And... guess what guys!
Not sure how short it actually is, or how off the details I am from my original plans, but nonetheless I still did it!
Chapter 6...ow, hey what...?
I haven't opened my eyes yet and my sight is already covered with an orange film, as if I was staring at the sun directly in full focus...
Wait, the sun?
Awakening from my sleep fully, I opened my eyes to discover the sun was indeed shining through the window already. I was leaning to the left while lying down so the singular window of this floor of the 'abandoned' house was straight within sight. If the sun is up this high already when I woke up, then what time could it be already? (author's note: 8AM. Ryougen usually wakes up around 5AM)
I got up from the bed and quickly went to the singular faucet to my right...
...and in my hastiness, I again tripped over the bucket of water just in front of the faucet...
...WATER?! "Get it off! Get it off!" I said while panicking, quickly looking for a towel as if I was dying. I eventually found one nested at the headrest of the bed I was sleeping in. I quickly rubbed myself dry, especially the lower part of my body since that's where I was wet the most. The cloth of this towel seems really weird, however, since it was really smooth and really thin for a towel. It was then that I realized that I was wiping with my cape and not with a towel... so now I have to squeeze the towel dry. Great. Just great.
After I did that and got myself fully ready and awake, I inspected the 'secret' hole that lead to the basement of the house, where Kiluna slept. It was wide open, so I went inside... only to find that the end of the entrance was blocked with spikes. I fortunately was able to react fast enough before I fell through and immediately closed the hole after getting my entire body out of the hole. Real spikes! This girl is much dangerous than I thought she is... After I'm sure that I've entirely calmed down, I opened the hatch again. "Kiluna? Kiluna are you there?" I shouted. No response could be heard, so she was probably out or still sleeping. But considering the time, she's probably awake already. I closed the hatch again and prepared to go to town. I assume I'd see her there. I'm not sure about our next course of action, after all. Holding the piece of Senpuu's compass and attaching it to the lower part of my clothing, I leave the house.
As I closed the door, I turned right and proceeded to walk towards the exit of the slums, with the intention of going to town. I'm expecting to see Kiluna somewhere there. Before I could leave the space of the lot however, I saw someone on the alley to the right, kneeling down in front of a hand-made gravestone. It was Kiluna. Whose grave was this, though? I went near the gravestone to read what was inscripted.
"Here lies the soul of Greed. The most pathetic, gluttonous, unclean, worthless cat to set foot on this world.
Despite his disgusting entity, he was the moon's closest friend. May his soul keep on traveling the world in search for more thrills."
What's with the negativity in the first sentence? Well, I don't know the relationship between Kiluna and Greed so I wouldn't bother with it anymore.
After a few more moments, Kiluna stood up.
"You're awake. What should we do now?" she said. She must be eager to go some place else... it's like we didn't get hurt yesterday; my body is seriously in its greatest condition right now.
"I'm not sure of our next step at the moment. I was actually going back to town since I thought you were there. Guess that's the most viable step for now." I replied.
We then proceed to walk back to Ugoshi Town. While walking I asked her about the really dangerous layout of the entrance to her room. I then realized that she has a much, much deeper private life than what you would expect from her personality. Actually, now that I think about it, ever since she disbanded from the mercenaries (now bandits), she's basically on her own. My belief that her joining me as being healthy for both of us is strengthened by the minute, especially now that her presumably only friend is already gone.
Maybe I can be her new friend. I don't know.
Maybe I'm just missing my village neighbors.
Or maybe I'm just missing Tenyou...
Or even Senpuu, which is odd since I really don't remember anything about her.
...why am I thinking about this too much? Looking back was never an option...
...oh wait, we're already in town.
"Hm? Ryougen, are you hearing what I'm hearing? The most popular topic of today..." Kiluna told me. I then eavesdropped on some of the townsfolk here.
"I seriously can't believe that the only thing behind that fog was a pile of rock!"
"I know, right? Mysterious cave, my butt!"
"You have to admit though; all explorers have said the same thing, and just said that they didn't go in because the fog was blinding."
So it's about the Nihyaku Cave. This group of people at least believe that there was nothing there. I'm not sure, but I think it's much better if their belief stays that way. I wonder about the other people that have wandered to that place though; have they also truly seen it but never gone inside?
"You know what's weird? I could swear I kept hearing the meowing of cats when the fog was there. Now that the fog isn't there, it's like all that I believed in just went away. What a mystery."
What a mystery indeed. Not for me and Kiluna though, as we know exactly the reason why the sounds went away. And... a girl's dead body is within the rubble. All we can do is hope that no one attempts to excavate that pile of rubble and just leave it there...
There also seems to be a newspaper going around; even the headline tells of the 'mysterious' disappearance of the fog.
