"Teacher, why was "Dreamtime" so important to them?"
So raised the hand of one student...
"Well, "Dreamtime" is just like any other religion. It was their way of life, their world."
"Huh..."
Unsatisfied, so raised the hand of another student...
"Why do YOU think it's more special? You always said you stayed away from religious stuff , yet you have this perpetual smile when you talk about "Dreamtime"."
"Eh? Er ... Did I make it seem like that?"
So nodded furiously the heads of all the age 16 to 18 students ...
...
"I'll tell you next time."
"Aww..."
"I... apologize about earlier... For stealing your compass, I mean..."
Currently, Velvet was dusting the snow off of the little malak. It seems they managed to escape from the multiple avalanches, but only just considering how much snow the others are dusting off from themselves. When Velvet was done, the boy put some distance between him and the party of weirdos, setting down the compass in front of him and running away. He still didn't trust them enough not to kidnap him when he hands over the compass in person which is an understandable level of caution when one recalls the dreadful situation he was put in by a certain mischievous traveler.
"Well, what now?"
"I'm going to follow him."
"Is it dinner time already? Remember not to play with your food."
"…"
Squinting her eyes, Velvet showed that she was not playing around when that boy was involved. Magilou put her arms behind her, avoiding Velvet's gaze as she whistled, attempting to deflect her animosity.
They gave the boy quite a head start as he was no longer in view. But they had to stop in their tracks and duck behind some rocks. There were unwanted hostilities.
"Well, what now again? We can't be storming into the city with exorcists guarding it."
"Did word of the prison break already reach here? Damn..."
Another inconvenience. Big surprise. This day truly was nothing but misfortune after misfortune. First the prison break, then the ship crises, then the avalanches. What next, Velvet wonders? Being greeted by a certain man sipping away at his warm beverage in a warm shelter all the while laughing at them? Velvet's gaze towards the ground in agitation counters the recent misfortunes.
"Hey, there's footprints."
"Hopefully it leads to a back entrance into the city. Preferably unguarded."
The three managed to dash from their cover and into another without attracting the attention of the front entrance guards. It helped that there were others trying to gain entry. To their right was the ocean, once again in plain sight. Only once did it slam into the rocks with immense ferocity as the party of three traverse a narrow ledge, as if attempting to force them back into their watery graves. So close...
"Careful now. The ledge is slippery with snow and water." Ever the manly man, Rokurou led the away, but in reality, served as a meat shield in case a tragedy strikes. He would be the first to go, the girls thought to themselves. Were they joking? It was hard to tell.
"Whew... And we made it safe and sound." Magilou leaned on her knees, clearly the picture perfect representation of fatigue as she gave out a very audible exhalation. Oh come now, it wasn't that bad. All it took was one slip and the water would quickly give the hypothermic treatment, leading to sluggish movements, inability to use hands, slurring, sapped energy and... Oh, maybe it was bad...
Luckily, the chances of being found by exorcists has vanished as their little cave expedition leads to a ladder. The group looked at each other for a good long minute before the girls focused their attention on Rokurou, who, for a man of his caliber, was reasonably confused.
"What? Aren't we going to go up?"
At this, Velvet palmed her face and shook her head in utter disappointment. An unamused Magilou simply took her hat and slapped Rokurou's face with it.
"You truly have no tact."
"Ow...! And what was that for?!" A slap from a hat with no solid ornaments shouldn't have hurt that bad, but Rokurou held his cheeks regardless. Bah, it was just a knee-jerk reaction to predicted pain. But as he looked at the barely clothed witch, he finally understood why. "Ooohh... Right. I'll go up first. Wish me luck, I guess." There was no hint of celebration nor fanfare to his voice. Those words were just feeble attempts to stave off embarrassment.
Magilou was still sniffing, trying to discern what was awaiting them up the ladder, but she didn't feel like gambling with her life today. It's a good thing she wore what she did for this particular situation, otherwise, should she go up first, there might be a chance that she might encounter death.
Anyway... Up he goes, he guesses. A hatch blocked his way indoors, but it was carelessly unlocked and Rokurou simply pushes it open and up he truly goes.
"Whoa..." And he was greeted with a dreadful room, his face paling. He remains paralyzed until the other two make their way into a storehouse. A house storing what?
"Even from way down there, I could smell it. Flamestone! A rare mineral found only in Northgand so far. Mix it with oil and you get fuel. Mix it with sulfur and you get... explosives!" Magilou had intentionally raised her voice when she said explosives, drawing out the intended consequences as Rokurou jumped slightly, as if he believed that loud noises could set off this storehouse and up he truly, truly goes. Up in flames.
"Is that why you made me go first?!" Every waking moment, you continue to fail your image as a samurai.
"You still have no tact."
Velvet was unconvinced of such potential hidden with such plain looking rocks. So she took a few samples in her hands, observing them, wondering what makes them tick, but in all honesty, she was just burning a hole through them as she remained clueless on their workings. But her observations around the very messy storehouse gave rise to a different conclusion.
"It looks like someone's been here recently, rummaging through the materials... or this place is just badly maintained."
"I'd wager that trading companies are more organized than this. This just looks like the work of a thief."
"Our first visit to a town in a long while and already we've encountered evil. Is the outside world truly a cruel place as they say it is in the prison? Will our luck finally run out under these dreadful skies? And all the while, I consider myself an island of virtue amidst this sea of wickedness!"
Yes, yes, your loud, dramatic theatrics are very much appreciated in a place with a short fuse. Explosive theatrics, but nevertheless you manage to maintain that image of yours with such extravagant poses, reaching for the skies as you hold your heart.
"Sea of wickedness? I think we're all a part of the problem."
"I hope this is just a one-time thing. If thievery is rampant, it could spell delays for the maritime guilds. Still, I think it's worth checking them out if we're to have any chances with ships."
"And if possible, have a true sailor." Velvet cast a dirty look at Rokurou, who, not long ago, was considered their "sailor". To be fair, he did say he had limited knowledge. Of course, even limited knowledge means squat if he was snoozing the whole time.
Navigating through the storehouse was harder than it looked. The door was visible thanks to little openings between merchandise, but they were arranged in such a way that a labyrinth better suited the name for this building. Magilou led the way through the chaos and finally, her hand grasped the doorknob.
"Alright... Open...Sesame!"
…
...
Huh?
The sleepy city looked ok. There was snow, people, ships, buildings. For once, nothing peculiar came out of man's side of things, and instead, the sky proved strange.
"Night time already? We weren't in that cave for long, were we?"
"Yea but we also couldn't see the sun thanks to the clouds. Who knows when the afternoon actually ended?"
