I am not the best at coming up with stuff to do if I am currently not doing anything. Back home, I'd get lost in my thoughts and usually end up getting mad at myself for either some previous decision I made, usually involving spending money on something I don't need, or for wasting my time and not using it to be productive. And then when I try to be productive, I make no progress because I've probably run out of the required energy. It ain't fun.
It especially ain't fun here, when the productive thing to do is walk, interact, and learn. Sure, I like to walk when I feel like it, but doing it for hours? Not fun. Even if I'm going at my own pace, I'll just get bored. Which is ironic, considering how much I could walk in my youth. I'd literally spend my free period walking for a mile or two. But hey, since I've technically been reborn, maybe that spry and youthful energy is back. Probably not, but I'm walking around the city anyway, so whatever.
Now while I won't be using the MPC emulator to make things easy, anything I find that can also make things easier is fair game. This includes what I discovered upon entering a little area called "Historia's Rest".
In the middle of the park, a gilded statue of seven pillars holding up a globe. Assuming the globe is meant to be Fanta Regauss, then I'm glad that the people who made this don't believe in a flat world. … Wait, is it?
"Kandance, is Fanta Regauss flat?"
"It's a sphere."
"Alright, just checking."
Nice. Anyway, I'm gonna read this plaque.
"Camlyonn's construction began here in 1001 AD when the Dreimaaz Ooga-Chaka, after surviving the sixteenth Hero's wrath, convinced one member of each other race to help him achieve his dream: to make a haven where all could stand on equal footing. Thanks to them, Camlyonn was built with a bit of everything, for everyone, by doing all they could. They were the first to be known as the Pillars of Camlyonn, and the system of the city's governance continues to honor them to this day. For anyone can become a pillar that helps make the world a better place, but only by working alongside and learning to trust others can one's desire and potential be made whole."
Man… that feels way too deep for me right now. I'm moving on.
The other notable thing this "Historia's Rest" place has is an up-to-date map of the city. According to it, there are seven districts and a three-layer community area in the middle. Each one is meant to represent what the capitals of each of the races represents, all while highlighting the innovations done by their people all throughout Camlyonn. At first, I thought this would be as deep and serious as the plaque… until I noticed what the Hewmitahl's was and… and…
"Pffft… you've gotta be fucking shitting me, aaaaHAHAHAHAHA!"
"Huh? What's so funny?"
I try to hold back my laughter as I point to the reason. The Hewmitahl's district is the fucking PLEASURE DISTRICT!
"Well, duh. I told you that they're compatible with all the races. Makes sense for the mortals to figure out that they'd be the best at pleasing everyone…"
Bruh. Bruuuuuuh. Out of everything, they got the fucking red light district? Maaaaan. The place is actually called, I shit you not, "G.T.F.O. (Good Times, Fun Occurances"), and the current Hewmitahl Pillar is apparently named Boaris. And I am so sorry for this Boaris person that you have to deal with that.
Next up is the Kymein district, which I expected to be based on magic. But no, it's called "Soothsayer's Botania" and it's a nature district. But it also has a beach and a bunch of boutiques, magic art galleries, and a plaza for big events. I guess the best way to describe it is that it helps make both the place and the people look pretty?
"Oooohohoho! That should be the perfect spot to go after we're done here, no?"
"I'll decide once I've seen them all."
Don't wanna be rushed here, Kandance. Rushing me just makes me nervous and agitated. Anyway, Llennowyn is the Kymein Pillar in charge there, not really sure what he'd be like.
After that is the Kamamein district, which is also the one at the entrance and is where that ManaNet cafe was. "The Forward Way" is the name, and innovation is their game. Making discoveries in any and all fields. Medicine, convenience, and magic are listed here, and- wait.
"Kandance, didn't your presentation say the Kamamein were supposed to be more physically adept? Why are they the ones studying magic?"
"Who said being physically adept means you couldn't also be magical or smart?"
Shit, that's my bad for stereotyping.
"Is it harder for them, though?"
"They do it as well as any normal mortal can. Sure, I made the Kymein more adept at it, but that clearly didn't stop everyone else from trying…"
Alright, that's on me for assuming. Oh yeah, the Kamamein Pillar. They're apparently named Gyldehn, and they're also the CEO of an MPC firm. Good for them.
