CHAPTER 95: AFTER DINNER

After the dinner concluded, the hall slowly began to empty as clan members dispersed to their various duties or quarters for the night. The servers moved efficiently to clear the table, their movements practiced and swift.

Tatehan realized that he didn’t even speak with anyone while he was here, when this was supposed to be a chance for him to get to know other clan members.

The group of men who had stared at Riven quite inappropriately was a big ’No’ in making friends here. But the others seemed to be pretty cool.

He shrugged it off. He wasn’t so social as Gavin, and now as Tatehan, that trait had followed him. He was only friends with Riven because she had been persistent and seemed super friendly.

Back on Earth, he was mostly lonely if not for his girlfriend and his dog. His girlfriend was like his Best friend.

There was also a guy who loved to read Dragon novels. The guy would come around and discuss about the dragon novels he’d read over the past days of weeks, depending on when last they met.

Ah..., good times.

Tatehan was certain the dragon fanatic died during the unexpected space dragon wars and he was pretty sure he wasn’t recarnated to the future like him.

Well, his current life was also worth living. At least he was more attractive than before and had numerous super powers.

Here, he saw flying cars, neon houses and many more futuristic things. The only thing that’ll make him miss his old life was his girlfriend and dog.

Kessa appeared at Tatehan’s side, her presence as quiet and professional as before.

"I’ll escort you back to your quarters," she said simply.

Tatehan nodded and stood, his body protesting slightly. Despite the partial regeneration working throughout the meal, he was still sore and deeply exhausted. The weight of the day was finally catching up to him.

He turned to Riven, who was also standing, looking equally tired.

"Good night," he said.

"Good night," she replied with a small, weary smile.

The commander, still seated in her hovering chair, gave them both a curt nod—her version of a farewell, stern but not unfriendly.

"Rest well, Mauler Slayer," she said. "We’ll speak again in the morning."

’Speak again in the morning? On what?’

Although a bit curious and worried at the words, Tatehan bowed his head respectfully, then followed Kessa out of the hall with Riven at his side.

The walk back to the guest quarters was quiet, the compound now settled into the stillness of night. The air was cool, and the sky above was a vast expanse of stars, more stars than Tatehan had ever seen, even from the spaceship. Mars had no light pollution out here (though the city was gleaming with artificial light) so the view was breathtaking.

They reached the East Wing, and Kessa stopped first at Riven’s door.

"Sleep well," Kessa said to her, polite than usual or perhaps she was just following protocol.

"Thank you," Riven replied, then glanced at Tatehan one more time. "See you tomorrow."

Riven entered her room, and the door slid shut behind her.

Kessa then led Tatehan the short distance to his own door. She pressed the panel, and it opened.

"If you need anything during the night, there’s a communication panel inside near the door," Kessa explained. "Just press it, and someone will respond."

"Thank you," Tatehan said sincerely.

Kessa nodded once, then turned and walked back down the corridor, her footsteps fading into silence.

Tatehan stepped inside, and the door slid shut behind him.

The room was exactly as he’d left it, neat, quiet, and surprisingly comfortable. The bed looked incredibly inviting.

He walked over to it slowly, his muscles aching with every step. He didn’t bother changing out of the clothes he’d selected from the wardrobe earlier. He was too tired for that.

He simply lay down on the bed, sinking into the firm mattress, and closed his eyes.

With his eyes closed, he thought of the obscuron, how massively powerful the man had become. Someone that controlled the whole west of Mars and now was very keen on expanding to the North on his planet domination aim.

He remembered the documentary stuff he had listened back at the spaceship on his first night. How innocent Nathan (now the obscuron) sounded.

He shouldn’t be smiling but one smeared his face when he realized:

Nathan

Tatehan.

They were basically the same in a way.

Within moments, sleep claimed him.

———

Tatehan woke to soft light filtering through the window.

For a moment, he didn’t remember where he was (probably a reaction of just waking up). Then the memories came flooding back—the duel, Mub’s death, the dinner, the information about the Obscuron.

He groaned softly and sat up, rubbing his face.

His body felt significantly better than it had the night before. The partial regeneration had continued working through the night, and while he was still sore, the sharp, stabbing pains were mostly gone. The bruises on his arms had faded considerably, now a dull yellow-green instead of the angry purple-blue they’d been.

Knowing that the partial Regeneration ability was now one level higher than before, Tatehan found it to be... Working faster than before.

He stood and walked to the window, looking out at the compound below.

It was early morning, and the compound was already active. Warriors were moving about, some heading toward the training grounds, others on patrol. Some of the Red Crest Clan clearly didn’t believe in sleeping in.

Tatehan used the washing station to clean up quickly, splashing water on his face and running his hands through his hair. He looked at himself in the polished metal mirror and was pleased to see that he looked far less rough than he had yesterday.

He was just considering what to do next when there was a knock at the door. He assumed it was Kessa.

"Come in," Tatehan called.

The door slid open, and a young guard stood there, not Kessa this time, but someone new.

Tatehan was a slightly surprised at this.

"The commander requests your presence for breakfast," the guard said. "In the main hall. Just you."

Just him? Not Riven?