I am so happy right now XD I'm friends with the author of the adult fan fiction Monster Girl Saga, Lawrence Locatelli. And a month ago, he embarked on a game journey called Ayakashi Ghost Guild.
Just yesterday, we accomplished something unthinkable. He, a one-month-old player, managed to score the first half rankings. That's big - Even I couldn't land in the first half rankings. Ever.
So I am in the best of moods now. Hurray! 'Does this mean we'd get like, double chapters?'
NOPE! XD
But uh, this great mood won't be wasted. You see, I haven't worked much on the actual story because these few weeks, I have been trying to paint out Endus Reignum to perfection. I've been investigating, trying out, and deciding on the most ideal ending. I'm plotting the climax and finale.
And I think I've got a good one together, finally.
It's already written out, in the Drafts section, so I won't forget. And I can guarantee you, it is the best I can think of currently, and won't be subject to changes. You can wait slowly until I reach that point, and then read it then, so... Yeah.
Much love to you guys for all your support on this little series I've been writing thus far. And I'm sorry for there being no post last week. I'll make up for it with double content. Look forward to it.
Much love,
Cozy
Tuesday 24 September 2013
Sunday 15 September 2013
Happy Mid-Autumn Festival on September 19th!
Well, this is a pleasant surprise. Mooncakes, lovely lantern strolls, romance under the full moon, it's that time of year again! :D
A special day for farmers harvesting their crops before the winter comes. A celebration, to a wonderful year of bountiful crops. Oh, also, full moons and reunions! :D
It's like a kind of Oriental Thanksgiving that happens before Winter. It's different from Westernized celebrations in that they rejoice over their hard work over the spring, summer and autumn seasons, instead of celebrating the fact that 'I survived to the iciest point of Winter because this year was great.'
In a sense, it seems rather haughty and arrogant that the Oriental would count their blessings before they even know how they're going to survive the harsh winter, to the point that they even deplete a good portion of their harvest's excess on the celebration. In another sense, it's better in that this Oriental variant of Thanksgiving relates and understands that celebrating when it's freezing outside is not as merry as celebrating before it's cold - After all, Thanksgiving is supposed to be a merry celebration not just for your family, but for all the families out there.
To each his own - I find the Oriental celebration merrier, and the Westernized celebration humbler. They both have their own benefits, so that's that. Only the fools would claim 'My Thanksgiving is better than yours', especially during the Oriental Thanksgiving where everyone shares the food. That would be so ugly on their part.
In any case! Enough of me rambling on and on. I apologize for that. I would also like to apologize for the fact that I am in fact not American, I follow the British English standard, yet this story is written in American English. 'Murrica. What can I say. Still, this next excerpt may be disturbing for your eyes, since I have written this little piece in British English.
Well, that's a comfortable weight off my chest. Allow me to present to you once again, more lore! :D This time, it's not an excerpt from a story, it's not like Diehl's story, it's not that plot. We're talking about a legend you've read before in the earlier chapters, and in Deku Up! 4, if you've read it. It's a simple summary of who he is, and what he's done. I'll do one for Diehl eventually, but in any case, I present, one of the greatest magi in WoP Quest history.
Katachi's a Magus, by the way. He'll get stronger, depending on and according to the route I'm writing. Magus, Wizard, Meister, Sorceror, Great Sorceror. Those are the five ranks. Bertund is a Sorceror.
Lotz, the Color-Blind Caster
Lore of Words of Power Quest
______________
Lotz is a Great Sorceror, and one of the most powerful ones, throughout the course of history. He's been known to create many, many strange, obscure forms of magic that doesn't make much sense - Quite expected, when you're dealing with a colour-blind and deaf autistic person who sees magic in the form of colour.
He is both a creator of great magic, and a formidable wielder of its forces. If you're going to read Deku Up! 4 on my blog, Words of Power Quest... Which you ought to be reading from, since you can get gold-coloured text here instead of Wattpad's deadpan black text allday errday. You're going to notice that I pointed out a few magics he conjured up.
Layering, is essentially him trying to make a colour more obvious by placing it multiple times in quick succession. Just as putting multiple pieces of transparent red sheets together makes the red that much thicker, plating the magic several times over a certain spell makes it that much more potent. This technique is probably very familiar with you, since most characters nowadays have powers like that.
(I'm looking at Zenzizenzizenzic, looking at Itsuwa from TAMNI on her strengthening of her spear, I'm looking at One Piece, their Rokushiki's Soru that kicks a surface 10 times in rapid succession, it's been used. So there.)
It is quite different, however, like, layering 6 Kaba runes together on a single spot increases its power linearly by 6 fold, but layering a single Kaba rune over many, many tinier Kaba runes increases the explosive power exponentially since you're setting off a thousand by activating only one, and that increase is probably around a 4 or 5 digit number. The rune's size doesn't matter - Its potency does. So, in theory, if a Runemaster prepped beforehand, he could like, set 10,000 Uzab runes, which on a modern scale outputs 970V each, and shock someone utterly for 9.7MV of electricity. Even if your natural resistance is like, 100kohms, that attack alone is enough to kill you a few thousand times over.
Tonsilfuse is a counter-spell made specifically for magi whom rely on a long chant or recital of an excerpt. Lotz sees magic as colour; When he sees the build-up of magic around your tonsils while you're speaking through your vocal chords, he can use his magic to expand and bind the tonsils together, creating a wall of tonsil flesh that blocks your mouth. Essentially, it's a silencing spell that stops you from closing your mouth fully and muffling anything you say.
You can guess. Combining Layering and Tonsilfuse together causes the tonsils to swell so much they block the wind canal, which effectively acts as a suffocation spell. That is why he is a feared sorceror - Most magics are cast by chanting and letting others hear what you say to reinforce their image power. Lotz having a magic that can permanently seal almost all verbal magic incantations away is terrifying for any magus to go against him.
Atradna is the palindrome of Andarta, the Celtic warrior goddess, whom is believed to be associated with the bear - An aggressive, brutal force. Atradna is essentially a spell that reverses Magic Enhancing - Where a warrior fuses his body with magic to increase his strength, Lotz can, by setting many tiny magic flags within his opponent, redirect and reverse the flow of magic, forcibly imploding anybody who attempts to fight with both might and magic.
The origin of Atradna came from Lotz noticing that a warrior overflowed with magic acted with the flow of magic - The intensity of that magic decided how his strength fluctuated. So see, Lotz, the crazy bastard, what he did had been simple - He enhanced the warrior's strength himself, literally casting Magic Enhancing on the warrior to a point beyond his magus companion's strength, and reversed it all in one go.
The warrior's imploded corpse wasn't pleasant to look at. It's nasty. Very, very nasty. So much, that the magus simply stared at Lotz in disbelief, and surrendered immediately. A few weeks after that, he found out that simply using minute amounts of magic wisely to change the enemy's flow instead is enough to induce a similar, less gory effect, while conserving his own energy at the same time.
An autistic, colour-blind and deaf man is more conservative about his magic, than we are about the amount of water we use for showering. Is that insanely amazing or what?
His simple discovery of three spells has made him practically invincible towards 80% of the world's warriors, thieves and magi, which is why he's a really scary person to go against. And, he's known for creating a lot of weird, odd-ball spells, like Creeping, Tantalize and Obscure, to name a few of his six hundred over spells.
Did I mention that he's also the frickin' creator of the Obscuration rune? Normal humans don't create runes, they don't create magical language. That title belongs only to Gods and Legends. And he, as an autistic, colour-blind and deaf HUMAN, added vocabulary to fishin' magical language. That has got to be one of the most badass things I have ever imagined.
I give you, the lore of Lotz, ladies and gentlemen. Lotz the BAMF. Lotz the ifl Luka boy swagmaster.
A special day for farmers harvesting their crops before the winter comes. A celebration, to a wonderful year of bountiful crops. Oh, also, full moons and reunions! :D
It's like a kind of Oriental Thanksgiving that happens before Winter. It's different from Westernized celebrations in that they rejoice over their hard work over the spring, summer and autumn seasons, instead of celebrating the fact that 'I survived to the iciest point of Winter because this year was great.'
