Chapter 40Momentary

  Suna awoke, to Angie’s grinning face. She could feel Angie’s heart beat, through her chest. They looked, at each other.

  “...Hehehe.” Suna pinched Angie’s cheeks.

  Suna felt like a completely different person. There was a sort of Happiness that had found itself in her chest: an Optimism, a Desire to see Tomorrow, and the Future.

  She walked, energetically, holding Beryl’s hand.

  Gazes. People Looked at her. And she didn’t really mind it. It’s not as if she didn’t care about what people thought of her. For example, if Angie were to come and tell her that she thought Suna was Weird for what she did st night… Suna would be really Sad. Perhaps, she just felt a bit more… Confident. In Herself. She felt more reassured that she’d be able to continue being with her Friends. Because of Angie. Because of how she was able to Communicate with Her. She felt a lot more at ease.

  Suna still didn’t really know what exactly she wanted to do. But, she Decided. That she’d try and interact more with this Foreign World. She’d try, and be a Part of it. With her Friends. She Could do it.

  She had actually wanted to learn how to read from either Angie or Lilt. But, to her surprise, she saw them talking and discussing Magic with each other. She was Happy for them; she Loved seeing her Friends become closer. She wouldn’t interrupt them. That’s why she dragged along an unoccupied Beryl, to explore the City with her.

  “Ugh, where are we even going??”

  “We’re Exploring! Come on!”

  Beryl couldn’t resist that hard against such an Energetic Suna. She Happily gave in to Suna’s whims and desires.

  Beryl and Suna went… window shopping. They had a lot of money, retive to the common person. So, they went around.

  “Mmm, this is Good!”

  Suna had to agree. For some reason, good food was a commonality in this World. She thanked the small shop owner, and inwardly, all of the World’s chefs and cuisines.

  “What do you think this does?”

  Suna had no idea. “Um, excuse me…”

  “Hm? How can I help you?”

  “What does this do?” Suna held a device to the clerk.

  “Oh, that’s a Tether Ring. It can ‘Remember’ up to 5 other Tether Rings, and it will sense them when they’re nearby.”

  Beryl and Suna were a bit dumbfounded. “How does it ‘sense’ them?”

  “Haha, here, I’ll show you.”

  The sensation was peculiar. It seemed to Transmit ‘information’ to Suna, through some sort of vague ‘sense’ of hers. It was just a pin-looking ring, that had no dispy or interface, yet it was capable of so much…

  “Why’d you get an extra one?”

  “Eh, what if we take a commission, and we need to help someone else? It would be good to know where they are, I feel like.”

  Beryl looked at Suna. Suna stopped in her tracks.

  “Hey, you know… You’re… Different, now.”

  “Hm?” Suna didn’t really know what Beryl was talking about. She tilted her head.

  “Yeah, I mean… I’m… Happy, for you.” Beryl looked at Suna… Soberly. She gave Suna a punch in the arm, and a smirk. “Don’t tell me…”

  Suna recognized Beryl was implying Angie. “Oh, yeah, we sort of… had a Good Night, st night.”

  Beryl let out an exhale, “Oh, Did you now, huh?” She looked at Suna with pyful suspicion.

  Suna thought about st night. She… thought of it fondly. She would remember it, for a long time. She Won, st night. She Won, over a lot of different things and feelings. She came out on top. “Hehe, yeah, I think we’re… Closer, now.”

  “Hehehe.” Beryl kicked Suna, lightly, in the thigh.

  “Hey, what’s that for!”

  “Hehe, all I’m saying is… you, seem a lot Happier now.” Beryl looked at Suna, and Smiled. “...I’m Happy for you, Suna.”

  Suna appreciated Beryl’s kind feelings. She grabbed Beryl’s hand, and they continued walking.

  –

  Krax saw Suna, walking in the street, holding a girl’s hand.

  “...Tch.”

  They made sure to stay out of sight. Her presence was annoying, it was a Detriment to his objectives.

  But Krax’s Annoyance was eased. By a Light. Their focus was returned, to what they were doing.

  Just a few more.

  –

  Beryl and Suna lounged, at a public table. They were both a little exhausted; they had spent the past several hours looking through many different stores, and trying various foods. Suna even had to awkwardly acknowledge a few people that came up to her, thanking her for Killing the Brigadier Ant. They didn’t end up buying too many things; Suna only seemed to care about things that were actually Useful, and Suna was beginning to realize: actually useful Trinkets and Gadgets are quite expensive. Suna had a bit of a miserly outlook, Beryl noticed. Unless Food was involved. Beryl giggled, thinking about Suna.

  They were full, they were spent,

  but they were Content.

  Someone was walking up to Suna.

  “Duel Me.”

  It was a fairly youthful looking boy, one that Suna couldn’t seem to remember if she saw before or not…?

  Before Beryl could get up to shoo away the very young man…

  “? Why?” Suna tilted her head.

  The Boy gasped. “You, you actually responded to me!” They… seemed to be Happy about that fact.

  Suna was still confused. “Um, why do you want me to duel you…?”

  The Boy was taken out of their celebratory, arm-pumping trance. “Because you saved my Life!” The Boy bowed, a perfect, 90 degree bow.

  Suna and Beryl were both taken by surprise by this Boy’s frequently changing moods. They looked at each other.

  The Boy stood back up. “I’ve, uh, been trying to thank you, haha…” They awkwardly rubbed the back of their head.”

  “...so, um… Who, are You?” Suna was still confused.

  The Boy looked a bit shocked, but they tried to suppress it, moving on, “Oh, I’m, uh, I’m a Ptinum Hunter, that, uh, was There.”

