In Ruven's mind
Here again?
You're full of surprises.
It seems you've figured out how to manifest your weapon now. Congratulations.
Huh?
Where am I? What's this voice? It feels.. familiar.
"Hello Ruven, we meet again."
Said the person who I always meet in my dreams.
"I remember you! It's been so long since I last saw you. Who are you?" I said
"Call me the Lockbearer. I exist within you to help you, to guard you and to wait for the day you find the key to the lock. Enough of me though, tell me Ruven, do you wish to ask any questions?"
"Uhh, yes. What's happening to me in real life? Did I die? What about Adonis? Did we defeat Gabriel?"
"We'll, find out. After you passed out, your Electroreflex was still activated and your body moved on its own, even though you're unconscious. Your body now permanently adjusted to the feeling of manifesting a weapon."
"That's great! What about my abilities?"
"Your new abilities revolve around your swordsmanship. As long as you increase your understanding of swordsmanship, you'll unlock new abilities."
"I see. It's so calming here, what is this place. Yes, I know it's Ataraxia but, this place feels so... Relaxing."
"This place is what you desire the most in your heart. Ruven, we don't have enough time to talk right now. In your journey you'll meet a dark-blue haired...."
"Wake up! Wake up! Ruven!" A voice called out to me.
"What, huh? What's happening?" I asked, my voice shaking as I do.
As I opened my eyes, I saw Adonis.
"Ruven! You're awake! I thought you died man.." said Adonis.
"As you can see, I'm very much alive, my neck and arm hurts though, what happened here?" I asked as I sat up.
"You were fighting Gabriel. Well, your body was. You fell unconscious when the nasty abhorrent abomination of a woman that was on your shoulder. Your body went unconscious while you were standing by the way." Said a girl's voice.
As I turned back to look at her, I saw a woman with a pink trench coat, wearing glasses and a witch hat. She had Dark-blue hair.
Dark-blue hair??
The Lockbearer's words flashed across my mind.
"Dark-blue haired" there's a lot of dark blue haired people. He didn't say a girl though, so she may not be it.
What I will say is that, she is... Cute.
"I'll cast a spell on you that will reduce your pain for a bit. You'll be able to walk, but we'll have to go quick, or the spell's effect will wear off." She said.
She's a witch? I sense that she's a VoltenCrown though, I don't sense that she's a hybrid..
"Hey Ruven, nice fighting by the way, you really saved my six back there. Who knows what would've happened if you were not around, thanks." Adonis said.
He lent me a hand. I grabbed it and stood up on my feet. I realised my sword was still in my hands. It didn't disappear for some reason, but that's probably for the good.
Manifesting my sword mid-battle is a bit risky.
"Do we head towards the sea or do we go to the Nightingale residency? I think it's better if Ray heals us up before we go ahead." Adonis said.
"Where's the Nightingale residency? Is it the place where a mob of people were gathered at?" Dawn asked.
"Uhh, yeah, did you pass from there?" I asked
"Yeah, I saw a knight fighting so I went to check it out. Come to think of it, I saw you guys last time when Gabriel showed up. I remember, you guys couldn't even stand up to him, and you managed to behead him? Also, that girl, or whatever that was on her shoulder she shouldn't even exist. As I remember, the anomalites were exterminated a long time ago. If they're still alive, we may be facing a more formidable enemy than the Aqueogon." She answered
"What? What's an anomalite?" I asked.
"It's hard to explain, it's better if I do it when everyone is around." She said.
"I see. Nevertheless, I'll contact Jian right now." I said
"Jian, how's it looking over there? Are you fighting someone?"
"Ruven? Is that you?"
"Yes, it's me."
"Oh, so this is telepathy? I see. We're done actually, we might've wiped out most of the Leroux clan. I now know why the "Leroux Clan" sounded so familiar. It's a clan of Anomalites. What's going on there? Why did I hear so much thundering?"
"We killed Gabriel, it's a long story. Me, Adonis and a guest are coming back home, ask Ray to get his medical equipment ready, we'll explain everything when we get back."
"You what?! How?! You need to explain now! I'll tell Ray about the medical equipment but I need to hear this!"
"Sorry Jian, gotta go."
"Sooo, did you talk to this Jian guy?" Dawn asked.
