the morning sun rests lay on my body, finding myself in an unfamiliar room... oh right I'm in a hotel... never slept in a hotel 'til now...
"morning Ron, how's night? you were injured last night, I'm curious..."
"Both Nick and I got a little trouble from a single monster... damn it was troublesome"
I still remember the pain... oh god...
OH RIGHT!
"wait a minute Aishah, I gotta see Nick for a second!"
"huh? wait! I'm co-"
we open the door and I suddenly bumped a guy midway... huh? he's so muscular... yet somewhat average too... who's he?
he passes by us not even noticing it... jeez alright then
"you alright Nick?"
"yeah..."
Aishah picks me up and his curiosity got into him, checking in the room where those aliens are supposed to be booked in.
he took a pick for a second but was suddenly greeted by this child... she shook her head and then entered back in
"hmm... so does this mean your not welcome?"
"probably yeah... I wonder who that guy is though..."
he seems to be quite skilled... maybe I can ask him to join me. but Nick first, I gotta check up on him
"wait? you're not coming Aishah?"
"I changed my mind, I am quite curious as to what happened to them"
"alright then, I'll meet you up back here by dusk, see you later"
alright then, I head to where Nick's home is and it seems like he has fully recovered...
"oh? good morning, how're your night?"
"wait, you're fine? even with a fatal injury like that!?"
"yeah, while you were asleep, I hunted it down since I could track it, once my injuries healed, I managed to kill it while it was in the air"
"h-how?"
how did he do it? is he really that powerful?
"it wasn't in our deal, it was simply in our was from the start, this is good enough though, it might serve as a good soul to use..."
uhh... I'm gonna pretend I didn't hear that...
"so? what brings you here? no, don't answer that, I already know. since I found a good substitute to what I was searching for, I'll guide you to the place I was talking about"
the place he was talking about? oh right, the place where we can be ourselves or something, I honestly forgot in the middle of the fight
"get up, why don't you call your friend?"
"Aishah? no can do, I can but I don't know if he-"
"yo, Ron? ahh! found you! the girls' with me today and I was going to look for you, they seem to be interested in this world so I need someone to guide them, since Nick's a local here, I thought he should be the best person for this job"
"good, then I'll guide you all, I'm just about to go to the digital bay anyway"
digital bay? is that a port or something?
. . .
we were led to a suspicious alleyway. I have my doubts that there will be an ambush but I'm still prepared
the girls seem to be talking to themselves again, they also brought the guy we bumped that time, it feels a little relieving with him around
"you all nervous?"
Nick's sudden statement surprised Aishah and the child but the others were unfazed
"no, but it is a bit unsettling, where are you leading us exactly?"
"no need to be tense, the destinations just a few more blocks ahead"
we walked a few more seconds and we suddenly stop in the middle of the alley
"why? what's wrong?"
"we're here just in this canal"
he... he can't be serious
"here!? you're kidding me right?"
"nope, what about the other 4? you fine with this?"
the girl called Rin said they were all alright with it, but what can this really be? I could only think of a canal with a smell that not even monsters could handle!
"you coming down?"
"you're kidding me? you think I'-"
"you won't see haven if you don't come"
"haven my ass! I'll see a dump if I go there!"
"your choice if you don't want to, look, even you're friend's coming"
Aishah already entered the canal... that god damn idiot...
"Fine! but I won't be happy with this"
I enter the canal and greeted with the worst smell possible
"Gahk- dish shticks!"
"it's just a counter to any intruders, now Rin you might want to translate this to the others, you two, same to you two, I'll explain briefly as to why the entrance is over here"
listening carefully and somehow coping with the horrid smell.
the place seems to be in the waters, even though we can't see it, the portal is there, the way to hide this from the government is to hide it in the worst place possible, the entrance to the portal is even worse than it is too
"now we will have to do a leap of faith, you'll have to go head or face first and dive into the waters here, the portal's quite big so the chance to bump your head is unlikely, I'll explain the reason why it has to be headfirst once you all enter it"
"so we just have to enter in head first... you guy got that?"
"yeah, just finished translating it to them, they seem to trust him so there's no problem with it but I do question if Osiria can handle it..."
