The sun dipped toward the horizon, casting long, golden shadows over the vast plains that stretched out before them. The oppressive weight of the ruins still clung to their minds, like the remnants of a storm that had passed but not fully cleared. Seikan and Kalsei stood at the crumbling entrance of the ancient temple, their backs to the stone that had nearly claimed them. The cool, less suffocating air swept over them, brushing against their faces and through their hair, a stark contrast to the dense, choking atmosphere they had just escaped.
Kalsei breathed in deeply, letting the fresh air fill his lungs, a faint grin tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Ah, much better! It’s nice to breathe something that doesn’t feel like it’s trying to kill us."
Seikan remained still, his cold green eyes fixed on the tree line ahead, his expression unchanged. Though the oppressive magic of the temple had lifted, the weight of their encounter lingered in his mind. "Don’t get too comfortable," he said, his voice low, steady. "This world isn’t done with us yet."
Kalsei flicked his white and teal-streaked hair out of his eyes, a playful smirk forming. "Oh, come on, Seikan. Take a minute to enjoy the moment. No monsters, no creepy magic. Just us and the wide-open sky. Feels like a vacation compared to what’s behind us."
Seikan cast a brief glance at Kalsei, his brow furrowing slightly. "We don’t have time for vacations." His tone was as sharp as ever, though the sight of the endless horizon ahead offered him a sliver of reassurance. For now, at least, the worst seemed behind them. But Velcyne had already proven that peace here was only ever temporary.
Kalsei shrugged, clearly unfazed by Seikan's lack of enthusiasm. "Alright, alright, back to business then. But seriously, can’t we just appreciate the fact that we’re not dead for once?"
Kalsei flipped the Shattering Blade in his hand, marveling at its balance and weight. His grin was wide, as if the battle inside the temple had been nothing more than a fun workout. “So, I’m thinking we start calling me ‘Kalsei the Slicer’ from now on. What do you think?”
Seikan shot him a glance, his cold green eyes sharp with disapproval. “I think you should focus more on what’s next rather than coming up with ridiculous nicknames.”
Kalsei shrugged, letting the blade rest across his shoulders. “Hey, I saved your life in there. A little appreciation wouldn’t kill you.”
Seikan didn’t respond immediately. Instead, he unfolded the map they had received after defeating the Bloodfang Wolf. The parchment was old and worn, its edges frayed, but the markings were clear. Various symbols dotted the landscape, most of which were unfamiliar to Seikan, but one thing stood out—a small cluster of buildings etched near the edge of the map.
Kalsei leaned in beside Seikan, his golden eyes narrowing as he squinted at the map. “Are those… buildings? Like, a town?”
Seikan nodded slowly, studying the map with growing interest. “It seems so. We should head there.”
Kalsei laughed softly. “Oh, sure. Let’s just go wandering toward civilization like we haven’t been trying to not die for the past few hours.”
“This isn’t Earth,” Seikan replied, his voice cold and measured. “If we want to survive here, we need resources. A town is our best option to gather information and find out what we’re dealing with.”
Kalsei sighed dramatically, flipping the Shattering Blade in the air before catching it effortlessly. “Alright then. Let's go get absorbed into the masses.” His tone was playful, but his gut was churning at the thought of being surrounded by a high concentration of people.
They began their journey across the plains, the golden sky stretching above them. The map guided them westward, and as they walked, the land slowly shifted from the rolling green fields into rougher, more uneven terrain. Sparse patches of trees dotted the horizon, their twisted branches casting eerie shadows in the fading light.
Kalsei kept up his usual banter. “So, I bet this town has an inn, right? And maybe some kind of legendary adventurers' guild, or hunters' association?”
Seikan didn’t bother to answer, his mind focused on their surroundings. Despite Kalsei’s lightheartedness, he knew they needed to stay alert. This world—Velcyne—was dangerous. Everything they’d encountered so far had tried to kill them. A town might provide answers, but it could also present new challenges.
After what felt like hours of walking, the green hues of the plains had diluted to a muddy brown, the ground beneath their feet dry and cracked. Large rocks dotted their path towards a valley, winding its way through a narrow canyon.