In a sense, it seems rather haughty and arrogant that the Oriental would count their blessings before they even know how they're going to survive the harsh winter, to the point that they even deplete a good portion of their harvest's excess on the celebration. In another sense, it's better in that this Oriental variant of Thanksgiving relates and understands that celebrating when it's freezing outside is not as merry as celebrating before it's cold - After all, Thanksgiving is supposed to be a merry celebration not just for your family, but for all the families out there.
To each his own - I find the Oriental celebration merrier, and the Westernized celebration humbler. They both have their own benefits, so that's that. Only the fools would claim 'My Thanksgiving is better than yours', especially during the Oriental Thanksgiving where everyone shares the food. That would be so ugly on their part.
In any case! Enough of me rambling on and on. I apologize for that. I would also like to apologize for the fact that I am in fact not American, I follow the British English standard, yet this story is written in American English. 'Murrica. What can I say. Still, this next excerpt may be disturbing for your eyes, since I have written this little piece in British English.
Well, that's a comfortable weight off my chest. Allow me to present to you once again, more lore! :D This time, it's not an excerpt from a story, it's not like Diehl's story, it's not that plot. We're talking about a legend you've read before in the earlier chapters, and in Deku Up! 4, if you've read it. It's a simple summary of who he is, and what he's done. I'll do one for Diehl eventually, but in any case, I present, one of the greatest magi in WoP Quest history.
Katachi's a Magus, by the way. He'll get stronger, depending on and according to the route I'm writing. Magus, Wizard, Meister, Sorceror, Great Sorceror. Those are the five ranks. Bertund is a Sorceror.
Lotz, the Color-Blind Caster
Lore of Words of Power Quest
______________
Lotz is a Great Sorceror, and one of the most powerful ones, throughout the course of history. He's been known to create many, many strange, obscure forms of magic that doesn't make much sense - Quite expected, when you're dealing with a colour-blind and deaf autistic person who sees magic in the form of colour.
He is both a creator of great magic, and a formidable wielder of its forces. If you're going to read Deku Up! 4 on my blog, Words of Power Quest... Which you ought to be reading from, since you can get gold-coloured text here instead of Wattpad's deadpan black text allday errday. You're going to notice that I pointed out a few magics he conjured up.
Layering, is essentially him trying to make a colour more obvious by placing it multiple times in quick succession. Just as putting multiple pieces of transparent red sheets together makes the red that much thicker, plating the magic several times over a certain spell makes it that much more potent. This technique is probably very familiar with you, since most characters nowadays have powers like that.
(I'm looking at Zenzizenzizenzic, looking at Itsuwa from TAMNI on her strengthening of her spear, I'm looking at One Piece, their Rokushiki's Soru that kicks a surface 10 times in rapid succession, it's been used. So there.)
It is quite different, however, like, layering 6 Kaba runes together on a single spot increases its power linearly by 6 fold, but layering a single Kaba rune over many, many tinier Kaba runes increases the explosive power exponentially since you're setting off a thousand by activating only one, and that increase is probably around a 4 or 5 digit number. The rune's size doesn't matter - Its potency does. So, in theory, if a Runemaster prepped beforehand, he could like, set 10,000 Uzab runes, which on a modern scale outputs 970V each, and shock someone utterly for 9.7MV of electricity. Even if your natural resistance is like, 100kohms, that attack alone is enough to kill you a few thousand times over.
Tonsilfuse is a counter-spell made specifically for magi whom rely on a long chant or recital of an excerpt. Lotz sees magic as colour; When he sees the build-up of magic around your tonsils while you're speaking through your vocal chords, he can use his magic to expand and bind the tonsils together, creating a wall of tonsil flesh that blocks your mouth. Essentially, it's a silencing spell that stops you from closing your mouth fully and muffling anything you say.
You can guess. Combining Layering and Tonsilfuse together causes the tonsils to swell so much they block the wind canal, which effectively acts as a suffocation spell. That is why he is a feared sorceror - Most magics are cast by chanting and letting others hear what you say to reinforce their image power. Lotz having a magic that can permanently seal almost all verbal magic incantations away is terrifying for any magus to go against him.
Atradna is the palindrome of Andarta, the Celtic warrior goddess, whom is believed to be associated with the bear - An aggressive, brutal force. Atradna is essentially a spell that reverses Magic Enhancing - Where a warrior fuses his body with magic to increase his strength, Lotz can, by setting many tiny magic flags within his opponent, redirect and reverse the flow of magic, forcibly imploding anybody who attempts to fight with both might and magic.
The origin of Atradna came from Lotz noticing that a warrior overflowed with magic acted with the flow of magic - The intensity of that magic decided how his strength fluctuated. So see, Lotz, the crazy bastard, what he did had been simple - He enhanced the warrior's strength himself, literally casting Magic Enhancing on the warrior to a point beyond his magus companion's strength, and reversed it all in one go.
The warrior's imploded corpse wasn't pleasant to look at. It's nasty. Very, very nasty. So much, that the magus simply stared at Lotz in disbelief, and surrendered immediately. A few weeks after that, he found out that simply using minute amounts of magic wisely to change the enemy's flow instead is enough to induce a similar, less gory effect, while conserving his own energy at the same time.
An autistic, colour-blind and deaf man is more conservative about his magic, than we are about the amount of water we use for showering. Is that insanely amazing or what?
His simple discovery of three spells has made him practically invincible towards 80% of the world's warriors, thieves and magi, which is why he's a really scary person to go against. And, he's known for creating a lot of weird, odd-ball spells, like Creeping, Tantalize and Obscure, to name a few of his six hundred over spells.
Did I mention that he's also the frickin' creator of the Obscuration rune? Normal humans don't create runes, they don't create magical language. That title belongs only to Gods and Legends. And he, as an autistic, colour-blind and deaf HUMAN, added vocabulary to fishin' magical language. That has got to be one of the most badass things I have ever imagined.
I give you, the lore of Lotz, ladies and gentlemen. Lotz the BAMF. Lotz the ifl Luka boy swagmaster.
Deku Up! 4
The weather outside stormed a little, as rain pattered against the glass windows. Totta slowly dragged a relatively small book to Deku, and sat on his lap while he caressed Seiene's head and soft fluffy hair.
T : "Story time! Story time, Deku! Read me a story!"
D : "Shhhh. Quiet. Let your brother sleep first if you want a story."
T : "... Hmph..."
Totta placed the book at a corner, and looked over at Seiene. With his eyes half-closed, and struggling to keep his eyelids open, Seiene couldn't respond to Totta's presence at all.
D : "Sweet dreams, Seiene."
He simply snuggled against Deku's hand for a bit after a while, and then turned his head to the left, finally reaching a peaceful, sleeping posture. His tired little eyes drooped to a close, and there was no response when his cheek was poked gently by Totta.
T : "There! He's asleep now. Can we have story time now?"
D : "Don't be so loud! He might wake up." (She sure looks forward to story time...) "... Very well. Let's see what you brought-"
The door opened, and a girl with silver, straight hair stepped into the room.
A : "Deku? Are you there?"
T : (Oh no! That voice! It's that silver-hair girl again!)
D : "Ahh, Aldia. What brings you here?"
T : "No! No! Story time with me! Story time! Story time!"
Totta didn't want the silver-haired student taking up her story time, not even for a moment. When a person's cherished and treasured is robbed from them, they can become irrational and scary, even if they happen to be a child.
D : "Totta, we can have story time in a little bit. Let me handle the important things first, okay?"
A : (He's putting me over her... Yes! This is it!)
T : (She's going to take my seat again! I won't let her!)
Totta pouted at Deku, and walked towards the stone chair Deku made for her. She lied on the seat with her stomach, and simply waited for them to finish, maintaining the pouting face.
D : "Sorry about that. Right then, Aldia, what brings you here?"
A : "Ahh, the... I have a question on, uhm... A certain type of magic. Once again."
D : (Hoo boy. Not again.) "Is it in relation to Ilpoh and Segus again?"
A : "Oh, no, it's..."
Her eyes shifted arpund the room, in suspense. Aldia walked over and whispered into Deku's ear discreetly.
A : "It's about Creeping."
Deku's face paled at the mention of the forbidden magic.
D : "... Seriously? Of all the things to ask about, you- Why would you even need to know about stuff like that?!"
Aldia looked away in an awkward manner.
