Iruma, Saitama Perfecture.
21 st June 2043.
It was that time of the year again. High schools of Japan were awash with the torrential outpouring of youthful exuberance. That time of year, when every athlete and geek alike honed their respective skills to fulfill their magnificent dreams.
Yes, it was the period of Regional Competitions! Baseball, Basketball, Badminton, etc. Japanese telecommunications were hijacked by this insatiable fever. One such competition had grown in prestige over the years till it now boasted city-wide coverage over both radio stations and news channels.
This was the Annual Marksman Competition, split into Junior, High School, and Professional levels. It was further divided into Male, Female, and Mixed.
The regional competition had begun, attracting quite a significant crowd to the outdoor arena. Most had come to see the goddess loved by the media; the only woman who , after dominating the female category, still survived in the mixed competition: The aptly named Archery Princess.
The stands held their breath as the young lady, still tied with the young man she struggled against, stepped onto the raised platform. She was a picture of serenity, brows neither furrowed because of the heat, nor visage betraying the stress she must have been under.
And it would be no surprise too if she were to collapse. No one had expected a girl to come this far in the competition, let alone hold her own against Nagi Shigi, the young prospect touted to soon dominate the Olympics.
Both contestants had been tied for over forty-five minutes, each trying their utmost to break the deadlock while hoping the other slipped up. To finally break the stalemate, the organizers moved from the competition from the indoor arena to the outdoor arena, usually reserved for the Professional competitors.
Which was where they found themselves now.
Nagi had gone first, soon displaying his familiarity with outdoor Archery. He had clearly been practicing with the Olympics as a goal. The gallery had erupted after his magnificent display, and now waited with bated breath-and slight trepidation-for the Princess' inevitable downfall.
Adachi Ayumi took a deep breath and closed her eyes, listening as the wind picked up. What am I doing here? Here she was, struggling for a trophy that meant nothing, but somehow arbitrarily added value to her life. It was this value her father sought in her, her peers envied, and her fans worshipped.
Ayumi missed Leila. In that world, her actions actually mattered, her decisions changing the lives of many.
Adachi Ayumi was trapped, doomed to follow the predictable ladder of society laid out before her. She supposed it was why she had found Suzuki so fascinating.
A young man who, in this day and age, shrugged when asked what he wanted to be would be labeled aimless. And she couldn't lie. Ayumi initially thought the same of him too. But she also could not deny that he possessed a freedom of spirit that she, who society labeled 'ideal' would never have.
In a world where it was believe d that money equal ed success and happiness, Suzuki had shown her what it meant to find joy in the smallest things. Which was ironic in its way, since Suzuki himself wouldn't know what happiness was if it dressed up as a clown and danced in front of him.
Pfft!
Leila failed to choke back her amusement, and chuckled on the spot, shielding her face from the cameras. Unfortunately, he r shaking shoulders gave the onlookers the wrong idea.
"Ara ara, she's crying because the wind picked up."
"This is unfair, anyway! There's no way a girl could have beaten a guy."
"Don't worry Yumi-Chan, we still ove you!"
"Hime*! Hime! Hime! Hime!"
The stands erupted in loud cheers and whistles, her fans urging her to try her best.
Ayumi barely registered their voices. She regained her composure, eyes fixed on the target. Maybe if she won this thing, he would hear it on the news. With that, she nocked an arrow and listened to the wind, just like Leila had been taught.
She merged with the fluctuating breeze, recognized its temperaments, then let loose...
----------------------------------------
Few Hours Later,
Adachi Household.
Colonel Raiku Adachi sat on his knees, back to the door, head bowed, deep in meditation. ‘ Be of sound mind and body. A sound mind conquer s earthly desires and poisonous wants. It keeps its irrationalities at ba y, for a man at peace, s ees further than a man stressed. ’
The incense placed at his late wife's shrine filled the room with a pleasant scent, further increasing his relaxation and concentration.
A sharp knock at his door caught his attention. Only one person in this household would interrupt him at this hour. "Open."
The tatami door slid to the side, revealing Ayumi on her knees. She bowed, head to the floor in a formal greeting. "Sorry to interrupt, father. Your daughter has returned from the Regional Competition."
Col. Adachi grunted his acknowledgment. "Did you uphold the family name?"
"Yes, father." Ayumi picked up two trophies from behind the door and placed them in front of her. "Your daughter would never fail the family."
"Good. You did well," acknowledged the colonel in a dismissive tone , but Ayumi lingered. "What is it?"
