I woke up from the weird dream I was having. I sat myself up and saw both Leonna and Xylvia standing by the doorway, as if waiting for me to wake up.
"What happened?" I asked them.
"You collapsed out of nowhere, so Aria and I carried you back here." Xylvia said.
"We thought that you were freaking out about something again, so we decided to wait until you woke up so that we could talk."
So it's basically a therapy session.
"Relax, I didn't freak out," I told them. "Though. I am curious as to why I collapsed."
One minute I'm seeing Wrath and Gray chatting and the next minute I see that strange girl with half her face caved in.
"Well that's good to hear." Xylvia said with a smile and a sigh of relief.
"What happened to Gray?" I asked them.
"He took off somewhere," Leonna said. "He said that he had somewhere else to be. If you're feeling ok, then you should follow us. Jaden's injured."
"I want to discuss about the creatures that my group encountered," Kagashi said, sitting at the end of the game. "What we encountered was a Screecher. Their eye-sight is so poor that they could be called blind, but their hearing is incredible. They can also sense the vibrations in the ground, so they'll know if you're moving. Running away won't work because of their incredible speed and fighting it has, so far, been suicidal. The only way to avoid them is by staying absolutely still. Make no sounds. Getting stabbed by one of those things will make you're body rot to the ground."
"Why didn't you tell us anything about those things," I asked him.
"Our leader said that they were supposed to be much further away," Kagashi said. "He hasn't updated us in a week, which is normal, so I guess they've moved up drastically closer. I have no idea why though."
"I still think it's because their able to hear the vibrations of this city from from above," Aria said. "You saw the ears on those things Sora. They were giant! And really disgusting."
"I don't think that they'd be able to detect the vibrations with just their ears." I pointed out.
"Didn't you learn science back in your world Aria?" Kagashi asked.
"Nah, I never paid attention," Aria said. "I always had the Igniters back in my world, so I didn't really have to worry about my lack of knowledge in science. It's a damn shame that they don't work in this world for some reason."
"Igniters?" I tilted my head.
"Igniters were a tool that Aria used in her world to use magic, which relied on science to form magic." Kagashi said.
Magic created through science? I never thought that was possible!
"Anyways, getting back on topic," Kagashi continued. "When it comes to the magic of this world, there are certain drawbacks that we have to endure in order to use magic. For example: As I stated a little while back, healing magic is rarely ever used because the healers themselves have to endure the physical pain that their patient is going through in order to completely restore their flesh, blood, and skin. That also goes for defensive magic users. Let's say you put up a barrier. If a source of magic comes or even a regular blunt object hits that barrier, the one who placed that barrier will feel that object hitting them."
"Well, then what's the point in defensive and healing magic?" Xylvia asked.
"No one knows for sure, but our theory is that they go through that pain for their comrades. It represents their courage and loyalty to the party. It also helps eliminate anybody who might betray their party in the future. If they refuse to do the task once, then their executed from the party."
"That's quite a cruel game of trust." I said.
Suddenly, Wrath reformed into a human and walked over to Aria.
"Aria, may I please have a word with you," Wrath asked.
"Sure thing." Aria said.
Wrath led Aria out of the meeting room and into a different one.
I wonder what that's all about.
"Hey, didn't Norman put up a barrier over us to protect Jaden from the cold?" Leonna asked.
"You're correct," Norman said. "And I gotta say, it's still pretty damn cold out there. If it wasn't for Sora's heating chains, I would've froze to death out there."
Sora was still silent.
"As you can see, some of use have defensive abilities that we all have to, eventually, use," Kagashi said. "However, we also work hard to find each other's weaknesses and help them overcome it. We're all friends after all."
I gave a quick glance at Xylvia and Leonna. These two have been helping me through pain since we first met. To think that we've come this far by supporting each other. Even though I've always thought that I never deserved these two, hell I still think that, they still chose to stay by my side of there own free will.
And now, after surviving through all this, we've fallen in love.
"Now, as for offensive magic," Kagashi continued. "The mental strain that puts on a person all depends on how much of it you use. And even through all of that strain, you still get horrible nightmares when you go to sleep at night."
"We could've gone insane if we did keep our cool," Aria said. "Some days, I though I was gonna die from it. Other days, I just wanted to die. However, I have a goal right now, so I couldn't die then and I won't die now."
I started to feel terrible. While Xylvia, Leonna, and I had it easy and got to use magic whenever we wanted, these guys were always suffering and straining to get their job done.
"I...don't even know what to say." I said.
"You don't have to say anything," Kagashi said. "When we found out that you guys had magic that never strained or mentally hurt you guys, we were shocked. We started planning how we could get you guys on the team, but I was surprised that you guys joined us without a second thought. I know it sounds like we're using you guys for your powers, but we really do see you guys as our friends."
"It's ok," I said to them. "I mean, I joined because I wanted to create a safer world for Xylvia and Leonna. If this helps with my goal, then I'll do whatever I can."
I don't regret joining this party. I met amazing people and they've all been kind to us. They really did see us as friends of their own.
Suddenly, a red and black orb that sat in the middle of the table started to illuminate a strange purple light. A light voice of a man spoke from it.
"Excuse me," the man said. "Can you hear me?"
"Yes leader," Kagashi said. "What is wrong?"
"I was given news from the Man Up Above! He said that he was given an underground message from Devil and that it has to do with the First Sinner."
"The first Sinner? Who is that."
"Well, he's been given many names, but his name, or her name, or whatever he or she is right now, is...Hiro Satomi!"