Chereads / Tanatophilia / Chapter 4 - The Kyphos

Chapter 4 - The Kyphos

- B-but how are we going to deal with the kaijus? They almost killed me! - Apollo replies, expressing fear.

Reinhardt laughs and pulls out a spear-like weapon from his back.

- Hey you should relax more, you've been so tense all this time, with me here there's nothing to be afraid of - Reinhardt replies with a somewhat smug smile.

- I'll go with you, I have... "Intrigue" about this guy - Emma says seriously.

God, what did I get myself into this time?

After the group gets ready, they leave Reinhardt's said house, from the outside it seems to have a design similar to a traditional Japanese house (minka). In addition, there seems to be a herd of cows and sheep, quite similar to those in Apollo's world.

- This farm is located at the edge of "Rampart", this village - says Reinhardt, he points his finger in the direction of the forest of pink trees. -And right here, is the border between the kingdom and Elend-

Paying a little more attention, Apolo can see a kind of transparent barrier that divides the farm and the trees, it seems to bring out some small electric particles.

The group takes a detour to the town before leaving, Rampart seems a quiet town, and the houses are similar to Reinhardt's, it does not seem very developed in technology.

 Apollo observes how a variety of people they come across greet Reinhardt, it is as if they all know him, he notices how they all have the same particularity of having a star in their eyes.

- Wow, do they all have eyes like that? - Apollo asks in amazement.

- Most of the people do, pretty cool right, it gives us the benefit of being able to understand magic better by observing it," replies Emma proudly.

Come to think of it, aren't I something of an isekai protagonist? Maybe I'm capable of having a power like that.

While Apollo is left fantasizing for a while about having powers, they arrive at the destination.

Heh heh heh heh heh

- We're finally here guys- says Reinhardt standing in front of what looks like a workshop.

- Can you remind me why we came here in the first place? - Apollo asks after coming to his senses.

- Well here we have an old friend who might be able to help you stand on your own two feet, no man should be a burden to someone else! - Reinhard says, putting his right fist on his chest.

The group enters the workshop, compared to the rest of the town, it seems to be quite technologically advanced, they see advanced mechanisms and robotic arms working with advanced weapons.

This is like cyberpunk!

Rein, Emma! - Shouts with joy a woman who runs to hug them, both are happy and Reinhardt blushes a little.

The woman has long brown hair, she wears a moss green top and wide pants, she seems to have implants on her forearms and elbows, also by the nape of her neck, unlike all the villagers she doesn't have the stars in her honey colored eyes.

- Mia, we are also glad to see you haha- says Reinhardt happily - we came to see if you can help us with something -

- Haha, sure sure, always at your service as long as it's something interesting, and I guess it has to do with this kiddo here, right? - Mia stares at Apollo, up and down as if analyzing him.

How awkward...

- Yes... the young man has no magic at all, I don't think he's from Mirai either, but I think you can give the verdict here Mia. - Reinhardt says.

Emma and Reinhardt start telling him about everything that has happened since Apollo's arrival.

- huhu, I see, sounds intriguing, come on boy let me check you out for a moment, bring your head closer- Mia walks up to Apollo and stares at him, her eyes get a glowing green color. - She looks up at Apollo.

Mia starts to move Apollo's head in different directions, as if looking for something.

Glup! If I relax, I'm going to throw up!

- This... is very unexpected - Mia says with a surprised look on her face. - Apollo doesn't have a kyphos... he's the first person I've met without one...".

Those present are silent with a face of surprise and confusion.

- Is that a bad thing? - Apollo says it with such innocence that makes Emma look at him as if he were dumb.

- How are you even alive? - Emma answers, she seems to be completely perplexed.

Emma, takes a breath, calms down and explains to Apollo - ufff... The khypos is the part of the brain that allows us to be able to manipulate magic, every living being has one and without it, it wouldn't be impossible.

