Mel laid in bed, covered in her warm duvet blanket. The high-quality blanket was more expensive since it was custom-made and was even embroidered in her own design. It made her bedroom feel cosy and warm every time she looked at it. She clutched the blanket tight as she looked at the person beside her. Sebastian was sleeping soundly at her side. Even though he was facing away from her, his snoring reminded her that he was there and that he was in deep sleep.
With a sigh, she looked at the ceiling while lost in her thoughts. 'The worst heartache is suffering emotionally but being unable to show it.' With similar thoughts running through her mind the whole night, fatigue finally came over her and she fell asleep.
*
Sebastian woke to the bright sunlight streaming through the windows in the bedroom. He looked around to see that Mel was nowhere to be found. If it wasn't for the note on the table, there would have been no signs that they spent yet another night together. Reaching out for the note with a grunt, Sebastian read it through squinted eyes. 'Went for training, there's food in the kitchen.'
'She's been diligent with her training.' Sebastian thought to himself as he finally got out of bed. Looking outside, he saw the snow continue to fall, casting a gloomy expression all around. Using the sun's position, he estimated it to be midday already, which signified his usual waking time.
After having a hearty lunch, he made his way to the snow-covered courtyard. Even with the cold weather and the wet snow around him, Sebastian was still wearing a simple long-sleeved shirt and pants. To provide warmth, he was circulating the mana within his body. Although he wasn't doing any quests for the past few months, he still devoted to his secret training which he only did in his private moments like this.
'[Augment] Triple physical augment, maximum mana flow.'
Sebastian's eyes glowed a golden hue, before turning murky. Anyone who saw the transition would think that the result was the colour of mud.
'I need to continuously maintain my [Augment] steel mind and body skill all the time. I can't change my brain's physical composition, however, I can continuously augment it so I will get used to it. I need to process things fast all the time.'
He stood still in the courtyard while snow piled up around him. Closing his eyes and focusing his senses, he was able to feel the snow falling on his body, and sense his surroundings even with his eyes closed. Finally satisfied, he then opened his eyes and looked at the makeshift target standing a few meters in front of him, as if waiting for a command.
He pointed his hand towards it as he chanted in his mind, '[Ice Lance].'
There was no sound whatsoever even though he continued to focus his mana in his hands and as he tried to reinitiate the steps for the spell.
"Tch. [Ice Lance]!" Showing his frustration, he now resorted to shouting the spell name as he continued to try and cast the spell once more.
"[Fireball]! [Ice Lance]! [Lightning Strike]!" There was still no response.
In the stillness of the courtyard, a poorly-dressed adventurer could be heard shouting spell names towards a target, which appeared waiting for something to happen.
'I've lost it.' Sebastian continued to scream throughout the afternoon with no obvious results.
***
knock knock knock
"Please come in." Rivie looked up from her book as she waited for the door of her private study to open.
"It's me." Sebastian walked in without even greeting as he entered and stood in front of her.
Rivie placed her book down and gestured for him to sit down. "I heard you were coming, I wasn't sure if it was really you." She gazed into his eyes as she studied him in silence. "You've changed."
"I can't hide much from your mana probing. I'm still continuing with my studies and practice like before."
Rivie stood up and headed towards the small tea station within her study. "I'll brew some fresh tea, give me a moment. Have you had breakfast?"
"There's no need. I don't think it will be that long, I only have a simple question for you."
Surprised, Rivie sat back down. "I thought that it would be about a difficult and lengthy topic. What question would that be?"
"I'm not here to talk about Becky's death if that's what you're asking. I can't use offensive magick anymore, although I can still use [Augment]. What do you think is the cause?"
Rivie clasped her hands as she closed her eyes as if to focus on something. Sebastian maintained his intent gaze on her as he waited for her answer. After a few moments, she opened her eyes once more.
"Sebastian, you're actively blocking my mana probe now. I'm simply trying to find out if your organs or if your mana has been damaged."
"I only feel like you're probing deeper than what I would like. What do you mean by damaged mana?"
"You're familiar with poison right? Poison affects you physically, however, there have been cases where the mana was also tainted and thus resulted in the weakening of spells. I'm thinking if that may be the case here. You didn't tell us what happened specifically in your fight in the cave. I was only able to see your wounds while I was healing you then, but I don't know - "
"That's enough Rivie. I know what you're trying to say. I've checked my mana, it's flowing well and it hasn't changed. In fact, I've almost tripled my mana pool instead."
"Then it may be something complex. I'd like to probe using my mana but you're still blocking it."
"You're really persistent when it comes to your curiosity. While we were talking you've been trying continuously to envelop my body with your mana."
"And you've been blocking it non-stop. I was only able to assess it for a short while before you blocked me out. You're not the Sebastian from before who actively asked for me to enclose him with my mana to protect him while he practised."
"Yes, you're right. I've changed. In more ways than one. Seeing as how our conversation is going around in circles, I'll take my leave then." Sebastian stood up and with a turn, made his way out of her study.
Rivie was left staring at the door, thinking if the first conversation she had with Sebastian after a few months was actually real.
***
Jin saw a familiar figure walking into the pub as he frantically waved the other person over. "Oi! Sebastian! Over here!"
