Chapter 2

Hyu Hyu Hyu!

"So...you've decided to leave..." Adagio looked at me as I packed a small bag. I simply nodded.

"Yeah, I have to. I think there is something I have to learn about myself...even if it ends up with me all the way back here!" I laughed at the thought of going in a complete circle as Adagio gave me a warm smile before putting her hands together.

"I have something for you," she left the room, leaving me to wonder what she could have for me. She was already giving me some of her old clothes and some money.

After a few minutes she came back holding what appeared to be a rather old dusty sword wrapped in cloth. Adagio gave a somewhat said smile as she handed me the weapon, it was about mid weight. Nothing really impressive or special about it.

"It's an old weapon that I had just lying around. No one that came through here picked a swordsman as their profession. I hope you don't mind being forced to use it, since this is really the only thing I have."

"N-no, the fact that you are giving it to me at all means a lot," I looked at her for a moment before Adagio nodded.

"If you are truly interested in finding out who you are. It might be best to start at the Meggiora Highlands, apparently some research was contacted there long ago and there might be a hint of who you are. But before that you should probably stop by Sheridon and resupply, I assume you know how to fight even if you don't remember it might come back naturally,"

I hoped so, the idea of fighting without knowing what I was doing was horrifying to say the least. Still, I knew things like how to speak and read, maybe it really will come back to me naturally.

Adagio looked at my weapon..."You know, that sword is so you can defend yourself...not kill people," it was an odd thing for her to say. Of course, a weapon is used in self-defense how else would it be used.

"I know, what a strange thing to say...but so many things are out there to hurt you, and I'm not just talking about monsters. The outside world isn't as kind as it is in here, and sometimes we may think the only way to move forward is to take another life. To kill someone one else because it is too hard to spare them," it was as if she was talking from experience as she looked down.

"...Please, don't kill or be killed, there is always another solution to a problem than death, then again, it's not my choice is it?" She chuckled as I looked at her.

"I...I won't, I promise I won't kill anyone." I didn't know if I could keep that promise. Still, as far as I knew, I didn't have a problem with anyone, and no one had a problem with me. There was no reason for me to kill anyone or anything.

Adagio nodded. "Well, I guess it's time for you to go. I do hope we meet again,"

"Yeah, me too," with those words, I exited the house. I didn't say good-bye, after all I knew for a fact, I was going to see her again, no matter what.

I took a deep breath of fresh air and looked around. Dusty and rocky was probably what entered my mind the most. It was almost a wasteland as far as the eye could see, well other than the city in view. She really did live close to it. I doubted even monsters would attack me on my way there.

I gave a sigh of relief, that meant that I wouldn't have to fight alone. I would have loved to avoid all types of combat if it was possible.

I gave a large sigh as I walked through the road...that was a lie, there was no road, just and brown mountains. Honestly, it wasn't the most interesting or colorful way to start my journey for...whatever I was looking for.

The more I walked, the more nervous I became. I really didn't have a plan, a family and I was traveling completely alone. Sure it was safe on this path, but what would happen if I actually did have to fight monsters?

Even if I started to remember how to fight, I couldn't do it alone. Hesitation started to fill me, I probably should have just stayed with Adagio...

"...but if I did that, I would never know," did I really need to know the truth? Probably not, but at the same time those words filled me with determination. I would figure out a way. I mean, being alone can't be that bad.

After a short walk carrying the heavy bag, I arrived in what I assumed was Sheridon. It seemed like it was a kind of rusty city. Machines were constantly on the move and working. The buildings had steam constantly flowing out of them.

It was a weird city to describe, due to the sun in the lighting, it felt like it was always sunset. Though it was clearly in the middle of the day. I looked around and noticed a few people walking around. I held my breath, Adagio mentioned me stopping by here first.

Maybe I could find an inn to lay my stuff down while I go explore the Highlands. Carrying all this with me was wouldn't make my journey any easier. I grumbled, despite knowing basic things, I was drawing a blank on any major locations around the world.

The whole thing just made my heart sink. I could do anything from here, but I was having trouble doing anything.

That was until I heard a rather high-pitched voice call out to me.

"Hey you!" I flinched for a moment before I turned around. There was a small pink haired girl. I assumed she was probably no older than 13 glaring at me. She was wearing a white and red out fit that stuck out completely from the rest of the world. She also seemed to have a belt of small dolls around her waist. Between maybe four or five.

