Life can be strange sometimes. Week ago, August had been trying his best to survive in the harsh wilderness. Days ago, he met the most powerful ascender in his life and went on a hunt with him. Hours ago, he was helping his new sister, Taya cleaning food plates. But now, he's sitting in the highly luxurious couch made by brown leather. On its edges were shiny gold that reflect the room dim orange light. August let himself enjoy the moment on this very comfortable couch but isn't being off-guard. His eyes consistently scanned around; he's facing toward the big round window that showing off a dark space with a dazzling colorful light. Privilege is always present, doesn't matter if it's a develop city or a deep outdate village in far north. Snow Grove is ultimately bias, he thought he was lucky to be adopted by Rein, lucky to have such a wonderful house, food and family, but these fellows that occupied the Eight floor were something else, they are allowed to see 'night'. Though, not real but it was enough.
The images of people live in Eight played in his head. He has been called by Friday, who's one of the few people he shouldn't be messing with. It was not a command but a request, the person who brought him here was surprisingly polite.
The Eight was so much diverse than the other seven below, half of the people August saw were Frotine. Also, buildings here have so many variants, they were built not only for living, but they were built to respond the need of its people while being very effective. Most of the buildings were made of the same materials as the floors below but the decoration and design were very different from each other shows that on this floor, the architects were present.
Another thing that August noticed was that the ceiling was a lot higher than the lower floors, maybe six or seven times higher. This, in fact, made him thought that it was actually the night sky, and he couldn't be the only one. The room he's currently sitting at located on the ninth floor of a closely guarded tower at the center of the Eight. Once he stepped in, he felt the cold staring from many eyes, they were too cautious.
Observing around, the room was very well decorated, as he expected. On the wall, a huge number of landscape painting were hanging with a golden frame. The dim orange light and a pure silent environment created a pressing air that made August felt small and powerless, he realized how afraid he is from the only sound he heard, his heartbeat.
He pulled himself back, the leather-gold couch opposite him was still empty. He expected someone to be there, maybe paying a visit to Friday wasn't his best idea. All and all, many have warned him, but he was too stubborn to listen. He has to hear Friday's words, no matter what it is. And after all, the Bone sword was still present by his side.
On the wooden table in front, two crystal wine glasses and a bottle of luxury red wine. The table itself was carved with a design of a rose and its thorns.
August has been awkwardly waiting around for ten minutes, minimum. The gentleman who brought him here left a long while ago.
While trying to maintain his sanity, he clenched his fist around the Bone sword grip. His head planning the emergency escape route but couldn't came up with any. He can try to jump but will certainly fail, he could try to run but will surely die from the hands of those people waiting around the corner.
Suddenly, the wooden door behind him was pushed wide open, it slammed with the solid wall created a loud bang. August glanced at the reflection on the glass without turning his head back. A slim figure walked firmly into the room. Jet black hair combed backward and a very defined feature. He was shorter than August but not much, he wore a black suit, thin and casual. August adjusted his body temperature automatically, but from the look of it, this floor was certainly warm.
The man looked at him, his face wore a small smile. Up and down, he looked, "Don't you feel hot? That clothes won't function well here."
August took that comment to his heart, again, have he failed to cover his ascender identity. He can't take off his coat because beneath it, there was nothing. August just lightly shook his head, while his sword stands ready, "I'm good."
The man raised an eyebrow, dropping himself on the couch, "I see, let me properly introduce myself. I am Friday, in charge of food manufacturing of the Grove. I owned floor one and two, and a couple of underground floors."
The One was the floor August has his first impression on, those people were very chaotic and misbehave, if Rein was not there, how messed up could it be? But it being itself was probably one of the most suitable states under Friday's control, August couldn't bring up any valid argument to that thought.
When August is about to open his mouth, Friday spoke out, "No need, I know who you are. August, adopted son of Northern Fang, Rein. You are lucky kid, very, very, very lucky. People would die just to be you. Sadly, Snow Mistress only gave us one life, no more, no less. It's a pity I could only experience being young once. It's truly sad, people die, trying just to be like us, like me."
