Breath of Fire: Of Time and Destiny
Chapter Two: Blue Vortex of Destiny
Time:Terra year 2190
Location:Neo New York, Terra
At 6pm at downtown city, a Teleportation Center was seen shining with lights coming out of the windows, indicating a teleportation in progress. After a while, a group of ten people began to file out of the Center, each look relieved and happily talking to each other.
"Finally, the theoretical exams are over! Now we can relax and party!" say Jack with a look of triumph on his face.
"Yeah….to tell you the truth, I prefer to take field exams than taking these writing tests….wonder why this is useful as fighting monsters?" Zack asked with a look of confusion. Miyako shook her head and decide to give her male friend a brief explanation about the importance of knowledge (which Zack mentally cursed himself for saying the question out loud for everyone to hear, especially Miyako).
"I agreed with Jack, now that the tests are over, we should first eat something to celebrate, but where should we go?" Bob asked. Selphie raised her hand to give her opinion.
"How about we go to that European restaurant down the street about five blocks away? The food is great!" Selphie say with great enthusiasm.
"I second that motion too; you guys should try to eat more fine and genuine European delicacy." Robert supported as well.
"But we already gone to that restaurant four days ago, we should try a different one for a change." Xing Long noted his opinion.
"Oh come on, Xing Long! It goes to say that the food there is great and everyone here likes it, right?" Selphie then look at everyone after saying that.
"That may be true, but Xing Long has made a good point too. We should try something different….." Stellar think for a while then she perked up. "I know, how about we go to that Oriental restaurant that just opened 3 months ago? I heard from people that the food is very delicious!"
"Sounds good, might as well take a stroll there, where is it anyway?" Bob inquired with interest. Stellar points to the road down which is exactly an opposite direction from the road leading to the European restaurant, which both Selphie and Robert doesn't look like they approve this.
"Hmmmm….judging by the situation, I think we have two different places and we need to choose one to go and eat….if we argue anymore, it'll be midnight by now…" Diana analyzed and comment on this.
"In that case, how about we all take a vote on which place we should take to have our dinner?" Raquel suggested. "That is what I am about to suggest too. Seems like we have come to the same conclusion." Diana smiled at her friend.
"All right then. You heard the ladies, let's put a vote. Who wants to go to the European restaurant that Selphie mentioned?" Jack called out to his group of friends. Selphie, Diana and Robert all raised their hands.
"Then who wants to go to the Oriental restaurant that my sister suggested?" Jack has a feel that the result is already out but he asked anyway. Xing Long, Miyako, Stella, Bob, Raquel and himself included raised their hands.
"Looks like it is decided, the Oriental restaurant we go. But Zack, why aren't you voting?" Jack asked Zack who did not vote with either.
"Well, I really don't care what kind of food, as long as I can eat." Zack state his reason, which have everyone look him with strange look. "What? Did I say something wrong?"
"You say you will eat anything edible, does that mean you going to eat monster food as well?" Selphie points out what everyone is thinking. Zack was about to respond when his stomach growled. This make everyone laugh while Zack couldn't stop blushing.
"Oh well, I may not be able to eat European food today, but I am going to make sure we're going to eat that in the near future." Selphie vowed with Diana smiling at her. "Yes we will, but for now let us enjoy this together with everyone."
Robert sighed at the situation. "It is a pity we will not be able to enjoy both types of food in our day of 'party', but as long as Stella is here, I wouldn't mind what kind of food we eat." Robert beamed at his own suggestion and put his arm around Stella's shoulder, which she gave him a suspicious look.
"Hey Robert! Get your hands off my sister!" Jack snarled angrily at the noble, which already is winching away from Stella after she pinched him hard on his hand.
"Alright, alright. Enough talk. Let's get to the restaurant before we starved to death here." Bob interrupt before the situation degenerates further and everyone began marching to their destination.
Time:Goddess Era 2020
Location:Windlan, Aspiara
Nina Windlan, princess of the Wing Clan, is sitting in her room, busy reading her book about magical arts and the various effects each magic might have, then she promptly stop reading and look up sighing. Even though she already posted the letter days ago, she couldn't help thinking about what Ryu thinks when he read the letter. Will he come in a few days' time or weeks? Will he think about meeting her parents seriously? These sorts of questions have begun to plague her mind and she just walk up and lay down on her bed.
