Asher was paralyzed. His mind went miles a second, and he was trying to focus his thoughts. Herta was asking question after question, and he didn't know about his past and could not develop a plausible lie. Anything he said might be put under extreme scrutiny.
Herta looked at the poor boy with sorrowful eyes. He could not even bring himself to look at her. She felt immediate regret. She had overstepped her bounds and must have upset Varas. Herta clapped her hands together, "I know. We can go to the cafe." She made up her mind to cheer up Asher.
This reaction shocked Asher as it came out of left field. He had not expected Herta to dismiss her question like that. It only made him more paranoid. 'Did not answering her question make her think it was equal to a confession?' Asher did not know what to think anymore. "Wait, what?" Asher questioned, but Herta ignored his protests.
Asher tried to fight against it, but it was like a mother dragging her angry, fussing child through a store. Asher cursed his short stature and gave up. Herta half-dragged him down the street towards a small cafe in the village. As they walked, they passed many of the villagers. In Asher's opinion, it didn't seem like a town that just got attacked by a group of monsters less than twenty-four hours ago.
By all consideration, it was just another day, no different from any other day.
Asher guessed that to live this close to a dungeon. The people had to have a 'what-will-happen-will-happen' attitude about such events. Monsters attacking was just what happened sometimes. There was nothing to be done about it. You had to deal with the threat and then continue your day. Asher had to admit that he respected their level of resilience.
Herta half-guided, half-dragged Asher through the town to a lovely cafe. It looked normal, but the inside looked out of place. Asher expected a few wooden tables; some chairs would be made of poor-quality wood or just some barrels to sit on.
But the inside looked like some cafe from his past life. The table was made of stone, and the chairs had ornate iron back seats with lovely floral cushions. Asher was in awe. Asher remembered an upscale cafe that was popular towards the end of his last life. It was not all that different. Asher could even picture himself sitting in that cafe the day before... Asher shook the thought out. "What is this place?" Asher looked around and saw that they even had a magi-screen on the wall. It was tuned in to some new network.
"The inn owner was nice enough to tell me about it. The owner is a raider, so sometimes you can get some interesting dishes."
"Raider?" Asher asked.
"Someone who runs through a specific dungeon. A lot of people in this area are raiders. Think of them as dungeon specialists." Herta smiled as she found an empty table.
"Wait... if there are raiders, then why hire us?"
"Raiders sell what they can find from a dungeon and can charge a premium for specific items. We run dungeons but cost less than that of the raiders." Herta spoke off-handedly and was more focused on the dessert menu.
Asher relaxed as Herta looked more interested in a cake than interrogating further. Asher felt a little embarrassed by his panicking. He was not able to fight Herta if it came down to it. She was an advanced mage, and he had only started learning real magic less than a month ago.
The waitress took their order and left them in silence, which Asher could not help but feel awkward about. Herta spoke first. "How are you enjoying being a part of the party? I hope you are finding everything agreeable."
"Yeah, everyone has been amazing to work with." Asher looked across the cafe, and his eyes landed on a familiar face on the magi-screen. "What is that? Jing Yu." Asher watched as the young idol girl interviewed Jing Yu.
"Mister Jing Yu, how do you feel about your loss to Carmine at the Vijey Festival?" the reporter asked the man. He was the same as during the festival, to the point that it was scary. He was the picture of untouchable beauty. His pale skin contrasted against his dark black hair, and his long lashes cast shadows on his sharp cheeks.
"Miss Galli-Marie was a powerful sorceress. It was an honor to face her." His response was short and sweet. It was clear that he was not willing to elaborate further.
"Now that the Vijey Festival is over, what are your plans? Do you intend to return and participate in the next festival?" The reporter did not miss a beat.
"I will return to my Sect. I will not participate next time." Jing Yu gave another short answer without even a little bit of flare. He bowed before excusing himself and leaving the idol, grinding her teeth.
Lucy hated people like Jing Yu because they acted all high and mighty. She was much cuter than him, but he had the nerve to brush off all her questions. She did not want to interview these people. She should be worshipped, and this man did nothing. Half of her comments were obsessed with this man.
Lucy took a deep breath, coming herself. 'Everyone will forget about him soon enough. Meanwhile, people will continue to worship me.'
Lucy's internal self-praising is interrupted by a melodic voice: "Excuse me. I saw Mister Yu leave. Are you ready for me?" The voice belonged to Carmon. The lovely woman steps into the parlor.
Asher was absorbed in the interview and could not help but think of the tournament fight. He only saw the championship fight, but it was terrific. He had watched several battle recordings and was mesmerized by Carmon's movements and style. Her oversized dress should have been a hindrance, but she danced around the field like a performance.
It took him a while to figure it out, but Asher guessed she was predicting her opponent's move before he used them. Several times, Asher spotted her moving before Jing Yu made a move. Her level of prediction was powerful. Asher thought it was some kind of spell, but she did not have an element that could do that. So it meant she was going off instinct and dodging with such elegance and poise that it seemed inhuman.
