On the ride, i asked for Ishka how to turn off my helmet's music, and she just told me there's a button of 3 on the right side of the helmet in which case i just need to push the middle once. I just wanted to enjoy the ride in peace, and having some thoughts to myself for a little while.
The night view of the city is filled with warm orange lights everywhere and they're not just lightbulbs or headlights, and i knew this just now but they're not exactly made just with technology but also with magic and chemistry when Ishka told me that.
The streetlights are empty floating orbs in boxes which were later imbued with Light and Spirit magic and some secret herbs are injected within the orb, so that it saves up light from daylight and later activates when the sun is down or when the surrounding is getting dark... Pretty sure i knew that very herb, somewhere.
The people aren't all carrying modern tech like the tablets i have, and the war against the Rogues is just one of the many reason for that.
Apparently, the war involves some kind of Demon Lord awakening and it caused loads of malfunctions across the world, 'causing massive damage and loss of precious resources and time for restoring the technology we have right now.
Back then, the price for a tablet only costs around 13000 Shirs, now it costs more than 29000 Shirs.
Not to mention Online Trading, Mapping Technology, Cybernetics Development and lots of others are still being recovered.
Heck, the whole world used to have a lot of tame industries aside from combat, now they adapt for the aftermath of the war and almost everyone in the whole world are as tough as a Rhino, nimble as a Cheetah, and slick as a Chimpanzee.
The monster sure is done for, if not for the Rogues and their variants.
Though unfortunately, the Demon Lord is still not found to this day.
The description for the target is that 'It releases massive killing intent and is surrounded by light-absorbing skin', 'Turns any living creatures into ashes', and 'Cannot be killed without Light or Spirit magic user'... Just exactly like it was when i'm in the company.
Projekt Grey's ultimate endgame, will not only have us encounter a Demon Lord but also a very hazardous race, in which they came from the Void itself : Voidkin.
Unlike the Demon Lord, which can regress themselves back to their original race with some attributes brought when they're a Demon Lord, even if no one has ever managed it as far as i know but, Voidkin... they simply, devours everything.
The air around them turns into some infectious miasma, making any nearby living creatures turn into Voidkin themselves.
No known methods of physical, magical, and mental damage can be done aside from summoning a 'Black Hole Vortex' to return them to their home, and summoning one will definitely 'cause the surroundings to be devoured themselves until it is stopped by the caster.
And unfortunately, i'm only halfway through to finish this enemy as a whole, so i don't know what they would be as a threat in this unfinished world... God, i really just wanna get the heck out of the Dive and go home, this world is just too dangerous and scary for me.
If i ever were to encounter one, I'm guaranteed dead a.k.a Game Over.
"(I) We're approaching our home, now.
Wakey-wakey, boys! *knocks helmet* " One-handedly, she knocks Rex's head on the left side of the bike.
"(R) Hmm? *yawns* Yeah, yeah, i'm awake" He replied, after of which i can sense he closes his eyes again.
I have some thought to myself that i wasn't able to verify back then, so i asked it to Ishka. "... Say, how come your parents works in the same house if their professions rejects one another?
Pretty sure having a brewery and a workshop in the same house will wreck the house, won't it"
Ishka tries to explain with an uncertain voice. "(I)... Well, ya see, they use some kind of... Special magic known only to-"
Rex interrupts her sister by explaining it to me bluntly. "(R) Father uses a Bloodline chant to go to his own pocket realm while Mother calls out her Nature's Spirits to enhance her work and purify the room"
(Pocket realm... i suspect that is where people would be going to acquire their 'jobs' and/or change them.
Time will flow differently in these dimensions, though every one is different than the other.
You know what? I think this just might be why my sister hadn't come back home all these years, so i guess i can consider on apologizing her if she ever appears one day)
"(I) Rex!" She screamed at Rex with a worrying expression.
Annoyed, Rex tries to justify himself. "(R) What? I'm saying this so you can go and show your project more quicker, sis"
"(I) Kept telling ya, i ain't gonna show ya!"
Having 2 questions to choose, i can only have some thoughts on what they could be. "... Ehe, i guess we'll be having some fun tonight with Miss Ishka~"
"(I)... Ya won't get away with this, bro"
"(R) Bleh! You can't keep it away from us forever, anyways"
Defeated by her little brother, she diverts our attention to their house."(I) *sighs* What a bad luck streak i have for today~.
