COI C13
Isekai City was swarmed by root bites where countless of its nests disturbed by Alga's light. The upcoming 4 nights kept since the return of Sister's Hope students. A magic shield was raised and only the identified citizens are allowed in and out, leaving the locals to require their IDs but humbly declined. Haw and Ironno no longer send their reports through delivery by their people and forced in silenced. The other Horsin people accepted the lockdowns and put themselves to work on Stranding Island for the time being, yet many complaints during the night where Ironno's previous conversation reunited.
"I never thought the Agathean man would work with your people. For a rusic like me would never have seen this close"
"Maybe, an Enders like you should know the reason, right?"
Ironno shakes his head and ask him a question
"How did you get the job anyway?"
Agathean man shakes his drinks and gives off a suspicious look, as himself, want to know how did they did it.
"They act like a common people, no, more like they know who to find. Did you have something to do with it?"
Rusic is a bit confused
"Heh? Like how common did they do?"
"It's like this, they chose only base on the physique and limitation regarding logistics"
"Limitations? Huh?"
"I see, then my partner had favors to them"
"Ironno, what do you know?"
"Classified, and only shows when it benefits me"
"Truly named of ruins. Rusic, I believed you won't argue right?"
The rusic just nods and listens
"Yeah, and you acting suspicious about it made me questions about you instead of us"
Agathean man took it a brief time and tells them what it is
"They are searching teachers who are willing to spar with the other co-workers. That's not all, they also do mini mock battles with the students"
"This is too familiar to an academy from the city states"
He brag on and on where the two thought it was natural to adapt
"I'm not even finished yet, the pay they used is Pebblechips"
They seem to be in deep surprised that the Agthean man himself was shock and bringing up a special coin.
"Pebblechips, I thought it was their currency cards or device, but it is more related to ours"
"Yeah, and even the runic stones translated it right makes me surprised even more"
"Oh be quiet rusic, Ironno, do you have anything to say on this?"
Ironno, only kept quiet and stares at it and think. Agathean man tries to pester him a bit more while the rusic waited for him, after a moment it turns into some interrogation. Rusic decided to ask him and proceed the conversation.
"Ironno? Hey Agathean man, let's continue, just let him go. I want to know more what you have in mind"
Agathean man stares right at Ironno and changes gaze to the Rusic who pulls his collar right at him, while Ironno momentarily stops his translation rune.
"Proceed ya wee man or I clod ya like da lad at ya"
"Alright"
Ironno listens as his mind put himself into a dilemma.
"I was trying to say is that the school picks all the right people. Me, a magic swordsman who is a legitimate fighter. I got acquainted with the others and we realized something as well, I've been teaming up with the people who can do dungeons work"
It just a normal discussion from what rusic thought and puts himself into a frenzy, and intentionally punches him as the Agathean man blocks it with his magic.
"Bloody go to the daemons you rotten skulls for maggots"
"I already told you the truth and . . . Aaaaaah!"
"That is the most blatant explanations I ever heard, the entire world has many dangers and why so worried about?"
The two began quarrelling and brawling between their exchanges, while Ironno finally understood. In his thoughts
"So this what the school is planning, surviving or something more. The Agathean man has already figured it out"
The fight ceased and the Rusic let the man be with his anger unchecked, and as for the Agathean man didn't even finish what he is trying to say. His mouth was bruised but still can speak. Ironno turns to him and said it while the stone was inactive. Whisper to his ears, as he understood quite a bit and leave a hard expression.
"I don't get it why rusic acted like that?"
The Agathean man only respond it before . . . yet
"That's why I wanted to work with them, it's like they found something valuable"
Rusic came into their conversation as the stone remained inactive.
"Ya clod should be done weeping, and let's get going"
Then the three of them continue on.
Haw is in school, letting himself busy within the school lab. Reya joined in with the other new teachers as they practice their new lab equipment. "From burners to all types of curving glasses, there is quite a lot of it in this entire lab"
"Books regarding to chemistry and new profound magic lab on the other, it's been less than I could imagined"
The Horsin teachers speculated the lab to their own knowledge and as for Reya introduced any useful equipment she can.
"Surely you can't understand all of these right?"
"That's why we can't go near of it. That's how an alchemists can do for now"
They soon gathered around with Reya supervising their meeting. Haw joins along to introduce the new employees. One of the Horsin didn’t show too kindly about politeness. While the other one is sincere and questionably acting friendly to Haw, but they get along by not showing anything hostile, for now at least.