Herta enjoyed her dessert and noticed Asher staring at the magi-screen, seeing Carmon speaking during the interview. A creepy grin slithered across her face. "Veras, you don't happen to have a crush on Carmon. You have good taste, but you need to be realistic. She is much too old for you. You should aim for someone around your age."
Asher looked at Herta with a shocked expression. "Wait... No.. I don't.."
Herta patted him on the shoulder. "I get it. A first crush is an essential experience for a young man. But you should not let it blind you to obtainable prospects." She nodded like she understood something Asher did not.
'Why are you talking like an old man? I am technically much older than you.' Asher thought to himself. He would have been well into his forties if he had included his past life. Meanwhile, he did not know that Herta was in her twenties. "I saw her in the champion fight. I was interested in her skill. That is all. She could dodge all of Jing Yu's attacks with such ease."
"I see so capable women are your type." Herta teased.
"Don't think I won't smack you because you're a woman." Asher angrily retorted.
"Hey, you two." Kel and the others came into the cafe. "Veras, I thought you were busy cutting monsters." They came over to join the two.
"I finished for today," Asher replied.
Ura sat next to Asher without a word. Herta spoke, "Since he finished so early, he decided to treat me to some desert."
"Since when?" Asher stood up and shouted with annoyance. "You're the one that dragged me here. If anyone should treat someone, it is you." Asher's response caused the rest of the group to burst into laughter.
As the sun began to set, the evening started to fill with laughter and joy. Asher's fear and anxiety dissipated. Everyone enjoyed the tea and treats they got till the cafe closed, and they all went back to the inn.
Asher climbed the stairs and walked down the hall. 'I can't believe that I thought Herta was suspicious of me. It looks like there was nothing to worry about. I need to prepare in the future if I have another close call like that.' Asher walked down the long, empty corridor lit only by gentle candlelight. As he approached his room, he caught something out of the corner of his eye.
In the window, a face without eyes and lanky limbs seemed disproportionate to the rest of its body. Asher's eyes grew wider as they landed on the sharp, toothy grin that opened to a disgustingly sharp tongue. Asher summoned his halberd, ready to strike.
"Asher, what is wrong?" Kel looked at Asher with concern and fear.
Asher summoned his weapons so suddenly that he was taken back. "There in the window. A mon..." Asher looked away momentarily, but when he turned back, he found only a candlelit reflection of him with his weapon drawn. "But... there. There was a monster."
Kel looked at Asher with concern. Asher put the halberd away and gave a strained laugh. "Sorry, I must be exhausted and seeing things. Good night." Asher bowed before entering his room and leaving Kel in the hallway, confused.
Asher fell to his knees when the door shut, clutching his chest. His heart was beating like a drum. His mind fell into turmoil. What was that thing? Why did it keep showing up? Was he going crazy? Was he ever sane? That thing appeared when he started using magic and has appeared several times without warning. Asher felt fear. Fear of the unknown terror, of the monster.
Asher took deep breaths, trying to regain control. He kept telling himself it wasn't real and that it was a lie. He squeezed his eyes shut. His breathing calmed and became more steady. As he became calm, he found himself in the starless sea. Asher stood up with force and scanned the horizon for signs of the faceless creature but saw no sign of them. But the sea was different from the last time he was here. The sky was not empty; instead, there were pillars of water leading to two planets in the sky.
"What is that?" Asher wondered. One of the planets was a deep cerulean blue, while the other was a mix of green and purple. Asher began walking to one of the two pillars in the distance. He thought it was not far, but it turned out to be well into the distance.
When he got closer, he found the pillar made of water. The water from the sea below him rushed up like a pillar as thick as a tree truck to the purple and green planet. Asher placed his hand on the pillar, and he fell into the pillar. He lifted himself to find that he was now standing on the pillar rather than the ground.
He dusted himself off and ascended the pillar toward the strange planet. Asher walked up the pillar more and more. As he did, the starry sea became farther and farther away until it became a distant planet. Inside the planets were six different swirling lights.
Asher continued his long trek along the pillar till he arrived at the strange planet. He stepped off the pillar. The ground was the same water, except only the green and purple stars floating beneath the waves. Cypress trees and small flowers popped out of the water. They looked like phantom images made out of a strange mist.
Asher passed his hand through one of the trees. It made the place feel like an eerie swamp. Asher walked around for a while before seeing something dart across his vision. Asher jumped and raised his hand to block it. Only to find Themis darting back and forth.
"Themis, you almost gave me a heart attack." Asher calmed down. He had thought for a second that the creature would attack him like last time. Themis fluttered his wings and landed gently on Asher's shoulder. "If you are here, then this must be your Starry Sea. And that blue planet must be Alice." Asher guessed that the pillar was the connection between him and his familiars.
Asher sat down under one of the ghostly trees. "Themis, I think I am going crazy. I keep seeing this nasty monster." Themis chirped and tilted his head like it didn't understand. Asher closed his eyes and let his exhaustion overtake him. Themis looked at his exhausted master. Although they did not understand what was bothering her master, he sat on her master's shoulder, standing guard so he could at least sleep well.