Logan and Evelyn walked at a quickened pace, covering a few kilometers before finally arriving at their destination.
By then, Logan's legs were already sore. He'd pushed hard, and even with his body lightly enhanced by the origin energy in the air, the strain was real.
The city of Veldron was alive and bustling. Merchants trudged in and out through the gates with heavy carriages, and guards were stationed outside, their eyes scanning the area with sharp alertness.
The moment Logan and Evelyn arrived, they were immediately stopped.
One of the guards boomed, his voice slicing through the night and drawing the attention of a few passers-by.
"The entrance fee is one copper coin."
Before the guard could say anything more, Evelyn flicked a copper coin toward him.
He caught it, and his expression shifted into a wide smile.
"Enjoy your stay at Veldron Capital, miss, sir."
Evelyn nodded. Without any further obstruction, they continued heading deeper into the city.
…
Before long, they located a hotel.
It was the most luxurious one in the city, which was exactly why Evelyn had chosen it. Despite leaving a substantial amount of wealth back at her mansion, she still had a sufficient sum stored in her origin space.
"We'd like two rooms," Logan said to the receptionist calmly.
The receptionist quickly operated the device in her hand, then an apologetic expression appeared on her face.
"I'm sorry, sir. We only have one room available."
"Just one room?" Evelyn frowned slightly.
"Would you still prefer the room?"
"Yes," Logan replied smoothly.
Evelyn remained silent.
The receptionist glanced between the two of them before breaking into a smile as she collected the required payment. The room cost ten gold coins for a night, though it was still nothing much to Evelyn.
"Here is the key to your room. If you need anything, all you need to do is use the telephone inside. Our customer service is swift and efficient."
Logan collected the key, studying it for a moment.
"Thanks." He nodded, then turned to Evelyn, who still hadn't said a word. "Let's head to our room."
Evelyn paused for a moment before finally nodding.
She was vulnerable right now, and Logan was the only one who could keep her safe.
I just need to understand why he wants to protect me so much, she muttered to herself, tagging along beside him.
…
After passing through a few corridors, they arrived at a room situated at the corner of the hotel.
True to its reputation as a five-star establishment, the room was spacious and luxurious. Logan slid the key in and the door swung open, revealing an amazing sight — a golden chandelier hanging from the ceiling, casting warm light across the entire space.
There was a parlor, and toward the opposite end was the bedroom. In the parlor sat a couch, and through the transparent window, a glittering swimming pool was visible below.
Evelyn folded her arms beneath her chest, pushing them upward, her eyes glinting with curiosity. "So. Are you ready to reveal your identity?"
A mysterious smile played on Logan's lips. "Are you that curious about me?"
"You knew about everything that happened today. So why did you only save me?" Her voice dropped, tinged with something raw. "My husband is dead. And I don't even know the state of my daughter."
She was trying hard to hold her composure, to keep her expression neutral, but inside, her heart had been shattered by the events of the day. To lose the man she'd spent more than twenty years with, this suddenly, this violently. As origin warriors, their lifespan was far beyond that of ordinary humans. They'd envisioned living for at least a hundred years together.
The thought made Evelyn's heart clench.
"You don't need to worry about your daughter," Logan said. "As for your husband..."
He paused, choosing his words carefully.
"You are the only one that truly matters to me."
Evelyn was taken aback, a stupefied expression crossing her face. It took her a moment to recover before she narrowed her eyes. "Do you need me for something?"
"Not yet," Logan said simply, brushing past the topic.
"You still haven't told me your identity."
A mysterious smile played on his lips once more as he replied, "My origin ability allows me to see glimpses of the future."
Evelyn's eyes widened. "That's how you knew..."
Logan nodded. "In a way, yes. That's also how I know you're very important to me."
A smooth lie. He was almost impressed by himself.
Evelyn narrowed her eyes further. "What exactly do you need me to do?"
Logan held her gaze deliberately. "If I reveal it now, you'd change the future."
Obviously he was talking complete nonsense. But to conquer a woman like Evelyn, this was exactly the kind of play he had to make. Keep her curious. Keep her off balance. Mystery was a weapon, and right now it was his sharpest one.
Evelyn fell silent.
The silence stretched between them for a long moment before she finally spoke.
"I'm powerless right now. As you've said, my origin ability has been nullified. I don't know how to recover it, or when it will naturally return."
"About that." Logan lowered his voice, letting his words settle. "I have a way to restore your origin ability."
"You do?" Evelyn's eyes widened, a mixture of shock and relief flooding her face.
Of course he did. He was the one who had created the sealing potion in the first place. The method to undo it was simple enough in theory, though the difficulty depended entirely on which approach was chosen.
"However, it will require some..." he let the pause do its work, "physical contact."
Confusion deepened in Evelyn's expression.
"Rest up for tonight," Logan said. "Tomorrow, you'll understand what I mean."
"Okay." She gave him a long, searching look before turning and walking toward the bedroom.
A few steps in, she stopped.
"Thank you."
Her steps continued. The door shut behind her with a soft click.
Logan exhaled slowly, running a hand through his hair.
What a day.
But he'd handled it perfectly. Evelyn was alive. Her fate of dying had been rewritten. And his identity was still completely intact. Everything had gone exactly as it needed to.
The system screen materialized silently in his line of sight.
[Mission Completed: Save Evelyn Evernight.]
[Rewards will be distributed based on your completion rating.]
[Mission Difficulty: S-Rank]
[Completion Rating: 4.2/5]
[Rewards: SSS-Rank Sword | 1,000 System Points | 50 Free Attribute Points...]
Logan stared at the floating display for a moment, a slow smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.
Just getting started.