The room was dim. At least, the massive preternatural space encapsulating them seemed to classify as a room.
Translucent lines embedded in the metallic floor ran like veins along the ground and converged atop the mechanism at the room's center. Rachel referred to it as a Cauldron, a gateway leading to an extradimensional space known as the Boundary. It occurred to the slack-jawed duo while watching the veins shine a brilliant azure as the contraption opened, revealing smoldering lava within, that perhaps they'd gone insane. Or maybe they'd been drugged to believe something like this existed in some rift by their school. But no, this was simply the reality of their circumstances.
After breaking out of his mystified trance, Ragna noticed Noel clinging to him. "Mind letting me go now?" Bright jade eyes stared up at him in confusion. "Any tighter and you'll break my ribs."
"Huh? O-oh!" Noel leapt away from him. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to! You're just the only stable thing here." Her explanation didn't score any points with Ragna, who was annoyed to be used as a makeshift anchor.
"You two seem to be in high spirits." Rachel's comment reminded them where they were. "Do keep in mind this is no game."
Ragna rolled his eyes. "Ugh, we know! You're the one who kept our asses waiting for some tea and fucking crumpets, Rabbit."
It took Rachel a second to realize he referred to her. "Did you think of that while coloring your drawing book?"
"How about I just shove my foot right up your—"
"S-so, um, we use this to go to a Fractured World?" Noel's nervous laughter dissolved the building tension. If she left them to snap at each other's throats, there was a high probability they'd remain here all day. Receiving a nod from Rachel who got the memo, she followed up with an even more pressing concern. "That wouldn't happen to be lava, would it?"
Rachel considered her words. "That would be the best description for it." All the color faded from Noel's face and Ragna's eyes widened to the size of saucers. "For your information, or I suppose inevitable fear, we will be jumping into it." Getting her eardrums blown out by an "Ex-fucking-cuse me?!" and a "What?!" from Ragna and Noel respectively, Rachel carried on with the same indifferent tone. "Do not be alarmed. Though it may look like your world's classification of molten lava, it is simply excess power spewing from the Boundary. When we jump in—"
"Wait, you weren't kidding?!" Ragna gaped.
"—we will be smelted. It is a process that breaks our bodies down before ejecting us into the Boundary. You will become used to it over time."
"I-I'm actually still on the smelting part…" Noel meekly raised her hand and whined as her misgivings went ignored.
"I will explain what is necessary as we proceed," Rachel told them.
Ragna shot her a glare. "Better not skip any important details, Rabbit."
"I see you will persist in referring to me by that childish nickname. Very well. We are co-workers, so to speak. That is…" A sly grin claimed Rachel's lips. "If you prove your usefulness."
He scoffed and peered into the jaws of the Cauldron. Glancing back at Rachel whose expression twisted into a sickeningly smug mein, Ragna steeled his resolve and jumped with a, "Fuck it!"
"R-Ragna!" Noel rushed to the edge and watched as he disappeared into the pit below.
Rachel faced the trembling girl. "We don't want to keep him waiting, lest he grows fussy, do we?" Although she phrased it as a question, Rachel didn't wait for an answer before pushing Noel over the edge, her "Kyah!" petering out, and gracefully leaping after the pair. Melding with the pulsing energy of the Cauldron was a transcendental experience for Ragna and Noel; their souls and bodies separated, everything bleached white. Then, their minds and physical forms gradually reconvened, the process occurring in the span of a second… or was it longer? As their sight gradually returned, they found themselves free-falling through an azure wormhole.
"Huh." Ragna surveyed the paranormal tunnel. "Not what I expected," he said with a hint of disappointment.
"It's actually kind of pretty… in a creepy way." Their azure surroundings both awed Noel and made her anxious; a part of her wanted to reach out and touch it. She turned her attention to Rachel who, unsurprisingly, remained unfazed by their descent. "You didn't have to push me, you know!"
