Disclaimer: I don't own the Legend of Mana or any other game series.
Chapter 14: Lack of Caution
Day 7: Holy Mana Day
10:00 AM
"Come on, buddy. I know you can do it," Sean said encouragingly. He, Koroku, and Faith were once more walking the streets of Norwich as the human carried a cumbersome cardboard box in his arms. Glasses and vials filled with alchemical ingredients clinked and clanked against one another with every step he took. The box's delivery was the objective of his final daily quest. "We only have a little bit farther to go."
Koroku whined in protest and looked down and away from his new owner's smiling face, a petulant pout covering his own.
He still felt groggy from yesterday's events, his temperament not being helped by Sean's nightly training which woke the dog up on more than one occasion. During brief periods of consciousness, Koroku watched him perform a series of exercises from the upstairs bedroom window. His canine intuition sensed that Sean was on edge, something having profoundly unsettled him.
This was evidenced by the tenacity with which his master trained.
Sweat poured down Sean's form as he pushed himself to an extent that would've seen regular people hospitalized. One hour of advanced yoga morphed into a 1-hour run with Faith along the trail circling the house, followed by hours dedicated to spellcasting and the arcane arts. The wolf smiled as her heart rushed in exhilaration while racing under the moonlight.
Koroku blinked in confusion and tilted his head at one point as he could've sworn there were several duplicates of his master standing in the front yard. The faint swinging of a sword was the last thing he remembered from his final stages of wakefulness till he was finally able to slumber.
That is, until he was rudely awakened by Faith nipping him in the butt later that morning.
Koroku yawned. He could still feel the phantom pain of her sharp fangs. He would've returned to sleep, but had no desire to feel them again and knew full well she would if she caught him nodding off. Unbeknownst to the canine, both his and Faith's stats were growing from this continued exercise, adding on to all the walking from the other day.
Koroku:
DEX: 30 → 36
VIT: 20 → 25
STR: 30 → 34
Faith:
DEX: 50 → 62
VIT: 30 → 40
STR: 50 → 58
Yes, much like Sean, both pets and summons could raise their stats and skills through training and repetition. The young man theorized that the benefits of [The Gamer] extended to pets as well, partly supported by the fact that inviting Koroku to the party hadn't been necessary for his stats to grow that quickly. Sean did later add him to the group. He wasn't required to ask him if he wanted to join like he would Wedge or Soiree. He could place into and remove the pooch from the party at his will. He guessed he could do the same with other animals and pets. His summons took up no party spaces.
"How about this." Sean readjusted his grip to get a better hold of the box. "Once we're finished, I can drop you off back home and give you some food. How does that sound?" He asked in a kindly tone, empathizing with the dog's fatigue.
"Arooo….," Koroku barked lowly.
Indeed, it wasn't much longer till Sean stepped in and out of one of Norwich's many item shops.
Daily Quest Completed!
Fetch the Package
+200 EXP (10 Quests x 20 EXP)
EXP: 0/4600 → 200/4600
Reputation:
+200 Rep (10 Quests x 20 Rep)
Town of Norwich: (Neutral: 420/499)
"Just a little more to go."
"Okay. We're all done." Sean patted himself down to remove the wrinkles from his shirt. The faint aroma of basil clung to his clothes. "It's time to go back home."
Koroku flopped onto his stomach in relief and rolled over onto his back, his tongue lolling out of his mouth. Faith snorted in derision at his melodramatics and found herself not winded in the least. Several townsfolk chuckled at the humorous sight whilst they went about their shopping.
Some were less subtle about it than others, but Sean ignored their amusement in favor of focusing on him. He stood over Koroku and cast a cooling shadow over him, blocking out the bothersome heat of the sun.
"You're a real goof. You know that," Sean said as he stared down at Koroku's panting face. "All right. It's time to get up." Despite his words, the dog stayed where he was and smiled back, completely unwilling to move. Sean rolled his eyes good-naturedly and knelt down to pick the pooch up. "All right, you."
Sean scooped Koroku into his arms and carried him out of town with the dog's head resting on his shoulder. Faith walked regally by his side as Sean scratched Koroku behind the ear, getting his tail to wag from hitting the sweet spot.
"Though without [Gamer's Body], I'd probably be tired too," Sean thought to himself, having just completed various chores from watering someone's lawn using the [Water] spell to moving large bales of hay at one of the surrounding farms. "Those things barely weighed anything." He smirked at how shocked the farmer had been.
The trio stepped onto The World Map and Sean stared at the [Unifying Flag] artifact he hadn't yet placed. It served as an annoying reminder of his inadequate position and detrimental anonymity.
"100,000 Lucre, really?" He recalled his outrage at the cost. His shock at Gort's asking price the other night did nothing to move the man's impassive stare.
"Aye, lad," Gort replied. "There're different levels of guild membership based on experience and success rate. With that, there come varying fees."
"Not to mention the difficulty of the job, dude," Jack added, taking a sip of his free apple cider brought to him by one of the younger waitresses. As captain of the [Norwich Advance Guard], he often received gifts for his acts of valor.
"100,000 is still pretty fricken steep," Sean responded heatedly. The American dollar was of higher value back home than the Lucre was here, but that didn't negate the fact that the cost was nearly four times his current capital. "What if someone is in dire straits and can't afford payment? Are they simply hung out to dry?"
"Prices can be negotiated and contracts written up for the guild's services," Celeste answered tranquilly. She idly scratched Koroku's head, who by this point had fallen back asleep. Her earlier gaze grew sharper with poorly veiled interest the more she observed Sean and the young man stared back with a straight face, curious about her inner thoughts. "Don't think us so cruel."
