[Volume 1: Players! Fight!]
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[Location: Mirag Town, Auralian Empire!]
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In the central market of Mirag city, the children's laughter echoed as they ran past the white central marbled fountain, playing a game of catch as they avoided those around them. They also crashed in a few before they ran away, their steps hastening even more.
The slightly reddish-hued sun in the far east stayed at the same place as it always has. Its light partially hit the Mirag city barely lighting it at dusk. Legend has it that it's the avatar of an ancient God that has been banished from Zarraf, burning forever as a punishment for going against the True Gods. Folktales revolved around it resulting in many festivals and traditions that were formed and broken over time that once were, one of which gave it its omnipresent name of The Burnt Sun, representing both its nature and appearance.
At an angle of 30 degrees from the Burnt Sun, the other sun which was similar in aspect to the sun on Earth, was the Prime Sun. Every element was similar to that on Earth, including the frequency of revolution and rotation, making it a measure of time and date, based on which the annals of the planet were calculated.
Lighting up the Mirag City at an angle, the reddish hue of the burnt sun had turned slightly yellowish, but since there was still time before the Prime Sun could show its full potency, the white marbled roads and the partially wooden, yet stoned, houses came off reddish to the observer.
As the vendors prepared to vend things, the buyers moved to buy them, and the city slowly began to bustle with murmurs, which soon changed into clamour that brought the buyers and the sellers closer.
"Skewer meat for 10 coppers! Skewer meat for 10 coppers!"
"Garland of wallflower! Garland of wallflowers! One free on buying three pieces!"
"Mom! I want to eat that fruit!"
"Did you hear what happened in Coast City?"
"Yeah, it seems like Sir Adam is up to something again."
"I heard the witches are up to something again. Also, there were rumours of war between the fire nation and the wind."
"Feels like something big is coming."
As moments passed, a cold wind blew while the reddish hue began to be partially blocked by a certain shade that made a few turn their heads towards the sky. A few clicked their tongues while others hastened their steps to their work. The cold wind brought traces of moisture and mud with the smell of desert mixed in it. Carrying the heavy clouds, it also provided shade to the city covered in red, signalling the arrival of the rain.
"This weather truly sucks. Tch! If it keeps raining like this every day, I might genuinely have to close the shop for good." A grey-haired burly vendor spoke as he looked at the scarcely charred sweetcorns on the burning coal. With a slow sigh, he picked one of them up and began chewing it before moving to close the shop to protect the goods from getting damaged in the rain.
"If you are going to throw them away, can you give them for free?!"
From the corner of his eyes, the burly man saw a boy no older than 16, standing there with a little expectant gaze, a streak of saliva dripping from the corner of his lips. The boy's green eyes were fixated on the hot sweet corn, while he barely held his slightly burnt hands from picking them up without the vendor's permission.
"Here. Doesn't your boss pay you, kid? Why are you always trying to wriggle free stuff?" The vendor examined the familiar boy once again, his orange hair that indicated his origin from the far east, his neatly tied white shirt that matched the green open cotton vest and especially the leather belt that had imprints of silver laced in it.
Both his distinct dialect and appearance betrayed the action he was taking, truly confusing the vendor as he simply saw the kid taking a bite out of the sweetcorn.
"I am nom nom… gulp… saving money to travel to my hometown, the fire nation. Thank you for the sweetcorn, sir!" The orange-haired boy spoke before politely bowing and then leaving under the surprised gaze of the vendor. Looking at the narrowing back of the boy, the vendor sighed again before getting back to tidying up the shop.
Though as he turned, he saw that most of the things were already neatly arranged, leaving little to no work left for him to do. A hue of muddy earth magic lingered for a few seconds before vanishing completely as well. His gaze first surprised, then turned to the humming boy who was enjoying the sweetcorn as he walked down the street.
The slow humming steps passed down a cloth shop, then a bakery before stopping in front of a green-gated two-storied shop that was no larger than a big carriage in appearance, its outer wall about 10 meters wide and 8 meters tall.
The windowed wall was of a similar leaf green appearance, decorated with leaflets that were both artificial and natural in origin, giving a contrasting look that was both odd yet somewhat pleasant to look at. Through the window, one can see a counter at the further side of the shop and an open shelf holding daggers and shields of various arrangements.
"Will it really work?" The orange-haired boy glanced at the top of the outer wall, at the dark green banner, outlined in an attractive red that seemed to catch the attention of everyone before they went back to their own mundane tasks.
Within the red outline and upon the dark green background, there were written words in dirty brown.
[Falcon's Weapon Shop and Training Arena!]
Another sigh escaped from the orange-haired boy as he checked his purse and took out a few copper coins with '10 Zarra' written on them before taking out a small silver knife. He rotated the handle of the silver knife clockwise twice before it opened up showing a compartment in which a key was placed.
Tapping twice on the handle, he then forced the green colored key out, before placing it within the keyhole of the shop's door. Turning it clockwise twice, he felt the mechanism open the door, before he went into the shop.
His eyes widened for a brief moment before he took a slow breath.
"I still can't get used to it." He mumbled before his eyes adjusted to the room in front of him. It was 3 times larger than before, and compared to the dull look from outside, the shop inside was filled with the lighting of gold and silver, illuminating the entire shop.
In the wide space in between, on the woodlined floor, there were 5 rows of 3 exquisite racks, each filled with a set of weapons and shields. The edges of the shop had a slightly elevated redwood platform that allowed the customers to walk, as well as look at all the weapons at once. The orange-haired boy then looked at the cream coloured walls of the shop. There were strange moving pictures on the walls each filled with the names and images of even more weapons that one can choose from.
