This light... it fully penetrated me, as if it enveloped every fiber of my being. The coldness that it initially spread, got warmer and was strangely reassuring, almost like a loving embrace. It reminds me of the moment, when God used his magic on me. But this light was different. It carried a softer, more intimate energy, something similar to a secret kiss of darkness. It seemed that it didn't just want to touch me, it wanted to get inside me, as a message, just for me.
Suddenly I heard a voice, so gentle and evanescent that it was barely different from the soft noise of the light.
“Hey...” the voice whispered, and part of me wondered if I was imagining it. “Hey, boy.”
The voice is female, but so innocent and childlike that completely surprised me. Who could it be? It's not Monika, and it's not Anna either. Their voices are so familiar to me, but this one... is different. I tried to focus, but the brightness makes it hard for me to think clearly. My eyes refused to open themselves. The lights are too intense, almost blinding, and yet I felt attracted to this mysterious voice.
“Wake up!” The voice becomes more urgent, a little cheeky, disliking being ignored.
Slowly, reluctantly, I forced my eyes to open to the light. A veil of unreality lies above everything I saw. At first everything was blurred, like a thick fog, but gradually the vision started clearing. Someone is standing in front of me... Someone unexpected.
“Heeeey, did you sleep well?” The voice is now clear and distinct, the words are accompanied by a young, girlish laugh.
I blinked, and in front of me was a little girl. She was small, maybe ten years old, but something about her seemed older than it appeared. Her hair is a deep, dark red, tied into two playful braids, falling loosely over her shoulders. Her eyes are a piercing dark blue, deep and mysterious, like the surface of a quiet lake at night. Her eyes are focused on me, curious, almost amused. She is wearing a black dress adorned with beige fur on the sleeves. It reminds me of an old heirloom that has seen more than its simple appearance would suggest. Her legs are wrapped in white and black striped long socks, and her little feets wear small black ballerinas decorated with tiny ribbons.
“Who... are you?” My voice sounds raspy, trying to emerge from the depths of my confusion. “Wait a minute... That voice... You're... a child?”
The girl raises an eyebrow, and before I realize what's happening, she raises her voice, loud and sharp, almost offended. “I'm not a child!” she shouts at me, like she has heard these words too often and is tired of always explaining herself.
“Who are you, then?” I asked again. Something about her manner provokes me, and I can't help but insist on an answer.
The girl crosses her arms and looks to the side as it seems to hide her displeasure. Her cheeks are slightly flushed, whether out of anger or embarrassment, I can't tell. “... My name is... Loli.” she mumbles, almost embarrassed by that name.
“Pardon? I didn't get that.” I said, and although I tried hard, I only heard her very unclearly.
“My name is Loli! Get it?!” she shouts, her voice cutting through the silence that surrounds us with a desire to shut me up.
Loli? I let the name roll off my tongue. It's an unusual name for a little girl and my first thought was that it doesn't suit her. But before I could think about it any further, I looked around me. Where are we anyway? There is nothing, nothing but white all around us. There are no walls, no floor, no sky, just an endless emptiness that keeps us trapped in this strange sphere. And the only people here seem to be Loli and me. But where are Monika and Anna? Worries about my companions suddenly flare up inside me. Am I the only one who has been sucked in by this light? Has it swallowed them too? Questions are racing through my head, but before I can ask any of them, Loli spoke again.
“Whatever! Let's change the topic! Do you know why you're here?” Her voice has this strangely playful but also serious tone that snaps me out of my trance.
“Not really,” I answered honestly. “I just followed that aura and voice.”
She smiles, a knowledgeable smile that could belong to an older, wiser being. “That's why you're the one.”
I frown. “The one? For what?”
“The one, to use me.” Her words echoed in the empty sphere, as if they had a deeper meaning that I didn't realize yet.
I stared at her, unsure if I heard her correctly. “Sorry, I'm not into little girls,” I said monotone and defensive.
“That's not what I meant!!!” Loli screams again, this time louder, her little figure swaying back and forth with indignation. “Listen, I have two bodies. The body you see now is my true self, but it only exists in this sphere. My other body is the image of a sword.”
A sword? My mind flies. So she's not an ordinary girl. She's... something different. Suddenly I realize everything, the voice that called me here, the strange aura that attracted me. But can it really be? A sword in the shape of a girl? I remembered my previous sword, how it broke when I needed it most. The fear that it could happen again spreads through me.
