David Swan came awake with groggy eyes and heavy lids. He felt as if he was waking up from a very deep sleep but couldn't remember sleeping.

He frowned at the discomfort. Moving his arms, he tried to stretch but they didn't obey him. It took him only a moment to realize that his arms were not being disobedient, they were simply being restricted.

Struggling once more, he confirmed his restriction to be true. Someone had tied him to a chair. But who?

Memories came to him slowly. A knock on the door… No… Someone rang the doorbell.

He'd guided Theresa to her kids and gone out through the window. The woman probably thought he'd gone to answer the door only to get into trouble with whoever was there.

Then how did I get here?

Looking around, David couldn't recognize the place. He was in a suburban house much like Theresa's. But it wasn't Theresa's. There were differences, none of them subtle. The similarities lay only in the layout, the architecture.

The furniture was different. The center table was different. Theresa had a television where this house did not.

David frowned as a slight panic rose in his chest. He hated not knowing. Worse, he hated not remembering. It was never a good thing when you could not remember how you got to where you woke up in.

But his mind functioned as it always did, piercing through the haze and confusion, through the grogginess. Slowly, answers came.

First, it was the [Sage].

The annoying man with his know-it-all smile and his over-the-top suit. David frowned just thinking about it. He continued to curse whatever god was out there for making him a low rank Gifted.

Still, he refused to believe Naymond was the culprit. There was also the fact that he had been moved to a house he could not recognize and had been left alone. Naymond was a more powerful Gifted than he was, but the man was not physically strong. David had done his research on the [Sage] class. While they were mysterious in their own ways, a few things were certain, they gained little to no boost in physical attributes and had nothing that aided in direct combat.

So, he had to be working with somebody.

Maybe the person that had rung the doorbell?

As the pieces came together, David's panic left him, slipping from his skin. If Naymond was the one that had come for him, then he was safe. Naymond was affiliated with the police, and he and the police didn't go around killing people.

They were not the ones killing gang members.

He was safe. He was not going to die today.

The tension left him, and his muscles relaxed.

But his mind was not done investigating its own memories. How had he lost consciousness? Had someone hit him over the head with something.

No, he thought. His head didn't hurt, so that couldn't have been it. Unless they gave him something for the pain while he'd been out cold. David doubted it.

It would be unnecessary care.

He swallowed saliva. The simple action and movement of his throat gave him a possible answer. His neck was sore. Had he been choked out.

With one hand, he thought.

He'd even looked into the person's eyes while it had been happening. However, by the life of him, he could not remember what the person looked like.

"Naymond and his stupid extras," he mumbled under his breath in annoyance.

Last time it had been two kids, and one had run into him like a battering ram with no regard for his safety. Now, it was some fool choking him out with one hand.

Wait.

David's worry returned.

What if Naymond had learned about what he'd done to the boy? What if he'd found out that he'd sold him out to the Romanians?

That would be bad.

But the [Sage] would not be able to find out. The [Crafter] the Romanians had sent had ended up in the portal, and there was no way they would even find out. It wasn't like they would have a conversation to bring it up. Things like that didn't just happen.

As his mind found logic, his panic left him once more. Ultimately, he was left with only one question.

Why am I here?

And there was only one person that knew the answer to that question.

"Oi!" he called out, straining so that his voice carried through the entire house. "You can't just keep me tied up here, Naymond! It's not right!"

"Good, you're relaxed."

David's head snapped up at the sound of the voice. It was female so it was definitely not Naymond's. He also had no idea who it was. His class came with a side effect that gave him an eidetic memory when it came to voices. He could remember every voice he had ever heard, tell the minute differences.

Looking up, he saw a pretty face looking down at him. It would've been prettier if the girl was smiling.

"Who are you?" he asked, doing his best to sound friendly. "I haven't seen you before."

The woman sighed, walking around his chair to stand in front of him. David's panic came back up. How long had she been standing beside him? Why hadn't he noticed her when he'd been taking in the room. Had he turned his head when he'd been looking around?

