Boryslav leaned forward in his desk, facing the blackboard as it became abundantly obvious of his status as 'Elephant in the room'.
A few kids giggled, others whispered, and some were absolutely silent.
It felt as if he was in beginning level class again, which he was.
Jirou wrote a few glyphs on the blackboard, Belchero walking in. She noticed Boryslav sitting, pausing for a moment, before continuing, completely ignoring his presence as she came up and whispered to Jiruo
Boryslav's perceptive hearing was able to pick up the general gist of the conversation, with Belchero demanding an explanation on why he was here, to which Jiruo simply replied.
"- Bell rank."
Belchero then turned away and sat down, resting both hands against her cane as she gave Boryslav a dirty look.
The Ukrainian simply smiled back, giving her a wink as Jiruo spoke up, the whispering ceasing. "Before we begin, director Belchero would like to speak."
She remained seated, eyes scanning around the classroom. "I hope you all understand that the ability to read Netherworld Glyphs is not just a skill, but a necessity as important as breathing. Other nations may also runes, but the language of Orth is one originating from The Abyss itself. If you ever wish to be Delvers, one needs to know how to read and write like one." She then looked at Boryslav. "We... also have a new student. Boryslav Shevchenko, a foreigner, will be joining the class."
A few children whispered before Belchero pounded the end of her cane against the floor.
"Do not speak while I am speaking!"
Boryslav almost flinched alongside the rest of the kids. "Talk about a harsh mistress. She's the polar opposite of a kindly Babushka..."
The class was then silent, Belchero continuing. "As I was saying... He will be studying here to become a Delver like the rest of you. But make no mistake, as of this moment, he is on the same level as the rest of you, which means he will receive no special treatment."
Not that he was expecting any.
And so far, the lesson was a breeze.
It was surprisingly difficult at times despite being a class for children, but Jiruo was a very good teacher. A clear voice, loud diaphragm, and while not exactly enthusiastic, the young man still spoke with a tone of seriousness that commanded attention.
"He would make a good Drill Instructor." Boryslav silently thought, filling out a few notes. Then again, moon whistles were already instructors in a sense. Boryslav looked back up, stirring in his seat.
If there was one gripe he had so far, it was that the 'wall desks' were too small for his own comfort.
"God damn these chairs... couldn't they have built this shit like a normal classroom?"
Jiruo concluded the lesson, children streaming out. The moon whistle and the director carefully watched as Boryslav packed up his written notes into his backpack, climbing down from his desk.
"Boryslav." Jiruo called out, the foreigner perking up.
"Dah?"
"Come here."
Boryslav obliged, walking up to the two waiting adults. "Need anything?" He asked in his accented voice.
Jiruo crossed his arms, "Well you can start by telling us how exactly were you able to get Taro of all Delvers to offer a recommendation?"
The foreigner gave an amused smile, "It might not look like it, but the old man is not as harsh as he seems."
"He's hiding the true answer." Jiruo thought as Belchero stood up from her seat, a glare on her face.
"I've been on a few expeditions with Taro before. He would never hand a recommendation to some unknown foreigner."
"Then perhaps you did not know him well enough." Boryslav responded, Belchero's face turning a shade of angered red as the Ukranian chuckled. "You look pretty when you are angry, Babushka."
Jiruo cut in, holding a hand out. "That's enough. I'll have to ask you to refrain from trying to... court director Belchero." The instructor then sighed, yet kept his focused stare. "Can we at least trust that you won't be a danger to the children here."
"Dah, you have my word." Boryslav said, "If I wanted someone hurt...-"
His stare intensified.
"-you would have known by now."
Silence.
Boryslav then laughed, "Ha! I am joking! You should see the look you both had." He then turned around, without another word Jiruo and Belchero silently watching his back as he opened the door and left. Boryslav then turned away from the doorway, realizing that the three familiar kids were waiting for him.
Riko exploded.
"YOU BECAME A DELVER?!"
"блядь." Boryslav simply said.
Boryslav walked around the orphanage, notebook open in his hands as his three followers flanked him on both sides.
"So you saved a black whistle?" Shiggy asked, "And in return, he offered you a recommendation?"
"Dah." Boryslav confirmed.
Riko held stars in her eyes. "Wow! So you did it out of the kindness of your heart."
Boryslav shook his head, "Niet. It was because I figured the muggers had money on them, and my nose would be clean if I beat them up."
Nat sweatdropped, "So much for that."
"Judge all you want. It is a dangerous world out there, Children. I did what was necessary for myself." Boryslav then shrugged. "That is not to say I do not appreciate Taro. He is a good man, and I see why you look up to these Delvers."
"So then... why did you become a Delver?" Riko asked.
"Money." Boryslav instantly answered. "And it seems putting my own ass in danger is the only job I am good at." He finished with a small chuckle.
Shiggy straightened his glasses, "Well, considering the fact that you've managed to bend all the rules of The Abyss on its head... I suppose being a Delver would only make sense at this point."
Boryslav nodded in agreement before Riko rushed forward, hugging his leg. The Ukrainian flinched, raising his arms in surprise. "I'm so glad, Worn! I was really hoping to see you again! Now that you're actually studying alongside us-" She then looked up. "-we'll learn how to be Delvers together!"
The Stalker put a hand on her forehead, pushing her away from him as she kept that same big smile. "As long as you give me personal space, Dah?" She nodded, Nat and Shiggy standing by.
And as the three stood before him, Boryslav had to wonder what the future had in store for him.
A voice broke him from his musings.
"There you are."
The Ukranian turned his head, revealing Jiruo holding a broom. The moon whistle then held the broom forward, pushing it into Boryslav's hands.
"As a trainee studying in Belchero orphanage, you have to do your fair share of chores here. That includes sweeping the floors of the building."
"... Dah." Boryslav simply said.
