Marcus stared at him, nonplussed.
"How did you know which floor I lived on?"
"Your pickup address is in the system."
Devin admitted.
"I know it's weird, showing up like this. I just had a feeling you might not get many visitors."
A moment of silence stretched between them, Marcus torn between suspicion and surprise at the simple human kindness being offered. Finally, having made his decision, he rolled his wheelchair backward.
"Come in."
He said.
"I'll make coffee."
Devin stepped inside, his eyes widening slightly as he took in the apartment.
"Nice place. Very... organized."
"I like order."
Marcus replied, directing his wheelchair toward the kitchen with a thought. He noted Devin's startled expression at the chair's autonomous movement.
"Yes, it moves on its own now. One of my skills."
"That's... wow."
Devin marveled as he placed the bagels on the counter.
"You've been busy after purchasing those skill crystals, huh?"
Marcus nodded as he prepared the coffee maker.
"Very. I'm making progress."
"Toward what?"
Devin asked, then immediately backpedaled.
"Sorry, not my business. Just curious."
Marcus considered the question as the coffee began to brew. How much should he tell this near-stranger who had shown up at his door with bagels? The truth would sound deranged. He couldn't tell him that he was training to hunt and kill an otherworldly entity that had murdered his caregiver. However, something about Devin's straightforward manner made him want to be honest.
"Someone I cared about died recently."
Marcus said finally.
"The skills are helping me... process that loss. I don't want to continue wallowing in misery. I want to make something of my life."
It wasn't a lie, merely an incomplete truth.
Devin nodded soberly.
"I'm sorry to hear that. Losing someone you cared about is tough."
He hesitated, then added.
"Is that why you've been going to the center to purchase skill crystals? To distract yourself?"
"Something like that."
Marcus said as he retrieved mugs from a cabinet using his Will skill's telekinesis, causing Devin's eyes to widen again.
"Man, you're picking this up fast."
The driver observed.
"Most people take weeks to get comfortable with basic skills. Hasn't it only been a few days since you purchased your first basic skill crystal?"
Marcus shrugged.
"I have a lot of time to practice. And motivation."
They settled at the small kitchen table with coffee and bagels. The conversation flowed more easily than Marcus had expected, touching on safe topics: the city's weather, recent changes in the neighborhood, and developments in Transcendent technology. Devin proved knowledgeable about the latter, despite his claim that he couldn't afford skill crystals himself.
"How do you know so much about skills?"
Marcus couldn't help but ask him.
Devin looked slightly embarrassed.
"I follow the forums. Watch the streams. Bit of a Transcendent fanboy, I guess. Just because I can't afford the tools doesn't mean I can't appreciate the craft."
"The craft?"
Marcus parroted.
"That's what the high-level users often call skills. Not just using skills, but mastering them. Pushing them beyond their basic parameters to achieve extraordinary effects. The really good ones don't just activate their skill crystals; they internalize them, make them part of their identity."
Devin explained.
Marcus nodded slowly in understanding.
"Like evolution. Taking something basic and developing it into something personalized."
"Exactly!"
Devin acknowledged, his face lighting up.
"Most transport clients barely talk to me, much less understand what I'm saying about this stuff. It's refreshing to have someone get it."
As they finished their breakfast, Marcus found himself genuinely enjoying the interaction—his first normal social contact since Mrs. Abernathy's death. Devin's visit, unexpected as it was, had provided a welcome break from the intensity of his training and revenge planning.
When Devin eventually stood to leave, he paused awkwardly by the door.
"Listen, I hope this wasn't too weird. I just thought you might want company. And if you need rides to the center or anywhere else, you can request me specifically in the app. Driver ID 487."
"Thank you."
Marcus replied, suddenly surprised by his own sincerity throughout their exchange until now.
"This was... nice."
He murmured under his breath.
After Devin left, Marcus returned to his living room, thoughtful. He had been so focused on vengeance, on power accumulation, that he had forgotten basic human connection. Mrs. Abernathy would have approved of him accepting Devin's gesture of friendship.
But the brief social interlude didn't change his fundamental mission. If anything, it reminded him of what the Vitality Wraith had stolen from him—not just Mrs. Abernathy herself, but the simple human interactions she had facilitated and encouraged.
Marcus expanded the system interface again, reviewing his resources and options. With his current arsenal, the evolved Tempest skill, Level 2 Will, and autonomous wheelchair, he had significantly improved his capabilities. But hunting a Vitality Wraith would require more than just power; it would require strategy, information, and timing.
According to the Bestiary, Wraiths were attracted to areas with high concentrations of spiritual energy, particularly locations where multiple Transcendents gathered regularly. The Professional Shopping Center was one such location, but its security measures and constant human presence made it an unlikely hunting ground for predatory entities.
More promising were the city's Transcendent training grounds, which were designated areas where registered skill users could practice without risking property damage or civilian casualties. These spaces often operated with minimal supervision, particularly during off-peak hours.
Marcus had a new destination for his next excursion: the Eastern District Training Ground, the closest facility to his apartment. With his F-Rank Transcendent ID, he could access the basic training areas. More importantly, those areas might attract precisely the prey he sought. Though he hoped such an encounter wouldn't occur, he would be prepared for anything.
But first, he needed to master his evolved Tempest skill, particularly its flight capabilities and air pressure blades. And for that, he needed space to practice without drawing attention.
The apartment building's roof access was technically restricted to maintenance personnel, but Marcus knew the security was minimal—a simple keypad lock with a code that hadn't changed in years. Mrs. Abernathy had mentioned it once when discussing emergency evacuation routes.
With his autonomous wheelchair and his skills, accessing the roof would be simple. There, in the open air with the city spread below him, he could practice flight without constraints and test his offensive capabilities without risk of property damage.
Marcus smiled grimly as he directed his wheelchair toward the apartment door. The path to vengeance was becoming clearer with each passing day. Soon, he would be ready to hunt.
…
The roof access door creaked open, revealing the vast expanse of sky above the city. Marcus guided his autonomous wheelchair through the narrow doorway, the chair responding to his thoughts with precision that still amazed him. The afternoon sun cast long shadows across the rooftop's weathered surface, the city sprawling below like a concrete and glass maze.
Perfect. No witnesses, no constraints.
Marcus positioned his chair near the center of the roof, far from the edge where he might be spotted from neighboring buildings. With a thought, he locked the wheelchair's brakes and prepared himself mentally for what came next.