“Why me?” I asked, my voice softer, more uncertain. “There are so many stronger people than me.”
The little girl looks at me with a serious expression and gives me an answer that reaches the deepest part of my heart.
“But you're the only one who heard me.”
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The bright light that lit up the entire room, dimmed. Monika and Anna were still standing, fully conscious, in the secret study, scanning the room with their eyes in hope to discover something they had overseen. The atmosphere was energetic, while there was a feeling of unease in the air. Monika seemed tense right now, although she was normally calm and full of intellect, while Anna kept glancing nervously at the white silver-haired half-wolf.
Kaito stood there motionless, without moving his body even a millimeter. Like in a kind of trance, without any emotional facial expressions. The eerie silence was only interrupted by the soft dripping of water in the cave.
“What was that?” Anna whispered and moved closer to Monika, her eyes wandering from Kaito to the spot where the glowing light had overwhelmed them.
Monika shook her head. “I don't know. Maybe some kind of a blind trap? But that doesn't explain why he's like this.” The girl with emerald-green eyes tried to analyze the situation, but the mystery remained unsolved. “Earth to Kaito.” she said, her voice sounding uncertain, almost hesitant. “I didn't know he could sleep while standing.” Monika wondered.“With open eyes???” Anna asked in a raised voice, unable to believe Monika's words.
But Kaito didn't respond to any of her attempts. He stayed there like a statue, motionless and with empty eyes.
Monika approached him suddenly and stretched out her hand to touch his shoulder. As soon as she touched him, she startled when Kaito suddenly started to move. It wasn't a intentional movement, more like someone or something was controlling him. His steps were mechanical, unnatural, as he walked slowly towards the exit of the study.
“Woah! Did he scared me!” Monika jumped back, her eyes wide.
“What's the matter with my hero?” Anna asked whispering, her voice filled with rising apprehension.
Without wasting another word, they followed him, their steps careful and tense. Monika and Anna hurried after Kaito as he walked along the corridor, they had discovered earlier. The narrow, dark corridor led deeper into the depths of the cave, and the further they went, the more intense the feeling of menace became.
“Doesn't this path lead...” Monika remembered this path in the cave and paused for a moment. Her heart began to beat faster as soon as she realized where the boy, who had fallen into a trance, was going.
“...straight to the sandworm?” Anna completed the thought, her eyes widening in shock.
Monika felt a wave of panic coursing through her body. “We have to stop him!” she shouted, her voice trembling with urgency. The two of them ran faster now and their footsteps echoed in the corridor.
--------------------------------------------------------
These words froze me. The 'only one', said the girl in the black dress in front of me. But why me? All the questions that had bothered me since my arrival here, combined with the questions since my reincarnation, suddenly became even more intense. But before I could find an answer, I noticed how the little girl's expression changed, her eyes became softer, almost sad. Her mouth with soft pink lips opened and told me:
“I was sealed and left behind by my previous master.” she explained softly. “That was already four hundred years ago.” she added sadly. “I called for someone every day non-stop. But no one answered.”
Four hundred years?!
I could hardly believe her words. All that time she was alone, imprisoned in this world, calling desperately for someone to hear her, but no one answered.
“No one... Except you.” her voice trembled. “When I unexpectedly received a response from someone... a response from you, I was extremely happy. Thank you, Yuuji.”
At that moment, I saw something I wasn't prepared for in my heart. Swollen tears filled Loli's eyes, without trying to resist, she just let this salty water pour out of her bluish eyes. Right now, I can't tell if these are tears of joy or pain, probably both. But one thing is for sure, in this moment she is very vulnerable, open, like a fragile soul who has been alone, for too long.
Wait... Yuuji? She just called me Yuuji. My real name, from my old world, which I had left behind months ago and no one else knew, except me and Monika. How did she know it? No... I should do something, before I give it any more thought. This creature... no, this girl... she has suffered so much. She didn't just needed someone to use her, but someone to listen to her, someone to understand her, to share her loneliness and free her from it. That someone... will be me. I will help her... this poor girl. Without further hesitation, I stepped closer and pulled Loli into a hug. Her small figure felt so weak in my arms, but at the same time I felt an immense energy resting within her. I don't know what is ahead of us, but I am sure of one thing. I will not abandon Loli.
