Summary:
Our protagonists finally manages to successfully complete their hunt.
Of course I don't own Tales of Phantasia or the Tales series, if I did Ciel would be canon :p
Notes:
I think it's a bit longer than the first chapter.
Warning : When I tried to edit things the structure of the skits got fucked. Hope you don't mind.
Chapter Text
#A special occasion#
Ciel : So Cless, what bring you guys here ?
Cless : Chester and I are from Totus, it's a village to the north of here. We used to come here a lot to play when we were kids, now it's just to hunt and practice.
Ciel : *nodding* Oh. Alright ! Do you hunt often?
Cless : Twice a month. Usually, it's because sometimes the other towns can't provide us with enough food but this time, it's a special occasion.
Ciel : *raising eyebrow* Uh ? What could it be ?
Cless : *smiling* There is a woman in the village, she is getting married soon. She's kind of like a big sister to me so I want to give her something truly amazing.
Ciel : *smiling* How nice
#Like father like son#
Ciel : I've been meaning to ask something.
Cless : What is it ?
Ciel : I overheard you and Chester talking about your father and some "Alvein fighting style or whatever". I got curious about what your families were like.
Cless :My dad is the head of the Alvein sword fighting school. He's the one who taught me how to fight.
Ciel : Sounds like a nice person.
Cless : *smiling* Yeah he's amazing, he usually defend the village from any threats that Chester and I cannot handle.
Ciel : *smiling* I'm sure you'll be just as good as he is. Cless : I hope so, I want to inherit the school and follow his steps in becoming a sword master. Ciel : Best of luck to you then. Well, Im off. 'll go ask Chester now. Cless : *looking down* I don't think that's a good idea. Ciel : ?
#Family problems#
Chester : *muttering* Come on, I'm sure I saw it going this way.
Ciel : Chester !
Chester : Uh, Ciel. Do you need something ? Ciel : *looking down* I just came back from a talk I had with Cless...So I was wondering if- Chester : I could tell more about me and my family ? Ciel : *surprised* How ? How did you ? Chester : I overheard your conversation, plus you're pretty loud for a kid. Chester : What about your family ? Do you think they realized that your missing ? Ciel : ... My mom and my dad... I... I DON'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT. Chester : *mildly surprised* I see... Well anyway, about my family, I think it's best if you wait and see it for yourself. Ciel : Ok then, maybe I'll tell you about mine too. Chester : Sounds good.
We've been walking endlessy and there is still no sign of any of the boars. Cless and Chester are in the front talking about whatever two best friends talk about while I opted to stay behind, I had some serious thinking to do.
I convinced my...mother to let me go to a sleepover at my friend's house, then when I went there, he told me the real reason he brought me here was because his brother managed to snatch some liquor and he wanted to try it with his best friend. We took maybe one shot or two...Maybe it was five or ten ? I don't know but all I know is that I passed out and woke up in this forest apparently known as "South Forest" as Chester told me not too long ago.
Why am I here ? I know from reading books that when sober you usually don't remember anything, but you usually don't wake up in a totally new world.
I glanced at my travelling ; And not usually one that seems stuck in the medieval times. Now that I think about it, the name "South Forest" I think I heard it somewhere but where?
"Yo, you're alright back there ?" asked Chester looking behind him. I was thinking of asking him why but I realized that when I was drifting away from reality (assuming this isn't already some kind of weird dream) I began walking slower and slower to the point where they were a good distance separating us.
"Yeah all good, I'm coming." I answered sprinting towards them. These guys are really nice but I can't trouble them with my worries. After all, this is just temporary, once they'll get their meat, we'll just part ways as if nothing happened.
Even if it wasn't, it's not like they can help me. I would rather keep it to myself anyway.
Our walk continued insilence and aside from Cless and Chester fighting the monsters that stood in our ways not a word was pronounced.
Speaking of monsters, the one we encounters could very well be found on Earth. The only one that caught my eyes was a monster apparently called "Bugbears" which makes not sense in my opinion, they look nothing like a bug nor do they ressemble a bear in any shape or form or whatever is used to decided a species. They look more like some bipedal cat or dog thing armed with spiky wooden bat.
They looked pretty weak too, the one who fought didn't take taht much hits before they fell dead on the ground but that must have been a testament to my friends incredible skills for fighting, they were really amazing and well coordinated.
Maybe I should ask them to teach me how to defend myself, assuming that I have to stay in this world for a while, I should at least be able to do some basic fighting stuffs I can't rely on these guys for everything.
Now that I think about it, Cless said something about his father being a sword instructor maybe I could enroll so I can benefit some training, plus swords are so cool, they are my second favorite weapon right after scythes. Do they have scythes in this world too ? I NEED A SCYTHE
"Um...Ciel, do you...Are you ok ?"