"Kiluna. I'm curious; how long has the cave been there?" I just had to ask, since I'm really not sure why it's such a big news for people.
"...I don't even remember anymore. It's been there for such a long time, but none of those who returned was able to tell what's inside it."
For a really long time, huh? Then that must mean that Senpuu's compass must have split up for that long time now as well. It seems like I'll then have to be inquiring about facts from years and years ago. It would be of great help if I know the exact time frame, though. I just feel that there's this significance, just that I'm not sure how yet.
Then later I noticed Kiluna intently looking at another page within the newspaper. She seemed so engrossed in it so I approached her to look at what she was reading. While I was trying to face the article I noticed that she looks startled, or something similar; it's noticable from the slightly wider eyes and her mouth is open a bit, signifying some emotion similar to being surprised. Then I heard her say something.
"...wait... she's... why didn't she tell..." is all that I heard, which is obviously an incomplete sentence.
"What's wrong?" I asked.
"Sorry uh, excuse me Ryougen I have to get to somewhere..." she replied, then quickly burst in some direction, dropping the newspaper behind. I picked up the newspaper before it touched the ground and read the article she was reading. Looking at it further, it wasn't actually an article, but some sort of announcement. Looks like some known person is arriving here by 9AM and there's an event at~
...someone bumped into me and ripped the paper off. This person was also running in the same direction Kiluna went.
"Can you PLEASE watch where you're running?!" I shouted. I don't think that particular person heard me as he or she just continued running. Then I noticed a lot of people running in that particular direction too. Whatever is happening, it must be something that this entire town was waiting for...
...wait a minute. I checked the time through the sun's position again... and it's around 9AM. I quickly got the connection here. They're going to that particular event that's depicted in the announcement I just read. Kind of odd how the writers here think of putting the announcement of the event on the day itself and not days prior to it.
I don't want anything to do with this, but since Kiluna ran off in that direction, I might as well go there.
Trying my best to avoid the incoming crowd, I walked briskly in the direction that they were going to. I'm still not really familiar with the entire town, and I didn't really see the place from the announcement before the paper got ripped off.
I eventually got to the place where the crowd was. It's just the front of Kiluna's now-in-shambles office. I'm not really sure why it would be this place, considering its current status. I immediately noticed Kiluna at the inner most part of the crowd, alongside 4 other entities.
"Kiluna...?" I heard one of the foreign people speak. Judging from her appearance, she seems to be some sort of leader for the other 3 entities, as the 3 other entities were wearing the same thing, presumably a uniform of theirs. The one that spoke, however, had a very outstanding outfit, so to say. Her suit is blue, and pretty much everything else she's wearing is blue. She's got 2 long tails (author's note: are those really tails or what? Kind of hard to tell, really) that split in opposite directions: left and right. But the most outstanding part of her is that peculiar headpiece of hers. It's a hat... or more like a helmet or something... it's really huge. It's shaped in the form of diamond segments of ice. It's width spans her entire head and is around 3 segments long, and the length of the two ends of the hat have 1 extra segment in both sides in that the hat actually goes past her neck. There's a pendant attached to the forehead part of the hat, which looks like a ring of sorts.
"Errr uhh... I can explain!" I heard Kiluna reply to the blue girl. I think it's pretty clear here that she and Kiluna know each other. At least this time the foreign person in question doesn't look suspicious unlike Kiluna's previous 'companions', the bandits. I wonder what they're arguing about though, as there is that vibe of nervousness and guilt visible from Kiluna's face.
"I thought I made it clear that I was going to arrive today? And what do I see here..." the blue girl said.
"I..."
"Forgot."
"...yes I did..."
"Well I kind of expected you did, considering how much things you always have in your mind at any given time..."
"I can still at least arrange a miniature stage just for you guys to be on from the rubbles, really! All I need is...
...
Oh there you are!"
I saw Kiluna suddenly looking at me. From her most recent statement, it seems like she's actually looking for me...? What for?
...wait why did she just grab me by the arm and is now pulling me towards the center...
"Hey, uh, Kiluna! Don't just drag me...!" I shouted at her, but she seemed to have ignored me as she pulled me all the way to the middle of the crowd, appraoching the 4 other foreign entities.
"Sorry about that. Err, would you mind helping me out a bit here at least? I've seen your physical strength so I know you can do this..."
She wants me to set up a miniature stage from this rubble? What?
"Well I'm not exactly sure what it should look like..."
"Nothing special, really! Just form something that will allow 5 chairs to be put on it and have enough walking space. Of course I'm really supposed to be doing most of the work, but I'm not sure that I can form certain figures out of the rubble without equipment."
