Sitting on my throne, the room… It's desolate. There is nobody to my right or my left, they’ve all gone to their duties. And I remain alone, in this cold palace, ruling over the specks of dust that do not even answer my voice.
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“Ouch, ta ta ta ta ta….” Kai groaned in pain as Natasha tightly bound his arms, legs, and torso, discarding the old bandages and replacing them with clean, disinfected ones. She let out a weary sigh and looked at Kai with a soft smile creasing her lips. “To think that such a creature existed… you’re fortunate.”
“Mhm.” Kai nodded, a shiver running down his spine as he remembered the creature's appearance, both before and after. “It wasn’t any taller than Tausi, but it was bald and skinny. That purple skin… it distracted me. And it was fast as well, it closed the gap faster than I could blink and immediately attacked my stomach. If I didn’t have my armor on I-...” He didn’t finish the last part, for both of them knew what the consequences would have been. Despite that, he still managed to break out a smile, even though nobody could see it.
“Thank you, Natasha. I owe my life to you. Hah… if I had a nickel-”
“A nickel?” The woman interrupted, asking with a perplexed expression.
“Ne-nevermind…” Kai laughed awkwardly and stopped himself from saying any more weird things. After all, he couldn’t be sure who was a person from another world anymore. Not after meeting that weird boy.
Just what exactly is he? I thought I was the only special case with ‘full’ memories, but that guy… He seems to have another purpose for coming here. According to him, this world is ‘backward’, so what business could he possibly have?
Maybe if I get close to him… Yeah, he did ask me to fetch him some stuff, perhaps I may get more information about the world… about this world. Even if it’s just hints or slips of the tongue… And not to mention that big creature. As cruel as it seems, Rodney’s memories tell me this is the best course of action. If I help him get its ability to turn invisible, I could use it to get around places… you never know when you need to be out of sight. Concealing magic is almost useless against someone much stronger than you, but invisibility is…
“So don’t make any sudden movements for the next few days… Hey, Ichor, are you listening to me?” Natasha asked, snapping her fingers in front of Kai, bringing him out of the trance. “Did you hear me? I said to take on milder tasks that don’t involve any sort of combat if you must take tasks. Otherwise just don’t take any at all and rest, got it?”
“Ah- yeah, got it.” He replied, shaking his head. “Sorry.”
“Don’t worry hun, now that you’re feeling better, how about you tell me how that invention of yours works hum?”
“Invention?” Kai looked at Natasha with confusion for a second, before his eyes lit up. “Oh, you mean the straw. It’s just a thin tube that you can suck liquids from. It’s used for drinks but it works for liquid food too.”
“Liquid food…? I see. Thank you. You won’t mind if I use your idea, will you?”
“Mhm. Go right ahead, if other people can use it I’m happy… Speaking of, you know more about Karfi, right?”
Natasha paused, her eyes pausing and her smile froze, before lowering her gaze and whispering. “Yeah… I do.” Her pained tone lingered in the air, her cracking voice ringing in Kai’s ears. “It’s a long… needless story. Don’t worry about it.”
She sighed, but didn’t continue further, and slowly stood up. Biting her lower lip she turned to Kai before leaving. “Don’t mention it to Karfi either… let him tell you when he’s ready. That is if you plan to stick around.” Her voice lingered as the door clicked shut, and Kai let out a soft sigh as he took off his mask.
He leaned on the bed, covered himself in blankets, and closed his eyes. His body didn’t fall asleep just yet, he couldn’t, for some reason. The previous nightmares etched vividly into his mind, the eerie imagery refusing to let go. His heart raced upon seeing the headless Karfi, and the bed of crimson lilies he slept on after being dragged to the ground.
He jumped up, his eyes snapping open, and cold sweat dripping down his face. Kai breathed hastily, and he took a quick look outside, verifying that it was still night, then grabbed his cloak and mask. He carefully left the house, as to not disturb Karfi, Tausi and Onyx who were sleeping soundly upstairs.
Sadly, the cheerful jingle of the bell still rang as he walked outside, and took a deep breath of fresh air. The chilly breeze sent a pleasant shiver down his spine, and he began walking in a random direction. He tried to avoid the busy streets - he was tired of them and instead visited the less cramped, yet still populated alleys.