It was like training as a VDV all over again.
The trio could already sense his brief despondency, Nat crossed his arms. "Well, hey, at least you don't have it as bad as us kids. I mean, I know for a fact that Director isn't going to string you up naked cause you're an adult."
Boryslav paused before he turned his head in shock, "She does what?!"
Boryslav sat atop the bed, silently reading.
A week had passed ever since being integrated into the orphanage, and so far, he could read the first section of Taro's notebook. The old black whistle had written the book in an order of importance, with the 1st layer being the first section and the rest following being the 2nd, 3rd and so on.
"Bluntmouth?" Boryslav thought to himself, scrunching his eyes. "No, wait... that symbol means hammer. So then it is Hammerbeak." He then leaned back, murmuring to himself. "It sounds better anyway." He then casually reached to the side of his bed, pressing a button on his PDA.
Bandit Radio began to play.
He smiled, motioning his head to the beat as he continued reading.
And then the door slammed open, Taro holding a rusted pickaxe as the old man's granddaughter stood behind him. "Where the hell is all that racket coming from?!"
Boryslav quickly realized that the phonograph had not been invented yet...
Taro leaned against the railing alongside Boryslav, the former smoking from a pipe as the two stared down at the dark chasm that was The Abyss.
"So you are not pulling my leg here, Старик? I can find an upside-down forest in the 2nd layer of this godforsaken hole?"
The old man grunted, "Humph, who's the retired Delver here?"
"Right." Boryslav then sighed, "It is just that I am not a big fan of forests..."
"Why's that?" Taro asked, taking another puff. "Had one back in that 'Zone' of yours?"
Boryslav nodded, "We called it The Red Forest. A dreadful place. And with a name like that, you think it would be pretty." Boryslav shook his head, "Rotting trees, gnarled roots, and mutants... too many fucking mutants. Even the luckiest of Stalkers vanished without a trace in that forest. I almost joined their ranks if I was not saved at the last moment by some crazy bastard who somehow thrived in that wretched place." The Ukranian paused before chuckling, "I do not mean this out of disrespect, but I am sure he would put both the most experienced of Stalkers, and your white whistles to shame."
Taro raised an eye, "Oh, is that so? Who was he?"
"Another old man like you. He didn't have a name."
Boryslav then turned his head.
"But he called himself Forester."
"What danger level is this creature?" Jiruo asked.
Boryslav was the first to raise his hand, the instructor pointing at the Ukranian. "It is a Madokajack. Serious level." The man then leaned back casually behind his desk and continuing his confident recital. "They are found in the 3rd layer, but as long as you avoid their dens, you should be safe."
"Very good, Shevchenko." Jiruo said before turning toward the rest of the class.
Boryslav was on an important mission.
Grocery shopping.
Taro had run out of Furpong meat, so it was up to Boryslav and Orla to go to the market and buy some more. Otherwise, there could be no stew. A very reasonable arrangement.
"This way, Uncle Worn!"
He smiled at that, reminiscing when she had first begun referring to him with 'uncle'. Boryslav didn't even know what to say at the time. "Alright, I am coming. If only I was as youthful as you."
Orla giggled, "Y-You're not that old, Uncle Worn."
They reached the market, Boryslav looking around. Admittedly, this was his first time in the market. The first thing he had noticed was how lively it was as scores of people walked to and fro to check out wares. Orla guided Worn, with Worn keeping a watchful eye over her as per Taro's request.
"The butcher's stall is just up ahead." Orla spoke, pointing at the hanging piece of meat put on display. "I-I'll ask them for a cut."
Boryslav nodded, standing back as he watched the young girl. The exchange was quickly performed, and soon she returned with a bloodied bag in her hand.
"Okay! L-Let's go."
He nodded, the two of them on their way as they passed a shop. Orla then stopped for a moment, head peering at the window. Boryslav turned, "What is wrong?"
The Stalker then realized she was staring at a sign.
Recently imported! Rice candy from East Beolsk!
"Oh." Boryslav turned his head to her, "Is it the candy you are looking at?"
Orla froze up for a moment before turning away. "Y-Yeah... but I don't wanna spend any of grandfather's money..."
"Well, then it is a good thing you will not have to." Boryslav said as he reached into his own pocket, producing a few silver coins that he had picked up from those muggers a few weeks ago. "Your Uncle Worn has this."
She seemed to stutter and protest, reasoning that such a thing wasn't necessary. Yet Boryslav had none of it, walking past her and opening the door to the store. Orla then seemed to reluctantly follow, entering the store with him as they walked inside, the door closing behind them. The first discernible noise was the sound of a ticking grandfather clock. The interior was a bit aged, but was maintained well.
A lady with orange hair sat behind the counter, already beginning to stand.
"Hello! Can I help you with something?"
"Yes, how much is that candy you are advertising outside?" Boryslav asked.
"A silver for each jar." The woman said before blinking, "Hey... aren't you..."
Boryslav tilted his head as Orla walked to his side, the woman's eyes widening.
"Little Orla! Long-time no see!"
Orla seemed to shrink, "H-Hi Auntie Laffi."
Boryslav looked between the two as Laffi turned her head back to him. "So the rumors are true. You're the foreigner with a bell rank who's residing in Taro's house."
"Yes, that is me." Boryslav answered before spotting a picture behind her. She was standing lovingly in the arms of a bear of a man, with said man harboring a Delver jacket and black whistle. "So I guess I am the talk of the town?"
She nodded, "I mean, not to offend, but it's just so strange to have someone not from Orth training to be a Delver."
"Ah, damn. Looks like my cover is ruined." Boryslav joked, "Now how am I supposed to steal any of your important secrets?"
Laffi chuckled.
"Finally, someone with a sense of humor." He then gestured to the photo. "So I am going to assume your husband also knew Taro?"