Nick immediately answered her without another second
"don't worry, I'm sure if you keep her in your arms then she'll be alright"
the child steeled her resolve and Aishah doesn't seem to mind in any way
"I'll go first, what about you Nick?"
"I'll go next to you"
with that, he took a leap of faith. I took a pick and it's true, he's not there
"you alright with the smell now? now get in there, remember, head first, we don't want any injuries now do we?"
"you don't really say that when you want them to go head first. I'll be going now"
I entered the portal like what he said, I really do hope that there's nothing bad on the other side
. . .
. . .
---
「I'm guessing you guys already know the other three right?」
「other three? wait! you can understand our language too!?」
「it seems that a proper introduction is needed, I don't like to prolong this and there's definitely no reason to do so. I'm Nick Punay, or Tion Sakuraba, although I'm only controlling this body... it's nice to meet you all」
「so you're the other one... are there any more like you guys?」
「from what I know, Lin and the other two are here」
「who's the other two!?」
「he said this should be a surprise... I'll give you that hint, no I believe you're Naoya? it's best to let the two go for their punishment... or I think they already got their punishment...」
「is that so... then I'll owe them my time, it seems to be what you two said」
「I told you! now let's go before we forget this any further」
-----
we finally exited the portal, so the place is practically mirrored... if we did ever head in feet first then it'll all be upside-down...
we were greeted with a bustling block, people in colorful clothing! weapons! armor! staffs! everything's here!
"so? how do you like the fantasy world?"
"I love it! why didn't you tell me sooner!?"
everything's here! here! I tell ya!
"so? how are you four holding up?"
"it's quite amazing... what's that port for? you said while they were away that this space is only at the size of an average country like Australie, I can't imagine it being needed here unless
"that's right, that flying ship nicknamed Flying Dutchman is said to be the largest and the greatest project ever created by a couple of gamers, this ship can hold probably half of the planet's population but I'm afraid that it also eats an unimaginable amount of energy, souls of the monsters to be exact since they were all born and created from the minds of the people and the mana of from your portal, it generates and stores quite a lot but what the monster's souls stores is still nothing compared to this ship's nuclear generator"
nuclear generator? wait
"doesn't that mean that there are also scientists here?"
"you are half correct there, these people are retired, or rather, had enough of life and decided to live in this time-space, of course, they're also paid quite handsomely and appropriately to there work load, they also serve as this place's law and order. since it's filled with tons of people with magic and swords here, we still need to continue the life with strict but lenient laws, so the strongest are backing them up and serves as the symbol of peace here, like police are"
"that's... a lot of talking but I don't care about that, I'll be heading that way, why don't you guys stay here, I'll check out the shops here!"
"there's a guild hall in the center, you can't miss it, it's the tallest building"
"gotcha! hey Aishah! are you coming with me!?"
"I'm coming! wait for me!"
. . .
. .
.
----------
「this is amazing... who created this?」
「you're looking at one of the contributors to it」
「you!? well... I guess it's quite understandable why you're one of the generation's now」
「the owner of this body will be awake for a couple of hours, why don't I guide you to this place?」
「really? we wanna see the flying Dutchman!」
that futuristic ship... it resembles something in a game, it's quite colorful too compared to the bland brown or beige colors that almost all ships have... it's like... the modern painting that I don't understand...
「everyting looks so well designed... can we look in the inside!?」
「of course, it's fine to touch anything here since there's still nothing fragile here」
「rather than that, why would you carry a fragile decoration to a flying ship? that seems stupid」
well... he's right...
「C'mon! we're going to check it out right Liliya!?」
「yeah! what ab- Osiria? Osiria!?」
huh? is their child missing?
-------------
finally! I get to see an actual guild hall! it's been 2 years! probably!
"Haahhh... Haahhh... Ron, would you mind slowing down? we have all day to enjoy the place"
"ahh... you're right, why don't we meet up in the hotel?"
"oh... right, I forgot to tell you something..."
hmm? is there something wrong? he looks a bit concerned...
"you see... my mother just passed away and my father isn't able to go to the funeral... I'll be going back to Malaysia this night so I might not be able to accompany you"
ahh... is that so...