“Agreed. I will use you. You won't be alone anymore.” I whispered from the bottom of my heart.
Loli sobbed once, then put her little arms around me and murmured. “Thank you, Yuuji... I thank you.” She pressed her face tightly against me and continued to cry. I could feel her sad tears soaking my dark blue shirt, but I didn't push her away, I let her express her feelings as much and as long as she wanted.
After Loli had calmed down a little and her tears had stopped, her embrace slowly loosened. Her small arms, which were holding me tightly, slipped away hesitantly, like she didn't want to let go herself. I could feel the warmth she had radiated gradually being replaced by the chilly emptiness of the sphere. “It's time for me to go back,” I murmured quietly, more to myself than to anyone else. The surreal, luminous fog that surrounded me began to fade in intensity, and the diffuse white light that fell on me from all sides felt familiar.
Loli, the little girl with the deep blue eyes who had led me to this sphere, spoke to me in her gentle voice. “It's very simple.” her words echoed in the silence. “After we complete our contract, you will return.”
“A contract?” I asked, confused, looking at her questioningly. “Do I have to do something special?” Her words were so clear and simple, but the thought of a contract in this surreal environment made my mind race. What does that mean? What would this contract require of me? A thousand questions spun in my head, but Loli's expression remained impassive.
“All you have to do is to close your eyes.” she explained, and for a moment her voice seemed more gentle, almost comforting, as if she realized all my unspoken fears and doubts. “I'll do the rest.”
With one last, hesitant glance at the strange, glowing white around me, I did as she said and closed my eyes. Darkness enveloped me, and yet, I could still feel the intensity of the light behind my closed lids, like it was burning in my soul.
“Like this?” I asked uncertainly, the words felt unusually loud in the silence. My heart beat faster, a dull throbbing in my chest, sensing that something unusual was about to happen.
And then it did.
A sudden, warm feeling flooded my lips. It was so soft, so tender that I didn't realize what exactly was happening at first. It was like a brief touch that was also deeply meaningful. A shock ran through me and, without thinking, I opened my eyes. There she was, Loli, the little girl with the red braids, and her pink lips were resting gently on mine. This kiss was innocent, and yet it carried the weight of an ancient magic, a connection, sealed in that moment. My heart skipped a beat, but then pounded even harder as I realized the meaning of this moment.
Before I could even react properly... my thoughts were a chaotic mess of surprise, confusion and a strange sense of acceptance...the entire sphere around me began to light up. The light, which had been diffuse and vague at first, now became unbearably bright. It permeated everything, as the reality itself dissolved. The boundaries of this world seemed to blur, dissolving into thin air, only to spit me out somewhere else. I felt my body becoming lighter, the strange heaviness that had held me in this sphere falling away from me. What felt like an invisible hand, gently guided me out of this world, back to the reality I had almost forgotten for a second. But in my mind remained the memory of Loli's kiss, a promise, a pact that bound me to something greater, darker, that was in my future. And as the blinding light pulled me further and further back to reality, I couldn't shake off the feeling that this contract was just the beginning.
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The atmosphere was oppressive, filled with the humidity and the uneasy silence, broken only by the echoing footsteps of the two girls and the boy. The girl with chestnut hair and the salamander woman followed the half-wolf, who was moving like a puppet towards the large room in the cave. Anna was already trying to grab his arm and stop him from moving on, but with an unusual, enormous amount of strength, he pulled away and continued his walk. They had no choice but to follow Kaito, but they were prepared for the danger ahead. Anna held her staff with both hands, while Monika already had her right hand on the hilt of the shortsword at her waist. Three hundred meters later, an explosion suddenly sounded, followed by a loud rumble. Only after this sound, they realized, that they already arrived at the place where the gigantic, nightmarish creature with scaly skin, the sandworm, was staying. Its skin shimmered in the darkness and its thousand teeth flashed in the semi-darkness, ready to bite. Seconds later, its massive head shot towards Kaito. But Monika was prepared. She nimbly ran to Kaito, who was standing about eleven meters in front of her, and pushed him aside, the monster's attack failed. Concerned, Anna ran to the two of them, Monika had already drawn her shortswords from their brown sheaths and held them in her hands. “Stay back! I'll keep him at bay! Try to drag Kaito out of here!” Monika ordered, without taking her eyes off the monster. Anna nodded.