She turned before turning back, nodding, "Oh yes, Hablog and Taro have been on a few Delves together. Taro also used to come in here for Delving supplies." Laffi then shrugged, "Not so much today though." She then turned her head to the young girl, "But I remembered the last time he came in was with you, Orla. My goodness, you've grown so much!"
Orla shriveled with shyness at the compliment.
"Oh, almost forgot. Let me get what you came in here for." Laffi then reached underneath the counter, producing a small unopened crate. "These just got imported. So just give me a moment to-..." Laffi looked around, "Now where did I put that crowbar?"
Boryslav shrugged, reaching into his back holster to produce his Spetsnaz machete. "No need. I have a tool that can help." He then wedged between the gap, forcefully levering it off as the candies inside were revealed.
He tried handing her a silver, but to his surprise, she refused, giving him one of the jars instead. "Just take it."
"Are you sure?" Boryslav asked.
She nodded, "Yes. I insist. Consider it a long time gift."
"Ah, thank you." Boryslav then turned his head to Orla, handing her the jar. "What do you say?"
"T-Thank you, Auntie Laffi."
Boryslav turned back before spotting something. It was a jar full of a powdery substance, not grayish like gunpowder but pure black instead, sitting on a nearby shelf. Netherglyph was labeled in front of it.
Healing Charcoal
He pointed, "By the way, what is that charcoal over there used for?"
"Oh, that?" Laffi asked, "It's used for medicinal purposes."
"How?" Boryslav asked, picking up the jar from the shelf.
"Well, it's for Delvers really. They consume it sometimes to help alleviate the effects of the burden for the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd layer."
"I see..." Boryslav said, looking down at the jar.
There was no mistake, what he held in his hands was activated charcoal, one of the main ingredients of a gas mask filter. His whole time here, and he embarrassingly hadn't even considered how he would refurbish his filters. Luckily, the answer had found him.
"How much is it for the whole jar?" Boryslav asked.
Laffi stuttered.
"A mutant is..." Boryslav looked up from his sweeping. The trio, in addition to a younger blonde-haired boy named Kiyui, had gathered in front of him with wonder in their eyes. "You ever hear of an animal born with an unusual attribute?"
Nat and Riko shook their heads as Shiggy nodded. "I think I read once that there was a Furpong born with two heads once."
"Dah! That is a good example. The two heads are what is considered a mutation while the animal itself is what is called a mutant." Boryslav continued sweeping, "Those are the animals of The Zone. Former and mostly harmless animals changed into savage killing machines."
There was a long pause, Kiyui whispering. "Scary...!"
"How does it happen?" Riko asked, "I mean, how do the animals in The Zone become like that?"
Boryslav shrugged, "If I had a guess, it would probably be because of the radiation. But even I am not sure if that is the complete reason."
She nodded as Nat spoke, "Y'know, these mutants kind of sound like...-" He then tried to recall, "What was it called when a human suffers the burden of the 6th?"
"A Naherate." Shiggy answered.
Boryslav raised an eye at that, "I remember you mentioned the loss of humanity. So humans who ascend from the 6th become these... Naherates?"
That definitely seemed to fit the bill of a human turned mutant.
"Are they hostile?" He asked for clarity.
"Mm..." Shiggy scratched the back of his head, "Naherate aren't hostile, they're just mindless. So any that somehow wound up in the above layers and are found by Delvers are quickly put down. It's considered a mercy killing."
Boryslav paused for a moment, picturing a lunging Snork, and a telekinetic Burer. There was also... well, one that Boryslav chose not to remember too much of. Pseudogiants were nightmares and a half...
"But truly, they are not dangerous?"
"Er, no? At least, no encounter was ever dangerous just...-" Shiggy shrugged, "-sad I guess. They went too far down the Abyss and tried to climb back up, only to face the consequences."
A stark reminder that there were fates worse than death.
"Your presence is required."
Boryslav looked up from the notebook, realizing Belchero had stayed behind after class had ended. He tilted his head, partially out of curiosity, mostly out of amusement. "Oh? You are finally in need of my efforts?"
"Quiet!" She snapped before turning around, staff held in hand as she slowly walked out of the room. "Come with me at once."
The Stalker shrugged, pushing away from his desk as he stood up and followed. They left the room, walking upstairs to reach what appeared to be the trapdoor to an attic. Belchero reached forward, clasping the string and opening it, the wooden steps unfolding.
She then proceeded to walk upstairs, bringing her cane with her as Boryslav followed.
The attic was dark and dusty, with the only source of light being from a singular window at the end. Boryslav whistled, fanning the odd bit of dust that drifted through the air. "I hope you do not need me to clean this up. It will take ages."
"Do as your told-" She then crossed her arms, "And it may not be necessary."
Boryslav shrugged, "Alright, where do you want me to start?"
"Take everything that's in the back and place them into the shed. They will be disposed of there."
"Understood." Boryslav responded, immediately going to work. Belchero watched as he did so, her hands resting atop her cane as the Stalker began to stockpile things in preparation to bring outside.
He decided to start some idle chit chat.
"So-" Boryslav grunted, placing down a crate. "-how long have you been running this orphanage? It is named after you."
Belchero paused, silent for a few moments as Boryslav continued his work. She finally responded, "Since I retired from delving."
"Retired?" Boryslav asked.
She nodded. "I... fell, damaged my leg when I was returning from the 5th layer. It never fully healed, and I never fully recovered."
"I see." Boryslav said, picking up a dusty chest. "So then what made you decide to open an orphanage? The goodness of your heart?" Boryslav joked whilst carrying the object.
"Practicality. As much as it pains me to admit it, you may have noticed that Orth is not a nation of charity."
"You can say that again." Boryslav grunted, thinking of the desolate Wharf. "But what do you mean by 'practicality'?"
