Ray sat on the same park bench as before, 'Now that I think about it, it really is strange or Corvus is very strange.'
Onyx materialized. Since Corvus's attack, he had barely made his presence known almost as though he was scared.
"So you really trust him? Something is clearly off about him." Onyx stated as though he was walking talking about the weather.
Ray smiled faintly, "Yeah, I'm sure that I'd also be scared if someone could hurt my otherwise invincible ass."
Onyx scoffed, "I'm not scared. It's my fault for trying to preserve my body before it's betrayed." Ray rolled his eyes, clearly not listening to Onyx's excuses.
"And what do you think will happen when you make it to the academy and an incident like before occurs? I hope you don't fear needles because I'm sure you'd find many plunged into you faster than I can say I told you so." Onyx continued.
Ray's smile fell, "Okay, you might have a point." He let out a slow breath.
After Corvus told him about his plan for the academy, he had left as though someone had lit a flame under him.
"That was yesterday. Happy 18th birthday to me, I guess? I sure am old, I wonder what the future has in store for me. I would wager it's something good but my luck is awful." Ray chuckled at his own joke as if it were the funniest thing in the world.
Onyx shook his head and raised a finger into the distance, "Isn't that Marcus? Aren't we leaving tomorrow? I'm sure that even you would snitch on your potential murderer the moment he's out of town."
A twisted smile spread on Onyx's face, "And it's in the same park? And they say lightning doesn't strike twice. So, tell me, what are you going to do this time?"
Ray stood slowly but his eyes never left Marcus. Onyx drifted beside him, "So? What's the plan?" His voice dripped with excitement.
Ray didn't answer and just walked.
Marcus was sitting on a bench, staring at his feet. He didn't notice Ray approaching until Ray was already standing over him.
Marcus looked up and his face went pale. It was almost like he had seen death himself… or as close to him as Ray got. "Ray. I—"
"Marcus." Ray's voice calmly cut Marcus's.
Marcus scrambled to his feet, backing away. "I didn't tell anyone. I swear I kept my promise."
"I know."
Marcus's back hit a tree and there was nowhere left to go.
Ray stopped a few feet away. Close enough to be threatening and far enough to avoid any potential attacks.
A cornered rat was infinitely more dangerous than a free one. He of all people knew that.
"I'm leaving tomorrow."
Marcus blinked, "What? To where?"
"All that matters is that I won't be back for a while."
Marcus's expression shifted between relief, confusion, and fear in quick succession.
Ray stepped closer, "So here's what's going to happen. You're going to forget you ever saw anything. You're going to forget Dave. You're going to forget even my name. And if I ever come back and find out you didn't—"
He let the threat hang. Ray swallowed the lump in his throat.
For both their sakes, he hoped that Marcus was at least scared.
Marcus nodded frantically. "I won't, I swear. I won't say anything."
Ray stared at him for a long moment then he turned and walked away.
Onyx appeared beside him. "That's it? Just a weak warning? I've seen babies threaten their parents with more frighteningly soiled clothes than that excuse of a threat m"
Ray kept walking, "He's terrified. He won't talk."
Onyx laughed, "Famous last words—" He paused abruptly.
"But then again, not everyone wants to actually live. People like you clearly live on the edge of playing with your life."
Ray didn't respond. He just kept walking, leaving Marcus and the park behind.
The two left the park and Marcus behind.
Ray arrived home and immediately went to his bag. He opened it and picked up the Basics of Cultivation book.
His fingers lazily skimmed through the pages. 'Since I have gotten the dark core, I haven't opened this. Probably for the best. Its quality was pretty bad.'
He made a mental note to return the book to the library and sat on his couch. His eyes landed on the TV then on everything else in his home.
Ray hadn't considered himself one for nostalgia but now that he was actually leaving, he found himself already missing what he still had.
He nodded. He was ready.