CHAPTER 71: [ COMPANION ]

Shah finally turned from the window, looking at Fae standing further behind.

The pressure was palpable between Fae and Alexander, the air felt heavier and the room narrower.

"You’re the ones who are given a fair chance. She won’t be fighting tomorrow."

Alexander then turned to Tricia who hadn’t moved an inch, completely frozen.

"I would move if I were you," said Alexander.

It looked as if she returned to life, self-conscious about how close she was sitting. She broke away from him, and swiftly moved to the other side, making Silver scooch toward Shah, who clicked her tongue as his elbow brushed hers.

While on the surface she looked annoyed, it was easy to see she wasn’t really.

Why are girls like this?

His attention then went to Fae, whose fiery gaze burned bright beneath the mask she wore.

He gestured with his head for her to join him.

She slowly approached, then sat next to him on the couch.

Tricia couldn’t help but look away, too uncomfortable. She played with her hair nervously, chuckling despite how no words had even been spoken.

"I didn’t know you were seeing someone," she said.

"We’re not together."

He then glanced at Fae, realizing his poor choice of words.

"Not romantically. Otherwise, we’re always together. She’s my companion, I found her in my inner path."

Silver rolled his eyes when he saw the shock on Tricia and Shah’s face.

"I literally told you guys that he had a human companion."

"What? Who would ever think that you’re serious? This is... impossible. She has to be another dungeon runner," said Tricia.

Even shah’s annoyed expression turned into one of pure surprise.

"She does feel different, but so do you..." she said, glancing at Alexander.

"I went through assessment with him, that’s where we actually met, I can confirm it’s true."

"Companions are usually—" started Tricia.

"Beasts? I know. She’s not."

She nodded with her eyebrows raised, impressed, while Shah’s expression looked like it suddenly went back to factory settings, astonished.

"But," intervened Silver, "why keep her out of the fight? People with companions rarely amount to anything without them, you’re just handicapping yourself."

The waitress arrived with a large platter resting on her hand.

The table went silent, as she smiled and leaned over to lay on the table everyone’s order.

Once her platter was empty, she left without a word, leaving them to it.

Silver was the first one to dig in, his facial expression reflecting every flavor gracing his tongue. Tricia’s eyes lit up, one could almost see the sparks flying.

Shah, on the other hand, simply took a sip of her black coffee, Alexander picking up on every micro-expression detailing how bitter she found it.

Really?

Alexander sighed, dragging the bowl before him toward Fae who was still looking straight into his eyes, this time calm and composed.

He nodded at Fae, gesturing toward the spoon inviting her to take it.

She grabbed it, carefully lifting her mask and taking a bite before letting it fall back down on her face.

She didn’t say a word, her gaze speaking louder than words.

So, you like sweet things...I’ll make sure to remember that.

His attention then went back to the rest of the group.

"You all seem to be good people. For one, none of you mentioned that I was a cultist, I suspect Silver might have been behind that."

They all shared a look, as if caught red-handed.

"But you guys don’t stand a chance."

They all paused, Silver putting his spoon down against the plate with an awkward smile.

"None of you even noticed her," he said, pointing at Fae who took another bite of the ice cream.

"Well..." started Silver.

"I appreciate the concern, but instead of going easy on me you should go all out—from the moment the bell rings. Or it’ll be over before you even realize it."

"Hah," said Shah. "I guess all that fame went to your head, or infamy, actually..."

Her smug expression quickly faded the moment she looked in Fae’s direction, going back to looking outside the window.

Laughter abruptly interrupted the moment, Silver holding onto his chest as he tried holding himself back.

"Hahaha, you’re probably right. We might have made foolish assumptions... Oh man, and to think this was my idea," he said.

A tiny crack made its way on Alexander’s cold exterior as he watched Silver chuckling to himself.

He suddenly got up, Fae imitating his movement, both of them standing next to the table.

He hadn’t tasted the ice cream, he couldn’t find the appetite. In the end, Fae had been the only one to enjoy it.

His eyes barely held up, the exhaustion was slowly settling in, he truly wanted to let go of [ Witness of All Paths ].

He set his tired gaze onto Silver.

It felt like pulling onto something buried deep, this time it only required more work for it to work properly.

Silver’s gaze froze, his pupils dilated while his smile slowly faded into darkness.

He was pulled away, somewhere dark and cold.

Both Alexander and Silver remained still for a short moment, Tricia quickly pulling on Silver’s shoulder.

"What’s happening?"

She then looked at Alexander.

"What are you doing?!"

Alexander finally looked away, the moment he did, Silver’s hand started to shake.

Cold sweat ran down his back, his breathing shortened.

"I’m leaving."

He softly grabbed Fae’s shoulder, both of them turning to leave.

"Really?!" she said in disbelief, quickly dragging a glass of water toward Silver who was still pale and silent.

Alexander stopped at the front counter, paying with his black card before leaving the cafe.

It was colder, but they luckily only had to walk a few streets before reaching the hotel they resided in.

On the way over he could feel Fae’s inquisitive gaze, something he felt to be occurring more often lately.

"What?" he said.

Stares and glances were directed at him constantly, yet as he walked next to her he felt as if it was only the both of them.

He sighed, admitting defeat under her relentless probing gaze.

"Showing him [ The Weight ] is the only tip I’ll give him. Everything else rests on his shoulders."