There's the house! The one with two stories, with the sign zig-zagging from each other.
Raisya's Fine Potions and Carmine's Wild Craftsmiths"
(A bright two stories house, man i envy them. Even as a noble, i only lived in a one-floored house and our family's isolated on top of that. Hmm, i wonder where's the orphanage Ishka knew off about? I can save that for another day.
It's walls is contrasted by two colors from left to right : Light Green accompanied by Raisya's sign which is depicted as an Elixir, and Dark Blue accompanied by Carmine's sign which is depicted as a Hammer.
It's balcony is showing signs of some lights from within, i suspect that's Raisya being herself.
I'm guessing Carmine's away from home now, on his own refining his craftsmiths)
"(I) We'll be going into the garage in the right, almost at bed now, Rex"
"(R) Mmh, yesh..." Rex, answered while dozing off in his seat.
*door opens upward*
(Light turns on one after another in the ceilings, and there lies red shelves on the left and some tools scattered on the ground and it's not that pretty to look at but, those are signs she's been doing some tinkering, alright.
I see engine parts lying on the back of some cardboards on the far right end.
On the right side, a chalkboard and it is scribbled so much i can't see the images and words clearly.
As we entered the garage, the engine shuts down and Ishka closes the door by pushing a button on the right wall, and there lies a door just a little further on the right)
"(I) Aah, he already slept. Sorry for being a bother, kid. C'mere bro, let's get you up to your bed *carries Rex* "
After hearing about this 'portal realm' i just knew about, i told her my request. "I don't mind, but i do want to meet with your parents if i could"
She answered with some awkward expression."(I) Ahaha, not in Fridays, i suppose. Let's just say there's gonna be just us until Sunday comes by.
Alright, i'll be carrying Rex to his room, wanna come?"
I followed Ishka as i opened the door ahead. "Sure, not like i got better things to do and my tablet's still in your ring"
*door opens*
"(I) Hey! Don't forget to wash your hair in the bathroom before coming up.
Oh, and welcome to our house, Arlan!" She said as i was greeted by ceiling lights in circle-shaped woods, the room we are entering is filled with 3 polished wood arc benches circling a medium-sized table and behind them is shelves for books, their lobby sure is good for casual chat.
"Wait, why should i wash my hair of all things?"
"(I) You'll get it when you see it. I'll just sit Rex here in the seats. You go on to the left and there's the bathroom"
"Okay? Hmmph" I walked just as she instructed me and i locked the door behind me.
There's the shower installed near the ceiling to my right, two toilet's to my left and the water sink with a big mirror for 3 people to the far left with.
The surface of the glass was a little 'foggy', and so i sprinkled some water and cleaned them with my hands. And so, i noticed what is wrong with my hair.
(My hair... the dark blue parts of my hair is now replaced by ... O-orange?!
And it was just supposed to be a normal buzz cut, not Spiky!
I can't call myself a Gritt anymore now, can't i?
I won't be exiled from home, will i? No way, NO FRICKING WAY!!)
I screamed as loud as i could with my tiny lungs. "AAAH!!!"
. . .
I returned to Ishka and she's already there waiting on the staircase carrying Rex.
"(I) *snickers* Ya sure took your time back the- *laughs*" Trying to bear my cute reaction back there, she covers her mouth with her empty left hand.
"This is just the worst thing that ever happened to me in the past 4 years"
"Well don'tcha get too clingy on that. C'mon up, Arl!
Oh, and uh, don't try to do anything with a violet-marked door upstairs. Ya know what it meant, right?"
I answered her jokingly while following her upstairs. "I hope it doesn't involve some whipping from Miss Raisya, so yeah i'll try my best not to"
(To our left after the staircases, lies 3 rooms ahead of us with the left end, a violet-marked door which is pretty more big than the other 2.
Then, to both sides from the left is 'Ishka' and right is 'Rexar')
With a sour expressions instilled on her face, she replied to me. "(I) Whipping?! Where'd that came from?
Anyways, the worst she's done to me is to drink her leftover potions, and to stay an hour within the house to check out their effects... ugh, it's still pretty vivid"
"I feel sorry for you, miss"
"(I) Yeah, sure... And uhm, hey?"
"What is it, miss?"
