So it is done: If youth only knew (Patreon)

Jonathan first tried to lift the load with his hands, only to fail miserably and almost breaking his back in the effort. Finding his physical inadequacy in the arm strength department not allowing such capability, he was forced to simply push the box until it rested against the wall with the muscle powers of his legs. And in this endeavor, he was successful.

This was not the first time Jonathan has been busy with these kinds of chores in the past two weeks. Two weeks of his life during which Jonathan was dragging several dozens of such boxes through the four corners of Remnant. Thanks to the ‘deal’ he had hashed out with Bor, his usual slow and easy deliveries had become quite the back-breaking work.

Teleporting to the next box he had to deliver, Jonathan repeated the same action as before. To then put the next box on top of the previous one, as carefully as possible. The contents of the box are quite fragile.

There was nothing in the boxes that was... illegal per se. At least, in the usual sense of the word.

Spare parts, equipment, consumables, and lastly, various parts of some kind of disassembled devices. At least that is what Jonathan would guess what a normal person would think were they actually see what’s inside the box. They would simply regard the things inside as something normal, and the disassembled devices as nothing more than another mechanical curiosity, the function of which they did not understand.

Jonathan would not blame them for their lack of suspicion. He himself was also not completely sure what was the function of everything that he was forced to transport and was only suspicious of them because of Bor’s threats.

Well, it could not really be said that Jonathan was exactly forced to transport these things. No, Bor wasn’t lying that it was precisely a mutually beneficial cooperation. If Jonathan received a certain benefit in exchange for providing benefit to another person, then by definition it really was a mutually beneficial cooperation…

Even if Jonathan himself did not like such cooperation.

Trying to lift another of the boxes, Jonathan cursed under his breath as he could feel his spine creaking from the effort. What did they put in this one? Rocks!? Once again Jonathan was forced to push the box to its destination.

Eventually, after looking at four boxes, lined at the edge of the room, his delivery itinerary for today, Jonathan sighed with satisfaction. He then turned around and made his way to the exit of the small metal container where he was directed to leave the goods at. He passed the thick metal doors, before closing the door behind him with a large metal lock and looking. With his ‘job’ for the day over with, he took a deep breath of fresh air as he enjoyed his surroundings.

The airport in Mount Glenn did not look similar at all like the airports on Earth. The keyword to describe it, perhaps, was the word ‘port’. Due to the enormous need to provide reliable logistics for the local settlements scattered throughout the wilderness, the airport looked more like a harbor than the usual airport look of clear empty fields. Most of the spaces around the airport were dominated with warehouses that would usually be seen in a harbor. Furthermore, dozens of metal containers were stacked to the skies in a labyrinth of metal and machinery. The place was probably the ideal meeting place for local criminal gangs. And, of course, for the transfer of contraband goods.

Jonathan glanced back in frustration at one such nondescript metal box. Tugging at his cloak in a force of habit before huffing and darting away from the container, closing his eyes as he walked.

A step, one more, the third and… Opening his eyes, Jonathan took a step out of a random doorway in Mount Glenn. Then, all without attracting attention to himself, joined the stream of passers-by hurrying about their business. People that are too self-absorbed to notice another figure among the crowd. If he were so criminally inclined, this is the best opportunity to pick pockets.

Not that he’s criminally inclined… in that way anyway. Ha…  Here he is again, engaged in criminal activity, all to save a little girl…

Jonathan, you definitely have a talent for this! So don't bury it in the ground! Next time, we will rescue a little girl through financial fraud!

Jonathan exhaled through his nose at the funny thought, then hurried to his business.

Cinder was at school at the moment, studying hopefully. Bor was in his office, doing god knows what. And Jonathan himself was in a bad mood. On the other hand, Jonathan should be rejoicing. After all, today was the last day he was going to play smuggler!

Although…  ha-ha, a corrupt official deciding to just let a useful smuggler go? Sounds very realistic.

Jonathan exhaled and massaged his temples. Getting Bor to honor his side of the deal was like pulling teeth. Though not impossible per se, they were slow and painful so far.

Although their formal ‘agreement’ was based on Bor’s help in getting Neo out of his dysfunctional family, Bor was in no hurry to fulfill his part of the deal. He used all the formal jargon and all the bureaucratic nonsense to delay any progress on Neo’s freedom.

Jonathan was starting to think that Bor needed some ‘convincing’ to do his job.

Thankfully, two weeks later there was some progress. It was quite lucky for Bor, Jonathan was so close to thinking that their mutually beneficial conditions were not so mutual… And do something that he would prefer not to do.