“I’ve never seen someone behave like that”
“Sorry, but this who I am”
“Certainly, at first I don’t trust him too. No locals acted too nicely under the Agatheus City”
“For the love of, please starts the introduction already. Now I know why you guys needed to be supervise like this”
Reya thought the interview had problems, but even Haw couldn’t get along with that polite man. The agatheans told Haw about their introduction.
“Alright, but there is a catch”
“What catch?”
“Nothing really, but we won’t give our real name that’s the deal we make because of the pebblechips”
Haw sneaks a whisper to Reya as one of them continue their reasons for it. Reya didn’t get why people won’t tell their names, and probably because of this city change their name as well.
“I’ll play along, and I’ll be asking question about it”
“Alright, please make it subtle for me to understand”
“Ok, my name is First and this is Second. We are from Agatheus City, and there should be one more but he wasn’t here at this moment. The other one would be a citizen, it would be easier to talk to her than us”
“Then prefer my name to be real, I am Haw Edan. All four of you, for what purpose are you working on this school?”
“Actually, one of us is an actual candidate being a teacher, while for us doing a project”
“In other words, we are here is making a sphere. According to our employers, right?”
“Yeah”
“And now, we are here to complete it through pebblechips which is the sign of trust. And my reason to hide my name”
Pebblechips, amazing how it pays through comparing their service and the quality of their performance. It is the most trustworthy currency to employers and abusive if certain agreement led to slavery. Luckily, the school made the contract as humane as possible. It still felt like taking advantage nonetheless, with only three Horsin working for them. Either they are trustworthy or a liability, it is sure that both of them can share their interest with.
“You recommended it to us remember, Haw?”
“I know, and it is a recommendation”
“Just tell them why they accept it”
“Why did you guys accept the pebblechips? I have a different contract with them to help the school”
“It is probably the project we are going to make, if it is that important to make a facility. Then I’m probably guess they know about the portal abuse in the foundation”
“Uhm, our employer is over here. I think we should better ask her”
“Not now, Second. I’m not the type to ask a common situation happening to this city. Even Agatheus City had this problem during the night”
“It’s alright First, their problems will be solved if they figured it out in time”
“Like I would, that’s why we can’t trust those good little mocks. Sorry Second”
Reya understood about what these people are saying. A little too much having the other guy getting cornered by the two. Enough of her self-distraction, it is about the those pebblechips. They won’t be paid unless all demands are satisfied, which helps them control the situation. It was kind of absurd thought to be paid until it is complete, yet, these people accepted it without even try to completely fill up their forms. She remembers them saying 'Pebblechips are the only thing you could trust now' by Thean no less. Whereas the three talk a bit more serious on the project.
“What’s your part doing with the project? I’ll be the one be setting up the sphere’s controls. Second?”
“I’ll be doing external project for the sphere. If anyone who don’t do inside the sphere. I’ll instruct them to do it for me, but I’ll be the one be facing the after effect”
“Mine should be filling up the position on this project”
“Are you going to be our labor? I don’t mind a helping hand . . . Oh”
Second thought of him filling up some positions, then he realizes about the sphere. What sphere is coming here? And to be this important means by looking at him, an Enders.
First already know about it, it is too early for the citizens know how to get the best selection of recruits. It’s kind of identical for the Enders recruiting in their cities. Trying to be suspicious all the time won’t be easy under that kind of stress. The pebblechips was the answer, many don’t like it is not because of trying to control the employees but the opportunity to trade the stolen money with the price of choosing from the victim. Anything, from what he thought. Reya didn’t show no intellect about it, but for First, it is something not take chances to take from him or from them.
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By the end with the project planning, Haw had his head wrap around those two hidden names.
“For what reasons are you using fake names”
“I told you . . .”
“Any names beside from this city’s language”
“That’s our name by choice, but it probably because of the trend of this city”
“You mean how they change theirs, from the past, they know why. This world treated names valuably”
“You already know it, Haw. Why make a fuss about it”
“Ours are not heavily depended on a certain mana, you know the lore about it”
Reya heard about it during their first time in this world. One of the defectors shown sign of demonic presence because of using their true name, it was traumatizing.
“I want to apologized to say this but, it’s kind of fun. Playing along what the city is trying to hide the menace and helps them ease a bit from what it is happening . . .”
Second shows a small side of him being Agathean. Haw for once bit less cautious about him, First knew it won’t last that façade of his co-worker, and Reya herself agreed to hide it, but the way he sounds make him less sincere after that apology.
