A young boy, roughly 18 years old. He was a rather simple fellow, but suffered from a certain condition. His memories are hazy, and only remembers tidbits of his life. He was someone whose magical powers were complex. They weren't your big-standard ones, but it was that set him apart from anyone else that Gathely the Indomitable had ever met.
It went so far as to the point that Gathely had sought Aster directly to become his apprentice. Much to his disappointment, Aster has refused and was much more interested in hanging around a specific person.
As unfortunate as it was, it wasn't something he could nor should force onto Aster. But with the boy now standing present, he was rather bemused that this unkempt black haired swordsman was the solution to his problems. He was young enough to attend the Knights Academy, which Aster of course was doing. That didn't stop Gathely from granting himself an audience with Aster of course. Considering his position, he could pull students in and out of school whether they wished for it or not.
For a solid minute of silence, Aster stared at Gathely. He was unsure of what to make of the situation. He was nervous, no doubt- standing face-to-face with the Adventurer's Guild's official mightiest- there was no telling what the man could be thinking nor what he had planned for Aster.
What felt like a moment of eternal silence, the shifting from his chair had broken that eternal silence into an instant moment. "Aster." He spoke. Aster jerked up, fixing that position he was in. "We have a special commission for you, something that only you can accomplish."
Aster remained silent, unsure of what such a special commission he could be receiving. Poking at his copper badge, he detached it from his sleeve before brandishing it. "A special commission..? I'm just a copper rank adventurer- the bottom of the barrel."
"Aster, you have untouched potential. I truly believe you'll make it to my level one day. But I brought you here not to question your authenticity, but as a means of request."
Aster after hearing what he was standing there for decided to remain silent and would continue to listen to Gathely's request. Reattaching the copper badge onto his sleeve, he folded his arms- seemingly nervous as his fingers began scratching the other's arms.
"We received Intel about the Drystian Woods. There's a tablet that requires a type of magical attunement that only you're capable of in this entire kingdom."
"Are you talking about my special ability? Deliverance?"
"Yes. Your magical ability is remarkable, truly. For one, no one knows how it functions, but you at least know how to control it. I understand you're training at school, but this is a rather urgent matter. I'd rather not force something like this on you- but please, hear me out."
Aster gulped. For someone at his stature to say something like that- while he may be casual about it- it didn't change how much pressure weighed down on Aster's shoulder. What followed didn't make it easier. "You have the right to refuse. But, Drystian Woods had suspicious activity occuring recently related to time magic. It may be our only clue to finding out where the Seven Wonders are."
"Wait... Wait- wait! You're not telling me to investigate this tablet are you? What if the Seven Wonders are safeguarding that area?"
"You won't be alone. We're sending some skilled adventurers with you to ensure your safety. But regardless Aster, this is our only clue. It may not even be related to them- but after 18 years of searching... If this is the miracle that'll get us started somewhere, then just maybe... Maybe we can finally capture the culprits who have sent us into this lifelong war!"
Gathely calmed himself down, sitting himself back down on the chair. Aster was clearly shaken by the idea. Anyone would be. Who he was messing with- who he was dealing with was known as the most dangerous man alive. Even if Aster himself could control time to an extent, he was nowhere near as strong as Altair who had many years of experience backing him.
Aster was just a boy, a student attending an academy to learn swordplay. He may have been decently built, but it didn't change how scrawny this boy was. A single breath from someone like Gathely was enough to shake Aster right down to his core.
"Aster, I implore you to think about it. You don't have to answer right now. I'll give you 24 hours to give me an update."
Aster was left dumbstruck. With such a weight decision to make, he left the Guildmasters room. "How did it go Aster? What did he want from you?"
Aster's face said it all. "Ah- sorry Bella. I was just- I was taken aback. The Guildmasters wants me to serve him under a special mission. Something that only I could do apparently..."
Isabella, the girl of snow-white hair and ice blue eyes stared blankly for a moment. She too was a bronze ranked adventurer, and like Aster- she attended the knights academy. The two were wearing uniforms that matched. A white suit with the Knight's insignia which was a simple shield and sword that crossed down the middle. The uniform also consisted of a red tie, with black bottoms that differed by preference whether it were trousers or a skirt. In Isabella's case, she was wearing a skirt with thigh highs while Aster wore trousers.