Even if he had, he would've at least felt her presence… right?

Was she one of those stealth class Gifted?

The woman stopped in front of him and sighed as if in mild annoyance. "You're tense again."

"No, I'm not," David replied instinctively, forcing himself to relax.

The woman squatted down in front of him and massaged his knee with one hand. "The [Sage] is playing his usual games. You have no reason to be worried."

"So, you'll untie me?"

The woman chuckled lightly then shook her head. "No."

The sound of her voice when she chuckled was sweet and gentle, even if with a slight undertone of discomfort.

"The [Sage] tied you, so he's the one that has to untie you," she said. "It's really that simple."

The [Sage], David noted.

The continued formality meant that she and Naymond were either not on good terms or they weren't close. Either one worked for him. It meant that they were not friends. It helped to relax him once more.

The woman must've noticed it because she stopped massaging his knee but didn't get up.

"May I at least know your name?" he asked her.

She didn't look up from his knee as she answered. "Deoti."

She didn't seem bothered about sharing it.

"Are you with the cops, too?"

She shrugged. "Kinda new. Very new. It's kind of my first day."

"You're quite unlucky getting saddled with Naymond, then." David chuckled so that she knew he was being friendly. "He's not all bad, but he can be a handful."

The woman nodded, still looking at his knee.

Was she suddenly shy?

"You asked a question, can I ask one, too?" she said. Still, she didn't not look away from his knee.

"Sure," David said. "If I have the answer, I'll be happy to give it."

David knew women. If he had a long enough conversation with even one of them, he could figure them out easily. Deoti was a lady that wouldn't mind having someone to talk to.

"Thank you," she said. "I'm hoping you have the answer."

She reached up in a sudden burst of speed and slammed her hand over his mouth. Before David could begin to fathom what was happening, pain exploded in his leg, sharp and loud. The back of his knee screamed in pain as the woman stabbed a knife into it.

He screamed but the sound was trapped inside his throat along with the pain. He thrashed against the woman's hold and his restraints but couldn't free himself. His eyes widened trying to rip themselves out of his eyeballs, anything to find some kind of outlet for his pain.

When that failed to do anything, tears streamed down from them and saliva gathered in his mouth. He could not shout. He could not move. There was no outlet for the pain. There was no distraction from it.

David was forced to feel the pain and the shock. All of it.

All the while, the woman looked into his eyes with nothing but hate in hers.

He would've wondered what he'd done to her to make her hate him so much if he had the presence of mind to. Unfortunately, there was nothing but pain in him. It molded his mind, unmade him as equally as it tried to remake him.

David choked on his pain as sobs racked through his entire body. His throat tightened and he watched a woman he'd never met in his life look down on him with hate.

Then she spoke.

"You will tell me what you know about the Romanians," she said, her voice baleful. "Then you will tell me why you betrayed an innocent child."

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David stared into the hate in her eyes as pain filled his head and broke his spirit. As it threatened to destroy him while he cried and his sobs wracked him from within, not allowed to escape his throat.

It taught him that pain was a truly terrible thing as warm blood crawled down the back of his leg. Because, for all his pain and sorrow, his mind had become unable to reason properly, seeking to latch on to anything to distract it. So, when she spoke, it latched on to only one thing.

In all the chaos, she had not even asked a question.

The woman's shoulder moved slightly. She twisted the knife in the back of his knee, and pain exploded, white and hot in his head.

Consciousness fled David immediately and he was glad for it. At least he would not feel the pain, for—

Shock went through him, forcing his eyes wide open.

"Oh no," the woman said, staring down at him with a terrible smile. "You don't get to run away from it. Not when we are only just beginning."

…

"Drop her." Anji's voice was cautious now, a little too cautious.

Melmarc withheld a frown, smothered it so that it didn't reach his face. Anji's tone had changed from what it used to be. Now he talked to Melmarc the way someone would talk to a skittish animal, waiting for the moment it would pounce.

