Arc 1: A first day filled with anarchy
Road to a hero
Three chances in another world
Chapter 3: Golden hair
Gray: “Ok, so I focus mana around me and say Cenic, got it.”
Ophelia: “YOU GOT THIS!”
Ophelia gives Gray a thumbs up and Gray tries using magic for the first time.
Gray: “CENIC!”
Soku: “WAIT NOT IN THE -”
Soku gets cut off as the spell activates. Gray quickly becomes confused as a small cloud of black mist forms on his face, causing him to cough.
Gray: “Bleh!, man what the hell was that? All that happened was me getting smoke in my eyes. That's the spell? Why is my luck this bad!”
Ophelia: “So why didn’t you put any mana into your spell?”
Soku: “Yeah, maybe your spell would have gone off if you used mana genius! Well, I’m glad you didn’t, because YOU TRIED TO DO IT IN THE ROOM!”
Gray: “Sorry, but I tried to use my mana. I thought you just had to focus to use mana. That's how it works in shows and books.”
Ophelia: “Shows? You speak funny Gray.”
Soku: “Well, you weren't lying about not knowing anything… Usually, you learn how to use mana as you grow up, while your OD becomes stronger.”
Gray: “What's an OD?”
Ophelia: “Your OD is like a door or gate that holds your mana for you. Your OD is having trouble using mana, almost like it’s not yours, same with the mana itself.”
Gray: “Sorry for all the questions, but is mana just mystical energy?”
Ophelia: “Kinda. Spirits are made of spiritual energy which release mana. Then there are elemental spirits that give off elemental mana, and people can be born with the ability to use the elements by either using spells or being born with the ability to move the element freely without the need for spells, which is called an absolute affinity instead of a normal affinity.”
Gray: “So then spirit magic lets me use spiritual energy and the spirit arts just means the spirits like me and I can use them for my assistance? like buffing me or debuffing my enemy?”
Ophelia: “Yeah, actually, that’s exactly right! You’re a fast learner. To be honest, learning how to use it this late in your life is gonna be incredibly difficult, so be prepared.”
Gray: “So it’s like learning a new language, you can do it easier when you’re younger compared to when you’re older. Well damn, I guess having all this mana had to come with some sort of nerf. But if I didn’t use any mana, why did some smoke show up when I used Cenic?”
Ophelia: “Well, when I checked your affinity I had to put my mana into your OD and it did have some stress put on it, as it was leaking a small bit of mana. That's probably why your eyes healed since you were pushing out some mana.”
Gray: “Why was my mana leaking out?”
Soku: “It was probably when you kept saying, “I’m from another-”, and would just stop talking when you surged with mana.”
Gray: “Oh. I guess that would make sense.”
While they are all talking, Gray notices something outside the window, gold strands of hair waving in the wind.
Then Gray sees her. His face goes blank as he looks at her. He has had crushes before, but this woman was breathtaking.
Gray { She… She’s hot… No, that’s not the word... She’s breathtaking. Her long golden hair, glistening aqua eyes, and an aura that feels kind and caring, like a role model or a parental figure.}
She wasn't some amazing-looking figure, though, she was not ugly. Gray thought of her as a hometown crush or beautiful classmate, a bit odd since he's just met her, but he simply felt comfortable. All this happened in only a couple of seconds. Though the second the girl saw Gray her face turned blank, and she ran through the door.
Soku: “ROSEMARY THIS GUY IS NOT A RANDOM DUDE, HE’S CHILL, IT’S OKAY!”
Gray, still standing there frozen as she slowly stepped back into the room. Now, he could see that she was holding something. It's a picnic basket.
Rosemary: “Sorry about that sir, I um…”
Soku: “It’s okay Rose. He kinda got teleported here from some random village, so he doesn't have any knowledge of basically anything.”
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Rosemary: “Oh I’m so sorry sir, that was rude of me. You must be really frightened right now, but why are you with Soku and Ophelia?”
Gray finally regained his composure then began to speak to Rosemary. The entire time he was with these people he had seemed to be putting on a front, almost internally acting stupid, even going so far as to use a voice to change his dialect to push this. Though Soku doesn't seem to care, and Ophelia can’t seem to notice. Though Rosemary looks to be able to see through it almost immediately. Gray was able to notice this by just looking into her eyes.
Gray: “Oh my name's Gray! Gray Kyojin! I saved Soku from getting beaten up by some thugs. She brought me here so I could get some stuff, so I’ll head off on my own after that! I’ll get out of your guys’ hair now!”
Ophelia: “You're leaving so soon? It’s about to be dark out, at least spend the night here then you can leave in the morning. Here, Rose has some food for all of us that we can eat for dinner.”
Gray: “You guys have been so nice to me, I don’t want to take advantage of your guys' great hospitality. So thanks, but I don’t want to be a burden.”
Soku: “Don’t be a baby, just chill here till tomorrow, it’s all good.”
Although Soku is more serious than all the people in this room, she looks to be about the same age as Ophelia. Fourteen years old, yet, she talks in a very adult, rude, and abrasive manner, unlike Ophelia’s more light-headed personality, and Gray’s blunt, loud, and intentionally stupid attitude, all bouncing off each other very well.
They all walk outside, then into the main house.
