As soon as her feet went limp, Kyle suggested if taking a break would assuage the pain Persephone felt on her legs. Once they were able to convince Ray for Persephone to be on journey, they set foot on the forest almost immediately and traveled to the destined area. Although it was fatal that the Trio wouldn't accompany Persephone onto the adventure because of Teacher duties, she wasn't exactly at all bothered by this misfortune and saw parts of this that countered negative views to it. She would even say that it was instead a fortune occurrence as her subordinates tend to be twisted and intimidating throughout every stare Persephone gets even if it wasn't misleading or there wasn't anything scandalous behind the intent. They would easily get envious over anything slightly small wether Persephone accidentally touches a guy's hand or being obviously romantic towards them. Having the Trio was comforting to say the least but it wasn't uncomfortable without them as well, if it consisted of Persephone's break on not having to feel an aura that would put one's knees to the ground, then she would feel amazing without their constant aura looming around every corner she faces. The only reason why others weren't affected by it at all is because they only showed their presence towards her as they quote on quote say that Persephone was worthy of having to be felt their true natural presence without drastically manipulating it. Kyle however was the antonym of the Trio and was well-mannered and humbled just enough to not shove his aura obnoxiously into Persephone's comfort zone. As he kept it to himself, he learned to control it fully and only revealed it when intimidating a possible threat or enemy. Although Kyle did show his presence once to Persephone, he learned that it wasn't as effective towards her. Leaning over the big tree, Persephone legs grew semiconscious as she could move them, but not entirely, to the point where she had to tap on her legs just so she could wake them up. She settled onto the tree for a while as Kyle for god only knows the reason, got out his sword and started swinging it, the outcome was trees falling headfirst on the ground. She observed Kyle's determination to surpass her and the air around them quickly got awkward as Kyle not only were slashing trees but the issue is that he would sometimes use his magic causing explosions that Persephone was worried it would cause attention around nearby people. She coughs and waves her hand to hover the ashes onto another set of place as she sighs when Kyle himself got slightly injured by his own attack.
"Eugh, Kyle! if your going to use a skill you can't even control fully, then go somewhere where I am not involved in it! you got yourself injured you idiot!" She harshly scolded the sweating man as he complies to her demand and ventures off somewhere Persephone could still see, but not feel. She droops her head down back again feeling the warmth of people not using skills to disturb her. From the air caressing her skin gently to the birds chirping melodically, Persephone refused to regain her full consciousness until this scenery was over, wanting the break from the journey before and after she set foot onto Kingdom Fersion. Possibly, her entire journey always had interruptions and enemies finding her even without her known presence and it always wore her out on having to fight such persistent foes.
"What could go wrong?" She stated in the most peaceful and undefended manner. She opens one eye to spot around anything from misfortune but closed it again when nothing would eventually be seen within her view. She got up predicting that she would most likely encounter another desperate fighter that would like to show their strength in her face. She walks around the forest to find Kyle and without a doubt, her instincts were right again. From a man standing elegantly, to a woman throwing knives to Kyle's direction. Kyle seemed to be struggling as he wipes sweat on his forehead and casts the skill that would cause explosions but the woman casually dodges the ugly explosion, the man who was just standing there was protected by a barrier assumably he set up by himself. The girl got close enough to Kyle for him to get possibly wounded but Persephone steps in, breaking the small knife she was holding on to pieces.
"Kyle, are you okay?" She checked for injuries that happened before she was not interrupting the fight while Kyle just sits their surprised.
"Mistress Persephone! I- I'm sorry, you were right. I caused an explosion and got the attention of a neighboring village and now these two said that they would justify my actions and..they attacked me." He spoke with his head down in shame while Persephone pats him on the head.
She was soft with him but she still managed to scare him despite that. "Told you so, have you learned your lesson Kyle?" He nodded frantically and backed away feeling awfully scared by her sentence.
She looks at the two and stands up trying to apologize for their mistake but the woman was stubborn and refused to cooperate. Without even stating it, she launched her knife onto Persephone's hair and cut a small portion of her long hair. It takes a while to process but when she did, Persephone checks her hair and sighs in relief that it wasn't fully cut.