Monika charged, she moved quickly, like a shadow dancing around the sandworm, delivering targeted slashes at its massive body over and over again, here Anna recognized, a fighter who has trained for years to become stronger and able to face anything. The magical crystal, adorned at the tip of the staff, glowed in a gentle bluish color, while a blue-glowing transparent dome surrounded Anna and Kaito. Sweat beaded on her forehead as she concentrated on maintaining the protective barrier while trying to create a ranged attack to support Monika. Multiple red-yellowish lights appeared and took the shape of long spears. “Get down!” Anna suddenly shouted to Monika.
This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.
Monika, who had just given the sandworm another cut, glanced at Anna and understood her request. Quickly and with all her strength, she pushed off from the monster and flew in the air, at the same time Anna fired her long-range attack.
“Ignis Lanciarum!!!”
Simultaneously, the spears flew at their target and a large explosion occurred. Monika landed on the ground again behind the cloud of smoke and waited to see what would happen. Then there was another rumble, or more of a roar, louder than before. The sandworm had burns on its scaly skin, but the attack itself had not harmed it in the slightest. “No way.” Anna muttered, trembling. The monster swung its whole body around wildly, causing the earth to shake, until it hurled its tail at Anna's barrier, breaking it with little effort.
Anna screamed just before the sound of shattered glass and a large bang rang out.
Monika was speechless, her eyes wide open and her mouth slightly open. A mix of several feelings flowed through Monika at that moment, the cluelessness was also a part of it, having no idea if her companions were alright or if they were crushed by this attack. Her surroundings went mute as she slowly leaned forward, the tips of her shortswords pointing downwards. Her eyes turned to a gloomy, loathing look as she stared at the monster. She took a deep breath before running with all her strength and making reckless maneuvers, her swords whirling through the air and hitting the sandworm with full force. A quick spin, a lightning-fast slash, and the blade of her weapon sliced through the monster's tough skin, leaving a deep, bloody wound. The beast roared, a deafening screech that shook the walls of the cave and made the air shimmer.
But as heavy as the strike was, the sandworm was not beaten yet. Monika was panting, her muscles burning with exertion, but she still ran to Kaito and Anna, hoping that nothing had happened to them. The smoke hadn't cleared yet, so she could barely see anything. She turned her head in all directions until she could see a slight flickering of a light, she approached this light. A yellow-gold cube was in front of her, which disintegrated in a fraction of a second. Inside this cube were two figures, a woman with a glowing staff in her hands and a boy with wolf ears who was standing up hypnotized.
Monika couldn't believe her eyes, the thought of losing both of them was suddenly gone, but a different feeling welled up inside her, a feeling of relief. But still, the tension was there, Monika knew that she couldn't end this fight alone. She looked at Kaito, who was still caught in a mysterious trance and standing there like a statue, Anna also looked at him and approached the half-wolf, clutching his back and calling out pleadingly in a tear-choked voice: “Please wake up, my hero!”
Monika watched in amazement, then decided to approach Kaito as well and clung his left arm, pressing her body tightly against him, closing her eyes and screaming “WAKE UP YOU IDIOT!!!” with the last of her strength. Her loud, pleading echo reverberated in the room.
Just as the sandworm was about to attack again, ready to smash everything in its way, something powerful suddenly exploded in the darkness. A shockwave of shadows spread out, followed by purple lightning and flames. It shot hissing through the air and hit the sandworm with such force that the monster was thrown back. Monika and Anna held their breath and looked at him at the same time, unable to believe their eyes.
With his right hand stretched out, aiming at the monster, Kaito stood there with closed eyes. “Kaito.” Monika said relieved, but he didn't answer. He opened his eyes slowly, as a deep sleep would awaken him. His gaze was relaxed, almost reassuring, and the edge of his mouth formed a gentle smile.
“Sorry I'm late. And... how did it come to this?” I asked, like I had woken up from a long dream.
The two women looked at me, petrified. For a moment, time seemed to stand still. Monika's heart beat wildly in her chest as she saw me smiling at her and eased from the hug she had given me briefly.
“We can stay like this, in my opinion. Hehe.” I added grinning cheekily.
