It must be a dungeon or rift. There's nothing else that could give out so much energy. There was a sudden burst of air and a loud explosion that came from the front.
I looked around to where the older couple were, they seemed to be ok but I couldn't see where Harrie was. I have to take them outside somewhere faster before the gate fully opens and look for Harrie as well. Once it opens, who knows what monsters could appear.
"HARRIE! ARE YOU OK?"
There was no answer.
"HARRIE!!"
The more I called out to him and got no answer made me feel uneasy.
It also seemed like the couple were having trouble walking with the ground shaking and their things falling all over. It'll be best to grab both of them and walk slowly towards the back door to somewhere safe.
"Astor, boy, what are you doing? I'm old but I'm not that old that I can't walk with my own two feet. Put me down."
"I'm sorry, but it seems like it's a gate of some sort and is about to open. It'll be best if I take you two out faster."
The older father grumbled, "Fine, for a young man you have a lot of strength to carry me and my wife out like this. I've never seen you work out, I hope we're not too heavy for you."
"It's nothing, it feels like nothing, it's best to go now."
As I walked out I looked around to see if any hunters were around to help luckily there were a few calling for back up. I told them to take them somewhere were they could get checked up on. The older mother fell with all the shaking and was having trouble walking.
They understood and took them both away.
But I still haven't seen Harrie anywhere.
I asked the hunters around if they saw a young man with light gray eyes and light brown hair. None of them had seen him.
I went back in the house but did not find him anywhere. It's like he vanished. I checked every place possible but nothing.
The only thing that could have happened to him was, being dragged into the rift.
"That stupid rift" it looks like an A-17 level. Nothing I couldn't handle myself. It seems easy to deal with it alone.
But- the more I thought about going into it, the more sick I felt. I looked around and I asked a hunter nearby if anyone had gone in to save anyone that had been dragged in. He looked around and said " no it seem like there was a limit of how many people could go in and they couldn't risk anyone going in without knowing it because it could close and no one could go in until someone killed the boss" it would be better to just close this rift because of how close it was to the city.
Knowing that, I decided to ask if they knew of any of the hunters that were going to go in, they all said that only the top 2 S hunters were going in. Because of the high level risk it was.
Not receiving the answer I wanted, I went back towards the house to get a knife. I'm still not sure if Harrie is there but if there's a small chance he's not, I'll just act as if I tripped and fell in. But if he is in there I'll just kill the boss and run out with Harriet and of course I'll take the core out with me, it would make a good weapon.
As I made my way over the rift, it seemed like one of the 2 hunters were already here, talking to the news people about "how unexpected the rift opening was, and how there was no sign of it appearing; it was very unusual how it opened without a sign." It wasn't really unexpected to me. When I was younger they used to open up like this all the time. I guess they had it better than me.
I walked past them making my way to the rift. The closer I got the more nervous I felt, but that doesn't matter right now what mattered the most is Harrie safety. I jumped in and when I looked back the ground started to shake and every one looked at the rift's direction.
The rift closed and no one was able to enter it. It seems like only one more person was able to enter.
"Shit i hope they didn't see me jump in, I'll get in trouble if they did."
I walked around with the kitchen knife on hand just in case. It was surprisingly calm for a rift of a high level with no sounds, and no movements anywhere. I walked for a bit and stopped to look around.
All of the sudden I felt something grab me from behind. I swung my arm with the knife straight to their throat. I paused right before cutting them.
"Wooow calm down Astor." He looked startled, falling to the ground. While whispering.
"Harr?!?—"
"Harrie pulled me down and covered my mouth "Shhh!! They can hear you"
Harrie looked around and looked straight at me.
"Why are you here Astor? Are mother and father here as well?"
I shook my head, no. I pulled his hands off my mouth still holding them, so what's the situation?
Harrie looked at me "well. . A hunter came in and took care of some of the monsters but not all."
"I see. But are you ok? are you hurt? aren't you scared?"
I think I was more nervous than him, it sounded like I was his mother or partner checking on him.
"Scared? Of course I am. I was worried that any of you guys were here. I don't want any of you to get hurt. I'm glad I found you and that my parents are safe out there."
"Then, let's get out of here, we can make it out."
He looked around. "but if we do what about the other?"
"If there's a hunter here they can take care of it, and do their job."
"If someone heard you they would just laugh at you."
Then Harrie looked down, his grip tightened a bit.
"Aah see, you are scared, don't want to die yet do you."
"Astor, please you're in the same situation as me as well."
I patted him to comfort him and kept my smile.
"I know, but unlike you, I don't have a family waiting for me. So l'll make sure you do get out."
Harrie looked at me "what do you mean you dont hav-" i cut him off, I don't really feel like talking about that right now, "we have to look for the way out."
"Your mom and dad were worried about you. Asking where you were. Let's just leave."
Harrie looked conflicted but when he was about to answer, something made its way over where we were. Harrie pushed me over barely missing whatever was thrown at us.
It was a sword, not any sword. I recognized it, it was one that my father made. It looked worn out like it wasn't taken care of correctly.
By the time I looked over to check on Harrie he had a pole he grabbed before falling. Harrie was looking directly where the sword was thrown from. Someone was coming towards them. I grabbed the knife I had and went over to harrie.
When I got to him, his arm was badly injured. It seemed like the sword hit his arm and it was a bad cut. I hadn't thought about bringing any aid with me, I didn't know what to do. Usually when I had gone to missions they had their own healers so I hadn't thought about bringing any. "Shit, what do I do?"
"it's fine"
"But it looks deep Harrie."
