Martial Arts Worlds

Chapter 185 Cold Winds of Spring

The cold winds of the spring drifted through the grayish streets of Irio. The snow had mostly melted, but there were still some piles of snow on roadsides and in shaded areas that had yet to thaw completely.

Through the airport's sliding doors, a warmly dressed pair of young men stepped out with bags in hand.

"Cold..." Julian shuddered and zipped up his jacket tightly. "This is nothing like the World Seas!"

"Right, I forgot that you're from the warm area." Kiernan said. "Swording Port had never snowed, right?"

"Never!" Julian said. "I don't think it was ever chilly either, really!"

Whistle~

Kiernan whistled for one of the yellow cabs to stop, and it slowly rolled to a halt in front of them.

"Need help with the bags?" The cab driver rolled down the window and asked.

"No thanks, just open the trunk, please." Kiernan said, and after the trunk popped open, they tossed their bags inside.

Julian rubbed his frozen hands together, and then his gaze moved to one of the billboards on top of the airport. He couldn't believe his eyes.

"Yo, Kiernan. I didn't know you were famous like this."

"What do you mean?" Kiernan opened the cab door and turned around.

Then he saw Julian's gaze was fixed on the huge billboard, and as he turned around to look, he saw his own face staring back at him.

"The hell?"

[The Future Nationals Champion - Karuza High's Kiernan Hunter]

The bold-fonted text was below the image of his face on the billboard.

"I don't remember seeing that billboard before." Kiernan said. "It looks like the city is hyping up the next nationals. So ruthless to put such heavy pressure on my shoulders."

"You and pressure don't go hand in hand." Julian said. "You're never nervous, right?"

"You clearly don't know me well. I am always nervous."

Kiernan said and climbed inside the cab with Julian, then closed the doors to close off the cold air from entering the vehicle.

"Really? You're lying." Julian said.

"I am not lying," Kiernan said. "I'm just good at hiding it so that my opponents can't use it against me."

"A friend I befriended during my time in the sea." Kiernan said. "Things happened, but can he live with us for some time?"

"Oh?" Karma looked surprised. "Well, this is sudden, but if you're a friend of Kiernan's, please come in."

"Thank you!"

Julian and Kiernan took off their shoes, hung their jackets from the coat rack, and followed Karma inside.

"Are your parents alright with you staying here?" Karma asked and led the two upstairs.

"I don't have parents." Julian said with a choked voice.

"Oh..."

Karma heard the choke on his voice. It was clear that something must've happened not too long ago. He didn't pry deeper into it since it was clearly a sore subject.

"Well, we have one extra room. It has been used as guest room."

Karma said and opened the door next to Kiernan's room.

"You can have it as long as you stay here."

"I appreciate it, thank you!" Julian entered the room and looked around.

It was pretty modest with one bed in the corner, a light dangling from the ceiling, and a wardrobe. It had blank, white-painted walls and a small window that let in a sliver of natural light.

"Kiernan, can we have a word?" Karma asked.

"Sure thing." Kiernan tossed his bag inside his room and followed his father downstairs.

They got seated in the living room.

"Your friend, how long will he stay?" Karma asked. "If it's a long stay, I might have to do some fixing on his room then. The heating system there is kind of broken and might be cold during the night."

"I think for the next two years, maybe." Kiernan said. "He wants to finish his studies in Irio."

"Where is he from?"

"Swording Port," Kiernan said. "A tragedy happened there a few months ago. Everyone died. He is the only survivor there."

"That's horrible." Karma said in a serious voice. "Sure, he can stay as long as he wants."

"I can see it in your eyes, father." Kiernan said. "You want to ask about mother."

"..." Karma sighed, and nodded. "How is she?"