1 month later.
The magnificent city of orario. Far away and wide everyone can see the buzzling tower that stands tall. Reflecting the citys status as the center of the world. Beneath the tower lies one of the most dangerous parts of the world, The dungeon. It is a maze filled with monsters and creatures only known to the adventurers who dived deep within it. Towards the surface the city is lively as ever. No matter what era, streets are filled with different types of races from all over the world. Elves, dwarves, men, pallums, demi humans and more accompanied by the deities. These Gods descended from the heavens to experience entertainment and enjoy the life of the mortal realm. Deities form familias which the adventurer joins in to grow stronger with the mystery of the falna. After The disappearance of alchemy and ancient powers of the past most people now rely on the borrowed power of the Gods.
The strongest of these familias are located at the center of the world where countless struggle, trials, and dreams have been achieved. Countless adventurers who have progressed from all over the years are now at the top after the grueling era and difficulty they have faced has been overcome.
Through rock, metal and time these powerful individuals could be called Heroes for saving the world from the three calamities. Those that perished are forever mourned and engrained in the history of the world.
On a castle located somewhere in orario lies the strongest familia of the era. The same familia that battled the catastrophic Beast known as the One eyed black dragon. Many of its members lay dead across the fields of rakia including its Late captain Finn Deimne. A pallum who managed to rise through the ranks and become one of the strongest adventurers ever known throughout the world. Braver accomplished allot for his familia and gave the pallum race a beacon of light to look up to.
There at the Top of the tower lies the current captain, just like Finn she too worked tirelessly and is strict as ever. The high elf who's achieved the Level 9 status.
Riveria ljos alf currently signing stacks of paper work at her desk. It is grueling and tiring but thanks to her superb skills and stamina of a level 9 the workload could be finished on a full day.
"Raul!?"
"Yes captain?"
Raul nord. A young man who was once timid, shy and brave is now a full fledgling warrior. Battle hardened, kind and his timidness was long gone. Now calm and attentive and quick to make judgements, Not as fast as Finn himself but a solid candidate for the role of Captain nonetheless. But for now he is the Temporary Vice captain of the familia while anakitty was away.
"I hope you enjoy your time"
The young man was confused by the High elfs words but upon receiving the papers at his hand, he is thrilled to learn that their planned Vacation has been approved by the Captain. The papers that raul and anakitty have planned months ago were now approved and signed by both the Guild and riveria.
"Thank you Captain, but can you handle the work without me at this time?"
"I can manage raul, make sure you enjoy each other's company. That's a week long vacation."
The young man bowed fully and smiled and before leaving thanked the high elf once again and shut the door as gently as possible.
"Ais!"
This time the role would fall to the golden haired woman.
Upon hearing the words Ais wallenstein went upstairs and greeted raul who was passing down before approaching the room of the Captains quarter.
"Ais remember your training. Where does our familia purchase supplies and rations when we venture deep below the floors?"
The woman mentally grumbled, she has been lectured by the high elf since she went normal after her outburst. The high elf intends for ais to learn the duties and role rather than be purely combatant like before.
"Auh uh…the market place?"
"Wrong"
"Ehh? Hmmm"
The high elf mentally and physically sighed, and continued to lecture the lady once more.
"Ais, we personally have special connections with njord familia and Demeter familia that serves as our supply chain whenever we launch a deep expedition."
The golden haired woman now realizing the actual answer began to make 'ouhh' sounds which only made the high elf mentally hissed.
"Ais, Unlike Before, we cannot puchase regular rations especially food because of how deep we venture below the floors. Fresh food had to be processed by Special ways for it to last long. The safe zone in floor 69 offers a good place to prepare towards the lower floors and once we enter there our foods would most likely melt by the heat if not processed well. While the icy hell of floor 60-68 has valuable ice burst for stacking foods for long periods of time, its not a good idea when we passed through the inferno. "
"Sorry..."
"Alright ais, next question... What is the role of the captain?"
"Ugh... the captain leads and plans?"
"Yes..."
Riveria simply sighed at the answer. While technically correct in general terms, but still she expected a detailed explanation.
As the high elf was preparing ais for another set of questions and responsibilities to do, a sudden knock disturbed the two women in the room.
*Thud thud*
"Captain!? Captain! I have some important news to discuss with you!."
Riveria both mentally and physically sighed with the sudden arrival of another something.
