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Aspax, Basin: Desolate Ash, Time: 1:50 PM
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Layla then inquired, "So, what the hell are you 'outsiders' doing out here?" As she approached them, Cauli was surprised to find that they were nearly the same height.
Don explained, "Well, we were trying to take the princess to a surprise location, but we ended up in this boring barren land, and now we're stuck unless we decide to scale that mountain." Cauli shot a stern look at Don for referring to him as 'princess' once again, while Layla observed them with a raised eyebrow.
Layla sighed and rubbed her eye for a moment before something struck her. "They're coming," she muttered to herself. She then turned back to Don and Cauli.
"Alright, you two, come with me if you don't want to get mugged by strangely dressed people," Layla ordered, which left both of them puzzled.
Cauli couldn't help but raise a valid point. "What about your radish farm?"
Layla waved off the concern. "Eh, they wouldn't dare to steal fruit that's worth their time." She then signaled for them to follow her, leading them to her backyard, where there was a massive cave entrance leading into the mountain.
"Also, you're going to meet someone up ahead," Layla mentioned, though there was a hint of annoyance in her voice.
Don caught on and decided to tease her a little. "Guess that someone is your friend, huh?"
Layla turned back to him with a stoic expression. "Yeah, friend! Right on the money, steel face," she replied, though she muttered something under her breath.
"More like shitty landlord if anything…" She then guided the two visitors to meet this mysterious someone.
As they ventured deeper into the cavern, they noticed that it became more elaborately decorated, with yellow banners and man-made floors. Layla initiated a conversation with her newfound companions, eager to learn more about them. "So, what is your 'guardian' origin?"
Don decided to share his story first. "Well, I used to be a steampunk airship fixer. I eventually left that job, found this 'princess' here during an exhibition, and decided to stay on the land after that."
Layla was both impressed and somewhat disappointed by the brevity of Don's storytelling. She sensed that there was more to his tale but decided not to press further. She turned her attention to Cauli, her eyebrow slightly raised inquisitively.
Cauli, feeling a little nervous, contemplated whether to reveal the full truth. After exchanging a quick nod with Don, he decided to go for it. "Well, uh... I-I'm just starting as a guardian. Don took me under his wing for some training. I later became an A-rank because of my status as the prince..."
Cauli trailed off, rubbing his neck anxiously. Layla's eyes widened in surprise.
"A prince? Well now, it seems there's more to your story after all!" She leaned forward eagerly. "Please, do tell me what brings royalty to become a guardian trainee."
Glancing at Don again, who gave an encouraging nod, Cauli took a deep breath. "Well, until recently I'd been confined in my family's castle my whole life. I always dreamed of exploring the world and going on adventures. So one day, I escaped the castle and stumbled into Don here."
He smiled fondly at the memory. "At first he didn't believe I was a prince since I was so naive about the outside world. But he agreed to show me around, and I guess you could say my curiosity got the better of me!"
Layla listened intently, utterly charmed by Cauli's tale. "How bold. Did your family approve of you becoming an adventuring guardian then?"
"Erm, not exactly..." Cauli admitted. "I may have, uh, ran away from them when I set off with Don. But I left a note!" he added quickly. "Once I prove myself, I'm sure they'll understand."
Layla blinked then burst out laughing. "Oh my dear boy, you are a mess just like all of us. I can relate to the desire for freedom and adventure." She gave his hand an affectionate pat. "Well, shall we continue with our grand quest?"
Cauli beamed, camaraderie with this vibrant woman giving him confidence. "Yes ma'am! Lead the way!"
Layla regarded them with a hint of suspicion but chose to leave her doubts unspoken. They soon reached a massive door adorned with a golden dragon pattern.
Layla provided a small warning before opening it, "Alright, I want to warn you that the person you're about to meet is an annoying drunk." With those words of caution, she swung open the door for Don and Cauli to enter.
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Aspax, Basin: Hidden Shrine, Time: 2:10 PM
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Don and Cauli's eyes squinted from the overwhelming brightness of the room. The shrine appeared to be a mix of a lavish bedroom and an intricate marble structure, with the pillars extending from the sides of a massive bed and a marble Xieshan-style roof above it.
Every aspect of the room seemed to be adorned with riches, including the marble floor, marble ceiling candles, and, well, just about everything was marble.
"Holy... is this a room fit for a dragon?" Don couldn't help but comment, his eyes scanning the opulent surroundings. Cauli, though somewhat impressed, was less awestruck, having grown up around wealth.
