Earth: The Second

Going Home

“So what now? Are you going to hand over the Artifact or not?” 

It looks like Wesser still did not grasp all the situation, that happened with Kiki and Adma. He thought that Adma is just an ordinary man, that happened to steal Artifact from the ruin, and coincidentally saved Kiki.

While Adma already on rage to punch this old man in the face, he decide to pull his fist, and return to Kiki’s side. This time he is not sitting, making sure that he is cautious to what Wesser will be doing next.

Adma braces himself for some argument with Wesser.“I don’t have whatever hell you called Artifact, old man. Besides, We come here to inform you what happened to Kiki’s party. After all that happened, she is going home to her orphanage. She needs the money.”

“Which I will never give you if I don’t know where are the Artifact.” Wesser took a scrap of paper from the desk’s drawer and pointing out to Kiki and Adma. It was a diagram of a machine, that shaped like a cylinder. Weird words are written around it, which even Adma’s Navigator can’t translate it.

“Rumor said that this machine is left by the ancient civilization and have the abilities to rejuvenate body and soul,” said Wesser, he speaks while walking around Adma and Kiki. “It’s an immortal machine! Made by the Gods to heal diseases, and revert age! Imagine all the kings and rich people who willing to pay for one treatment in this machine!?” Wesser eyes are gleaming with greed.

As Adma started to wary of what the next step he is going to take, Navigator’s voice echoing on his head.

“That is certainly not true.”

“Navigator?”

“From what I see, the machine diagram is perfectly similar to the tank where you come from. He might have the right information about the design and where it located, but he definitely wrong about the function.”

“The device… that contained me all of this time?” Adma showing an agitated look on his face. Wesser realized it, and started to pester him again.

“I see that you finally agree to tell where the device is, young man?” said Wesser.

Adma looking at Wesser, then back at Kiki. He realized that Kiki herself, already bear huge responsibility, and can not let her do all the decision for himself.

“You wrong about the function of that machine,” said Adma. “The machine is a one-time-functioned, that been used to store whatever inside it. It was a miracle that this machine able to work for more than a millennia. But I don’t it will be no use to looking for it now.” 

Wesser’s face is showing confusion. He wondering what this person in front of him have been talking. If the rumor is wrong, how can this person know what the machine’s function for? Is he just straight lying? or…

“Its function is to contain the last remnant of those ancient civilizations.”

***

Adma start to undoing his wear and showing his actual body. They are looked much alike ordinary chest muscle, but Adma’s body is made out of some kind of fabric and material with dark color and detail you can only found in a machine.

Wesser gasp seeing that, but Kiki looked at the guild master, worried what will happen next.

“A body… that made out of a machine? How is that possible?” Unconsciously, Wesser walk toward Adma, with his hand reaching out. He looks amazed at what Adma showed.

Adma himself wants to get rid of that hand, but he thought that maybe this old man will have a change of mind after Adma tell him the truth. Wesser looked at that chest, and then to Adma. 

“What is the name of all Seven Deities that been worshiped by The Church?” asked him.

“Huh? What church?”

“What continent are we right now, and which family that rule this land?”

“How the hell did I know? I just come here yesterday,”

“Not even the biggest kingdom in the world that hosting military power for The Church?”

Adma does not answer, and they are just exchanging glare.

Wesser has finally given up. “Either you tell the truth, or just too stupid to learn the basic knowledge. But I think, I have no other choice but to accept it.” He returns to his desk job, and pulled out paper and pen. Wesser started to write something, and soon after that, he rips that paper.

“Come here, Kiki,” Wesser speak plainly to the girl. He handed over the ripped paper when she arrived at his table. “Give this note to the receptionist, and she will pay you up. The amount is the same as what I promised for Izanagi for this job.”

Tension on Kiki’s face lift up and exchanged by a gleeful smile. “Thank you very much! Mr.Wesser!”

“For now, I need to talk face to face with that young man. Can you exchange this and wait outside the room until then?”

Kiki turned her head to Adma, showing a slightly worry face.

“It’s okay Kiki,” replied Adma. 

Kiki walked slowly with the paper in her hand out of the door. Wesser took out another paper, and started to talk.

“Honestly, I have no idea how to do next. I thought that getting the Artifact will become a quick way for rich and fame. But look what is in front of me,” He looks at Adma from up to bottom, “An Artifact that lives, and have a will of his own? Probably you won’t like if I sell you as antiquated, are you?”

“I will beat you up before that happened,” answer Adma without holding back.

“Indeed. I know you can do that. When you’re almost hit me, I can sense you have extraordinary power. Adma isn’t it?” Wesser back to his writing.

“What do you want? just say it already.”

“Are you interested to become an adventurer, Adma?”

***

Day has become dusk since the two of them come inside the guild. Their task to report back has ended, and Kiki has received a huge amount of gold as compensation for her mission. While Adma has obtained a recommendation letter from Wesser.

He and the guild master talked many thing about guild, job as adventurer, and the socio-political condition of the countries in general. At first, Adma is reluctant to answer, but he knew that he have to compromise at some point. So he just stated that he have no memories, and for the time being, he just wanted to help Kiki back to her home.

Wesser understands, and so, he strikes Adma with two agreement. First, that he will become a unique member of the Union of Adventurers. With the letter on his hand, now Adma free to claim a title of Intermediate-ranked adventurer, and available to take on quests with difficulties three to five stars. 

Second, is that the Union of Adventurers also hold a special ‘ownership’ to his service. That mean special quests, the one that need the special expertise of each individual, will be Adma’s priority.

“You have nowhere to go, and know nothing of this land. With this letter, you will have Union on your side.” 

Adma recalls back to what Wesser said. He also said that Adma is free to decide. The letter is valid for up to one month since it issued.

But what if Adma won’t accept this agreement? He asked to Wesser. The old man just glancing at him, and say that the world will be much difficult if he won’t choose a side. End of the story.

Kiki and Adma spend the night in the inn. Kiki told that she will divide the amount of gold, and sent them to her team’s family once she knows where they live. They also planning to leave the town tomorrow morning, and head to Kiki’s orphanage, five days journey with a carriage.

After finally having a moderate feast in the inn’s restaurant, they went to sleep, and prepare for the morning.