The house which was filled with Van and Nara's screams finally calmed.
A chill silence filled the air, punctuated by the crackling of wood from the chimney, and the sizzling sounds from the frying pan at the center of the table.
The group sat around the dining table, with Van in front, Code and Nara on one side, and Hina on the opposite side.
"Time to eat!!" Everyone except Code shouted, before digging into the meal.
"Wooooh..." Code let out a delighted rasp. He has been doing all he could to not jump into the food, but now, he was going all out.
"Looks tasty!" Nara exclaimed.
"Now, what do I start with?" Code wondered, not knowing what to pick first.
Then, his eyes caught the rolls of meat waiting to be devoured, in the frying pan.
"Yes! I'm starting with this!" Code yelled, as he jumped into his meal.
"Hmm, this is so good!" Nara screamed, as he swallowed a spoonful of rice.
"Obviously, since I was the one who cooked it!" Hina replied cooly.
Code's hand slowly raised, as he picked some meat, and tuck!
They went into his mouth.
But as they entered into his mouth....
His eyes instantly widened.
'Th-this is very good!' He screamed in his head. 'The texture, the smoothness, oh, it's very nice,' Code thought, feeling like he was in paradise.
"Enjoying it, are we?" Hina's voice chimed in, as she threw Code a self-satisfied gaze.
"Uh, y-yeah," Code stammered in affirmation. 'She's really good at cooking!' he screamed internally.
"Yeah, don't feel so up and mighty," Nara said to Hina, as he munched in some food.
"Van, you still remember that night?" Nara raised a brow to him.
"Yeah, yeah!" Van nodded. "There's no way I can ever forget," he added, eyes lightening.
"Who would?" Nara chuckled, as he tucked some meat into his mouth.
"Uh?" Code turned to them, his interest piqued.
Nara swallowed the food, before opening his mouth to speak again. "She literally poured nine spoons of salt into-" Nara started, but his voice trailed off, as he suddenly sensed something.
Murderous intent.
It came from opposite him.
He slowly turned his eyes, chills running down his spine.
Then his gaze caught it:
Hina's glare.
They were cold and piercing.
"You know, this is a celebration," Hina said, her voice carrying deathful impact with every word, as she cracked her knuckles. "We don't have to break a limb or two," she smiled.
"Hmm," Nara swallowed hard, as he went back to his meal, forgetting whatever he was saying seconds ago.
Hina's eyes slowly rolled to Van, who instantly swallowed his laughter, avoiding eyes contact.
"Aww," Code shivered, as he watched the scene unfold.
'I better don't get on her bad side,' He thought, gulping.
He now understood what two sides of a coin meant.
He slowly went back to his meal, eyes frequently rising to check if Hina was staring at him.
"Don't worry, you'll get used to it," Nara whispered.
"Oi, Code! Pass me the sauce," Hina's voice suddenly boomed, as Code jerked up in alarm.
"M-ma!" He muttered, not realizing what he said until seconds later. "Oh, sure," he added, scooping the bottle next to him.
"Nah, not that, the other one," Hina said, pointing to other bottle on the table.
"Oh, right, haha," Code whispered, as he took the other bottle, and passed it across to Hina, who replied with a "thanks", and a smile that was obviously fake.
"Oi, Van, come to think of it," Nara suddenly said, changing the discussion. "We haven't had any missions lately."
"Oh, that's true though," Van's brows furrowed.
Hina raised her gaze to Van. "For like two or three weeks now," she added.
"Yeah," Nara nodded. "My hand's been itching to beat up demons. Right Code?" Nara turned to Code, who didn't know whether to nod or shake his head in affirmation.
"He hasn't even gone on one before, have you?" Hina asked, turning to Code.
"Maybe the last one, even though it wasn't legal," Code replied with an embarrassed smile, scratching the back of his head.
"Oh, I forgot," hina chuckled in response.
"But don't worry," Nara's lips curled into a reassuring grin. "Demons are more unless means for exercise. But if you ever get into trouble, just scream my name. I'll probably be there if I'm not beating the heavens our of one or signing autographs," Nara said with a cool smirk.
"Uh-yeah?" Code nodded awkwardly.