He thinks I'm unstable. Melmarc tried not to let this new knowledge affect his decision making.

"Promise," he said, voice calm. "Promise me that if she uses a skill again or attacks me, I get to punish her."

Ariadne scowled at the use of the word 'punish'. She clearly had something to say but his hand around her neck made it difficult.

Anji was quiet for a moment, unwilling to answer.

"I have a responsibility," Anji said in the end. "I'm sorry."

Melmarc didn't like what that implied, but the fact that Anji didn't do anything was a good sign.

The last few weeks of his life had been quite violent and Melmarc recognized that it was now leading him towards violent tendencies. Shoot first and ask questions later. Maybe he was overreacting right now. Ariadne had been offensive but maybe violence was not the proper response to her offence. After all, violence wasn't always the answer.

Melmarc looked at Ariadne. There was anger in her eyes. He couldn't really blame her for it. If he was in her situation, being manhandled by someone that was supposed to be weaker than him, he would not be very pleased about it.

Maybe I've gone too far.

Yet, he couldn't shake the feeling that violence was on the horizon. It was there, at the back of his mind. All it needed was a catalyst.

I have been the catalyst so far.

Now, he only had to deescalate. Ariadne would be the only catalyst for violence left. A part of Melmarc believed that Anji could help. He could play a part in stopping her from escalating. Therefore, all he needed to do was stop himself and leave the commanding officer of the opposing party to stop as well.

Melmarc paused. Commanding officer.

This Oath thing just kept popping out of nowhere.

With a sigh, he lowered Ariadne to the ground slowly. When her feet hit the ground, he looked at Anji.

"I'm trusting you," he said as he released Ariadne's neck. "Now, I'll go to my room and get my stuff. Then I'll head out. Deal?"

Anji nodded. "Deal."

Melmarc removed his hand from Ariadne's neck and stepped back. He walked back slowly, watching the anger in Ariadne's eyes. There was still condescension in her eyes so that her anger looked more like a promise of payback instead of anger.

A part of Melmarc told him that he had just made an enemy. He believed it. But he wasn't going to be in Brooklyn for long. Ariadne would only be an enemy if he remained in the house or kept on crossing paths with her.

You should put her in her place, he thought.

It was the right thing to do.

Still, he could've walked away. All she had done was use a harmless skill on him. The Melmarc he knew would've walked away. The person he had been before entering the portal would've let things lie.

I've changed, Melmarc thought, accepting the truth as he finally turned his back on Anji and Ariadne and continued to his room.

The concept of ignoring a bully would make them leave you alone was no longer a policy he could live with. He could no longer ignore disrespect.

He shook his head as he opened the door to his room. This was who he was now, for better or worse. And he had no plans to change it.

A Delver needed to be ready for violence at all times if they were going to live a life of entering portals and killing mortals.

Opening the door, Melmarc stepped into his room. He hadn't lived in it long, barely even a week, so there was no nostalgia to be felt. He didn't miss it. He didn't feel bad knowing that he would not be returning to it.

The first thing Melmarc saw was the bed. It was undressed, not a single bed sheet in sight. Turning his head, he set his eyes on the reading table that was up against one side of the wall. There was a wardrobe next to it, simple, brown and boring.

To the side, the door to the bathroom and toilet was closed, probably locked. He wasn't interested in checking so he walked up to the bed and picked up the only thing that belonged to him in the room. His bag.

Opening it, he confirmed that everything he needed was inside. He found his laptop easily and confirmed that his clothes were intact. By the life of him, he couldn't remember all the clothes he had brought with him so he looked out for the few he could remember. Once he was done confirming them, he zipped the bag closed.

To fulfil all righteousness and cover all his basis, he went to the wardrobe and opened it. He held both doors out open with both hands.

Empty, he noted, staring at the dangling hangers and absence of clothes. Closing it, he moved to the bathroom and paused.

