Too Good to be True

Currently, Greg was readied in his stance with his right palm in front and left fist near his waist. He controlled his breathing and as if he was in total control of his body, he calmed down. The breathing technique he was using was like magic.

The footsteps got nearer and louder.

Greg had already a plan in his head. If he deemed that the enemy has an intention to kill, he will flee as fast as possible. The strength one needed to tire their master surpasses his own. And their definition of strength is not just physical strength, it is also about other things like speed, technique, skills, senses, intellect, and so on. No matter how physically strong a person is, their master could deal with them.

However, to tire their master means that his opponent is a league of his own.

That was Greg was worried about. He has a thousand ways to counter brute force, no matter the strength of it. But if it is more than brute force then he would be in trouble. So if he did not sense a bit of intention to kill, he would try to poke the enemy and gauge his strength while calling out his allies.

It should be better to call out his allies as soon as possible but if the opponent has killing intentions then he wouldn't risk others' lives.

After a series of thoughts, a silhouette finally came out of a corner.

'Knew it...' Greg was not surprised at all when he recognized the silhouette's color of attire. It was the man his master just brought into the cell.

His fist tightened as he saw that the form of his silhouette was relaxed. After fighting with a master like Ernanfo, one should be master as well and should be able to recognize the dangers of their surrounding. So, in this case, this man walking towards him had confidence.

Then, he heard an echo that came from that passage, "... Ewoo~~" the silhouette looked as if his hands were waving.

'Maybe master had rested well?' Greg gulped as his mind began to be fearful, his fist's grip loosened.

However, all those harsh training he endured, and all those achievements he reached were not for nothing. He was a man of discipline!

Greg took a deep breath and tightened his fist again.

By then, the man's silhouette was already so close that he began to get the sight of the man's face. Greg frowned since he saw a relatively young face.

This man's hand was still waving and then he heard again, now clear, "Hello!"

A young man in his mid-teens came out of a passage and met him on the passage's wide room of intersection.

On the back of Greg's head, he was raging, 'At such a young age and he's already at a level above me??!' however, when that thought surfaced his head, he disregarded it since he knew full well that their master was much older than what his face says he is.

On the other side, Renir lowered his arm. With his heightened senses, he could already figure out that this person must be strong too, and was already in his defense. He thought that if he sounded at least friendly, the man would drop his guard. But seeing that he was wrong, he stopped.

The two stared for a little while. One on defense while one still thinking what to say. Renir had his fingers softly pinching his chin while his eyes roll from time to time into the blankness of space. By a minute, his face was turning into a troubled one which Greg slowly turned his head, curious about what he was thinking.

After a little longer, Renir raised his hand and asked, "Can I ask a question?"

"...." Greg stared at Renir for a little while, then after a long breath, he calmly answered, "What is it?"

Renir inwardly nodded and continued to the question, "Where are we?"

Greg blinked a few times before answering, "Sorry, but I can't answer that question." his stance never ceased.

When his question was left unanswered, Renir pursed his lips then asked again, "... then do you know a tall handsome man..." he thought of descriptions but he just met Imee's father and didn't have the chance to get his name, especially within the situation before... "he's... really strong and a bit scary..." he continued with lack of things to say.

'He's definitely talking about Master Bonvon...' however, Greg had his standards high. There was only one person for him before who perfectly fits Renir's description.

So he answered, "Yes, I know him."

Renir's eyebrows slightly lifted, "Can I see him then?" he candidly said.

Greg obviously frowned at this and said, "Master is currently resting and doesn't want to be disturbed." while answering the simple questions, his brain was working on something else.

'Although he doesn't look like it, he should be tired too. He was completely beaten up last night that he lifelessly slept on the master's shoulder. There's no way he could regain his strength back so soon...' he thought.

Renir seemed troubled. As much as possible, he didn't want to figure out how much was his power now by fighting another human. However, he couldn't just stay there.

"But I need to talk to him..."

