Tales of the First World

Knock-knock

"Yes.." Ketsuiko shuffled to the door while putting on his shirt.

"Great, you're awake. It's time to go." Grabbing his arm as he was fixing his hair, she walked off with him.

"Why are you always in a rush, Seyta?"

"Why are you always so slow, we don't have time to be staring off into space today, we still need to clear out the bay...eh, you need to clear out the bay–Hang on, what was that?" She stopped in her tracks.

"What is it, Seyta?" 

"..." Again, just like the night before, she would avoid his gaze, even letting go of his hand so suddenly.

"Alright then, I might have an idea about that." Ketsuiko picked up the pace as they left the inn and journeyed down towards the beach.

While the morning sun rose on the horizon and the locals began to wake for a new day while the shuffles of the Brightwords never ceased.

Ms. Yuria was carrying her second cup of coffee to the crater at the Coral Stone Chapel while Chaplain Keren continued directing the efforts of those working below.

"We've been working through the night, and still you trudge on, what is in the Church's holy water to give you this much vigor."

"I'd imagine the same thing you put in your Guardians. Unless it's for nourishment, my body requires no additional sustenance. Our faith teaches moderation and discipline." 

"You say that, and yet I'm inclined to believe that you are simply someone that dedicates himself to such an extent."

"Ever the observant one, Amelia. Yes, I believe my work takes precedence, and so far I can say that our work has been satisfactory. His Holiness will be most pleased with what we've accomplished."

"Well that's good to hear, but..." She said as she took a sip of her drink.

"Your headmistress would like to know more?"

"The Headmistress has been quite worried about the recent increase in the Nycerii's movements. Worse yet how more and more of them are being discovered, plotting within the boundaries of our very Havens. It's becoming increasingly clear that the enemy schemes within our very homes."

"She has reason to believe that their recent ability to breach the enchantment of our Havens might be linked to the rumors to breach the God's Gate."

Hearing her words brought a mix and surprise and worry to him, warping his expression with a scowl before he composed himself as he cleared his throat.

"Amelia, said subject is not one easily discussed in the open, however, I can say that she is not alone in her concerns. We cannot discuss it right now but if it can help then I might be able to share what we've learned, within reason that is." Ending his statement as he signaled to the same individual that drove them to the Town Hall.

Once they got out of the crater, Keren ordered him to take over coordination of the operations within the crater as he entered the nearby woods alongside Ms. Yuria. The pair rested in a clearing they found, ensuring that they were not followed, Keren took to resting against a tree, seeking its cooling shade.

"Naturally, the scope of what I share with you would be meant for yours and Headmistress' ears, and they alone. Our holy father may forgive my discretion if only to secure the possibility of more insight from your organization."

"You have my word, Keren."

"Thank you. The Holy Church has decided to divide the efforts of this investigation. What were found alongside with the bookshelves of forbidden texts and the uncovered magic seals was excavated and transported Ma'ein Sof University, while we are preparing to ship the remains of the Northern Calamity to the Horlos Sanctorium."

"That explains why you wanted us to clear out the bay and clean up the port, but why would the Church send the remains over to an entirely different continent? Lynhearian seas aren't known for being gentle."

"That's true however, the Time Saints possess an unmatched level of knowledge and experience working with things from before the Old Worlds, and very few would be mad enough to try to attack Sanctorium."

"Their home isn't known as the Dead Country simply because they study all the things that have passed." He answered while shielding his eyes from the sunlight bleeding through the overhanging canopy when a sudden light mist began raining down.

"Rains this strange are something that still happen in Melodoria even this far south." He wondered as he walked towards her, drawing strange shapes in the air that formed into runes with a fiery wisp that formed into a fiery rim around him and encompassing her, shielding them from the rain.

"Natural showers like this happen from time to time, we try not to get too carried away with our geo-engineering. Now, as you were saying."

"Well, it seems you aren't satisfied." They continued with their exchange.

Meanwhile, the monster-infested waters were more lively than ever.

"Hey, when you said you had a plan, you did say anything about blowing up the whole bay." Seyta yelled at Ketsuiko who kept calling down a crimson lightning that ripped past the dawn-lit sky with its red hue and blasting at the chaotic waves hiding the tentacled beast.

Bolt after bolt, each one more fearsome than the last tore into the cloak of waves as they boiled off and showered him in a mist.

A stunned Sasha finally asked Seyta why she was willing to let him struggle so much on his own, she took the chance to explain. 

"Student Council President, Elldra saw the same volume of power in Ketsuiko that he himself has, just as raw, and chaotic, though where he's continued to grow and now requires the aid of seals to protect those around him, Ketsuiko has somehow suppressed his strength to such a degree."

"What would suppressing his magic do to interest the President?" 

"It's more than that. While he commands it, he has no control, or even any awareness that because of this intense restraint, his might has only continued to condense and strengthen."

"Right now, he needs clarity of that fact. I want him to release his strength without restraint so that he can learn to manage it more. Just like President Elldra, there will come a time when he can no longer sit on the side lines and when that day comes, he must be able to act, and do so with an understanding of what he can do."

