"Isn't it weird?"
" That guy, Astor came out of nowhere saying he just moved here but It looks like he knew the place already, he even moved into that house that no one's been able to get. I also don't think it was up for sale either. You say it's his dad's house but he looks nothing like the guy that used to live there."
"Yes, he said he's the son's owner, he told me how his father built this house for his wife. He's been out of the country for a while and he said he plans on staying here. I really don't think he would lie about something like that. He has the house keys, how could he lie if he had the keys. It really is a pity that the house has an owner, I wished I could have that house."
Sylvester looked at him.
"If he's the owner's son, does that mean that the guy passed away or something?"
"Not completely, he said his dad went missing. That may be a reason why he's back."
"But it's right. The owner didn't have a son nor a wife, it was only him. There were no family pictures or paintings up."
"what!!!! you've met the owner before? When?"
"It was a while back about 11 years ago when I was 13 I think. From what I remembered it was just him alone in the house. I never saw any pictures up or anything related to a family. That's why it's so weird."
"uhm . . maybe he did have a family. Maybe somewhere else or something."
"I think you're just over thinking it Sylvester. So just leave the guy alone and go back to work like you're supposed to."
"Sure, yah whatever."
Sylvester looked back at the house and walked away with Noah.
"But it's weird"
********
A month's later
"Astor!!"
"Astor!!"
A young man was running around making a fuss looking for Astor.
"WHERE ARE YOU!!!! "
"Uh?"
"What are you doing???"
"Uhm? Me?"
Aster turned around with his chair with a big smile
"Yes you, what are you doing."
"Look Harrie!!!!"
" I'm fixing the broken equipment. Didn't you say that they broke down and needed them to be fixed?"
"Uhm, well, yes but- but we were thinking about replacing them. Being old and stuff we need to also be with the latest equipment to make the new equipment. You know how some items can't be made with old stuff, some are too hard or to frail."
"Oh, yes but-"
"But nothing. My father said he would fund the equipment for us so, money isn't an issue."
Astor looked down at the old hammer he had.
"I understand, so are you planning on throwing out all the old stuff then? "
"Yup all of it. We are getting new equipment, he said with a big smirk."
"I see, then can I have some of them? They're going to the trash anyway so give me some."
I looked at him with a big smile that I knew he couldn't say no to.
"Uh yeah, sure you can have some. Just don't start competition with me, I know you have a good eye for stuff."
Astor giggled a bit, and looked at the paper harrie had in his hands.
"Well I'm not as good as you Harrie, I haven't worked on weapons as long as you have. I know you worked on them more than me."
"What are you talking about Astor, you came here about 3 months ago and your stuff is already popular with the heroes and hunters."
"You're flattering me too much" -///-
"But they're not as good as yours, I see how much time and care you put into your work."
"No, really Astor. I'm not joking, it's thanks to you we have better business. By the way my parents were asking if you're coming over for dinner tonight, are you joining us? They seem to enjoy having you around."
"Of course I'll be there. How can I miss having dinner with you guys. I'll bring something from my place as well."
Harrie smiled brightly, it's a nice sight to see. who would have thought that the guy who pulled my hand up for a random eating competition that we somehow won by god's will, would end with me getting hired to work for him. At first he hired me to help clean and attend to the customers, later on I gave him some ideas and he let me work on some stuff with him to then making my own stuff.
"Alright then I'll let them know, we'll see you around 8. We'll have to close early today. My father needs help with something so I'll have to go soon. And don't want to leave you here alone."
I nodded.
"Got it, I'll head out then I'll be taking this stuff with me as well."
"Do what you want. Just lock up when you're heading out."
"Of course, I'll see you later."
I turned around and opened my inventory and put a lot of the old equipment in his inventory. He pulled out the keys and locked up.
For the past couple of months I won't lie I was literally just bed rotting, I thought thanking a brake would pay out and that I would enjoy it but no. It turned out to be really boring.
