| Chapter 0: Prologue Year 20xx, in the quiet town of Miyagi. A very small rural town where the population mainly consist of elderly people that have live here their whole life or have come here to retire. If there is something going on in this town that I love, it has to be the peacefulness. No loud trains, no noisy neighbors, and the fresh morning air that I inhale everyday. It is incomparable to the place where I used to live at. My name is Reimuz. A young boy at the age of 18 who just wants to enjoy peace and quiet in his life. I'm not a really a person that stands out or rather, I don't want to. If I have any redeeming qualities, it's that there is none. My hobbies consist of playing fantasy RPG, where I can be anything I want, not unlike real life where I have to meet expectations and go to school. I am currently at the time where students my age started thinking about their future seriously. As for me, I haven't really thought of anything..... yet. Because of my strict households teachings, my body is forced to wake up earlier than most regular students out there. After rubbing my eyelids to confirm the time, I pick myself up from my comfortable bed and started stretching. Just consistently doing my morning routine of push-ups and sit-ups. So despite how I look, I am pretty fit. When that's done, I shower early morning and proceeded to make my breakfast and lunch afterwards. " Hmm, it tasted so good ", is what I said to myself as the soft omelette that I fried, dip my taste buds. This six tatami apartment that I currently reside in is the results of me prostrating in front of my father less than a year ago. " I want to live by myself! " Those words left my mouth as I lie on the ground with my face downward in front of my father. I'm not sure if it was my seriousness that swayed him or something else, but he instantly agreed, under the condition that I will bring good results with my studies. A dark past or a severe mental trauma, I don't have anything like that. Socializing isn't a problem for me either since I'm perfectly fine conversing with my family members and some of their friends. The only reason I chose to distance myself is because I really just want to be left alone. Whether I'm playing games or watching anime, I want to do everything by myself. Even though I'm a loner, I don't hate my life. Is it because I'm tired of living in this world that I escape reality by playing fantasy games? The answer is no. There's just that big question mark in my life that no matter what I do, the hole still remains. I feel like something is missing, but I can't point my finger as to what. Today is the same as usual and I have to prepare myself to go to school. School isn't that far away and it only takes me about 30 minutes of walking from my little home. There's a big cherry blossom tree near the school grounds and you can't help but notice it's beautiful petals all over the ground as you walk pass by. Spring has arrived indeed. School isn't really such a fun place to be in but in exchange for my freedom, I have to go. Not really such a bad deal if a group of people would stop bothering me all the time. When I entered our classroom, most of my classmates are already present. Nobody bothered to say goodmorning or even payed attention to me as I walk towards my chair near the window in the back. It's perfect! Those words race my mind while I silently enjoyed the fresh morning breeze coming from outside the window. " Disgusting... " " Look at him smiling by himself. " Some of the girls in my class whispered some words whilst looking at my direction. Was it because of the smile that I just showed as I enjoyed the sunshine? It's entirely known in my class how big of a gamer I am, so maybe it's also because of that. The amount of mockery that society gave us is really strong. It could be even said that it leads to hostile accusations resulting in kids getting bullied. Just because I'm quiet and enjoys a little bit of role-playing games, I'm already judged as a creepy person? What a twisted world that we live in indeed. This is exactly why I hate to associate myself with these fools. Why I would I change my views to something they like just so I could gained a few friends? I don't need such things in my life. It would have been great if they just leave me alone, but their surprisingly persistent. Do they want attention that much? The school bell chimed at the same time our teacher entered the room. Finally, those hostile gazes were averted from myself and everybody paid attention to the teacher. My favorite time in school has arrived! It wasn't because I'm glad that the lessons are finally starting but because everybody forgets I exist when it's like this. It was the same thing from yesterday, and the teacher started the class as usual. Lunch break has quickly arrived so I immediately ate my lunch and tried to escape but my overly familiar group of friends we're already in front of the classroom door waiting for me. How nice of them to give me surveillance I do not need. Sorry friends, but I'm a busy person that would want to enjoy the crisp air that can only be inhaled on the rooftop. A privilege only available at lunch time. " Yo Reimuz-kun, come eat lunch with us outside. " " Umm, can I refuse? " His voice was still so calm but after hearing my refusal, he suddenly turned angry. What do I have that attracts this kind of attention? As far as I know, I don't bring my money to school. My looks are as average as it could get. Even my height is considered average. Though my athletic abilities are a little higher than normal, I'm pretty sure I've disguised myself not to stand out. So I really wonder why these types of people keeps on bothering me? " Cocky kid, you want me to embarrass you here? Huh?! " " Sigh... Alright, I'll go " My friends guided me outside the classroom and we went around the school building where normal students wouldn't even bother going into. A secluded area where nobody will hear you scream. It's that kind of place where problem kids gather. After confirming that nobody is around, one of my friends holds me from behind and the other launches a punch to my face. These guys made it a hobby to gang up on me! " Oi oi!! At least fight back! This is too easy " " How can I fight back when you have this other guy holding me? " Truth hurts is what they say, as he immediately retaliated in return to my sarcasm. Fighting back would just prolonged this, so I let them do what they want. My face was continuously ravaged till I finally sprawled on the ground, full of bruises. I tightly clenched one of my fist and think to myself that with this, it will be over quickly. My hatred to myself didn't stop there when I felt the tears that have graced my cheeks. I'm seriously annoyed at myself for being so weak willed. Will I just let this behavior slide? Delinquents are like hydras. Cut one head and two more spring forth. It's a never ending struggle for those who are bullied. " Why? why are you letting them do this? " A lady of fair height with long black hair and eyes accompanied by an oval shape face that marks her features well, looked at me with perplexed eyes. Her eyes showed a hint of sadness while looking at my beaten up body. It's like a big question mark stands right on top of her pretty face. " I'm sorry, I don't get the question, but what do you mean why? It's two against one, of course I have no chance of winning. " " Liar... I know you are clearly capable of defending yourself. " I myself know that this is one of those 'nosy' types so I decided to ignore her. Don't show me your strong sense of responsibility now that everything is over. If you have the guts to watch and stand there, then say something! Not because you have a worried expression that people would rely on your help. It's like I'm so used to this occurrence already that my body senselessly went to the nearest restroom to wash it's face. After that, I went back like nothing happened, and while some of the students in my class noticed my bruises, they didn't say anything. Not even my teacher. Everybody just quietly went on like nothing happened. I should be happy that I'm ignored, but why does it feel like something is shattering inside my chest? The school bell chimed once more and everybody hurriedly left their seats and started to go home. I quickly packed my stuff and left in a haste to avoid unnecessary trouble. Just when I was walking towards the school gate, I saw a crowd of students murmuring something to themselves. For them, it was a sight to behold, but for me, it was a sight of nuisance and a threat to my quiet lifestyle. A beautiful girl with silky white skin and beautiful long black hair. Your typical yamato nadeshiko if you would just take out the japanese style sword that is attached on her back. She seems to be patiently waiting for someone while not noticing the crowd of students that formed to admire her in a distance. It was the same girl that was nagging at me earlier. Now that I notice it, she doesn't seem like a student of this school. I hurriedly walked on the other side while slightly covering my face with my bag. [ Don't notice me please! ] I chant that prayer to myself 3 times before passing her by. It was too early for me to celebrate when I heard her say " Hmm? ". That sudden reaction of hers was immediately red tagged by my brain, making me fasten my pace. As soon as I left her radar, I sprinted and went straight home. It would have been another regular day supposedly but, in front of my 6-tatami apartment is the same annoying woman earlier. How did she even get here ahead of me? I have no idea. I casually ignored her and went straight to my front door when she unexpectedly held my hands. Her actions surprised me and I immediately retreated my hand like a spring. " Ah Reimuz! Mou, I've been waiting for you. " Calling me by first name already even though it's the first time we've met? Her friendly behavior almost made my heart skip a beat. However, I'm not going to flatter myself and think she's attracted to me. If I was maybe an ikemen, then perhaps it could be describe as normal. Her friendly approach is a really big mystery. " Yes, yes what do you want? " " Don't you think you should invite me inside first? " " Can I say no? " " No. " A sweat drops down on my face as I showed her inside my home. She glanced at every nook and nanny of my house like she's someone familiar while she quietly followed me from behind. This made me remember about a manga with a very similar plot. The man forgot about his promise to marry his childhood friend when they grow up. They made a vow when they were young to marry each other in the future. Something happened that separated the two of them and after years passing by where they didn't see each other, the guy completely forgot about the promise. All this time, the girl was waiting for their fated reunion. Could my life possibly be having the same events right now? Did I perhaps triggered a flag back when we were young? " Okay then, welcome to my humble abode ms..? I forgot. I didn't even know who you are! " " It's Reina.... " " Yes, Reina-san... would you please tell me why you are here already? I want to sleep. " No matter how much I dig my memory, her name doesn't come up. Normally, if your acquainted with someone as beautiful as her, you would remember right away. But alas, no such thing exist in my mind. Without even me realizing, she is already preparing tea. She casually made use of my little kitchen inside my home. I gave up and just sat there as I stare at her back while I patiently wait for her to finish. " Sorry for the wait.. Here's some tea~ " " Thank you.. So, would you please already tell me why you're here? " " Of course... but Reimuz, you're really a loner huh? " Her words resounded deep into my heart and though I usually do not mind, it bothered me this time. If she's really my childhood friend or something similar, you would've think she'll be a little nicer. My innermost thoughts then flowed out. " Huh? What does that even have to do with this----? " Her friendly atmosphere quickly disappeared and a malicious aura filled the entire room, suffocating me. Just when I thought she was joking, she unsheathed the sword(katana) that is hanging on her back and steadily approach me. " It's too troublesome to explain... So,would you kindly die for me? " Die? That's not a word that should come out of her lovely lips . She swung the sword randomly a few times to show it's sharpness. It cut through my wooden table in half without any resistance at all, making me feel even more terrified. " Why are you doing this!!! " " I already told you it's too troublesome to explain.. You will find out very soon..... " * SHOOOK * Red droplets of blood quickly filled my mat along with the strong intense stench of iron that filled the entire room. The japanese style sword was struck deep into my chest. The puncturing sensation quickly reminded my brain of the antagonizing pain I should have felt right away. It was even more intensified when she pulled the blade out so suddenly, making more blood spurt out as my lifeless body collapse on the floor. I want to scream. Scream loud enough to justify the severe pain that I'm feeling, but no words left my mouth. " .......................l.ter..." Her threatening laughter and sinister smile of death were etched in my heart, as my consciousness fade away. Just like falling into an endless pit of darkness... |
lolifreak000fOct 27, 2014 8:56 AM
| Chapter 1: What is this place?! I woke up feeling raggedy on a seemingly unfamiliar place that resembles a forest. When I looked around, I see trees that closely resemble each other surrounding me on all four sides. Different kinds of shrubs, plants and greenery that I couldn't recognize. My brain quickly reminded me of my gruesome death as I stare bewildered at my blood stained clothes. Out of panic, I hurriedly feel my chest for wounds but there are no such thing. No sign of getting stabbed, but this uniform soaked in my blood and memory, are proof enough that it happened. Why am I still alive? That's the first question that entered my mind as I ponder my head on what could have led me stranded in this forest. No matter how hard I try, I can't remember anything. Is this what they call a short term memory loss? Or is my soul now in it's way to heaven? After deciding to myself that just standing around there doing nothing wouldn't do me any good, I started walking to explore the forest. The first thing to catch my eyes is a gigantic tree standing tall like a wall, with branches that is thick enough to accommodate several tree houses and leaves that are so big I can use it as a bed sheet. I stared in my pure amazement until a weird growl came from my stomach. " I'm hungry " That feeling made me continue my walk to hunt for something that could replenish my energy. The view didn't change much no matter how many times I continue to move forward. Am I to die a slow death by myself in these woods? I brush the dark thoughts aside and continued walking endlessly in what seemed like a forest labyrinth. I swallowed my spit several times already but it still wasn't enough to quench my thirst. Not even a single drop of water has graced my mouth ever since I got here. My built up fatigue and dehydration is slowly vexing me, but even with all that, I still continued to walk. " A single drop of water is all I need!! " Right after I said that, my eyes went upward to the skies, making me trip and roll over the dirt as my back landed against a tree. Several complaints left my mouth while my body groans in pain. Seems like I strained myself big time. Not too long ago, I was just a regular student living a blissful life. Just when I finally decided to trust someone, this happened to me. If this is not heaven then this must be hell. Anxiety started to fill my heart when I notice the patch of herbs on the ground in this wilderness. I didn't waste a moment and started nibbling on the herbs right away. From what I remember in class, herbs contain a few ounces of water and maybe alcohol, while others contain a deadly poison along with different kinds of nutrients. It's certainly dangerous to just eat them like this without having the proper knowledge to ascertain if they are safe or not. Those thoughts were set aside and I resumed to eat the different kinds of herbs in front of me. Red, blue, yellow, green, it doesn't matter what color it is. The only place that it found is inside my mouth. Even dirt was consumed along with the herbs, but I still felt satisfied. That feeling of happiness didn't last as it was immediately replace with a throbbing pain. My veins pulsate in pain and my head feels like it's been cracked open. Was it the effects of the herbs? I bashed my head onto the ground to subdue the pain, but all it did was inflict more suffering. " AHHHHHHHH!!!!!!! " My mind is definitely not thinking right when I unrooted more herbs from the ground and hurriedly put them in my mouth. The pain gradually subsided, but it was immediately replaced by a different