"Miss, I don't want to fight. I'm sorry for what Kyle did, could we maybe sort this out non-aggressively?" Persephone says.
"You caused interruption within my village and even though my Master were negotiating terms with other villages for a peace treaty, you rudely interrupted that making the other villages cooperation to be viewed later on. Do you know how much fear you caused?" The woman states angrily.
"Look, we didn't know you were discussing an important topic and you haven't mentioned we caused destruction upon your village so you have no right for you to justify and hunt me and Kyle down! We haven't even injured your people and your using their fear to find a reason to assassinate us? what kind of lowlife people are you?" Persephone for the first time, used aggression in a conversation while the two looks away not responding to her reply.
"I- you still!" The woman tries to handle the situation calmly before Persephone interrupts her.
"We still what? killed your people? destroyed your properties? ruined a peace treaty? caused a war between you and those villages? No! you literally said it was postponed and your acting like it was the end of the peace you and their people would be having! You immature bastards!" Although Persephone was right, the woman was argumentative and refused to back down.
"Our people were traumatized by your explosions, they told us to check it out and if we come back empty-handed, they will suffer in fear and confusion!" Shouting another dumb response, Persephone grew more aggravated.
"If you found out those people were innocent yet still having intentions of killing them, wouldn't you feel so disgusted of yourself? Lie to them! lie to them that those people who caused explosions escaped, hell even killed!" Persephone could see she was about to say another word but the graceful man stops her.
The woman apologizes to him and both of the two disappear. Persephone forwards her attention to Kyle as he was tired and probably injured. She asks again and then Kyle points out that his chest felt like burning food on it and Persephone chuckles at his comparison.
"Kyle, stop joking around. Take off your armor and clothes, I'll heal your wound." She said.
And if Persephone could analyze what she had said, she would have wished for time to turn back. Kyle looks at her shocked while his face tints in red blush. Persephone waves her hands and apologizes to him.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry! that's not what I meant I'm really sorry!" She keeps on saying her sorry while she also had a red face visibly seen.
"Oh my Mistress Persephone...how scandalous of you..asking a man to take off his clothes, I mean I would but there is no bed here around the forest." He says jokingly but regrets it when Persephone found a stick and threw it at him on the face.
"You! that's not what I meant, no! take it back Kyle!" She keeps on shaking him while Kyle laughs loudly in amusement and also in pain.
"Okay, okay I take it back! I'll take off my armor..and my clothes" And then another stick
much larger was thrown onto his face.
The moment they calmed down, Persephone genuinely wanted him to take off his clothing in a.. non-sexual, as he does not make any comment that were..vulgar, Persephone sighs in relief. He removes his armor and top-clothing to reveal a much deeper injury that Persephone assumed wasn't that large but the sight was proving her wrong. She goes closer to the scar and chants a healing skill on her thoughts and a few seconds pass when she eventually aided his wound. The scar fully didn't heal and although pain wasn't felt, it left a permanent mark on his chest.
"I-im sorry, I couldn't heal you fully. I should've came earlier." she shows her worries but Kyle only smiles at her.
"Don't be Mistress, I actually look cool with this scar. It wasn't your fault you came here a little late." He reassures her making Persephone a little joyful.
"Anyways, should we continue our adventure? it's getting late, the town isn't that far ahead. Just, a one hour walk and we are there." He gets up and lends a hand to Persephone which she accepts.
"Sure, let's go." She nods and gets up.
***
"Cool..Kyle, this town is very cool!" Her eyes shine brightly while Kyle laughs at her. "It has been a while ever since I came here, it has gotten prettier didn't it?" He smiles at his hometown.
She nods agreeing at his statement, she had never been in this town before but she did know that before it had gotten much more beautiful, it was already stunning without the extra decorations. It wasn't as big as Kingdom Ãlsuais or Kingdom Fersion but even with that fact, the population and houses overwhelmed Persephone in a not particularly bad way, just enough for a person to be standing still for at least a minute. Persephone excitedly skipped up and down wanting Kyle to go inside with her.
"Okay, okay Mistress Persephone. I know you want to go in there but there is still security okay?" He says which made Persephone frown a bit.
