I needed a real break after that whole mess. My head was spinning, my body felt like it had been through a fight I hadn't even agreed to, and worst of all—my mind wouldn't stop racing.
What the hell had just happened?
Normally, when people acquired new jobs, the transition was slow. Gradual. They adapted over time, adjusting to their new capabilities in a way that felt natural.
It felt like downloading an entire career into my brain in an instant. I had lived years of training in a matter of seconds. The knowledge, the instincts, the reflexes—all of it flooded into me like a dam breaking.
And this time, it was vivid.
That shadowy opponent...
Was it part of the job? A test? A memory?
I walked to the kitchen and shook my head, attempting to ignore the thought.
With her back to me, Sienna continued to labor over the stove while cooking. My mouth watered as the air filled with the aroma of something rich and warm.
Something simple. Something grounding.
I walked up behind her, reaching out to snag a piece of food from the counter.
"Do you want help?" I asked, casually popping the stolen bite into my mouth.
She didn't even turn before she spoke.
"Rey, we've talked about this. You always mess something up."
I smirked, chewing as she finally turned around.
Despite my skills, I was never able to master the art of cooking. I was competent enough at following recipes, but Sienna was far superior to me in terms of developing flavors, balancing spices, and determining when to make adjustments.
That wasn't what caught my attention, though.
She looked... stronger.
She had always been fit—construction work did that to a person—but now? There was a definition to her muscles that hadn't been there before. A refined sharpness in her physique, like her body had honed itself into something even more capable.
She must have realized I was staring at her because her face started to flush.
"Rey..." She made an awkward adjustment. "Why are you looking at me like that?"
She sounded a little hesitant and quieter than normal.
Her tendency to become easily agitated was something I had nearly forgotten.
I scratched the back of my head and murmured, "Sorry, It's simply that... You appear more powerful. Although you've always had muscle, it feels like....I'm not sure, more than usual."
Then, as if she hadn't noticed, she looked down at herself after blinking.
She blinked, then glanced down at herself like she hadn't noticed.
"Well, yeah," she said, turning back to the food. "Did you forget? I hit A-rank while you were in space."
I frowned. Right... I had forgotten.
She had achieved A-rank while I was gone. That was a big deal—barely anyone climbed that high without serious backing.
Sienna had done it through sheer effort.
"That's seriously impressive," I admitted. "I just wanted to tell you how beautiful you've become—"
That wasn't... normal.
I looked at Sienna again. Her back was turned, her shoulders stiff.
I stepped closer. "Sienna?"
She wiped at her eyes, her breath hitching.
"It's just... the onions."
Carrots and Cucumbers. Not a single onion in sight.
I reached out, gently pulling her toward me. Her face was already wet with tears.
"Sienna," I said again, softer this time. "Are you okay?"
Her fingers clenched into my shirt, her breath trembling.
"I hate it..." she whispered.
"I hate my A-rank job."
That... wasn't what I expected.
Sienna had always been a hard worker. She used to be insecure about being B-rank, always worried about holding me back. She had wanted to climb higher.
So why did she sound so... broken?
Her voice wavered as she kept going.
"I feel so pathetic," she whispered. "I finally hit A-rank... and nothing changed. I'm still just a construction worker. One who couldn't do anything but wait while you were in space—while I thought you were dead for months. And for what? I didn't gain influence like Camille. I don't have Alexis' expertise. I don't matter in the grand scheme of things. You have power, Rey. You have the potential to become something special. Camille and Alexis can actually help you. But me? I feel like a black sheep. I feel like I don't belong. This A-rank..." Her voice cracked. "It's not a blessing. It's just a reminder of how pathetic I was while you were gone."
Her grip on me tightened. Her amber eyes, filled with tears, locked onto mine.
"I don't want to lose you, Rey. I don't want to just stand there and watch."
Something in my chest ached.
I put my hand on her head, nudging it back against my chest.
I needed to be strong for her. I needed to be the pillar she could lean on.
But seeing her —seeing her break after holding it in for so long—
I swallowed hard, steadying my voice.
She held onto me like she was afraid I'd disappear.
"You are the most amazing person I know."
She didn't say anything, just clung to me tighter.
"You're caring, compassionate, kind—and so much more. You don't look down on people based on rank. I still remember when I was an F-rank nobody. Everyone else ignored me, but you were the only one who treated me like I mattered."
"And you think your A-rank is meaningless?" I shook my head. "It's not. It's a reminder of your love and passion. Even when you didn't know if I'd come back, you kept going. You ranked up on your own, Sienna. Camille and Alexis were born that way. And me?" I gave a small, humorless laugh. "I'm a cheat code. I don't struggle the way normal people do. But you?" I cupped her face gently, wiping away her tears. "You earned your way here. Through determination, through strength. In my eyes, you're the most amazing person in this house."
Her lip trembled. Then—
She sobbed into my chest, her fingers gripping my shirt like it was the only thing keeping her upright. I held her close, rubbing slow circles into her back, letting her finally let it out.
We stayed like that for a while.
Eventually, her breathing steadied. Her grip loosened.
She pulled back, eyes red and swollen, but with a small, genuine smile on her lips.
"Thank you," she whispered.
I brushed a tear from her cheek. "Always."
She laughed—soft, tired. "I probably look like a mess."
I smirked. "A very beautiful mess."
She swatted my arm lightly, but her smile stayed.
"Alright," she sniffed, rubbing her face. "Dinner's almost done. Go sit down."
I nodded, stepping back as she turned to finish cooking.
I felt at peace. Though that was soon shot down, when Sienna told me something.
"By the way Rey, Evelyn said to go back to your construction work when you can."