COI C176

On the next day, it is Juela and Tabitha will be training Miyusuki. Yui and Kiege are going to take care on the safe rooms. Juela supposed to be the only person not to train him because of her high tier magic. She knows this is Sanquin’s disciple, what mana will she allow to use? Then they saw the black mist coming out from his mouth. Miyusuki mentions again about the ‘reaction’. Both of the girls heard a bit from Kiege, and Yui claps her hand for not getting into the secrets what lies on to him. Tabitha was against the idea of keeping a secret.

It wasn’t that long she has a nice story about Sanquin. This makes Tabitha more wanting Miyusuki to insist knowing about it. Yui said no, and because of that. Juela have to be with Tabitha not going to tell him what is it. Tabitha lost the fight, and couldn’t beat Yui with the equipment she has. It was so easy for Yui to defeat her and now Miyusuki looks at it.

“What’s with the head band, Tabitha?”

Juela tries to act by choking herself and looks away. Tabitha opens her mouth without saying a word, a daunting expression to make her feel hopeless wanting to talk with him.

“Oh, I don’t get it why you guys really don’t want to talk about him” Surprised while holding her mouth, the head band really is stopping her saying the specific words she needed to say to him. Miyusuki can only guessed

“Are you guys talk about what Haw told me?”

“. . .”

“Yeah, I never thought you mention about it to Kiege, as it is called the beginnings and the endings. It is easy for you to understand that you have been fully acted as an Enders. Now I understand why the guild masters and mistresses allowed you to join the conversation, but then again, they never even give you the initials. I promised you, you’ll find yourself more than you are prepared”

Tabitha can’t respond, only Juela explains to him with more mystery than solid facts. She hopes that Miyusuki won’t be someone’s puppet, the demons are more eager to make them subjects than partners, yet she still keeping her doubts away whereas Sanquin is involved. Then she guesses about Spokesman’s wife, Lilith, keeping her to wonder how many demons that Miusuki is going to face in the future. Her moping expression is sweeping away in her imagination, Miyusuki and Juela are planning for his next training.

“So, that means. Then this item given to me by the Enders, has value, right?”

Juela sees the gem on his hand, it is not the same gem she gave to Haw. Kiege spoke about it, and it seems to be hibernating rather than awake. It is nothing to compare with the Not Worthy Guild’s beads, yet she sees that there is more than just beads inside, a cross. Juela sighs*

“Kiege should’ve continue training with you. I know she is a hot head, less of an aunt like Yui, but she has dedication to train you and show you your weaknesses”

“Oh, I did. My uncle records everything during my first spar with her. Take a look”

Tabitha and Juela watches the sparring. It is short, that’s good. Then they saw Kiege is struggling fighting him. Obviously, she is fighting against Dexter Guild’s battle gauntlet and a . . . Juela turns her eyes toward him looking serious. A tsk* and she slowly shakes her head murmuring her expression, with her looks trying to be elegant yet frustration sees through her. Miyusuki didn’t know what’s going on, except he should explained himself.

“I guess my equipment were strong, right?”

“A trainee that held so much equipment than you can ever possibly known for. My boy, I guess you are responsible enough with all those equipment”

They weren’t expecting it, the three women coming here to fill the job after hearing reports from Spokesman that three men are down. Tabitha’s reflection was more than they could handle. Not knowing the secrets of this city has already been influenced, so far. That Lilith coming here is definitely true from her perspective. Miyusuki, the shield student, have more than enough to carry his own Enders equipment. Like Ironno who secretly possessing special scrolls that are illegal in this city. Haw did it too by given it to him as well. A smile from Juela’s face appeared then quickly getting strict.

Tabitha knows that look and said to Miyusuki “Hey! What kind of equipment did Haw and the others gave it to you?”

Miyusuki feels shaken to hear Tabitha acting serious all of a sudden, he immediately tells them

“Ah? The gauntlet is from Dexter Guild, and my shield was a gift by Haw . . .”