"Yeah, why you asking ?"
"Because you are drooling."
" I am ?" I put a finger under my lower lips and sure enough I confirmed that there was indeed a stream of saliva navigating from my mouth to the very ground we were stepping on.
I looked at my companions, deeply embarassed at being caught during the moment I had to show my deep love for fantasy weapons.
"I...I was thinking about food." I said fidgeting, my gaze glued to the ground.
"If you're hungry, then don't worry, we'll get back to Totus and we'll cook you something nice." said the headband wearer offering me a geniune smile, which I promptly returned.
The blue archer,for his part, just turned around and resumed his march, heading towards the only path that wasn't blocked by the vegetation. "Well, I don't want to interrupt but our prey is waiting for us and to be honest I am starting to get hungry myself."
"Yeah let's hurry, I promised dad I'll be back early." was the answer given by his friend. After that we entered the deepest part of this forest, at least I assumed because there didn't seem to be anywhere else to go outside of the path we just took.
Resting in the middle of this area was a big tree, it was very different from the other ones, taller and wider. I also felt like this tree was special, like it lived through countless amount of years, maybe even millenials but who knows. Which I know isn't that impressive for a tree I know bu the point still stand.
It's only when we got closer that I realized just how badly damaged it was. Very withered with its branch lacking leaves, it looked dead.
"Damn it ! I can't see it anywhere" groaned an exasperated Cless sheating his sword.
"I'll go take a look around, you guys call me if you find it." proposed the archer who then proceeded to disappear behind nearby bushes.
We decided that going in different directions gave us the best chance of finding the animal, so we agreed to split up for more efficiency using the old tree as our meeting spot. I went to the upper left zone and started searching around for any sign of our prey, after several minutes of not finding anything, I gave up and head back to decided where to look next.
Maybe they had better luck than me. Hunting is sooooooooo boring. How do those TV shows manage to make it look so interesting.
I came back to the meeting spot to find Cless sitting on a tree trunk, most likely waiting for Chester and I.
"Cless." I panted running towards him. It seems to have gotten his attention as he got up and walked towards me. "I take it you haven't found anything either."
"No luck whatsoever. Man, i could've sworn I saw it coming around here." He answered, scratching his head in frustration. "Well, we can't let Chester search alone, let's go look after him."
"You're right, let's g-uh?" As we were about to make our way towards our blue haired friend, Cless stopped walking and glanced at the aforementionned tree.
I tilted my head and tapped him on the back which focused his attention back on me.
"What's wrong ? Did you see it ?"
"Ciel ! Did you hear it too?" I answered his question with a simple no. " It sounded like someone was calling for help, something cocerning this old tree." He explained as I followed his gaze back on it. Before I was about to ask him what he was on about, I got my answer in the form of a voice pleading for help, this time I could hear it clearly.
Please...Do not...
We looked at each other then looked at the environnement before we realized where the voice was coming from, the old tree itself.
The vision of a tall and slender green haired woman appeared before us. She examined us as we did too, an awkward pause arrived between the tree of us. Cless and I stayed silent not finding the words to say. Luckily, she was the one to break it.
Please...do...not...defil...this...tree
Please...you...have...to...save..this..tree.
She repeated her words a few more times only each time slower than the last and a sad borderline desolate tone.
At the same time, the image of what was most likely the same tree but in an healthier state, I looked at Cless to see him also looking at the tree incredulously. I guess he was also experiencing the same thing I was.
Before we could voice our astonishement, the image of the tree alongside the woman disappeared leaving us staring dumbfoundingly at the rotten overgrown vegetable.
"Wha...What was... that...ab..about ?" My attempts at forming a coherent sentence were disrupted by sounds coming from the bushes. A few moments later, Chester came back running from wherever he went off to. I'm not gonna lie, I totally forgot about him not that I don't care about him but my priorities is on making sense of the weird stuffs I've seen in the past hours.
He stopped near us, took his breath and told us what I already expected him to say. He too couldn't find any trace of that damn boar.
Seeing our blank stares, he asked us if we everything was alright, this knocked Cless out of his reveries who quickly reassured him everything was fine.
It took me longer to recover, I was still shaken by what happened. I must have gone crazy but that woman, I was pretty sure she looked at me and the way she did it, it was clear that she knew me but from where, I don't know.
How? How can she know me when this is my first time here. There's no way I know her. I know I wouldn't forget someone that pretty hehehe.
It was at this moment that we were graced with the presence of a long awaited guest. I'm of course talking about the boar that we were initially looking for. It seemed like he wanted to settle the score but this time, he wasn't alone( or she ? I'm gonna call it a "it"). It had brought its three kids to greet us.
My friends wasted no time in readying themselves for battle.