Belchero sighed, staring out the window. "Tell me, do you know how many orphans are in Orth?"
"A lot." Boryslav envisioned.
Belchero nodded. "Their parents, either born in Orth or arrive illegally consign themselves to the Abyss in the hopes of finding fortune. Of course, when they lose their lives down there, they leave their children behind to fend for themselves." Belchero looked up with a slight grimace, "And I... in a way, exploit that. I give the desire to these lost children the same desire their parents had, whilst teaching them in hopes that they'd avoid the same mistakes. And I use the successes they have at a young age to help fund the orphanage. I like to think I am giving them a better life, even though all I am doing is adding to the vicious cycle."
Boryslav was silent for a moment, and then he spoke. "Яблуко від яблуньки не далеко."
She tilted her head, "Excuse me?"
"It is a saying, where I am from. It means an apple is never far from the apple tree." Boryslav turned his head, "Children will always have the desire to take after their parents, and when this whole nation is built around the notion of conquering this damned hole... it is inevitable." Boryslav looked out the window, noticing a few kids playing in the courtyard, noticing their cheerful smiles. "I just wished you did not start them at such a young age..."
Belchero walked up next to him, staring down as she quietly spoke. "Delving has to be second nature by the time they grow older. If it helps, we at least have laws that prevent red whistles from Delving past the 1st layer, if they somehow pass the 1st layer, then a rescue party is sent to bring them back."
"And how long are they pursued, until they are considered a lost cause?" Boryslav asked rhetorically. "Past the 2nd layer. That is what I have read. Not only that, but it is still dangerous in the 1st layer anyhow."
She nodded before decisively changing the subject. "What of you, Shevchenko? What exactly was your occupation before coming to Orth?"
"Please, call me Boryslav. It has been a month now, Dah?" Boryslav joked, a decoy for him to quickly assemble a reasonable background.
Belchero raised an eye, crossing her arms in annoyance as he started.
"What is there to say about me? I was a soldier."
He marched with the VDV.
"Sent to foreign nations."
The passing mountains of Afghanistan.
"Did somethings I am not proud of..."
Silhouettes among the rocks.
"And when I returned to my country. I realized...-"
A woman cried.
"-I was not the same as I was before."
He then shrugged.
"And now I am here. I guess lost things have a tendency of finding their way to Orth, Dah?"
Belchero slowly nodded in agreement, a few moments passing before she spoke. "I suppose an apology is in order, Boryslav. I had thought you a spy when I first met you. But I see that is not the case."
"... Thank you." Boryslav continued his work, "Trust is an expensive commodity around here."
She smiled, "Indeed."
Boryslav chuckled, "Ah! So you can smile!"
Belchero seemed flustered, gritting her teeth as she lifted her head away in aggravation. "Just... get back to work."
Boryslav stood with the orphans, goatee now a stubble and shaved hair now regular as he harbored a face of discomfort.
The reason quickly became obvious.
The Delver jacket they had given him was much too small for him, clearly meant for a child as it barely covered his Telnyashka, and the mining hat fit more like a tight helmet, constraining the top of his head. "Do I really need to wear this shit?" He asked, lifting his finally acquired red whistle. "I mean, this is proof enough that I am on my first Delve, Dah?"
"Sorry, Boryslav." Jiruo spoke, sporting a look of sympathy. "I would let you wear your normal gear, but it's technically a formal law that a red whistle must wear a Delver jacket and hat on their first delve. If it helps, once you become a blue whistle, you are free to wear whatever you want as long as you have the whistle out for other Delvers to see."
"And when will that be?" Boryslav asked.
"Well, when you acquire the appropriate training, or if you somehow manage to prove yourself..."
"Bah..." Boryslav swung a frustrated arm, "So a while then?"
Jiruo nodded with a hint of uncertainty before turning around to the rest of the waiting children. "Alright, today Mr. Shevchenko will be joining us for the first time. Let's head out!"
And off they went, leaving the gates of the orphanage behind. Boryslav turned his head back, watching the vine grown building disappear as they walked the streets of Orth. Admittedly, it was quite the adjustment, but for an adaptive Stalker such as himself, he got through. And besides...
He had actually enjoyed the past month, but now was the time to get serious.
"-Boryslav, you'll go with Shiggy and Riko." Jiruo finished.
Boryslav nodded, "Understood."
The expedition had reached the beginning of the first layer, the atmosphere calm and peaceful as fields of windy grass laid before them. At the end of these fields was a long drop, filled to the brim of trails and cliffsides, the edge of the Abyss. He walked up to the two children, both already rearing to go as Nat waved goodbye, being assigned to another group. They waved back before heading out into their own assigned sector...
Down into the presumed known.
Boryslav silently looked around,
"How do you feel? Going off on your first Delve?" Riko asked with a hint of excitement and curiosity.
Boryslav paused for a moment, staring forward as a few Hammerbeaks could be seen fluttering in the distance. "You know what?"
He then reached into his back pocket, producing his Svarog detector. He had tinkered with it a bit last night, testing different frequencies with any leftover relics in Taro's house, and he came to a startling discovery. The relics produced some form of weak polarity, easily detected amongst the vacant ground. Which meant...
The Stalker silently turned it on, the Detector beeping.
He smiled.
"Ignore the map. We are going to stick together."
"Wha- Why?" Shiggy asked.
Wordlessly, he walked up to a mound of dirt, taking out his machete before bringing it down to cake off the edges. He then reached a hand forward, digging away and pulling something out of it.
It was a relic, a squeezable relic at that, low-tier due to its possible function and location, but a relic nonetheless.
"Because we are going to have to carry a lot of relics together." Boryslav replied, passing the relic to Riko as she stared at it with astoundment. "That, I am sure of."
It was more like stash finding then relic hunting.
