Do I even apologize at this point? Life's been hectic in good and annoying ways, so I haven't found the time to write as often as I did and or thought I did! This is my last time apologizing for this, so take what you can get at this point haha. I'm not the fondest of this chapter as I feel like the beginning and end are lacking. Both were the last things I wrote and I felt like I needed to publish the chapter as soon as possible or it would be another month or two… So here it is! I plan to have small entries from the grimoire in the next chapters so don't feel like I will skip them, they will be there eventually! To the comments… Comment lol!

Grimmouse197- Who said that chants need to rhyme? While it would have been cool to have it rhyme, I just wrote what I thought would work and I think it turned out pretty good. I did double-check the rhyming thing and it didn't look like other chants rhymed from the wiki but maybe I'm just reading them wrong lol. I'm glad you like how I've written Asura. I'm trying my best not to just write how I would react but since we are still in the early stages it's bound to happen. Hopefully, as we get more in-depth and get closer to canon he might just be his own character at that point.

Chapter 6, enjoy it, and maybe even have a nice coffee as you read it!

Illusio Family Grimoire

Siora Illusio

May 14th, 115 A.D (After Gods Descent, didn't realize that AD was used for our time until after I wrote it… Well Common Era, but C.E is only used by nerds like me! Keeping it because it makes it easy, and it was a cool idea at the time!)

Mother is still bedridden, and her complexion is getting worse by the day, I'm not sure what I can do to help! We are too far away from any proper settlement or town for me to go and look into a remedy or cure! There is also no proper healing flora in the area besides the occasional Elfroot, which mother has slowly become unresponsive to! Fuck, what am I going to do!

July 27th, 115 A.D.

Fuck it, I can't just not do anything as I watch mother die! I've stockpiled enough food; bone broth as it's the only thing she can keep down. Elfroot; even if it barely numbs the pain anymore. And lastly, enough water to drown a Kelpie! I'm not taking any more chances than I have, I'll be gone for less than a week, three days to the town, a day to find anything, and three days back… Gods above, please help me find something… Anything…

July 31st, 115 A.D.

I found it! It cost me almost everything I brought, but I was able to get a superior healing potion from a wandering adventurer! I can't even remember his name as I write this as after he described his potion my mind went black other than the need to buy it! Whoever you are, just know that you are in my prayers! I'm writing this as I make my way back home, no time for rest as I need to get back to mother as soon as possible! We can finally get back to our old lives!

August 2nd, 115 A.D.

I was too late; I was too fucking late! By the gods, she died only a few hours before I returned! She survived the descent of the gods, fought off hell and back as she fought everything known to man and practically everything unknown as well, and she dies of a fucking infection! GODS DAMNIT!

August 3rd, 115 A.D.

Gods, the house is a mess… It wasn't my finest moment but given the situation, I think I should be given a pass… After wrapping mother in wrapping with some stasis magic that won't last longer than a few days, I put her in our small storage space on the side of the house and I just… exploded… I don't remember anything seeing as I most likely passed out from magical exhaustion judging by the destruction of practically everything and the deep grooves carved into the house... What am I going to do? Mother was everything to me and she's gone…

August 8th, 115 A.D.

It's been five days since my last journal entry and not much has changed, I've just been going through the motions. The wrappings on mother should be fizzling out soon, so I need to figure out what to do… I'm not even sure how she would have liked to be taken care of since she barely mentioned her past! She never talked about it, even when she was in her bad phases, as she would always say "Don't worry, the night will come for me," whenever it was brought up. What does that even mean the night will come, no shit it will come, it comes every day! Gods be damned this is hard...

August 8th Continued…

Just as I complain about it, something happens to make it even more complicated… Well, somebody happened I should say…

Somebody had knocked on our door a few hours after my journal entry, and before I could yell at them to go away, the front doors lock clicked as it unlocked itself, and before I could channel my magic in defense, in walked the most imposing being I had ever come across. Her hair and eyes were the most eye-catching as both were midnight black and as I gazed at either of the it felt like I would lose myself in the darkness! She walked closer and closer until she was only a few feet away before I was able to shake the feeling away, but before I could yell at her in surprise and anger at bursting into my house, she said the only thing that would have calmed me down at that moment.