He was conflicted. The situation he was in was a reasonable excuse not to attend the exam but the guilt of leaving it was in the back of his head. If it was possible, he still wanted to come to school. And maybe, resolve this before the school starts. But maybe that was why Renir wanted to come to school because if he could, then he could've already resolved it.

Waking up inside a cell, locked with inescapable prison for a human. Unconsciously, Renir became desperate.

"If you really want to talk to him then it would be best if you could wait after he rested. Our master values rest in his life." Greg tried to put Renir in place by peaceful means.

Renir should be assured by that answer but he was growing impatient. Initially, he still had a burden that he was silently grieving then right after, Imee's father revealed their wrongdoings, putting him with guilt. Reaching Rank 8 gave him a fleeting sweetness that shrouded his worries and negativities because, at least, he was given a greater chance of resolving this matter but as reality hits back so does his emotions.

"I'm sorry, but I really need to talk to him." Renir repeated, his heart amess. Just like in the time in Gantlet where he couldn't distinguish his thoughts and emotions, he was in a chaotic state of mind.

When he finally found the "too good to be true" comfort and happiness, he learned he was right on that thought. Then came the guilt of accepting this happiness even though he knew there was something wrong with it. In which, he was found guilty of it. Reaching another level of strength gave him a ray of hope but after its momentary reward of emotions, he feared that it may be "too good to be true" again.

Renir then remembered his worries before entering the Door of Salvation. This is real life now. A life in which no one can predict what happens next.

His memories flashed by. The worries he opened up to a demon,

[

The truth is!... I am having cold feet, just thinking about how my life will turn up after this... And, I would be lying if I did not have an enjoying time in Gantlet.

Enjoying time?

For the first time in my life, I retaliated. And when I won, I was filled with joy and excitement that was etched into my heart. However, when I think I will go back to my original life, how will it turn out? Will, I really able to fight for myself? Did I really change? They are not monsters and beast but humans like me. What if it's not the same? What if I am still weak against them?

]

Renir's eyes went blank. Strength doesn't matter... he thought.

'What do I do?'

He silently gulped and began to have cold feet. The confidence he had earlier diminished in an instant.

Greg never knew what was going inside Renir's head but he noticed the enemy in front of him changed his complexion. It was faint but for a master of controlling his enemy like Greg, he knew there were meanings behind it. He had no idea what truly was in Renir's head so he could only come back to his initial thoughts,

'There is no way one could regain all their energy after a short period of time after challenging master as I thought. He must be keeping a farce to intimidate me.' someone that could challenge his master was already fearsome to Greg's eyes, 'the only reason he would keep up a farce is that he knows that I could defeat him in his weakened state. But that farce is breaking apart as time passed. Meaning...' Greg's fear faded and had confidence, 'if he continued to persist, I can continue with my original plan!'

Even after assuming that the opponent in front of him could be defeated, he was still cautious. He would never let his guard down.

Then, things turned as Greg expected.

"I need to see Imee's father right now." Renir's face darkened.

'So he still doesn't fully know master other than being Young Miss's father.' he thought before saying again, "I'm sorry but I need you to wait."

Before, in Gantlet, Renir had encountered numerous situations where his emotions were in a disarray. However, even if he was in that state, he had no choice but to go with the will of the nature of Gantlet.

But, at that moment, Renir was in front of a thinking human being instead of an unbreakable flux of nature.

'Why can't he understand that I need to see Imee's father right now?' Renir stepped forward, slightly wobbling, "Please, I just need to resolve this."

Greg took a step back, "If you take another step, I have to forcefully constrain you!" he shouted.

'I just need to talk to him, why can't you let me? Why?'

"Please... please, I have endured so much, could you please just listen to me this once?" it sounded as if he was saying it not only to Greg but to something else, "I have endured and sacrificed so much... even just this one little wish... please..."

Renir pleaded... then he took another step forward.

"I warned you!" Greg sprinted forward, ready to enter combat.