by TurtleMe
As I stayed fixated on the cat’s bewitching eyes, the cat peered back down at me from the top of the shelf with a sense of obvious superiority before it turned back and walked away.
Shaking my head, I focused back on the various bottles and containers when a small black box catches my attention.
Picking up the plain box, roughly about the size of something you would store small jewelry in, I tried to open it. With a small click, the hinge comes undone to reveal a small ring inside it. I brought the ring closer to my face when the ‘gem’ embedded onto the ring suddenly squirted something out towards me.
Instantly I react by whipping my head to the side so the stream of clear liquid misses and lands behind me.
It was water.
“Tch… you dodged it.” I turned my head back to see the old man grumbling while still fiddling with my silver coin.
“…”
At this point, I felt like if I stayed any longer I would lose my sanity. First the shocking doorknob… now this squirting ring. This old man sure loved his pranks… even his cat looked down on me.
I was determined though. If I could get anything inside this store for free, I was going to get the most valuable item inside this store.
I must’ve spent at least an hour inside, just combing through elixirs that I didn’t need. Why would a twelve-year-old need an elixir for hair growth?
“Kyu!” ‘Papa! I’m here!’
A white blur whizzed past the door that was left open and landed on my head.
“Kuu!” ‘Papa, you left me!’ Sylvie puffed while smacking my forehead with her paw.
‘You survived, comrade!’ I smiled, rubbing her tiny head.
“Old man, I can’t find anything I…” I began to say but the expression the old man had on his face made me stop. He was the one that looked like he saw ghost this time because even his already pale face became whiter. His milky eyes that sagged down from old age looked like a full moon, his expression stricken.
“We finally found…”
“You okay old man?” I waved my hand in front of him. The shop owner shook his head and let out a cough.
“Yes, I’m quite alright.” His voice quivered a bit, confusing me.
“Anyway, old man, I can’t find anything worth taking back with me, can’t you just give me back my money?” I grumbled as I took one last scan through the store.
“You really don’t have an eye for anything.” He walked out from behind his counter and strolls to one of the shelves front corner of the store.
“Ah, here we are.” Without even looking back, he tosses back to me a small ball about the size of a marble. It was layered in dust but when I wiped it clean, it was clear with specks of different colors floating inside it.
“What is this?” I asked as I brought the orb closer to my face to study it, making sure it wouldn’t spray me with water.
“Don’t worry, it’s something you’re going to need. Now scat. Teasing you bores me,” He shooed me off.
“Okay, okay.” I walked out of the store on my own, taking one last look back at the old shack.
As I strolled out of the narrow alleyway, I spotted the black cat gazing at me and then Sylvie before turning away as if it had lost interest.
Thinking little of it, I reached the intersection out of the alley and turn the corner to see my mother and sister sitting down at a table with Tabitha.
“Hi Brother!” Ellie waved while holding a drink with her other hand.
“Did you find what you were looking for?” Mother asked as she put down her refreshment as well.
“I…think?” I scratched my head. I put the clear orb inside my dimension ring to study it later but I couldn’t help but think that it wasn’t anything special.
“Oh really? That store is considered famous for having quite the variety of elixirs and medicines to help with training. Most of the students in Xyrus go there to shop for training materials.” Tabitha got up, picking all of the shopping bags off the floor.
“What? That shabby old place?” I replied, surprised that a bunch of rich snobby brats would go out of their way to shop at a rundown shack.
“Shabby? What are you talking about?” My mother and sister got up too, handing me their bags nonchalantly.
As we walked towards where the alleyway was, Tabitha turns the corner first and pointed towards the shop.
“I wouldn’t say it’s shabby,” She said, a bit confused by my comment.
“Really? If that’s not shabby then I don’t know…”
My jaw dropped along with the shopping bags I was holding onto.
In place of the previous narrow alleyway leading towards the worn down shack, was a marble-paved road laid out towards a three-story building with a gold sign that read:
XYRUS ELIXIRS
Chapter 72: One Fallen
Throughout the rest of the shopping trip, I was in a daze as my thoughts lingered on the transforming alleyway.
Was I already becoming senile?
“Mom… Aunt Tabitha… Do streets in Xyrus… er… move on their own?” The statement sounded as crazy as I thought it would be, even though it came from my own lips.
“Huh? Moving streets?” I could almost see the manifestation of question marks on top of their heads as they gazed quizzically at me.
“Ahaha…. Never mind.” I let out a sigh as I looked back at the street where Xyrus Elixirs now stood.
“Did something happen at the elixir store, Arthur?” Tabitha asked.
“You didn’t cause trouble in there, did you?!” My mother followed.
“Do you assume I cause trouble every time I’m away, Mother?”
““Of course.”” Both my mother and sister matter-of-factly responded in unison.
Ouch.
I clutch my chest over where my heart is as I put on a hurt expression, getting a laugh out of everyone.
The rest of the shopping trip went by without any other occurrences that broke the laws of matter or physics. My new DC uniform had to be ordered from school since it was different from the rest of the school’s outfits so I didn’t have anything else that I needed to buy.
