*** In the darkness of the church... ***
The moonlight reflected into the room was the only source of light. Though brilliant and bountiful, its luster is lost among the twenty people.
A slender figure wearing a deep green robe sits on a rectangular table with a few men. Above them was a faintly lit chandelier, polished beautifully.
"Gentlemen, we have not gathered this Sunday for no reason. Report your statuses thus far. We shall start from my right."
"A total of 722 rats have been bred, my liege."
"A total of 803 rats have been bred, my liege."
The 17 other people take their turns to report their rounds.
...
"A total of 694 rats have been bred, my liege."
Hearing this, the deep green figure leaned forward and changed her tone to a serious voice. It was higher pitched compared to a male's so it's most likely a lady's.
"Change of plans. We do not begin the assault until every team we have here breeds at least 4000 rats. Is that understood?"
" " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " "YES, MY LIEGE!!!" " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " "
"How are things going along for our queen?"
"Yes! Lady Etria is currently practicing her Divine Weapon in the yard."
"I want her Divine Weapon to sparkle so bright, I can see it two kilometers away. Make sure she practices. Do not give her leeway because she is the queen."
A man in a deep red robe bowed in respect. "Yes, my liege."
"The atheists have no idea what is in store for them. Our queen has already mastered Divine Armor, and they have yet to birth a champion. We shall begin our offense when they are weakened."
" " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " "YES, MY LIEGE!!!" " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " "
"Today's meeting is adjourned! We shall gather in two weeks' time. That should be bountiful for 4000 rats each team."
" " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " "YES, MY LIEGE!!!" " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " "
And so the 20 people left.
*** ***
"Vance?"
... Where am I?
"Vance, wake up. It's morning!"
I really feel like feeling up my comfortable pillow... Please let me rest, Homei...
"If you're not going to get up, I'm going to give you a good morning kiss until you wake up."
A kiss? That would ruin my purity... OH NO, HOMEI, DON'T! I HAVEN'T KISSED ANYONE BEFORE!!!
I hurriedly get up, only to headbutt into her own head. We both clutch our head regions, like some sort of comedy duo I used to watch in my leisure time.
... Getting up, I realised that I was SLEEPING ON HER LAP. OH MY LORD.
I... never expected her lap to be so comfortable. To think it was so fragrant and cozy, that I just wanted to snuggle on it unconsciously... That is dangerous.
I came to Homei's house after yesterday's match with Elden, and just slept on her lap the whole day. Since I skipped dinner yesterday night, my stomach was growling. Assuming she never left her position, she's probably in the same situation.
"Ugh... Well, Homei, would you like anything for breakfast?"
"I've had enough breakfast just by seeing your face."
Face... Okay, I'll make her sunny side-up eggs with a tomato sauce smile then.
"Go and brush your teeth, Homei. Hygiene is important!"
"Hah! Says the man who handles greasy machine parts and missed yesterday's brush-before-bed!"
She skipped her way towards the toilet while I cracked open the eggs into bowls and switched on the gas stove. I consciously checked my breath.
... She's right. My breath is horrid. I'd have to avoid talking or spraying this stench over her pan.
After a while, the eggs were fried pretty nicely. The non-stick pan really works wonders, and I even drew a cute nose with mustard for her to enjoy.
"This? For me?" She looks surprised.
Of course it's for you. I'll live on celery sticks, but she needs her protein.
Walking to her fridge, I opened the vegetables compartment, and took a stick of celery out.
I shouldn't be doing this and inconveniencing uncle Sarsan, but I'm just too hungry.
"Hey, hey, Vance!"
?
"You can taste this if you like."
She closes her eyes, her head extends forward, and her upper and lower lips seperate to form a small gap.
I am NOT eating that. I haven't even had my first kiss yet.
"No."
"But why? The television said this is the most romantic style of thanking your spouse for a good meal!"
"No means no. And that means no. No."
She frowned a bit, and walked out of the kitchen.
... That girl's a handful. As much as I care for her, and tend to her like a companion, the things she does are just too suggestive and aggressive. Still, I feel really relaxed and comfortable with her.
What I don't understand is, does she see me in a platonic or sexual way?
*** ***
Walking home, I saw this weird old lady gypsy.
"Hello, hello, mister. Your fate... is truly interesting. Care to listen?"
I think I'd pass on this.
"Mister, please. Allow me to read your fortune. I'll do it for free."
... She's tugging on my sleeve, and she's really persistent.
"... Just once?"
"Just once."
... I guess I can invest 5 minutes of my time for this.
"Come on in, have a seat, and relax. Let me see your fate."
She even talks like how I'd expect a gypsy to talk like. She's either a pro, or an amateur following a really detailed guide book.
"Ahh... I see... I see...!!!"
And here we go, with the standard build-up in anticipation again. I don't get why gypsies love doing that.
"I see a girl... With long, pretty bluish-purple hair..."
... Wow. That's a rather accurate description of Homei. Then again, I've walked this street for 11 years now, the citizens probably know what we look like now.
"I see her, walking away from you..."
I don't know what she's getting at... But that was a really accurate guess.
"... And you, at the center..."
"... Me, at the center? Of what?"
"I see... a wave of destruction... Everything around you, floating up... Smashing into each other into fine pieces, and whirling into a gale of absolute destruction..."
! Where... Where have I heard, or rather, seen this before?
"A powerful force, that tears down bridges, constructs, nature and man-made alike... An unstoppable wind... Engulfing everything that it takes..."
!!! ... She... She just described my dream... This is definitely not a gypsy that scams others... !!!
Who is this person?
"Who are you?"
... She asked first...
"I'm Vance. And I... Would like to know more."
"Vance, the v.vizard, huh? Pleasure to meet you, I am Bal-thuu'had. And just like you, I am a v.vitch."
... She's a v.vitch!
That explains why she could do something like that. She probably specialised in fields of magic like dream reading or something. Then, if she truly is a v.vitch...
"What... What was that in my dream?"
"That?"
Stop adding to my suspense, woman!!!
"It... is a wonderful power. A power that can trigger the greatest flames of war, or douse it. You are truly a unique, powerful v.vizard..."
"Why did that happen in my dream, Baul too hard?"
"Please show respect for my name."
"... Sorry. It's just so hard to pronounce."
"I'll forgive you, because of your great power. But now is not the time for my revelation."
... Figures. Have me come back, and pay actual money, before she goes in-depth. Why wouldn't it be like that? It's how she makes a living, after all.
"Well, at least give me a business card or something so I can come next time, Baul too hard."
Extending her bony arm, she passed a small card to me.
"Here you go, young man."
It looks weird. It's not a business card at all... There's a strange mark on the paper... A rune?
"It's a two-way magical object formed from Channel runes. I will speak to you through it, when the time for my revelation arrives. Until then, young man."
She walks out of the tent she was originally in. Why... would she do that? Isn't this hers?
Looking around, there was a strange rune at the bottom of the mat of a different shape. I traced that down on my handy dandy notepad used to write down my bill sheet codes and left the tent.
... ?! There are sounds of wings flapping and birds in panic!
The tent...! It turned into a murder of crows and flapped away, leaving nothing behind!
... That, was a really strange Sunday.
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