"We will arrive shortly." Rachel ignored the complaints from her new compatriot and kept her gaze focused below. "Brace yourselves."
Ragna squinted. "I don't see jack shit. How can you tell?"
"It is not something you see, but something you feel. It will become second nature to you soon," she answered, still far too vague a concept for him to grasp. "Noel, you can sense it, can you not?"
"I think so?" Noel felt someone or something's "desire", and much like before, there lay a crushing sadness and weight behind the mysterious sensation. "It's the same thing that led us to the last Distortion thing."
"Hone in on that, as it will be our guide. Ragna, keep close. I am not responsible if you end up lost."
"Lost?! The fuck does that– Hey!" Ragna called out for Rachel as she sped up. "That damn Rabbit!" Peeved she left him with that dire probability and swearing to feed her to the first Nightmare they came across, a shy hand took hold of his.
"This way, you, um, won't get lost," Noel mumbled. She attempted to hide her embarrassment by turning away, but Ragna saw how red her ears were.
"Thanks. Sorry about this." Giving a small nod and clutching his hand tighter, Noel dove after Rachel, tracking the sensation straight to their first Fractured World. Closing in, the desire grew stronger, poignant and suffocating. Engulfed by a blinding white light, they couldn't hear or feel anything and if in limbo. Then, there was sound; next, there was touch, and all their remaining senses returned one at a time until they realized they were… standing upright?
"We have arrived," Rachel announced.
Their eyes darted all around. This new world resembled nothing like the dilapidated hellscape they'd fought through. In fact, everything appeared ordinary. Pedestrians walked and talked, cars honked and whizzed by, nothing remotely abnormal to speak of. "We have?" Noel questioned.
"I assure you, we have. Does nothing truly strike you as peculiar?" Rachel inquired with a raised brow.
Noel waved her hands. "N-no! It isn't that." It wasn't that she remained unconvinced they weren't home anymore, but the contrast between the two worlds was beyond staggering.
"I understand your last excursion through that plane sat on the opposite spectrum of where we find ourselves now. From what you told me, the world you fell into was teetering on the edge of ruin. This one, as I am sure you can tell, has not reached such a state."
That only roused another question. "Do these worlds just, like, go poof or some shit?" Ragna asked.
"Under special circumstances," she answered curtly. "One important aspect, and perhaps the most important aspect, is the state of its Observer. As everything appears to be on the up and up, the Observer here remains stable."
"And that is…?" Ragna gestured for her to explain.
"The one who crafted this world. Through their powers are the Fractured Worlds manifested and maintained. This is their 'home', so to speak. They make the rules."
"A person creates these?!" For someone to fashion an entire world would put them on the same level as a god! The prospect terrified Noel. What in the world are we up against? Her heart suddenly dropped into her stomach. "Wait… doesn't that mean we're at a huge disadvantage?"
Rachel dispelled the concern with a shake of her head. "As foreign entities, we exist outside the realm of logic of this world. Our actions are somewhat restricted, yes. However, an Observer cannot directly intervene upon us with much success. So long as we do not cause a notable ruckus or disrupt the natural order of this world, there won't be a problem."
"Okay… Makes sense, I guess? But what happens on the off chance we do get spotted?" Ragna wondered.
"If that happens, the Nightmares will attack us and attempt to dispatch us. Aimlessly wander too long, and you will end up as another 'murder' victim." Rachel's nonchalance toward such a grim end proved far more chilling than the possibility of being attacked by a horde of monsters bent on eradicating them.
Noel couldn't help but dwell on the fact that Rachel possessed a great deal of knowledge regarding these other worlds, but never mentioned how she acquired it. Where did she learn about the Boundary and the Cauldron? Although Rachel had reached out to them in an effort to quell this issue, her aloofness rubbed Noel the wrong way. I wonder how long she's been doing this for?