The girl suited the outfit with her sense of elegance- but that was thrown out the window when she found out about Aster's special commission. "You have to do something like that?! Aster that's too much for you! I mean- just the other day you were getting pulverized by that guy..."
"Okay okay stop! Don't remind me... Sigh, the Guildmaster went out of his way to ask specifically for me. It's not a request I can just decline so easily. I mean, it might even benefit the Guild to actually assist in stopping this war."
Aster's tone dropped. The war had always been a touchy subject for people. For someone like Isabella, she seemed deeply hurt about the war. It was, after all, disheartening to remember Freiheit's tragic loss over its King. There were of course lords who governed domains in Freiheit, but Drystia was the capital and was naturally ruled by the heart of Freiheit, Polaris the King of Freiheit. But not only was he murdered, but Sideralis the Princess was also assassinated, along with the Hero Lumiere. It was tragedy after tragedy, and something even more heart wrenching was that the most admired group of Adventurers had conspired with the Demons and caused a war that harmed the lives of innocent's. Whether it be physically or unintentionally because of poverty- they caused many problems- not to mention the 10,000 dead adventurers who had their futures torn from them.
Aster himself wasn't as deeply affected, considering his memory loss syndrome. But even he was careful when mentioning something like this to Isabella. "I know that... I know it might help, but Aster... What if you die doing something so reckless..."
"Bella, it's okay. I can still decline, but I'd rather sit on it first. I'm still trying to figure out my bearings, and you've honestly been a great hand. You've given me shelter, and even helped me get a spot in the academy."
Bella smiled, the comment making her cheeks rosy. Twirling her hair, she continued listening to Aster who was barraging her with compliments. "In all honesty, I'm sure there are a lot of guys who wish were in my position. But to be next to someone so dazzling all the time, I can't help but feel like I'm burdening you."
"Don't say such things. You're fine the way you are, and like you said- you're figuring out your bearings. I mean, if the Guild Master wanted to recruit you as an apprentice, that surely means you really are something else!"
Encouraging him, he brought himself back to his senses before approaching the set of stairs that'd take him to the first floor of the Adventurer's guild hall. "We should get back. I'm sure the others are just waiting for the news."
It was about a two months ago when Aster awoke. He found himself in an odd place at an odd time with an odd sensation. Where was he? What year is it? And why did he feel a breeze down there. Not only was he starving, but he had no clothes to keep him warm, and no sense of direction. He was a boy lost in the world. If it weren't for his incident with a travelling merchant, he would've been left for dead. Much to his luck however, the merchant was kind enough to gift him a spare set of clothes for free.
When the merchant would mention his destination in Freiheit, he only replied in confusion. These words carried no weight behind them because he didn't know about anything. Freiheit was an odd word for him, thinking it was some sort of delicacy to enjoy in small doses. He was at least aware of the several major races- but his knowledge was few and far between.
He had ran into many instances since going into Freiheit. After getting an official ID, the people working had treated him with praise. 'There's a new Ragnarok!', so they sung. Since Aster's full name was Aster Ragnarok, he learnt that the Ragnarok name was oftentimes praised.
The Ragnarok clan was a clan of humankind filled with individuals of great strength. They naturally possessed powerful blessings called Chains, and they were at the top of the tree. Of course, Aster himself understood none of that and had assumed that he must've scored big.
Shortly after, he would meet Isabella who was handling a situation in town. A noble was getting aggressive with his missus. Seeing such actions, Bella had stepped in to stop the fighting. When the man threw his hand on her, Aster was the one to catch it. However, that led to him getting beaten up. The noble was disgusted by a commoner's actions, but that brave boy was praised by the unknowing Isabella.
Their encounter was brief, but it was a core memory for Isabella. Eventually, the two would meet at the Adventurer's Guild once more, and they would exchange information. It was then that Aster's situation was brought to light and Bella then offered him a place to stay. But his ambitions were odd. Isabella didn't dare question, but he had wished to become an adventurer but also lacked the body to do so. To her, he was mysterious, someone who has no history- inherited the name Ragnarok and had even been acknowledged by the Guildmaster.