"Ashera… Where is Ashera's body…"

The sun shined bright as I came to a pause in my reading of the story of Siora Illusio for the umpteenth time in hopes find any more knowledge on my family's past that I had missed on the first, second, and third readings of Siora's story! 'Gods, if only I could read Ashera's entries, but seeing as she wrote them in what I assume to be the godly hieroglyphics, I'm stuck!'

Before I could go back into the rest of the story, a small nudge to left freed me from my small obsession as I jerked my head to the merchant in surprise. Before I could ask him what he wanted, he jerked his head forward, gesturing for me to look forward. I look away from the man, as I point my gaze forward and see the vast city in front of me, shock and surprise must have been evident on my face as the merchant laughs at me. I must have been so absorbed in the grimoire that I didn't even notice how close we had gotten to the city! We were practically at the front gates!

Tall and imposing walls blocked the view of the majority of the city, but the large entrance that held a considerable line of visitors, and merchants was able to show a small window into what the rest of the city looked and acted like. Numerous different races, shops, and stalls shouting out their wares that could be clearly heard from the line, clashing architecture of numerous different cultures, and adventurers! Though it was only a small view that was on the outskirt of the city, a few of those individuals walking about held countless different weapons and armor that broadcasted their very obvious profession, which only made me antsier as I methodically walked beside the cart I had been staying with for the last week!

As I gazed at anything and everything past the entrance whenever a large enough viewing occurred from so far back in line, my attention kept going back to the main attraction of the city, the Tower of Babel. The anime didn't give the tower justice as it loomed over the rest of the city and practically reached into the clouds! The tower had become visible after the first few days of travel away from the dense forest, hills, and mountains that made up the numerous surroundings of home. Unsurprisingly, the tower did in fact end, as the top could be seen as we journeyed closer and closer to the city, but from my viewpoint, and for those in the city, the tower didn't seem to have a stopping point as it looked like it actually reached into the heavens and the gods above! Fuck, let's just hope this Tower of Babel has a better ending than the one in the Bible…

As my mind began to wonder about the implications of the Tower of Babel and Christianity, we, as in the merchant, cart, horse, and I; began to get closer and closer to the front of the line and into Orario. Just as my thoughts were once again on the present setting, we arrived at the entrance as several adventures/guards approached us. The one in charge, a human with short, salt and pepper hair, a small beard in similar colors to his hair, and a fairly large sword on his back, walked to the merchant who was sitting at the front of the cart and began talking, pointing, and ultimately handing papers around. As they talked, I noticed a small insignia on the man's armored chest, showing a bronzed symbol of an elephant head, the Ganesha Familia! I took a quick look at the other adventures who began to inspect the cart and its cargo, and they too held the symbol for Ganesha. I wonder if the Ganesha family always does border or is it just this specific group or time? As my thoughts once again wandered, the adventurers began to open the many containers in the crates and began inspecting the merchant's wares before they shouted out the name of the goods and the quantity. The captain would then write down the item and cross-examined them with a list that the merchant had prepared before they arrived. The search was going fairly quick and easy, as most of the merchant's wares were searched and shouted out in only a few minutes. Before I knew it, the adventurers had reached my belongings, and their shouts about my items were heard.

