Past The Screen
Chapter Thirteen
Not many people know that there is an art to sneaking out. However, those who do know are practically ninja's seeing as how good they are at sneaking out and returning undiscovered.
I am not one of those people as noted by how I promptly tripped over my own feet not even a foot away from my bedroom window. (I quietly thanked the goddess that I lived in a one story house)
"Ow…" I muttered to myself as I pushed myself up from the (thankfully) grassy part of my family's yard. A quick glance around my surrounding area signaled that no one noticed my small mishap and I took that opportunity to close my window almost all the way.
Almost.
Reaching into my pocket and taking a rather thick white decorative hairpin (flowers, butterflies, and the like) that I got from Macey for my birthday last year I placed it right underneath the window so that it was still open a crack. I still needed to get back into the house after accomplishing my mission of course.
But that wouldn't be until a couple of hours from now, that I was sure of. It totally wouldn't have worked out if I actually went with my parent's original plan of going out for lunch but due to me feigning sickness to my parents, (it wasn't hard really, I already felt like crap for lying to them in the first place) they agreed to postpone it till dinner. That meant I had until around four at the latest and considering the fact that it was eleven it added up to a total of five hours.
Five hours should be enough to go and see real monsters, take notes, engage in combat with said monsters and then maybe buy a snack on my way back. I was skipping lunch for this anyways. But really, five hours is a long time. It'll be enough.
I hope.
Oh thank the goddess for giving me a wire fence as my first obstacle. Anything harder and I might have actually bailed.
Tapping my foot I observed the monsters on the other side of said fence. I was now near the far outskirts of Edelstein. I wasn't out of the town yet though. The monsters there were probably too strong for me anyways.
Speaking of monsters though…
Slipping my backpack off my shoulders I unzipped it and brought out the book I readied for this journey.
Edelstein Monsters For Aspiring Adventurers.
A smile pulled at my lips as I opened the book to page four, where the actual information started. A peek between the potted plants only a couple of feet away from me and the drawing in the book confirmed that I was in fact on the right page.
Potted Sprouts (Lv.5)
As such the name implies, potted sprouts are in fact: Sprout plants that are in pots. The only thing differentiating them between non-monster sprout plants in pots are that Potted Sprouts have white circular eyes and small stubbly legs (often thought of to be roots) that extend below the pot. Potted Sprouts are very weak in comparison to the average adventurer but if a non-adventurer were to be swarmed by Potted Sprouts it is quite possible that said monsters could cause a good amount of damage. It is for that reason that although the town's outskirts are fenced off, the Edelstein police often go out on trips to lower the population of Potted Sprouts.
A Potted Sprout does not have any special attacks but is capable of head-butting their opponent. This however is very weak in power but may cause slight bruising in unprotected areas. Attacks towards Potted Sprouts should be aimed towards the green sprout and not towards the pot. The pot has a much better defense than the sprout and fire magic is also very effective against this monster.
I sighed. Okay so basically aim for the green sprout, don't let them gang up on you, and fire magic is best. The last one is useless but the first two are good to know.
Placing the book back inside my bag I took out a notebook and a pencil and wrote down the information I was able to gleam from both the book and the first observations I made upon arriving.
1. Weak but can be a problem if encountered in groups
2. Very spaced out in this area of the outskirts
3. Slow in pace and takes frequent breaks
I snapped the notebook shut and exchanged it for a decently thick wooden stick I had found on my way here. It was maybe two feet long and a couple of inches thick but at the same time wasn't too light or too heavy.
"This is probably going to go very wrong but oh well. Learn from experience right?" I mumbled to myself as I carefully climbed the wire fence, wooden stick held in my right hand.
Besides a few falls (three in total) due to misplacing my footing I managed to make it over the fence with only a couple of bruises and scratches. And maybe my left arm had a small cut from where I scratched it on the fence as I jumped off but it was only one cut. It wasn't even bleeding that much.
