Lena and the kid stand at the magic barrier separating The capital of Medlucia and the forest around it. Medlucia's magic barrier is one of the main reasons it is still able to operate despite being so close to the middle lands, how the magic barrier works is a mystery to most people and is only known by those in the upper echelon of Medlucia. Because of Lena's popularity they couldn't enter the regular way, so they had to resort to illegal, black market, immigration.
Standing there waiting for their meeting with the man they had agreed on, Lena watched the kid as he looked completely blank of all expressions staring at the ground. Ever since leaving that village not a single word was said from him... No... He did ask one question... A question Lena did not understand. "Do drugs exist?" He asked at some point on their way.
Drugs, Their existence is known by everyone. They exist in all forms and shapes, From powder to gas to liquid. The black market is ruled by drug brokers, with peasants overflowing the market. The demand for them has definitely far surpassed supply, so their prices have been extremely inflated. Getting your hand on drugs is hardly an inconvenience, with it only taking a short trip into the slumps.
Lena hasn't tried any of them yet despite hearing about them, since she has never seen octane ever even consider them, not in front of her at the very least. So the question got her by surprise. She answered with a yes and asked "Why do you ask?".
The boy replied with an unknown word to Lena. "Weed."
"What?" She asked confused.
"Please... Can you get me some... weed..." The boy said with his face yet still in the blank expression.
Lena didn't reply at that time and decided to keep quite. It's not that she has her opinion on the thing, but rather the fact they can't afford it. She had to scrap everything she had and even sell her weapon just to barely get enough for the illegal entrance into The Capital of Medlucia and an item she pleases will be helpful.
Lena stared at the boy wondering what it is he is recalling at this moment. Someone she wishes to understand, yet is completely alien to her. She gives a heavy sigh and pulls out the "helpful item" from her bag, a bag that has become completely empty.
A mask. An identity mask to be precise. A well known mask among criminals, Using the mana flowing in your body it merges into your face and changes your outside facial features completely making you look like a completely different person. Lena never thought she would be using one of these while wandering around, but if she is going to enter a place as crowded as The Capital of Medlucia and even attend an event as huge as a TOP 10 match she would definitely need this.
She slowly places the mask over her face. The mask glows for a second, begins to slowly change and is then completely shattered. Lena stares at the pieces which had fell to the ground in front of her in complete disbelief, after that in annoyance, and then finally in anger. She started stomping over them and called the person who had sold it a "COMPLETE SON OF A FUCKING WHORE!" the mask was quite pricey with it costing even more than the entrance into The Capital of Medlucia. For the next straight minute Lena used every slur she knew at the person. The boy remained completely blank as he stared at the ground.
After calming down Lena looked a bit saddened, she decided the only way left is to use her trusty cloak. She excused herself from the boy and walked behind a tree where he couldn't see her. This time she first took off her long-sleeve shirt, revealing all the permanent marks left from the last incident, to make it easier. She then slowly pulled up the tip of the right hand armor piece, covering her arm from the peak of the shoulder all the way to the tip of her fingers, and slowly slid her left hand inside. As soon as it had entered a scream that could most likely be heard from a mile way had left Lena's mouth, The amount of pain produced from a mere slip of the hand was indescribable.
Quickly moving her left hand around, she continued to scream as she searched for the cloak hidden somewhere inside the massive right hand armor piece. As soon as she could feel the silk on the tip of her hand she quickly grabbed it and pulled out. A regular looking black cloak exited her arm. She put on her long sleeved t-shirt slipping the right part of the shirt into the armor piece, then put on the cloak.
She continued go gasp for air as she slowly calmed down from the intense shock of pain and then stood up and went back next to the boy. As she slowly approached him she noticed the boy's gaze on her, he had definitely heard her scream just now... Although she was happy to finally get the boy's attention, it was barely much of an accomplishment with the exact same blank expression staring back at her.
'It's all my fault...' she thought as she gazed back at the boy.
'ruining such a great magician, it was all me.' she continued to regret.
She walked up to the boy and sat down to the right of him with the magic staff separating them in-between.
After a while the man finally appears late.
"S-sorry..." the man said gasping for air, after all He had been running towards them.
Lena sighed and stood up.
"Let's just get it over with." Lena said fixing the hood of her cloak
The boy next stood silently.
"Alright..." the man said still struggling to breath.
The man then walk up next to Lena and clapped his hands, he stayed in that same pose for a good minute then placed both of his hands on her shoulders, Only for them to get sent flying away a second later.
"...huh..." The man said in complete shock and disbelief.
"Miss you did say your mana level is low right?" The man asked Lena.
"Yes, I'm a swordswoman not a magician, and my magic use is definitely on the lower scale." Lena said confident with her answer.
"Hmmm...." the man pondered and then walked up to jack.
He did the exact same ritual except this time his hands weren't sent flying away.
"That's more like it!" The man said proud.
"Then please let me try again." The man said repeating the exact same ritual only to have his hands once again get sent away.