kind of agony. My veins continue to pulsate in pain and torment my mind but I still repeatedly consumed the herbs. Because without it, I wouldn't have a moment of peace. Tears flowed from my eyes and white drool like bubbles escaped my mouth. After countless hours in misery, the pain finally dwindled by itself. I took that initiative to take a moment of rest and catch my breath while I examine the patch of herbs that almost killed me. The herb's appearance was deeply engraved in my mind and I soon began to call it " wicked herb ". If I spark any masochistic tendencies later on, it will be this herb's fault. To escape this feeling of starvation, I forced my still unsteady body to stand up and continued walking. I walk and walk, with no sense of direction hoping to find something that could lead me out of here. I'm afraid of dying but I'm more afraid of the fact that I couldn't do anything significant in my life. Not until I figure out the thing that I've always been searching for. To fill that gap in my heart, I will persevere! It was Godsend, when I finally stumbled upon a forest clearing with a small crystal-like lake in the middle. I was about to dive into the pool of water when I notice the horse that is drinking water on the side, along with what seems to be a merchant's backpack. Not knowing if it's someone dangerous, I decided to spy and wait a little while I skillfully hid myself behind the bushes. After all, if there is a luggage, it's owner is most probably nearby. I could hear the rustling of water and someone slowly approaching the horse that is peacefully resting at the edge of the lake. Slight fear and excitement filled my body as I slowly wait for the tiny silhouette to reveal itself. " A Goddess... " Those words unconsciously left my lips as I stare in awe when the mysterious figure unveiled itself. Long flowing blonde hair that shimmers even under the clear blue sky, paired with an innocent looking face so attractive any men would bow down to her. A delicate frame that has yet to be tainted and a bosom that hasn't fully matured! Like the snow that glistens under the moonlight, her skin is clear and translucent as if it would melt at any moment. Her wet naked body is truly a sight to behold!! She doesn't have much boobs but no problem! I'm on the flat-chested side! This must be nirvana! I died after all. They did say that before you enter the gates of hell, one of your earthly desires shall be granted. Is seeing a girl's naked body my dearest wish then? I refuse to believe so but who cares?! This garden of forbidden delight awaits me! It's like the devil is whispering in my ears to fully witness her glorious body. If only this shrubbery wasn't in the way of my view! Unsatisfied with my position, I move closer and closer. A little bit more..... A little bit more..... Until...... I accidentally step on a branch creating that crunching noise. * crack * Ah, my life is forfeit. That's what I immediately thought when she turned her gaze towards my direction and angrily covered her body. " Who goes there?!! " Even if I disguise myself as an animal now, it probably won't work. Panic quickly filled my mind and whatever excuse that I was thinking left my mouth at the same time. " I am but a tree!! Please do not mind me and continue!! This tree will now become one with the others. " " So, a pervert.... " I tried to get away, but it was in vain. She grab a small staff out of her bag and aimed it at me while whispering some words I couldn't understand. My eyes couldn't believe what they just saw when an electric current came flying at me! It hit me directly, fully paralyzing my tired body, along with the pain of being electrified. I couldn't move an inch no matter how hard I try! She then slowly approached me while carefully observing my reaction. Making sure if her recent attack really did have an effect or not. Our eyes met and I started to plead like a beaten up dog. " Please, let me explain! " She violently hit my face using her wooden staff after confirming that I couldn't move. Such brutal actions coming from a girl possessing an angelic appearance! Is this what they call a 'Tsundere'? Blood started dripping from my nose and the intense pain coming from my head is giving me a headache. " I didn't expect to find a pervert in these parts! " A fearsome aura shrouded the girl while her beautiful green eyes suddenly flash red, staring at me blankly. " No... Please!! Please stop!! Ai--AIYEEEE!!!! " And after that, I was mercilessly beaten up. It was already late night when I awoke to the pleasant warmth of the cracking fire in front of me. The ground was made to be my bed and beside me is a small dark lake reflecting the moon. Seems like I passed out and my body was then tied up like a worm and a piece of clothing was stuffed inside my mouth. This tied up position is really making it hard for me too look and move around. " MMMMM!!! MM!! MMM!!! " My senses suddenly reacted to the creeping noise approaching me. I hear soft footsteps slowly closing in from behind my back. With my position, I couldn't see what it is! A demon? Or is it actually death himself finally? Suddenly, a foot comes hurling towards my face, hitting the tip of my nose right on, banging my eardrums in the process. The damage that was inflicted immediately showed on my nose, as more blood started dripping down. " Shut up! " A girl's voice? Ah, I finally remembered! It was that violent girl earlier. Never judge a book by it's cover indeed! Just when I thought her angelic appearance is there to soothe my pain, she just traumatized me even more! Tears started to accumulate in my eyes again and I feel like my heart would break and fall apart any moment now. If somebody wants me dead, why not just kill me right away? Does watching me suffer brings you entertainment? I only wanted to be left alone, yet why do I keep getting entangled with other people like this? What did I ever do to deserve this? The girl then entered my line of vision. She sat down on a branch at least a meter away from me while looking at me with eyes of disgust. I can't really see it clearly from my position but she seemed to be preparing a pot of hot soup. Putting in the vegetables, adjusting the fire, and adding what looks like seasonings. After a while, she transferred the contents to a smaller bowl making me smell that delicious aroma. The scent wafting through my nose as it leaves a tingling yet burning sensation. It arouses my stomach so much, to the point where my mouth watered down. Using all of my remaining energy, I spit as hard as I can, forcefully removing the gag out of my mouth. * cough cough * My actions drew her attention and she walks up to me with an irritated expression. " What do you want? " " Please.......ma.y...I....have..some? " My mouth devoid of water is making it painful for me to speak. If not for the blood, snot and tears that flowed down to my mouth, I felt like I would have already collapse. Even if the mixture of those 3 liquids that came from within me is disgusting, I still savored it. " You're not having any. " The soup's aroma continue to fill my lung with flavor, only to put a damper on my taste buds after realizing that I can't taste it. Could this girl be afraid of what I'll do if my hands are free? She continued to ignore me throughout the night no matter how many times I tried pleading. As I close my eyes to rest, the vision of my gruesome death from before suddenly flashed in my mind. I couldn't even get a proper rest and whenever I tried to sleep, the same vision continues to menace me. Morning has arrived and my situation has gone from bad to worst! My mouth is still dry and my body is itching all over. The blood from my nose has dried up, blocking the air from entering my lungs comfortably. The girl is already packing up and cleaning her campfire. She looks like she's about ready to leave while I'm still here lying on the ground. All hope has left my body and I can feel my death looming. I should just stop my struggling for it would only be in vain. At least like this, I can finally rest in peace. Just when I thought death has finally claimed me, I felt a drop of water on my cheek. That single drop of water eventually found it's way in my mouth, giving me the necessary to energy to plead one last time. " Please...........my..bind.....off.... " " Sigh... " Seems like my final attempt to survive has been ignored and the only replied I heard was her sighing. I close my eyes again as I wait for my inevitable death to come. .............................. " Don't try anything weird now. " All of a sudden, the ropes that are binding my body has been cut off and and my hands are freed. As soon as I felt my limbs attaining freedom, I immediately went to the lake while crawling on all fours like a madman, drinking as much water as I can. Safe or not, it surely rejuvenated my dehydrated body. " Ahh....... Feels good." Being to move freely is truly a wonderful thing! I don't think I've ever been this thankful before. All of the dark thought occupying my mind has been washed away and I feel like I see the world in a new light. After feeling refreshed, I turned my gaze back to the girl hoping to ask her some questions. She defensively covered her body in response to my gaze and look as if she made the wrong choice. " No no... I didn't mean to peek at you yesterday. I apologize if I cause you any insecurities. " Just like that, I prostate myself and asked for her forgiveness. But seriously though, who takes a bath in the middle of the forest just like that? Is she some sort of a forest dweller that enjoys such things? Yeah right. In this day and age, a girl like her camping by herself in the middle of nowhere is definitely weird. " You.... did you see? " She speaks to me clearly hesitating if she could trust my words or not. Still, did I see what? For a brief moment, her naked self flashed in my mind making me remember her marvelously flat-chest. She's probably worried about her breast size. I heard from the internet that girls her age are very mindful of that. This is a tricky question so I should choose my words carefully. The wrong answer here could be very well mark the end my life. That unripe fruit that is still not ready for taking! That forbidden fruit is truy the sweetest! Yes, that is my final answer. " An accident I assure you.. and I was just so mesmerize I couldn't say anything. " Just as I said that, her cheeks tinged red all the way through her ears. But wait, something is weird here. I couldn't see much yesterday but now that I'm looking at her up close, her ears are much more longer and pointier compared to mine. Just like those elves in the fantasy games that I play all the time. Could it be cosplay? No, it looks too real and mystic. " We-well I'm glad to hear your honesty! But if you do that again, I will roast you alive! Got that?! " Yes ma'am!! " Aiyeee! This woman is dangerous after all. Anyways, she's my only lead right now so I have to just put up with her till I figure out what to do. Unknown to myself that that was the start of my never ending elven ear fetish. |
lolifreak000fOct 27, 2014 8:24 PM
| Chapter 2: Aestrea Being able to move freely, I was able to notice a lot of things. Aside from her long elvish ears, the white part of her eyes(the sclera) looks hollow. She also looks like she's wearing casual clothing, although it's not something I would describe as normal. Her eyes painfully watch my every move so I decided to introduce myself. " I haven't introduced myself yet, my name is Reimuz. I know our first meeting isn't the best but nevertheless, it's nice to meet you. " And I extended my hand to her to initiate a handshake. She stayed quiet and after a moment, accepted my hand. Her hands are soft and small. If I haven't experienced the events yesterday, I would really think she's a delicate angel. " I wouldn't say it's nice to meet you, but you may call me Eryn. Just to let you know, I'm not going to apologize about yesterday. " " Ahahaha.... It's okay. It's my fault anyways. " I let out a small sigh and scratched my head, then give her a smile. Her elven ears twitch a little as she quickly withdrew her hand after looking at my face again. Do I really look that dangerous? Well, blaming her actions won't do me any good as I'm partially at fault too. " I'm the one who's more surprised that someone can faint with just a little spec of lightning magic. " " Huuh? Little? What part of that is little? On top of electrifying me, you even had the nerve to hit me with a blunt attack! " " You should be happy that's all I did to you right? " Even though it's just a misunderstanding and everything was my fault, I got a little upset. Though I'm more curious as to what kind of trick did she use to be able to pull a stunt like that. She calls it magic so does that mean she's really an elf? Yeah right, this isn't an RPG. " By the way, what were you doing out here so deep in our forest? You know that humans aren't really allowed in our borders unless they have proper arrangement beforehand. " " Humans? Borders? I don't really understand..? " What is she even talking about now? Humans and borders? Aren't you just a human girl cosplaying an elf yourself? I don't know why, but being referred to as a human really leaves a bad after taste in my mouth. Suddenly, her eyes narrowed at me and her expression has changed. " I'm asking you what you are doing here human! Are you here to spy on us? " She took the dagger out that she was using earlier and pointed it at my neck. I want to freak out, but this sharp piece of metal is preventing me from doing so. She directly stared into my eyes and gave me this icy cold glare. That if I lie, it would mean my death. * Gulp * " I don't know.... I don't even know how I got here... " " .......... " Seeing there is no reason to lie, I honestly told her everything that has happened to me so far. About how I'm just going home from school and somehow or the other I met this girl. I invited her inside my house like a fool and she ended up killing me. " Though I said kill, I myself am still puzzled why I'm still alive. I know my chest was pierced, and my heart was stabbed. So why am I still here walking? After those events, I just found myself lying on the ground in this forest. " She looked at me with eyes wide open, like she couldn't believe what she just heard. Especially when I told her that I supposedly bled to death and a crazy girl around my age is out to take my life. " Are you telling me to believe that you just mysteriously ended up here unknowingly?? " " That seems to be the case..... Eryn-san, just look at this part of my chest.... " I pointed at the small hole where the sword entered in my clothes. She looks at it curiously and used her small fingers to trace my wound. Her soft fingertips touching my bare skin is really making me feel aroused. But I can't show it because I'll be mistaken as a pervert again if I do. " Impossible.... there's no trace of anything at all..... " She didn't want to believe me, but seeing my bloody uniform, she has no choice. Of course, the only mark in my body are the slight bruises that I got from her earlier. I let out another sigh for I do not know how or what else to say to prove my innocence. She suspiciously stared into my eyes again. It's like she's seeing through my soul when she looks at me like that. With her vivid green eyes that shines brightly like an emerald. And that light pinkish lips of hers perfectly matching her blonde hair, along with her sweet alluring scent. When a beauty like that stares me right into the eyes, how could I even begin to respond? How can I even think of lying? *groooooowwwwl* The loud grumbling of my hungry stomach broke our gazes in an instant. Which quickly reminds me that I haven't had the chance to consume any kind of nutrient ever since I got here. " Ahahaha, I haven't eaten anything since yesterday. Sorry to bother you, but do you have anything to spare? Ahahaha..... " " How shameless... " Throwing what little shame I have left, I asked Eryn for food. She just gave me a hateful smirk and I laugh in return. " Sigh... I'm about to leave you know... " " Ahahaha...... please.... " I clasped my hands together and slightly lowered my head to appease her. She look the other way and just puff her cheeks like she's pouting. " Ughh.. gather some branches for firewood and I'll make some food. " " Yes ma'am...! " Few hours have passed to where we left off. We finished eating and I even had the luxury to use the lake as my personal bathtub. She also handed me a pair of clothes, though a little small compare to my size, it still fits leading me to a question. Why would a girl carry a mans clothing I wonder? I try to squeezed out as much information as I can while talking casually with Eryn. Eryn didn't ask me any further about my situation but I could feel that she's still skeptical if she could trust my words or not. " So.. what are you doing out here Eryn-san? " " I have some personal business in Saphir " " Saphir? What is that? " " Huh? You don't even know Saphir? It's