8/23 - Kingdom of humanity - outside the king's castle - night

Sitting on the steps to the castle, I find myself looking down at the lower level. I could hear the people of the lower level partying, having a great time.

"Master, what are you doing out here?" A toneless voice calls me.

"Nothing, I'm just admiring the view I suppose."

"You're missing the ball."

"It doesn't matter, the ball doesn't mean much to me."

She takes a seat next to me, looking only at me.

"Master, you seem bothered."

"I'm not. . .Maybe a little."

"Why?"

"Because Proxy had to get the prize for me."

"I don't comprehend why that is an issue."

"It's not a bad thing in an objective manner, but I didn't earn it for myself. I was supposed to get it for Selena, but in the end, I was incompetent."

Taking the cup by force would’ve been out of taste for me, and I didn't want Nunnalé to do that.

"I too failed to recover the item, so the fault lies on me. If you want, you may take your frustration out on me."

"Can stop telling me to hit you!"

"But. . ."

"But nothing, hitting women is wrong and I sure as hell don't want to!"

Thinking about it now she's so unnerved about being hurt. It bothers me to no end. This line of thought reminds me of the scars on her body and how she kept quiet about it.

"Nunnalé, I have to ask you something: why didn't you tell me about your scar from when you first saved me?"

"I thought it was irrelevant."

"Okay then, let me ask you this: did it hurt?"

"Does it matter?"

"Just answer."

". . .Yes, it did. However, I will not allow it to halt my mission to protect you."

"I see, then. . ."

Using personal reasoning isn't going to hack it, I need to hit her with a more logical based reason.

"Nunnalé, if you were to die I would be put at a disadvantage from losing you, so if you take a life-threatening attack that could be avoided, wouldn't that be redundant?"

"Yes, but what if you were to get hit by an attack that I could've protected you from?"

"Find a way for both of us to come out alive with minimum damage, understand?"

"If this is how you wish for me to fight, then I understand."

This isn't how I want her to stop getting herself nearly killed for me, but at least I got her to conform to my way of going about things. Regardless, I think I should move on from this topic.

"So, how was the dance, did you have fun?"

"Fun?"

"Do you know what that means?"

"Of course, I am not ignorant of such simple concepts." I'm glad that she does know, there would've been a bigger problem if she didn’t. "As for having fun, I don't believe I know if I did."

"Did you enjoy your time; did you believe that it wasn't a waste of time?"

"I do not think it was a waste of time."

"Would you want to do it again?"

"Would it be another mission?"

"No, just for the heck of it."

"If it's with you, then I would not mind."

"Then you had fun."

She seems to have reached a revelation in regards to her feelings.

"I see, I think I understand, but if I may ask: why do you care?"

"Kind of a frank way of asking, but I care because I just want you to have a good time and because we're friends."

"You consider me to be a companion?"

"Of course, I do. I don't care about the master and servant relationship thing, so don't expect me to treat you like you are a servant."

"Why not?"

"Cause, normally, you treat a person like a person, you know?"

Nunnalé didn't raise an argument or question me, she just sat there, staring at me. My ability to read people's feelings doesn't work on her, so I can't tell how she's feeling when she speaks. However, I can tell that she wasn't happy, mad, sad, or even disappointed. She’s just looking at me with curiosity.

"Very well, I will assume for now that you will not wish to punish me for any wrongdoings. However, I will still strive to serve you as if I was a servant." Her attitude towards me won't change, that much is clear, however, it seems that she's beginning to understand what I want. I guess that's an okay start. "Master, I wish to know why you're striving to learn magic? As long as you have me, you don't need to fight, so you don't need to trouble yourself with learning since I can heal on my own."

"But that doesn't mean you are immortal. If you take severe damage you can be killed."

"But that doesn't answer my question."

"It's because of you, Proxy, and myself."

"What do you mean?"

"When you nearly got killed for me, I was in shock. Your delicate frame taking a blow that was meant for me without hesitation, even if you didn't know who I was."

