"I guess he is here." Thalos sighed as he stood up from the bed, though he hadn’t been asleep. Grey also rose, not even bothering to put on his robe and hood. Instead, he grabbed his mask from his storage pendant.
He placed it over his face and, without hesitation, deactivated the ring on his finger to stop it from consuming his Ki. With that, his hair color began reverting back to how it once was.
From dull brown, it slowly shifted until it gleamed a deep crimson once again. Finally, Grey decided this was the true persona of the Supreme Magus he was going to embody from now on.
With his approval, Thalos opened the door. Dame strode in, carrying a huge sack. The dark bags under his eyes instantly made Grey lift a brow.
"Huh?" Dame muttered, his gaze drawn to the mask that concealed Grey’s face. It was eerie, its design almost too lifelike, and he shuddered slightly. "That looks scary... somewhat unsettling."
"Good morning," Grey spoke. He was surprised at how well the mask altered his voice.
It was so different that even he almost doubted it was his own. The sound came out thick, deeper than usual, and heavy with a rough edge almost intimidatingly manly.
If he didn’t already know the truth, he would’ve thought someone had deliberately altered his voice for him.
"I guess putting on a robe and hood is more exhausting than I imagined," Dame chuckled loudly, trying to lighten the mood as Thalos closed the door behind him.
"Is the equipment I asked for in there?" Grey asked directly.
Dame nodded and kicked the sack forward. The Supreme Magus caught it easily, the weight nothing to him.
Opening it up, Grey examined the contents. Inside were two swords, two spears, two shields, a pair of gauntlets, and about twenty beast cores.
"I don’t know what you want to use them for," Dame admitted, "but those are the useless weapons gathering dust in our clan. As for the cores, they’re not so useful either, so I managed to get them for you."
"Here." Grey tossed a small pouch toward him. Dame caught it and opened it, revealing the pills the Supreme Magus had crafted.
"You remember you said you owe me your life? And I said I was going to cash in on that soon?" Grey asked. Follow current novᴇls on N0velFire.ɴet
"Yeah?" Dame replied, brows furrowed as he tried to piece together where this was heading.
"Well, I want to cash it in now." Grey closed the sack, stood, and fixed his gaze on Dame. His expression was hidden behind the mask, but his posture and tone made it clear he was serious. "I want you to help me sell those pills. We can split the profit."
"Huh?" Dame muttered, then suddenly burst into loud laughter. Shaking his head, he dipped a hand into his pocket, pulled out a small brown purse, and tossed it toward Grey. The Supreme Magus caught it without effort.
Opening the purse, Grey’s eyes glinted when he saw the shiny silver coins stacked within. A quick count revealed twenty silver coins.
"I already met up with a friend of mine who’s been helping me sell the pills," Dame explained. "That’s your share from the last batch.
Honestly, the pills have quickly become hot cake in our clan alone. With this new batch, I have no doubt we’ll pull in even more profit than before. So no, your favor still stands. It hasn’t been cashed out yet."
Grey closed the purse and tucked it into his pendant. A faint chuckle escaped him. "I thought you were a fool and a brute the first time we met. But who knew you actually had a few brain cells in you?"
"Ouch," Dame muttered, clicking his tongue with mock offense. "Anyway, it’s perfect you decided to go with the mask."
"What do you mean?" Grey asked with a raised brow, his voice still carrying that deep, altered weight through the mask.
"Ever since the pills became a hit— and with your insignia on them, not to mention the fact that they can’t be replicated, some minor clans have started searching for you. Especially after your fight with that orange tiger and your bold declaration of your name.
The news spread faster than wildfire." Dame chuckled softly, though there was a trace of seriousness hidden behind his grin.
"It didn’t take long for people to figure out that ’SM’ actually stood for Supreme Magus. Now the minor clans are actively looking for the purple-hooded figure who caused a stir."
’Yikes! Just yesterday I pledged to spread my name far and wide. Who would have thought it would already begin this soon? Kek! This is perfect.
This clan is just the beginning. Soon, the entire Noxarian faction will hear of my name, and after that, the whole world will revere the Supreme Magus. My name will shake even the heavens.’
"So, we’re in business, right?" Dame asked, holding out his hand for a firm handshake.
"Yeah. From acquaintances to business partners. Not bad at all," Grey replied as he shook Dame’s hand.
’I wonder why I still can’t sense his aura. The last time, I felt it faintly, but now it’s gone entirely. Something is definitely going on with him.’ Dame’s thoughts flickered darkly, though he masked them behind a casual smile.
"Alright then, I suppose I’ll leave you to work peacefully." Dame withdrew his hand and tucked away the pouch Grey had given him earlier, still grinning.
"Yeah, sure. Get out of here and let me work in peace." Grey waved his hand dismissively, his tone firm but light.
"Yeah, sure," Dame echoed with a smile as he turned around and began making his way to the door.
"By the way." Grey’s voice cut through the silence, causing Dame to halt mid-step. The young man turned slowly, curiosity flashing in his tired eyes.
"You look quite worried and lost sometimes. Are you okay? Are you in danger?"
For a moment, Dame froze, stunned by the unexpected concern. His lips parted, but no words came out. After several seconds, he steadied himself, forcing a practiced smile onto his face.
"I’m fine. Thanks for noticing— and for caring enough to ask," he said, his tone lighter than his eyes betrayed. Without hesitation, he exited the room and shut the door firmly behind him.
Grey stood there for a moment, staring at the closed door in silence.
’I wonder what’s up with him. Is he caught in some kind of trouble? If so, what exactly is it?’ He sighed and then shook his head, brushing off the thought with a small shrug. ’Why should I care? If he refuses to tell me, then all I can do is wish him the best of luck. I have work to do.’
With that, Grey turned back to his equipment, his eyes glinting faintly behind the mask.