the town not too far from here. If you walk by foot, I'd estimate that you could reach it in half a day " " Weird... Do you have a map of this place Eryn-san? " " I do, let me get it right now. " I'm not the best in our history class but I could say that I have good grades. That's why I find it weird that I haven't heard or read about a town called Saphir. More importantly, I haven't heard of a forest as beautiful as this. Could it be a different country? That doesn't seem to be the case since we speak the same language. Could it be..... another world? " Here you go, I'm the one who made that so it's the probably the best that you could find around here. " " What is this..... this... is.... " She handed me an antique like piece of paper with doodles of mountains, trees, and what seemed to be houses. This is what she calls a map? I was about to burst in laughter when I suddenly saw the words written on her map. It's not similar to my language at all. " Eryn-san, what is the name of this world again? " " Huh? You don't even know? It's Aestrea. A-E-S-T-R-E-A. Idiot, you don't even know the simplest of things? Though I said it as a joke, I didn't expect her to answer so seriously. Aestrea? Where in earth is that? I glance at her again and her expression really doesn't show a hint of lying. " Do you know about Japan Eryn-san? " " Ja-pan? What is that? Are you playing mind tricks on me Reimuz? " " No, not all.... Then what is the language we speak of right now? " " Hmmph! Why should I tell you? You're just making fun of me right? " " Please tell me!!! " I was so absorb that I didn't realize I was already gripping her arm tightly. It wasn't intentional of course. " Let go of me pervert! " * SLAP * Probably annoyed at my actions, she slap me using her other arm. There was barely any strength in her slap but it was enough to wake me up in my delusion. I've been denying the idea of being sent to another world ever since I met her, but this map in my hand slap me with reality. " Ahhh.... sorry.... I didn't mean to... " " That's fine.. what happened? " " Nothing.... once again I'm sorry... " In this world, I have nothing. No relatives, no money, and not even a place to go home to. My hands started shaking at the thought and my insides felt like it's been turned upside down. I want to throw up, but I've decided to hold it in because of Eryn. I was able to calm myself for now, but I do not know what will happen in the future. " Eryn-san, can I come with you to Saphir? " " I don't really mind, but only as far as the town okay? " " Thank you.. That's all I need. " What am i even going to do when we get there? We both cleaned up our mess and started to prepare ourselves so we can head out. I honestly don't feel too happy about relying on her too much but given my current circumstances, I have no choice. Magic, an elf? and a world completely different to mine. Ah, the future looks bleak. |
lolifreak000fOct 26, 2014 1:06 AM
| Chapter 3: Through the forest. Eryn and I finally started our long journey to Saphir. She will be riding her horse while I walk by foot on the side. She didn't want to strain her horse because of her big luggage, that's why I was able to follow her from behind. According to her, we should be able to reach the town this evening if no problems occur. Because even though this forest is govern by her race, there are still some uncertainty making the both of us thread carefully. Just like in games where the forest is a popular hideout for monsters. And when I said race, I clearly mean it as a classification. Eryn really is an entity different from humans. She didn't fully explain but there are 8 different races in this world. Though she did go into detail about her own race with pride. Eryn is a being that is called 'Effu' though I'd like to just call them elves for easier understanding. Humans possessed similar traits to them although according to her, they are far superior in terms of beauty and lifespan. They like to live in peace and solitude making the forest their natural habitat and eventually building a community inside. Kinda like my ideal lifestyle besides the forest part. They also pretty much have cut ties with the outside world except for a few merchants they allow in their village. She even said that the secrets of the world lies in their library and no matter how much humans try to imitate them, they will never surpass their ancient knowledge. In short, they are a bunch of arrogant fools that dislike to advance with technology. Of course I didn't mention this in front of Eryn because it might lead to an instant death. All I could say is that Eryn is very proud of her lineage. Another interesting concept I have found out is that magic exist in this world. To be able to use magic, you need to either draw mana inside you're body or use an object that contains mana. In example are magic stones. Magic stones are said to be very expensive, thus only those with money, or ones that are able to acquire them through a different method use them. And your mana capacity is determined at birth. There isn't really a known way to increase you're mana but it is said that it is close to impossible not to have any. So I got excited and ask Eryn earlier if she could teach me the very basic one. She draw some doodles on the ground and asked me to read them. I was so surprised but it seemed like my previous observation was correct. I could understand but I could not read the writings in this world. So we tried a different method for me to try magic. To be able to activate magic, you need to chant the words in accordance to that element and the stronger the magic, the longer the chant. She decided to demonstrate the words to chant and create a fireball. I followed her words as instructed but no matter how many times we tried, I could never succeed. Is it because I am from a different world that doesn't involve magic, or am I simply untalented? I decided not to think too much about it for now but it is something I would want to research later. It has been more than half a day since we ventured but we still haven't seen the town. Whether it's my slow pace or us stopping for a few a moments to let her horse rest, I do not know. " We're not lost right? " " O-of course not! I know this forest like it's the back of my hand. " " Alright then... Sorry if I'm slowing you down. " We press on maybe because that that's the only thing that we could do. The forest has also started to become creepy seeing that the sun is about to set. For some odd reason, Eryn's horse is acting weird, so she decided to walk alongside me and just guide the horse in the meantime. " Seeing you unfazed after walking for so long is really surprising. " " Haha. If I have something that I'm proud of, it's my stamina. Though I have to admit, that I'm getting really hungry. " " We just have to get out of these parts. The closer we are to town, the less danger the forest posed to us. " I didn't really notice but we seemed to have entered a foggy area. Every step we make, the fog keeps getting thicker and thicker. The sun has set and was replaced by the dim glow of the moonlight. Eyes begin to glimmer inside the tree hollows. I, in particularly didn't really mind the darkness but my companion is different. She's not fully showing it, but I could clearly see her feet shivering. Is Eryn perhaps afraid of the dark? " Eryn-san are you perhaps..? " " NOOO!!! Wh-who would be afraid of something so silly? " " Ahh, okay... I'm just wondering. " Okay, that confirms it. She's afraid of the dark. Eryn fasten her pace and continue to walk ahead of me. Suddenly, beast that seemed to have hidden all day finally came out and is staring at us left and right. Just silently staring at us as we walk. Eryn couldn't contain her fear any longer so she sprinted, leaving her horse dumbfounded. " IYAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!! " " Oi! Eryn-san, where are you going?! " Thankfully, I was able to catch it's rein before it ran away. Strange enough, the scary looking beast are just staring at us and not doing anything else. I stop and think for a moment what could be the possible reason... In certain games, this type of skill would be... ... ... Illusion. So somebody is playing tricks on us. It also explains why it suddenly turned dark. I do not know who this trickster is but my main priority is to find Eryn right now. " Eryn-san!!! Eryn-san!!!! " I called out to her name again and again. I shouted my lungs away and still got no response. While I continue to walk, I saw a figure not too far from me. I chase the shadow and there, I find Eryn holed up on the ground right beside a tree. Seriously, what a troublesome princess. " Eryn-san it's me... " " IYAAA!!! Don't touch me!!!!!!!!!! " " ERYN! " " Ehhh? " I called out to her name once more. Once she has calm downed a little, I grab her hand. " What are you doing! " " Sorry... just trust me.. " " Okay.... " No doubt my action and words has ease her mind. She didn't really say any word after that and just kept on looking down while we continue to move forward. After a while of walking, the fog finally clears up and we could see what seemed to be giant walls surrounding a town. The tension was broken and we both felt relieved. Passing through that side of the forest really gave us a few gray hairs. Though I still wonder, who created that illusion. For what reason? " Umm... can you... let go of my hand now? " " Yikes! Sorry I didn't mean to hold it for that long. " I close my eyes and prepared myself for the upcoming punishment. One.. Two.. Three... Nothing. I opened my eyes again and instead, I see Eryn with flushed cheeks as she looks the other way and her ears are twitching. |
lolifreak000fOct 26, 2014 1:27 AM
| Chapter 4: What a long day After such a stressful and tiresome walk, we finally saw the town from afar. All that fatigue left my body as I imagine myself sleeping on a warm comfortable bed. Add a nice relaxing bath to that and I'm set. Excited as we speak, we hurriedly approach the town entrance. Standing near the entrance are 2 middle-aged men wearing leather clothing. They have similar ears to mine so I guess their humans as well? Hanging on their waist are swords that are quite similar to European style swords back in the medieval age. " Halt! This is the first time we've seen you around here. What is your purpose in this town? " " I am a merchant if you cannot see. Saphir allows entry to everyone despite of their race am I correct?" Eryn answered them with pride. I just hope it doesn't cause us any trouble now because of the animosity between the races. Because from Eryn's words earlier, they really look down on humans. So what about us humans? Just from seeing the guards alone, I could already tell that this is a town governed by humans. So this town that accepts any race is really surprising. Even more so if those races that looks down on you are this close. I wonder, is there a purpose behind this kindness? Is it plain generosity or is there a bigger scheme behind this facade? " Ohhhh this is the first time we've seen an Effu. Just like the rumors says. " They certainly weren't discreet about their words. It also agitates me how they look at Eryn like she's some part of a Circus show. But since I'm an outsider, I didn't say anything. They inspected her belongings and after a few minutes, they told us to move on. I thought you would need some kind of pass or identification, but I guess not. Their security seemed kind of lax for a merchant town. And what surprised me the most is that they just basically ignored me and let me through. Human privelege perhaps? You couldn't really see much of the town at night, but a few shops are still open. We're just lucky that the stable is open throughout the night so we we're able to leave the horse without worry. " How much is it if we leave him here for a single night? " " 80 iron coins a night and that includes it's meal. " " Hmm.. Okay, here's payment for today and tomorrow. If I want him to stay longer, I'll just let you know. " " Thank you and glad to be of service. " So they use coins for money? That's quite an interesting idea though it's too troublesome to carry a pouch of coins instead of a bank card. They don't really have a storage over in the stable so I ended up carrying her stuff. It was a lot heavier than I imagined making me wonder what's inside. She did say she's a merchant. Perhaps some goods for sale? Or is it a wide assortment of panties? Whatever it is, it must be important. " So, what do you plan to do now we're in town? " " I don't really know. I'm thinking of looking for a job as soon as I can tomorrow. " " I can pay for your room tonight but after that, you're on your own okay? " " Sure, that's a really big help. But if you're bothered by it, I can just sleep elsewhere. " " Don't be stupid... We've already come this far and besides.. I'll feel bad if I just leave you here by yourself. " I can't say for sure but my heart is bouncing with happiness. Nobody really has paid that much attention to me and most of the time, I'm ignored. But now, I can't help but smile with this tingly feeling in my chest. Our next task would be to find an inn with a reasonable price. Because of the time, most of the inns in town were already close or are too expensive. I was the one carrying her stuff but I could see the frustration on Eryn's face. She seems to be the type to be quickly agitated or perhaps just without patience. As we look for an inn left and right, I suddenly came across a shop with a sword engraved on the sign. Even if I couldn't read the words underneath it, I could immediately tell that this is a blacksmith shop. Which quickly reminds me about the game that I was playing before I got here. In that game, blacksmith means profit. From the ores that they gather to the expensive set of weapons they forge. I could easily rake in some cash if I could just find the suitable person to work for. I know there's a big difference between reality and games, but in this world where everything I've believed to be pure fantasy stands right in front of me, how can I not believe? You could still see the lights inside so I decided to pay a visit. " I don't think this is a good idea now.. " " Just let me take a look around for a few minutes Eryn-san. I promise I won't take too long. " " Waiit!! Don't leave me out here... " Eryn hold on to my sleeve as we enter the shop. Inside the shop is a very messy place that reeks of sweat. You can see many different kinds of weapon in display. Swords, knives, halberds, axes and many others. Though what shock me the most is that there's no armors or any kind of protective equipment. In some games, the armor and weapon shop are separated. Could it be the same here? All of the weapons look pretty simple in design, but they give the feeling of extreme sharpness and the form makes it look like it's very easy to handle. So it was purposely designed like that to be used as a weapon, not just something that would look fancy on your waist. They also have this mysterious engraving right next to the chappe(rain guard). I wonder if it has any purpose at all? Eryn pulled my sleeve telling us to go out but her words didn't reach me. I was already fascinated by the fine pieces of craftsmanship in front of me. You know how men are easily fascinated by cars. As for a fantasy gamer like myself, seeing a real sword like this makes my heart thump in excitement. " So, what do you think lad? " " I think it's magnificent sir. " I answered his question without giving it much thought. The words that were on my mind came out unconsciously. " Hahaha! Been a while since I've seen someone as honest as you. Most of the young ones these days only care about the looks! " A man with a well forged body and copper like skin greeted us. You can see the wrinkles on his face depicting his old age while he exudes an aura of wisdom. Without a doubt, this old man is the one responsible for crafting these weapons in front of me. " These weapons are designed for war after all. It's like you're trusting you're life with it so you wouldn't want something that would break easily. " " Ohhh? Where did you learn so much about this lad? " " Ahaha, it was nothing really. Just something that I studied by myself. " I want to tell this old man about the games I play, but I doubt he'll understand. Strangely enough, I immediately felt a strong connection forming between the two of us. More like kids talking among themselves with similar hobbies. " Come inside, cause there's more that I wanted you to see. " " Sure.. Please show me. " " ....... " He guided us deeper inside, leading to his dining room. We were both invited to sit on a chair while he prepares some sort of tea. I didn't realize when but Eryn looks like she's about to pop a nerve. Probably when me and the old man is conversing earlier, she felt out of place. " Eryn-san?? Something the mat--- " " Don't talk me. Carry on with you're nonsense. Just keep blabbing about you're swords. Maybe I should just leave you here after all. I'll just find an inn