The moon hung in the night sky, the indigo gate flickered as the hunters came out of it. As soon as the three stepped out, another person followed behind. His first step on Earth froze the nearby workers.
His almost white hair freely moved in the air but his completely black irises made him look like the devil. The woman who took care of the shelter kids once told the kids about the devil,
'The Devil is real. And he's not a little red man with horns and a tail. He can be beautiful. Because he's a fallen angel, and he used to be God's favorite.'
Xior remembered that as he saw the look in the eyes of workers. But he couldn't stop due to that. He was a human as well, as he completely walked out of the gate he went over to the three hunters. Another man was there, he was almost as big as Thomas.
Hunter Nolan, was the guild master of the Griffin Guild and a SS Rank hunter. He sixth sense screamed at him that Xior was dangerous.
His eyes shifted as he grabbed his shoulder stopping his skill which automatically activates when a demonic presence is nearby. He sighs and turns to face Xior.
"Who are you?" He questioned.
"None of your business." Xior responded with the same indifference.
Nolan walked and stood in front of him. Thomas saw this and intervened. Nolan looked down on Xior but he stared back. In front of a taller person he looked up and stared him back. Nolan was taken aback as his muscles tightened and expression changed.
"Nolan don't do what you're about to-"
Thomas was cut off as Nolan's fist moved to punch Xior's face. But to his surprise the fist was blocked. Xior raised his hand and stopped it.
"Wha-"
"How?" Nolan asked.
"Hunter Nolan, what do you think you're doing?" Becca said glaring at him just like Xior did.
Nolan realized the situation late, he retracted his arm and straightened his clothes. Ming looked at Xior for any injuries but was fascinated as how the broken fingers of his hand healed.
"Xi-Xior, are you alright?"
"I'm fine...you don't believe I'm Xior, do you?" He asked as he sat down on the ground.
"It's not that I don't believe, it's just that I've changed. Unless it isn't proved through some identification test, I won't fully believe it." She responded as she walked away.
He looked at the sky, clouds had covered the whole sky as it started drizzling. It had been five years since he was thrown into the Abyss. He spent all that time in a foreign land with a black hole which remained as it always was.
He understood Becca, the grief and how hurt she has been so far justifies her behavior. But still he wanted their reunion to be slightly better than this. Nolan and the other hunters talked and came to a decision.
Xior was to be detained for now, they called the Hunter Association and they sent their Hunters and experts with cuffs that cut off mana flow. They board the airship which is to take them to the Hunter Association building in New Federation.
*****
The room was empty except for a table in the center, one chair on a side and two on the opposite side. Xior stood in front of the window as he looked out into the horizon which showed the entirety of New Federation.
There was a camera inside the room, monitoring his movements. The door opened and Maria, Becca and a man in black suit enter the room. Maria stands behind and lets the other two sit. Xior also sits across them.
"Let me introduce myself, I am an investigator for the Hunter Association. Before we start, if you're deemed as a threat you'll be neutralized asap.
Understood?" The man coldly declared as he puffed his chest.
He thought provocation would work on him too but he was mistaken. Xior's eyes had no change, he just nodded his head and shifted his gaze to Becca. This angered the investigator as he slammed his hand on the table as an act to provoke him.
But there was simply no reaction from Xior, he looked like a ghost who isn't bothered by humans. Maria sighed standing behind.
"Investigator, could you please start? I don't have all day."
"Ahem, so you claim to be Xior Arden, right?"
Xior put his hands on the table and replied, "yes, I am Xior Arden."
"So then would you like to explain to me why are you dead in the official records? Impersonation is a severe crime, you'll be thrown into prison and rot there for your whole life or get neutralized by the Association.
We can't possibly know who or what you are? Sure, you may look human but what if you're a monster disguised as a human?"
Once again Xior didn't respond, he knew the investigator was trying to corner him since he came out of a gate, the Association wanted this to not get out.
Xior looked at the camera in the room before letting out a exaggerated sigh.
"I know you're seeing all of this, if I was a threat I would've already caused chaos and killed people. You can do a blood test, surely there have been some advancements in technology since the last five years." Xior exclaimed as he slumped back on the chair.
"What is this nonsense? Do you really believe we will fall for your trick?"
"Investigator, let me ask him something." Becca said as she looked down, her eyes not meeting his.
"You can, Becca. No need to ask, you can say anything you want." Maria reassured her.
"Xior, tell me do you remember how we first met?" She questioned.
Xior's eyes which were completely black reflected light and it felt there was a spark inside them. His brain brought back the scene from when they first met.
"Yes, I do."
"..."
"It was winter, Sector H was still under construction. Snow fell everywhere. Just around the corner from the shelter is a park, I used to go there daily and one day I saw you sitting in a corner all by yourself.
You looked sad, so I came up to you and talked to you. That was the first time we met. Your mother was missing, your dad had already died and at that moment you were alone. Just like how I was.
I grabbed your hand and took you to the shelter."
Uncontrollable tears rolled down from Becca's eyes, the wall she had built around her instantly melted and a warmth engulfed her. Five years, she endured it all for five years but now she could let go.
Because her only remaining family was back. Xior stood up from his chair, for the first time in a decade a tear rolled down his cheek as he hugged Becca.