  Their awkward ughs and smile could only do so much to rectify the stifling air. But they Persevered.

  “A-Anyway! I, ever since I saw you, um, d-Dance, um… I wanted to Spar with you! If that’s okay!”

  Suna and Beryl looked at each other again. They both shrugged.

  “Um… sure?”

  Suna hopped out of her seat.

  “Well, um. Whenever you’re ready, I suppose.”

  The Boy sprung to action, unsheathing a double-edged sword from their back.

  “Avaarem!

  Engster!

  Afulcru-”

  Suna would not let the Boy stack chants; she immediately dashed straight for him, her knife drawn. The Boy prepared himself, for the Monster that ran toward him. His Fear was apparent – Suna sensed it – but they Steeled themselves, a Serious Look in their eyes which followed Suna’s blindingly quick movements.

  Suna arrived just out of his swinging range. She was not going to afford them any reprieve. But the Boy did something unexpected.

  “Fre!”

  Suna had let her guard down. She was blinded, by a fsh of light. But she didn’t panic; she attempted to disengage, retreating back to where she came.

  “Ostaarem!”

  A wall of wind, threatening to topple Suna, which blew towards the Boy. She heard dashing footsteps approaching.

  She Smirked. And Dashed towards the Boy.

  They were confused, How are they going to fight without being able to see? But they didn’t hesitate, they swung their sword, attempting to wound Suna in a nonvital region. But strangely, she avoided it.

  “H-Huh?”

  It was too quick. Suna lowered her body to the ground, almost ft on it – of course the swing missed. She jumped forward, unching herself at the Boy, who had hit only air, and she mounted him.

  The Boy was far, far less skilled at grappling than Suna was. Suna did not need her eyes to avoid his retaliation; she put her knife against his neck, her body behind his.

  “...I concede.”

  “Haha, Wow, that’s crazy! To not even use a single spell, I thought I just didn’t hear you chant during your Fight, Wow!” The Boy was extremely impressed.

  Suna still didn’t really know how to react to praise, but, she didn’t Ignore him.

  “...um… yeah, I, uh… can’t really use spells.”

  “...Huh?”

  The same, usual reaction.

  “...you know…” The Boy spoke. “...defeating a Diamond enemy, without spells… I’m pretty sure… only high Mithrils can do that…”

  Suna didn’t really care too much about ranks. But she did think being aware of her retive pce in the world was somewhat important. She noted the Boy’s observation.

  “Haha, isn’t our Leader strong?” Beryl ughed boisterously, and she pat him on the shoulder. “She’s taken out something Much worse than a Diamond enemy, you know, Hahaha!”

  The Boy seemed to look at Suna in a new light. “...wow…” They muttered, under their breath.

  Beryl walked over to Suna, “Come on, let’s head Back.” She pulled lightly on Suna’s hand. But Suna didn’t move.

  “...um…” Suna stood, still facing the Boy, who looked at Suna with Respect. “um… what’s your name?” She walked towards the Boy. She stuck out her hand.

  “Oh, I’m, uh, Jack! Jack the Impossible!” He gave a pure smile, Happily shaking Suna’s hand.

  “I’m, uh… Suna.” Suna let go.

  “Thanks so much for the pointers! I learned a lot, fighting you. You’re crazy!”

  “Haha, I’m, um… not crazy, haha…”

  The Boy Laughed.

  “Well, maybe we’ll see each other again, sometime? I’m a Solo Hunter, so if you ever need an extra person…” He gave a badly executed wink. But Suna still found it amusing.

  “Haha, um… sure…” Suna gave a small wave of her hand, close to her chest, as the Boy departed.

  Beryl looked at Suna.

  “...?”

  “...You’ve… really changed, huh?” Beryl calmly walked to Suna. And she Hugged her.

  …Why, was this Hug… Bittersweet? Suna didn’t get it. But she tried to focus on the Good parts of Beryl’s words.

  “Haha… maybe I have… just a bit…”

  Suna walked, beside Beryl, who didn’t hold her hand. Suna wanted to reach out and grab Beryl’s arm, but for some reason… she just couldn’t.

  Suna was fast asleep. But she awoke, immediately, when she sensed her Friends, grouped up outside her room, early in the morning.

  She wasted no time. She leapt up and opened the door. The person outside didn’t even get a chance to knock.

  “Suna, we gotta go.” Lilt looked at Suna. A Serious look. “The Sickness… it’s spreading.”

  Suna was taken aback. The entire city seemed perfectly fine the day before. But when they got outside, her body could sense something wrong with the air, no, the People. She Sensed Death, come to reap the lives of many innocents. She saw people, sprawled out, on the ground.

  “Empric Fantal!” The Group rode Lilt’s water directly up and through the city. On their short ride, they all saw. Many People, Sick, and Dying.

  “wha…” Most of them couldn’t help but let out sounds of confused befuddlement. The contrast between the day before and this day was simply Too Great. The sights, of people, of bodies… were sickening. They did their best to breathe in as little air as possible. Normal people would have gagged or even thrown up, but all four of them… had seen enough Horrors to become a little immune to such Sights.

  They reached the Gates. Suna looked back at the city. Was Amy… Dying? Was Jack… Dying? A part of her Hurt. But, staying any longer in such a city, when they didn’t know why it was Dying… that would be asking for Death. Yet, when they looked out, at people who were trying to leave… They Saw. Knights, stopping people from leaving the city.

  The Group looked at the walls of the city. Above them, as they got closer, they faintly saw it.

  A Barrier.

  Their hearts sunk. They… were Trapped.