She decided to sit and ordered ais to stay to listen for the information.
"This better not be those Alf messengers again.. *sigh* come in."
The door quickly opened and revealed to be the elf lefiya, the High elf's successor.
One of the strongest mages in orario. Blonde hair wearing a bright lavender dress coupled with a sword on her hip. Lefiya viridis a level 7 adventurer.
"Good morning Lefiya"
The elf bowed in quick successsions and responded the same.
Lefiya turned around and gently closed the door.
"So lefiya, what is it?"
The elf lady upon hearing the question, prepared herself for what's about to happen.
"Lady riveria, I have some good news to tell! It seems the guild has resumed the Excelia tournament and will be scheduled in a few months."
The high elf widened her eyes from this sudden information. early in the morning and for the last 4 years the guild finally resumed that spectacle.
"This is good news.. it's a great way to resume and let the lower members participate in hopes of achieving the prized."
Ever since the guild revealed the fruit 8 years ago, most of the adventurers participated on this every 2 year tournament duel and the winner will be receiving a special fruit prize that boosted their excelia and level up much faster. With this, the guilds power grew and adventurers soon rose up and managed to catch up to the late zeus and hera familias.. until the one eyed black dragon appeared on rakia 4 years ago which halted the progress.
"lefiya, make sure to gather the executives for a meeting after breakfast."
*Sigh* "alright ais, we will continue this lecture later. For now go downstairs, breakfast is soon."
As the elf was about to leave with ais, riveria thank lefiya for the sudden news.
Lefiya, thank you for the information. after breakfast make sure to share this info with the lower members of the familia."
The elf lady bowed. Lefiya and ais left the room leaving riveria alone to think for herself.
Looking at the stacks of paper again riverias positive news did not last long.
"Gods, i need a vacation too."
Suddenly the door opened and the high elf mentally prepared for the upcoming annoyance that is about to fall into her.
"Hey mama, how ya doing?"
A few veins popped on the high elfs forehead.
"Loki how many times did i tell you? And please don't call me that.."
"No can do mama elf."
Riverias stress just keeps adding and adding until suddenly loki brought a bottle of champagne. her figure slid beside the desk which knocked a few paper stacks away and below the drawers pulled the knob revealing the two glasses, she placed the now two glasses on the desk which is then filled with wine.
"Drink up mama! To curb the stress you must-"
Instead loki was slapped in the face and sent flying out of the room.
For some reason the door withstand the blow of the goddess and she limped outside with the wind helping the door shut.
Everyone was shocked by the sound but then assumed that it was probably one of lokis shenanigans.
Riveria sighed and the morning day already brought stress and exhaustion this early on. Added to the fact that the amount of paper stacks on the desk added more to her weariness. The next thing that occurred was an act that would've been shocking if Finn, gareth and Loki were here. Riveria took the glass on the desk and gulped the whole fluid unto her throat.
For the first time in the History of the high elves, riveria was the first to taste the bitterness of the wine.
Somewhere in orario a man with a hat with a feather beside the hat is seen gracefully walking with the beautiful blue haired Lady.
"My my asfi, did you know how much beauty you are projecting now?"
"Ugh for the love of everything! hermes could you please stop that?"
"Im sorry my dear asfi. Whenever i looked at you, that same dress remind me of that day when i decided to court you".
Asfi andromeda, captain of the hermes familia and a level 7.
blue haired with glasses, wearing a long blue dress paired with two blue heels.
"Hermes that wasn't a court, i simply agreed to your invitation to join."
Hermes continued to tease asfi. the lady almost had the urge to knock out her patron God but suddenly hermes finally dropped the act to get with business as usual. Before he spoke he looked around to see nobody in the area.
"Alright asfi what is it?"
Asfi composed herself, fixing her glasses she faced her patron god upfront with the information.
"It appears our scouts have seen 3 strange men that ventured into the Dragon valley. Carrying a few bags. It is probably loot or materials such as those dark stones based from Aoba."
Hermes opened his eyes processing the information at hand.
"another one of the Illegal activities? Curious since last time it happened more than a year ago. Any more about them?"
"We don't know much as of now. They are probably gangs or thieves who sell stolen loots in the black market. the stones that they carved are the same ones that Hephastious & goibniu familia from almost 4 years ago."
Now curious of the matter, hermes face was enlightenened by this new info.
