Tap tap tap
The morning air was crisp, the kind that lingered like dew. A foggy haze hung over the streets, filling the world, as it hadn't quite woken up yet. The usual hum of foot traffic he had witnessed prior was absent - only the faint hiss of transport pods, and the wisps of air gave the morning any voice.
Riven walked alone.
Tap tap tap
The weight of his steps wasn't from fatigue....but it was from something heavier, something internal. Fiddling with the capsule in his pocket, Riven's silver eyes scanned the nearby streets, but his gaze felt far away - like he was reminiscing.
Tap tap tap
The futuristic scenery, and devices which had always managed to surprise Riven; seemed secondary to his thoughts.
Every step closer to the apartment felt slower, heavier. He wasn't limping - his body was sore, but he had adapted and grew stronger. It was something else.
-Train well. Don't die too quickly-
The words echoed softly in his mind as he walked down the empty street. The world around him moved on, unaware of the battle inside of him right now.
It wasn't a long time, but it felt like forever.
'He helped me when I couldn't make sense of anything...'
Tap tap ta-
He paused briefly by a cracked lamppost. Looking at the worn pavement beneath him- it's faded lines and rough texture, paining a story of countless footsteps treading over it. Riven felt like he was standing on the edge of two worlds, neither fully his yet.
Huuff
With a slow breath, Riven straightened his shoulders, walking on.
Each step echoed softly. The buildings around seemed smaller somehow, like the weight of everything he'd learned was pressing down on them.
Greeted with the familiar apartment building, he walked up the steps, reaching the worn metal door that was his.
Jingle, Creak
Fumbling a bit, he finally pulled open the door and stepped inside, the silence wrapping around him like a heavy cloak.
He hadn't stayed there long, one day in fact, but he'd already become used to the layout.
Rooted by the front door, he took in the stale air he was greeted with. The narrow hallway, the dim lights, the quiet hum of the fridge to the left, everything was the same....but it wasn't.
Moving through the rooms on autopilot, he threw of his shoes and placed the capsule, and his holo-phone on the desk.
His footsteps softly reverberated through the floorboards as he strolled to the bathroom.
Creak
Walking over to the sink, he placed his hands on either side and stood there momentarily, before wiping his hand across the fogged mirror.
There was no thoughts, no inner monologues...just silence as he stared at his reflection.
The change wasn't loud, but it was apparent. His face had sharpened - the softness of before was shaved down by repetition and effort. His jaw; more defined, his cheekbones were clearer beneath his skin. His grey eyes shown more colour, more stillness, but they carried more meaning.
Below his neck, the changes were clearer. His arms, once thin, soft, held the beginnings of lean shape. His shoulders were more set, and his chest was tighter, compact.
The way he held himself had altered as-well, the posture of before, now grounded, more present.
He didn't smile, didn't frown he just looked, before he stripped down and entered the shower.
The cold hit him like a slap.
It wasn't gentle and it didn't ease him in. It arrived quick, shocking his nerves abruptly.
He stood still, breathing shallow, water training down his now, leaner frame. Muscles that hadn't existed weeks ago, now ached under the freezing temperature. His body had changed for certain, it was stronger, but his mind still held the scene of leaving.
His face had stayed blank in the shower, eyes fixed on the brick background. Something began to change under the surface however.
He let the chill of the water pull him out. There was no comfort to sink into. It was just him and his thoughts...and the cold pressing down onto him.
-You know where to find me-
The memory surfaced like a breath underwater, bubbling to the forefront.
And then another came.
----
He had reached for the plate Maelis had sat down.
Smack
A sharp sting on the back of his hand shocked him.
'!'
"You really think you're faster than me already?", Maelis stated, before echoing, "Sit. Wait. Then eat".
Riven blinked, pulling his hand back like a scolded cat - Maelis smirked, and to Riven's surprise still slid the bowl over anyway.
----
In the shower, the memory crept uninvited, and for the first time since he left... he smiled.
