Staring at the ceiling of fake stars, I can almost see the real stars through them. Or, well, not really. Those flashes aren’t so common, now that I’ve written in a new journal.

  Hopefully they don’t mind… it was collecting dust in a corner, unused, and I needed to empty my mind out.

  Listening in on the kitchen through the wall, I hear the chatter of various people eating and talking. Though only two voices matter.

  Lumi calling out orders, “Yuna, I need these taken to table four!”

  And the energetic taller cat running over to comply. “On it! Here’s the next order!”

  It’s… enviable. Being able to work and live with your chooms, relying on one another and nobody else. No fear of failure…

  But then again, that fear, that weakness of theirs that allows them to lack fear… as much as I envy it, I don’t. Because it’s exactly that comfort that allowed me to be too weak.

  That comfort that let them all die.

  ‘What am I doing? I mean, my body is torn up and hurt, but just sitting here, doing nothing? While those that saved me are out there working? I can damn well do something… but what?’

  Slowly sitting up with a quiet groan, I go over the state of my body. My burns aren’t nearly so bad now, able to grab things and put on clothes without excruciating pain. And while it hurts to move quickly or make harsh motions, I can handle light exercise.

  ‘Maybe… I should go out and help them? No… no, I’ll get in the way. If anything, let me try to make them a bit of money to pay it back. For this week of rest they’ve given me, and even these few outfits.’

  Standing and slowly dressing in jeans and a t-shirt, I groan, before throwing on a hoodie and grabbing my pistol. Glad I have that at least.

  Not that anyone else could use it, I’m just glad that I don’t need to get a replacement. Looking over the oxidized green revolver, it’s engraved with various runes, and just remembering where they came from makes the world twist.

  A sudden sound of something breaking in the other room snaps me out of my trance, and I quickly hide my weapon on my person and head out.

  ‘Oblivis Core doesn’t mess around with their arcane weapons. Almost went a bit more crazy there.’

  Walking out and into the kitchen with much more ease than before, I figure out what’s going on. Yuna’s in the middle of the dining room, cleaning up her mess of a broken plate and ruined waffles.

  “Yuna, I can handle this for you.”

  Looking up at me with surprise, she hardly turns down the offer, happy for the help. “Yeah, thanks Sal!”

  As she turns back to the people who the food would’ve gone too, I grab the broom from her and start cleaning up the mess.

  ‘This syrup is… annoying. God, why do people even like this stuff so much? It’s so expensive and so sticky.’

  Grumbling to myself… and unintentionally scaring a few patrons nearby me, I sigh and look for Yuna for help… ah, damnit, she’s talking to other people for their orders.

  Lumi it is.

  Stepping into the kitchen proper, I see her running about quickly. Seeing how busy she is with cooking, I go to turn around and leave her be-

  “Salka! What do you need?”

  Despite my intrusion, she hardly sounds upset.

  Turning back to her some, I speak. “How do I clean up syrup?”

  ‘Huh, that’s a weird sounding sentence. Clean up syrup. Up syrup. God, I'm retarded sometimes.’

  Hearing her chuckling, I focus on her again, and she’s handing me a sponge. “Here, just use this. It has some vinegar on it so it’ll come up easy. Just bring the sponge back here and rinse it off in the sink after.”

  “Oh, thanks.” Taking the sponge, I question her a bit. “And… why were you laughing?”

  Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

  “Nothing nothing… just up syrup is an odd sentence to be repeating to yourself.”

  “W-wait, I said that aloud?”

  Seeing her nod, I shake my head and quickly leave to clean the mess, pretending to not be embarrassed, even as I hear her giggles from the kitchen.

  ***

  Now, I’m finally out of the cafe. As plat as it is… I can’t keep taking and taking.

  Besides, I know what I’m good at; even being wounded won’t stop me. Which is what I think about as I enter a building I haven’t entered in years…

  Since before I got my upgrades, somewhere only I was with my dad in. …fucked up, huh?

  As I approach the lady at the desk, I only speak a few quiet words, and she slides me over a datachip, and I walk out with it.

  A simple drive with the info on it, it’s traceable sure, but not easily. I could trace it if I felt like it… but why would I? There’s no surer way to make enemies then to pry on what you shouldn’t.

  I should know.

  Sighing, I plug it into my neck and quickly scan the contents… these digital displays in my eyes, it’s hard to imagine these things not existing.