"Sounds like a pretty big fuckin' if, don'tcha think?" It'll be just like the first time… Despite his reservations regarding several points Rachel brought up, they wouldn't get anything done if he broached them all. Loitering too long would only squander their time and there was no telling how long it would take until the Observer spotted them. Ragna put a hand on his chest and felt the power of his Drive. No, like hell it will. "C'mon. Let's hunt this son of a bitch. Noel, picking up on anything?"
"No. It's… really weird, actually." Last time she could detect a potent "desire" emanating from a certain point, but here she sensed nothing.
"No, it isn't. It would be most impressive if you could. Has what I said slipped your minds? We are in another's domain," Rachel reiterated. "Your experience was not universal. It is no surprise they are doing all within their power to guard the core of their desires."
Ragna frowned. "Are we just supposed to walk around aimlessly and pray we find it?"
"No. There is someone we must locate, but first, we will ascertain the scope of what we are dealing with, then proceed with finding the source of this world. That calls for an investigation of our new environment, do you not agree?"
Noel's eyes sparkled. "Like we're detectives! That sounds like fun!"
Ragna rolled his eyes, lacking her newfound enthusiasm. "Goodie."
"If you classify exploring a disoriented space with a high probability of being attacked by rampaging beasts 'fun', then I suppose so."
"Well, when you say it like that…" Noel's shoulders slouched as Rachel walked off, but a gentle pat on her head raised her downcast eyes.
Ragna showed a smile. "C'mon, idiot, let's chase her."
"R-right! Also, I'm not an idiot!" she exclaimed.
"Sure." Ruffling her hair, Ragna and Noel trailed Rachel. Observing their surroundings in case any of those Nightmares reared their ugly heads, they soon noticed striking similarities between their world and this one, such as the various shops matching those in the Onigawa prefecture. They refrained from questioning Rachel about such coincidences since she made no comment. Considering where they were, perhaps the first step to understanding a Fractured World was the suspension of disbelief, and the worldly similarities must not have warranted concern or acknowledgement.
"We appear to be closing in on the edge," Rachel muttered aloud.
"The edge?" Noel echoed. Then, without warning, she halted as a feeling of nausea washed over her.
"H-hey, everything okay?" Ragna asked, worried.
"This is where this world 'ends', hm? It doesn't even cover seventy-five percent of the prefecture…" Rachel mumbled, then faced Noel. "You do not wish to proceed, correct?"
"I…" Her throat caught. Noel glanced at Ragna who was more perturbed by her current condition than the eerie pressure building around them. "You don't feel it, Ragna?"
His brows scrunched. "Feel what?"
"Like… like someone is…"
"Watching you?" Rachel finished her sentence. "That would be the influence of the Observer. Take a good look around you. Tell me, is there something wrong?" They did as instructed, and it didn't even take a second to realize a glaring problem.
"Everyone's… gone?" Noel gaped. "W-what's going on?"
"Nobody is allowed here. We were left alone quite some time ago," Rachel stated matter-of-factly. Her expression became serious. "Ready yourselves." A fog of seithr enveloped them upon her ominous warning. Glowing red eyes peeked out from beyond the thick cloud, causing terror to well up within Ragna and Noel. Several humanoid entities emerged from the purple smog along with a handful of wolves ready to sink their expected fangs into them.
Ragna glared at Rachel for answers. "The hell is going on?! We haven't done anything yet!"
"We are trespassing in a space that denizens of this world are not meant to. It is no surprise the Nightmares are here." She remained calm and collected, staring down the small horde of monsters without a hint of fear in her eyes. Rachel stepped toward them, maintaining that air of confidence. "Ragna. Noel. Arm yourselves." On that order they summoned their Drives, an invigorating energy proliferating and billowing up inside of them as they clenched their respective weapons. Strange crackling diverted their attention from the growling beasts to Rachel whose slender fingers danced with sparks of electricity. "We will dispatch them swiftly."