As if I'd let one small cut deter me from carrying out my mission. I wasn't going home until I brought at least one of these plants down.
Clutching my stick in my right hand (I was probably getting splinters as we speak) I approached the Potted Sprout closest to me, taking care to keep my steps as quiet as possible.
Somehow I was able to sneak up on it and hit it right on the top of the sprout. Which wasn't very hard to do actually - the hitting part, not the sneaking - these things reached only up to knees at most.
After being hit the plant gave out a high-pitched cry before scurrying away from me and towards a nearby one. I cursed under my breath as I saw the nearby Potted Sprouts give similar cries, using their tiny legs to either run towards me or to the one I just hit.
I'll call the one I hit Tattle because it's tattling on me to the other sprouts. Why can't it just fight it's own battles like a man?
Well, maybe that Potted Sprout was a woman and not a man. Or wait a second, do monsters even have genders anyways?
I bit my lower lip as I cautiously took a step back from the newly formed small army of Potted Sprouts. Weren't they distanced out earlier? How did they get this close so quickly? "Oh goddess this is bad they're ganging up on me, abort abort-"
I quickly ran towards the fence and was about to make it when I tripped. Over a baby Potted Sprout. Said Potted Sprout gave out a similar, albeit higher-pitched shriek (ow my ears) than Tattle's and proceeded to headbutt me.
Ow. Damn, I can definitely feel a bruise coming on.
Whacking the monster on the sprout with as much force as I could muster I couldn't help the glee I felt as I saw it fall on to the ground. I had actually killed one of them! Mission accomplished!
That happiness and sense of accomplishment however faded fast as I noticed that the sprout was starting to dull in color and its white beady eyes turned unseeing.
Oh. This got really depressing really quickly.
I quickly pushed back my slight guilt and grimaced as I realized that the Potted Sprouts seemed to become even faster in their pursuit for me so I willed my small legs to move faster. Upon reaching the fence I didn't even hesitate throwing away the stick that might as well been glued to my hand and took to climbing up the fence at a faster pace than before.
But of course, being chased by a group of Potted Sprouts that want to headbutt you to the moon served as very good motivation in this situation.
My breath hitched as my fingers slipped, not too far from the top of the fence and I almost fell into the small army of potted plants below me. Thankfully I was able to quickly grasp on to the wire before completely falling but I fell enough that the goddess damned plants could jump and hit my calves.
Why didn't the book tell me they could jump?
With renewed vigor I scrambled to the top of the fence and haphazardly fell off on to the other side face first. I quickly extended my hands in front of me to break my fall and I felt tears form in the corners of my eyes as I felt my hands scrape against the ground. Thank goodness it was grass and not concrete though.
I sighed and gently felt the palms of my hands, wincing after running over a splinter or a particularly bad scratch. Speaking of scratches- I looked towards my left arm and frowned as I noticed the blood slowly flowing out of the cut I received from first climbing over the fence. It wasn't actually bleeding that much but it was definitely more than I would have preferred.
Looking around I almost groaned. I was in the outskirts of the town, of course there wouldn't be any convenient sort of cloth I could use to wipe off or stop the blood. I glanced down at my feet and scowled. Grabbing a rather large leaf from the ground I tried to dust off as much dirt as I could. Then I pressed it to my cut.
My eyes squeezed shut as I felt a sharp pain go through me and I prayed because this was definitely going to get infected I just know it but what else was I supposed to do?
Using my clothes was out, I was just wearing a shirt and a pair of jeans. Besides, mom did my laundry and she'd definitely notice if I got blood on either. Just letting it bleed out wasn't a good idea either. Sure it wasn't a big enough cut and bleeding so much that I was going to die of blood loss but I actually didn't fancy any type or amount of blood loss.
Looking over the cut again, green leaf pressed to it and all I wondered why'd it start bleeding so much anyways. Did I agitate it or open it up while I was trying (and failing) to fight the potted plants?
