Rinx's POV

If anything, I want to live my life with satisfaction — enjoy my life to the fullest.

However, a youngling as I am, my decision-making skills are fully not the best — so I will say, mistakes and troubles are right up my alleyways waiting for me to walk right into one.

That one, includes now, probably.

Gladly enough, I recently graduated university. However, I couldn't attend a graduates' gathering knowing my sudden call for a one night-shift schedule.

Heading my way down a dim path and not much cars were driving by, I walked with relief. My eyes felt so drowsy, I wish I had a beer to make me completely asleep. I also badly wish I can reach home before morning comes.

Suddenly, I bumped into a tree.

"Oi! Watch where you're looking!"

Ah, shoot. It's not a tree.

"Well, well, well. What a fine lad you are."

I am so dead.

"U-uhm, I am so sorry sir." I bowed down immediately. "I'm just tired from work. I need to grab some sleep and— Augh!"

The guy I bumped into, kicked my stomach. That hurts by the way.

I heard him cracking his knuckles. "I don't give a damn 'bout your apology. Pay up lad."

What?!

"B-but I don't have much money sir— Argh!"

This bastard pulled my hair.

"Pay me up right now, or you'll pay with your body."

He is insane!

With shivers down my spine, I immediately rummaged my pocket and gave him all the money in my wallet, pleading not to hurt me as well.

The guy swiftly took the money and aggressively threw me down the other side of the sidewalk. What did I just say?!

"Is this all you got?" With an angry tone, he asked me.

I nodded in fear. I can't stop myself from shaking.

"You look poor. This will do."

How brutally insulting of him.

He walked towards me and pulled my hair again, making me look at his brute face.

"Next time I see you, I'll take more than what you have."

He threw me off again. I immediately stood and ran away from him, not caring if he said more or what.

That was, horrible. Why'd it have to be tonight out of all nights?

Reaching a fair distance from that crazy bastard who just assaulted me, I took heavy breaths. "Hah. . . Why did I just got unlucky tonight."

No, there were many unlucky nights of mine, even days, where I get assaulted. This is one of those nights for sure, and the guy earlier was a thug I've never seen before. They still scare me to this day though.

I couldn't even report because the nearest police station is a mile away from where I'm at. Even if I did, they wouldn't believe me. I tried twice, but their excuse was no security camera could show them the footage of what happened or no witnesses. Well then, fix the camera, duh! And, it was dawn time — a time of the night where majority of the people within my vicinity is asleep.

I didn't notice but I was actually beside a convenience store. The lights weren't that bright.

"I guess I should go buy that beer then." My hand reached out my wallet. I opened a hidden stash beneath one of its pockets. It wasn't much to be honest but hey, this is enough for one canned beer. I also have a 'backup money'.

Then I suddenly thought about earlier and just let out a deep sigh. Thankfully, my nerves are slowly calming down and I'm no longer shaking.

My steps made their way to the convenience store. I checked for any signs — there's one that said [ 24 hours open ]. Nice.

As I made my way in, a bell sound was heard. "G-good evening?"

No response was heard back. Okay, the clerk may be asleep by the counter.

Walking discreetly towards the counter, one of the aisle displayed the canned beer I wanted.

"Got'cha." I grabbed one on the way.

I arrived at the counter and saw no one there. But as I looked down, someone was asleep. . . on the floor.

"Uhm, excuse me?" I called them out but they didn't wake up. Seems like this person's a man too.

"Sir? Excuse me?" I called out again. This time, although it was a sudden small motion, I saw his eye twitched which means he's now awake.

He groaned, then yawned before looking at me.

"I'm buying this." I raised the canned beer for him to see.

The man stood up and patted his pants. He reached out to a sanitizer and sprayed it on his hands while rubbing them. He took the beer, tagged it and told me the amount.

Since the leftover money I had was somewhat huge and will prolly gain coin changes, I took a sandwich from the fridge.

I gave him the sandwich, then he tagged it and placed it on a microwave. Once it was finished, he put both items in a paper bag. He gave it to me along with the change.

As I was about to retrieve the bag, the man held my hand firmly. "Sir?"

"You are in grave danger."

W-what?

"W-what do you mean I am in grave danger, I mean I just encountered one tonight but—"

"You must not die."

My eyes widened. What does he mean? What is he talking about? And, why and how would I die?

I noticed his eyes glowing in yellow— no, it was all in yellow. I couldn't tell which is his pupil and iris.

"You must live, and save the kingdom."

My gaze then went to his hand that suddenly glowed as well.

But, seriously? Which era are we that kingdom still exists today?

I tried my best to pull back but man— how is his grip so strong?!

"Do not fret. I am not an enemy." Then, he let go of my hand and the glow slowly dispersed.

"Find the Transient Augur. The mark on your hand will be your guide."