His towel had been in the bag but not his sponge. But what did he need his sponge for? He already had one at home so there was no need to reconfirm the location of the old one or even take it with him.

With that in mind, he ignored the bathroom, picked up his bag, and left the room.

Outside the room, he stopped as he closed the door. He felt a sensation on the back of his neck and the mana particles in the air moved oddly.

"Do you know the thing about being a member of the house versus being a guest?"

It was Ariadne's voice.

It made Melmarc wonder just how long he had been in the room. Two minutes? Five?

Had it been enough time for Ariadne's anger to subside.

I highly doubt it.

His bag still in hand, Melmarc turned and faced her. He knew, from how she was standing, what was about to happen.

"What?" he asked.

"It's the protection of being a resident," Ariadne said. She stood casually, but her alertness was in her eyes. "For a price that is not necessarily monetary, Mr. Hitchcock grants us a very specific kind of protection. It prevents us from harming each other and prevents outsiders from harming us inside. And, as you've pointed out, you are not a resident. Not anymore."

Melmarc wondered what protection Naymond put in place to protect the residents.

An enchantment? A spell? Something Naymond related?

Naymond was crafty and cunning. Even for a [Sage], Melmarc did not put it past the man to come up with mage-like levels of protection.

Melmarc sighed. "What happens now?"

"Now…"

Ariadne walked up to him and Melmarc kept all signs of alertness from his face.

"I apologize," Ariadne finished, holding her hand out to him. "I'm rude. I can admit that. But I'm not a bad person. I know when I'm wrong."

Melmarc looked down at her hand, then up at her.

Ariadne moved her hand again, shook it for him to see. "Anji told me that you were moving out. I don't see any reason for us to end on bad terms. I was more than happy to mess with you because you were living here, it's not as if we would've been able to harm each other. And with enough time, the whole back and forth could've been our thing. Now…" she shrugged. "I can admit to being wrong since there won't be any time for you to understand that this is who I am and come to accept me like the others."

Melmarc didn't look back down at the hand.

Ariadne sighed. "You don't have to shake on it, but I would like you to accept my apology."

"Apology accepted," Melmarc said, finally. With that, he took her hand in his.

People were assholes sometimes, but it only made them assholes not terrible people.

"Goodbye, Ariadne," he said.

"Where I come from, we don't say goodbye," she said, hand still clasped in his. "We say, until we meet again."

Melmarc nodded. "Until we meet again."

[You have been afflicted by skill Invasive Impact]

[Skill Invasive Impact has applied effect Mana poisoning]

[You have been poisoned]

[Mana stats are decreased by 90% for 00:03:00]

[Skill effects decreased by 10% for 00:03:00]

[Delay in skill activation by 0.3s]

Melmarc frowned at the notification.

"You poor kids," Ariadne smirked. "Always so trusting."

Pulling him towards her, Ariadne took advantage of Melmarc's shock and punched him in the face. Melmarc moved on instinct. His head moved to the side, avoiding the blow as his hand released his bag, and he swung at her.

Ariadne released his hand and darted back and away from him. Melmarc's blow cut through the air.

[Mana poisoning detected.]

[Trait Pure Blooded is in effect]

Ariadne stood a good distance away from him, still smirking.

"The first thing you learn as a Gifted in the mentorship program," she said, "is that you learn who is stronger than you by rank or experience and act accordingly. There is a hierarchy. There is always a hierarchy."

Melmarc watched her. Was this what dealing with annoying Gifted was going to be like? A powerplay all the time?

"So Anji couldn't keep you in place," he found himself saying. "The commanding officer does not have control of his subordinates."

Ariadne barked a short derisory laugh. "You think Anji is here to control us?"

"Is he not?" Melmarc kept his face placid. "Is he not in charge?"

"Foolish child." Ariadne shook her head, then called out. "ANJI!"

Melmarc's brows furrowed in confusion.

In a few seconds, Anji was running up the stairs. The boy arrived, standing next to Ariadne.