"Ciel, can you fight ?" asked the archer not breaking eye contact with his prey only looking back to catch a glimpse at me shaking my head. His blond haired friend who was listening next to us joined on the conversation. " Just stay behind us, we'll take care of it." He said smirking at his bow wielding partner who returned the gesture.
The big boar tried to tackle Chester who swiftly avoid his move while shooting two arrows at the little ones. One died on the spot while the others jumped out in time to avoid the hit.
Cless used the same technique he used earlier only this time I could clearly see it and it was pretty awesome. He slashed the ground with such intensity that it created at wave that traveled at extreme speed towards the little boars snatching both of their lives on the way.
"Majinken" He yelled while unleashing his "special attack". He then ran at the remaining enemy and slashed at it, successfully injurying it.
That was so cool. Man, if only I could help in any way.
The boar defended itself with a swing of his large tusks, Cless managed to avoid taking a big hit thanks to his shield and his sturdy breastplate. Chester seeing this chance, fired two arrows, both of them hitting their marks with success. The swordfighter with an amazing ( I'm easily impressed) awareness, comboed into a triple sword which was enough to kill the boar.
It was over, the battle ended has fast as it started, these guys sure were strong. I could really use a fighting lesson or two.
With their opponents now dead, the two of them did some kind of victory poses before approaching the body of the now defunct animals.
"Yay ! We caught a big one that was the best hunt ever." shouted Cless, he was clearly really happy about their findings.
"Yeah and with the babies, there is enough for the whole village." added Chester who just like his friend seemed very satisfied at their catch. I didn't know a lot about hunting but since they were pretty content I took it a good catch, I shared my excitement with them.
"Congratulations you guys, you were so good fighting you looked like real superheroes." I burst out joyfully joining them in their celebration.
They both turned towards me smiling triumphantly.
"I'm not sure I know what a superhero is, but I am glade that you enjoyed it." Chester responded at my words.
It was at this moment that the calm and soothing atmosphere currently bathing this place was instantly replaced by one of surprise and panic as we started hearing the incessant ringing of a bell.
By how loud it was, it couldn't have come from very far. Could it be coming from that same village that Cless and Chester are from ? I don't know why but I have a bad feeling about this.
My worries were immediately confirmed when my two travelling buds wiped any previous chearfulness they had and replaced it with a look full of concern.
"That's ! The village alarm ! Something terrible must have happen." gasped Cless looking away, probably towards where this village was located.
"You're right ! I don't like the sound of this, let's hurry." added Chester also looking in that direction.
Then without any warnings, they dashed off away from this place and onward to their home. I scratched my head looking at the dead boars on my right, still laying on the grass. They were so much in a rush that they forgot what they were here for...Including me
Why do I feel sad ? I can't blame them their families might be in danger, who wouldn't give it all to protect their loved ones ? Not that I know about this...
I closed my eyes and released a deep sigh, I stayed there for a while ( okay not really, it was probably like half a minute but it still felt pretty damn long) thinking about everything that happened to me so far. I'm in a strange world with no way home, I have no relatives and no money and to top it all this world is full of monsters and I can't defend myself. I would have loved to stick with those two but I don't want to be a bother and slow them down.
I'm not ready for this
"CIEL !" I opened my eyes and looked up, Chester was here and he looked a bit irritated, I thought he was coming back for the meat but his next words dismissed this idea.
"What are you still doing here ? Come on, we don't have all the time in the world." He spoke impatiently coming closer.
I could feel myself tear up a little bit at those words. They...They cared about me ? "What you mean you guys are not gonna abandon me here ?"
"What are you saying ? You're just a kid. There is no way we are gonna abandon you and besides if we decided to ditch you, the monsters around here would decimate you." responded the blue archer facepalming.
Without any warnings, I lunged at him and squeezed my hands around his waist burying my face in his chest.
"Thank you. To you both, it means so much to me I won't let you guys down." I smiled now having a full look at his face.
He briefly smiled before patting my head. " Hey don't start saying weird things. I already have enough on my plate with that idiot, I don't need you to start too." He said laughing, maybe he was having memories of something that happened between them long ago. After several seconds passed and with our bonding time over, Chester, judging that we had lost enough time hurried us to catch up to our blonde haired friend. We blasted through the whole area avoiding every ennemies that came in our way and catching up with our friend.
Not too long after, we left the "South Forest" and headed north, towards Totus.
Notes:
Hi again, I know the pacing in this one is slow ( two chapters and they only just left the starting area) but I promise the next one will be much more packed with interesting moments.
I'm still trying to find the sweetspot between good pacing and being able to flesh out the story and characters. The oc Ciel, he isn't just here because the plot wants him too ( well kinda but you know what I mean) he his somewhat connected to the plot, buuuuuuuuut you'll have to wait.
That's all see you next time.
Next chapter, we're going to the past.