Juela didn’t believed him “There’s no way Haw can able to make the right materials for your shield, who else are in involved”

“RUSIC! I mean, I heard Rusic helps him to make it. Am I in trouble?”

Juela calms down, yet her gazes keeping in tract on him. She lays out her hand and Miyuzuki follows the message. He handed over his gears.

Somewhere outside of the ferry, this is always be the training point for Miyusuki’s free time. After another long training in the morning, schools at this time are closed because of the upcoming siege. This was his time to get the extra days on working on his training, Kiege did helped him recognized his weaknesses then went out in frustration and forced him into a gym. He was lucky how the staff take care of the situation and gives her a temporary membership. Still, watching Kiege exercise is more than he had realize she is strong and can’t believe his defenses withstand her attacks. Luckily, he had his mind speaks out and now led to Juela.

The sash scrolls identify his equipment. The most prior to use scrolls are burning into the rune shield. There she finds what she truly concerned about. Tabitha thought not telling Miyusuki about his discipleship with Sanquin, but there is this shield had made more problems than she never would expect. Rusic, the heavy drinker, and a good companion had given him a dwarven magic runes. Inside the large plate of the shield, the rune writings reveal its empty blank writings. Not yet to open until the wielder is ready.

“Juela, what are all these?”

“I fear as much, Sanquin is deliberately bringing her spoils to him”

“Spoils?!”

Juela places her hand on her forehead. What’s with Sanquin’s plan for him? It is obvious they are not going to stay, but offer him what she had back in the older eras. She’s gone mad of her personal grudges. The fate of this boy is like the chosen one will bring great salvation upon his people. Her own train of thought couldn’t understand the plot of the demons. Still, she wants to ask him.

“Have anyone of the city knew about your gifts?”

“No, I’ve been testing out my shield like it is strong, but not powerful”

“Powerful is not supposed to be given to a shield. You can’t kill people with it, and importantly, are you using it against powerful attacks?”

The silent has spoken his answers. Now Juela is starting to think more of his training, Tabitha is going to expect as much as she ever witnessed her friend thinking about it. She said to him

“Are you sure that you didn’t even test your equipment? Me and Archivist had practice so much at the Mihayara District”

“I’m sure, I am not going to use powerful abilities at school, and my training is exercising. Oh yeah, I also learn from Kiege’s advice. I learn a technique called, uhm, what is called again? Black mist, it’s something that blows out from my mouth. Want to see?”

“We already heard it from her and you already show it to us, remember?”

“Oh yeah I forgot, so . . . want me to show you, again?”

They turn around and Juela gestures her hand to let them be while she thinks. Miyusuki gets excited and show them what he learned. He positioned himself and take a normal stance, he breathes deeply and pressed out his chest releasing the black mist coming out his mouth. But it wasn’t coming out from his mouth. Did Kiege made a mistake to where the black mist coming out? No, he already used the technique. Juela understood that this black mist is commonly used for warriors in martial arts, to differentiate the skills between mana and physical arts, the term called techniques instead of ‘magic’ skills.

Miyusuki’s silhouette appeared then quickly disappears. He is showing his abilities and quickly interferes his own concentration. The black mist was not fully formed. Tabitha responds to it

“It’s like Archivist’s abilities, but why it isn’t draining like his?”

“It’s because it is not fully formed yet. Our boy here has the power for it but lacks control and will. I didn’t expect that you get out the ground up from your first level”

“I have this ability yesterday. I’ll show you if Haw and the others will teach me more after all that is happening”

“How brave of you, I will see you again if you have the heart of men to come to Enders Bridge”

“Now, now. You two area getting ahead of yourselves”

Tabitha whispers to her “What it got into you? I never expect for you to anticipate for him”

“He is Sanquin’s disciple, we need to know more before he can do on his own. I trust too little for him to do with all those equipment on hand. Let’s invite him after the siege or whenever he has no classes”

Miyusuki confronts them “I heard you guys talk about my school. Well, I’ll be honest. I’ll be finished school in one more year. I’m a second year, so if we are still this world. I don’t mind going, I like to see there as a full fledge guild member”

