Day 18 Part 3: Herding Time!_Journey of Vessels

...Stirring awake, Kanji casts his gaze out the window. The sun is taking a bow, its radiant face dipping behind the earth's edge. With a swift kick— he sends the blanket flying, eclipsing the fading twilight.

Kanji "Shit. Note to self to never overcharge again. Mina! Azan! Why aren't we moving anymore?! Also, bring an empty battery. I say about 1,000,000 volts capacity!"

Mina "What?! Oh, you want a battery! We're coming! Just stay still!"

He turns to the right. Mina and Azan move a strangely recognizable battery into view. A tangle of cryptic wires dance in a whirling spiral around the battery, their copper veins entwining the metallic, circuit-like skeleton. With care, they deposit it next to his bed.

Kanji "Perfect. That's the prototype, NASA was developing to store power from the Sun. You know I'm still impressed that they were able to create thermal generators on the Sun's surface."

Kanji offers them a knowing glance, tilting his head subtly toward his right arm. A silent understanding passes between them. They position his hand above the battery. Suddenly, an ethereal blue glow radiates from it, and the entire floor is ablaze with light, forcing squints and shielded eyes. When the spectral blaze subsides, they see the battery convulsing, its shell clashing with the floor in a chaotic dance.

Azan "Ok, this doesn't look good! Kanji what do we do?!"

Kanji retrieves his tablet device, quicking storing the battery away. Mina and Azan catch a murmur escaping his lips, a private message to his gadget, yet they opt to respect his whisper.

Azan "Was that the right move? It could destroy everything in there."

Kanji "Dealing with out-of-control devices is my specialty. Besides, I was looking for ways to charge my subspace anyway"

Mina "Wait, that place has a charge?!"

Kanji "Obviously. Nothing in this world is infinite. Speaking of which... now that my Vortex Battery is full. Let's continue with our journey. Where are we exactly?"

Mina "We are on a cliffside. Far south of an Amish town, they were such nice people!"

Azan "Nice, huh. Then can you explain the tomatoes on that window over there?"

Mina "Azzy, but those were thrown by kids. I'm pretty they were just having fun! Also, We asked them about the closest isolated place from the town. And now we are here thanks to lovely folks!"

Kanji "Okay. Thank you for the info, you two. You guys are awesome."

Kanji proceeds to rumple their hair, a tender gesture like an older sibling teasing his younger ones. The time and change wielders respond with a playful salute, before darting upstairs to alert their fellow wielders. In a descending cascade, they appear— Gwen and Claire rush to hug Kanji.

Kanji "Oh hey girls. Sorry, I made you two worry."

Claire "Don't do that again! You big silly dumbo!"

Gwen "Don't ever try again! You brave imbecile!"

Dave "Woah! Harsh man harsh! Girls, am I righ-

Diana and Amelia swat him on the head, forcing Dave to shuffle to the back of the group.

Rising from his bed, a pathway opens before Kanji as he strides toward the outdoors. Perched on the cliff edge, an endless quilt of vibrant trees rolls out before him, speckled with the flutter of multi-colored birds in the distance. He inhales the purifying air, letting his body gradually recalibrate to its natural rhythm. As his reflexes awaken, Kanji retrieves his device once again.

Kanji "Who's up for Ireland!"

All "Me!"

AN "Me, too! I'm so glad that you have recovered! Gosh! I was so worried! At one point, I noticed that your pulse wasn't beeping. And my heart nearly jumped out of my chest."

Kanji "Hold on. How could you know that my pulse wasn't active?"

Gwen "Yeah! And did you just mention that you have two hearts?! Two hearts!"

AN "Oops! I probably got too carried away. So while you guys were doing your own business, I was discussing with the other rebels how they could deliver stuff to me instead of me going to them. They said that invisibility was the only option and ask me if I happen to have a schematic for one. Soooo... Sorry, Kanji. I sort of... hacked into your home's database."

Kanji "Again. Please stop hacking my stuff. You guys took the cloaking tech. Didn't you? Did it at least help?"

AN "Yes, tremendously! Buuut that's only because The Empire doesn't know we have that kind of tech. You see we tested it and infrared worked on it. So if they catch on, the invisibility will be useless."

Kanji "I have a guess that you guys will only use it to deliver stuff to your location."

AN "That's right! This way I can be much more useful and there's no way The Empire can find out about it."

Gwen "Ahem! Two hearts and the device. I need some explanation."