They shared the same lampposts, placed every twenty or so meters to illuminate the buildings. There were homes, of course, but also inns - which Kai had visited before - and shops of all sorts. Some even had a blanket laid on the ground, onto which they placed their products. Toys, medicinal herbs, and animal parts; Sold by humans, elves, or demi-humans.
Kai gave them a slight glance as he kept walking, his loose cloak fluttering in the wind. He pulled down his hood, revealing the beautiful dark hair hiding beneath. It grew longer than before, almost reaching his waist now. A couple of women turned their heads upon seeing it, giggling amongst themselves.
He shook his head and kept walking, simply enjoying the lively city, even during the night. During these times, back on Earth, even back in the city, it was quiet. It was scary, but just like right now, it was eerily calming. I think I remember, walking through my hometown alone. It was darker than here and more dangerous. Yet something called me to do it anyway… and look how I ended up… hah.
Kai sighed after remembering how he got reincarnated in the first place. He died after being stabbed by a group of thugs. The rain was sudden, that’s for sure… I don’t even remember why they killed me… must have been pretty bad. Did they ever get caught? Well, what does it matter now?
He put aside these thoughts and pulled out a piece of paper from his ring. On it were written the ingredients the weird boy asked for. After giving them a thorough read, Kai came to a simple conclusion. I have no idea what they’re for!
But he shrugged his shoulders and went on the lookout for them. He stopped at every other stall, picking out medicinal herbs, and verifying that they were the ones he was looking for after searching through his memories. Nightingale and Moonpetal… Crimson Pits… These are a weird combination, I have to say. I’m curious what he would do with them… well, only one way to find out.
He purchased what he could and made his way deeper inside the city, passing by a myriad of different faces, forgetting each one as they faded from his view. Eventually, as he walked, he found himself back in the town square - the place where Lumiera’s Church was located. He glanced at it briefly, a soft smile creasing his lips upon seeing the statue the townspeople erected in her image. I bet they would go crazy if they knew I’d spoken to her a few times, though they did get her characteristics right. Not that I was able to see much of what she looked like though.
Kai took a seat on an empty bench and took a deep breath as he admired the bustling part of town. The difference is like night and day, compared to Karfi’s side of town. He thought, observing the countless amount of people passing by and admiring the statue, or simply ignoring it due to how much they’ve seen it already. Some people bowed down, prayed, and dropped coins at her feet. Hah, as if she’d listen to your prayers… Kai scoffed and got up, his hair glimmering under the lampposts, and his footsteps echoing as they clicked against the paved road.
Next, he circled the church and then walked through a secluded street. It was darker than usual, with lampposts few and far between, their magic crystals almost extinguished, not providing nearly enough light. Man… I should turn back. Kai thought, however, as he turned, his body reacted on its own, and he pulled out the silver sword from his ring. Its icy blade pressed against flesh, causing a bit of blood to coat its surface as Kai pushed it slightly deeper in. Before him stood a man, his trembling hand holding a crooked dagger. He gulped, and his weapon fell to the ground with a jingle.
“Let me go… please.” He begged, his hazel eyes tearing up as he sniffed. “Please…”
Kai sighed and put his sword away. “Go.”
The hazel-eyed man almost fell to the ground as he picked up the dagger, and ran in the opposite direction as fast as he could, his figure disappearing in a few seconds.
“Tsk,” Kai clicked his tongue and rubbed his arms, a small, crimson puddle forming under his bandages. They opened up again… He pulled out a pill from his ring and swallowed it, a wave of warmth immediately spreading throughout his body.
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He attached the sword to his waist, feeling that he needed more security in these kinds of places. Who would think that even in this city there’d be these kinds of crooks… Kai thought, biting his lower lip and moving forward.
His muffled footsteps accompanied him in his solitude, and, after taking a few turns, a peculiar sound rang in his ears. This is… He approached, and the beautiful melody of a hammer hitting and bending metal echoed through the alley. Another shop in the middle of nowhere…
Kai chuckled to himself and approached the smithery, his heart thumping at the same rhythm as the hammers. Soon, it revealed fully to him - A small, corner-placed smithery with no sign or name, just a short man hammering away near the front of the shop - A dwarf? Yes, Kai could not mistake the man’s appearance for any other race than a dwarf. Small of stature, thick beard, balding, and most importantly, an aura that makes it hard to breathe each time the hammer descends on the hot metal.
