Chapter One: The Adventure Almost Begins
"...up...He's waking up!"
The boy sat up and noticed a girl wearing a red and yellow waitress outfit. She had bright red hair and a red bow that tied it.
"Pardon me, but who are you, and where am I? Also...who am I?" He asked.
"My name is Erin, and this is the Belos Traveler's Bar. All I really know is that your name is TJ. You looked pretty beat up when you got here so we've been looking after you."Erin explained to him."How do you feel? Can you stand?" He gave her a 'thumbs up', and as he leaned over to get out of the bed he stopped. "What's wrong?"
"Well...I'm kind of...you know..."He replied nervously.
"Oh...OH! I'll get out while you change! There are clothes on the wall right there that you can borrow!"
She dashed for the door and ran into the wall right beside it. Erin dropped the silver platter on her head after she fell, then got back up and left the room. TJ sat on the side of his bed and rubbed his face with the palms of his hands. "Ugh...I don't remember a single thing...what the heck am I doing here? When did I even get here and why?" He slapped his face twice to wake up and shook off the sleepy feeling that plagued him. "Sitting here questioning things won't solve it. I've gotta ask someone around here."
He got up and started to put on the outfit. It seemed to be traditional clothes from Belos. A cloak, a shirt, and clogs...what a strange set of clothes. Taking a glance around the room while he got dressed allowed him to take one last proper look at the room before he set off. The room was very well decorated, the walls were a tan colour with pink curtains and two windows on the far right and left of the room. Below the windows were potted plants and between the center curtains was a small silver table with a pink top and a candelabra resting atop it, also a large red banner hanging between them. The bed was a small bed fit for one with a brown headboard and white sheets with a matching white pillow. The blanket was different shades of pink with a diamond pattern spread across it. On the other side of his bed, he noticed a lovely blue guitar lined with pink and a golden music note on the edge of the base of the guitar. Near the top it had a large, ruby red ribbon carefully tied around it, and from that ribbon hung a golden necklace TJ approached it, he carefully examined the three items. He picked up the guitar, removed the necklace and upon closer inspection he noticed it was a locket shaped like a flower. He felt a bit of nostalgia come over him, and he shook it off. Then left the room and entered the hallway.
With a quick glance to the left and right, he saw a wooden ladder that led to the ground floor of the bar. On the right there was another door. TJ stared at it for a few moments then walked over and knocked on the door lightly twice. "If the other room is...well a room, this must be the bathroom." He mumbled quietly. Upon receiving no response he slowly opened the door releasing a slight creaking sound. It led to a simple bathroom, diamond shaped tiles painted a very light blue along with pink walls. Two red carpets rested by the sink and by the toilet. The toilet was an ordinary white matching the sink and a small open window with a daisy resting in a vase where the light of the sun could reach it.
TJ looked around thoughtfully and jumped back slightly as he noticed his reflection in the mirror. He placed his hands on his cheeks and whispered, "Is this...me?" He had a quiet delicate voice. His face flushed a little as he swayed back and forth giggling quietly. "Hee hee heeā¦" He stopped shortly after and frowned. "What am I doing?" He continued to examine his facial features and outfit. He had a fairly dark skin tone and large eyes behind a pair of yellow frame-less glasses. Not too large though. His eyes were only half open which made him look tired, but that of it which wasn't hidden could show his deep brown pupils. He wore a long light blue button-up coat with a long brown belt and a brass buckle. It had an orange line along the bottom and it was also sleeveless. Around his neck was a long and thick orange cloak that hung behind him to his knees. Below his shirt was a pair of navy blue jeans rolled up above the knees, and on his feet were a pair of clogs coloured red and yellow (one half for each colour) but they weren't as pointy as most people would expect them to be.