Seikan’s eyes flicked back to the map, his brow furrowed.
“We’re getting close,” he said. “The town should be just beyond this canyon.”
Kalsei grinned, excitement bubbling just beneath the surface. “Finally! I hope they have something good to eat. I’m starving. Do you think they have burgers in this world? If not, do you think we could invent them? We could be rich!”
Seikan shot him a look. “Don’t be careless. There could be more enemies waiting for us.” He raised his eyebrow slightly at the burger idea. Kalsie might have been onto something. 'Perhaps I could start a tattoo parlour,' he thought to himself, before shaking the thought for now and focusing on the task ahead.
Kalsei sighed, his smile faltering slightly. “I know, I know. No need to go all ‘serious mode’ on me. I’m just trying to keep things light. You should try it sometime. Might help with that ‘brooding, my-life-is-terrible’ vibe you’ve got going on.”
Before Seikan could respond, a system window suddenly appeared in front of both of them, glowing faintly in the dim light.
New Quest: Reach the Town of Meliora Objective: Reach the town and gather information about the surrounding area. Rewards: 500 experience points Traveler’s Pouch (Grants additional inventory space).
“Well, looks like we’re officially on a quest now,” Kalsei sighed. “A quest to… walk more. My favourite.” he said sarcastically.
Seikan ignored his sarcasm, his eyes focused on the path ahead. The hills grew steeper as they continued, and the rocky terrain became harder to navigate. Every few minutes, Kalsei would sprint ahead, using his high agility to nimbly leap over obstacles and scout the area. Seikan kept his pace steady, his mind working through various strategies in case they encountered more danger.
They were nearing the top of the ridge when Kalsei suddenly stopped, his golden eyes narrowing as he scanned the horizon. “Seikan, I think you’re gonna want to see this.”
Seikan quickened his pace, joining Kalsei at the top of the hill. Below them, nestled between the hills and a dense forest, was the town of Meliora. The buildings were small, their rooftops made of thatch and wood, and smoke rose from several chimneys. It looked peaceful, almost picturesque, like something
out of a storybook.
Kalsei grinned. “Well, would you look at that? Actual civilization. And no monsters in sight! What do you say, Seikan? Think they’ve got beds?”
Seikan’s eyes narrowed as he studied the town. “It's a town," he replied dryly. "Of course they will have beds.”
Kalsei rolled his eyes. “Well obviously! I meant like rooms to stay in or something."
They made their way down the hill toward the town, but just as they reached the outskirts, the air around them shifted. Seikan’s eyes widened as he sensed a familiar energy—magic. The runes on the ground ahead of them began to glow faintly, and before they could react, several figures appeared in front of them.
"Curse it," Seikan hissed under his breath, annoyed with himself for letting such an obvious trap catch him off guard. "This would not have happened if I was not distracted by the talk of burgers and pizza."
"I never said pizza," Kalsei interjected. "But I wouldn't mind a slice," he added with a cheeky grin. The sound of someone clearing their throat drew their attention back to the figures before them.
Kalsei and Seikan both turned their heads to look at the man in front of the group. "What?" They both said at the same time, Kalsei sounding distracted from his thoughts, while Seikan sounded very dipleased at the intrusion.
Enemy Encounter: Bandit Ambush Level: 3 Health: 300 each Abilities: Quick Strike (Lvl 2): Delivers a fast, precise attack. Smoke Bomb (Lvl 1): Creates a cloud of smoke, disorienting enemies.
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The group of bandits moved closer, each one clutching crude weapons made of rusted steel and splintered wood. Their leader, a tall man with a scar running down the length of his face, grinned wickedly, the kind of grin that spoke of a lifetime of preying on the weak.
“Well, well, what do we have here? You don't look like locals,” he sneered, taking a confident step forward. "Your clothes and hair look like you're from a rich family," he added, looking pointedly at Kalsei. "Noble?"