He was truly one of a kind. The two attended the Royal Knight's Academy. It was a school dedicated to teaching students the ways of the knight. Using a system called the Helix, the school is able to keep high attention to progress.
As for what the Helix is, a Goddess named Hedera rewrote the Ley Lines that permeate the world, and is said to had been able to use the Helix to read a person's everything. For someone like Aster whose memory was lost, even he was able to learn what his name was with a simple screen that was in his visual at all times. The Helix system was so advanced that it even allowed for conversations across the world. It was a revolutionary gift that the Goddess of Knowledge simply created out of boredom.
But it truly had become a staple across the world. For academics, it was the greatest tool to use that helped improve student's quality of life and their progression.
The two who had been walking for quite a while took their time to take in the view. The city was peaceful, something that was quite hard to come by. During the day- everyone is busy with work. But the peace wasn't one that could be appreciated quite well. While in an ideal world, the streets would be bustling- it was quite depressing to see the homeless and the silent walkers. The people of Drystia barely held conversation nowadays and the most lively of places would usually only be near pubs or grand places like the Guild.
"Do you think the war will ever end?" Isabella asked out of nowhere. The two were walking down the path that led to the heart of the city. Because of how Drystia was built in an ancient era, it was a city that donned several walls separating each district. The Knights Academy was located near the center but it wasn't too far from the Guild itself. The streets were made of cobble, and the walls upon each house was built by gray bricks. There were some shops here and there- mostly corner shops selling general items and a few places to eat at. It was nothing special since the area mostly houses adventurers or students who attended the Knights Academy. As for Isabella's place, it was pretty close to the academy and only she and Aster lived there for now. Since it was after school hours by this point, their friends decided to wait for them at hers.
But her sudden question really threw Aster out of it. After all, there had been a lot on his mind. Did he really want to be thinking about the war between humanity and demon? "I'm not sure. I mean..."
Carefully choosing his words, Isabella stopped completely before tapping his head gently. "Aster, you don't have to be careful you know. You can be as blunt as you want. I know you mean well, so don't worry, okay?"
Aster took a moment to let that settle in. She was someone who was talented- very gifted at what she does. But only he ever got to see this side of her. He spoke, "I don't know in all honesty. If I'm being brutally honest, the war doesn't involve me... I mean..."
"I see... But that's totally fair, you know? I mean, you're someone with no memories of his life. You want to find your grounds and you said that you remember wielding a sword. Right?" She said, recounting everything he had told her. He almost felt this sense of guilt that was written all over his face. His eyes crooked, looking down to the ground
"But I also don't want to be selfish... If I can use my talent for the good, then I simply want to. To answer your question, I have no idea if it will end. But I know I want it to end so people like you can have a future to not worry about."
His words were safe, which meant he still considered her feelings regardless. Letting out a soft chuckle, she breezed past him, her scent catching his nose. "Well, whatever the future brings, I'm always ready to tackle it. C'mon, let's go see Yuji and the others!"
Aster soon followed along. Though it was quite a short walk, it felt longer due to it being a straight line from the guild to her place. At the front porch were three individuals.
"Aster, Bella! What's the situation?" The blonde boy approached from the porch. The three were out of uniform already. Yuji, the blonde beauty wore his black top with a green jacket over it, while the other two who were noticably younger wore similar outfits.
"It's a bit complicated. Let's head inside first." Aster stated, before his kouhais approached him.
"Uhm. Aster, I brought you some snacks."
"Ahh! I knew I could rely on you Rina!" Rina was a short height girl. She often wore red but her most attentive feature was the long black hair she had and those crimson red eyes. In terms of their relationship, Aster was what one would consider her master. It was a similar situation with Yuji and the other girl, Celine. She had red hair and was under the tutelage of Yuji.
"Oh? Where's Alice?" Bella asked, looking around for her trainee but was nowhere to be found.
"She's with Roland." Bella's face dropped up on hearing that name, as did Aster's. Her mentioning of Aster being beaten up the other day- Roland was precisely the guy. Aster butt heads with Roland by accident, and of course, Aster being labeled a commoner- got harassed quite badly by Roland.
In terms of the food chain, Roland was at the top of the board. He was strong, and while he big upped himself, he had the backing to do so. What didn't help his ego was that not only was he a high ranking noble- but he was also at the top of the student charts.
