At noon, when the sun hung high in the sky like a blazing golden disc, Akira stepped leisurely out of the gates of the Stardust Garden.
His eyes shimmered faintly with curiosity as he surveyed the bustling streets of Orario, thoughts swirling in his mind. He had set his sights on exploring various parts of the city in search of rare materials suitable for crafting magic tools.
But truth be told, his current relaxed demeanor was hard-won.
Earlier that morning, Akira had been enthusiastically dragged to the training grounds by Alise and the others. Their eyes gleamed with unspoken intent—it was obvious they had something special in mind.
A "special sparring session," they had called it.
Apparently, everyone had been deeply impacted by the Juggernaut's incredible speed, and they all hoped to improve their ability to react under such pressure.
Their solution? Ask Akira to play the role of that very monster.
To fulfill their request, Akira had no choice but to switch into [Swift Master].
With his speed boosted to near-monster levels, Akira became a blur across the training grounds. His movements were ghost-like, his attacks a storm of flashes that struck from every direction.
The others could barely trace the trajectory of his assaults before being struck down, tumbling helplessly under his relentless assault. Though they tried to fight back, none could match the inhuman speed Akira displayed.
And so, the intense session dragged on through the morning.
By the end of it, the once-spirited group had collapsed like broken dolls, sprawled across the ground with lifeless limbs. Their chests rose and fell with labored breaths, fatigue etched deep into their sweat-drenched expressions.
Akira looked at them with a mix of guilt and admiration. They had pushed themselves to the limit. Continuing would bring no further gain—only injury.
He gave a soft sigh. "Let's stop here for today. We'll pick it up again tomorrow morning."
The others didn't resist. Grumbling faintly, they accepted their defeat and dragged their aching bodies off the training field, headed back to the baths to cleanse themselves of sweat and frustration.
Thus, after the grueling session, Akira finally had the chance to go about his original plan—heading toward the Sixth District's trading area via North Street.
However, as he passed by a dim, narrow alleyway tucked between two buildings, a strange scent wafted toward him. His adventurer's instincts immediately flared to life.
Without hesitation, he channeled a thin thread of magical energy, letting it sweep outward like sonar. A moment later, he sensed a hidden presence—a cloaked figure lurking just beyond sight.
His expression sharpened. With a quiet metallic sound, he drew the one-handed sword from his waist. The polished blade gleamed faintly under the sunlight, casting a cold glint across the walls.
At the same time, his left hand pulsed faintly with gathered magic, ready to act at the first sign of hostility.
He stepped forward cautiously, his voice calm but commanding. "Who's there?"
A raspy chuckle answered from the shadows.
"As expected of [Morning Star] who reached level 2 faster than anyone else. To be able to detect me so easily... remarkable."
From the depths of the alley, a figure materialized slowly, as if stepping out of the very darkness itself.
A mysterious figure dressed entirely in black.
The robe they wore was heavy and adorned with arcane runes. Its hood was pulled low, obscuring their features entirely. Not even a sliver of skin showed—only gloved hands with strange, winding patterns visible beneath the sleeves.
Their presence was suffocating, like a phantom merging with the very shadows around them. One could hardly even determine their gender.
Despite the eerie aura, Akira's nerves eased slightly.
His sharp gaze scanned the stranger, mentally recalling the many figures Astraea had warned him about during his earlier lessons.
Then, with cautious certainty, Akira spoke, "...You wouldn't happen to be the personal agent of the old god Ouranos, would you? The name's... Fels, right?"
As he spoke, he slowly sheathed his sword, though his eyes remained vigilant.
"I don't recall doing anything that would interest Ouranos. So, what business do you have with me?"
A dry, raspy laugh echoed softly.
"Wow. I'm honored you know me." The figure replied, their voice strange and hoarse, like wind rustling through dry leaves.
Of course Akira would recognize Fels. When he had first arrived in Orario and lacked common language knowledge, Astraea had taken the time to introduce him to the city's key figures, including the more mysterious ones.
"Please rest assured." Fels continued, raising a gloved hand gently. "I'm not here to cause any harm. I only came with a few questions. Nothing more."
Sensing Fels' sincerity or at least their restraint, Akira leaned casually against the nearby wall, expression cool and unreadable.
"Ask then." He said. "Depending on what it is, I'll answer."
Fels nodded.
"You and the Astraea Familia returned from the dungeon yesterday, correct?"
As they spoke, Fels pulled a worn notebook from within their robe, pretending to prepare for notes.
Akira raised an eyebrow, his expression turning vaguely amused.
"I suppose we did." He replied. "That's what the guild said when we came back."
"I see... Then, do you happen to know the reason behind yesterday's tremors in the dungeon?"
Fels' quill scratched across the paper as they asked.
Akira's reply was nonchalant. "How would I know? I'm just a level 2 adventurer. For answers like that, you'd be better off asking my captain."
Fels let out a long sigh—though it was hard to tell if it was from irritation or resignation.
"I thought so too... but Hermes insisted I speak to you directly. Said you were special, that you'd know something."
Akira's lips twitched. He sighed in annoyance.
"That damn god again. Even though Astraea-sama warned him, he just can't keep his mouth shut."
Fels chuckled awkwardly, their hand brushing the side of their hood as if wiping cold sweat that didn't exist.
"Well, that's Hermes for you. But... you really do know something, don't you?"
Akira gave them a long look, then exhaled slowly.
"I don't have the patience to go in circles. Astraea-sama already planned to visit Ouranos herself and explain everything. But since you've come all the way here..."
With a wave of his left hand, a notebook materialized in midair.
"!?" Fels's breath hitched.
They hadn't seen how Akira had summoned it. The transition was seamless, as if the object had always been there and simply chose that moment to reveal itself.
As expected—Hermes was right.
Morning Star wasn't just another rising adventurer... He was unusually "special."
(End of Chapter)
Read 40 Advanced Chapters on patreon.com/astralicity