Bor, as if by some animal instinct sensing the incoming danger, announced to Jonathan that his last delivery would be coming. The delivery that he had just finished. And that the required specialist, through long political and bureaucratic machinations, has come to deal with Neo’s situation and will arrive to carry out the formal procedure at two o'clock this afternoon.

Jonathan pulled out his scroll, glancing at the clock, before putting it back in his pocket.

As much as he hates to admit it, Bor has quite the good grasp in his ability to teleport, it was about time for them to meet just in time.

Still… at least he had fulfilled his part of the deal. But, in no way did this mean that Jonathan found even the smallest amount of sympathy for Bor. Perhaps, on the contrary, he acquired an even more significant antipathy towards the man the more he interacts with him.

These things sometimes happen with people who threaten to kill you.

Jonathan would definitely not forget about it. And, because he’s not an idiot, he used his own powers to the fullest to take certain precautions.

Yes, Jonathan did not have significant connections and influence in this world…  But he knew how to look, listen and also appear almost anywhere in hundreds of miles in an instant, as often as he wished. And with that he had collected some information about his new friend.

Bor Martin, Jonathan snorted at the name. Wasn't he supposed to be called Martin Bor? It sounded like a silly rework of a name from Earth.

Hm, well, it’s really nothing important.

Bor Martin is a man that few would want to see as their enemy, and even less somehow, as their ally. An ambitious bureaucrat who once ran for a position in Glenn's Self-Government on a platform of anti-fauna rhetoric, and a lot of other platforms that would get him kicked out of politics back on Earth.

Hmm, now that he thinks about it, Jonathan has not met a single faunus while he was in the city... Okay, that doesn't really matter right now.

His platform, standing against the faunus, against migrants, for monopolies and a strong state, won the favor of many influential people in politics, but lost him the election. As a result of which he was forced to settle as the head of the Glenn Refugee Department… Who decided that it would be a good idea to put a man whose platform was hostile to migration at the head of the migration department, even if just a part of it, must be quite the special idiot.

This question of incompetence worried Jonathan since he lived in the city that contained said idiot, but much less than the rest of the things he found out  concerning Bor.

The connection that he established in his campaigns, his many mutually beneficial relationships with major industrialists, and other interesting individuals did not disappear overnight. Although his position in the government was somewhat insignificant, Bor had quite the large network of acquaintances in interesting official positions stretched throughout Mount Glenn.

For example is his numerous meetings with Zoen, Head of the Mount Glenn Police Department. Then him appearing at formal evening dinners held by the Hulden family, Head of the Economic Council at Mount Glenn Self-Government. And last but not least a regular friendly dinner with Kreek, Head of Mount Glenn Self-Defense Council.

And the list goes on and on with  many less - but still very, significant personalities in Mount Glenn, bankers, economists, factory owners, company managers. Coincidentally also lining up with various people suspected of illegal activities. People who, strangely enough, despite numerous reports of illegal activities against them have no investigation even in the works against them.

And the list of Bor’s acquaintances was quite the colorful bunch, a suspected drug lord, a suspected hunter-mercenary, a suspected counterfeiter - and many other illegal trades.

Given that Bor had friends at the very top of the police, it was not difficult to guess why these people remained only as suspects and not convicts.

Although, of course, Bor was not the Napoleon of the crime world, his web of crime doesn’t really spread throughout Remnant. Unfortunately, In Mount Glenn he was the central link between various individuals and groups with special interests. Almost unknown to ordinary people, Bor was extremely important for the shadow side of Mount Glenn. Something which made any prospect of removing him, extremely problematic…

Jonathan exhaled, tugging on his cloak once more as he moved through the streets of Mount Glenn, his dark thoughts oblivious to the rushing people.

Bor was a danger to Jonathan not in terms of the power he can bring to bear, but in terms of his many friends. And although Jonathan could confidently say that most of his friends was not beholden to Bor and would seek revenge on Jonathan should Bor disappear, in the general web of contacts it was too difficult to say who was Bor’s friend and who is Bor’s friend. Bor was not invulnerable, far from it in fact, Jonathan could appear next to him at any moment, deal with him and disappear without any problems. But then…

But then the only option available to him next was to run. Mount Glenn was pretty much crawling with dozens and hundreds of Bor’s acquaintances, each of which could lay a trap for Jonathan. Maybe some of them might just shrug their shoulders at the news of Bor's death, but Jonathan couldn't take the chance if even only one of them decided to take revenge.

