A Tale Beyond Yggdrasil

Where friendship, loyalty, and love can be found in the same place.

2. Assembling Gargantia

He wakes up on the floor. Apparently he dropped down when he fall asleep. He clenched his teeth when he tried to stand. The pain from his back sending a chill through his spine.

He must be so exhausted last night since he didn't realize that he slept on the floor. 5 Ental –a currency used in Imperial Area— just gone by resting on a cold floor.

He opened the window in his room and see the little town is still busy even the mist still covered the morning. Merchants advertising loudly and adventurer walks by.

He can see blue flowers blooming near the fountain where he can see a light brown skin girl polishing his shining armor, a fellow librarian from the Midgard Library (he noticed the note on the cover the guy held has it crest) with a sunglasses reading a book and seems to ignoring their partner who were talking to them. He seems holding some strange machine on his hand though.

He yawned, a tear almost came from his eyes. And the thought he had last night made him rushed outside his rented room, almost forgotten his backpack. He walked down the stairs, waved the owner and immediately left the inn.

When he arrived at the place he wanted to go, it still the same place like yesterday. Full of sick people.

And there he see Yamato was sitting on a bench.

"Hey! Yamato!"
The medic who was in his thought surprised to see him rushing over.
"Oh, it's you from yesterday. I didn't catch your name last time."
"It's not important. What are you doing lounging around? Aren't you suppose to help people around."
"They say they didn't need help." Yamato grim. "So here I am. Doing nothing in particular."
"Say, would you like to go with me to the Lab—"

Before he could finish his sentence, Yamato shook his head.
"Nope. I'm a medic. Not an adventurer type like you."
"But I need another one person to make a guild. And I would rather be you to be the another one." He unsheathed his sword from his belt. "It would be fun. Guarantee. The more the merrier, right?"

Yamato scowling, seems to consider the offer. Then he nodded.
"You must be a new adventurer. But I guess you have spirit. I think I join for the time being."

He hit Yamato shoulder.
"That's what I'm talking about. Now let's go."
But before he took a step, Yamato grasped his shoulder.

"Not with that sword. We wouldn't survive a thing inside the labyrinth."

"Have you been inside the Labyrinth?" he asked in marvel.

"No. But I've seen adventurers that came in to the clinic. They were gravely wounded."
"Your ideas, your Entals."

Yamato sighed then he leads him to a place with a board that reads 'Shilleka's Goods'.

The place full of weapon and armor with Entals he could offer. And the owner, Shilleka is a unique one too. She had a tribal tatto on her face and her clothes too was really 'inviting' which really make him uncomfortable.

But they got what they wanted. He took a whip with him because he felt like he wanted to and Yamato took an old looking branch.

"Why'd you took that branch?"
"It's a staff!" he said with an angry tone, seems offended. "And why'd you take that whip? Don't tell me you into that kind of thing?"
"What kind of thing?"
"The weird thing that makes you..." Yamato take one step back. "Turned on..."
"Wh-what are you talking about?" he panicked. "What turned on?"
"Well, with your reaction. I guess your not." Yamato sighed in relief. "You really don't know about it?"
"C'mon tell me what it is. I'm interested."
"It's better that you don't." He shouldered his staff. "Some things are best kept secret. Let's head to Explorers Guild." Yamato leaved him in a puzzled expression.

They walked through the place where yesterday evening troubadours are playing their instruments. The road filled with conffetis and stench of ales intoxicated him.

"It looked like they were having a blast last night."

He didn't respond Yamato. As the pink haired girl from yesterday was standing in front of him. Still with her 'fancy' clothes and her accesories that jingling when she moved.

She smiled widely and her hands were on her back. The very thought of the girl would pull a knife from his back and stabbed him because he was clearly leering at her made him shudders.

"Hi!" she said in a friendly tone.

"Hi! Um... errr... yesterday, right?" he tried his best not to made an eye contact.

"So you really are that guy." When she pull her hand from her back, he thought she really is going to stab him so he jumped back. Apparently the girl just reaching her hand. "I'm Haru."

Still trembling from the thought, he shaked her hand and the girl whispered to his ear. "I know you're that pervert who's been seeing me yesterday. So I'm going to punish you."

He turned his head over to Yamato.

"Help me."

"She's going to kill me." He walked behind Yamato.

"C'mon. Enough jokes. You can see, she's clearly wanted to join our expedition. The more the merrier, right?"
"Nuh-uh." He shakes his head. "I can't tell you the reason why she's going to kill me. But I know she will."
"I only know how to sing...and a little bit of dancing." Haru nudged him, which made him jumped.
"No! Have mercy."

Haru just laughed while Yamato seems confused to the situation.
"Anyway, Yamato. Why'd you shouldering a stick?"
"It's a staff!"

They began to arguing before finally Haru stopped talking. There was a silence while they walked through the town before Yamato walked a bit faster and gone behind the scenery.

"NO! Yamato wa—"

"So, we're both alone now without your friend. What your punishment will be?"

"Sorry. I have to go." He rushed searching Yamato.

"Wait! We haven't finished yet."

When he finally found Yamato he was talking to a blond girl wearing an armor and carrying a kite shield.

"Oh, I'm sorry. She seems lost so I thought I would help her but she said that she's looking for a place called Explorers Guild." He grinned. "Talk about a coincidence, eh?"
"Don't...you...dare...leaving...me...alone...with...that...girl."
He gasping and tired meanwhile Haru turned up next.
"How...could...you...treat...your...Guild...member...like this?" Haru too was gasping.
"What are you two doing?" He asked curiosly.

"You guys are in one guild?"
He wanted to answer but Yamato spoke first. "Technically, we aren't but we will. We're going to enlist ourselves."
"Can I join you guy?"
"What!?" He and Haru said together.

"Yes!" He answered, followed by "No!" from Haru.

"Please..."she said.

They all looking at Yamato. Yamato sighed. "Yes."

"THE MORE THE MERRIER! I'M SAVED!" He raised his hand in victory pose. The other two who weren't involved were confused but they decided to leave it at that.

So they now walked together to Explorers Guild. By the time they arrived at the guild. They can hear a commotion.

"Tch. We don't need you anyway." Five people rounded one person and they took something from what it seems like a strange mechanism that he saw in the morning. "We'll be taken this."

"Don't..."his voice was weak.
"Our guilds, our rules, our formulas."
And they leave the poor guy alone.

He approached the guy who now sat on the roadside. "You alright?"
At first there wasn't any responses coming but before he turned his head. He stated. "You need a member on your guild?"
The other three shakes their head. But when he see the guy on his eyes, he only see a husk. A person who lost his hope. He didn't have a heart to say it.
"Yes. We have one spot."
"Good." He stood up. "I'm Ryo."

"You five here looked new. A freshman, eh? Well, think of your guild name then. Maybe someday your guild be remembered as the one who will ravel the mysteries inside the Labyrinth." Said the eyepatch man.

They all looked at him. Expecting something coming up from him. He didn't know a thing about a good name. He just wanted to explore the Labyrinth. But now he has a guild. With five people, including him, to take care of.

And no less, Yamato said that he should be the leader. With pride in his heart over his new responsibility he wrote down a name for his new guild.

Gargantia

And he signed the paper with his name on it.

Hei

"So that's your name." The three nods in agreement. "We never actually catch your name."
They both laughed together. Except Ryo who's fiddling with a strange device on his hand.