Kushagra: "You have a story like Louis, my own adoptive brother. He himself was like you, however, he had a quite different mark. It was one red hair, that could not be cut, and that changed him just like you, except in reverse. In a place with great power, his body will overload, causing extreme pain to him, and perhaps even death. I am not the real counterpart of myself, as I am just a multiversional copy of him. If I merge with my real self, then maybe I can fix your scar, and maybe Louis's too..."
Ashen: "Ah, no, I don't want my Elemental Scar removed! I kinda like ice... Hey, did that guy fall asleep?"
Richard wakes up. Apparently, he fell asleep while Ashen was talking.
Richard: "Huh? What just happened?"
Ashen: "... Clearly, he fell asleep..."
Rina: "... I am sorry to hear about that... Also, that Elemental Scar... it's the reason why you can control Ice, is it not? ... Are you headed anywhere? We have no idea where to begin our adventures... but... perhaps we could try and find Hikari? I mean, if Sarenodrius is dead right now... then how on Endania do we know if Hikari is still alive? ... If only my Detection ability worked on people..."
Ashen: "Don't worry about it. If we're lucky, we may even find a hidden ability to use."
Rina sighs.
Rina: "Either way, as far as I know we still can't leave town. Hopefully tomorrow we'll be able to get out of town to begin our journey. After all, we're supposed to be graduates right now, correct? ... Well, murderous graduates, considering we just murdered the entire class of Orcish Necromancers... without even using chemical weapons, which is probably a good thing..."
Rina blushes as she continues talking.
Ashen: "... Hey, you're--"
Rina: "But enough about that. ... Anyway, Richard, you really ought to stay awake more often. Falling asleep like that is rude!"
Rina slaps Richard.
Richard: "Ow!"
Ashen: "... Ouch. Knocking him back ten feet... that must have hurt... but then again, it didn't, by the looks of things. Guess someone's just having fun giving someone amusing injuries to try and get people to laugh. Ha ha. Not very funny, in my opinion."
Rina: "... Uhhh... wow, I said a lot, didn't I?"
Rina giggles.
Rina: "I'm usually a girl of few words, but... you see, my sister... was kidnapped when I was just 5 years old. I don't even know if she still lives, but I have faith. ... Anyway, shutting up now. I've said too much."
Rina covers her own mouth with her left hand.
Rina: "Mmph mmph mmmph!"
Ashen: "... You're really silent most of the time? ... Wait, your sister was kidnapped?! ... I... I am sorry to hear that."
Polar: "Yeah, Rina is kinda quiet, but she's nice once you get to know her. Anyway, would you like something to eat? We have...cereal, toast, and leftover tacos, last I checked…we're kind of poor."
Ashen: "Tacos would be nice, thanks!"
Rina: "Exactly. Oh, we also have some ten-year old cheese, the others wanted me to throw it out but I kinda rebelled. ... Wait, since when do we have tacos? And how is it that we only have cereal, toast and leftover tacos? Last I checked, there was enough food to last us for a year..."
Ashen: "Wait, TEN-YEAR OLD CHEESE!? ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND?! EATING THAT WILL MOST LIKELY BE LETHAL!"
Rina turned to face Richard.
Rina: "Ashen was in Rainellendough Forest, on the other side of the continent. I think. Anyway, Sarenodrius - that guy I just decapitated today - he set the forest on fire. A monster tried to attack the girl who saved him but Ashen got in the way, getting an Elemental Scar and gaining the ability to control Ice freely. Hikari, the girl who saved Ashen, got her parents to adopt him. However, a few years later, her parents were murdered. Then, in 1544, near the beginning of Flameshock, Hikari learnt Sarenodrius' whereabouts. She left to take care of him... but something happened. Now Ashen is trying to find her. Do you understand now what happened, sleepy-head?"
Ashen: "... Oh, sure, ignore the one who almost died from food poisoning a few years back. Why not."
Julio: "Ashen... I hope for your best... but what I've found in my entire life till now that hope is the greatest lie in this world... Don't get me wrong... I used to be a great believer of hope... but after what happened to me, I lost my belief... Hikari... will be OK. Don't worry."
Ashen: "Thanks. If hope is a lie, wouldn't that make people who are named Hope liars? Last I checked, the queen of the country is named Hope..."
Ashen looked at the door.
Polar: "I was joking, Rina. Sheesh! Although there ARE tacos. I bought them yesterday, they're on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator."
Ashen: "Wait, you have a refrigerator? That would mean that... you're the only ones in town with one!"
Kushagra: "Screw it. We can talk about the food later. Our main priority is to go out in search of a quest. However, due to us only being on Level 1, we can't directly go and look for Shane-, er, Ashen's sister. We first need our Elements, a good amount of gear, some good weapons, Spells and skills, and a good amount of Status Points if we are to live in this world and search for Hikari. A good load of Training would help, am I not right Author Kush?"
Mysterious Voice: "Yes indeed it would. All of you can maybe do little bits of work around town to earn some money. After we have enough, you can buy some armour, and maybe upgrade your weapons. We can then maybe train each other to Level up. Ashen, since you are ahead, you can sort of be like our teacher or coach."
Everyone in the room, except for Kushagra, looks surprised, looking around. No-one said a thing then.
Ashen: "Okay then... I think I've hit my head someplace... or maybe the glyphs are making me crazier than uncle Daveth..."
Julio: "Ugh... Polar... your talk about tacos reminds me... I'm hungry..."
Ashen: "Okay, first we eat, then we rest, and then... we leave town to go training. Considering we've just killed a large portion of the Adventurer's School, we'd better get out of here tomorrow anyway. Most monsters, I can handle, but it's training experience for you guys. Besides, I need training too."
After eating an ample meal, and talking the rest of the day, and later sleeping for eight hours, the party was completely ready to leave.
20 Moneysun 1553, 06:00
Quietsilence Town
Dormitory
Ashen: "Alright, let's go. We should make it to Ashlight City if we aren't forced to take a detour. They've got great equipment at lower prices, because seriously, bronze longswords for five copper coins? Much better than having to pay five gold coins to get a bronze longsword, if you ask me. Who agrees with me?"
What is your answer?
• Yes
• No