And to figure out who exactly was close to Bor and who was not, would take a long time. Even with his various ways to gather knowledge, it would take Jonathan months, if not years of carefully studying the hundreds of people involved in the shady side of things to pinpoint the list of all potential opponents. And then...

And then what? With the information, as I understand it, we will have to kill dozens of people at a time to save our own ass. What a great plan, Jonathan.

Even if Jonathan found out each person who would become a threat, people who could spoil his plans in the future, Jonathan would then have to kill dozens of people. All but turning Mount Glenn into a bloodbath overnight. Of course, after the purge the police would hardly be able to find any evidence of his involvement in the matter.

But still, to take dozens of lives even if not so innocent ones...

Nah, ramping up too fast. I call a bluff!

Yes, it was nothing but a bluff even if he were to bring it up with Bor as a threat. Jonathan was not ready to kill dozens of people at the snap of his fingers.

Welcome to the world of adults, son! When you have to think with your head before chopping off other heads!

Jonathan pulled back his cloak and sighed. Bor's assassination was thus far quite impossible. To escape? It was… Possible. But it was still an extreme option. Something which Jonathan would only do at the utmost emergency, and nothing less.

At the end of the day, Jonathan is quite firmly stuck in Bor's nets. His legal documents were still under Bor's control, a tangible but invisible threat of death hung over Jonathan's head.

And then Cinder’s situation… Ha, Cinder made the situation so much more difficult.

In total, after looking over all his options, there was only one available to him. The most unlikely one... and the only one that would leave him in the positive.

To beat Bor in his own game.

Jonathan, despite his previous irritable and nervous reflections, still allowed himself a grim grin.

As he said before, an ordinary person would hardly be able to understand what they are looking at when looking at the equipment that Jonathan was smuggling.

But Jonathan was not an ordinary person at all. He also knew how to listen, see and appear in any place, even, for example, in the most secure Merlot Industries’ vaults.

Jonathan was not a technician, but... The Order of Hermes did teach an excellent set of skills for a wide variety of occasions.

Although, hmm… What exactly did those two scientists in the laboratory mean by experiments to enhance the natural abilities of the Grimm? This Jonathan did not know the purpose of...

At least, not at this moment. But, when Jonathan remembered the conversation between those two scientists, a bad feeling ran down his spine with a rain of chills spreading throughout his body.

***

Neo lifted the lid of the trashcan with visible effort. As soon as she succeeded, the smell of rotten garbage overwhelmed her nose from it. Still, she peered inside.

Rotten, too rotten, and also rotten… Oh, someone threw out bread that’s edible! Just a little bit of mold!

Neo immediately grabbed her great find. Satisfied with her food for the day, she backed away from the trashcan, moving further into the dirty alley before taking a closer look at the bread.

Just a little green on one side - that's okay!

Of course, the bread carried the strong smell of trash. Naturally, after lying in the trashcan for a while, it was saturated with a disgusting putrid smell, but nothing unpalatable in Neo’s opinion. You just need to close your eyes, not breathe through your nose, and take a bite

Taking a bite from the side untouched by the mold, Neo sighed.

Quite good, if you are not picky!

The memory of cold… sweet… ice cream. Neo forcefully bite into the stale bread once more, trying to calm her rebellious stomach with the memories of the delectable dessert.

Ha… Maybe if she meets another policeman.

Neo immediately shook her head, disagreeing with the idea. The police would always take her back to her mother, and Neo did not want to go home. Especially now.

Biting into the loaf of bread, Neo exhaled, continuing on her way. Her clothes were already beginning to smell, but nothing that a little washing would not fix. Unfortunately, Neo will need to find a public toilet for that. The water at home has long been cut off.

And the nearest public toilet is somewhere two streets away.

Great, there is a trashcan next to a clothing store along the way, And if she’s lucky she could find clothes her size! Neo's current set has long since been bursting at the seams. She needs to find better clothes that fits her wardrobe.

Idly taking another bite of bread, Neo headed to her destination, all the while looking at the houses passing by. Spotting one that is particularly opulent, Neo paused.

Hmm, that house looks rich…  I wonder what they have in their garbage can?

Neo contemplated the trashcan in front of the house. Climb in? Usually when people see her trespassing, or worse diving into their trash, they usually do so quite violently. But, judging by the empty driveway and the curtained windows, the house was empty at the moment.

Neo glanced around the streets for people. Seeing it empty she quickly rushed to the trashcan, opening it silently.