If the sharp edge in her voice didn't snap them from the paralyzing thought of clashing with the Nightmares, the lightning striking from above and incinterating a humanoid that lunged for their throats, leaving a small, smoldering crater, certainly did.
"Holy shit," Ragna gasped.
"That must be her Drive," Noel said in awe.
"Focus! Or do you wish to die?" Rachel scowled at them. "We cannot linger for long, otherwise we will have more problems."
"Y-yes!" Noel aimed her dual barrels at the remaining hostiles, who appeared more wary of approaching them after Rachel's sudden display of power. Even though Noel hadn't been the target of that bolt, her skin prickled all the same.
Ragna took a few deep breaths and yelled, "Here goes nothin'!" before charging in. The remaining humanoid creatures repositioned themselves and morphed their hands into various weapons such as axes and blades. Ragna stifled his fears and focused all his energy on cleaving through the hellspawns with his massive blade. He wasn't here to cower and shake; he came to protect and ensure the safety of his loved ones. Pissing himself now would just be a waste.
Gripping his sword in both hands, and with a hard step, Ragna swung and hacked two lanky Nightmares in half. With a wail, they dispersed into seithr. Through the cloud of seithr lunged three dogs from either side of Ragna. They'd gotten close by using the smog to veil their approach. Before their fangs could sink into his human flesh and rend him limb from limb, lightning struck the one in front of him while the two from behind were blasted into smithereens.
There was no time to thank the girls for saving his ass as the remaining hostiles proceeded in their assault. Ragna ducked an axe aiming to decapitate him and readily returned the favor, watching as its head flew off. Noel rushed another lanky Nightmare, sweeping its legs and firing off several shots in a display of athleticism that surprised her but didn't slow her down. Ready to finish off the opposition, numerous bolts of lightning struck several in the back line, reducing them to the seithr and leaving just one left. The sole survivor made a dash toward the alley next to them, but Rachel didn't let it escape, its wails drowned out by the roar of thunder. Everyone paused, their guards still up, waiting until they were sure all Nightmares has been extinguished before relaxing. "Well, that wasn't so bad," Ragna exhaled.
"When I said 'deal with them swiftly', that was not code for 'get yourself killed'," Rachel berated, giving him a blank stare.
"Screw you, I get it done!" he spat.
"She's right, Ragna!" Noel shouted, making Ragna recoil from not only the unexpected double-team, but the reprimand in her voice. "You just charged in all of a sudden. Don't do that!" Taking notice of her tone and his stupefaction, she shrunk a little and stepped back. "J-just be careful."
In the few days he'd gotten to know her, no one was capable of making him feel like shit so quickly in all his life. There's gotta be some trick to this. Ragna scratched his head. "I got carried away in the moment, those guys were out for blood and, well… sorry. My bad."
"It was. Big dummy," she muttered.
"I said I'm sorry. Jeez…" Ragna gently stroked Noel's head, her cheeks burning brighter. "I'm the idiot this time, I admit it. Happy? Now quit it with that face. It's making me feel like shit."
"Ah, I see," came the mocking tone of Rachel, who wore an irritatingly smug grin. "When she berates your stupidity you shrivel up like a puppy, but when I do it, you put on your signature tough-guy act. How adorable. Did I perhaps miss something?"
Noel flushed from the insinuation, looking down, while Ragna scorned the smirking girl. "You missed nothing. Even if there was somethin', that'd be none of your damn business, Rabbit."
Rachel tittered, retaining her coltish smirk. "My mistake. That Celica girl would be quite upset, would she not? Unless I am misinterpreting this?"
"Oh, piss off. Shouldn't we be getting a move on already?!" Ragna deflected the subject and turned to Noel so they could vacate the area before any more Nightmares showed up. "Uh, Noel?"
"I don't know, I'm not ready for a boyfriend yet. It's not that I dislike you, Ragna, but I need time to mentally prepare myself and get to know you a little better before we think about that…" Noel murmured to herself, pushing her index fingers together, seemingly in a trance.