It's a near-perfect shop in every way. Just that… the location is not good enough. Can we even get customers here in this city that is barely just a big town? The orange-haired boy questioned before he moved to the reception area. Opening the half door, he went behind the counter and picked up his ID and uniform that he had to wear while working.
Just like he did before, he wore the full white T-shirt first before putting on his black pants that were larger on the bottom, barely touching the floor. Then he took up the brown apron with the green 'F' label on it, before wearing it over his white shirt and black pants.
He then glanced at the ID Card that was given to him.
Name: Linc Roland
Date of Birth: XX/YY/ZZZZ
Address: ______
Employee number: 01
If the Card is lost please return it to Falcon's Weapon Shop and Training Arena
-Click!
Before Linc could even prepare himself to work, the entrance of the shop opened and a man appeared in Linc's view.
His vermillion messy hair was slightly curled as it reached a bit below his ears where its reddish hue turned slightly golden. A portion of the messy hair was covering his deep red eyes that seemed to contain a burning flare in them. That man first raised his right hand to brush the hair off his forehead, before slowly taking off the long red leather coat, revealing his half-sleeved black shirt underneath and the bulging muscles on his arms and forearms.
"Good Morning, Linc. Ready for the first day?" The red-haired man asked as he then carried the red leather coat towards Linc before checking the shop's condition from the corner of his vision.
"Yes. Mr. Falcon!" Linc spoke with slight anticipation as he looked at the owner of the shop, the man who saved him from monsters before and the one who promised him work, money and means of travel back home.
As Falcon reached the counter, he passed the coat to Linc before giving a slight nod. With a smile on his face, Falcon then added," Hey, Linc. What do you think about the shop? Do you think it will work?"
Linc pondered at the question that his employer asked, wondering if he should lie about it trying to uplift the mood and get in his good books? He looked at Falcon for a brief moment. Then, as he placed that red coat on the hanger before taking out another similar one, he walked towards Falcon again,
"It would have worked better if the shop were in a bigger city. Even if it were smaller, the effect would have been much better than what we could achieve in this city."
In the end, Linc decided to be honest. There was nothing wrong with telling the truth when it's already obvious to everyone. Linc had an inkling that sir Falcon had some other reason for opening the shop in the city that he couldn't reach up to. And honestly, he never tried enough to think either.
All I want is to get back home. A few months of hard work and savings should be enough to get by. As for what happens to this shop after that… I don't have much attachment to it… Linc thought before waiting for Sir Falcon to speak.
"I understand. But this city has a charm that makes the others pale in comparison." Falcon said with his eyes shining a little, as if looking forward towards something exciting. He looked at Linc's confused expression before chuckling a little before adding," Come with me. There is something that I need you to see and get familiar with."
The confused expression on Linc's face didn't vanish, except there was an addition of curiosity in it. He moved around the counter, opening half the gate before getting out and closing it from outside. Then with hastened steps he moved out of the shop where Falcon had already reached.
As they reached outside, he saw Falcon using [Earth Magic] to close the door without turning around. Linc was surprised a bit but then recalling how Falcon fought the monsters before, it didn't seem like something that great anymore. Obviously it was still difficult for a normal mage, much less an ordinary person. Especially since the lock was made of obsidian, a rock that rapidly absorbed mana.
Passing by the closed street shops, Falcon and Linc slowly moved closer to the town center. The winds turned colder as the reddish hue was completely shadowed by the dark clouds, signalling the arrival of rain anytime soon. Linc was worried that the rain might drench their clothes, his eyes glancing at the wide back of Falcon wondering what he was planning to do.
The slow steps slowed more before the duo stopped at the town center. Falcon's eyes traced the area before looking at the sky, at the dark clouds that had started showing signs of drizzle that could transform into heavy downpour anytime now.
"Sir Falc-" As Linc was about to speak, he saw Falcon smiling at the sky. Falcon slowly stretched down, preparing to jump, a faery red aura beginning to concentrate in his fist. And then…
-BOOOM!!!!
Under the widened gaze of Linc, Falcon jumped in the air, reaching far above, within the clouds, then reaching above them. Linc saw Falcon vanish among the clouds, while leaving a huge crater down at the town centre.
"[Reform!]" Linc mumbled as a trace of earth magic escaped his fingers and began seeping into the ground. His gaze was still focused on the sky, wondering what Falcon was trying to do here.
-BOOOOOM!!!
And the answer was revealed in a rather unbelievable manner. A hole opened up in the clouds, letting the bright sun shine its rays on the city once more! The edges were slightly red as traces of fire magic slowly vanished from Linc's visions, his mouth wide open unable to utter a single word.
Not long after, a red haired figure slowly descended onto the already fixed ground and then smiled at Linc without saying anything. He simply pointed at the fountain area where golden lights were slowly descending, slowly forming the shape of a human.
The already baffled Linc, having a hard time registering the series of events, saw the lights slowly increasing in number as more and more human-like figures were forming in the circle around them, before each of them transforming into a real human, each with their own peculiarities, their own similarities… their own differences…
And amidst the confusion, Linc saw the smiling yet expectant expression of Falcon. In a low but audible voice, he slightly turned his head and looked at Linc from the corner of his eyes.
"They will be our customers. You can call them, Players."
He added with a warm smile.
It felt as if… he had returned home.