Footsteps in the City
Footsteps cut through the city's bustle, moving along stone sidewalks cast in the shadows of the late afternoon sun. Canis Majoris walked without haste, but his gaze was sharp and deliberate. In his hand, a crumpled piece of paper was held tightly—an address scribbled in almost unreadable handwriting.
He paused at an intersection, glancing left and right. His eyes scanned the street signs, then returned to the paper. He let out a short breath before continuing on.
It had been hours since he left the expedition base. The sky had begun to change color, and the shadows of buildings stretched long across the streets.
When he finally arrived at the address, his eyebrows lifted slightly. The house was larger than he had imagined—a two-story residence with a small garden, polished iron gates, and wide glass windows reflecting the golden light of dusk. One could call it… luxurious.
"So the kid isn't just anyone," Canis murmured to himself.
He stepped forward and knocked twice on the carved wooden door.
Not long after, it opened. A well-dressed older man with slicked-back white hair and a black suit greeted him politely.
"Good evening. May I help you with something?"
Canis was about to respond, but the sound of footsteps from inside made him turn.
From behind the door emerged a familiar figure—with messy brown hair and eyes widening slightly in surprise.
"…Mr. Canis?"
Aron Telsa stood there in modest house clothes, as if he'd just finished reading or taken a nap. His tone carried a hint of surprise he tried to suppress, but it was sincere. There was hesitation in his voice—but also deep respect.
Canis gave a slight nod, his expression neutral but not hostile.
"I'd like to talk," he said, his voice low and calm. "If you don't mind."
---
The Telsa Drawing Room
The room was spacious and warm. A thick carpet with elegant patterns covered the floor, and large windows let in the fading light of evening. A large painting hung above a fireplace that hadn't been used in some time. Canis sat at one end of a long sofa while Aron poured tea from a silver pot into two porcelain cups.
Canis glanced around the room with quiet awe.
"I didn't expect this," he muttered. "You live in a place like this. I thought… maybe you were the son of a small merchant. Or a student from the academy."
Aron handed him a cup and sat across from him.
"The rich ones were my parents," he said with a faint smile. "Not me."
Canis nodded slowly, then asked, "Have they been gone long…?"
He stopped himself, realizing too late that he had overstepped. "Sorry. I shouldn't—"
"It's alright," Aron said quickly, his voice steady but not cold. "My mother passed away last year. Her health declined fast. And my father… he disappeared when I was a child. His name was Gauge Telsa. My mother—Norma Telsa."
Canis stored the names in his mind. Telsa… He tried to recall, but no records or rumors surfaced. Perhaps a wealthy family within the Empire's inner circle, he thought, but one skilled at keeping their privacy intact.
After a quiet pause, Aron looked up.
"If I may ask… why did you come here, Mr. Canis? And how did you know my address?"
Canis took a sip of the tea before replying. "It was on the expedition registration form. The address was listed there. I just… wanted to check on you. After everything that happened, it felt like the right thing to do."
Aron looked slightly surprised, but didn't reject the gesture.
"I'm… alright. Though to be honest, I don't know what to do next."
"You're still young," Canis said calmly. "First experiences are rarely pleasant."
Aron nodded, though disappointment still crept into his expression.
"Duren died. We barely got to talk. I don't even know what his favorite food was…"
Canis didn't interrupt.
"I thought expeditions would be like academy training. But that day… was too real."
"Think carefully about your decision," Canis said softly. "Don't continue just because of pressure or expectations. But also—don't retreat just because you're afraid."
A quiet pause settled between them. Then Aron asked, half hesitant, half curious:
"By the way, Mr. Canis… everyone saw it. You were hiding some incredible strength. Why?"
Canis turned his gaze to the window, avoiding his eyes.
"The monster wasn't that strong," he said flatly.
"But someone still died," Aron said, voice quiet but sharp. "Duren died."
Canis turned to look at him, his face still calm—but this time, he didn't deny the truth.
"You want to know more about my strength?" he said, his voice deep and direct. "Come to the guild building. Don't come as a rich kid. Or an academy student. Come as someone who truly wants to understand."
Aron was silent.
Then he nodded slowly.
{Chapter 6 end}