"Hmph, it's not like you do more than screaming and running around," Hina scoffed, tucking a spoon into her mouth.
"Huh?" Nara's brow raised, as his cheeks flustered. "I do more than that, duhh!" He yelled, jerking forward.
Hina waved her hand. "Yeah, yeah. Whatever makes you sleep at night," she said flatly.
"Hmph," Nara turned his gaze away.
"Speaking of missions, I just remembered!" Van's voice boomed, his eyes widening.
"What?"
"Huh?"
Everyone turned to him.
"Rowen called," Van's announced, as he sat up.
"He did?" Nara repeated.
"Who?" Code asked in confusion. 'Who is Rowen?' he asked himself, not remembering meeting any other people aside the three sitting round the table.
"Yeah, two weeks ago," Van replied.
"What the hell?!" Nara shouted.
"Two weeks! Why didn't you say anything!" Hina yelled, eyes widening.
"Well, yeah, but you can't blame me," Van tried to explain. "I just, um, ah, yeah! I had Code's matters to deal with!" He said, forming a face that expressed satisfaction at creating a plausible lie.
"That was just four days ago. Just say you forgot," Nara replied flatly, eyes cold.
"Arrgh, okay, my bad," Van finally gave in, raising his hands. "I guess I did," he said.
"Oh...boy," Hina facepalmed in disbelief.
"However, I don't think the demon has been annihilated yet," Van said, eyes narrowing.
"How do you know that? Still trying to create a lie to cheer us up? Sorry but it isn't working!" Nara protested.
"Yeah!" Hina affirmed with a crossed gaze.
"Haha," Van chuckled slightly, but his eyes turned serious soon after. "I'm serious," he said.
Hina and Nara noticed the change in Van's demeanor, so they straightened up.
"Okay, then," Hina replied.
"But how sure are you?" Nara asked.
"Hundred percent," Van said, throwing up a thumbs up. "If the demon had been killed, Rowen would've called back, but he hasn't," Van explained.
"Hmm, that's plausible enough," Hina nodded, holding onto her chin.
"Meaning the mission is still open?!" Nara asked.
"Yeah," Van nodded.
Then, suddenly -
"Um!" Code cut in.
"Huh?" Everyone turned to him. "I'm sorry, but why do I feel like you're leaving me out of this?" Code asked, confused.
"Oh, I almost forgot," Van said, cracking his neck. "But you can't go on a mission, Code," he dropped the bombshell.
"Uh? Wh-what do you mean?" Code muttered, his eyes widening.
"Hmm," Van grabbed his chin to think. "Let's just say it's because you're a Zero," he finally answered.
"Wh-what?" Code tried to chuckle.
Nara slipped another meat into his mouth, munching away.
"Yeah," Van nodded. "It's for your own good. You being a zero makes you transparent, but you can't escape WAS' radar for too long." He explained.
"You know what could happen if you get caught."
Code bit his lip, as he a surge of emotions went through him. "B-but she's also a zero. Why does she get to go on a mission and I can't?!" Code's voice raised, as he pointed to Hina whose face jerked up with a surprised "huh?"
"Don't lump yourself in with me. We're not the same," she replied.
"Yeah," Nara affirmed. "Somehow, she's a 4th-grade and manipulation-class sorcerer," he said.
"What do you mean "somehow"?" Hina retorted. "Jealous, are ya?" She teased with a mocking smirk.
"Tch. You can feel all high and mighty for now, but just remember I'm only one grade less!" Nara replied.
'What?' Code's eyes widened in disbelief. To him, she every other sorcerer. But who knew she was a 4th-grade and not just that, manipulation-class!
Code now knew she was several levels above him.
"And not just that," Van continued, as Code turned back to him.
"We know you're a zero, but the particular demon that possessed you is unknown... meaning you're walking on a very thin line. If WAS or anyone finds out about your existence, you won't be able to fight back, or worse still, I'm pretty sure at your level, you can't control whatever demon is strong enough to possess someone with a crazy tenzen reservoir. You just entered the flow phase and haven't even perfected it yet. You're still too weak, Code," Van said, his tone laced with slight concern.
"B-but...!" Code tried to protest, but the right words weren't coming.
"Does that mean you don't trust me?" He finally spoke, lowering his head.