Velvet wasn't convinced. The storm may have obscured the sun, but she could still tell it was up, trying to pierce through the clouds and show its brilliance. When the party exited the building, Velvet took one last inquisitive look at where the sun was originally supposed to be.
"(I must be overthinking things...)"
Magilou followed Velvet's line of sight. She was curious as well. Why was the day short? Hopefully it's nothing worth stressing over. The world already held enough secrets as it is.
"Come now, Velvet. Let us grace the town with our presence!"
And all the jester could do was keep smiling.
Hellawes , Northgand
Night
Clear Skies
"Light's out already?"
Hyoma managed to enter Hellawes without much effort. At least, that's what I assume... Breathing is normal, clothes are clean, face is calm... And yet, the moment he went inside the city, he immediately craved for a break as if he just finished a 9-to-5 shift. He was currently leaning on a steel fence intended to protect the people from falling into a body of water. His left hand was in his coat pocket and... something else was on his right hand... But nothing about today topped off his biggest discovery yet. Something that miraculously managed to cater to his "break" in this ancient looking world.
"The early darkness is strange and all, but..." Hyoma scanned the town from left to right. There wasn't a need to scan vertically as the sleepy town itself wasn't that impressive. Something else was...
"A world this ancient looking and it hosts cafes? This is even stranger. Granted they're called coffeehouses here, but still..."
In his right hand was indeed, a coffee cup and it, coffee.
He took a small sip, willing to savor the beverage even though it's pointless, and exhaled in a relaxed manner. This was the picture-perfect representation of a "coffee break". It was what Hyoma wanted to do, but immediately held his thoughts on the coffee, expecting a world like this to not have even invented coffee. So imagine his surprise when he tried to visit an inn to crash into a bed and found a café instead. He was so excited he completely forgot to research this world in general. Forget useful rumors, newspapers, books. The coffee came first.
"Stranger still are the weird fashion senses these people have. It should be freezing out here and yet people have the luxury to put style into mere functional winter clothes. Ah well... If it means I stand out less, I approve of this strangeness."
Another sip, but this time, with his eyes closed. Was he perhaps... trying to imagine how coffee tasted before? How warm it felt before? How comforting it would be to drink it under the snow before? But even without the windows to the soul, a small smile and a serene aura were distinguishable enough from him to know that he was at ease, a world of hurt forgotten if even for just a little bit. This was the meaning of repose.
Between his sips, Hyoma looked around him. Snow descended upon this sleepy town with such gentleness. Nature was right to choose tranquility as its theme here, in a town seems to be known for calm. There was nothing gaudy about this town, a trait Hyoma very much appreciated. It was easier on his eyes, so it was easier to understand the serenity that emanated here.
The Souls here were also leisurely in their flights. Well... they are usually like that. After traveling for so long, it was so easy to just lay down and let it all end, but Hyoma knew all too well that this peace is temporary and that his journey won't end on a quiet note.
And on that note, Hyoma was due for another sip to drown those thoughts. One sip, two sips, three sips... He was taking in more coffee than usual. Maybe it was a means to hide his face and camouflaging himself from the intimidating presence?
Although his head didn't move, his eyes never left the intimidating presence. Their every move was predictable, vulnerable, and visible to the traveler. A woman with two little boys closely trailing behind her. Blue, white, and yellow were their attire, so they were definitely exorcists. If the rumors he heard while he was traversing the town were true, then this imposing woman of obviously high rank was Teresa Linares, a praetor exorcist, and one who could manipulate two malakhims simultaneously. Whatever that meant... More importantly, two little boys as her slaves?
"(She loves little boys?)"
Hyoma's smile grew and a quiet chuckle accompanied it. Screw the mood, this was the most irrelevant thought one can think of right now. And of course, no one would know this as his cup of coffee was conveniently hiding his face. Always the type to humorously downgrade all forms of intimidation.
"(Ah, and the boy from before is here too. It would be bad if you looked over here, so don't look over here, please.)"
Wherever the exorcist party was, Hyoma looked the other way, still somehow taking a drink. Then when the party passed him, it was all clear. He could spy on them all day.
"...need a ship."
"Sorry, but we can't help."
"Why's that?
Hyoma could hear the voices and followed the source. Velvet and Magilou. Aren't they missing someone? Probably someone unimportant if Hyoma couldn't remember.
"Looks like they made it... I knew you guys could do it."
A victory sip to celebrate their survival! But wait, just a few hours ago, you were casually wondering if they were dead without a care in the world, as if the conclusion, whether they died or not, didn't matter.
"Under my orders, guild business is currently suspended."
So says the leading exorcist.
Just as soon as Velvet turned around to meet the exorcist, she immediately turned around again, hoping to hide herself into obscurity. This was no doubt the Teresa Linares they heard about as they made their way into Hellawes, a praetor exorcist with the ability to summon and control two malakhims at once. She was dangerous... Velvet cursed herself for not being careful enough. It's only been a day since the prison escape and a few minutes into this city and already she was in the presence of one who could possibly send her back to prison.
"Lady Teresa..." A quiet, submissive voice spoke amidst the emerging tension. It was the boy from before.
"Did I give you permission to speak, Number Two?"
And Teresa's piercing gaze and voice cuts "Number Two" off completely. Alright, Number Two is your name and will be referred to as such until a different name arises for you, Number Two. And Number Two slowly lowers his head in defeat. I wonder who wears the pants in that threesome relationship?
"Slaves?"
A long sip. A long, audible sip. Audible enough so that the head honcho could hear it, but not audible enough to identify the sip as rude. Hyoma played the sound as a means to replace the crickets chirping, seeing as how nobody is reacting to Teresa's show of force.
"Hehehe..."
Magilou was sitting on a small set of stairs covering her mouth as she laughs at the sipping. She flashed the V sign at Hyoma, intending to attract his attention and it works. In return, a smiling Hyoma flashes back a small hand wave. Velvet misses their interaction completely, considering how hard she was trying to veil her presence.
"Lady Teresa, how long must this punishment last? You know Dyle is the one at fault, don't you, Milady?"
Teresa crossed her arms, disappointed that the guild is willing to single out the culprit and throw him under the bus if it means business will boom again.
"I know Dyle was the one smuggling flamestone, but he was still a part of your guild. And a guild, much like any forms of teams, share responsibility. My restrictions are supported by the Abbey to bring about order." Daggers were flying out of Teresa's eyes and into the guild mates. She would not tolerate disobedience is what her demeanor said. "Are you willing to go against the law of the land?"
"Of course not, Milady...!" The shipping guild master waved his hands frantically, fighting for his innocence. And then he, too, lowers his head in defeat.