The front of the shop was relatively normal. A window shelf displayed a myriad of weapons and accessories man-made, including daggers, swords, knives, and jewelry. Each item seemed to shine with a soft light that gave them a certain allure - a weird presence that would make one want to at least hold them. Kai raised an eyebrow upon closer look, after noticing Wildfire’s logo carved into every single piece, even the tiny rings and earrings.
“Hey there, young one. Need a hand with somethin’?” Kai’s head rose, and he took a step back. The dwarf leaned over the counter, looking down at Kai with a welcoming smile. “Ye liked me craftin' so much, ye didn't even hear me approach, eh?”
The boy looked at the dwarf with curiosity, intrigued by his… foreign dialect. “Haha, yeah…’ Kai laughed awkwardly, looking up at the man. I’ve never heard anyone speak like that, let alone a dwarf.
“Well, I’m glad ye fancy my work, but I see ye already possess a fine sword.” The man said, getting down from the elevated counter and getting close to Kai. Despite his age, Kai was still taller than the adult dwarf, who now looked strangely at the sword by Kai’s waist.
“Can I take a peek at yer blade?” He asked after clearing his throat.
“Ah, sure,” Kai said, albeit reluctantly, and handed over the silver sword to the man.
He threw the scabbard to the side as he pulled the sword out, and he pointed it out toward the moon, letting its soft light reflect upon its silver surface. The dwarf cut his finger as he traced the sharp end, and took a sniff at the handle right after. “This here smells of Monten craftsmanship, it does.”
Kai’s eyes widened upon hearing that, and he grew slightly wary of the man. How did he know just from touching it for a few seconds?
The dwarf smiled and placed the sword back, handing it to Kai. “'Tis easy to tell by the way the dwarves of Monten forge their swords. There be still some impurities, yet I can hear the beast's soul within it, cryin' out. This here be the last work of an unknown craftsman, for sure. It's clear by how many times the silver's been heated, cooled, and hammered. I smell a few days of relentless toil on it.
'Tis not rare, but 'tis peculiar. And I must say, ye have some courage. Most folk would not flaunt their Beast Sword in the open as ye do. Ye be either foolish, or ignorant, or both. Kid, ye possess a fine sword there.”
“Uh, thanks?” Kai said, bewildered and weirded out by the man’s vast, seemingly omniscient knowledge about forging. He could even tell the details, who is this old man?
After retrieving the sword and hanging it on his waist again, Kai glanced deeper into the smithery and saw a few burning furnaces and other human workers. “Are you the owner of this smith?”
“Owner? Nay, not in the true sense of the word. Wildfire claims it, I just oversee it, but I tend to everythin'.” He replied, a hint of disappointment hidden within his voice. “They hired me when I was a mere teenager, and I've been toiling for them ever since if ye be wonderin'. I began with humble tasks, but eventually, they granted me my enterprise here. Not many clients, but enough stray ones to keep this venture afloat.” The man rubbed his nose and walked back behind the counter, looking at Kai with glowing pupils.
“I know ye be not seekin' a sword, so what be bringin' ye here then?”
“I’m just wandering around the city, sightseeing. I think I needed to take a walk.”
“A stroll, eh? Doesn't sound too shabby. But these streets ain't the safest, especially with elves and demi-humans about. The humans ain't much better, but at least they fear the law more than the rest.” The dwarf said, rubbing his chin. “What else ye searching for then, lad?”
“Uhm, some medicinal plants and whatnot.”
“Medicinal plants, eh? Ye won't find any 'round here, I reckon. I suggest ye head to the main streets, but most of the reputable shops be closed at this hour.”
Kai sat in thought for a minute and bit his lower lip. It’s true I guess, who in their right mind would be open at this hour? He thought, glancing up at the dwarf. Yeah, no one in their right mind…
Suddenly, the dwarf’s eyes lit up, and his voice quickly escaped his body, startling Kai.
“Ah, I know of a shop run by a young lass on the far side of the city. She's a lively one, keeps her place open through the night as well.”
A young lady, during the night? He raised a suspicious eyebrow, and the dwarf chuckled as if reading his mind.
“Fear not, she's stronger than any man I've laid eyes on, that's for certain. She can fend for herself quite capably. I recall a day when some lad tried pilferin' her medicine, and the next day he could barely walk, haha. She's a delightful one, yet fearsome indeed.”