I shook my head. That didn't matter at the moment. I could figure it out later. When I wasn't bleeding, scratched up, and had multiple splinters in my right hand.
A sigh escaped me as I hobbled a good amount right of where I first came from. Going home looking like this probably wasn't a good idea after all.
"Now let's see… Which way was it to Mr. Carol's shop again?"
Thank anything and everything for Mr. Carol's shop being in the outer area of the market place. Really, that man is my favorite person right now.
At the moment I was in his shop - The Edelstein General Store - which not only had different assortments of foods, medicines, and potions- but a bathroom. A pretty decent one too that I just might have locked myself in after running through the doors only a few minutes earlier with a somewhat rushed and understandable greeting.
Looking at myself in the mirror I raised my left arm, the one with the cut. The bleeding had mostly stopped and I contemplated buying a pack of band aids for a couple of seconds. Tilting my head to the side and glancing to the floor I blinked twice before re-aligning my head and switching my backpack to hang in front of me. Unzipping the bag I grabbed my wallet and opened it. A thousand mesos in total.
Should I? Maybe I should…
"Hurry up in there Eliza you've been in there for quite awhile now. I've also gotta ask you a couple of questions too missy." Mr. Carol's voice rang clear through the door. I scowled and looked over my hands and arms again. My jeans hid the bruises I had on my legs but my arms and hands…
Well at least they didn't look too bad now. I could probably pass it off as bad luck. Falling out of a tree or something like that.
Taking a deep breath I turned away from the mirror and headed to the door. Bracing myself I turned the handle, sucking in a breath as I felt a slight sting go through me. A quiet ahem made me pause and I looked up to see the aged face of Mr. Carol.
"And just how did you get those cuts and scratches Miss. Eliza?" He stared down at me and I tried a shaky smile.
"I tripped a lot. And fell." That at the very least was true.
He raised an eyebrow. "What were you doing outside anyways? I distinctly remembered getting a call from your parents awhile ago stating that you weren't feeling well and were going to rest in bed until your postponed till dinner time celebration?"
Shrugging I avoided looking at him in the eyes, angling my head to instead observe the items he had on display.
Oh look, red potions were on sale. Buy three and get a hundred mesos off.
I heard the slight ringing of the bells as the door opened and looked up to see Brighton walk through the door with a hesitant smiled as he scratched his head.
Although I never was formally introduced to him I knew of him well enough without using the game knowledge that I had. People talked. Especially Macey, she seemed like she was quite up to date with whatever gossip or etc. was going on in the town and naturally since I was best friends pretty much everything she ended up finding out I found out about too.
Mr. Carol took one more look at me and sighed before heading back to the counter with a knowing look on his face.
"What is it now Bright?"
I raised an eyebrow, not knowing that Brighton and Mr. Carol were on good enough terms to be using nicknames. This would be good info to tell Macey definitely.
Brighton shrugged, keeping his smile even as he turned to look at me with a slightly raised eyebrow. Not knowing what else to do I waved and muttered a quiet hello.
The smile grew wider at my greeting and he nodded his head before turning back to Mr. Carol. "Just the usual. Scraped my arm on the rake again."
The older man shook his head causing the custodian to laugh, albeit a bit nervously. "I swear that puddle was not there when I was first raking. It just appeared and-"
I zoned out from the conversation as I took to observing the probably Battle Mage instructor. I only say probably due to not having any evidence on the Resistance's existence. Yet.
"-your birthday today little girl?"
I blinked repeatedly as I noticed that Brighton's voice was in fact directed towards me. Feeling my face heat up in embarrassment I asked him to repeat what he was saying.
Brighton's smiley expression didn't change as he answered, "I was just asking if today was your birthday…" He trailed off, looking at me in question.
"Eliza." I supplied shortly. "And yes it is my birthday."
He nodded and gestured towards Mr. Carol's display. "Is that so? Well here, pick anything from here and I'll buy you for it as a birthday present from me."
My eyes widened and I shook my head repeatedly. "You don't have to do that. You don't even know me anyways."