"Hm..."
Hyoma wanted to comment, but no effort was made to do anything. He didn't change his neutral expression, he didn't change his stance. He just kept drinking the coffee. It was far too early to be making judgments. But a bit of "mindless wondering" couldn't hurt.
Teresa gave a knowing nod and loses her crossed arms and opts to hold her hands together as she leaned on her leg. Her face loosened up as well, a scowl being replaced by smiling lips and smiling eyes. Maybe an opinion of her and her masks could be formed if Hyoma could actually see her damn face...
"When Dyle is captured and properly interrogated, your business shall be lifted of all restrictions."
Very diplomatic.
Naturally, when the conversation ended, Teresa couldn't help but focus her attention on the oddity to the right. A woman in clothes that are practically useless in a place like this. Scratch that, impractical everywhere but in sin cities. Nevertheless, Teresa kept her motherly expressions intact as she addresses the woman.
"Aren't you cold dressed like that?"
Good... She hasn't noticed that Velvet was an escaped convict and potentially the most dangerous prisoner... So Velvet could at least attempt to turn her head towards a high ranking enemy.
"I came here from the south. I was unaware of the extremities Northgand possessed..." Velvet hugged her body in an attempt to warm herself up and ended her sentence with a snuffle. Hyoma saw the whole thing in action.
"I did not know that northern areas were cold, she says."
Teresa shook her head in disapproval.
"A young woman ought to keep herself warm."
"She believed it...?!"
Hyoma almost regurgitated the coffee back into the cup, but managed to drink it down before that happened. But because of that, he couldn't help but cough and choke. His little crisis manages to earn the attention of his surroundings, including Teresa and Magilou, the very look of confusion upon their faces, before returning to the matter at hand.
"Thank you for your concern. I'll try to get some warmer clothes next time..."
"Hm..." Hyoma wanted to comment again, but really, all he was doing was mindless wondering.
And so Teresa and her two boy slaves continue on with their patrol. Magilou stood up, willing to give her opinion on the state of things.
"A show of power to subjugate those without power. What a cruel world indeed. And so I will reiterate! In this sea of wickedness, only I stand alone as the island of virtue!"
"If you want to declare to the world your self-proclaimed virtue, then do it without me around. I don't feel like going back to my cell."
"Hmph..."
Velvet went straight into a standing Thinker's pose once more, trying to formulate a plan to get them a ship. Well the simplest solution can become the correct solution, right?
"So let's get this straight. If I offer you Dyle, then you can offer me a ship. Is that a deal?"
Simple enough.
"That's fine and dandy, but Dyle is a demon who's killed every exorcist that tried to pursue him. It'll be no small task..."
"I don't care about the details. All I want to know is if you're willing to accept the conditions." Again with the short fuse... Velvet crossed her arms this time around, tapping her arm with her index finger, a mask of impatience.
"Sigh... Very well then. But don't say we didn't warn you. If you want to start somewhere, start with the small village just outside of here. After that, prepare for bloodshed. If you succeed, you'll have a ship.
"Remember. He's a demon now. Show him no mercy."
"We'll see about that."
"Hey, Velvet." A tap on the shoulder to get Velvet's attention and once she's nabbed it, Magilou points to a certain traveler still sipping away at a certain beverage. It seems Velvet never noticed him, courtesy of her gaze trying to avoid Teresa.
"Oh. He's here."
And away they go. To Hyoma! And Hyoma spots them walking his way. He's going to have to talk, isn't he? Goodbye, loneliness.
"I was almost convinced by your little display of deception there, Velvet."
*Sip*
Velvet walked past Hyoma a bit and leaned on the fence with her arms, facing the opposite direction as Hyoma. The body of water below reflected her eternally present scowl on her face. Wait, what scowl? On her face was one of calm and relaxation.
"But it worked, didn't it?" A long sigh escaped from her mouth, a sigh that contained a world of trouble. It was a much-needed thing for that sigh to escape and lessen the burden on her shoulders. But this wasn't enough. She would need a nice bed and a nice long sleep to end this day and move on to the next without much worry weighing her down. "Anyway, how did you do? How'd you get here?"
"Hm? Why the easy questions? I did alright. I just entered through the front gate."
*Sip*
"You what?!" Velvet took her eyes off of the reflection in the water and turned her head to meet Hyoma, who was still looking straight ahead with no particular subject or object to look at. "There were exorcists at the gate!"
"Soooo...?"
"C'mon, just a sip...!"
While the conversation was going, Magilou was itching to get a taste of the coffee and was willing to fight Hyoma for it and the poor mugged victim tries to keep the cup away from the jester.
"Nope. And why would I be worried about the exorcists? I'm not on their list. I'm not the bad guy."
…
*Sip*
…
And cue the laugh track...! If there was one...
"Hah! As if anyone would believe that!"
Magilou, still trying to snatch that cup of his. It shouldn't be too hard, considering that their height were a mere 7 centimeters apart, with Hyoma being 167 cm and Magilou being 160. And on a similar note, Hyoma was a mere 3 centimeters short from Velvet's 170 cm height. Ouch... Another woman who was taller than him. He'll probably have to look at Velvet again straight in the face later to receive the full effects of being a shorty. Right now, protecting his drink was the utmost important.
"Sigh... And to think we went through all that trouble and the most suspicious looking person in an extravagant red and black attire that stands out in the snow would just stroll inside the city. If only reality catered to the needy..." A palm to the face completes the look of utter disappointment and failure as she returns her gaze to the water, shaking her head side to side.
"Ah well. I guess I got lucky.~ Cough, cough!"
Success! Magilou managed to tip the cup just little bit to ensure Hyoma got more than what he expected. And with his guard down, the cup of coffee was hers! It was a good thing he didn't cough in it. The whole plan could've been ruined otherwise. Quick reflexes my boy! Quick, quick reflexes! But hey, coffee is coffee!~
"Sluuurpp... Aaahhh...~ That really warms the heart."
When Hyoma was done wiping his mouth with his red gloves, a terrible thing indeed, he shot a quiet, hostile look at Magilou. Oh, he was going to get revenge alright. Magilou paid no attention to the man left of her and kept the coffee to her selfish little self. Both hands held the coffee, but I don't think it's a sign of warming the hands, but to keep the thing in her possession. A slight disgust made its way to Velvet's face.
"You know... he drank that already, right?"
*Sluuurrp*
"...Never mind."
"Enough about me. How did you guys fare? Judging from your reaction to my easy entrance, not so well, I imagine?"
Hyoma regained his composure and leaned back on the fence, his left leg slightly bent and his hands back into his coat pockets. Like before, he continued to observe his surroundings, looking for... something.