A small feeling of alarm took over at the implication of my belongings not matching with the merchants! I didn't want the kind merchant to be looked on as a smuggler for my misstep! Quickly, I took a few steps toward the captain to properly explain why my items weren't on the merchant's list, but before I could defend myself, more of my items were called out. As I readied an immediate apology and explanation, the man continued to look unfazed as he continued to listen to the items and check them off on his list. My explanation died on my tongue at the unperturbed face of the adventure. Surprise overtook my thoughts and most likely my face as well, as the rest of my items were identified and ultimately crossed off similarly to the rest of the merchant's wares. A small chuckle came from the merchant at my expression,

I jerked my head towards the merchant as I looked at him perplexed at what was going on, as I was supposed to pay my own way through. But with a small smile and a shrug of his shoulders, he remained silent as the rest of his goods were listed off. When the "all clear" was shouted, the captain gave the merchant a quick nod before he loudly shouted, "Next!"

With the clear indication that he was good to go, the merchant gently whipped the reins and guided the horse-drawn carriage into the city, with me walking beside the cart still slightly perplexed, but not too fussed as I saved a few thousand valis not having to pay my way in. I remained silent as I continued to look at the rest of the city as we neared closer to the center. We stopped at a few different locations, dropping off containers and valis changing hands until my belongings were the only things left in the cart. We continued to travel in silence for a few minutes before we approached a large three-story building named "The Adventurer's Rest." The building was nothing special, made out of a combination of wood and stone similar to some of the other buildings passed, with a few windows on each story. A few people walked in and out of the building, most of them looking nothing like adventurers. As my mind began to conclude about the building's use, the merchant chimed in, voicing out my assumption.

"This here is one of the many local inns that the city has to offer and seeing that you have nowhere to go at the moment, I thought this would be the most prudent place to part ways. It's not the best inn, but it is the closest to the adventurers guild and fairly priced in my opinion, just don't eat anything here, it's all shite!"

The merchant cocked his head to the side as he spits onto the cobblestone road as if remembering the taste of the food.

"Go get a room and I'll get all your belongings ready for your return! It was a pleasure to have you along boy, you made the trip a little more bearable and very entertaining! You've still got a long way to go before you are any good with that instrument of yours boy, but you do have cursing down to a T, Oghren would be proud!"

Small recollections of the weeklong travel quickly passed by in my mind as the many, many failed attempts at practicing my new harp were recollected, as well as my very… colorful vocabulary. Who would have thought that the merchant would be able to understand cursing in three different languages!?

Embarrassment quickly overtook me, as my cheeks reddened at the merchant's comments on my recent actions. Loud laughter overtook the merchant at the sight of me, which only seemed to heighten my embarrassment more! With as much dignity as I could muster, which was not much, I hurriedly walked into the inn, with the merchant's laughter only increasing at my mortified escape.

I pushed open the front entrance a little too hard in my embarrassed state, causing the door to loudly hit the other side, causing all those in attendance to gaze at me! Luckily there weren't many in attendance in the dining area, either because of the time of day or because of the less than stellar food that the merchant had told me about. Only the inn's proprietor, a waitress, and two guests were present, but that didn't seem to help my embarrassment!

'Come on, you are a grown man, stop getting so embarrassed over something as simple as good-natured heckling! Gods damnit is it this body's fault!? Gods, being ten sucks!"

Trying and failing to regain my emotions, I look downwards as I walk towards the owner who is standing behind a counter in the far back of the room. The man is doing the typical, washing of the cups as I slowly approach him, my eyes cast downwards as I avoid his and the other three's gazes as I walk/weave past the chairs and tables. As I finally reach the area, the man, a portly fellow with brown hair, thick eyebrows, a handlebar mustache, and a small smile speaks up.

"Well boy, welcome to The Adventurer's Rest, what can I do for you? You lost?"

I silently curse once again at my body's age before speaking up,

"I need a room for a few nights, I don't know how long, but a week should be a good start unless something terrible or fortunate occurs."

The man looked surprised at my response, but a quick once over at my appearance gave away my intentions and stopped the man's response.

"Hmm, you're a bit young to be an adventurer, as well as too young to be asking for a room all by yourself, but who am I to question your life choices, especially when those choices lead to valis! A week's lodging, as well as three meals, will cost you…"

Before he could finish, I quickly interrupted the man, not forgetting the merchant's words or the forlorn faces of the two people "eating" their food when I came in.