D : "And shouldn't you be asking someone more experienced, like Madame Leia, or her daughter Miss Lea, Bertund, Mister Lapp, you have so many people to ask THAT- *looks over at Seiene* -ask that about! Why is there a need to ask me?!"
A : "... Because I don't want the teachers to know what I am up to."
D : "What kind of prank are you trying to pull this time? And why something so dangerous?"
A : "... I want to try and infuse a dancing curse with Creeping."
Deku's eyes widened at the mention of 'infuse a curse'.
D : "Infuse an dancing curse? With Creeping? That's insane! Why not just make do with a curse on a piece of chalk, or their chair?!"
A : "I- I want to try it! Who knows, maybe it would turn out to be something new and beneficial!"
D : (... This girl... Unbelievable...) "You've come to the wrong place then. Go ask Bael or something! She's better at the history of Lotz and summoning objects than I am."
A : (No! Don't turn me off!) "I don't want to! She stinks and she has this scary, unstable look on her since the tournament... Please, Deku? You're probably the most reliable person I can think of right now."
D : (For a mere reason like that, she could avoid Bael, who would give her the satisfactory answer she seeks, and come to me instead? What the heck is with this current batch of students?...)
Deku stared at Aldia in absolute disbelief, reminiscing the proactive spirit his batch had and comparing it with Aldia as a stereotype of every student.
D : (... I can't risk Seiene hearing this, and I can't leave Totta alone...) "... Fine. Totta, Aldia! Come outside. We're not letting Seiene hear any of this."
Deku packed up his things - His charcoal that Seiene drew pictures of flowers with, some wooden tablets with classic runes to entertain Totta, and placed them within the bag high on the shelf.
When he ensured that Seiene couldn't reach anything dangerous, he had Aldia open the door, and the three marched out of the room and into the library.
D : "... Right. That bench over that way. We can talk there."
*** ***
The three settled down at the bench for students to sit at, and .
D : "... Before anything, let me bring Totta up to speed. Totta, do you know what Creeping is?"
T : "... Is it how Silvergirl always seems to creep on you and take away my precious story time every time?"
*Cozy's Notes : i cri errytaam mah taam takn awyy*
D : "Wha- How rude, Totta! At least make it an effort to remember Aldia's name!"
A : "It's okay, Deku. She's still young."
D : "... If you don't mind it, then I suppose I won't pursue further. Well, Totta, Creeping is a summoning magic created from Lotz. As such, it is bizarre to begin with. Lotz learnt the technique when he tried to tap color from everyday shapes, which resulted in him actually summoning his affinity object by mistake - A cat."
*Cozy's Notes : PUSSYcat JOKE, GO.*
T : "Ahh. A kitty- !!! He summoned kitties!? He can do that?!"
D : "Yes, he could, and he did. Anything that was shaped like a cat became a portal to summon cats from, whichever shape it was, whichever size it was."
*Cozy's Notes : Alright, mature audience, put your jokes on how he gets all the pussies riiiiiiiiiiiiiight beneath this.*
T : "... That sounds... Really weird." (... And really amazing at the same time. All the kitties I could hug, anytime I want to?... Even if they run away?...)
As Deku explained, Totta's mind seemed to have drifted off towards some strange, self-benefiting direction.
D : "It's magic from Lotz. I'm not surprised - I can understand where some of his magic could make some form of sense, like Layering simply stacks magic power repeatedly over a single point to increase the strength and potency, but the really bizarre ones like Tonsilfuse, Atradna and Creeping itself are just absolutely weird."
T : "... I don't really read or like Lotz books, because they're quite poorly written..."
A : (This is taking a bit too long...) "Don't worry about it, Totta. Most people don't even know what Lotz is really thinking about. In fact, the only way anybody could know anything was through the various notes and diaries he wrote on his journey about."
D : "Exactly. Now, Totta, listen - It is very important that you don't remember nor learn anything I am going to say later. Listening to get a general idea is fine, but don't you dare perform it. Is that okay?"
T : "... Okay." (All the kitties... I'll make so many kitties, that it'll cover the entire room...)
Totta seems to be in her own dimension of bliss, as Deku and Aldia continued their serious discussion.
D : "... Very well. You were saying, Aldia?"
A : (Look at me...) "I want to use Creeping and Curse Inflict to prank my teacher. I'd probably summon an object, inscribe the Dancing curse, and lob it at the teacher."
D : "Who do you think you are, to simplify the magic this way?... You do realize the flaw in your plan, don't you? You can't have physical contact with your object that's been cursed."
A : (Only at me...) "? What do you mean?"
D : "Well, if you're going to 'lob' the object at the teacher, you would need some way to get your object to travel from your side to the teacher in the first place. Throwing it with your own hand curses yourself with the Dancing curse before you could even pull it off, and smacking the object with a stick just makes the stick, and yourself, dance."
A : (It's working! He's looking at me!) "! I... I didn't know that curses could curse yourself..."
*Cozy's Notes : LIES
LIES AND SLANDER
SHE JUST WANTS TO GET IN YO PANTS, DEKU
RUN*
D : "How else are you going to inflict the curse? You can only inscribe the curse's effects on an object directly, or make it such that contact with the object burns the curse into them."
A : "... Uhm..."
D : "... *sigh* You wouldn't have to face a problem like that if you've went to Bael's side in the first place."
A : (Wha-!? He's driving me away already?! No! I've just had this rare chance to pull him towards myself!) "Wh- why would I benefit from her more? What can she give me that you can't?"
D : "For starters, she knows how to use the Creeping spell herself. For another... Fuegil."
A : "!!!" (Fuegil!? Bael knows the Fuegil arts?!... No... No way...)
Aldia's eyes widening was a clear giveaway that she was genuinely shocked by an unknown truth revelated to her.
D : "You seem to know what I mean by that."
A : "But... Bael knows Fuegil arts?! I... I didn't know..."
D : "... Well, not exactly. She's tried researching and trying to reconstruct the Fuegil arts once. Basic commands like moving an object around at high speeds are what she can manage now, but she'll eventually work out how to control multiple objects at once, and even property distortion if her interest shifts back to the Fuegil arts... Eventually... Probably. You would have gotten everything you needed for your prank from her had you just visited her in the first place."
A : "But... You don't understand! I won't get your attention if I go to her! You won't look at me, and you won't talk to me then! Bael's not YOU!"
Deku's eyes widened, and Totta snapped out of her daydream.
T : "Ah! Deku! You never taught me how to make kitties!"
D : "My attention?! What- What do you mean, my attention?!"
Aldia's face turned flushed suddenly, and she stood from her seat.
A : "I mean to say, I always hate how you're always looking after those two little squirts instead of looking at me! But I... But I also can't hate you for caring over them so tenderly! I... I!!! I! AM!! LEAVING!!!"
Without anything more to say, she left, with her reddened cheeks. The engrossed students around them broke off from their attachment to their books, and stared at her exiting, completely flustered.
D : "... Don't... Don't shout in the library?..." (... How am I supposed to respond to that kind of confession?...)
T : "Did she just call me a squirt?! The next time I see her, I'll pull her hair!"
*** ***
Totta's eyelids fell heavy, as Deku continued reading a copy of Lotz's diary.
D : "The lush green patch on his fingertips were so pristine, and magical. They danced, they moved, they synchronized his movement ever so... Flawlessly. Such wondrous magic, puppetry is. By a simple rearrangement of idols, one can assume and manipulate another... Simply magical. It's different from Magic Enhancing, where a brutish application of magic across the muscles-"
T : "It sounds so boring."
D : "Well, yes, it does, but you wanted me to read and teach you Creeping in the first place. Besides, you haven't actually performed one of Lotz's spells before. His spells really mystify the power and capability of magic, almost enough to have you try it out yourself."
T : "I'm so tired~..."
Totta rested her head against Deku's lap, sleeping sloppily and just relaxing her entire body.
D : (What an ugly posture to sleep in... Then again, children are children, I suppose.)
Deku lifted Totta up with both hands, and set her down gently on the bed catered to her.
D : "... Sweet dreams to you too."
Thursday 5 September 2013
Messiah 4 : Why_The_Armpit
Mother Rinnesfeld tended to the slowly brewing stew, and stirred the pot gently.