“Huh?” Kai unwillingly voiced his thoughts, and then promptly instinctively covered his mouth, or rather, mask. The dwarf laughed heartily but didn’t add further to his statement.
“Ye gotta see ‘er to believe me, lad. I reckon ye be finding her pharmacy if you keep going straight.” He pointed toward a road leading back toward the city center.
“I see, thank you, then,” Kai said, then walked away into the street, his ears ringing with the dwarf’s fading voice.
“Don’t ye forget to come to do business, aye lad?”
…
He followed the simple, yet clear instructions he was given by the man, and eventually found himself in a lightly remote part of the city. Unlike the previous place he had been on, this one was lit up by several, functional, lampposts. Closed shops stretched out from one side to the other, and above them, some windows were lit up, with even some silhouettes being visible through the thin curtains.
At the furthest corner of this street, a shop, decorated by vines that sprung from the tiles outside, and a welcoming sign that simply said ‘Pharmacy’ greeted Kai. A warm light spread out from within, an orange hue that seemingly pulled him in. Before he even knew it, the sweet jingle of a bell resonated in his ears, and the lit-up face of a young woman sprouted from behind the counter.
“Oh, a customer - How can I help you?” She said with a smile so wide it could light up the whole room. Her pearly white teeth were on full display, contrasting her reddened lips and cheeks. She wore a beautiful head of red hair, cascading down her back, almost reaching past her waist.
Looking around, Kai noticed the shop wasn’t just a pharmacy, as the sign and the dwarf claimed, but more of a miscellaneous shop that posed as a pharmacy. Wand materials, magic crystals, medicinal and nonmedicinal plants, and even some food and liquor. His eyes widened as he looked at the logo etched on the wooden counter. Where have I seen that before?
A slight smile creased his hidden lips, and he said as he approached the counter, “I’d like to purchase the materials that aren’t crossed out on this list.” Kai handed the piece of paper over to the woman, who gleefully picked it up. “Right away, please wait a second.”
Her figure disappeared behind a door, and the sound of crashing glass quickly reverberated into the air. Kai took this opportunity to take a closer look at the shop, a warm shiver running up his spine as he picked up a pleasant smell. They’re burning incense here! He chuckled and approached a glass shelf, where Display Wands stood quietly, seemingly looking at Kai with a hungry desire.
He raised an eyebrow and remembered what his dad taught him. Closing his eyes, he let his consciousness spread outward, toward the wands and infused each one of them with a little bit of mana.
Almost immediately, their cries rang clear in his mind - Despair, Sadness, Happiness, Warmth - A myriad of emotions invaded his brain, and he had to quickly break off to avoid any possible damage. Damn… it’s worse than the ones back… back home. He thought, biting his lower lip, and taking a deep, calming breath. It seems like a lot of people lose, abandon, or discard their wands… or die.
“Here we go Sir,” he broke out of his train of thought and approached the woman, taking the bag filled with plants and giving them a light check. “That’ll be two silver.”
“Right.” Kai held out his hand, and two silver coins appeared from within his ring, which he handed over to the woman, whose intrigued gaze lingered on him for a brief second.
“Thank you for your patronage!” She waved her hand as Kai walked out, his departure signaled by the same cheery jingle that welcomed him in the first place.
He sniffed the air, taking a last wisp of the pleasant fragrance with him before inhaling the icy cold air blowing through the city. Placing the bag of plants within his ring, he pulled up his hood, hid his hair, and walked toward Karfi’s bar. Despite the far-away noise, Kai felt weirdly at peace, and he stopped in the middle of the road and took in the beautiful sky that he rarely saw. Or rarely took a closer look at.
Ever since that day, I’ve been traveling or training without stopping. Stuck in the library during the day… sweating my ass off outside… I don’t even know what the sun looks like anymore, I only know it hurts. Even the moon would if I weren’t protected by so many layers. Life has become quite troublesome… He licked his dried lips, and a smile broke out on his face, which he quickly suppressed as a thought that made his heart race popped into his mind. No… I can’t… anything but… but there has to be a way! How did my parents manage to get me a vial back then? They don’t seem like the type to acquire it forcefully… Donations? But why would anyone donate? If I ask for it, I’m afraid my head will roll on the ground… argh, damn it, this is so frustrating.