"No food! I uh… I want to experience everything Orario has to offer, especially the food, so uh, just the lodging please!"

The man scowled at my words, while a small feminine chuckle could be heard from the waitress behind me.

"Gus, stop trying to pawn off your food to every guest that enters, most already know that your food is barely edible, and if they don't, they quickly find out."

I looked towards the waitress, a blue-haired bunny person, who was now pointing toward the two men at the table who were nodding to her assessment.

"Quiet Emily, I can try can't I?!"

The now-named Gus let out a long sigh before he looked back at me and began to speak with a little less enthusiasm than before.

"One week's lodging with no food will cost you, 12,600 Valis." (I was looking up Valis and a good conversion between USD since it would be the easiest to come up with prices when I have a good idea of their worth using US dollars. The easiest I found to it being cannon and not a complete pain in the ass was 30 Valis to 1 US Dollar. So day lodging is 1,800 Valis the equivalent to $60 bucks. Hopefully, everyone's cool with it, if not, I don't know, write your own Fanfiction with proper economic values lol!)

I quickly grabbed the requested amount and extended my hand to Gus, who accepted the amount with a small sigh. My savings over the last couple of years dropped a little, but it was still relatively full, especially since I didn't need to pay the entry fee for the city, 'thank you, Mr. Merchant!

Gus grabbed a key from underneath the counter and handed it to me before he went back to cleaning the glass.

"Your room is on the second floor, the first room on the right. Emily will come around every afternoon to clean it and tidy up the place, try not to get in her way if you are still in there. We have a community bathroom on each floor which has a few toilets and showers. While we don't have too many customers at the moment, try not to hog either of them for long. Lastly, if you want clean laundry, put your dirty clothes in the basket in your room and Emily will clean them. It costs a little extra but if you do use the service just pay it at the end of your stay."

With a nod and a quick thank you, I left the Inn and went to grab my things. Luckily, the merchant was still there, sitting in his spot on the cart smoking from his pipe he had brought out a few times in our travel.

"Done? Good! All your stuff is right there. With that, our journey has come to an end. As I said earlier, it was a pleasure boy! Hopefully, in the future, we can meet again, preferably with more buying and selling, but if it does relate to travel I won't mind too much. Maybe you will be better at the harp by then!" The merchant let out a small chuckle before he slowly began to pack his pipe and leave.

Before he could leave, I spoke up, "You know, a name would help remember you by other than just remembering your aging face right?"

The merchant let out another chuckle as his cart began to move away from the inn, but before he got too far he shouted out a name.

"It's Kale, now don't you forget it now, boy!"

I smiled at finally knowing the merchant's name, but it quickly became a forced smile as Kale called me boy once again! It's not like this is God of War or something, I've got a name and at least it doesn't sound like a vegetable… Wait, vegetable?

Suddenly I grinned as I finally made the connection and before Kale could get out of sight, I shouted out one last comment that would make us slightly even!

"Like the vegetable!?"

With a speed that surprised me, Kale's hand was quickly raised above his cart as he flipped me the bird. He continued the one-finger salute until he and his cart were out of sight, but I imagined he was still flipping me off physically and mentally.

Knowing I got the last laugh, I picked up my belongings with a smile as I walked back into the tavern and into my room for the week. With Gus's previous explanation, I easily found my room, and using the keys, entered my temporary room. The room was as expected, a bed, a small nightstand, a desk with some papers and pencils, a fairly nice chair that could be used for comfort or the desk, a small window, and a dresser for clothing. All in all, it wasn't half bad as I placed my belongings on the side of the bed and grabbed my coin pouch. The pouch was slightly lighter, but I still held enough money for my purposes… I hoped. I quickly split the money in half as I left one half in the room and put the other half in a pouch on my hip 'I didn't want to lose all my money if I got pickpocketed!' I also grabbed my backpack that held my journal, pencils, and my families grimoire. It was probably a stupid idea to take it into town, but after reading it for the past couple of days I couldn't really part with it, and maybe if I was lucky I could find out more about the goddess mentioned in the pages! I left the room, locking it behind me, and began to walk downstairs, hearing some small conversations as I walked downwards. When I entered the bottom floor, the three adventures were now relaxing, their dishes pushed to the side, food still very much present on the plates.

