Kai pushed the door open and entered; Celine followed behind him. His father raised his eyes from the already worn couch, jaws dropping in shock as he beheld the girl standing next to Kai.

  "Kai... who is this?" his father asked, brows narrowing. Celine did not fail to sense the abrupt tension; thus, she smiled politely before announcing, "My name is Celine Cryoson. It's nice to meet you, sir."

  "She's an old friend from high school," he said. "She's got nowhere to go, so she will be here a while."

  "Friend?" His father's eyes narrowed. "Since when did you have friends?" Kai forced a grin. "Since now."

  Kai's father sighed. Not a shred of belief in it. But finally, he heaved a defeated grunt. "Fine," he muttered. "Let her stay. But don't come home with any more strays."

  Celine smiled warmly. "Thank you so much, sir."

  Kai's father only grumbled and turned away.

  An hour later, in that house, full of quiet, Kai found his father alone in the kitchen. The dim lighting cast long shadows across the walls, making the room feel smaller than it was. Kai fidgeted awkwardly on his feet.

  "Uh.. Dad." His father did not even look up.

  "What?"

  Kai took a deep breath. "Sorry... for earlier."

  There was silence in between.

  Then, finally, his father sighed. "You're forgiven."

  Relief washed over Kai. He even shared his plans to move them out of their run-down home and give them a better life. His father did not argue this time; he just nodded.

  Later that night, Kai found Celine sitting on the floor in the small guest room, her back against the wall.

  "Alright, what's going on?" Kai asked. "What and why are you hiding?"

  Celine hesitated, then muttered, "It's better if you don't know." and looked away. "I'm leaving tomorrow anyway."

  Kai's expression cast a shadow of anger. He wasn't taking any of it. In a heartbeat, he had her by the neck and thrust her against the wall.

  "I've got my ways of making you talk," he growled fiercely yet without shaking her too much.

  This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

  Sparks of electricity crackled around the idle hand.

  "I'm not letting some random girl stay in my house if she could be dangerous."

  Celine's eyes went impossibly wide. "Okay! Okay! I'm gonna tell!"

  Kai let her go and took a few steps back.

  She rubbed her throat before breathing in deeply. "I'm the daughter of the Ice Clan's branch head. My family has arranged for me to marry the second son of V City's Ice Clan branch head. So, I ran away."

  Kai frowned, "That's it?"

  Celine nodded.

  Kai exhaled sharply. "You would have to be kidding me… Did you even meet the guy? Maybe give him a chance or something. Some people out there get no bitches, you know."

  Celine turned fiery red. "No! You don't understand! I already like someone, okay?!"

  Kai raised an eyebrow. "And?"

  "I don't want to marry someone I don't love! Most of all, a guy who's ten years older than me!"

  Kai recoiled immediately. "Oh. My bad. Sorry."

  He narrowed his eyes and then asked, "Say... how old are you?"

  "Seventeen."

  Kai froze. Then he snapped. "What kind of father gives his daughter away like that?!"

  Celine's face turned serious. "About that . . . My father is dead. It was my uncle who arranged the marriage."

  Kai clicked his tongue. "Figures... Why don't you ask your boyfriend for help?"

  Celine's face reddened immediately again. "Actually... he's not my boyfriend... yet."

  Kai's eye twitched, and he rubbed his entire face with both hands.

  "But I really like him!" Celine insisted.

  Kai sighed heavily. "Fuck... You've got to be kidding me..." he muttered under his breath. "This is more complicated than I thought."

  Celine looked up at him. "Um... I haven't gotten your name yet."

  Kai blinked. "Oh yeah, I totally forgot." He straightened up. "I'm Kai Ciphera, eighteen years old and a Mercenary."

  Celine was amazed. "You are really young for a Mercenary!"

  Then something clicked in her mind. Her face immediately beamed with realization. "Wait… You're the new Mercenary Champion of Z City! The Kai Ciphera! It's an honor meeting you!"

  Kai groaned. "Oh great, another annoying fan…"

  Celine suddenly bombarded him with questions. "So, what kind of ability do you have? Did you really kill the Z City Fire Clan head? Are you really a late bloomer, like everyone says?"

  Kai immediately shut her down. "That's top secret. Yes. And yes. Now shut up and go to your room. I still want to maintain my beauty sleep."

  Celine saluted playfully. "You got it! Goodnight!" Then, she happily skipped away.

  Kai just stood there, scratching. "This is going to be a long week," he silently mumbled.