"That rock seems indestructible, it costed many durandal enchantments and piece after piece were broken in mere hours of digging."
"So how did these groups accomplish that?"
Now asfi was thinking of possible ways to get a hand of the tools from the two top smiths.
"Perhaps they acquired the same tools from the black market?"
"That would be hard but not impossible. So what levels are these men from recently?"
"According to aoba the two guys, probably a level 3 while the youngest is 2."
Hermes is now confused and grown even more curious about the strange matter.
"level 3s and 2?.. that would be difficult to rank up outside of orario. No dungeon to help… or perhaps they were once an adventurer from here?"
"I will take a look into the guilds archives regarding those men. Their leader's descriptions are as follow. Black hair, muscular and tanned and carries a regular sword. The other seems to be a member of the crozzo, red spikey hair and carries a few daggers and a sword. And lastly the kid, brown hair, lacking in size and slim. That's what we have as of now Lord hermes."
Soon he developed a wide smile and asfi mentally cursed herself for knowing what comes next.
"My dear asfi, continue the investigation, see to it that the scouts can find out where these men are from and locate their sources. Those stones are valuable and we need to know where its being taken."
….
"And one more thing.. lord hermes."
"Oh?"
"It seems the Southern island Kingdom of Pyratus has expanded towards the south of the continent. I heard they have new weapons for war."
Hermes smile widens with that new information.
"Oh nostalgia are we? Its been a long time since I heard the name of that country."
With another sigh asfi smacked hermes on the head which caused her patron God to staggered from the brunt attack.
"ow ah.."
"Lord hermes, I don't intend to return to that Godforsaken island. Working me to the bone creating tools and weapons for war.."
"Sorry.."
The Messenger god composed himself and commanded his captain for the following.
"alright. Asfi, so what about the upcoming event? Are you not interested fighting for the fruit?"
"No hermes, I have more matters to attend to."
"ah no problem then. thank you and take care."
Asfi nodded and both went their separate ways.
Hermes now walking towards babel mumbled into himself.
"This is... interesting.."
The Messenger God widened his smile which caused some passerby to gulped at the sudden divinity that passes.
[Twilight Manor]
"Alright as you all know, the tournament is soon and according to lefiya which now confirmed by anakitty would be 3 months from now."
With the news flooding orario, everyone was enthusiastic of the coming event.
"our priority is to advanced our lower level members to improve the familias diversity in strenght and power.
"We have three level 9s including me and a sleeping dwarf, we wont participate due to…No lebel 9 opponents to duel. Theres only a few level 8s.. but fortunately the level 7s and below can."
"Tsk what a pain."
Bete was a little angry but contained for the most part. Due to the years with the familia. his attitude drastically changed after the battle.
"oh man! I want to fight some, shouldn't kali leveled up argana and bache already?"
"I don't know, they left orario for a while."
Tiona who woke up only a month ago was still new to the whole thing after being in coma for 4 years. Luckily her sister tione is there to help her feel better.
Meanwhile the meeting was bogged down by the two sisters which brought smiles for the people around due to tionas enthusiam and joy as ever despite the coma while tione smiling more often after all they've been through. But the meeting had to continue and riveria decided to utter the following words.
"ahem.."
"sorry Riveria.."
"anyways, I doubt most of the freya familia would participate after all, Vana freya, and some prum brothers were crippled. I doubt hedin selander would take part so let us wait for the moment. There is Van but I really don't think some of the former executives would."
"yeah, they are busy serving plates and rum at hostess."
"hahaha."
….
This time ais decided to chime in to the discussion.
"Why is hedin not participating? And I never seen his poster at the guild. So why is he holding back his level up to 9?"
Most of the room looked towards ais with the same question, although weird that accomplishing a great feat in participating against the battle was enough, but for some reason some freya familia members didn't or have not yet made announcements until the tournament comes.
"we are not sure as of now if they are already level 9s or still holding back. Just be prepared when that comes. Our goal is to create more frontline and rearguard fighters. Only level 7s can withstand below floor 78 and below."
This time it was tione that chimed in to the discussion.
"Was is really Hot down there?"
Tiona looked at her with flashy eyes and responded with the following enthusiam.
"Yep! The temperature there is enough to burn a level 6 adventurer if exposed for long."
"ohhh"
"You need to wear salamander wool to protect yourself."