"Sorry, but I'm not yet familiar with your policies. My friend Mark tried to hire some people a while back to help protect Domina prior to my intervention and they were perfectly willing to let people die over a lack of coin," he explained evenly. "I wasn't sure if you all were the same."
"The system could still use a bit of work, but it's a might touch better than what the [Mercenary Guild] would offer." His face twisted in disgust. "Sending young'uns off to die," he muttered angrily at the end.
"Couldn't junior members of the [Adventurer's Guild] go off on their own?"
"Not if they want to face demotion or—" Celeste started before she was rudely interrupted.
"Immediate expulsion," Erik bit out. His expression grew somber as a far off memory returned to him. He suffered no rebuke from Celeste who remained relaxed and unperturbed aside from a subtle glance in his direction.
"There are ways to monitor these things," Jack said. Billiard balls clacked on the table behind them. "Magic has really come a long ways."
"Who could I get for 20,000 Lucre?" Sean inquired, steering the conversation back to its main focus.
"No one beyond the lower-ranking members," Celeste stated. "What's the job?"
"Truth be told, I'm not sure yet," he answered honestly. His words drew mildly befuddled gazes from around the table sans Hanna and Jack, the latter of whom wore an easy-going expression. "Those two women I just spoke with want me to meet up with them in Two River City. I agreed to go, but I need some protection in case they try something."
"That'll be a hard pass from me, lad," Gort said almost immediately. "Even if you could afford it, I don't meddle in such vague affairs."
"Me as well," Erik added. "There's no challenge to be had in such a place."
Sean briefly considered issuing a drinking challenge, what with [The Gamer] practically shouting at him to do so with the Dwarves' race description, but thought better of it, not wanting to risk any backlash. "Okay," he said, trying not to sound upset. He turned his eyes to the ladies. "How about you two?"
"…I'll do it," Hanna answered apathetically. Her eyes never left Faith's during their silent conversation nor did her blank countenance change.
"You wouldn't want me travelling with you," Celeste stated. "My presence will bring you nothing but hatred in the human district."
"So?" Sean shrugged. "I don't give a shit. I've long learned to ignore such stupid people and I highly doubt I'm going to stay in that area for very long anyways."
Celeste's face brightened and she looked upon him in a friendlier manner. "Even so. I'll have to refuse. Their hatred could impede whatever you're trying to accomplish." She paused and in a lower, foreboding tone said, "Or ask unwanted questions."
"If that's what you want." What he didn't voice was that she could just fly to the Winged Horde district without ever being noticed by the humans. He looked at Hanna. "Are you fine with meeting up over there tomorrow around 10 in the morning? They want me to be there at noon."
"Yer going tae need tae fill out some paperwork first, lad. Members cannae be accepting jobs all willy-nilly." Gort's dialect grew stronger the more he drank.
"Sounds like fun," Sean replied sarcastically, a sardonic smile on his face.
New Reputation!
Celeste: (Neutral: 20/499)
"Yeah, a real blast," he later groused inside his home. Sitting in a sweltering office for two hours signing forms with a busted AC wasn't exactly his image of an ideal morning.
Sean set Koroku down on the kitchen floor and filled his bowl as the memory ended. The dog's claws clacked against the cool tiles in his rush to reach the dry kibble. Faith waited patiently in the dining area and ate at a more sedate pace once Sean gave her the special mix made specifically for wolves.
"In the Legend of Mana, there are a variety of creatures you can have as pets including tomato people and living chess pieces. Wolf food isn't that strange in comparison."
Sean stood in between the two canids to make sure Koroku didn't bother Faith even though she could easily scare him away. The Shiba Inu's gluttonous nature made some sense. Reading Koroku's description the other day revealed more than him simply being the leader of a pack of dogs and his favorite food and hobby.
It also noted the dog's long history of scrounging and begging for food. Unfortunately, it didn't explain how Koroku arrived in the world of Fa'Diel.
"Koroku was found alone in a forest in Suikoden 3," Sean recalled. "He was trembling in fright until one of the main characters found him. No explanation for how he got there either, but it's understandable why he loves food so much."
All of the walking around they did and the use of nourishment to persuade Koroku to keep going also netted Sean a new skill.
Training (Active/Passive) Lvl 1 [30%]
Allows the player to train and teach skills to pets and summons. The target(s) growth rate and the speed with which they learn skills varies according to skill compatibility, the level of the [Training] skill, stats, levels, and other factors. This skill doesn't include the training of people.
Effect: The pet/summon gains stats 5% faster than normal.
Effect: The pet/summon learns/increases skills 5% faster than normal.
Years of watching animal videos online taught him that the use of treats was a good teaching tool and motivator. Positive reinforcement was also a smart way to utilize them.
Koroku had followed Sean and Faith into the [Adventurer's Guild] earlier that day and nervously glued himself to Sean's leg to hide from the menacing guild members. The promise of extra portions in his meals was what managed to push Koroku through, not knowing that he'd be working all of those extra calories off later.
"I almost want to call you Courage," Sean uttered.
Koroku lie down on the floor when he finished eating and fell back to sleep near instantly on his stomach. Faith moved to nudge him awake, but stopped when Sean raised his hand.
"Just let him sleep," he spoke softly. "I'm not taking him with us where we're going."
Faith tilted her head in curiosity.
"He's not strong enough for Mekiv Caverns yet, but neither of us should have any problems. I figured we'd get some training in before heading to Two River City."
Faith barked quietly in agreement.