Gus saw me come down, and with a smile that was obviously forced he shouted out, "Already on the move? You need a quick bite to eat, I can get you a kebob for the road, or how about a small pastry?"

I chuckled at his determination, but I quickly shot it down.

"Nope and seeing as they didn't eat much of your food either," I pointed to the adventurers who tried looking anywhere but at Gus or the food, "I'm not willing to have my first day in Orario on the can!"

Emily laughed loud at my comment and Gus's forced smile turned into an annoyed glare as he glared at me, Emily, and lastly at the three adventurers.

Gus threw his hands into the air in exacerbation as he said, "Bah, nobody in Orario comprehends the true value of my cooking! Why, back in my hometown, people were dying for my cooking, I was-

Emily interrupted Gus, a teasing grin on her face as she commented, "Now Gus, you probably should mention death when talking about your food, I mean, you might give them the wrong idea."

Gus quickly looked towards the three adventurers who were looking down at their previous food with eyes wide open in fear as they clutched their stomachs. Without a word spoken, all three adventurers immediately stood up together, not caring that the sudden motion tipped over their chairs as they quickly ran out of the building. As they ran passed me, one of the adventures yelled out to his familia as he left the building, "Hurry, we need to get a curing potion from the nearest pharmacy! I'm not dying outside the dungeon!"

Gus looked aghast at the door, as he whispered to himself, loud enough for Emily and I to hear. "No tip?"

I nearly broke down in laughter at the scene, but I held it in as only a few chuckles escaped while Emily clutched her stomach in laughter at her boss's response. Gus ignored both of us as he continued to look forlorn at the door and his future profit.

Seeing a good chance to make some kind of connection in my new home, I quietly chanted my spell amid Emily's laughter, not gaining the attention of either of them as I finished. As usual, my sense of taste disappeared, leaving me with a small sense of emptiness in my mouth. I easily ignored it from previous experiences as I spoke up above Emily's laughing.

"Gus, if you can give me directions to the adventure's guild, I'll buy something from you, preferably a coffee if you have it!"

Hearing my request, Emily's laughter immediately stopped and became choking splutters as she looked at me with horror amid her trying to gain a hold of her breath.

Gus's neck nearly went through whiplash at the sound of "I'll buy something" as he quickly looked at me in between my request, a large grin plastering his face as he heard the rest of my order. Gus's plastering smile faltered slightly at the request for coffee as he quickly looked to his kitchen and back at me in trepidation. The look only lasted less than a second before the smile returned as he began to walk towards the kitchen.

"It will be out in a second with your coffee, I'll put it in a to-go cup judging by your destination!"

Gus walked through a small salon-looking divider and into his kitchen, muttering to himself until I could no longer hear him over the now-in-use kitchen equipment. Before I could make myself comfortable on the nearest chair, the now non-chocking Emily grabbed the back of my shoulders and roughly spun me so that I was facing her, a look of panic on her face, her ears twitching from side to side as she spoke.

"You need to get the hell out of here kid, and fast! Gus's coffee is probably the most disgusting thing in all of Orario, even the most food-starved beggar would pass on his coffee, everyone in Orario knows that! Don't worry about upsetting him, even Gus knows that his coffee is a death sentence no matter how hard he tries to fix it. He thinks he was cursed by a spiteful agricultural goddess back in his youth, but I think he just doesn't have any talent for the drink! Now hurry, he will be back any minute!"

