It's been a while.
Well not that long actually.
I've been in the hospital for a couple of days, then I was left on medical leave for another 3 days to rest up.
I was fine after the first 2 days at the hospital, so this ammount of time not doing anything was excesivly boring.
After my battle with that Lupo caster, I simply bandaged myself with my old cloak, use the one given to me by Andoain and waiting for the disposal squad to arrive so they can take care of the infected corpse on the street.
I feel like there's not enough apprecitation for the little jobs we don't see in the side lines of the main stories.
I mean, do you want to have your citizen to be infected ? Then you'll have to clean up all of the sources of said infection.
Well, I've been talking about infection likes it's some kind of obvious thing, but in this case, it kind of is.
Oripathy is the most deadly desease known to Terra.
It's essentialy a double edge sword.
Oripathy has a 100% mortality rate.
If you contract it, it will not leave you until you die.
Doesn't mean you can't live with it, but it's usually better for you to not have it.
Oripathy is essentialy rock cancer.
The specifics are a little complicated, but from what I gathered when I was researching the subject on the wiki and extrapolating those findings to my own thought, it essentialy boils down to oripathy being one of the way originium reproduce.
Yes, as in, it's a living thing.
More like a bacteria then anything really, since it behave simmilarly.
What I mean is, it attach itself to a host, fill it with replication of itself in the body of said host, until the host burst of said originium, which will in turn infect other people.
Some mushroom worked like that back on Earth, so I kinda assumed.
What is different is Art.
Art is basiclly scientific magic.
You can replicate what you can do scientificly with arts.
It's useful since you can do practicly anything with it.
In exchange, you need to use originium for it, so some people became infected by that.
Some races doesn't need to be infected to use arts.
And some races doesn't even need art to be strong.
Sarkaz and Sankta for example, can use arts without restriction, as long as they are careful of their usage, to not get infected.
And then there is the Aegir, in which there are some in them who are born capable to break a boulder in a single punch, but have practicly no originuim in their bloodstream, since they are from the sea.
All in all, perfectly balanced.
Also, even if I say that it replicate scientific things, the truth is, some art go beyond that.
Mostima is a good example, stoping time and whatnot.
Angelina and her anti-gravity art, while it is a thing, manipulating it that easily is just stupid.
If she could use it fully, killing people would be easy.
Just increase the gravity towards the ground for the bottom half of someone, and do the opposit for the other.
Anyone would be split in half.
Most people can't do that of course, it depend with your affinity.
Some people can conjure powerful flames, some can annimate the very soil with life, other can freeze entire city solid.
Other people ? Some can throw fire balls once every day, move pebbles around, or create ice cube for their drinks.
It's really luck dependant.
Luck because it depend of your parents.
Your art depend of your bloodline, the reason for this is unknown in lore, but it may just be natural selection at it's finnest.
Some can, some can't.
In the end, the rest boils down with hard work.
As long as you study your art and create intersting way to use your limited power, you can beat someone who's much stronger than you.
Even the mightiest have been felled.
The Deities are good exemple of that, being of pure power who got killed by the 'True Lung' some thousand of years ago.
Siu was once such a being, who split himself into 12.
That's the origin of the dragon sisters, Nian, Dusk and Ling if you didn't know.
In the end, those so called gods were hunted to near extinction.
We aren't sure there even exist more than 2 alive.
And one of them is split in 12.
? Mhm ? The other ? It's Kjeradangr, the deity of Kjera.
Yes, she indeed exist as a actual being.
...
Well, now that I can at least go back to training, I should go in the training ground.
...
"? Aren't you still supposed to be resting, Dante ?"
"It ended today thankfully, couldn't imagine staying in bed for another day doing nothing."
"Ahahah, you sure are diligent, most would have waited another day until they came back in active duty."
"I think it's normal, there isn't really much to do anyway."
"So, you want to use the underground range ?"
"I wouldn't be in the outer training ground if it were the case."
"True, then, what do you want to do ?"
"I was thinking of trying out arts. I really don't want to get jumped by a caster again."
"That's what happenend huh. We kinda guessed since a disposal squad got send out, but still, you managed to fight againts a experienced caster alone."