Anakitty added Which tione nods in response. Now the meeting is shifting to whos who is prioritised for a match in the event. Riveria thinking deeply of all the members made a list of people suited for a level up in the mid tier adventurers.
"I have 3 people that could be leveled up to 7. Narvi, Cruz and Orba."
The rest of the top executives and first strings nodded, the names listed by the high elf are high level 6s, this would be a good moment for them to rise to sevens and possibly reach 8. That means more high levels and more troops to venture down below the deep floors.
"Any objections?"
Most of the first strings shake their heads affirming the high elfs command while the executives were smiling from the possible level ups of these 3.
"Tsk, they really gotten this far huh."
The High elf hearing the words of the wolf was surprised but remained stoic face. The tone of the wolf was not your typical angry man child behavior like before but proud and glad to have more strong members growing for the Familia.
Others were smiling after hearing the wolfs reaction, this made bete uncomfortable and made numerous glare towards the other members.
*"sigh, finn if you were here you would've been glad to see how far we've come."*
Composing her thoughts and straitening her back, Riveria slowly rose up to conclude the meeting.
"Everyone, We have come this far, we will see to it and uncover the unknown below the unexplored territories."
"and before we end, I would like to announce something important."
"?"
This time everyone looked bewildered at the sudden announcement before the end of the meeting. Most of the executives and first strings were now curious of what the high elf is about to reveal.
"we will have to delay the expedition… And have a good 1 week vacation."
"!"
"what!?"
"haaaaa?"
Most of them people were flabbergasted, except for raul who happen to have the same vacation approved from earlier.
"one week? Hey Tione! Do you wanna come at the top of babel?"
"sure. Its been a while since we visited there."
With the room in commotion the high elf delivered her final command.
"Tell the rest and rest well for a week. That concludes the meeting."
Outside most of the first strings such as raul and anakitty went out to inform the others.
Before everyone could leave they were interrupted by Tione who's words struck down towards the high elf and everyone.
"You know, you remind me of finns command."
Riveria slowly smiled from the compliment but also saddened deep inside to have lost a capable leader and a good friend.
Everyone looked saddned by the amazons words but soon they slowly walked out of the quarters and followed by the two amazon sisters that dragged lefiya out. Last to leave is a grinning wolf. Ais on the other hand remained behind with a faint smile looking at riveria.
"riveria, why vacation?"
"no more dragon, so we don't need to rush things."
Ais looked both sad and gloomy, riveria noticing this decided to open the large windows which a cold breeze blew past the 2 women. Both of their hairs fluttering with the wind as the high elf slowly raised the curtains to reveal the sun shining above the sky.
The blonde haired lady was in a deep thoughts remembering everything that had happened in the past, the battle and the death of her comrades especially bell. Cause of this, she didn't even noticed riveria already sitting beside her.
"ais, how are you feeling.?"
"im okay. I just wish they are still here."
Riverias hugged ais which a warm comfort soon engulf the two. "im sure they are proud of you and us."
After a short moment between the two, riveria rises up and placed her hands on the shoulders of the blonde lady.
"want to see the view above babel?"
Unlike the ais before, she was merely capable of nodding or saying short words as much as possible. but her interactions with everyone has slowly opened her heart and with time passing by, she later acted more human than the doll like kid from before. And the last to help her overcome that hate was a white haired boy who fell from the battle. The old ais may have enraged and broke if none of the people that cared for her was here. The lady was no longer the same and instead of the usual nod, she replied with a small enthusiasm and joy.
"Lets go then."
[Somewhere in the Lands of Gaia.]
It's already fall, winds sent cold shivers on the men lifting the long logs, some in front tossed the heavy logs to the ground. A few people work on the trees with their long axe and saw, delivering their powerful blows towards the wood. Sensing the break is about time most of the men and women went back towards the caravan of carriages. most are eager to prepare lunch while the rest prepared the wooden chairs and as they went and prepare some took noticed of a man that is carrying a few logs on his back.
"Here.."
He was tall, 180cm and his hair color is black, tanned looking and boasted strong muscles from his arms and legs.
"Heh. if i aint that old i could've done the same."
Few people bewildered by the mascular strength that seems infinite.
"Having a falna truly does wonders."
Leonard responded with a grin and continued loading the stripped logs on the carriage.
"Say.. if you stay with us.. the pay is good too."
"Ah sorry wei, we'll be moving in a few days."