“You wish! Jerk!” Monika felt her cheeks getting hot and pushed me away from her with a red face. Anna, on the other hand, seemed less inclined to let go and clung to me tighter. “I wouldn't mind.” she whispered softly, with a smile curving her lips.
Monika let out a small sound of indignation and energetically tugged Anna away from me. “Get away from him!”
However, the cheerful scene was abruptly interrupted when the sandworm, which had gathered in the darkness, roared again to attack. The echo of its wrath reverberated through the cave and it was clear that the battle wasn't over yet. I therefore turned away from the two girls and stared at the sandworm with a serious expression.
“Stay back, I'll handle this.” I said calmly and took a few steps forward.
Monika shook her head, her eyes wide with worry. “Are you out of your mind? You won't manage this on your own! We should get out of here!”
I remained unperturbed, my voice ambitious. “No way!”
“Huh?”
I turned to Monika, a slight smile on my lips.
“As long as I'm standing here, I won't back down but face the fight!”
Monika opened her mouth to protest, but the blazing fire in my eyes silenced her. “We need the money, after all.” I added with a touch of humor, which seemed to ease the tension for a moment. But, the danger was real, and the sandworm showed no signs of backing down. My thoughts rushed and focused, in my head to contact someone for assistance.
“Loli, can you hear me?” I asked quietly as I approached the sandworm at walking pace.
“Loud and clear!” replied a familiar voice in my head, giving me a strange kind of reassurance. “How can I help you?”
“How can I summon you?” I asked as I watched the sandworm prepare to attack again.
“That's very easy. All you have to do is to call out the name of my sword form. The name of the demon sword is...” Loli's voice sounded almost affectionate as she told me the name. The moment the sandworm charged at me with a thunderous attack, I stopped, my right leg placed forward, my right hand stretched in the air above me, an imitation of wanting to grab something, I calmly gasped once more and then shouted from the top of my lungs, “Demon Tears!!!”
A bright, intense light suddenly erupted, the air around me seemed to explode and glow with a dazzling brilliance. This light completely enveloped me and I could feel its warmth and the power behind it. I could literally feel the energy vibrating in the air until the light slowly began to concentrate and become smaller. But its intensity continued to increase, like a shining star, as it gathered in my right hand. As the light faded, I felt how it began to transform into something material. Dark shadows and purple veils started to manifest from the core of the light, summoned from the depths of darkness. These shadows coiled around my hand, forming and condensing, until they finally formed the clear shape of a longsword, a powerful tool created from the light that had shaped the darkness.
I now held a magnificent longsword in my hand, surrounded by a mysterious aura. The blade was black and wavy, but not just black, it reminded me of a lake illuminated by the night sky, speckled with tiny, almost invisible dots of light symbolizing the stars reflected in the lake, with undulating golden decorations encircling a glowing red gemstone that added an extra grace at the base of the blade and at the end of the hilt. The crossguard was unconventional but fascinating, a piece of beige animal fur, resembling Loli's dress, protected my hand and offered a touch of softness and warmth, in contrast to the cold, unforgiving blade. The hilt itself was long and sturdy, enough for three hands to grasp, giving the sword an added majesty. It felt perfectly balanced, more like an extension of my own arm. This sword is not just a weapon, it was a work of art, created by someone who had put a lot of thought, effort and especially love into this sword, who created both a beauty and a danger out of light and shadow. It had a power that was almost tangible, and I knew the time had come to put its abilities to the test, ready to wield it with my hands for the first time.
With an ambitious battle cry, I charged. The sandworm, awakened from its stupor, unexpectedly spat a cloud of sand at me, which I dispersed with a swift, diagonal sword slash. Of course, I didn't let that stop me and ran straight at the monster, ready to attack.
“HYAAAAHH!!!” I screamed, striking with a vertical slash, followed by a horizontal slash that pulled a string of blue lights behind it, forming a glowing cross for a moment. Both blows tore a deep gash in the sandworm's flesh. The beast roared in pain, but immediately turned to counterattack. Its mighty tail swept through the cave and hit me with such force that I was thrown against the cave wall. But this pain didn't stop me from continuing immediately. I activated my Skill
Then I felt it, a strange purple glow emanating from my right side, where I held the sword with both hands over my shoulder. It wasn't me who was glowing, but this sword. I didn't quite understand what this power was, but somehow I could use it, like a movement, a memory that I had probably done many times before.
