Barely ten minutes later, Nova arrived on the east side of Univara. He stood atop a building’s rooftop, scanning the streets below for any signs of suspicious activity. People had begun to emerge from their homes after the Federation's announcement about the gathering of ‘None’ class individuals and the strict prohibition on portal clearing for those not affiliated with the soon-to-be-official academies. This decree had encouraged humanity to walk the streets with less fear of random attacks from would-be criminals who fancied themselves gods with newfound power.

  Nova nodded thoughtfully. ‘Seems like the situation isn’t as bad as I expected.’ With that, he leapt from the rooftop, landing lightly on the ground, his impact only slightly cracking the pavement. “I still don’t have full control of my strength when wielding a spear…” Nova muttered, walking through the crowd of people.

  A voice cut through the air. “What do you think about the Federation’s announcement?”

  “What’s there to think?” came the reply from his friend, accompanied by a heavy sigh. “It won’t change anything. Frankly, I’m actually glad about it.”

  “Heh, fools” a third voice chimed in, overhearing the conversation and butting in.

  “Fools?” the first person asked, frowning in confusion.

  “Yes, fools” the man continued, his voice dripping with disdain. “Do you really believe this is good for us? We can't train, and that means we’ll be at the mercy of the Federation with no way out. What else would you be but fools?”

  Nova, however, simply tuned out the conversation. ‘There are indeed people who see this as just another way to control others…’ he mused silently. Shaking his head, he dismissed the man with a mental sigh. ‘He’s lucky he’s too insignificant for me to care about.’

  As his thoughts drifted, Nova's gaze wandered around the streets. Shops were open, bustling with activity. After walking a little further, his attention was drawn to a restaurant, and he couldn’t help but swallow. ‘It’s been a while since I last ate…’ his stomach groaned in agreement, urging him to satisfy its hunger. “Fine” he muttered under his breath, pushing open the door.

  The restaurant was simple—nothing extravagant, one of the many eateries that dotted the Federation’s cities. What caught him off guard, however, was how packed it was. People were chatting and laughing, turning the place into a noisy hub, more akin to a market than a quiet dining spot. Yet, amid the chaos, Nova felt a strange sense of novelty. ‘Feels like years since I last stepped into a place like this’ he thought wistfully as he approached the reception desk.

  He gave her a warm smile. “Is there a table available for one?”

  The young woman glanced up and froze for a moment, captivated by his piercing eyes. She quickly regained her composure, checked the register, and nodded. “Yes, sir. Please come this way.” Rising from her seat, she guided Nova to the last available table.

  Nova followed, his gaze drifting around the bustling restaurant. Conversations buzzed like a hive, most of them centered around gossip. He sighed inwardly. ‘My friends would love to jump in on these chats too’, he thought, a faintly genuine smile softening his features.

  They soon arrived at a table with two chairs. The young woman gestured toward the seat, her voice polite but professional. “Please, have a seat. Someone will be with you shortly to take your order.” With that, she turned and walked back toward the reception desk.

  Nova sat down, his mind wandering. ‘Even the receptionist takes people to their tables. Are they short on staff? Then again, who’d want to serve when they could just control fire or manipulate the elements?’ A soft chuckle escaped him, the thought amusing in its own way.

  As he settled in, the peaceful atmosphere was broken by a sudden commotion near the front of the restaurant. Nova’s gaze shifted toward the disturbance as he heard a man’s voice, laced with annoyance.

  “What did you just say?” he demanded, his tone sharp. A woman stood beside him, her arms crossed as she watched the exchange unfold.

  The receptionist, caught off guard, quickly apologized. “I’m sorry, sir, but we’re full. Our last table was just taken.”

  The woman, her face twisted into a sneer, let out a mocking laugh. “Then tell that person to get up and give us the table.”

  The man nodded in agreement, his posture rigid with entitlement. “Yes, do that.”

  The receptionist stood her ground, her voice soft but firm. “Sir, I can’t do that. It’s against restaurant policy.” She offered an apologetic smile, trying to defuse the tension.

  The man snorted dismissively. “Take me to the person who just took the last table. I’ll handle it.”

  A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  Caught between a rock and a hard place, the receptionist hesitated for a moment before relenting. “Fine, but I must warn you, we don’t tolerate violence in this restaurant.” Her attempt to sound authoritative faltered under the pressure.

  With a heavy sigh, she led the man and the woman toward Nova’s table. As they approached, the woman’s sharp eyes scanned the situation.

  “Heh, he’s alone, yet he occupies a table for two?” Chloe scoffed, her tone laced with disdain. She then turned to the receptionist, her words dripping with mockery. “Does your restaurant even know how to run a business?”

  The man, Mason, smiled with a smug superiority. “Don’t be too harsh, Chloe. It’s a small place. They can’t possibly understand these things.”

  “You’re right, Mason” Chloe replied, her voice dripping with condescension. “I forgot where we were.”

  Despite their words seeming polite, it was clear they looked down on everyone in the restaurant, their disdain barely hidden.

  The receptionist clenched her fists, her face flushed with frustration, but she could do nothing but silently endure the verbal assault.