Ri : (I could use some Derianco in here. It should bring out a slightly salty, and mildly sweet aftertaste.)
She reached for the small glass bottle of Derianco and sprinkled it onto the viscous broth leniently. Reaching for her ladle, she slowly stirred it, and let the flavor seep into the stew. After a good while, she used a small tasting spoon to scoop a little up, and brought it to her lips.
And then, came the frantic footsteps.
Ro : "Rinnesfeld! Rinnesfeld!! Something's wrong with Katachi!"
Ri : (Something's wrong? Is he ill?) "What's wrong with him?"
Ro : "I don't know! I woke up, and his eyes were just wide-open, staring at the ceiling! He has this weird frown on his face, and his eyes are bloodshot, and he's just murmuring and chanting something like he's been hypnotized!"
Ri : "Did you sleep with him last night? It's probably you, then."
Ro : "? Yes, I did- Wait, are you saying that I made him like THAT?!"
Ri : (So she did. Oh, Katachi dear, it must have been hard on you.) "I would go with a definite 'yes'. He can't sleep easily when he knows there's people around him."
Ro : "He... He does?"
Ri : "Yes. Even when I sleep with him sometimes to share a blanket on a cold night, he would stay wide awake for the whole night. He doesn't fall asleep that easily when there's people around him."
Ro : "... How amusing. He can't sleep when there's people around him, huh." (Then, what of the times I slept next to him? Had he been feigning sleep all that time?...)
*** ***
K : "... Red... Red everywhere..."
*** ***
Ri : (But, if they shared the same bed...) "... Try to recall. Was there anything unusual when you woke up?"
Ro : "Uhm... I... I don't know. When I woke up, I was still on his right, and he's still on my left."
Ri : (Did he... Did they do 'it' already?) "Is there anywhere messy on your body, or clothes?"
Ro : "Not really... My hair's a bit messier, I guess?"
Ri : "Your hair?..."
*** ***
K : "The whips... The sting..."
*** ***
Ro : "... Yeah, other than that, my body's fine. My nose is a little itchy, but everything else seems perfectly normal."
Ri : "Normal, you say? Do you feel any pain or discomfort, anywhere?"
Ro : (Why would she ask that? Is Katachi actually virile, perhaps?) "... No. The only things disturbed are my nose and hair."
Ri : (So they didn't do it...) "I see. Well, it's probably nothing, then."
*** ***
Katachi couldn't sleep. He just couldn't afford to. Having someone by his side was one thing, but the night with Roberia beside him was especially brutal - Especially because his bed is uncomfortable to begin with.
Roberia has tossed and turned her head so much last night, her long, red hair had whipped Katachi's face for at least 15 times. When he had reached a daze and neared slumber, the prickly sensation from her hair itched and shocked him back awake, forcing him to open his eyes wide and to stare at the ceiling once again.
This had happened before when Mother Rinnesfeld slept with him. Her hair may have been brown and curly, and thus cushioned the strength of the hair flung against him, but it was a bushy, ticklish sensation highly similar to the bed Katachi is sleeping on.
K : (... I can't sleep. I can't sleep at all. The sky outside is so bright, but for the first time in my life I actually want to sleep now, while she's gone. Just... Calm down, deep breaths...)
The bed's discomfort only served to make the procedure that much more difficult. Because the sheets were old, the straw between the fabric had been broken and stuck outwards fuzzily, like hair on skin. Combined with the bed's sponginess, anyone sleeping on it would have their entire body depressed against the worn-out sheet, and these straw protrusions would then perforate their skin in sensitive spots.
It was a bed only Katachi, who has slept on it for more than 8 years, could sleep on without complaints. It was also a bed nobody else could ever hope to rest upon, without twisting around repeatedly in discomfort.
Roberia didn't find it prickly because she has indeed slept out in the open, with only the soft earth and grass beneath her before. But it's still itchy and ticklish to her, so she tossed and turned a lot that night. Even if her body had been accustomed to the sting from sleeping on rugged, edgy surfaces like plain rock, experiences like that can't completely eliminate the itch of a bug crawling on her skin.
K : (I just want to sleep. It's a bit too bright now, but I... I just want to sleep...)
His tired eyes opened ever so slightly, and he rubbed his thick eyebags. The children playing outside the church, the chirping birds, the gossip of the townsfolk... They were nostalgic.
K : (... It's not as quiet as it was in the night, but I can nap a bit... I think.)
*** ***
Ro : (I can understand if it were last night, but what of the times before?...) "Wait, this can't be nothing! He has a sleeping problem with people around him?"
Ri : "Yes, yes he does."
Ro : (So he feigned sleep?... Did he grope me in my sleep? I dare not imagine...) "... This is unacceptable."
Ri : "Why would that be?"
Ro : "If he is to have a sleeping problem, I must help him overcome this flaw immediately. To my knowledge, this disorder inflicts a huge damage on our relationship. As his wife, I am to offer him a subservient, supportive role."
*Cozy's Notes : Yeah, good luck with that when you're the reason he couldn't sleep. It's like you're breathing oxygen and you say you should stop breathing oxygen to save the Earth but you keep breathing.*
Ri : (Ah, yes. It's their culture to offer their honesty as a form of love.) "I suppose, but there's no need to rush. After all, Magdalona wasn't built in a day."
*Cozy's Notes : 'Rome wasn't built in a day.' reference.*
Ro : "... I suppose..." (... He did tend to me and treat my wounds then, so I guess I could do the same for him. I would have to ask him later, on his sleeping problem.) "Is there anything I can do for him?"
Ri : "... Hmm... Well, you two didn't do it yesterday, but you could help me unravel his bag, and we can sort out his inventory for him."
Ro : "! Of course! Let us make haste."
*** ***
Opening the new, well-sewn bag Katachi carried with him, the two took everything within out. There were a few sets of clean, fresh and unworn clothes, a pair of shoes with a buckle and strap over each, a ragged towel, his wooden dagger, some triple braid rope, his groundsheet and blanket, a small pouch of gold, a pebble with a rune on it, a map with a few tears on the sides, glass bottles of spices and herbs, to name a few.
Ri : "... Hmm... He's low on Mestiel."
Ro : "Mestiel? The herb that suppresses bleeding?"
Ri : "Yes. He seems to have used them a bit. Oh dear, what did he do to use so much, I wonder?"
Ro : (... He used that to heal me... Then, it is only appropriate that I help restock his supply.) "Where can I get some Mestiel?"
Ri : "Mestiel, hm... As for fresh Mestiel, there's a field to the northwest of here that has a few herbs growing. If you have some coin with you, maybe you could try heading to the East of Mielfeud and purchase some from the apothecary - The Mestiel there would be ground and prepared for usage already, but I would suggest you carry some fresh Mestiel back here and see if we can salvage some Durgwyrms from them."
Ro : "... Okay. I'll go look for some in the field."
Roberia stood up, and walked out of the church.
*** ***
K : (... The bed is sinking?...)
Katachi opened his eyes slowly, to see Mother Rinnesfeld seated beside him on the bed. The smell in the air had a fine tint, a herbal aroma. It roused him from his grogginess.
K : "... Mother Rin?"
Ri : "Ah, you're awake, Katachi? I'm sorry, did I wake you?"
K : "It's fine."
The two whom have relied upon each other silently enjoyed the peace about them.
Ri : "... I see you've picked up magic. It's a relief. That should give you more opportunities to work, compared to most of the adults. I was worried that you'd be frail and skinny, but it looks like you've grown up strong, after all."
K : "Yes. I have."
Ri : "How was your time at the Sage Raufid Magus Academy so far?"
Katachi didn't want to let Rinnesfeld worry about him, but at the same time he was not obligated to lie to her.
K : "... I got expelled for using magic on a teacher."
Ri : "! Expelled?..."
K : "... Sorry. I... It was just that, well..."
Ri : "... Was it to help somebody?"
K : (... It wasn't to begin with, but seeing how Rekter carelessly manipulated the chandelier, and almost killed the students, it's sort-of justified, I suppose.) "Yeah. I helped the students."
Ri : "Good. That is good... So, have you any plans from here on?"
K : "... I want to travel the world. I want to write and mark down every bit of detail I see, and... And practice magic on my journey."
Ri : "You're not going to stay here with me then, Katachi? I was quite looking forward to you taking over this church."