He could still feel the sting on his hand. The heat from the steaming bowl. Hear the silence after a long day of training.
Sigh
He exhaled, the cold water waking him up. His smile faded, but not completely disappearing.
"Yeah...", he mumbled, voice a whisper under the current of water.
"Time for me to focus."
His hands tightened into a light ball, 'I'll meet him again'.
Cutting the shower off.
Drip drip
Riven stepped out, cold steam climbing off of him. Although it ached his muscles, the shower had gave him a steady rhythm; a focus that returned him back to reality. Earlier, the walk home felt like moving through an endless fog, now the mist was lifting.
Entering the bed-room, he swayed over to his wardrobe, as little droplets rained on the floor.
Moving without a rush, he slowly changing into a comfortable set of clothes; charcoal-grey joggers and a soft black hoodie.
Tugging it over his head, the pair rested differently on him.
'Ok...the day's almost here', he thought, taking steps to his desk where he placed his holo-phone and capsule.
Picking up his phone first, 'I checked before but the Academy should be relatively close...'
After not using for a while, he turned it on. The screen blinked to life, projecting the screen close to his face.
No messages.
Opening the map, he remembered it was '45 minutes' from where he was, Sector 4, to Sector 2, prior.
Adjusting the map, he was looking to find the nearest pod station. He had seen them multiple times by now and had a few conversations with Maelis about them.
Tap tap
A few taps later, he was met with their interface, and prices. '30 MKR(Marks)', it read.
'MKR? he thought. Apart from basic conversations, he still had no idea about the currency of Eldris.
'Must be these marks...', he thought, 'Now how much do I have?', his eyes squinted.
Tap tap tap
Navigating to his home, he noticed an app called 'CRE Bank'.
Clicking on it, he was formally greeted with the home page of the, 'Central Reserve of Eldris'.
'This should be it', he thought, his face neutral.
The login page flashed for a second, but before he could adjust, it cleared. "Welcome back, Riven.
Not questioning how it logged in so quickly, a digital chime echoed taking his attention.
[ 1,200 MRK's]
"This should be plenty for now, and anything I need to buy in the near future", he muttered, gandering at his balance.
Swiping back to the transit tab, he scanned for available pods. Not wanting to book too late, he decided to book for one later today, at 5 pm. Since it was morning, he could rest for now and go to the academy early.
"Seem's like a plan", he spoke out loud, booking the pod.
Reading the thank you declaration after the payment went through, he placed his phone down.
Sitting on the bed, he looked up at the small, sleek capsule shaped like a cube.
Extending, he grasped the cube, activating it's mechanism at the bottom. Suddenly, a small 3D projection appeared, showcasing its contents.
The only current item seemed to be the blade Maelis had gifted him. But Riven noticed what seemed to be a set of carefully bundled tea bags, rested quietly.
Riven chuckled softly, "Teabags? Seriously, Maelis?", the thought of it bringing a smile to his lips.
Leaving it there temporarily, he remembered all their conversations when they'd drink. He never used to drink tea, but the change was nice, relaxing even.
Taking the sword out, it appeared in his hand instantly.
Holding it again; it was shorter than a standard long-sword, the weapon seemingly forged with minimalism in mind - its form was lean and efficient, carrying an undeniable gravity.
The alloy shimmered faintly in the soft room light, not silver or steel, but a matte iron-grey that seemed to shine in the world around it.
The edge of the blade; thin. It glinted with an undeniable hunger.
Dark wrappings and subtle grooves worn into the grip, it wasn't flamboyant in design, or even practically it seemed.
It wasn't made to impress.
It was made to end things.
He stared in his reflection with an awe, after taking in the finer details.
It was now his, and so it was time to name it.
Holding it up, the weight felt different. It wasn't heavier or lighter - but it was filled. With memory, and with purpose.
A faint smile tugged at his mouth.
"Mael's Fang", he muttered.