My Gluttony System: I Devour God-Tier Talents-Chapter 36: Go and Don’t look back

They drove back with a moment of silence between them as the sounds of the engine occupied their lack of words.

Kyrie still had his hand trailing the scarf. It was surprisingly smooth and hugged his body with a sense of warmth that must have come from Negan’s body.

There was this smell that was attached to it. Kyrie didn’t know if it was smoke or just memories.

Negan drove in silence, his eyes on the road, but Kyrie caught him glancing over once or twice.

"I trust it’s in safe hands?" Negan asked with a smile.

"The scarf?" Kyrie touched it again.

"Yeah. It is"

"Good."

That was all. There wasn’t much after that, just the silent understanding between them.

The safehouse finally appeared ahead, and Negan pulled the vehicle to a stop outside.

They sat there for a moment, neither moving or speaking.

"4.AM," Negan broke the silence.

"I’ll wake you."

Kyrie nodded and stepped out.

"Alright " He said as he closed the door.

Inside the safehouse felt different. It felt emptier as his eyes combed the entire expanse.

The sparse furniture, the kitchen where Katherine had cooked, the couch where he’d spent hours recovering and the bed where he made love to Elaine.

This place had been temporary from the start, but it seemed to carry so many memories already.

He almost couldn’t believe he would leave all this behind him soon.

He pulled off his coat but the scarf stayed around his neck. He wasn’t ready to take it off yet.

His hand rubbed against the ruby pendant beneath his shirt.

Two pieces of the people who mattered most, both resting against his chest now.

Kyrie moved to the small bag Negan had left for him earlier.

It didn’t take long for him to pack, he didn’t have much, only a few clothes.

He held the goggles that usually accompanied him before placing it on the side.

He knew the new suits from Harvey’s would be delivered to his point of departure in the morning.

Everything else unsurprisingly entered the bag without an issue.

Kyrie sat on the bed, staring at the ceiling one last time.

By tomorrow, everything will change.

It would be a new city. New life. And definitely new challenges.

But for tonight, he was still here. Still carrying the pieces of Strevus with him.

He made some adjustments on the system since the quest was completed as he used the resulting experience points to upgrade his tier from 7 to 8.

Making him Adept level 8

While the attribute rewards were added accordingly.

He laid back, closed his eyes, and waited for dawn.

4:00 AM.

Negan knocked on the door firmly.

Kyrie was already awake. Eyes He’d barely slept, his mind too active, too aware.

He dressed quickly after taking a bath. He had simple clothes on, nothing fancy.

The scarf went back around his neck. The pendant stayed under his shirt.

He grabbed the bag and stepped out.

Negan was waiting by the door, dressed in his usual sharp style. He looked at Kyrie with an approving gaze.

"Ready?"

"Yeah."

They left together, stepping out into Strevus’s pre-dawn darkness. The city was expectedly quiet at this hour.

The cool morning breeze evident even as the gas lamps stretched endless shadows on the streets.

The vehicle from last night was gone.

Another car in its place. it was painted grey with brass ornates. It already had steam hissing from its engine.

"Different car again?" Kyrie asked.

"Final precaution," Negan said.

"Once you’re on that airship, you’re more difficult to reach but until then, we stay careful."

They climbed in, and Negan drove through the empty streets.

Kyrie watched Strevus pass by. It’s factories silent in the early morning, the pipes that seemed to sprawl endlessly and the occasional worker taking lead to the morning shift.

This was the city that had tried to kill him multiple times. The city where he’d woke, fought, survived and grown.

"You’ll write," Negan said, cutting into his brooding session.

"If I can."

"You will. She’ll make sure you have access to a prompter. Just try to stay in touch."

Kyrie nodded.

They drove for another twenty minutes, leaving the industrial districts behind and moving toward the eastern borders of the city.

The landscape changed as factories disappeared and alot more open space came into view.

And then Kyrie saw it.

The airship dock.

It was massive.

The dock itself was an extending platform of brass and iron, suspended above the ground by massive support beams.

Steam vents hissing along the edges with intense pressure.

Floating above it all, held up by reinforced cables, was the airship.

Kyrie had seen them from a distance before.

Floating through the skies of Strevus like brass whales.

