Chapter: The call of duty
Quinn stretched his arms, letting out a small sigh. "Well then," he said, rolling his shoulders. "That was a fun duel."
With a relaxed smile, he grabbed his small bag from the corner of the training arena and slung it over his shoulder. As he turned to leave, Cedric, still lying on the cracked floor, watched him with narrowed eyes.
Even if I had used my full strength… I might not have beaten him. That kid is strong.
Quinn walked out of the arena, passing by a few Awakened who had watched the duel. Their eyes followed him in silence—some in awe, others in disbelief. The whispers started the moment he passed.
"Did you see that? He barely even tried."
"An S-Rank… Just how strong is he?"
"I heard he awakened recently, and he's already at that level?"
Quinn ignored them, casually stepping into the elevator. The metal doors slid shut, and with a soft hum, the elevator descended. When it reached the lower floor, the doors opened to reveal the core exchange counter.
The same woman from before stood behind the counter, her sharp eyes immediately locking onto him. She leaned against the desk with a smirk. "Leaving already?"
Quinn nodded, flashing a small smile. "Yeah."
She studied him for a moment, then gave a slight nod. "Take care of yourself."
"Thank you. I will," Quinn replied before stepping outside.
Time had gone and the crisp evening air greeted him as he exited the AGC building. He exhaled slowly, letting the cool breeze wash over him before a thought crossed his mind.
Stats.
A translucent blue screen appeared before him, filled with the details of his power.
[PROFILE]
Name: Quinn Mercer
Ability: Gravity
Awakened Rank: S
[STATS]
Strength: S
Agility: S
Endurance: S
Intelligence: S
Mana: 200,000
[Basic and intermediate understanding of Gravity has been acquired.]
[Ability to perform basic and intermediate gravity magic acquired.]
Quinn's blue eyes scanned the information, a smirk forming on his lips.
"I've really gotten stronger…" he muttered. He clenched his fist, feeling the sheer power flowing through him. "And it's like I just know how to use these skills… Like they've always been part of me."
His gaze flicked back to the system screen before him. He knew exactly where this newfound strength came from.
"And it's all because of this…" he murmured, his smirk widening.
A new idea suddenly popped into his head. Another skill.
Without hesitation, Quinn relaxed his stance, channeling his mana. A faint, almost imperceptible shift in gravity surrounded him.
Then—
Whoosh.
His body lifted off the ground.
Quinn hovered in the air, weightless, as if gravity had lost its hold on him. A grin spread across his face.
"This is amazing…"
He willed himself higher, the city stretching beneath him as he rose above the streets. The wind rushed past him, his coat fluttering in the breeze.
With a final glance down, Quinn smirked.
"Alright then, let me fly around the city for a bit before heading home."
With a thought, he propelled himself forward, soaring smoothly through the sky at an average speed. Quinn felt untouchable—like the world was finally his to take.
The city lights twinkled beneath Quinn as he soared through the sky, gliding smoothly toward home. The cool night air brushed against his face, carrying the distant sounds of bustling streets below.
Flying was exhilarating—effortless, freeing. With just a thought, he controlled his speed and direction, moving as if gravity itself had bent to his will.
Before long, his apartment complex came into view. He slowed down, descending gently onto the rooftop. As soon as his feet touched the solid surface, he released his control over gravity, letting everything return to normal.
"Yeah… I could get used to this," he muttered with a smirk.
Making his way downstairs, he entered the dimly lit hallway and approached the familiar door to his apartment. He pushed it open, the scent of home-cooked food hitting him immediately.
"You're back," a voice called from the kitchen.
Quinn glanced over to see his sister, Emily, standing by the counter, finishing up some dishes. She was dressed in an oversized hoodie, her black-white hair tied up in a messy bun. She barely looked up from her task, but her tone carried its usual warmth.
"Yeah, I'm back," Quinn replied, dropping his bag near the door before stepping into the kitchen.
Emily glanced at him properly this time, noticing the relaxed yet satisfied look on his face. She smirked. "Judging by that smug grin, I'm guessing today went well?"
Quinn chuckled as he grabbed a plate and started serving himself some of the food she had made. "You could say that."
