Aiden was about to step down from the platform when the elder stopped him. "Please, let the raiders accompany you," he said, pointing towards one of the warriors. They were armed in red plate armor with gold edges, with a crimson glowing sword strapped to their waists.
Aiden was taken aback by the elder's sudden words. "I can go alone," he tried to counter, but was me with the warm smile of the elder.
"I insist, please let the raiders escort you," the elder pushed.
With no other choice, Aiden had to give up. One of the warriors walked up to Aiden, and made a bow before moving behind him.
Aiden's face was riddled with confusion, but he still smiled, walking down the platform with the raider following behind him.
The audience were in a daze as they stared at Aiden. Some looked with jealousy, some with anger. But what they could not refute was that Aiden was already beyond them. An ordinary commoner like them managed to gain the favor of an elder after awakening.
"292," the elder's voice brought them out of their thoughts.
Aiden, on the other hand was led into an exotic vehicle by the raider. Aiden entered the vehicle slowly, making sure he did not damage anything by mistake.
He had spent 16 years on the planet, and this was the first time he was entering a car. As he sat, the Raider jammed the door gently, and entered the driver's seat, smoothly removing his sword and placing it on the dashboard to avoid discomfort.
He pushed the ignition button, the car humming to life quietly with a pleasant smile. "Please, where is your home," the raider asked.
Aiden who was looking at the entire outline of the car failed to hear the raider's question. The raider, seeing Aiden was absorbed, admiring the car asked the question again.
Aiden was jolted awake by the second attempt. "Oh, I am sorry," he muttered, scratching his head.
"The slums of valhalla," he said, his legs shaky from the AC from the car. Used with the ordinary fan of the slums, Aiden could not withstand the cold of the air conditioner.
The Raider nodded, his hand tapping one of the numerous buttons connected to the dashboard. The car slowly lifted off the ground, then with a blast, zoomed off.
Aiden was pressed deeper into the seat as the force hit him.
The raider, seeing Aiden could not withstand the speed, slowed down slightly.
Aiden breath a sigh of relief when he realized the car had slowed down.
The drive was smooth from there on, with Mike admiring the beauty of the city from the perspective of a rich car owner.
The car made a sharp turn that caught him by surprise. His head hit the front chair, making him rub his head in pain.
"I am sorry," the raider quickly apologized.
"There is no need," Aiden brushed it off.
They were already in the slims of Valhalla, but since the windows were screened up, there was no smell to disturb both of them.
As they drove, the people of the slims looked at the car with varying expressions.
"Isn't that Novarift X, the special edition car?" One of the more experienced slum people asked, greed burning in their eyes.
But they also knew that for someone to be in that car, they are powerful enough to not be messed with.
"That way," Aiden pointed to the left direction. The raider turned there without hesitation.
Then right, left. Aiden directed him until they reached a dilapidated house with a barely hanging roof.
"This is the place," Aiden said.
The raider stopped the car, and came down in a swift motion.
He opened the door for Aiden.
Aiden stepped out of the car, and bowed to the raider. "Thank you sir," he said.
The raider nodded in response.
He entered the car, and drove off. Aiden waited til he left before entering his house.
"Aunty Vivy," he yelled as he barged into the house.
"Huh!" He exclaimed as he entered. Everywhere seemed too quiet for someone to be there.
It felt like no one had entered the hose for over a year.
"Did she go out?" He asked after checking the whole house and not finding anyone.
He came back to the sitting room, and collapsed on the broken sofa.
As he planned to rest his back, he saw an envelope on the battered table.
Aiden's gaze did not leave the envelope for over a minute before he finally took it.
"Even if it is meant for aunty Vivy, she wouldn't complain if I read it first," he muttered, justifying his action.
He took out a folded paper from the envelope, clearly a letter. He unfolded it and began to read.
But as he read the letter, his eyes shrank.
The letter was short, barely filling 5 lines. But every word felt like a sharp needle was piercing Aiden.
He could not make sense of what he read.
'Why would she leave me? Which mission?' Those thoughts lingered in his mind.
But he did not cry. She had stated in the letter that he could always find her if he grew strong enough.
"You want me to get stronger, them I would do just that," he yelled, his fists clenched and his eyes red.
"But what did she even keep in her room," he said as his hand entered the envelope again, taking a black card with gold edges.
He walked towards Vivy's door, his steps slow. Since he started living with her, this was the first time he entered the room.
The door was the most luxurious thing in the house. It's was carved from beautiful, brown and sturdy wood.
In front of the door was a card hole. Without thinking twice, he inserted the card in his hand into the hole.
With a click, the door creaked open. Aiden looked into the room, but found nothing out of place
"Let me walk inside," he said.
He stepped into the room, closing the door behind him.
The only difference between this room and his was the furnitures. A bigger and studier bed, with a reading desk and lamp which he did not have.
It was the same broken room as his own with a barely hanging roof.
He walked to the table and saw a diamond card. "Huh!" Aiden exclaimed as he saw what was written on the card.
"A diamond federal card," he muttered, his voice shaky.