by myself. Have fun sleeping outside tonight. " " EHHHHHHHHHHH!!! But I thought we wou--- " " HMMPH!! " My words were cut off before I could even finish. She crossed her arms, puff her cheeks and look the other way. In short, she's pouting. I would want to indulge myself more with her cuteness but the old man came back so suddenly. " Here, have some tea. " " Thank you very much a?? " " It's Gordon. " " Nice to meet you Gordon-san, my name is Reimuz and this is my friend Eryn. " " ............. " " Really? I thought for sure you two are lovers. " * BAM * Eryn smashed the table in response and I spurted the tea that I just drank to Gordon's face. " Wha--whaat?!! What are you talking about you dam old man?! I only met this guy yesterday and he even peeked at me while I was taking a bath!!! How can such a guy be my lover??! " " Ahaha, Eryn-san I already told you that was an accident... " " GRRRR!!! " " Hahaha, it's nice to be young.. but an effu huh?? " Those words again. I know they don't mean anything but it sounds so discriminating especially for me as an outsider in this world. " Gordon-san, are Effus really that rare around here? I don't mean to be rude but you classify them as their some sort of a weird creature. " " Oh, I apologize. They don't really leave the forest that's why it's so surprising to see one in this town. " " Ahhh, that would make sense. " I glanced at Eryn for some explanation but looks like she's still upset. It's making my head hurt even though I know it's my business. " I apologize Gordon-san, but it's getting really late now and we still haven't found a place to spend the night. " Seeing that it is getting late, I decided to excuse ourselves. Eryn's expression basically tells me that she would want to lie on a bed as soon as possible. We still haven't found an inn after all. " Ohhh! I just happen to have an extra room upstairs. So, how about it? " " Well, it's not really for me to decide... What do you think Eryn? " " I don't really see much choice, so I guess we'll gratefully accept you're offer. " " Great! Follow me upstairs. " He guided us upstairs and even showed us the place where we could take a bath. I thought we would be having different rooms but his house only has three. When I asked him who's the other room for, he said it was for his 'daughter'. So me and Eryn we're left to share the same room. " As soon as you're done unpacking, come downstairs. I'll prepare some food. " " Thank you very much for your help Gordon-san.... " The room that we received from Gordon isn't exactly a room that is built for two people. It only has one bed and a small wooden dresser on the right. On top of the dresser are some unfamiliar looking flowers and a simple looking lamp that doesn't require oil or electricity. My guess is that it takes the users mana for it to work. Or perhaps you apply some sort of magic. Right across the room is an antique looking wall clock. When I came close to check, it seems that we at least use the same method for checking the time. The writings are different but if you count it accordingly and check the hands, it is basically the same. All in all, the room is pretty tight especially for the two of us. " I think I'll just find a place to sleep downstairs... " " Well.... It'll be da-dark and I do not wa-want to be left alone you know... " She pointed on the empty space right beside the bed. " Meaning?? " " You can sleep over there. On the ground. " " Ahhhhh.... " I've always slept on a futon so it doesn't really make much difference. After I cleaned the room a little bit and Eryn finished unpacking her stuff, we went downstairs to have dinner with Gordon. What greeted us downstairs is a pot of a warm hot soup and bread. The tangy smell of the soup lets out a delightful aroma of spices. I didn't waste any second and started eating right away. Eryn did the same with me though she was quite hesitant at first, her tastebuds can't lie. " Delicious! " " Hahaha! have some more, don't be shy. His looks really is deceiving and you wouldn't imagine that he could cook such a good meal. Maybe working with fire all the time has something to do with that? " Thank you very much for the food. I'll be using the bath if you don't mind. And Reimuz... " " Haiyeee?! " Eryn gave me this glare. Not any normal glare, but a death glare. Warning me that if I as much get the idea of peeking at her, it would cost me my life. I did say it was an accident before but she doesn't believe that. " Ahaha... Don't worry Eryn-san. I won't be coming upstairs till later anyways.. Ahaha.... " " I sure hope so... " Anyways, we finished eating our dinner so Eryn went upstairs to use the bath. Gordon and I continued our conversation but not before he handed me a mug made of wood with beer? The foamy head dissipates quickly as it leaves a lace on top. It also produces a distinct odor that I couldn't properly describe. I guess being underage doesn't mean a thing in this world. My curiosity aside, I'm not even at the right age to purchase beer from where I came from, so I decided to take a sip. It has this minimal bitterness and a slight carbonated flavor, while it leaves a warm sensation in my mouth. Gordon continues to talk my ear off as he chug another glass of beer. We were having fun but we were also running out of topics to talk to, so I went ahead and told him about my circumstances. How this world is different from mine. How I was almost killed by a person I do not know. How I met Eryn. How I need a job. How I want to go home. " Are you telling the truth? " I just simply nod my head to answer his question. He has the same reaction as Eryn in the beginning so I wasn't really surprised. If a random person in the streets told you that he came from a different world, of course you would think he's crazy right away. No matter how serious that person is, he would just be seen as mentally deranged if he doesn't have any proof. I don't know if he felt my sincerity, but he quickly shrugs it off. " So, what do you think about blacksmithing? " " Well, there were no smiths to where I came from... Or more like the idea has already been set aside. " " I can't imagine such a place where you wouldn't need a blacksmith. " " Haha.. We have a wide variety of machinery to use to help us with that... Anyways, are you looking for any apprentices Gordon-san? I was wondering if you could teach me how to become a blacksmith. " If I wanted to find a way to go home, I need to be able to survive in this world. And for that, I need funds. I honestly like to create weapons in game as well so it's not like it's a bad idea to become a blacksmith. From my knowledge, smith apprentices lives with their master so that can cover my living problems. Gordon seems like a guy that I could get along with easily too. But this is only possible if he agrees to take me in. " I don't mind teaching you, but you have to be serious about it. " " Please, make me your apprentice! " I bowed my head in front of Gordon. I'm not sure if this is enough but it's all I could offer right now. " I am the master and you are the apprentice. I will be very strict, is that clear?! " " Yes sir!! " " Good, we'll start tomorrow. " Thus, a new relationship of master and apprentice is born. We were so focused in our conversation we didn't notice the time. If I would have to make a guess, it would be close to midnight. Gordon strongly reeks of beer and he is wobbling to where he sat. I guided him upstairs to his room and cleaned up our mess afterwards. Because I have nothing better to do, I also went to my room to sleep. Just after opening the door, I could already smell the sweet fragrance coming from within. It could be describe as a floral scent that is cool and refreshing. Eryn is still awake and is just quietly staring outside the window while sitting on top of her bed. That solemn look of hers is utterly mesmerizing. " Yo.. can't sleep? " " No... Just been thinking about something. " " I see. Well, I'll go ahead and sleep first. " I lie on the sheet that I prepared beforehand. The floor is hard and cold but it wasn't exactly uncomfortable. Shortly after that, Eryn turned the lamp off and went to bed herself. " Eryn... I just wanted to say thank you for everything. " " Yeah.. It's funny how we just met and here we are already sharing the same room. " " Are you not afraid of me? I mean, I'm still a boy you know. " The atmosphere quickly became awkward. I'm so dumb. I shouldn't have said those cheesy words. " Umm.... " " Neh Reimuz... can I hold your hand? " " Ehh? sure... " I thought she would be mad but she's surprisingly meek. Is it because of the darkness or is it something more personal? Seeing no reason to decline, I extended my right hand to her. " Hehe...It's warm and big..... " " Ahaha..... that's because I'm a boy... " What the hell is this warm feeling? I want to see her face. Is she happy? Is she blushing? Is she embarrassed? I'm dying to see what kind of expression she's making right now. " Reimuz..... " " Yes? " " Goodnight... " " Yes, goodnight... " Eryn just quietly held my hand after that and didn't say anything else. Soon afterwards, she quickly fell asleep. They did say that nothing in this world compares to the comfort and security of having someone just hold your hand. Even more so if that certain someone is a person you trust. Does that mean she trust me? I don't know about her circumstances or why she's traveling by herself but I could say that I trust her already. She could have just left me alone in that forest but she didn't. Who knows what could have happened to me if I didn't met her. Another good hour has passed and I'm still wide awake. Despite having the luxury to sleep properly after a long time, I could not sleep a wink. So many thoughts going in my mind. Maybe it's just a long dream? Maybe I'll wake up if I pinch my cheeks? " Mmmm......... " Wait Eryn?! Without me realizing, she seemed to have rolled down the bed. And since I'm holding her hand, it immediately tangled us in a very dangerous position. She's even pressing her body in my arms, making me feel that soft sensation. Is she perhaps having a dream? I'm trying to stay calm but her sweet fragrance and disordered clothes is awakening the beast hidden in my pants. " Pssst! Eryn! Wake up! " " ZzzzzZzzzzZzzzz............. " I tried waking her up but to no avail. She slept like a log while my arm was sandwiched in between her thighs. When I look at her up close like this, I feel.... sleepy.... Her perfume is slowly making me drowsy. ...... ........ zzzzZzzzz " Y-ooouuuu........ YOU BEAST! YOU JERK! I HATE YOU! " " KA-CHAAAA!!!!!!!!!! " That day was spent all day recovering. It was another close-to-death experience and an even more intense fear was planted in my heart. |
lolifreak000fOct 26, 2014 2:44 AM
| Chapter 5 : Getting used to Life I opened my eyes to respond to the sunlight that is bathing my skin. Outside the window is a clear blue sky, telling me that morning has arrived. I appear to be lying on an unfamiliar bed inside a room that I don't recognized. Wearing unusual clothing that looks like it came straight from a video game. My bones creak as I lift my burdensome body and opened the window to get some fresh air. The cool morning breeze entered the room as it relishes my lung with flavor. Like a sweet and compelling sip of a fine champagne. How did I end up here? Oh, that's right. One way or another, I ended up in this world. This world called Aestrea. A world that involves swords and magic. I met a girl named Eryn and we journeyed through the forest to this town together. On our way to look for an inn, we met Gordon and I became his apprentice. After that... What happened after that? I seemed to be forgetting something crucial but I decided to let it go for now. After enjoying the morning sunshine, I went to the bathroom to wash my face. Just a small separated room right next to Gordon's. Inside are 2 wooden tubs filled with cold water. One of the tubs is for Gordon and the other is for me and Eryn. These are the same tubs that we used to take a bath. There's no shower or direct water supply in here so one has to go fetch water from a well. But if your well versed with magic, you can just create a pool of water out of nothing. Same with drinking water. With the help of purification magic, it becomes distilled. Seems like the more I look into it, the more I realized how the residents of this world are highly dependent in magic. I head downstairs afterwards to meet up with Gordon in the forge. The forge is a very dirty place. You could see different kinds of blueprint and materials on top of the table. Coals and many other kinds of minerals are lump up right beside the furnace. It's like a man cave. " Hey Reimuz, how's your body? " " Goodmorning master.. My body? Oh, I'm doing great. " I started calling Gordon master because I wanted to give him that respect. And it's only appropriate for me to do so because I am his apprentice after all. " So, what are we doing today master? " " Before anything, I want to give you a gift. " When Gordon said gift, I immediately got excited. But contrary to what I expected, it was just a simple looking hammer. A hammer for flattening or hitting metals. It was probably just forged recently seeing how shiny it is. " Your journey to become a fine blacksmith will be tough but I expect great things from you. " Gordon gave me a smile as he pass the hammer to my hands. A smile full of expectations. I don't know why but it felt really good. It's unlike the feeling that I always get at school or at home. Maybe because I can feel that Gordon truly believes in me. Something that I've been longing for a long time now. " Thank you master. I will try my utmost not to shame you or betray your trust. " " Very good. Think of it as a part of your soul and always keep it with you at all times. " After I received my blacksmith hammer, Gordon then handed me a sword made of steel. One word to describe this thing is that it's heavy. Other than lifting it, I don't think I can swing it like a regular swordsman. " Too heavy? How about using you're mana to make it lighter? " " Even though you say that, I have no idea how? " " Simply focus you're mana into the sword. " Gordon grab another sword in the forge to demonstrate me how. He closed his eyes as he concentrated. The small engraving right next to the chappe on Gordon's sword started glowing. So the purpose of that engraving is to channel mana into the weapon. Though no matter how easy it might look, I still don't get the idea how. " What do you think? Easy right? " " My apologies master, but I still don't know how.. " " Think of it like a circuit connecting your body to the sword. " Gordon continued to show me how, but I still wasn't able to do it. We tried again and again but the results are the same. Gordon concluded that something might be wrong with my body that's why he decided that we visit a friend of his in town. It wasn't that far from the shop but it is located in an area where not many people frequent to. " Here we are, no matter what happens do not be rude. " " When you say it like that it's starting to get creepy master. " From the outside, it's a house that looks like it belonged to a witch. We continue inside the creepy home and there, it's as gloomy as I expected. Layers of dust and sticky cobwebs cover every surface that I could visibly see. Because there's not much natural light coming in, the interior is really dark despite the time being close to noon. " Hmmm? Gordon? I told you I don't want to be bothered at this time of the day right? " A calm and soft voice came from within the darkness. Gordon bowed his head right after, so I did the same. " My apologies Sasara-san, something came up that I want you to have a look at right away. " " Is it regarding that boy? " " Yes, I've been worried that something has happened to his mana circulation, resulting in him not being able to use any. " " Then you may leave him here... " " As you wish.. " Before leaving, Gordon gave me a pat in the back and said " Don't die. " Which furthers scares me what could happen in this darkness. Suddenly, blinding light envelop the entire room. When I rub my eyes to adjust to the brightness, there, I found a small girl with dazzling purple hair, levitating off the ground. She quickly approached me without saying a word and looked all over my body. " What's you're name boy? " " It's Reimuz... " I answered instinctively to her question. Though she calls me boy, her looks are much younger compare to mine. You could even say she's younger than me by a few years. So why is a girl like this acting as if she's older? Which reminds me about Gordon's words before we entered this place. No matter what happens, do not be rude. And besides, her big and round purple eyes makes her look more cute rather than scary, although the two oddly shaped horns coming out of her head are quite menacing. " Fufufu, you're an interesting human.. " " What do you mean? " " It's been a few hundreds years since somebody called me cute.. " She doesn't seem like she's lying about her