"What's happening," he asked. "What—"

His confusion died and his words came to a stop when he saw Melmarc. His eyes moved from the bag on the ground to the look on Melmarc's face.

"Please don't," Anji said. "Whatever she did, I will apologize for it, but don't do anything."

"Are you in charge of this house?" Melmarc asked. He could feel the mana poisoning working its way through him even if his interface gave him no other notification.

It was in the stiffening of his muscles, a slight soreness like spending too much time in the gym.

"I am in charge," Anji answered.

Beside him, Ariadne snorted.

"Do they answer to you?" Melmarc asked, ignoring her. "Do they obey."

Anji shook his head. "It doesn't work like that. I just make sure that they don't injure anyone and they are not injured by anyone."

Melmarc nodded in understanding. Anji was not their commanding officer. He was their guard. The enforcer. The police.

"I said I would act if she used a skill on me again," he said.

"And I'm begging you not to."

"She used a skill on me again," Melmarc said simply. "It would be wrong of me to not keep my word."

"I don't want to fight you, Melmarc."

Melmarc could not be bothered. "Then don't. My quarrel is not with you."

His bag still on the ground, he walked forward. Punishment was to be meted out. If anyone stood in his way, then they were simply forfeit.

It was as simple as that.

"Melnar—"

Ariadne placed a hand on Anji's shoulder, stopping him. "You don't have to worry about him. With what's happening to him, his muscles will stiffen, and he won't be able to use a skill without feeling pain in three more seconds. Two… one…"

Anji shot her an annoyed look. "You used [Invasive Impact] on him?" he snapped before turning apologetic eyes on Melmarc. "I am truly sorry about this."

Melmarc ignored both of them and kept walking. In front of him, his interface called Ariadne a liar with a few notifications.

[Trait Pure Blooded is in effect.]

[Effect: High resistance to mana poisoning from Sentient beings]

[Effect: Middling resistance to mana poisoning from Sapient beings]

[Effect: +30% r--

[Effect of skill Invasive impact has been mitigated.]

[All afflictions are decreased by 90%]

[All durations are decreased by 99%]

…

[Skill Invasive Impact does not take effect.]

…

[You are not Mana poisoned]

A small touch of confusion touched Ariadne's face as Melmarc kept walking.

"He's not stopping," she said, confused. "Naymond said that he was a [Faker]. Why is he not stopping?"

"Once this is over, I'm asking Naymond to kick you out of the house," Anji said with a frown.

Then he turned to Melmarc and charged him. He grew in size as he crossed the distance between the both of them and his eyes glowed red. His skin greyed out like stones of ancient buildings and cracks appeared all over it as his shirt and pants ripped under his new size.

He grew until he was a head taller than Melmarc and the ground shook as he ran came forward.

Melmarc activated skills of his own and kicked forward as Anji moved to tackle him.

[You have used skill Weight of Jupiter]

Feeling himself grow heavier, he felt his sluggishness. His thrown leg moved now only from the momentum of the throw, but his muscles tensed just as he intended.

Anji's shoulder slammed into the sole of his foot. The boy's large frame was thrown to the side and his head slammed into the wall, hard.

Anji slid down to the ground where he placed a hand against the side of his head and shook his head as if trying to dispel a headache.

His shoulder looked off. Melmarc's kick had dislocated it somehow. But Melmarc didn't care as he stood over him with only one thought in mind.

Rip his arm off!

This was going to be a problem. Melmarc knew it even as his next words left his lips.

"My quarrel," he said, "was not with you."

Without hesitation, Anji lunged upwards, ignoring the pain that Melmarc could feel from his shoulder and his head. From the other side of the hallway, Ariadne charged at them, hand outstretched.

Melmarc ignored Ariadne and met Anji's attack head on with bared teeth.

[You have used skill Knowledge is Power]

Rip her head off!

He turned abruptly, and barreled straight into Ariadne.

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