Clover City.

Artisan Quarter...

"Not the best midday sleep I have had," Nolan said as he got up from his bed.

He walked over to the window and looked outside. "It will not be long before the sun sets," he muttered. "I should probably check the others are back."

He cleaned up and left his room, going upstairs to check if Cedric and Liana had returned. On reaching Cedric's door, he knocked, but there was no response. The same went for Liana's, so he decided to go to the guild, since their patrol time should have already ended.

After a few minutes, Nolan got to the guild.

And as he thought, there they were, but... there was something he didn't quite get, no matter how he tried to wrap his head around it.

Selena was in the Cerulean Guardians uniform?

How?

Alexander was the first to spot Nolan, when he turned back to imitate something Liana had just said. "Oh, great. The boys did try a... Ha! Master!" the boy called out, with an excited look on his face, before running towards Nolan.

"What's wrong with that one?" Kayra asked, as they all turned to find Nolan standing afar, with his usual deadpan expression. "It's Nolan," she grinned.

"You are alive!" said Alexander as he leapt to hug Nolan.

Nolan stepped aside, letting him crash into the ground. "Am I supposed to believe you are relieved about that?" Nolan asked, calmly, though not expecting an answer.

"Nolan," Liana called, as her and the others rushed over to him with happy expressions.

"It's good to see that you are awake," Liana said, her calm facade doing terrible to hide her excitement.

"You got everyone scared there," Cedric laughed, putting a hand over Nolan's shoulder and shaking him.

"My head," Nolan said, his expression not faltering.

"Sorry," Cedric apologized, rubbing the back of his neck.

"Aww, husband is alive," said Selena, earning looks from everyone. "Relax, I just can not get it out of my head," she laughed. "Great to see you doing good, Nolan."

"How come he gets to touch you?" Alexander complained, looking at Cedric, as he dusted himself.

Nolan patiently waited for everyone to express their relief at his recovery, and there was something that sparked in his chest that he didn't quite understand. And he didn't want to understand it at all.

"How did this happen?" he asked, pointing at Selena. "The uniform."

Selena's smile instantly turned into a frown. From the look on her face, she was very unhappy with whatever she was about to explain. "I'm a Cerulean Guardian now."

"I know that," Nolan nodded.

"A Guardian-class or something. I hate it," she added.

Nolan nodded again. "I know that as well. I'm asking how it happened."

"Oh, Elite Loretta asked her to join," Alexander said.

"Persuaded," Finn corrected.

"Forced," Liana said dryly.

"Begged," Selena said herself.

Alexander raised a brow. "No she didn't."

"Keep your flask shut," Selena said, smacking his head, which caused his cap to fall over his eyes.

Nolan was lost in thoughts. Elite Loretta wouldn't have asked Selena to join just because she was strong. What exactly did that woman want from Selena?

"Did she state a reason?" he asked.

Selena shrugged. "Not exactly. Fellas here were questioned about the incident and they explained it like I carried their butts all through, while you were away. Said she saw talent and bla bla bla, then she 'begged' me to join it, which I initially refused."

"So, why did you end up accepting it?" Nolan pressed on.

"She manipulated me. Used shitty emotional blackmail on me. If you know me, as you say you do, you would know that I don't fall for such measle tricks, right?"

"That is very true," Nolan agreed.

Selena really wasn't the type to be manipulated easily, to even say she was emotionally blackmailed. She was master of manipulation on her own, so this was totally abnormal.

"Exactly. I refused. I know I refused. But then she... asked again? And I just remember saying 'yes.' The next thing I knew, I was being fitted for this stupid uniform." she completed blankly. "I'm saying that lady is shady, but fellas here say I'm just having second thoughts after accepting the offer."

"Of course you are. She managed to resonate with you emotionally does not mean she manipulated you," Liana said with a shrug. "You are just shocked how you fell for it without complaint."

"Thank you," Finn praised Liana. "I was wondering if what I explained was in another language."

Nolan however, was already thinking, with a hand on his chin. He looked up at Selena and the way she looked back at him suggested there was more to the story. Parts she wanted to speak about with him alone.

Nolan gave a single nod and she reciprocated.

"Ahem," Liana cleared her throat, looking at Nolan. "There's something more we need to tell you?"

"Hm?" Nolan's brows furrowed in confusion.

"Oooh, that," Selena said in realization.

"And that is...?" Nolan prompted, looking at their faces. Everyone seemed excited to say something.

"Congratulations!" they chorused.

"What's it about?"

"You are now a Guardian-rank," Cedric said.

Nolan blinked. "Eh?"

"Indeed," Alexander said, chest puffed out. "You have ascended."

Everyone was expecting a calm "Oh, okay," at least, since they knew he was one of few expressions. But...

"What?! Why? Who decided that?"

Nolan wasn't quite happy about it.

"Gee, calm down. Why exactly are you not happy?" Selena asked. "See why I said he's not a normal person?"

"Well, Elite Loretta did this also, but," Liana started to explain. "She had more than enough reason to do so."

"That day, when we were saved, a survey of the area was done. Guess what?" Cedric took over. "D-rank corpses were found. Ones we did not face at all. You are excluded from the 'we.'"

"Not two, not three," said Selam.

"Bloody seven!" Alexander blurted, looking at Nolan with eyes that held admiration.

"Let's not even speak of the low-grades also found," Kayra added.

"We all know you did it, Nolan," Liana said. "That was why you were away. You also suspected Maximus quickly."

"Mhmm. And how did you finish that early? I would have needed about ten to fifteen more minutes before making the entrance you did. Gee, I was creeped out, but I had to follow the damn snake," Selena said.

Nolan was left speechless. This incident had gotten him the one thing he was running from. Eyes on him.

Things may have just gotten a little harder for him.

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