"Master Isabella, Alice said she'd be okay and that she'd come see us as soon as she can..." Rina mentioned, which helped ease Bella up a bit. Aster couldn't sit right however. Hearing that name sent his hairs to stand up.
But he also had many other matters to think about before school. After all, he was given a mission of utmost importance. Sitting down in the living room that had two couches in the shape of an L, with a table span across each couch- Aster began retelling what happened at the guild.
To settle everyone down, Bella began making tea. "You're saying you have to do something that scary?" Yuji asked, practically almost leaping off the couch- startling Celine a little bit.
"Yeah. I'm almost certain I'd be required to explore whatever dungeon it could be hiding too. So it's a rather scary idea." Rina held onto Aster's hand. She looked like she could just about cry.
"That's just reckless though! I know he's the Guildmaster, but he can't ask something like that of you?!" Celine bursted. The task was simply too much for an 18 year old boy, but Aster somehow remained calm. He was nervous, but one wouldn't describe the way he looked as someone who was scared. Rather, it was someone who was calculating his options and figuring out which one serves him best.
"Aster, it doesn't help that you don't even know how the Helix works just yet, and I don't mean to diss you- but you're a frail guy." Yuji dropped his thoughts like a bomb. Tension rose as Celine couldn't believe what just came out of Yuji's mouth- while Rina remained silent. Her anxiety was building up and it was visibly clear how uncomfortable she was as she gripped onto Aster's hand.
"I understand that Yuji. You are right, and I won't discredit your thoughts. In the end, I'm new to this world, and my body is nowhere near where it should be. On top of that, by doing this, I could become the Seven Wonder's next on the hitlist- but..."
As Aster began to ramble on, Isabella broke his thoughts with the gentle placing of a tea set. If Aster were to go through with this job, everyone had doubted whether or not he'd get through it safely. Yuji in particular, truly cared about how Aster was. Almost everyday, Yuji would inspect Aster's body, touching up his muscles to see how his rehabilitation was going. Considering Aster's state only 2 months ago, it was natural to be worried about things like that. Rehabilitation would take at least 6 months for someone like Aster. Yet, it always seemed like he was moving forward. This was the one time where his friends were reluctant to the idea of him moving forward. But, there was one who thought of something different.
"If you're going to go through with this Aster, then surely you need more than just yourself right? So I'll be inviting myself in." Bella said as she poured Aster his tea. He kindly accepted before sipping. But those words hadn't kicked in until the tea found its way to the back of his throat- forcing him to spew it all out.
"What?!" He exclaimed, before Yuji stood up and clenched those strong fists of his. "That's it... We'll go with you, to make sure you don't do anything reckless!"
"I'm up for that! Master Yuji, I know I'm not as experienced as you three masters, but please let me in on this. After all, it is Rina and my duties to ensure you two are safe!"
Rina followed Celine's words, although she wasnt very confident about it- she steeled herself to nod. "Master... I don't want to see you hurt."
As encouraging as they were, Aster was incredibly against the idea. "No! No, no, I mean, what if something happens to you guys?!"
But they all thought the same thing. Staring at him, the peered straight through him. No words were needed for Aster to realize the irony in his statement. There he was, ready to refute them joining- yet it was that exact same argument that they were using against him going. Upon realizing this, he settled down, before drinking his tea again.
"Sigh, you guys win. We'll need a game plan at the very least. In other words, any sign of danger, we all have to run. Sounds like a deal?"
The group of 5 finally came to an agreement. Tomorrow, they would tell the Guild Master their answer. That they would accept this special commission, and that if they see any signs of danger- that they'll retreat immediately leaving the rest to the other adventurers protecting them.
It was a foolish plan, but Aster himself knew how truly foolish he is by deciding to accept the commission. But with it being the only lead to finding Altair Ragnarok- it may be the only way to end the war.
But the real question that Aster pondered. Just who is Altair Ragnarok? What did he wish for in his pursuit l for power? Why did he kill not only his brother, but also the King and Princess? It was far too many questions with too little answers. But Aster knew that whatever he did- he must get answers. 'The Four Winds... I have to talk to them. They'll know what happened.'