"That's not true, I've seen you before. It's hard not to considering Edelstein's size. You're… Leila and Marc's daughter right?"
"How did you know?" The words slipped out of me as I stared at him feeling slightly creeped out. I knew about him via Macey who was a gossip and info expert on people and things going on throughout town but what about him?
The custodian only continued to smile. "Purple hair isn't exactly common around here. Or anywhere for that matter."
I wonder if it hurt to keep smiling like that.
"But back to our original topic, Eliza if you would please." He once again gestured to the items on display.
Shrugging I walked over a grabbed a small red potion and placed it in his awaiting palm. I watched carefully as his smile fell a little.
"Why do you need this?" He asked quietly, turning over the bottle in his hands.
"Tripped and fell." I stated simply and raised up my left arm to show him the cut. Although I did actually trip and fall it wasn't at all the cause of the cut. What he didn't know wouldn't hurt him though.
The man seemed to accept my answer and Mr. Carol rung up the inexpensive purchase in almost record timing. Afterwards I took the offered drink a bit too quickly causing a worried expression to appear on both men's faces. I waved off their concerns physically and verbally.
"This is actually the first time I've drunk a potion. I'm quite excited." I smiled, ignoring their still concerned looks on both their faces (huh?) and gulped it down it one go. A tingly feeling coursed through my entire body and I grinned in amazement as the pain in my hands and legs faded. What caught most of my attention however was the small cut on my left arm that was slowly, slowly getting smaller until-
It was gone.
"Wow that's super cool." I smiled, moving around my arm a little bit.
"You really think so?" Mr. Carol's voice reached my ears suddenly.
I lifted my head and frowned at both Brighton's and Mr. Carol's surprised faces with the latter of the two quickly explaining the situation.
"It's just that… Most people claim that the effect of potions on their body are very uncomfortable. It often takes Adventurers a couple of weeks of constant use of potions in order for them to become entirely at ease when taking them. The fact that you were able to drink the potion so quickly and have no adverse effects…" He trailed off, staring at me in almost wonder. From the corner of my eyes however I saw Brighton's eyes narrow slightly. Not good. I forced a smile and thought really hard about my next words.
"Hm… Well being unique is a good thing right?" I nodded to myself while linking my hands loosely behind my back. I tried my best to look as nonthreatening as possible which seemed to worked since Brighton's face relaxed slightly. Mr. Carol on the other hand got a sudden epiphany and rushed to the storage room in the back of the store.
Which left me and Brighton alone. Talk about awkward.
I blinked and tried to casually look away from him and instead towards the many different types of potions on display. Hopefully he'll ignore me, I'll ignore him, and we can both get through this without any problems. Socializing unless necessary wasn't really my thing after all. Being the social butterfly was Macey's job, not mines. I was sort of like Zeno in that aspect of things.
But of course the world for some reason has nothing better to do than crush my hopes. I just couldn't seem to get things to go the way I wanted, even on my birthday.
"So how old are you now Eliza?"
Still avoiding eye contact as I continue to stare at a random shelf and I stated simply, "Ten."
A bout of silence encompassed us and I briefly wondered just what Mr. Carol was doing in the storage room.
"I'm guessing you're not really one for small talk?" He guessed.
"Not really… but I guess it depends on my mood." I admitted, my mind already starting to wander. I wonder if there was alchemy in this world… Was that how they made potions? Probably.
"Having a bad day? Isn't it your birthday today?" I turned to him and frowned.
"I didn't say I was having a bad day. To be honest though… today isn't really going as I planned it to be." My mind flickered back to the earlier incident with the Potted Sprouts. I gave a slight shudder and my hand itched to rub the spot on my arm where the cut used to be.
Brighton hummed. "It's only natural. Life never really goes the way you want it to be."
"I can dream though." I said more to myself than to him but he still heard it all the same.
"Dreams huh. What is your dream Eliza?" I froze. So many things appeared in my mind at that moment.
