Lie or Not

[Well, good news, the Supreme Council found a solution to the problem about your powers and I have it on me!]

'Seriously!' Renir didn't even spare a doubt as he shook. Since he was hiding his reaction from Imee, he just let it out as an exhale, a long exhale.

But when you're doing nothing but studying from the start and you exhaled as if you're sighing, one look would tell that you're tired which Imee picked on.

"You want to take a break?"

She looked up to him, worried about his well-being. For Renir, she was more adorable than a puppy. When with her, he couldn't help but smile all the time;

"No, I'm not. Just... a little nervous for tomorrow."

"Hm-hm." Imee, engaged, nodded, "I know what you mean. It's so hard keeping the number one spot. I always feel like my insides cramp in this kind of days. Although, I don't feel that today that much." she deeply breathed to show how relaxed she was.

"Maybe you're thinking I can't win against you."

"Hmm, maybe~" Imee playfully said.

"What maybe? You don't have faith in me?"

"I do, you can easily defeat that so-called Alpha."

"So not just you?"

"Mm-hm" Imee laughed as she curled and Renir followed. After a moment of laughter, she then sighed out of relaxation after resting her head onto Renir's shoulder. She did it so naturally that Renir only noticed she was too close after a moment.

While the two played, an old man looked at them with envy.

[Hmn, maybe I'm too old for romance. I can't understand why they laughed for that long when there's not even a joke said. And this boy, he went silent again with that smile. Did he forget I'm here after that reaction?] Olmen contemplated and had introspection.

Meanwhile, Renir who was about to get absorbed by what he was reviewing saw that there was something in front of them. His eyes rolled up and when he saw Olmen again, those eyes widened.

[What!? I was right?! Renir, boy, how can you forget about me like that and so fast?]

'I-I'm... surprised too.' Renir darted his eyes away but then asked, 'So about earlier, what about the solution you were saying you have?'

[Yeah, I have it on me. One of the True Rune Users volunteered his life for this so take care of it.] Olmen then took something from a pocket on his chest. It was small that it seemed he didn't take anything out, [You should be familiar with this. This is a literal life-saver for Rune Users.]

He then revealed and it shone.

'A bead of revival...' Renir was flabbergasted. His memories of all the times he died and revived came flashing in his mind.

[Yes, in theory, giving this to you should let you reestablished your connection to Gantlet, thus...] Olmen widely smiled like a madman [giving your powers back.]

'In... theory?' Renir felt something was off.

[Try putting it on your wrist. Just feel that you are about to put an extension to your body. Although it is hard to imagine at first, you should be able to wear it after multiple attempts.]

Olmen walked towards Renir and that was when;

Ding*

Suddenly, Imee jolted from her position and placed down the notes in her hands.

Renir too almost jumped from surprise, "... What is-"

He was then silenced when Imee placed a finger on Renir's lips, "Shhh.... just stay here, don't go anywhere. Hiding you would be worse." she whispered.

"???" Renir didn't understand anything but nodded.

Ding*

The doorbell rang again and it made Imee trembled. Seeing this made Renir worried as if his chest was losing air, tightening.

Imee then slowly stood up and went to the door while Renir stayed in the living room.

[What's with her?] Olmen asked and saw that Renir was worried but kept himself sit there on the living room.

That was when Renir stuck out his hand. When Olmen saw this, he knew what Renir wanted so he handed it to him and as soon as the bead of revival touched Renir's fingertips it turned tangible. Even Olmen was surprised to see this.

Renir, on the other hand, was calm when he saw that. Olmen had no idea but Renir experienced it firsthand how to take a bead of revival out of a person and attached to another.

By then, he heard a man's voice from the entrance and chills traveled through his body. His senses riled up, telling him that there was danger.

Renir decided to take a peek.

.....

Just a moment ago, Imee slowly walked into the door and looked at the peephole, learning that she was right to be worried. At first, she was reluctant to open the door but the third ring of the doorbell sounded and she had no choice but to open it.

As she opened it, she knew something was wrong...

"Imee, why are you not at school?" her father, Ernanfo spoke with a tone he rarely used to her.

He was definitely angry, but Imee knew it wasn't because she was not at school. If she told Ernanfo that she wants to quit school, he would heartily agree and still ask her what else she wants.

"I just don't feel like going to school." in front of her angry father who was usually kind and loving, Imee couldn't act strong so she weakly replied.

"Imee"

"Yes?"