“You see that, Tabitha. We need to help this young boy. We have limits, but we won’t be limiting ourselves the cost of our lives”

Juela shows Tabitha again with her cunning plan. They are not allowed to tell him about the demons wanting something from him, but keeping an eye on him is another. Juela is not a bad person, and caring is mostly who she is when Tabitha and herself having their time at the guild tower. Miyusuki is being the part of her concerns now. Tabitha didn’t know and still try to understand her. The reflection idea was Juela’s after all, all they did together was to make Tabitha to gain her resolves. While at the back of Juela’s mind knows that she will be more daring in the future. Haw will be more active now since Tabitha is a newcomer too.

Yet Juela still grips the idea from what she learns from this city. She burst it out loud without asking “I hope Archivist will come back to fill your needs”

“. . .”

Juela got herself distracted and Tabitha is blushing and grabs her by the collar. “Why are you so clumsy and air headed?!! You keep saying anything from your mouth when you’re thinking”

“Sorry, laugh* I am just relieved that you’ve done your own adventures beside in the Archives and the sphere”

Miyusuki heard her “The sphere, oh yeah! Why not let me train inside the sphere? I know it is sudden, but my friends have passes to go and take a look at the City Guild”

Juela looks at the building, extravagant, beautiful, and rumors of the flying sea serpent above them. Sanquin mentions about this creature, she didn’t even bother to remember a foreign name and made up the name for herself.

“The flying sea serpent, it is quite a rare creature”

Miyusuki picks up his device “I know, right? Care to take a picture with me?”

Tabitha joins and tries to bring Juela along. The three takes picture using both Tabitha’s and Miyusuki’s, using her sashes, and get some nice drawn distance capture a pic with the sea serpent at the background.

The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

“This looks great!”

“Miyuzuki! You playboy!” Tabitha and Miyuzuki heard someone at their backs, while Juela admires the sea serpent flying into the air bending the water on top of them.

“Wait a minute! You guys!”

“No, don’t explain it to us. We sure thought you won’t be coming here because you are focusing on your training”

His schoolmates are here and try to do some special passes as adventurers. They are all prepared with their own adventuring equipment, high quality and more related to runes. This makes him wonder.

“Where do you get all those stuffs?”

“Oh, these!? it’s because of you Miyusuki. We were so jealous that we . . .”

Someone jumps in and tell him the truth “. . . Some rich kids having privilege are going to train with the high ranked adventurers. We come along because our friends are given away invitation. So, how do you get yourself in?”

Miyusuki looks at them and said nothing. They didn’t know that he has so many ways to get in the city guild. He did the most obvious than the rest of his schoolmates had already forgotten. He brings out Haw’s document with him.

His schoolmates look at the document, a few of them are embarrassed and the rest were not saying a word. Except for the one who steps in “I knew you won’t be that dumb. Teacher Haw was very resourceful. We were fully registered when we withdraw our money after our first adventure. Oh yeah what’s happen to him? I heard you should be training with him, and who are these . . .”

Juela answers them “Your teacher is having a rough quest. So, he handed over the training to us. He is fine for now, we received news that he is still hospitalized”

“Hospitalized!”

They walk inside the city guild headquarters and everyone among the adventurers saw her. A surprised look in their faces to see her here. The welcome introduction of the fight is here, the rat’s partner, the strange woman with only use of magic scrolls as a sash, and now the adventurers quickly spread the words. The coincidence fell into their ears, Heist and the Rogue were ecstatic to hear someone who fought against the Saint Heroes. Then their old competitors were more than just heard the news, they go find her. The hallways swiftly passing through a stretch distance of their magic rushing forward in a strong wind.

Carefully not overblowing everyone’s things and blowing further to those who haven’t. Their sudden appearance had come with the powerful wind, leaving Juela’s sashes flying yet winding itself back to her shoulders. They meet her once again as Juela remembers them

“The swordmasters, elemental and speed. Pardon my tongue as I barely remember fighting for entertainment”

“Juela, do you know this two?”

