An hour later, Luke and Emma walked out of the guild building as very happy customers.
Emma had received 1000 credits, and Luke had received 1000 credits plus an entire month’s fully funded stay in the first sanctuary south stronghold, that too with two high-level guild members acting as bodyguards.
Luke wanted to head out and celebrate their success, but Emma firmly refused, insisting that he needed to go home and rest. He tried to persuade her, though she seemed entirely unimpressed by his assurances that he felt perfectly fine.
A few minutes later, they were sitting in another hired car on their way home. Luke leaned back in his seat and reluctantly settled for browsing food deliveries on his interface. If she wouldn’t let him go out to celebrate, he could at least have something good brought to his doorstep.
There were quite a few restaurants nearby, and he was just starting to enjoy looking through their menus when Emma interrupted him again.
"Young master, preparing your meals is my duty. Please leave that to me," she insisted, looking almost offended that he was considering ordering anything. Luke could only sigh and close the window.
He had thought she might appreciate a break after everything they had been through, but apparently, he was the only one interested in spending the rest of the evening doing absolutely nothing.
"Fine, but you’re eating with me," he said. "And make enough for both of us. You were in that treatment room too."
Emma hesitated before nodding, and Luke settled back into his seat with a satisfied smile. At least he had managed to win that much.
After reaching home, Emma ushered him toward the sofa before heading straight into the kitchen. Luke watched her go, wondering how someone who had nearly died alongside him still had the energy to fuss over dinner. He, on the other hand, sank into the cushions.
Perhaps she had been right about the rest. Now that the excitement had worn off, he could feel a dull heaviness settling into his limbs. He stretched his legs beneath the coffee table and opened his interface, heading straight to the streaming section.
Currently, a dungeon raid occupied the top spot, its thumbnail showing a heavily armored warrior facing something with far too many teeth.
Luke’s gaze lingered on it for a moment before drifting to the second stream, where a young woman was soaking in a steaming pool. Her silver hair was piled loosely on top of her head, and the water concealed just enough to make him wonder how strictly the platform enforced its own rules.
Apparently, she was reviewing a hot spring resort inside one of the sanctuaries. Luke hadn’t known that sanctuaries had resorts, but he was always happy to learn something new. He opened the stream and adjusted the window in front of him, taking a moment to appreciate the remarkably clear picture.
The woman leaned toward the camera to read a comment, and Luke found himself sitting a little straighter. Whoever had designed that swimsuit deserved every credit they had been paid.
He was just beginning to understand why a resort review had nearly as many viewers as a dungeon raid when his eyelids started growing heavy. By the time Emma came to tell him dinner was ready, he was already asleep.
The next day, Luke woke with a start as a notification blared inside his head. It was his alarm for the sanctuary visit.
"Fuck. When did I fall asleep?" He scratched his head in a daze. Thankfully he had set an alarm. Otherwise, he would have missed the appointment. "Emma, are you ready? We are leaving in fifteen minutes?"
He scrambled off the sofa, nearly tangling his feet in a blanket that definitely hadn’t been there when he sat down. His chest no longer ached. He dismissed the alarm and hurried toward the stairs, dragging a hand through his hair.
"I’m ready, young master," Emma called from the dining room. "Your clothes are laid out, and the car will be here shortly."
Of course she was ready. Luke had no idea how long she had been awake, but judging by the smell coming from the kitchen, she had been quite busy. He took the stairs two at a time, then slowed when his legs reminded him that enthusiasm wasn’t an attribute.
A quick wash helped clear his head. While pulling on the clothes Emma had prepared, he opened his status panel and checked the number he had been looking forward to seeing.
[Luck: 3]
Luke smiled around his toothbrush. Another day, another point. The smile faded slightly when he remembered the examination chair, however, and his gaze moved toward his title. "Fuck it. No. I am thinking too much." He closed the interface again.
A few minutes later, they were finally on their way. Luke ate while Emma once again tried to persuade him against the whole thing.
He swallowed the last bite and glanced at her. "I’ll tell them if anything feels wrong," he said more seriously. "I’m looking forward to this, but I’d still like to come home afterward."
Emma still didn’t look entirely convinced. The car descended toward the guild, where people were already coming and going despite the early hour.
This time, someone was waiting for them at the entrance. A young attendant greeted Luke by name and led them through the lobby. Inside Helena was waiting for them along with another guy. The both of them did not look pleased.
"Come. Let’s go." Helena started walking. "I have some items for you. Wear them." She tossed a ring towards them.
"What is this?" Luke caught the ring against his chest before it could fall. It was a plain silver band with a small blue stone set into it. He turned it between his fingers as he hurried after her, with Emma keeping pace beside him.
"Helena, you forgot that this young master failed his awakening all three times." The guy next to the branch manager Helena sneered. Luke’s face twitched but he did not say anything. The guy then walked over and took the ring back.
The next second many items fell to the ground with a series of thuds and metallic clinks. A dark coat landed over a pair of boots, followed by two belts, several bracelets, and a smaller case that the man caught with his foot before it could slide away.
Luke glanced from the pile to the ring in his hand, realizing that it was a storage item. "There is a set for you. Wear it."
Luke picked up one item and inspected it.
[Item: Mana Isolation Coat]
[Rank: C]
[Effect: Reduces ambient mana absorption.]
He then picked up the other items and inspected them. All of them had similar effects, although the belt also generated a protective barrier and the bracelet monitored his exposure.
Luke looked at the collection with growing interest. He had never worn magical equipment before, and if getting dressed was enough to keep the Sanctuary’s mana from poisoning him, he was happy to put on every last piece.
"How do I activate them?" he asked.
"We’ll handle that," Helena replied. "They use mana crystals, so they’ll continue functioning without any input from you. Just keep them on."
Luke nodded and slipped into the coat while Emma gathered her set. Immediately, the guy next to Helena once again spoke. "Huh? You are also coming? What the hell? We have to babysit two mundanes now?"
Emma stopped with the second coat held against her chest. Her gaze shifted toward Helena, and Luke saw her shoulders draw in slightly, as though she had been caught taking something she wasn’t entitled to. He reached over and lifted the sleeve that had fallen toward the floor.
"Put it on," he told her before looking at the man. "She was included in the arrangements."
"I was told I’d be escorting an Ashford."
"Then someone forgot to mention her. You can discuss that with Helena."
"Garrick," Helena said, finally intervening. "Both of them are cleared to enter. Check the equipment."
"So we’re doing civilian tours now?"
"We’re fulfilling an agreement I approved." She held out one of the belts. "You can complain to me later."
"Fine. I am doing this just for you." Garrick took it with an irritated snort. He fed a little mana into the crystal. Immediately, a pale glow spread along the belt.
Garrick watched it for a moment, then handed it to Luke and reached for the second one. Whatever his opinion of the assignment, he apparently intended to make sure the equipment worked.
"Young master," Emma said quietly as Luke fastened his belt. "If it causes trouble, I can wait at home."
"You’ve already got the coat on," Luke replied. "It would be a shame to waste all that effort. By the way, how old are you? How did your awakening go?"