Can my physical strength actually break rocks and wood with my hands alone? I'm not sure of this, but I'll give it a shot anyway.
...
In a matter of around 10 minutes, we actually finished a miniature stage. Kiluna did the architecture while I was just forming the materials using my hands. I still couldn't believe it went that fast though.
"Honestly, I didn't think that it would be that quick. This is fine, right Earth?" Kiluna said. The blue girl's name is presumably 'Earth'. Kind of an odd name I've never heard of before, but I guess it kind of fits her general stature being a... 'unique' kind of individual.
"I guess it will have to do. Alright guys, let's start." Earth replied. The 4 foreigners got up the stage and placed their portable wooden chairs in position. The 3 'underlings' sat down while Earth took the forward area of the stage. This somehow cued the crowd to settle down as they give their undivided attention to the blue girl in front of them. Thanks to Kiluna, we were nearest the stage, so it's easiest to hear her from our current position.
"Alright. Ugoshi Town. We apologize for the technical difficulty earlier... As a result we'll have to skip the formalities for now due to us having to hold this session outdoors. Well I never really liked the formal introductions and such anyway.
So guys, welcome to another session of Earth's Discoveries. For those that haven't heard of me yet, I am Earth Sora, a professor of the Lemontea Academy located in the town of Sympathy. Kind of odd how an academy is located within a town, but I guess that's why people are saying that Sympathy should seriously be a city now instead of a town. I occassionally go to other villages, towns, and cities nearby in order to hold discussions like this. What do I discuss, you may ask? Well, I can explain that by telling about my main goal in life for now. My main research is about the possible connection of a world separate from this one we're living, particularly the spiritual realm housed in this same world we live in. I am fascinated by the connection of this world's legends and the degrees of truth behind each of them, to the point that I actually took it as my main goal in life. And if you think it's a bit too fantastic, I have already discovered a few things that are undoubtedly products of distant worlds. I always write about these discoveries in the papers, except for the time when I do want to share a lecture instead so I write some sort of written lesson. And for today, I came here not only with words, but with evidence!"
The crowd suddenly reacted by the word 'evidence'. As this is my first time, I really am not sure what she's talking about.
"Yes, for the first time ever, I am to show a discovery of mine! A specimen that directly hints at the existence of a spiritual world!"
She then pulled out some sort of small rock pedestal from his bag. On top was a unique crystal with no glow that was strongly bounded by the rock formation. I've never seen such a gem before. (author's note: wait, are crystals gems?)
"Alas, this may look like an ordinary crystal at first glance, and it doesn't help that it doesn't even glow now, making it not attractive.
However, watch what happens when I grasp the crystal directly..."
She then held the crystal directly with one of her hands. The crystal is suddenly glowing blue! Not only that, I can also feel a sudden breeze coming from his direction as well.
"Do you see it? Do you feel it? I am not exactly sure of it yet, but this crystal seems to reveal a person's aura, and can express it visually and by feelings!"
I can hear mumbling coming from the crowd.
"Kiluna, why not come up here and give it a go?" Earth continued.
"M-me? OK then..." Kiluna replied. She then went up the stage, approached the rock and held the crystal with her right hand. The light that's being emitted from the crystal suddenly changed. In fact, it actually keeps on changing now, like it's scanning the color spectrum. This went on while Kiluna was still holding the crystal.
"Your light is erratic and keeps on changing. That is a sign of someone who has experience in adapting quickly, is it not?" Earth then said. "I think so too, with us here knowing what you're capable of! Alright, time for another one to come up here and try it... You over there, Kiluna's companion!" she said, pointing at me.
"M-me? Uh... huh?" I was a bit confused actually, or maybe just a bit startled.
"Just come up here and give it a go! You only need to hold the crystal." she continued. I then walked on the stage.
"I believe Kiluna hasn't introduced me to you yet." she retorted.
"Oh, uhm... I'm~" I was about to introduce myself...
"Ryougen Mai! Only the most awesome guy you'll see around these parts!" when Kiluna suddenly interrupted me.
"Kiluna..." I said, out of annoyance.
"He comes from Kasu Village, a 6 hour walk from here!" she still continued.
"Well, uh... I think she pretty much did the introduction for me..." I replied. But she still actually had something to say, this time addressed to the entire crowd.
"And if you've noticed that I demolished my base... well, it's because I'm traveling with him from now on! I'm retiring my mercenary work for now, guys!" she said. This stirred up some discussion between the crowd, all of a sudden. I'm not sure if saying this is the right thing to do...
"Oh, and... just to clarify as well, in this travel of ours, I'm the one following Ryougen, not the other way around. Yes, he's that awesome of a guy, so I'd like you guys to think of him as a part of this town as well!" she then continued. To be honest, hearing her say these compliments is actually kind of making me flattered. I'm not really sure how to handle being praised like this, especially in public where I don't know these people!