age. And she can read minds? " Fufufu, really fascinating, the answer to your question is yes. I can read minds.. " " What the? Then I don't need to explain right? " " Before I say anything about that, show me your left hand first. " She proceeded to inspect my palm. Using her fingers to trace something I do not know. " Hmm... There's nothing.. Nothing at all. " " As I suspected. I'm originally from a world where magic is a mere fairy tale. " " Fufufu, I'm more surprised by your reaction. Most people in this world heavily relies in magic. You could even say it's a magic-driven world. And yet, you are not bothered? " " Is it really that hard to be unable to use magic? " " Find out for yourself.... Fufufufu!! " Her sadistic laughter continues to ring inside my head as she disappears and the room was once again covered in darkness. Seeing no more purpose in staying there, I left to meet up with Gordon. I don't think I'll be able to get used to this magic thing. But I am a little disappointed to the fact that I can't use any. " How did it go? " " Nothing great master... From what she said, I can't use magic. " " Hmm.. I guess as much. " " You don't seem surprised? " " I know of a boy who has a similar case like you. " According to Gordon, magic isn't just about casting spells. You can also strengthen your body using mana and you can imbue mana to many different kind of things. Like a kitchen knife to cut things more fluidly, or a pot to enhance the taste of the food and so forth. With proper training, you can even cut through metal like butter using a sword, or crush a boulder with your bare hands. Even swords that were forged with mana are a lot sturdier. That's why people who can't use mana or spells are considered useless in this world. " So, can I still become a blacksmith master? " " You can. Don't let something this small stop you. Even if you cannot use magic, you're still a young man full of potential. " You're right master ahaha... I should just put more effort into my training. " My training just started and I'm already facing the biggest slump. I'd never use magic before so it's not like it'll hinder my life knowing I don't have mana in my body. But a life without magic in a magic driven world. I wonder, what will my future bring? Gordon then gave me the rest of the day off to familiarize myself in town. He also gave me a silver coin as an allowance. When I ask him what can I do with a single coin, he just replied with " That's a lot. " I still don't know the currency in this world so it might be a good idea to start learning it right now. Which reminds me, I haven't seen Eryn. It would have been great if we could tour the town together. Oh well, even if I'm by myself, it's still interesting to sightsee. The town has three entrances. One is the south gate near Gordon's shop and the other is to the east where me and Eryn entered from. The last entrance is the north gate which is also called the main entrance. This town also has many many beautiful architecture. Like the water canal that stretches far beyond. Houses that are made in brick with tile roofs. The stone walls surrounding the town. A circular fountain in the central plaza. Street lights that are probably powered with magic. And most of all is it's busy populace full of merchants. A very outstanding view so to say. " Hey there young man. Judging by the hammer you carry, you're a blacksmith right? " " That seems to be the case. Can I help you with anything sir? " While I was admiring the view of the town, a suspicious old man approached me. From his appearance, I would say he's some sort of an adventurer. " If you're looking for a place to unwind, I can show you this good place that I found. They serve some really nice food and booze. Just buy me a few drinks and I'll take you there. " " I'm sorry sir... I'm not really interested in drinking.. " I declined his offer because I have no time for such things. The sun is about to set and I still have a lot of shopping to do. Also, I'm not crazy enough to follow a random stranger just like that. " A shame.. I heard they just got a new worker and she's an effu. You know how Effus are said to be very beautiful. " " What the, really?! An effu?! Where can I find this place? " " Buy me a few drinks inside and I'll take you there. " " Deal! Let's go right away! " An Effu in this town can only mean Eryn. My imagination is running wild. Who knows what kind of shady things she's being forced to do. Maybe they're making her wear a really embarrassing outfit right now? If so, I have to see. I told the old man to hurry so we sprinted to the location. We ran towards the east gate since that's supposedly where this bar is located. " Here's the place kid. " The old man stopped in front of a country looking house with a big wooden chicken on the roof, similar to a weather vane. " Whew... alright, lets come in. " I opened the furnished wooden door and inside is a small and cozy looking pub. The walls are colored brown and the lights give a pleasant feeling. On the other side of the bar is a middle-aged woman catering to the guest that were sitting over there. " Welcome to Saphir's---, Reimuz?! " " Yo Eryn-san, you look beautiful in that dress. " Her pleasant smile was immediately replaced by a scowl. She's displeased in a slightly embarrassed way. Eryn is dressed up in a frilly outfit with a short skirt. Even though she's irritated and is not smiling, I still find her very cute. No, that's wrong. It's exactly because of that that she's so cute right now. " What do you want Reimuz? Can't even work properly with you here. " " I'm sorry. I just wanted to meet you. " " Oh, if it's about you groping my chest you don't have to worry about that. " " I see, that's reassuring... Wait, I did wat?! " " BECAUSE I WILL NEVER FORGIVE YOU FOR THAT. " Eryn's voice sounded like she wanted to kill me. I grope her chest? When? Ah, I finally remembered. This sin that I have forgotten. It was that night when Eryn unexpectedly rolled down on her bed leading to us sleeping side by side. No matter how many times I tried to wake her up, it was futile. She slept like a log while cuddling my arm. Afterwards, she woke up in the morning seeing her clothes in shambles and herself shackled in my embrace. Eryn must have thought that I've done something inappropriate to her body. I wasn't even given a chance to explain myself(as usual) as she use every ounce of her strength to try to erase my existence. If I wasn't such a tenacious guy, I would've probably died. Gordon even had to call a "healer" just to fix my broken bones and thus, I spent all day recuperating. Being healed with magic is quite convenient but its not omnipotent. According to the healer, any severed limbs or intense wounds could not be healed easily. It also explains why I woke up on the bed this morning! But, is it really my fault? " Didn't mean to bother your lover's quarrel but I'd like to start drinking right away. " " Sorry Eryn, but can you get us a table? " " Tsch... Over here. " Eryn showed us to our table and quickly left. She's seems like she's very upset about what happened. How can I even clear myself up this time? Though Eryn in a maid outfit alone really made this trip worthwhile. Especially looking at that chest so small you would think she's a child, and her tiny little butt that shakes while she serve the guests makes her look like an angel. A sight that I can enjoy all day. |
lolifreak000fOct 26, 2014 3:08 AM
| Chapter 6: A date and a date? Saphir's Quiet pub. That's the name of this place. A place where the townsfolk drink and eat after a hard day of work. It is also a good place to gather information since the locals loves to brag when their drunk. From what I heard, It was about to close down a few days ago but luckily, the owner found Eryn looking for a job. She just started working here yesterday and ever since then, more and more customers started to come. I can't really blame them, Eryn is cute after all. So here I am, sitting by myself with a table that has a lot of empty mugs of beer. The old man quickly left as soon as he got his fill. He's just here to mooch off me for some free booze! It didn't really bothered me that much as I was able to see Eryn up close many times when she leans over to our table to deliver his drinks. Rather, I was glad to have that old man along with me. Though whenever Eryn comes to our table, she always has this sour look on her face that she wants to get rid of me as soon as possible. Ah, I'm really an eyesore huh? Because I didn't want to annoy her any further, I went to the counter myself to ask for my bill. " Ma'am, how much do I owe you? " " Oh, for you and your friend is a total of 20 copper coins. " 20 copper coins?! Good lord! It's that expensive? The only money in my pocket is that silver coin that Gordon handed me earlier. I don't think it'll be enough and I'll be embarrassed in front of Eryn. What do I do? " Ma'am, do you accept dish washing as payment? " " No. " " Ahahaha.... " She's smiling at me but I know she's really irritated inside. Nothing I can do, I'll just have to accept my punishment. But I'll at least give her whatever money I have with me. My hands tremble while I slowly reach to my pocket to hand her the silver coin. " My apologies ma'am, but this is all I have. " Surprisingly, the anxiety in the air disappeared. " So you do have enough. Hold on a second, let me go get your change. " What? I have enough and I even have change? " Or is silver worth that much more compared to copper? Soon after that, she handed me a small pouch of money full of copper coins. I couldn't believe it myself but this pouch in my hands is real. " There, 80 copper coins in total. Would you like me to count it in front of you? " " No, there's no need for that ma'am. " Based from what she just gave me, 1 silver coin is equivalent to 100 copper coins. I assume there's more types of coins out there but it isn't that hard to figure out. Similar to the metric system in my world where they use multiples of ten. Very easy to remember and can be treated like childsplay. This actually makes more sense than a piece of paper having more worth than a coin but it's too troublesome to carry such huge amount of money. Whoever invented their currency is an interesting fellow. " By the way, what is your relationship with my girl here? " " Oh you mean Eryn? Ahaha, she's..... " Suddenly, my chest feels so tight. Just because of a single question. What do I think of Eryn? A friend? A benefactor? No, I think it's something deeper than that. I just can't explain why but she's someone important. " She's someone I treasure dearly. " The moment those words left my lips, I felt satisfied. A feeling that I couldn't properly describe is brewing in my chest. " That's good to know. " I shyly scratched my head in response. The look that she's giving me right now is that of a parent caring for her child. Worried what will happen to her daughter in the future if she leaves her onto the hands of a young man such as myself. Or maybe I'm just over thinking things. " Ma'am do you know why Eryn started working here? " * Pfft * Did she just snickered at me? But at least that's proof enough that she knows something. " Hahaha.. " " Do you know something then? " " Why don't you ask her yourself? Hahaha! " She continue to laugh at me in a mischievous way. Seriously, this old lady is proving to be far more annoying than I thought. Afterwards, I tried to talk to Eryn many times but she quickly denies me right off the bat. Even though I'm a customer, I was treated without respect. And the most infuriating thing is that her employer is just standing there, laughing at me. Before leaving the pub, I attempted to converse with Eryn one last time. " Eryn-san, I'm going home now. " " Don't talk to me you creep. " Ouch, her words stings. There's a certain degree of truth behind her words but this treatment is too much. I left the pub after that and decided to call it a day. As soon as I got back to the shop, I slept on the floor as usual. I didn't even bother eating dinner because for some reason, I already lost my appetite. In the end, Eryn still used the room that Gordon provided for us. As to why she kept on using that room despite her discord, I do not know. If she really thinks I'm disgusting, she could have just rented an inn right? The next day. I got up really early to start my morning exercise. My first objective is to be able to swing the steel sword that I received from Gordon freely. And to be able to do that, I need to increase my physical strength and stamina. I've done my own routine back home but I've never really tried anything that will push my body to the extreme. So following the next few minutes, I was able to do 45 push-ups consecutively before my arms gave out. And then, I started running across the whole town. People kept on glancing to my direction as I pass them by making me feel as if I'm doing something so idiotic. It took me approximately 3 hours to go around while running non stop. Never once in my life that I've felt so worn out. My legs and feet are numb and both of my arms are sore. If that's not enough, Gordon even sent me on a task to pick up some coals in the marketplace. The marketplace is a big separated space of land for merchants to set up their shop. On one corner is a vendor selling fruits, on the other is a vendor selling different kinds of instruments and so forth. Every spot my eyes laid on, I could see merchants of different kinds trying to make a profit. It is basically the perfect place to lose and make money at the same time. Just as I was making my way through a busy crowd of people, I unexpectedly bump into a little girl that is gawking in front of a certain stall. " Sorry mister, I didn't mean to be in your way. " A little girl that is covered in dirt and her clothes are tattered. To make things worse, she's not wearing any kind of footwear and if you look closely, you can see her feet covered in cuts and callouses. If I have to make a guess, she's probably around 8 years old. It seems that no matter the world that we live in, there are still children being ignored. " It's alright... By the way, is there anything you want to buy in this stall? " The stall only carries papers in different colors so it was kinda obvious, but she was still hesitant to say it. " It's okay... I don't have money... But anyways, thank you for asking mister. " Her sorrowful expression is too much for me to bear. That's why call it cheap sympathy or whatever, but I wanted to make this girl smile. Even if that smile will only last for a short duration of time. " Sir how much do these paper cost? " I turned my gaze to the merchant that is watching the stall. " 5 iron coins a piece for ya. " " Alright, I'll buy all of them. " 15 copper coins sadly parted with my coin pouch, but if it will make this girl happy, it's nothing. " Here, it's what you wanted right? " " Thank you Mister... but you really didn't have to.. " " That's alright. Kids your age needs to be more selfish. What are you going to do with those paper anyways? " " Do you know that if you make a thousand paper cranes and string them all together, a crane will grant you a wish? My mother used tell me so! " She sticks her chest out with pride as she continue her ridiculous story. I'm sorry little girl, but that's probably a lie made up by your mother out of desperation. Of course, I'm not cruel enough to break the fantasies of a child. It's just that I find it ludicrous. Her mother probably told her this story to give her false hope or to make her hold onto something. What a joke it's not even funny. " I see... That's an interesting story you know and besides where is your mother right now? " " Mother...... she... she was.... " She started sobbing at the mere mention of her mother. Is that perhaps a landmine just now? " It's alright... you don't have to tell me. " I gently pat her head to make her feel better. Honestly, she could cry in my shoulders if she wants to but I'll probably be seen as a pervert if that happens. " I'm not... I'm not crying. " *sniff* Snot is running on her nose as she held back her tears. " Good good, oniisan is here... " I continue to pat her head till she finally stops crying. After a few minutes, she finally regains her composure and started talking cheerfully like she did a while ago. " Mister, if you want to, I can teach you how to make papercranes. " " Alright, let's do that but not today since oniisan here is on an errand. " " Okay Mister. I'll see you in front of the fountain tomorrow! " " You keep saying mister when I'm only 18 years old you know. " " Oh, before I forget mister, crouch down and close your eyes for me! " " Close my eyes and crouch? Like this? " I slowly closed my eyelids in excitement. What kind of surprise awaits me I wonder? Though me kneeling down with my eyes closed is quite embarrassing. ..... * Kiss * I opened my eyes in surprise but she was already gone. All I know is that cold yet soft sensation touched my cheeks. It was instantaneous but I know what I felt is real. For some odd reason, I can't stop smiling. Am I now a pervert who gets turned on by little girls? I hope not. " Ah, I forgot to ask her name... " " Disgusting........... " A feminine voice that I know very well. I glanced behind me and I see Eryn with a disgusted look on her face. Did she perhaps saw everything? Not that it matters. I don't really have any more energy to listen to her complaints and if I start talking to her, she'll just get annoyed. So I ignored her. I pretended not to hear anything and continued on to find the coals that Gordon wanted me to buy. " Are you ignoring me you pervert?! " Say all you want but I'm not gonna pay attention to your provocations. I disregarded her harsh words and kept on walking. Finally, I saw a merchant selling coals and other kinds of ore. " Sir, I'm here for Gordon's regular. " " Oh, you're his new apprentice right? " After that, I got the coals that Gordon wanted me to get. There was a lot so I had to go and borrow a handcart. All this time, Eryn is still following me behind. " Oi! Reimuz! " Eryn finally mentioned my name. But it's not enough. I'll ignore her more and see what happens. " ............ " " Neh Reimuz... are you mad? " Her voice finally softens. It could be describe like a fine melody passing through my eardrums. My ears are glad at what they heard. " Don't worry about me, I'm just a pervert right? " " So you are mad... " " Not at all.. " That was probably too much but I don't care. All of this misunderstanding is her fault anyways. Why am I to suffer blame when I didn't do anything? Even though it's not my fault, I still lowered my head. I tried to apologized before but she never listens. " I'm going back to the shop now so yeah... later. " " Wait! I'm coming with you... " Eryn started walking next to me. She's fidgeting with her hair as she walks making me wonder if something is wrong. But I'm not going to ask her. Her cuteness is of no importance right now. No matter what happens, I won't start a conversation unless she does it first. " ........... " " ................" " N-Neh Reimuz.. do you want to go visit the tailor after this? " She was speaking in such a low tone I could barely hear it. But I understood what she meant. In short, she's asking me to go on a date with her. But what triggered this flag I wonder? Just yesterday she was so furious at me she doesn't even want me getting near her within an arms length. Earlier too she was treating me like I'm some sort of trash. And now she's asking me on date? I'm getting nervous. " Well, If master agrees to give me the day off then sure, but I don't think so because he looks so busy earlier I'm positive he'll need a lot of help by now. " Perfect opportunity to use this lie. A blacksmith never runs out of things to do. I'm sorry Eryn but I'm not ready to risk my life yet again. " I already ask him beforehand, and he said it's ok... " What the hell Gordon?! Are you trying to send me to my grave? I anxiously scratched the back of my head. " Alright then ahaha..... I'm in your care. " Having all of my escape route sealed, I was forced to agree. I wonder, how will I die this time? |
lolifreak000fOct 26, 2014 3:35 AM
| Chapter 7: What does it mean to be happy? Following the recent events, Eryn and I delivered the coals to Gordon. Gordon actually hasn't taught me anything regarding smithing yet because of my slow start. I'm just glad that he's such a considerate Master. So I proceeded to the forge and there, I see Gordon hammering a blade down. Because of the heat, you can see the moisture exuding out of his skin. I didn't realize before but he really does have some amazing muscles. " Master, I left the coals beside the furnace, do you need me to do anything else? " " Actually, I do. I prepared some overalls on the table. Wear that and come back quickly. I need you to hammer the other side of this blade with me at the same time. " I change to the proper clothing as instructed. A little bit bigger but it's not too baggy. Good thing Eryn was there watching so I didn't have to explain that she has to wait. All she did was nod her head in acknowledgement. Eager to use my hammer, I started to strike the side of metal that Gordon ordered me too. * clank clank * " Use your arms properly or it won't mold into shape!! " " Sir! " * clank clank * The heat is slowly getting into me and my previously sore arms are starting to gave out. Persevere! Persevere! " Put more strength into it Reimuz!!! " " Sir!! " * clank clank * And so, after more or less an hour of continuous hammering, Gordon finally achieved the shape that he wanted. My clothes are drenched in sweat and I stink! Gordon gave me a light tap in the back and said " Good job! " I'm completely drained of energy and I would want to lie on a bed as soon as I can. Unfortunately for me, I still have a task left for me to complete. And that is to accompany Eryn to the tailor. " Alright, I'll take care of the rest here. Go enjoy the rest of your day. " " Thank....you...f-for...your.....kind...words... " " Hahaha!! You'll get used to it. " Gordon always start his morning early in the forge and finishes up at night time. If an hour inside the forge can cause me this much fatigue, I fathom to think how I can last over there the whole day. But that's exactly why that I have to try. Because I'm weak and In comparison to others, I can only rely on how I forge my body with my training. And I just realized how fun smithing is. The idea of shaping the blade you created in your mind. It's truly what you call a man's romance. Just thinking about the weapon that I'll forge by myself makes me tremble in excitement. After helping Gordon and resting a little, I went to the dining room to look for Eryn. The forge is connected to the dining room so it's not that far. It's actually just a few steps away. In there, I saw Eryn just quietly waiting in place. " Yo Eryn-san, do you want to go now? " I greeted her with a smile as I sat right next to her. When she's being quiet like this, it's hard to tell what she's thinking. " Mmh, but you might want to change out of those clothes first. " Now that she mentions it, I'm still wearing the overalls that I got from Gordon. Aside from the clothes that Eryn lent me, I only have my uniform left. So I quickly change into that. I wonder how the people in this world would view this type of clothing? Does my black blazer make me look like a rich noble's kid? I'm not even sure how she got the blood off but it's all good now. Though the tiny little hole in it reminds me about that scary experience. I was so busy I haven't had the chance to think about it. For now, I've decided to just push the dark thoughts away from my mind and live as I go. I still haven't found a way to go home anyways so it's useless to think about it right now. Eryn leads the way and I followed her shortly from behind. She's noticeably happy so I'm guessing she's in a good mood. According to her, the tailor or also known as the clothing shop is located near the town square. The town square can be easily spotted because of the circular fountain in the middle. A very good choice of landmark. The tailor from what I remember in games, is a person who's profession is to make different kind of clothing. Other than that, they can also create thread from natural resources such as wool or leather to weave fabric. Basically, they're the person that you would want to see if you want some new clothes. So why does Eryn wanted me to come? Does she need my opinion on her clothes? Outside the shop is a loom and a spinning wheel. The productions tools you would need to make fabric, silk, leather, straps and etc. I even know how to operate such tools but I don't think my real life dexterity is that high, so I'll pass on that idea for now. Now that I remember, I can make papercranes to increase my hand dexterity. Kukuku, it's perfect since that little girl from before will teach me how to make one tomorrow. Weaving has a lot of small details so I have to make sure that my hands can move as fast as my eyes. Just like that leveling guide I once read about weaving, this world seems to follow the same guidelines. " Reimuz? Is something wrong? " Ah, I'm feeling ecstatic I didn't realize I was already showing a blissful face. " Sorry, and it's nothing. Shall we come inside? " Eryn knocked on the door a few times before entering. * knock knock * " Come in! " A young girl who seemed to be folding clothes greeted us as we enter. She looks a little chubby because of her round face and the clothes she's wearing marks a class of simplicity. Her brown shoulder length hair that is neatly tied back and her plump cheeks makes her look really cute. " Hi and welcome to the only clothing store in Saphir. How many I help you--Eryn? " " Agnes? It's just you today? " So these two know each other? It's starting to get really suspicious. " Yes unfortunately, sister went out earlier this morning. She said she'll be back by the end of the day though. " " Must be hard. " " Don't worry about it. I love to help out my sister's business. " The two continue their friendly conversation. Looks like I was forgotten but I don't mind. Seeing Eryn chat to a friend casually like this makes me feel at ease. After all, I don't really know what she's doing most of the day. " Oh and you might be? " " Sorry for the late introductions but my name is Reimuz. " And I bowed my head to properly introduce myself. Establishing a proper friendship is a must and men must always be respectful. " I see... Reimuz huh? * pffft * " She chuckled a little while she tries to suppress her laughter. That snicker again! Are all of Eryn's friend this rude? Or does the fault lies to myself I just don't realize? Whatever the reason, It's annoying. " Umm... is something wrong with me? " " Nothing and I apologize. I'm just happy for Eryn. " " Agnes! Can you just do your job? " Eryn's face is dyed red all the while she complains. Our gazes met for an instant but she hurriedly look the other way. What did I do? " Oi, Reimuz! Don't get too full of yourself. I'm only doing this because of guilt okay? Only because of that! HMMP! " Eryn crossed her arms on her chest and her mouth is distorted in embarrassment. Such a lovely sight for me to enjoy. She said it's because of guilt, so that can only mean one thing. Eryn wanted to repay me because of what she did beforehand! And here I thought Eryn invited me here because of a date, but I'm a fool to not realize. Well, I'm just glad it's not something I would need to risk my life for and I'm happy that she's avoiding me not because she's mad but because she's conscious of what she did. " Ahaha... I get it. So, what do you want me to do Agnes-san? " " Just follow me over here.. " She guided me on a separate room in the back. A small room without any windows. " Alright then, strip. " " What?! " I let out a shriek in retort to her statement. This little lady just said strip right? No, calm down myself. A tailor asking you strip means she needs your measurement. It doesn't mean anything at all! " Do I have to take them all off or just my top? " " Just the top. " " Well say so! " After that, she proceeded to take my measurements. I can feel her soft and small fingertips slowly meeting my bare skin. It's a ticklish and erotic feeling that is enough to make me hard in amusement. " I'll be measuring your pants next so don't move. " " Okay, I won't. " When seen from behind, it might look like a scene that it came straight from an eroge. Her face so close to my doder is making me feel unsteady. Whittle down my boy, whittle down. " Alright, it's finish. You can relax now. " " Whew... I feel like I've lost a few years of my life there. " " Should I tell Eryn about your peculiar behavior? " " Please don't. " Afterwards, I put my shirt back on and went out of that small room to see Eryn. " Is it done? " " Ahaha... yeah... " " I'll deliver the clothes to the shop as soon as their done. " " Thanks for your help Agnes. " " No problem. It was fun seeing Reimuz's reaction tehehe. Come again! " Agnes naughtily smirk at me as she saw the two of us off. Don't 'tehehe' me dammit. It's like she's saying that she'll keep that moment a secret in exchange for something. Well, It did erect a little so I guess I'm at fault too. Eryn and I went back to the shop walking together. " Thanks for having some new clothes prepared for me Eryn... " " Don't worry. It's my fault for being impulsive anyways. " " I'm sorry if I acted like a jerk. " " You should! But me too, so we're quits now right? " " Of course.. As long as you don't severe any of my limbs, I'm fine with getting hurt. " " I think I should dislocate more bones next time. " Eryn's face finally lightens up with my joke. She probably felt really bad at what she did but too embarrassed to apologize. Her prideful self got into the way. But seeing those kinds of reactions from her, especially her very gentle side made me say it's worth it. What can a few broken bones compare to that meekly obedient Eryn? Now I'm honestly thinking that I quite enjoyed that punishment.. in a different way. As we we're walking side by side, she interrupted me by pointing something across the street. Eryn's fingers lead to a stall that sells accessories. " Do you want to check that stall before we go back? " " ... I want to see what they have. " We approached the man watching the stall. He has this smug look on his face portraying a hint of arrogance and greediness. Probably one of those merchants that tends to take advantage of customers who doesn't know a thing about their stuff. " So, did you find anything interesting Eryn? " " Mhmm... but it's too expensive. " Her eyes sparkled while looking at a set of earrings that is decorated with small beads. The small beads are colored green and they glitter like an emerald. As I look into it closely, I notice how much It reminds of me Eryn's eyes. It's simple yet beautiful and radiates a feel of a refined delicacy. " Sir, how much do these earrings cost? " The merchant glance at my direction for a moment. Like he's sizing my worth. I understand all too well what he's doing. He's trying to see if I know anything regarding his merchandise. I couldn't read the price tag after all. " 2 silver coins for a pair of those jade earrings. " " Why so expensive? " " The beads are made from precious emerald if you don't know. " Made from Emerald? Don't lie to me. From my observation, this town's canal extends to an ocean. That means that the ocean is not too far from this town. Meaning, they get a direct supply of materials from the ocean by a port town close by. So how does that relate to this earring? Once I crafted a pair of earrings from a game. I was still a newbie back then so I hunted all the materials by myself. The earrings I happened to be crafting needed some corals from the ocean to make. Those same corals are process into beads to imitate a jewel. And that's why I know that these earrings aren't made from Emeralds. If it is, the price should be far higher than that. And a market stall as small as this sells jeweled accessories? You're just asking to get robbed old man. " Hmmm, 2 silver coins huh? Hmmm.... " I look at the accessory up close and pretended to analyze them. " Hmmm, this looks more like the corals that you'll find from the ocean nearby.. " " The si-similarities are easy to spot huh? Hahaha.... " A sweat drops down on his face reassuring me that I have already exposed his lies. He didn't think for a moment that a young guy such as myself would know a little bit about trade routes. " Look old man... I'm not gonna say anything. I just want a fair price and a little bit of discount. " I talk to him in a hushed voice further amplifying the intensity that he's feeling. " Gah, Alright!! I'll sell it to you for 20 copper coins! If I go any lower I won't be able to make money. " " Thank you very much. " * Ka-ching * After such an easy bargain I handed the earrings to Eryn. She wore it immediately and happily smiled at me. " What do you think? Does it suit me? " " Yes it does.... " I am near speechless. That delighted expression she's making and that adult expression of hers so different from usual. " Thank you Reimuz, I'll treasure it. " " Su-Sure..... Ahaha... " My heart is pounding. I wonder, is obtaining happiness really this easy? or am I swept in an invisible current that I don't realize? A pawn to amuse whoever brought me into this world. Whatever their purpose is, I'll simply swim against it. |
lolifreak000fOct 20, 2014 3:56 PM