They both sat at the small dining table as Quinn dug into his meal. Emily sipped on a warm drink, watching him with curiosity.
"Alright, spill," she said, leaning forward. "What happened?"
Quinn chewed thoughtfully for a moment before answering. "I had a duel."
Emily raised an eyebrow. "A duel?"
"Yeah. Against a guy named Cedric."
She blinked. "Wait… Cedric? As in Cedric from the AGC? I heard that guy's a beast!"
Quinn smirked. "Yeah, well… I won."
Emily's jaw dropped slightly before she quickly masked her surprise. "Of course you did," she said, rolling her eyes. "You're an S-Rank freak now."
Quinn chuckled. "Guess so."
Emily leaned back in her chair, shaking her head in amusement. "Man… Just a few weeks ago, you were a normal guy, struggling to pay rent. Now you're flying around and beating up elite Awakened."
Quinn simply grinned as he took another bite.
Emily sighed. "Well, at least you're having fun."
They continued chatting about their day, the conversation flowing naturally as it always did. Emily talked about her work, complaining about her annoying manager, while Quinn listened with a smirk, occasionally throwing in sarcastic comments.
Before long, the night had settled fully. Quinn stretched, letting out a satisfied sigh. "Alright, I think I'm calling it a night."
Emily yawned, standing up as well. "Yeah, me too."
As they both headed to their rooms, Emily paused at her door. "Hey, Quinn."
He turned. "Yeah?"
She smiled. "I'm glad you're doing okay."
Quinn blinked, then gave her a small nod. "You too, Em."
With that, they both disappeared into their rooms, the apartment falling into a peaceful silence as the night came to an end.
*****
The soft rays of morning light filtered through the blinds, casting a warm glow over Quinn's room. He lay sprawled across his bed, tangled in his sheets, still lost in the depths of sleep.
Then—
Knock. Knock.
A loud rapping at his door jolted him awake. Quinn groaned, barely lifting his head.
"Quinn, wake up," Emily's voice called from the other side.
He let out a tired sigh, rubbing his eyes. "What is it…?"
Emily opened the door slightly, peeking in. "Someone's looking for you."
Quinn blinked. "Huh? Me?"
"Yeah," she said, crossing her arms. "No idea why, but they look kinda official."
Quinn sat up, still groggy. Who the hell would be looking for him this early?
With a stretch and a yawn, he swung his legs off the bed and got up. As he followed Emily toward the front door, his mind raced.
Who could it be?
When they reached the entrance, Quinn stepped outside—and immediately spotted a man in a sleek black AGC uniform standing beside a black car. The AGC logo was embroidered on his chest, his expression calm and professional.
The man noticed Quinn and began climbing the stairs to meet him. Once he reached the door, he pulled out a neatly folded black suit and handed it over, along with a small, sleek card.
Quinn took the items, his blue eyes narrowing slightly. "What's this?"
The man gave a respectful nod. "Your official Awakened Guild Card. As of today, you are officially recognized as an S-Rank Awakened currently under the AGC."
Quinn glanced at the card in his hand. His name was printed neatly on the surface, along with the unmistakable S-Rank insignia beside it.
"Huh… So I'm official now," he muttered.
The man didn't react to Quinn's nonchalant attitude and continued. "Get dressed. There have been reports of a Hollow sighting in the southwest sector of the city. You're being assigned to investigate."
Quinn exhaled through his nose, rolling his shoulders. "Tch… What a pain," he muttered.
Emily, standing beside him, raised an eyebrow. "Hollow sighting? Already?"
Quinn gave her a tired look. "Guess I won't be having breakfast, then."
Emily scoffed. "Typical."
Quinn turned back to the AGC staff member and nodded. "Give me a few minutes."
Without waiting for a response, he stepped back inside, heading straight for the bathroom. After a quick shower, he dried off, threw on the black suit, and adjusted the collar. The AGC insignia was stitched neatly onto the sleeve, marking him as one of their elites.
He checked himself in the mirror.
"Well… Looks like I'm officially in the business," he muttered.
With one last deep breath, he grabbed his guild card, slid it into his pocket, and stepped out the door.
"Alright," he said, cracking his neck. "Time to head out."