First thing we did when we got back to Lithik was sleep in the Adventurer Guild dorms. By we, I mean everyone else since I can't sleep.
("Let's go take a walk.") [Solace]
It was night time, but the streets were lit by lanterns powered by some kind of crystals. I would say they were mana crystals like the dwarven town I visited a while ago, however, it looked like they were taking in the moonlight and reflecting it.
("The night here is so… beautiful.") [Solace]
I kind of wanted to explore the city. It was different from Metus in a strange way. There was a bigger variety of people than just demons or humans. Lizardmen, beastmen, and other generalizations were seen.
("It's surprisingly active at night.") [Solace]
Maybe it's because the ones coming out at night belong to a nocturnal race? Either way, I continued on my stroll.
("I can even see the stars clearly. It's like camping out on a mountain back on Earth.")) [Solace]
As I continued on my little expedition, I felt a tap on my shoulder.
"Hm?" [Solace]
I turned to find a finger poking into my cheek.
"Hey!" [Nakros]
"Huh?!" [Solace]
I backed up a bit. I didn't expect to find Nakros here. Especially at night.
"What are you doing here?" [Solace]
"I was waiting for you." [Nakros]
There weren't any signs showing such a thing. His clothing was spotless, no signs of exposure to the outside. Now that I think of it, he was wearing something different today. The last few times I saw him, Nakros was in tattered clothes from escaping prison or in some kind of battle gear with his shackles. Right now, this guy was wearing casual clothes.
("Huh. What fabric is that? Doesn't look like cotton.") [Solace]
Nakros' shirt and pants looked rather rough in material. Then again, technology for clothing must not have progressed that far on Astral.
"Let me change the question. How did you even find me?" [Solace]
It literally hasn't even been a day since I arrived in Lithik.
"I sensed your mana." [Nakros]
So that's a thing now.
"Putting that aside, what did you want?" [Solace]
"I wanted to hang out. Disciple to disciple." [Nakros]
That's a first.
"Well, I have nothing to do now. What do you have in mind?" [Solace]
"Take my hand." [Nakros]
"Nah." [Solace]
Instant refusal. I don't swing that way.
"I just want to teleport us somewhere." [Nakros]
"I'm not holding your hand." [Solace]
Nakros rolled his eyes.
"Fine. I was just being polite." [Nakros]
Placing a hand on my shoulder, our surroundings shifted.
"Could've done that from the start." [Solace]
"Yeah, yeah." [Nakros]
Observing the new environment, I found that we were at the edge of a desert canyon.
"A desert of all places…?" [Solace]
Since going to the first hero's tomb, I've had my fill of deserts. Don't get me wrong though. It was still a breathtaking sight.
"You can see pretty well in the dark." [Nakros]
"The stars light up the place pretty well." [Solace]
There was also my |Night Vision| helping me. Actually, the place reminded me of the grand canyon. I could see the sediment lines in the canyon walls.
"Let's talk." [Nakros]
Pulling out a literal table and chairs from his own |Item Box|, Nakros naturally set up a comfortable spot to relax.
"Do you just normally have furniture in your |Item Box|?" [Solace]
"I have many other things too." [Nakros]
"Like?" [Solace]
"A house." [Nakros]
I can't tell if he was joking or not.
"Well? Are you going to sit?" [Nakros]
"...It's better than standing I guess." [Solace]
As we took our seats, Nakros casually took out two silver chalices and a wine bottle. He then filled them both up with a crimson red wine and slid one of the chalices to me.
"Drink up." [Nakros]
"Eh…" [Solace]
I looked at the wine, recalling my terrible experience of chugging alcohol at the dwarven town.
"I'll pass…" [Solace]
"You sure? It's one of Master's favorites." [Nakros]
"Really?" [Solace]
I've only seen that guy drink tea.
("Maybe it wouldn't hurt to try.") [Solace]
I took the chalice in hand.
("It's cold to the touch.") [Solace]
Swirling the wine around, I eventually took a sip.
"Hm?" [Solace]
It was sweet. So sweet it kind of tasted like some kind of variation of milk tea at a hundred percent sugar.
"Hey, this is actually pretty good!" [Solace]
Contrary to what I said, Nakros' face scrunched up as he drank it.
"Ugh! Too sweet!" [Nakros]
I burst out laughing at his unexpected reaction.
"What? It's not to my taste." [Nakros]
"Why did you bring it out then?" [Solace]
"I wanted you to try it." [Nakros]
What was this? Disciple bonding time?
"Okay, isn't it about time you tell me what this is about?" [Solace]
"Ah, straight to business are we?" [Nakros]
Nakros took another sip of the wine, scrunching up and shivering before speaking.
"During your journey across the lands, have you ever encountered something… traumatizing?" [Nakros]
I went silent.