"And here I was fully convinced that you were more concerned with eating and sleeping your way through this Quest, especially since Ms. Vermillion asked me to ensure that you do not take this task as a holiday." Sasha a sign of relief after hearing how serious the Demon Monk actually was.

"Well, I couldn't share this with you or him. President Elldra forbade it. To think that this is what he meant when he said that Ketsuiko was just like him." Her voice and face shared a look of focus but also concern.

With only his silhouette visible in the crimson-glowing mist, they watched on in growing interest until the mist had moved past the beach and was already filling the town, followed by the calmed thundering of the lightning and sudden quaking thud on the beach nearby.

"The two of you might want to stand clear, you don't want to accidentally get close to the tentacles." Ketsuiko called to Seyta and Sasha from through the mist before leaping back onto the beach.

"What do you...oh! No no no no no! Get it off, get it off the beach. I'm not cleaning that up." Chewing him out when the sight of the Snallygaster's corpse, scalding flesh was simmering while it laid unmoving on the beach.

"No can do, I might end up glassing the beach–" Ketsuiko replied with a smirk before she lifted him and threw him towards the corpse in a disgusted panic.

"Then glass it, I'd rather deal with some damaged beachfront than that." Screaming at him as he flew into it, landing in front of it as he kicked up some dust in the crash.

"Vacation days and no teleportation seals are going to be my demands the next time I see the Student Council President." Raising his hand, it was cloaked by a black and red thunder that snaked around him before casting it over the beast's corpse.

Shooting the blood-tinged arcs that tore through the flesh and ripping deep into the muscle that had still remained intact.

The lightning burst forth in violent arcs that streaked across the beach, charring the beasts as it let out its last breath while the beach around him caught the bolts and formed into puddles of glowing glass.

"Is this better now? The wind will probably pick up the ashes if it still bothers you..." Finishing up, Ketsuiko turned around, thinking that they heard him only to find Seyta at work, tearing through the wall of steel.

Taking a step back and resting against the now bleached giant Snallygaster skull while watching on as she ripped the derelict vessels apart and crushed the scattered rubble into minute fragments that filled the sea.

Sasha watching the sudden passion filled Seyta and Ketsuiko resting against the remains of the disgusting beast, opted to instead return to the town, hoping to ease and reassure any of the townspeople that were set on ease by what was happening.

"Hmm, seems like she's having fun. I wonder if she would notice me slipping away...if I think about it, she would probably track me down in a heartbeat."

They spent the better part of the morning right through the afternoon working in the bay when Ms. Yuria arrived with Keren and several Brightword Scriptures. The immediately put up a perimeter around the area to limit the movements of the curious townspeople who grew in number as the evening lights turned on.

With that, Keren followed Ms. Yuria to an area near the port where Sasha stood beside Ketsuiko. They looked on as he would destroy any of the debris that was flung towards the port and town by her chaotic advance through the metal blockade.

The moment he cleared the bay of the gathering beasts, Seyta wasted no time in removing the scrap and trash that had barred the ports. Moving with shocking efficiency, her assault splintered derelict wood, shattered broken glass and beat tons of scrap metal into manageable pieces.

Through her efforts, more vessels were able to move into the bay, hauling away valuable but abandoned freight and towing away any useful vessels and ships that could still be repaired.

"Mr. Ketsuiko, would you be so kind as to call Ms. Cruz. I do believe it's time for dinner." Ms. Yuria teased him as he laid resting in the embrace of an eager Sasha.

"Sure, let me just catch my breath."

"I think you've done enough, I'll handle it." Sasha said. Signaling to them to watch over him as she made her way to Seyta, avoiding the hailstorm of steel, timber and glass before catching her attention with a tap on the shoulder as her voice was drowned by the sound of whipping winds and crashing scrap.

Pointing at the onlookers, the ejection of steam from her was followed by her taking a moment to wipe off her sweat before she joined Ketsuiko as they left the beach.

"The waters have seemed to have calmed. Your students have done well. Yes." Keren acknowledged their efforts after observing their work.

"I agree. Well done. However, we will be leaving tomorrow so Ms. Cruz you'll clear out the rest of the beach before then. That includes you two, Ms. Dustling and Mr. Ketsuiko. Our work doesn't end when the day does." Ms Yuria answered while they walked to the inn.

"In their defense ma'am, the seas did not silence themselves. Perhaps they could take the night off?" Sashsa asked, linking her arm with Ketsuiko as she did.

"I'm sorry, would you like to be the one that gives me orders?" Resting her firm grip on Sasha's shoulder and tightening it with each moment, only taking her nod to release her grip when they entered and sat themselves in the inn, waiting to order their meal.

"Alright first we eat, then we're off to tear everything to pieces." Seyta cheered as their table was set with their orders, being the first one to help herself, but not before making sure to sit between the two of them.

"If tearing everything to pieces goes too far, we might have a different crisis."

"Hmm." Swallowing the mouthful she had. "That's why I'll have you there"

"Haha, I guess you're right. So this is what it's like working for the Student Council President." Ketsuiko chuckled at the idea.

"Uh-uh, Ketsuiko, less talk, more eating." Seyta responded, handing him a plate filled with dolmades with the same shy look about her.