"It was because you were my master."

"I could be a terrible person who's not worthy of using you."

"Not possible, my master is chosen if they meet the criteria to wield me. You proved to be such a person."

"But still, when you were trying to stand up on your own, it hurt for me to watch, I was breathless from your efforts. I thought you were suicidal. In the end, you just wanted to protect an idiot like me. . .In all honesty, I shouldn't be able to use you, I can't even fight. That's why I envy Proxy; even with no magic he still wants to fight, even if it's impossible, he still wants to give it his best. All I can do is sit back and watch you guys fight."

"Master, that's-"

". . .That's why I want to learn how to control this power. I can't twiddle my thumbs as you two fight. Even if all I can do is heal that's fine, I just want a way to help you guys."

I clench my fist tightly. This feeling, it has been a long while since I ever felt like I wanted to achieve more, go from the position I'm currently in. I didn't want to become stronger, but rather grow to understand and utilize my power. It was just like when I wanted to become a better opponent for my brother in the card games we used to play. Yeah, it's been a long while since I felt a burning passion for something like this.

"Even if I didn't earn the cup on my own, if Selena rejects it because I didn't earn it, then I'll plead, beg for another way to get her to teach me. Cause I. . .I don't want to be dead weight!"

". . .It's one thing to say that but will you really throw away your pride like that?"

Selena reveals herself. The wind is blowing against her hair, the moon showing all its glory.

"I wasn't puffing hot air, I meant it."

"Then prove it, show that I won't waste my knowledge on you."

“Then. . .”

I get down on my knees and bow before her. “Please teach me how to use my power!”

I know it’s pathetic but I don’t care, my pride means nothing in comparison to what I yearn for. So no matter what, I need her help!

“Stand-up.”

“Does that mean you’ll--”

“I’m going to see if you’ll be worth the time, so stand.”

I get off the floor, dusting off the dirt from my suit.

"Now, I wish for you to dig into your mind by concentrating," Selena instructs.

"That's it?"

"Use your Source while you do so."

I nod my head. I closed my eyes and had my Source activate. It took everything I had to just maintain. I was deep in thought after two minutes of concentrating.

"Now, go further in. . ." A seductive voice tells me to go even further. It’s as if the command has my mind go deeper and deeper into a rabbit hole. Drip. . .Drip. . .Drip. The sound of dripping is quiet and leads it to be visualized as a red liquid. It drips on the ground, it kept dripping and dripping with no end. The liquid begins to leak out like water from a bucket. An image is slowly being filled in, showing me a whole picture. It was Nunnalé, her stomach torn open, with blood seeping out. She’s writhing in pain while she struggles to stand up. Every nerve in my body is screaming at me to do something. I start the healing process. It’s grueling, I put my all into stopping the bleeding but it keeps on coming.

"Go further!"

The voice urges me again, this time, I realize what it meant, I had to use more power. So I force my body to use more power, more than I’m capable of using. The blood isn't stopping even with how much I use.

Go further

Go further

Go further

Go further

I need to go beyond what I'm using. I use more, pushing more Source out of my body like pushing a boulder against a raging stream of water with my hands. Even so, I keep pushing, even as my body is being pushed to its limit. My mind is beginning to turn to paste, my body is breaking down. The feeling I had before was coming back; it feels as if something is going to snap like a rubber band. It’s getting worse and worse. But I need to push, the red that came from her body is something I never want to see ever again. The painful image of someone who protected me crumbling to the ground as they try to stand with their sword is an image I never want to see again. Even if it snaps, I need to go further than I'm allowed!

"One last push."

With that, I push the boulder with all my might against the stream. Then, something snaps. . .Was it my brain, was it a bone, was it something bad? I don't think so. The thing that snapped was a seal of sorts. Something becomes clear to me. A hand hovering over a deck of cards. The deck is blank, there’s nothing to make it stand out, but that was okay, its purpose isn’t to stand out. The hand takes a hold of one card, lifting the card from the rest of the deck. The card is drawn, like a gunslinger drawing their gun. It’s overdramatic, however, it lights a feeling in me; as if something has been unlocked.