"Traumatizing? In what way?" [Solace]
"Something that disturbs you greatly. Witnessing the loss of life close to you. Great harm that has befallen you. Betrayal of your closest allies. An epiphany that makes you feel like reality isn't what it seems. Anything like that?" [Nakros]
A lot of those described what happened to me. I've been killed several times. I learned that sacrificing the lives of children to divine beasts was a common practice. I've found that demons aren't so different from us. Even if there are gods in this world, they don't seem to care.
"...You can say that." [Solace]
It was my turn to sip on the wine.
"Why do you ask?" [Solace]
"Well, it's simple really." [Nakros]
He drummed his fingers along the table.
"I, and all the other disciples that came before you, have experienced the same things." [Nakros]
"What?" [Solace]
Where was this going?
"It's a trial, really. Master tends to send his disciples out knowing something bad will happen to us." [Nakros]
I raised a brow.
"So… You're telling me all of this was planned?" [Solace]
"Not all of it. It feels like more of a curse. For my experience, I ended up almost dying to several Kings and two Calamities." [Nakros]
I know Kings are people recognized as best in their expertise by the gods. However, how did Nakros survive against Calamities? If I remember correctly, a single one is capable of destroying the world itself.
"How are you even alive?" [Solace]
"Master helped me. The Calamities I mentioned are twins. I fought them at first when they were young to help the world. Little did I know they were just children." [Nakros]
"Did you… kill them?" [Solace]
"I adopted them." [Nakros]
Okay, that's a bit crazy.
"Then I was attacked by several Kings who believed I betrayed the gods." [Nakros]
"How did you get out of that one?" [Solace]
"I didn't. Master stepped in at the end vouching for my innocence. They still wanted to kill the Calamities I adopted, but Master was firmly against it." [Nakros]
"And they just let him? No fighting back?" [Solace]
Nakros looked to be confused by my questions.
"Do you not know what Master did in his youth?" [Nakros]
"Not really. I do know he has a lot of enemies." [Solace]
Nakros placed a hand on his mouth as he contemplated something.
"Let me tell you the truth. Master when he was younger… He was a terrible person." [Nakros]
"What about the gentlemanly rules?" [Solace]
"There were no gentlemanly rules. The reason why they were made in the first place was to restrain him." [Nakros]
Sounds like a cringe edgy reason.
"He halted an entire crusade by slaughtering all the believers at Steps of Wisdom. Templars and Apostles were humiliated before their god. Entire Lorddoms were left in ruin because their rulers wouldn't bow in his presence. Kings refused to face him because of Master's tendency to steal skills. The man single handedly ended the age of Supreme Heroes. There are many tales of him, all with different aliases." [Nakros]
My apologies Master, I was unaware of your game.
"And he mellowed out?" [Solace]
"Not until he met his wife." [Nakros]
Oh, so someone thought "I can fix him" and really did.
"Nice lore drop. What's that have to do with me?" [Solace]
"I just wanted to let you know that if you ever encounter a hurdle too great for your mind to overcome, you are welcome within the arms of either myself or the other disciples." [Nakros]
…Is this an intervention? Am I getting therapy or something right now?
"I don't even know the other disciples." [Solace]
"It will be easy to find them. They both reside in the same country. Matter of fact, the third disciple is the lord of it." [Nakros]
"And the name of the country is…?" [Solace]
"Naballia." [Nakros]
Never heard of it.
"I'll keep it in mind." [Solace]
I won't. Chances are, I'll forget it.
"Is that all you have to say?" [Solace]
"Are you in a rush to be somewhere?" [Nakros]
"Not really?" [Solace]
"Then why are you acting like it's a chore to be with me?" [Nakros]
I paused.
"...Maybe I'm just anxious. Whenever I meet you, something always happens." [Solace]
Nakros nodded in agreement.
"I can't blame you." [Nakros]
He stood up.
"Get up. Let's get some exercise." [Nakros]
"What? Right now?" [Solace]
"Something always happens when you're with me right?" [Nakros]
I regret saying those words. I stood up as Nakros tucked away the table and chairs into his |Item Box|.
"Well? What now? Are we hunting another monster, finding a relic, or fighting Jukhan?" [Solace]
Nakros shook his head.
"You and me." [Nakros]
Pardon? Did I hear that right?
"Are you suggesting that we fight?" [Solace]
"Not feeling up to it? "[Nakros]
"Ya think?! I can barely survive one of Jukhan's punches. What makes you think I can fight you, someone that could almost go toe to toe with him." [Solace]
Nakros laughed.
"First of all, I'm not going to fight you seriously. I just want to assess your growth. Second of all, you wouldn't survive a single punch from Jukhan if he was serious." [Nakros]
Way to kick down my ego.
"Alright. Fine." [Solace]
I summoned my |Thunderbolt Lance|.
"Since I'm the junior, I get the first strike." [Solace]
"By all means. I'm excited to see the skills you've amassed." [Nakros]