"I can't believe I actually went and did it…." Nina thought to herself and blushes as she remembers the contents of the letter which she write down two weeks ago. It is true that she has feelings for Ryu and he has feelings for her too, and it seems her companions knew their feelings too and that Deis, the legendary sorceress from ancient time and one of their companions, have spoke to her before they went their separate ways.
------ (Start flashback)
"So Nina, what are you going to do about that?" Deis have once asked her when they are out of the earshot of their group.
"Do what?" Nina asked and confused about the older woman's question, which seem to irritate her.
"About Ryu, silly! What are you going to do about that? And please don't give me that it-is-the-law-that-forbids-interspecies-marriage type as your reason." Deis said irritating while controlling her voice so the others can't hear. Nina blushed about that.
"Of course not! But it is just that…well…we do not know much about our own feelings to each other…so…." Nina vainly explains which have Deis rolling her eyes.
"Oh come on! Everyone in the group knows you two love each other and how Ryu keep watching out for you, be it in the fight or other things." Deis look at her irritating again, but then suddenly she had a sly grin. "But if you're so hesitant, I should probably take him away from you and make him do a lot of things…."
"You….you can't do that!" Nina immediately shout at her, which Deis quickly cover Nina's mouth up. "Quiet! Are you trying to let him hear us? But at least you respond fast enough for a girl who doesn't know her feelings..." Deis said mischievously at the blushing princess.
"Ok then, here's the plan then. How about you try to invite him to your castle? Let him meet your parents, after all he is a saviour of the world now and he is very handsome so there should be no problem. Who knows, maybe you two might get married within a year or so...just try it, you might got what you bargain for." Deis smiled at Nina and gave her a wink.
------ (End flashback)
Nina groaned when she remember what Deis said at that time but yet she is hopeful that Ryu might come, signifying that he has feelings for her. While she was thinking of all that, somebody knocks at her bedroom door, which she quickly sits up and straighten herself up.
"Come in please." Nina answered, which the door open to reveal a castle maid. "Princess Nina, you have a guest waiting at the lounge. He requested that he wants to meet you." The maid reported to Nina.
Nina felt her heart beating twice as fast now. "Who is this guest?" Nina inquired to the maid which has a smile at her face. "Why, it is Ryu Clivestone from Drogen, your highness." The maid replied, to which Nina immediately stand up and walk to the maid.
"Really? Oh, I mean thank you for telling me about this. I'll be there to receive him personally." After saying that, Nina quickly left in a hurry towards the lounge. The maid smiled to herself. "I'm glad she's back to her old self. Looks like the princess is in love with him, after all. I hope they find happiness in the end." With that said, the maid went about her business when Professor Gaist happens to walk past with a worried look on his face.
"Professor Gaist, is something the matter? You look trouble." The maid asks with concern.
Professor Gaist turns to see her and smile. "Oh it's you, Mary. Well, I had just found an ancient spell written on a book I discovered a few days ago, but it has to be activated by a Dragon Clanner for it to work, so I'm stuck as you can see." He explained it to her.
"A Dragon-Clanner? You mean like Sir Ryu who is here now?" Mary said it out loud.
"That is correct, but I do not thi—Wait a sec! Do you just say Sir Ryu, the hero from Light Dragon Clan is here!" Gaist turned to her in excitement.
"Y-yes, even now the princess is meeting him in the lounge…" Mary says with a surprised look but Gaist cut her off.
"In the lounge, you say! Right, I must go at once!" Saying that, Gaist ran to the direction of the lounge, leaving Mary with a surprised look behind.
Ryu sat down on one of the couches in the lounge, waiting for Nina to come. He was still wearing the same clothes as he have first gone on his journey when his hometown Drogen was burn down by the Dark Dragons Army, from there he met Nina, Gilliam and many other friends he met in the journey who swore to defeat Zog and the Dark Dragons to prevent the tragedy from happening again.
"Since that time, so many things happen than anyone imagined…..Oh Ladon, I wish you were here to see this, Sara…" Ryu sadly remember about her older sister, and then shook his head. "No…Sis would rather scold me for grudging myself about the past, I should look towards the present and the future." Ryu smiled.
"Ryu!" He heard his name called and turn to see a certain Wing Clan girl running towards him and he smiled as he sees it is Nina, the girl he has been waiting for. Just as he had just got up from his seat and ready to greet him, Nina slammed into him and gave him a bear hug.
