Chapter 67: Another Ordinary Morning

Chapter 67: Chapter 67: Another Ordinary Morning

Jason laid everything out on the bed before breakfast.

The E ranked spear he’d gotten after breaking his old one, a water flask and the Stoneborn Spear in his inventory, alongside the Reaper’s aegis he’d decided would replace the broken mask as soon as he got it.

He pulled the Veil down over himself, settling his reading into the familiar First Level, Intermediate Stage, and checked it twice in his head.

His real reading sat, closer to the edge of the Late Stage of the Second level.

He picked up his phone and dialed.

Judith answered on the second ring.

"Morning, Jason."

"Morning. Sorry for the short notice. I’ve got a raid today, and it’ll probably run into the evening. Could you come over?"

"What time?"

"As soon as you can. I’ll make breakfast."

There was a pause, and he could hear the faint smile in her voice. "I’ll be there in half an hour. If it’s not good I’ll have your head."

"I make no promises.

Novaria was already awake when he came into the room.

"You’re up early," she said.

"It’s about a Raid. Reeve called yesterday."

"I see."

He pulled eggs and butter from the fridge and set a pan on the stove.

It was a simple breakfast, nothing special, but the eggs came out of the pan golden and soft in a way they never used to, and the smell that rose from them made Novaria lift her head.

His essence made even basic eggs taste heavenly now.

Jason slid a plate in front of her. "Eat."

She took a bite. Her eyes closed for half a second. Savouring the bite.

Jason only smiled. Glad that she’s enjoying the meal.

He sat down across from her with his own plate and tried, genuinely, to rearrange his expression into something humble.

She watched him fail, and her mouth twitched.

They ate for a while without speaking.

It was the easy, unhurried quiet of two people who no longer had to fill the air.

"When do you think you’ll be back?" Novaria asked, setting her fork down.

You know hese Gates don’t usually run long once you’re through the first few chambers."

"And if it does run long?"

"I’ll get out there as soon as I can and call"

She looked at him for a moment, and the corner of her mouth lifted, more gently this time.

"And Cassius. He’s apparently joining us again."

"The overly Jolly one who has a tendency to nearly get killed?"

"The very same."

She considered this.

"Someone should be making it cheerful."

"That’s one way to look at it."

Her hand found his across the table, and she held it for a moment, her thumb brushing the back of his knuckles without any particular ceremony.

"Be careful, Jason."

He turned his hand over and held hers properly.

"I will. I mean it."

---

The knock came a little before eight.

Judith stood in the doorway with her bag under one arm and her usual brisk, tidy composure, and Jason let her in with a nod of thanks.

Judith glanced past him toward the kitchen, where Novaria sat with her tea. Something passed over her face, a quick, knowing look that she had the grace not to say aloud. Her gaze moved back to Jason.

"You look wonderful this morning Novaria" she said instead.

"I slept well."

"Mm." She set the bag down. "Go on, then Jason. We’ll manage by ouselves."

He stepped into the kitchen one more time. Novaria looked up, and for a moment neither of them said anything.

Oh. I left a present in the fridge for you Judith.

He lingered at the door long enough to catch her small, private wave, then pulled it shut behind him.

---

Reeve was waiting near the Association’s eastern annex, leaning against a wall with his arms crossed and a gear bag at his feet.

"You’re early as usual," he said.

"You’re never late. That’s the one thing I like about you." He jerked his chin toward the others. "Everyone’s here."

Skyler gave him a small wave, her bow already slung over her shoulder.

Wen stood a little apart, checking the straps on her pack. And beside her, bouncing slightly on his heels as though standing still were a physical burden, was Cassius.

"There he is!" Cassius called. "The man himself."

"How’ve you been man" Jason asked.

Cassius spread his arms.

"Bored, free, and ready to be useful. Mostly."

Jason fell in beside the group, and Reeve pulled a folded slip from his pocket, the Association’s authorization seal stamped across the top.

"Everything’s cleared. D-Rank, just like the prediction. I’ve got the details from the registry. We’ll go over them at the entrance."

"Prediction systems," Jason said. "You still haven’t explained how you got access."

"I haven’t," Reeve agreed, with a thin smile. "And I’m not going to."

Cassius, ignoring that entirely, turned toward Wen.

"Hey. Wen. Where were you for the last raid? We could’ve used your healing."

Wen didn’t look up from her pack. "It was my day off."

"Your day off huh." Cassius said.

Skyler glanced at Wen and then at Jason, her eyebrows lifting a fraction, a question she didn’t voice.

Jason noticed the way Wen’s fingers were tightening around the strap of her pack. He noticed the faintly too-quick answer, the way she hadn’t met anyone’s eyes.

He said nothing.

’Not my business. She’s here, she’s healing for the team, and the money’s good. That’s what matters.’

He had come to make money, gain experience, and push his cultivation. Everything else could wait.

He agreed mildly. "Everyone’s entitled to one every once in a while.

Being a hunter isn’t easy."

Wen’s shoulders eased a fraction. She gave him a small, grateful nod.

---

The Gate was already open when they reached the end of the street.

It hung between two empty warehouses, a swirling disk of pale violet light, its edges flickering with the slow, steady pulse of something that had been waiting.

The air near it hummed faintly against Jason’s skin.

Reeve stopped a few paces away and turned to face them.

"Standard formation. Skyler on ranged, Wen on support, me up front.

Jason and Cassius, you two cover the flanks. Stay in sight of each other. If anything feels wrong, we pull back immediately.

We’re not here to be heroes."

"Speak for yourself," Cassius said.

"I am," Reeve said.

Jason checked the straps on his pack, rolled his shoulders, and felt the old spear settle against his back, balanced, familiar, ordinary.

’Alright. Let’s see what a D-Rank looks like.’

Reeve took a breath. "Ready?"

They nodded.

He stepped forward into the light.

Skyler followed, then Wen, then Cassius with a quiet whoop, and Jason went last, drawing a single steady breath before the Gate swallowed him whole.

---