August asked with his controlled tone, "Is she the Great Wolf? Are they the same person?"
He chuckled, "Heh, she is indeed the same person. That must be Rein words, or perhaps one of his kids. And by that, I know that you're not her believer. Another thing learnt, I do love learning new stuff about people. It's a little bit of a controversy, some think that they are in fact, different being. Some think they are one and the same. That's an interesting story, don't you think?"
August didn't respond, he's sitting still with a sword in hand.
Friday reached out to the wine bottle; its cherry red liquid was majestically moving inside the shiny glass packaging. Slowly, he poured it into both of the glasses. Once full, the bottle was still left half full. He placed it back on the table in exchange of the glass of wine in his hand. He took a light sip, but his tongue moved freely, trying to taste the most out of it. His hand gently swirling the wine, light, elegant, a rich aroma swirling and eventually touched August nose.
His body tensed up; the need of drinks suddenly occurred. He reached out to the glass left on the table. He took a light sniff out of it before slowly drink it. A burning sweetness heat up his throat, he was no alcoholic, not with a strong throat that for sure. But after that gulp of wine traveled pass his throat, he felt nothing, not even a glimpse of drunkenness, instead, it was replaced by confuses and question.
The stamina attribute of Path of the Sun isn't only enhancing his stamina but also his immunity. Alcohol couldn't affect him anymore, he thought about a probability of him being immune to poison, it was very possible, but he wouldn't wish to try.
After the burning completely gone, he took another sip, nothing, only a bad sweetness that doesn't reach his minimum likeness. It was...bad.
Friday smirked with satisfied, "Ah...so you belong to some of the stamina attribute path."
Shocked, he was unable to interact with the man in front. Him being right was one thing, that's one in five chances, but August knew Friday didn't just guess, not randomly.
Friday smirk turned into a wide grin, "You was not a very good drinker before, am I correct?"
Silence.
He continued, "Easily guessed by how you reacted to the wine aroma, it was not luxury as it looks, or not as how I made it look. In fact, this is one of the worst wines I have ever taste in my life, but it has a very heavy portion of alcohol, too much for me to enjoy. But it attracts anyone who don't know that. You, you were attracted, it showed that you have never taste or smell a real wine before."
August immediately brought up a made-up excuse, "I'm not just a wine drinker. This drink is certainly strong, I just happened to be good at enduring it."
Friday shrugged, "It could be true, I have no knowledge of that. You could be a very heavy drinker, if only that I haven't lied."
What?
August blinked as he listened to Friday speech, "I apologize for lying, this wine has a very tiny portion of alcohol, but it does taste bad, you must be agreed. You said that it was a very strong wine, didn't you? Well...it's not, you could have just said that it was a light drink and get away without me knowing anything, but instead, you agreed to my nonsense story, confirming that you know nothing about any alcohol drinks. The only explanation is that you are a non-drinker with a newly discovered ability that happened to be some sort of immunity to alcohol, so you doubt if it's your ability that made you felt nothing or it just simply nothing. You have the option to play along and lying about your path or act dumb and go against my words, apparently, you chose wrong."
Fuck...
As much as he hated to admit, Friday was two-no, three steps ahead him. His brain calculated every possibility in such a short span of time. He felt as if he has been fallen into his trap the whole time.
He let out a long sigh, "I'm indeed a stamina attribute ascender. But don't expect me to tell you what path it is, because I won't."
Friday shook his head while chuckled lightly, "There's no need. I never want to know your path anyway. It's just fun to pry your secret, that's all."
This bastard...
"However," Friday paused, he putted down his glass. August sensed an important conversation is about to come up, so he did the same and listened, "I do have an offer for you."
An offer?
Is it a job? What could it be? August think and think about what this mysterious offer could possibly be. If it's really a job he might not be considering it at all since he already has a very decent one.
Friday's gaze stared at August, "An opportunity to work for me."
"I refuse." August answered, surprising only August himself while Friday kept his calm look in touch.
"Of course you do. But the reward is far more valuable than whatever Rein might be offered."
At this point the interest of August peaked at its highest. Friday continued, "I will tell you a forbidden knowledge of the ascender world."