COI C137
Before lunch, Tabitha and Archivist continue their own training to hone the abilities she had to learn. Outside of the barrier, there her cards were able to be use instead in the safe areas in the city. Training areas, simulated magic rooms, and even legitimate realms that help to use high tier magic and skills were not able to activate her deck. Just step out from the safe zone and the deck provided so many unique cards to her under the two decks and one extra for the special place she ventured.
The last few days they were training and waiting for the Dexter Guild hideout to provide the information they needed to whom are the threats were. The skills and abilities they have in secrets will be difficult for Archivist to deal with. She doesn’t have proof to expose who they are and they might cause trouble in the city including the old community. Many innocent people will get hurt in the process and all while the monsters outside of the city will return and continue the fight if the situations are not finished.
Archivist sees her expression leaving herself out of the moody distraction. Anyway, her old connections inside the Fuku City were able to grant her the membership in a private website. Only she alone to use it secretly but her mind is bind with him. So, it is a way of trust between her and him, and Kiege . . . If she blows it again and out from her own thoughts. These past days made her feel that she is once again feeling the daily routine in Enders Bridge. The fight against those hidden monsters in the ruin made her feel more confident than usual as her deck gives her the idea what to do with it.
Tabitha says to him “When will they show us the information about them?”
“How many people did you remember who left the city?”
“More than 10,000 people, I don’t want to be harsh but there should be a lot of them dying out from the east coast by now”
“You sure acting like they deserve it. People have their own choices. I expect they are more than that”
“How so?”
“Before all the lives going away in the life of the post-apocalypse, my people have already counted your people to be 300,000 people or more. Where they are living inside a big city”
“Be surprised how Fuku City and Mihayara District to be the biggest areas with their high-rise buildings”
Continuing on their training, they are at the border near Chojima District. Where the highways had cheap goods to sell as it stationed a handful of Horsin from Agatheus City, it is a camp stretch homes on the road, and everything on it made it silly refuge base out of the materials brought from the forest. It feels like a wooden camp, where many travelers are there to rest. Even riding from a train, they headed here for the cheapest service they could find. No known rich people from the cities ever want to check this place yet, until the city removes the ruins and the tree from the outskirts.
Where they stood at the overpass bridge as it guarded with Agatheans and other goblins who are there to make a gate house out of it. The goblins were busying hearing stories among the spirits. Their faces lost confidence as they heard about something dangerous.
“The spirits are still coming to this place. Demon presence is near, yes?”
“No good for the boyz here, would they treat us as their doggos again?”
“Doggos? What’s that my boyz?”
“A leached creature or search animal to let them know where to look for bad voodoos”
“Sounds like you wanted to be insulted laugh*”
They laugh as they see the two of them returning from their training. “Humiskis incoming, show them with the city best entrance. 1 . . . 2 . . . 3 . . .”
Tabitha is about to enter the barrier using her last card as she plays rewind back at them. The card resets them back under a moment’s time, the goblins rehearse again to where they are talking about the spirits. What a powerful card made by Yui herself. As they moved pass them, she sees them already halfway pass them and repeats the same act. When they are about to start, they already moving away from the advertisement placards on their faces.
“Am I really using the most powerful deck I have for this?”
“It’s in your hands, and probably the reason why Yui made it conditional”
The overpass bridge is the only passage in this area to go inside the ruins. The barriers are guarded and patrolled where mostly the police. This section of the city is where the police station as well. Some of them take advantage the hospitality of the Agatheans, and it was the goblins who offered. The bad rumors spread as they are the one who gives tributes and acted like they are bribing them. Thanks to social media, they were exposed and at the same time the goblins were not ‘cancelled’ to the least. She is just happy that culture not working in this world.
They go inside the tent, where the caterings prepared. A nice sign on all around that says ‘NO GOBLINS ALLOWED!’ It wasn’t because of their hate for that race. There are also news articles place on the side about reselling foods, left over foods to the children. The Agatheans were the one who are responsible for it for reason. Now, they are provided a location for them to settle their businesses. The good news is those were not the same goblins before the siege, they are the bad tribes wandering in through the barriers. The police weren’t prepared against a goblin smuggling on themselves as the spirits are densely taken actions inside the ruins.
After a nice read of the board, Archivist shows a relief while reading it. Tabitha looks awkward at his expression as they get their lunches. The variety of the food here is popular to most Tais and Agathean cuisine. Recipes not improved, but original nonetheless. She visits this place since her first day of training. A soft sigh on her tone
“Why is this place only open at brunch until 3PM? Why not a whole day or night?”
