Mina returned to the room late that night. She was tired and drained from dealing that lazy doctor. She glanced to Claus's bed, she noted he was sleeping oddly compared to usual but she did nothing about it. She kicked off her shoes and pulled off her jacket before crawling into bed that night. She didn't fall asleep as quickly as she wanted. Her mind was full of questions and thoughts. Would Arc sequel on her now? Maybe they should leave before he wakes up tomorrow.
The better question was how the heck did he even find them?
Mina woke up early like she wanted to. As she pulled on her jacket she noticed something on the nightstand, a letter and key.
Sorry about this Mina! I snuck into your room while you were sleeping (I had no idea you and Claus were sharing a room. I hope you two aren't doing anything lewd! j/k.). With that crazy... thing... that came yesterday I guess things are way more complicated than what they originally looked like. I promise not to tell your parents about whats going on... I know it sounds weird but I mauled over it and it just, feels right. I'll leave you the key to my apartment in Steel City. There's a box of money hidden in the apartment for emergencies, so take it and put it to good use. I don't know where the box is although, sorry. Take care.
- Arc
Mina pocketed both letter and key. She approached Claus's bed and shoved him right out of it and onto his face. The shock of the shove and pain of the impact was enough to wake him up.
"Jesus Christ, what the hell was that for?!"
"Wake up loser, we're going to Steel City."
"That's no reason to shove me out of bed!"
"I'll be waiting in the lobby." and with that she left the room. Claus groaned. She could be such a bitch sometimes. Claus let out a sigh. He pulled his eye patch from ever his eye and stared into the mirror. Frustration and a tinge of disgust bubbled up.
How much longer did he have to live with this body?
He just wanted to rest...
"How much longer do we have to wait?"
"This is a waste of time! The humans have obviously sided with that witch! They must be exterminated!"
"I'm starting to believe our general has left us for the humans..."
"Watch your tongue!"
"I am sorry but, she has such a fascination for them! What's to say that she has not sided with them and the witch?"
"You're not planning a rebellion, are you?"
"So what if I am?!"
"You must be mad! General Khrystie is the most powerful in all of Jinjiru! She even has the blessing of the Lady of Hope!"
"If she has betrayed Jinjiru she will no longer have her holy protection."
"What if there is the possibility that she is not siding with the Witch or humans?"
"She must leave regardless. She's far too soft and unjust to lead this country in the leave of the royal family."
"How would that even work?! She's the most powerful in the kingdom!"
"I've got a plan and she's far too soft to not do as I say!"
When Mina and Claus reached Arc's apartment after long hours of travel they found someone already inhabiting the apartment. Someone they had never seen before. It was a young woman dressed in a fashion like the other various attackers on the duo's escape but she seemed much calmer as she ate bread and stared at the television in awe.
Reality seemed to come to this woman as she finally noted Mina and Claus.
"Oh. You two are finally here." the woman climbed to her feet, Mina and Claus prepared themselves but she made no attack. "You two took longer than anticipated. I hope you don't mind that is ate a small portion of your grain supply. It was too good to stop."
Who the hell are you? How did you get in?!" the woman blushed and glanced away.
"That's not important," the woman was back on her knees and bowing deeply. "On the behalf of my sisters, let me apologize."
"Sisters...? Wait, you mean those crazy broads that attacked me and Claus?" The woman flinched at the name Claus. She seem surprised and glanced up at the boy, examining him.
"Yes... I am sorry. I had requested that they simply watch you but they assumed you were our enemies and attacked you without a reason or fact."
"Enemies...? Enemies of what?! You people keep chasing me and don't give me any explanation!"
"That is why I am here. I am here to explain and apologize on the behalf of the Jinjiru army. You see, long ago we were attacked by a being known as the Silver Witch. Many people of our kingdom died, including my parents and the royal family. For a long time, as the world changed, we searched for the Witch but she could never be found. She has recently reappeared... my warriors have assumed you are allied with her."
"Why the hell would they think that?" Claus grumbled.
"Because... our goddess follows you. The think that means you are a threat, but they do not understand. The goddess only follows strong willed and powerful people, heroes."
"Heroes...?" Mina raised a brow. "You're trying to say, we are heroes?" This whole country had to be mad. She was no hero and she sure as hell that Claus wasn't. She was just an average girl. As long as you disregarded the PSI.
"There's another one, but yes. You and your group will be heroes we need in time, I can feel it. I believe the goddess wants you to find the heirlooms of our royal family and returns them to the reborn heir of our kingdom. Only the royal family members can wear the heirlooms and they can take down the Silver Witch. If you can do this you can prove to the people of Jinjiru you are not their enemies and you can return to your normal lives in peace."
"And where the hell are we supposed to get these lost heirlooms from?" Claus huffed. "And why can't you get them?"
"That... is hard to explain." The woman walked to the balcony and watched the city from behind the sliding glass door. "the heirlooms are almost alive, sentient I believe is the right word, in a sense. When the attack began the heirlooms scattered through out time so they would not be taken by the Silver Witch, which was why the kingdom was at such a disadvantage. The items are currently scattered throughout time and space but there are rifts in time in certain locations. You've already encountered a rift and obtained a heirloom. The Clover Sword."
"You mean this sword I picked up off the monks?" Mina motioned to the blade strapped to her back. The adult nodded.
"Yes. Written on it is our language, which bares similarity to yours."
"I guess that explains why the village was unknown." Claus spoke up with a thoughtful look. "We traveled to the past, to a point where it was still inhabited."
"More or less, yes."
"'More or less'?"
"It's a little more complicated than just that, due to laws of Jinjiru I am not allowed to speak of it. I know of a human who can in my place but that is another story."
"Why can't this human talk about it now?"
"I have specifically asked them not to talk about it unless the person asking has my most prized possession as a sign of trust." the adult looked back to the teenagers and motioned to a paper on the table. "This paper has the location of the two rifts where two of the four royal heirlooms are located. The last item is located in this era but I have no idea where. I will try to find it and inform you as soon as I can. I must leave now, with the royal family gone I have taken care of Jinjiru for the last few hundred years."
"H-hundred years?!"
"I've heard rumors of the army wanting to overthrow me of late," She ignored the yells and continued. "so it was... a pain in the ass, I think that is the phrase, to come out here and contact you. Please. Find the heirlooms and our heir. With the proper heir back we both can return to normal lives on the defeat of the Silver Witch."
"Wait, before you go tell me, who are you?"
"Khrystie Melody," With a snap of her fingers a vortex appeared behind her. "the general of Jinjiru and follower of the Lady of Hope. Now take care." and with that final farewell the woman walked into the vortex. The hole vanished seconds later leaving the pair alone. Mina sat down on the couch and folded her hands.
"Well... that was eventful."
"At least we got an explanation out of all of this. Some crazy civilization thinks we have an alliance with their enemy but their general thinks otherwise and wants us to find their lost heir and heirlooms."
"...Do you think..."
"Huh? Out with it Mina."
"Do you think you could be the heir?"