“There is nothing to worry about, Tabitha. Miyusuki, please convinced them to let us through”

“What?!” The lowly childish worries speak out from his voice. He is facing S ranks, and Juela asks him to let them through.

The back of his head is trying to help him say it to himself “It’s training, it’s training, it’s training to have confidence”

Rolling into his mind keeping himself not to stutter, he tries to speak

“M-m-may I . . .” He speaks proudly.

Ruby and Gemina can’t believe she is here, the woman who beat them. They watch Miyuzuki murmuring himself. Has he forgotten they are with one of his classmates, Joanne? Or does getting himself surrounded with high ranked adventurers made him stuttered. The shield student surrounded by everyone, eyeing on him, including his schoolmates. This is not what training he wanted to be in.

“Can we be a part with the city sphere’s training!”

His tone was separated between fast spoken too loud at the end, losing his words that should be a question than an exclamation. Tabitha tries to help him, but Juela stops her. She honestly said to her behind his back

“Are your youths really not taught to speak properly?”

“What are you talk about? I too didn’t speak properly in front of my recruitment”

“Of course, you are speaking in foreign grounds. Now this is where they speak in your home city. Still, can’t speak is more of a burden for me as a foreigner”

“Uh!”

Miyusuki had his eyes confused trying to find to say the right word after that. Their silent is given no confidence in his words. Wishing for Juela shouldn’t tell him to do this. Tabitha walks in and said,

“Excuse me, sorry for the intrusion but we would like to go to your city sphere. We are guild members in Enders Bridge and we heard this side of the zone. We would like to go contact with them, the hard way”

Gemina responds “The hard way?”

Juela steps in “Well of course you don’t know. It is because like what happened to our guildmember, this a good training for our new guild member and hope you can understand”

Their environment is surrounded by adventurers, especially the high ranks are here. More and more of different students from other schools coming in to see. Others don’t want to be rude and let themselves be and get into the city sphere. Meanwhile the crowd is getting bewildered by this meeting to see Juela and the two eyeing at each other, actually, Juela has no idea why they do this. This intense moment broke off when Haw’s girlfriends come running at the main entrance. A sight of Enders is what they wanted to see and the someone they dearly miss won’t be able to visit them.

Luckily, both of them were blocked by the other adventurers. It was a little showcase, but it is surely difficult for anyone get a look at this. The three women who fought each other from the stadium, finally speaks out more. Gemina says to her

“Apologies, but we would like to speak with you. This is not what you think, but most people like do this when they meet people who faced S ranks”

Miyusuki feels so relief and excuses himself. Juela watches him walks away, showing disappointment that his training steps aside by her. She remains poise and let them say what they have in mind.

Gemina continues “I know we are in the wrong side at the start. You clearly understand that our city will soon be attacked. As the other Enders were in the island and they don’t have the manpower as they focus on the east mountain. We just want to ask you personally or anyone in your guilds available, to offer some help”

Juela sees they are having trouble, but it is surely because they are facing the demons, they face them unprepared. All of their resources are used up and another one is coming in. However, the train helps them greatly with large quantities of scavenged resources coming through the station.

Her expression was not too great that she had to be involved without any idea what Myrrkei had done for them. She has no interest what the researcher had done to find out about this place. Especially for the guild masters’ decisions to give them the sphere to form a proper conflict. Yet, the Enders guild have no reasons to speak to them nor give them the proper contact. The adventurers are probably going desperate to see their city fell to ruins even further.

“The city sphere, did they still don’t want to have contact with you?”

“Since the day we operate it, and the time Haw was kicked out on first contact”

“That’s obvious, it is because they never mention about Enders from the other side. Yet . . .”

Juela, a known noble by the other Enders. Rich and respectful once they laid their eyes on her sigil, a charm that made out of wax and powerful item to cleanse away all magic. She is certain they could stop and give a moment for her. She rips the piece of her sash and gives it to Miyusuki.

