Fifty miles away from the valley, is a Kingdom. The people all seemed in high spirits as a fascinating event they had only ever heard about in stories and legends that had just taken place in their lifetime. Everyone's seen the 'blood-red rain' of God Tears and gossip on the purpose.
Yet few show worry as no divine protection dissipated so the most common consensus is, "Maybe two rival gods ran into one another at a family gathering." a light scuffle and nothing more.
However, there are some who've seen more from this situation than those who know nothing of the realm of gods. Inside the castle at the center of the capital city is the throne room. Five Knights kneel before it, three individuals standing beside it, and the one sitting on the throne with all others actively on duty.
"As you all know, God's Tears have fallen. Judging from how much area was covered, it can be theorized to only be a scarring blow for a deity." The Knights remain silent, knowing she wouldn't call them here if this was all. "But something else happened partway through the scuffle, something fell."
The tension rose as everyone felt more restless by this news. The implication of something 'falling' meant much for all mortals as anything that fell from the heavens to the mortal plane is a divine artifact. It could be anywhere from a common household item or tool for convenience, but at most, it could give one enough power to raise a kingdom of their own.
Even if it were just a piece of heaven, that piece could be crafted to make a magic item, something that's failed every attempt to recreate without that core. A stone, wood, or just a piece of metal fallen from heaven is all they need to create something magical.
When the Queen's hand rose, all attention returned to her. "I called you five because you are the people I trust to bring it back swiftly. The location of its collision was deep in hobgoblin territory. Unfortunately, it's close enough for adventurers to take notice and move to collect for themselves. It could be nothing, but if it's an artifact beyond mortal understanding, do what you need to retrieve it."
The five kneeling before the throne put a fist to their chest. "As you command!" Rising, the five take their leave.
One of the three beside the throne, a young lady in a finely made dress the spitting image of the queen, asks, "Do you believe the Relic will be valuable? It may be a piece that fell from heaven but the chance of losing one of our Keepers is... worrying."
The Queen looks at her daughter. "We don't know how powerful the artifact is. If it's anything like my 'Crown' it would be safer to send five of our best to acquire it, even if a Troll nest has to be disturbed to get it."
The princess grimaced at that analogy. A "Disturbed Troll Nest" was the event that brought about the complete annihilation of the sister Kingdom to the south. Hundreds of thousands were lost and tens more were left homeless.
An embodiment of muscle, no troll can be kept out by stone walls and a week after the rampage started was enough to destroy them. A scar left on the flourishing lands by the Goddess of Nature is all that's left.
Seeing the hesitation in the princess's eyes, the Knight Captain speaks up to reassure the princess too. "The Keepers sent have the most synergy in traveling through the Valley of the North. You needn't fear for their safety for they are the best for this task."
The Advisor adds his own view on the compatibility between the Keepers and the mission. "The best among Keepers in speed, stealth, and tracking. The Keeper of Night, Keeper of the Hunt, Keeper of the Word, Keeper of Trade, and Keeper of Arms. They are the Apostle of Shadow, Apostle of Hunt, 'She who can't lie,' as well as the holder of the Analyst's Eye Glass. And finally, the best in leadership among them. With them working together, even a Troll would have problems killing them."
The Princess still showed signs of hesitation, even with their attempts to reassure her. The boasting of power and accuracy does nothing but strengthen her worry. Sadly, she isn't Queen, making her say something to be waved off while everyone is so sure of their own ideas. Because of this, she can only yield to their choice. "I have business I must attend to. See you again for dinner, Mother."
On her way through the door, the Queen questioned her daughter's worry before coming to a final conclusion, a final line of reassurance. "Serci will make it home without issue. I will guarantee it." The Princess comes to a halt, turns, and bows once more before continuing in a better mood.
The Advisor grimaces at the Queen's pledge, "There shouldn't be any need to use the Crown to ensure the safety of a Keeper. Not when both of you..."