"Whoa! I know you miss me but I didn't know it was this bad." Ryu said with a small laugh and hugged her back to which Nina's face began to redden.
"Well, it's been six months since we last met so….Anyway I didn't expect to see you so soon, more like I was expecting a letter or something." Nina looked at Ryu with a look of confusion. Ryu then smile mischievously.
"Ever since I received your letter, I decided to go to Winlan the next day. Did I surprise you?" Ryu asked with a look of triumph.
"Yeah, you did surprise me, but I'm glad you decide to come though…" Nina left the words hanging, which both teenagers felt their faces redden.
"Princess! Are you in here?" This made both teenagers to jump away from each other in embarrassment. As that happen at the same time, a wing clan soldier wearing heavy armor and helmet in his late 30's (to Ryu's considerable surprise since Wing Clan soldiers never favor heavy armor due to their hollow bones to allow flight) and a pony-tailed soldier in his mid 20's with a rapier at his waist walked in the lounge. They saw Nina and Ryu with their faces still redden.
"I think we just barged in on the wrong time….." comment the younger soldier.
"Oh, it's Zeke and Raifel (1). What is it?" Nina straightens herself up and asked her two bodyguards.
"Well, since you did not show up for your practice at swordplay, I thought you were goofing off again…but I guess I was wrong this time." Zeke say with an apology look.
"At least we can tell the king that Princess Nina is meeting her important guest, so we won't get angry by the king…" Raifel say with a shrug while Ryu was making a soft laugh.
"You actually try to get out of lessons? Now that is news to me." Ryu laughed again, which Nina promptly hit him on his right arm.
"S-stop that! I-I just forgot it today, that's all!" Nina explained to Ryu, which both Zeke and Raifel then make a cough to grab their attention. Nina then realized she haven't introduced them yet.
"Oh Ryu, I need to introduce you to them, this is Zeke, one of the most experienced soldiers in the Windlan army and my family's bodyguard and this is Raifel, he is the one who teach me about sword fighting. Zeke and Raifel, this is Ryu Clivestone." Nina introduced them to each other. Zeke walk towards to Ryu and raised a hand.
"It is an honor to meet you, Ryu. I am Zeke. I thank you in the bottom of my heart for protecting the princess during your journey against the Dark Dragon Clan." Zeke smiled to Ryu, which Ryu shook his hand in reply.
"The pleasure is mine. But I did not do anything much, Nina is more than capable enough to protect herself and help me in many tight situation." Ryu depreciate himself.
"Even so, I bet she still at least cause some sort of trouble to you somewhere in the journey." Raifel laughed while Nina gave him an angry look.
Before an argument even start, the door of the lounge open up and have everyone turn their heads to see Professor Gaist at the door, panting. Then he straightens himself, strode towards to Ryu and grabs his hand.
"So you must be Sir Ryu I heard of, please come with me this instant." Gaist said as he pulls Ryu towards the door, to the bewildment of everyone, including Ryu.
"Hey wait! Just who are you anyway?" Ryu asked the old researcher, which he turn around apologetically.
"Oh, where are my manners? My name is Gaist, a researcher on ancient documents. You can say I just research and found a book….But for now, I'll explain everything once we get to my office, pronto." With that said, Gaist just pulled poor Ryu away. Nina, Zeke and Raifel look at each other in confusion, then began following them.
Time: Goddess Era 2520
Location:Township, Aspiara
Katt Chuan was just walking through the entrance towards the largest building in the middle of the town. On her right hand she was carrying a letter addressed to Nina Windia, a friend of hers who now lives with her and two others.
Ever since the other five heroes left the town, the building they all share and lived in has a more empty feeling. Even so, Katt stayed because she doesn't have a home to return to, Ryu stayed because his father is here and so is Yua, Ryu's younger sister and Bow stayed because he managed to get the guild master of the Ranger Guild to approve of him and Ryu to stay in Township as rangers in station and Nina….although she has a home to return to because of her parents forgiveness (her father's sickness has been cured after the destruction of St Eva Church) and they have sent an emissary to ask her to come home. But Nina asked the emissary to relay the message to her parents that she wanted to stay with her friends for a bit longer before going home and the true fact is Nina has fallen in love with Ryu and doesn't want to leave him yet. For that, they have been staying in Township for three months now.