AN "Oh, sorry. Yes, Castastrians have two hearts. One in the same place as humans and one on the opposite end slightly to the right. The device I received today was a type of scanner that can check the vital states of creatures using stored image learning. It has in total about 100,000,000 catalogs of species across the universe."

Claire "I thought you Castastruairara- or whatever don't like to do that stuff. Right?"

AN "Oh, yeah. We didn't create this technology. This is a product of the merchants and traders of Wal'Tera. Us rebels made some negotiations. The Empire also has them, but they used actions more than words."

Diana "Darn, bastards! Even in trade, they are merciless!"

Sarah "Er... AN. Can I have my shovel back?"

AN "About that. You see I still don't have a way to transport it back to you. I'm so sorry."

Claire "Sarah. If you want a shovel, I can just make you another-

Sarah "NO! A girl's first shovel is her shovel for life. AN, keep on to it until the day we meet in person."

Noah "Yeah, better watch over it." "God, I wish I was her shovel. Ah... Together for life..."

AN "Ummm... okay. I will try my best. See now that I have the option to access more things. Is there anything you guys need?"

Kanji "Yes, there is! We need a way to counteract their search devices. If that isn't possible then we must fight fire with fire!"

AN "I don't how to stop them from finding you guys. But I can discuss with the others on a way to help you search and detect enemies. I think... it would take a while before we get any good results."

Kanji "That's fine with me. Just make sure to press the heal button if you see us injured."

AN "Got it! I guess I'll see everyone back in a few days."

Dave "Wait! AN bro!... Fuck. They're gone. Man, I had a question."

Diana "It was bound to be dumb anyway. I bet it is like "What do your farts smell like?" or something stupider."

Kanji "Okay enough! Is everyone ready to go?"

Saluting Kanji with a nod, they create some distance, sensing that something significant is about to unfold. Taking a deep breath, he strolls towards the RV, activating a button on his device. A triumphant announcement fills the air – Success! A single RV vanishes into storage, eliciting cheers from the group. Kanji then retrieves a circular disk from his portal. They draw closer, inspecting the massive DVD-like object, its thickness, and intricate circular indentations along the outline drawing their attention. With care, Kanji places it down before them.

Dave "Cool dude! Is this your teleporting thingy, bro?!"

Azan "What the hell was that?!"

Kanji "Since you shared your secret. Might as well share mine. These are commands to access any teleporter in the world despite the owner's permission. That said the two teleporters must still be at the same point in space-time. Thanks to our luck, we got just that, and this other teleporter is located in the middle of nowhere."

Amelia "That's odd. Why would anyone do that?"

Kanji "I'm guessing that the owner is a farmer. These days teleporters are very popular with farmers since they can easily sell their products. Either that or the owner simply forgot about it. Now, I say it again. Is everyone ready-

The group, except Gwen, tries to squeeze onto the small platform. Kanji can't help but facepalm, propelling him to deliver a swift kick to the teleporter's side. Miraculously, the platform expands, accommodating the eager participants. With a style, Gwen and Kanji step onto the platform, their bodies enveloped in a shimmering light before abruptly vanishing, transported to the other side of the world.

After a brief moment of darkness, their eyes flutter open, revealing a quaint cottage enveloped in their surroundings.

The floor, crafted from weathered mangrove planks, is strewn with fragrant hay. Woolen layers adorn the walls, creating a cozy ambiance, while a woven fiber ceiling completes the rustic charm. An eye-catching Viking horn is displayed on one wall, beneath which sits a dust-covered desk, wavering on the brink of collapse. Dave investigates the desk's drawers, only to find emptiness within.

Diana "Icarus! It is rude to search other people's stuff!"

Dave "We are already in their house anyway. So what's the big deal?! Also, you think that anyone would live in this fucking dump, bros."

Claire "Hey! This place isn't a dump! I find it very comfy like this leather skin bed-AH!"

Claire's light frame exerts enough force to cleave the bed in twain, exposing a concealed hatch beneath. Intrigued by the discovery, Kanji effortlessly pries open the hatch, but to his surprise, the entire assembly dislodges, taking a few neighboring floorboards with it. Turning it over, he senses that the hatch had been securely locked from the inside.

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Sarah "Woah, there must secrets down there! Like Viking treasures!"

Sarah takes the leap, boldly venturing down the hidden hatch, and the rest of the group follows suit. In the dim depths, Claire transforms one of her syringes into a lantern, casting a soft glow to guide their way.

