Nicholas tapped the button on the panel beside him causing the gates to swing open smoothly, allowing him to drive into the garage.
The hover craft glided over the threshold, and the gates closed behind him with a soft click.
He parked the hover craft in its usual spot, killed the engine, and popped the door open.
The garage was quiet, filled only with the hum from the climate control device installed as he reached into the back seat to grab the two boxes. His eyes fell on the gun sitting next to them.
He sighed. 'Broke fools.'
When he was robbi… I mean 'borrowing' those robbers' stuff, he came to realise just how poor they were.
They were so poor he felt sorry for them… Nah he didn't feel sorry; he just couldn't be bothered to take whatever they had.
Even their terminals weren't worth taking, neither were the fake jewelleries. The only the guns were worth something.
So, he just took their guns.
But since they were the same model, he only needed one. He pulled the magazine from the second gun and tossed the empty weapon into the bin.
The only reason he even took them was because it wouldn't be traced back to him and there was no point carrying two unregistered weapons.
Besides, he already had his father's registered guns if he wanted to go hunting or use that were legal.
Nicholas grabbed both boxes and walked toward the other corner of the garage.
A large shape sat under a dusty weighted car cover. He dropped the boxes on the floor and grabbed the edge of the cover.
One hard pull, and the fabric slid off the vehicle like a shedding skin. Beneath it was a black four-wheeled off-road truck.
It looked like a heavily modified Ram 2500… the kind of truck that Offroad Power Products built for people who thought camping in the woods was a necessity rather than a suggestion.
It had large treads, custom axles and a roll cage that could survive a rockslide. The paint was matte black, scuffed in places, stained with mud that had probably been there for years.
It was also his father's.
Nicholas ran his hand along the door handle for a moment before opening the back door. He placed both boxes inside, then the gun beside them.
Then he closed the door with a solid, satisfying slam before making his way into the house.
The moment he walked through the door, Auntie Penny was waiting for him.
She stood in the entry hall, arms crossed, one eyebrow raised.
"Where were you?"
Nicholas paused mid-step. "Oh, Auntie... I thought you would have gone to bed by now."
"You know I wouldn't be able to sleep with you out of the house this late."
He sighed; he knew from his memories that there was no winning against this woman. "I'm sorry. I told the maid to inform you that I would be out late."
"Yes." Auntie Penny's eyebrow stayed exactly where it was. "So… Where did you go?"
"Oh, I went out to get items for my next hunt."
Her expression shifted immediately. The sternness softened into worry. "Oh… You should have told me. We should hire some mercenaries to go with you."
Nicholas shook his head. "No, Auntie Penny. It's best if I go myself."
"But…"
"Auntie." He stepped closer, keeping his voice gentle. "You know I'll be joining the Ace Academy this semester. I have to get prepared. You know how hard it will be." He paused, letting the words sink in. "I have to start somewhere."
Auntie Penny fell silent for a moment.
She looked at him for a few seconds thinking… trying to find another way out of the situation but there was none.
Finally, she sighed as the fight left her shoulders.
She knew how hard he had been training since he awakened his Soul Ability. She had seen him drag himself from his training room at midnight, covered in sweat and bruises.
She had watched him collapse into bed without eating because he was too exhausted to chew.
"You know," Nicholas added quietly, "Dad would have wanted this too. Besides..." He offered a small smile. "I promise not to go too far."
That did it.
Auntie Penny nodded… a slow, reluctant nod and then suddenly pulled him into a big, fierce hug.
Her arms wrapped around him like she was afraid he might disappear. Like if she let go, he would vanish into the night and never come back.
Nicholas smiled and hugged her back.
Suddenly an unexpected voice broke the silence. "You baby him too much."
Nicholas glanced up, his eyes meeting the speaker. She looked like a carbon copy of Auntie Penny.
"Auntie Piper, it is good to see you too." Nicholas smiled at her.
"He is my baby." Auntie Penny said as she turned around to look at her twin sister.
"I am just saying… He will soon be leaving for the academy." Auntie Piper shrugged her shoulders, "I wonder if you will be checking up on him all day."
"I could…"
"I doubt that, especially if he is in class or on missions." Auntie Piper cut her off.
"Don't act like you weren't also waiting for him… why else would you be up by this time?" Auntie Penny countered.
"Yeah, Yeah, whatever…" Auntie Piper said as she turned around and walked back up the stairs towards her room.
"Goodnight, Auntie Piper, Sweet Dreams." Nicholas called out after her.
"Yeah."
"Come. Come. Come. Ignore that old lady" Auntie Penny pulled back and immediately began steering him toward the dining room. "I already prepared your meal for you."
"You didn't have to…"
"Hush."
She pushed him into a chair, and within seconds, plates began appearing. Soup, bread, meat… all essence-infused, steaming and smelling like heaven.
"Auntie…"
"I said keep quiet and eat."