| Chapter 8: Pillar of support. Today, I find myself standing in front of the beautiful circular fountain, in the middle of the town. I'm supposed to meet this little girl that I met back in the marketplace yesterday and she'll teach me how to make papercranes. To increase my life skills, starting from the very bottom is the most suitable idea. Learn how to make papercranes with this girl, then I'll hop onto weaving and eventually tailor my own clothes. Blacksmithing isn't just about hitting metal as well since most of the necessary leather material for the handle requires you to weave, and it's a very basic knowledge in games that you do not ask another person to do it for you. You learn the skills to make them yourself! But that still doesn't cover my biggest problem, and that's to make some extra money. Acquire some bankroll first then start my own business. With my current abilities, I don't think I can go out and hunt monsters in this world. That means I can't gather the necessary materials that I would need to make money. Giving me the only option to buy and sell for now. To be a profitable resseller, I need to know how the goods flow in this town. What could sell for good and what's in season. Ah, I'm going to get busy. " Reimuz? What are you doing out here by yourself? " As I was indulge in deep thought, a young lady approached me. Her clothes produces a sweet scent of freshly baked breads. It was Agnes from the clothing store. " Hmm.. Agnes-san? What can I help you with? " " So you answer a question with another question? Nothing really, I'm just curious since you have this troubled look on your face. " " Ah, my apologies. I was thinking of how to make some extra money . Do you know of anything? " She closes her eyes for a moment then gives a slight nod. Looks like she thought of something. " How about you take on a sharpening request? You're studying to be a blacksmith right? " " Sharpening? That's it! You're a genius! " I grab Agnes's hand and shake it vigorously in happiness. " Haha... you don't have to. " She turned the other way as she speaks showing a type of embarrassment. I guess holding a girl's hand randomly like this isn't exactly right. I let go of her hand right away and started apologizing. " I'm sorry, I didn't mean to. " " That's the first time a boy held my hand you know.. " " Ahaha... " " Hey Reimuz, do you think I should lose more weight? " Let me say it again. Agnes is a little chubby but it's not like she looks bad. But I understand her concern though since girls are very mindful of their physical appearance. " I don't think so. I think Agnes-san's round face is really cute. " I just honestly said what's on my mind. If that offended her, then I can only accept my punishment. " Hehe, thank you Reimuz. I feel more confident now. " " Glad to be of help. " She smiled radiantly and quickly left. After I watch her disappear in the crowd, I close my eyes and went back to thinking. Sharpening huh? It certainly will help me but I wonder why Gordon hasn't told me anything about it. Does it concern of using a tool that is powered by magic? That's the only plausible reason that I could think of. " Mister, mister! " Seems like while I was deep in thought, another annoyance has arrived. Without even looking, I already know who it is. The only one who calls me mister is that little girl. She is a young girl wearing clothes that are a little too big for her. Her hair is colored brown and her cookie colored eyes sparkle with curiosity. With her baby face, she would look like a little doll if not for her always covered in dirt. But I guess that's part of a little girls charm. " Yes? I've been waiting for quite some time. How are you? " " Good! Let's go to the church first before we start! " " Wait, you haven't even told me your name. " " It's Meina! " She excitedly grab my hand and lead me to this so called church. We stop in front of a carefully designed structure made from concrete, covered by a gabled roof. The main entrance is arched, and within it are two large wooden doors. Above the entrance is a stained glass window portraying a girl? No, a goddess would be a more suitable word. Outside the building are kids playing around that are probably similar to Meina's age. Definitely church like. " Let's go inside mister, I want to introduce you to someone. " I'm starting to get nervous. The wooden doors made a creaking noise as I slowly opened them. The inside of the church is pretty huge. Natural light flows in from the 6 arched windows surrounding us on each side. At the very end is a classic looking altar decorated by different kinds of flowers and plants. Definitely church like. " Meimei? What did I tell you about running around barefooted? " " I'm sorry.. " A woman who is wearing a plain black dress like that of a priestess started scolding Meina right away. Her brown hair, in contrast to her fair skin, hangs down below her shoulders. Her oval face and gentle brown eyes convey a relaxed and demure expression. A very beautiful woman with nice curves. After a while, she finally notices my presence. " I'm sorry if Meimei bothered you to come here. " She slightly bowed her head to me. Surprise by her actions, I did the same. " No need to apologize. I'm here because I asked Meina to teach me how to make papercranes. My name is Reimuz and you are? " I extended my right arm to her to initiate a handshake. She accepts it gracefully and even showed me such a captivating smile. " I'm Sister Amelia, the one who's in charge of this church. I'm sure it is the will of the goddess Agrias that we have met today. " " A pleasure to meet you. " Goddess Agrias? Is that the name of their deity? " So, Sister Amelia was it? Umm, is this church like an orphanage? I saw a lot of young children outside it made me wonder. " " Very perceptive of you Sir Reimuz. This church also indeed function like an orphanage. We house children like Meina who are abandoned by their parents though we cannot take them all in, we try to as much as we can. " " My mother didn't abandon me!! " Meina interrupted our conversation by shouting. She looks like she's about to bursts in tears. I remember she has the same reaction when I ask her about her mom. " Meina, you don't have to shout like that. " I gently stroke Meina's head to calm her down. She's whimpering like a small animal while I pat her head. Little by little, she finally settled down. " Thanks for the pat Mister. " " ONII-SAN! Not mister. " " Oniisan? What is that? " Meina stares at me bewildered. Dammit, don't destroy my dreams like this. But her reaction is certainly weird. Aside from Gordon, I don't think I've seen someone use honorifics like I do. Does that mean there's a bug in the automatic translation? But if there is, Eryn would've reacted when I called her "Eryn-san". Hmm, the mysteries keeps on piling up. " It doesn't mean anything. That's my nickname so you can just me call me 'Onii-chan' instead of Mister. " " Okay, onii-chan. You can just call me Meimei too! " The moment those words left her tiny lips, I felt incredibly happy. My heart is in bliss! One of my dreams is to be called big brother by such a cute little girl like her. I didn't think that dream would be fulfilled in this fantasy world. All hail Aestrea! " Alright then Meimei, can you show me how to make papercranes? " " Okay, onii-chan! Follow me! " After that, we made papercranes along with Sister Amelia. Time flew by really fast as we were having fun. When I check the time, it was already late afternoon! I said my goodbyes to the both of them and hurriedly left. But on my way out, Sister Amelia stop me on my track. " Is something the matter? " She's showing such a flustered expression I already know she's about to ask me a favor. " Sir Reimuz, I am embarrassed to ask you of this but I just wanted to let you know that we also accept donations. Each little bit helps preserve the children's future. " What to say? I'm not an ally of justice or anything like that. But when a pretty lady like this asked me for a favor, how can i say no? She threw down her pride just for the sake of those children. When I think about it like that, it's making it all the more harder for me to refuse. I took my little coin pouch out of my pocket and handed her 25 copper coins. All the money that I have left now is a mere 20 copper coins. " Thank you for your generosity, Sir Reimuz. This will certainly last for a few weeks. " " That's good to know. Also, you can drop the 'sir'. Just Reimuz is fine. " I smiled shyly at her and my cheeks felt warm. That wasn't too cheesy right? " Alright. May the will of the Goddess be with you, Reimuz. " " Thank you. " I bowed my head again before leaving. Since that task is done, I went back to the shop right away. The sky was already dark when I got back and I see Gordon in the dining room just silently sitting on his chair, enjoying his drink. I greeted him right away to show my respect. " Good evening Master, how was your day? " " Oh Reimuz, it was the same old regular day. Where have you been? " " Sorry, I was at the church learning how to make papercranes. " " That's good. It'll make your hands more dexterous. " We have a pleasant atmosphere while we converse. Seeing that the time is right, I decided to pull a chair next to him to ask him about 'sharpening'. " Master, do you do any sharpening request? " " I do, why do you ask? " Gordon set his beer aside and gave me his full attention. Although we we're just joking around earlier, now I'm starting to feel nervous. But there's no point in worrying now. This is too important. " I need to make money, fast. " " Why? " " I want to help the church even just a little bit. " " Hahaha, that's good. It's good to have a purpose! It's because of that cute Sister right? " " Ehh? Not really. " Gordon gave me a tap in the back while I laugh at his joke. It feels like a little bit of the tension was lifted. The reason why I started to pick up the sword is because according to him, swinging the weapon itself will help me imagine the weapon that I will forge in the future. It's like the most basic prerequisite skill that I have to accomplish before I started smithing. I understand the reason very well since smithing is a very complicated and detailed work. It's not something I can do half-assed. So when I ask him about sharpening, I felt like he would think that I was rushing my training. It was good that I was able to make him realize. " I'll show you how to do it tomorrow. Oh, before I forget. Eryn made some food and your share is on table. Eat it quickly and go upstairs, she's waiting for you. " I look back at the table and saw a bowl of stew. It was already cold but it still tasted good. Meat is always welcome and it's quite a luxury so I didn't waste a bite. I lean back in my chair, close my eyes, and think about the events yesterday. I'm pretty positive I didn't do anything to upset Eryn. She's supposedly working at this time of the day at the bar so her being here right now is definitely weird. After enjoying my food, I went upstairs to meet her. * knock knock * " Eryn-san it's me... " " Enter. " Just after opening the door, I could already smell the nostalgic and pleasant smell coming from within. Inside is a beautiful elf, or an effu is what they call them in this world. She almost looks humane but she's clearly not. Besides her godly features, there's just that mystic air around her. A type of beauty you cannot properly describe. I stare at her fascinated. Suddenly, my chest feels so tight. What could it ever mean? " Reimuz, I've been meaning to tell you something. " She smiles as soon as she sees me. But deep within those beautiful green eyes of her lies a hint of sadness. " Yes? What is it about? " I casually sat right next to her. She doesn't look surprised or annoyed so I thought it was okay. But her expression suddenly become sullen that I had no choice but to notice. " Reimuz... " " Yes? " She close her eyes and presses her hands against my chest. I can sense her reading what is inside. My heart is throbbing like mad. " I'm thinking of going back home in 2 days... " " Ahh.... " Her words are something more than I expected. It feels like something stabbing through my heart. Eryn has been my biggest pillar of support ever since I mysteriously appeared in this world. Even if she could be violent and quickly misunderstood things. I wanted to tell her to stay. To tell her how I feel. But I couldn't find the confidence to utter such words. |
lolifreak000fOct 26, 2014 9:52 AM
| Chapter 9: When that Pillar came crashing down. The warm glow of light we're filtered through my eyelids as the cool morning breeze makes it's way past my cheeks. Another beautiful day has arrived in this fantasy world. I should be happy that I'm alive and well, but for some reason, I don't have the energy to stand up. Eryn's piercing words from last night still remains in my head. Because of that, I wasn't able to sleep properly. Going home in 2 days, so that's mean she's going back home tomorrow. Time is short and I still haven't said anything. What can I even say in that situation? It saddens me, but I know that I can't do anything to stop it. Who am I to tell her what to do in her life? I raise my lifeless body out of the sheet I have been using to sleep. I quickly wash my face, towel it off and slap my cheeks to wake myself up as i look at myself in the mirror. Afterwards, I went to the backyard to do my morning activity. Instead of doing push-ups, I attached the steel sword to my waist, my hammer to my back and I started running. That extra weight really did make a difference and I'm running out of energy twice as fast. Some people greeted me when I pass them by, others continued on what they were doing. Everybody is working hard. As I run through the town like this, I keep thinking about a lot of things, mainly things regarding about myself. What if I just stay here in this town and live the rest of my life peacefully? Go home and come back? And then what? How can I even go back home? At least over here I have someone that will be worried about me. At least over here I have someone that will guide me. I thought for sure this happy days would continue but I was wrong to believe that. Everything comes to an end no matter what. It's just a matter of day or time, and maybe the place. Eventually, my thoughts leads me to one thing. I want Eryn to stay, in that small room, with me. But how I can ask her to do that? Should I confess and hope for the best? Life isn't that easy. After finishing my morning jog, I went back to the shop to greet Gordon. Since the portable grinder that we have in the shop is powered by magic, we walk to a nearby waterwheel with a grinder that is powered through the canal. Everybody can use it but they have to pay a certain fee. According to Gordon, this will also be the place that I will use once I start grinding blades. He brought a few knives along with him for me to sharpen as a training material. With his guidance, I was able to properly sharpen a couple of knives, though it took me more than half a day to do so. I didn't realize it will be this time consuming but since I needed the money, I still did it anyways. Once that's done, I delivered the knives to a certain home back in town while Gordon himself went back to the shop. For sharpening 2 knives, I was able to acquire 4 copper coins as compensation. It seems like the knives itself are quite expensive and since they do not want to buy a new one right away, they rely on sharpening. Compare to my dirt cheap compensation, the weapons that Gordon forged go from a few silver coins to a near hundred. But since he has to buy his own materials, he has to invest quite a few just to make a single one. Even though I said that, his pockets are still pretty deep. It didn't struck me before, but It really is hard to earn money in real life. And here I was wasting money like it was nothing. I want to punch myself. When I got back to the shop, it was already nightfall. I halt and think to myself before entering. What I should I tell Eryn when I see her? Thinking it would be futile, I decided to take a stroll instead. It's the first time that I walk leisurely out in the streets at night, making me notice a lot of different things. The visible moon and it's stars that can be seen throughout the dark night sky. The streets that were swallowed in darkness. The occasional shadow of a person across the roadway. The cold night breeze recreating a howling sound. It is a very engaging sight. And just like that, I continue to stroll with no destination in mind. Just aimlessly walking by myself as I observe the silent streets that were wrap in moonlight. After a while, I sat on of the wooden benches on the side of the street to take a rest. Once again, my mind is filled with thoughts of the woman that I care about. I look upward to the sky and close my eyes. ................. " So here you are..... " " Hmm... I hear the voice of an angel. " That voice that could be describe like a soft lullaby to my ears. When I opened my eyes, I see Eryn's face so close to mine. I could feel her breathing and directly smell the perfume applied to her silky blonde hair. " Eryn? " She sat beside me without saying a word. And after a moment of silence, she started to speak. " I was looking for you.. " " Is something wrong? " " You know I'm leaving tomorrow right? " " Yes. " Her eyes search the air like she's embarrassed as I watch patiently, and then she speaks again. " That means we won't be seeing each other after tonight. " " I see... " I just sat there quietly, while I listen to her, unmoved. Thinking to myself that I'll be able to send her off with