The merchant sighed, this was not the first time to convince the man to join his private business ventures.
"Well that's too bad, thanks for the help anyway. I'll pay you guys before dusk with 25 silver coins."
Leonard nodded and simply went to finish the last remaining logs that are being stripped by the two men.
"Hey! its almost mid-day, a bit faster please."
Luciouss responded with a simple nod, his work was consistent and fine whereras philips handy work was slow and full of scratches with an acceptable pace at least.
"Lunch is soon. he said 25 silver coins for this week, that's enough for us to reach Dale."
"Sweet!"
Helping strip the logs, the work hastened while lunch is being placed on multiple tables. After a few minutes the three men carried loads of stripped logs towards the last destination. Leonard carried 3, luciouss with 2 and philip with 1.
Carefully placing the logs on the carriage a voice rang out from the side to which men and women are gathering.
"What are you waiting for? Come and dig in!"
Three men slowly crouched and the group enjoyed that hour with a full stomach.
"Say leonard.."
"Nope wei, i know where you're going with this."
Wei foreman, a dwarf with a curly beard. His height is just your typical dwarve size. but he was big, arms as wide as a plate. He wears a wide tunic and pants in numerous additional layers to cover his bulky figure.
"For a dwarf, you are very unusual."
"Haa! Yes, i was raised by Humans so that explains my tone and manner. So, do you wanna join the crew?"
Leonard looked at wei with annoyance, the dwarf straightened his back and responded at the man.
"Just kiddin.. and besides where's your destination?"
Leonard looked hesitant to answer at first, but if he ignores the question that would raise some suspicion regarding their travels.
"In the south."
"Ohh there's a lot of south you know.
But you gotta cross the kaios desert and the closest city after that is dale. well be careful out there, Dont venture too much at south east cause i heard some country invaded and destroyed some nation there."
Leonard responded with a nod while at the same time tightening his fist beside his waist. To calm his nerve he threw the same question at the dwarf.
"How about you wei?."
"Well we're heading west close to orario. Gotta sell this for furniture and other purposes."
"I see."
The group after a while returned to the trees to continue the work.
As hours past and dusk approach the loading of logs on the caravan of carriage was finally done.
"Here, 75 silver coins.. converted to valis that would be 30.000."
"Thanks wei."
As the group settled for the night, the remaining clean up was done and soon the darkness covered the world.
"i'll gather some sticks to light a fire."
Leonard nodded at luciouss and looked at philip who was confused at his reaction.
"Go help him kid."
"Oh ok.."
"Strange.. there is no moonlight today and its cold as hell. Hey! Drach! Could you get those magic stone lamps in the drawer?"
"Sure."
Luciouss continued to walk in the direction of the forest while philip is trailing from behind. Grabbing his shoulders, philip conveyed the following words.
"Hey lu! I think we don't need to light a fire because Wei has som-"
"!"
Luciouss stare was a full glare towards his eyes. If not for the darkness everyone would've noticed his aura seeping out of his body. The young man slowly backed from the red haired man and simply stayed behind as he followed him.
"Just... look for some sticks."
"O- ok"
"I'll probably try to find some God or goddess that could help us in our ventures. That strength sure is handy for the company."
This time leonard was staring at the ground for a while, the dwarf who was talking whatever he could share suddenly noticed his peculiar reaction.
"Hey! You alright.?
"Oh! sorry, I'm just a bit tired for today."
Soon the man named drach approached the dwarf with a magic stone lamp. Carefully placing at the ground, the lamp with a simple switch illuminated the area. Its color of crystal green and gemlike was both beautiful and pleasing for the eyes. Not only can it project light but also warmth for the group.
"Here boss.."
"Thank you lad."
The young man left and rejoined the other group that can be heard conversing about something for the night.
The dwarf trying to start another conversation, asked leonard of the following.
"So. Sorry for asking but where did you guys come from.?"
"Hmm?"
"I mean before we met a week ago, where are you from?"
"We went north a few months ago to get some.."
Trying to think of a story that's convincing, leonard told the following.
"..found some quests and we took the work cause it pays well."
"Ah. Wonderful adventure. I once had a dream of becoming an adventurer. But i was a small lad and travel to orario was costly so I didn't. Do you know a dwarf adventurer named gareth?
"Hmmm... Um no."
"You don't!?"