"Avalanches. Lots and lots of avalanches! From all sides, the white death herself came to take back what was hers! But then, we spoke about our wishes, that should we ever cry out our dying breath, all shall be without regret knowing that we can entrust the future to you!"
How in the world can you manage to be so dramatic while holding a cup with both hands and thus rendering a majority of movements immobile?
"Haha...! Thanks!~ Now I feel complete." There he goes again, rubbing the back of his neck in a show of embarrassment and quickly hiding his hand again in his pocket.
"I don't remember wishing something like that."
"Aw..."
Just as quickly as his mood went up, it went crashing down. Velvet was good at that. His hand emerges to scratch his cheek in another form of embarrassment.
"Oh yea, where is your other party member? Did he die or something?"
Such casual morbidity with such a neutral mask! Such types of morbid jokes were one of Magilou's specialty, and though Hyoma just stole her job for just a moment, she couldn't help but smirk, coated with malice and everything. She might just give this boy a chance!~ Of course, this contrast in tone and the gravity of the words served only to disturb Velvet. It was the same with Rokurou, who was disturbed by Hyoma's lightheartedness under such somber circumstances.
"He didn't...die. He's still alive and he went to search for a weapon shop."
"Huh? Wasn't he wearing one?"
"Sigh..." Velvet wasn't new to that information. She said those same exact words at least twice and got the same response twice. Being reminded of the stubbornness caused Velvet to pinch the bridge of her nose in distress. That damn, stubborn samurai... "That's exactly what I said. Do you want to know what he said?"
"Nope. People with an unhealthy amount of stubbornness are usually the first to die, like Rokurou.~"
Straightforward in message and casual in tone... Hyoma raised his voice for the last two words to create a tone of light-heartedness, turning death into a joking matter. And the message did specify Rokurou, but someone else was specified in it... And it was Velvet, who acknowledged the message as having been directed at herself despite not knowing that Hyoma already knew of her inner workings. In response, she looked upon the waters once more, not out of calm relaxation, but of calm anxiety.
"Oh..."
That was all Velvet could utter out.
Hyoma made an effort to shift his eyes all the way to the left to see Velvet's expression without garnering her attention. His head remain unmoved, but it was clear as day. His words worked. But there would be no celebratory masks or smiles for this occasion. A suppressed sigh would escape from his nose. It would take a lot of work to fix Velvet...
"(At the very least... she is able to think about it. For such a vengeful person with unbridled rage in their eyes... this is a good thing.)"
Are you hoping to fix her, Hyoma? Funny. It wasn't too long ago that you chose not to interfere with the lives of others anymore. Already this choice is about to be broken by someone you barely know for a full day. Though I suppose... you do have a knack for helping those who are capable of change...
I just wish you would heed your own advice...
~P 5 – Beneath the Mask (Rain/ Instrumental)~
And the sounds afterwards would be filled with nothing but Magilou's quiet but joyous moments with Hyoma's drink and Hyoma and Velvet opting to stay silent and enjoy the peace. All three knew this peace wasn't going to last, but all three have different scenarios in mind for how that peace would be broken.
Oh, but there was one moment when Hyoma wanted to ask these two if they saw Rosegris, that mysterious, lantern-wielding, valkyrie-esque individual. However, individuals that hold that much aura in them are... a picky bunch for a lack of a better description. The level of significance Rosegris possessed was the same as certain past figures Hyoma encountered that later turned out to be either his most trusted ally or worst enemy. A shadow of himself, an amalgamation of himself, a white-twintailed hair scythe wielding moon goddess, Death herself... Yea, in that order. Pretty important people. And only Hyoma was graced with their presence hundreds of times before appearing even once to other people as the invisible ties that connected them were majestic in magnitude. Rosegris was just like that. So there's only one conclusion.
"(I doubt they've seen her...)"
That was Hyoma's mind. What about Velvet's mind? What went through hers? Nothing interesting really. The calm was replaced with questions and hesitation. Should she confront Hyoma about what the group discussed earlier? Like what happened to him that resulted in imprisonment? Why he is supposedly unable to die? Or why he's so light? Or if he's even human? Velvet was capable of being straightforward too, but several factors, some of which are unknown even to herself, are preventing these words from being spilled, one of which that even Velvet knew Hyoma enough that he wouldn't answer these questions. Sometime after, she realized what the unknown factors were.
She remembered her words about letting Hyoma have his privacy. Yes, those words. The feeling wasn't strong enough to make an impression, but something within Velvet refused to invade Hyoma's privacy. It was times like these that she wished she had Magilou's level of analysis. The witch already peered inside Velvet's mind with little effort, so it was likely she did the same to Hyoma. But like Hyoma, asking Magilou for information was going to be a long and painful process.
"(I don't think that's a good idea...)"
"By the way, what're you still doing here?"
It was Hyoma who broke the two out of their light stupor. He of all people didn't want the peace to end prematurely, but their company was unneeded. It was getting uncomfortable being surrounded by two barely dressed women. Well, being around women was always an uncomfortable experience for Hyoma, a trait that stood the test of time in the span of eons.
"I mean, you're welcome to relax a bit, but I think Rokurou is more important for you all." With that said, Hyoma breaks off from the fence and turns to face the two, a genuine smile gracing his face. "Better get a move on, you two.~"
"Aw... Already? Oh well... Such is the nature of life, where no good thing lasts forever! And that goes double for you two, Velvet, because from this moment on, I can longer grace you with my presence!"
"What a loss. How tragic. Poor me."
Unamused. Sarcasm. A lot of those and more for what is supposed to be a blank expression on Velvet. Well whatever. That's one less freeloader, good enough to motivate Velvet's feet to start moving and away from headache incarnate.
"One down, two to go. What happens to you now, Magilou? I would think circuses are a lost cause and a failing business in an oh-so serious world like this?~
"Ouch... Knocked me right off my feet... For that, you shall pay dearly!"
Her arm swung dramatically and landed right in front of Hyoma, her other hand tipping her hat for added dramatic effects. What did she want...? Like any other defendant with no credibility, Hyoma opted to put his hands up to defend himself. Defensive the gesture may be, but he can still be playful, especially when a funny thought crossed his mind as Magilou held an empty cup in front of him.
"Sorry. Soliciting isn't allowed.~"
"Argh! No, you dummy!"
"Fine, fine. I'll take it off your hands."
"The world becomes a better place when everyone cooperates. Mhm... We did good today."
She crossed her arms, smiling and nodding to herself, convinced that their actions were one step towards spreading joy to the world. I think it would take more than that to be convinced of such...ideas. After being content with the convincing, she extended a hand out to Hyoma.
