The Absolute and those who can rule it

Chapter 4 [The Flying Man]

The early morning light filters through my curtains as I drag myself out of bed, feeling like I've been hit by a truck. It's 6:30 AM, a time I usually only see from the wrong end of an all-nighter. But with Noarin's promise to cook breakfast every day, I've set my alarm painfully early. No way am I making her wait outside my door like some kind of breakfast delivery service.

As if summoned by my thoughts, a gentle knock echoes through the apartment at precisely 7:00 AM. I shuffle to the door, stifling a yawn, and swing it open to reveal Noarin's bright, morning-person smile. How anyone can look that chipper at this ungodly hour is beyond me.

"Good morning, Aruta!" she chirps, breezing past me into the apartment. The scent of fresh air and something floral follows in her wake, a stark contrast to my sleep-rumpled state.

"Mornin'," I manage to mumble, closing the door behind her. As Noarin bustles about the kitchen, already pulling out pans and ingredients, I retreat to my room to make myself somewhat presentable.

By the time I emerge, feeling marginally more human, the apartment is filled with the mouthwatering aroma of Noarin's cooking. We settle at the table, and I dig in with enthusiasm, savoring every bite of the home-cooked meal.

"A flying man?" I repeat, my mouth full of perfectly fluffy scrambled eggs. Noarin nods, sliding her phone across the table to me.

The screen shows a picture of a clear afternoon sky, marred by a tiny, human-shaped silhouette floating impossibly high above the ground. I squint at it, trying to make out details.

"Yes, I found this article last night," Noarin explains, taking a delicate sip of her tea. "My guess is it's a Holder with a gravitational or wind attribute ornament."

I frown, studying the image more closely. "It might not be a real person though," I argue, playing devil's advocate. "It could be a plane or a bird. The silhouette is too small for us to determine."

Noarin's eyes sparkle with determination as she sets down her empty teacup. "Well, there's only one way to find out," she declares, standing up.

I nod, quickly polishing off the last of my breakfast. As I help clear the table, I can't help but feel a mixture of excitement and trepidation. Another day, another supernatural mystery to solve. Who would have thought my life would take such a turn?

***

The sun beats down on us as we stand in the exact spot where the mysterious flying figure was spotted. I shield my eyes, scanning the cloudless sky for any sign of our elusive target.

"We're here," Noarin announces, holding up her phone to compare the surroundings with the picture. A jolt of recognition goes through me as I take in our location. This place is uncomfortably close to Kai's house. I silently pray we don't run into him – explaining this little adventure would be more than a little awkward.

"What do we do now?" I ask, turning to Noarin. Without a word, she makes her way to a nearby bench and sits down, patting the space beside her invitingly.

I sigh, realizing the obvious answer to my own question. Of course we're going to wait. What else could we do? After a final glance around the area, I join her on the bench.

"How long should we wait?" I venture, already feeling restless.

Noarin's reply is maddeningly vague. "Until the flying man shows up," she says, her tone matter-of-fact.

"Oi!" I protest, exasperated by her nonchalance. "That could take forever!"

A mischievous glint appears in Noarin's eyes as she pulls a water bottle from her bag. "Don't worry, I know a good place to camp if they don't show up until nightfall," she says before taking a long drink.