"Master!"

My mind snaps back into reality. I drop to my knees, desperately trying to get any air into my lungs. My body is sore all over, it’s as if I was hit with a baseball bat all over.

"Ms. Selena. . .what was that!?"

"That was you finding your trigger."

"What?"

"Do you wonder why flower petals soar in the air?"

"Because of the wind."

"Exactly, the wind is the trigger for them to soar off, just like how a pebble is a trigger for ripples to be made in a pond. The trigger for your Source to flow properly is a mental image in your mind, something deep in yourself that strikes at you."

"I. . .I saw something, it was a clear image of someone drawing a card from a deck."

"Hm, that sounds rather dull, but that's fine, at least you were able to find it. Go ahead and use your Source with that image in your mind."

As she requested, I close my eyes to find that image again, the hand draws the card just like last time. The image is clear, not a single detail is out of place from last time. Activating my Source is much easier; it’s like turning on a switch now.

"Good, mighty impressive for someone who hasn't trained their Source."

"This, this is amazing! It's like I have a surplus of energy to use, more than that!"

"Congratulations, you learned to summon your Source."

"This is great, but why did you teach me how?"

"Cause I can. Are you telling me that I shouldn't have?"

"No, I'm very thankful."

"Even if you didn't get the teacup for me you still had enough drive to go out and get it. That effort should be rewarded. Plus, Proxy and that blonde boy's dance was truly entertaining."

"Is that so?"

"It is. But that being said, you still need to hone your skills, you only scratched the surface."

"What should I do about that one?"

"Worry not, I'll teach you. However, I will not go easy on you, not if you want to learn what you really want to know."

If she knows that, then she knows I won't refuse. I can't, I came this far, I need to keep going.

"I'll do my best, so please teach me as much as possible!"

“Excellent, but aside from that, I am quite famished, that ingrate of a friend you have didn't serve me anything."

"Then let's go see if we can get something back in the castle," I suggest.

"Very well, escort me back inside."

As she goes on ahead of us, it occurred to me that I didn't thank her for saving my life when I was poisoned.

"Ms. Selena, I mean, teacher Selena. Thank you for saving my life." I bow to her as she glances over at me. Nunnalé bows as well.

"Thank you for saving my master. My incompetence led to such an event."

"It most certainly did. You should stay with your master at all times if you wish to protect him properly."

"I shall never leave his side ever again."

"Nunnalé, it wasn't your fault, I-"

"It's also your fault as well. You should know that she's your sword in the face of adversity, use her."

She walks off toward the castle. I wanted to correct her on that, to deny it but she probably wouldn't listen. Plus, from a logical standpoint, she was right. Nunnalé is stronger than me in terms of physical combat and could take on enemies that would kill me in one go. I turn to her to see that’s unfazed by Selena’s comment. Damn it, this was pretty taxing to think about, I have to change the topic.

"Nunnalé, do you want cake?"

"Cake?"

"It's a sweet type of food, with frosting on it."

"Really!?" Her face brightened up at the mention of sweets. "Master, are you sure?"

"Why not, for everything you did for me and Proxy, you earned."

At the end of the day, despite all my complaints about her behavior, I can't tell her off for saving us, even if I didn't like the way she went about it.

"Nunnalé, let's try our best to do better."

"Let us, master Richard. That being said, the sweets are my current objective. Let us be on our way!"

I couldn't help but laugh at how childlike she was acting. While she isn't out of the range of deadpan expressions she still shows excitement. "Sure, let's go." As we walked on, Nunnalé hurried on back to the ballroom. Walking alongside her gives me a feeling of nostalgia, reminding me of when my brother and I used to go to the card shop in our town. I didn't want to ever remember those memories or feelings I had back then, but I guess it was alright just this once.