I jumped off the wall, holding the demon sword Demon Tears, still, over my right shoulder, which was surrounded by several long purple veils of darkness, trailing a line behind it. The sandworm, still intimidated by the glowing sword, hesitated for a moment. But I used this opportunity.
The blade changed, expanding, growing longer and longer until it was three times its original length. The veils that emerged from the air swirled around the sword, small veils merged together and finally formed a huge, menacing veil that enveloped the sword and filled it with an ominous aura.
“This is your end!
With all my remaining strength, I launched the final attack. The powerful diagonal sword slash sliced through the air with incredible speed and precision. The huge veil surrounding the blade followed the movement and sliced everything in its path. The sandworm, powerful and menacing as it was, had no chance. The slash caught the large wound, Monika had inflicted on him, and sliced him in half effortlessly, the inside of him seeming to be nothing but air.
The attack ended, the veil slowly fading, just like the sword itself. It suddenly disappeared into small flame-like lights and was no longer in my hand. But it wasn't gone forever, certainly not, I only had to call out the name of the demon sword again, as Loli explained it to me.
Breathing heavily, I was standing there, exhausted from the enormous effort. My heart was racing and my body felt emaciated. This last attack asked everything of me, but it brought me success.
“Unbelievable.” whispered Anna, still speechless with amazement.
“He defeated the sandworm on his own?” said Monika, bewildered and stunned.
I, who was slowly calming down, looked at my right hand, where I had been holding the wavy, black longsword till now, and thought of the new power that would accompany me on my path from now on. I felt a certain gratitude towards the little girl in the black dress. “Thank you, Loli. You've helped me a lot.” I whispered.
“Hihi.” Loli grinned, I heard her voice full of joy and pride in my head, I smiled too.
A chime sounded and shortly afterwards a blue transparent screen appeared, I ignored the main menu, my fingers automatically tapping on the status window like they did nothing else every day. After opening my personal item box, I added the remains of the monster lying on the floor. An empty slot had filled up with an icon, it looked like a worm cut in half, also labeled with the number 2 on the bottom right corner. As the remains dissolved into little lights, I looked back at Monika and Anna, who appeared to be petrified with shock.
“Well then, let's get our reward.” I said, walking peacefully past the two who were still recovering, from being stunned by the fight.
“Huh?... Ah! Not so fast! First you tell us what that just was!” Monika's voice sounded demanding.
“That?... Ah! That was a sandworm.”
“I'm not talking about that thing! First you act strangely, then you stroll like an undead towards the sandworm and eventually defeat it! And what was that sword anyway?” Monika's voice was insistent.
“Do I really have to say that?” I asked. It's not that I wanted to hide it from them, it's just, I had no idea how to explain the fact that I had met a little girl who wanted to be used, and that she had kissed me to make the contract. Just the thought of it at that time made me feel uncomfortable and embarrassed.
“You owe us an explanation!” Monika said firmly.
“Exactly, exactly.” Anna agreed.
I sighed deeply. “I'll tell you on the way back. Let's go now.” I began to make my way back, my thoughts swirling in my head as I tried to recover from the exhaustion of the fight. The cave that had seemed so threatening before now seemed less intimidating as we reached the safe exit.
The sun was already low in the sky when we left the cave and made our way back to the Adventurers' Guild. The streets of the town were slowly filling with the last rays of light of the day. The thought, of what we had just accomplished, filled me with a strange sense of pride, but at the same time there was this gnawing feeling in my chest, a feeling I always felt when I thought about the fact that our actual mission wasn't finished yet. We opened the heavy doors of the guild, greeted by the familiar hum of voices, the chink of coins and the clink of glasses. The smell of roasting meat and alcohol hung in the air, making me feel hungry. Maybe we should get something to eat here, I thought. But first we went to the counter and there she was again, the receptionist. The same young girl who had looked after me just yesterday when I registered. Her eyes studied us briefly and a small, appreciative smile flitted across her lips.
“We'd like to complete our quest,” I said and gave her the mission, which we took down from the Quest-Board.
“I see. Please give me your Guild Card for a moment. I'll register your success on it. But first...” suddenly she grabbed something with her left hand, which was probably in a drawer of the table. A small object was placed on the table. It was a small silver metal box, about the size of a hand, which slightly reflected the light of the room.