"Guess that's a sensitive topic for her…" I think I'll die from stress before these Nightmares have a chance at me.
"But yes, you have a point, for once. I do believe this skit has played itself out. Now, I think you have remained hidden long enough. Do show yourself," Rachel called out, her attention at a gap between two buildings beside them. The impromptu action stirred Noel from her musings, and after a beat of silence, someone emerged from the shadows. A boy no older than twelve entered their field of vision and scrutinized the one who'd apparently sensed him.
"How long did you know I was there?" he questioned.
"Since you arrived two minutes ago," she answered frankly. "I assumed you could have handled that creature yourself, but that strike was more of a warning to stay put. I was cautious not to inflict any damage on you."
Ragna's head tilted. "What's going on now?"
"So that Nightmare…" Noel blinked, recalling the remaining Nightmare that seemed to flee. "It wasn't running away?"
"They lack the mental capacity to flee from intruders. They are creatures set to defend per their master's wishes," Rachel clarified.
"Are we just gonna skip the part where you said that was a warning shot?" Ragna deadpanned. On a kid no less… Unsurprisingly, his words went unregarded.
"Um, who is the boy?" Noel asked.
"Our primary objective," Rachel replied. Ignoring the puzzled duo beside her, she addressed the boy. "You possess a Drive, too, do you not?"
The boy's eyes widened. "Then those were Drives you guys were using?! Then you're just like me?"
"We are," she nodded.
"Hey, Rabbit, no need to tell us who this kid is and how he's our 'primary objective' or anything," Ragna said, a hand on his hip.
"He is the one we were searching for." A small, accomplished smile canted her slim lips as she eyed the boy. "Shall we introduce ourselves?"
The city bustle and clamor of people accompanied Ragna, Noel, and Rachel as they traveled with new company. They'd returned from the restricted area, as Rachel decided to label it, and Noel no longer felt the eerie presence of the Observer looming. Since nothing else had taken place following their scuffle with the Nightmares, it was safe to say they were in the clear for now. "You've got powers like us, huh? Wasn't expecting that," Ragna said, addressing the black-haired boy leading them.
"Different, but yeah." The boy had introduced himself as Kyo. "How we got them seems the same, though."
Noel appeared to mull over his words, displeased at the notion of a boy his age undergoing such a traumatic experience. "Where are we going?"
"To my place!" Kyo responded with a welcoming smile. "I finished my scouting and there's someone I need to check up on."
"No problem at all. After all, we are after the same thing," Rachel said, earning a dubious glance from Ragna.
"Here I thought you'd want to hurry along and not waste time. Weren't you the one bitching at us not to loiter?"
Rachel remained poised. "This is not a waste of time. Our destination is a worthwhile one."
"Is it the Observer?" Noel asked.
"No." Rachel considered her words for a beat, then said, "You may think of it as a safe house, if you will."
"Safe house?" Ragna and Noel echoed. Kyo's announcement of their impending arrival earned their attention. A moment later they felt as if the very space around them shifted, but it wasn't an unpleasant sensation. Somehow… liberating? Exchanging mystified glances with one another, they turned to Rachel. "Spill," Ragna demanded.
"Did I not answer you? Come, we are being invited in." Rachel continued into the house behind the boy, not bothering to even glance back.
"Um, shall we?" Noel shrugged.
Ragna sighed. "Whatever." Together, they entered Kyo's home, Noel voicing a polite "Excuse me" as they closed the door. Rachel had already made herself comfortable on the living room sofa, so they joined her. There wasn't anything off-putting about the interior, but what he'd sensed approaching this place was an entirely different manner.
"I'll make you guys some tea! Be there in a bit," Kyo called out from the kitchen. "Do you have a preference? We have green, oolong, and black tea."
Rachel answered first. "May I have a cup of black tea, please?"
