Ren woke up at six in the morning as usual. However, he didn't particularly feel like getting up that early today.
So he closed his eyes again and tried to continue his slumber.
"…"
Finding himself unable to go back to sleep, yet not in the mood to get up right now, Ren's thoughts drifted back to what Cain told him yesterday.
'Demoniacs…'
Ren always knew being a striker wouldn't be easy. In fact, almost everyone knew that losing control of yourself was fatal to strikers.
However, he did not know that it was this grave a danger for others as well.
Class 1 Sparks and Class 2 Spectres aren't a threat to well-trained fighters, a marked could easily take out 5 Spectres alone if he knew what he was doing.
The real threat of spirits begins from Class 3 Faes, when they're intelligent enough to protect their essence.
Disregarding higher classes, a demoniac of any of those classes would be a calamity. Unless there was an experienced striker one class above it or a striker two classes above it, the demoniac would commit a massacre wherever it passes.
Adding the terrifying growth rate of a striker and spirit combined, Ren now understood the reason waiting rooms were built more than ever.
'Speaking of, I'm finally getting out huh.'
Ren's thoughts wandered back to his two week stay in this room. He trained, ate, embarrassed himself, and confronted himself as well.
Ren sat up and opened his eyes.
What met him was a messy room, with the already minimal furniture thrown against the opposite wall.
'I won't miss this place but…'
He got up from the bed and stretched.
"I'm grateful."
He then cleaned up and started his morning training.
…
Shortly after he finished his routine he saw Cain in the corner of the room once again.
"…"
'This is just an abuse of power at this point.'
Already used to Cain's "knocking habits", Ren braced himself for what was next.
After Ren noticed him, Cain moved forward in his usual, silent strides and pushed a pile of folded clothes to Ren's chest.
"Hurry up and change, we don't want to keep the Captain waiting now, do we?"
What he heard echoed in Ren's head before he froze.
"T-the Captain?!"
Cain smirked.
"You heard me."
Ren's jaw dropped.
'I can't believe I'm going to meet the Captain! No wait, why would the Captain want to meet an Adept who was just let out of the waiting room?'
That's when Ren remembered the dream he had on his first night in the waiting room.
'Oh… right.'
Shaking off the memory yet still in a dejected mood, Ren started changing absentmindedly.
Until he looked down at himself, that is.
"Hey, uh, can I go take a shower first?"
Cain looked at him in silent understanding.
"…I'm sure the captain won't mind waiting a few minutes."
Ren let out a sigh of relief as he put his shirt back on and picked up the uniform.
Cain nodded, and led him out of the room, and into the corridors of striker headquarters.
Ren let out a quick breath before following Cain in silence.
While walking, he saw a few other waiting rooms and noticed the same look of understanding Cain gave him on the occasional passerby.
'Makes sense, I'm in the striker headquarters after all.'
Practically all strikers have experienced the waiting room, it's something everyone in the headquarters can sympathize with.
While he was imagining Cain in the waiting room, they finally reached the shower room.
"This is the dorm shower room, I'd familiarize myself with the place if I were you."
Ren nodded and went in.
Closing the door behind him, Ren saw a row of changing rooms on one side, and showers on the other.
While looking around, his eyes landed on a boy with striking, streaked blonde hair walking towards him. He had bright hazel eyes and an amused smile on his face.
"Hey there! Just out of the waiting room?"
Ren nodded.
"Yeah, is it that obvious?"
The boy chuckled.
"Buddy, you're wearing a dirty, loose garb, and look like you haven't showered in weeks. Can't get more obvious than that!"
He extended his hand towards Ren.
"Nice to meet you, I'm Leon, a Mercenary."
Ren shook his hand.
"Nice to meet you, Leon, I'm Ren… an Adept."
Leon's smile widened.
"Well, Ren, I won't delay you anymore, but I gotta tell you, I have a good feeling we're gonna get along really well."
Ren furrowed his eyebrow.
"O… kay?"
Leon let Ren's hand go and went towards the door while waving.
"See ya!"
Ren scratched his head in confusion.
'Well, that was weird. But he didn't seem like a bad guy so it's probably okay.'
Ren didn't dwell on it anymore and went into the shower.
…
'An adept huh… that guy is really full of surprises.'
Leon thought, as he was exiting the shower room.
'To think he'd reach intermediate control in almost two weeks, I can't think of a word to describe it other than… amazing.'
His thoughts were interrupted though, when he noticed a green-haired man with three stars on his chest, waiting by the door.
He saluted.
"Wizard Cain, nice to see you, sir."
Cain looked at Leon.
"Leon? What are you doing here?"
Leon smirked.
"Well, my shift ended early today, so I thought I might as well go take a shower before visiting the mission hall."
Cain raised his eyebrow.
"Oh, I see… well, it works out anyway, I was going to look for you soon."
Leon gave him a confused look.
"Look for me? Why, sir?"
Cain patted his shoulder.
"Nothing much, just wanted to relay some orders from the captain: keep quiet about Ren."
Leon broke out in a cold sweat.
'The Captain?! If even the Captain's involved, then this is more serious than I thought!'
Leon stayed silent for a few moments before letting out a big breath.
"Understood, sir, but what about the guy on the night shift?"
Cain smiled.
"Don't worry about him, we've arranged for his task to change, and unlike you, he hasn't seen Ren train."
Leon nodded in understanding.
"Alright, sir, do not worry. My lips are sealed."
Cain tapped his shoulder before letting it go.
"Good, now go on."
Leon saluted him once more before turning away and leaving.
A few steps later, a wide grin adorned Leon's face.
'The plot thickens…!'