Kalsei tilted his head, his usual grin slipping back into place, but this time it had an edge. His golden eyes flickered with amusement. “Me? A noble?" Kalsei scoffed. "Do I look like a pretentious tart?"
Seikan let out a small snort in amusement. "Isn't your sister a tart, my lord?"
Kalsei's head whipped up to look at Seikan in confusion, clearly caught off guard by Seikan's out of character response. "Wait.. what?"
"A young prince perhaps?" the bandit leader mused with a greedy smile.
"Hang on, there's been a misunderstanding," Kalsei replied quickly; but was still by Seikan's unexpected response.
"Don't worry young prince, I will protect you from these filthy ruffians," Seikan smirked, straightening up as he put his arm out in front of Kalsei.
"What the hell is happening?" Kalsei asked in utter confusion.
"We're gonna kill that lanky body guard of yours, throw you in a sack, and turn you into gold," the bandit leader revealed. "Get 'em boys!"
Seikan’s eyes narrowed, and without saying another word, he took a step forward, his fingers already moving in deliberate patterns, tracing runes into the air. His voice was low, but it carried a weight that made even the bravest hesitate. “You don’t want this fight. If you’re smart, you’ll walk away now.”
The leader’s grin widened, showing yellowed teeth. “Gutsy. I like it. But guts won’t stop me from taking everything you’ve got" With a guttural shout, the bandits charged, their weapons raised.
Kalsei reacted instantly, his high agility kicking in as he darted forward. His movements were fluid, almost playful as he weaved between the attackers, dodging their wild swings with ease.
One of the bandits swung a rusty sword at him, but Kalsei was already a step ahead, slipping to the side and bringing the Shattering Blade down in a sweeping arc that cut through the air, sending a shockwave through the air, the force of the blow knocking the bandit backward with a grunt. The man staggered, clutching his chest, the wind clearly knocked out of him.
Kalsei grinned, turning the blade towards the bandit. “Come on, you’re making this too easy!”
But as much as he was joking, Kalsei knew these were bad men that hurt a lot of people. His heart felt like it was pumping in his throat, as he felt the reality of the situation, the unfamiliar feeling of being prepared to take another human's life. He spun to dodge another strike, barely sidestepping the blow of a bandit’s axe as it grazed his shirt.
“Whoa! Okay, maybe not too easy,” Kalsei muttered to himself, his playful smirk never leaving his face.
Seikan, meanwhile, remained calm and methodical. As the bandits charged at him, he took a slow breath, his fingers dancing in intricate patterns as he summoned the Rune of Binding. Shadowy chains writhed up from the ground, snaking their way toward the nearest bandit. The man’s eyes widened in shock as the chains coiled around him like a snake, pulling him to the ground with a forceful yank.
The bandit struggled, his fingers clawing at the dirt as he tried to make purchase, the chains constricting around his body, making movement impossible. Seikan’s gaze remained cold as he watched the man’s futile attempts to break free. “Struggling will only make it worse,” he said flatly.
But the bandits weren’t done yet. Their leader tossed a small black object to the ground near Seikan’s feet—a smoke bomb. Thick, choking smoke billowed out, enveloping the area around Seikan. The bandits grinned, thinking they had blinded him.
However, Seikan didn’t panic. His mind remained focused as he activated a simple wind rune with a flick of his wrist. The air around him shifted, swirling in a controlled gust that dispersed the smoke almost instantly. The leader’s confident grin faltered as Seikan stood there, untouched, his cold gaze locked onto him.
"You think tricks like that will work on me?" Seikan’s voice was chillingly calm as his fingers traced another rune.
Meanwhile, Kalsei was keeping two bandits busy, dancing around them with a mixture of speed and agility. One swung a club at him, but Kalsei ducked under it effortlessly, grinning as he spun around and delivered a quick strike with the Shattering Blade, sending a shockwave that threw the bandit off balance.
The second bandit lunged with a dagger, and Kalsei sidestepped with a quick movement of his feet, lifting his hand to catch the bandit’s arm in a fluid motion. "Not bad," he muttered, "let's kick it up a notch." With a swift kick to the back of the man’s knee, he dropped him to the ground, swiftly sliding the blade into the back of his neck.
