We went to the train station . There was not many people around . Enterance was big , decorated with a fountain .
Trains were invented few decade ago by magic research association to carry shipments. In most of the country around the world train is fastest way of transport. With this invention it became easy to supply goods and resources to cities across the country but due to many factors there is lots of limitations, such as resources to build and maintain a railway network.
I went to counter and bought two tickets for 'Buna' , . Price is as expected, too high . That simply means traveling in trains are only for rich peoples .
" Sorry for wait . I got tickets . "
" yes master "
" train will arrive shortly and we will reach there by tomorrow afternoon ."
" um... I'm little nervous "
" It will be fun ..."
" yes "
We will have long breaks in between stations and we can have our meal in that time . Trains are mostly used to transfer goods ,so it will take time to load and reload stuffs .
Train arrived with a huge noise .
We went on the passenger compartment and got to our seat . Miria was little nervous while getting on train and anyone can tell she was really anxious.
Most of seats remained empty .Our journey went smoothly and we reached Buna at estimated time .
- This small town is lively and the people here are mostly beastkins .
We went around for city looking for a caravan with whom we can travel to Reone . Traveling along with a caravan is more safer .
As we were walking, someone came running to us . She was being chased by some guys with quirky looks.
" You won't get away ...." a man shouting came after her with his fellow mates .
we stood at one point and as I was watching the seen from far , she came to us and hiding behind me .
" please save me ..." she said with a tense voice while grabbing my clothes from back .
Miria got close to her and held her with support.
" Oye ... kid , get out of here . "
he looked at me with ferocious eyes.
" I will but only if you could explain me this ..." I politely replied to him .
Those with him were glaring sharply at me and girls behind me . While they took out weapons, the man spoke loudly -
" that girl stole from us and ran away ... now get out. We need to punish her "
I looked at her to confirm but she -
" No it's mine , I just took it back because you guys stole it . "
she held out a pendent enclosed with both her hands .
It was golden pendent with a red gem embedded in it .
" are you telling the truth ? "
" yes it was a present from my mother and it's only thing that i have . " She replied.
" Look man , she is definitely telling truth and you guys are surely the wrong here ..."
befor I could finish he frowned at me trying to hit me with a club . I easily evaded it and stood firm .
" Kid , you need to punished and those girls... I will lots of fun with them . "
" yeah let's tech this boy what happens who messes with us. "
Everyone of them charged with their weapons swaying to hit me . I dogged every attack and responded with a swift everytime I evaded a attack .
I made sure to break few of their bones and knock them out .
This surely was a ruckus and that attracted a lot of audience. we left the place while acting like nothing happened .
*****
Inside a restaurant, I and Miria along with beastkin girl , we were discussing the recent event .
" I'm sorry. I caused you guys lot of trouble . " she said whith her cat like earn down .
Beastkins have ears that resembles to that of animals and a tail that is usually thin and short . While their whole body is exactly as humans , those are only difference they have .
" It's okay. Don't worry about it . " I replied
" Yes . It wasn't that big of a problem . " Miria assured her.
" ah... I'm Karin . "
" I'm Lucian Clive."
" and I'm Miria. We are adventurers and we came from Riva ."
" Adventures... i also want to become but I'm still 16 . I hope i can become an adventurer like you people " her eyes were shining with excitement.
" You will become a fine adventurer and then let's meet again someday . " I said .
" yeah ! If you ever come to Riva do meet us , okay . " Miria told her .
" yes . I will be waiting to meet both of you and someday i will surely return your favour. "
After break, we continued our journey to Reone and we reached our destination as planned .
We were saying in an inn . I wrote a letter to my brother to meet me here in this inn and not to tell anyone at house.
" This city is beautiful and here is so much things that you won't get to see anywhere else. Thank you master for bringing along with you . "
" Don't mention it , I'm happy you liked it but we will leave as soon as our job is done. "
" yes , but are you not going to your house ."
" No , I have my reasons for it and also don't mention my name to anyone here . "
" okay "
Next day , my brother have come to my room .
The first he said was " Who is this beautiful lady " .
I completely ignored him and said -
" did anyone saw you coming here and you haven't told anyone, Did you ?"
" No i haven't informed anyone. "
" so where is that thing . "
He brought an item out of his dimensional pocket and held out to me .
