In a space where light has yet to exist, seen in this vast void two figures can be seen floating in the endless expanse. One of the figures can be seen looking at the other with a kind eyes and a melancholic smile, while the other looks on in confusion and bewilderment.
"... Where am I, and who are you ...."
".... And your face…why can't I see your face?" The second figure asked, confusion laced in his voice as he tried to look around.
"It seems like the time is still not yet right…" The first figure spoke. Sighing, the being looked at the second figure and placed a hand on its head.
"Well, we'll meet again…. Till then don't die ok…."
"See you around… Akira"
The second figure's eyes widened, but before they could speak, they were launched.
"WAIT!!" Akira yelled his eyes now wide with alarm as he shot up from the bed he was currently on sweat rolling down his body.
His body heaved and gasped while looking around, his mind running a mile a minute. The last thing he remembers was him and ash launching their final attack at the monster.
…. No, that does not feel right, it feels as if he is forgetting something.. What was he dreaming about again? He could've sworn it was important.. But what was it??
"Why can't I remember.." He asked himself, holding his now pain riddled head in his hands.
"Sighhhh… whatever, it is not important anymore. First order of business is to find out where the heck I am and find Ashley.." Akira thought while observing his surroundings.
As Akira struggled to regain his bearings, the room around him slowly came into focus. It was dimly lit, with faint streams of light filtering through narrow slits in the walls, casting long shadows across the floor. The air felt heavy, laden with an unfamiliar scent that made Akira's head spin.
With a grimace, he reached down to inspect his injured and bandaged leg. His fingers traced along the coarse fabric of the bandages until they found the source of the pain—a deep gash running along his calf, now covered with bandages and medicated. Memories of the battle flooded back to him, the adrenaline-fueled rush of combat now replaced with the dull ache and exhaustion of reality.
"I need to find help," Akira muttered to himself, pushing himself upright despite the protesting throbs of his injured leg. Each step sent a jolt of pain shooting up his spine, but he gritted his teeth and pressed on, determined to uncover the truth behind his current predicament.
As he limped through the unfamiliar surroundings, Akira's mind raced with questions. Where was he? How had he ended up here? And most importantly, where was Ashley and Totara?
With each passing moment, the sense of unease gnawed at him, urging him to find answers before it was too late.
Making his way into the corridor he continued to walk trying to find someone… anyone for that matter. Reaching a door he opened it without a second thought.
Looking around it seemed like he was in some entrance area of whatever building he was in, as he tried to take another stop forwards he almost fell due to the pain.
"Woow there Akira take it easy man" A familiar voice spoke making Akira look at the person.
"Totara!.. Thank goodness you're ok old friend" The younger man said, smiling softly at his brother in all but blood. Smiling back Totara helped the young boy back to his feet.
"So where are we if I might ask… and where is ash?" Akira asked, looking at his friend.
"Well… to answer your first question we are the town Casteroll. And for your second one I.. actually don't know.."
"I asked one of the nurses and they said she left a while ago but i know she at least stopped by the guiled to collect payment for the dungeon"
Nodding his head in understanding, Akira sighed before looking down and running a hand through his hair, looking back up to meet his friend's eyes as he smiled "After all that happened… I am glad for some r&r".
"Fair enough I guess" Totara uttered before lending Akira a pouch of gold coins eliciting a confused glace from him.
"This is?" Akira asked while slowly but firmly grasping the pouch.
"Your share of the guild reward for the dungeon.. As Well as compensation for the unexpected encounter" Totara responds with a calm smile in contrast to Akira's sarcastic stare.
"At least they didn't pay us late like they did last time." His annoyance was palpable especially when totara retorted with a jovial tone.
"Funnily enough Ashley said the same thing to the receptionist" he chuckled before letting Akira go back inside to rest a bit more"
One hour later.
Akira was taking a leisurely stroll through the town market now fully clothed but still bandaged.
"....."
" I wonder…. What is Ashley doing right now" he muttered as he bought a fresh meat kebab from a vendor taking bites from it periodically.
