The crisp dead of twilight swept over half of Swordland. The Whetstones remained cozied up in their cottage, forever honing their hospitality if they hadn’t already. It would be most inappropriate of them to be unwelcoming, especially when they had to accompany two guests who stopped by for afternoon tea.
“I hope it’s not too hot, young lass,” said Abram, handing a cup in the living room. “I never dreamed for the Brazen Couple to come knocking on my doorstep again, but that only means you’ll never forget a face. After all, I’ve yet to find anyone else here who sports a full crown of lavender locks. It’s unnatural yet memorable, wouldn’t you agree?”
The woman laughed after taking quite a large gulp of her latte. If there was one thing the Whetstones realized something different about her since her arrival, it was her striking orange sweater. “I could say the same, Captain Blondebeard!” she said, finishing her drink. “You better believe that my Haruto and I will remember you until we croak. That’s what heroes do best. No exceptions!”
Abram returned the feeling of amusement with even more heart, taking his favorite seat close to the furnace. “Always with that hot-blooded attitude of yours, I see. If I didn’t know you better, you’d be an upstart little boy with a wooden sword ready to take on the world in another life.”
“Oh, no, I don’t think so. I’d be a hundred times better than any of those fakers! It’s like what my old friend once said: there’s no better me than I.”
“Yes, yes, I agree. I’ve almost forgotten about your second job. I highly doubt any hot-blooded boy could handle it. This friend of yours sure has given you excellent advice, Tokiwa. I would’ve loved to meet them.”
Just as Abram and Tokiwa continued their conversation—switching to the topic of her knitting extra sweaters on a day off—the second guest stepped in between them with arms crossed, clearing his throat to grab their attention.
Frankly, no one in the right mind would ignore the distinct presence of the legendary Red Gunman on any occasion. But since he and his headstrong fiance had some free time, he preferred his actual name for now.
“Not to toot my own horn here, but I believe someone who has seen many guts spilling over in the battlefield can handle anything,” boasted Haruto, wearing the long leather coat that gave him his lasting moniker. Unfortunately, even as it swayed with the wind coming from the living room window, another dose of laughter permeated the air.
Tokiwa giggled before taking a deep breath, smiling for what it was worth. “That’s not the point, babe. You’re better off with me riding you in the sheets until you can’t handle the pleasure anymore. Never underestimate my abilities, you hear? I’ll always surpass your technique!” She pointed a long finger at him, beaming with the charisma of an underdog hero facing an arrogant rival.
“Hah! Surpass? Your grip on me has grown weaker as we speak, Lightwalker,” Haruto responded, carrying a tone of subtle yet unmatched loftiness. “Why not train some more in the bathroom before you bare your hollow fangs?”
“Oh, really? Then, how about you surpass this!?” Without warning, Tokiwa pounced at her beloved as though she had teleported into his presence, now taken over by the intent of tickling him on the floor like no tomorrow.
“Wait, no, please!” Haruto begged in a neverending cackle. “No, seriously, I brought my guns with me. Please, please stop! Hahahaha!”
The chaos continued, even as Abram tried to tell them enough was enough. He couldn’t help but laugh with them again, but in fairness, no one could blame him. After so many winters, the Brazen Couple remained more brash than their title could ever be, even when not counting the gratuitous innuendos amidst their love. Indeed, that four-letter word always remained hidden beneath their banter—unwavering and powerful.
Haruto retaliated against the infernal sensation with his own at Tokiwa, further escalating their “battle” into the kitchen as their bodies flickered in a blur around the place. Clearly, these two warriors of light were in touch with their inner child if such a thing proved to exist, but it was still love, begotten of their joy being with each other every day off. One of their screens was keen on showing more of that for the Whetstones.
Soul Melody Activated Lovefool - The Cardigans
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The Brazen Couple bid farewell to the Whetstones, the skies now blessed with a full moon surrounded by the constellations Pavo Major and Gruis Minor. There was a saying they symbolized a happy marriage if seen together before evening. Perhaps one day, Haruto and Tokiwa would come to appreciate this mesmerizing omen in the same spot outside the cottage.