“It’s because they don’t the luxury to eat at night besides night gatherings”
Tabitha takes a big bite on the monster meat. Crispy deep-fried rabbit like meat, with extra care with its soft meat including crunchy combination in a form of a nugget. She deeps it one of the variation of sauces, it is like heaven to her sweet tooth. Archivist brings out the main meals from the Mountaiwall’s best underground vegetations. Cave mushrooms and other fungi ingredients soaking on fresh vegetables. Its unique flavors over powers the vegetables as its nothing like the food they are eating. It is healthy and considered rare meals as it is commonly eaten by the goblins.
She said it Archivist “The main course is really good. I just don’t like you have to ration to eat it”
“This is from Mountaiwall, and this not how dwarves serving this dish but the goblins. I don’t know what ingredients they made to make them see the spirits with, and I’m sure those ingredients kept preserved”
“Then there should be more than this, right?” “Goblins have distinct taste, and what the spirits will do with such knowledge that is not their own. If it is true then shouldn’t be acting like tribes”
“Then how about we should try some dwarven meals”
The catering does have Dwarven dishes, but the looks on the display as the smell of alcohol on the meal is strong. She is not going to have it during the day if she gets drunk over the powerful taste of an alcoholic drink on a dish. They already both know how they made it. One strong drink at a time nearly reaching 40% (in her UI readings) and her tolerance won’t be able to keep herself straight. She just picks another main course from the Agathean meals. With all that in such a cheap price because of Alga’s light endless fruition to multiply the produce and the livestock.
During their lunch, Tabitha receives a message from her private chat. One of the community members who is under the influenced with the defectors. She read the message and it was the man who did computer stuffs. Telling about his story about him getting involved in a special project, where the defectors and their business stretch as there are many things to do. She reads his situation, the same situation with the others. Surrounded by people who are in the toxic community. Not from the defectors, and they are not stopping with their harassment and their prejudice.
Tabitha speaks it out to Archivist “When will they collect all the details about those people too?”
Archivist still wearing a mask as the mask phases through the cover into his mouth, pretending the faces that it did took a bite with a happy face. “Now you’re getting on to that Guild”
“Hmm?”
“Dexter Guild is specializing in modern infiltration. I bet they are had the data you needed, and the solutions will be added for free. You don’t know this, but you’re giving them access to what they call technical superiority to them”
Her eye raised and only giving the expression to him as a joke “Then should I ask more with my ‘accounts’”
He kept eating and quickly swallows “Cough* My bad, I mean I have no knowledge regarding to business. You may think it is enough, for a smart group such as them. They knew how to get and where to get their business from. There is a line coming from the old guild masters of theirs. A saying; ‘Give us an inch and we take a mile’ Strange dead words, do you know what inch and miles are?”
Those two words were not actually translated, and her device trace the verbal speaking into it from the raw translation. This is something from their language is not familiar with. Tabitha almost forgot about it
“I’m sorry, I got distracted. You talk something like one of our languages from our world. Never mind, I think let’s go back to training after we rest”
“Let’s hope we get more from the Dexter Guild”
“Like what?”
“Nothing, my expectation got into me from Haw’s perspective”
“Oh yeah, we should talk to him more about his former guild”
Going back inside the ruin as Tabitha thought somewhere would better for her to train. She pointed out the place where the artilleries buildings are. “I think I would like to go that building”
“It looks kind of dangerous . . . !!!. . . That building looks so devastated. Is that one of the buildings stationed with their heavy weaponries?”
“Yeah and, there is where the people from Fuku City gathered. I think I want to use my trait again. I need to endure their presence. I am not going to lower myself down with their powers overwhelming me”
“You are strong, Tabitha. I am sure the few months’ work did your best with Kiege and Juela”
Tabitha brings out her wand and the decks floating in front of her. The suspense to go to them made her mind tremble with auras she could not bear. Later, closing to the next block at their destination. Archivist stops, and their bind reaches her to follow his caution. Both in silent, not going to say through their mouth. The thoughts gathering to the two as the speculation lead their heads astray from their main objective. Someone is coming to them, no signs of threat from her, but is a sign to be cautious for him. A familiar aura under the feint glow. The same sensation with the shield student’s gem.
Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.
