“W-We don’t have any cash to give you…”

…Stop.

“Hold on a minute… Let’s talk about this! There are kids here!”

“There ain’t shit to talk about. Where’s the money!”

…Don’t do it!

“Let’s just relax here, Jerald.”

“Honey!”

Bam!

My eyes shot open as I woke up in a cold sweat. It felt like I’d just awoken from a nightmare, but I can’t seem to remember what it was about. There was a lot of screaming involved, that much I know…

I squinted my eyes at the heavily lit room. There were many crates and barrels scattered around the dusty place. Is this some sort of cellar or someone’s secret lair?

“Ignoring me, are you?” a voice chastised. In front of me was a man sitting on a chair, staring at me nonchalantly. He had short gray hair and stormy, lavender eyes that seems to glow whenever. The person in front of me was none other than Airon, the guy we’d been chasing.

“It’s you!” I grunted. I tried to stand up, but I couldn’t budge. Glancing downwards, my arms and legs were tightly bound to a chair. Airon whistled as I struggled to rip these things apart.

“You aren’t getting out of those anytime soon. Might as well get comfortable as we’ll be here for a while.”

“Shut up. Once I tear this rope apart, I’m sticking my rapier up your ass.”

Even then, no matter how hard I struggled, the rope wasn’t getting any looser. I thought about using a mana blade and stabbing him with it, but I saw no available openings to exploit. He was way too on guard against a person who can’t move.

“Woah now. No need to get so feisty. Why don’t we talk to each other for a moment?”

Airon reached into his pocket with a gloved hand. What he took out was a black crystal. He waved it in front of my face mockingly.

“Your little posse is looking for this thing, right? This prophetic crystal- The Oracle.”

“…”

“Staying quiet, eh? No matter. I love a good listener. I tend to rabble anyway.” He stuffed the crystal back into his pocket and crossed his arms while speaking.

“So. Tell me about Earth. How is it over there compared to here? I’m quite interested, frankly.”

I knitted my eyebrows at Airon’s weird question. I was about to curse him out and tell him to get lost, but I swallowed back my words.

…How should I approach this? This guy is talkative, sure, but I don’t like his vibe at all. He’s hiding many things behind that composed demeanor. Maybe I could butter him up and have him spill some information by accident…

“Hm… You say how Earth is compared to here?”

“That is what I said, yes.”

“I don’t know if this is the answer you’re expecting, but it’s a shithole of a planet. Wars are frequent on Earth, people are split on whether the planet is dying quicker than perceived because of us, and humans are assholes to everything and anyone.”

Airon was taken aback by my brief conclusion about Earth. He scratched his head and opened his mouth once more.

“Well, that was an unexpected brief summa-“

His words were cut off as I interjected. Mostly just to piss him off.

“Even though it’s a shithole of a planet and there are many negatives about it, the positives heavily outweigh them. There are those who lie, kill, steal, and pillage, just like the residents on this planet. Yet, even then, there are many kinder folks who speak the truth, don’t needlessly harm others, and show their hospitality to friends and strangers.”

I thought about how I met those kind folk on this planet, like Clein, Mel, Kara, Morgac, Venny, and Solgen. Without them, who knows where Isaac and I would be as of right now? Probably off on the streets struggling to fit in with this new world or lying dead in the woods because we pissed off the wrong people.

“Earth and Athiens are the same regarding how we interact with our environment. Before, the Earth didn’t have access to this phenomenon called magic. Actually, I just learned recently that the humans there can actually wield mana. What I’m trying to get at here, Airon, is that we are not as different as you may think.”

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The room was filled with an eerie silence as we both locked eyes with one another. He wore an expressionless face, and his eyes were like a stone wall. This guy was so expressionless, it was like his face was carved from stone.

“…I was right,” he mused while stroking his chin. “I must thank you for your… philosophical answer to my question. I bet you’re confused about why I would ask you this, no?”

“Maybe. Who knows?” I said with a shrug.

“The Oracle is a power that was given to king Claude de Vusech by a random stranger. It has prophesied that you two humans would stand face-to-face against the Pillars; the proclaimed gods of this world.”