"About our agreement, father?" Ayumi asked in a pensive tone.
Colonel Adachi grunted. "An Adachi must abide by his word. Against my expectations, you managed to win secure the gold medal for the mixed Regionals. I re-iterate then, lest you doubt me. If you win both the mixed and Female Nationals, I will use all my resources to find this Suzuki Mato."
"I appreciate your kindness," Adachi said as she retreated. She made to carry the trophies to the trophy, but a raised hand stopped her.
"Leave them," Col. Adachi said. "I will have Risa bring them to my study. Go and rest."
Adachi bowed again, then shut the door behind her.
Col. Adachi gazed at his deceased wife's portrait. He muttered something under his breath, then closed his eyes...
----------------------------------------
Suvron's Gate
12 th Ryzul, 1092.
A stream of light danced at the tower's south entrance, pulsed, then dissipated, leaving a daeben standing in its place. Kashi released the portrait, then walked to the bridge as it burned to ash. The path was lit with torches, the night sky dark and cloudy with neither star no moon to illuminate his path.
If there was one thing Kashi hated about the Teleport Skill, it was the fact it forced him to repaint the same scenery over and over again. At this point, he just let the auto-skill do the whole painting because it was faster, and frankly less stressful. He didn't mind that it didn't give him any EXP either. He got plenty of those from the other portraits and sculptures he made.
Despit e Kashi’s complaints, he teleported back and forth between Deserun and Suvron's Gate daily. He spent most of the day at the lab in Deserun, research enhanced by the materials he could now order from Rosendun and pick up from the Gate. He returned to Suvron's Gate at night, both to pick up materials he ordered, and inspect the progress on both constructions.
Residents worked fast.
A massive perimeter had already been built around the tower, blocking Suvron's Pass, so the only way in was through its gates. Small houses and huts were constructed between the t ower and the South Gate, for workers to live in.
Kashi passed through th e gate and then mounted a saddled horse, which he rode to the bridge. As he passed, Kashi noticed that t he crowd in front of the bridge had thinned . Most were bored after Kashi had returned Lunette and the rest of the orchestra to Deserun.
However, they did not leave before memorizing Lunette’s name and face. Every now and then, some would randomly chant her name, as if it would make her appear any faster.
Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.
Since Kashi began this project, he switched to long-sleeved leather armor that covered him from head to toe. Not for protection , but to hide his identity . He didn't want to advertise his being Kashi of the Daeben. Might attract some unsavory characters.
Kashi's brows furrowed as he noticed a familiar mare tethered to a post. He dismounted and also tethered his horse, then examined the red streaks along the white mare.
"Seems you made it just in time."
Kashi looked to the voice's owner, eyes wide in pleasant surprise. "Never thought I'd see you here. Been a while."
Leila nodded with a warm smile . She was her usual elegant self, dressed in dark-brown, full-body scale armor, bow slung over her shoulder. Broad, short heels brought her level with Kashi's height.
Kashi smiled as he admired her outfit. Stylish yet efficient. Just like its owner.
Leila, oblivious to Kashi’s throughs, apologized, "Sorry I left you hanging. I had some business to take care of. Couldn't log in for a while."
"What? No need for apologies," Kashi refuted. "You deserve a break anyway." He patted Sapphire's neck, then walked up the slope with his second-in-command. "Everything turn out good?"
"Yeah," Leila confirmed. "Pleased my father, which is always a plus." She glanced at the spectators. "I was told I missed quite the show."
"That's right," Kashi realized. "You haven't seen Lune perform yet. She's amazing."
Leila glanced once more at the mob who had begun chanting Lunette's name. "If she's half the hype she receives, it might be the best show I ever see."
Kashi laughed as they reached Iason, the poor man somehow asleep while standing, wrapped in a large coat to fend off the biting cold. Who could blame him? He was tasked with what amounted to the most boring job on the continent: Supervising a group of mantra chanting craftsmen.
Kashi and Leila agreed to let the man sleep and sat at the foot of the nearly completed bridge. They examined the smooth floor finishing, either side of the bridge flanked by high walls as Kashi requested.
Periodically, beams ran overhead across the needlessly wide width, then down into the river for support. Sculptures of Krakul were carved onto this support beams in reverence to the beast he had slain in these waters. The posts by the entrances, however, were adorned by sculptures of Suvron, arms wide to welcome visitors into the land of Merriheim.