"S-should we be eating things from here?" Noel leaned toward Ragna and whispered, which was actually a pretty good question. "Won't it make us sick?"
"I mean… The Rabbit doesn't seem to have an issue with it. So I guess it shouldn't be a problem?" Ragna wasn't confident, but if it was bad, Rachel probably would've mentioned it.
"Then…" Noel faced the kitchen. "Can I have green tea, please?"
"I'll take green as well, thanks," Ragna said. Receiving confirmation from the kitchen, his focus went to Rachel. "Alright, time for answers. Who's that kid and where the hell are we? You said this was some safe house and that kid is who we were searching for. Why?"
"Nightmares are unable to intrude on this place." The blase way she put such a revelation made Ragna feel somewhat stupid for asking. "I am sure you have noticed how 'different' this home feels from everywhere else, yes?" They nodded. "Due to its unique state of being so heavily influenced by that boy, it is practically invisible to the Observer, which is why the Nightmares are unable to recognize it. That leads me to your next question: why were we searching for that boy." Noel and Ragna peeked over toward the kitchen where their tea was being prepared. "He will be key in deciphering the identity of the Observer."
"How come?" Noel inquired.
"Much like us, he does not adhere to the rules of this world. As such, has gained a, shall we say… outside perspective. Unlike us, however, he is a resident of this world."
"Hang on, stop the car." Ragna held out his hands. "He lives in this world, but has an outside perspective? Gonna have to explain how that works, Rabbit."
"He is an irregularity," she started. "Someone who opposes the will of this world. After all, a world such as this is unnatural. There must be something to tip the scales. To establish 'order'."
"That someone is Kyo?" Noel asked.
"Yes."
"The hell?" Ragna squinted. "No way. I doubt the kid signed up for that or even knows."
"It is not something one decides for themselves. It is unlikely he is aware of the particulars, though I am sure he has an idea."
The corners of his mouth turned down. "So who the hell decided some kid has to put himself in danger?"
"The Order." Ragna and Noel shared confused looks. "It is a force meant to regulate balance. If a correction needs to be made, one will be given the responsibility of reestablishing 'order'."
"But that's…"
"That's fucked up!" Ragna lashed out. "Who the hell gives this… Order or whatever the right to go around arbitrarily pickin' on random people to do its dirty work– especially a brat!"
"...How amusing." Rachel spoke following a moment's pause. A crack appeared in her indifferent mask for a split second. The uncharacteristic venom that creeped into her tone left them waiting for any elaboration on that statement but she remained silent.
"I'm back!" Kyo called, bringing in a plate of steaming tea. He could clearly tell something happened as he tensed up. "Did I… miss something?"
"Nothing. We were simply discussing something," Rachel told him.
"Okay then." He didn't pry any further and began handing out tea to everyone. Then, he called up the stairs. "Emy! Tea's ready!"
"I'm coming!" a shrill voice answered. Light footsteps padded across the floor and a small girl entered the living room, her tiny ponytail bouncing as she ran. Upon noticing those present, she hid behind Kyo.
"You don't have to hide, Emy. They're not bad guys. They're going to help me," he reassured.
Upturned bright blue eyes stared hopefully at the boy. "Really?"
"You bet." He handed the little girl her tea, then said, "This is my little sis, Emy. Go on, say hi. You were the one who always told me to be polite and stuff," he pressed, nudging his sister.
Emy pouted, then worked up her confidence. "My name is Emy," she bowed. "It's nice to meet all of you."
"Aw, she's so cute… It's nice to meet you, too." Noel realized there were some people missing and asked, "Are your parents around?"
"Nah. Mr. Ai's still at work," Kyo told them.
Ragna cocked an eyebrow. "Mr. Ai?"
"That's our daddy," Emy answered. "He just doesn't like calling him that."
Kyo itched his head. "It's weird, alright? I'll get used to it. Probably."
That sounds like a can of worms I don't feel like opening. Having a doctorate in family drama, Ragna instinctively knew the best course of action was not to pry.
