It wasn't much further to Han’Xin, though even the amount of walking Garrett had done on just this island was cluing him into just how big the world of Elementia was. From what he'd heard, there were also expansions on the horizon, so it would only continue to grow.
But that would come much later. For now, he was content to explore this village at the edge of the world and save it if he could.
Han’Xin was more picturesque than he could have imagined. A red wooden archway marked the beginning of it, the name inscribed in lettering he couldn't read. Then the rows upon rows of thatched roof houses began, with round, mud-made walls. Villagers’ huts, he'd bet. With the attacks, many of them would probably be empty. Indeed the main road through town only had a few other people walking it. Though they had blue outlines, they still cast wary looks at Garret as he passed. The attacks had everyone on edge.
A few houses stood out from the rest. With signs hanging off of their doorways and bigger colored houses, Garrett understood these were shops. Some were probably vacated as well, but once he'd earned some Crys, he could visit one of two that were still open and see what Elementia had to offer equipment-wise.
For now, he'd have to find the old Drifter who was supposed to teach him. But how was he going to do that? It came to him a moment later: there was probably an option for looking at quest objectives.
Bringing up his menu, he focused on the Quests option. It brought up the short list of his three quests and a short description of each. It didn't take Garrett long to locate the feature he'd been searching for: Next Quest Location. Making sure his [Training] quest was selected, he turned the feature on, then dismissed the menu. Now when he scanned the village, there was a faint gold glow in the distance outlining a house that showed through the other houses in the way. A quick check of his mostly dark map also showed a marker depicting where the old Drifter’s house was. That'd make things easier, though he wasn't sure he'd also opt to use it. After a certain point, it might make things too easy. Then again, some quests probably wouldn't have it show up, if Elementia Online was like other RPGs he'd played.
Making his way through the village, Garrett soon stood before the Drifter's house. It was slightly larger than the others, and had more windows. Everything was shuttered up, though, and it looked rundown. Yellow paint peeled from the walls, and a wind vane hung crookedly on top of the roof.
The house was a mess. But Garrett knew a thing or two about judging appearances. And from what Bartholomew had said, it seemed the old man might be sick. He certainly couldn't be blamed for the condition of his house.
Garrett walked up to the door and, after hesitating a moment, knocked. Whether it was polite or not to walk up to a stranger's door and knock didn't matter. He had to take care of the Rocwings, and this drifter was the only one who could help him.
The door creaked open a moment later, and Garrett blinked. Standing there wasn't an old man, but a pretty girl about his age. She wore one of the loose, simple robes the people in Han’xin wore, olive green and fastened with a linen tie about the waist. Her dark hair, tinged with silver threads, was pinned up with sticks that stuck out if the bun. But it was her face that truly captured his attention. Her eyes were warm and honey brown, and her mouth, a bit large on her face, wore a welcoming smile. Her chin was tilted down a bit shyly, but she looked him steadily in the eyes.
“Hello,” she said softly. “Can I help you?”
Garrett took a second to find his voice. Chat options popped up for him, but he dismissed them. He wanted to have this conversation on his own. “Hi,” he started, then faltered and cleared his throat. “I, uh, I'm looking for an old Drifter. Does he live here?”
One of her eyebrows raised slightly. “Old Drifter?” she mocked gently. “That's not a very polite way to ask after him.”
“Oh, er…”
She smiled. “I'm teasing you. We call him Old Vin, so you're in good company.” Her smile faded as quick as it had come. “But why do you want to see him?”
He was finding his confidence now. He'd never had much confidence speaking with girls, if only because he'd seen pity in their eyes first. But this girl didn't look at him with pity. She didn't see the Garrett lay in a hospital bed, not able even to properly breathe on his own.
He shook his head and banished the thought. This was his time to escape that. No more thoughts of real life. For now, this was the only life that mattered.
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He straightened himself. “I need to learn the Way of Aer, and how to fight if he can.”
The girl sighed. “I was afraid you'd say that. You see, Old Vin has taken apprentices for a long time now.” She looked up at him with — was it shame?
Garrett's confidence dipped. “But I need to drive away the Rocwings.”
Her eyebrows shot up in surprise before she could contain it. “That's very... noble of you,” she said carefully.
She didn't believe he could do it. Well, he didn't know himself yet. But that wasn't going to stop him from trying.