"Work would be much more fun then this"
I started taking walks and runs to get my blood running but it also still felt boring. While passing the city I saw a little shop that was looking for a new employee to help with cleaning and cashiering. The pay is low, it didn't matter to me, it's just doing the basic job. Money isn't really a problem for me, i just wanted to do something, i was that bored.
I ripped the piece of paper and walked off. Later on i saw that people were gathering around a spicy food shop, they were doing an eating competition. It looked like they were going to die, is it that spicy? In the end they all gave up.
"Anyone else want to give it a try? And get 5 months worth of ramen"
"All this just for 5 months of ramen? That's crazy."
"I would never do such a low thing in my lif-" As the words were coming out my mouth someone grabbed my arm and pulled it up.
"WE'LL GO NEXT!!!"
"Uhhhh????"
It was a young man with light brown hair that looked kinda golden, with fair skin and a bit of fickles, with bright grayish eyes, his hair also looked curly, the clothes he wore looked messy but clean. He looked "beautiful". I wonder if this is what my dad told me about. Someone that looked beautiful but was awful inside.
I looked at them with a straight face.
"What are you doing sr. I don't know you for you to be grabbing me like this."
"Shhhhh. I really want to win this, have you now tried their food. It's amazing.'
"Let go of me."
"Please hyung.. **>0< i promise if we win, I'll do anything. Just help me out."
I rolled my eyes and took my arm from him.
"Fine, just this once."
And the rest was history, we somehow ate all the spicy romen and got 5 months worth of romen.
" THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!, Im Harrison Cauchy. So uhm, that promise hyung. What do you want me to help or do for you?"
". . . , help me get a job. I don't really need anything else right now."
I wont lie, I did have fun eating but I still got nothing to do, i just need a good pass time. Harrie looked at me.
"Well, we're hiring at the moment. If you like you can give it a shot. It's just cleaning and taking care of the customers."
He pointed to the other side of the street where I took the piece of paper from, looks like it might have been fate to meet this guy.
"The shop isn't really popular but it's also in a good area."
I was going to try to see if I could get hired but luck is on my side today. I got hired in the end of that and ended up getting along with everyone, I also ended up helping out with the weapon they made. Although I was told I need to get a license to actually brand my own stuff.
So I'm working towards getting that. But during that time I was still being watched by Sylvester, who would walk in and look around to see the stuff on the shelf. It's quite evident that he's still looking for some information or something on me but I'm as clean as I can be.
Up to now, I have just been working and enjoying the easy work life I have going on. Though there's still a certain person that's been keeping an eye on me since I arrived. But it's not like I can really do anything about it .
It's best to just ignore it. After locking up I decided to look around the city for any old fashioned weapon shop, I was curious and wanted to see if I could find any good weapons to fix up later and resale it. But there weren't any good ones. What a bummer. It was getting pretty late so I should probably start going home and prepare a dish to take over for dinner tonight.
"Mmm. . . Maybe a sweet dessert, yeah that would be good. They love sweet stuff. Maybe some fruit and stuff I can make something with that."
An hour later I made a jelly fruit salad. I'm not much of a cook but they have always appreciated what I've made so far, even though some have been atrocious, like very bad for the stomach. They'll just smile and tell me that I have out done myself once again.
Hmmmm. I should probably head out, it's 7:15pm. If I head out now I'll be able to make it there early.
I took the 7:25 bus. It was a nice ride, except for the loud people on it. I noticed this since I came back. There were a lot of people walking around with the signs and then yelling about something. Their signs had all the same meaning.
"He will return and return with vengeance, HE'LL WON'T ACCEPT ANY REGRETS!!!
"HE DOESN'T FORGET!!!, FORGIVE!!! NOR EMPATHIZE TO ANYONE!!!! EVEN IF YOU BOW DOWN CRYING ASKING FOR HIS FORGIVENESS!!!!"
It seemed like someone or something was going to come back for some kind of vengeance.
I wonder what that's about and who as well.
They were all over the city, it seemed like more of them appeared out of nowhere. It seemed like the hunter didn't want to deal with them as well. They were also busy with gates opening.
I won't lie, the more I look at them the more they look like a cult.