“. . . I think we should end it here. Let’s talk more when the planning is ready”
“That didn’t take long to hear an Agathean said that”
First smug about to hear ordinary people of his city to talk like that. Chaotic and well behave like a hypocrite, then again, their actions differ what they experience in life. Both of them returned practicing the lab, were both of them use magic as Haw didn’t know anything more of their roles and abilities. It will be a matter of time where they need a proper meeting instead an entire conversation. Reya pulled him away from them and bring him to the faculty. “Let’s head to the faculty, I think we need to discuss more than I wanted to know”
The school installed magic rooms for sometimes now, an instant travel magic door to door. It is new for Reya as she tried it out.
“I understand we used too much of the notes you given us”
. . . they entered a classroom . . .
“I’ve never thought we using the most efficient, but still”
. . . to the roof top . . .
“Sigh* I admit, we don’t know much about the project than themselves explaining to us”
. . . to the storage . . .
“AND WHY IS THIS MAGIC DOORS AREN’T GOING TO WHERE I WANTED TO GO!”
. . . another classroom from a different floor . . .
“Let me open the door”
Haw opened the door and they are at the hallway. Confused how this magic door works, trying to play along opening and closing the door. Make Reya felt being silly to herself and him doing more less convincing than they both thought.
“Let’s just go there normally”
Haw closes the door and Reya opened the door.
“Fine, I need to know why the magic door like this . . .?”
She opened the door and now they are in the faculty room. A teacher who recently closed the door and is surprised by someone entering so suddenly.
“Oh, the door was opened a moment ago. You’re using the magic door, please don’t forget to close the door properly or you won’t get here in the first place”
Reya smiles at the teacher as she grew annoyed by all this imperfect magic. Haw notices someone is talking with Andui and the others. It was one of the new employees, they reach to them as they are busily talking.
“Hey Reya, what took you so long?”
“Magic doors, I don’t know much about it”
“Yeah, well it is till in the work in progress”
Coral is talking with Reya, Haw hears the conversation.
“When will the project begins?” “Thean, we will tell you when it is arrived. You will have to visit here everyday if don’t have something for us to contact you”
“Please, just call me Agathean man”
Coral interferes again what he is trying to be as.
“We decide to call you Thean or Ian, it is a long name for our mouth to say”
“But you accept First and Second”
“I don’t want to, and I won’t say your long name”
“Alright, I’ll be at the gymnasium to test your sparring ring. Contact me there or I might be in that magic room at the stair case”
Thean left as their conversation ends there. Haw is waiting for Reya to talk with him. They were busy talking among themselves, mentioning about the details of their new employees. Follow up with gossips, Iggy wave at him to come closer. He humbly declined by shaking his head in a serious look.
“Damn Haw, why is acting serious of all the sudden?”
“I think he heard something from us”
“We are just mentioning about Thean, what brings him here”
“Oh Andui, about that”
Reya explains to them that Haw is planning to join the project.
“Are you serious? Can Haw helps making the project?”
“Not only that, Andui, there are other position he needs to fill”
“I thought it just making a facility”
Coral reaches out to Haw
“Hey Haw, are you going to help the project too?”
“I should be, I’ll be sending reports to the Enders Bridge about it. If we don’t have a proper operator, they will bring out more when the time we progress better what they are expecting”
“I thought it only benefit for us”
“I know, and it is better a near realistic one. You people decide make it through the notes I have. Enders are not that low standard than you expect”
Andui is grateful to hear from him to help their school. They understood that they ask for it, and the Enders are willingly help them. For Haw, follows the orders of his report what demanded for them. The letters he received before coming to this city are from his guildmaster, Daygen, he expected it to be from other Enders as well. They are planning to help the survivors, and more he knows as the time with them grew.
“Hey Haw, it is kind of weird for them help only specifically towards us”
“Me too, Reya, giving you my notes had already predicting your plans without me knowing”
The notes they received from him were interesting and more relatable than they ever imagined. A safer way to train and letters including to survive the natural apocalypse they will be facing. They were skeptic at first, but they already see the prototypes from the city, it is limited and identical what the notes offered. It was one of the reasons, and hope it would help the students not going overconfident like they did in the expedition. Now with the recruits joining on the project, they have confident that this new facility will help them. In the last warning of the note they read, what makes them use the Enders sphere. “Beware of the race who successfully destroys who entered this world before”
Thean is in the gymnasium with the other agatheans, it was him himself to bring them here to speculate the idea what sphere they have to strictly follow their procedure. “So, they decided to call you Thean. How about our names? Did they change it?” “Both of you didn’t need to, my name was long” They thought this game won’t last long, taking advantage of the pebblechips to trust on works instead of their profession make them more of a nuisance than should have believe. Yet, they still going for it as long as they work beside ordered around.
Someone entered the room. It was Haw coming inside alongside with Reya.
