Another Life In The New World

Intoxication

The next morning, I woke up with my vision swirling as if the world might crash at me any minute. I snapped my head up, making contact with the low ceiling. Cracks formed on the smooth wood after the impact. I dropped to the floor, groaning.

“What was that sound?” Kun sprang up.

“Did he poison us? I still have the dizzy effect going,” Vampire leaned on the nearest wall.

“I don’t feel so good. I can’t feel my legs,” Girly cried.

“What is the racket all about? Oh, it’s you. Hahaha,” heavy footsteps crept towards us.

“What happened?” I looked at the intruder.

“After you finished eating, we celebrated.”

“What was in that drink?” Vampire groaned.

“Some aged fruits and fermented crops. It’s a specialty of the village.”

“We better get moving, guys,” I recovered from the pain.

“Crassus, can you tell us where to go again?” Kun asked.

“Take this map with you, traveling with it makes your journey slightly easier,” he handed me an aged parchment almost crumbling to the touch. “Careful now, the writings might vanish.”

“This is a great help to us. We can’t thank you enough,” I gently rolled it then stashed it away.

“You have the village’s gratitude. You would want to visit the Oracle of Anarco, she will guide you on your quest. Good luck, I hope you get what you are looking for.”

Vampire and I grabbed Girly on both shoulders and loaded her in ours.

“I got this man, grab her stuff and Grumpy,” I pulled her weight towards me.

“I would, but Grumpy hates me and that missile launcher doesn’t work with my claws,” she yanked her from me.

“You wouldn’t know unless you try,” I grabbed her arm.

“Hey, let me grab some popcorn. If anyone needs me, just shout ‘Kun is the Greatest!’” Kun dashed out from view.

“Let me handle the weightlifting. Tend to your sword and get her stuff, I can handle her,” he grabbed her other arm.

Suddenly, a war has started. I sucked in a lot of air, tugging her towards me. I got slapped in the face by a thick load of meat which halved my health bar. I stumbled to the ground. The wine’s effect has not subsided yet, making it hard to rebound.

When I finally got to my feet, an unlikely view slapped my face harder. Girly had her chest pressed against Vampire. He gently rolled her over so he gets to be on top of her. He slowly pressed his lips on hers. Then he doubled back with a triumphant grin.

“VICTORY!” As the announcer would say it.

“END HIM!” As my demons told me.

Suddenly, her arms wrapped around him. She gripped tight on his face. All the flames within me surged back and forth throughout my circulatory system. I felt it burn my nose and eyes as they went on with it. Slowly, something warm rushed out of my nose.

“Geez Keita, you are bleeding!” Kun dropped his bag full of popcorn.

“I’m fine, Kun. Did you get what you needed?” I wiped the blood with the cloth of my armor.

“Keita! Come on, keep your head up,” I felt a forceful tug on my head.

“Girly, it’s you. I’m so happy to see you!” I touched her face as I giggled.

“What were you doing standing there, anyway?” Her concerned eyes were like rain on leaves.

“Did you know that you have eyes more precious than diamond or platinum?”

“Yeah, keep blabbing. I got him. You two go on ahead,” Kun shooed her away.

“Kun, buddy. Come here for a minute,” I pulled him to my chest.

“Woah! What is it that you want?” His eyes scrunched.

“I want to tell you something, I think Girly is cheating on me.”

“What makes you say that?”

“It’s obvious, man. She doesn’t really like me. I mean look at them, they look good together,” I pointed at the wobbling couple.

“Get a grip, dude. You still have a chance.”

“No, I lost it. I lost her. I lost everything. Why won’t anyone love me?” I groveled.

“Don’t do this to me dude, people are watching. Come on, walk with your feet.”

“But I saw them making out while I stood there.”

“You are only imagining things, man. Let’s catch up to them and grab something to eat. I hear your stomach growling.”

“I don’t want to eat. I want vengeance,” I said as I sluggishly carried our belongings.

“You can have that once we fill your stomach, come on.”

He dragged me with his little fingers while I stumbled on the way. It felt like Girly’s delicate hands caressing mine. Suddenly, I saw Girly taking Kun’s place. Her delicate smile painted across her face. I smiled sheepishly back at her.

I continued smiling until we happened upon a chair. There, I saw Girly and Vampire having a lively conversation. She giggled as he muttered utter nonsense. I bit my lips until I could not feel them anymore. I blinked furiously at the scene in front of me.

“Keita? Hey! Food is here,” Kun pushed the plate in front of my face.

“What is this stuff?” I studied the dish.

“Voila! I prezent to you Pou Soulette,” the male server with tight uniform winked at me. “What’s in it?”“Zis iz a soup dish made up of pork meat, duck fat and onions. It iz ze bezt cure for hangoverz.”

“Uh, thanks… I guess?”

“That looks appetizing, dude,” Vampire gazed at my dish.

“What did you order?”

“I ordered Sou Tienne, which has beef, gravy, some fries and cheese.”

“Ahh… you made ze right choice, monsieur. Zis iz one of our bezt zellerz,” the waiter chimed in again.

“Yes, thank you for the information. Can you get lost and let us enjoy our food in peace?” Kun growled at him.

“I muzt take my leave. Bon appétit.”

“Geez, that guy is a creep.”