  They soon stood in front of Nova’s table. He had overheard everything but didn’t bother to acknowledge the pair. Instead, he kept his attention fixed on the menu, calmly deliberating on what to order.

  Chloe, growing impatient and frustrated by his lack of response, barked, “What are you waiting for? Get up and leave, before we make you!”

  Nova raised his head slowly, locking eyes with Chloe as a smile tugged at his lips. “Who are you?”

  Before she could respond, Mason interjected, his tone dripping with arrogance. “We’re people you can’t afford to offend. So, do yourself a favor—follow our orders and leave while you still can.”

  Nova’s smile remained, unbothered. “If you tell me who you are, maybe I’ll realize I know some people you know.”

  Mason’s expression soured. He leaned in slightly, lowering his voice to make sure nobody could overhear. “We’re the Blades of Freedom. Surely, you’ve heard of us. Now, scram.”

  Nova’s gaze flickered to the receptionist, his voice calm yet filled with a hint of amusement. “Who are the Blades of Freedom?”

  The restaurant fell silent. The receptionist froze, her body tensing as if her very words were caught in her throat. Mason’s brow furrowed in confusion, but when he saw the shocked reactions of the onlookers, a smug smile spread across his face. Chloe lifted her chin with a silent air of superiority.

  The young woman stammered, struggling to find her voice. “T-t-t-they are...” Her eyes flitted nervously around the room, but then, summoning a trace of courage, she steadied herself. “They’re a rebellious group, intent on overthrowing the Federation.”

  Nova’s eyebrows rose in exaggerated surprise. “Oh.” He turned back to Mason and Chloe, his tone shifting to one of feigned fear. “I didn’t realize you were such esteemed individuals.” Standing up from his table, he added with mock sincerity, “I’m truly honored to be in your presence!” With a final, playful grin, he hurried out of the restaurant.

  Chloe snorted, crossing her arms with satisfaction. “See what happens when you mention our background?”

  Mason chuckled darkly. “Makes things much easier.” He then turned to the receptionist, his voice cold and commanding. “This is our table now.”

  Meanwhile, atop the rooftop across the street, Nova stood in the shadows, his laughter echoing in the wind. He couldn’t help but enjoy the look on their faces, knowing they were none the wiser.

  “I need to act more; it’s too much fun.” Nova wiped a few tears from his eyes as he stared at the restaurant's door, still grinning.

  ‘I hope they don’t choke on their food. They’re too valuable to lose right now.’ The thought lingered as his eyes narrowed at the door. If looks could burn, the entire restaurant would have been reduced to ashes by the intensity of his gaze.

  He didn’t have to wait long. Just forty minutes later, Mason and Chloe emerged from the restaurant and began making their way towards the outskirts of Univara.

  Nova followed from a distance, but soon something about the situation struck him as odd.

  Mason and Chloe kept entering house after house, and sometimes even shops.

  ‘Are they preaching?’ Nova wondered, trying to make sense of their movements. He couldn’t think of any other explanation for their behavior. As they continued eastward, he mentally marked each building they entered, his curiosity deepening.

  After several hours, the two finally stopped in front of a housing complex. Nova edged closer, straining his ears to catch their conversation. He heard Chloe speaking as she stretched, her voice carrying a mix of relief and exhaustion.

  “We’re done for the day. I can’t wait to report and take a bath” she said, sighing contentedly.

  Mason nodded, a hint of frustration in his voice. “This was supposed to be a job for the new recruits. Why did they give it to us? We’ve been with them since the beginning. What are the higher-ups thinking?” He grumbled, his discontent clear.

  “I have no idea. Maybe they’re doubting us, but there’s nothing we can do about it. We still have five more days, then we should be free” Chloe sighed, her voice tinged with resignation. Then, with a hint of impatience, she added, “Come on, don’t make me stand out here any longer.”

  Mason snorted, clearly irritated, and walked inside ahead of her.

  Nova, having overheard everything, muttered to himself, “So… I’ve met a couple of errand runners?” He shrugged and made his way inside, careful not to alert anyone.

  The layout inside was exactly what he expected—standard Federation design, identical to every other housing complex. It was no surprise, as the Federation insisted on a “perfect layout” for efficiency.

  From the corner of his eye, he saw Mason and Chloe ascending the stairs. Nova followed at a distance, keeping his steps quiet, until they halted just outside a door.

  The two exchanged a brief nod before fixing their clothes, then knocked. A voice from inside responded, “Who?”

  “Mason.”

  “Chloe.”

  There was a sound of a lock turning, and the door creaked open just enough for them to slip inside. It shut quickly behind them.

  Nova arrived at the door a moment later. Instead of knocking, he casually kicked it with his foot. The force sent the door flying off its hinges, slamming into the wall and creating a sizable hole.

  The noise instantly drew shouts from within.

  “Who is it?!”

  “Don’t let your guard down!”

  Within seconds, ten armed figures rushed from deeper in the room. The apparent leader pushed his way forward, his eyes narrowing as he sized up Nova.

  “Identify yourself” the leader commanded, his tone steely. “If you don’t comply, you’ll die here.”

  Nova’s lips curled into a grin. “I’m lost. Mind if I come in?” he asked, twirling his spear casually in one hand.

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