Chapter 224
A ride
"Very good," Kai said, folding her arms as if preparing to continue the conversation.
But before she could say another word, Thor raised a hand, cutting in with a calm smile.
"Since we're done here, why don't I give you a ride back to the academy?" he offered, his voice was light and almost too generous.
IAM didn't respond right away. Instead, he tilted his head slightly and gave Kai a side eye—just in time to catch the way her eyes narrowed at Thor, like she was restraining herself from saying something very unkind.
IAM opened his mouth to politely decline the offer… then paused. Then he remembered his stolen meal...His body had been robbed.
His smile curled into something wicked.
He gave Thor a short nod. "Of course. I'd like that."
And with that, he turned, feeling the blistering heat of Kai's glare scorch across his back like the fury of a thousand suns. He didn't look back. He simply walked with a smug grin
And just like that, he followed Thor back up to the surface.
...
Thor gave a nod to the man and said, "You were right. You really don't serve beer here—I couldn't find what I was looking for. Maybe I'll give up and try another day."
The man offered no reply, simply stepping aside to let them back out through the counter door. They exited the café and stepped into the street.
"Where's your car?" IAM asked as they walked.
Thor pointed with his thumb. "Just around the corner."
They turned off the main street, walking past storefronts and tall hedges until they arrived in front of a large black truck.
It was a full-sized four-door model. The body was clean and well-maintained, with a solid, slightly elevated frame that suggested it was built to handle more than just city roads.
The front grille was broad with a matte-black trim that matched the side mirrors and handles. The headlights were clear and bright, flanking a reinforced bumper that looked like it could push through a snowbank without much effort. The windows were tinted nearly black.
The truck bed was empty, covered with a hard folding cover, and the rear featured a standard hitch—ready for towing, if needed.
Thor placed his finger on the handle, and with a soft click, the door unlocked. He pushed it open and gestured for IAM to hop in.
IAM gave a small nod and slid into the front passenger seat. The interior was just as sleek—with dark leather seats, sturdy steel framing, and a faint scent of oil and aftershave.
Thor closed the door behind him and walked around to the driver's side.
Thor glanced at IAM as he reached over his shoulder for the seat belt and clipped it in place. "Do you know how to drive?"
"Ahem… well, I'm getting practice at the Academy so…" IAM trailed off.
Thor scoffed and shook his head. "Those little things don't even count."
There was a brief pause before IAM raised an eyebrow. "More importantly, why did you offer to give me a ride and leave behind your girlfriend?" His tone wasborderline accusatory.
Thor didn't answer right away. He reached for the key slot, inserted it, and turned. The engine rumbled to life with a low growl. He pressed the clutch down with his foot, shifted the gearstick into first, and slowly released the handbrake. With a careful balance of clutch and accelerator, the truck rolled out of the parking spot and eased into the road.
Only then did he respond, his eyes fixed ahead. "She's not my girlfriend. Just a friend… that's all."
IAM leaned back against the seat. "Then what about the date she was talking about?"
Thor kissed his teeth and shifted into second gear. "It was just a misunderstanding between us. It's nothing more." His tone was even, but he kept his gaze firmly on the road, like it wasn't up for further discussion.
There was a period of silence as Thor drove. The truck rumbled steadily over the smooth, well-maintained roads of the Higher Sector. Each shift of the gear was followed by the soft hum of the engine, the occasional flick of the indicator, and the muted sound of tires rolling over asphalt.
The sun cast long shadows through the windshield, flickering across their faces as the vehicle glided through quiet intersections. Neither of them said a word at first—just the low growl of the truck and the faint sound of city life filtered through the windows.
Then, out of nowhere, IAM asked, "Do you think... it's a possibility that they were The Tragedy?"
It hit like a punch to the chest. It was the kind that knocked the breath out of you. Thor didn't answer. The truck remained in motion, but the silence inside felt heavy—like the cabin itself had shrunk, and the air pulled tight around them.
IAM didn't back down from it. He spoke again, quieter this time but just as firm. "And the Seven Heroes had stopped them... Could that be the real story behind what the Tragedy actually was?"
Thor kept his eyes locked on the road. His hands gripped the steering wheel just a little tighter. The corner of his jaw tensed, and after a long moment, he finally spoke. "I'd like to hope not," he said, his voice was low. "Because that would mean they were beings on the level of—no, higher than—the Seven Divine Mothers of Holem. It would be... disheartening, to say the least."
IAM looked away, toward the window, watching the city blur past. "Yeah... you're right... It wouldn't make sense. Why would they even record something like that? And they'd need technology, to record, right? So... it couldn't be from that long ago…"
He kept listing reason after reason, his voice slightly rushed, as if trying to outrun his own thoughts. As if the more he talked, the more he could bury the idea, deny it, kill it in his head before it took root.
But neither of them said it aloud—how even denying it didn't make the thought go away.