My dream?
Who knows? I certainly don't.
To go home maybe? But after a couple of years I'm starting to get used to this world… I have a family here, and friends too. I'm not sure I want to leave it anymore...
Could defeating the Black Mage be my dream? That's what my whole 'plan' is for isn't it?
My mind spun as different thoughts whirled through my head until a conversation I had with Macey a couple of weeks ago took center stage.
"What do you wish for?"
I glanced up from my book and frowned. "You should know that already Macey." I gave my friend a look and returned to reading.
Macey however seemed undisturbed by my abrupt dismissal of her question. "Other than going home of course. And don't say something like world peace, defeating the Black Mage- you know stuff like that?"
"I actually don't know 'stuff like that.'"
I heard her groan and hid my small smile by lifting my book slightly upwards to cover my face. I absently turned a page, not really focusing on it anymore. I was curious. What was Macey trying to do?
"If everything in the world was perfect and there were no problems for you to give up your wish for the 'sake of humanity' or et cetera what would you wish for and why? Come on I really want to know."
I peeked over the edge of my book and saw Macey staring at me very intently. She was serious about this. I should be too then.
Placing the book face down to keep my page I thought about it for a moment. My eyes unconsciously wandered down to the book I was reading previously.
"I swear if you say something like I wish forall the books in existence because I love books we are officially not friends."
This time I couldn't hide my smile and leaned back in the chair I was sitting in. I closed my eyes.
"Maybe I'd wish to be able to use magic?" It came out more like a question than a statement. I blinked open an eye to observe her reaction and found that she was smiling.
"I totally knew there was a reason why you mostly read those fantasy novels and those books on different types of magic."
I rolled my eyes. "You of all people should know that I was reading those magic books to see if there was a possible way to get me back to my world."
"But I knew that you had absolutely no idea what they were talking about in the books but read them anyways! Now it all makes sense, you like magic!" She cheered and was quickly hushed by a conveniently passing librarian. I snickered as she lowered herself into her own seat with a childish pout.
"I kind of knew what they were talking about." Or not really at all actually.
Macey stuck out her tongue. "Sure you did. But don't worry Eli, when we head to Victoria Island we can both head to Ellinia and become Magicians together okay?"
My smile fell slightly but it returned to normal in a flash.
"Yeah sure." Was my answer to her. Even though I knew that magic to the extent needed to become a Magician was something usually inherited through bloodline. Even though I already knew that there were no known magicians in my entire family because I had asked my parents about it already.
Even though I knew that being able to use magic would probably be only a simple wish of mine. A dream I guess you could call it.
A dream.
"Is there something wrong Eliza? You seemed out of it for a second there." Brighton's concerned voice washed over me and I nodded.
"Oh no, I was just thinking about your question." I smiled. "Actually I think my dream, although a bit far-fetched maybe is-"
"Sorry to keep you waiting! I was having a hard time remembering where I hid it." Mr. Carol unknowing interrupted me with a grin. He was just exiting from the storage room with a rectangle box wrapped in purple and blue starred wrapping paper and a bright pink bow on top in his hands.
Mr. Carol handed the box to me gently and I took it into my small hands. I gave it a little shake.
"Happy Birthday Eliza." The General Store owner smiled at me. I returned the gesture and proceeded to carefully tear away the wrapping paper. Underneath it was a slightly worn out black notebook.
"Open it." He encouraged and I did after a moment's hesitation. On the first page was a dedication.
To Carol's little helper, Eliza.
I'm sure you'll master the contents in this book soon enough.
Please do come by and visit me sometime in the future
-Aurea
My eyes widened. Was this really-?
I quickly flipped to the next page which revealed to be a table of contents.
Need to knows for Magic
Channeling Mana
Absolute basics in manipulating Mana
The list went on. I lifted my face from the book, mouth slightly open in a gape. "How did you…?"
