A woman with black bangs leaned against one of his cheaper cars, typing away on her phone, completely unaware that Claude had already stepped out of the elevator. A small snake was curled around her wrist like a bracelet.
To think she was using her Saint Grade beast like that.
She really was crazy.
"Delilah?"
She turned toward him and let out a sigh.
"I've been spamming you, you know?"
"Yeah. That's why I muted my phone. Why are you here? There's still plenty of time before our dinner," Claude replied.
Honestly, he did not mind her being here. They were already close. Sometimes she stayed over, and other times she would just barge in and use his fridge.
He had done the same when they lived near each other. Those days still brought him a great deal of nostalgia. Then again, the two of them were not kids anymore.
"Well, I had a feeling you weren't going to show up. You didn't even take one of your cars to school, so yeah. I felt like I had to come. Sorry," Delilah said, her voice softer than before.
"Ugh..."
Claude grumbled and walked past her, heading straight for his pitch white motorcycle. She noticed the head of a golden dragon peeking out from his backpack and, as if she had just seen the cutest thing in the world, hurried after him.
"Hey~ So you did awaken! Was it a late awakening? Jeez... Those people back at the academy dragged your name through the mud for no reason. Hey, if it makes you feel any better, I sucker punched one woman. I think I knocked out a tooth."
He sat on his motorcycle, adjusted his jacket, then took one helmet off the handlebars and put it on. After tightening the straps, he glanced over at Delilah.
"Who did you punch?"
"That Sierra chick. She was badmouthing you, so I decided to teach her a lesson."
Claude raised a brow.
"Did you do it because you wanted to teach her a lesson, or because you know I liked her?"
She shrugged.
"What's the difference? Either way, I knocked the shit out of her, so she won't be bothering you anymore. Now then, where are we going?"
"We?"
"Mhm. I already came this far, and although I could use your laptop to grind that new MMO, I'm feeling a little too lazy today. Oh, and say hi to Ervin. He's my snake beast thingy." She happily showed off the snake around her wrist, clearly fishing for praise for punching Sierra.
Honestly, he wanted to praise her. After the way Sierra and the others had treated him, Claude wished them nothing but the worst, and he could not hide the faint smile tugging at his lips. However, knowing Delilah, if he praised every bad thing she did, she would turn into a delinquent in no time.
On another note...
[(￣ー￣)]
[It's kind of cute. Can I pet it?]
Claude remembered reading that it was possible to speak with your beast through your mind. All he needed to do was think the words and imagine them reaching his beast. He tried it, and it worked.
You're just a normal Transcended Grade beast right now, Victoria. The last thing you want is to make that snake look like an actual wristband.
[(ಥ﹏ಥ)]
[Please...?]
No. Now hold on tight. I'm taking this goofball with us.
"Mine's a Transcended Grade Gold Spewing Lizard. Her name's Victoria. Also, I'm heading straight to the Beast Taming Association, so you might have to wait outside."
Delilah smirked. After grabbing a random helmet from another motorcycle, she hopped onto the back of his. She adjusted her legs properly, then wrapped her arms around his waist.
"That's fine. I haven't gone yet either..."
She trailed off before adding, "Gosh, Victoria's so cute. It's like a little baby dragon. Can I pet her?"
[(｡•̀ᴗ-)✧]
[I'll allow it.]
"She'll spit gold at you if you pet her, so don't," Claude said.
[Huh?]
A chill ran down his spine, as though he had just angered the most powerful being in the world. At the same time, he felt a sharp pinch in his side. This time, it was Delilah.
"She can spit as much gold as she wants. I'll make my snake eat it, hehe."
"No."
Before she could get any ideas, Claude opened an app on his phone and entered the password to his garage. He had changed the password and the gate several times. Out of all the smart people who failed to hack his system, it was the homeless who found the most creative solution.
They used a hacksaw to cut through the metal gates.
It was ridiculous. He had to fire several people because the repairs alone cost more than what he paid them. If they could not do their jobs, he might as well buy titanium gates instead.
With the doors open, Claude shifted into gear and headed straight for the Beast Taming Association. Most people had already returned home from work, so the streets were nearly empty. He only had to worry about red lights.
The calm roads almost made him forget that rifts still existed, and they were a serious problem. His guess was that his first mission would involve clearing a low grade rift.
Or maybe scouting.
He had not read much about what initial missions usually involved. The earlier Dormant reveal had irritated him more than he cared to admit. In the first place, he had not brought a car because he half expected to awaken a high Grade beast and be personally escorted to the Association.
His ears turned slightly red when he realized how foolish that sounded.
What had he been thinking?
Nearly half an hour later, Claude parked in the VIP lot. He was not a VIP, but there were few cars around and plenty of thieves. He doubted anyone would dare touch his motorcycle if it was parked there.
Delilah climbed off first, and Claude followed. He removed his helmet and placed it on the handlebars. She did the same.
Then he turned to his left.
A massive building, the size of several soccer stadiums combined, loomed before them: the Beast Taming Association. Hundreds of facilities were housed inside, including underground areas for testing, experimentation, and other activities the public knew little about.
Most of the exterior was covered in one way glass, giving the entire structure a surreal appearance.
As they climbed the staircase with Delilah's beast and the sleeping Victoria, they reached the entrance.
Instead of a normal door, there was a fingerprint scanner. Though he had never been here before, Claude already knew the procedure. He placed his finger on the scanner. A hologram flickered, and a robotic voice echoed as the glass shifted, revealing a passage leading to reception.
[Claude J. Leonel, 18 years old, Dormant Grade.]
[Access granted.]
[Delilah Octavia, 18 years old, Saint Grade beast.]
[Access granted.]
"Mm... This is fancier than I imagined. I saw a couple of videos online, but damn..." Delilah muttered as she followed him inside. Her brows twitched briefly before a wide smile spread across her face.
"Say, do you think they'd arrest me if I made a 3D model of this place?"
"Definitely," Claude replied without hesitation.
She was a graphics designer, and when bored, she dabbled in the gaming industry. With her near photographic memory, she could recreate almost anything she saw as a 3D model.
It was a frightening skill. Claude felt a little inadequate in comparison. Aside from collecting cars and making money, he did not have many hobbies.
With Delilah chattering beside him, the two approached the reception desk. It was a small glass cubicle surrounded by several holograms, blocking the view beyond. Even now, as Claude glanced around, all he could see was the narrow hallway and the entrance they had come through.
It was excessively secretive.
The receptionist looked up and smiled as their information appeared on the hologram beside her. Maintaining a professional expression, she began to speak.