"Bring it here and celebrate the conclusion of our short but jolly cooperation!"
"Haha..."
In return, a nervously laughing Hyoma extended his hand to meet Magilou. He would be rubbing the back of his neck like for every other time he's embarrassed but the cup was preventing that. It's a surprise he's even partaking in such an act with a woman. Their presence was one thing, but physical touch with them was far more uncomfortable. But alright, Hyoma supposes that this one gets a pass. I mean, just look at Magilou's white, flashy smile!
Their little handshake extended beyond its lifespan and when it was time to part, one side of the party covertly entangled their fingers with the other as their hands slid apart, perhaps a little reluctant to let go.
"And with this... our paths have become independent once more." And as the curtain is about to close, the performer bows to the audience.
"Fare thee well!"
For some reason, Hyoma expected Magilou to vanish with the use of smokes and mirrors and so on, but to his surprise, Magilou simply strolls on out of here. What an anticlimactic way to exit the stage, especially for one so eccentric and so immersed into the role as Magilou! Oh well, she was out of sight, so she was out of mind. Well... she would be out of mind if Hyoma didn't return his attention to the empty cup in his hand.
There was no warmth. Not a trace of it. Even through the barrier, I felt it. I felt nothing. That red hand was void of everything. It was unlike the red eyes that contained everything. Would you believe me if I said those "nothingness" and "everything" told the same story?
There was solitude. They chose it, knowing it was the easy choice. Then they chose solitude again, knowing it was the hard choice. That's why they were reluctant to let it go.
~P 5 – Beneath the Mask (Rain)~
"Right, right... I have to return this. A small price to pay if it meant she would reveal another mask of herself. But more importantly, who of us actually think we'd never see each other again? This is just the calm before the storm after all."
Despite the one to advice breaking off, Hyoma is the last to leave the scene as he makes his way back to the coffeehouse to return the cup or perhaps for a refill. What an odd policy that a customer can merely exit the building with their property. Did they trust the people that much to return them? Is this what they call good faith?
He gazed at the night sky one last time. The glowing white shooting stars, the Souls, continue their aimless journeys, invisible to all but the awakened ones. And above these Souls were the real stars, selfishly keeping their luminous majesty and taunting those in the lower worlds. And yet, even with such degradation, Hyoma observed those still outdoors that also cherished the starlit night. There lies no reason for their stargazing. But for Hyoma, the night sky was candy to his eyes and music to his ears, the Souls clearly visible as they orchestrate songs of their choosing and Hyoma has little resistance against their perfect playlists.
"Hm hm hm hmmmm..."
And so he hums and sings along with the Souls quietly.
Hyoma would've liked to enjoy his sights for a little while longer, but trouble would stir if he stayed outside, so indoors he goes. A voice can be heard with increasing audibility as he neared the coffeehouse.
"...She's lauded as the "Frozen Queen" of the exorcists. Cool as ice and pure and dazzling as freshly fallen snow, the white knight that Hellawes needs!"
"Oh great..." Hyoma tried to make his way to the counter without putting in effort to look at the source of the commotion, all the while looking at the other customers and employees, searching for their reactions. And sure enough, they all looked upon the fanatic with aversion. "Here's your cup."
"Thank you, good sir. Another cup, perhaps? The same order?"
The young bartender seemed tired. A young man, perhaps mid-twenties. The first time Hyoma saw him, the smile was wide and flashy, as you would expect from one who serves customers. Adult customers. Sometimes, anyway.
"I feel really bad for you right now, so I'll take you up on that." And with that, Hyoma claimed his seat on the counter, taking care that his coat's twintails don't get caught. So it was for a refill. But why? You had other priorities. Hyoma didn't even need to provide visual subtle cues and clues to pass the message effortlessly.
"...Anyone who disturbs her order, whether human or demon, will be frozen by her wrath, soul and all!"
Because someone else can do it for him. The bartender multitasked, providing orders, cleaning the cups, and hopefully become an engaging conversation partner to Hyoma.
"What can you do, right? He's a paying customer. Good enough for me." He was working his miracles from behind the counter. He didn't rip through the place like a tornado as the place was already satisfied, but his methods are still unknown even to those who analyze the slow pace creation. Coffee must still be new in this world. He'd take note of that. "Here".
And from one hand to another.
"Mm."
"...The way she glares at the filthy... If only she would at me like that with those ice-cold eyes... Teresa! My love!"
"…"
The cup never made it to his mouth as Hyoma lowered his head and shook it in silent and subdued disgust. He was trying to enjoy what little joy there is left and even that was becoming impossible. The bartender agreed with the disgust. He pitied the poor man as much as the poor man pitied him.
"Maybe the outside world can help cool you down?"
Hyoma shook his head side to side. No sound came from him. He didn't like the idea. Several minutes ago, that would've been nice... But exposing himself now would be a bad idea. There was another reason he wanted to break off from Magilou and Velvet.
"(Oscar probably contacted this place already... The news will reach Teresa, and she'll immediately recognize Velvet as an escape. No doubt Magilou would be captured too. She was seen with Velvet after all. I'm lucky she didn't see me with those two and I hope I can continue to push that luck by hoping that the other exorcists didn't see me with them.)"
A silent toast to that luck of yours. But getting captured isn't what you're interested in. It's the thrill of being captured that's amusing to you. No danger can ever hope to befall you, so you may as well fabricate danger. Let's see how well you can dodge the spotlight.
"I was outside to clear my head... Recently, I became an amnesiac. I don't remember anything... Not even this world..."
The grand old amnesia story. It doesn't have to work fully, it just has to provoke the favorable responses.
"You have amnesia? That's news to me. I've little to do, so perhaps I can enlighten you with a bit of history and a general idea of this world?"
A nod this time around. Now things are getting somewhere. Finally, some information about this new world...
...
"Altjira is the name of this world. It is "dreamtime", a world where time is beyond time. Or so they say. No one really knows the origin of the name, but some assume it is because we hardly know the history of this world, nor of how life even started here."
"(Altjira... Dreamtime... Dream...time...")
The bartender continues.
"Anyway, there's an eastern and western hemisphere. We are on the eastern hemisphere, which is dominated by the Holy Midgand Empire. The western hemisphere... is a bit of a mystery to us easterners. There's no land connecting the two and the sea on both sides stretch so wide that seafarers would die before setting foot on land."
"So it's the dark side of the world for you. Has there ever been traces of contact between the two hemispheres?"
"There's no real evidence of that, but there are a lot of myths that suggest we have contacted each other, and that the world beyond our own is a mystical place. But myths are often used to fill in the blanks. Take what you will from them."