"Hm, is that so? (author's note: Sou, nanoka... heheheh) If he truly is someone to be looked up to, this crystal shall be the judge of that. Sir Mai, please hold the crystal tightly." Earth said, cutting off the discussions about Kiluna and me. I then went near the crystal and held it firmly. Its shine quickly reverted to a red one... a really bright red shine, much brighter than that of Earth's and Kiluna's.
"A really, really bright shine of red... in fact, this is the brightest light I've seen so far. You must have a really impressive past... Kiluna may actually be right about you here!" she said, which again made me flattered as I'm getting praised by someone of seemingly high status, even though I haven't even known this girl for more than 30 minutes! I never was used to handling popularity, even back in Kasu Village...
I then let go of the crystal. But then all 3 of us seemed to have done something wrong, as the rock slipped through our hands and proceeded to continually bounce off the stage. The crowd was gasping all over the place, fearing that the crystal may break. But as it went off the stage, it seemed to have hit a passer-by. The passer-by got hit in the head, and after that caught the crystal using his hand.
"Hey, watch where you're throwing your stuff, will you?!" The bypasser said, with an awfully familiar voice. I looked at the bypasser and... well what do you know, it's the jerk Shito!
"...serves you right to get hit by that, if you ask me." I said to him.
"Ryougen?! You even dare speak to me like that! You're really asking for a fight again, aren't you?! Because I'll be more than glad to oblige!" he quickly screamed at me. I find this dialogue of him odd because...
"...um, excuse me? I'd just like to remind you of what happened with yesterday's duel, and who was the clear winner of that..." I replied to him.
"Past is past, and that doesn't matter anymore! I am the strongest, and I'll beat anyone down that thinks that they are! Especially you, Ryougen Mai!" he shouted back. OK this is seriously becoming awkward. You would think that he'd be a bit intimidated by me now because of what happened yesterday, but here he is, speaking like he won our battle!
"Why you...!" I got annoyed. But then Earth interrupted me.
"Wait, you two... quiet...
The crystal is emitting a... a dark light? And it's so bright that it can actually cause us to lose sight... what are you? Where did you come from?" Earth said. Even though it's a bit misleading, I am not surprised with the result. Even though Shito's a jerk, I cannot deny the fact that he's got a strong power stored inside him, and from what I've noticed from the crystal, it can also measure your inner strength.
"What am I? I'm the strongest in this world, of course! As from where I come from, that's not important!" Shito shouted back.
"...well, OK... anyway, we need that rock back, so please throw it back here?" Earth requested him.
"Just make sure you don't drop it again! Oh wait, throw it back to you? This is a good opportunity to show you what I mean!" Shito replied. He then did a different motion with his hand, getting ready to furiously pitch the rock in Earth's direction. I can already tell that there's going to be a fast projectile coming in Earth's way, so as soon as he threw it, I quickly jumped in the way of Earth's face. I rolled on the floor after landing because the force of the throw seemed to have disrupted my position. I stood up immediately.
"What... what are you..." Earth said in annoyance.
"That's just a miniature taste of my power! Remember the name, 'Shito'! I shall take my leave!" Shito shouted back, and proceeded to walk again in his original way.
"...admittedly, this has been one of the weirdest days ever. Anyway, who else from you guys want to try? Kiluna, Ryougen, thanks for your participation! Please go back to your positions..." Earth said. Kiluna and I walked back down from the stage and took the frontmost positions again.
"Pretty interesting, isn't it Ryougen?" Kiluna asked me.
"...to be honest, it actually is. Interesting to the point that it might actually be of help to me." I replied.
"Help, huh?"
"I... vaguely remember hearing her say something about the spiritual realm? If I can recall correctly, Senpuu was actually trying to uncover a legend that also involved the spirit world..."
"...oh, this seems to be pretty significant for you as well then! Gives us more reason to listen to this discussion until the end!"
"Yeah... I want to ask a few questions from her after."
We just stood there, listening to the professor's comments and lectures. The crowd was going wild as they were volunteering to have a go at touching the crystal. The crystal kept shining in different lights depending on the person, and Earth gives her own prediction on the person's past regarding the crystal's brightness.
The spiritual realm, huh... To be honest, I don't actually know if it has an actual relation to my sister or not. I just feel that there is, so I said it to Kiluna. This could prove to be an interesting talk, so despite the number of information I probably wouldn't need, I continue to listen intently throughout this entire discussion.
Whew, now I have to think of what to do for Chapter 7. Gonna introduce another character in that chapter too. Remember, Kecha is at Chapter 8!