Shit, I won't be able to cast crazy power rays.

Apollo looks quite disappointed and seems to almost cry from disappointment.

What's the point of coming to a new world and being just as useless as in the other one... nooooooooooooooo

Emma looks back at Apollo with disgust as the first time they interacted. Reinhardt looks with confusion in the distance.

- Buuut - says Mia leaving a suspenseful atmosphere. - I don't know if it's actually a good thing, but it's pretty mind-blowing haha.

- What are you waiting for? Speak up - Emma demands.

- Ish, kids your age don't have patience, huh? - Mia answers him, she's not that old, but she thinks she IS that mature.

- His eyes, the optic nerve looks like it's regenerating after breaking, as if they've been put back in after being ripped out, or did they put new ones in? - Emma explains, causing everyone to stare at Apollo, as if waiting for an answer from him.

This, it's not right, I know my eyes weren't the silver color I have now, the pulsations and the blood... The attack of that kaiju....

- Mia, do you think it's some kind of healing magic, or some kind of Mirai implant or manipulation? - Reinhardt asks Mia, breaking the ice and saving Apollo from the situation.

- Well my bionic eye doesn't detect any kind of trace of magic, and based on my knowledge, I don't think anything in Mirai can make such a precise adjustment as this.

Reinhardt thinks for a bit and looks at Apollo, noticing that he looks just as confused, he decides not to press him.

- Nothing to do haha, Apollo doesn't seem to know either, then it will be a theme for later, we are in a hurry, and it's time to move before nightfall - Reinhardt says it with his typical smile on his face, he looks more relaxed and puts his arms on Emma and Apollo.

- Ok I get it, it must be because of the old man, right? Anyway, take this kid - Mia says while she throws a kind of gun to Apollo, he tries to catch it, but it slips from his hands, although he manages to catch it before it hits the ground, it's nothing like one from where Apollo came from, the barrel is very wide.

It looks like a pistol, but I don't see any chamber for the magazine.

- It's meant to be loaded with "real" type energy, but since you don't have one I think Rein can load it for a few shots - Mia explains to the group.

Reinhardt proceeds to touch the pistol with the palm of his hand, at that instant his eyes glow again and his arm begins to emit an almost blinding yellow light.

What power... SO JEALOUS!

The gun begins to emit a light similar to the one Reinhardt was emitting, it has 6 lights on the back of it now.

- Haha, sometimes I forget how cool Rein is - Mia praises Rein, and he blushes, tries to hide it - back to the case, those lights are your shots until someone reloads it for you again.

So... I depend on someone else again....

Apollo has a slightly sad look on his face.

- Easy boy, I hope you make every shot count - says Reinhardt, patting Apollo on the back, trying to cheer him up in his way.

- Well, guys, I think it's time to go," says Emma to hurry the group along.

- Hold on! Before that I'd like to take an x-ray of Apollo, I've been looking for something to really entertain me for a long time! - Mia exclaims excitedly as she approaches Apollo.

Mia stares at Apollo's face, his eye lights up again and...CLICK

- Did you just take a picture of me?! WITH YOUR EYE?!?!?!!! - Apollo exclaims really surprised

- Wow, easy kid, I think you've seen more weird things than this haha, besides I'm full of surprises- says Mia putting her Hands on her hips.

After a farewell, the group returns to the border between Elend and Espoir.

- Ready? - Reinhardt asks Emma and Apollo.

They both nod in agreement.

So it's time to venture into the unknown once again.

The truth is that Apollo is scared to death, but he tries to convince himself that everything will be all right.

- Hehe, you can relax, you're a little tense- Emma turns to Apollo -With him here, there's nothing to be afraid of-.

Apollo looks in Reinhardt's direction, who is in front of him and watches his back.

I didn't remember... how imposing he looked...

Reinhardt looks back at them with a grin.

- But before this... I need to pee... it's important, hehe- Reinhardt says killing the whole moment.