Despite his constant moodiness and his broodish nature he was too accustomed to the elf's presence that it felt odd to not hear her shouting or reprimanding him but now with her absence it only allowed him more time to gather his thoughts.. Or rather, try to understand them.
His market stroll was surprisingly quiet until he heard a faint whining of a child from a nearby alley. "No.. I don't wanna.." the words trickled out of the boy's quivering lips, his wolf-like ears twitching sporadically as two men and a woman cornered him. Akira hid behind a stray box to get a closer look.
"Don't cry little boy… we're just taking you home.." uttered a tall muscular man with a slimy smug smile while offering the child a hand, a distinct emblem tattooed on it.
Akira was familiar with the emblem, a clawed hand in chains was the distinct symbol of the beastman slave traders. It is surprising that a group that operates in the south is this far east, maybe Akira should demonstrate how slave traders are treated here.
Before the muscular man took a step in the boy's direction a strong gust of frozen air entered the alley sending shivers down everyone's spine, "Brrr…. Winter so soon?.." the man shivered as he heard no replies from his comrades ``guys?.." As he tried to make an about turn he was greeted by a shocking sight, both of his comrades frozen solid in a position that implies that they tried to flee from something.. or someone.
Akira walked past him as his lower body slowly froze solid, stopping him from escaping, "do you know where your parents are?" Akira said to the child, almost ignoring the slave traders behind him. The small child responded with a sheepish nod an gingerly took akira's hand as he was led out of the alley before they left akira threw a rock shattering one of the slave traders that were encased in ice, leaving a spectacle that a frozen man and woman and shattered remains of another frozen man all over the ground, eventually Akira reunited the boy with his parents only to find out that they owned the food cart he bought kebabs from earning him 2 kebabs for his troubles.
As he continued to explore the town, he found what seemed to be a blacksmith shop. He decided to check it out, walking up to the door he opened it and entering, closing the door behind him.
"Hello?"
"Is anyone here?" Akira asked, as he looked around the shop. If he was honest he was shocked at the quality of the weapons on display, whoever was the owner had to be quite the skilled blacksmith.
Before he could continue to look around anymore, he heard some noise coming from the back of the shop before he heard a voice.
"Hold on, I'll be with you in a minute," Echoed a voice in a rough but melodic tone, soon after a woman around 5 '4 with long brown hair and amber eyes emerged from the backroom. She had a tanned caramel complexion with diamond shaped freckles on her face, her body had a muscular physique while being a bit bottom heavy.
She is wearing a black crop top with baggy hazel brown cargo pants and has a pair of black goggles with amber lenses around her neck.
The woman walked behind the reception desk and faced Akira before speaking.
"Good evening pal! My name's Amalia and welcome to my shop, how can I be of service?" The now named Amalia said with a toothy smile.
"Good evening Amalia, I'm Akira. I was wonder if you can fix these"
Akira then reached into his holster and pulled out his sickles. Both blades were heavenly damaged and had long cracks along the blades. Showing the weapons to the blacksmith he saw a myriad of emotions flashed across her face before her eyes met his and the next thing he knew she had his feet off the ground and glaring daggers at him.
"What… The…. HELL DID YOU DO TO THESE WEAPONS!?" She asked incredulously, the anger in her eyes burning like the sun.
"I was in a fight with an S class monster, and I pushed my weapons too far."
"Can you fix them?" Akira asked
Amalia let out a sigh while putting him down before looking him over incredulously and taking the weapons out of his hands, turning away and making her way to the back of the shop. She wanted to be upset but she could see the obvious attempts to repair them that Akira made.
"I usually don't have the parts for scythe-like weapons since they're kinda hard to come by.." She muttered in thought "But luckily.. A friend of mine is in town and they need repairs on their scythe for a mission…" she hums and haws in thought twirling one of his scythes in her hand. "Come back in three days." she declared, "I'll sort you out". With her piece said the young woman left, leaving the young man shocked in the main room. Sighing, Akira left the shop and headed back towards the Inn.
"What a long day" He thought before he stopped walking and looking at the seating sun. Seeing its beauty he could not help but smile in content knowing that he and his friends were no longer in danger for the meantime, with that though he turned back to the road and continued walking.