“. . . You go on ahead, and don’t lose that piece of the scroll. Your training must continue, and Tabitha. Fill his duty and help him, I’ll pay for dinner or better, ask a reward among Enders there. Miyusuki has the piece of my sash”

The city guild invited Juela into their meeting room, leaving the two at their own whim into the city sphere. Tabitha heard them mentioning about the progress of the city. Rumors spreading further out about the so called that hope finally getting better.

“That girl is one of the rat’s companions, right?”

“Yeah, not only Haw who provide us the resources on manufacturing for our equipment and guiding us about the sphere. Now we have her to show us something better”

“What about that girl? She seems to be part of the guild, and also that kid”

“You heard her, let them train. We just need a little push to settle that problem in the ruins and the massive tree. The Dexter Guild did very well, but they are only focusing in Taiyou Industries”

“Still, they finally taken it back for good”

“Yeah well, that won’t be enough since the area is still clear”

“I was wondering why they didn’t even continue attacking the massive tree”

“Says who when it leaches the city barrier’s shield”

“The high ranks really getting their luck out to reach out many strong guilds in Agatheus City, and now one more. I can feel that we can survive this”

“You can say more than that, the dwarves and the goblins are independently joining to help us. I don’t think we can lose this time”

“I’m wondering what the elves are doing since I heard they headed to east mountain”

“It’s fine, that’s where the monsters coming from. This will ease the siege”

Tabitha listens to them all with her magic cards, properly sorted out the conversations made her doubt than she had expected. Truly, she is happy that there are many supports. While she remembers the Enders are spouting out real details how they come and help. If it is true that the information she heard from the Enders, it means it was an order rather than kindness in return. Yui had keep mentioning about it to her inside her room multiple times. Agatheus City’s inner realms are where she will see the truth. The reality that this apocalyptic world had kept so many lives in tact, and imprisoned themselves in their little realms.

There will always be a number of Enders staying and guarding from those citizens. It is unimaginable for the residences to reside on the bridge. No one knows how many people the Enders have, but they are all warriors of travel. They didn’t know where the ordinary people reside besides the tales of them going in and out as the land bridge of greed and fast opportunities. The Enders know, and they won’t expose their homes from their past horrors. Their concerns are in front of them, seeking less to admire them as they chose to stay this world. Others are praying for their offspring to still have their natural existence persists back to their home world.

One of them, is a dwarf. All contents on his back are the loots of their supposed enemies, the citizens. The citizens tried to cheat themselves to rescue the people they have chosen the wrong path. This realm is the greatest key to save many they couldn’t imagined. Their masters and mistresses tempt them to do it, and the citizens still fail to get through the main sanctuary or the center of all stolen landmarks. They will never let them see the truth of this place. The thieving realm of Rune Isles, it must not get their hands by those unworthy people. They must flee, they can’t save this world, and they won’t be saved by their own people.

“I sense Enders from the other side, the commander is there”

“Commander? I thought words of her being willing to get herself to return to her home”

“It is obvious she was home, now back to here again to lead. We should be confronting her instead the other flanks or adventurers”

“Chuckle* Thanks for the laugh, but she is there and were here”

“I think we won’t be following the rules, I can feel magic coming from them. Noble blessings, childish but reasonable. You rusics will be providing some nice rune words for her needed cooperation”

Tabitha walks across the Isekai City’s side of the realm. It turns the part of the domain into a livable adventuring town. Signs of materials made from Rune Isles and the citizens were able to refine it to fit the sanitize place. Large and wide that that could be befitting as one of the evacuation areas, but where she sees her UI. It wasn’t that easy for her to believe, same goes from the other side. The main controls are still belonged to the Enders and the required resistance to not getting kicked out from this realm is still the same. Foolishly admitted, and the deceptive place is lively. Such a great place and her people made it more troublesome from what she knew.

“Tabitha, you mustn’t mention about this place. Your people shouldn’t be controlling this powerful realm. Both prison and the weapon are alike in this place. We were able to take it over through the name of Ehan’Se. Compared it with the dungeons your people speak of, this one is where they stored or stolen the most of our historical landmarks. Complicated, I know. The Enders let you see it. It is because they know the monsters here will escape and free themselves to your city and mine. How many lives will it be worth it?” Elrond honestly said to her with a warning.

