James fell onto his back, panting as he raised a trembling hand toward the glowing text in front of him.
Quest Complete
Time: 4 months
Reward: 500 Essence
He stared at the message, a slow smile creeping across his face as the realization sank in. He took a deep breath and let out a triumphant shout.
"Yes!"
Zephaniel stood silently nearby, arms folded, his expression unreadable. After a moment, he finally spoke.
"I congratulate you for completing your first quest, James."
James propped himself up on his elbows, frowning. "What do you mean by first? And what the hell was that?" he snapped, glaring at Zephaniel.
The seraphim remained still, his face as neutral as ever, offering no further explanation.
James let out a frustrated sigh, throwing his hands up. "Oh, you've been a big help," he muttered sarcastically. "Thanks a lot."
Zephaniel's expression didn't change. "You are welcome. May God bless you."
James blinked, caught off guard. He rubbed the back of his neck. "I was being sarcastic, you know."
"We will meet again, James. May God be with you." Zephaniel's form shimmered before dissolving into golden dust that scattered into the air.
"Hey, wait! Zephaniel, how am I supposed to get... " Before he could finish, the ground beneath him vanished.
He dropped into a void, darkness stretching endlessly in all directions. A crushing pressure tightened around his chest, pulling him deeper. Then, a blinding light tore through the black, accompanied by a sharp, ringing sound that pierced his ears.
The sterile scent of disinfectant and the soft beeping of a heart monitor filled the room as James stirred. His eyelids fluttered open, the overhead lights glaring against his vision. He blinked a few times, his head pounding.
"So, how is he?" a familiar voice asked, Taylor's, laced with worry.
The doctor beside him glanced at the chart. "He's stable. That's a good sign."
Taylor let out a shaky breath, barely holding back tears. "I hope so..."
James's eyelids felt heavy, but he forced them open a bit more. He caught a blurry glimpse of Taylor, her face tight with concern, hands clenched together.
"Four days?" he mumbled, his voice barely a whisper before sleep overtook him again.
Neither Taylor nor the doctor heard him. After the doctor left, Taylor stayed at his side, eventually leaning forward to rest her head near his arm. James, still half-asleep, turned onto his side.
The sudden movement made Taylor jump. Her eyes widened, and she quickly called out, "Doctor! He's moving!"
James groaned, rubbing his face. "Ugh... Can you keep it down? Some of us are trying to sleep," he muttered, his voice thick with exhaustion.
Taylor's eyes welled with tears. She snapped, her voice trembling, "You've been asleep for four freaking days, James! I thought... I thought I might lose you."
James winced as she jabbed him in the ribs. He managed a tired smirk.
"First of all, ouch. And second... I'm not dead yet, so stop worrying, okay?" He weakly pulled her into a hug. "Come here."
Taylor buried her face in his chest, her shoulders shaking. James sighed, running a hand through her hair.
"This feels like one of those cheesy romance movies," he teased gently.
"Don't ruin the moment," she mumbled into his chest. "That day... you scared the hell out of me, you know."
James chuckled, but winced again as she headbutted his chin.
"Ow. You know I could just squeeze you right now, right?" he said, giving her a playful squeeze.
Taylor sniffled, wiping her eyes. "You seem... surprisingly okay for someone who just woke up from a coma."
"Really?" James tried to sit up, glancing down at himself, but before he could say more, the doctor reentered.
"I see, so this is the kind of relationship you two have," the doctor said with a bemused smile. "I don't want to interrupt, but I have a job to do."
Taylor jumped back, face flushed. "S-Sorry!"
"No need. It's good to see you recovering," the doctor said, settling into the chair beside the bed. "So, James, how are you feeling?"
James sighed, leaning back. "Like I got run over by a truck, Doc."
The doctor chuckled. "Well, you certainly gave us a scare. How close were you to crossing over?"
James gave a dry smile. "Closer than I'd like. Closer than I ever want to be again."
The doctor nodded, his expression softening, then excused himself. James barely noticed. His gaze drifted upward, to a faint golden text hovering just above him.
Name: James L. Silver
Guardian: Zephaniel
Ability: Solomon's Eye
Note: The next quest will start soon.
James clenched his fist, jaw tight. "Damn that bastard..."
The next morning, James stirred as someone nudged him awake.
"Hey, sleepyhead. It's morning," a teasing voice said.
"Go away," James mumbled, rolling away.
"You dare tell your mother to go away?" she replied, feigning offense.
"My mom is... dead," he muttered.
"Oh really? Then maybe this will jog your memory," she said with a smirk, and pinched his ear hard.
"Hey!" James shot up, clutching his ear. He froze when he saw her. "Mom?" he whispered, his voice thick.
She smiled softly, her eyes a mix of relief and amusement. "You seem better today."
James rubbed his eyes. "Yeah, I guess... What are you doing here?" He swallowed hard. "Seriously. What are you doing here?"
She raised a brow. "Is it a crime for a mother to visit her son in the hospital?"
James let out a shaky laugh. "It should be," he said, sitting up slowly.
"We rushed here when we heard," she said, her gaze softening. "Your father's outside. He won't leave until you're better."
James looked down, his smile fading. "Wait... You were planning to leave me with the company forever?"
She arched an eyebrow. "Not forever. Just until you hand it down to your own kid."
"Wow. So I was going to be trapped in that job for life?"
She laughed, then nodded toward the door. "I'll be waiting outside with your father. Don't take too long." She glanced at Taylor as she entered. "Good morning, Taylor."
"Good morning, Mrs. Silver," Taylor said, bowing her head slightly.
As she left, James turned to Taylor, brow furrowed. "You didn't tell me my parents were here."
Taylor shrugged with a sheepish grin. "I might've... forgotten?"
James rolled his eyes but couldn't suppress the small smile as she sat beside him. They shared a quiet moment, the tension slowly easing as they began to talk, about everything. About them.
They agreed to make their relationship public.
Later, after returning home, James properly introduced Taylor to his parents. Though mildly surprised, they welcomed her warmly. They celebrated his recovery, sharing laughter and reconnecting.
But even in the warmth of those moments, James couldn't ignore the faint shimmer of golden text still floating beyond everyone's view.
No one else could see it, but he knew exactly what it meant.
The real challenges were only just beginning.