Time for the Gaolras district, and with a name like "As One", it makes sense that they're about cooperation. Considering that Kandance told me how much family matters to them, it'd be weird if it didn't have something similar as its theme. Everything there is done in a party of two or more, and if you don't have anyone, then you can visit Camlyonn's official Adventurer's Haven to form one. Maybe it works like a guild or something?
"..."
… Uhh, anyway. Even the Gaolras Pillar is technically two people. Conjoined twins Tsumukan and Ginnoko of the kitsune tribe share the position, and are revered as a legendary nine-tailed savior.
"Guess even something as rare as conjoined twins can happen in this world, yeah?"
"..."
"... Kandance?"
Okay this is the second time she hasn't spoken, what's-
"Yeah?"
"Don't you wanna make a witty comment or something?"
"Oh, I… wasn't paying attention. Sorry!"
Well that sounds perfectly true! … Not. Eh, I'll probably find out later.
Anthras district. Called "The Meal Table" because it's based on food. Hunting and gathering food, making new food, tasting and enhancing food. Food food food food food.
"Hey, are you drooling?"
Am I? Huh…
"To be fair, I haven't eaten in a while."
Yeah, this body can feel hunger. God body couldn't. Plus I like food. Very tasty, makes me happy. Very good. Though I have to wonder if it's at all awkward for these animal-like people to eat other animals. Or is that not a thing here?
"Are wild animals, like, a normal thing?"
"Nope, but there are a lot of monsters that I designed after learning about Earth's animals."
Learned? Damn it Kandance, stop giving me more questions I need answers to! Gah! The Anthras Pillar is named Braaxus, and he's like a dinosaur or something! We're moving on before the ex-Goddess brings up anything else!
… Okay, calming down. The Deinaaz district is based around exploration. Alright, flying people like to explore, I get ya. They also have a side focus on transportation and creating new vehicles that allows the other races to travel together with them.
"Oh, my darlings. Ever so thoughtful of their fellow mortals…"
A part of me wants to say "unlike someone I know", but I remember that Kandance doesn't hate mortals. Moreso that she just sees them below herself. They're two very different things. … Wait, wouldn't that also work? Lemme see.
"Yeah, unlike someone I know…"
"Hey! I'm thoughtful too when it comes to my fellow- … You almost got me."
…
Deinaaz Pillar. Angelyin. Wants to develop wings usable by anyone. Moving on.
Okay, as long as I don't say anything out loud or show her anything, there's nothing for Kandance to foreshadow. But she's in my God Panel, right? Then I'll just have it behind me while I read the next one, genius move!
"Aww, how thoughtful! You remember I dislike Dreimaaz! That's why you made the map hidden when you got to their district, right?"
"... Sure."
But yeah, the Dreimaaz are represented with "Rise, Rise, Rise!", the rivalry district. Its goal is to help you find "the perfect rival" for whatever you specialize in. There's more text here saying something about how "rivalries make both sides strive for growth". But they can also push people too far in a bad direction, yeah? Just hope they know to avoid that. Then again, there's a battle colosseum run by the champion and Dreimaaz Pillar Umbrahlygard, so I suspect that somewhere between a few dozen to hundreds or potentially thousands of people have killed someone else over a rivalry. Just a hunch.
And last is that middle area, the community district called "A Dream's Work". It's the main shopping area of Camlyonn, but special because apparently anyone can set up a shop here regardless of status or qualifications. I wonder how many people have been scammed there because of a scammer setting up shop or a scammer visiting their shop.
"Oh, this is interesting. There's this platform system around the rim of the area that has multiple methods of bringing you to its other layers."
"I'm guessing they're based on the sky and underground civilizations of the Deimaaz and Dreimaaz, then? And thus, by having all three reachable with each other, it shows that they're all connected?"
It's probably simpler than that. But I wanted to sound fancy, ya know?
"... I guess. Still not sure how everyone buddied up to the Dreimaaz in what seems to be a bit over a thousand years after their creation."
… Now I should be mad at her for foreshadowing more stuff to figure out. But I think I already have a vague idea of what I shall dub: The Mystery of the Dreimaaz. It starts with the fifteenth Hero doing… something, and then the sixteenth did… another thing, and… yeah that's all I got right now. Whatever.
"By the way, Kandance? Why do you keep hinting at or bringing up stuff I don't know about but will probably be important?"
"Oh, that? Yeah, so… I'm not completely over you taking my role, thus I am intentionally giving you crumbs of stuff to discover more about to mess with you. And to sate my own curiosity since I don't know some of it either. That's my revenge against you."
… MOTHERFU-