triverse | What was I searching for here? There must be some reason, I'll try and ask

[Kor's smile doesn't fade as he reveals this next part, though it isn't quite as wide at least.]

You might be finding out soon enough if you fight, at least.

...R-right.

[Despite that huge sword on his back, he doesn't really look confident at all.]

[....Boy, is it just him, or did it get really awkward here all of a sudden? He has no clue what happened, why's Ruca being so shy all of a sudden? Well it's a good thing he had somewhere he was going with that conversation.]

A-anyway... Did you know that when somebody tells you if you scratch their back then they'll scratch yours, they don't mean it literally?

[Yes, he may have had an awkward encounter with the guildmaster.]

[He's just an awkward bookworm having second thoughts on adventuring! Don't mind him!

Ruca blinks, surprised.]

Of course. It's just a saying... Wait, did you try to scratch someone?

Huh?! [Kor balks at Ruca's reaction, taking a step back in surprise.]

So you know about it, then? What's it mean, Ruca? C'mon, tell me, please!

[He's absolutely serious here.]

Huh?

[Now he's even more surprised.]

Er... It means to do something for someone in hopes that the favor will be returned.

Oh. Makes sense to me! [A normal person would probably be embarrassed over being corrected with such a revelation.

Kor is not a "normal person."]

Anyway, the Guildmaster heard about our journey together and wanted me to scratch his back in exchange for some information. [which he actually tried to do until he was pretty forcefully stopped] He says there are some Xerom-like monsters interfering with a supply route north of here, and he wants us to go deal with them.

[Ruca only smiles at Kor's reaction. He sure is not minding being corrected.]

Us?

[Ruca looks a bit surprised to hear that.]

So we'll be fighting so soon... [He takes a deep breath. He's very obviously worried.] I can do it, I can do it...

[Kor raises an eyebrow at Ruca's worry. Ruca cuts a pretty impressive figure in his new adventurer outfit with that big sword, even though he's pretty scrawny. He couldn't understand why Ruca was so worked up. It's just fighting monsters! A skilled fighter can handle that no problem!]

Yeah, of course you can do it! Asura seemed pretty confident you'd be able to handle yourself with a broadsword, and I can't imagine he'd be the kind of guy who'd want to send you into battle if you couldn't handle yourself.

[It sure wouldn't benefit him to get Ruca killed, at least.]

I bet after a couple fights, you might even get some of your memory back!

[Ruca looks at Kor for a moment. The other boy sounds so sure, that it would be hard to argue with him.]

If you say so then... I believe you. [He nods lightly to himself, as if to find determination in his fears and worries.] I-I'll do my best!

Yeah, that's the Spiria!

[Ruca may not feel terribly confident, but that's okay, because Kor had enough of that for the two of them. It was all going to be fine. Probably.]

Well, if you're all set, then we should head out. We've got a lot of walking ahead of us.

[In all honestly, Kor's confidence is affecting Ruca, too. He nods again, feeling less nervous about fighting the monsters.]

Alright... let's go!

[With that said, the two of them are off! But it's not long after they hit the road that Kor's already bringing up conversation. ~~After all, what's a Tales adventure without some skits, right?~~]

Say, Ruca. You found that sword on your back for sale in town, right? I've never seen anything like it before.

[Ruca fixes the stripe on his back and looks at the other shyly.]

Y-yes. You said I should get a big sword... and this one seemed just perfect.

[He smiles awkwardly.]

The owner found it funny that I want to try this sword... I guess he didn't believe I could lift it, but I can't blame him. I wasn't sure about this either.

[Don't mind him as he gets close to your back, Ruca. Just invading your personal space to get a good look at that sword.]

I don't see weapons this fancy for sale very often. [He flicks the blade with a finger. Sure sounds real based on the sound it just made. Not that he doubted the integrity of the merchants in that marketplace, but... Well, no, he kind of did. There are some shady fellows there, he wouldn't want his new friend to get ripped off! But this definitely was a sound transaction.]

It kinda reminds me of a Soma.

W-well... it took me some time before I found it...

[He looks over his shoulder to watch Kor as the other boy examines the sword.]

Soma is... very special, right? Is it even possible to buy one?

Well...

[Kor thumbs his chin thoughtfully over the current state of Somas.]

It's not impossible. I sold my body to help a friend get a Soma, even! [Don't say it like that, Kor...]