I looked at my hand to see an unusual symbol. "Wait, wait. I don't understand—"

"There's not much time left." The man, still with yellow-glowing eyes, sternly cut me off. "But you will meet me again, not of this realm."

"W-what are you—"

"Find the Transient Augur. The mark on your hand will be your guide." He repeated.

Instantly, the yellow glow in his eyes vanished. The man's eyes went back to normal.

I was left agape, not realizing my mouth was open 'til he said so.

"Y-you don't remember anything sir?"

His brow raised, and his expression looking at me with annoyance. "I remembered you paying the items. Leave now, I'll be sleeping." The man said then laid back down to sleep on the floor.

Well, I immediately ran out as he told me to leave. I'm just assuming in my head that he slept back down on the floor.

As I ran, I headed to my residence. I'm slowly losing my breath.

Without stopping, I finally arrived and ran to the second floor. Thankfully, my room was near the staircase.

As I rushed in, I shut the door, but gently of course. I'm still considerate of my neighbors.

But with everything that just happened tonight, I leaned on the door 'til I sat down on the floor, panting. With my eyes closed, I began muttering what the old man just said earlier.

"Transient. . . Augur. . . my mark. . . a guide. . . Hah. . . "

I hugged with my knees, still getting the hang of myself.

"I definitely wasn't insane nor was I dreaming." I muttered. I am so sure that wasn't a dream.

He could've pranked me but. . . . that sounded so real.

That term though, I am kinda familiar of it.

I have nothing to lose eitherway so there's no harm in doing some research. Despite my misfortune tonight, I have three days off starting tomorrow as a reward for my hard work during my shifts.

I can start tomorrow. Right now, I should finish up this sandwich and beer that I have.

I headed my way to the bedroom after locking the door and removing my shoes, then placed the bag on the side table. I took off my clothes in the shower room— half-baths are nice.

Ah shoot. I just ran. Oh well, say goodbye to nice-looking feet. Veins will prolly be seen soon.

I went out as I finished. Then, I wore my pajamas and plopped my butt on bed.

I opened the canned beer — apple-flavored, by the way — then took a bite of the sandwich.

"So yummy." I muttered as I savored the deliciousness of the sandwich grinded in my mouth. I took some gulps of beer too.

My eyes then wandered on the shelf I had. A family and friend's frame, an artificial blue flower in a cute-sized pot, trophies of some random music and art contests I joined as a sideline hustle, and a couple of books — mostly BL.

And yes, I am a fudanshi. A gay person too.

Wait. . . That's it!

I placed back my food and drink on the side table then went to the shelf filled with my BL book collection. There was one certain story where the term 'Transient Augur' came from.

"Found it." I took the book that's got the front cover titled [ The Key ].

"Why would the old man mention that word to me from a fictional story, if I am really in grave danger?" I asked myself as I skimmed through pages, looking at where the term is found. "Unless he's a fudanshi too then he and I could've been friends to be honest."

My eyes found the word so I stopped skimming. I opened the book widely for me to read.

"The Transient Augur is a seer with limited and temporary abilities. Once used, such power will be wielded in another Arkeylian after a decade." I muttered the texts as I read.

"One can find them at the center of the  Teorveq Weald — the forest of twisted dangers — where an old, tall hut stands firm amidst the swaying, haunted trees. Okay. . . ."

I exhaled, then raised my head up facing the ceiling. "This is, crazy."

I faced towards the book and skimmed the pages, then stopped at the second introduction of the book.

"First of all, I am not in Arkeylia — rather, this book's realm so," I shut the book with my eyes closed again.

"It is definitely impossible for me to find the Transient Augur, secondly."

"And lastly," I placed my book back in the shelf and went to grab my edible items. I placed them in the fridge and turned off the lights. Then, I plopped back down in bed in sleeping position.

"I'll become more cautious but like I said, it's impossible for me to be there in Arkeylia. What just happened, can't be possible at all."

All of a sudden, I feel a slight headache. My eyes started drooping down as my drowsiness state worsened.

"I'm just, so tired." These were my last words before I fell into my slumber.

.☘︎ ݁˖˙✧˖.° .☘︎ ݁˖˙✧˖.° .☘︎ ݁˖˙✧˖.° .☘︎ ݁˖˙✧˖.° .☘︎ ݁˖˙✧˖.° .☘︎ ݁˖˙✧˖.°.☘︎ ݁˖˙✧˖.° .☘︎ ݁˖˙✧˖.° .☘︎ ݁˖˙✧˖.° .☘︎ ݁˖˙✧˖.° .☘︎ ݁˖˙✧˖.° .☘︎ ݁˖˙✧˖.° .☘︎ ݁˖˙✧˖.° .☘︎ ݁˖˙✧˖.°

°.˖✧ 𝗔/𝗡

Pronunciation List

♠︎ Rinx - /'reenx/

♠︎ Augur - /'aw-gur/

♠︎ Teorveq Weald - /'tor-vek/ /weeld/