"Yeah, quick question, do you have a teleport ability?" I asked.
"Yes, I do, but it consumes a lot of mana. It takes a lot of it, especially if it's far away." She replied.
"Our destination is fairly close. If you get us to the Nightingale residence, where the knight was fighting, we will meet up with everyone." Adonis said.
"I see, alright, get close, I'll teleport us there."
"Break through space."
She said, and a tear in space formed under us.
We dropped inside it, and after two seconds we fell down in my home.
"Oh! Ruven, you're here! Uhh, who's this?" Jian asked.
Ray asks me and Adonis to follow him and to get on the stretcher so he could start treating us.
As he did so, me and Adonis started explaining what happened in the forest, Ray and Eva looking at me with a shocked expression.
Jian starts laughing in a wild manner. Eva, visibly annoyed throws a vase at him, so he stops laughing.
"Ow.. anyways, so that's your weapon? A katana? That's sick. Since I'm a knight, I can teach you the basics of swordsmanship, but for that katana, only the Okadas can teach you how to fully mastery it."
"More reason to go to Aerogon it seems." Adonis said.
Wait, Okada? Did I not hear Dawn say that it's her last name?
"Wait, Dawn, are you from the Aerogon??" I asked
"Well, yeah, I am an Okada after all." She answered.
"WHAT?! you mean to say that you're from the Royal Family of Aerogon? THE Okadas???" Jian screamed.
"Wait, you know us? Actually, your name is Jian, is it? I've heard that name somewhere. Are you from the Aerogon?" She asked.
"Kind of? My family serves the Okadas, I was too weak in their standards so they sent me out. Well, thrown out, is a better term." Jian said.
"Oh? That's not what I'd say. Taking down atleast 15 anomalites on your own? That's not something even an Aerogon knight can do by themselves. So you decided to be a Royal Knight for the humans? Interesting." She said.
"Well, of course. Why wouldn't I go somewhere where my strength is actually useful. Because they kicked me out, I could save Ruven and Adonis in this past. I'd say I did a fine job raising Adonis, and Ruven isn't far behind too." Jian said.
"But, how did Ruven manage to defeat the Anomalite? Adonis got knocked out by a few moments of contact with that... Thing."
"That thing, Opehlia was it? Congrats Ruven, if you're here then I'd assume she's exterminated. Well, Ruven is a pure Voltencrown, so any interference with his energy won't bother him too much. If the voltage in his body is stopped or leeched, it won't affect him as much because the electricity will find another way. As for Adonis, he's a hybrid. The flow of electricity in his body is already a bit wonky as it is. Combine it with an Anomalite's leech, his body experiences all kinds of things, eventually tiring itself out."
"Wait so, you're saying that I can't fight against anomalites?" Adonis said
"Yeah, unless you can pull off something like Ruven's electroreflex. With your training as an assassin, you'll be a natural with dodging. As for your weapon, use guns. Melees will be bad against them, they'll leech onto it. Not a problem for Ruven, he'll have to imbue his blade with his thunderburst power, and he'll be set."
"Oh, guns huh? Good enough. I can manage with those." Adonis said.
"You both are all good to leave again, but I'd suggest to stay for this night. Now that this has happened, I'll need Eva more than ever, and so will the people. I have a feeling this raid won't be the last of it." Ray said.
I really wanted to visit Chris and Tony, but if I get caught, it'll be very bad. I almost died going against just one anomalites, going against 5 or so would kill me definitely.
This must be pretty hard on Adonis. Until he has something to guard himself with, he's practically a sitting duck for the Anomalites.
"Oh, by the way, Dawn, thank you for saving my son. We're grateful to you." Eva said.
"Oh, no need to thank me, I was about to fight Gabriel anyways, seeing someone fight against him and winning, to the point he had to run away? I really enjoyed it. It made my work a lot easier too." Dawn answered.
"Ooh! You two must be fated to meet." Eva said.
She side-eyed, saying it with a teasing manner.
Dawn looked at the both of us, confused. She's honestly kind of cute, but I feel like falling in love is not necessary at the moment.
But, to be honest...
I do feel.. something in my heart when I look at her.
An unexplained feeling?
Maybe, yes.
An unexplained feeling.