A curious ball of white fur bounded up the path and hopped onto Leila's lap. It resembled a tiger, but its ears were too streamlined for that to be the case. Black stripes marked the length of its body and sapphire blue eyes locked onto the armor it chewed with its sharp teeth.
"That's new," Kashi remarked as he stroked the furry mass. Unlike Kira, it seemed content to ignore him rather than outright chew his hand off. "Male or Female."
"Male," Leila replied as she took out a ball from her inventory. "His name is Hogosha. I call him Gosha, though." She tossed it hard, down the slope, and watched as Gosha eagerly chased after it. "Recently acquired him as a gift from the King. He joked I was one lonely night away from living with cats."
"So... He gave you a big, deadly cat instead," Kashi joked. "Go figure." It wasn't just a big deadly cat. It was the king of big deadly cats. Nespian tigers were indigenous to Ederwood, but irresponsible hunting had placed them on the endangered list. The King had acquired a pregnant Nespian Tiger as a gift from the wisben country to commemorate his ascension to the throne. He had, in turn, bestowed the cub to someone he was sure would take care of it: Leila.
Leila acknowledged the oddity with a slight smile at the King's expense. The duo spent some time making fun of Paris' choice of gift, then after a deep breath, she acknowledged, "It's an impressive thing you've accomplished here."
"We've accomplished," Kashi stressed. "Couldn't have done it without you pulling all the important strings in the background."
Leila shrugged. "I didn't do much, really. Still have a lot of room for improvement."
"Oh yeah?" Kashi challenged, "Who's the one preventing Janez from crashing this bridge?"
The huntress sighed. "You found out about him. I was hoping to keep it away from you."
Kashi’s brow rose in question. "Why?"
"You've been busy with your world conquest. I figured I'd handle domestic troubles without worrying you needlessly. He isn't the first one to rise against our guild."
"He isn't?"
"No. There have been others," Leila revealed nonchalantly. "We'll handle Janez just like we handled them. Besides, it's not me keeping him from attacking this time."
"Why else won't he attack? This bridge will only strengthen our position."
"Because he likes fighting," Leila replied. "He's grown bored of the dungeons in Rosendun and wants to expand. This bridge allows that. Also, he's smart enough to know that destroying this bridge will earn him the hatred of two countries."
Kashi nodded. "Suspected as much." His eyes regarded her with respect. "Still, you constantly tracking his movements can't have played a small part."
"Fine," Leila ceded with a hint of a smile. She would be lying if she didn't admit it felt nice to really be acknowledged for once. "Thanks."
"Don't mention it," Kashi replied. "No, really don't. I have a reputation to uphold after all," he added jokingly.
"Sure thing, boss," she shot back.
Both archers listened to the absolute calm that was the night. Above, Gerber's proxy (he later found out from Iason that it wasn't the real god-just an illusion created by his power) silently and meticulously applied the finishing touches to the bridge. Next to them, a refreshed set of contractors relieved their brethren, allowing them to turn in for the night.
A few feet ahead of them, a strange bird perched on Suvron's post, seemingly content to rest its wings even this close to humanoids. Its brownish-green beady eyes regarded the duo with detached curiosity-much like noticing an oddly shaped tree while hiking. Intriguing, but not enough to actually inspect it.
Kashi lay down on the hard earth and looked up at the dark sky. He dared to forget all his worries, and appointments, instead , basking in the eternal spirit balm that was nature. Beside him, Leila ruffled Gosha's cheeks, also enjoying the relative peace and quiet. They stayed like this for close to an hour, both reluctant to break the silence, content with the company.
However, Leila resolved to break the peace when she recalled something she'd forgotten. "Stryke said you had something important you could only explain in person."
‘ Well, that was fun while it lasted. ’ Kashi sighed as he sat up. He turned to her, thinking of the best way to frame his words. Eventually, he just gave up and chose pure bluntness. "My previous game character was Razznik Y'Terlow-" Two events simultaneously interrupted him.
The first, a prompt alerting him to the bridge's completion, accompanied by fireworks exploding in the night sky as the residents celebrated the announcement. The daeben wasn't sure how much of the fireworks he heard were real though, as the back of his head struck hard against the earth, his reflexed cry silenced by a cold, armored hand. A chilly, thin edge kissed his jugular, and he looked up to see Leila glaring down at him.
"That's a lie," Leila rebuked, glare and tone colder than the night. "You're lying," she repeated. Luckily, Gosha was still in its infant stage and was too awestruck by the fireworks to notice the altercation.