By the time the group had actually even reached the intended destination of Boryslav's sector, their bags were already full. How it went was that Boryslav would use the Svarog to track the relic, and then they would find it. The issue was actually just carrying them around, forcing the group to dump the less valuable relics in favor of the higher rarity ones.
They were walking down a familiar grassy field as Boryslav looked forward, carrying his own load and missing when he had his Goldfish modified backpack.
"So that detector you used to sense the burden can also sense relics?" Shiggy asked.
The Stalker smiled, holding up the Svarog detector. "In a way... it senses artifacts where I am from, but I changed the settings to sense relics now."
"That's so cool!" Riko spoke, "With equipment like that, you could easily become a White Whistle!"
"Well..." Boryslav shrugged, "I will have to see if I would even want to in the first place. Sometimes it is better to be lesser-known, Dah?"
Riko tilted her head at that before the Stalker stopped, pointing ahead.
"Is that the place?"
Shiggy looked down at his map, "Er, yeah. Should be. It was right here."
The two of them looked around, Rikko looking between the two. "Eh? What are you two looking for?"
Boryslav then spotted something as his mouth hung agape, staring forward as his eye twitched. "Holy shit..." Sure enough, the truck he had met Iggy and Nat at had been taken apart and whisked away. The only sign of it ever existing being the crushed grass that was in the shape of a rectangle.
Rikko turned her head to Shiggy. "I don't get it? What's wrong? What is this place?"
Shiggy turned his head, "This is where Me and Nat met Boryslav."
"Wha-!? Really?!" Rikko asked excitedly. "So then that must mean this is where you killed the Splitjaw as well?"
"Yeah. But-"
"Nothing's left." Boryslav finished, "I thought we could make a detour and see if we can take anything that was leftover." He then looked around the place before turning to Shiggy. "Any idea on who could have done it?"
Shiggy shrugged, "If I had a bet, it must've been illegal Delvers. It would have been the talk of the town if it was taken to the appraisal house."
Boryslav sighed, "Then let us keep going. They probably stripped the entire area clean." They both began to walk on, Riko just about to follow before she stepped on something. She looked down, eyes widening.
"Hey!" She called out, "I found something!"
Shiggy and Boryslav turned around, returning to her to see something glinting in the grass. Boryslav reached down, picking it up.
It was a bullet casing, left behind from the time he had riddled the Crimson Splitjaw with his AK. It was a little dirty, the gilded metal faded from being exposed for so long, but the general shape still remained. He held it up, Riko looking at it with stars in her eyes. "Wow! What are those?"
"Bullet casings." Boryslav explained, pocketing the metal. He brushed the top of the grass, finding a few more. Although there could be nothing done with them as of now, he picked each one up, holding them in his hand. "There for my gun, but like this, they are useless."
"Oh. Is it because something is supposed to be inside them for the gun to shoot?" Riko asked, Shiggy staring at the casings.
"Dah." Boryslav responded, "They catch on quickly."
He then stood back up.
"Alright, let us go."
The destination was a collapsed ruin, hanging haphazardly off the cliffside. Perhaps at some point it was a temple of some sort, but now, the time had eroded that structure as nature made it's due. "Nothing like venturing into an unstable place to find relics... did I ever really leave The Zone?" Boryslav wondered, looking down at his detector.
It may have well have been a gold mine, tiny green dots appearing on the LED screen.
Needless to say, he had no complaints.
Riko turned her head, "Oh! I know a way we can find even more relics!"
Shiggy and Boryslav turned their heads to her. "How?" The latter asked.
"It's simple. There are lots of spaces that only a kid could crawl through in the temple, so to save time, you mark out the areas in the temple, and then Shiggy and I will find it while you go off to mark more!"
Shiggy nodded his head in agreement. "Yeah, that sounds like a plan."
"... Alright. Just be careful." Boryslav then looked down before looking up, pointing at the front of the temple. "See that bush? There should be a relic inside or under it. Dig that out. I will head in first."
Shiggy and Riko nodded, producing shovels as the group walked up to the front. While the two kids worked on digging, Boryslav entered.
It was more exterior then interior, parts of the roof open as overgrown vines clung to the stone bricks. Boryslav looked around, slowly stepping inside. The temple was huge, with the other half of actually bending downward, indicating the end that was hanging off the cliffside. He then walked forward, boots stepping on ancient stone as he looked down at the Svarog detector, keeping a note on what sections seemed to contain relics.
And then he stepped in a puddle.
He looked past the detector, his eyes widening.
A red puddle.
Blood.
He looked up, spotting a body that was lying next to an opened section. It was a Delver, a blue whistle, his skin pale and throat slit. Boryslav crouched low, inspecting the corpse. "Definitely wasn't an animal that did this... The cut would have been messier, and the body devoured." The body was still fresh, meaning whoever had done it was still around. He noticed the boy was missing his jacket and backpack, only left with his trousers and undershirt. "Everything valuable was taken off him as well... that must mean-"
His thinking was cut off as Riko and Shiggy entered. "Hey, Worn! We found the-"
Boryslav was onto the child in an instant, clasping an arm over both of their mouths and quickly hiding behind a pillar. "We are not alone here..." He silently whispered. "Do you see the doorway over there?" Boryslav asked.
Shiggy and Riko nodded within his arms.
"As soon as I let go, I want you two to take off your backpacks and run back to Jiruo, as fast as you can. Tell him that there are bandits at the temple. Can you do that?"
Another nod.
"Okay." Boryslav relinquished his grip, "Now get ready to-"
A figure rounded the doorway, a tall figure in leather lamellar. His face was obscured by a pale cloth face mask, almost reminiscent of a balaclava without a mouth hole, a metal helmet with an inactive lightbulb attached to the front. His weapon seemed bizarre, a combination between an axe, a pick, and a spear. One side was the pick, one side was the axe, and the top was a pointed piece of metal. It was almost reminiscent of a Varangian Guard but adapted to ranging then guarding, The Abyss and not Constantinople.