Katt have just walked into the building and ask Niro, their default manager of the building they lived in.
"Hey Niro! Do you know where Nina is? I have a letter addressed to her here." Katt asked and showing him the letter.
"I just saw her went up the stairs, probably in her room, and Katt, please be very quiet. Bow is sleeping in the living room now." Niro cautioned her and she wave her hand as thanks and went on. Sure enough, Bow is sleeping on the couch of the living room. Katt tiptoed her way across and went up the stair without disturbing the sleeping Glassrunner. Once she went up the stairs, she heard voices coming from the corner to the corridor. Katt quietly stick her back to the wall and crept quietly to look from the corner. There she saw Ryu and Nina talking at the corridor outside Nina's room. Katt can see those two are acting like lovers in a private place and sigh to herself.
"Nina is so lucky to have him…." Katt sighed again, but then straighten herself up and called out before turning into a corner. "Hey Nina! You have a letter for you!"
Ryu immediately turn around to face away from Katt's direction, trying to hide his blushing face, while Nina managed to compose herself and smiled at Katt.
"Thank you, Katt. But a letter for me? I wonder who it is from?" She begins to open the letter and read the content. Then she broke into a smile.
"What is it, Nina?" Ryu asked while moving beside her.
"It's a letter from an old friend of mine from the Magic School in Hometown. She said she wanted us to come and show you a book which she had found. It seems to be related to the Dragon Clan." Nina replied to which Ryu instantly feel interested.
"Related to Dragon Clan, huh? I always wanted to know more about them. So shall we all go by tomorrow?" Ryu asked in general to which both Nina and Katt nodded.
"In that case, let's go down and wake Bow up. He needs to hear this." Katt suggested and the three friends then went downstairs. As if in cue, Bow have just woke up from his sleep when they come down the stairs.
"Morning guys, so what's the plan for today?" Bow asked them while stretching his body. Ryu rolled his eyes at his childhood friend.
"Morning? It's already noon now, Bow. If you want to know about plans for tomorrow though…" Ryu then explain Nina's letter to him, which Bow's eyes turn starry.
"Hometown? That means we will be seeing Silvinia again! I haven't talk to her for three months now!" Bow said excitedly.
"Ya me too! We haven't leave town for a long time now and I'm starting to die of boredom around here!" Katt enthusiastic replied, which make her friends smiled at her.
"You guys are not going out without me! Count me in!" Everyone turns to a certain bat-wing (actually it is dragon wing) girl standing near the door.
"Yua…you're going with us tomorrow?" Ryu asked his younger sister with concern in his voice.
"Hey, I never had a chance to explore the town during my er…last 'visit'…and don't give me that look, bro. I really want to explore the place especially the Magic School." Yua defended herself which Ryu raised his hands in defeat.
"All right then. You're in, Yua. All right, let's prepare for our journey tomorrow." With that said, everyone begin to disperse to do their work.
Time:Goddess Era 2020
Location:Winlan, Aspiara
When Nina and her two bodyguards arrived at Gaist's office, they saw that Ryu was sitting on a nearby chair, looking at awe at the old researcher begin rummaging through the various books on the table. Before anyone could ask though, Gaist finally pulled a book out. "Finally found you!" Then he walked towards Ryu and put the book down on the table. Everyone gather around and stared at the book, which has ancient languages on the cover and has a dragon symbol on the front cover, to Ryu's considerable surprise as he recognized the symbol.
"This symbol….it was the old symbol of the Dragon Empire before Myria's appearance turns it into a civil war!" Nina, Zeke and Raifel all gasped in surprise while Gaist laughed.
"I was right! This book does date back 2000 years ago but I didn't know it was a book of the ancient Dragon Empire though, so how did you know about this? Most of the records about were almost destroyed during the civil war." Gaist asks Ryu about it.
"Once Sara told me about it and show me pictures from the scroll when I was young. I didn't expect to see it here in Windlan." Ryu replied slowly to which Nina touch his hand to comfort him and Ryu appreciate it.
"I see…but this is not the only reason I drag you here. You see here…" Gaist quickly flipped through the pages and found the particular section he wants and points it out for them to see. "As you can see, this is a spell that I really want you to use seems it can only be used by a member of a Dragon Clan, can you please chant it for me?"
