Please check the compendium for a new poll.
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Hub Space.
After the events in Belfron have concluded, Cavaron has gathered enough mana to enter Hub Space on his own. Looking back, he can see the hole he created slowly closing up as he floats away. Strictly speaking, despite having time flow ridiculously fast in Hub Space, one can do a myriad of forms of travel within. Be it flying, walking, floating, running, or sprinting. Since Cavaron rarely enters Hub Space aside from summoning, he prefers to float although he appears to be wading through the air.
'Now then, where should I go?' he thought as he pondered on his next destination, 'I suppose I could go back to Ladenras and visit Little Dita...'
Thinking so, he closed his eyes to sense the locations of his <
When he was pulled out of Ladenras going to Belfron, it took him an hour of travel time within Hub Space. Adjusting his speed, he preferred to take his time. Passing by multiple portals to other worlds on the way, someone appeared from one of them.
"Huh? Heeyyyy!! Cavaron!!!" that person yelled and waved in Cavaron's direction.
Cavaron was surprised, "By the gods, Folceras!" and flew next to the person seemingly dragged by magic.
When he arrived next to Folceras, he had to adjust his speed to maintain a conversation.
"Sup, man?" Folceras greeted. He appered to be a youth around the age of 18. On his head was flaming red hair with orange streaks giving the image of a dancing flame. He had yellow eyes, similar to a demon, and has short pointed ears. His attire was a leather cuirass with a metal plate protecting his chest, a pair of arm guards, and a pair of greaves. He didn't appear to have a weapon on him, either he doesn't use weapons or they're hidden.
"I'm fairly well, how about you?" Cavaron replied and asked back. "Getting used to this yet?"
Folceras showed an annoyed face, "Ha! How can I not get used to this?" and said back, "A hundred and twenty years of this happening to me is enough time. Heck, I stopped getting sick of it after the tenth time I was summoned!"
Cavaron smiled at the response of his friend, "Haha, just give it a few more years and you might be able to control space on your own."
"Oh, shut it!" Folceras retorted, "In fact, a lot of us envy you, along with Revas!"
Now, Cavaron made a grin when he heard the name of someone who was almost always in Hub Space, "Revas, eh? Hahaha! It should be no surprise for him, he was born here, for crying out loud!" and replied back, "That damn guy is practically the master of space AND TIME!"
Folceras smirked, "Yeah, and you're next in line when it comes to the mastery of it."
"Oh, sure. Just give a millenium or two, then we'll see if ever I master it... damn, how old is Revas again?" Cavaron joked and asked.
Folceras shrugged, "Don't ask me, there are only a handful of you who are past five hundred years." and replied, "Revas... probably as old as time itself."
"Heh, damn Ciphers." Cavaron added.
While the two friends were chatting, "---------!!!" a scream was heard.
The two of them looked around for the source. After a few more seconds, they found a young woman coming right at them at high speed.
"Do you know her?" Folceras asked. While Cavaron was about to ask the same thing, "No idea." he shook his head and replied. In fact, due to the long time that Cavaron has been in business, it's no surprise for him to have met some other traveler or champion other than him.
"------e!!!" the girl screamed again, this time getting louder as she approached the two.
Sensing the dread from the scream, the two of them, "" Must be a newbie. "" concluded so.
By now, the girl was within hearing distance, "------kete!!!" The two of them looked at each other,
"Know the language?" Folceras asked.
"Feels familiar..." Cavaron replied.
The young girl is now practically within striking distance, "TASUKETE!!!" and screamed an unknown language.
Cavaron went wide-eyed, "By the gods! A Terran!" which made Folceras look back and forth between the girl and Cavaron. He was about to ask Cavaron something, but before he could do so, the girl grabbed hold of Cavaron and dragged him along with her.
"HOLY SHIT! CAVARON!!" Folceras screamed in alarm, by which Cavaron, "I'M OKAAAaaayyyy..." replied as he disappeared fast into the distance with the girl.
Having been separated, Folceras was still worried about his senior as he disappeared towards his own destination.
---
Cavaron was helplessly dragged by the young girl with surprising strength. Fixing his posture, he turned to face the screaming girl. The young girl looked like the age of 16 and had waist length black hair. She had brown eyes, and is wearing a sailor school uniform and a short skirt, a pair of thigh high socks, and a pair of sneakers. She is also wearing a pair of eyeglasses. Looking at her, her face was dirty and flooded with snot and tears, while screaming, "TASUKETE KUDASAI!!!"
Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.
Cavaron was staring at her as he racked his brain for the language she was screaming, 'Terran... Terran... Tasukete? Ah! Japanese!' and finally found the answer, 'What the hell is up with the massive amount of Terran Japanese in this business!?'
The girl was still screaming at him, which made him slap her quiet. The girl was rudely snapped out of panic and looked at the man responsible for bringing pain to her soft and smooth cheeks.
"Uh, how do they say it... " Cavaron was, again, racking his brain for a word or phrase, "Uh, chotto... chotto matte... is that right?"
The girl's eyes went round, "Nippon? Nihonjin desu ka!?" and shook him, getting her another slap. "Chotto matte!" and Cavaron angrily yelled, making the girl let go of him and shrink back in fear. Cavaron adjusted his speed to tag along with the girl.
'The hell am I doing?' he reflected on his recent actions, 'Ah, whatever. She is my junior, heck, I'm free right now.' and focused some mana on his finger.
He pointed his mana-infused finger on the girl's forehead which warranted a flinch. It seems that from the girl's point of view, Cavaron was a demon. Heck, she was whimpering as she waited for whatever Cavaron was doing.
As his finger touched her forehead, mana flowed into her mind. She flinched and held her head as though in pain, in fact she is experiencing a transfer of knowledge and had a headbanging migraine.
"Don't worry, the pain only lasts for a while." Cavaron said to the girl, "Now, do you inderstand what I'm saying?"
The girl hesitantly lifted her head to look at the man who gave her nothing but pain. She processed the words he just said with some difficulty making Cavaron repeat his question, "Do you understand what I am saying?"
This time, the girl became surprised and nodded. "Now, try speaking." Cavaron ordered her.
The girl was opening her mouth bit by bit, "... uhh... hu... how..?" and stuttered.
Cavaron shrugged, "Hm, a word. Good enough." and said, "Your name?"
The girl could do nothing else but answer, out of fear from getting hurt again, "A... Aoyama... Aoyama Aimi..."
Cavaron blinked twice, smiled, "Blue mountain, beautiful love?" and said, "Nice name."
Aimi stared at him, unable to comprehend how he was able to undestand the meaning of her name, "How do you know?" and asked.
Cavaron gave her a head pat, which made her flinch again, "I've been to many worlds. Soon, you'll become like me." and caressed her head.
Aimi became confused at the sudden switch in personality of the man before her, "Um, you... who are you?" and asked.
Cavaron slapped his forehead, "Oops, sorry. My name's Cavaron, I'm in the Kidna—Summoned Hero business, the one you unfortunately got caught in. You can address me as senior, mentor, teacher, whatever works for you."
Aimi tried to comprehend what he said, "Huh? Summoned Hero?"
Cavaron nodded, "Yup! Okay, interview time!" and said, "I'm guessing you were on the way to school, home, or to some other place before this happened, yeah?"
Aimi nodded.
"Okay, next question! Did a hole or a magic circle appear beneath you feet?" Cavaron asked again.
Aimi nodded as well.
"Ding! Ding! Ding! We have a winner! Welcome to the fold, Aimi!" Cavaron yelled like an announcer.
Aimi was stupefied at Cavaron's actions. In fact, the looked stupid if not for the fact they were in Hub Space. Suddenly, Cavaron felt something, 'Huh? This direction.' and closed his eyes.
He sensed a mana anchor on the way where they were going. He opened his eyes again, and lost the stupid face he had with Aimi. 'I hope I'm wrong...'
Aimi sensed another change, "Is there something wrong?" and asked.
Cavaron just looked at Aimi and smiled softly, "It's nothing." and rubbed her head.
This time, Aimi watched the man before her, 'Why do I feel sadness in his voice?' and thought as her head was being rubbed.
---
After another half hour, they were nearing Aimi's destination. Cavaron's face didn't change during the whole trip, 'Looks like it is... damn the gods of fate.' and cursed in his thoughts.
He looked at the girl beside him, "Well then, prepare yourself for a rough landing." and advised her. Aimi was panicking when she heard him say so.
After another minute, they passed through a portal, and a tear left Cavaron's eye. The next thing the heard was, "WELCOME HERO... es?"
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Revas and Folceras are two other characters for two other stories I plan on submitting here.