The man spotted them, eyes widening behind his mask.
Boryslav drew his Spetsnaz machete and slashed the man's throat before he could even react, blood splattering in a straight line and staining Boryslav's jacket. The man let out a gurgling sound, falling back as he dropped his weapon and clutched his throat, landing with a noisy thump.
Shouting outside was heard.
Boryslav turned his head, the two kids absolutely stunned as he yelled out. "Back through the entrance!" He yelled before turning back to the doorway as he drew his pistol. "I will be fine, go!"
The two young kids thankfully obliged despite witnessing the brutal display, turning to run and leaving their bags behind.
He checked outside, the doorway leading to a courtyard of destroyed walls and fallen pillars. Boryslav then calculated his options. Either he stayed inside, maintaining a chock-point but not much breathing space, or he could go outside, where space was open but cover for any potential enemies would be in abundance. He quickly chose the latter.
And paid for it.
The flat end of a polearm hit his hand from behind a pillar, M1911 getting smacked out of his fingers and falling to the grass as Boryslav cursed. He then avoided the spear thrust, stepping to the side as the bandit stepped forward.
Or... wait. The woman was wearing the exact same uniform as the man before, cloth mask with exposed eyes and metal helmet but this time with the addition of goggles. She yelled out, her voice accented in an almost Scandinavian flare. "I found him! He's over here!" Common, as Boryslav learned in the orphanage, was a language that everybody spoke, even across nations. This was some organized group, and it was there that Boryslav learned that these must've been foreign Delvers.
Boryslav backed away, machete still in hand and element of surprise lost. Using a one-handed weapon against someone using a polearm, he may as well have been unarmed. And the weapon that was capable of doing any real damage, his M1911, happened to be uselessly lying on the ground, not near enough for him to rush to it in time and shoot her.
He was going to have to get creative.
Taking his heavy backpack, he threw it directly at the woman, relics spilling out into an impactful spread. She grunted, lowering her head as her helmet absorbed the impact. Yet she did not absorb the next, as Boryslav ran past her guard and delivered a powerful kick, directly into her stomach as she recoiled back into a wall. It fell apart, the woman falling back as she let out a surprised yelp before dropping further, revealing that the wall had run adjacent to the cliffside. Her screams could be heard before drowning out as she plummeted down into places unknown.
"Guess I didn't need to follow up." Boryslav grimly thought as he lowered his machete.
"Kari!" A voice yelled.
Boryslav swiveled his head instantly, spotting three more foreign Delvers spill into the courtyard. Two of them were uniform while the last had a vest that exposed both arms, carrying a gigantic backpack that was filled to the brim with relics and stolen Delver gear. The Porter pointed a weapon with shaky rage, Worn's eyes widening.
It was a one-handed blunderbuss.
He rolled to the right, hiding behind a fallen pillar as the weapon clicked and fired with a giant bang. A piece of stone was shredded from the top, inches away from the Stalker's head. Boryslav could already hear the other two rush forward, the sound of crushing grass growing closer.
But what they didn't realize was he had grabbed his M1911 during his roll.
Boryslav rose from cover, the Porter reloading while the two other foreign Delvers flanked him. He spotted the one who was the closest, only meters away and sprinting forward.
He fired, a splotch of blood shooting out from the man's chest.
The M1911 did what it was made to do, as the stopping power of the .45 ACP went into effect. The foreign Delver halted dead in his tracks, one leg coming to a kneel as if he had just hit a wall. He didn't have the chance to yell or scream, possibly because of the sheer trauma inflicted on the central nervous system before Boryslav fired another at his chest, finishing the job as the foreign Delver fell back into the grass.
The other flanker was already upon him, jumping over a fallen pillar and raising her polearm. Boryslav turned around bearing his gun as the woman lunged toward him, axe end raised high to the air. His senses were pinpoint, his aim careful and quick.
He shot her in the face.
The cloth mask turned a gruesome red as her body went limp, falling atop him while the polearm fell into the grass.
Boryslav was about to push the corpse off of him before realizing the Porter was preparing another shot, blunderbuss fully reloaded. He quickly reacted, bringing the corpse in front of him as the weapon clicked, firing off its payload of pellets into the body shield Boryslav was utilizing. It was like a light shove, Boryslav letting out a grunt as he stepped back before bringing his pistol to bear, the Porter trying to run into cover.
He shot the man in the shoulder, the Porter spinning before falling to the grass, dropping his weapon. Boryslav shoved the body away and moved forward, M1911 still trained on the man. The Porter simply laid there, hand clutched onto his shoulder as he let out a soundless grunt.
"I... You..." The Porter attempted to speak.
Boryslav silently put away his pistol, bringing out his machete instead. He didn't want to waste ammo after all...
"What are you?" The man finally asked.
The Stalker paused for a moment before raising the survival blade, Delver hat casting a shadow over his face as he bought the weapon down.
"This way, quickly!" Jiruo yelled, holding a pickaxe.
He was followed by a mob of other Delvers, each brandishing a weapon. An exhausted Riko and Shiggy had told him everything, that Foreign Delvers were in the Leaning Ruins, and that Boryslav had stayed behind to fend them off.
So the moon whistle had assembled a party as quick as he can, a random assemblage of blue, moons, and a few black whistles. Even the Sentinel had joined them, silently holding a powder spear as they approached the ruins. It wasn't hard rallying the crowd, as there was a distinct hatred that was held for Foreign Delvers...
But at least half of those fears were put away upon spotting Boryslav sitting at the entrance, casually leaning his head back against a vine ridden pillar.
"Worn?!" Jiruo called.
The red whistle looked up, waving as he stood up. "Ah! You have arrived. I was waiting."