But the Queen cuts him off, "I know Galmon! But... Even if it may be unnecessary, it is better to ensure their success brings about our Kingdom's continued growth rather than on a degrading ruler such as I."
The advisor's jaw tightens but he doesn't push further. The Queen's hand touches the crown upon her head, a small light gleaming from its gem before vanishing off out the window. "With this, there is less chance for things to go wrong."
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Red, White, Gold.
Three scenes I can't make out appear repeatedly before me till my mind snaps out of slumber to awaken in my bed. I could feel my hands clasped in my other's. As my eyes opened, I saw the green of my eyes looking back. But as I got up, I felt a sense of laughter come from my core as I witness the disheveled hair of my other.
'At least I don't need a mirror to check on how I look.'
After light stretching, I fixed myself up and headed out of the shack, slow and sloppily from my first night's sleep. The smell of food hits my nose before we open the front door. The sound of something sizzling in my ears as I spot the old man cooking on a pan.
"Morning," I greet in sync. "What's today's workout?"
He doesn't look away from the food, "Straight to the point, eh? Well, after breakfast you should go down by the river and take a bath. You're starting to smell."
I grimace at his words, taking a quick sniff but don't notice anything different, until I had my female counterpart sniff the male and could only compare it to something like a boar. That's when I'm reminded of the mud I trudged through the rain yesterday, and after, proceeded to train basic movements the rest of the day, on top of whatever else happened. I could only agree.
We sit together when the food's done and I see a strip of meat along with a white and yellow mush I can't put a name to.
"I found a bird's nest in one of the trees nearby and found some eggs. And as for the bacon, it's something I preserved a few weeks back for a day like this."
My eye twitched as I glance at the trees high enough to block the view from this cliffside before looking back to the old man. "I... see..."
He chuckles before taking a bite of the strip of meat called bacon. I take a bite shortly after as I taste the food I haven't eaten before. It was crisp and greasy but tasty. Or at least it wasn't familiar for the female counterpart. For the male, there was something familiar about the texture but not the same. Maybe something tougher.
The eggs, however, weren't something I ate recently if at all. Very mushy and unfortunately lacking in flavor compared to the bacon. On top of the terrible feeling of the not-exactly-solid food sliding down my throat.
"Seems you're eating better than yesterday. Was the stew that bad?"
I wave my hand around hastily. "No, no! It is... I mean both are good. It's just that it still feels weird... Eating that is."
"You aren't used to eating?"
'He's teasing me isn't he.'
"I'm sure I have, It's just... The feeling I get from eating from one body can be felt by the other, making it... uncomfortable"
He nods. "I understand. I thought it was just your body but to be that connected? Whatever happened to you is beyond normal."
I stare in silence for some time. It seems like he's been trying to come up with an answer to what's happened to me but he still can't come up with a clear answer himself.
He stops eating before asking, "Something wrong?"
"...You've been helping me since I first arrived. But why?"
He almost dropped his plate from that question, a heavy sigh before giving me a smile. "Why shouldn't I? You're an innocent soul almost crushed by something falling from the heavens yet didn't come out unscathed, becoming something... different from the norm. It would haunt me to leave you in this state as you are."
Mixed feelings rose within me. He brought up that he wanted to help; that I'm an innocent soul, that I was someone that 'happened' to be near the crash site. It made me warm, then guilty, before finally, remorseful.
That is, until a piece of bacon tried to go down the wrong pipe, putting both mes into a coughing fit.
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It was such a cold bath bathing in the river. I knew river water wouldn't be comfortable but I wish I wasn't right. I came out shivering, even after wiping away all the water and getting into my clothes that were cleaned up by the old man.
"If you're cold, go for a jog. You'll warm up after getting a good sweat in." says the old man with a cackle.
But just as I was about to take that joke seriously, he stops both my bodies using his stick to block my path. "Better yet, take the female to your room under a blanket while we get started with your physical training."
With a gulp, I nod, my female counterpart made to sleep once more by the power of his staff as my male counterpart proceeds with training.