At that moment, a voice rang out, calling for Layla. "Laylaaaaaa, is that youuuuu?" the voice inquired. Layla let out a deep sigh, clearly anticipating what was to come. She gestured for Don and Cauli to follow as she led them to the top of the shrine.
Upon reaching the summit, they found a figure reclining on the bed. The woman was impressively tall, standing at 6′7".
She had turquoise hair with curtain bangs, and her hairpin bore the character "金子." She was dressed in a silk robe adorned with a blue wyvern pattern, and her face showed clear signs of having imbibed a substantial amount of alcohol.
"Laylaaaaaa, I want another wine..." the woman demanded with a slurred voice. Layla's patience was wearing thin, and she was on the verge of slamming her head against one of the marble pillars in sheer frustration.
"Fine, fine, Master Yin," Layla acquiesced, her eye twitching from the exasperation of dealing with the inebriated woman.
Yin's vision was blurred, making it a bit challenging for her to see the two new faces, Don and Cauli, standing before her.
She addressed Layla with a playful comment, "Laylaaaaa, I was joking about human sacrifices..." Yin's unsteady state almost caused her to tumble off the bed, but Layla managed to catch her just in time.
"Master Yin, please, for the love of God..." Layla implored, her patience stretched to its limits. Don and Cauli exchanged bewildered glances, utterly perplexed by the sight of this inebriated woman being treated almost like a child.
Layla decided to introduce them, her embarrassment palpable. "I will introduce her then. This is Yin, and she's my mentor..." Her face reddened with embarrassment, and she appeared on the brink of exasperation.
"Jeez, I'd be embarrassed too if I had a mentor like that," Don quipped, prompting an angry blush to rise on Layla's cheeks.
They decided to sit down on the bed, taking off their shoes as a matter of courtesy.
"Anyone cares to explain what happened to this land? I have been wanting to know what even happening..." Cauli's mind has been going all places, Why is Basin like this?
"Let's start from the beginning," Layla suggested. Don and Cauli sat patiently, listening to the story.
Layla proceeded to explain, "Basin used to be a village, but with the introduction of new steampunk technology, it was chosen as the first experimental area." Don, who hadn't been much of a listener before, found himself becoming increasingly interested in the tale.
"It was going well until a madman pirate arrived and destroyed the entire lab out of spite, claiming it would 'ruin sea life,'" Layla continued. Cauli was taken aback that a single pirate could dismantle an entire lab, but he listened intently.
"After that, Basin was left under the control of the wastelanders known as 'The Purified,' who tend to mug anyone in the area," Layla concluded.
Cauli raised his hand to ask a question, his gaze shifting to the drunken Yin, who was now sleeping soundly. "What about her? She might be in danger or robbed by them..." he expressed his concern, gesturing to Yin.
Layla reassured them, "Nah, you should have seen her sober. The reason she drinks is to 'relive her old self.' The Purified are somewhat afraid of her power." Layla spoke with confidence, even as her snoring mentor occasionally released a little burp during her slumber.
"Laaylaaaa, I want wineeee..." Yin's plea continued, her slurred voice making it clear that she was still preoccupied with the idea of more wine. Her attempt to rest her head on Layla's shoulder didn't go as planned, and she ended up slumping onto the bed.
Layla realized that fulfilling her mentor's desire for more wine might be a bit tricky. She considered her options and then had an idea – she could enlist the help of Don and Cauli. She turned to them and said, "Can you guys help me with this? It's not much to ask, but it would be greatly appreciated..."
Don and Cauli regarded her with skepticism, wondering what was in it for them. Don took the lead in asking, "What's in it for us?" He was looking for some sort of compensation, perhaps even hoping for riches provided by Yin.
Layla thought for a moment and then made her offer, "Yin can give you both a ride." She gestured back at Yin, who started to hiccup in the background.
Don and Cauli exchanged glances and quickly nodded in agreement. It seemed like a great deal to them. "Alright, then. Let's get that wine for your master," Don accepted the offer.
Before they left, Layla decided to leave a note on Yin's forehead, stating, "I'll be back in a bit, getting that wine for you." Yin, in her inebriated state, could only respond with a drunken laugh before drifting back into slumber.
Yin decided to mutter in her sleep, "Sugarrr... It's girl's night...Sarin invited..." She was having a dream of her old memory, the good ol' time.
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