The warehouse gradually fell silent once more.
Theo stood alone beside the now-empty summoning circle, his eyes lingering on the spot Iris had disappeared from.
He bit down on his lower lip, feeling his heart pound heavily in his chest.
’’She’ll be alright,’’ he muttered to himself.
There wasn’t anything he could do for her now.
Iris had been blessed by Feng and knew what was waiting for her on the other side.
The rest all depended on herself now.
After a moment, Theo gritted his teeth and glanced at the rest of the resources still lying around.
His thoughts drifted back to what he’d told himself moments ago.
’They’ll have to learn this information sooner rather than later,’ he thought. ’And it’s better I ease them into it in case they accidentally find out.’
Theo’s gaze flickered to Feng for a moment.
There were so many thoughts and doubts swirling through his mind.
’’Contractor?’’ Feng’s voice rang out quietly. ’’You seem to be deeply troubled by this.’’
Theo snapped out of his thoughts.
After a moment, he nodded once.
’’You trust them enough to fight beside you,’’ Feng observed as it floated beside his face. ’’Yet you hesitate to tell them the truth. Do you not trust these people after all?’’
Theo froze on the spot.
For a brief moment, he simply stared at Feng as the question echoed through his mind.
’Do I... not trust them?’
A bitter smile appeared on his face almost immediately.
’’No,’’ he said, shaking his head. ’’I trust them completely.’’
Yet, the more he thought about it, the more he realized how contradictory his actions had become.
Everyone had a few secrets of their own. That was only natural.
But somewhere along the way, everything had started spiraling out of control.
Every time something unbelievable happened, he’d convinced himself he’d explain it later.
Then something even more unbelievable would happen.
And before he realized it, that "later’ would never come.
’’I see,’’ Theo muttered, quietly lowering his head.
A helpless chuckle escaped his lips as he started shaking his head.
’’I’ve been making this a lot harder than it has to be.’’
He slowly looked back up at Feng and nodded once.
’’Thanks,’’ he said.
Feng tilted its head slightly, confused.
’’For what?’’
’’For asking me that,’’ he replied.
Groaning lightly, Theo pushed himself off the ground and pulled out his phone.
After pressing a few buttons, the phone rang.
’’Theo?’’ Owen’s voice rang out after a second.
’’Come to the warehouse with Jim and Lyra,’’ Theo said with a small smile. ’’I’ve finished the preparations.’’
’’Eh? Already?’’ Owen replied loudly. ’’I thought you’d said this would take a few hours...’’
Theo didn’t hesitate to respond.
’’I overestimated it,’’ he said. ’’But there are still some things that need to be said before heading in.’’
On the other end, Owen raised an eyebrow slightly.
’’Alright,’’ he finally said. ’’We’ll be on our way.’’
Just like that, the call came to an end.
Theo slipped his phone back into his pocket with a much lighter expression.
...
Roughly half an hour later, several loud knocks echoed through the warehouse.
As the large metal gate slid open, three familiar figures walked in.
’’Damn,’’ Owen said, letting out a low whistle.
His gaze swept over the three separate areas filled with massive bones and bright cores.
’’Eh?’’ he suddenly said, frowning. ’’Where’s Iris?’’
’’She’s already inside,’’ Theo replied after closing the gate behind them.
Owen’s head snapped toward him.
’’Already?’’ he asked, raising an eyebrow.
Theo nodded lightly.
’’She wanted to start immediately,’’ he said. ’’Who am I to interrupt her confidence?’’
Owen’s mouth opened for a moment before quickly closing.
’’Fair enough,’’ he said with a shrug.
Contrary to Owen, Jim and Lyra didn’t say a word.
Both were clearly nervous about what was going to happen.
Theo let out a quiet sigh as his smile faded away.
’’Before any of you enter... there’s something I need to explain to you first.’’
All three of them turned toward him right away.
’’What’s wrong now?’’ Owen asked, tilting his head.
Theo remained silent for a moment.
His gaze flickered toward Feng before returning to the others.
’’What I’m about to tell you may be one of the most discouraging things you’ll ever hear,’’ he said quietly. ’’Do you still want to know?’’
Owen, Jim, and Lyra all frowned at the same time.
This wasn’t at all how Theo usually acted.
Jim, in particular, clenched his jaw.
’These are not the words I want to hear before doing some bat-shit crazy stuff,’ he thought bitterly.
Owen, on the other hand, already started nodding.
’’If you know it, I want to know it too,’’ he said almost immediately.
Lyra glanced at Owen briefly before looking back at Theo.
’’Same here.’’
Jim also let out a deep sigh and gestured for him to continue.
Theo nodded once, a small smile growing on his face.