"(A world that doesn't even know itself... It's not unusual... Earth depicted a history where two entire continents were hidden from public until many centuries later... If I use that world for reference, would this world be undergoing the equivalent of the Age of Discovery? Or... is something else preventing the discovery?)"
That wasn't usual either. For example, a certain world managed to hide an entire city that never slept. A giant, sinful whale was responsible for all those who would dare try to discover that dreaming city. Hyoma was almost expecting giant monsters depicted in this world's maps. He would laugh, but at the same time, he too would be guilty of letting his imagination run wild if he were to become a cartographer.
Wait a second... That already happened.
"Ah. Here. Before we move on, let me get a map of the eastern hemisphere. It would help tremendously in your ventures."
The bartender set his sights on everywhere that would contain a map. Shelves, drawers, his own pockets. Local maps, island maps, anything works if it meant it would ease the suffering of a lost traveler. He managed to produce in his hands 2 maps, one with a detailed local map, and the other, the eastern hemisphere in its entirety, and handed them over to Hyoma as extra thanks for his continued patronage.
"Sitting comfortably? Then let's move on... Starting with..."
Hyoma wasn't paying attention, all eyes on the world map. A lightbulb at the top of his head prompts him to take a pen out of his coat and draws on the map, committing his first vandalism.
"Since the...-"
"Here."
It wasn't long before the world map was given back to its owner, with a few modifications.
"Um... What should I say?"
What should the bartender say? What can he say? A dot was drawn right where Mount Killaraus was and teeth were "artistically" bared at the Northgand Gulf. What was he supposed to say to this?
"It's a dog? Did I guess that right?"
His words were followed by a snort, trying so very hard to suppress the laugh that was breaking through. Hyoma had to look down to hide his smile. Because if he looked at the bartender's confused look, he'd have an uncontrollably good time. So he did his best, head down, to nod in confirmation, and when he finally thought he was composed again, he could show his face again, a smile unsurprisingly stuck on his face.
"Your world is a very funny looking place."
*Smile*
"… I'm going to continue. Since the Holy Midgand Empire encompasses all of the eastern hemisphere, there's only one capital city and that's Loegres, located in Midgand, or the middle continent." There were two giant pieces of land located near the middle, so the bartender pointed at the location on the world map for clarification. There was no hesitation, and there were no last-minute changes, so Loegres is indeed the capital city. That's obvious enough, but Hyoma just needed a confirmation to check whether Loegres was that prominent even outside the continent. "Loegres is known as the "Jewel of the Oriental Skies", but more recently became the "Jewel of the Empire"…"
Hyoma checked the young man's face for symptoms of hesitation. After all, he did start off with the capital city's former nickname before reintroducing it with the new nickname. That pretty much only means one thing...
"Let me guess. You're not fond of that new nickname, are you?"
A glance to the left, his work coming to a halt. That was Hyoma's bingo, letting out a victory smirk.
"Was it that obvious?"
"It was obvious before you even said anything. That goes for everyone here. The way you all reacted to an exorcist fanatic told me everything."
Upon remembering the fanatic, Hyoma looked to his left for any signs of him. There was no more subtlety in his spying. If the fanatic noticed him, let him notice. Hyoma was ready to give an earful anyway. However, it seems he left the establishment some time ago. No wonder it was so quiet, but it was a miracle he left the place without making a last-minute ruckus. His absence meant the people's masks have loosened. They should enjoy the atmosphere freed of choking, exorcist nonsense.
"Mm... I know you have amnesia and all, but I hope I can deter you from the wrong path. Not all of us are happy with the exorcists and the empire. Don't generalize."
"Don't worry."
Only once did Hyoma make eye contact with the bartender. His eyes were practically glued to the maps provided to him. It never hurt to prepare for the future. But his attention also encompassed the bartender, so even with his mind elsewhere, he understood the priority was the story, not the present situation.
"Sorry about that. I think I left off at Loegres." The bartender began to move again. Hyoma's spot-on prediction left him paralyzed but not in fear, but in realization. "Well, I did say I was going to tell a general idea of the world, which means we're not too far from going over the present..."
The bartender paused for a moment. This was a first. He was consistent in his storytelling, so why falter now? Is the present time the juicy part of the story? The bartender shook his head, staving off the negativity that surrounded the present time.
~Drakengard 3 - Descendeus (Instrumental) ~
"Altjira is a unique world. There are other planets in this system, but for some reason, only ours experience an unexplainable phenomenon known as the "Scarlet Night" or if you're lazy, the "Red Sky". A red sky? Scarlet night? Hyoma was skeptical. Phenomena like that were common in other worlds. Haven't these people heard of full moons? "We didn't know when it started, but the Scarlet Night occurs every three years. There is nothing particularly special about the Scarlet Night... I mean, nothing happens during those nights anyway, but..."
And there's the "but". There's always a "but" in these kinds of stories. It meant trouble and trouble was what Hyoma was looking for. Trouble was so ingrained in him that even his body will react without Hyoma himself ordering it, like his ears that just happen to perk up on their own.
"9 years ago, on a Scarlet Night, there was a giant pillar of light in Eastgand that lit up the entire night sky. Almost everyone saw that light show. Those that didn't would feel the effects anyway. Because on that day 9 years ago, demons surged in numbers. It was on that day that demons no longer had a place in myths. 9 years ago, that particular Scarlet Night came to be known as the "Opening" or if you're fancy, the "Overture".
Hyoma wanted him to keep going, but he had to stop him for one question. Just one, he promises to himself. One for now anyway.
"You said surged in numbers. Does that mean demons already existed before?"
The bartender had the look of small shock on him. This was quite a unique audience for him. Guess he underestimated the attention span this young man had. It was admirable. He needed more customers like these.
"Demons did exist before the Overture, but they were few and scattered so not many people believed in them. It's like introducing snow to those near the equator or the sun near the poles. They are myths." Hah! He can certainly say that again. Those sorts of truths always hurt. "Demons back in the day usually consisted of abnormal variations of preexisting lifeforms. They could be giant birds, an even more grotesque looking cockroach if that's even possible... and so on. But now, even humans can turn into demons. Or maybe they did before and we just didn't know nor cared enough to know. Nevertheless, they had one thing in common, and that was their hostile nature. "
"I wasn't expecting well-mannered demons anyway."
Hyoma shifted his eyes to the right, a small smile gracing his lips. He said that with such overflowing confidence, knowing it was very true. And he had Velvet to thank for. She served as an excellent piece of evidence!