a smile. " Say something!! " Eryn's face tinged red and her eyes are teary. Even though there's so many things that I wanted her to hear, my lips still refuses to move. " I guess I really don't mean anything to you even after all the time we've spent together?! " Eryn's sharp words penetrated the armor that I've been using to conceal my desire. Uncontrollable emotions took a hold me of me and I put my arms around her as she begins to cry. She returned my loving embrace, squeezing me affectionately. My heart is pounding, I know she can feel it too, now that we're so close. " Uuhh...hic...uuaah.. " She completely gives in to her tears as I hold her closer, so I stroke her head to calm her down. I'm such an idiot. If she didn't care about me, why would she tell me she's leaving? She could have just left then and there. But she didn't. " I'm sorry for being an idiot. " " Yeah... big idiot! I hope you hit your head... " " Haha... Eryn..even though I'm like this, I think about you all the time. " " Really?.. " " Yeah.. really. " She holds me tightly and turns her face to mine, but our faces are so close it's hard to look at each other. She then leans away from me slightly and puts her face in front of mine, making me notice her lovable features. Her golden hair. Her sharp and pointed ears that I would want to caress. Her eyes that are moist with her deep feelings. Her tender shoulders and slender arms, everything about her is beautiful. And then, for just an instant, our lips touch. It was a fleeting kiss. " Eryn I.... " " Mmmmh? " " Don't you think you've already played enough around here in this town, Lady Eryn..? " A hollowed voice echoed around the empty street as a mysterious figure appeared in front of us. It is a man of short stature and grayish wavy hair with similar ears to Eryn. He bears a scar in his face going all the way down through his left cheek and dark bags under his eyes. Dressed in a suit with a glossy finish and laces that can be used to adjust the width of his jacket. He emits an aura so serious, you wouldn't even dare cross paths with him. Whoever this guy is, I'm sure I'm not gonna like him. " Galvin... I already told you that I'll go back on my own! " Eryn freed herself from my embrace and stand up to confront the man. She has a frightened expression and though she tries to hide it, I can see herself trembling. Really, who is this guy? From their conversation and appearance, I would say their of the same race, so what is this air of hostility that I'm feeling right now? " Surely you jest milady. If this piece of human trash here told you he wants you to stay, you would've stayed, am I right? " " That is... " " So my hypothesis is correct then. Nevertheless, I will complete my mission and bring you back home safely, whether you like it or not. " Eryn took out the dagger that she has been concealing in her clothes. A simple looking knife with a wide blade probably used for stabbing. Her eyes narrowed and she quickly took a battle stance. Looks like she's serious on fighting that guy. " You don't think you can beat me by yourself right? " " I am fully aware of your strength Galvin... but so what? " Seeing Eryn's serious face, I drew my sword as well and stand beside her. " Reimuz... " I'm really nervous right now but with Eryn by my side like this, I feel like I can do anything. Suddenly, the mysterious man releases his malicious intent, smothering the both of us in his miasma. The oppressive air is making it hard for me to breath. [ Reimuz.... can you buy me 37 seconds? ] [ Alright, is that all? ] [ Galvin is known for his body fortification skills, his magic barriers isn't something that you can shatter with your sword. Focus on defense. ] I hate to admit it but I'm near useless right now. I don't even know how to properly use this sword so following my instincts is all I could do. After confirming our resolves, Eryn leap further back on top of a small house. She mutters quietly in a distance, probably casting a spell. I steel my already tense body and carefully watch the movements of the man in front of me. " You human pig... you will pay for corrupting milady. " In an instant, the distance between the two us has been removed and what seemed like compressed air filled his fist, as he land a blow on my stomach, blowing me a few meters away. What in the blazes just happened? The sword that I was holding went flying and landed stuck on the ground. Inexplicable agony filled my entire body, when I hit the wall, leaving a huge crevice behind. I groaned in pain and cough extreme amounts of blood as my vision sways side to side. * cough cough * " Still alive I see... " How many seconds has passed? 10? 20? Seems like holding out against this monstrosity is a lot harder than I imagined it to be. I forcefully tried to lift my beaten up body, all the while enduring that throbbing pain. Without even chanting, the moisture in the air around him rapidly freezes, forming small ice shards. " Let me hear you scream pig! " He then pointed his fingers at me, successively firing the ice shards surrounding him. With no way of evading, I simply hold my arms up and cover my face, waiting for the attacks to come. The frozen shards are as sharp as a well sharpened-blade and each hit that grazes my body stings. The chilly bolt that penetrated my legs inflicted the greatest amount of suffering. Once again, I find myself sprawled on the ground, full of cuts and all bloody. Ah, I'm really gonna die at this point. " Oh lord, who reigned the skies, show your retribution and strike thy enemies, Thunder!! " Is that Eryn's voice? I don't even know. All of a sudden, multiple thunderbolts rained from the sky, continuously attacking the unsuspecting enemy. It was such a majestic sight. I continue to cough blood when Eryn appeared by my side. She has this worried look on her face and she seems like she's about to cry again. " I'm sorry Eryn. I'm not so manly am I? " " Don't speak... " She presses both of her arms in my chest, transferring her warmth through my body. The intense pain subsided, and gradually, I was able to feel my arms and legs again. Is this healing magic? I'm still feeling feverish, but most of the pain has been removed. As I try to stand up, Eryn then fainted on my arms. Seems like she exhausted all of her mana energy from using that attack before. I carefully set her unconscious body aside and took my sword that was stuck on the ground. " Did we win? " I regretted saying those right away when the smoke thinned, covering the area of attack earlier, revealing the mysterious man. He's unscathed! No damage was sustained in his body. " As expected of milady, she was able to break one of my magic barriers. " All of that for nothing? The stress I've accumulated forced me to aggressively assault him. " Graaaaaaaaaah!!!!!!! " " Hah... Futile resistance. " With all my strength, I hack at him using my sword, left and right relentlessly. He didn't even try to evade and just conceitedly accepted all of my attacks head on. " An attack without magic reinforcement won't even tickle me. " The hell? Is this it? If I don't do anything, he'll take Eryn away from me. What can I do? " Oraaahh!! " * Ching * The sword that I was using was cut in half. As I stare at it bewildered, I was suddenly thrown into the air. My body flips into the air and spins before falling onto the ground. The results of his attack is me being a bloody mess. * cough cough * I really overdid it this time. " I should go before I attract any more attention. " With the snap of his fingers, black mist surrounded Eryn's body, levitating her from the ground. " Give...her....back.. " Never once in my life that I felt this powerless. No matter how many times I grind my teeth or clench my fist, all I can do is stare at his back as he slowly fade into the darkness, taking Eryn along with him. |
lolifreak000fOct 27, 2014 11:48 AM
| Chapter 10: Turning point The events of that night still lingers in my head. No matter how many people told me it's not my fault, I still can't stop blaming myself. Two days have passed ever since I was knocked unconscious by that guy. From what I was told, he used a spell that repelled other people from entering the area. Even with such advance magic, the disturbance and havoc that he caused is enough to break it away. People quickly gathered after hearing the loud noise but they only saw me alone, lying on the ground, all beaten up and bloody. They immediately brought me to the clinic and have the Healer look at my wounds. It took her two full days to nurse me back to health, even while applying healing magic to my injury. And here I am, after waking up from such a menacing nightmare, was told to stay another day to fully revitalize my body. " Most of your remaining wounds are internal, so I suggest you stay another full day to recuperate. " " Sophia-san.. right? I still haven't thank you for what happened the other day and now... " " Don't mention it. I'm just glad to see you're okay. Besides, how are you feeling? " Sophia is this town's registered healer. She helped me once before when I nearly died caused by Eryn's rampage. (lf notes: ^refer to chapter 5 lol) Sophia is a tall and slim lady wearing a ponytail with chestnut like hair and eyes that makes you feel calm and at ease. She is clothed in a grayish robe, with a muffler that covers her face slightly, making her look wise beyond her years. " Did...did an Effu visited me at all while I was sleeping? " " Sigh.. If you're talking about your companion, nobody has seen her ever since. What exactly happened? " " I.. I don't know... Everything happened so fast. " " You don't have to tell me if you don't want to but if you ever wanted someone to listen, I'm always here okay? " " Thank you.. " She showed me such a pure and captivating smile that made me smile to her in return. But no matter how much her smile makes me feel at ease, it still wasn't enough to mend my troubled heart. " Eryn... where in the world are you? " Hours and hours have passed while I just silently stared at the ceiling. Thinking that even though I'm in a different world, I still can't do anything. Is clenching my fist all I could do? With nothing to do, my attention shifted to the broken sword that is on top of the wooden table. I'm supposed to be a blacksmith but I don't even know how to properly take care of my sword. I grab it, close my eyes, and offered a silent prayer to my broken sword. " I'm sorry I had to treat you poorly. " As I hold it closely, I felt like it responded to my sorrow somehow. I chuckled at myself for thinking such a ridiculous idea and went back to bed afterwards. The next day. Gordon picked me up early morning as he inspect my body for any visible wounds. " Thanks for taking care of my reckless apprentice Sophie. " " Not a problem Gordon. Just doing my job. " Before we left, Gordon handed her a bag of money and we both bowed our heads to her in thanks. As we walk through the streets like this, it made me reluctantly think about the time that I've spent with Eryn. When I'm with her, some places looks the same and the others are very different. Everything is so vibrant and interesting but now, it feels empty. I'm already out of energy even though we haven't walk very far. Gordon isn't speaking either and is just quietly walking ahead of me. " How is your body feeling? " " I'm doing great master, much better than usual actually. " " That's good to hear then because you're resuming training today. " " Alright.. " I'm glad he didn't mention anything about Eryn but it also made me feel a little lonely. Before I knew it, we are already standing in front of the shop. Gordon went back to the forge as usual while I went outside the backyard to do my morning routine. A newly prepared steel sword was left outside, probably by Gordon, for my training. I pick it up and tried to do a suburi 100 times like how I've seen in games and anime. Using a steel sword instead of a shinai isn't exactly such a good idea and my wrist started hurting right away. I stop and slack off thinking it'll be pointless to continue. Suddenly, I find myself strolling around town, while I glance at every other girl that I pass by, hoping it'll be Eryn. I really miss her after all. Every time I think of her, something inside my chest stirs. Like I couldn't do anything to protect her. I'm so useless. Night has come too quickly as I was thinking so I decided to go home. I ended my day after eating dinner with Gordon. As usual, he didn't say anything about Eryn. Days past and I'm still trap in this vicious cycle. I feel like if I continue on like this, everything I did beforehand will be for nothing, but my body refuses to move. Gordon talks to me but he never mentions anything about Eryn. Makes me wonder if he knows that I'm wasting my life this past few days. Today is the same as usual and I went out in town to take a stroll. Just wandering aimlessly and doing nothing. " Reimuz? I came to deliver the clothes. " A voice so familiar called out to me but I didn't turn to return her greeting. Instead, I kept on walking and ignored that person. The same person persistently followed me as I walk. " Reimuz!! What's wrong with you? " I continue to ignore her attempts while I walk silently. After a while, she finally stop following me. When I turned around to see who it is, the person is already gone. That's good, is what I thought to myself. The dark sky quickly envelop the town, so I decided to go home. " How's your training lately? " " It's great! The new sword feels lighter than usual maybe it's because I've training hard lately, I've gotten stronger. " Gordon just simply replied " I see " and smiled at me. I should be happy that everything is alright, but why does my chest throbs in pain so much? Nonetheless, I still forced a smile in return while I tightly clench one of my other fist behind my back. Seeing Gordon relieved makes me feel pathetic. I just casually wear a smile in my face to deceive him. " Isn't it enough already? " " What.... what do you mean?? " " I do feel sad that you lied to me but, I know the one hurting the most is you. Though no matter what happened, you should accept the fact that Eryn is already gone. You should learn how to stand up for yourself!! If you want something, seize it with your own two hands! " He angrily grab my collar and I still couldn't say anything in return. Gordon, after all this time, knew about everything. Instead of deciding things for me, he wanted to give me freedom with my decision. He simply observed how I will continue to move forward with my life. But I failed him. I even had the nerve to tell lies. " You're my apprentice after all.. I'm here to guide you.. That's all.. " Gordon went upstairs to his room after that. After his manly speech, I just couldn't sit around any longer. I immediately went to our backyard and grab the steel sword that I left outside for a few days now. I shouted my lungs away while I kept swinging the sword. I didn't stop, even though both my arms are throbbing in pain. My muscles and wrist are hurting all over and yet, I feel so satisfied. So what if I'm weak? So what if I'm human trash? So what if I can't use magic? That night, I've decided something for myself. That I will go and meet Eryn once more even if it kills me. I returned to the house after swinging the sword as much as I can. My body is drenched in sweat and my muscles are swelling. Even though I just did something so stupid, I was glad. Both my mind and my heart feels so refreshed. Once I was inside, Gordon is already waiting for me. " So, what do you plan to do now? " " I.. I want to see her again. But with the way as I am right now, I feel like I cannot reach that goal.. Therefore, I'd like to grow stronger. " " Hahaha. Good! Very good! " Gordon continue to pat my back while I start a fire in the stove. " Master, I also want to fix my broken sword. " " Wake up early tomorrow and I will show you what needs to be done. " " Yes sir! " He prepared a bowl of hot soup to me before going back to bed again. I do not know why, but that soup tasted so good. Probably the best soup I've ever had in my entire life. With my new found feelings, I could be seen happily as if something is tickling me. I cleaned everything up and went upstairs to my room. After all this time, I only now realize how big this room is. Some of Eryn's stuff can still be found all over the room, most especially her big bag lying right beside the bed. I opened it not because I was hoping if she left her panties, but because I was curious to see what's inside. Surprisingly enough, her bag only contains a few accessories and a small bottle of perfume. It's probably the perfume she uses all the time after her bath. My lingering feelings aside, I took the bottle of perfume to keep it with me as a goodluck charm. Yes, I might just be a pebble now but even a person as insignificant as myself can still be recognize. I'll develop my skills, forge new things and become a real blacksmith!! |
lolifreak000fOct 23, 2014 4:45 PM
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