Jiruo came up to him, the mob looking around to inspect the ruins. "W-We came as fast as we could. Where are the Foreign Delvers?"
It was then that the moon whistle noticed that the jacket Boryslav wore wasn't originally red...
"Dead." Boryslav answered, gesturing a thumb behind him. "You can check in the courtyard. Just mind the dead Delver at the entrance. Not my work, just one of their victims."
The Stalker then stood up, walking past Jiruo as he tapped the moon whistle on the shoulder.
"This better get me that damn blue whistle."
"Woooorn!" Riko cried, "We were so worried about you!"
It was the usual suspects upon his return to the orphanage, Riko already a bawling mess. Nat was there too, Boryslav assuming the boy had been filled in on what transpired.
"We're so glad you're okay!"
"Yeah." Shiggy agreed, "It was scary. Just how did you manage to fight them all off? It had to be a whole group."
Boryslav shrugged, "I have dealt with worse odds before. But the important thing is I got something out of it." Boryslav finished, producing something from his pocket.
A blue whistle.
"Is that-?" Nat asked, eyes wide.
"A blue whistle! You got a blue whistle!?" Riko asked, eyes shining as Boryslav held it up.
"Dah. Jiruo took me to pick it up from the Delvers guild on the way here." The Stalker explained, "Fastest promotion of my life. Heh." He then pocketed the whistle, looking back to see their saddened faces, knowing what this would entail to. Boryslav would go on to delve the lower layers, while the kids stayed at the 1st. He sighed, kneeling down to their level as Riko came up to him, tears in her eyes.
"Do you have to go Worn...?"
"Yes. I will visit you from time to time." They looked down, a moment passing before Boryslav decided on something. Fishing into one of his pockets, he produced three coins, 15 rubles in total. "Here, take these." He then handed one each to the trio, "It is currency, used in The Zone. It may not buy much here, but it'll be something to remember me by..." Boryslav slowly stood back up. "I best be going now. Goodbye, Children."
Shiggy and Nat looked up from their respective coins, smiles on their faces. "See you, Worn!"
"Yeah, see ya!" Nat agreed, Riko sobbing.
"S-See y-you..."
Nat turned his head, "Hey, what're you crying for? He said he'd visit."
"I-I know." Riko said, wiping away tears.
Boryslav smiled, giving a small wave before turning to leave the courtyard. Jiruo was waiting for him at the gates, as was Belchero. Boryslav came up to the former first, "Goodbye, Belchero. Do not string up children naked anymore, Dah?"
"Do not tell me how to serve punishment, Mr. Shevchenko." Belchero spoke in a deadpan fashion.
"..." Boryslav paused, "I thought Nat was joking when he said that you did. I-... I do not know how to feel about that..." The Stalker then shrugged before he opened his arms and pulled her into a hug, Belchero staring forward with wide eyes as Boryslav pulled away to look her in the face, "I guess that is beside the point. You may not think it, and maybe most the children do not either... but you are a good person, Belchero. So try not to be a hardass all the time, Dah?"
Belcerho stuttered, face flustered as Boryslav turned away to shake Jiruo's hand.
"And as for you. Keep up the good work. I will sleep well knowing your teaching will better their chances."
Jiruo looked distant for a moment before he nodded, a rare smile gracing his face. "I will try my best."
Boryslav nodded, patting him on the shoulder before turning to wave goodbye. In addition to the trio, the entirety of the orphanage was waving, shouting out their respective goodbyes as Kiyu gave a tired wave.
And without a further moment, Boryslav left.
Made in Abyss OST - Tomorrow
"Three rounds left..." Boryslav murmured, looking into one of the magazines of his M1911. That put him at a total of 17 rounds of .45 ACP. Not great, not terrible. Everything else was packed, including the activated charcoal for filter refurbishment, now all that was left was to-
A knock on the door.
Boryslav turned his head, "Come in."
Taro peaked through. "You ready?"
He placed the magazine in his backpack, heaving it over his shoulders, his Sunrise Suit finally refitted. He slung his AK-74 over his shoulder as he pulled the hood over his head. "Dah. Let us go."
They went downstairs, Orla waiting by the doorway. She noticed their approach, opening the door as the three went outside.
The sun steadily rose over the crest around Orth, orange light splaying over the city with the exception of The Abyss in the distance. The townsfolk were already up and about, beginning their daily routines. A few stopped upon seeing Boryslav, pausing for a brief moment, and then continuing on.
That seemed like progress, a far cry from the unfiltered staring he was met with when Boryslav had first begun to live in Orth.
Taro walked up alongside him, Orla in tow. "I don't know if you notice, but everybody is now talking about you."
Boryslav tilted his head, "Really?"
The old man nodded, "It's not every day a foreigner becomes a Delver, and it's not even a considered possibility that said foreigner would already become a blue whistle right after his first delve."
Orla nodded as well. "M-Me and the kids down by the well were talking about it as well. They were asking me so many questions about you..."
He chuckled in response, yet did not say anything.
Finally, they arrived at their destination.
It was a platform that spanned out past the edge, almost like a suspended pier. Yet, even so, the structure may as well have been a toothpick, just barely poking into the flesh that was the giant hole of the Abyss. This was the Elevator Bridge, where Delvers could take a lift to certain parts of the 1st and the beginning of the 2nd. Boryslav was heading to the latter, as they passed a few operators.
They approached one of the elevators, a stylized metal gondola that hung above the long drop below, a gigantic contraption above it to lower it down. "... Looks like a damn death trap..." Boryslav silently thought before shrugging, "Then again, I've thrown myself into worse..." A moon whistle approached the trio, holding a clipboard in her hands.
"Name?" She asked, eyes focused on the paper.
Boryslav and Taro looked at each other before the former stepped forward. "Boryslav Shevchenko."