Miyusuki and his friends were in awe to see such a lovely place. They also wondered how he is not being kicked out. The requirement to keep yourself existing is tremendous. His UI is low and the RAP requires the UI. They tried to ask him, but Tabitha pulls him and headed to the front. He said to her

“Are we really going there now? Can we just look around how the city guild made it look so amazing?”

“It’s another generic adventurer town. It looks like a game and nothing else”

Tabitha senses them, her subordinates, followers, or anthing they say to her as her units. It is great they are here and keeping themselves fighting her people, but there are more people she never contacted with. A full race rather than random people who are connecting with the Dexter Guild, Voldemyr, Archivist, Guildmember, and Elrond himself. These people are dwarves, what happened here that makes her trying to go there fast. The magic cards help her to see who they are. Rune heavy infantries and their inventory are switching to being adventurers. What else that the information on her is showing the skills and abilities.

Is this the magic cards help her know about her allies? Or was it because her own party is given information as the ties made it easier? This is not the issue here for her, it is something the message told her

“Magic wordings for the dwarves, these dwarves are infiltrators. Go at them or they will come at you like in the night raid”

“Leader is here, so, is she leading them?”

“I can sense her improvement, but where’s her bodyguard”

Tabitha notices that it added more than just a warning or maybe there are few who don’t know about her magic.

They didn’t make it as the warning signs coming from the walls. Then went silent, the adventurers are retreating as they shout out for help. “Bring the rogues or anyone with stealth abilities. They are raiding at daylight”

They tried to use their spells to cause an attraction to this place, but it got taken down faster than they could ever started. Miyusuki is trembling on his knees, as his first time is facing the adventurer’s fright. Tabitha uses her card to raise his bravery.

“Don’t back out, those are Enders. We are their allies”

“Uh, OK!”

His classmates and friends saw him going into where the adventurers are fleeing, they rushed to see but they were ambushed by the runes. The rune stones rolling on to them and released a powerful aura. They quickly lost their resistance and forced out from the sphere. They made to the wall and see the edges of the wall are grapple hooked. The loud groans coming from their mouths are just singing along. Miyusuki loses himself in laughter to hear dwarves singing.

“Rusic’s drunken song, did they just run away from the drunk dwarves”

Miyusuki continue laughs and turned around to see the inner walls. Then quickly shuts up and saw the raiders are dominating them by throwing runes and clear the adventurers off from this area. The singing drunken dwarves made it up to the walls. And one of them Tabitha recognized.

“It’s you!”

“Yes, I am here hic*”

“Stop making that expression”

“But it’s good war music, you won’t believe that your people are using music as magic”

“Uhm, Tabitha what’s going on?”

“I think Juela has something to do with this. No one can’t stay in this realm for long when Enders and citizens are fighting”

They were surrounded, the dwarves singing like bastards but their voices soon change as they made a strong loud voice;

“Ale, Beer, and Liquor!

Hail the dwarves (Rusic), to our superior!

Hearts are stone, greet you from the cave

All around you gone (poorly rhyme), nothing to save

Hic* Oh what are we sing about

Belch* Murmuring* are we scouts”

They laugh, pretending to be drunks. Yet the singing is loud and clear, convincing yet confusing. Tabitha couldn’t believe how they get here so fast.

“Why are you making fun of us in this serious realm?”

“Look down, Lass”

They both look down from the front, where the Enders with magic potential are here. Juela is a rich girl, and be careful to whom she has connection to. That dumb stunt is still meaningless, and one of the casters approach her to the top of the wall. She looks at her and Miyusuki, then to the far reaches of their town. Not impressed of their defenses are still in their advantages. Yet, they need to confirm it. She lays her hands and said,

“Where’s Lady Ri-E'ash’s letter”

Miyusuki gives it to her “Here”

She grabs it and sees the magic spell. The two watches her reading it as his training is about to begin.