Kingdom of humanity, The king's castle, night

Swinging the teacup around my finger, sitting against the wall while everyone else in the room is having a grand time. I’m all by myself since everyone else left me behind with this cup. This ball is boring me out of my skull.

"Mind if I sit with you?" Legion steps beside me, two plates of food in his hands, both with mostly vegetable servings. "Sorry, I didn't know what you wanted."

"It's cool." Legion sits next to me, handing me a plate. "That was an awesome fight Legion!"

"Really?"

"You were so cool with how you were able to keep up with me in hand to hand combat."

"I was trained to use both weapons and my arms proficiently."

"Trained by who?"

"By my squad captain back at HQ of the church?"

"What is this Church? I heard you reference it before"

"Oh, I guess I never explained what the church is. The Church of Mana is an organization set on bringing order and civilized prosperity worldwide. We deal with small scale civil disputes to destructive situations like terrorist acts."

"So you guys don't spread the word of god or something like that?"

"No, we certainly do have that misconception told about us, but we don't talk or pray to a god."

"Then why a church?"

"I have no idea."

"Weird."

"It truly is..." So they're like a government or the police? If that's the case, then they must have people who are just like Legion. "What about you Proxy, what do you do in your world?"

"I'm a middle school graduate."

"Middle school?"

"Yeah, impressed?"

"I never knew that your world had strong youth such as yourself."

"Thanks, you gotta be strong to survive in the network of gangs, delinquents, and troubled youth."

"Sounds dreadful."

"Yeah, they have to deal with me. . ."

"That does sound dreadful," Legion remarks. We both laugh at the comment. It’s surprising to see that he has a funny bone in his body. As we finish our plates, Legion takes them in his hands. "Proxy, after I'm done here, in this kingdom, I'll take you and Richard back to your homeworld, as I promised."

"Is that so? In that case, you'll have to wait."

"Why?" I stand up from the ground, facing Legion.

"Because I'm going to help Alex crush the bandits!"

"For what reason?"

"A lot of things happened after our meeting. Some bandits stole my goggles."

"Are they important?"

"They were mine ever since I was born, so I can't go back without them. Not only that, they posted a fake bounty but Richard and I also took the job. It nearly got us killed."

"Are you serious!?"

"Yeah, he got poisoned and I barely got him a cure in time."

"If that's the case, then why would you want to stay here?”

"I just need to settle the score with them; I won't let them get away with what they did. Besides, I owe it to Alex to help him out."

"You wish to fight alongside him?"

"Yep, the bandits are pretty tough too, so he's going to need all the help he can get. And I'm pretty sure going home can wait."

Legion still seems unsure of my reasoning, but he just sighs in response.

"If you don't mind me asking, how did you arrive here, into this world," Legion inquires.

"I got here by some weird book."

"A book?"

I went on to explain what happened on the night we came to this world. As I mentioned the Grimoire’s involvement.

"Proxy, by chance, is the book black.” Never specified the color of the book, so does he know about it? Before I can ask how he knew it was black, I notice the crowd is staring at us, making a path to the king.

"Proxy, please step up."

I can hear the king from the other end of the room.

"We'll discuss this later. Where can I meet you," Legion asks me.

"There's a place called Titan's axe, it's southeast from here."

"Okay."

I saunter over to him. He is radiating the same superior energy as when I first saw him.

"Sir Proxy, again, I'd like to congratulate you on your victory today," he praises me.

"Thanks, no need to shower me in praise, but you can if you'd like."

"Well, I would like to, but I'd like to admire your artistry."

"My artistry?"

"Yes, the one you did on the grounds outside of my castle."

Oh shit.

"Don’t know what you mean?"

"I'm talking about the unkind words you painted on my steps a few nights ago." The guards begin to close in on me, with their weapons still holstered. "So, before I praise you, I'm going to have to punish you. . ."

Well, this turned out great, now I'm in shits creek. Where the hell is the witch and Nunnalé when you need them?