For using your head, you have gained +2 INT and +2 WIS.
INT: 71 → 73
WIS: 86 → 88
"You ready to get going?" He asked.
She barked once more. Sean knelt down and started petting the sides of her face.
"You're such a good girl; getting Hanna to help us." Faith leaned into the scratching and let out a tiny woof in happiness. "I'm definitely getting you a reward for that later. How does that sound?"
She woofed again and pushed her head into his chest.
Sean snorted and rose back to his feet. "And they say dog is man's best friend." Koroku's ear twitched. "Let's get going."
He briefly stumbled in surprise on his way out the door and he waved his arms around to catch his balance. A notification appeared in front of his face which he swiftly slapped away out of annoyance. However, there were two words that intrigued him.
Title Gained!
"The heck's that about?" Sean shook his head in bewilderment. "Whatever."
The two left the house again while Koroku continued to doze, this time without interruption. Sean didn't bother pulling up the message since he was more preoccupied with making a quick stop first.
Sometime later, Li'l Cactus would make his way down the stairs and into the kitchen. Child-like wonder grabbed ahold of him when his eyes fell upon the sleeping dog and without dwelling on the consequences of his actions, poked the dog with one of his pointy fingers. Koroku snapped awake from the flash of pain and started barking up a storm at the cactus for scaring him, the result of which was a new, unlocked skill.
Li'l Cactus stared back at the grumpy canine in pure naivety, fascinated by this new being.
Schierke POV
Luon Highway
"Are you certain he was telling the truth, mon cher?" Horatio asked as they rode along the well-beaten path. The sky was overcast and an earlier morning shower strengthened the smell of dirt hanging in the breeze.
Faint wheel tracks stood out sharply in the cracked earth, not yet having been washed away by the passage of time. Withered, grey trees entirely bereft of leaves littered the sides of the road and waved gently at them. Off to the western side of the trail, there sat a high cliff blocked from view by a wall of large stones. Rushing rapids ran noisily down below, stretching throughout the gorge. The river's sparkling blue waters beckoned hungrily to monsters and travelers alike.
Luon Highway itself snaked through a massive mountain range, filled with jagged, lifeless grey peaks and deep canyons where not a creature stirred. Once upon a time, it was a well-frequented road for merchants and adventurers seeking to ascend the summits. Now, Clan Reed served as its unofficial owners.
"He was of the belief that what he stated was true," Schierke replied from atop Shiro's back.
"It stinks-reeks of delusion, yes-yes," Vetch commented, none too happy to have been pulled away from her nephew once again.
"Try to ease up a tad. If the human is right, then would it not behoove these ones to act?"
"The cause-source is likely a cursed-dark artifact. That bug mentioned-spoke of the [Boreal Shell]."
"This is possible," Horatio responded. "But why take that chance."
No monster dared to attack them as they traversed the path. Years of criminal activity on Luon Highway instilled in them a deep-seated fear of the hooded rodents. Those prior to Schierke's chiefdom discovered how monster parts could serve as ingredients in potions and alchemical studies. This resulted in the over-hunting of the local population till a successive chief took over and put a stop to it.
There were those among the same crowd who were equally held responsible for the death of the road's traffic. Most being too fearful to tread the treacherous path, only the foolhardy or those rich enough to hire proper protection dared risk travelling there. Even then, a sharp eye was kept out for any signs of trouble.
One creature, however, remained, content to lie in plain sight. It would best be described as the surreal amalgamation of a hippo and the imagination of Dr. Seuss.
Two cartoonishly large, unblinking eyes stared vacantly as they approached, showing no signs of intelligence. A pair of pitifully, tiny wings sprouted from atop its big, purple and pink-striped body. A single, spade-shaped leaf grew from the top of its head while three green leaves sprouted from the end of its tail. Of further mention were its eight limbs and its ridiculously long ears, both of which reached a length of at least 3 feet long.
Each member of the party knew well enough to leave the creature alone lest they wound up somewhere else and gave it a fixed glance as they steered clear of it.
Horatio combed his fingers through the feathers of his avian mount's neck upon approaching a fork in the path, drawing an affectionate "kwee" from the bird.
"It's been a long time, hasn't it?" Horatio reminisced.
Chocobos were the only animals found on Luon Highway explicitly barred from being hunted or harmed. There are many amongst them who believe that it was Rider himself who first discovered the practical usage of these majestic birds when he needed to escape his pursuers. The stories revolving around him gave his people a healthy amount of admiration and respect towards the avians.
They could be found roaming the entire stretch of Luon Highway in a variety of colors, ranging from the common yellow plumage to the rarer blues, greens, and pinks.
Tales of Rider's heroics also inspired his people to learn more about the birds. This resulted in the Chobin Hoods of Clan Reed starting the cultural practice of capturing and breeding Chocobos one day many years ago.
"This path-route wasn't here before," Vetch stated, her eyes narrowed in thought at the new trail, more specifically the blue flowers growing from the stones alongside it. The only other path available had been the one veering off the left whereas no destination was known to sit this way.
"Do you not sense that, mia bella fanciulla?"
"Everything is saturated in it." Vetch hopped off her mount and knelt down to take a sample of the sweet-smelling flowers. She used a blade to carefully cut one free from the stones and placed it into a glass vial. "It's impossible-hard to pin it down."
"Tis also curious how lively the flora here is." All three noticed how healthy green grass growing along the sides of the path became taller the farther they went. Some of the withered, grey trees even regained their color, their bark changing into a robust brown.