"Experienced ? Not really, he probably wasn't that mutch of a caster considering he just chucked fire ball at without thinking."
"That's still pretty hard for most caster you know ? Well, us sankta are blessed, but other races, not so much, so it's difficult for them to use it effectivly."
"True..."
Well let's see...
"Do you know any caster that could give me the gist of casting ?"
"Sure, a couple of them are training in temperature art today."
"Thanks."
After getting near their group, I can feel that it's them. The area is suddenly way hotter than it's supposed to be for the middle of fall.
"Hey, can you guys show him some arts thing ? I don't know how it works and he want to be able to counter art user since he got jumped by one."
"Well, he can just stay here and try to learn from watching us, this is still the begineer class so it'll be fine."
"Thank you."
"What's your name, and who are you under ?"
"Oh, my name's Dante, I'm under Andoain right now."
"I see, so you're the guy who broke the rookie shooting record. Why want to use arts, you seem much more talented in markmanship."
"I would like not to get killed by a stray art when on the battlefield, so I want to at least know how to counter it."
"Alright. The names Dominic, I train rookie talented in arts to use them more effectivly."
"Nice to meet you."
After this quick introduction, they went back to teaching arts.
...
I got some sort of idea on how they acces the arts.
It's kind of just boils down to 'knowing it', it's more 'in the head' so to speak.
I should be able to at least get a feel for what type of arts I'm good for.
Well then, let's try it out, if nothing happen, I at least won't be that disapointed.
"..."
Oh, I can at least get the feeling.
Well something is defenitly working. What is it ? I can't tell in the slightest.
To just sum it up, it just work.
*ZOOM*
? Wait, I can feel something else.
It's like programing something.
I can input codes into something.
Why not ..?
*BANG*
Oh.
I guess I kinda figured it out.
"What in the name of-"
"Is that a floating gun ?!"
Yep, seems like I can just kinda move it like this.
*ZOOM*
"Wow, wait, uh, it's pointing this way."
I should probably drop the gun before I shoot down someone...
*CLUNK*
"I see, this is how it works..."
"Is- is this your doing ?"
"Yeah, it's kinda weird how it works, it feel like I can just, tell it to do something and it would do it ? A little more complicated than that but well, it's close."
"I see. Could you just... Not train with it with guns ?"
"Oh yeah, not doing that again don't worry !"
"Yeah, I think a couple of them nearly pissed their pants when a floating gun is shooting blank round towards them."
"Ahahah, well can't help it I had to test it !"
"I'm sure of it..."
Let's test this out some more...
? Oh, what I've been doing for the past month ?
Training mostly.
I wasn't allowed to do more escort mission considering the last one, even tho it's more of a problem on their part but whatever.
Now that they see that I'm pretty strong they're considering putting me in a squad for real.
Good, I was litteraly dying of boredom here.
"Dante, can you give me the book on the shelf please ?"
As for what I'm doing right now ? Waiting for the day to pass, since I'm getting the letter tommorow.
I hope I'll get a decent squad at least.
What I really hope for is to get into a very particular squad.
You probably guessed it, but I'm going for the waifus.
So I hope to be put in Andoain future squad, which mean the same that Lemuen, Mostima and Fiammeta is in.
Maybe they aren't in it right now, but who cares. We'll try any way !
Altought I'm probably going to be in it since I'm under Andoain.
Who knows ?
"Dante ?"
Oh yeah the book.
"Here you go Aurelia."
"Thanks. What were you thinking about for you to be in such deep thought ?"
"My new affectation, it seems like I'll be put in a squad more permently."
"Since you can fight just fine, it should also be fine."
How can you give the title of soldier to someone so young...
"Yeah, it should be."
I hope it would be.
Well, I kinda guessed it but it's nice to have it guarrented.
'Dante, your new affectation is now Cassius's squad, co lead by Andoain. Altought you are quite young, you should be able to handle the small mission this new squad is about to take care.'
New squad huh.
I kinda guessed it would be new from this point in time but well.
Wait, small mission ?
It defenitly wouldn't be small with my shitty protagonist luck ..!
Damn it, what kind of hell are we going to be getting in...
Well, let's go see Cassius...
...
"So what this 'small mission' that's mentioned ?"