When I turned away to look out the window, I saw the reflection on the window. one of them was staring at me. It was as if we made eye contact through it. It made me nervous, I felt my heart drop. It was a very uncomfortable feeling.
"Hey young man, what's your name?"
The cult like person walked closer and asked me.
I turned to look at them
"Uhm? Me?"
I looked at them with a confused face, trying to act like I didn't hear anything.
"yes, you, what's your name?"
I smiled, "I'm Astro."
Although I was smiling on the outside I internally felt mortified, that someone dressed like that could jump lil old me for not answering. But in reality they couldn't even leave a scratch on me. I was a hunter after all. Why the hell did I feel intimidated by someone like that? Was it because if they wanted to they could curse me. I don't know. I just don't know. I held my jelly fruit salad.
They looked at me for a bit and pulled down their hood. It was a young lady in her early 20's? Maybe.
She sat next to me after looking at me.
"Astor, I see. You have every pretty eyes, I've never seen eyes like yours. Why do you cover them? They look blueish white. They remind me of— oh I'm sorry, I must have made you feel uncomfortable. I'M SORRY!!"
Uncomfortable was the right word.
"No it's fine"
She looked up with a flushed face.
"Uhm, well"
She stuttered her words, i just waved her off. But I could also ask about the signs.
"Uhm hey can I ask you about what the signs mea—-"
All of the sudden someone yelled. We both jumped in surprise.
"Emma!! Get over here!!!"
She looked in the direction of the yelling.
"YES!! ON MY WAY!!!"
She yelled back and bowed her head down to me and left running.
"Well i guess i won't get an answer," i was also a stop away from harries house. I wouldn't have gotten enough time to hear an answer anyways.
*****
"Astor, you made it!! Come in!! Come in!!!"
Harrie looked more excited to see me than I expected. I petted his back and walked in.
"Sooooo, What did you bring???"
Harrie looked intensively at the dish I made. I felt a bit embarrass its nothing fancy like his cooking.
"Jelly fruit . . "
I opened it
Harrie smiled," it looks delicious, give it here I'll take it to the table. My parents are in the living room. You should go say hello. They've been waiting for you. "
I smiled, of course, I took off my shoes and put the slippers on and made my way to the living room.
" It's been about 12 years today since the most loved hero and S class hunter has gone missing. Both Lenore and her husband Damien have helped hunters around to keep us safe. Don't forget to always give your thanks to the hunters and heroes around us, who've helped keep us safe and comfortable.~~~~~"
"Damien Ruthburn was the only high level craftsman who didn't have a disciple right?"
"I think so hun,"
"What a shame losing a great artist like him. He had a kid right? What happened to them after they disappeared. I can't imagine what could have happened to their kid. Anyone would have tried to get their hands on them."
"They always kept that information private. But I did hear that he awakened at a young age and was connected to the hub at a young age too, he also worked for them and I think he died in a rift, other than that nothing else."
They seemed like they were having a serious conversation about that topic. If they really were curious about what happened to that kid? Well he's right here with a jelly fruit salad.
"Good afternoon Mr. And mrs Moores."
"Ahah ASTOR!!"
"You made it child. Come here, have a seat, we're watching TV right now. Have you seen the news they've been talking about the missing couple. They do this every year for appreciation.
"Ah yes I have. It's nice to see." I looked at the tv.
"It's nice to see them."
Mrs. Moors looked at me. I wasn't sure what face expression I was making for the older mom to say, "Yes it's nice to see that they recognize the people who sacrifice themselves for others."
"It's been quiet for a while, not a lot of gates have opened up nor rifts. It feels nice l almost like a normal day."
"I agreed it's nice, let's eat. I made fruit jelly."
"You didn't have bring anything Astor, it's nice having your company here. Mr. Moores smiled and patted my back. Let's go eat."
While going back to the table the ground started shaking a little and then all of the sudden violently and a loud noise came from the outside near the front of the house. A strong energy feeling was coming from it as well. The only thing I could have thought of was a rift opening nearby.