The car pulled into the parking lot like it belonged there — sleek, black, and way too fancy for someone who'd just crawled out of a death trial. Percy stepped out, still adjusting his school uniform, which fit like it had been designed for someone with broader shoulders and fewer trauma flashbacks.
Charlie followed behind, eyes wide, arms full of notebooks, and energy levels that screamed "I haven't slept in three days."
The building before them was ridiculous.
Golden Light flashing onto the building. Marble pillars. Spirit energy-infused glass that shimmered like starlight. Entity Hunters lounged outside, chatting like they hadn't just returned from the Nightmare Realm. Some were still dripping with blood and spirit energy. Others were sipping drinks like it was brunch.
Percy stared.
"This place looks like it costs more a fortune!"
"Come on, short-stuff! What are you waitin' for?" Lane called, already halfway to the entrance with Charlie trailing behind like a loyal intern.
Percy jogged to catch up, still mesmerized by the building's glow. That's when they ran into them.
A group of smug-looking dudes, visibly intoxicated, chugging liquor like it was water. Their eyes locked onto Lane — and then Percy.
"Ha! If it isn't Lane!" one of them slurred, throwing an arm around his shoulder.
"Back from the Nightmare Realm? What are you doing, picking up strays?"
Lane's face was blank. The kind of blank that said I'm deciding whether to punch you or ignore you.
Charlie looked away, a bead of sweat sliding down his temple like it was trying to escape the situation.
"This is a rookie I picked up. I'm showing him the ropes," Lane said flatly.
"Pff…!"
The group burst into laughter.
"Who'd wanna learn from the lowest-ranked sovereign?" one of them wheezed, tears streaming down his face.
Lane smirked — just a twitch at the corner of his mouth. Percy couldn't tell if he was amused or plotting revenge.
"Yeah, good luck, kid. I give you two months before you quit!" the largest one said, shoving Percy through the hotel doors like he was a sack of potatoes.
Percy stumbled in, straightened his jacket, and muttered:
"Geez… it wasn't even that funny."
They checked in, and the trio stepped into the elevator.
Silence.
Then—
"Pff...Bwhaha!" Lane burst out laughing, slapping his knee.
"Charlie, did you hear those fools? Don't you think it's getting old still trying to pick on low ranks? Are we grown adults or not?"
Charlie chuckled, adjusting his glasses.
Percy frowned.
"Wait… why are you two laughing? They belittled you out there!"
Lane leaned back, arms crossed.
"Listen, short stuff. People who rank low love finding someone lower. Makes them feel important. Even in the Nightmare Realm, ego's the real monster."
Percy raised a brow.
"Why do something so useless?"
"Because pretending to be special is easier than being special. So I humor them. Let 'em have their moment."
That's… oddly wise, Percy thought, just as the elevator dinged.
They stepped onto Lane's private floor.
And chaos greeted them.
"Captainnnn!" A girl with light blonde hair and blue eyes leapt onto Lane, nearly knocking him over.
She was in a robe, a towel wrapped around her head, and very clearly drunk.
Percy blinked.
"Captain, come drink with us!" she giggled, pointing to a guy with grey hair and red eyes who was halfway unconscious, still chugging his drink like a champion.
"We took down a ton today! Look at all this moneeey!" he shouted, dumping a bag of cash onto the floor like it was confetti.
Lane sighed.
"Hey! Detoxify yourselves and introduce yourselves to the newbie!"
"Yes, sir!" they snapped, wobbling into position.
"My name is Ruko Lityner! Spiritual Trademark: Water! Third Commander of the Weather Reporters Sovereign!"
"Hi, I'm like… Luna Switzer. Spiritual Trademark: Lightning. Fourth Commander. I think," she yawned mid-sentence, rubbing her eyes.
Percy stared.
"This is improper. They're drunk!"
Lane tossed his coat aside, flopped onto the bed, and cracked open a drink.
"Get used to it, kid. This is the weakest sovereign The Weather Reporters life."
"So, short stuff, what's your name?" Ruko asked sipping the last bit of liquor out of his bottle.
"Uhh… Percy. But call me Rain."
Ruko snorted.
"Pff… Percy? Like Percy Jackson? And what do you mean 'call you Rain'? We've got a girl here with that name already!"
"Urgh… just call me whatever."
"Hey hey! Let's call him short-stuff! Lane said, waving his bottle like a wand.
"Yeah, I like that more… hic," Luna mumbled, collapsing onto the floor, her robe dangerously close to slipping.
"Ah! Cover up!" Percy shouted, hands over his eyes — with fingers definitely parted.
After the chaos settled, Ruko rubbed the back of his head.
"Sorry about that, short-stuff. We were a little drunk."
"Yeah, Luna's sorry too. My baddd."
"Stop calling me short-stuff! I'm not that short!"
He was.
Painfully so.
For a seventeen-year-old, Percy looked like he'd skipped a few growth updates.
Then the door opened.
Three more walked in.
A tall woman with short black hair and piercing azure eyes. A short girl with silky black hair and obsidian eyes. And a guy with orange hair, yellow eyes, and black streaks like he'd been struck by lightning.
They scanned the room.
"Who's the short kid?" the tall woman asked.
Lane raised his drink.
"Hoping he interns here well, not that I gave him much of a choice."
"You're taking on two interns?" the orange-haired guy asked.
The black-haired girl walked up to Percy, face inches from his.
"You're taking on him and me?"
Lane grinned.
"Yeah. Short-stuff One and short-stuff Two since you're both ridiculously short."
Percy facepalmed.
'This is going to be a long month…'