Chapter 4: Owanimo
9.20, A.A.6
It's a new day, and light shines through the window. I opened my eyes to find Arle right next to me causing me to panic and jump out of bed. I wouldn't normally have this reaction, but I don't appreciate it when this happens. Kirby and Arle woke up as soon as I hit the floor.
"What are you doing sneaking into my bed!?"
"G' morning." said Arle.
"You're not in your room. You're in mine and Kirby's room."
Arle looks around and gets out of my bed. "Sorry…"
"Ichi let both of us stay here since we didn't have a place to stay since coming here" Kirby said.
"Arle sleep here cause bed soft."
Before I was able to theorize, Ichi stepped into the bedroom.
"It's how she behaves at night" she said. "She never does this during the day, but after dark, she sneaks out of her room and into here. I'm not sure why it happens."
"It's possible she needs someone to keep her company. Alice would sometimes sleep with Kirby since she didn't have many friends before. I've never known anyone until I met Kirby, and I haven't been like this."
After talking about this, we had breakfast, which was one of the best I've had. While it doesn't feel the same as breakfast back home, it reminds me of breakfast from other countries. I would consider making meals for others, but I don't have the skill yet. Ichi wants both Kirby and me to be ready for something she's going to teach, so I get ready first then Kirby.
Outside the house, Arle and Ichi are waiting. I'm waiting for Kirby to finish getting ready, so I check out the scenery. This place is completely different compared to home, and it might be how unfamiliar everything is. Two minutes later, Kirby comes outside. He might be called a superstar warrior, but he can be the slowest one to get ready. It may be who he is, but he's still a great friend to have. Once we start moving, Ichi starts to explain a special ability.
"Before we get to Merlin's place, I would like to show you an important ability. This ability will let you summon creatures called Puyos, and if you connect four at a time, you can summon garbage Puyos when facing an opponent. It is a spell called Owanimo and is one of many spells that can be used. I'll show you the basics."
Ichi summons a board and uses the spell to summon Puyos. Looks like only two can be summoned at a time, and it's randomized. She uses them to create a 5-chain. A few minutes later, she dispels the board.
"That's the basics of using this spell. If you can use them to chain, you could defeat an opponent before said opponent has a chance to recover. Some opponents are harder to face since they can create chains fast, so don't let your guard down. If your board has garbage Puyo, you can clear them with summoned Puyo of the same color. When garbage Puyos fall on your board, your stamina will decrease. Once you or your opponent runs out of stamina, or if the third column is full the battle ends. Make sure you don't let your board get overrun. Now the colors of Puyo you can summon are red, yellow, green, blue, and purple. Sometimes, you can summon a big Puyo that can clear two columns at once, and while it can be useful, you won't be able to send garbage Puyo to your opponent. That should be it for the basics of Puyo Puyo."
"That's what the jelly creatures are called? Puyos?"
"Yes."
After Ichi finishes explaining, a skeleton ambushes us.
"Say, do any of you know where to find some delightful tea?" the skeleton asked.
"Uhm…Tea?" I asked.
"Don't play dumb kid. You know what I mean."
"You bad bone guy," said Arle. "You do bad things."
"Skeleton-T. I should have known Satan would send you." said Ichi.
"That goofball? I have no interest in serving him. You can't stop the tea!"
"Ichi, get Arle and Kirby to safety. I'll take care of it."
"So, do you have what it takes to get past me?"
"Who blocked the path with a bonehead?"
"What did you call me?! You're asking for trouble!"
Thus, the first battle began. I attempted to summon a board but couldn't for some reason. Skeleton-T is having trouble summoning one too.
"What? It isn't working."
"Has the tea failed to summon one?"
Another attempt to summon a board ends in neither of us being able to. Ichi didn't show me how to summon one, and it's getting nowhere fast.
"Why isn't this working?"
"My tea isn't working either."
Three attempts later, neither of us can summon a board. I won't be able to defeat Skeleton-T with the problems both of us have, so I get my replica staff out to help. Another attempt later, and nothing.
"My staff can't summon a board."
"Drinking tea isn't helping here."
Ichi, Kirby, and Arle are watching two failures who can't summon anything basic.
"Ace, maybe you haven't said the right words." said Kirby.
"I've been attempting to summon a board and have had nothing happen Kirby. There's no way I can do this."
"Don't say that! There might be something else you can do. Do something! Throw anything!"
As a desperate action, I throw my staff hoping to have something happen. An apple falls from a tree and hits Skeleton-T on the skull. Bones start falling off, and Skeleton-T falls apart.
"Is this how the great Skeleton-T falls?"
"That wasn't what I was expecting, but something happened Kirby."
I feel like this battle shouldn't have happened since neither side was able to start. This wasn't a good first experience.