K : (... Sorry, Mother Rin, but... The Words of Power are too cruel. They are too dangerous and powerful. I have to collect them all, and ensure that nobody gets hurt by this power ever again.) "... I'm not."
Ri : "... I understand. It must be nice to be young, having such an ambitious dream, and pursuing it actively."
Mother Rinnesfeld embraced Katachi, and snuggled him in her rather finely developed bosoms.
Ri : "Sorry for disturbing your sleep. I heard from that girl Roberia that you haven't had a good rest. I'll just leave you to yourself for now."
K : "... Thank you, Mother Rin."
Ri : "I'll be back before sunset to make dinner. I need to go over to the Assembly Hall for a bit. Sleep tight, my dear Katachi."
K : "... Bye, Mother Rin..."
Katachi closed his eyes, to little help against the strong sunlight outside, and the fragrance in the air serenaded him to sleep quickly.
*** ***
K : (... Something... Heavy?)
Ro : "Are you awake yet, Katachi?"
Opening his eyes, Katachi locked eyes with Roberia, who, to his horror, is now straddled onto his body.
K : "Gaah!!!"
Ro : "!!"
In reflex, Katachi reached for his dagger with his right hand, and his left hand shielded his face. However, he had taken off his equipment, and left them at his bag, so he is completely defenseless.
K : "! Oh, it's... It's just you."
Ro : " 'It's just you'?! What kind of response is that to your wife?!"
K : "Ah, I uh... Sorry. Good, uh..."
Katachi turned his head outside to guess the sun's position. However, clouds have rolled in while he had slept, and now the weather was an overcast.
K : "... Morning?"
Ro : "It's 10 after 1 in the afternoon. I was beginning to think that you'd never wake up."
K : "Sorry for having you worry."
Ro : (His hand's still on... Is he really that perverse?) "... Still, aren't you a bit aggressive? To be doing this right when you wake up."
K : "Do... Do what?"
Ro : "Am I supposed to pretend that your hand is inexistent?"
Looking at his right hand once more, Katachi understood what she meant.
K : "Ah. Sorry."
He quickly removed his right hand, which had been searching for the wooden dagger earlier, from her left thigh.
K : "... Uhm... I-"
Ro : "I! I got you some fresh Mestiel."
K : "You did?"
Ro : "Yes. It took a while before I found them, but I finally did."
K : "That's... That's wonderful. Thank you, Roberia."
Ro : "Don't thank me for something like that. I know you brewed most of your Mestiel for a healing salve to treat my wound back then. Consider this as my compensation to you, for the trouble I've caused."
K : (She knew...) "Uh, of course."
Ro : "... Katachi."
K : "Y- Yes?"
Ro : "I don't know what to do."
K : (? Don't know what to do? Do what?) "What do you not know what to do?"
Ro : "... You have a sleeping problem, do you not? You can't sleep when people are around, and that includes me..."
K : "... Did Mother Rin tell you?"
Ro : "Yes."
K : "... That would be true. I do have a problem sleeping."
R : "!!!"
Without warning, Roberia raised her arm, and plunged her whole body weight into a punch, bouncing upwards on the bed slightly. Katachi's head barely managed to dodge it, scraping his cheek and ear. It was a strong punch; One loud enough, to hear the wood at the bottom creak, sounding the fact of its old age.
Ro : "You and your lecherous eyes, prying upon my body! When we haven't even married yet!!!"
K : (What is she saying?!) "Waagh! Stop! Stop! I can't move! I'm between your legs!"
Ro : "Silence! Before last night, we've already had three nights together!! Just how many times do you plan on humiliating me before you're satisfied?!"
K : (What- Three nights?!) "Three nights!? I... I thought we had two..."
Ro : "DECEIVER!!!"
With all her strength, Roberia slammed her forehead forward, colliding it into Katachi's face hard.
K : (Ow!)
Ro : "... I had thought that you could be trusted, when you were sleeping under the groundsheet. I regret making that belief, you lecherous louse! May Ilpoh cast his judgement and curse upon you!"
In a panic and bind, Katachi simply blurted all his questions out without restraint.
K : "Wait, wait, what?! I'm pretty certain that I've only shared a bed with you twice! What's this about a third time?! When was it?! What do you mean, when I was under the groundsheet?! And we bathed naked together, didn't we?! You were the one who insisted that showing our bodies to each other isn't something to be embarrassed about in the first place! I wasn't even fond of that idea!!"
Ro : (Even if he doesn't know who I am, to have gone this far...) "... I hate this..."
Her sclera turned bloodshot, and the arteries reddened heavily.
K : "... ?" (She's crying now?)
Ro : "Why is fate doing this to me? What have I done to deserve such mockery?... I can't believe, that you, of all people, are to disgrace me so..."
K : "..."
Ro : "Are you enjoying this, you virile swine? Are you that sick and twisted a person to enjoy this in secret? Does it delight you that I am punished so?..."
K : "No! It doesn't..."
Ro : "So prove it, then! Prove, that you did not grope me in my sleep!"
Katachi stared blankly at Roberia.
K : (How am I supposed to prove something like this?) "..."
Ro : "... Well? I'm waiting."
*Cozy's Notes : I agree. This is hard to prove.*
K : (了解! Understand solution to dilemma!)
(Put her hand into your armpit willingly, and have her look at your face.)
A dry whisper, in that all-too-eerie voice, beckoned his body to its will.
Before either could react properly, Katachi reached for her hand by pure instinct, following the set of instructions without hesitation, and placed it against his own armpit.
*Cozy's Notes : ( O ‿ O)
... Well, that's certainly gone in an interesting direction.*
Ro : "!? What are you-"
K : "This... Is my proof."
Ro : "!!!"
Before Roberia, Katachi's face started reddening rapidly, and his eyes averted away, to his left.
K : "... Please don't wiggle your fingers, it.... It's sensitive enough..."
Ro : "How is this supposed to prove anything, moron?!"
K : "... My... My face..."
Ro : "Your face?! What has that- !..." (! He's blushing?)
Katachi's face had turned really quickly from a slightly pale complexion to a vibrant red, the capillaries on his cheeks flaring up with his sensitive spots intruded.
Ro : (... His face is as red as a ripe cherry tomato, his movements are jerky and restrained, and he seems to be really shy... Then, that means, had he actually groped me, his face would redden, just like that?...)
Katachi's hands trembled as it held Roberia's hand in his own armpit. Slowly, they trembled so much, that his right hand actually moved her hand, which chained the feedback to his armpit, which made him shake even more.
*Cozy's Notes : What a vicious cycle. JUST RELAX YOUR ARM, YOU IDIOT. XD*
Finally, his hand jerked and shook so much, it pushed Roberia's hand into his body, and Roberia instinctively applied pressure from her fingertips to stop her hand from being controlled by the jerking hand. Naturally, the fingertips were pressed against Katachi, and stimulated the ticklish sensation to a climax.
Ro : "Stop squeezing and tugging my hand!"
K : "Haahhhh!! E- e- enough! I can't-...!"
Katachi tried desperately to take out Roberia's hand from his armpit, but his arm clamped against her hand so hard, it was practically immobile. He sandwiched the hand against himself, wedging it further in, and tried to pull her hand out at the same time.
*Cozy's Notes : ... Sigh. This guy, ladies and gentlemen. This guy.*
*** ***
The air between them after that became awkward, as Roberia sat atop him.
Ro : (That was awkward. He jammed my hand into his armpit...) "..."
K : (Why- Why did I do that? I am so embarrassed I feel like digging my own grave right now, if only she'd get up and let me...) "..."
Ro : "... You're not a very aggressive person, are you?"
K : "Stop teasing me!..."
Ro : (I have to put up with such nonsense and cowardice when we marry... ? Cowardice?...) "... Still, we're getting married, aren't we?"
K : "... Since you insisted."
Ro : (... Cowardice... No. Cowardice probably isn't the word to explain his behavior.) "I wonder if you enjoyed my company?"
K : (That was enjoyable to her? Then again, it's better than being beat senselessly and bleeding and staining the sheets.) "... I can't say for sure. It's hard to keep up with what's going on, but I think I've devoted myself enough to this, to give you a proper answer." (What would have happened if I didn't have the Word of Power to tell me what to do?...)
