Levi was in an extremely bad mood, he had reached the edge of the forest and could see civilization, but he felt no joy.

A few moments earlier, the last of the intense pain from his ankle had vanished. The pebble injury was entirely gone, healed without a trace.

This wasn't a miracle; it was a death sentence, his leaking soul essence, acting as a frantic internal medic, had repaired the damage instantly.

Every time his soul was forced to heal him, his precious lifespan shortened. He had traded immediate pain for a guaranteed, faster death. Freedom had come at a heavy, terrible price.

"Here's where you leave, buddy." Still in a foul mood, Levi dismissed the tiger. The massive creature paused, then exploded into a burst of shadows that slithered back into Levi's own shadow, vanishing instantly.

Levi pushed through the final curtain of trees and emerged onto a busy roadside. The sudden change was jarring. The damp silence of the forest was replaced by the roar of engines and the smell of asphalt and exhaust fumes. He stood frozen on the shoulder, blinking at the heavy traffic.

Looking at the busy street,evil finally realized that he was stranded, with nowhere to go, but Levi had a plan.

He couldn't just wander aimlessly. He needed structure and protection.

His first goal was to join an A.N.G.E.L.— the Association of National Guardianship and Enforcement of Law. These organizations were the primary policing body for sorcerers, tasked with controlling supernatural outbreaks and maintaining order within a given domain.

Levi was going to join a private and upstart A.N.G.E.L. chapter, he needed a group powerful enough to provide him with equipment for his training.

But they had to be new, small, or struggling enough that they wouldn't pry too deeply into his disastrous background. A useful new asset with unique knowledge from the north would be too tempting to investigate.

He was now in the Southern Domain, a massive territory forged by the geographical convergence of Africa and parts of the Middle East. This region was a volatile blend of ancient history and fierce new sorcery.

His Northern appearance— pale skin and distinctive features— would immediately make him stand out here, which was both a danger and a potential advantage.

With a determined sigh, Levi squeezed his way off the shoulder and blended into the stream of pedestrians moving along the roadside.

Levi moved through the roadside crowd, his exotic Northern appearance drawing curious stares. He stopped a local and, after a brief exchange, got directions to the nearest hospital.

He arrived at a large, utilitarian building and approached a man standing near the entrance, quickly asking to use his "Kookie Map".

While pretending to forget his home address, Levi's focus was sharp. He memorized the name of a distant, medium-sized city and noted the exact street and house address of a major rental house there.

Rental houses were houses where people on vacations could rent, much like Airbnb

He was building a fake paper trail, using the honesty of the current hospital to set up his next lie.

Finally, he entered the hospital. He approached the intake desk, his voice strained with fake emotion. He claimed his family had flown into the area for a vacation, but their chopper had crashed.

He said he had been stranded in the forest for three days before finally escaping, his torn clothes and visible exhaustion sold the story instantly.

The hospital staff, moved by his tale, didn't press for details. They quickly gave him basic medical attention, and most importantly, warm food. As he prepared to leave, a compassionate male nurse handed him a small pouch.

"This is for your travel, son". He said gently.

Inside, Levi counted five hundred Aurum— the universal currency of the Southern Domain.

Levi didn't really know how much it was worth, but with a grateful nod, he accepted the charity and headed out, ready to buy his passage to the fake city and launch his plan.

Levi managed to order a ride-share, and after a short while, they were stuck in heavy traffic. The driver, a woman with a kind face, seemed bored and took out a pack of cigarettes.

"Doesn't bother you, right?". She asked, already lighting one.

Levi shook his head, she took a deep puff, her entire face relaxing instantly. Then, she slapped her forehead, seemingly remembering something. She clumsily pulled out a single cigarette stick and offered it to him, but paused, narrowing her eyes.

"How old are you?". She asked.

Levi's lips twitched. Levi almost said his previous age before quickly correcting himself. "Twenty— sixteen."

"Huh. Nope, I can't have you inhaling that." The woman quickly extinguished her own lit cigarette and began flailing her hand around in the small car, trying to clear the air.

Levi smiled at her concern. Seeing that they were now on friendly terms, he posed a question.

"Is it always this busy here?". He asked, referring to the dense crowd.

"Not really. This city is usually so backwards we call it 'Backwater'". She explained. "It's the new Mayor's birthday today, and he seems to have a lot of prestige...". She continued to chatter, but Levi blocked out the details, waiting for a chance to pivot the conversation.

Finally, he cut in. "Can you take me to an upstart A.N.G.E.L. organization? I prefer a private one."

The driver stared at him, eyes wide. "Wait, you're a sorcerer? I can't believe I have a sorcerer in my car!".

Levi quickly stopped her growing excitement. "I'm barely one. I'm looking to start my training, honestly."

"Huh, oh, that makes sense considering your age". She said, nodding. "And regarding your question, yeah, there is one new A.N.G.E.L. organization that just opened up."

She then sharply pivoted the car, skillfully cutting through the traffic, and continued driving.

The crowded streets finally began to thin out. The car pulled away from the main thoroughfare and entered a quiet, almost deserted residential area. The noise of the mayor's celebration was replaced by the low hum of air conditioning units and the rustle of leaves.

They soon arrived at their destination: a three-story building. It was a standard, well-maintained residential house, built with clean lines and sturdy concrete.

The paint was a soft, pleasant beige, and the windows were large and neatly framed, giving it a beautiful but not overly fancy appearance. It looked like a solid, respectable home— not the headquarters of an elite sorcerer organization.

Levi got out of the car, pulling out the pouch of Aurum to pay the driver. The woman waved him off.

"Don't worry about the fare, kid". She said, giving him a warm smile. "Just a good luck gesture for your new start." She then quickly wrote a number on a slip of paper and handed it to him. "Call me if you ever need a ride out of here or any transport job. My rates are good."

Levi thanked her sincerely, the simple act of human kindness cutting through his bitterness. Although she did this as an investment incase he passed the assessment.

He could then recommend her in case they have a need for transportation. But kindness was still kindness no matter how it was displayed.

He carefully tucked the paper into his pants pocket, then turned to face the understated building that held his hope for survival.

Levi pushed open the door and stepped inside. The change from the dusty roadside was immediate and pleasant. He found himself in a small, neat reception area.

The walls were painted a clean white, and soft lighting illuminated a few comfortable chairs. It looked more like a friendly dentist's office than the base of an elite fighting force.

He walked toward a counter where a little woman wearing glasses sat. She looked up and greeted him with a warm smile.

"Welcome". She said cheerfully. "Do you have a concern you'd like to file, a complaint, or are you looking to join the organization?".

"I want to join". Levi replied simply.

The woman nodded, still smiling. She took a slip of paper and scribbled a single number on it: '3'. She handed it to him, then pointed to the chairs. "Please have a seat. Someone will be with you shortly."

Levi took the slip and sat down. He wasn't alone. Two other people were waiting.

The first was a little woman who wore a simple white gown. She had warm beige hair and striking red eyes. She smiled warmly at Levi, and he returned the gesture.

The second person, a man, sat close to her. He wore a white shirt, a jacket, and dark pants. His eyes were also red, matching the woman's.

Levi gave him a brief nod, which the man returned with a slight tilt of his head before resting back in his chair, his eyes closing. Levi settled in, waiting for his number to be called.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.