The sun rose, casting a warm light over the PHG Union. A new day dawned, bringing a sense of hope after a tense night, Hiroki and his companions were eager to explore the capital city of Yumix. hoping that it will be a day that eases the burden of previous events, and restores vitality to Amaya too.
Once they penetrated the capital under the leadership of Ayuri, Excitement crackled in the air as they emerged onto the main street. The markets bustled with activity, the people were kind, and security seemed ever-present. Hiroki marveled at the clear difference between night and day in Yumix, wondering what could cause such a transformation.
Taking the lead, Ayuri, with her familiarity of the city, navigated them through a labyrinth of streets. They weaved through bustling markets, stopping to admire the city's rich history in museums, and even venturing into the older districts of Yumix, they also found some people selling the latest papers about Yumix and the kingdom.
They have been able to save some money, a currency known as KUR, which they have been able to earn through their current works at The PHG. Hiroki was able to buy some newspapers, in order to learn more about this area
As the companions kept moving, Yoru, absorbed in her musings, almost bumped into a bunch of kids having fun in the road....
"Oh, sorry... um.." the boy said while going backwards after the collision
"Stupid, watch where you're going" The other kid said to him
Yoru knelt a bit down, her tone conveying a sense of coldness. "Are you okay?"
"oh, I'm fine.." He responded, with a look of curiosity on his face.
The children stared, wide-eyed. "It seems they are visitors from out of town." one whispered.
And then, Ayuri stepped in, grinning playfully. "Guests shouldn't be treated in that way."
The children recognized her instantly, their faces lighting up. "Ayuri! You are back again!"
Kenji smiled slightly while confused, "It seems like you're familiar with this place and its people."
Ayuri nodded, smiling back at the children. "I guess I do."
The children waved goodbye, their laughter echoing through the streets. A small smile played on Hiroki's lips as he watched the scene unfold.
Their exploration continued a bit, then they settled into a known restaurant, after they had grown weary from hunger, and also to try out the city's delectable traditional cuisine.
Following a period of anticipation while waiting for their meal, finally then, its here! Various luxurious and unusual dishes came to the table, Miyu's eyes sparkling from the magnificence of the sight.
Everyone began to dine, each one in their own way, and Miyu, who couldn't resist, nearly suffered from choking.
Amaya watched the situation for a while, then took a sip to taste.
"D-Delicious.. This tastes amazing!" Amaya exclaimed.
"I agree," Miyu added, nodding enthusiastically, while hurriedly eating
Hiroki was observing the atmosphere with a slight cheer on his face.
After that, they resumed their journey, eager to explore and uncover more.
As they walked along a luxurious street lined with impressive statues that appear to represent some important personalities, Hiroki couldn't contain his nosiness, it was evident from his eyes. Ayuri, sensing his curiosity, offered an explanation. "These statues," she said, "are tributes to the royal families who ruled Yumix in the past. Some consider them important historical figures, even objects of worship for a few."
Hiroki's gaze lingered on a particular statue – a wonderful women with long, flowing royal blue hair. Time's damage has taken away its once otherworldly beauty, creating an atmosphere of tiredness and wisdom. He stared, lost in thought, until Ayuri gently nudged him onward.
"Ehm.. Let's get moving again.. It would be wise to acquire our needs at this time.," she suggested. "We need new weapons and tools, and ehh.. and for Amaya too"
Yoru nodded. "I think this is a good idea."
Kenji added, "Still we can collect more informations too."
Hiroki sighed, "Well.. Alright, I guess we need some of that."
The deadline for their return was quickly approaching. Then finally, after much searching, they found the ideal place, an indoor market for weapons and magical equipment. The entrance was unassuming doorway tucked away on the side of the road, it seems that it's not that popular.
Upon entering, they observed an elderly short man resting in a chair, and a noticeable baldness with only a small amount of white hair left. His feet propped lazily on a nearby table.
It seemed like his usual disposition that he didn't react when they entered.