"Are you hiding something from your father?" Ernanfo asked coldly, it lacked his usual caring and loving tone to his daughter.

"...." Imee knew lying would be worse if caught. And looking at the situation, she was sure her father knows something and when that happens, this overprotective father will relentlessly push his suspicion. She knew him too well. Even if she lied, he wouldn't take her word for it and will eventually see Renir inside.

Losing the trust of her father who let her have an apartment on her own rather than living with him at the dojo would be worse than just saying the truth since whether she lies or not, they would get caught. Renir couldn't just magically become invisible.

".... But why are you here? I thought you were busy?" Imee weakly responded,

"Answer my question." Imee was right, her father was persistent...

At the living room, Renir was just leaning at the corner, wanting to take a peek while attaching the bead into his wrist. But when for the first time, he heard Imee's weak tone, he couldn't just take it and took a look. What he saw led him not to think anymore.

"Umm,.. how did you know I was hiding something?" Imee asked, 'I still... don't know what he had his suspicion on so I will not tell a lie... Maybe, just maybe, he had misunderstood about something unrelated to Renir and that was what he was angry about.' she thought as she becomes evasive.

"Imee, someone told me that you took a boy into your apartment, Is this true?" Ernanfo didn't have the patience to spare a moment anymore.

Imee looked up, surprised, by what he said.

Seeing her reaction, Ernanfo didn't doubt any longer and he was about frown when suddenly-

Someone ran towards his daughter and took her waist to put her at his back, shouting, "Imee! Stay behind me! I remember now, he was the o-"

In less than a blink of an eye, Renir was silenced. And with just one quick succession; a hand grabbed his face, lifted his body and Bhug!* his sight went dark before he even realized his head was smashed against the wall, treating like a ball.

"A... ah." horrified and unable to respond, Imee looked at Renir's bleeding head while still being grabbed single-handedly by his father.

"Sii----" Ernanfo exhaled a whistle and seemed like he was using no effort to carry a whole man single-handedly.

Even Olmen couldn't believe what he saw [Is that man a Rune User too?! There is no way that man is mortal!] he wanted to believe but an Rune User can strangely feel another Rune User from a normal person.

[Renir! Wake up! Just wake up and finish the attachment of the bead!] he walked and shouted. He was directly connected to Renir's mind and his shout was direct and not through any mediums. As a spectral man in Renir's head, his shouts couldn't be heard by anyone but Renir.

[This man is dangerous! You might die before you even retrieve your powers! WAKE UP!]

.....

Just in front of the apartment, at the parking lot, Sam felt that he escaped one death flag but ended up with another as he remembered how he interrupted the WIcked earlier, and now, they were alone in the car, locked inside.

"Why are you still so nervous?" Avron looked at Sam and sharply said, "You should be nervous if we told him a lie. Knowing uncle, he would certainly keep his word. Killing us... Sam, did you faked that report I trusted you?" his eyes never left the wheezing Sam.

"N-no, I did not fake the report... I always had a couple of men to do what you want to keep the percentage of error small, since they are just no-good delinquents." Sam weakly responded, his body too uptight, 'The reason for my nervousness is because of you!'

"Hm, well, I did say I trust you so there should be no problem. Either you're lying and scared of death or simply just a coward."

'It's normal to fear you!'

Avron's eyes then rolled to the fifth floor with his head slightly tilted up, keeping his natural half-closed eyes.

"Shame, that Renir should be dead or on the verge of death right now. Uncle is scary. Driving the car as if it was a train, almost breaking its steering wheel without him realizing it..."

Hearing that, Sam remembered how he wobbled from side to side while Ernanfo drove the car and overtook all vehicles at the front in a flash. It was worse than a roller coaster ride. He looked at the steering wheel and could clearly see the tight grip on it, a grip so hard that the handle caved in...

Back on the fifth floor, Imee shouted, "Dad! W-why did you do that to Renir!?" even though she was in the wrong before, she was furious to even shout at her angry father.

"Renir? So this is Renir number one I saw the other night... I didn't have a chance to recognize his face." Ernanfo lifted Renir by his head as if he was a lifeless doll and turned around, "Imee, I'll talk to you later. This is your father's job from now on." his eyes glared at Imee, vicious.

On his hand, Renir was still unconscious, dragged off like a dead body. The bead on his wrist was still taking its time adapting to its new owner and new world. Trying to reconnect him to Gantlet, where he can retrieve his powers back.