As their eyes adjust to the light, they are greeted by that!

Claire/Mina "AHHHHH! What is that?!"

Sarah "Awesome! A corpse! Holy shit the guy's clothes are still attached to him."

Perched upon a bench, the corpse captures their full attention. The floor beneath them is strewn with an additional layer of hay, while the walls are engulfed by a bizarre moss that seeps a translucent liquid. Close to the lifeless figure, the remains of rodents and the hollow shells of insects lie scattered.

Kanji and Gwen inch closer to examine the body

Upon closer inspection, Gwen discerns a startling revelation. It becomes evident that it is not the clothes adhering to the deceased's flesh, but rather—

The skin has melded and fused with his garments.

Gwen "I say that is the most extreme case of Fibroma I have ever seen. Perhaps a far more mutated variant that was caused by exposed scar tissues. Seeing that this poor individual was stuck here for a while. This is a plausible outcome."

Kanji "A while? I say a couple of years. The question is why did I lock himself in here? Also, take a closer."

Amelia "Hold on a second. Wow, his skin is bloody green like his trousers!"

Mina "Oh poor guy! He's green all over. What the hell happened here?!"

Kanji "I say most likely that this has to do something with our trial. It just screams paranormal- Sarah! Cut that out!"

Sarah "Oh! Sorry! Sorry!"

With a swift yank, she retrieves the corpse's finger from its nose and retreats. Claire intercepts her, commanding her to use the mechanical soap. Sarah grumbles but complies, carrying out the request.

Adrian "Kanji. I think you missed something. In this person's pocket. There's a note!"

Kanji "A note? It might be a clue. Can you read it for us?"

Adrian "Sure... Let's see here... Okay, small parts of the note are a bit wet from something. Also, the words here are written in a weird Irish font and of course in Irish. But lucky for everyone, I am prepared to translate this for you all. Okay, here I go...

Hello, My name is Poel Ishe. If you are reading this, I’m most likely dead. Let’s start from the beginning. It was a typical day of hard-working, tending to my precious sheep. At the end of that day, I was visited by a strange man who wore a strange suit. He said nothing and held his cane high before cutting my flesh with its sharp end. I feared that he was going to kill me right then and there. But he instead left. After that day, I thought nothing of it and continued life. However, as time went by, I felt ill. I noticed that my flesh was turning green like the color of my clothes. I feared that I had some kind of curse and I locked myself in the cellar so that my sheep won’t be harmed. After a few days, my body except my arms didn’t move. Living day to day, my arms were just out of reach to eat the moss that give me water. I had to eat cockroaches and rats to keep myself fed. I don’t know what day it is now. I can barely write this m e s s a g e P l e a s e l o o k a f t e r m y s h e e p

Adrian "That's very grim. The least we could do is find his sheep a new home."

Kanji "About that. Our current trial revolves around grouping sheep. I wonder if this is connected."

Diana "There's one way to find out boss. Let's go outside! I think I heard some!"

Emerging from the herder's cellar, they step into an expansive grassy field. Ahead, a lengthy fence extends into the distance. Gwen notices its hardy construction, made from a resilient type of birch wood. Even more strange is the fence's pristine appearance, gleaming and impeccably maintained as they approach.

Kanji "Okay. This doesn't make sense. Unless someone was tending to them while he was locked away. Do you guys see any sheep?"

Sarah "... Look! Over there! I see them!"

Fixing their gaze upon a modest hill nestled within the pen, the wielders vault over the fence to investigate further

Something about these sheep seems rather odd...

Gwen "In all my years, I have never seen a faceless sheep. Let alone sheep that have different colored wool. Unless someone dyed them, but still! There seems to be every color imaginable here!"

Azan "I don't really understand our goal here. Are we supposed to hunt or herd them somewhere else?"

Kanji "Most likely herd. But where? Everyone! Search the area!"

Dividing their forces, the group disperses, leaving Gwen, Claire, and Kanji in charge of tending to the sheep. As they fulfill their duties, Noah stumbles upon a peculiar sight— a vast circular patch devoid of grass, large enough to accommodate a legion of humans. Waving his hands frantically, he signals the others, provoking a fast reunion.

Kanji "Great job, Noah. Now we just need to drive those sheep here."

Drawing nearer to the sheep, Kanji captures their attention. Startled, the herd scatters into distinct clusters, displaying an unnatural speed. Kanji notices a pattern amidst the chaos—

The sheep within each group share a similar shade of color.

