Chapter 8 - Aftermath
The Rift behind us let out a low rumble as we exited.
"This feeling is quite nauseous," I admitted.
"It’ll become normal eventually," Mira replied.
"I don’t know if that’s comforting."
Around us, the Heroes maintaining the perimeter immediately got to work.
A recovery team entered the now-stable Rift remnant to collect anything of value left behind while another group began interviewing witnesses.
One of the officers approached Mira.
"Captain, the report?"
"I’ll submit it personally."
He nodded before his gaze shifted toward the crystal in Mira’s hand.
The Boss Crystal.
Unlike ordinary Monster Crystals, this one was nearly twice the size and glowed with a faint crimson hue beneath its translucent shell.
"The recovery team will soon collect the crystals and destroy the core," the officer reported.
"That’s expected."
Mira casually stored the Boss Crystal inside her silver spatial bangle.
The crystal vanished without a trace.
I couldn’t help staring.
"I’m still jealous of that bracelet."
She smiled.
"You’ll get one eventually."
"I want one in ring shape."
"Those are expensive."
A few minutes later, after answering several routine questions, Mira walked back toward us carrying a paper bag.
She handed one to Fatty.
Another to me.
"Take these spare clothes."
"You planned for this?"
"I’ve been a veteran Hero."
She looked at the acid-burned holes decorating our uniforms.
"I’ve learned to expect accidents."
"How cold of you Hero Mira."
Fatty laughed.
"I like Captain Mira."
"I don’t like her antics though," I muttered.
"Maybe you will and isn’t she your guardian?"
"..."
I had nothing to say about that.
We changed in one of the emergency response tents before stepping back outside.
The fresh clothes fit me surprisingly well, though the same can’t be said about Fu Jun.
"You even guessed my size?" I asked Mira.
"I’ve done your laundry before and who do you think brings you clothes?"
"..."
"Right?"
Somehow, that was more embarrassing than the acid.
***
The sky had already turned orange by the time we reached the intersection where our paths separated.
We had given Mira the weapons back and she told me that, it will take her some time to come home.
Fatty stretched lazily.
"Our first Rift, our first Boss, our first time almost getting dissolved by acid. So many firsts together."
I hate the way he puts it.
"And don’t ignore your attempt to murder me."
"That was also a first I guess."
Ha! The nerve of this bastard!
We both laughed.
"You will come to gym tomorrow right? Then come in the morning." Fatty asked.
"How come even after a year at gym, you haven’t lost weight?"
This question was bugging me for a long while now.
He grinned and started walking backward.
"Its a family secret!"
"Get lost you spy,"
He waved without turning around.
"You too, bro!"
I watched him disappear into the evening crowd before turning toward home.
Fatty somewhat resembles a protagonist more than me.
My legs were tired, my arms ached and every muscle in my body protested with each step.
And yet, I couldn’t stop smiling.
Today I have entered my first Rift.
Killed my first monsters and even fought a Boss.
Though I knew Mira was secretly helping the both of us, but still I contrbuted!
For eighteen years I’d stood on the far away wondering if I’d ever become strong enough to matter.
Today, I have finally taken the first step.
It wasn’t much.
But it was mine! And it was fine!
By the time I reached the apartment, the city was already settling into night.
Mira hadn’t returned yet.
She still had reports to file, crystals to register, and enough paperwork to remind me that being a Hero apparently involved far more forms than just fighting monsters.
"Good luck."
I genuinely didn’t envy her.
After taking a shower, I changed into comfortable clothes and collapsed onto my bed.
"I should be exhausted,"
I definitely was.
Physically.
Mentally, however, my mind refused to slow down.
Every time I closed my eyes, I saw the cave.
The moment my sword pierced through its shell.
"Sleep."
I sighed at the ceiling.
Apparently, clearing your first Rift came with one unexpected side effect.
Sleeping became impossible.
***
I was still staring at the ceiling when I heard the front door unlock.