’’Alright,’’ he said, flicking his finger.
Feng immediately drifted forward, an emerald light erupting around its body.
After several seconds, the little unicorn had completely disappeared.
In its place stood the majestic Wind Kirin.
Owen stared at it for a moment, blinking once.
’’So your horsey has two horns now?’’ he muttered. ’’Was that the discouraging news?’’
A loud thud echoed through the warehouse.
’’Ow!’’ Owen yelped.
Lyra lowered her elbow with an annoyed expression.
’’Have you never read a book before?’’ she hissed. ’’It’s a legendary Kirin, idiot.’’
Owen blinked in confusion.
’’A what?’’
Before Owen could ask another question, Feng’s deep voice echoed throughout the warehouse.
’’I am Lingfeng Tian, third heir of the Heavenly Kirin Clan, bearer of the Gentle Winds...’’
...
Several minutes quietly passed by as Feng explained the existence of the different planes and beings whose strength completely surpassed anything humanity had ever imagined.
The warehouse was completely silent by the time he’d finished.
Jim stood completely frozen in place, his eyes wide.
Lyra’s brows remained tightly furrowed as she quietly processed everything she’d just heard.
Owen... simply scratched the back of his head.
’’Okay?’’ he said, tilting his head. ’’Can I get a contracted pet now?’’
Lyra glanced up at him for a moment before lightly nodding.
Despite seeming shaken just a few seconds ago, she now appeared more determined than ever.
’’I’d like to get started too,’’ she said.
Jim snapped toward the two of them with wide eyes.
’’That’s it?’’ he asked incredulously. ’’You two don’t care about this in the slightest?’’
Owen shrugged.
’’Not really, no,’’ he answered casually.
A wide, confident grin slowly spread across his face.
’’In the end, it doesn’t change anything,’’ he said, cracking his knuckles. ’’I just have to become even stronger now.’’
Lyra looked at him for a long moment.
Then, to Jim’s complete disbelief, she simply nodded.
’’I knew he’d say that,’’ she said, smiling warmly. ’’So I just have to follow him. He’ll protect me from danger anyway.’’
Owen chuckled as he ran a hand through his hair.
’’Damn right about that,’’ he said.
Jim felt like he was about to go crazy.
’These hopeless knuckleheads!’ he screamed internally. ’And they’re using this to openly flirt too?!’
He felt like pulling his hair from his scalp.
Jim sucked in several deep breaths, trying to calm himself down.
’All of this is crazy,’ he repeated. ’Other planes, even stronger creatures, and these maniacs who are completely fine with it.’
After a moment, he finally glanced back at Theo.
’’I think I need to go home for a few days,’’ he muttered. ’’My brain isn’t processing any of this.’’
He’d barely finished his sentence before Owen suddenly wrapped an arm around his shoulder.
’’No, you’re not,’’ Owen said with a grin.
Jim stiffened in place.
’’Yes, I am,’’ he muttered weakly.
’’Owen,’’ Theo called out awkwardly. ’’If he wants to leave...’’
Owen glanced up with an even wider grin.
’’Oh, but he doesn’t want to leave,’’ he said. ’’He’s just a little scared right now.’’
Without another word, Owen pressed a hand over Jim’s mouth and began dragging him across the warehouse floor.
’’HM-HM!’’ Jim struggled, desperately trying to dig his feet into the concrete.
Theo couldn’t help but stare at the two speechlessly.
Before long, Owen came to a stop in front of the resources that had been prepared for Jim.
He finally let go of him, even giving him a confident pat on the back.
’’Are you insane?!’’ Jim shouted, stumbling forward.
Owen shrugged before pointing at the resources.
’’You tell me,’’ he said casually. ’’But only after you’re back with a contracted beast.’’
Jim looked between Owen, Theo, and the resources around him.
After a moment, he bit down hard on his lip.
’’Fine,’’ he muttered hatefully. ’’But if I don’t make it out alive, I’ll be haunting you forever!’’
Owen laughed loudly.
’’Deal.’’
An almost invisible wave of mana originating from Feng had long since attached itself to all three of them.
’’I wish you good luck,’’ Feng said, mildly amused by the situation.
Jim walked to the center of his resources, utterly frustrated.
As he reached the center, he turned around and raised both middle fingers into the air.
At the same time, a large white circle spread out underneath his feet.
’’Fuck yo—’’
He disappeared alongside his resources before he could finish his sentence.
Owen only lightly chuckled before looking back at Lyra.
’’Are you ready?’’ he asked.
She nodded with a nervous smile.
Without another word, the two walked over to their own resource piles.
WHOOSH! WHOOSH!
Only a moment later, both of them vanished, leaving Theo completely alone.