This one is different, as if something feinted. Like a forbidden magic is used, the same taboo that rumors from Enders Bridge. He sees the light without a soul, only a whisper trying to say a word. A foreign tongue reaching to his carefully listening ears. Tabitha heard through her telepathy and said
“Not Worthy, is Azin here? No, I can’t sense that weird aura . . .”
She went quiet and sees someone is coming this way. A man with an equipment attached to his right back shoulder.
Where Hito is headed, already out from Fuku City. Where the border of the barrier is, and the person he tries to find is different from the robe. It was a mask. The stranger turns around as his face lit up with an expression.
“Why do I feel a guild magic on you?”
Archivist faces him as he tries to explain himself. “Sorry, my name C, C down, and I have friend who has this strange bead . . .”
Archivist stops him while the bind with Tabitha springs out her reaction “A bead? Don’t explain it too much. I don’t know what you’re trying to say. But I think you are talking about another Enders, right?”
C thought it was the person what Junko asked to meet in the vision. It was definitely the same man in a robe. Anyway, Tabitha and Archivist introduced themselves “Besides that, I’m Tabitha and this is Archivist. It’s nice to meet someone who knows more about other Enders”
Archivist says to him directly “If you are mistaken for me to the person who you are looking for. We could have a conversation here”
C is getting caught into this mess. He wants to excuse himself as he needs to see Junko for her mistake. Archivist didn’t want him to leave just yet.
This place was the vision given by the bead. Also, the same place where those incidents happening from the first abduction incident happened here. No new news about this place, yet there are more reports happening inside the ruins. He is not sure what is going on, while the two look at him quietly, waiting for him to say. Tabitha uses her telepathy to contact with Archivist.
“Guild magic? You mean Lady Constantine’s magic?”
“It’s your choice Tabitha, follow the mystery of the guild’s chain of events or not”
“Sigh* I thought I should’ve forgotten about her teachings like that back in the sphere”
After for some time, Tabitha didn’t hear C responding. He looks really awkward to say anything as she needs to end this conversation sooner than rather later. She realized where did Azin was. C is probably from Fuku City from what she heard from him. Putting it into two in two together, he might be the better choice to help her to go through the city. She starting to think about Azin’s travelling through there in the first place except spreading his faith.
“Now that I think about it. Are you looking for the man you think it was an Enders?”
C nods as he slowly moving back from this embarrassing moment. Archivist’s coin solidifies the magic around C. He felt a wall is behind him as he turns his head. “Yeah, I am looking for him. A missionary who wears a robe”
Archivist dashes forward in front of him from the words coming from his mouth. “A robe, this is enough for me to ask. Do you want us to help you find him?”
C feels the aura on him. A strong presence that he could not sense his magic. The invisible wall on his back was him who casts it, still he can’t sense the magic he used. His UI did find something about his equipment. Only two though, there is a coin and a sash. That’s it, with limited presence of magic but the coin is being used in sequence. The sash though lies stagnated, but the detection says it has, giving a mysterious vibe. C uses his UI to detect Tabitha’s power level, blank, and it shows no information at all. The blankness of the UI from her seal under a foreign language.
Tabitha’s UI detected him scanning her. Her robe blocked anyone who tries to search her or any magic tries to reach her inner mana. The robe gives warmth on her body to feel the sensation as a sign of interference. She wasn’t suspect anything to everyone who always occasionally using the UI to scan each other. The RAP had provided a rare ability to identify their enemies reaching a certain tier of magic powers. C from Fuku City, known for the people dependent on runes. The neutral mana is still the common use among the citizens, the weakness is everyone can able to resist it.
C held his powers in runes with the gadget on his right back shoulder. Nothing else to see with his other abilities as it is the most viable abilities he could get when fighting against neutral mana monsters. He is been thinking, and those two had some connection with the stranger. It would be easier for him to find the stranger, and bring them to the store if they are what he thinks may help them. If Junko or the stranger will be the one asking, he still has so many options to think about escaping. The defector, but they warned him. Junko’s new friend, but couldn’t trust him even with the magic item given to her. Now this two, he is getting problems to bring innocent bystanders in this situation.
After a bit of thinking, he decided he had to tried it. Enders might know each other, especially they are known for every people they have is in the guild. “Ok, but I warned you. The place where I am from is not welcoming”
Tabitha uses telepathy on Archivist “You know only the surface of it . . .”
