Ka-clop! Ka-clop! Ka-clop! Ka-clop!
Six horses galloped through a vast green plain leaving dust trails.
Each pair pulled their own carriage.
They wore gold-plated armor, leashed and attached to the vehicle with wooden beams on their sides.
The carriages were pure white with plant-like silver patterns and orange gems embedded in the design, carved into flowers to match.
The grey castle walls shrank into the horizons with every second.
"Are you crazy?!" Duke shouted.
He was sitting at the backside of the carriage with Celine drinking tea in front of him.
She held the teacup using her right hand with its saucer floating beneath it from magic, another circuit-like magic circle kept it in the air. Smaller but more intricate from its tiny characters called runes.
After finishing, she dropped the empty cup as it disintegrated mid-air. Along with the saucer that soon fell after the magic circle dispersed.
Celine had returned the utensils to her storage ring.
"In fact, I am." She replied nonchalantly as she faced towards her right.
Admiring the view outside through an open window.
She crossed her legs and had her head resting on her palm.
Closing her eyes, she enjoyed the refreshing breeze. The wind blew back her hair as she basked her face in the warm sun.
They were currently on their way to Jade Forest. A forest south of the Reina Kingdom, known for its abundant herbs and fruits.
But so far, only flat grasslands stretching for miles and towering mountains in the distance were seen. With the occasional tree here and there.
"Why would you bring the kids to such a dangerous place!" Duke exclaimed. Followed by a groan as he rubbed his temple.
"Oh please, they're young adults. Stop treating them like babies." Celine said with a sigh.
"Are you their father?"
"And besides, it's just a level 5 area."
She added, making a pinching motion with her fingers. Expressing how weak it is.
"And they're level 1!"
He refuted with his eyes furrowing more.
"A level 5 area can inhabit monsters from 5-10, some even having level 20 kings!" Duke added.
Emphasizing the last part with exaggerated hand movements.
"So what? We'll be going with them,"
"And you said it yourself, no?" She asked in a familiar Earth-like accent.
Her eyes flashed briefly before coughing.
"They aren't normal people—they're heroes." Celine continued. Now back to her normal tone and misleading aloof expression.
A vulgar character hidden by her refined and elegant look.
She puts down her foot and crossed her arms, then looked at Duke and sighed.
"You wanted me to teach and now you're restraining me?"
"We already talked about this! You'll be a homeroom teacher, teaching ordinary subjects and survival lessons!"
Duke said in an ascending volume.
"And what better way to learn than with your life on the line?"
Celine replied in a question with full confidence.
"One where we aren't risking anything!"
He roared followed by a sigh.
"Didn't you want this to get over with?" Duke scratched his head.
"If it's going to take up a lot of my time, might as well just enjoy it," Celine said.
Her face slowly darkened like the night's fall as a sinister smile formed.
---
"Uno!" Michael yelled with a shit-eating grin.
He raised his right arm and flaunted a green piece of wood before slamming it on the table on top of a yellow one. It was cut into a rectangle and had the number 1 carved on it. Same with the yellow block.
Similar pieces were scattered on the table with different colors and numbers.
"Yeah, baby!" Michael added as he triumphantly clenched his fist and punched it into the air.
"Damn it, for fucks sake." Zack groaned.
He slammed his hand on the table along with the pieces he held.
"So close," Chase looked at the single piece in his hand and sighed.
"Good game," He congratulated him with a defeated smile.
"It's almost like you can see our cards,"
Chase said jokingly as he started collecting the pieces to start another game.
They were playing the card game Uno, created hastily from the conveniently cut wood from the storage rings and crayons.
Chase had once mentioned that he was an art student. At the time of the summoning, he was alone in a classroom finishing a multi-medium artwork for a project.
Although the only thing he could keep was a box of crayons which he apparently bit on for easy access whilst holding a brush.
Otherwise, it would have disappeared along with their phones and other accessories.
"You have to be cheating, this is your fifteenth win in a row!" Zack exclaimed.
"I would never, I have my own pride also,"
Michael said but with a different thought.
'This skill can show me the full details of the card even when it's flipped! Imagine all the money I can get from gambling!'
His eyes glimmered as he imagined himself laying inside a bathtub full of gold.
Right now, they were also in a carriage. One at the very back of the convoy.
Each can accommodate five but they insisted on staying with their own groups.
"It must be that skill…" Zack said in a low voice.
"It's that (Thorough Analysis) right?!" He continued with a roar. Beads of tears formed at the side of his eyes.
"Why're you crying?!" Michael questioned as he was grabbed by the collar.
Zack glared at him menacingly before sobbing and looking down in defeat,
"My 196 Uno win streak…"
"Alright children, settle down." Chase cut between them.
"We still have a long way to go, reserve your energy. Today will be our first battle." Chase reminded.
"It may even be the first time some of us kill." He added as his face wore a serious expression.
The mood inside the carriage darkened at the statement.
Though they tried mentally preparing themselves, they still shuddered at the thought of taking a life and that remark reminded them of what's to come.
Michael looked down as the guilt resurfaced. He clenched his fist as he recalled the event. He thought he had already gotten over it but the fresh sight in his head proved otherwise.
The incident reflected in his iris as he wore a bitter expression.
He couldn't help but call out an apology.
"I'm sorry." He whispered.
Chase saw this and immediately apologized.
He was flustered from his inconsiderate words and stuttered because of it. But he was given a quick reply; "It's fine," Yet again.
With that, they all sat down quietly. None spoke preoccupied with their own thoughts, making an awkward silence fill the space.
Chase couldn't help but feel Michael's distant nature. Even after weeks, he was still regarded as a stranger. However, the mysterious glint in his eyes did not waver. In fact, it shone brighter than it ever has before.
Hidden by his hands, a smirk weaved into his face as if a snake slithering.
After a few minutes, the anxious silence was broken by soft snores from Chase and Zack as Michael looked outside the window with melancholy.
The recollection started a chain reaction and now he found himself reminiscing.
Voices resonated in his mind. Different memories and experiences flashed like a tape record.
Mixed emotions overflowed along with a tear, like water pouring from a filled cup.
He wiped it off and steeled his nerves. This wasn't the time to be wallowing in self-pity nor reminisce of the past.
They were about to go to battle.
After taking a deep breath, he felt better.
He didn't realize it, but he was drained mentally.
No matter how calm he was in the situation, deep down he was scared and anxious. Not to mention homesickness. Letting out a tear lightened his heart though there were still plenty to shed.
Michael's eyes showed a revitalizing glint.
As if a sign of his renewed vows, a green mist suddenly shrouded him.
"W-What is this?"
Answering his question, multiple yellow holographic messages appeared one after another.
[ The present is a result of the past ]
[ Mistakes were learned and accepted ]
[ Your judgment shall not be clouded and your beliefs persuaded ]
[ The goddess praises your strong heart ]
Then, as soon as he finished reading, the green mist solidified and entangled him.
It slowly crept up to his entire body like a butterfly's cocoon during metamorphosis.
In only a few seconds he was fully engulfed, silencing his scream to a mere grunt.
But the assumed threat immediately exploded into white dust and evaporated soon after he was enclosed.
[ Congratulations! You have formed the skill, ( Self-Rationality ) ! ]
A green holographic image appeared before him. In just a glance, one could tell it had divine properties.
The white angel-like wings on the corner and the Christmas wreaths wrapped around a gold pillar on the side made it obvious.
And a literal signature of the goddess just below the text.
But he felt no excitement nor happiness.
Biting his lips bitterly, he thought, 'You mean I didn't have that yet?!'