Leonard grew a faint shy smile indicating his lack of awareness of the people. So he asked the following.
"So who is he?"
"His name is Gareth Landrock also known as Elgarm."
Processing the information from the dwarf, leonard finally understand the person and his hesitation from before is replaced by full confidence as he respond in the next monents.
"Oh.. the famous dwarf of the Loki familia.?"
"Ah u know the title but not the name eh?"
"Yes but .. Isn't he...dead?"
The dwarf who seemed to fanboy over elgarm suddenly changed his mood from bright joy to a saddening one.
"From what i know he is badly injured from the Dragon."
"So is he alive or dead?"
"Not sure."
As both men were in silence, philip on the other hand tried to start a conversation about earlier.
"So uh.. lu. What was that about?"
The red haired man looked at him and sighed.
"Nothing just ignore it, i was just tired."
This time philip was confused by his explanation. Something in him tells him to press on, ask why... but for now he would shut his mouth. Focusing on the sticks and branches first and questions later.
As the two gathered enough wood, philip just couldn't contain his mouth as he puzzled the following events that occurred. So he asked.
"Lu do you hate dwarves?"
"What?"
Philip was tensed and was now sweating. the sweat slowly dropped from the back of his neck from luciouss sudden reaction.
"I've noticed you days before too when you always looked mad at the dwarf when he was passing through every night."
"No. I don't hate dwarves..."
Philip sighed and as he was about to continue his own questions. He was interrupted by the red haired man's following words.
"..We-..shouldn't rely on it."
"?"
Philip hearing the words got confused for a bit until luciouss reiterated.
"We shouldn't rely on the dungeon stones."
Philips mind was processing the words of luciouss, his 16 year old brain finally understood why the mans reaction was that of anger and bitter. Making his tone as positive as possible he responded.
"So why not?"
Luciouss looked at him with a glare. It grew stronger as philip continued to explain the importance of the stones.
"I think the magic stones are important because they help ease our life."
The red haired man simply sighed from the answer. "You just don't get it kid."
Content with the sticks he gathered he slowly walked towards philip. On the other hand, the young man now know whats bugging luciouss but his thoughts were interrupted the moment luciouss approached him. Placing his palms on his shoulders, he told philip the following.
"Instead of ours, we relied on something unnatural."
As luciouss walked past him Philip tried to mentally process the words but was interrupted.
"C'mon, let's go back to camp."
Nodding behind, he followed the red haired man with a few sticks on his hands. As the two men arrived towards the carriages, luciouss on the other hand walked past the group and went behind the carriages.
"Hey kiddo, we have the lamps already.!"
Luciouss almost glared at the dwarf man but withheld it, he simply shrugged the question and walked passed through them.
The dwarf confused by the reaction asked leonard the following.
"Does he hate dwarves?"
"No, just not having a good day i guess."
"hmm, like yours earlier?"
Leonard simply shrugged off the matter and continued discussing whatever he could share.
Meanwhile luciouss Dropped the sticks and branches that echoed through the quiet night as chatter slowly died down from the noise that occurred.
"Huh you hear that?"
"Meh its just your ear having that problem again... probably."
"Hey!"
Chatter went back up again just after that and luciouss knelt below to arrange the sticks and branches in a campfire style. Philip then assisted adding more of his and in a few mins the work is almost done.
"Hey lu, i need to gather a few rocks for fire."
"Dont."
"Why not?"
Confused by the rejection, philip looked at luciouss while he searched for something.
After placing a few leaves below the sticks he slowly sat down and picked out a strange small box in his pocket. The small box opened like a tiny drawer, just the size of two thumbs. The small box contained sticks with dark tips. Philip from the side was curious about the tiny box. For philip, he never saw this small object before.
Luciouss flicked the small stick on top of the box and it made contact with the surface. the tip of the small stick as it was flicked created small lights or sparks. The stick with a dark tip is now replaced by the flame. Philip on the other hand was Flabbergasted from the sudden fire that birthed from the tiny stick.
As luciouss held the burning stick for philip to bare witness, he suddenly felt the flames engulfing the whole stick and placed the burning match below the leaves which was followed by a small puff of smoke and is replaced by the sudden fire which slowly illuminates the dark.
Philip could not believe what he was seeing, normally fire users and magic users have been used since ancient times. Most of them were lost from the chaos and destruction of the northern realm more than a thousand years ago. But a small stick could birth small flames?