"(I) Can you call me Sis, Big Sis or Sis Ishka? Getting pretty uncomfortable with you calling me that, but... *groans* Ya know what? Let's just forge-"
"Sure, Sis Ishka! Anything else?" My tongue sure will face a hardship calling her that from now on.
She turns a little to the left and shrugged it off like nothing, though i know the truth is that she's acknowledged me for now."... Hmmph, if you would please open the door for me?"
(Aw, tried to hide your face just now, are you? Cute!... Crap, i'm turning into Elena and Mother for a second there)
"*gigles* Yep, just a sec" After opening the door, i entered inside immediately.
(A medium-sized room befitting of a normal child with wild imaginations, books and writing tools are scattered on his bench to our right.
There's his drawing shelve on the right, and then there's a little wood staff with green gem in it's top)
While putting her little brother on the bed on the left side of the room. "(I) There, go and have wild dream, Rex. *kisses forehead* "
(*sighs* I envy their familial love, i really do)
After a little while, she said something to me. "(I) I noticed your gaze at his staff just now~"
"Please, don't tease me about not having one! I haven't learned any daily life magic before coming here, after all" Trying to justify my envy.
"(I) I didn't say that. Though, i will say that he better bring it the next time we come to visit and play at your house" She answered with sarcastic remarks.
A little later, i asked her with a serious tone. "... Thanks, miss. Now, about that favor"
"(I) Alright, alright but let's get to the room at the far right just back there, yeah?"
"Yes, miss"
(And here i thought she's hiding it in her own room. Guess even she got her own workshop, huh? Wonder what she has in store~)
. . . ( N = Nebulis )
*door opens and then locked*
"(I) Aight, then. Nobody except us two can know about the things in this room, and the room is sound-proof from both sides to prevent leaks"
"... We're off to a great start, Sis Ishka"
(I know she needs some dim lights because of her 'jobs' but Dear God was there dim blue lights, Everywhere.
The ceiling, the corners, the desks... it's like this whole room is another beginner streamer setup.
A welding mask, some tools, a blow torch, blueprints and a locked chests which is just below her desk and it is well hidden behind the many plastic boxes.
I noticed it with my sharp eyes for dark spots like that, wonder what the contents would be?
I won't pry her off, that'd be too rude of me.
As you'd expect of an Engineer and a Tinkerer, tools and parts are scattered within shelves, buckets, drawing boards and what else... at least there's some comfortable looking seat)
She sits down and i followed suit, after of which she said some words. "(I) *sits* Haah, what a day"
" *sits* Agreed, can't ask for a better relaxation than chilling in a house with some warm milk" I said with a deadpan voice.
Seconds later, she commented on my sentences while laughing. "(I) *laughs* What was that?! You talk like our old man too much, i almost thought he's in the room with us!"
Baffled by the word 'old' while there's a teenager within the room, i replied to her quickly. "O-old? Me? Look who's talking about being ol- *forehead flicked* Owie"
After flicking me, she continued with a serious tone. "(I) Alright, enough with the joke. Now, about the favor, i uh... don't really get what you're thinking, actually.
Tell me what it is or there's gonna be some misunderstandings, and I, HATE Misunderstandings"
I answered instantly with confidence. "So do i.
At first, i just want you to tell me why there's hired men chasing after your father's schematics or what does his pocket realm looks like, but then again i was curious of what you've been hiding in this room of yours because of Rex's ranting back then"
"(I) Hard to choose, eh? Ya can only pick one~" Teasing me while i think of which to choose.
Knowing that trying to help family matters might make it worse, i picked the latter of the two. "... Well, i pick the latter.
Don't want to budge family matters, not my concern if you're not asking for my help"
"(I) Ohoh, quite the gentleboy, are ya? Alrighty, then. Just wait there and, *grunts* let me grab something down here" She later goes down to the desk on the right of the seats.
(So, it's a wooden chest... hmm?
From a closer look, the chest has some kind of tower marked in it's front which isn't locked by numbers or passwords that can be typed in... this is more of a Chant locked chest!)
Knowing what kind of chest it is, i told her what i thought out loud. "Go on, i'll try my best not to hear whatever you're gonna say to open it"
She replied with a concerned expression. "(I) Uwaah~, quite the witty one you are. I'm getting some chills from you sometimes, kid. Cover your ears, please~"
And so i covered my ears with my hands with little to no gap for a voice to slip in. "Okay then, i'll close my eyes too if you're not too secure?"