Schierke held up a hand to silence them and listened closely, her face a blank mask. Mana thrummed beneath the crust of the world in fluctuating patterns, its aura ancient like that of a wise grandfather imparting knowledge to the next generation. It felt warm and inviting and called out to them in a sort of Morse Code.
"This way," she announced. Vetch climbed back onto her mount and they both followed her down the new trail.
Shortly thereafter, they came to yet another fork whose southern path was blocked by another of the pink and purple-striped creatures and they continued past it to [Rent Canyon]. Having no knowledge of its name, the abundance of stones grew even greater still, along with the wild grass and blue flowers springing from them.
The path wound around a bend and dipped downward until it rose up once more to meet a simple mountainside resting at the end that was anything but.
A giant rock face sat above them on the mountainside and the earth to either side of it rose higher, creating a pathway up to the head. Rough and cracked rock covered a circular area of land below it, big enough for a handful of people to stand on. Five small, geological formations stood around the edge.
"Is this it?" Vetch asked irritably. The three had heard of the [7 Wisdoms] as had nearly everyone else on Fa'Diel, but never had they laid eyes on one. "Probably just someone's art project-piece."
"It is rather disappointing," Horatio echoed in a calmer tone. "Though this one does find it more so intriguing, you must admit." He admired the time and effort it must've taken the artist to do this as he closely examined the 'sculpture' with a critical eye.
Schierke slid off Shiro's back and walked to the middle of the stony 'floor.' Her gaze focused stoically on the five-story tall face they beheld.
Welcome, welcome.
Come closer…
Horatio flinched in his saddle at the telepathic intrusion and widened his eyes as Gaeus, one of the 7 Wisdoms and the Wisdom of the Earth, opened his own. Two emerald green eyes regarded the tiny rodent people happily and spoke of a vast wealth of wisdom far beyond their collective years.
"It appears the human was correct," Horatio said. He turned his head and smirked at Vetch. "What do you think of the man-thing now, mademoiselle?"
"Bite your tongue, worm!" Vetch snapped, more at the suave rat's gall. "He's still suspicious-shady."
You speak of the stranger.
"Stranger?" Vetch mouthed quietly. She and Horatio dismounted from their avian rides and joined Schierke upon her hand signal. "What do you mean?"
The earth beneath them suddenly shifted and rose up to allow Gaeus a better look at them, revealing the five formations to be fingers and the stony area his palm. The Chocobos warked in alarm, yet no quakes or rumbles beleaguered the area during this. Shiro barked at them to get the birds to settle down and gazed upwards to where his master was lifted.
He arrived to these lands not long ago as an unknowing visitor.
His presence is not an unwelcome one…
Gaeus' massive mouth moved much more fluidly than his rocky composition would suggest him capable of, closer to that of a human's. Stone spikes jutted upwards from the "lips" of his lower jaw and ridges formed above his eyes to give the impression of eyebrows.
The dead stump of a once mighty tree sat between the jagged stones atop his head and its roots travelled downwards between his eyes and off to the sides below his "ears." Those "ears," yet again more stones, moved as he spoke and small patches of moss covered parts of his face.
"It is true what he said?" Schierke asked, believing that Gaeus was simply reaffirming Sean's account of Pelican's well-known shenanigans. "That the [Mana Tree] is returning."
He speaks the truth. The Mana Tree will return at an uncertain time.
"Pardon the interruption, sir, but if you say this is true, then why have there been no efforts to warn people?" Horatio asked.
Many shy away from the truth, unable to bear its weight under the shadow of pride or fear.
Others would seek to gain its power as in times past.
"What can be done to stop it?" Schierke inquired.
Her return can't be stopped.
"Are you Wisdoms just going to sit-stand by and do nothing again?" Vetch sneered at the rock face. From what few historical records she could find, Vetch concluded that none of the Wisdoms moved to prevent the tree's destruction hundreds of years ago.
Does a lack of visibility mean that no one has ever accomplished anything?
Look upon the world with unclouded eyes to discover what's gone unseen.
"I apologize for any disrespect, sir Gaeus, but if the Mana Tree is unable to be stopped, then what course of action must we take?" Schierke asked in a peaceful manner. Horatio found himself content to watch the exchange while Vetch was displeased by his words, despite finding some truth in them.
Show kindness towards those who would despise you.
The hand they were standing on lowered back into the earth.
Come again, my children.
"This felt like a waste-misuse of time," Vetch commented as Gaeus closed his eyes.
"Not quite. Perhaps the issue is that The Mana Tree can't be stopped via conventional methods," Schierke speculated. "Hundreds of years ago, the tree was destroyed and yet it now returns. Attempting to do the same could result in a repeat of the cycle."
"And you know what they say about repeating the same thing over and over again," Horatio added.
"But how long-much time do we have? Where will it appear-emerge? And is the tree's strength-power diminished-weakened from its first destruction-obliteration?"
"Let us return to the village." Schierke climbed onto Shiro's back. "This has given us much to think about and I need to contact the other clans. Perhaps the other Wisdoms will be able to shed further light on this matter."
A Short Time Later…
"Chief, I'm glad you've returned quickly." The guard rushed up to her upon their entrance to the village and he snapped a salute. "A suspicious delivery arrived for you during your absence."
"Were you able to ascertain its contents?" Schierke dismounted from Shiro.
"That's the thing, ma'am." Surprise colored his tone. "The items that were dropped off match the make of our village's, but in noticeably better condition."
"Would you please guide me to these items?"
"Yes, chief." He snapped another salute. "None of us dared to touch them till Bracken moved them into an empty storehouse at the village edge. You'll also be pleased to know we found no signs of curses or other dark magic on them."