The apartment remained quiet for a moment before familiar footsteps echoed through the hallway.
"You’re still awake?"
Mira peeked into my room, still wearing her Hero uniform, though she’d loosened the collar and tied her hair into a lazy ponytail.
"Your senses are superhuman so you already knew I was awake, didn’t you?"
"You’ve rolled over at least six times."
"Were you really counting?" Now that was embarrassing.
"I lost count after six."
She leaned against the doorframe, studying me for a second.
"I thought you would be asleep the moment your head touched the pillow."
"So did I."
She smiled knowingly as I searched for the right words to say.
"It’s strange that I keep replaying everything in my mind."
A quiet laugh escaped her.
"That feeling doesn’t disappear."
"Seriously?"
"You just get used to it after fighting to death sometimes."
She walked into the room and sat on the edge of my bed.
For a while, neither of us spoke.
The silence was... peaceful.
"I filed the report and even mentioned your contributions," she said eventually.
"Does that mean we’re officially experienced Heroes now?"
"No."
She chuckled.
"You’ll need a few hundred more Rifts before you call yourself experienced but it will definitely help you during you Hero Certification Exam."
"I am still reluctant to do that." I sighed dramatically.
"The world really doesn’t reward beginners, does it?."
"You are right, it rewards survivors because even a living ant is more valuable than a dead man."
"That’s quite a worst way of putting it."
She looked at me for a long moment before smiling.
"You did well today."
I laughed.
Another comfortable silence settled between us.
She reached over and absentmindedly straightened my clothes even though there was nothing to straighten.
It was a habit.
Only.
Tonight, it felt different.
"So, you grew." she murmured with slightly narrow eyes.
"I grew? What? Like half a centimeter?" I muttered.
How did she notice even I was feeling that I had a light increase in my height.
"I wasn’t talking about your height for now."
"How rude." My mood dampened.
"I mean it."
Her voice softened.
"Today, when I stepped back against the boss, you didn’t panic like you usually do."
"I definitely panicked."
"You were also scared."
"..."
"But you moved anyway."
I looked down at my hands they were still somewhat shaky.
"I almost ran."
"But you didn’t."
"..."
"You trusted your training, no, rather than that, you trusted me."
"..."
For some reason, hearing those words from her meant more than all the praise I’d received today.
"I guess," I said quietly.
"I finally feel like I’m moving forward."
She nodded.
She was still sitting close enough that I could smell the faint scent of lavender mixed with the cool night air she’d brought in from outside.
"You know," she said with a small smile.
"For the longest time, I kept thinking of you as that stubborn little boy who refused to hold my hand whenever we crossed the street."
"I was eight that time."
"No, you were more convinced by the fact that it made you look uncool."
"I would appreciate if you don’t bring that memory."
"No."
She laughed softly.
"I practically raised you."
The words hung in the air.
For the first time that night, she looked uncertain.
Almost conflicted.
"Maybe" She hesitated.
"Maybe I shouldn’t,"
I frowned.
"Mira?"
She looked into my eyes as those amber eyes stared at me searching for something.
And that hesitation remained for only a heartbeat.
Then she let out a quiet breath as a gentle smile appeared on her face.
"That’s not a reason."
Before I could ask what she meant.
She leaned forward.
Warm fingers brushed lightly against my cheek.
Then, her lips met mine.
It wasn’t rushed.
It wasn’t passionate.
Just soft.
A kiss that lasted only a few seconds before she slowly pulled away.
"..."
"..."
Neither of us spoke.
I wasn’t entirely sure my brain still remembered how.
She looked away first, a faint blush coloring her cheeks.
"Goodnight, Ren."
She stood, walked to the door, and paused without turning around.
"Sleep well."
The door clicked shut behind her.
I sat there for several long seconds.
Then slowly touched my lips.
"..."
Sleep?
Yeah.
That definitely wasn’t happening tonight.