In between the top section rows of the arena, Zyun and Fanny lie down under the shade with the unwrapped banana leaves beside them.
"Do you think this is the right place to sleep, senpai?" Fanny asked in a casual tone as he relaxes by looking staring at the bluish paint sky of Gardania.
"Some time is better not to think about anything and just relax" Zyun replies
"Yup, you are right. leave behind all the worries and let your body chill in this cool breeze~"
The two wizards find themselves chilling as the breezes swiftly pass them repeatedly through their bodies.
"Isn't it cool here, senpai. I think I will come here every day"
"But you better don't tell Kazu. He will then slack out from the mission more often"
"I won't hehe. By the way senpai, why have you decided to become a wizard?"
"Well, it has always been my dream since I was a little kid. I have always wanted to become a wizard that everyone can rely upon and also, I wanted to be recognized not just as a mage but as a person too. Plus being an S-class wizard has a nice ring into it?" Zyun chuckles.
"True..in that way I and senpai are almost similar. I also want to become a powerful wizard so that I can explore the world and fight powerful monsters and bad people. But that is a very way to go for me." Fanny's cheerful starts to tone down. "To be honest... lately, I have been thinking about this and questioning myself if I will even succeed in my life."
Well, that's rare for him to say that. I have always seen Fanny as a gullible kouhai who loves being carefree and the type that goes with the flow. I didn't expect that he will think something deep like that.
"Oh, why? what makes you say that"
" First of all, I'm broke as hell senpai, hahaha." Fanny scratches his head out of embarrassment.
"I don't even have enough savings to start my goal. I want to go to Florence. I want to meet up with different people, make new friends out there and participate in the annual wizardry tournament alongside Fyo and Kazu. but right now, as I'm... I don't think I will be able to do that"
For the first time, I am seeing a vulnerable sight of Fanny. To think that he has been thinking about his goal seriously. I think I underestimated him.
"Though I do enjoy messing around alongside Kazu with the money we get from the mission. Fyo is in charge of taking care of the money, she will hide it somewhere so we won't find it. But for me and Kazu will always discover it and used it to spend on gambling hehe.
Ok, I take half of it back. He is still Fanny.
When we return empty emptyheaded, Fyo will send us flying with her staff haha. Senpai, I really love them. to me, they are like my true members of the family. We don't have parents to send us off with a smile like the rest of the mages here but as long as we are together, I feel safe and happy.
Although Fyo acts like she doesn't care, deep down I know she cares even Kazu feels the way I do..."
"But lately I feel like I am totally useless and nothing but a hindrance to them. I don't know how to control my power and I have been thinking of learning different forms of magic from the beginning like Fire or Wind magic.
I want to go out on a mission together with our guild members but they will just cast me off saying "I'm a complete moron" or "I will just get in the way". Maybe I am just totally bad..." Fanny then ends with a rejected exclamation about himself.
"That is not right, Fanny." I quickly intervene before Fanny further devalues himself.
"Listen carefully, Fanny. You are not the opinion of somebody who doesn't care about you. Whatever they say, you must not let it get in the way of claiming your goal.
In the end, when you reach the peak, and when you look back you will only see the people who supported you throughout the whole journey standing behind you, always remember this."
"As for your magic, trust in yourself. I know more than anyone in this guild that you working really hard to get stronger. And I believe that in near future you are going to become a successful wizard."
Zyun shares his "wisdom of knowledge".
"But... despite all the training. I haven't seen any improvement in me... I haven't been able to do much other than sprout branches and leaves from a tree. "
"It is all part of the process Fanny. Everyone is made differently so we all have different paces in learning the things in our life. Why don't you change your tactics, rather relying on trees and plants for your magic to work? why don't you try to grow them instead?"
Zyun further departs his "wisdom of knowledge".
"Grow them?" Fanny asked
"Yeah, channel your mana inside your body and concentrate to produce be a plant or a seedling on the ground. And I'm very pretty there are many ways you can utilize your magic to manifest in different ways. but you need to start loving your power and your strength.
"Hmph... I have never thought of like that...Yosh... I will definitely do that next time. Thanks for the tip senpai". Fanny rose in high spirit as he found a new proposal and reaches a new level of confidence.
"Also, how should I say... Fanny's cheeks start to blush and he slowly scratches his head "Thank you for trusting in me, senpai. I know I always tend to mistakes most of the time but you guys have been there in my worst time. I am really glad I met you." Fanny then puts on a very charming smile as he thanks Zyun.
"You are welcome. and Don't worry I will always be there to help you out."
"By the way senpai, that was some speech, I never knew you could give some mind-blowing advice. my respect for you just starts to grow me"
"Eh..ahaha..."
I am not going to tell him that the first part was literally copied from someone else.
"You too senpai. You need to learn to not overwork hehe. Sometimes you doze off suddenly while having a conversation as if your mind is somewhere else and is funny to watch."