My mother and sister, along with Tabitha, once again tried to use me as a human mannequin. This time, even the teenage store clerks joined in while occasionally taking peeks through the changing room curtains with stares comparable to starving animals looking at fresh meat.
Was it weird that I feared for my life more so on these occasions than when I’m in dungeons?
After hours of shopping, the staggering amount of clothes that filled the numerous bags were probably enough to open up a small store. Fortunately, the driver came by every hour or so to relieve us of the bulk of our purchases.
Out of that pile, the only clothes that belonged to me were a set of sleepwear that I found to be too comfortable to not buy. Supposedly it was made from the wool of a particular type of mana beast.
The sun began its further descend from the edge of the city, reminding me that Xyrus was indeed a floating plot of land.
As we reached the carriage waiting for us on the other end of the shopping district, I noticed that there was a separate wagon attached to the back, holding all the clothes and accessories that we (they) bought.
“Mom, I’m going to stop by Xyrus before heading back home,” I said after placing the last of the bags I was holding onto the carriage.
“Why? Is something wrong?” A jolt of panic flashed in my mother’s eyes.
“Haha, no. I just thought it wouldn’t be good to keep everyone wondering if I were dead or alive,” I chuckled.
“Ahh it was just that. Go on then, of course you should tell everyone that you’re back safe and sound. Just don’t make any other detours on the way back,” My mother responded, pinching my nose as she gave me a stern look.
“Gotcha!” My voice came out nasally as I reply.
Sylvie and I watched as everyone climbed into the carriage and left. Waving back to my sister who was yellin
g that I had to be in time for dinner, I turned and headed towards Xyrus Academy.
_________________________________________
Xyrus Academy wasn’t too far from the shopping district but it was still a bit of a distance to travel on foot. The sun was beginning to set as we made our way to Director Goodsky’s office, which was on the top floor of the second highest building in the school, losing only to the bell tower that served as a useful lookout post for the Disciplinary Committee.
As the Academy towers got closer, I willed mana into my body and jumped up to the roof of a nearby building. Skirting from one building to the next, the view around me became an indistinct blur; the only thing clearly visible being Sylvie, who was racing alongside me, enjoying the breeze.
Making our way to school in silence, my mind began wandering.
It was when my mind wandered that I thought of things that I would rather not think of.
The scene of Alea’s last moments flashed through my mind. How she, in all of her glory and mightiness, had still been afraid of dying… dying alone. What if the one that I held in my arms hadn’t been Alea but Tess?
My body shivered at the thought.
How was she doing? Was she well? Did her assimilation go through all right? What if something went wrong…
No. You can’t think like that Arthur. Positive thoughts...
Gritting my teeth, I willed more mana through my body and sped up.
Without the seal inhibiting me, I felt the deep influence of mana surrounding everything. I ran faster, as fast as I could possibly go, as if I wanted to run away from my own thoughts.
I felt the wind bend to my will, pushing me forward as the earthen surfaces of the buildings almost seem to resonate and keep me in balance by its own will. The moisture in the atmosphere kept me cool and even the small flames from the lamps burnt brighter as I passed them by.
I’ve noticed before but the more my mana core evolved, the more sensitive I became to mana; I can even go as far as to say I’m becoming more integrated to the mana around me.
I thought back to when I first met Virion. I wasn’t nearly as sensitive to mana back then, but even I could tell that, around him, the mana would fluctuate and move to accommodate his presence. Even though both Virion and Director Goodsky were wind attribute mages, the way they influenced the mana around them were vastly different.
For Director Goodsky, the mana formed light breezes of wind that danced around her; while for Virion, it was the opposite. The mana affected the air around Gramps by completely expelling any wind in his vicinity. It wasn’t as apparent normally, but when he switched into fighting mode, it felt like even the air was afraid to move near him.
If that sort of phenomenon occurred naturally from just a silver core mage, what would it be like when if they broke through to the white stage?
I felt a twinge of regret when I realized that Alea was the only white core mage I’ve seen in person so far. Yet, because her mana core was completely shattered by the black spike that pierced through her, even the mana disregarded her, as if she was no longer loved by nature.
“Kyu!” ‘We’re almost here!’
Sylvie’s chirpy voice snapped me out of my thoughts as I focused my gaze onto the light coming out of the window of Director Goodsky’s office.
‘Sylvie, come over here.’
My bond jumps into my arms as I prepare to take off. The academy ground had a barrier that repelled anything with a mana core or beast core that wasn't permitted to enter. It wasn’t all that powerful since its main function was to notify if there was everyone passing through unauthorized. I had my DC uniform in my dimension ring, along with the knife that was used for authorization so I wouldn’t set off the alarm; Sylvie, on the other hand, might, if she wasn’t attached to me.
Concentrating the mana from my core and willing it to take the form of wind underneath the soles of my feet, I leaped off the edge of the building’s roof I was on with as much strength as I could muster.
“HAAAAAAAP!”