He brushed his bangs out of his eyes and took a good look at himself some more. He had long hair that hung above his shoulders, but gently rested against his head on all sides. He had a spiky cut, so his hair was cut long, then a few inches to the left or right there was a space and another long line of hair. The way it was cut made it almost seem as if his hair resembled spikes. On the front his hair was shorter so it covered most of his eyebrows and a part of his hair at the top seemed to be out of place because of the way it curved and pointed upwards. "...Cowlick..." TJ muttered under his breath desperately trying to flatten out the abnormal part of his hair. He poured some water on his hand and frantically tried again but to no avail. "Hmm...whatever!" He exclaimed somewhat frustrated. "Whoa what the-?" He turned his face to one side noticing a pair of red heart earrings on both his ears and...A kiss mark? In red lip stick too! TJ looked horrified for a moment and put his face into the sink, quickly turning the tap and desperately rubbing his cheek with one hand soaked in water while holding himself up with the other. "Good God what did I do before I got myself in this town!" The mark didn't come out and TJ eventually collapsed to one knee holding onto the sink with his head lowered.
Slightly fuming with anger he exited the bathroom and closed the door behind him, then looked below the platform to see the bottom floor of the bar. He could see Erin and someone else dressed the same as her, but some of her features were also the same. Either there was two of them or TJ was crazy. On the other side of the bar was two customers that seemed to be newcomer adventurers.
TJ snickered quietly and whispered, "Wow noobs." They wore clothes made of pelt, a band that rested on their heads and a bright yellow short sleeve shirt with a beet red collar. Also a pair of shorts with a belt, braces for both wrists and sneakers, all matching the shirt. He carefully climbed down the ladder and walked towards the exit where the waitresses stood. Behind Erin was the counter and on the wall was a cabinet with all sorts of tea cups of different shapes and sizes. What really caught TJ's eyes was the waitress who stood on the right side of the exit. TJ stared at her intensely for a few moments and she noticed his stares. She lowered her head slightly embarrassed and the glare from the sunlight reflecting on her glasses blinded TJ. He stumbled backwards and bumped into Erin causing her to lose her balance on one foot and fumble the platter she held with a cup of orange juice on it.
"Sorry!" TJ apologized quickly turning and freezing in place as he watched her trying to keep the platter flat. As she regained balanced they both let out a sigh of relief and she smiled at him. She held out one hand and explained,
"TJ, this is my twin sister Airin. We've been looking after you together with the owner." TJ turned around again to face her as she lifted up her glasses and held the silver platter flat against her skirt.
"N-nice to know that you're finally awake..." Airin shyly told him.
TJ blinked a couple times and looked away somewhat embarrassed himself and began, "thanks for looking after me all this time you two. I really appreciate it." They both smiled and nodded in agreement while TJ took a deep breath. "Right, I'm gonna get going now. My adventure is just beginning!" He told them proudly walking towards the exit.
TJ left the Bar waving to Airin and Erin, and on his way out he met the Bartender. "Hurhurhur! It's good to see you've finally awoken young man!" He said to him.
"Yes...thank you for taking care of me this entire time sir." TJ said with a bright smile. "No need to be so polite! You can call me Weldin."
The old man laughed and rubbed his white beard."Ahh...it seems like it was only yesterday that Iris had brought you here. Two years had gone by so quickly."
TJ immediately turned to Weldin and asked, "wait a sec, who's Iris?"
Weldin smiled and replied, "Iris...she is a very well known adventurer across Jienda. Some call her a Hero because of the amazing things she's done."
TJ calmed down and looked at his shoes for a few seconds. "So...what happened two years ago that caused me to end up here with no memory?" He asked Weldin.
"Well...Iris and her party were trying to capture a long time enemy named Choen Palm and to put a stop to her plans. Just as they had found her, they noticed a boy carrying a guitar and a straw hat on his back. He had attempted to take her down on his own and almost died trying, but never gave up. Before she could deal the final blow, Iris captured the boy and escaped the facility. When she returned to the towns to find him a safe place to stay but was rejected after they heard the results of the battle. But there was one bar..."
TJ rubbed his arm and said, "Ahh...I see now. Well then, thank you Weldin. I know what I have to do now."TJ took a deep breath and started to walk away as he looked back and smiled. He waved to Weldin and shouted, "Thanks again Weldin, for everything!"
Weldin chuckled and answered, "Take care my boy!"