I looked at her and she looked at me for a moment. I raised a finger, pointing at my own face. She couldn't be referring to me could she?

She confirmed it by simply nodding. She took a few steps towards me, her pink eyes staring into my soul. "I can tell just by looking at you...that you're completely lost!"

She then gave the most genuine grin I have ever seen...which hadn't been too many since I didn't remember anything. Still it was a wide grin. She was obviously a very happy girl.

"Hyu Hyu Hyu!" She gave a very odd laugh in a very odd voice. "Never fear, the great Ottava is here!" The pink haired girl laugh again as I simply stared at her. I really didn't know how to respond to such an event.

Before I could speak, I felt her grab my arm and start to drag me through the city. I assumed her name was Ottava, at least that is what I would be calling her.

Our first stop on the..'tour' was a rather large building with the words inn written across them.

"This is an inn, this is a place where you lay your head so wolves won't eat you at night. They also sell food, if you can call it that...they don't sell Tuna Sandwiches...can you believe it!" it was a surprisingly useless explanation of the building before me.

Before I could ask another question she was already dragging me away, most likely to the next building. This time it was in front of a smaller shop, outside was small pieces of armor and swords. It was a weapon and armor shop obviously.

"This is the weapon and armor ship. This is the place where you buy armor to protect your fleshy insides and skeleton...they don't like it when you try to sell the tuna fish, despite it actually being gold in food form!" Ottava cackled as she held her stomach. Her laugh could get grating, but it had a certain charm to it.

Actually, that sentence could describe the entire situation. Despite telling me the obvious, she was still taking out the time to guide me around the city. It would had been really awkward to just walk around and ask for directions.

She continued to drag me through Sheridon before she finally slowed down, stopping in front of a restaurant. "This is a place where they sell food, you actually need food to live, if you don't have food, you will die! Though I hesitate to call this a restaurant, I mean can you truly call it one when it doesn't even sell tuna sandwiches?"

She had a point...could you really call it a restaurant if they don't sell tuna sandwiches?

I quickly shook my head as Ottava looked at me.

"Hyu Hyu Hyu! that is most of the places that I know..." A moment of silence as the pink haired girl gave an audible gasp. "Wait, I completely forgot to ask you your name!"

I stared at her before giving a small sigh and smiling. "It's Cadenza..."

"Hmm, Cadenza, what brings you all the way out here to Sheridon if you don't mind me asking?"

Oh...I wondered if I should tell her, I looked at Ottava. Her gaze rather innocent. I shrugged, there was no harm in telling her my plan.

"Well, I actually am on my way to the Meggiora Highlands...there is something there I need to check," the moment I said that Ottava gained a rather nervous look on her face.

"M-Meggiora Highlands, but that place is super dangerous! It's so dangerous that it has a T-rex. Those are like giant lizards, but they eat you in one bite with their giant jaw. They are pretty Jawesome if you are just looking at them!" Ottava laughed again as I shivered.

"A-a T-rex you say..." I was pretty sure that Adagio left that bit out of her description, but still...

"I have to go...I mean, it won't be too long, and I can just avoid the T-rex or whatever. Plus I have a sword, I don't know if I'm good with it yet, but I think I can defend myself somewhat."

I probably didn't sound too confident as Ottava eyes narrowed. Her gaze piercing me once again before she gave a great big laugh.

"Hyu Hyu Hyu! Today is your lucky day, I the great Ottava shall accompany you on your vaguely defined quest!"

I gave a nervous laugh before scanning the girl. She really didn't look like a fighter. "Y-you don't have to...I'll be fine by myself."

"Nonsense! I was going to visit my friend who lives around here, but that can wait! If someone is in need, then I have to help, that is the Ottava way!"

She seemed really determined to help me. Despite getting nothing out of it, she seemed rather genuine as well. Which made the look that I was giving her all the sadder, it was the look that you gave someone when you really didn't want them to come with you.

Ottava looked at me once again scanning me before crossing her arms and nodding. "I see...you are just so nervous from being around me that you can't speak properly. I know, I am pretty great! Don't worry, I can read your emotions perfectly. I will stick to you like maple to leaves!"

So without getting as much as a word in, Ottava kind of joined me.

Author note.

Hmm, this chapter is pretty fast. Though I felt the first one was too slow, What do you think of Ottava so far?