After the situation with Skeleton-T, I start to think if I even have magic. My forehead's starting to get hot, but I'll attempt to ignore that. I might not have the ability to use magic, but before I have a chance to talk to Ichi about this, a beam of light comes down from the sky in front of us. It almost struck us, but it missed by a few feet. When the light dispelled, an old person with a weird hat reveals himself. He looks like one of the wizards I've seen on some shows. Shortly after, a ghostly figure appears next to him.
"Pardon me, but it appears I haven't the slightest spot where to appear."
"That's okay," said Ichi. "We were looking for you."
"There's always something going on." I spoke. "Why did you appear out of nowhere and almost blast us with a beam of light?"
"Sorry about that. My magic wand doesn't like to cooperate sometimes. Anyways, I was looking for the one who suddenly appeared with a staff, and if you ask about working with Satan, I don't.
"Did you get mixed up with some other person? All I have is a stick I carved and some paper."
"My friend made it because he was inspired by something he's seen," said Kirby.
"A stick you say. It looks like a staff to these eyes."
"What my friend is saying is I carved it to look like a staff, but it doesn't function like one."
"It shouldn't be a problem then. My companion can turn it into a staff that works. Though a ghost, he was one of the best staff makers I have known. This is Henry the staff maker."
"Nice to meet you all." said Henry.
"I've noticed you have a white beard and wear familiar clothing like a wizard. Are you a wizard by chance?"
"I am. Not to be mistaken, but I don't think we've introduced each other. I'm Merlin the Wizard."
That explains who sent the wooden tablet.
"My name is Ace, and this is my friend, Kirby."
"Pleasure to meet you, Ace, and Kirby. Well, it's been a while since we've seen each other, Miss Ichi."
"At least a few years have passed," said Ichi.
"On my way to find you, I came across an annoying blue orb trying to force a battle, but with my wand, I was able to send it flying. That thing couldn't stop following, so that's one reason my warp was malfunctioning."
"It must be Nasu Grave. That annoying imp couldn't leave me alone whenever I came across it, so I defeated it in a Puyo battle."
"I see. Well Ace, how about turning the staff into one you can use?"
"I'm not too sure. The ball on the end is decorative."
"That shouldn't be an issue. Henry's an expert at making difficult staffs, so this one should be easy for him."
At first, I wasn't sure if I should trust Merlin. He's powerful, but is it worth risking the carved staff? After thinking about it, I hesitantly gave the staff to him. I still have doubts about this working, but anything can happen in this world. A bright light shines to the point I cover my eyes to prevent any potential harm. After a few minutes, Merlin returns the staff to me, and I look at it. There's a white orb where the replica orb once was.
"That should do it. Merlin, it's ready," said Henry.
"Excellent, Henry! Now Ace, what do you think?"
"It glows now, but it looks the same" I said. "I'm not sure if it can do anything."
"It should work now that it has been enhanced."
"What should I do with it?"
"See if you can do something with it."
"Okay, here goes nothing."
I raise my staff and think about what the wizards did on TV while trying to ignore the heat coming from my head. If I can replicate the abilities I've seen, perhaps I could use magic, but I must make sure it works. With no hesitation, I attempt to do something with it. At first, there was nothing, but after a few attempts, something happened. A gust of wind is shot out and blows the leaves off a nearby tree. I lost balance and was pushed back by the wind. Merlin was impressed and amazed by this.
"I have never seen anything like that for a long time. I thought that ability was gone for good."
"What do you mean?"
"It's hard to say this, but long ago, this ability was once common. Nowadays, it is no longer around, but when I saw what was there, I couldn't believe my own eyes. It's been so long since this type of magic was seen."
"All it did was shoot wind. What's special about it?"
"I'll take it from here, Merlin," said Ichi. "My grandmother had this ability long ago. It was called air magic. Air magic allows mixing of elements and changes the temperature of air around us. It's hard to learn but easy to master."
"Is that why Merlin reacted the way he did?"
"Yes. Nobody had seen air magic for decades, so when you showed that ability, he saw a prophecy."
"What are you both talking about?" asked Kirby?
"It may be hard to understand, but your friend may be the one from the description of the light prognosticus," said Merlin. "It is said that the one that possesses air magic was chosen to save the land from evil."
"A prophecy about me? Are you sure I'm the one?"
"The book never lies."
"I still don't understand anything going on here. Most things I've seen are new to me."
"In time, you'll learn about this place. Come with me, and I can help train you in using magic. Besides, you look like you need rest."
I still have doubts about this place, but with my new ability to use magic, there is a chance I could create a better future for this place. Though I'm not familiar with this world, over time, I can get used to its weird creatures, and when I eventually find my missing friends, all of us can find out any potential abilities we don't have back on Earth. Franny, Alice, wherever you are, I hope you're okay and safe. I am starting to feel light-headed, so maybe I should get some sleep soon.
Author's Note: I am sorry for not having a new chapter for over a year. I've been busy with college, and I couldn't find time for most of the year. The earlier chapters were edited to make more sense since chapter 3 was added, and I was editing this chapter throughout the months I was working on it. Hopefully, I can make chapter 5 in far less time than this one.