"Wait, are you serious?!"

Kayland's face twisted into bewilderment. In all his years, he had never expected to hear those words from Nier.

But Nier didn't answer right away. Instead, he called out, his voice sharp.

"NIERRR!!!…

Kayland's shout earned only a sigh before Nier finally responded.

"Yes... Due to unique circumstances beyond my control, I've been left with no choice but to walk a different path now. I know I was the one who wanted to live a simple life, and my time at the call center allowed me to do that."

He said, slowly leading the conversation to the part he wanted to say the most.

"For that, send my thanks to Esther, your mother was truly kind to offer me a job there. But I am afraid I must move on to another chapter in my life now."

He spoke plainly, with no hesitation.

Kayland felt torn. On one hand, he wanted Nier to stay where he thought he would be safer working for him. Official source is novęlfire.net

On the other, he knew Nier needed to start socializing again, especially with women.

And looking into his friend's eyes, he could tell this was a decision Nier had made long ago.

"Sigh… You know what, buddy? I won't stop you, it's not my place. And if you ever need a job again just hit me up, my door will always be open. Still… I can't help but wonder if you've gotten yourself into some kind of trouble."

Nier stayed silent.

He wasn't in any immediate trouble at the moment, but the nature of his existence demanded change.

"I'll take your silence as confirmation the!?"

"Tell me, dude...what brought this on?"

"Kayland."

Nier said quietly, calling out to the muscular blonde.

"I am going to show you something… and then I want you to put two and two together."

Turning his back, he left Kayland puzzled.

As he began to ponder.

"Tell me what th...

Kayland began, but stopped as Nier finally turned around, locking eyes with him.

"By Mother Gaia… Nier, have you... Have you?"

"Yes."

Nier's voice was calm, but his appearance was anything but. His eyes were pitch black, dark veins tracing across his face.

The Eyes of the Occultist.

When he looked at Kayland, the world shifted. Waves and frequencies swirled in the air.

He could see the man's organs, the heat signature of his body, and...most vividly, his soul. The brightest shade of burning red he has seen so far since he created this ability.

'I figured his soul would be that color. Still… he is my friend. Who am I to judge? My own soul is a literal abomination.'

Shaking off the thought, he said simply.

"I've awakened."

Kayland world seem to have paused for a bit when he heard the news.

His response not coming till moments later.

"Holy shit, dude, that's big. Oh my god."

Kayland's eyes widened, his mind already racing to guess what new power this was.

"Damn, bro… to think you actually awakened, and became a Hesta. Badass. So what's your ability? You look both badass and creepy as hell by the way."

"I don't know exactly… my power seems to be a versatilis type though."

He commented.

The Kayland responded back with.

"Well I will be damned, isn't that the rarest class types? I've heard those with that type of superhuman ability type's can have more than two applications for their abilities."

"Yeah."

Nier replied.

"For example, I can see through walls, detect electromagnetic waves, and… everything feels like it's moving in slow motion if I focus a little. I'm sure I can do much more, but that is what I've figured out so far."

"Men I envy you, what I would give become a Hesta."

Kayland muttered, and sighed in a defeated tone.

Nier then deactivated the Occultist Eyes and said.

"I am sure your time will come soon, after all, awakening a Root Core differs from people to people, like a plant everyone who can handle Gaian Energy, first needs to mature their cardiovascular system, my time was like it was last night it would seem…but that aside, I was thinking of becoming an Occultist."

Nier informed Kayland who shortly after began to respond back to him... saying.

"Seems plausible. I see why you said you plan on facing your curse head-on. Still, an Occultist walks a dangerous path bro, hunting Fluxes, venturing into the unknown of the supernatural world… it is risky venture, even if the practice is new. You'll always be facing supernatural shit. Are you sure you're ready for something like that, bro?"

Kayland asked, genuine concern in his voice for his brother's safety.

Nier sighed before replying.

"Yeah, I've already figured all of that out… Still, I'm gonna need some cash, so I'll have to get my Paranormal license as well."

'Everything I said so far is total bullshit to an extent, I am glad he is buying it, my acting skill is truly superb.'

He thought to himself.

'But it's better if he believes I am a Hesta rather than a humanoid Flux. He might be my best friend, my brother, but I'd rather ease him into the truth slowly, rather than drown his ass in too deep of it. Still… I really do need a large amount of Carlees if I am going to pull off starting a cult in Kaly's name.'

Nier thought to himself, still mulling over where to go next after eyeing a few homeless people as potential recruits.

Ultimately, though, securing a stable, and massive source of income came first.

Kayland, meanwhile, gave Nier one last look and sighed, scratching his head before speaking.

"Alright, you don't have to come to work after this. But in return, I need you to follow me."

"Follow you? For what, and why?"

Nier asked, genuinely puzzled by the random request.

Kayland however wasn't budging.

"Come on, bro, you know it's mandatory to give me two weeks to find your replacement. At the very least, you can follow me somewhere, and we can call it even. Or… do you want to give me my two weeks?"

Kayland grinned menacingly.

"Woooooow… That's dirty, bro. Really? So it's gonna be like that?"

Nier shot back.

"Yes… unless you follow me. And besides, I'm not dragging you anywhere you won't like. I just want to give you something, but it's out of the city, in the badlands to be more precise."

"The badlands? Why the hell do you want to drag me into that hellhole?"

Nier asked, his concern now turning into genuine suspicion about his friend's sanity.

"Are you following me or not?!"

He shouted a little, still Nier has known Kayland for over or close to two decades now.

"Sigh...fine. but you better not carry me at some shady location to kill me."

"My guy you are a Hestia now, the fuck can I a normal human being even do to you?!"

"..."

"..."

A short silence befell the two of them for a quick moment, but Kayland point is solid, as such Nier folded, and said.

"That is true, I can probably kick your ass with no hands now... sigh! Very well, let's go before I changed my mind."

"Cocky asshole, just you wait till I awaken too, you hear me you arrogant bastard?"

"Hahaha if you awaken."

Nier shot back, causing the two of them to laughed at their top of their lungs, vividly amuse by their short exchange.

"Glad to see you still have sense of humor, anyways, follow me."