Schierke followed the excited guard with little sense of urgency, already certain where the objects came from. Vetch and Horatio split off from her shortly after arriving back at Rider's Rest. The latter kindly offered to return both their mounts to the stables which gave more time for Vetch to check up on her nephew.
Other sentinels saluted Schierke as she passed, but didn't take their eyes off the traitors who carried out their manual labor. Their presence served a dual-purpose. The sentries monitored the workers closely and prevented the citizenry from exacting revenge upon them, whether for following Mantis' orders out of sheer lack of faith in Schierke's leadership or for another perceived offense.
It was another decision many townsfolk were unhappy with, some believing that all of the traitors should've been banished. Faint utterances and grumbles of disapproval floated on the wind, accompanied by discrete glares being sent at her back from amidst the populace. However, these people found themselves in the minority as the death of Mantis and the culmination of her actions brought back a measure of the earlier respect Clan Reed held for Schierke.
Unfortunately, it still didn't erase the things her father did and the subsequent stain he left on their family.
These thoughts barely registered to her as Schierke enjoyed the peaceful jaunt through the village, briefly closing her eyes whilst breathing in the fresh air. Birdsong and the rustle of leaves followed her every step, the tranquility of the glade only upset by the distant hammering of nails and the light thwip of arrows from the archery range. One individual had the misfortune of accidentally striking his thumb. The loud cursing that followed drew bitter smiles from his observers and spooked some birds into flying off.
Two other guards waited for her at the storehouse. Each had been ordered to stand there while Bracken slunk off somewhere else.
Inside the musty interior, the smell of smoked meat pervaded the air, the structure having once been used for preserving food for times of emergency. Weapons racks were arranged neatly against the walls, each holding several, newly-repaired bows and arrow-filled quivers. A selection of knives and whips sat on a raised stone pedestal in the center of the room.
Schierke grabbed one of the yew [Elder Bows] and examined it closely, finding truth in the guard's words.
The reddish wood was smooth to the touch and had regained its striking color. No longer was the string frayed and the weapon also felt good in her grip, the short bow's warped wood having been fixed. Moving onto the other weapons, no chipping or dulling could be found on the blades or the arrowheads and the leather whips showed no signs of usage.
"How long ago did these items arrive?" Schierke asked, not looking at the guard. Instead, her gaze was focused on the letter sitting next to the knives. She used one of her claws to open it and began reading its contents.
"Around 15 minutes before you returned, chief," he answered. "Someone shot off a flare just outside the village and took off. Bracken said something about the person having a hot-cold signature. Whatever that means."
-Here's your stuff back. I'm not really that great at writing these, but I did say I could return these weapons and in retrospect, they're a bit small for me. No surprise given our height difference. Kind of had tunnel vision back in Domina. Anyway, thanks for the artifact and I'll see you in a bit.
Signed,
Sean Rent
"Respectable to find a man of his word," she spoke softly.
"Did you say something, chief?"
"Please notify both Quill and Hyssop to ready themselves for departure. We'll be leaving again shortly."
"Yes, chief!"
Sean POV
Due to your actions, your reputation has changed.
Schierke: +20
Vetch: +20
Horatio: +20
Clan Reed (Loyalists): +20
Current Reputations:
Schierke: (Neutral: 250/499)
Vetch: (Unfriendly: -100/-1999)
Horatio: (Neutral: 270/499)
Clan Reed (Loyalists): (Neutral: 270/499)
"Must've been from returning their weapons," Sean thought. He was presently seated outside a restaurant in Two River City. A plate of [Hanami dango] and a steaming hot cup of green tea sat on the table in front of him, its tantalizing aroma a calming friend. Cherry blossom trees lined the front of the establishment and Sean smiled faintly at the little joke under their cooling shade.
Faith rested on her stomach by his legs and munched on a long bone a monster from Mekiv Caverns dropped. Her presence drew wary gazes from some of the restaurant's patrons, prompting his server to awkwardly, but politely ask him to sit outside, her uneasy smile strained. Sean politely obliged her and moved outdoors to satisfy their weak characters.
Others simply ignored Faith's presence and kept eating, wholly unbothered or too tired to care. Though her master doubted whether they'd remain so placid were he to summon Bomb, Remora, or his newest summon.
She and Sean travelled directly from Mekiv Caverns an hour past.
"This meat tastes funny…"
And Hanna met up with them 20 minutes ago. She mildly frowned at the [Yakitori] on her plate and a quick observe revealed the cook added too much ginger to the skewered chicken. Her hiring cost Sean 10,000 Lucre, but better off with help then without he'd say.
Lucre: 26750 → 16750
He originally meant to explore the city and visit the various locales, but given that Schierke never specified which entrance to meet up at, Sean found it better to stay put and wait out the clock so he'd be easier to find. He bit a pink rice ball off one of the dangos' sticks and hummed at the pleasantly sweet, strawberry flavor.
"In Suikoden 2, I remember you could enter the city only through the [Human District]. There have to be other entrances. Otherwise, always having to enter and leave through the one district would be a pain in the ass."
For smart thinking, you have gained +2 INT and +2 WIS.
INT: 73 → 75
WIS: 88 → 90
Cartographic Ambition: Lvl 6 → Lvl 7
Repair: Lvl 9 → Lvl 12
Breath Control: Lvl 22 → Lvl 25
SPI: 192 → 220
Observe: Lvl 51 → Lvl 55
Level 53: The user can now see how much experience a monster/target will give upon defeat.
Level 55: The user can now see a person/target(s) weak points.