"I believe we should discuss our mutual problem, now that we have gotten acquainted." Rachel went right to business, adopting a schooled tone and gaze. She sipped her tea, then placed the cup onto the table. "You said you were scouting, correct? Is that why you were in that area?"
"Mm-hm. I got a weird vibe from there, and then I saw you guys fighting a bunch of those monsters."
Emy's eyes light up. "You guys can do that super power sparkly thingy too?!"
"Yes?" Noel knew the girl referred to their Drives but cocked her head at the description.
Kyo held out his right hand and a jagged knife engraved with elaborate carvings appeared. His little sister applauded and awed at it. "Those monsters have been after me ever since the day I got this. It's just been one thing after another. I can't even leave without being attacked. Same thing with my sis. Turns out we really are in the same boat."
"Just about." Their situation was a bit more complicated.
Kyo recalled his weapon. "I don't know what their deal is, but I know something bad is up. I can feel it. The sooner I find out what it is, the sooner my sister can go out and play again."
"We also wish to eliminate the cause of this problem. Can you recount what happened to you, and if anything around you changed?" Rachel asked.
"A whole lot." Kyo shook his head in frustration. "If those stupid monsters weren't enough, Mr. Ai started coming home less. Now he doesn't come home at all. How could he do something like that with his daughter here? But who needs him? I'm here."
"I'm sure Papa is just busy. Work is hard. He would be here for us otherwise," Emy defended, and though Kyo clearly wanted to retort, he pursed his lips and held his tongue.
"Are there other parts of town you are dubious about entering or approaching?"
He nodded. "One was, as you know, where I encountered you guys. There are a couple more, and it's getting harder to scope them out with those stupid monsters around."
"You've been going it alone?" Ragna furrowed his brow.
Kyo held a stern gaze. "If my father or no one else will do it, I will. Those… things aren't normal, and if I have these powers and can fight back, I will."
"Oh yeah?" He cracked a smiled. Kid's got some stones. Still, he wasn't keen on the idea of a kid growing up too fast like this. Noel shared his lament, but Rachel clearly didn't. Or if she did, she certainly didn't show it.
Emy smiled widely. "Isn't my brother the coolest?"
Kyo folded his arms and puffed out his chest. "Yeah, I am pretty cool."
"Can you take us there?" Rachel asked.
"Of course! You also owe me for almost hitting me back there!" Kyo knelt before his sister, who didn't seem too pleased about him going out so soon.
"You just got back," she whined.
"Don't worry, I'll be home quick." His smirk was brimming with confidence.
Emy gave him a wooden stare. "The last time you said that, you were gone for over two hours."
He blanched. "W-well, things got complicated, you know? Besides! With more people, it'll be quicker. Right? So hold down the fort while I'm gone!"
Emy mulled it over for a second, swaying side to side. "Hm, okay. On one condition!"
"I know, I know, I'll make it back safely. You can count on it," he swore.
"Oh, no, not that." Emy's dismissal made the boy's eyes go white and Ragna and Noel sweat dropped. "If you promise to bring me two ice cream cones, you can go. Vanilla!" she quickly added.
"Ah-haha… Sure, ice cream, got it." Kyo adopted a strained smile as he ruffled the giggling girl's brown hair.
"Guess this is a fact of life no matter where you go," Ragna muttered wistfully. Watching the pair interact brought a reminiscent smile to his face and fond memories of a forgotten bond. Must be nice, he thought.
I wanted to write and upload last month but it was a hectic time for me. I am now a college graduate, and it feels liberating to say that. Once again I'm going to throw that I stream on YouTube by the same name I use here: DripGodRagna. Going through Dragon Quest XI and I'm liking it so far.
Guest: I'm glad you thought so! Chuckled a little at the thought myself.
Thanks Wild Blue Sonder for beta-reading, your assistance is, well, wouldn't know what to do without it.