Chapter 29: Live with Me Maybe

The mysterious woman, Black Crow Koa finished the last bite of her meal before placing her fork neatly on the empty plate. She reached for a glass of water and took a sip before speaking with her calm tone.

"My Class is Delta, and I work as a waitress at a restaurant called the Ember Nest. The manager pays me 3 qash an hour, which isn’t particularly generous, but it keeps food in the fridge and prevents the landlord from throwing me onto the streets"

She folded her hands together on the table and continued without the slightest hesitation.

"I usually work 12 to 14 hours a day whenever they’ll let me. Most weeks I only come home to shower, eat whatever I can afford or is available, drink several energy drinks and try to fall asleep. I’ve suffered from insomnia for several years now. The clinic suggested herbs, meditation and reducing caffeine, but none of them help"

As she explained all of this, Rhos watched her in confusion.

"I live alone. I don’t have any family worth mentioning, I don’t have any friends either, and I rarely receive visitors unless someone has mistaken my apartment number for somebody else’s. My neighbors find me unsettling for some odd reason and my coworkers tolerate me because–"

"Alright, alright. That’s enough"

He raised both hands with an awkward smile.

"I think a name is enough for an introduction. You don’t have to tell me every facet of your life. We’re still strangers to each other"

Koa stopped talking and quietly stared at him with her sunken pink eyes. It took a bit for Rhos to realize she had intentionally left the floor to him, he cleared his throat.

"My name is Red Deer Rhos"

He paused.

"Well... since we’re technically introduced now, I’d really appreciate it if you explained how I ended up here. I remember I was in the wilderness fighting for my life, then I woke up on your sofa wearing your pajamas"

After he was done talking, Koa stood up. She carried her empty plate to the sink, rinsed it beneath water, then placed it neatly beside the others.

Only after drying her hands did, she turned back toward him, her sleepy expression becoming noticeably more serious.

"What do you remember?"

Rhos frowned. He wasn’t sure how to answer her because his mind right now was foggy. He lowered his gaze, forcing himself to retrace everything.

He rubbed his forehead and squeezed his eyes shut.

"I remember seeing something strange.. I can’t even describe what it was anymore. Then I remember darkness. The last image I have is...Crows!"

His eyes fluttered open at the last word, as if he had a bright realization. Then he turned to look at the woman.

"There were crows flying around me before I blacked out. With the name of your Patron Spirit, I’m assuming you’re involved. If you know something, I’d really appreciate if you told me what happened"

He looked at her expectantly, but Koa just stared at him with a blank face. After several quiet seconds, she shrugged.

"Beats me"

Despite her obvious effort to feign ignorance, he wasn’t convinced she was clueless. She didn’t seem like the type. She was a Delta Class too just like him, there had to be more to her than just a socially inept waitress.

He leaned forward and hesitated before asking.

"Are you a Ranger?"

Only Rangers possessed the legal authorization to leave the protection of the Elderwood Biome. The Corps controlled every gate through the World Shell barrier. Unless she was a Ranger, then she shouldn’t have been able to reach anywhere near where Rhos was.

Even so, nobody in their right mind would just wander into the wilderness. Not if they valued their lives.

Without responding to his question, Koa walked around the counter until she stood directly in front of him. She wasn’t particularly tall but since he was seated, she towered over him.

For the first time since they’d met, she looked mildly annoyed. She looked down into his amber eyes while tilting her head as if her neck had been hanged.

"No"

Rhos wasn’t convinced.

"How did you leave the Biome?"

Koa lowered herself as she leaned toward the young man, close enough that he could catch the scent of soap mixed with the artificial sweetness of the energy drink and the breakfast she had just finished.

Before Rhos could react, a cool finger gently pressed against his lips.

"Don’t pry into my business"

Her tone was soft, almost seductive and her tired pink eyes made the warning more unsettling.

Rhos didn’t say anything and neither of them moved for a good while. At the same time, his mind raced.

Just like living outside of the Biome wasn’t impossible, but dangerous. Leaving it without being a Ranger wasn’t impossible. There were illegal methods of going about it. But they risked execution if caught.

’This woman is trouble’

Whatever she was involved in, he wanted no part in it. His objective now was to get the hell away from her.

He gave her a nod to indicate he understood the situation now.

Satisfied, Koa withdrew her finger. She turned and began walking toward the hallway. Halfway there she spoke without looking back.

"I don’t have much experience with men"

Rhos blinked.

"My coworkers talk about relationships all the time. They keep saying living with someone you like is comforting. So, I became curious"

She sounded genuinely thoughtful.

"I wanted to know what living with a man would feel like"

Rhos stared at her in complete disbelief. His mouth opened to say something, but he bit his tongue. He sighed and asked in a calmer tone.

"Are you insane?"

The question made her stop. She stood there for a moment without saying anything then glanced over her shoulder.

"I’m going to get ready for work"

The corners of her lips curved up into a pleased smile.

"Don’t leave"

Having said that, she disappeared into the apartment’s hallway, leaving Rhos alone in the kitchen area.

He sat there for several and covered his face with both hands. He didn’t understand it, but his face reddened and a strange warmth permeated his chest.

’Damn it all’