"Oh, there had never been security in Kingdom Fersion before.." She thinks on how such a smaller town could have more security than a Kingdom.
Kyle steps ahead of her and pulls out a card which Persephone would guess for registration on this village, the guards who were stone-faced the entire time held a cheerful hand towards Kyle which he would shake as well. The two smile eachother and comparison between these smiling dudes to friends, it would be close. The other guard greets Kyle with enthusiasm likely knowing who he is and strikes up a conversation. Persephone sighs as she did not want to interrupt their lovely reunion but considering the crowd behind her whom some were impatient and mad, she taps Kyle on the shoulder and points towards the angry crowd which now he notices.
"Oh, sorry for the delay Mistress. We'll talk later okay?" Kyle gives a thumbs-up to both guards as they now move and both travelers entering the town.
Persephone grasped the partial world of the town but when finally inside of it, she could see how much she had underestimated the size of the town for in her mind, it was indeed large but she was unable to comprehend how much bigger it actually was although she already suspected it. This town was unlike the Kingdoms because normally, when a person would challenge another to a duel, they would take it somewhere around a battle field, arena or anything related to a ground for both challengers. This however, people fought from outside and it was bizarre that it wasn't only adults who fought but children as well, of course children who approximately is above age eight. Maybe the majority of those children are from twelve to fifteen. Wherein the Kingdoms were disciplined, this town wasn't and it isn't exactly a bad thing because those who showed sportsmanship has their opponent showing respect and humbleness as well. If Persephone were to say on what she felt from this town and its first introduction, she would say it was an attractive town with many positive aspects with it including people though it isn't self-controlled and clean.
Kyle smiles having to finally see his hometown after six years of training in a far more cruel society. He wipes out a tear threatening to fall out of his face and looks for something. This didn't go unnoticed as Persephone asks what he was looking for.
"Sorry Mistress, but could I maybe see my family first? for some reason, I'm now only starting to feel homesick." He politely requests.
"Don't worry, everyone feels that. Go ahead, go to your family, I'll stay here for a while and wait for you. Go spend time with your family as much as you want." She nods happily while Kyle smiles gratefully having to appreciate her kindness.
He waves goodbye to her and every second that passes, he continues to disappear into the crowds, mixing himself from the area where even the greatest eyes couldn't see. His slim atmosphere quickly disappeared from Persephone's perspective, she guesses his home must've been quite the walk from her spot. Once no trace of his presence was to be felt, Persephone happily skips through from the markets of food, to the houses which grew larger everytime she went deeper into the town. Since it was dark, Persephone found it confusing on why there were still a huge amount of businesses opened, she spots food markets, personal house restaurants and even battle arenas which Persephone gladly skips not wanting her whole life to be dedicated to arenas. This town had their own currency meaning Persephone couldn't use the obnoxious amount of money Ray has given her. It disappoints Persephone seeing as there are loads of restaurants and dining areas filled with food she desperately wanted to try but couldn't. She'd have to give back the money Ray gave her afterwards.
It would take Kyle hours, maybe even days for him to return back to Persephone's care. Even though she gave him permission willingly, he had not given her a map meaning she would get lost immediately after walking for just a few minutes. She would have asked the people, but they were so busy minding their own business and in their personal bubble that Persephone felt to awful having to interrupt their peace. Eventually, she'll have to ask someone for help either way. Her feet continues to carelessly stomp their way onto new sights Persephone haven't seen ever since she died, this town was creative with their creations making it, unique to her eyes. Compared to this town and the Kingdoms, it was a huge difference in creativity especially since the road in Kingdoms were only filled with houses and more houses. She applauds this town for having its own originality.
Walking for what seemed to be like hours, she rests on the bench as she wore herself out even if it was just walking. She gets sleep hungry and her eyes couldn't adjust to the dark surroundings without her constantly having to rub her eyeballs. She looks over at the bench tiredly and imagines a bed because the bench was confusingly long, its width was like a one-person sleeping bed. She would even call it a bed without its mattress. She lays on it as it was shockingly more comfortable than she assumed it was going to be and drifts off to sleep without care. A bench was wooden so the passerbys who saw this were confused and concerned thinking a homeless girl was sleeping on a bench unintentionally. Without her full conscious mind, Persephone couldn't care less about the odd stares she was receiving before she went to sleep.