Ro : (If it were cowardice, he would try to distance himself from me physically, out of guilt, or defense. But he simply shakes off my advances and attempts to bond with him, without wanting to hurt my feelings by isolating himself. It's almost as if he's... Shy, or just... Unprepared?...)
K : (... Speaking of which, if she really is to wed me, would she stay in this church and help out Mother Rinnesfeld? Or would she choose to travel with me, across the land, in my search for the Words of Power?... Ahh, I wish I thought about things like these beforehand...)
Ro : (... In any case, for trying not to hurt my feelings, I applaud him for his kindness.) "You're kind, Katachi."
Roberia bent down and cuddled herself against Katachi, wrapping her arms around his stomach and back.
K : "? Uhm... Okay?"
Ro : (... So very, very kind... A sort of kindness I would never see from the people of Rugnud, who hold pride in such high regard.) "... Mmmmm..."
K : "... If you don't mind, Roberia, uh... I think I've slept enough."
Ro : "! Right, sorry about that."
Roberia got up, and finally released Katachi from her dominant position. As Katachi got up, he sat down on the bed, and patted a side of the bed, inviting Roberia to join him.
K : "... You know, Roberia, I... I feel guilty."
Ro : "? Guilty?"
K : "Yes. You should have just defeated me then and there, and continued with your journey. Had I not retaliated, and simply let the attack come to me..."
Ro : "Don't say that. Although it is true in that I would be able to travel further on without fear of others mocking my weakness, I would never get strong if I didn't have a strong partner to spar with, a tough opponent to defeat."
K : (Travelling? So she has her own destinations to get to?) "... I am sorry-"
Ro : "Besides, you have a Word of Power with you. That is, in itself, good, since you seem pretty capable of using it... I think. What do I know? I don't know exactly how powerful you are, but you're strong enough, I think. I've heard many praises of the Words of Power and experienced its ability to give you power in a pinch, so surely it must be powerful."
K : "... It's... Not 'a' Word of Power..."
Ro : "? What do you mean?"
Katachi slowly stood up, and walked towards the thick paper book. Opening the pages up, he revealed 3 other Words of Power.
K : "... Four."
Ro : "! Ah, so you have four Words of Power. That's good, isn't it?"
K : (... No surprise or shock? She seems pretty calm over the fact that I have multiple Words of Power together...)
*Cozy's Notes : Roberia's a warrior, not a magus, not a Scholar. She wouldn't need to remember the details or the rules the Words of Power abide by, etc. She'd think that all she needs to know is that it works and it's powerful.*
Ro : "In any case, marrying you isn't a bad option. You're a kind person, you're powerful, and you're... Special. I can feel it. I look forward to Mother Rinnesfeld's good news."
K : (... Let's hope this doesn't end in some sort of tragedy- ?) "You know Mother Rin's full name?"
Ro : "!? I, uh, well, you see, I tried to wake you this morning, see, and she told me to call her Rinnesfeld instead, since, see, she likes my accent and the way I pronounce her name, you see."
K : "?... Ah. Okay." (She likes the way Roberia pronounces her name?... I didn't know she liked that. Roberia sounds pretty normal, actually. Maybe she likes her voice?)
Ri : (I could use some Derianco in here. It should bring out a slightly salty, and mildly sweet aftertaste.)
She reached for the small glass bottle of Derianco and sprinkled it onto the viscous broth leniently. Reaching for her ladle, she slowly stirred it, and let the flavor seep into the stew. After a good while, she used a small tasting spoon to scoop a little up, and brought it to her lips.
And then, came the frantic footsteps.
Ro : "Rinnesfeld! Rinnesfeld!! Something's wrong with Katachi!"
Ri : (Something's wrong? Is he ill?) "What's wrong with him?"
Ro : "I don't know! I woke up, and his eyes were just wide-open, staring at the ceiling! He has this weird frown on his face, and his eyes are bloodshot, and he's just murmuring and chanting something like he's been hypnotized!"
Ri : "Did you sleep with him last night? It's probably you, then."
Ro : "? Yes, I did- Wait, are you saying that I made him like THAT?!"
Ri : (So she did. Oh, Katachi dear, it must have been hard on you.) "I would go with a definite 'yes'. He can't sleep easily when he knows there's people around him."
Ro : "He... He does?"
Ri : "Yes. Even when I sleep with him sometimes to share a blanket on a cold night, he would stay wide awake for the whole night. He doesn't fall asleep that easily when there's people around him."
Ro : "... How amusing. He can't sleep when there's people around him, huh." (Then, what of the times I slept next to him? Had he been feigning sleep all that time?...)
*** ***
K : "... Red... Red everywhere..."
*** ***
Ri : (But, if they shared the same bed...) "... Try to recall. Was there anything unusual when you woke up?"
Ro : "Uhm... I... I don't know. When I woke up, I was still on his right, and he's still on my left."
Ri : (Did he... Did they do 'it' already?) "Is there anywhere messy on your body, or clothes?"
Ro : "Not really... My hair's a bit messier, I guess?"
Ri : "Your hair?..."
*** ***
K : "The whips... The sting..."
*** ***
Ro : "... Yeah, other than that, my body's fine. My nose is a little itchy, but everything else seems perfectly normal."
Ri : "Normal, you say? Do you feel any pain or discomfort, anywhere?"
Ro : (Why would she ask that? Is Katachi actually virile, perhaps?) "... No. The only things disturbed are my nose and hair."
Ri : (So they didn't do it...) "I see. Well, it's probably nothing, then."
*** ***
Katachi couldn't sleep. He just couldn't afford to. Having someone by his side was one thing, but the night with Roberia beside him was especially brutal - Especially because his bed is uncomfortable to begin with.
Roberia has tossed and turned her head so much last night, her long, red hair had whipped Katachi's face for at least 15 times. When he had reached a daze and neared slumber, the prickly sensation from her hair itched and shocked him back awake, forcing him to open his eyes wide and to stare at the ceiling once again.
This had happened before when Mother Rinnesfeld slept with him. Her hair may have been brown and curly, and thus cushioned the strength of the hair flung against him, but it was a bushy, ticklish sensation highly similar to the bed Katachi is sleeping on.
K : (... I can't sleep. I can't sleep at all. The sky outside is so bright, but for the first time in my life I actually want to sleep now, while she's gone. Just... Calm down, deep breaths...)
The bed's discomfort only served to make the procedure that much more difficult. Because the sheets were old, the straw between the fabric had been broken and stuck outwards fuzzily, like hair on skin. Combined with the bed's sponginess, anyone sleeping on it would have their entire body depressed against the worn-out sheet, and these straw protrusions would then perforate their skin in sensitive spots.
It was a bed only Katachi, who has slept on it for more than 8 years, could sleep on without complaints. It was also a bed nobody else could ever hope to rest upon, without twisting around repeatedly in discomfort.
Roberia didn't find it prickly because she has indeed slept out in the open, with only the soft earth and grass beneath her before. But it's still itchy and ticklish to her, so she tossed and turned a lot that night. Even if her body had been accustomed to the sting from sleeping on rugged, edgy surfaces like plain rock, experiences like that can't completely eliminate the itch of a bug crawling on her skin.
K : (I just want to sleep. It's a bit too bright now, but I... I just want to sleep...)
His tired eyes opened ever so slightly, and he rubbed his thick eyebags. The children playing outside the church, the chirping birds, the gossip of the townsfolk... They were nostalgic.
K : (... It's not as quiet as it was in the night, but I can nap a bit... I think.)
*** ***
Ro : (I can understand if it were last night, but what of the times before?...) "Wait, this can't be nothing! He has a sleeping problem with people around him?"
Ri : "Yes, yes he does."
Ro : (So he feigned sleep?... Did he grope me in my sleep? I dare not imagine...) "... This is unacceptable."
Ri : "Why would that be?"
Ro : "If he is to have a sleeping problem, I must help him overcome this flaw immediately. To my knowledge, this disorder inflicts a huge damage on our relationship. As his wife, I am to offer him a subservient, supportive role."
*Cozy's Notes : Yeah, good luck with that when you're the reason he couldn't sleep. It's like you're breathing oxygen and you say you should stop breathing oxygen to save the Earth but you keep breathing.*
Ri : (Ah, yes. It's their culture to offer their honesty as a form of love.) "I suppose, but there's no need to rush. After all, Magdalona wasn't built in a day."