Plastic…  Paper…  Chocolate package!

Neo unwrapped the foil to check if there were any chocolate crumbs, but she was unlucky, there was nothing left. So, Neo rummaged further.

Torn slippers, no, she doesn't need that…  Two empty bottles?

Neo thought about taking it, she could hand over the glass containers to the recycling plant for some lien…  But she had nothing that would help her to carry it with her.

She didn't need batteries either…  Wow!

Neo instantly grabbed onto her great find before looking at it in disbelief!

Magazine! A fashion magazine at that!

Hmm, as she flipped through the pages, she found that several pages were torn and covered with something sticky. Something which, most likely, was the reason that the inhabitants of the house decided to throw it out. But just think! Fashion magazine! There were so many beautiful pictures in it! Models, dresses, all those photos of beautiful people in beautiful environments…  Neo couldn't stop looking at them!

After taking a last bite of the bread, which left only the inedible moldy crust, Neo pulled out the magazine from the trashcan, while throwing the food scrap into the trashcan.

Fashion magazine!

Neo smiled, then hugged the magazine to herself. No, she could enjoy reading the magazine later, right now she should be getting away from here before anyone spotted her. Neo, looking around once again, hurried away, quickly moving her legs all the while clutching the magazine she had just found.

How lucky, she had managed to find such a valuable item in the trash! Who could have thrown out such a fashion magazine?! Just because it was a bit torn on a few pages and was covered in something sticky!

Neo smiled as she continued on her way.

She loved looking at all the photos in a magazine, especially a fashion magazine. They were all so beautiful! Neo loved to imagine herself in the place of those models. Wearing all those beautiful outfits and taking photos inside a studio…

Neo smiled forlornly before ducking into a small alley that would lead her to her destination faster, a shortcut. During her long wanderings, she has learned the various alleys and dead ends of this part of the city like the back of her hand.

True, Neo breathed out, she only knew this part of the city that well…

Sometimes, when she accidentally wandered to other parts of the city, like the central street last time, she…  was a bit worse there.

Memories of how a couple of weeks ago she was caught once again by some passer-by, made Neo sniff indignantly.

She was not lost then! Not lost! Just … she took a wrong turn.

Neo stamped her foot indignantly. Let no one think that she has no pride of her own! She didn't need any help at all! And she was not looking out for anyone! And! And stuff!

Neo shook her head, irate, before turning into the next alley, a small narrow street between low buildings. She froze in place immediately.

Her sixth sense, honed over the years, caused Neo to freeze. She could feel that she was not alone in the alley. And this was never a good sign.

Neo had been robbed a couple of times in the past. But, she had no money with her now… what if they took the magazine away from her?!

Neo immediately shoved the magazine under her clothes, hiding her only treasure, and then looked around her to find the source of her discomfort. Nobody, nothing…

“It's strange that you are not at school right now Neo.” A voice that she had heard somewhere before, sounded from behind her, forcing her to turn around.

“How do you even maintain your academic performance if you miss all the lessons altogether?”

As her eyes got used to the dark alley, Neo was able to make out the figure of a guy in a white shirt and jeans slowly moving towards her. And then, straining her memory a little, remembered the guy who had found her a couple of weeks ago. What was his name again? John? June?

“Jonathan,”, As if reading Neo's thoughts, Jonathan answered. The unexpected action caused her to flinch and look at the figure warily, to which Jonathan himself just raised his hands in a placating gesture. “No need to be that worried, I just came here to talk.”

Neo frowned, it was beyond strange that someone wanted to talk to her that badly that they would search for her even in the middle of a random alley. And just to talk at that? But… Jonathan didn’t look threatening at all and last time he did help her a little when she… was totally not lost! Absolutely!

Neo was somewhat put off by the memory, but seeing nothing wrong, still allowed him to come closer.

“See? I don’t bite,” Jonathan, as she finally approached, however, only smiled at Neo, - “Are you here alone, on your own?”

Neo frowned at the question before nodding slowly.

“Oh, good,” Despite the strange answer, one that got Neo’s hackles raised, Jonathan just smiled, nodding. “It is very brave of you, walking here all alone.”

Neo, although of course she did not need anyone's praise for her actions, only proudly lifted her chin. Even though Jonathan’s words were pretty much sounding like a kidnapper, Neo’s giving him the benefit of a doubt. If he started offering her candy she’s going to run though.

“I take it you walk a lot by yourself?” Jonathan stated more than asked, and then continued, “You don’t like staying home, do you?”

