Chapter 21: Sugar Mommy

"I think I’m falling in love with this city more and more." Lukas smirked, speaking conversationally to Melody.

"I didn’t know they were moving their zoo out to the Scorched Forest to provide entertainment for we Climbers. Why else would we see a donkey trying to imitate human speech? They should have used a parrot though. At least parrots look good. This donkey is just an eyesore."

"You!" Kylo tried to take a step forward but one of his three C-rank Awakeners gripped his shoulder, stopping him cold.

"Get your hands off me." Kylo snarled, twisting the man’s hand off his shoulder. "Who are you to stop me? Don’t forget your place. You’re just hired help for my advancement, you shit stains!"

The man’s expression twisted, as if he was about to hit Kylo for his words, before he schooled his expression, turning it into a blank canvas.

"That’s what I thought." Kylo hissed in satisfaction. He turned to speak to Lukas again but the Awakener spoke up.

"Young master Kylo, I would advise against antagonizing them." As he spoke, his eyes were on Melody. "She’s B-rank."

His eyes finally landed on Melody, and for the first time since they’d encountered each other, her presence entered his consciousness.

He’d previously dismissed her, a part of his brain refusing to acknowledge anyone associated with a person he considered trash. But now, he was regretting that decision.

His pupils shrank in astonishment as he took in her beautiful face and figure. He stood there for a few seconds, speechless, then the wheels began turning behind his head. Why would a beauty of this caliber be running around with trash like Lukas?

"Oh, I see!" He chortled. "So that’s what you’re doing."

He descended into full blown laughter, everyone present staring at him as if he’d gone mad. After a minute of laughter, he finally tapered off into chuckles.

"I was wondering where a [Thief] was getting the confidence to mouth off to a [Spellblade]. So, this was it." he chuckled, staring at Lukas. "I never should’ve expected much from a rat like you. Finding a B-rank beauty to become her boytoy."

He turned to Melody, pasting a charming smile on his face and giving her a small bow. "Hello, my lady, I apologize that we had to meet this way."

"I know it isn’t my place to say, but you can do better than this... rat, Lukas. Take me for example, I’m just as tall as he is, even more handsome than he is, and from a good background."

"Moving around with me wouldn’t become a stain on your reputation like he would."

Silence filled the air, the three C-rank Awakeners staring at Kylo, marveling at his audacity.

But Melody’s expression was cold, her icy blue eyes glowing softly as she glared at him. "If you knew it wasn’t your place to speak, then why did you speak?"

This time, the silence was cold. Kylo took a step back unconsciously, a hint of fear threading through his consciousness.

Melody took a step forward, the C-rank Awakeners tensing. "Next time you open that hole you call a mouth and comment on my choice of a partner, I’ll tear a new hole for you in that ugly face of yours."

Kylo stared at her, jaw hanging open and eyes wide. Of all the responses he’d imagined, this one hadn’t even entered his realm of possibility.

He stared between her and Lukas, unable to find the right words. "B-But... W-What... Why... How...?"

One of the Awakeners behind him snorted, and he turned around sharply, a snarl on his face. "Who laughed? Who laughed just now?!"

"You must have heard wrong, young master." The lead Awakener said, expression stoic.

Kylo turned back to Lukas, his face red with anger. "And you! You think you can talk to me that way and get away with it? Just because you found yourself a sugar mommy?"

"Yep." Lukas said, a wide, smug grin on his face. "If you’re so jealous, find yourself a sugar mommy too."

Kylo surged forward in rage, but was stopped by his hired help, who held him back. "Leave me! Let me tear that smirk off his face!" He snarled.

"Calm down, young master!" One of them said. "He has a B-rank on his side."

"And so what?" He rounded on them. "Didn’t you guys brag that you could take down a B-rank? Or am I paying you to sit around and look pretty?"

"We can fight and defeat a B-rank if we fight together, but this is not in our job description. You hired us to help you advance, not take care of your grudges."

Their words seemed to sink into Kylo’s head, and after a few seconds, he finally stopped struggling.

The Awakeners released him and he dusted his shirt, staring at them in superiority. "Count this as your lucky day, Lukas. One day, I’ll meet you, and your... sugar mommy won’t be around to save you from me."

He turned to his followers. "Let’s go."

"Go?" Lukas chuckled, stepping forward. "That’s quite unfortunate, because I never planned to let you go."

"What did you say?" Kylo snarled, his expression going dark.

"I promised you, didn’t I?" Lukas met Kylo’s eyes. "That one day, I’ll show you your place."

This was the perfect opportunity to fulfil his only ongoing quest. In the Scorched Forest, where there would be no one to stop their fight, and with melody at his side. He’d be a fool not to take the chance.

He exchanged a glance with Melody, a short conversation passing between them with their eyes. He’d already told her about the quest, and in her eyes was agreement. She wanted him to go for it.

So he turned back to Arlo, a wide grin on his face. "Raise your guard."

Kylo stared at him in confusion. "What?"

Lukas’ grin widened. "Ready or not, here I come."

Then he blurred forward, his sword flashing through the air.