Disclaimer: I do not own Ragnarok Online but I own the story and its characters. Thanks for those who review!
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Chapter 3: New Life!
She opens her eyes lazily and gets up from the bed. She stretches her hands as warm up and walks toward the window. The sun is shining brightly. It feels nice to see the sun again. She's been locking herself in her room always and her party is also held at night. She came here last night, too. She gazed at the town square full of people. It was quite different from the world she comes from. This was… hundred times fascinating than theirs. After her long reverie, she heard some knocks on the door.
"Crystal! Are you awake now?" a familiar voice asked her from outside. Ken… that weird person calling himself a priest.
"Yeah, why?" she answered back not even opening the door.
He knocked. "Open the door. I bring you your breakfast. Eat it while it's hot… Crystal?"
"Yeah, yeah…" she sluggishly dragged herself to open the door and the impatient priest went in with that irritating smile at his face. At his hands, a tray full of foods was put on the side table beside her bed.
"Are you feeling alright? Do you want a tour around?" 'Tour? That would be wonderful!' she thought and started to think about it. After some minutes, she said. "I want to explore the city alone."
"But you are not still familiar to this world. " he tried to hide the smirk on his face. "And besides, after I report this to the King he ordered me to keep an eye on you. That means I should never leave your side if I don't want to get punished, right?"
"Damn idiot."
Ken laughed. "Call me whatever you like, my lady but that was the King order and I don't suppose to disobey it. Like a follower to his leader and the slave to his master. It's simple like that. You eat first before we go, alright?"
"Black mailing."
"That's right. I am only using it when needed, my lady. Since you're so arrogant, I applied a request that I will always look on you."
"You requested it!" Crystal screamed furiously. Ken just laughed. "Yes, my lady. I think that would be the best for us. You always blame me for what happened to you even I didn't do anything. Let's just say, a payment for what 'I did'?"
"Fine." Crystal sits down. "Give me a map."
Ken raised an eyebrow. "Map? For what?"
"To see your world. We're going to have a tour, right?"
"But that was only inside the city…" He confusingly explains. But since she's arrogant as what he said, then let it be that way. She smirked inside of her.
Crystal looked at the shocked priest. "I want to see the world outside. If you don't want to, I would be willing to go alone. I think that the King didn't 'ordered' you to stop me from what I want to do, am I right? You'll just need to follow me always. I am going outside, now."
"But you haven't eat…" Before he could finished the sentence, the girl stormed out of the room with a triumph expression in her face. Ken sighed and hesitantly followed Crystal.
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"Wow, this was… Pay.. on? Payon, right?" Crystal asked while gazing another spectacular vision of this world.
"Yeah, this was seems little outdated little town. It has somewhat similar aspects with Amatsu but a little different in style and tradition. This was home of the archers." Ken explained.
"Like China and Japan…"
"What?"
Crystal smiled. "Nothing. It is about our world. Home of the archers? Archers? The one who uses bow and arrows?"
Ken smiled. He learned two new things about Crystal today: one is that she can smile and two, she is sometimes childish. "You know that?"
"I'm not an idiot like you." She answers still smiling. " Sometimes, I dreamed of having one, but it very unlikely to come true."
Dream? Did she say dream? Did she tell him about one of her dreams? Ken will likely shout in happiness only to stop by his priest side. "You can be now. I will assist you. It was a big advantage for you to have a priest by your side. And take note, not just a priest but a high priest."
"You should. After all it's your fault why I'm here in the first place." Crystal stated. Ken feels a pain sting on his chest. 'Why am I feeling this way?' he thought but still, he quickly responded.
"It's not my fault, Crystal. Look, I'm very sorry for what happened but don't blame me for that." Ken's eyes saddened and when Crystal notices this, she feels slightly guilty but didn't say anything.
"Let's get started."
They train together and after a month, Crystal was successfully an archer. But still, after the hardship Ken done for her, she still consider Ken as the major reason for what happened. Why? She didn't know.
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"Crystal?"
"Huh?" Crystal asked still looking at the sky full of stars. They rest here for a while since they are done training in the Payon cave. She found herself very talented at archery. She planned to continue to being a huntress if she will just let to…
"I am going to Morroc. I have to check on some things there. I need you to come with me. Will that be alright? Another place to explore?"
"Sure."
Ken sits down from lying on the grass. His expression is unexplainable – a mixture of curiosity, happiness and even fear. Fear of what he heard was wrong. "What?"
Crystal looks at him. "I'll come. Why? Do you expect that I won't?"
"Slightly?" Ken answers nervously not until Crystal laughed. "I'm not a stone and certainly not stupid. First of all, it's an 'order' and second I don't want to stick on this place forever just because I'm an archer. Clear?"
"Very clear, my lady." Ken happily answered. "We're going to leave early in the morning."
"Early in the morning!" Crystal exclaimed and started hugging a big stone beside her. "I've changed my mind. I want to sleep long this evening!"
