Last time in NWC-
CeCe states she has a proposition for Reno. Reno and CeCe are able to reach an agreement. They discuss the location as well as the time frame for the mission. With the new mission in mind, Reno waits to be let go by the doctor...
"What the hell did I get myself into this time?" Reno sighs as he lays around, waiting for the doctor to return. Finally, the door opens, and in walks the doctor.
"Hey there, Reno. How're ya' feeling?"
"A bit sluggish. I haven't slept this much since I was like 8."
The doctor chuckles. "That sounds about right. Well, I went over all of the numbers and I'd say you're ready to get back out there anytime. Just don't overdo it, okay?"
Reno lets out a breath of relief. "As long as I can walk around and stretch I'll take any light duty restrictions you throw at me."
"Perfect! I'm always appreciative when patients listen to their doctors!" The doctor writes on a piece of paper and hands it to Reno. "This is a check-up reminder. I want to see you in a week to make sure you're holding up alright, okay?"
Reno takes the paper and reads it. Signed 'Dr. Salt'. "Thank you, Doctor Salt." Reno happily begins getting out of bed.
"Just don't push yourself and you should be okay. You'll experience some discomfort for awhile but whatever the hell that stuff in your body is has been doing miracles for you, so I'm not too worried about it." The doctor leads Reno out, waving goodbye and returning to his work.
With nothing hindering him, he makes his way back to the FTG. His approach is slow as he thinks to himself. "I really hope Medusa doesn't squeeze me to death… No! I'll accept it! If I'm to be crushed then I'll accept it with open arms! I'm coming Medusa!" Reno begins jogging, shouting out as he gets closer. "Medusa, I'm home!"
"Muh?!" Medusa, who had been sitting on the edge of the clearing sleeping, snaps awake and looks around. "Ree?!" She quickly stands up and begins shouting back. Finally spotting him, her eyes widen.
"Of fuck." Before Reno had time to think, he's been enveloped by vines and it being pulled towards Medusa at dangerous speeds. "Calm down, calm down!" He's squeezed and pulled, helpless to the will of Medusa.
"Reno!" Medusa continues to swing him around then pull him closer and rub their cheeks together happily. "Reno, Reno!"
Reno closes his eyes, a tear forming from the sheer pain he feels in this moment. "At least she knows my name now." He endures the crushing weight of Medusa's pent-up loneliness for seemingly an eternity before Luna, who was watching from the sides, convinces Medusa to let him go. Reno wheezes as he pushes himself off the ground. "I don't know what's worse: getting crushed or stabbed. I'm amazed my ribs didn't shatter and puncture my lungs." He finally manages to stand up, barely able to keep his balance. Finally, he walks over and pats Medusa. "I'm back!" He carries himself as if nothing just happened.
"Welcome back, Reno. As you can see, Medusa missed you." Luna hovers over to Reno, speaking with a slight hint of a laugh.
Reno looks at Luna and his eyes narrow. "Something's different about you… what did you do?" He inspects her from every angle, not quite able to put his finger on the difference.
Luna is genuinely surprised that Reno noticed. It takes her a bit to push aside her embarrassment. She clears her throat then speaks, "How observant of you! I did in fact change things up. With more of my power back, I'm able to repress my luminosity. I'm quite literally not as bright as I was before." Luna, as an example, manages to repress her natural glow. Floating in front of Reno was a blue ball, with very little glow to it. "See?" Luna sounds proud as she shows off her ability.
"Oh, so you're like a dimmer switch now? Maybe I'll be able to get to sleep easier now."
"You are beyond fortunate that I do not have arms or I would slap you on the head." Luna's tone is monotone and irritated as Reno manages to ruin another moment.
"What? I didn't mean it in a mean way or anything. That's literally what a dimmer switch does!"
"Forget it, I do not wish to argue with you. I'm simply glad you are back."
"I'm glad to be back. Also, while you were sitting around here, I was out getting us information!" He puffs his chest out and points at himself with his thumb.
"Oh, really now? And what sort of information, pray tell?"
He speaks in a matter-of-fact tone. "Do you remember that merchant the old man was talking about?"
"I do. What of them?"
"Well, she paid me a visit."
"She?" Luna's voice is slightly tinged with annoyance. "We were out here worrying about you while you were busy conversing with women?"
"Huh? No, not like that, I- that's not the point! She might know where another power shard is!"
"I see."
Reno's caught off guard by the lack of response. "Huh? I thought you'd be more excited. You didn't have any leads on the others, right? This is, like, the best-case scenario."
"Reno. I care about you, I genuinely do. Not because you are helping me get my power back, that's a completely separate reason. I care about you on a person-to-person basis. But you have to be one of the dumbest people I've ever met."
"HUH?!" Reno does nothing to hide his irritation. "What the hell is your problem, Luna?!"
Luna sighs, "Reno. You can't trust random people. It doesn't matter if the old man says she's trustworthy or whatever. She might be helping Bambadale by going out of her way to do business, but it's for her own personal gain. Let me guess, she offered you information in return for the shard."
"Well… not technically. She said it MIGHT be there. But even if it isn't, I get 1,000 dulls anyway! It's a win-win situation!"
Luna thinks to herself before finally speaking. "Look, Reno. I'm not saying she's trying to use you, and I'm definitely not saying you're not going to get anything out of this. I'm just worried, okay?"
"I get it. But I have a really good feeling about this. Besides, I trusted you and it's turning out okay so far. Well, other than being stabbed, but I'm going to willfully act like it's a one-time thing."
"I suppose you're correct, you had no reason to trust me, even if you are doing it for you own gain."
"Hey now, I might have agreed for personal reasons, but I do want to help you at this point. I'm not entirely selfish after all."
"Fine. Tell me more about what you two talked about."
Reno explains the entire situation. Luna wasn't happy that he mentioned her and Medusa, but Reno was just barely able to save himself by mentioning that he didn't tell her who she is. "That about sums it up. I have roughly 2 weeks and some days to get better and practice before then."
"I see. Then we need to get things done now." Luna slowly floats over a couple of feet in front of Reno.
"Huh, what things? It's pretty much waiting at this point."
"Your body is in no condition to be swinging a sword yet. But there is something you can train in the meantime." Luna slowly begins to float over, glowing brighter and brighter.
"W-what?" Reno's eyes instinctively close to avoid being blinded. He feels a strange warmth in his mind as Luna contacts him. A couple seconds later Luna floats back. "What did you do?" Reno opens his eyes and begins inspecting his body.
"You can now use 'Aqueous', commonly referred to as water magic. Using the miracle I gave you; my soul was able to communicate with yours and teach it what I know."
Reno's eyes widen as he listens to Luna. He immediately begins rushing to the middle of the FTG. "How do I do it, how do I do it?!" His impatience grows as he waits for Luna to teach him.
"It's not as simple as doing it. Just because your soul knows how to turn mana into water magic doesn't' mean your soul knows how to manifest the magic in your body. Focus your energy on the part of your body you wish to use then envision that energy growing into water. Finally, envision the water leaving your body."
"Got it." Reno closes his eyes, spreading his legs to find a stable stance. He extends his right arm, curling his fist and pointing with his index finger. "Focus my energy…" He imagines an invisible energy becoming visible and focuses it in his hand. "Imagine it as water…" He turns the energy into water, building it up in his hand. Medusa, feeling a spike of mana, turns to watch Reno, her eyes gleaming with anticipation. "Now… fire!" Reno's eyes shoot open as he imagines the water leaving his body. He's met with silence, and no water to be seen anywhere. Medusa, not knowing what's going on, jumps and claps, cheering on Reno.
TO BE CONTINUED...