"Bring one glass of wine for me—and one for you… wait—don't tell me you're underage?" Xanthia arched an eyebrow, peeling off her short jacket and gloves as she settled into the plush terrace seat.
"Ahhh, yep! You assumed it right." Rio smiled sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck. "I'll turn eighteen in two months—but even then, I don't plan on drinking alcohol. Energy drinks are my vibe. Let me grab yours. One 'Amoral Wine' for you… and a Night DRIVE for me."
As he walked off, Xanthia watched him go, her fingers quietly massaging her wrist, the slight aftershock of battle still tingling. "He's seventeen. And he withstood my two main skills without breaking form… She exhaled softly, a faint grin forming. I should push harder in training."
Moments later, Rio returned, balancing a sleek shining wine bottle and a pink-blue can.
"Here you go! The finest Amoral Wine," he said, placing the bottle and pouring her a glass with care. "And for me, a can of overmarketed, possibly brain-melting energy sugar bomb."
Xanthia twirled her finger around the rim of the glass. "You don't need to pour wine like a butler, idiot. There are waiters for that."
"Hehe," Rio grinned, sitting across from her and tossing his tracksuit jacket over the table's edge. "Just wanted to make it feel different from your average hangover lounge. Also… your skills were awesome back there."
"Nah, your swords were cooler. They shifted the entire micro-atmosphere around us," she replied, tapping her temple. "Felt like fighting inside a pressure cooker."
Rio chuckled. "They're not really mine though. That slashing field? It was borrowed."
"Borrowed?"
"Yeah. That skill came from a planetary-level TIERCRAFT. The Twin Obsidian Blades. They were once wielded by… well, never mind that. Point is, I'm still learning how to sync with them."
"Oh. Huh… makes sense." She raised her glass. "We'll talk about those later. For now—cheers."
"Cheers! But don't drink too much, okay? It'll be hard for you to walk straight to—wait. Damn. You're staying at Ryunn Villa, right?"
Xanthia smirked, tilting her glass with a dramatic sip. "You just remembered? I told you. My dormitory isn't ready yet."
"Right, right. But seriously, don't drink it all. You'll turn into a walking accident."
"Says the guy who just crushed a can of liquid lightning. Anyway—let's go somewhere else. This place's vibes are too stiff."
Bored? Rio glanced out the panoramic glass. The city sprawled beneath them, glowing in layered hues of pink , yellow and electric blue—like a living dream. (This is the 17th floor of a luxury mall. If that's boring, what even counts as thrilling for her?)
"What do you wanna do then?"
"Let's go for a ride. Tell your butler—Marcus, right?—to prep a Neo-NASCAR. You can drive, can't you? I mean, you're on Night DRIVE. It practically screams 'chaotic driver'."
Rio blinked, amused. "That's the most scientifically unsound reason I've ever heard, but sure. Messaging him now. Just don't blame me if my dad has a heart attack."
As Rio tapped into his comm-link, the bill appeared beside them: [MC_45000]. His pupils dilated slightly.
Damn. That wine was no joke. But she's here. That's what matters.
[Paid via: Bya-Ryunn Med Store Account]
"Thank the stars," he muttered under his breath. "If we hadn't been at this mall… I'd be washing dishes till I'm thirty. Thanks to Ryunn Jewel-store..."
Xanthia waved him off. "You're not a kid. Chill. Stuff like this happens."
"Easy for you to say," Rio muttered, then read a new message from his ring's created hologram.
[Msg: Young Master—Car is parked at Ryunn Tech-Store. Retrieve when ready.]
"Okay. Let's go! Careful not to trip over the flowerpots."
"Don't tease me. I've still got half the bottle left, and I'm better at holding my drink than most rookies."
They made their way to the tech store, where the store manager spotted Rio.
"Yo, Rio! Out late, huh? Here for the car keys?" The manager grinned knowingly.
"Yeah, and uh… one drug-neutra, please."
The manager raised an eyebrow, watching Rio contacting someone by tapping his comm-neura link.
[Connecting to JaiDev Singh…]
["Hey, JaiDev. Send MC_3000 to the Xaing District Tech Store(Ofc it's Ryunn's ). Don't ask questions. I'll explain to Mom later."]
["Haha! Alright, alright. You really need to breathe between sentences. I'll tell Kenzi."]
Kenzi, the manager, looking at Rio "Gotcha, lil' boss. Here's the key… and your drug-neutra. Oh! Want a Night DRIVE Ultra too? I was saving it for a wild night with my wife—but if it's for her…"
"No-no-no, not like that!" Rio flailed, waving his hands in a frantic X-shape. "She's… we're just friends. Maybe."
Xanthia, meanwhile, examined a neural-linked bracelet on another corner of this massive tech store, clearly pretending not to hear.
"Let's go, Xanthia!" Rio called out, starting the car.
"Yeah! Wooo! Let's go!"
Wrooooom—
As the sleek, silver-hued Neo-NASCAR shot onto the highway, Xanthia stood with her arms raised, wind whipping through her hair.
"You're seriously high!" Rio shouted over the wind. "Sit down! Highway or not, that's risky!"
"Yah yeaaah! Mister 'Safety First'!" she mocked, plopping back into her seat, smirking.
"Geez… you're impossible."
"Impossible to ignore," she added with a wink.
They raced past the glowing towers, descending toward the coast at District Plaii, where neon met ocean breeze.
The ride wasn't just a joyride—it was two warriors, two strangers, pulled into the strange rhythm of unfamiliar peace. Neither said it aloud, but each secretly knew:
This night wasn't just electric because of the lights.
It was because of the company.