It was kind of funny that the waitress at the inn was trying her hardest to save my tastebuds by not buying their food. I let out a small chuckle at her plea, but I gently brush her arms aside as I sit comfortably on the bar seat before I speak.

"Don't worry Emily, I haven't had a coffee I didn't like, and I don't think that will change today, I'll put my faith in Gus's coffee-making skills! Let my impeccable tongue be the judge!"

I get a little enthusiastic at my fanciful lie, but it doesn't seem to appease Emily as she looks at me in utter shock, her rabbit ears standing as straight as I've ever seen in both lives.

"Kid, trust me, I haven't seen a person leave the same after drinking the stuff, I think someone actually died! Hurry, you still have-"

Before she could finish, Gus walked out with the cup of coffee in an outstretched hand, almost like he was trying to make as much space between his face and the coffee. He was visibly shocked to see me still there, as his eyebrows rose almost to his receding hairline. He even looked at Emily who was making wild gestures to him and me. I just smiled as I waited for my coffee. Gus saw my calm composure and his uncertainty continued to grow but he finally placed the coffee on the bar after a few seconds of not knowing what to do. He also placed a small piece of paper next to the coffee.

"Directions to the adventure's guild, I thought it would be more helpful than telling you since you might forget on the way, or are unable to hear…"

Gus gives a small awkward chuckle as his eyes look from me to the coffee and back in rapid succession. I grab the coffee, and Gus and Emily both take a visible breath. I give out another chuckle as I speak. "How much Gus?"

"H-h-how about you try it first… I would hate to charge you for something you didn't like…" He lets out an uncomfortable chuckle, as his eyes continued to gaze at the cup.

"Odd practice, but I wouldn't want to offend, so thank you for the drink!"

Before they could give me any other reason to forgo this, I tipped the cup and took a decent size swallow. Emily shouted in alarm while Gus gripped the bar with all his strength, his whole hand going white with the effort. I ignored them as I drank, and as usual, the drink had no flavor thanks to my magic. It was like I was swallowing nothing, the only thing that gave it away was the warm feeling of the coffee going down my throat. After I finished with my pull, I placed the coffee down on the bar as Gus and Emily looked at me intently, their eyes wide as they looked at me, the coffee, and back at me.

Before I could speak up, a strange tingling sensation overtook my mouth and caused me to take a small pause, which caused the two to quickly look at me as if I would keel over at that instance. The feeling was very similar to when I would eat pop rocks back in my old life but bumped up to an eleven as my entire mouth tingled and maybe physically popped. The feeling was quick, as after a few seconds it receded, and it was as if I had never drunk the coffee!

"Gods damn Gus, that's an intense cup of coffee! I love it!"

I took another swig as Gus and Emily looked like I told them the Earth was flat! The feeling returned as I took my drink, but without the surprise, it was a lot more enjoyable.

"So Gus, how much do I owe you for this?" I say as I lightly shake the coffee in front of him.

"T-t-two hundred valis?" Gus's eyes remain glued to the coffee as he answers as if he can't fathom what just happened. Even his answer sounds like he is questioning himself.

I grab the right amount of valis from the pouch on my hip, and I place them on the bar top before I begin to walk out of the Inn.

"If it always tastes like this, you might make me a regular Gus!"

As I step out into the bustling city, I hear a large crash from behind me, while Emily starts screaming Gus's name! Damn, must have made the old man faint, hope he is better by the time I get back!

My slightly troubled thoughts of Gus's help slowly dwindle as I stare into the bustling street of Orario, my mind finally comprehending the position I am now in. 'This is it; I am completely on my own now. It is up to me, and me alone to continue my adventure, it's now or never!'

These thoughts go through my head in rapid succession as I took a long slow breath and started walking forward towards the directions that Gus had given me as I sip his coffee, feel the quick rush of caffeine, and step out into the streets.

Like it, hate it, let me know in the comments, I always read them! Thanks, guys for being awesome readers and even better waiters… People who wait! See you guys in a Brother's Helping Hand!