"H-huh?" Again in disbelief the man asks.
"Are you sure your mana level is low?" The man asked.
"Definitely." Lena said.
"hmmm...." The man pondered.
"Alright then let me try this." The man said doing the exact same ritual except this time his hands weren't sent flying away.
"There... it worked, but I'm going to have to enter the magic barrier with you while holding inside the mana." The man said.
"As long as it means we can enter I'm not gonna complain." Lena said.
"Alright then, just cross the magic barrier. Don't overthink it and just walk inside." The man said.
"Alright." Lena did as the man asked and crossed the barrier with no problem, behind them the boy who had followed their example and had no problem of his own.
"Ok, that should do it." the man said as he pulled his hands off of Lena.
"Now, as we agreed how you climb the stone wall is none of my concern we only agreed on the magic barrier 10 meters away, so I will be taking my leave." The man said walking away casually.
Lena sighed and went to the boy, she stood in front of him and gestured him to get on her back for a piggy back. The boy at first stared at her back with his blank expression and then did as he was told.
Lena stood up with the boy on her back and then looked up the wall. it was a strong 7 meters high. Lena strapped the boy to her back strongly and then went as far back as she could without touching the magic barrier. Then with a strong sprint when she was close enough she jumped towards the wall. With her giant armor piece smashing into the wall and creating a good hand rest for her to raise herself. she would Then smash both her legs inside creating a place for them to rest, and then jump as high as possible to once again smash her armor piece inside. Repeating the same steps she had finally reached the peak.
She had studied the walls of The Capital of Medlucia before coming up of this way. The Capital of Medlucia is too confident of their magic barrier system, and only have their walls there for show. Their main purpose is too keep monsters away and not humans So illegal entrances like Lena and jack, even though if caught will definitely be treated harshly, aren't really top priority to them. Their walls have aged with how little maintenance is given to them knowing that Lena used such a risky maneuver. Usually people would be get helped through the magic barrier and then over the wall, but with Lena not having enough to pay the second half, since she bought the pricey identity mask, she had to improvise.
As soon as she was done with her sorry excuse of a climb, she rested her hands on her knees and started gasping for air. Even with the kid on her back such a move shouldn't have been that hard, it just goes to confirm how much her body has weakened. Lena stood for a second staring down the 7 meter fall on the other side, and then jumped with the boy on her back. As soon as her legs made contact with the ground she instantly started regretting her decision, but with no other choice she just decided to take it like a man and curse as loud as she can in her mind. Once she had stood on the ground she carefully untied the blank looking boy and put him down to walk on his own. There was still a bit of green to go through before reaching the city and towns.
After a while they had reached their destination. "Medlucia." A kingdom that stands alone next to the middle lands, despite its dangerous and risky location, It has not failed to prosper and even conquer the ranks of this world with it having one of the strongest market in the world. With it being along the only pathway leading from one side of the middle lands to the other, It is used a stop for all and everyone.
Walking the streets with heavy crowds Lena couldn't keep her eyes away from the boy, she was afraid he would disappear any second. They had only a couple of hours until the match starts so they had to rush their way to the arena.
But reality isn't so fair. Life isn't thinking of you. The world doesn't revolve around you. A world with many people will move even if you are not there. Everything is always changing, with you there or not. This world stops for no one, and especially not Lena. All of this crossed her mind as she catches a glimpse of a newspaper's front cover on a shelf on the side of the road.
She wondered. What had made her so confident. What had made her think this way. What even brought her here. She was only a child from the inside, believing everything will stay the same. Yet the world didn't fulfill her childish wishes. Forgetting the boy she diverts her complete attention to the newspaper slowly approaching it.
While many thoughts were flying through her mind. From questioning her actions to questioning herself. Not a single word was uttered, her face too continued to hold the neutral expression Octan would hold.
Lifting the newspaper she stared at its contents. Such words. Written so casually. Why has such a scenario never crossed her mind? Was it because of how happy she was when she left her? Did she believe that her story would end with sunshine and rainbows?
The people behind her continue to move, their life still moves on, time still passes, yet to her it has stopped. Did she really live? Was she truly among them at some point? She cursed this world and how it works, and on top of it all she cursed herself.
"Her name Isn't even mentioned." she mumbled under her breath.
"Hello Mr. Are you interested in today's newspaper?" An old man asked coming out from inside the shop which the shelf is in front of.
Lena looked at the man and put the newspaper back. She then immediately went after the boy who still was next to her in her mind and ran off.
"Hmmm... what a strange man..." The old man said walking back inside.
Along with the other newspaper it stood there. To other people it was a mere piece of information, to Lena it was a lesson. Resting as if what's written on it is the most normal thing ever, with the picture of a familiar face, the newspaper read.
"Mrs. LADENWIRG'S KILLER STILL NOT FOUND! LORD WAGNON RAISES A REWARD OF 100k FOR ANY KIND OF INFORMATION!"