"So what kind of spell is this anyway?" Raifel asked. Gaist just shook his head. "I don't know either." That answer caused Zeke to narrow his eyes. "What! How do we know it isn't dangerous! It could be a powerful offensive magic that could blow Windlan off the map!" Zeke shouted.
"Whoa, whoa….easy there, Zeke. I already ascertain this spell is neither offensive nor defensive either, and that got me stumped. So please, will you help this old man fulfill his wish before he pass on?" pleaded Gaist that caused Nina to shook her head.
"Grandpa Gaist, you won't die that soon. But I agreed with him though, I'm curious of what type is this spell is." Nina looked at Ryu confidently. Zeke then sighed in defeat.
"If the princess wishes it, then I have no complains. But I still recommend precautions to be taken necessary." This have everyone nodding their heads and Ryu begin to chant the spell. But when he finished it, a strong gust of wind blew up from nowhere and has everyone shielded themselves from flying books and documents, with Ryu protecting Nina with his body. Once the winds die down, everyone began to pick themselves up.
"Nina, you ok?" Nina nodded which have Ryu released a breath of relief. "Is everyone ok?" Ryu then called out to the others, with Gaist, Zeke and Raifel brushing themselves from the documents. "Yeah, we're ok." Zeke answered grumblingly. "Well that was quite a windy spell, do I say so myself." Gaist amused at the place. "Now I have to clean this place up…"
But then, Raifel did not speak a word and seem to stare at something. "Raifel, you ok?" Nina asked worrying. Raifel pointed his finger in front of him. "I don't think that spell summoned wind only, look."
Everyone look at the direction Raifel pointing, and immediately Zeke and Raifel pull their weapons up, Zeke a bo staff and Raifel a rapier. Ryu make sure that Nina and Gaist are at the safe place in the office and pull his sword out too.
In front of them, a blue vortex appears in the middle of the room…..
Time:Goddess Era 2520
Location:Hometown, Aspiara
As soon as everyone arrived, Ryu and Bow decide to report to the guild master (which Bow spent his time chatting with Silvinia, who is happy to see him), while Nina went to see Fiona in the Magic School (with both Yua and Katt went to read magic books in the school library).
"Nina! It's been a long time!" Fiona greeted Nina and gave her a hug. Nina smiled at her friend. "I'm glad to see you too, Fiona. So how has it been?" Fiona just waved her hand. "Oh, same old time, you know that. So where is your dragon boyfriend?" Fiona gave her sly smile, which Nina blushes at the question.
"R-ryu is….well…I…" Nina stammered, trying to find an answer, to which Fiona laugh innocently. "I'm sorry, Nina. I didn't mean to tease you. But I see the journey with him really change you." Fiona made her observation comment.
"Huh? Did I really change?" Nina was puzzled by that. "Well, I know of you since you first start living here 10 years ago. You always give out an aura that made people unable to approach you or talk to you, well except for me of course, even though you have been voted 'The Most Beautiful Girl in the Magic School' for two years. Not only that, I always see sadness coming from your eyes and your smile. But now, look at you." Fiona looks at her friend, happily. "You have become more cheerful and your eyes no longer look sad but rather happier. Even your smile shows me that. I'm glad for you since you found others who could help open you up, or is it a certain someone male that help you?"
"I see your observation is still as sharp as ever." Nina compliments her while trying to avoid the subject. Then she frowned. "About that beautiful girl thing….is that true?" She asked Fiona, whom she gave Nina a blank look. "You never noticed that, didn't you?"
Just then, the door to her lab opens and Ryu and his group then filed in the room, to which Fiona welcomed them in (to the relief of Nina not needing to answer any weird questions). Fiona then took out a book in question and put it on the table where everyone can see. The book cover has ancient languages embedded on it, with a dragon symbol to complete it.
"As you all can see, I discovered this book when I was looking around the library. I try to decipher it and found out that it came from the era where the Goddess War began." Fiona said that to which Ryu narrowed his eyes.
"Myria, huh? The one who caused the War of the Dragons 500 years ago and also the one responsible of creating DeathEvan in the first place….." Yua spoke her older brother's thought out. Bow, Katt and Nina have a grim look at their face.
