, — I teased.
— You really irritate me. — She stood, wiping her mouth with a napkin. — I'm going to fetch the next mission. Meet me at the fountain by the headquarters. Don't be late. —
After finishing lunch, I went to the fountain. The sun was high, near 35 degrees Celsius, people moving around. Suddenly, a deep voice cut through the air:
— Isn't this the young adventurer? —
I turned. Five people approached: three humans, a male dwarf, and a feral resembling a humanoid wolf. The feral was chained, pulled by a man in front.
"A slave?" I thought.
— So the rumors are true… another dog for the organization, — the man said.
The women, though organization members, clung to the man's arms like companions. The man was strong, tall, bronze-skinned, scarred, wearing a blue uniform — a hunter.
"What does he want with me?"
— I don't like your look, boy… — he said.
I kept my gaze toward the tower, ignoring him. Then he shouted:
— Filthy creature! —
He yanked the feral across the ground, kicking it. The wolf was skeletal, expressionless, injured and bleeding. I couldn't ignore it. I removed my hood and said:
— Stop… if you continue, he will die. —
The man froze, staring at me with the look of an uncontrollable beast.
— Don't give me orders, boy. —
— I said stop!! — I shouted. I took two steps, and with a kick in the air, waves pushed two of his allies away. The man grabbed the feral and threw it carelessly.
— Come to me… Apolo!! — he shouted, raising his arm. Dense darkness emerged, absorbing light. A gigantic axe appeared in his hands, wrapped in black mana with dark red edges.
"So this is Apolo…" I thought, staying defensive.
He attacked with a vertical slash. I rolled to the side. His axe hit the ground, cracking the area. I summoned my soul; electric particles formed in my hand, transforming into pure light. My blade appeared — silver with a golden hilt, wings engraved along its length.
His attack came. I slid my blade, deflecting and striking the ground. He turned, grinning with sadistic pleasure.
— I only intended to wound you, boy, but now… I want to kill you! I want your blood! —
The fight escalated. My agility compensated for my lack of strength. I slashed his upper torso, leaving a superficial wound. He unleashed all his rage, mana glowing dark red. People fled or fainted.
— I'm tired of playing, try to hold this!! — he roared, launching dark energy like molten lava.
I remembered my mother. A tear fell. I opened my eyes and said:
— I didn't want to use this, but… it's time to show that the light fears no abyss. —
My divine form emerged. Pulsing light radiated from my body, electricity ran across my skin, unknown symbols glowed. I struck his energy with my blade, splitting it in two. He stepped back, surprised.
— You… are strong. But I haven't used my full power yet. —
— I'm holding back too. Let's finish this. —
I charged my mana into my soul. We ran at each other, almost a flash of light and shadow. Just before our attacks met, dozens of organization members restrained us. In front of me, Emma — red-cardinal eyes, almost-white pink hair — held my blade bare-handed.
"How is she unharmed?"
— Can't even follow an order? What form is this? — she asked, inspecting me.
— We all have our secrets, don't we? — I replied with a smirk.
Emma turned toward the man, still restrained, and said:
— Touch him again, and I will kill you myself. —
The ground cracked under her mana. He retreated, releasing himself from those restraining him, but dared not confront us again.
— What's your name? — I shouted.
— I'm Ikari, of the Yan house. Good fight, boy. Prepare for the next one — you won't survive. —
Emma released my blade, looking at me coldly:
— You're an idiot. If he had used his full strength, he would've killed you. That form…? —
— Huh? The divine form? My old master taught me. And him? What is he in the organization? —
— Captain of the sixth division. Stay away from him. —
— I don't like people like that. He was beating a slave for pleasure. I had to intervene. —
— I understand… return to normal. Let's go. I've picked up our mission, we leave early tomorrow. —