"(I) No need for that, i'll be opening it" After saying that, she touched the icon of the tower and it begins to shine throughout the room with slight greenish light.
(This sure is so mystical... Well, can't help if i'm just a tiny weeny curious about the password... I'm a Bad, Boy~. [Heightened Senses = Active mode] )
"(I) We Are All Preys of War That Is Behind Us" She said, with a sad voice.
(... The wounds of war for her family is still fresh, huh?
I can only wonder what happened to her family back then... i hate being a bad boy. [Heightened Senses = Passive mode] )
Ishka approached me, pryed my hands off and showed me what looks like a little metallic block. "(I) Tadah! It's done, here ya go!"
Confused, i can only say what i had in mind. "A metallic block? Wait, don't tell me this is a Freaking Bomb?! *flicked* Owie!"
After she flicked me at the forehead again, she explains what it truly is. "(I) Wow, your imagination is running wild even now, huh?
Anyways, 'Nebulis : Initiate Activation' "
With some 3 short beeps and 3 dim blue lights shutting in and out from the insides of it's cracks, the block floats and began to shape itself into a diamond and expanded itself to reveal a blue ball in it. "(N) It is good to see you again, Master Ishka!" A sexy low toned man voice later came out from the floating diamond.
In awe of what i saw, i can barely contain my excitement to ask Ishka on what it is. "Whoa! Is this what i think it is?!"
Ishka didn't mind my excitement and commanded the drone. "(I) Nebulis, scan the little boy there for me and register him as Arlan Gritt inside your memory storage"
"(N) Affirmative, Master" *scanning noises* The drone later scanned me thoroughly from back to front with a holographic orange-colored grid.
"(N) *scanning stops* Scanning Complete. The deed is done, Master.
It is nice to meet you, Arlan Gritt"
"Oh God! Nice to meet you too, Nebulis!
Say, of all things to expect, you've got yourself a talking drone?! *flicked* Owie, what's that one for?"
She replied to me with a deadpan voice. "(I) 'Restored', is the right word, not 'Got'. The bike's downstairs is also restored by me for 2 years before it finally worked.
I found it in the remnant of an old airship ruin when my party, the 'Limit Breakers' is travelling alongside our journey to get back home after clearing out Skyfall Dungeon.
There's like a dozen other unidentifiable old tech that we can't store in my ring to carry home with us.
And there's him, the ship interior's A.I locking the exit door, begging us for help to shut him down.
Took us around 3 days for us to get out of that place. Ain't that right, Nebulis?"
"(N) Correct. I was in a low-battery mode when Master Ishka's party presence is detected eithin the interiors, and instead of shutting me down, she downloaded my memory store and uploaded it into an empty shell of a Sky Drone.
Master then collected the materials needed to restore me around Ytris which took her approximately 3 to 5 months with her party"
Later, i tried to confirm my thoughts about Elena's connection with Ishka. "Restoring technology, huh? How noble of you, sis.
Anyways, i'm guessing Miss Elena was a former party member of yours, sis?"
"(I) ... She was our leader... no, she's the Tanker. Then there's the scaly, Qaiz as the Damage Dealer. Me, as the Tech Support. And lastly, there's ..." With a sad voice, she was unable to say the last part.
(... This one person can't be my sister, can't it? But, what if it is?
I, don't want to find that out right now. I'll tell her to not force it for the time being)
Guessing that there may be scars of her adventuring days, i tried to comfort her with patting her right shoulder. "You don't have to force it, sis"
"(I) ... Hmm, thanks, Arl. Say, don't ya wanna know what'll happen if Nebulis scans the thugs' belongings?"
"You're still on that?" I answered with an annoyed expression.
She replied me joyfully. "(I) Can't help it, afterall! The moment i laid my eyes on that one gun, i just wanna override it's lock and try some hunting for ourselves! Though, it'll be an expense to buy it's bullets, but there's nothing wrong with having some little fun, won't it?"
After seeing her being a bit more happy, i happily said my thoughts out loud. "Isn't it? The fact that the gun has 2 modes, and it shoots out a different results if you hold the trigger? I can only say, the people who made this at Tibron Corporation sure is talented"
"(I) Guess we have the same thoughts, aye? C'mon, get all the stuff out!"