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Holding hands with her fiance, Tokiwa tried reaching for the heavens with a finger or two, unaware that her head tilted at his shoulder. There were no words, only smiles worthy of their future in a land of steel. She did it a second time, presumably for good luck, until she gasped in her own realization and raced back to the Whetstones.
“I’m so sorry for forgetting your birthday last week, Mila. Here, take it.” Tokiwa handed a peculiar present wrapped in the shape of a bird. “Now, you go be a strong, formidable girl your own way, all right? I know the world can be very harsh for people like us, but they’ll never hear our voices if we sit and do nothing. Don’t give in to the words of men who think your place is in their shadow.”
Mila nodded, clinging to her gift in silent joy. “Thank you. I’ll need it for the most recent warrior of light.”
“Oh, yeah, the newcomer. We’ve heard reports about them flying above the clouds into our world. They must be pretty lucky to have a safe landing. What do you think, honey?”
Haruto caressed his chin at the question with a prolonged hum. “Well, I don’t have much to say,” he shrugged. “If they can hold their own against an old-fashioned pistol duel, maybe I’d take them as my apprentice.”
Tokiwa held a bit of laughter in her smile before she giggled again like a crafty trickster right in his face. “Sure, babe, sure. I want to see how strong they are, how many boulders they can crush, and how far they can leap in a single bound! Because once I see some decent results, I’ll also get stronger by fighting them!”
“…you know not everyone is a kendo freak like you, right?”
“Well, you could’ve fooled me with your knife skills. Oh, wait! That’s not your forte, is it, Red Gunman?”
The couple “bickered” for a few minutes, which appeared more like two internet buddies committing to the bit of their fabled reputations. However, amidst another playful argument, it all stopped as soon as a cacophony of unmistakably human screams echoed far within the [Starting Forest]’s entrance. They steeled themselves for the worst without a second thought, offering the Whetstones their utmost protection from behind.
“I go left. You go right,” said Tokiwa, unsheathing her silver katana inscribed with the name spelling «Future’s Hope» on both ends.
Haruto wasn’t above Swordland’s ancient tradition for weapons, either, even when his skill tree bestowed him with the rare ability known as dual-wielding. “Works for me,” he said, twirling out his pistols shining with the names «Huginn» and «Muninn» under the moonlight.
Tokiwa opened a blank gray screen, usually reserved for casting spells to affect one’s surroundings, from moving rocks to parting tsunamis. For this situation, she uttered the game’s native tongue, “O dhiathan, deònaich dhuinn neart fichead fear.” As easy as it seemed for her, not many could fluently recite a spell for enhanced physical strength.
Rumors had spread about the despicable sun cultists turning the [Starting Forest] into their secret base of operations. Along with the screams, the rustling in the trees reached a crescendo, prompting them to sprint into the middle of a battle, waiting to get immortalized in the books. And it would’ve been a battle that would have people talking for ages if not for the stampede of «Grove Slimes» driven out by fellow treaders coming their way.
There was no doubt about it. By some divine intervention, the missing Green Wolves had returned from hell, rejoicing loudly in the word freedom one final time as they leaped out of the woods in unison. If there were anything to immortalize in the books, it would be the triumph of Maki and her guild, lying under the stars from the exhaustion of liberation. Not even the Brazen Couple had come to terms with the sheer miracle they had witnessed just moments ago.
Tokiwa continued to stare at their joys of victory, wondering how they could get up in their wounded state, with their leader offering free drinks at a local tavern in the city. What was more confusing were the children following them like ducklings on a trail, each holding hamburgers out of the blue. Even as she blinked four to five times, the mystery surrounding them grew further.
Haruto advanced closer beside her, stashing his pistols together. “It’s like seeing a ghost, huh? Maybe we should give Maki the flowers we made for her funeral.”
“Yeah, maybe…” said Tokiwa, recollecting her thoughts. “This doesn’t make sense. Theo said she and her guild died against those robe-wearing dipshits. Why are they here?”
“Oh, they died, all right. And now, they’re reborn, at least a second time,” a third voice beckoned the couple on the cottage’s rooftop. With their tall figure obscured by the moon in a pitch-black silhouette, it seemed they had witnessed more than just ghosts that night but also an old friend. “What up, lovebirds! It’s been a long time.”