Ken laughed. He starts dragging her. "Don't be stubborn, my lady. Let's rest already."
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"Too hot in here!" The tow walked on the sunny morning in Morroc. Ken is observing the surroundings while Crystal sits on the stone pavement beside a water in the middle of the desert city.
Ken looked at her. "I am going to speak to someone inside and I don't know if you're allowed…"
"No need to finished…" Crystal said while gasping for air. "I'll stay here. I think I will love water after this."
"Thank you." Ken bows lowly at her. Crystal still confused why that man is so respectful and often called her 'my lady'. It was annoying sometimes but often than not it was funny of him.
Something, or better, someone caught her full attention. It was a young man dressed in armor, scanning the surroundings looks like searching for something. When he finally notices her, they both stared to each other, shocked. The young man smile widely at her and starting to approach her while she is sitting there like a statue.
"Crystal? Crystal Heatherford? Is that you?" They young man greeted her and gazed at her. "You look different!"
"Same as you." She didn't know how to control her feelings that is overwhelmed with happiness. It's so happy to see him again. It is just like she wished that they won't return anymore and they live here happily ever after. "What happened, Carlo?"
He just shrugged his shoulder. "I don't know. I just woke up in a place they called Izlude. I trained to be a swordsman. How about you?"
"I'm an archer. A high priest helps me out."
"Really? Good for you. That priest must really take a good care of you. Where is he?"
"That priest, uh…" She looked at the hall behind her. "Inside? Some business… He is a court priest."
"You are really fortunate!"
"Fortunate?" Crystal raised an eyebrow. "How can I be fortunate when this priest is the main reason why I'm here!"
"How did you know that?"
"Because he's the first person I saw after the flash of light!"
"But that didn't mean that it's his fault."
'Carlo? Are you in his side than mine? It's hurts!' Crystal thought quite painfully. "Why not?"
Carlo thought for a while. "Wait, let's analyze things. Do you remember anything before your party?"
Crystal thought for it. Hmm… Only the old man's words and the necklace, but what's the significant of that? No, nothing… "Nothing important, I assure you."
"Alright." Carlo takes the answer since he trusts her. "What did you do before the flashing of light occur?"
Crystal thinks again…
'I wish that I will meet now the one who really meant for me…'
Huh? That a wish… "I just wish, Carlo."
"That's it!" Carlo proudly exclaimed. "What did you wish?"
"My wish…?" She then realized something. "Wait! I shouldn't suppose to tell that to you, right!"
"Yes, that's what I tell you." Carlo smile weakly. "Analyze… Maybe, your wish does something about this."
"Huh? But I don't wish to travel to another world…?"
"No, that's not it." Carlo sighed in resignation. "Think about it. It was related somehow."
"Crystal?"
Crystal looked behind her and saw Ken standing beside her looking intently at Carlo. "Hi, Ken. How's the meeting goes?"
"Fine." He glanced at Crystal but glared again to Carlo. The swordsman notices this and lay his hands for a hand shake.
"I'm Carlo Samelson. You must be the priest Crystal is talking about. Nice meeting you."
As a person as gentleman as Ken was, he took Carlo's hand for the gesture. But still, there is a doubt in that. "You know her?"
"I wish you understand… We came from the 'other world'" Carlo explained. Ken's suspiciousness was removed.
"Oh… I know that. Actually, I was assigned for that matter. And for your information, I have my way here because I heard that Crystal wasn't alone here." Carlo nodded and Ken just smile. "I heard there are two of you here?"
"Two?" Crystal surprisingly asked. She looked at Carlo curiously and he only answers by soft laughter. "I forgot to tell you the reason why I'm here. Rosemarie is here, training to be a thief."
"R-Rosemarie?" There is this sudden pain flowing in her heart. Carlo didn't notice it but Ken knows it well and there, he has a guess about the relationships between the three.
"I guess we have to wait her, right?" Carlo just nodded while Crystal is still speechless. Ken was worried now. "Are you fine, Crystal? You are totally drained out because of the heat, aren't you? I have my sister at Geffen. It was near here. I could open a warp portal for you, if you want."
"Yes, Priest –"
"It's Ken."
Carlo smiled at the priest and looks at Crystal. "He's right. You need to rest."
"Thanks. If you don't mind, Ken."
"My pleasure, My Lady." Ken gets a blue gem and says a prayer.
While chanting the necessary spell, Carlo turns to Crystal. "You should learn how to adapt now. It's our new life."
"New life?" Crystal asked shocked. So Carlo wants to stay here. No wonder. Rosemarie is here. He wouldn't want anything else.
"Now is the time I need your jokes, Michael. To hide this pain…I wish you're here to fool everyone about my feelings. It's too painful…" Another sparks occur in her but no one notices. As soon as Ken finished the spell, she stepped in and warped somewhere else. Her vision blurs. It's not the effect of the portal. It was her heart… that giving in. She fainted in pain in her heart.