“Stop describing yourself, Vampire. He might be one of your minions,” Kun retorted, but Vampire ignored him.

“Let him be and let us have our meal in peace,” Girly lightly squeezed his arm.

“Well, you heard the man, Buon Appetito,” I added.

“Ha… ha!” Kun put out his tongue at Vampire.

I laughed aloud as I watched the entire scene. They stared at me like I was going mad. Kun gave me a concerned look as I focused on my meal. I took a few bites, and it was not bad. The status effects brought by the wine wore off in an instant. I feel invigorated.

Across from me, Girly had the same dish as mine. I watched her poke at the floating meat pieces. I grabbed the fork and stabbed it. Girly let out a cute squeak, then giggled afterwards. I motioned for her to open her mouth. She refused at first, but she relented later on. I kept on feeding her until her plate emptied.

I watched Vampire and Kun have a silent argument. They both had the same dishes. They looked like dogs growling after having their bowls next to each other. Each one stabbed at the meat aggressively. If only the meat could talk.

I returned my gaze to Girly. She made faces at me and I did the same. Suddenly, our hands intertwined. I placed my forehead to hers where I felt her warmth. Our breaths synchronized with the beat of our hearts. I pulled away, then reached for her hair.

Suddenly, something flashed in front of my eyes. I saw a battlefield littered with bones, armors and shields. Vampire acted erratically, like a frenzied demon. I dragged my bloody feet towards Kun and Girly. Their ravaged bodies lied limply in my arms.

I looked at Vampire laughing maniacally. He summoned forth a wyvern with frosted wings and bone as a face. Its flames raged like madness. Vampire welcomed the menace with opens arms. The beast flew like a fish in the sea, then swooped down and crunched at Vampire. It devoured half of his body.

Soon, the beast had its sights on me, but I felt too weak to move. I hugged Kun and Girly tightly as I said my goodbyes to them. I braced myself for the incoming assault. With my remaining mana, I unleashed my fiery skill. The vision ended with the wyvern burning my line of sight.

“Keita! Hey, man. Stop staring at nothing, we have to leave,” Vampire’s voice broke through my trance.

“Huh? Where’s Kun and Girly?”

“What are you talking about? Girly is waiting outside. Don’t make me drag you out of here.”

“Okay, okay, I’m up.”

I joined with Girly and Kun outside while Vampire dealt with the bills. I unrolled the map as soon as Vampire got to us. It displayed a detailed painting of Caelum Terra from its mountains and seas up to its forests and towns.

“So, we are here somewhere in the village outskirts,” I pointed to them.

“The waiter said that the oracle currently resides at Inscendo Mountains west from here,” Vampire said.

“That is ways ahead from here,” Kun commented.

“I was thinking… What if we capture a mount creature for flying? I might take us months to get there,” Girly suggested.

“Great idea, but I had my turn already,” I raised a hand and announced to them.

“Who would do it this time?” Kun asked.

“Let us take a vote using rock-paper-scissors. Of course, Keita is only expected to oversee the outcome,” Vampire suggested.

“On the count of three… One… Two… Again! One… Two… We have a winner,” I declared.

“Where do we look for a flying mount?” Girly browsed the map.

“There are drawings of camels here in Avium Desert which is not far from here.”

“Dude, your elbows are touching,” Kun jumped to my ear that made me jump.

“I, uhm, I think we should go,” I pulled my elbow away.

“Y-yeah. Uhm… northeast, right?” She brushed her hair back.

The closer we got to Avium Desert, the less frequent the faunas have become. When we reached the place, milky white sand greeted us. Girly put on a transparent face mask and shield. Sweat dripped from her forehead down to her chest.

A cone-shaped cave stood at the middle of the desert. We ignored it and went to find what we came for. A flying Geotode Crossbeat appeared on our way. It had a million eyes staring at us with wings fluttering like a hummingbird. It looked like it can carry up to four people.

“No, no, no, no, no, I can’t do this,” Girly buried her face to my chest.

“We can do this,” I pulled her from my chest. Then our eyes matched.

“Okay,” her eyes smiled at me.

It charged at us. It had a fine needle between its eyes that punctured my chest. I pulled it out, then broke it in half with my knee. Water-like substance came out of it. Then metal-like material started from its eyes until it covered its entire body.

Girly launched her missiles at it, but it swiftly dodged them. I went under it and struck its belly, but my weapon broke upon contact. Girly tried to hit the creature again, but it only danced with her missiles. Oh boy, this is a tough one.

“Girly, can you lend me your missile?”

“Sure,” she tossed her weapon to me without second thoughts.

It felt like carrying three water containers. How the hell is she able to carry this? Then heaps of sand blew towards my direction. The creature used its wings and fine sand dusted my vision. I tossed my shield at it. This time, it was a direct hit.

I threw a handful of sand at its eyes, then slammed it with the missile launcher. It flew low on the ground as it shook away the sand. In a quick motion, I flicked the switch on the handle and it changed into capture mode. The missiles formed into an interconnected web.

I blasted it towards the enemy. It clawed at the web prison until it gave up ultimately.

“That was amazing, Keita,” Girly helped me up.

“Thank you for entrusting me your weapon. Here you go,” I suddenly got locked in an unbreakable gaze.