The Core Part 5
1147 Words
Chapter 53
“Thank you, Professor Ram,” Nephrite looked at the young man as he finished inputting codes in the panel inside the medical cabin. It was one of the many advanced technologies in The Core.
They were currently in Ram’s house in the 109th District of the Main City. It was near the edge of the Star River, the spacecraft dock of The Core.
“It’s nothing! I’m just glad I haven’t moved this back to my spacecraft. Also, Master’s Xei’s burns were only 2nd degree. My medical cabin can handle it.”
Zireon sent Professor Ram to pick them up from the alleyway they were in. Though the Reapers wanted him, they were not crazy enough to attack an aircraft. Hence, they safely escaped their predicament.
Nephrite observed the unconscious Xei. The man was laid on his stomach with only his face and shoulder visible from where Nephrite stood. The rest was blocked by the cabin’s surgical drapes. A glass wall separates the patient from other people inside the small waiting area to maintain a sterile environment.
Nephrite felt a thousand small knives poking his heart. His gaze softened.
After that, Ram walked towards him, “Let’s go wait in the living room.”
“If I knew this would happen, I would never agree to go out.” Nephrite started the moment they sat down.
“Don’t worry about it. But you need to be careful. Your abilities have not improved yet. You need to cultivate in every world you go. That’s where you acquire skills. But while you are here, you must also train and strengthen your body. Though you can’t bring the strength of your body right now to those worlds and you still have amnesia, it is still worth a shot. Also, maybe your muscle memory still remembers whatever you learned in the first world.” Ram looked at him, his eyes bright, “You need to work hard to survive.”
They were quiet for a long time. “Are you done with the last part of the quest?”
Ram asked about the memory fragment. “Not yet. Master Xei probably planned to go after we bought my equipment.”
“I will arrange for your equipment later. For now, it is best to stay hidden until the masters say so.”
Nephrite nodded. After a while, he asked, “Professor Ram, is there any news about Agase?”
Professor Ram saw his awkward expression. “It is best for you to ask Master Zireon about it. He handled the investigation. Though he might contact you about it in private soon after what happened.”
Nephrite raised an eyebrow, “What do you mean?
“This attack had something to do with Agase.”
The darkness had always been an embodiment of fear. As people learn the use of fire to light up the darkest skies, the fear for something unreachable by light has lingered in the hearts of many individuals. The fear for the unknown was so massive the people even fear to adopt, letting go of chances in fear of change. The glittering lights from thousands of lightyears away gave the dark void giving a new glow of life. Despite the lack of clear blue sky, the Core gave a mysterious light on its own, luminous glow.
As Nephrite stared at Ram in astonishment upon hearing the possibility, he couldn't help but experience this same fear at the very moment. The fear of uncertainty lingered in his soul.
"WhaㅡWhat do you mean?"
"Like what I've said before but progressed differently."
Nephrite frowned.
"Either way, wait till Master Xei woke up."
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Zireon scanned over the files submitted by their subordinates, grinning like a madman as he separated some files from the other, transferring them to a folder named TRASH.
"They certainly took me for a fool, did not they? I guess I should take the acting career path at some point of this boring lifetime."
He chuckled. “B*stards think they could make a fool out of me just because I’m new? Who was new? Haven’t I been tired enough?”
A notification message suddenly popped up on the lower side of the screen. Zireon swiftly shifted to a new panel and logged into a side account. Once he noticed the new email, he frowned.
“Are they trying to use us to track their runaway member? What are we, their lapdogs? How cunning,” he smirked.
Zireon contemplated for a while, before also sending the mail to the trash bin, “Fools think they had the upper hand. Do you think I will let you use me? Whether I cooperate with anyone or not, this position has always been for me.”
Zireon’s purple eyes shone brighter as he turned and looked at the digital photo frame above Xei’s office table. His eyes landed on the tall man sitting on a classic ergonomic chair before staring at his master’s face.
“It’s my position all along. Right, Xei?”
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Nephrite watched the vast starry sky from the floor to ceiling window of Professor Ram’s living room. The Star River can be considered as the main attraction of the Core, or at least for him.
“You like the view?”
Startled, Nephrite turned around, “You’re awake!”
Xei was standing in the middle of the room, wearing the suit Ram prepared earlier.
“Is it alright for you to wear your clothes already?” Nephrite said, worried about aggravating his wounds.
“Why? Do you want to see him buck naked?” Zireon said, as he walked into the doorway, Professor Ram followed him.
Nephrite felt his face flushed red, wide-eyed, “What the hell are you saying?”
Xei shook his head upon hearing Zireon’s words. He turned to Nephrite, “My wounds are protected with sterilized film. Don’t worry about it.”
Zireon took the single sofa, Nephrite sat next to Ram while Xei sat on Nephrite’s other side. Zireon made fun of Xei a few times as they all settled down in the living room.
Seeing all of them together, Nephrite couldn’t help but ask, “Is it alright for all three of you to leave the Record Bank like this?”
“NoㅡYes, haha! Kidding,” Zireon waved his hands to both Xei and Ram. “Just joking to our new friend here. I want to ease the tension.” He turned to Nephrite, “It’s fine. Let those fools play around for a bit. It’s not like they can even break the main security of the bank.”
Nephrite had seen an indecisive and funny side of Zireon before. But this is the first time he seemed...nonchalant and sharp-tongued? How many faces does this person have? Nephrite frowned.
Zireon noticed his reaction and smiled.
- Writer