As she got closer and closer to me, i answered her request. "Okay, okay sis but i can't take them out if you're close to me"
"(I) I'll stay back, hurry up!"
(Take [Security Baton], [Hand Cannon], and [Aeon Googles] )
"*warps in items* Go wild, sis"
"(I) Ohoho! Nebulis, scan all these 3 items!"
"(N) Affirmative, Master. *failed beeps* Error.
Unable to perform the scan as the items needs to be organized thoroughly for me before i scan the designated items, Master" Nebulis said with a downed voice.
"(I) ...So..?"
"Alright, alright, i'll do it" I organized the items starting from Security Baton to Aeon Googles in sideway facing to the left as the print-locked items are.
Ishka warps in some food for us to snack on while she gives Nebulis the command again."(I) Nebulis, scan all these 3 items!
*warps in snacks* Ya want some Chocobars, kid?"
"Thanks for that!" I snacked with Ishka as Nebulis start to scan the items.
"(N) Affirmative, Master. *scanning noises*
. . . Scanning Complete"
Ishka gets closer to the drone as she swipes off her hands from the chocolate's leftovers. "(I) So, can ya do something about the print-locks?"
"(N) Negative. I do not have the knowledge, the procedures and the hacking tools needed in my memory storage to unlock the designated items"
"(I) Owh, that's what ya get for placing hope on a lost tech. Store them back, kid"
"Ayy~"
(Store [Security Baton], [Hand Cannon], and [Aeon Googles] )
". . . Now what?"
"(I) Hmm... i guess we can go chat and play in my room?"
"Okay? Let's go with that, because this room is not for my picking"
"(I) Even though you're a boy, it doesn't suit your taste?
Alright, then. 'Nebulis : Initiate Shut Down' "
"(N) Until we meet again, Arlan Gritt and Master Ishka.
Shutting Down . . ." Nebulis later returned to it's simpler, blocky form and it drops to Ishka's hand below it and she stores it into the chest, locking it by simply holding it down for 5 seconds until the icon of the tower lit for a moment and she returns the chest to it's original position.
"(I) So what do you have in mind before bed?"
"... I... want to see the stars outside before then" I say that because the stars just back when we're on the way here is much brighter than in the outside world"
"(I) Uhm, i meant that in which room do ya wanna sleep? There's the guest room downstairs, if you want?"
Not caring with which to choose, i tell her to choose for me instead. "Hmm, i'm fine with either Rex or yours, you pick for me"
"(I) Uhuh? Since you're fun to talk with, i guess you can come in my room.
But there's only 1 bed, ya know? It may fit for the 2 of us, but it'll be a tight fit"
I answered her question with an annoyed expression. "I'm used with the maid back home doing that every night before i tell her off to stop it"
"(I) Uwaah~. Can't imagine the pain of having no privacy in bed"
"Yep, i can't have myself using the tablet in night time sleeping if she keeps going like that"
"(I) ... That's your reasoning? I forget you're still a kid sometimes, Arl"
"Is that supposed to be a snark, sis? Whatever... Say, can i have a look at the stars?" I said as i stopped before reaching Ishka's room.
"(I) Hmm, you sure do like them. Alright, follow me" I followed her as she opened the door to the balcony just right to her room.
*night wind breezes*
"(I) So, ya like it?" She said as she rests her arms in the balcony."
The sight of the dark blue sky, ever distant countless stars gazing upon us will never ceases to amaze me
"Thank you, sis. I, had quite the ride with you two today" I wholeheartedly said that as i continue to look up to the sky.
"(I) Me too, if it weren't for you, maybe we'll be stuck longer in that nasty place. Thanks for saving me, Arlan"
We just, stood there for a minute, enjoying the sight of the lit up city.
"(I) Aight, then, that's enough for tonight. I wanna sleep first, i'll have the door opens for ya, Arl. G'night" She said that as she walked off to her room.
"Sleep Tight, Sister Ishka..." I bid her my good night as i finally have another time for my alone time.
(Today marks the beginning of my hardships in my life.
Discrimination, Bullying and Deception won't be the only hurdle i'll face on for my journey on finding everyone and getting a way out of this world.
I just hope that they're still alive, and i hope our time here will end, soon
*yawns* I guess it's my time to join Ishka on the bed, hope she won't snuggle me to death like Elena too.
Here's hoping for a better tomorrow)
. . .