Out of the corner of his eye, Seikan saw the leader making another move. He wasn’t about to let this bandit escape his punishment. With a flick of his wrist, the chains around the captured bandit pulsed with dark energy as Seikan activated Adaptive Shackles. The intricate chains sprang to life, lashing out from the restrained man and coiling around the legs of two more bandits.
The bandits struggled, eyes wide with panic as the chains tightened around them, their strength and vitality slowly being drained by the magical bindings. One bandit tried to lunge at Kalsei, his bindings squeezing tighter with every inch he moved. He let out a deep agonising scream as the chains constricted, causing him to collapse on the ground, blood trickling from his eyes, nose, and mouth.
Seikan’s expression remained emotionless, though the faintest hint of satisfaction gleamed in his eyes. He flicked his wrist again, and the remaining two bandits ensnared by the Adaptive Shackles began to writhe in agony. The chains hummed with power, siphoning their strength until their movements became sluggish, their very essence being drained from them. In moments, the once-vicious bandits were reduced to dried husks, their lifeless bodies crumbling to the ground.
The leader, now the only one left standing, looked between Kalsei and Seikan with wide, terrified eyes. His confident bravado was gone, replaced by raw fear. “This... this isn't how it was supposed to go down... You're just a kid.”
Kalsei stepped forward, his golden eyes glowing faintly as the Shattering Blade hummed in his hand. His grin was still there, but it was edged with a sharpness that made the bandit leader flinch. “Pro tip: When you see people who look like they don't belong, chances are they traveled very far.”
Before the leader could respond, Kalsei spun the Shattering Blade once in his hand. "I'm not a kid. I'm nineteen," he said with an irritated smirk, then brought the sword down in a smooth, swift motion. The blade cut through the air with a distorted whine, cleaving the leader’s head from his shoulders in one clean strike. The now twitching body fell to the ground with a dull thud, lifeless eyes staring blankly into the dirt.
Bandit Ambush defeated. Gained 300 experience points Item Drop: Bandit’s Cloak Item Drop: Crude Dagger
Kalsei grinned as the system notification appeared. “Well, that was a nice warm-up. We didn’t even break a sweat.”
Seikan didn’t respond, his eyes scanning the area for any remaining threats. Satisfied that the danger had passed, Seikan stepped over the fallen leader and picked up the Bandit’s Cloak. He inspected it briefly, noting the crude stitching and worn fabric, before tossing it into his inventory.
Bandit’s Cloak Type: Armor (Light) Effect: Increases stealth by 5%.
Bonus: +2 Agility, +1 Endurance.
Kalsei, meanwhile, picked up the Crude Dagger from one of the dead bandits, twirling it in his hand before adding it to his inventory as well.
Crude Dagger Type: Weapon (Dagger) Effect: A basic, low-quality weapon. Deals minimal damage but can be used for
quick strikes.
Bonus: +1 Strength, +3 Agility
"So.. What was that all about?" Kalsei asked, giving Seikan a curious look. "You know, the whole 'prince' and 'my lord' stuff?"
Seikan glanced sideways at Kalsei, letting out a small breath. "I was merely having some fun," he replied calmly. "I thought I would give it a try." He straightened, looking out toward the town. “But in all seriousness, we do need to be more careful. If bandits are this close to town, there might be more threats inside.”
Kalsei sheathed the Shattering Blade on his back, his grin returning. “Yeah, but we handled them, didn’t we? No big deal. Besides, maybe they were the welcome committee. You know, to check if we’re tough enough to hang with the locals.”
Seikan’s gaze remained serious. “This world isn’t going to welcome us, Kalsei. Everyone we encounter will either be a threat or a tool. And right now, we don’t have the luxury of choosing who’s who.”
Kalsei sighed, though his smile didn’t waver. “You really know how to kill the mood, don’t you? I’m just saying, maybe we’ll get lucky and find someone who’s not trying to kill us for once.”
Seikan glanced down at the map in his hand. “Let’s not rely on luck.”