In fact, nothing very significant had happened that night.
At least our young lad, Vulces, didn't remember. All he remembers from that night is that he walked through the door, sat down at the table where Aristle was sitting and maybe he had a few drinks.
After that it was very complicated, yet simple. His friends carried him home, he met a lot of people on the way and was overwhelmed by judgmental looks.
Arriving home after a long and adventurous journey, the young man fell into a deep, deep sleep, as if he had lost touch with time and space.
The thing is, it was neither a bed nor an armchair. When he let himself fall on the carpet, which was comfortable to his eyes, his sister woke up to the sound. Later, when his friends explained the situation, 4 of them together managed to carry him to the couch almost with their team strength.
Of course, no human being could be so perfect, and Vulces' flaw was his resistance (against alchohol), which was as low as the low core temperature of alcohol. Waking up at noon after a good, happy and long sleep, Vulces saw three faces, two of them familiar.
The first was a face with rounded features and a distinctive, hanging hairline. When Vulces realized that it was his older sister Jade, he looked at the other one. When he saw the blonde hair, slanty eyes and long face, he knew it was Aristle.
And the third one... A pair of green eyes shining on white skin, which, although contrasted with jet-black medium-length hair, formed a near-perfect image.
But those eyes were almost murderous in a way that obscured the beauty of that face. Like a predator, senselessly approaching its prey, watching for weakness. Then the person opened his mouth and straightened up.
Nariemi: "Good afternoon. With your permission, I will first apologize for entering your home and then introduce myself."
Vulces simply nodded and she cleared her throat.
Nariemi: "Nariemi Fovier. I work for the local newspaper, and I can't lie, I noticed you in your drunken state... so much so that we did a short interview with you. Now I'd like to sit down with you again, with your permission, to understand the differences.
Vulces:"N-... Why not."
Nariemi:"Good. Q&A, quick answers, short time. Let's get started. What's your name?"
Vulces:"Vulces. Vulces Barrion."
Nariemi:"So Barrion... Age?"
Vulces:"17."
Nariemi:"Your talent?"
Vulces:"Ferrotitanium. In chain form. Temperature control."
Nariemi:"Very interesting... What about... your 'nobility number'?"
Vulces:"Nobility..?"
Nariemi:"Uh-huh. My mistake. Let me explain. Nobility numbers are the number of people who share or have shared the same ability as the person. It should be on your ID. Can you look it up?"
Vulces:"...7..."
Nariemi:"..! Wh-... You're almost pure-blooded...!"
Vulces:"Is it that rare..?"
Nariemi:"More than you think. With that pretense of nobility, it's a lot easier to get a job in most places."
Vulces:"But my family name... It won't allow it."
Nariemi:"Barrion, huh? Multiple war crimes in the past, attempted insurrection and so on. Normally it's just one person, but... In this family, there were three generations of criminals in a row, which is not normal. I remember correctly, right?"
Vulces:"That's right. It was claimed that the blood forbidden by God, the blood of the devil, ran through our veins. Anyway... That surname is just a pile of letters that separates me from my namesakes."
Vulces opens his eyes and raises his head.
Vulces:"If that blood flows in me and I can't stop it... If God wants to keep me out of Heaven for that, so be it. I don't care. I care about this life. I have no thoughts about the afterlife and never will. My only goal is to be remembered in this world. I cannot be expected to change myself for something that is uncertain."
Nariemi:"Very good. To be able to express clear thoughts in clear words is a pure talent. Young man, you have a gift..."
Nariemi approaches Vulces and leans into his ear.
Nariemi:"...The world will soon come to its end. If there are people who can stop it, you are at the top of the list, Vulces. Come to me whenever you want to satisfy your curiosity. Rebuilding the world will make sure you are remembered."
"..!?"
Vulces took his moment to analyze her words.
Vulces:"What do you mean by that?"
Nariemi:"Nothin'~"
Nariemi winked playfully with a devilish grin on her face.