Kanji "Ok, this might be harder than I thought. Those sheep like to stay together if they have a similar color."

Mina "Kanji, look! That one group just collided with another and moved away!"

Kanji "So, they don't like to stick with other colors. That makes things way more difficult. Do you guys have any suggestions?"

Claire "Er... what aspect is this trial for?"

Kanji "I have no idea. However, I think we will find out soon."

Mina "That's the spirit! Also, I have an idea! Amelia, I need your help though. I need you to make one group of sheep think another group has the same color."

Amelia "That plan sounds brilliant. Might as well bloody try it."

Fixating her watch on two distinct groups, one red and the other blue, Amelia envisions their wool transforming into a vibrant shade of blue. For a fleeting moment, she believes it worked. However, as the groups connect, they suddenly repel each other, bouncing off without a second to spare.

Amelia "What a bummer. They seem to be immune to illusions. Bollocks! I feel like my powers are becoming more useless by the day!"

Dave "Amber, it's okay. Maybe we just need to do it the old fashion way, dudes."

Sarah "And what is that exactly?..."

Dave "We knock them out and put them into the fucking circle, bro."

Dashing toward a group of sheep with purple wool, Dave's rapid footsteps startle the horde, causing them to scatter. However, Dave manages to catch hold of one. Swinging his bat forcefully against the right side of its head, he successfully knocks it out. Dave then wraps his arm around the sheep's torso, attempting to lift it.

It's too heavy!

Dave "What the hell?! What the fuck is this sheep made of, man?"

Diana "Move aside, Icarus! I'll show how it's done!"

Diana musters the strength to hoist the sheep over her head. Dave observes her trembling arms and her struggle to move from her spot. He collapses onto the ground, bursting into laughter.

Diana "Huh?! Shut the fuck up, Icarus! Dammit! Why isn't my body moving?!"

Abruptly awoken, the sheep kicks Diana in the jaw, destroying her grip. It swiftly bounds away to rejoin its herd. The other wielders rush in, helping Diana back up onto her feet.

Diana "Fucking shit! What was that?!"

Kanji "Some anomalous force was preventing you from moving. I guess moving these guys by hand is off the table. Does anyone else have a suggestion?"

Claire "Oh! What about food?! Surely they won't split from each other if there is food."

Kanji "A good idea. But what do these creatures eat?"

Gwen "Don't fret. I have already got that covered. I took the liberty and was examining some of the creature's drool that was left behind and found that they were eating a mixture of ginger, lime, and mint."

Kanji "Good. I have all of those. One sec..."

Stepping through his portal, Kanji retrieves the three ingredients and proceeds toward the center of the circle. Placing the food down, its enticing scent wafts through the air, enchanting the sheep's senses. In response, they swiftly unite upon the circle, drawn by the irresistible aroma.

Kanji "Yes, It's working!-

One of the sheep nibbles on the ginger and disappears. As more sheep consume the ingredients, they, too, vanish into thin air. The wielders remain perplexed until Azan notices a strange sight— the emergence of new sheep along the nearby fence. These sheep possess an entirely different wool color and exhibit quicker agility. Kanji retrieves the food from the ground, stowing it within his inventory.

Kanji "Welp, that plan is a no-go. However, this made me think of another plan. Claire, do you happen to ever touch a sleep grenade?"

Claire "Umm, let me think... No, I don't think so."

Kanji "Okay, does anyone know of a way to get some?"

Dave "I know but I can only get on the dark web lol. I don't want to risk that though."

Diana "Icarus, what are you afraid of?! We are like superpowered humans!"

Dave "True. Okay, ten sleep grenades coming right up! You bros should stand back."

Dave retrieves his phone and delves into the depths of the Dark web.

A mysterious cooler-like box materializes before them.

He opens the box, causing a cloud of gas to escape. Kanji identifies it as sleeping gas, but fortunately, it has no effect on the wielders. Seizing the opportunity, Claire bends down and touches them, incorporating them into her creative arsenal. Dave grabs one of the grenades...

Dave "Okay, what do I do now, bro? Like do I chuck it at the sheep?"

Kanji "Yeah, basically. We need to know if this can work on them."

Dave extends his arm and hurls the explosive high into the air. With precision, it lands near one of the groups of sheep.

The explosive detonates, and the sheep lower their heads on the cool grass, now in a peaceful slumber.