"A friend of mines, Aurea, is a Magician Teacher in Ellinia. I asked her a couple weeks ago to compile beginner knowledge into a book." He smiled faintly. "Macey also happened to me awhile ago that you liked magic but that the books about it in the library were too advanced for you to actually understand it."
My eyes traveled back down to the book in wonder. I quickly skimmed through what little pages there were. It was roughly twenty pages in total, very thin. But also very packed in knowledge, drawings, the like.
I grinned, hugging the notebook to my chest. "Thank you so much Mr. Carol! This'll be so much fun to read I just know it."
"Maybe you'll actually be able to do some of the stuff in the book Eliza." Mr. Carol added lightheartedly.
My smile faded just a bit. "I'm not too sure about that. Magic is usually passed down through families except for rare cases right?" I glanced back down at the notebook in my arms and I clutched it bit tighter. "But that's okay. Even if I can't use magic… I think it's still fascinating all the same."
"You never know Eliza…" Mr. Carol trailed off and was quickly interrupted by Brighton, his smile still present but his eyes seemed a tad too serious for my liking.
"It is true that Magic is usually passed down through families but that doesn't mean that someone who doesn't have any Magicians in their family can't use magic. It just might… make it a bit harder for them per se. Even so like Carol said earlier, you never know really. You might turn out to have a talent for it"
"What makes you think that?" I blurted out the words without really meaning to. I couldn't help it. The way he was talking… It sounded like he thought I could use magic. No, his voice was too confident. He definitely knew that I could. Coming from anyone else but him I wouldn't have believed it, or actually even noticed it. But he was the Battle Mage Instructor of the Resistance and from this albeit short conversation I was now almost certain of its existence.
I watched cautiously as Brighton opened his mouth to respond but I noticed from the corner of my eye the time, three o' clock. My eyes widened. My absolute deadline to get back home was four o' clock since that was the latest I estimated my parents would check on me to make sure I was okay for a dinner celebration. The earliest… Let's just say that was fifteen minutes from now, and that was if I was lucky.
With a rush of abrupt apologies and quick waves along with a hurried I need to go now I bursted out of the potion shop only to have a black jacket and cap thrown at me. They hit me square in the back since I hadn't been warned before hand and I spared a glance behind me at a bewildered ninety-nine percent probable Battle Mage Instructor and an amused General Store owner.
"Your hair is a big giveaway. If you want to get back without being noticed by any family or friends it's best if you wear those." Mr. Carol called out to me. I spared a small smile and hastily pulled on the jacket and cap on, thanking to the high heavens that I had previously decided to cut my hair short. It made fitting it into the cap so much easier. A slight rustling sound as I moved to take a step also notified me of a pair of black sunglasses in the jacket pocket and so I put that on too.
One last wave to the two men in the store I sprinted in the direction of my house holding the notebook.
Speaking of said notebook though…
Curiosity took control of me for a brief second and I made a quick turn into an alleyway. One little peek just to satisfy my curiosity before I headed home would be okay. I still had time after all. Sort of.
What I didn't expect though was for the notebook to be ripped out of my hands not a second after I cracked it open and I looked up in alarm to see the smirking face of one Black Wing Watchman, Bavan.
What felt like ice spread through my veins and I froze up in fear.
"Now what's this notebook you've got here? Little Resistance member using this to keep track of special classified info?"
Haha it's done. Finally. Now please forgive this procrastinating young lady for putting off finishing this chapter for so long.
I AM SO SORRY.
I really am.
And I'm going to make it up to you guys, just watch.
Yeah I know I'm a horrible person who didn't upload for like three weeks but please forgive me okay?
Btw what even is outlines I never follow them anyways.
I really wanted to just upload this without editing. I really did. But my mind wouldn't let me boo.
Next Time on Past The Screen: The Black Wings and The Resistance (which was supposed to happen this chapter but I put it off because I didn't want to wait any longer to upload) and some other stuff too. Probably.
[Stats]
Started Writing: 8/08/14
Finished Writing: 8/30/14