"Well, the hostility of demons is a given. But personally, mother nature was already hostile anyway." The bartender understood the shift he was put into. The graveyard shift. It was a shift that allowed him to be lax. And if need be, allowed for rules to be broken, in small doses of course. And that meant taking breaks whenever he wanted. Including serving himself coffee. Don't worry! He'll pay for it. "No one really knows why the demons became prominent but a widely accepted theory states that most demons were invisible prior to the Overture. So something must've happened to demons that made them visible to the naked eye. Or maybe something happened to people. Who knows?"
"(Widely accepted theory? Something smells about that. That's what the second act of the story is about right? He did say overture, which means it only gets worse from here.)"
Nice catch. The Overture is a prelude of things to come.
"So 9 years ago was known as the Overture, and it was prominent for revealing every demon to the world. Another revelation was due. And so, 3 years ago, in another Scarlet Night, the same pillar of light in Eastgand appeared. This time around, it was malakhim that appeared before us. There were stories about their existence and it seems they were right beside us all this time."
"(Gee... Malakhim huh... Malak. I wonder where THAT came from. Haven't I encountered enough angels in a lifetime?)"
Take a sip, Hyoma. Not all angels are bad. They're just... obsessive when it comes to serving. That's the only thing they're good for, after all. And the "angels" here are likely no different. Just drown the thoughts.
"That year was dominated by Artorius Collbrande. Along with a band of malaks, Artorius cut down the demons on his path to Loegres and was deemed a savior. They named that particular Scarlet Night "Advent" to signify Artorius' emergence into the world stage."
The bartender took a good long sip and he wasn't going to stop there. It meant there was more to come. Or maybe he was nearing the end? Either way, he stops for a moment in case Hyoma needs to catch up. He tries to read Hyoma's face and understands that the man has yet to look at him in the eye for at least a full second. Hyoma was still looking at the map, and for some reason, his refilled beverage has yet to decrease in amount. Either way, it didn't look like he was paying attention. Not that the bartender wishes for this pure, unadulterated amnesiac to learn of "Artorius the Savior".
He took a look outside through the windows. The snow was still gentle in their landing, but the exorcists that looked creepily straight into the establishment ruined the scenery. What? Did they smell something "disorderly" or something? Was it his thoughts? Could they read it? They can kill him anytime, he doesn't care. Better than what this world has to offer. He scanned the customers' faces and knew they thought the same thing. Then it was back to staring at Hyoma's unreadable face. Still nothing that shows signs of exposure. It was impossible. But contrary to his thinking, Hyoma wasn't really serious about the whole situation. After all, the story still continues and it is still far too early to form coherent thoughts. So please, Mr. Bartender. Continue.
"Exorcists did exist before him. Don't know when they started, but they were already fighting demons prior to his ascent into fame. But Artorius' reputation made it easier to rally the scattered exorcists under his wing and together, formed the Abbey, with him at the top."
"Who are the prominent members of the Abbey? I doubt he alone could support an organization this important."
Why do you ask? Are you planning to kill them? You're the one advising yourself to wait and see what happens. Hasty, hasty. See, look. The bartender is even giving you a weird look and Hyoma recognizes it as a look of suspicion. He suspects an innocent question but not his amnesia story?!
"(Don't look at me like that. I'm not going to do anything.)"
Hyoma fires back with an innocent smile guaranteed to win the court's favor. He meant no harm. How could you possibly accuse him of wrongdoing?
"Well the Abbey is split up into three groups. They are the orderly, praetor, and legate, from weakest to strongest."
The bartender said weakest and instantly, Hyoma remembered his orderly disguise. For just a moment, he was an orderly exorcist who managed to sneak past Oscar, a supposedly strong praetor. He could've killed him when they finished trading glances, but the stolen sword he had on him would be used for only one reason. To secure an escape. If there was no one that hindered the goal, fine. A clean sword it is. But that one exorcist just had to ruin it. So it was the watery grave for him. That poor exorcist, doomed to an eternity of ignorance, not knowing why his "fellow" exorcist stabbed him in the back. It wasn't even a clean kill either. It was intentionally made to hurt as Hyoma stabbed, twisted, and slashed within some more. And if that wasn't enough, he kicked the body to the ocean.
"The exorcist the fanatic was gushing over is Teresa Linares, a praetor exorcist who holds a special relationship with fellow praetor exorcist, Oscar Dragonia. Siblings, I think. And at the top, we have Melchior Mayvin, Shigure Rangetsu, and Artorius Collbrande. Well... the only ones at the top that we know of so far."
"(Rangetsu...)" Notice a hint there somewhere? Or is it too unimportant to matter? "(Definitely not related to a certain, one track minded samurai...Definitely not. Let's just move on.)"
"As you can see, with their power to calm the chaos, the Abbey have been given the power to rule the entire Oriental. They demand that you throw away your emotions in favor of reason so that we don't turn into demons. As you already know, not all of us are happy with that..."
As if on cue, a certain conversation from a table nearby is sparked to life.
"...To hell with order and rules... Curse those stone-hearted exorcists. Is life worth living without a drink?!"
It was a drunkard and his conversation partner, a yes man, nodding. Maybe.
"I almost wish I came down with demonblight so I can drink their blood instead."
Hyoma didn't need to turn around to witness their conversation in order to better understand their words. It was plain as day. Their hatred can be experienced through touch alone, as a tense aura surrounded the table and spreading throughout the building.
"That explains the faces of everyone here. Is this coffeehouse some sort of refuge for the unhappy?"
Well, typically, cafes are used to unwind from reality's harshness. Why not this one as well?
"Coffeehouses, bars, and even diners are basically establishments where those willing to let loose their complaints aren't punished. It's kind of a silent agreement. We all promise not to reveal ourselves to the system. If we can do that, then we can enjoy our time here."
"They have diners here?!" That was what you focused on?! "Hamburgers and all? French fries maybe? Pancakes, eggs, those kinds?!"
"Er... I would think so, yes. But French... fries? What's... French? They're just fries."
"Oh no. It's nothing. My bad. (So they even have diners in here. Like... American-styled diners? If so, I'm definitely down for that. Well I guess it's too late now, but I can still imagine their taste.)"
Mr. Bartender, are you sure he's actually listening? I think he's made more irrelevant comments than relevant ones. Then there was the map drawing incident...
"(I reacted too violently... I already experienced a lot of worlds with mixed eras. This is really no different. I mean... It could be worse. Artorius of this world could've been Artoria Pendragon all over again. It was the biggest twist ever, to find that King Arthur was actually Queen Arthur. Well that was just one form of the Arthurian stories.)"
…
...
"(So in a way, these establishments are kind of like speakeasies. No one is allowed to talk about them or talk about what goes on inside those establishments... A refuge for those with a voice.)"