The inside is a lot cleaner than the outside, it has a cobblestone floor, a kitchen in the back, and stairs on the side, which lead to an upstairs with one room and what looks to be a bathroom.
They all go to the kitchen and sit down, planning to eat out of the picnic basket.
The food is simple sandwiches, but Gray seems happy. He stands there zoned out, while Soku and Ophelia mess with each other, with Rosemary just sitting there, quietly eating.
Gray: “So are you guys like a family? Or are you just friends? Because Rosemary just looks like a normal person even though you’re an elf and cat girl.”
Soku: “Well obviously we aren't related. I met Ophelia when I was younger. She took me in, and we met Rosemary a couple of weeks ago, she helped us out with some of those cult guys and we let her live here.”
Gray: “You fought them off? Do you have some power? Or are you a knight?”
Rosemary: “You really aren't from here. I was born into a big group of knights, a big group …. I don’t like fighting and I know it’s dishonorable but... I … I ran away... I understand if you don’t like me because of this and I apologize if it offends you!”
Gray: “Why are you apologizing? You got born into something you didn’t agree with and ran away... I think most people don’t like fighting or killing other people. I think like you're the normal one in this.”
This was the first time Gray spoke in a normal and serious tone. The shift in his tone, and words most people would never say, shook her down to her core.
Gray: “So you guys have a cult running around? What’s that about?”
Rosemary: “They are called The Sect of Anarchy. They dress in dark robes and go from town to town getting people to join them and try to take over the area.”
Gray: “The Sect of anarchy huh? That's a strange name, it's like an oxymoron, contradicting the title... The Idea of anarchy, breaking down the system whilst using a system to do it.”
Soku: “It’s more like you join them so you don’t get in the way of their plans, so it makes you safe. You get to join something bigger making you feel like you're one of the greats. If you have a strong spirit affinity they will go after you and want you to join.”
Rosemary: “The bigger affinity you have, the bigger chance their rituals will work. You will be granted some sort of otherworldly power, and the chance of getting this and being stronger than others is also a big reason some people join them, so I recommend watching out for them. Every army in the world is out to stop the Sect, so it’s almost like the hate to stop these people is bringing all these cultures together.”
Gray: “So these guys are the bad guys, yet you're a child soldier... so I guess this world is more realistic, having a really good guy as far as I know seems to be unlikely, heh I’m used to stuff like this being some weird power fantasy and some wish fulfillment.”
Soku: “You talk strangely? You speak as if you come from some other realm or something.. Every island and content has been discovered or conquered and yet you never heard about any of this? How can we be sure you’re not lying? You may be here to call the knights and imprison us.”
This changes the attitude in the room, with all eyes on Gray he has one chance, he needs a perfect way of words to solve this fear in their hearts.
Gray:” If I could say where I'm from, I would. But I seem to get cut off mid-sentence every time I try. I know it sucks that I can’t just tell you and fix the view you may have of me. But please, put your trust in me, I know that’s a lot to ask though it’s all I can ask.”
Gray walks up to the window as Soku and Ophelia get a couple of blankets and pillows for Gray to sleep on.
Gray { Damn, I didn’t get any gear? I saw some swords and stuff, though I can’t use them. All I have in fighting skills are just some quick thinking, If I think about it I’m not that strong I have a basic amount of strength so I guess I’ll worry about it when I get to it.}
Gray: “The moon is so bright, it’s beautiful.”
Rosemary: “Yeah it is very pretty tonight, alright um… I kinda didn’t explain the sleeping situation.”
Gray: “What is the problem? Are there not enough blankets? Because I’m good with sleeping on the floor without one.”
Soku: “Well yeah we only have a bed and a couple of blankets that Rose uses, just share some or something.”
Rosemary starts blushing, while Gray seems to be very happy about the news that they will be sleeping beside each other
They lie down still not speaking as Gray's mind is racing as he thinks that he won’t be able to fall asleep, the same thing is happening with Rosemary.
Rosemary: ”If you don’t mind me asking, why do you act like such a.. a goof? And don’t play dumb I’m quite good at putting on a mask though a different one than yours.”
Gray: “What are you evil or something?”
Rosemary: “No, I’m not evil! I’m just used to having to put on a confident and aware face since you can’t have a knight scared and confused.”
Gray: “Well it’s not that I want to hide but, to be honest, it's just that you don’t want to put your faith in somebody stupid, as well as a confident goofball, I hate the idea of people having to worry about me, and have faith in me. I know it’s selfish but It’s just how I lived my life, though now I have this second chance here I can start to be confident!”
Rosemary: “I can understand that, thank you for being so open, I don’t want to be a burden and keep you up.”
Gray: “Oh it’s all good, but yeah we should probably get some rest, I’m still sore from that fight in the alley, so goodnight I guess.”
Rosemary: “Goodnight Gray.”
Gray feels the ground he was sleeping on feel a lot more comfortable, almost like a soft bed, as well as the blankets beginning to feel softer, then grays eyes start to focus.
Gray: “What the hell? This bed, that computer, those posters, and these sheets!
Gray hears a voice speaking to him.”
The voice: “Gray get up already! We made some lunch for you, you can’t just sleep the day away silly”
Gray: “MOM!?”
End of chapter
Three