*Cozy's Notes : 'Rome wasn't built in a day.' reference.*
Ro : "... I suppose..." (... He did tend to me and treat my wounds then, so I guess I could do the same for him. I would have to ask him later, on his sleeping problem.) "Is there anything I can do for him?"
Ri : "... Hmm... Well, you two didn't do it yesterday, but you could help me unravel his bag, and we can sort out his inventory for him."
Ro : "! Of course! Let us make haste."
*** ***
Opening the new, well-sewn bag Katachi carried with him, the two took everything within out. There were a few sets of clean, fresh and unworn clothes, a pair of shoes with a buckle and strap over each, a ragged towel, his wooden dagger, some triple braid rope, his groundsheet and blanket, a small pouch of gold, a pebble with a rune on it, a map with a few tears on the sides, glass bottles of spices and herbs, to name a few.
Ri : "... Hmm... He's low on Mestiel."
Ro : "Mestiel? The herb that suppresses bleeding?"
Ri : "Yes. He seems to have used them a bit. Oh dear, what did he do to use so much, I wonder?"
Ro : (... He used that to heal me... Then, it is only appropriate that I help restock his supply.) "Where can I get some Mestiel?"
Ri : "Mestiel, hm... As for fresh Mestiel, there's a field to the northwest of here that has a few herbs growing. If you have some coin with you, maybe you could try heading to the East of Mielfeud and purchase some from the apothecary - The Mestiel there would be ground and prepared for usage already, but I would suggest you carry some fresh Mestiel back here and see if we can salvage some Durgwyrms from them."
Ro : "... Okay. I'll go look for some in the field."
Roberia stood up, and walked out of the church.
*** ***
K : (... The bed is sinking?...)
Katachi opened his eyes slowly, to see Mother Rinnesfeld seated beside him on the bed. The smell in the air had a fine tint, a herbal aroma. It roused him from his grogginess.
K : "... Mother Rin?"
Ri : "Ah, you're awake, Katachi? I'm sorry, did I wake you?"
K : "It's fine."
The two whom have relied upon each other silently enjoyed the peace about them.
Ri : "... I see you've picked up magic. It's a relief. That should give you more opportunities to work, compared to most of the adults. I was worried that you'd be frail and skinny, but it looks like you've grown up strong, after all."
K : "Yes. I have."
Ri : "How was your time at the Sage Raufid Magus Academy so far?"
Katachi didn't want to let Rinnesfeld worry about him, but at the same time he was not obligated to lie to her.
K : "... I got expelled for using magic on a teacher."
Ri : "! Expelled?..."
K : "... Sorry. I... It was just that, well..."
Ri : "... Was it to help somebody?"
K : (... It wasn't to begin with, but seeing how Rekter carelessly manipulated the chandelier, and almost killed the students, it's sort-of justified, I suppose.) "Yeah. I helped the students."
Ri : "Good. That is good... So, have you any plans from here on?"
K : "... I want to travel the world. I want to write and mark down every bit of detail I see, and... And practice magic on my journey."
Ri : "You're not going to stay here with me then, Katachi? I was quite looking forward to you taking over this church."
K : (... Sorry, Mother Rin, but... The Words of Power are too cruel. They are too dangerous and powerful. I have to collect them all, and ensure that nobody gets hurt by this power ever again.) "... I'm not."
Ri : "... I understand. It must be nice to be young, having such an ambitious dream, and pursuing it actively."
Mother Rinnesfeld embraced Katachi, and snuggled him in her rather finely developed bosoms.
Ri : "Sorry for disturbing your sleep. I heard from that girl Roberia that you haven't had a good rest. I'll just leave you to yourself for now."
K : "... Thank you, Mother Rin."
Ri : "I'll be back before sunset to make dinner. I need to go over to the Assembly Hall for a bit. Sleep tight, my dear Katachi."
K : "... Bye, Mother Rin..."
Katachi closed his eyes, to little help against the strong sunlight outside, and the fragrance in the air serenaded him to sleep quickly.
*** ***
K : (... Something... Heavy?)
Ro : "Are you awake yet, Katachi?"
Opening his eyes, Katachi locked eyes with Roberia, who, to his horror, is now straddled onto his body.
K : "Gaah!!!"
Ro : "!!"
In reflex, Katachi reached for his dagger with his right hand, and his left hand shielded his face. However, he had taken off his equipment, and left them at his bag, so he is completely defenseless.
K : "! Oh, it's... It's just you."
Ro : " 'It's just you'?! What kind of response is that to your wife?!"
K : "Ah, I uh... Sorry. Good, uh..."
Katachi turned his head outside to guess the sun's position. However, clouds have rolled in while he had slept, and now the weather was an overcast.
K : "... Morning?"
Ro : "It's 10 after 1 in the afternoon. I was beginning to think that you'd never wake up."
K : "Sorry for having you worry."
Ro : (His hand's still on... Is he really that perverse?) "... Still, aren't you a bit aggressive? To be doing this right when you wake up."
K : "Do... Do what?"
Ro : "Am I supposed to pretend that your hand is inexistent?"
Looking at his right hand once more, Katachi understood what she meant.
K : "Ah. Sorry."
He quickly removed his right hand, which had been searching for the wooden dagger earlier, from her left thigh.
K : "... Uhm... I-"
Ro : "I! I got you some fresh Mestiel."
K : "You did?"
Ro : "Yes. It took a while before I found them, but I finally did."
K : "That's... That's wonderful. Thank you, Roberia."
Ro : "Don't thank me for something like that. I know you brewed most of your Mestiel for a healing salve to treat my wound back then. Consider this as my compensation to you, for the trouble I've caused."
K : (She knew...) "Uh, of course."
Ro : "... Katachi."
K : "Y- Yes?"
Ro : "I don't know what to do."
K : (? Don't know what to do? Do what?) "What do you not know what to do?"
Ro : "... You have a sleeping problem, do you not? You can't sleep when people are around, and that includes me..."
K : "... Did Mother Rin tell you?"
Ro : "Yes."
K : "... That would be true. I do have a problem sleeping."
R : "!!!"
Without warning, Roberia raised her arm, and plunged her whole body weight into a punch, bouncing upwards on the bed slightly. Katachi's head barely managed to dodge it, scraping his cheek and ear. It was a strong punch; One loud enough, to hear the wood at the bottom creak, sounding the fact of its old age.
Ro : "You and your lecherous eyes, prying upon my body! When we haven't even married yet!!!"
K : (What is she saying?!) "Waagh! Stop! Stop! I can't move! I'm between your legs!"
Ro : "Silence! Before last night, we've already had three nights together!! Just how many times do you plan on humiliating me before you're satisfied?!"
K : (What- Three nights?!) "Three nights!? I... I thought we had two..."
Ro : "DECEIVER!!!"
With all her strength, Roberia slammed her forehead forward, colliding it into Katachi's face hard.
K : (Ow!)
Ro : "... I had thought that you could be trusted, when you were sleeping under the groundsheet. I regret making that belief, you lecherous louse! May Ilpoh cast his judgement and curse upon you!"
In a panic and bind, Katachi simply blurted all his questions out without restraint.
K : "Wait, wait, what?! I'm pretty certain that I've only shared a bed with you twice! What's this about a third time?! When was it?! What do you mean, when I was under the groundsheet?! And we bathed naked together, didn't we?! You were the one who insisted that showing our bodies to each other isn't something to be embarrassed about in the first place! I wasn't even fond of that idea!!"
Ro : (Even if he doesn't know who I am, to have gone this far...) "... I hate this..."
Her sclera turned bloodshot, and the arteries reddened heavily.
K : "... ?" (She's crying now?)
Ro : "Why is fate doing this to me? What have I done to deserve such mockery?... I can't believe, that you, of all people, are to disgrace me so..."
K : "..."
Ro : "Are you enjoying this, you virile swine? Are you that sick and twisted a person to enjoy this in secret? Does it delight you that I am punished so?..."
K : "No! It doesn't..."
Ro : "So prove it, then! Prove, that you did not grope me in my sleep!"
Katachi stared blankly at Roberia.
