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

[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!

S-sure!

[Ruca rushes towards the next monster.]

Infernal Torrent!

[A powerful, fiery flash strikes the monster. Ruca still feels pretty shaken that he can do it, but a small smile starts creeping on his face. He's not useless... he can actually fight!]

[The winged monster reels back from Ruca's arte, screeching at the flames sear its flesh. But it wasn't down for the count yet. It raises that sword and takes a swing at Ruca.

Kor is engaged with another one of the monsters, so he can't rush in and protect Ruca. Ruca can fight, but can he defend?]

[The comeback surprises Ruca and he barely manages to avoid the slash, bring his big sword to defend himself. The two blades clash and Ruca takes a step back, before he launches another attack at the monster.

His heart is beating faster but he's not sure if it's worry that drives him or the excitement that he's strong and can fight the monster.]

[Ruca's swing hits hard and true, bringing down the monster! At the same time, Kor defeats his quarry as well. For now, it seems like the monsters attacking the port were gone. Kor walks over to Ruca to congratulate him on some amazing work in battle.]

That was great work, Ruca! You swung that sword around like it was just a stick!

[Is comparing someone's sword ability to stick fighting a compliment? Probably not, but Kor thinks it is.]

[Ruca looks confused for a moment. They did it? They defeated all the monsters? A smile spreads on his face as he looks down on his hands.]

...I really did it.

[Then he looks at Kor, taking every compliment with a smile that is soon changing to something almost relieved.]

Thank you, Kor. Ah, but... you did amazing job, too!

[Kor laughs sheepishly, scratching the back of his head. He's not going to lose this compliment war, dammit.]

Haha, not as amazing as you were!

[For a guy who acted like he knew nothing about fighting, he did great.]

Oh, yeah! Did you manage to remember anything from fighting those guys?

No, no! You did so much better than me!

[This war, he will not lose it!

Ruca looks away for a moment, then down at his sword.]

...I remember I've seen those monsters before. I remember fighting them.

[It feels like there's something more to those creatures, but he isn't sure what exactly.]

Yeah, but I've been fighting monsters for a long time. Meanwhile, you fight like a pro even though you're barely bigger than that sword you're wielding!

[He's being complimentary, honest.]

So you've fought them before, huh...

[Kor taps his chin. There's only one place he's seen monsters like that. ...Well, two places, but that other place is so remote that there's no way Ruca could be from there. ...Right?]

Got it, then I know where the next stop on our journey together is!

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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