“I understand to see how we perform, and I don’t even know they were preparing for it”
“Sorry Haw, we were too early to prepare for it. Thanks to that, you sent the rest of the things we need earlier than we expected”
“Respects to you”
“Thank you, and thanks for your concern with Andui”
First sees them, pointing them out who this person is. They kind of forgot that this person will be also joining entering the sphere. Looking kind of impress as someone is joining with them, the man who bring the students out in the forest.
The four gathered except for one. Haw is curious where is the other one they employed. Second mentions it
“I forgot to tell you that the woman who is going to be with us, won’t be joining going inside the sphere. There is no telling a foreign source of power who is different for the realm to recognize”
“We are going to tell him later, once we all meet. In this gymnasium is where we spar here”
Thean respond to Second without any further details. This place is for sparring, and the new guy finally breaks their rule.
“Then how about dueling with partners?”
First quickly sided with Haw as Thean mentions it.
“Alright, and to you” pointed at Reya, as she didn’t want to join the spar but to supervise. Most likely see them spar, she was supposed to help the newbies get to know about the school facilities, and she needs to check a few more times about their progress. This time, she is excited how they would spar together.
“I mean, you know I’ll be watching just like the previous teachers”
“I know, but we have an Enders here. So, it will be difficult when the fight starts”
The spar for the reason to know about each other abilities, it is best to know them better is doing like this.
The problem now for the spar they are having, that there is no implementation for having protective field like all arena made from Isekai City. Since the beginning by Horsin, it was used as a dangerous fighting ring with magic and real weapons. They seem don’t want to negate anything happening of their skill. Second brought only healing salve, it is a regenerative cream to rub on their body. When there is any sign of damage, the mark glows showing the healing in progress. It will be their sign of defeat if someone gets hurt. Ironically, this spar won’t last long as they have prepared to fight in quick succession than what most adventurers did in the long run.
“Alright, this spar will be in pairs. Haw, please prepare your equipment, as I explain the rules”
Haw didn’t bring his potions, but with only what he foraged from the forest. Following the tricks he could come up with, he had to leave the room and bring a stack of papers to write on. With the magic chalk on hand, he has to come up with the magic scrolls he could use during the spar. First comes along and see what he is doing
“You know, I’ll be your partner. Let’s hope we end this fight before those two drag it longer”
“Certainly, is it because I have no mana?”
Thean and Second team up together as they take their side of the field. Reya raises her magic to form a screen wall, protecting anything will happen in this fight. Haw writes on the paper faster than what First trying to depicted on the scrolls he is making. It is impressive to see him in such quick succession as if he is casting spell than making one. First reads as much symbols, seals, and even the rune writings. He never seen so much poorly made scrolls in a short time, but would it be enough for them. Haw finished the entire stack and pick a handful pieces of it and the rest to First.
“Treat these things as scrolls for only me to use, do you have magic to deliver it in quick succession?”
“I have wisps, it may be slow, and would be good enough to deliver it to you”
The warms up start as the other team pulled out their weapons and healing magic. First tests the wisp to move back and forth with Haw’s paper, it is bearable. They turn to Thean as he is testing his speed abilities. He flashes in and flashes out, both of them seem to be enjoying their sarcasm.
“I think this is fast enough”
“Eergh . . . agreed”
Haw didn’t give a good sarcasm, but First have a nice chuckle from it.
They bring out the salve poured all over their bodies, clothes, weapons, and even magic. Everything they prepared is for sparring, and all they have should be poured it in case they harm them coincidentally. The four are ready themselves as the wisp at the middle is setting itself the signal. They are ready setting up their position, leaving no rooms for advantages as they all prepared in one go. As the wisp starts shining up the area, the fight starts as it pops itself like a firework. Once that happened, this room will be scourge if one of them use magic.
Pop* The light burst up without a sound. Thean quickly send his images to take out First, dashing into the image of Thean, where Haw slides back as the image’s speed ram him to the side. Cornering First in place as it quickly charges in, magic flows within the aura where the images blown like dust covering First. His magic overwhelmed the existence of Thean’s magic where he redirects the mana of Thean’s back at him. He fires in a straight line as Second uses his magic to form magic shields to reconvert his magic. Deceivingly pierce through his shield and hit Thean.
The magic shield is converting the magic projectile into an empowering buff, strengthening his magic weapons. Thean dashes forward as Haw is reaching him through his direction. Reaching closely as Haw barely reaches him in an arm’s length, Thean slows down and quickly move aside to the other direction. Haw turned his head to the side, when Second appeared in front of him. Through his fist empowered by magic, closing in for a punch. Haw retaliates with papers he is wrapping on his arm. The exposed mana reaches it and caused the scroll to blind them both.