"? Oh Dante, it's nice that you're that quick. I was about to send Andoain to get you."
"Are we suppose to talk about the mission ?"
"Indeed, the other should get here in a couple of minutes, we'll explain then, after introducing to each other."
The sad part is that I know that Andoain is getting his squad emptied, which probably mean those guys are either here for just this job, or that they won't last long...
Let's hope for them to last longer than a single mission.
"Hey ! Isn't this kid the super rookie ? I heard he had beaten a caster in one on one, after just so little time in training it's kind of impressive."
"That's true."
So we're 4 huh ?
"You guys shouldn't talk about him like this, if you want to ask him a question, tell it to him directly."
Nevermind, we're 5.
"Always a stickler for the rules Leo ?"
"This doesn't concern you, Faustina."
"Oh, doesn't it ? We're going to be in the same mission for a couple of month, shouldn't it kind of be my problem ?"
A couple month ?!
Since when are those guys given more knowledge about it than me ?
"Silence, we are going to need to have to explain the details of the mission to everyone, stop stalling for time, we don't have all day."
"Urgh, you could be such a fun dude if you could let go a little, Andoain."
"Let's just hear what this mission about, ok guys ?"
"Sure, sure, let's go with that Nica."
At least I got all of their name...
Leo is a pretty tall dude, golden hair and a very proud halo, if that makes sense. He has green eyes, and his weapon seems to be both a one handed sword and a Magnum, a small one handed gun with a 6 rotating barrils and a powerful cannon. He seems to be experienced if a scar on his cheek is any indication.
Faustina seems like a party girl more than anything. With that 2 barrel shotgun you can ask yourself if she can even take the recoil of that gun, but considering she's here, she probably can more than handle it. She have white hair, a dimmer halo than Leo, and blue eyes.
Nica is a Liberi, that much is obvious, considering she doesn't have a halo, and seems to have feather likes protusion on her head. Her hair is dark brown, blue eyes and she uses a pretty long sword.
"So, what's it's about Cassius ?"
"Since we have a newcomer, we were tasked with a escort mission that doesn't have a high risk of being attacked, but even then we should never let our guard down."
"Just another escort mission then ? That's so boring..."
"Yes, well this is just a routine for us, and our client is of decently high standing, so we have to make a good impression, the main problem is that since we are the military, if we show a obvious sign of aggresion we will show a poor display of our contry."
"So the goal is more to be poster boys for those client of ours ? What a drag."
"That is still our job."
"So who are we moving ? And from where to where ?"
"This is difficult part. And the reason why this mission is going to take a couple month."
? The who is a problem ?
"Who is it ?"
"? Dante, even if we told you, I doubt you would know who it is, he may be famous where he is from but here, not so much."
"Wait, is it about that snake ? Is it about the mention of him moving someone ?"
"You guessed it correctly it seems."
Wait a second... A snake ? Moving someone ? Is it what I'm thinking it is ?!
Was it ever mentionned in the story ?! If it IS what I'm thinking it is, should I do anything to prevent it ?
Damn it, stop stalling and just tell us who it is already ..!
"That guy is so annoying... Is he kidnaping someone this time ? We could put a bullet in his skull then."
"Impossible, if we do that, it'll be total war."
"Damn, I would have hoped we could do that finnaly."
"Even then, that guy seems to have multiple life, with how he escape death so many times."
"... Is that man from Ursus ?"
"? Wait, do you know who're we talking about kid ? How old are you again ?"
"14, my birthday was last month."
"That's... Well you aren't wrong."
"Kaschey huh..."
"Yeah, that snake is everywhere."
He sure is.
I'm still in a time where he is alive, and Tahlula isn't corrupted yet.
Well it's closer to mind control than anything.
... I really want to put a bullet in his head, and I have to protect him from people trying to kill him ? That's so annoying.
"Wait, if it's that guy ? Why where the team with a newbie gotten tasked with it ?"
? Oh I haven't even thought about that.
"That kid is Ava's kid."
"... what ?"
"... That women had a child ?"
"... You're telling me that amazoness could stay with a men long enough to have child with them ?"
"Well, while your thought aren't really wrong, not only was she pretty popular, she was married."
"?"x3
Wow, mom, what did you do this time ?