I felt the building almost giving out as a whirlwind sprung up and propelled me higher. I must’ve been about 100 meters in the air when I realized that by the trajectory and speed I was traveling at; I probably wasn’t going to make it all the way to the building.
“HOLD ON SYLV!”
As the anxiety faded, excitement boiled in me as I yelled over the gushing wind that attempted to drown out my voice. Feeling Sylvie’s paws clinging to my shirt, I held her tighter as well.
Biting my lip with concentration, I drove all of my unwanted thoughts away.
Shifting my body weight so that my feet were right underneath me, I turned in midair, and released a roundhouse kick.
Draft Step
I activated the skill I used against Theo that allowed me to accelerate or change direction by using an opposing force of wind to push against my feet. Of course, this time, it consumed a lot more mana as I was basically changing direction midair and at a much greater speed, but I got the outcome that I hoped for.
With the speed boost I got from Draft Step, I was once again on a collision course straight towards the rooftop of the building Director Goodsky’s office was in.
“!!!!!!!!!!!”
Whether it was due to being drunk from the adrenaline rush, or just me trying to forcefully get rid of the depressing memories that were always haunting me in the back of my mind, I couldn’t help but let out a soul-cleansing roar. The sensation of flying through the air like this was different from when I rode on Sylvie.
Just as I realized that I hadn't quite planned my landing, my body already shot through the air and crashed against several unidentified objects.
*BOOOOM! *
Despite destroying some of the roof, I somehow managed to land on my feet. As expected of me.
“KYU!!!” ‘THAT WAS FUN! LET’S DO THAT AGAIN!’
Sylvie was hopping in circles around me as she continued chirping for a second round.
Patting the dust off of my clothes, I looked up.
From the edge of the building, I was able to see a sight I was never able to experience even in my past life.
Xyrus was a floating city; I seemed to have forgotten this fact. I was able to see the edge of the city where isolated clouds floated nearby. I continued to be mesmerized as the rays from the setting sun hit the clouds at an angle that made them appear fiery red. Contrasting against the sun-kissed sky below was a curtain of serene purple that was the atmosphere.
“kyu…” Sylvie propped her head up on the ledge as she gazed silently as well.
The word breathtaking wasn’t just an expression in this case. It was as if Xyrus city was floating on an endless sea of soft marigold that blended harmoniously with the starry night above. The sort of view, that only seemed to be present in fairy-tales, was only made possible due to the city’s high elevation.
I took out a metal necklace from my dimension ring and began mindlessly fiddling with it.
…
For the time that I stood there leaning against the ledge of the building, I was almost able to forget about what happened back in the dungeon; for that brief period of time, the world seemed perfect.
“Quite the view, isn’t it?” A familiar aged voice echoed from behind.
“It is...” I replied without turning back.
“It’s my most treasured spot, you know… I come here often when I want to rest my mind,” She breathed
“Mm.”
“I see you made quite the landing. I’ll have to have Tricia come clean this all up.”
“I apologize for that; I’ll help as well.”
“I heard your battle cry. I suspect the whole school will be wondering what happened.”
“Haha…” I let out a stifled laugh.
“…”
I expected Goodsky to come join us, but instead, she stayed where she was.
“You’re not going to ask me how I’m still alive?” I asked as my eyes stayed glued to the view of the
horizon.
“It seemed like it wasn't a good time to ask. I am just glad that you are alive and well.” Goodsky’s voice was quiet, almost feeble.
“I’m well?” I asked myself under my breath.
“Am I well?” I repeated, loud enough for her to hear. A tinge of sadness evident in my tone.
“…”
I looked down at the necklace I was fiddling with. It was a small bloodstained slate of metal attached to a crude chain. Engraved on that slate was a picture of six lances forming a circle; underneath that insignia were the initials:
A.T.
Tracing the letters with my thumb, I scoffed at how much it looked like a dog tag; the same as those worn by soldiers during ancient times in my old world to identify them, just in case their corpses were mangled past the point of recognition.
“…What exactly happened down there, Arthur?” Director Goodsky’s voice was hesitant as she asked this.
Turning to face her with the best half-smile I could muster, I threw the tag over.
“This was what happened,” I replied as Goodsky let out a soft gasp with one hand covering her mouth, while the other held the necklace.
Chapter 73: A Will’s Last Breath
CYNTHIA GOODSKY’S POV:
The Council had handed this simple adamantine tag, engraved with the owner’s initials, to each of the Six Lances. This idea had actually been thought up by the members of the Six Lances themselves.
When they requested this, they explained to The Council that they needed something made of an almost indestructible material so that even if their bodies were obliterated, the necklace would still be intact and used as a sort of identification. It would be a memento for them; a sort of grim reminder that they could die at any time.
In contrast to the grim faces of the Six Lances, I distinctly remember that The Council had joked with them, asking if there was anything even capable of destroying their bodies past the point of recognition. I recalled chuckling alongside them, even though I knew...
Even though I knew that...There were beings capable of wiping out the crowned Lances off the face of this planet.