Again, Second persists and so with Haw’s remaining failed made scrolls. The two annoyingly battle out surrounded by random magic scrolls activating in the wrong place at the wrong time. Poorly used magic appeared out of nowhere and only for themselves to punish together. Haw is waiting for him not using magic, and for Second trying not follow along from his trap. One of them attacks or defends, it kept activating the scrolls. Sooner or later, his scrolls will be used, slowly losing as the two only harmed their own sanity.
Thean raised his swords at First direction, the enhanced blades nearly cutting through his magic aura. Yet, he misses where First dodges nearly slashing to his arm or chest. The remaining aura held Thean’s swords where it got stuck in thin air. First’s mana is draining rapidly holding on to the swords. No mana for him to manipulate or control through his will, as he closing in to be drained. The wisp moves in to help Haw as it is fast enough where every scroll he had being torn apart, the fight is closing to an end. As the wisp nearly reaching towards him. One of Thean’s swords is thrown at the wisp, closing in ending the fight, the wisp managed to release the papers.
An erupt happened all around Haw and Second, showered by papers as it began to glow by interacting the most sensitive mana as it touches. Second sees the scrolls are burning up and notices there are many of them are not used yet. Haw picks it up in the air and place it on to him. The aura from Second causes the paper to activate and cause unnerving siphoning as the scroll hidden within the other papers to leech his mana. Second tries to break lose, but the randomness plays too heavily as he accidentally steps on the paper forces him back harder than the previous.
The scrolls themselves are working together causing a chain reaction, each multiple scrolls are randomly unpredictable but the well made one are feeding off the mana like some kind of trap. Together, and alongside the distraction. It is a rumble of themselves covered in papers. Thean feels his mana is being intervene where one of his swords touches the paper. With his magical abilities he swiftly turned his head marked his memory and see what happened then turned back as First is starting counter him. The papers are causing him nuisance where one of the scrolls had some weakening effects.
Haw didn’t expect how effective the weakening scrolls is when Second regenerate himself efficiently. All the ailments from using a poorly made scrolls will cause nausea or lightheaded if there is a disconnection between magic flow, he bears it like a punishment. Second knows his mana is draining too fast and couldn’t believe how persistent for a non-magic user withstand it abnormally. Actually, Haw is failing himself by the effects of his own scrolls’ activation. The two stunned lock themselves, like no chance to recover after those papers surrounding them.
It won’t last long as Thean retargets from First to Haw, the buff from his swords were feinting. Knowing that Second is lowering his usage of his mana, First is still capable to hold his other sword longer than he might thought. But with the other sword, there is a chance to hit Haw instead. Second unleashed his aura a magical force to activate the scrolls what have left, to clear away all the papers. It was Thean’s chance, he flashes away and go after Haw. Haw can’t move after blast as he flew in one direction, he pulled out a potion and throw at Thean. The potion breaks as it douses Thean and also blinded by the vapor.
Haw was hit by his sword’s hilt down to ground, almost reaching Thean’s blade through his body. Passing through Second, he stops where is nearly hits the benches. He turns around and see First casts a spell where he interlinked between him and Haw, then they switch places. Where Thean is beside Second, and First casts one last spell. The potion vapor is on them, the interaction between First’s magic and the mysterious vapor of smoke starts appear once simple spell. The cloud of smoke appeared and as they tried to breakthrough it, along the used of their mana. The smoke quickly turned solid. They were captured by the strange potion from the Enders.
Thean raises any part of his free limb as they declared “You win, now get us from this weird rock out of here” Haw stands up and sees the mess they make, feeling pale after getting hit by Thean’s hilt through his gut. He will endure it, and as for Reya. She saw them fight ferociously, and especially how resourceful Haw is. For the Agatheans, it is predictable for Enders to be this hard earn survivors from Rune Isles. Even First did partner with him in the beginning. They have one plan, is to put them together and set a trap. Their only trap. The potion Haw made is from this city’s resources. A strange foam, but it can solidify when sprayed through magic. It can easily be bought at the Isekai city hardware store.
The spar was over, and they fix the gymnasium later on. Reya drags Haw out as she was excited to tell him what she saw.
“It’s like watching one of those sports matches. I forgot how much intense it was without people shout calling in most shows. Just normal fights”
“I’ve seen one of those from the public. There was it called rerun of the old competitions. I never seen different kinds of men than what I’ve seen”
“If you said that in our world, they will call you a racist if you say that”
“It’s fine, I don’t want to go your world with your powerful magic”
“Yeah . . . powerful, laughs*”