"Oh well. You can't satisfy everyone. Maybe we lot are just selfish people, but throwing away emotion all together is a bit much."
"Don't think like that. Selfishness is good. Sometimes."
Hyoma was quick to give his opinion. Here they were, the voices of the secretly liberated. They do not wish ill will upon the Abbey, but upon the policies they established. Well, to Hyoma, hating the Abbey was fine too. He wasn't about to let these sorts of people become discouraged by the idea of rebellion. And the bartender notices that, his weak smile backs it up. Maybe that mask of his wasn't all too bad.
"Hm..."
The Abbey, the history of the world, the crises. Those things. Ponder what needs to be pondered
"I would talk about the churches as well. Like the Empyreans they worship and such, but I'm not really religious. You can look them up yourself."
"Aw man. Does that mean the stories end here?" An oddly placed forlorn look happened upon Hyoma's expression. Did he actually enjoy the history lesson? "What a shame. The night is still young, you know."
"Cough... Haha...!" The bartender tried to get out his laughter before realizing he still had liquid inside his mouth, causing a sort of mixture between a laugh and a cough, but his smile prevails in the end. He looks at the clock on the wall above the entrance. "It's about 4 in the morning. I would think the night is about to end."
Hyoma has yet to look at a clock in this world. He was so disorientated. Time and place had no say in his mind. Sure enough, when he turned around to look at the clock, it was early morning. Just an hour past the witching hour. Was it coincidence then that at 3 AM, he was with Magilou? Ah well. Superstitions and all that. But more importantly...
"(So this world completes its rotation in 24 hours, too... That's convenient. I won't have to modify my journal's time then. So if I follow the date from back then...)" Hyoma reaches inside his coat for his journal, looking for his last entry before entering this dimension and upon seeing the date, dejection spread across his face. "(That's right... September 22, Year 10,000,285. Myr Annum 10... From beginning to present time...)"
Of course, with him turned around, the bartender can't see the look of sadness on Hyoma, but his silence was unnerving, especially after putting energy and effort into strengthening his spirits. And yet, all is well when Hyoma turns around again to face the bartender. How quickly his personas change. In his hands now was money, laying it on the counter in exchange for the maps, which he neatly folded and placed into his coat's inner pockets.
Boy, was it worth it to loot those exorcists' corpses for money. All their savings in one basket, some which could've been meant to feed a family, buy that ring for the women they loved, or go back to school and avoid being an exorcist. But no. It would all be used up by an undeserving interloper.
"Thanks for the history lesson. It was like back to school all over again."
The energy has been sapped from Hyoma, the weakness in his smile started to show. The bartender wasn't a psychologist, so he probably assumed that the smile was one of exhaustion. Nothing else.
"Oh no. Thank you. I exchange a lot of meaningful words with the customers, but it's been a while since I talked for this long. After all, not a lot of people are awake nor have the energy to talk."
Hyoma looked up at the ceiling, pausing before thinking of a response. The fan that circulated the air was suddenly an object of interest. It kept spinning. An endless cycle. One complete circle and on to another one. Does it ever get tired of it? Then finally...
"Heh... Do I know that feeling."
"Ah, by the way."
Hyoma would be on his merry way, but the voice of the bartender brings him back in.
"Hm?"
"I noticed your smile when I was introducing the world's name. Do you... know something about Altjira?"
...
~Drakengard 3 - Descendeus~
An all-knowing smirk now spreads to replace his tired one. Hyoma got up from his seat, and used his hands to help him stretch his aching back. When he was done, he started to fix his coat and refitted his gloves, being especially careful that none of his clothing show skin below the neck. The bartender only now just took in his whole appearance. Straight but unkempt black hair, crimson eyes with distinct, sunburst-esque designs, a massive red twintail coat with black lines for designs, a grey collared long sleeve shirt, black trousers, red and black shoes, with a pair of red gloves. Considering his general appearance, relaxed face, and calm demeanor, the bartender wanted to assume he was about mid-twenties...
…but something about him prompted for a much larger number. Ah well, it wasn't his business.
Without a farewell nor another word, Hyoma left quietly. It was truly a shame. It would be a while before the bartender would get another customer like him. He was very unique indeed, both in appearance and character. It was far too late now, but better late than never, even if he wasn't there anymore. Under his breath, the bartender spoke.
"Take care of yourself, traveler."
Just outside the door was Hyoma, who stood still for a moment, wondering what his next course of action should be.
"...Sigh..."
A long sigh, accompanied by the icy breath. He would fix his gloves again, one finger at a time, a habit of his. It gave him something to do but such an action also held multiple connotations. It was a means to distract, to hide nervousness, shyness, and all of that. This time, however... It was just a bad habit. An obsolete habit. An instinct to preserve the warmth.
Obsolete because there was no more warmth.
"I did see an inn... Maybe I'll try there. I'm so tired... I'll just... YAAwwnn... think about what I just learned tomorrow... Goodbye, day 1 in this odd world..."
Ah, finally. A destination. Set aside all that somber nonsense and take the bed by storm! Er... Ok. Or Hyoma can just stroll his way to the inn. Or... no...
"Hold on a second."
The inn was on his line of sight, then turned to the right slightly, eyeing a large building.
"There is that church..."
…
...
Changing courses then.
No rush, no hurry. His hands found their home in his coat pockets. All of him was kept secret from the world. But the world never kept their secrets well from Hyoma. Hyoma always kept his eyes open, ready to observe the world. Their secrets have long been revealed and as for the snow that fell to the earth, Hyoma can only smile a weak, quiet smile.
...
Though... he never did answer the man's question. Why had he smiled at the mere mention of Altjira?
"Teacher, will you tell us now?"
"You mean... about "Dreamtime"?"
So nodded furiously the heads of all the age 16 to 18 students ...
"Well... for starters..."
…
…
" I wouldn't be smiling if it didn't exist."
A/N - This chapter is basically the calm before the storm. The... "end of the beginning". Besides that, this is basically just laying down some foundations like character relations and foreshadowing. Also, I will be changing some of Berseria's elements. If I remember correctly, the world's name was Desolation and I didn't like that. It's like calling Antarctica "Iceland 2.0" or Sahara Desert just "Desert". So it will be renamed to "Altjira" instead, after an Australian Aboriginal deity. Can't be spoiling any more than that other than the fact that Altjira and the "Dreamtime" will be playing a plot larger than Berseria's. So if you want, you can do some research on it to predict some events. I can give a hint though. The fact that coffee and cafes and diners and modern clocks and modern calendars exist is not for some silly reason. Different things from different parts of a timeline converging into one world is important in this story so don't think they exist for the sake of existing.