Archivist nods at C as he gives his warnings “When we do find him, don’t be minded to our conversation. It will a bit foreign to you while we have our own discussion”
“I see, and thank you”
Tabitha held herself from the sheer experience again back to Fuku City. The time she entered that place was surprisingly had many defectors. With that such numbers, what is the purpose to report them as the people who are blending into society will get hurt in the process. The news from Mihayara District’s gang activities were bad. Bad happens to Haw and the others when it comes to a certain incident in the realm. This is going to be difficult for her if there is a realm out there will trap them in.
The stranger looks at Junko feeling confuse all of a sudden. After the rest of the customers finish their business, she immediately shows to him with her head down as she said “This bead is giving a vision where you were. But you’re here and I don’t know what am I supposed to do”
The stranger wasn’t too happy how it acted. He bows down following the citizens’ customs of apology. “I have forgotten that this bead has a mind on its own”
“A mind?”
“Yes, more like the spirits in shamanism. If you still don’t understand, it is like talking ghost and only medium such as . . . me could hear them clearly”
Junko looks at the bead as it didn’t respond. It should light up when she starts praying, mentally she did that while in her inventory keep glowing without anyone can see it. The stranger looks at the bead as he whispers his voice in feinted, powerful, and convincing tone. Like a crazy person acting strictly on an object. This awkward moment, she said to him
“Uh? Sir?”
“Oh? I guess you don’t know my magic. Have you sense me casting a spell?”
“No”
“Really? I guess you think I’m crazy?”
Junko feels empathy from how he acted “No, no, no! Not at all”
The stranger gives an unconvincing look. Junko looks at him being silly like a friend don’t believe you kind of situation. She grins and said “Giggle* Ok, just a little”
“That’s great, and I thought you still that gloomy person like the past week or so”
“But, we are just met four days ago”
“You’re probably right, I was probably a normal customer back then”
The sound of the entrance ringing as more customers entered the store. The stranger didn’t say anything and waves her goodbyes. She follows the same as this conversation with him is slowly making her feel relief.
The stranger comes out and already seeing people who stalked her during the night. Invisible or not, his magic orb, given by the Lady herself, made it possible to trace them. They made their own magic items to continue their obsessive practices. It was the first day where he found out about them, and this woman is their prey. Listening so carefully as he wants to remove his ears from their prideful mouths in lust. Many more of them through the lower society in different section in Fuku City. He already found areas that segregated to where communities are formed.
The difficult place for him to go access through is the west section of the city, where the most luxurious buildings being developed fitting the advancement of their world’s riches. The stranger scouted the areas how this place being formed. The east side is where the lower class or everyday citizens reside, knowing to be their employees of this area alone. North section is where the old residences are, all being move to there to separate the unsuspecting people being the victim or influenced by unknown agendas. The south section is becoming a dangerous place.
Hearing of gang members are from there, and let to no proof that would be dangerous because it is becoming the most secured and seconds to the west side. The center of Fuku City, it is a center hub of business, meetings, and headquarters for the entirety of the city’s large companies. Or it was, now it has its own companies build up from their resources. The known example so far is the developing guild without a name, and they called them as Fuku City guild for now. This part of the city is becoming tribal colonies to specific social needs. It reminds him the same divide, but only two. The gods and the archscience debacle.
He shakes his head as to where he is now. The store he visited is near to the west and the south, made it a middle ground between the troublemakers and the wealthy. These people though, he tracked them so far that they are from the farthest area to the south east. Questioning his mind of how they wanted to go here without being spotted. The people should know they are here, but they ignore them like a plague. The customers though inside the store. It is so bizarre as if they have to play along.
That time before he listens carefully to the customers. They didn’t go there to have a conversation like that. Their magic used to hide their real conversation about the store.
“The freak still blends with the society”
“What about the creeps who use obvious magic hiding outside of the store?”
“There is nothing we can do, if we are getting trouble on this façade of a good city. We can’t stay in the city and reap on the benefits”
“Shit! If it wasn’t for having such a great lifestyle, I would’ve move to Chojima District”
“Laugh* Why moving such a boring family driven community?”
The people here are already succumbed to the lifestyle. Good meals, better services, and things he doesn’t know why they wanted it but there it is. So many useless things they are looking forward to, clothes, games, bars, high stars restaurants, or any materialistic person needed. He starts to wonder about it, how much money they have even with them showing any less work in this culture? It doesn’t make sense where the money is flowing through and back. The stranger speaks nothing to the philosophy of capitalism.
Travelling to the center again, where the guards are now recognizing him with their eyes with joy as he hears their mock. “It’s him again, what flat out lies will he be going to say next?”