As soon as they got inside more, everyone branched into what caught their attention.
Yoru's eyes sparkled as she discovered tools to enhance physical movement, she immediately gravitated towards a display of sleek leg braces for fighting. She eagerly asked the shop owner to try them out.
Once the shop owner nodded in agreement, Yoru strapped them on really quick, her eyes gleaming with anticipation. The change was obvious the instant she started using the new gear, her kicks landed with newfound precision, leaving faint trails in the air.
A smirk of satisfaction appeared on her lips.
Then she asked the shop owner, "How much does this thing cost?"
He directly responded, "15 thousand KUR," Yoru's features morphed from calm to 'I just saw a ghost' within few seconds when she heard the price, nothing remained of her smirk.
"eeh, this price is equal to the price of a new phone in our world," Hiroki quipped to himself with a bit of irony
Hiroki kept walking at a steady, and yet nothing grabbed his attention or interested him.
On the other hand, Amaya discovered a set of advanced tools specifically geared towards archery. Ayuri exclaimed a bit impressed by her choice, "It looks like you have found something that sparks your interest. Do you have experience with these things?"
"Of course I do!,I've been practicing archery since I was young," Amaya replied. "It was my brother who taught me how to shoot; we often practiced together, and he was a more skilled marksman than I was. They were good memories, but... He has gone and is no longer with us...." Her expression shifted slightly, but she went on, "That's why I'm trying to avenge him, I must grow stronger.. I think this thing would be good for me to use."
The elderly man took note of the mood and observed them from the start without getting involved. "Well.." He finally spoke, "Clearly, you don't seem to be from around here.. Been a while since I've seen a group like yours. Therefore, as a warm welcome to our visitors, I'm pleased to offer you a special discount."
"Really?! That's very kind of you. To be honest, we're members of the PHG and we come from a distant place, so you can tell." Ayori responded with approval.
"This is how it is then, just as I thought... In fact, I have received some of ongoing news from the PHG and of what happened, indeed it seems awful... Whatever it is, you must not lose yourselves in this tragedy and stay strong. This is the way things are at Yumix" The old man replied.
Yoru found the old man's speaking style slightly annoying, but she knew he was spot on.
Hiroki took a small step forward and then began speaking after composing himself.
"Excuse me.. Could you.. Tell us more about the attack?" Hiroki uttered.
After a brief silence, the old man released a small, amused sigh.
"I hate to break it to you, but even with my extensive network and expertise, I can't conjure up details about a random person with no other additional leads... But," The elderly man carried on, "this may not be their first time."
A subtle tension was visible on Hiroki's face as he whispered to himself in a steady voice, "Not.. the first time?.."
"Yeah," stated the old man "there are groups that are behaving oddly, as they alter their positions, and their targets are unchanged comparable to what happened before. It's unclear who has ultimate control or which side they're on.. Some call them enemies of Yumix, while others hail them as liberators."
His words prompted a chilly glare from Ayuri, who remained quiet.
Kenji stated, "This explanation makes more sense, but it's still a genuine threat, no doubt." His gaze darkened slightly.
Miyu sensed some anxiety and asked, "Is everything alright, Kenji? Your features looks a bit..."
Kenji was taken aback by his loss, but he quickly composed himself, "No, no, I'm just... I seem to have taken a detour and lost my focus."
"Regardless, you helped us a lot, we appreciate it greatly. Thank you" Yoru said.
The elderly shop owner smiled a bit warmly. "In any case, consider this your haven. My shop, Fenrir's shop, yeah that's my name on it, it's always open for you all, and you are considered my special guests. If you need any information, tools, or even deals, I am here as your only solution." He finished with a sincere, albeit slightly eccentric, nod.
Miyu took a small step forward and warmly thanked him, "Okay! Thank you for everything. We'll definitely be back to see you soon"
Thus, one by one, they walked out of the store, and the elderly kept talking to himself, "Ah what a wonderful bunch, I truly hope they stay well."