Neo, instantly frowned at Jonathan’s words. She didn't like it when someone felt sorry for her! She was all right! She pretty much radiated her displeasure as she saw Jonathan wincing. Ha, served him right!

“Well, well, sorry, I didn’t mean to offend, I’m just saying as I see it. I do apologize if I sound insensitive.” Jonathan, raised his hands in a conciliatory gesture, forcing her to exhale slowly. “I just wanted to ask you something”

After thinking a bit and weighing all the pros and cons, Neo slowly nodded.

“Okay” Jonathan smiled at the girl, then looked around, muttering to himself something that sounded like ‘Lord, I really sound like a pedophile now’, he turned to Neo.

“Have you ever thought about… Well… Asking for help?”

Jonathan quickly realized that he had made a mistake when Neo immediately shook her head in all directions, forcing him to immediately raise his hands. Pretty much shouting just how much she disagreed with that suggestion. “Well, well, hush, hush, just a stupid question. I know that you are strong and need no help, it is very foolish of me to ask such questions. It's just, you know, I wanted to say that it's very sad when you go back to a house that you don't like, right?”

Neo only nodded.

“Okay,” Jonathan nodded. “So, have you ever thought about finding yourself a new home?”

Neo, not quite understanding the question, raised one eyebrow.

“Just, you know, I know of one way where you can leave and also find a home where you like to return to.” Jonathan smiled. “Come with me, and I'll take you there…”

Well, Neo wonders if it’s too late to run now.

***

Tink! Achievement "You've Got It All Misunderstood!" unlocked! Do a good deed and help a child - and at the same time look like the most suspicious pedophile in the world!

It was not difficult for Jonathan to find Neo. Magic, as usual, allowed him to cut off many corners. And so, just a couple of hours later, after finding Neo, and reassuring her that he wasn’t trying to kidnap her, he was rewarded for these actions by the sight of a psychologist. She was a tall woman of about thirty wearing strict-looking glasses, who more importantly had just spent the last hour counseling Neo.

Judging by the expression in her eyes and the way she immediately focused on the policeman standing next to him, whatever Neo had revealed was nothing good. In fact noticing the way the psychologist stared at the policemen, as if asking the policeman for permission to talk, made Jonathan brace himself. And so as the policemen nodded at the unasked question, the psychologist began to speak.

Jonathan’s hunch was right, it’s bad.

“In my long career helping the police I’ve met too many children with psychological issues to last a lifetime. Neo’s case…  definitely is amongst the worst.” The psychologist breathed out with a loud sigh.

“Her psycho-emotional development itself is normal, if not ahead of her age due to her circumstances. But her perception of the world is seriously impaired. Her time spent in vagrancy, the long night spent on the street, alongside her extreme lack of socialization had led to her sense of empathy being seriously impaired.”

“In other words… ” The policeman, not really understanding what the words that came out of the psychologist’s mouth meant, asked for a simpler explanation.

“In other words, in a couple of minutes you would get my conclusion for you and for the police, and the judge” The psychologist sighed tiredly, then nodded to the policeman and, after a second of reflection, to Jonathan. She then headed somewhere to do her things, judging by her tired expression, to get a cup of coffee.

Jonathan breathed out joyfully - great! Just perfect! Ideal! All problems solved and closed - no complaints!

“Hey, you, Jonathan.” The cop calling out to him, was somewhat of a surprise. “Thanks. I don’t know what you did, but I’m absolutely sure that you’re responsible for getting the little squirt help. So… Thanks for that, I guess.”

“Oh, yeah, no problem at all.” Jonathan grinned. “I save children and help girls, that’s just how I am as a person. It’s in the name.”

At the joke, the policeman just grinned, - “Come on, I’ll treat you to a cup of coffee.”

Jonathan thought about for a second before his pesky consciousness decided to butt in.

Six shipments of contraband, lad. With whom police now have to deal with. Are you sure you really deserve this coffee?

“No, thanks, I’m good.” Jonathan smiled back.

“Your loss” The policeman shrugged his shoulders at Jonathan’s refusal, heading away, presumably to get that cup of coffee.

“By the way.” Before the cop could go far, Jonathan however, hastened to ask something.

“Where would Neo live now, if she is going to be taken away from her family?”

“She would be sent to Vale, to a specialized orphanage. Well not anytime soon, usually such things are done quickly, but given that she is mute, it will take time to settle the formalities.” The policeman shrugged.

“Fortunately, we have a huge number of empty refugee shelters that she can stay at… By the way, it's kind of strange. Why do we have so many free temporary dwellings for refugees with no one in it?” The policemen added with a frown.