But up close, it was something else entirely. It was majestic.it was easily three stories tall, with a clean hull, silver paint job and trimmed in brass.

Massive engines extended from both sides of the vessel, their compartments decorated with clean gear-work and pipings.

Underneath the engines, Kyrie saw a faint purple glow, pulsing softly.

Neteros.

The ship was powered by Neteros, the mysterious substance that defined the era.

He could see the releases trailing from the engine area before dissipating into the early morning air as glowing mist.

"Beautiful, isn’t it?"

Negan said, while he pulled the vehicle to a stop near the boarding area.

"The Sky doesn’t do it justice" Kyrie spoke, still staring, still amazed.

"Airships like this are for the wealthy.

The merchants, politicians,anyone who can afford a ticket.

"Trust me you’ll be traveling in style."

They got out of the car and Negan led him toward the boarding area.

A uniformed attendant waited near the ramp.

It was a young lady with sparkling eyes and a professional look.

She held a clipboard, marking something on it.

"Name, please?"

"Kyrie Shaw," Negan said before Kyrie could answer.

The attendant scanned the list, then nodded in affirmation .

"Cabin five. Upper deck. Luggages will be brought aboard shortly."

Negan handed her a sealed envelope with a charming smile.

"Everything’s arranged."

"Of course."

She gestured Kyrie toward the ramp.

"Boarding starts in ten minutes."

Negan turned to Kyrie. This was it. The final moment.

Silence occupied the space between them.

Then Negan extended his hand.

Kyrie took it, and they shook firmly.

"You’ll be fine," Negan said quietly.

"I know."

"And Kyrie," Negan’s hold tightened a little.

"Never forget who you are

–but never let it limit you."

Kyrie nodded, his body trembling.

Negan released his hand and stepped back.

"Go and don’t look back. Son"

But Kyrie did look back atleast once—as he walked up the ramp.

Negan stood with hands in his pockets, watching closely.

Their eyes met once again and something sparked between them.

It was understanding, Trust and Goodbye.

Kyrie turned and stepped aboard calmly.

—-

Inside the airship was exactly what Kyrie expected from something that catered to the wealthy.

Gorgeous Ebony wood paneling lined the walls.

Customised and expensive carpets ran the length of the corridor.

Gas lamps were housed with ornate brass couplings that provided warm, steady light.

Everything was polished, expensive, designed to impress.

Another attendant quickly greeted him with a professional smile.

"Mr. Shaw? This way, please."

She led him down the corridor, through a narrow staircase to the upper deck.

The hallway here was quiet, alot more private. Cabin doors lined both sides, each numbered in brass.

"Cabin five" the attendant said, unlocking the door.

"Your luggage is already inside.

–Departure is in seven minutes."

"If you need anything, use the provided prompter attached to the wall "

Kyrie nodded as he stepped inside.

The cabin was small but sufficient.

There was a single bed, a small desk and chair, there was a porthole window giving view of the dock.

His bag was already on the bed. They sure were fast.

Kyrie moved to the window and looked out.

He could still see Negan standing by the vehicle. He was still watching. His old habits evident.

Soon a low hum came through the floor.

The engines were starting. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

The airship vibrated slightly as the cables were released, and no time they began rising.

From the windows Strevus fell away beneath him.

The city that moulded him from its hardships that gave him Edwin,. Elaine, Katherine, Vivienne and Negan.

It shrank, fading slowly before disappearing.

Kyrie watched until he couldn’t see it anymore.

Then he turned away from the window, squeezing the scarf slightly before he sat down on the bed.

But something made him pause.

A feeling. It was faint but certain. Something he had learned from the last few days.

He wasn’t alone.

It wasn’t in the cabin, no elee was there physically but his senses told him somewhere on this airship, someone was watching him.

He couldn’t pinpoint the exact details yet.

But the feeling was certain.

Kyrie stood, moving to the cabin door.

He opened it just enough to peak into the hallway.

It was empty.

But the feeling remaained.

Elsewhere on the Airship...

In the shadows of the lower cargo hold, a figure stood perfectly still.

Bandages wrapped around his head. Both eyes dim blue and flickering.

Scarred hands gripping a combat knife.

Rudolf smiled in the darkness.