BXBX NOVEL Chapter 43 - Khrom
Kadyn only woke up when the night had already engulfed Avibria City and the crescent moon strolled in the garden of clouds above everyone else. He walked out of the Formation Hall, where he slept, and looked around. The construction of the two buildings was progressing rapidly. The workers were speeding all around, shouting and screaming like any ordinary people.
He was amazed at the abilities of the system. It could produce such life-like illusion. Moreover these illusions seemed to be filled with emotions and consciousness of real people. As anyone could talk to them and they would reply.
"Oh, you are already awake." Just when he walked out of the building, he heard Elora's pleasant voice. "I was just coming for you—dinner time."
"Sure, let's go." Kadyn smiled at his sister. "By the way, where is Hicka?"
"Ah," Elora looked awkwardly at him and didn't know how to respond.
"What?" Kadyn became confused at her reaction.
"You see that guy?" she pointed towards one worker and asked. "That one, with a weak body and clumsy hands?"
"That guy who is covered in dirt?" Kadyn said, finding the guy Elora was gesturing towards. "Even his face has been painted… wait a minute!" he halted and looked at Elora with an incredulous expression. "Do you mean he's Hicka?"
Nod.
Kadyn's expression could be described by only a single word—speechless. He shook his head and asked. "What is he doing there?"
"Well, he thinks he is useless," Elora said helplessly, "he thinks he brought only troubles for you, and you have saved him and given him food and clothes and everything, but in return he couldn't do anything to help you. So he wanted to do something." She fell silent after saying, glancing at him.
Kadyn couldn't help but shake his head. "And the best thing he could find was this."
"Everything is in front of you." Elora shrugged helplessly. She had tried to stop Hicka, but the kid was pretty stubborn. In the end, she let him do what he wanted.
"Nevermind," Kadyn said. "It's all good if it makes him feel better."
Although Kadyn didn't voice it, he was touched by the honesty of this guy. Only the hungry understand the value of food, only the thirsty know the price of water. Hicka was poor, an orphan. In his entire life he was sneered at by others and looked down on by many.
Kadyn had shown him so much kindness that's why he felt ashamed, as he couldn't do anything when the need arose, and when he couldn't find anything to vent his frustration, he went to help in the construction. Unaware that his help won't make a difference of a shit.
"You're awake, Boss." while Kadyn was talking with Elora, Hicka noticed him and rushed towards him enthusiastically, as if trying to show that he worked really hard. Kadyn smiled at his child-like behaviour and said. "Go, take a bath. Then we'll have dinner together."
Hicka nodded and went to clean himself. "This kid, sigh." Kadyn eyed his back, and a smile appeared on his face.
When Hicka vanished, Elora turned towards him and inquired. "Have you thought about the incident earlier? How are we going to deal with it?"
"Didn't I tell you to just hide inside one building of the shop when the situation turns bad?" Kadyn said.
"I'm serious, brother." She said in an irritated tone.
"Me too."
"..."
Elora stomped furiously and dashed away. Kadyn smiled and heeled her.
——
The darkness faded, and a new day began. Kadyn was seated in the garden while looking at the ongoing construction and sipping the tea from the rim of the cup when a visitor arrived. "I thought I won't see you for a long time." Kadyn said with a smiling face.
"You have caused quite a ruckus yesterday." Khrom chuckled. "I wanted to see if you need any help."
"Look Who's Talking?" Kadyn said half-mockingly. "Your arse is already on fire but you still want to burn your hand." He gestured to him to take a seat.
"What can I say, I'm just that stubborn," he said and looked at the workers running all around. "But I don't think you need my help. You seem quite confident."
"No, not at all. I'm frightened from inside. My heart is as cold as ice, shivering in terror." Kadyn replied and poured tea for him and asked. "Sugar?"
"Like hell anyone would believe you." Khrom rolled his eyes at him and said. "One spoon."
"You said you're stubborn. Can you tell me how this stubborn guy's condition became so severe that he had to hide his face behind a mask?" Kadyn ignored his words and asked. Then passed the cup towards him.
"How!?" Khrom almost jumped from his seat in terror and eyed his surroundings vigilantly.
"Don't worry. I don't sell my customers," Kadyn said. "As for your question—isn't it easy to guess? You have said that the entire city is after you. But you've visited my shop two times in the presence of quite a few customers, but no one came to investigate. Isn't it obvious you are hiding your identity when you visit me?"
"Ah, I didn't know Mr Kadyn has such sharp eyes." Khrom said, looking at him deeply.
"I didn't know, either." Kadyn laughed and took another sip from his cup.
"I have some information about the herbs you want. After all that batch is full of level 1 herbs, finding a batch of Five Star Spirit Grass won't be that hard."
"Oh, tell me more." Kadyn said with interest.
"It is inside the Magic Association…"
"Forget it." Kadyn shook his head. "I don't want to make them even more hostile towards me. Furthermore I have already found it."
"Then forget it." Khrom shook his head. Then he looked at Kadyn and asked. "Anyway how do you intend to deal with your problem with Association? They won't let it slid; you have injured a man who is only below the Leader himself."
"I have my plans," Kadyn said. "If they don't have someone higher than the 1st level Spell Caster. They can just dream about killing me."
Khrom peered at Kadyn with a deep gaze. Then laughed. "That's good. But be careful, they are shameless people and can go any extent to achieve their goals."
"Thanks for the warning," Kadyn nodded towards him. "I'll be careful."
"That's good then."
Both of them fell silent. After some hesitation Kadyn asked. "What do you do for a living?"
Hearing his question, Khrom's expression turned sad. He looked at the horizon and shook his head. "For the time being, nothing."
Kadyn sensed the sadness inside his heart and he was a little confused by his behaviour, but he asked nothing personal. But his words came as a complete surprise for Khrom. "Do you want to work for me?" He asked with expectant eyes. "I will pay you nicely."