Chapter 2: Visit from an old friend

Bulletin: Julius Diamond is preparing a press conference so that Lucius can declare the Quest of Broasiam to the world. The great adventure lies ahead.

Scene: In Arata’s Mansion, his doorbell rings.

(Door Opens)

Arata: My, oh my if it isn’t the Devastator himself. Hahaha. Come on in, you.

Narrator: Devastator was just a nickname that Arata has given this man. Due to his mighty strength and how he stood as one of the strongest people on earth without using any Borne Techniques, it was an honour to even stand in the same room as him.

Arata: I think I can take a couple guesses on why you might’ve come here. Devastator: Take them then.

Arata: Well, either you’re here to greet your old friend a sad goodbye as I depart from this world or you’re here to ask me about the Quest of Broasiam which the large mouthed doofus, Diamond probably told you about. Knowing you, you’re not exactly one for all the goodbyes so my guess is option 2.

Devastator: (Looking at an old portrait of Arata) It’s been long hasn’t it? Arata: Don’t you wish we could live in those days forever?

Narrator: The man known as Devastator stood at 6 foot 4 inches tall and weighed 275 lbs. The only known man to wield the energy of Shadowborne without using the technique itself. Also, he was a squad-mate of Lucius Arata during their Golden Age as the kings of the Exploring World. The man’s name was Phoenix. Ripple Phoenix.

Phoenix: Well, we can’t, can we. Be grateful, you stood your self at the top of the world. Our line of work is incredibly difficult and with the ‘you know who’ always interfering with our journey, normal people woulda quit.

Arata: You don’t have to call them the “you know who’. In my house, nobody’s here to say nothing.

Bulletin: Phoenix sighs to the sheer cockiness of Arata.

Phoenix: Whatever. There’s something I wanted to talk to you about. Arata: Yea go on... Enough with your small talk.

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Phoenix: Why are you trying to start a quest for Broasiam? We could never find it despite being the most talented squad. Besides, this will cause a huge ruckus and the goddamn Global Authoritarians are gonna get involved again. Don’t you wanna just die in peace?

Arata: ‘Cause. I feel like our journey is incomplete without it. I need to know what it is before I die. That is my dying wish before I go.

Phoenix: Don’t we all. Who doesn’t wanna know what the Broasiam is. It’s been the most coveted artifact for ages. If we couldn’t find it, the NOBODY can.

Arata: Trust me, if I was in the right shape, I would go after the damn thing myself but, I need to save my Shadowborne for the future days. Besides, I guarantee that the Broasiam will be returned to the Stalia museum within 8 months.

Phoenix: Look, I don’t care what you do. We all disbanded years ago and we agreed to live our own lives but, part of me wants you to be at peace in your dying months. I was your right hand man after all. If the GA gets involved, it’ll be nothing but stress and once that happens nobody can help you.

Arata: Wow. What kind words. Thanks for that. However, this is important to me and it must be done before I die. Only then can I rest in peace.

Phoenix: I don’t detect any Shadowborne users. Without that skill, who will find this artifact.

Arata: A young group, I assume. They can still awaken it before they turn 18. I believe that a squad who is the reincarnation of us is out there.

Phoenix: Look, I’m here cause I wanted to talk you outta this but, it doesn’t look like your gonna listen.

Arata: Who really told you about the Quest?

Phoenix: It was Zameer. Diamond is probably gonna keep it confidential anyways.

Arata: Damn. It was Zameer, was it? Hm, well now that I think of it he could never keep his mouth shut either.

Bulletin: Arata was thinking of why Zameer must have told Phoenix about the Quest of Broasiam.

Arata thinks to himself: This can’t be good.

Scene: In the Stalia Hospital, Doctor Zameer is on the phone with someone else.

Zameer: The patient is Lucius Arata. I told him he has 8 months left to live. The man is an old friend of mine and I didn’t wanna disappoint him with the truth.

Man on the Phone: Well, he’ll find out sooner or later. Just leave it for now. How many months did you say he actually had?

Zameer: That would be 5 months. Man on the Phone: Truly Sad.

Scene: Back to Arata’s Mansion,

Phoenix: I should get going. You’ll be seeing me pretty often from now on. Arata: Gotcha. Just please don’t interfere with this anymore.

Phoenix: ... Yes...Captain.

Maid: Sir, you need to choose your attire for the Press Conference.

Arata: Ahhh. Yes. I’ll be right there. Would you leave me alone for a second. Maid: Yes Sir... My apologies.

Bulletin: Lucius stares at himself in the mirror...

Lucius Arata: Please, God. Don’t take my life away before I see it...

To be continued...