"Yes, I believe so." Fiona quickly said it out loud before the mood in the room degenerates further. "Anyway I didn't call you here for a history lesson." She quickly opens the book and flipped the pages until she find the spell section. "This spell, as I have discover, is an unknown type of magic and can only be weird by a member of a Dragon Clan. So Ryu, what do you think?" Fiona look at Ryu intently.
"Just a question." Katt asked. "If you do not know what type of magic it is, don't you think it is a dangerous spell?" Fiona then smiled.
"Don't worry about it, Katt. The spell doesn't look like an offensive magic type so we shouldn't worry about getting blow up."
"Even so, I suggest we take necessary precaution, buddy. Just in case." Bow suggested to Ryu, which he look at everyone, of all nodded their heads in approval. Ryu then sighed.
"Ok, here goes nothing….." With that, he began chanting the spell on the book….
When gusts of wind blow up from nowhere when he finished chanting, and everyone began to shield themselves from the wind with Ryu cover Nina with his body.
After the wind dies down, everybody begin to climb to their feet. Ryu immediately look at Nina, which nodded her head indicating she is fine. Then Ryu called out to everyone "Is everyone all right?"
"Yeah, we're fine." Yua replied while Katt try to get the papers off her head. Fiona then spoke. "Wow….That was like a tornado blowing by…" As Fiona look around the room, she stop and stare at the particular direction. "What in Ladon's name is that?"
Everyone immediately look at the general direction of where Fiona is looking, then immediately take their battle formation.
In front of them, a blue vortex appears in the middle of the room, doing nothing particular in the moment……
Time:Terra Year 2190
Location:Neo New York, Terra
"Now that's what I call a superb meal! Delicious and perfect!" said a certain African-American man who is in a good mood. He is not alone in this, all his friends are in similar mood as well, even the poker face Xing Long smile as well.
"I have to admit; the food there is good, just as Stella said." Selphie look at Stella happily.
"Oh come on, stop that Selphie, you embarrassing me." She laughed with a blush on her face. Then she looks at her wrist watch. "Who would thought we would be eating that long, it is 10 o'clock already. We should get to the Teleportation Center and go home."
"Don't worry, Stella. The Center is 24/7 a week. We can go home anytime. How about you and I go to somewhere quiet and have a chat?" Robert then cupped her right hand with his and stared at her eyes. "You don't give up, do you Robert?" Stella stared at him disbelieving.
"GET YOUR HANDS OFF MY SISTER THIS INSTANCE!" Jack warned Robert dangerously and has a few veins popping on his head.
Robert then moves his finger up. "Tsk, tsk. This is a way of the adult, my young friend. You should try and observe."
"THAT'S IT! YOU'RE GOING DOWN!" With that said, Jack and Robert began to fight in a comical scuffle, which Stella and Miyako try to stop them, Zack and Bob were taking bet who will win while the rest of them look at the scene amusingly (they must have seen this stuff happening before and think of it as a 'tradition').
Suddenly Raquel look away from the scene when she felt powerful magic presence in the area, then shouted to her friends. "Everyone! Please listen to me, there's something coming!" Immediately, everyone stop what they doing and looking at her (Robert and Jack still grabbing each other's clothes with a silly look on their face).
"What is it, Raquel? What do you feel?" Diana asks her, which she shook her head. "I do not know. But something is coming. I can feel it." She said that with a serious expression, making it clear to everyone that she is not joking.
Xing Long then suddenly asks a strange question. "Everyone! Can you guys hear anything?" Everyone look at their Chinese friend, dumbfounded.
"Of course we can hear you! Why do you ask that?" Zack answered and look at him disbelieving. But it was Miyako who provided the correct answer.
"Wait. Xing Long's right….there's no echo." Everyone then immediately looks around, and then exhaled their breath deeply. Indeed not just sound, everywhere except themselves are frozen.
"What the hell is going on?" Bob demanded. As if answering his question, a blue vortex suddenly appeared behind them, making everyone jump away by impulse and pull their weapons out.
"I've got a bad feeling about this…." Jack muttered out what everyone is thinking.
The blue vortex makes no move at all, as if waiting for something…………
Zeke and Raifel – Yes, these two characters are from the BOF manga called the Princess of Wings. I never read the books but I have seen the several scans of them when they were hosted in Mieu Sedai page before few years ago. And by reading Mary's translation guide in is found I have a pretty good idea on how to apply this manga to my fics, though subtle different.