Chapter 2: Hunters Corp

[POV: Silver Davis]

In the wasteland of pólemos, a lone sorcerer stood straight—looking into the vast starry sky, his hand rising to the heavens itself. All he could see around him was nothing but a vast plain of barren land with a few bushes and covered with small green grasses, soft and moist to the feet.

He heard insects chirping through in the distance. As tears flowed through his deep blue eyes, he folded his fingers and pulled his hand down.

His messy hair was shining in the moonlight. Silver was rather short for a 15-year-old boy, 4 ft. 3 inches. He also had a distinct but small scar just above his left eyebrow. He was wearing a black T-shirt with a bird symbol on the back and grey pants. A black bracelet with a single glass-like white stone encircled his left wrist. His name was Silver, just like his hair.

It’s been ten days. I’d better hurry and get going, he said to himself and went on a journey to the ‘Republic of Fortuna.’ In fact, he had a lot of business there. He needed to be there shortly before the next sundown. If he didn’t want to lose one more precious day.

His stomach growled. Why would it? He had had nothing for two days. He imagined what he would eat if he were home. A clear picture of grilled mushrooms came to his mind. He drooled. He trudged to his destination with his right hand on his tummy.

Thoughts of home almost made Silver want to curl up and end it all. The idea of eternal sleep seemed like a mother’s embrace to him. But no, revenge was what he needed.

***

The Republic of Fortuna was founded after the dark ages to preserve the peace treaty. It is the place where people from different countries have come together to maintain peace between them by organizing a variety of fairs.

Not only that, but it was also the headquarters of the three great powers in the world. He walked a few hours on foot before finally arriving at his destination, The Western City. The capital city of The Republic of Fortuna. The city was as beautiful, peaceful, and lively as he had heard of it. His primary destination was Hunters Corp, which was at the centre of the city.

There was still a lot of time before sundown, so he first stopped at a tavern to have something to eat before going there. Right now, there was nothing more important than his hunger. The tavern was loud and lively and filled with different people that he could barely find a seat.

There was a boy drinking beer and smiling, showing off his pearly white teeth. He was almost as small as Silver was, no maybe even smaller. His hair was black and his eyes were emerald green. The boy had the palest complexion Silver had ever seen. He was wearing a black leather jacket and pants. He was wearing heavy clothes even though it was summer. The boy seemed rather peculiar.

Silver ordered grilled mushrooms and a glass of beer before he sat down right next to the boy. The only seat he could find.

“Should you be drinking beer for your age?” The black-hair boy asked.

Is this kid nuts, asking something like that to someone older than him. A kid asking that question when the kid himself was drinking made Silver rather angry. He frowned.

“For my age?….. And here you are drinking beer, when what are you, thirteen?” Silver wasn’t in a very good mood to begin with.

“I may look thirteen, but I’m 63.” He gave his right hand to Silver, saying, “By the way, I’m Mike Williams. And you are?”

That single act of the kid made him so angry that he finally lost his cool. “Don’t talk to me as if we were friends, you nasty old vampire!!” He said, twisting his mouth in disgust.

Silver then slowly lifted his right hand horizontally towards Mike. All the water from the glass jar and everywhere else in the tavern slowly rose and then circled around Mike and Silver.

“Argh...! What’s happening to me?” Mike cried, seemingly in great agony, and fell on the floor screaming.

“I’m only destroying your blood vessels repeatedly by expanding the blood in your veins explosively. After all, I know you heal fast.”

“Argh... There is no such magic,” that controls blood.” He seemed barely able to complete that sentence.

“I’m not controlling blood. I’m controlling water in your blood.” That was a lie, Silver was actually controlling blood. “Vampires disgust me. I’m only sparing your life because you look like a boy crying and whining to me, you annoying old creature. Pray that there is no next encounter or I shall most certainly kill you.” 

Well, it wasn’t the only reason he spared his life. He came to the Western City for official business. He couldn’t simply lose his opportunity by murdering someone now, could he?

Silver finally released Mike from his grasp and floating water spilt all over the place. He gulped all the mushrooms at once and marched towards the exit, after putting the money on the table for mushrooms and beer, including the cost of spilt water.

Mike asked with a sigh of relief in his voice, “Hey wait, at least tell me what your name is.”

Silver left the tavern without saying a word.

***

[POV: Mike Williams]

Mike slowly stood up, clapping his hand to remove any dust from his hands. Someone who thinks he can hurt me with a petty trick like that. Interesting.

He had felt no pain for so long that he didn’t even know what it was. He was just amusing the kid. And boy, was it fun.

***

[POV: Silver Davis]

After his encounter with Mike, he hurriedly visited headquarter of the Hunters Corp. It had a huge cathedral-like structure. There were not as many people inside as he thought there would be. Hunters Corps was supposed to be one of the largest organizations in the world.  

There was an enormous stand attached to the middle left wall to serve food.

At the other end of the entrance, there was a counter with a beautiful lady attending visitors. Meeting tables occupied the remaining areas, though there was hardly anyone.

Silver approached the lady at the counter. Not knowing what to say, the only word that escaped was, “Excuse me... Ahem...”

“The name is Alisha Ramon. How may I help you?” The girl replied with a sigh. She probably had encountered others with communication issues. He wasn’t like that in the past, but nowadays he was having a really hard time talking to people.

“I would like to apply for membership, please.”

As soon as Alisha heard those words, she reached for the top left drawer of the counter and picked up a form asking, “Please fill up this membership form.”

Silver leaned against the counter and filled the form. It didn’t take him long. Once finished, he handed the form to Alisha.

“Here all done.”

Alisha eyed the form more than once as if she was trying to find something suspicious. She urged Silver to follow her through the door behind the counter.