“What's that?” I asked, confused.
“It's a custom-made item box to analyze the evidence of a completed quest and find out what exactly it is. This is mainly for our own research and knowledge of the guild. So, please. If your piece of evidence is in an item box, you can simply place your hand on the metal box and it will be transferred by hand as soon as you think of it,” she explained. I did as she asked, even though I was unsure about my personal item box. I still didn't know if it was normal to have your own item box or status window. But it looks like nobody seems to care, which made me feel a little relieved.
When the metal box suddenly lit up a small red-transparent screen, the blonde receptionist took a closer look. Her body flinched briefly as she read through the data of the two sandworm halves, but then her frightened eyes were overcome with curiosity and amazement.
“Is everything all right?” I asked.
“Eh? Uh, yes. I'm sorry. Please hand me your Guild card now.”
I dug into my pocket and handed her my Guild card, which she took carefully. She gave me a quick glance before setting about registering her success. I couldn't help but think about how many people she must have seen coming here, with stories written all over their faces and the hope that their deeds would be more than just a footnote in history.
“I have registered your success. And here is your reward. Well done!” she finally said as she handed us back our cards. In her hands she held a small leather pouch, which landed in my hand with a comfortable weight. I opened it gently, four hundred gold coins flashing at me. That was more than I had ever possessed at one time. A feeling of satisfaction flowed through me, but it was quickly overwhelmed by the reality of our situation.
A little later, we sat at one of the rustic wooden tables at the back of the guild and celebrated our success. The table was set with a feast that would make us forget the exertions of the day. A juicy roast wild boar covered by a hearty sauce, crusty bread, fresh salad like a side dish and cool mugs of beer for everyone. Well, since I was still a minor, I should have settled for a glass of water, but since I got an alcohol resistance skill in this world, I had no need to worry about getting drunk. Even though the taste of the beer was something I had to get used to. While Monika and Anna were already deep into their mugs, I leaned back and enjoyed this experience, no matter how temporary it was. The mood was exuberant, but I was still rumbled inside. The sandworm had only been a distraction, another obstacle in our path. The real target was still ahead of us, the murderer of Yuuji, of me, hiding somewhere out there. In my deepest thoughts, I knew it was no time for celebration, but I still wanted to cherish this moment before reality came crashing down on us again.
“We've been traveling for a few months now and haven't found out anything further about Yuuji's killer. Maybe the old hag just made a mistake.” Monika's voice broke the silence that had settled over the table. Her words were sharp, almost resigned, and I could see the doubt in her eyes.
“We can't know yet.” I replied, trying to keep my voice calm. “We haven't even reached the halfway of our path yet."
Monika snorted softly and stared into her beer mug. “Maybe, but where's the guarantee that we'll just bump into the murderer in Pezowa? You haven't even seen his face.”
Her words hit me harder than I'd expected. She was right, and I was well aware of that. The memories of that fateful day were hazy, confused like a nightmare I couldn't wake up from. But despite everything, I couldn't help feeling that we were on the right path, even if it was paved with pain and uncertainty.
“... You're right.” I mumbled at last and lowered my eyes. The words of the fortune teller who had sent us on this journey echoed in my head.
“Calm down. You're thinking too much.” A soft, familiar voice suddenly sounded in my head. Loli, the little girl, was talking to me.
“You have no idea! You don't know what I've been through so far!” I replied desperately, even though I knew it was pointless to rebel against her.
“Yes, I do know. I know these feelings all too well.” she replied calmly.
“What do you mean?” I asked, although I had already guessed the answer.
“Through the contract we made, we have both become one. That means that I can see and feel your thoughts, your memories and your feelings all at once. So I also know who you really are.” Her words pierced me, and I felt a strange mixture of shame and relief. “I-I understand. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have yelled at you.”
“It's okay. Don't worry about it.” Loli replied with a gentleness that gave me comfort.
While I was still thinking about how deep the connection between us really was, Monika broke the silence again. “Anyway, let's talk about our departure instead. I suggest we get a horse and carriage. All this running around makes my feet hurt!” Her voice sounded annoyed, but also pragmatic.
A carriage, huh? It was a decent idea, but the thought of traveling on again made me uneasy. Whatever was ahead of us, it was certainly easier than what we'd already been through. But this was the path we had chosen and there was no turning back.