Persephone despite being tired, she only slept for an hour and a couple of minutes before she finally woke up. For Persephone, she felt like she slept for a decade feeling refreshed. Her surroundings grow more accurate and her vision returns normally so Persephone could see clearly. Regardless of only sleeping for an hour, the streets were empty by the time she woke up although lights could still be seen. There were only ten or less people walking from the roads but they probably were heading back to their houses. Persephone now realizes she couldn't tell the time of this world since she didn't have a watch or her phone to keep track. She believes it would have been Ten-PM by now. She stretches her legs and arms to regain flexibility and gets up when they were fully conscious, Persephone's mind sets on a place to sleep or eat but they were now just closing, the only place that was still open was the apartment-like building. She would've gone there if it wasn't for her lack of money, she wouldn't even call it lack of money, more like no money at all. She sighs in disappointment and slaps herself mentally for not following Kyle or informing him about where to go, she slouches back onto the bench and thinks to herself where she would find Kyle at. Her mind does not pay attention to the girl tugging on her shirt as she tries to gain Persephone's attention, the girl finally speaks up loud enough for Persephone to get herself out of her train of thoughts. Persephone looks at the girl who wanted her attention and speaks to her.
"Sorry ma'am, do you need anything?" Persephone tilts her head wanting an answer from the teenage female who looks like a sixteen year-old.
"I saw you sleeping on the bench earlier and I wanted to ask if you were alright. Do you not have anywhere to go Miss?" The girl asks concerned of her lack of shelter.
Persephone smiles at her kindness and nods with no shame. The girl holds her mouth with shock and apologizes to Persephone for being insensitive. Persephone shrugs it off and assures the girl that it was alright, besides, she has this beautiful bench-like bed with her.
The female then offers Persephone if she would like to go back to her home which Persephone says yes appreciatively. While on their way back, the female strikes up a conversation with Persephone as she talks about herself and Persephone. The female introduces herself to Persephone while she as well addresses herself.
"Miss, I haven't gotten your name yet. I'm Alaina. What's is yours?" Like any other introduction, it's always the name first, then the handshake.
Persephone shakes her hands with hers and her lips tug into a small smile. "My name is Persephone, Alaina. I'm glad to meet you.
Alaina was a bright and cheerful lady, Persephone assumes this because she always has a genuine smile plastered on her face. They talk about their similarities and likings but for some reason, the conversation headed to ranking and adventurers.
Persephone had learned that Alaina was an adventurer and recently earned the rank,
Rank E which in all honesty, Persephone tried to give her a thumbs-up acknowledging her low yet "substantial" achievement. Alaina unfortunately was an adventurer for three years yet it saddens Persephone that such small accomplishments was done by a great amount of time and besides from that, this town had different ranking names other than the common— starter to high-leveled magic users.
She seemed happy though, Persephone thought. "It must take quite some time to raise a rank." she asks and in return, Alaina nods agreeing to her statement.
"I know it isn't that glorious or big but I'm happy with my achievement. It makes me confident that I can raise a rank higher if I work hard enough. I know I'm pretty weak, I can barely do magic but I will become a strong adventurer, for my mother and little brother." Hope was in her words and it made Persephone smile wider that she acknowledges herself as a person who is able to accomplish more than just a Rank E title.
"That's the spirit, go for it." Persephone encourages her to do better.
Alaina gives a grateful grin and walk-runs to a stone. She climbs up and poses a confident posture while Persephone laughs in confusion.
"Thank you for the boost soldier! I will not let you down." She says a silly nickname which made Persephone scrunch her face up in embarrassment.
"Get down there, you'll fall Alaina." Persephone points down to the ground, concerned that she would fall but for some reason, Alaina kept on making silly comments despite Persephone's advice.
Persephone face palms herself and gives up trying to convince her and if the world followed Persephone's every word, Alaina falls into the bushes headfirst causing a big red bruise to manifest itself onto Alaina's forehead. Persephone had to heal the crying Alaina afterwards.
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