"Harrie pulled my hand, let's move, it looks like it's a monster coming."
I looked over and turned on my grid sight, it looked like it was just the animals running around, no monster.
"Ok let's go."
It seems like it was the hunter that lost its sword. I looked at Harrie." Should we bring the sword with us?"
"Sure, that seems like a good idea. We can return it later."
I went back to pick up the sword. As I expected, it was one of my father's items. What a pity how could someone treat something so badly and not take good care of it.
"I bet you took good care of them, and this is how they treat you."
As I stroked my hand over the baled it didn't cut me. I smiled, it seemed like it still recognized me.
—------------------------—------------------------
-You have awakened "Sweet Dreams"
-Item: "sweet Dreams" has awakened, they welcomed you ⬜️⬜️⬜️.
"Sweet Dreams" sincerely apologizes for not being present that day.
—------------------------—------------------------
I looked at it "Sweet Dreams". . .
I think I know what it was talking about, but it didn't really matter anymore.
"It already happened, there's nothing that could have prevented that."
—------------------------—------------------------
"Sweet Dreams" glares at his ⬜️⬜️⬜️.
"Sweet dreams" Understood ⬜️⬜️⬜️.
—------------------------—------------------------
"Who's your owner now?"
—------------------------—------------------------
"Sweet dreams" glared at his ⬜️⬜️⬜️"They called him Silvester" ⬜️⬜️⬜️.
—------------------------—------------------------
"I see. I'll return you to them."
—------------------------—------------------------
"Sweet dreams" sighed. If that's what you want ⬜️⬜️⬜️. I will sleep until you awaken me then.
—------------------------—------------------------
"I'll also ask him to take you to me for maintenance."
—------------------------—------------------------
"Sweet dreams" shakes and thanks you for your undivided attention.
—------------------------—------------------------
"Astor, come here. Look," he pointed to the other side where we were. "it's Hunter Sylvie. I can't believe we're watching him fighting in real time. Did you grab the sword? It might be his."
"Uh, yeah I did."
"Throw it here."
"Ah ok" I aimed near his feet and threw it.
It fell near him, where he grabbed it and was able to finish killing the monster. But more were also appearing at the same time. It seemed like awakening It had sharpened it more than it was before. I grabbed Harrie's hand.
"Let's go, we don't have time, it looks like more monsters are appearing. who knows when they'll notice us. We should leave. I don't want to die here and I don't think you want that either."
"Yes, you're right, let's go."
We made it back to the entrance but it wasn't opened so no one could leave until the boss was killed off.
Harrie looked around and noticed that there were more people around also trying to leave but couldn't.
"Astor"
"yeah?"
"It looks like we can't get out yet."
"So it seems that Hunter isn't doing a good job, is he."
"Does the boss need to be defeated so we can leave?"
"I think so. It's a high level gate."
"But it looks like only one hunter was sent. Do you think he'll be able to defeat it?"
I thought about it.
"No, he's too weak he wouldn't be able to."
"Then, does that mean we'll die here?"
"I guess so, I'm sorry Harrie I think I won't be able to get us out of here" I dramatically put my arm over my eyes and I pushed him a bit, teasing him.
He looked very pitiful. Kinda cute, I also started to feel a bit bad for lying to him. I patted his back.
"Don't worry. I think I saw another hunter here and they seem wayyyyy better than him."
"Really? Who? I never knew there was someone higher class than Sylvester. There's only 7 s class known here in Japan. Only 3 of them are actually still here alive. The other 4 are presumed dead."
I smiled, internally stabbing myself for not looking up more information on the present day.
Uh shit, I thought there would be more S awakeners after I left but it seems like only 3 awakened.
"Who are they? Have you seen them? Are they a girl or a boy? Are they good looking? How old are they? Why wont you answer me!!!"
"Shut up will you" i didnt feel bad for him anymore, he's talking too much.
Of course he wouldn't know that it was me but I wasn't going to tell him.
At this point he was shaking me around like a tree.
"Uuhhggg. . . It's some guy with black hair or whatever, I didn't get a good look at them."
"Ah ok."
He seemed pleased with that answer. I started looking around, Harrie looked at me.
"What's wrong Astor?"
"Harrie, I lost my watch. I can't find it anywhere."
"What? How? "
"I'm not sure but I'll go back to check where we were. Can you look around here in case it's here? It'll be quick."
"No!!, You're not going back."
He grabbed my arm pulling me towards him.
"What if something happens to you?"
"I know that watch is very important to you but I won't let you go. We're so close to the gate we just need to wait for the hunters to defeat the boss. Then we can ask them to help you find it. But you're not going."
He looked conflicted about letting go of my arm. It was like he knew I would go no matter what, but I was lying from the start. I didn't lose my watch I just put in my inventory space. I just need to get rid of that boss so we can get out of here.
"Harrie it'll be really quick I promise please. My dad made that with me, it's the only thing I have from him." I looked at him pitifully. I know how weak he is seeing someone upset.
He loosened his grip a bit but still didn't let go.
"But. . . I - I just don't want you to get hurt."
-bum-dum-
For some reason I felt my heart flutter up a bit. Maybe it was because I hadn't had someone worry for me. Maybe that's why my heart speeded up. I opened my mouth and closed. I just kept smiling.
" I won't, I promise. It'll be really quick."
He looked upset but he let go of my arm.
"I'll look around here then hurry up, and come back quickly, I don't want to worry that you got killed because I let go of you."
I smiled and patted him again.
" I'll be right back. Thank you."
And so I made my way back to get my "missing" watch.