Kanji "Alright, time for attempt number two. Dave, I want you to chuck them into the circle. Cover as much area as you can."

Dave nods, agreeing with a smile. He starts tossing the remaining cans, dispersing the smog further. Meanwhile, Kanji braves the hazy storm, sprinting toward the center of the circle. He places the food back and swiftly retreats from the circle...

The plan appears to be working... but their hopes are crippled as they witness more sheep appearing near the fence.

Noah "What the fuck?" "Seriously! After all of that!"

As the smog dissipates, the wielders behold a fair number of sheep peacefully asleep within the circle. They exchange glances, uncertain about the source of the additional sheep. Just then, Amelia takes charge and raises her hand.

Amelia "I think I know what happened. You see from the top I could see all the sheep enter the bloody circle and fall asleep. But some sheep were really fast and didn't fall asleep."

Kanji "Those must be the sheep that ate the food from earlier! Shit! Okay, we need another plan."

Sarah "Kanji, I feel like this is impossible. I wish that we can get just change the color of the wool or something."

Azan "... change. Change! Of course. With my power, I can convert all their wool into a single color. Wait a second! Is this my trial?!"

Kanji "Well, there are color and location-changing sheep. I say yes. But doesn't your power require you to imagine all of the sheep at the same time? With this many sheep scattered everywhere, that seems impossible. Wait! Unless..."

Kanji enters his portal once more, retrieving additional ginger, lime, and mint. With the ingredients in hand, he gestures towards the fence, signaling his intentions to his companions.

Kanji "I want you guys the block the sheep that have eaten the food. Make sure they don't come this way again. Don't be afraid to let out some force if you have to."

Taking a strategic stance, the wielders form a circle around the sheep near the fence. Their weapons poised, they fix the creatures with intimidating gazes. Sensing the menacing presence, the sheep opt to stay put and resist the temptation of the food. Gradually, all the sheep gather along the fence.

Azan, seizing the moment, envisions each sheep with pristine white wool.

The wielders watch in awe as the wool undergoes a magical transformation, turning into a beautiful snowy white.

The sheep, now huddled closely together, become more docile. The wielders start to herd the sheep, urging them toward the circle.

As the sheep move in, their facial features gradually return to normal.

Azan "Yes, we did it! Hey! Is that..."

Amidst the presence of BAAS and cotton wool, Azan's eyes detect a battery with void-like quality. He approaches it, and surprisingly, the sheep instinctively make way for him. As his hand reaches down to grasp the battery, it unexpectedly takes flight, evading his grasp and soaring away into the distance.

Azan "Huh? What the hell?! Come back here!"

Kanji "Azan! What's wrong?!"

Azan "This battery is flying away from me! I think the trial isn't over!"

Azan returns defeated. Mina comforts him with a gentle pat.

Kanji "Ok. This is a first. Maybe there is something that we haven't done yet. Wait... the note! There must be something we missed! Did anyone notice what he used to write this note in the cellar?"

Adrian "In one of the corners, there is a broken pen. Kanji, do you think there is a secret message?"

Kanji "It is just a hutch? Because I see no other way we can approach this problem. Claire, give me a UV light."

Claire transforms her lantern into a UV flashlight, illuminating the note with a blue light. The damp sections of the note begin to emit a soft glow. Intrigued, the wielders lean in...

Hello, My name is Poel Ishe. If you are reading this, I’m most likely dead. Let’s start from the beginning. It was a typical day of hard-working, tending to my precious sheep. At the end of that day, I was visited by a strange man who wore a strange suit. He said nothing and held his cane high before cutting my flesh with its sharp end. I feared that he was going to kill me right there. But he instead leaves. After that day, I thought nothing of it and continued life. However, as time went by, I felt ill. I noticed that my flesh was turning green like the color of my clothes. I feared that I had some kind of curse and I locked myself in the cellar so that my sheep won’t be harmed. After a few days, my body except my arms didn’t move. Living day to day, my arms were just out of reach to eat the moss that give me water. I had to eat cockroaches and rats to keep myself fed. I don’t know what day it is now. I can barely write this m e s s a g e P l e a s e l o o k a f t e r m y s h e e p

Azan "Is it telling me to turn all the wool green? Dammit! I just used my charge for today!"

Kanji "Do not be alarmed. We are 4 hours away from midnight. Your charge will return and you can get your upgrade."

... With no solution left, the wielders choose to wait until the arrival of a new day.

Day 18 Part 3: Herding Time!

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