"Wait..really... and it is the reason you guys were laughing about me the other day?
"Hehehe"
"Like you said senpai sometimes is better to empty the mind and just relax. The best way to do that is by just sleeping... I simply close my eyes and don't try to think anything."
Hmm, as he said technically sleeping is the best way to relax both mind and body. I also need to take naps from time to time to refill my energy and relieve the burden, overstressing won't take me any far. Simply Close your eyes and don't think of anything.
By saying that Zyun follows the instructions, he closes his eyes and tries his best not to think of anything, and in the short time, he succeeded in calming his mind, releasing all the stress, for the time being, eventually falling into a deep sleep.
"Zyun...Zyun...Zyun" a soothing female voice calls out to Zyun in his dream.
The scene takes place in a forest where Zyun finds himself looking at a woman beside him. the image of the woman is blurred but some of her features such as having long hair and wearing a gown can be identified.
"Are you going to forget about me?" the woman calls out again in a sad tone this time.
"Mom?"
"Have you forgotten that you have to avenge me, Zyun"
"Mom..wait.. don't go," Zyun calls out as he sees this woman leaving
"I'm utterly disappointed in you." The woman said as she nonchalantly walks away without looking back.
"Mom please don't leave me ...Mom!". As Zyun desperately tries to run after her mom, the whole area soon starts to consume by pitch black, and soon Zyun finds himself left behind in a darkened room.
"Senpai are you okay?"
hearing that voice, Zyun quickly finds himself awaken from that terrible nightmare.
"As soon I came back, I see you murmuring while sleeping"
"Came back?"
I quickly scan around the surroundings and wait... "Is already evening?!"
"Yes, senpai. you have been sleeping all this time. See my trick worked"
Ugh...this is bad...I wanted to take a tour of the forest for inspection, especially that area..but is already late for that... Welp can't help about it then.
Zyun slowly stands up and stretches his body. "Aye then shall we go back"
"Aye," Fanny replies.
Zyun and Fanny jump down from the audience zone and walks out of the arena.
After reaching the entrance of the arena. Fanny suddenly stops.
"By the way senpai, do u think it is safe to hold the event in the forest senpai?"
"Hmph? What are you talking about?"
"Are you sure there won't be any big monster like that orc lord from the other day to ambushed us in the event"
"Well...." That is what I'm really worried about. I never recall seeing an Orclord or horde of goblins loitering around that zone. If I'm not wrong, I certainly did hide "those" in that area and retrieving them out is the rule for the first game and..... most importantly I haven't inspected that area ever since that day. I mean I'm going to be there to look after the whole event so... I guess it should be fine?
"I'm sure they must be a passerby or something. a horde of goblins led by an orc lord you don't see them every day..." I replied but for some reason, my own words hit me grow more concerned. is there something I'm missing here?
"Oh ok." Fanny shooks his head as a sign of agreement.
"Oya...We are having an interesting conversation out here" A menacing yet playful voice came out of nowhere and pulled Fanny and Zyun from their serious conversation to look in the direction where the voice just came.
Fanny's face lightens in joy as he quickly identifies the person.
"It has been a long time! You came at last"
As Fanny rejoices to meet this person in excitement, Zyun is put on guard as he quickly picks up an eerie vibe just by staring at this person.
"Zyun senpai...meet-"
"Abyss..." Zyun mutters.
"hoo~ you are aware of my name" Abyss then look intimately at Zyun for a while then he smirks "I see...I was right...Things have been looking pretty interesting here."
"Oh, you know Abyss san? Do you guys meet before?" Fanny asked.
No... I don't know how should i put this but I can tell that this guy is certainly Abyss, it fits all the descriptions. The aura I'm sensing from him..is not natural.
This is not some kind of aura not only just humans but any living beings should have. but most importantly what is with his dress...he is wearing a blazer with a long tailcoat in summer..his outfit reminds me of an ocean."
While Zyun is lost in thought a thing he always does when he feels alarmed, Abyss look at him with a smile.
"What was your name again? Floppy? Funny? ah yes, Flappy" Abyss said confidently.
"Is Fanny. Abyss-san. This is the 50th time I'm correcting you haha."
50th times?? What? really? This guy has no serious intention of remembering Fanny's name.
Fanny then looks at Zyun. "By the way senpai. Abyss san said he has partial amnesia, so he keeps forgetting about my name and I have to remind him every day hehe."
"There is no such thing as partial amnesia. Don't buy that crap, come to the realization, Fanny!" Zyun screams internally.
"So, can you take me to your parasitic guild leader?
"Sure, Zyun senpai will guide you."
What!
"Kazu will eat my share if I'm late..so good luck senpai. byeeeee"
"Ok then... "Zyun-san" lead the way.
I finally met Abyss but my first impression of this guy..ahh...How should I put... This guy is toxic.