“It's really important,” he urged. “The whole village will be wiped out if we don't do something about it.”
Her drawn eyebrows told him that was true. But she hung her head. “I’ve already told you, he's not taking apprentices,” she said softly. “You see, I've tried for three months to have him take me on.”
He stared at her. “You're a Drifter?”
She nodded. “Or I will be, as soon as I can convince Old Vin to teach me.”
An idea came upon him. “Let's ask him together. He's got to know how important it is to have Drifters in Han’xin, especially right now. What do you say, er…”
Only then did he realize he didn't know her name. Without really intending to, he brought it up over her head: Jinna (O. 14).
“My name is Jina,” she said softly just after it appeared.
Garrett flushed, feeling embarrassed in a way he hadn't when learning Bartholomew's name. “Garrett,” he said, then held out his hand. He regretted instantly and withdrew it.
She giggled and stuck her hand out in return. “Nice to meet you, Garrett.”
Chagrined but grinning, he took hers, and they shook. Her hand was cool but not as smooth as he'd expected. Jina didn't live a soft life.
She withdrew her hand and stepped aside from the door. “Come in. We’ll go see the master together.”
Garrett stepped inside and glanced around. The house was in about as good of shape as he’d expected, though it felt cozier inside than he'd expected. There was a bed in one corner and a table and simple kitchen in the other. Another door led out back, which was where Jina led him. Garrett had expected the old Drifter to be in bed, but apparently, he wasn't so sick as that.
Stepping through the door, Jina explained softly, “Sometimes he likes to meditate by the sea. The wind blows in strong over the cliff there.”
He saw their destination at the end of a short path through golden grass. The path was of sand. For some reason, the feel of the sand giving way beneath his feet, as well as the crunch of the golden grass beneath his shoes, struck him differently than the other sensations he'd experience before. This felt subtler, and he marveled at the detail of the game. Like real life, but more real. No, it wasn't the sensations — it was HIMSELF that had changed. Here, he was a new person, living and feeling as if for the first time.
They reached the small gazebo at the end of the path. In the middle of it, sitting cross-legged on a reed mat, was the oldest man Garrett had ever seen. His skin was leathery and lined, and seemed so stiff he was surprised the man might be able to shift expressions are all. His hair was long and hung loose, thin over the top of his head and a faint, wispy gray.
Old Vin didn't look up or even shift as they stopped at the edge of the gazebo. Jina got down on her knees, and at a look, Garrett followed suit. Curious, he concentrated on the old Drifter, and the words appeared above his head: Vin, Last Drifter of the Frigates (O. 125). The highest Orb level he'd seen yet, and the first character with a title. Garrett wondered what backstory was behind that.
“You've brought another to be my pupil, Jina,” the old man observed without looking around. His voice grated from his throat like dry stones rubbing together. “Hoping another will succeed where you have failed?”
Jina flushed, and Garrett felt a spike of anger go through him. He rose to his feet, ignoring Jina's scandalized look.
“You shouldn't treat her like that,” he said.
The old man didn't even open his eyes. “Oh no? And who are you, to tell me the ways of the world?”
Garrett swallowed but pressed on. “Someone who's going to save Han’xin if I can. But I need your help. We need your guidance.” He glanced at Jina, but she looked more uncertain than grateful for his intervention.
Old Vin finally looked around, his head the only thing shifting. As one eye peered open, Garrett saw it had gone nearly completely milky white. The old Drifter was blind.
“Time was when I would have walloped you for speaking to me like that, boy,” he said calmly. “And I would have considered it for your own good.” Vin sighed. “But now, I am.the one who deserves the whipping.”
Garrett's hopes surged. “You'll teach us then?”
A pause, then Vin nodded. Jina was so excited she leaped to her feet, fists clenched at her sides, and grinned at Garrett. He returned it wholeheartedly.
“Too much respect,” the old Drifter muttered as he groaned and rose to his feet. Jina rushed over to help, but he waved her away. “Too much, I say! Nearly drowned me. A little bit of impudence was just the right medicine, I think.” And though Garrett hadn't thought it was possible, his leathery face broke into a smile.
“Now come.” The Drifter started hobbling down the path without assistance, though Jina lingered anxiously at his elbow. Instead of heading to the house, though, Vin turned down a branching, mostly overgrown path. “It's time to begin your training.”