The woman looked up from the clipboard, eyes lighting up with recognition. It seemed she too knew of his reputation by this point. The purple whistle handed the clipboard, producing a pencil as well. "Alright then, just sign your name right here."
He nodded, taking it from her hands and picking up the pencil, quickly scribbling his name at the bottom as she asked a question.
"Are you in a group or...?"
"Niet. Just me." Boryslav responded, handing the clipboard back.
"Understood." She took it, holding it in her elbow. "You're clear to proceed. Good luck."
"Спасибі." He turned around, facing Taro and Orla. A few seconds passed, not a single word being spoken before Taro simply shrugged.
"... I guess this is it." Taro looked at the elevator, "It's crazy to think how it went from an alleyway to this."
Boryslav chuckled, "Life has a strange way of happening."
Orla came up to him, looking up at Boryslav. "S-Stay safe, Uncle Worn. It's really dangerous in the 2nd layer."
He knelt, smiling down at her. "I know. But it will be worth it if I can bring you back a souvenir. What would you like? A relic?"
"You coming back..." Orla responded.
Boryslav smiled before gently hugging her, "I can do that. I will be back in about 3 week-"
Taro cut him off, "That's usually the first mistake of any Delver, assuming they'll return at a certain time. Call this the insane ramblings of an old man, but I swear to you, time runs differently down there."
"Dah, I read something about that in your notebook." Boryslav said, standing up. "I will have to see that for myself."
There was a short pause before Taro opened his arms, the Stalker embracing the Old Man. "Be careful down there Boryslav. It's dangerous to go alone."
"Sounds to me you are growing soft-"
"No, I mean it." Taro then split off, Boryslav realizing that there were tears in the man's eyes. "I have lost so much. My wealth, my daughter... my son... you and Orla are all I have left."
Boryslav paused, a few seconds passed as the atmosphere seemed to grow cold, the hood of the sunrise suit casting a dark and thick shadow over Boryslav's face. Taro froze up, realizing this presence was not dissimilar to the time he had witnessed Worn brutally beat a couple of muggers...
Or perhaps... a more distant memory, when he himself just a blue whistle who witnessed Wakuna, The Lord of Guidance and a genuine one of a kind white whistle up close. That simple knowing that the humanoid in front of you had lost some semblance of their humanity at some point.
The Stalker spoke.
"I have faced much worse. This hellhole will fail-"
Boryslav then looked up, a faded yet smiling face that produced a foreign warmth to it, features that told a story of many hardships in life... yet many victories too. A face that promised the viewer that everything would be okay. It was there Taro truly understood why Boryslav had the nickname 'Worn'.
"-because I will be coming back to repay you."
Taro slowly smiled, wiping away the tears from his face. "Alright then. Get yer ass going. No one's ever found relics by sitting on their asses."
Boryslav nodded, clambering into the lift as the gate behind him automatically closed. The Stalker turned around to face the two, machine churning as the lift became active. With a bump, the descent began, lift progressing downward.
He looked up one last time, noticing Taro and Orla looking down at him.
And just before he disappeared beyond the clouds, he lifted his arm to give a thumbs up, arm sinking into nothingness.
Taro and Orla continued watched, the former whispering a prayer.
"Good Luck, Worn... May you find worth in The Abyss."
Translations
блядь - Blyad - Fuck
Яблуко від яблуньки не далеко - Yabluko vid yablunʹky ne daleko - The apple from the apple tree is not far away.
Спасибі - Spasybi - Thanks
Holee fuck. I gotta say, I loved writing the fight scene, but as for coming up with the context behind said fight scene? Not so much. The fact that there's not much else detailed about the world outside Orth except maybe a few names or places is kind of a double-edged blade. On one end, I can come up with stuff and be quite free doing so, and on the other, is having to come up with it. EEeeeEEERRGH, imagination!
Anyhow, sorry for the long wait. I'll be honest, I'm probably going to update the chapter of my other story first before the next. But on the bright side, I think I've now fully laid out the plan for this story
Next Chapter - The Forest of Temptation
I'm also introducing Extras at the end of every chapter. Maybe not every chapter, but chapters where I want to add a little extra depth to the story, or scenes that I wasn't sure where to put in order to preserve the flow.
Consider these Canon.
Extra - The Praying Skeleton:
Boryslav stared down at the molded remains within the small cave, its arms clasped together as its head rested against the dirt floor. Remnants and scraps of ancient clothes could be seen on the skeletal body as Shiggy and Riko stared down with him.
"One of your Delvers?" Boryslav asked.
Riko shook her head as Shiggy spoke up.
"Praying Skeleton. They're the ones who came before us, 2000 years ago."
Boryslav was intrigued, "What do you mean?"
"Well..." Shiggy looked up in thought, "If you go down into the Abyss, you'll find leftover structures and ruins. The 1st layer even has a burial tower where you'll find a whole tomb of skeletons that are 4000 years old, and below that tomb is a tomb that is 6000 years old. And it keeps going on..."
"It's really scary!" Riko emphasized. "And they're all in the exact same position as this one. That's why we call them Praying Skeletons."
"Yes... and rumors had it that we're getting close to the next 2000 years." Shiggy then shrugged, a smile on his face. "But it's all just a rumor. The best we can do is offer a grab that relic and offer a quick prayer before getting back on our way."
Boryslav paused for a few moments, reaching forward to grasp the relic before standing between the two kids.
"Sorry for disturbing you." Riko and Shiggy whispered simultaneously, Boryslav remaining silent. He was no stranger to bodies, but the context behind it... It slightly disturbed him, which was saying something for a man of his caliber. He never was one for superstition, but repetition was often an indicator of truth. Just what would happen when that time was up?
And there was also the fact that...
"-All she could do was pray."
Hopefully, Taro only meant that figuratively.