“You think that this time we’re the one who is going to kick him out from this place. A good beating really going to change him instead of the obvious escort”
The actual guard didn’t say to their bad behavior. Quietly not saying anything as the stranger moves passed them. The stranger looks at him, bows respectfully. The guards mocked him “You see that, showing his respect for us. Laugh*”
While the actual guard place his hands together with a slight head bow, showing his sincerity for the stranger.
The good people in Fuku City are being herded along with the bad ones. They don’t want any trouble as they want to live their life. But life is not that surreal when the people of power is now controlling their livelihood, and they should have left this place. Others already given in to the new society while others trying to preserve what it should be the excellence of hardworking people for their country. The stranger understands their will power. This fight will be meaningless when in power is replacing the best to the worst people in higher position.
He made it to the park, where many people go around having cosplays event. A special occasion where there an event somewhere in the area. The sign is showing a convention for the future project in their entertainment industries. Base on about reviving the studios and other entertainment industries. It is their approach in their culture, but for him. This entertainment is skeptical base on the characters. Too young characters nearly identical to children’s or this is what fiction is.
As they are enjoying their own events, he left. Yet, inside of his head is filling up with rage. Why is so entertaining for adults on arts like that? Luckily it was a small group of people, so it wasn’t that painful for him to question it.
“Azin!”
His name was called out, the stranger never thought he could see those two again. An Enders, and so is she and with her partner. There is also another man he sees with the presence of the bead. This must be Junko’s friend sending out to find him. Already glowing in its feinted sunlight glow.
Tabitha reaches out to him “Hey! I heard that you are wandering around the city”
“Indeed, and this guy who is with you must be that storekeeper’s friend”
C nods “That’s right, we thought you are in trouble”
Both Archivist and Azin says to each other almost simultaneously “I’m/He is always in trouble”
The two look at each other, a mask and an expression with a gullible smile on his face. Azin continues “Splendid to hear you have the same idea what my guild did”
“I also know that the bead is giving them the prophecy”
“It is not a prophecy, but a message”
The group goes to a more private place. They stop at a café, where Tabitha starts ordering. The three of them begin their discussion. Archivist shoved them off, as they need to make it easier for them to talk directly. “Skip every detail you have trying to explain to us so far. That vision, what is it mean?”
“I can only say that the bead is interfering the fate of others. In short, it is probably the prayers keep channeling made this reunion happened. I’m sorry, but will you help her for free?”
C was shocked at this as they are directly on the point to help them out. He quickly says to them in shocked. “Wait?! You’re going to help us without even knowing you’re putting your life in a dangerous situation”
Azin says to him “Then stops requesting her for help, praying with that bead. The bead had sent you to us and now the line is in the chain of events. You can stop this, and do whatever you can to solve yourself”
Tabitha didn’t understand what’s going but she has to say something about this.
“Also, Enders can’t be in touch as well. You know they don’t have devices, and the people you can reach out to won’t be able to get them on time. C, I know I’m getting in with your problems, but remember we can’t entertain you for long. We have our own business”
Archivist added “You’ll be also the one is going to settle the loose ends than us. We can’t make it rash to go and save your friend. I know this mad man did something great to help you a little bit . . .”
“Hey!”
“. . . But there is no need to hurry. We are here, let’s see how this is going”
C is surrounded by people who wants to help him. He still undecided and too soon to put his trust to whom. Tabitha already sees his skepticism as she shows no understanding what’s going on here. She just follows the bind with Archivist’s request and helps her to know more about this city. Azin is been wandering around the city, that’s her convincing factor why she was willing to follow him. Archivist focuses on C, as the trace of the magic didn’t even sense the light touching him.
As they begin to talk, it was a long conversation leaving Tabitha speechless. The two however, Archivist and Azin, didn’t leave a change of expression. C didn’t talk about themselves, and only given them the info about Fuku City’s condition. The city becomes truly rotten. Azin already knows the horrible secrets. Whereas Archivist should be expected it from Tabitha’s worries. Now they know their patience weren’t tested, the Dexter Guild is trying their hardest to find their enemies respectively.
C on the other hand, starts to see Azin’s side of his works. Azin says to him “I have not done anything yet. It is not the best time for you take action without seeing the consequences around you. Keep doubting as you can until you know it is the right time to act. This doesn’t mean others would too”
He remembers the people around him as the others who don’t like him releasing their strong intent. Tabitha senses it, this is not going to be easy for what she is going through by helping him.