Sebastian waved back while smiling a half-baked smile as he walked over. "You actually called me for drinks. I thought it would be for dinner or something."
"Why can't two guys have a few drinks together? Would you like to talk over dinner in a fancy restaurant instead? I felt a noisy pub would be better at getting you out of that house. Ale? I have another pint already here for you." Jin handed an almost over-filled pint to Sebastian. It was filled to the brim with a yellow foaming liquid. If he didn't hold it properly, it would surely spill with minimal effort.
"You're still as lively as ever." Sebastian took the pint as he lightly tapped Jin's waiting pint before they downed their drinks in one go.
"puhaaa. I'll have another. Don't skimp out on the snacks." Sebastian placed his pint back on the table while motioning it towards Jin, indicating he was buying for the night.
"Oi oi oi, you're supposed to be loaded with the previous Forgotten One's coin and yet you're still trying to mooch off me?" Jin complained with a loud voice as he pretended to be hurt, however, he already passed the order to a passing barmaid.
"So what's the occasion this time? You've been inviting me for the past few months." Sebastian picked off a handful of nuts and fried mushrooms which was served as a side dish of sorts.
"I just thought that you should get out more and just talk to people. I know it's been hard on you. It's also been hard for all of us. If you're not ready to talk then I won't, but if you do feel like it, then the rest of us are here."
"Oh, the usually lively Jin has turned melancholic?" Sebastian continued to nibble on the side dishes as he poked fun at the serious adventurer in front of him.
"Well, we just figured out that you've holed up in Mel's house for some time now. We don't even know if you're staying healthy or not. I almost expected you to be a fat, chubby adventurer by now."
"Ah, there he is. Lively Jin has come back. Thank you for your concern though. I still look like myself as you can see. How's everyone else? How have you been?"
"Mel has been training and learning new skills as you should know. I've been taking some quests here and there, also my guard duty is keeping me busy. Aima is also busy with her blacksmith job since the change in season requires different equipment. However, I feel like we're stagnating at the moment." Jin couldn't hide his disappointment as he looked down at the table and at the half-eaten side dishes in front of him.
The barmaid walked with three pints of ale and a few more side dishes which she placed deftly on the table. Even though she was a young female dwarf, she still managed to hold everything with grace and carried their order without spilling anything on the way there.
Sebastian looked up at her, trying to see if he recognised her from somewhere. When his memories failed him, he blurted out his question. "Why is there three? I heard Jin order for two pints of ale only."
"That one is for me." A cloaked figure stood beside the duo as he lifted his hood, revealing a half-elf.
"Leo?" Sebastian stood up before Jin and Leo grasped his shoulders, urging him to sit down.
"My plan was for me to walk over unannounced, but I can see that you're continuously using a skill. You're actually assessing your surroundings using your senses right? This was the only way for me to approach you with stealth." Leo kept his winter cloak on as he sat down on an empty stool.
"So why are you there then?" Sebastian's face fell as he stared at Leo with his intense gaze.
Jin tapped the table as if to call attention to himself before saying, "I actually called him here. I know that you won't come if the invitation came from Leo. Also, he tried to contact you through Mel but I don't think she told you anything. We just want you to hear something we feel that you should know." Jin nodded to Leo, indicating that he should continue at this point.
"ahem. It's what Jin said. Also, it's with regards to what we found in the cave a few months back." Leo paused to look at Sebastian, waiting for his reaction. To his relief, Sebastian merely picked up the pint in front of him as he took a few sips. "After we evacuated and treated you, Elias and I went down there to scout the place. We found some disturbing things."
"His name's Nate Cohen, and he's also a Forgotten One like me. Is that what you found out? I think we've finished this conversation then." Sebastian was about to stand up when Leo continued with his report.
"I surmised that you would know that much. Instead, what I found in the cave adds more to that. I've found his journals which explain some things about him. We also found weapon sketches which he called a 'gun'. I wanted to show you that to see if you know anything about it." Leo paused once more to wait.
Sebastian ate a few more mouthfuls of the side dish before continuing. "So you actually found his journals? Does it explain that he also came from Earth and what he was doing there?"
"That's right. It also showed his plans, and this was just the beginning. Being a Forgotten One, he is extremely dangerous."
"You don't need to tell me that." Sebastian finished off his ale as he placed the pint down the table with force.
"You can have mine." Jin placed his untouched pint in front of Sebastian. With an apologetic look, Sebastian knew that Jin felt uncomfortable seeing him act like this. With a nod, Sebastian accepted Jin's offer and started drinking his third pint.
"ahem. Just to briefly touch about his background, Nate was supposedly from Earth working as a weapons dealer." With a cough, Leo brought the attention of the conversation back to himself.
Sebastian stopped drinking and looked at Leo with wide-opened eyes. "Did it say what year or millennia he was in Earth?"
Leo answered Sebastian's question with a calm gaze before picking out a few pieces of paper from his pocket. "It says here that it was around 2015 or something like that. He started to forget already. I think it was near your time as well?"
Sebastian placed the pint down gently as he stared blankly at the papers in Leo's hand. His eyes quickly flashed from a golden hue to the colour of mud once more.