Telephoto: Lvl 1 → Lvl 5
Appraise: Lvl 8 → Lvl 12
This period of free time also acted as an excellent time to people watch.
Juggling his three optical skills proved to be a chore and a half and Sean winced in pain from the small headache that assaulted him, developed from continually zooming in on people. Sure, the [Telephoto] skill allowed him to see objects from much farther away, but like a camera lens, Sean could essentially "focus" his vision and see things much more closely as if they were standing directly in front of him.
"Information overload. Shit." He rubbed his forehead and cast the [Soothe] spell to hasten the pain's departure.
Soothe: Lvl 4 → Lvl 5
It was one of the four other books he purchased at Peli's shop yesterday and was nearly as important to him as [Dispel]. Sean knew for a fact he'd be increasing other peoples' stats in the future and that he wouldn't always have Soiree around on call.
For exercising prudence, you have gained +1 INT and +1 WIS.
INT: 75 → 76
WIS: 90 → 91
Sean exhaled in relief and returned to his activities. "That's better."
Upon zooming in, he used the [Appraise] skill on peoples' various belongings. Much like how he couldn't repeatedly [Observe] the same items to raise the skill's level, Sean also couldn't continually appraise the same items either. Once he appraised something, the item's value would always be present in its description. "Although this pain is nothing compared to what happened earlier." Sean shuddered at the memory. "Damn, that was freaky."
When he was in Norwich, Sean asked various shopkeepers and other folks around town if they knew where Two River City was located. This was after he had already placed the artifact on the map.
Everyone knowledgeable of it pointed him towards the east and informed him that the city lied to the west of the Rat Capital, [Reverence]. One merchant handed Sean written directions at his request and took a photo of the paper along with the shopkeeper prior to returning to the World Map. He moved the [Unifying Flag] artifact to another spot after he reloaded a save. The next time he entered Norwich, they told him that Two River sat to the north, exactly where Sean placed the artifact.
Upon further inquiry, Sean learned that Two River City had been settled there for hundreds of years. This served as yet another point of confusion towards his person as the people he spoke with were baffled by how he didn't know that considering how close in proximity the town and city-state were. More than one eyebrow raised at him that day and some found it fitting to mock Sean for his ignorance. One person jokingly asked him if he'd been living under a rock all these years.
Sean glowered at their ridicule and not one to be mocked, he said, "If Two River truly lies to the north, they why did you give me this?" He produced both the written directions and the photo he took. The writing on the note changed to reflect Two River's new location. However, the photograph didn't.
The instant the merchant's eyes fell upon the picture, reality blinked.
Save File Loaded!
Sean instantly found himself standing in the middle of his bedroom, chills racing up his spine. Both the photo and the directions were permanently gone and television static roared distantly in his ears. Faint trembles shook his torso as he glanced about in clear confusion, unable to comprehend the fear that shook him.
New Update Suggested!
"Fuck!" Sean cursed as he jumped back from the blue screen. Li'l Cactus remained resting in his pot, undisturbed by his owner's outburst. Faith awoke completely alert and looked around for signs of trouble while Koroku continued to rest.
Would you like to download now?
[Y/N]
"What?" Sean blinked and read the message again. "I guess." He visibly calmed down under the effects of [Gamer's Mind] and tapped 'yes.'
Downloading…1%...2%...
While the system was busy, Sean glanced about his room and found nothing out of place. Faith watched him in concern from his bed as he approached the window and found it was dark out. He'd been forcefully sent back to the point he'd returned after speaking with Jack.
One of Fa'Diel's six moons shone brightly in the night sky and crickets sang merrily outside amidst the verdant green. A gentle breeze rustled the trees and they joined in with their own chorus.
Sean walked over to the bed and lied on his back to stare up at the ceiling in contemplation. Faith placed her head on his chest and whined at him, asking if he was okay. He smiled at the wolf and started petting her. Faith's inner fire fought off the chills.
"I'll be all right, girl," he reassured her. "I'm just completely lost right now."
Update Complete!
System Software Update
[The Gamer] Version 2.1
Main features in the system software update:
-Danger Notification: The system will attach a blazing skull mark next to quests and character/monster levels to better alert the player to which challenges and foes are too difficult for them to face.
-One New Randomly Selected Summon to keep the player alive and help prevent them from performing reckless actions. They will appear soon…
"Well that was some shit." He paused. "Is it okay to try this again once I'm a lot stronger?" He asked, but received no answer.
Another notification did appear, however. Perhaps as a grim reminder.
Glitch: Lvl 1 → Lvl 2
Sean swiped the window away and closed his eyes. "I didn't realize how careful I needed to be." He scratched the side of his head. "But really, how was I supposed to know unless I tried?" He thought, attempting to justify himself.
"Yeah, far from my best idea," he muttered in the present.
"Did you say something…?" Hanna asked.
Sean shook his head. "No. I'm just reflecting on life choices."
She regarded him silently for a couple seconds and returned to her meal.
Though he wanted to shelve the thought for the time being, it kept calling back to him. Was everyone affected by the artifacts or only NPC-like characters, those who weren't named nor had any significant impact upon events? Video games always had background characters who were simply there for filler and those were the only ones Sean saw walking around when he tried to show the merchant his photograph.
"Or what if something happened somewhere in connection to a named character's personal past? What then? Would moving an artifact rewrite their or the world's history?"
He didn't think to speak with Soiree or other so-called "named characters" prior to his little experiment. Sean knew they were all real people, but that experience made him question otherwise. And even more disturbing, he could've sworn in that brief millisecond, right before he was booted back home, the merchant's skin turned grey.