"Uhh..what did you do lu?"
"One of my creations, A match stick."
"I don't remember you having any fire spell or something."
"Idiot, its alchemy."
"!"
Luciouss annoyed from the young man's curiousity going all over the place explained the following.
"The tip of these matches had a coating that can create a spark if done right. The stick's dark tip is composed of antimony sulphide, potassium chlorate, starch, and gum."
"Oh ok.. eh uh so that's one of the alchemy?"
"basic alchemy. if we actually further the development of it, we could unlock a variety of things .."
Philip again was bewildered by the red haired man's knowledge.
For him, he thought alchemy is some sort of wizardry that requires extensive amount of magic experiments from his imagination. Just hearing the contents of the sticks just made him even more confused on how alchemy works. While magic has slowly weakened over the years and replaced by falna magic, it doesn't really make sense how luciouss managed to acquire such knowledge when alchemy was said to be lost in time.
Now with fire raising and smoke puffing up in the air, the rest of the people noticed the smell and some took a peek behind the carriages to see what it was all about.
"Meh? Why start a fire when there are magic lamps here."
"Yeah but.. don't you find it weird how fast they made a fire?"
"Stupid punk, did you forget about fire spells or something? Look! He has red hair, probably a crozzo and we all know how capable those smiths are."
"Ohh"
Luciouss hearing the voices ranging from behind and upon hearing the words "crozzo" felt insulted by the name calling. Remembering that this is their last work of the day, he simply calmed himself.
"oh yeah luciouss, are you a crozzo?"
"No." *Sighed*
"Ok.. but speaking of fire, Why didn't you show this before we reached the dragon valley? That would've saved us the work to make fire if you have that many match sticks of yours!."
This time luciouss could feel his shame for not revealing this helpful tool after many months of grueling journey towards the north. He tried to come up with a reason for it but found no paths for excuse. So, he simply sighed and apologized at philip.
"Leonards gonna be mad at this."
"heh."
The two men while faint laughed at the situation and as time passed by, Leonard joined the fray and was as shock as philip like before. Soon the three men went to their own zone and slept for the night.
There was a place.
A place of ruin, filled with filth and weak over the place. The buildings are two stories tall and some are broken and damaged. While it may not be so peaceful, his family and friends are all that matteeed to him. Bandits and thieves is a daily activity in the big town but one day everything changed when legions of shouts, voices and footsteps are heard all over the place. Witnessing a massacre he soon found people beating up a person or pillaging someone's house. There is chaos everywhere. People are crying and the road is filled with dragged up blood from the wagons and carriages littered with bodies of men and women. As he scanned the other side of the road, he can see men in uniforms. Dark armour with banners of star and eagle waving overhead of the soldiers who mercillessly trample the weak and the dead, spears plunging into the bodies of resisting fellows, babies stolen from their mothers and the women invaded. The scene is a nightmare and chaotic. Then they came, breaking down the door and a fight occurred. His father fell, his mother limped with blood and his friends the same age as him were taken away. As the tears descended from his face, a soldier wearing the same dark robes as the others approached him who suddenly carried him away. Shouts of men followed the two as sounds of footsteps grew closer and closer. They ran, carrying him as they cross the broken terrain and into the nearby woods. as they make their way into the thinly trees, a sound vibrated across the body of the man. Blood gushes down below its armour, ignoring the pain as the arrow pierced his exposed platings. the man limped from the pain and continued the run despite the injury. He is not strong but determined. The look on his eyes before the man carried him was full of emotion, the look of plead for the whole thing to just stop. powerless to do anything the man simply decided to save a kid whatever the cost.
Reaching a nearby river the man with his remaining strenght knelt down to face the kid. He made some inaudible words but only one is recognized by the kid before the man turned around.
"run."
Waking up from the nightmare, his body and back is drench in sweat. Feeling the sunrise engulfing his face, the man stand tall and contemplated about the memory. A memory from long ago still haunting him even in his peaceful days. So he sat down and prepped himself up, stretched his arms and legs and went towards the nearby river to douse his face. Looking at the rivers reflecting mirror, he can see his eyes staring at himself in regret and pain. Why did that happened? Why does it have to be that place. His looks morphed into glare unto himself, blaming his own powerlessness and weak body of that day. This time his eyes shone no longer in pain and regret but with fire and determination.