"well... I'll give you my condolence. go ahead and return back to you country, it was nice meeting you."
"oi! don't act like we won't see each other again! come on! I should be the one sad here!"
"hahaha... you're right... well? come on man! let's go"
I... didn't know...
"wanting to know how I knew? Lin told me, she was looking at my profile and found that my mother died..."
"Why don't we scrap the conversation right now, you have a family to attend to right now, go home and have a break"
"yeah... will do, well... this is as good as any goodbye as ever"
"Yeah, I'll see you again man"
no one... no one doesn't have to experience that kind of pain... it's... a bit saddening to see him like this but it's unavoidable
. . .
...
so... I'm alone once again... in this world full of magic... I thought that having magic like those in the game would help me find friends like him... he didn't even use magic as frequently as I do... how big was the gap on us?
「you are...」
hmm? this child...
"I guess I don't have that much of a grudge right now... I don't really feel like fighting..."
「where's mommy?」
"look... I don't know what you're saying.... haahhh... let's go back, c'mon"
I give her hand and she holds it quite cautiously... this... is the first time I ever held a child like her...
"I'll return you to your parents, damn it..."
I go back to the area where the portal is but all I see is Nick in the area
"ahh! so you found their child. I'll go call Rin, c'mon Little Rose, I'll protect you"
the girl let's go of my hand and goes to where Nick is, she's quite smart for a kid
"I see... then I'll wait here for a bit."
the phone clicks and Nick began to comfort the child
"why don't you enjoy the Guildhall? there are tons of survivors there, I'm sure you'll meet someone up in your alley"
"yeah... wait, why?"
"I just found Aishah running, I was concerned as to what happened and he told me that he wants to go back to Malaysia, I guided him to the portal where the Malaysian port is and that's that. so did something happened in his home?"
"not a clue. all I know is that her mother is dead"
"I see... then I'll go holler Lin for a delivery. Nick, why don't you head to the Guildhall, survivors are kinda like adventurers but it's our way of saying that we survived even in the harshest of situations"
"thanks, send my regards to Aishah once he arrives back home"
I wave goodbye to Nick and the child and head to the Guildhall... somehow... instinctively, I held my hand to air as if I was going to hold someone's hand... I... don't know why though...
"well... nothing to beat myself up, Guildhall here I come!"
-------------
the phone rings and Nick immediately responded
「Nick? have you found my child!?」
「so did Rin messaged you? yeah, she somehow got surrounded by a group of Survivors and got lost somewhere」
「this is my fault... I'll go head there now」
「I think that's best, I'm beginning to lose my control so I need someone to take over」
「gotcha! heading there right now!」
I close my phone and look at Osiria who was holding my hand quite firmly
[Tion, I'm gonna need the body now, I'm still not comfortable not being in control]
"yeah..."
「Hey, Little Rose, I'm going to store this soul but you can still trust the one who owns this body, just be a good girl and don't ever leave him, alright? even if you don't know what he's saying」
「...yeah... I got it」
「good girl」
"Alright Nick, I'll leave this body to you"
as if the body was standing unconscious, it closes its eyes and loses its grip then returns to its senses as if nothing has happened
"... so this is the child? she's quite fragile... do you really have to trust me on this?"
[sorry, I was also about to lose my connection to the Ethereal plane so I needed to conserve, I'll be gone for half a day to rest a bit, what about you?]
"I'll keep this girl in check... just go and sleep, I can handle this"
[then I'll leave the rest to you]
I close my Production of Ether and began to relax... light as if it were stars began to show, moving in the Ethereal plane... these Mana vessels are as harmonic as ever... his dark view of this background... it's like I'm seeing myself...
[kill][destroy][suffer]
you don't affect me anymore... I found my peace... in this harmonic space, I am in control of you
[you don't belong]
[just die]
[you're worthless!]
my vision is still as horrid as ever... although... it's you that turned me into these, don't even turn into the people that I loved
yeah...
like that...
turn into the people that turned me into the me today...
make me hate them more, and that'll serve your purpose for today
"Tion... you're messing my mind with killing intent"
[hahaha! sorry, well I won't disturb you today]