"And the world isn't in a time loop like Ephemeral Fantasia, so that's out. Although certain similarities could be true."
"The world can be shaped by your imagination! Did you know that? Pokiehl the poet told me that the town of Domina exists because I think so. People say this world isn't an illusion, but the Sproutlings know! If you can't find Domina, use your imagination to find it."
Sean hummed as he ate another piece of dango, his mind too focused to notice the approaching footsteps. "Other than gaining access to new places and getting stronger, I have no idea how artifacts work."
"Ahem."
Glancing upwards, he found a vagabond staring down at him, in actuality Horatio in disguise.
The black rat was clothed in an old, beaten black jacket and a pair of faded jeans, a far contrast to his usual threads. Brown eyes and a mop of wet, brown hair complemented the mundane appearance he was shooting for. A fancy pencil moustache reminiscent of Clark Gable's rested above his upper lip, the only physical feature that might suggest something other than the lifestyle of an unwashed wanderer.
"What's up," Horatio said to fit his disguise. His voice was deep and laid-back, but not quite the 'surfer dude' accent Jack had.
"The sky," Sean answered. His eyes travelled to the rat's fake hair. "Have you been swimming lately?"
"Yeah. Just took a quick dip to wake myself up." He then spotted Hanna and his eyes shined in interest. "And who's this?"
"This is Hanna of the Adventurer's Guild. She doesn't talk much."
"I know the feeling. One of my friends is the same way. Can't get him to talk for nothing."
"Did you drop by for a quick chat?" Sean asked. "I don't see anyone else with you."
"They asked me to come get you," Horatio responded. "You mind following me. We're heading to the Winged Horde district."
New Reputation!
Two River City (Human District): (Neutral: -200/499)
"Oh, come on. Really."
Those who overhead their conversation looked at them with open contempt, sickened that any human would want to waste their time going to such a wretched, filthy place. Sean knew of the hatred towards the Winged Horde in Suikoden 2, but in this world, he was clueless to its direct cause or how deep it ran.
"Sure." Sean stood from his table and left payment for their meals, unbothered by the scowls aimed at his back. Hanna rose to follow and Faith walked at her master's side with the bone held between her teeth.
Sean held out his hand to take the bone back from her once they'd walked a certain distance and she let it fall into his grasp after a moment's hesitation. He plopped it into his inventory and grimaced while he wiped the wolf saliva off on his pants as they continued onwards the [Winged Horde] district.
He didn't miss the looks of disapproval from the general populace the closer he neared the bridge. Sean simply ignored them and stepped onto it.
"You mind explaining why these people dislike the winged horde so much."
"The Kobolds don't care for them either," Horatio said. "But it'd take too much time to explain. Let's just say something happened that forced them from their homes and the people of Two River weren't happy about the unwelcome guests."
The footbridge connecting the Human and Winged Districts was nothing special, more of a fishing dock. Faded, brown boards creaked precariously under their weight and a few pieces here and there were cracked or missing. There weren't any handrails either and the bridge was wide enough to allow a steady flow of traffic, not that there was much aside from them.
"Yeah, I'm not having this," Sean uttered disapprovingly. He started casting the [Repair] spell as they walked along the bridge, fusing every crack shut and fastening the newly reappeared boards into place. The timber rose from the waters' depths and dried itself off, regaining its original rich color in the process.
Repair: Lvl 12 → Lvl 14
SPI: 220 → 223
Wingers appeared flying in the sky during their advance along the bridge and they eyed them curiously, a few wondering what valuables they might be carrying. These greedy gazes changed to expressions of approval as they watched Sean fix the bridge one plank at a time. Horatio himself examined Sean in his peripheral and took note of Sean's stronger mana signature, something his chief told him to watch for.
New Reputation!
Two River City (Winged District): (Neutral: 20/499)
Those still feeling avaricious were sent back to the village by their peers and told to wait to see what these newcomers were up to.
"So, where exactly are we headed?" Sean inquired. "I'd really like to know what we're going to be doing."
"Me and some friends of mine took a job to clear out some pests from Two River's sewers," Horatio answered, not reacting to the Wingers. He handed the human a job flier. "The entrance lies up ahead in the Winged District."
Quest Alert!
Something Stinks
Reports of increased monster sightings within Two River City have recently flooded their government offices and a summary inspection revealed the source to be the sewers in the Winged District. Now forced into action, but unable to act themselves due to tense relations, the governments of the other two districts have put out a call for stalwart adventurers to help rid the sewers of vermin and clear out what they suspect is a breeding den.
Main Objectives:
-Clear the sewers of all monsters (0/123)
-Defeat the [Pest Rat]
Success: 20,000 Exp, 30,000 Lucre, Lavellan Summon, Scent Spell Book, Increased Reputation with all three districts
Bonus Objectives:
-Find Sid's Hideout
-Discover the hidden sewer passageways connecting the districts
Bonus Reward: Ring of Strength, Basic Potion Recipe, Precious Painting
Quest Failure: Two River City covered in noxious fumes, Worsened relations between districts, Loss of Quest Opportunities, Lowered Reputation among the three districts
"Did the Winged Horde have any say in this?"
Horatio shook his head. "No. Officials within the Human and Kobold districts chose not to consult them.
"That's curious," Sean commented. "Given the disgust towards the winged horde, you'd think they'd be fine with this."
"They like clean air as much as everyone else. And, in their own words, 'Expecting those thieving wingers to get any work done would be like hiring an arsonist to watch your fields.'" Horatio maintained his calm attitude.
"That's pretty bad."
"Yep."