Kashi's brows furrowed, perplexed by her reaction. Surprise, indignation, fear, maybe. An instant rebuttal he did not expect. "I have no reason to l-"
"What is your real name then?" she challenged.
Kashi's eyes returned the challenge. "Why should I tell you?"
The huntress smiled. A smile so chilling it would have sucked the will out of a lesser man. "I promise I will make your death painless if you d-" She felt something poke her side and looked down to see an arrow squared against her ribcage. A different smile played on her lips. One of acknowledgment. "Explain yourself. And don't tell me your last character was Razznik. Razznik was nobody's character."
That phrasing. Only one of three people Kashi knew (outside Suzuki) would ever refer to Razznik that way. Only one out of those three was a girl. "Yu-kun?"
A vein popped on her forehead. "I said a thousand times I'm not a guy, don't call me k..." She faltered as she recollected herself, eyes wide in shock. "How..." The words died in her throat as strong cold drafts stung her eyes with the truth. The dust, that damnable dust irritated her eyes.
Kashi blinked as a stubborn tear, defied her will and splashed against his cheek, then softly rolled down to the earth. It was not to be alone in its Odyssey however, as the skies silently wept the overdue reunion with soft white tears of their own.
The valley erupted in gleeful shouts as residents and Summoned alike regaled the beautiful white rain.
Leila gazed into the daeben's eyes, struggling to rein back the emotions that threatened to consume her. "You're not Suzuki." If ever a contrary statement carried so much acknowledgment of that same fact, he had never heard it.
Kashi let the arrow fall to the earth. He raised his hand to her ever-gallant features, and 'picked' the stubborn teardrops that pooled at her eyes. "No, I'm not."
Leila smiled wryly, unable to believe her reality. The person she'd been so worried about, searching for all this while now lay beneath her . W ell, proof of his existence at the very least. "He made another one. Thought Razznik was supposed to be his last."
Kashi shrugged. "You know I don't know everything he's thinking. Must have felt he needed me. I, for one, am glad he did."
Leila laughed through her tears. A short burst of genuine laughter from her relieved heart. "Yes, I suppose you would." She raised her eyes to the heavens, reveling in the cool teardrops that fell from the sky. When she calmed, she looked to Kashi. "Well, there is neither merit nor justification for taking my anger out on you." It would be akin to getting annoyed at a junior brother for the sins of his senior. "But I can't say I'm not tempted to vent my frustrations somewhat. Then there's the fact I can't ask to speak to him directly. That still holds, doesn't it?"
"Fortunately," Kashi confirmed, a twinkle in his eye. "I wouldn't want you destroying my body if you two met in my world."
"You're definitely neither Suzuki nor Razznik. You're far too comfortable to be around."
"Why, thank you."
A pause...
"...So?" Leila beckoned.
Kashi frowned. "So what?"
"Tell me where he is already!"
"Ah," Kashi shook his head. "Can't do that. I'm not allowed to."
Leila’s eyes narrowed. "Suzuki tell you not to?"
"No. Where I am. I can't talk about it."
The rage that flickered for a moment immediately simmered to concern. "Is he alright?"
"He's fine," Kashi replied. "I swear," he affirmed against her doubting eyes. "Now, will you get off me. Gosha looks like he's about to make mincemeat of my face."
Leila looked up from his face, only noticing Gosha a few feet away for the first time. The little tiger-beast stood at attention, poised to strike if things heated up. The Nespian tiger wasn't the only witness to the little drama.
Iason and a few contractors watched the scene with confused interest. They couldn't tell if it was a lover's quarrel or falling out. Either way, they had no desire to get in the middle of it. Luckily for them, though, Iason had prevented the waiting mob from coming too close to the bridge, with the excuse that some final preparations needed to be put in place before they allowed access.
Leila got to her feet, then helped the daeben to his. She nodded, letting him know they would continue their discussion at a later time. They both walked up to Iason to discuss Kashi's final addition to the bridge, and one of the reason s it had been made so wide: shops that would line the walls of the bridge.
At present, there were a couple of houses built out of the bridge's high walls, but Kashi had left plenty of space so that both residents and players could pitch tents for temporary hawking, and leave whenever they wished.
This bridge would be a busy zone very soon. With everybody who sold goods on this crossing paying a daily (or monthly) rent, this would be just another steady revenue stream for the guild.
Also, Kashi had even bigger plans for the bridge, but that was still far off in the future.