It was a spherical crystal, faintly glowing , it had a count down that was written in completely different letters. From what it looks like , only a week is left till the count down reaches to zero .
" This is surely an lost item . " I told my brother with a sharp look .
" and when it activated .... this appeared on my body . " He said while removing his clothes .
It's similar ruin character that is engraved on the crystal and his body seems to be providing energy to crystal .
" ahh..." Miria turned her face trying not look at my brother.
After he noticed, he wore his clothes and looked at me.
" by the way who is she ?"
" She is my party member and also my subordinate. "
" ohh .."
" I'm Miria. Nice to meet you. "
" I'm Austin Clive , Nice to meet you too . If you are free why don't we have a walk together ? "
" ...."
" She is very busy and by the way Miria , I forgot to tell yo but be cautious of brother. "
" Don't say such things . I'm your older brother, have some respect. "
" Leave this thing to me , I will find out something and we will meet again next day . "
" Don't ignore me .... huh..Then I will leave for now . Ms Miria , let's meet again. "
" Then get out . I need to work. " I pushed him out in hurry .
"okay ! okay ."
he left the inn while leaving the lost item behind.
" He doesn't seems to be bad person. " Miria remarks .
" ...but he is stupid. "
She smiled at my reply . Damm... her smile is soo attractive , i need to prepare a charm that can protect me from her smile.
*****
***
While I was busy with the lost item , I let Miria to explore the city . I didn't wanted to go outside since I already know everything around so I let her go alone . I lent her some money, she initially hesitated to accept but with my persuasion she took it .
_ this lost item is so strange that it's hard to understand how it works . Ruins that cannot be understood are written all over .
Since childhood, I had always been fascinated by magic artefacts . Even with all the knowledge that i gathered about these artefacts, I can hardly understand how it works and what it will do .
~ this strange vide that it gives scares me ~
Next day , in the early morning my brother came to visit me .
" so what did you got to know? " he looked at me with hope.
" I could not figure out what what it does but It seems this lost item is actively sucking your magic . "
" ummm... What will happen to me ? "
" I don't know. "
" huh! It seems I overestimated your skill . "
" Then you are probably wright . It's possible to deactivate it. .. " I replied with a grin .
" and what's the way ? "
" It works on your magic so , we need to cut that connection and only way is to release all of your magic. "
" what the hell are you speaking? I will die if my all of my magic is depleted."
" It's not a problem. If you instantly restores some of you magic then you won't dies ."
" If it's only way , I will do it . "
"Then here you go , Pour your every essense of magic in this until you dies . "
With a pleasant smile I gave him a empty crystal .
" Miria , keep a recovery potion ready . "
" yes , master "
" here I go ... " He began to fill crystal with pure magic .
Hell kept on filling till for an hour but the crystal was still nowhere near full . When a crystal is filled with magic , it's colour changes depending on the amount of magic it have . Empty crystal is of blue colour and the colour changes to green and then yellow and afterwords red and in the end it chages to pure white .
Austin was clearly exhausted but he kept on pouring out his magic until he fell on the ground complete unconscious.
Miria rushed to him and feed him the portion she was holding .
I looked at the Lost item and it was deactivated. Crystal that was faintly glowing has become dead .
In case , I checked on Austin's body if the ruins vanished or not ? And it's not there .
He was still unconscious so I let him sleep.
******
****
[ INTERLUDE ]
In the north of the empire , a village was on fire . Fire rising from the ground has burnt all the building. Crumbling sounds in the scorching hell was driving enough noise to alarm the creature around .
People were running to get out of there while the plead of many were kept unheard by gods .
The sky above was dyed red , smoke rising to cover it all could be seen from far .
Inside a burning house , a man was pleading to his daughter . She was holding him with her eyes wet .
" Serah , I don't have much time left please leave this place. " His body was barely holding . With his abdomen pierced and ribs crushed , his blood was filling up the floor.
" Father , please... don't go . I will.... not leave you. "
" listen serah , I.... will always watch over you . So ...don't get sad , you will ... have many ... hardship ....but I am sure you .... will find your... happiness...so remember.... always keep...on trying... "
" yes .... " She cried as hard as she could and leaving behind the lifeless body of his father she ran outside as far as she could . Her tears kept falling, she could not come to accept this reality .