“The Aglona are terrified of this prophecy, you see? How could mere mortals dare to obstruct the very gods themselves? It’s funny, isn’t it?” Airon snickered. “They had to resort to relying on my master to deny that very prophecy. My master is under the orders of the Pillars, so it’s understandable they turned to him for assistance.”

They? Who specifically is this ‘they’ he is referring to? It’s obviously someone from Aglona. Maybe it’s the ruler? That’s the only person I can think of that’s able to enact all this swiftly. The thing is, who the hell is the ruler?

“Oops. I think I’ve talked too much. Can’t have you knowing everything now.”

The Apithien slowly rose from his chair and retreated to the back end of the cellar where a door stood. Upon opening it, a set of rickety stairs lead to the surface.

“Well. It’s been nice chatting with you, but I got to deliver this to my master now. Thank you for sating my curiosity.”

With a wave of his hand, a cloud of green smoke was released from some of the barrels.

“This airborne toxin will have you experience a painless death. It’s the least I can do. Goodbye.”

Airon closed the door with a heavy thud, leaving me in this room of noxious gas. I waited until I could no longer hear his footsteps.

Okay. He’s gone. I think I’ve stalled him long enough.

My recovered strength easily tore apart the bindings. Whatever he injected me with was able to prohibit me from using my mana. In addition to that, I felt a certain level of weakness, resembling the sensation of being a typical human. I had to bide my time until enough strength recovered.

As for this gas…

“Status.”

Status Inventory Name: Laila Rank: Undecided Strength: 20 Agility: 35 Durability: 20 Mana: 26 Masteries Marksmanship: Lvl 1 Swordsmanship: Lvl 3 Mana Weapon Construction: Lvl 4 Heat Resistance: Lvl 1 Night Vision: Lvl 2 Poison Resistance: Lvl 1

“Ignorance is bliss.”

What these people don’t know is that me and Isaac’s bodies can adapt quickly to internal and external conditions. My body has already created the antibodies needed and because of that, my immune system is stronger than ever. However, it’s not wise to stay here for long periods of time. I don’t know the extent of how much punishment this body can handle.

Covering my hand over my nose, I navigated my way through the cellar and out the door. After climbing the stairs, upstairs was indeed a bar, as I thought. What I hadn’t accounted for is who could be up here. A bunch of armed thugs were happily drinking and chattering amongst themselves until they saw me.

“What the? I thought he said she wouldn’t be able to esca-“

With lightning-quick reflexes, I grabbed the face of the nearest one and slammed it through a table. The man was instantly knocked out as blood dripped from his bald head. I was getting a terrible sense of déjà vu at the sight.

“Well boys. Wrong place, wrong time,” I said as I dropped the unconscious man. “I have an Apithien I gotta catch.”

****

“Hrm…”

Following a brief search of the vicinity, I was ultimately able to find the place I was looking for. A sign was hung overhead, displaying an artful design with bright colours and flowery embellishments in each corner to draw in customers.

Entering through the double doors, a light bell was rung. The entrance was small as a single counter stood up front. The walls were painted bright pink, yet some spots had been nicked. Red cushioned seats lined the edges, and near them was a table with a pamphlet. There was an aged woman waiting up front for any new customers as she smoked a small pipe while reading a newspaper. She called out to me in a raspy voice as she glanced at my body thoroughly.

“What’s a strapping man like you here for?” She asked without looking up from her reading.

I quietly slid a small pouch across the hardwood counter. Setting her pipe down, she opened the bag and peered into its contents. Her mouth opened slightly but was quickly shut.

“…Follow me.”

In quick strides, she led me to the back of the brothel, where we passed by many doors. The place reeked of smoke, chlorine, and sweat. The white brick walls were spotless other than the usual scratch. When some rooms were getting a little too rowdy, she would smack them with her pipe, and the sounds within would quiet down. At the end of the corridor was a room much bigger than the others. The old lady whispered a chant, and the door mysteriously unlocked itself.

“Come inside.”

The interior of the room was of sufficient size to meet your needs, featuring a restroom and kitchen. In the corner was a pink bed that had sheets and pillows neatly folded. One could live in this room if they wanted to, and you wouldn’t be inconvenienced.

“Well, then.” The old lady switched into a professional state and was now addressing me formally. “What business do you have with me, the madam of this establishment?”