Dean sat at the corner booth of a cramped restaurant in the residential district of the city.
It had been two days since the battle at wall gray and some parts of the city were still trying to get themselves together.
On the table, where he sat and waited. There was a sealed, black briefcase. It contained items he'd come over to this part of the city to collect for Ying.
He had no clue what was inside. After all, he was just asked to pick it up from the contact and nothing more.
But just being in close-proximity with the briefcase, he had a few guesses which mostly revolved around flux crystals or maybe a special metal for forging.
Trying not to dwell on the briefcase while he waited. He looked out the greasy windows.
He noticed the people in the district were facing situations that were much different from the commercial district.
One plain example was how about half of them were being locked out of their homes after returning from the Arks.
The streets outside were busy but not in the usual bustling and grinding way he knew slums to be like from his first life.
People were instead moving with their belongings, speaking with W.S.A agents while they formed lines outside certain marked buildings with housing signs he wasn't familiar with.
To think, it'd been two whole days and yet the what was planned to safeguard these people was now coming back to bite them in the ass.
'Different worlds, same problems,' Dean thought.
He looked to where the chef was arranging food for a waiter which in reality was an ant familiar with multiple hands.
It carried dishes and served several tables with efficiency like it was human.
The relationship between summoners and familiars was an interesting dynamic if Dean dared say so himself.
Speaking of familiars. He recalled several rumors he'd heard on his way here.
They were about how Leona had arrived at Wall Gray and single-handedly pushed back the monster forces and left a wall of fire that kept burning for hours.
Even from where he sat. Seeing the chef and his ant familiar. And how the general public functioned with familiars, literally in every district.
It was without question how these creatures were deeply ingrained into their lives, whether it be defending the walls, building houses, transportation or even something as mundane as a simple restaurant.
One truth stood supreme above almost everything else.
Having a familiar was equal to survival.
It wasn't a luxury but a baseline to existing here and having weak ones already made people look at you differently.
Dean could only imagine not having any at all or being incapable of summoning one.
That was basically like being cursed.
'That would be quite the hell.' he thought as he leaned back on the chair to check the time.
It was 14: 58.
His cousin was definitely running late.
Dean heard the door behind him opened and swiftly he turned to check but it wasn't his cousin.
'Damn,' he thought as he started entertaining thoughts of leaving but every time he remembered why he was really here. He had a change of heart.
About ten minutes later, the door opened again but Dean didn't look back immediately as he didn't sense any verge pressure or even aura.
"Hello stranger…You waiting for your lover?"
Dean's head snapped up. He recognized that voice as easily as he knew his own.
He turned to see Yin standing at the entrance with a wide grin as if he'd pulled off the grandest prank in history.
Dean blinked. 'I really cannot sense anything about this man.'
His cousin walked across the room while waving to a few familiar people.
He sat comfortably across Dean like he owned the place as he looked at Dean for a moment.
"You look confused," Yin said while grinning.
"Ohh.. it's nothing." Dean said.
Dean studied the man without trying. He had their typical black hair that hung loosely over his face and shoulders.
He had no familiar on his shoulders, no verge pressure, no trace of spiritual energy leaking out.
This was because there was none.
Yin Gray was a Null.
The memories of this body showed he'd known this for years but the sensation still felt weird for Dean.
In a world where even the weakest had verge essence and could do the bare minimum. His cousin had none whatsoever.
This was the Gray curse.
It's either you're unable to summon anything reasonable or you get dealt this card.
<><><>
"So…,You're ready to collect?" Yin said as he shifted confidently.
Dean raised an eyebrow. "You mean you're ready to pay up?
"Depends. Did you bet on the right guy?"
Dean had bet on a summoner race in the underground circuit about three weeks ago.
It was considered illegal but Yin had a guy…!
And the truth was … Dean had lost badly.
And he owed a little close to a thousand quids right now.
But instead of asking for payment from Dean. Yin reached into his jacket and pulled a stack of quids.
He slid it across the table to Dean.
Dean caught it as he raised the stack up.
"Your winnings." Yin said with a straight face.
Dean looked at him and he understood that expression. It was one of compassion rather than acceptance.
"I lost, didn't I?"
"Did you?" Yin smirked.
"Yes," Dean answered as if he was certain.
But Yin saw through it and only laughed mildly.
"Just take the money little bro."
Dean immediately picked up the stack and counted.
'One thousand quids.'
"One thousand. You're definitely covering for my loss." Dean said flatly as his hand tightened on the stack.
"Call it an investment in family affairs,"
'What does that even mean?' Dean thought.
He didn't like owing debts and favors. Though he was happy for the cash since it would help him retire from being Ying's delivery guy before finding something else to do.
Looking at his confused expression. Yin reached into his brown jacket again and brought out a small black casing with an insignia on it.
He slid it across the table.
"What's this?"
"Your coming of age, gift."
Dean frowned. "My birthday is not for a few more weeks."
"I know." Yin said as he waved over a waiter. "I might not be here in a few weeks."
Dean's eyes lifted slowly as he spoke. "Where are you going?"
He picked up the casing and inspected it but couldn't feel anything from it.
"Open it later, when you're home," Yin said, even as he ordered food for both of them. After all, he knew what Dean liked.
"Hmmm," Dean wasn't bothered that he ordered for two. His focus was on the casing which had the seal insignia underneath.
He looked at the box causing and then at Yin. He picked it up and placed it alongside the briefcase.
"So when are you leaving?" He asked again, immediately after the waiter left.
Yin sighed. "The scouting vanguard will be heading out after what happened at Wall Gray."
Dean nodded thoughtfully.
"Wall command wants boots on the ground, so I will be heading out very soon."
Dean leaned back on the chair. His eyes narrowed.
"How long will you be out?"
"A month. Maybe two."
Dean nodded. "Be careful."
"Always am," Yin said as he grinned.
Soon the food arrived and they ate together. They discussed everything including how Dean's re-evaluation went and Yin overjoyed with Dean coming third.
He was so happy, he ordered take outs for Dean.
After a few minutes of food, beverages and laughter. They called it a day.
By the time Dean left the restaurant, the sun had begun setting.
<><><>
The trip from the lower district to the middle district took about an hour.
The phantom steed carriages didn't follow a direct route. And between two stoppages, a checkpoint and some W.S.A inspections, Dean finally saw the Gray main family house coming into view.
He walked through the gates with a briefcase in hand, Take-outs in polythene bag and his gift and cash neatly tucked in his pockets.
The compound was quiet and even the forge had been stopped for the day.
Dean entered the main house and found Yuki in the hallway waiting.
Her expression was the same as ever but there was something about how she leaned on the wall with her arms crossed that bothered him.
"What is it?" He asked.
"You have a visitor."
Dean frowned slightly. He was already tired.
"Who?"
"In the sitting room. Being waiting for an hour." Yuki gestured.
Dean sighed.
'Don't tell me another academy representative came in person this time.'
He walked toward the sitting room with briefcase still in hand.
A/N: Support with Powerstones and Golden Tickets. Thank you