K : (How am I supposed to prove something like this?) "..."
Ro : "... Well? I'm waiting."
*Cozy's Notes : I agree. This is hard to prove.*
K : (了解! Understand solution to dilemma!)
(Put her hand into your armpit willingly, and have her look at your face.)
A dry whisper, in that all-too-eerie voice, beckoned his body to its will.
Before either could react properly, Katachi reached for her hand by pure instinct, following the set of instructions without hesitation, and placed it against his own armpit.
*Cozy's Notes : ( O ‿ O)
... Well, that's certainly gone in an interesting direction.*
Ro : "!? What are you-"
K : "This... Is my proof."
Ro : "!!!"
Before Roberia, Katachi's face started reddening rapidly, and his eyes averted away, to his left.
K : "... Please don't wiggle your fingers, it.... It's sensitive enough..."
Ro : "How is this supposed to prove anything, moron?!"
K : "... My... My face..."
Ro : "Your face?! What has that- !..." (! He's blushing?)
Katachi's face had turned really quickly from a slightly pale complexion to a vibrant red, the capillaries on his cheeks flaring up with his sensitive spots intruded.
Ro : (... His face is as red as a ripe cherry tomato, his movements are jerky and restrained, and he seems to be really shy... Then, that means, had he actually groped me, his face would redden, just like that?...)
Katachi's hands trembled as it held Roberia's hand in his own armpit. Slowly, they trembled so much, that his right hand actually moved her hand, which chained the feedback to his armpit, which made him shake even more.
*Cozy's Notes : What a vicious cycle. JUST RELAX YOUR ARM, YOU IDIOT. XD*
Finally, his hand jerked and shook so much, it pushed Roberia's hand into his body, and Roberia instinctively applied pressure from her fingertips to stop her hand from being controlled by the jerking hand. Naturally, the fingertips were pressed against Katachi, and stimulated the ticklish sensation to a climax.
Ro : "Stop squeezing and tugging my hand!"
K : "Haahhhh!! E- e- enough! I can't-...!"
Katachi tried desperately to take out Roberia's hand from his armpit, but his arm clamped against her hand so hard, it was practically immobile. He sandwiched the hand against himself, wedging it further in, and tried to pull her hand out at the same time.
*Cozy's Notes : ... Sigh. This guy, ladies and gentlemen. This guy.*
*** ***
The air between them after that became awkward, as Roberia sat atop him.
Ro : (That was awkward. He jammed my hand into his armpit...) "..."
K : (Why- Why did I do that? I am so embarrassed I feel like digging my own grave right now, if only she'd get up and let me...) "..."
Ro : "... You're not a very aggressive person, are you?"
K : "Stop teasing me!..."
Ro : (I have to put up with such nonsense and cowardice when we marry... ? Cowardice?...) "... Still, we're getting married, aren't we?"
K : "... Since you insisted."
Ro : (... Cowardice... No. Cowardice probably isn't the word to explain his behavior.) "I wonder if you enjoyed my company?"
K : (That was enjoyable to her? Then again, it's better than being beat senselessly and bleeding and staining the sheets.) "... I can't say for sure. It's hard to keep up with what's going on, but I think I've devoted myself enough to this, to give you a proper answer." (What would have happened if I didn't have the Word of Power to tell me what to do?...)
Ro : (If it were cowardice, he would try to distance himself from me physically, out of guilt, or defense. But he simply shakes off my advances and attempts to bond with him, without wanting to hurt my feelings by isolating himself. It's almost as if he's... Shy, or just... Unprepared?...)
K : (... Speaking of which, if she really is to wed me, would she stay in this church and help out Mother Rinnesfeld? Or would she choose to travel with me, across the land, in my search for the Words of Power?... Ahh, I wish I thought about things like these beforehand...)
Ro : (... In any case, for trying not to hurt my feelings, I applaud him for his kindness.) "You're kind, Katachi."
Roberia bent down and cuddled herself against Katachi, wrapping her arms around his stomach and back.
K : "? Uhm... Okay?"
Ro : (... So very, very kind... A sort of kindness I would never see from the people of Rugnud, who hold pride in such high regard.) "... Mmmmm..."
K : "... If you don't mind, Roberia, uh... I think I've slept enough."
Ro : "! Right, sorry about that."
Roberia got up, and finally released Katachi from her dominant position. As Katachi got up, he sat down on the bed, and patted a side of the bed, inviting Roberia to join him.
K : "... You know, Roberia, I... I feel guilty."
Ro : "? Guilty?"
K : "Yes. You should have just defeated me then and there, and continued with your journey. Had I not retaliated, and simply let the attack come to me..."
Ro : "Don't say that. Although it is true in that I would be able to travel further on without fear of others mocking my weakness, I would never get strong if I didn't have a strong partner to spar with, a tough opponent to defeat."
K : (Travelling? So she has her own destinations to get to?) "... I am sorry-"
Ro : "Besides, you have a Word of Power with you. That is, in itself, good, since you seem pretty capable of using it... I think. What do I know? I don't know exactly how powerful you are, but you're strong enough, I think. I've heard many praises of the Words of Power and experienced its ability to give you power in a pinch, so surely it must be powerful."
K : "... It's... Not 'a' Word of Power..."
Ro : "? What do you mean?"
Katachi slowly stood up, and walked towards the thick paper book. Opening the pages up, he revealed 3 other Words of Power.
K : "... Four."
Ro : "! Ah, so you have four Words of Power. That's good, isn't it?"
K : (... No surprise or shock? She seems pretty calm over the fact that I have multiple Words of Power together...)
*Cozy's Notes : Roberia's a warrior, not a magus, not a Scholar. She wouldn't need to remember the details or the rules the Words of Power abide by, etc. She'd think that all she needs to know is that it works and it's powerful.*
Ro : "In any case, marrying you isn't a bad option. You're a kind person, you're powerful, and you're... Special. I can feel it. I look forward to Mother Rinnesfeld's good news."
K : (... Let's hope this doesn't end in some sort of tragedy- ?) "You know Mother Rin's full name?"
Ro : "!? I, uh, well, you see, I tried to wake you this morning, see, and she told me to call her Rinnesfeld instead, since, see, she likes my accent and the way I pronounce her name, you see."
K : "?... Ah. Okay." (She likes the way Roberia pronounces her name?... I didn't know she liked that. Roberia sounds pretty normal, actually. Maybe she likes her voice?)
Tuesday 3 September 2013
Inflicted with slight depression
Sorry for the no-release yet, people. I failed the PR2, my sumo robot couldn't run because the chassis was too low, the metal piece was grounded by accident and it short-circuited and went haywire, rammed into a locker, and shit from the top rained down like it was confetti.
In essence, it was just horrid.
Since I failed the PR2, I would likely have to stay behind at school during the holidays. IN THE INTERNET-LESS COMPUTERS OH GOD THE HORROR.
And yesterday, well, it was just... Bad.
Bad bad.
Many things went down, I didn't prepare for most of them, and I'm feeling a bit down right now because of that. I'm not in the mood to write Messiah 4 properly. It demands my cheerful, humorous persona to bring out its flavor, which for the meantime has gone into hiding because things recently have been against me.
Don't get me wrong, I have indeed been busying myself and working on it. Messiah 4's about, like, 70% complete. I'm writing the climax of the funny and awkward moment, but with a dejected mood like this, the chapter would feel dead-pan if I forced myself to write now.
Give me some time to watch Nichijou and cheer up, k?
With love,
Cozy
In essence, it was just horrid.
Since I failed the PR2, I would likely have to stay behind at school during the holidays. IN THE INTERNET-LESS COMPUTERS OH GOD THE HORROR.
And yesterday, well, it was just... Bad.
Bad bad.
Many things went down, I didn't prepare for most of them, and I'm feeling a bit down right now because of that. I'm not in the mood to write Messiah 4 properly. It demands my cheerful, humorous persona to bring out its flavor, which for the meantime has gone into hiding because things recently have been against me.
Don't get me wrong, I have indeed been busying myself and working on it. Messiah 4's about, like, 70% complete. I'm writing the climax of the funny and awkward moment, but with a dejected mood like this, the chapter would feel dead-pan if I forced myself to write now.
Give me some time to watch Nichijou and cheer up, k?
With love,
Cozy
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