Yeah, Jonathan, why? Maybe we can ask your friend, Bor, about this?

“How should I know?” Jonathan shrugged.

“I didn’t ask you,” Throwing one last grin Jonathan’s way, the policeman turned away. “Just thinking out loud. Okay, I'm going to get some coffee for now, wait for me here.”

“Of course.”, - Jonathan just nodded, before leaning against the wall, looking out the window.

Somewhere in the distance a dark cloud could be seen…  Hmm, will there be a thunderstorm? Judging by the appearance of the cloud, yes, probably.

Jonathan wondered how soon this thunderstorm would arrive.

***

“So, team ORNG, listen up!” Because of the droning sound of the engines, Olivia had to significantly strain her vocal cords for her team to hear her, “Nothing special about this mission. Anomalous Grimm activity was noticed near Mount Glenn, our goal once we arrive to where the anomaly was reported would be to inspect the location and bring any information we find to Mount Glenn. Focus on the number of Grimm and whether there is a horde there or not.”

“The horde is not there, because it surely isn’t.” The voice of her fellow future hunter resting on the nearest seat to Olivia resounded through the cabin of the tilt rotor “We can fly home, mission accomplished, my paycheck earned.”

At these words, Olivia only shifted her gaze to her friend and teammate, forcing her to roll her eyes and push her partner out of place, forcing him to fall to the floor with an indignant cry.

“Call me the manager of this girl, I want to speak with them!” - Standing up from his seat indignantly, the guy glanced at his partner, making her grin.

“Oh-oh, seems like we have a Schnee here!” Olivia only grinned at her teammate’s banter, and then glanced at her partner, - “Night?””

“Just let me sleep.” Ignoring the noise of the engines, and the noisy occupants, the guy sitting with his eyes closed tried to wrap himself up in his raincoat and fit into the seat in the position most comfortable for sleeping.

“Team ORNG, the best team in the world here everyone.” Olivia rolled her eyes, then exhaled. “Okay, about the mission, nothing special here, just a run-of-the-mill mission. But, this is our first mission without teacher supervision. Our goal is for good grades here. Grades that will depend on how the requester reports our actions to the school. So, Dust forbid, any of you will think of pouring a bunch of Dust on their head again!”

“That idiot from last time deserved it!” A dissenting voice immediately rang out from the side, originating from the idiot that Olivia had pushed off who had already shaken himself off.

“No one is allowed to stare at my partner's ass!”

“Only you?” Olivia raised one eyebrow as she asked.

“Well, sure, it goes without saying!” The guy grinned with a cheeky but attractive smile. Soon after he looked around him, suddenly uncharacteristically serious “Yup, we are getting close…”

“Great”, - Olivia examined her team. “Night, wake up!”

“You cannot understand my pain.” Night answered this in a half-asleep delirium. “I am so sleepy I might fall asleep in the middle of a Grimm attack.”

“But will you still feel sleepy if I kick you out of the airship right now?” Olivia asked challengingly.

“Hmmm, forty seconds of sleep at least, while I fall.” Night answered without opening his eyes.

Each of those present chuckled at their teammate’s remark, except one.

A strange premonition that something important has just happened passed through the orange-haired hunter in training…  Something wrong had just happened. As if some future important event in his destiny, what should have happened, suddenly changed. It is as if a part of him had suddenly disappeared...

The future hunter was absent-minded as he tried to make sense of the feeling before his team leader shook him off his stupor.

“Roman, is everything all right?” Looking at Roman Torchwick, his partner asked him, worried at her partner's strange behavior.

“Yeah, everything is fine,” Roman shook his head, - “Just... A strange feeling... Hmm…”

His partner watched him for a few seconds before shrugging her shoulders and nodding. “If you have any problem, tell me.”

“Sure thing.” Roman immediately answered with a grin. “I have a huge problem with the fact that this one girl refuses any kind of date every time I…”

“Nope, not that one.” Roman's partner immediately brushed off Roman’s advances away. “I'm afraid I can’t help you with that one.”

“Come on,” Roman smiled roguishly. “Just imagine how beautiful your name would sound like with my surname. Gretchen Torchwick, doesn't that just ring like a bell?”

“I like Gretchen Rainart more,” Gretchen just grinned at her partner's usual jokes, and then looked away, letting him know that their dialogue was over.

Somewhere, not far away, thunder rumbled, and dark clouds slowly approached Mount Glenn.