  ‘Like could people really handle not having these displaying so much? A map, quick look at texts, easy way to pick up or make holocalls, easy access to radios… who wouldn’t? Or rather, how did they handle it without?’

  Hearing a sudden caw, I look up and notice a lone crow on a fence, sitting and watching me with cold, yet intelligent eyes.

  Those things… they always made me feel small, instead of the king of the planet as a human. Heard they’d even pluck out eyes if they saw the chance.

  Not that I’d doubt it.

  ‘Well then again… I guess it’s the same way the occult worshippers view the truths. How could anyone handle living without the knowledge. But… that view is flawed, anyways. And I guess mine is too.’

  Walking into an alleyway, I know my target is near. I know he lives nearby… now just to lie in wait for him to return home.

  ‘After all, unlike those fools in cults… I know better. Just because I know it, doesn’t mean I’m desperate to share it. As a matter of fact, I’d much rather never share it. Because I can never unlearn it.

  …and feeling like an ant never does you any good.’

  ***

  Walking into the cafe again, it’s already night time. But this time, instead of smelling like a fire and being burnt and torn up… my pockets are a bit heavier.

  ‘I’m sure they’re asleep already, the shop is closed.’ Letting out a forlorn sigh at the emptiness, I set a stack of cash behind the counter. It’s almost all that I was paid.

  ‘And there was a time I’d have zeroed people for less… well, at least I know the worth of it now. But still… feels strangely empty. Not nearly as gratifying as it should be.’

  Chuckling grimly to myself, I go to get myself some water to drink, lamenting that I wasn’t here for lunch or dinner.

  …no, no, it’s good I’m not hurting their pockets. Tomorrow, I can actually just buy some food like a normal perso-

  Flinching at the sudden brightness hitting me, I quickly adjust to the light and see Lumi standing in the doorway, giving me a cross look. “You’re back, where were you?”

  Sighing, I lean against the counter. “I was doing some work. Can’t just be a freeloader now, can I?”

  Taking a glance around, she spots the money on the counter, before she sniffs the air and gives me a very wary look. “...what kind of work?”

  Shaking my head, not at all surprised she could smell it on me, I give her a straight stare. “Look, I can’t tell you, but you can guess, you’re no goomba. Something to pay the bills, and pay you for your help. If that’s all, I’ll head to my room and leave as soon as the day breaks.”

  I know what she wants to ask. If I hurt anybody. If I zeroed anybody. And… she might hate me if she found out. But that’s fine, money is money in this city. It’s for their own good if they kick me out.

  Moving past her to leave the kitchen, her voice stops me from moving further away. “Salka…”

  I freeze. Is she really going to ask me? I didn’t think she was-

  “...how are you feeling?”

  I don’t even turn back at her, just standing in the border of the darkness and light of the kitchen and dining room. “...I’m fine.”

  “And the burns?” Her voice sounds more pressing. Does she really not care where the money comes from?

  “...they’re healing. Can do most things without trouble now, at least.”

  Sighing, she relents. “Alright… Yuna was worried sick about you, by the way. Don’t forget to say bye when you leave.”

  “...is that all?” My voice sounds tired of this… and partially, I am. But not really, I appreciate her concerns in a little way. Like how she is with her sister. But… at the same time, it’s frustrating. Like I’m being patronized- like they think I’m weak.

  ‘Even if I am.’

  …but the exhaustion of the excruciating day seems to have leaked a bit too much into my tone, because she just gives me a tired yes and says no more.

  I almost wish she’d have asked me more… a small part of me wishes that, but not enough to be worth listening to. Like many other intrusive thoughts and desires.

  Heading to the room I’ve stayed in, I sit in my bed with a tired groan, only bothering with my shoes before grabbing my journal and writing in it.

  {My entire body aches. From the job, and the old wounds I reopened. It went well, of course. I’m not so weak willed, or I’d have died or gone mad a long time ago. But… wrestling a gun out of someone’s hands when your hands are burned and they’re as strong as you is no easy feat. Let alone when your muscles are barely not aching.

  I’m going to be very sore tomorrow, even worse than yesterday. I might… no, I can go work again. I already said I would, so I will.}

  Written beneath are… strange runes one wouldn’t be able to understand. But one of them includes a scratchy doodle of a crow, looking up at the words above curiously. As if reading them.