Reaching the other end of the bridge revealed a dirt path leading up a series of steps to a large wooden, raised platform. It stood at three-storeys tall and the town's combined weight was borne by lower support pillars hidden behind a wall of trees that wrapped around the entire structure's base. Businesses, homes, and public meeting areas all rested on this gargantuan dais that stood like a giant tree house above the forest.
The floors themselves were made of boards whereas the buildings were built using thick, brown logs. None of the buildings had doors nor were they any windows. There were simply square or rectangular openings made in the structures for both. Covers were propped above the windows to seal them like lids when desired. Some structures were more than one story tall, further attesting to the pillars' strength. The only way to differentiate the dwellings from the establishments were small signs showing images such as a potion bottle or the word "inn."
Handrails lined the entirety of the edge of the platform and every set of stairs. Unlike the human district, this town wasn't comprised of several levels assigned specific purposes. It was instead stretched out from east to west on its lone stage. This new area was in better condition than the bridge had been, but that wasn't saying much as many spots still lied in disrepair.
The people themselves exhibited an interesting shift in cultural dynamic.
Rather than a main mix of Asian cultures, there was a distinct European influence here leaning more towards Eastern Europe. The townsfolk were obviously Caucasian and spoke in Czech and Romanian accents. They wore ragged clothing consisting of simple shirts and pants and many of them had on wrist and lower leg bands. All of their feet were bare due to their aforementioned talon-like claws.
And, same as the other races, they carried out their daily chores. Some residents kept small gardens on their rooftops which they were busy tending to while others chatted amicably on the "streets." At no point did anyone try to rob them, something Sean kind of expected, but he didn't see Chaco anywhere.
"This way," Horatio said and led them to the right down a set of stairs. Multiple sets of eyes watched them go, but they showed no hostility.
The path travelled partway into the trees till it leveled off and made a sharp, right angle turn to the left. A barred gate stood in front of them that Horatio unlocked by pushing a hidden button. Its activation caused one of the bars to slide into a slot in the floor, leaving enough room for each of them to squeeze through.
On the other side, passing underneath the town's stage, was a small shack inside of which sat a ladder that functioned as the sewer's entrance.
"Okay, hold up for a second!" Sean said, refusing to take another step. He checked to make sure he was still visible to the general public as the rat turned to look at him. "I'm not going into that place unless you tell me what's actually going on."
Horatio briefly glanced at Hanna and handed Sean a folded note.
[Pause]
He opened the note in the frozen world and it read:
I do apologize for this, but we require your help. A clan member by the name of Slade was recently imprisoned in the Kobold District on charges of theft, assault, and the illegal trading of exotic goods. We know this to be false as he was sent to acquire medicine and given the appropriate funds. We need you to create a distraction by completing the job Horatio handed you while we rescue him.
When a person casts magic, their spells are imbued with small traces of their mana signature and yours is louder and much more detectable than most others I've encountered. We seek to use this to more effectively hide ourselves and lower our chances of discovery. Vetch herself wrapped her own mana signature around yours when you were first brought to the village. This was why she shared a bed with you and was done to hide you till your presence could be announced to the visiting clan leaders.
I implore you to please assist us in this matter. Quill will be waiting for you down in the sewers.
Sincerely,
Schierke
"At least that's one question answered," Sean said in consideration. "And she has been pretty courteous." He dropped the note in his inventory and resumed.
"What do you say?" Horatio asked.
"Yeah, all right. I think that sounds fine."
Horatio smiled. "That's great. I was worried for a second there."
Hanna remained her silent self during the entire exchange and joined the others in entering the shack. The stink that attacked their senses was nothing unexpected, but far worse than the smell of fish market outside, a scent that didn't seem to bother anyone.
Hanna's lips barely twitched and Sean coughed at the horrendous odor of rotten onions, blue cheese, and raw sewage. Faith wasn't any better and pawed at her noise till Horatio cast the [Scent] spell. The delightful aroma of honey and cinnamon knocked out the deplorable stench. It felt like being in a candle shop.
"Sorry about that," he said. "I've gotten so used to stuff like this I don't pay it any attention."
"That's not natural," Sean replied, rubbing tears from his eyes. "Something is definitely causing that."
"That's what we're here for." Horatio gestured to the ladder. "Who wants to go first?"
Author's Notes: Here's Chapter 14. To get rid of any concerns, this is not an "it was a dream all along" or "it was all in their heads" story. I hate stories like that and it's like a big middle finger to the readers or audience. Sean isn't just seeing things or in a coma or any of that tripe. I have an idea for how all of this stuff with the artifacts will play out.
While writing this chapter, I felt like I repeated lines or pieces of information from previous chapters. If I did, it was unintentional.
There's also a Suikoden 1 and 2 Remaster currently in the works due to release sometime next year. A Legend of Mana anime called The Legend of Mana: The Teardrop Crystal based off of the Jumi Arc is also being developed. And, in the Legend of Mana, the area I named [Rent Canyon] is a real location whose name changes depending on the name of the player. If you named your character Clark, then it would be Clark Canyon.
Here I'll respond to a review.
Legi: Sean doesn't have an ice affinity yet. None of his summons are ice-aligned and he hasn't mastered any ice spells yet. His sword [Frozen Fury] doesn't permanently increase his ice affinity. It merely allows him to inflict some ice-elemental damage on enemies while he's using it.
Time gets away from me a bit in between updates and I've been busy moving for the past however many weeks. I apologize for the wait. Thanks again for all of the follows, favorites, and reviews. I really appreciate them and I hope you all enjoy this chapter.
Please leave a review.