But the church rounded up most of the Somas, so I dunno if there are even any left to be found besides those or the ones me and my friends own.

[Kor comes out from behind Ruca, taking the lead again as they head onwards.]

But it's not like it'd be illegal for somebody to sell one. ...I think.

[It's not like Kor's all that good at knowing the law, much less obeying it.]

Y-you did what?

[Ruca stares at him with wide eyes, then quickly steps closer, grabbing the other boy's hand and looking him over with a concerned frown.]

A-and you're okay, right? What did you have to do? Ah, b-but... it's okay if you don't want to talk about it! If it was something really bad...

[He trails off, growing even more worried about his companion.]

Edited 2020-01-09 21:29 (UTC)

Huh? [Kor stares down at Ruca in confusion over his sudden outburst. What was the issue, he just offered his eternal servitude to Innes to get a Soma from her, what was the problem??]

Of course I'm okay, Innes--

[Kor cuts himself off. The port's visible from their current location, and though it was hard to make out, it looked like... it was on fire?!]

Hold that thought, Ruca! Looks like there's trouble!

[The port was going to be a detour from where they needed to head, but... He couldn't just stand around if he could do something to help.]

Let's go!

[He's not giving Ruca much choice or chance to respond here, because he's booking it full speed towards the port.]

[Ruca wants to ask more questions, but he never gets a change. Buildings in the distance are burning and before he manages to say anything Kor is already rushing towards the port.]

W-wait!

[Ruca is running after him and since he's stamina is absolutely awful, by the time he reaches Kor he's already completely out of breath.]

[It's probably a good thing that the port, though a fair decent distance away, is pretty easily accessibly on foot.

By the time Ruca catches up to Kor, he'll find him frozen in place at the entrance to the port, clearly shocked by the state of it. Fires have started, cargo has been smashed and destroyed. There are no people around, though whether they've been killed or simply managed to flee remains to be seen.]

--!! This is...!

[The most noteworthy part of it, however, are the culprits. Winged monsters wielding swords occupy the port, and they may or may not look familiar to Ruca...]

Edited 2020-02-10 20:27 (UTC)

[Seeing the monsters, Ruca quickly grabs his sword then takes a step back...

...And freezes, eyes widen.]

I think... I think I've seen monsters like those before...

[He doesn't remember where or when and his head hurts a bit when he starts thinking about it. He grips his sword firmly, noting how oddly familiar it feels to have such a heavy weapon.

...If he could only remember something.]

Huh? [Kor recognizes the monsters himself. He's seen them in exactly one place, and it's near where their destination was supposed to be. Or maybe... It is their destination... Are these the monsters that the guildmaster wanted them to deal with...? But that doesn't explain what they're doing here.

Hearing Ruca express his own recognition of the monsters, however, is what truly surprises Kor. That forest is full of oddities, so if it has some connection to Ruca, well... Then it's gotten a whole lot odder.]

You do?! --Err, you have?!

[Well, at least they have a lead. It sure beat wandering around aimlessly.]

Then let's get to beating these guys' skulls in, maybe that'll trigger your memory!

[Kor grabs the handle embedded in his Soma, and draws it out in a flourish, a shining golden blade appearing in his right hand with a flash of light.]

R-right!

[Ruca may have worries, but he also starts fighting the monsters. It's strange how easy it feels for him, like the weights of the sword means nothing. He swings the blade dealing powerful blows, but then he does something else - his sword lights with fire when he swings it again. It's a familiar warmth.

He tries to focus and this time he casts a spell. He remembers how to do that.]

Fireball!

[The fiery orb hits the creature, but it's Ruca who feels a little stunned for a moment.]

I... remember how to fight...

[Maybe not everything came back to him, but what he has now feels like enough. He smiles a bit to himself.]

[Kor smiles seeing Ruca hold his own in battle here. That Asura sure did call it right when it came to him.

Seeing that Fireball collide with one of the monsters, Kor's quick to do a follow-up on it, adding to Ruca's fire with his own.]

Phoenix Ascendant!

[He leaps into the air and swings his sword around him, waves of flames surrounding him and spreading outward, engulfing the monster in fire.]

That's one down, let's keep it up, Ruca!

What was I searching for here? There must be some reason, I'll try and ask

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drops in here eighty four years later SEE I TOLD YOU IT'D BE SOON

I believed in you ♥

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