"Huh?" Van's didn't quite hear that right.
"You think that if I step out there, I'll go berserk, and probably get myself killed or arrested?" Code asked.
"Yeah," Van replied grimly.
"Huh?!" Code roared, as he suddenly raised his head, tears glistening at the corner of his eyes.
"Why?" He asked, his tone betraying his anger and frustration. "I also want to fight! I want to get stronger, and save everyone by ridding this world of demons!" He wailed.
Van's eyes narrowed with a soft smile.
"You see, Code, the Great Sorcerer-general, Rey Avart, once said:
"People think we're heroes, godsents. But what they don't realize is that we are not fighting for them. We're fighting against those fears. The fears that we risk becoming puppets to."
"So," Van continued. "Saying you want to save everyone is a dream that will forever remain as that. On the surface, every sorcerer wants to believe they fight for the public, but deep down, we know what we aren't fighting for that. Get real Code, that goal is too much to accomplish."
A soft calm and silence filled the room, punctuated by Nara's desperate munchings.
Hina stared at Code, eyes betraying a sign of pity. 'I guess he's still new to it,' she thought.
But suddenly -
"Yeah, you're right!" Code's voice echoed all over the room, as Hina shook, and Nara looked up to him.
"However... I'm the type of person who won't stop until I get what I want." Code's lips curled into a wide grin.
"I don't give a fuck about what some old man has to say! I just know one thing: I'll rid this world of demons, starting from the weakest to the strongest; Aidra himself!" Code clenched his fist.
'Oh? Looks like he's not the type to easily back down,' Hina thought, as she smiled.
"Yeah, that's the spirit, man!" Nara pumped, pepper trailing off his lips.
"Arrgh, I guess that's not enough to make you give up," Van sighed.
"So, please..." Code eyes turned pleading. "Let me go on this mission!" Code pleaded.
Van hesitated, shifting his gaze from Code's pleading eyes, only to see Nara's.
"Pleeeeaaaassseee..." Nara begged, blinking cutely.
"What?" Van jerked backwards.
"Van, just let him!" Hina said. "You know he's not going to let you rest if you don't," she added.
"Hmm," Van murmured, his contemplation vivid in his eyes.
Then, after minutes of pleading eyes and contemplations, Van finally gave in.
"Arrgh, good grief, okay!" He said.
"Oh, for real?" Code's eyes widened, as a smile crawled to his lips.
"Yeah," Van affirmed, not wanting to give it a second thought.
"Yes!" Code shouted, as he and Nara did an high-five.
"But on one condition..." Van spoke again.
"Huh?"
"What?"
Code and Nara turned back to Van, who for some reason, was fidgeting over the next words to say.
"Um, I don't know how to put this," he said, raising his gaze. "Acknowledge that I'm a god!"
He finally said.
"Huh?" Code raised a brow. "No, can't do," he replied flatly.
"Heyy!!" Van retorted. "That wasn't the deal!" He shouted..
"We made a deal?" Code asked in confusion, turning to Nara, who shook his head, and Hina who replied "don't remember," as she stood.
"You guys...!" Van yelled.
"Arrrgh, I'm beat," Hina replied, as she turned to leave. "I'll prepare for tomorrow's mission. And Rowen..." She said, as her cheeks slightly flushed.
"Wait, who's Rowen?" Code asked Nara.
"He's our navigator. You'll meet him tomorrow," Nara replied, still chewing.
Code stood up from the chair, as he flashed a smug grin at Van. "You're obsessed with the god thing, ya know?" He teased.
"Tch." Van scoffed.
"Hey, Van?" Hina suddenly turned back. "Doesn't Code get a uniform?" She asked.
"Uniform?" Code's brows furrowed.
"Yeah," Nara nodded. "Every guild has its uniform, never seen one before?" He asked.
"Come to think of it, I think I have," Code thought aloud. He remembered the ones he always admired from the guilds that later rejected his application.
"There's probably one in the closet," Van replied flatly.
"Then you can take that," Hina said.
A feeling of warmth filled Code's heart. Tomorrow, he was finally going to go on his first mission. Not to get hurt, but this time to show the demons who's boss.
***
To Be Continued...