Vol. 1 Chapter 5: Reunion

***Marikina, a city east of Manila, thirteen years ago…***

At the end of one of the hidden streets of the city was a school in the middle of a wide, grassy field. In contrast to other public schools in the country, this one was built inside an old orphanage, where its wards also studied. The name? Fugoso Memorial Integrated School, after one of Manila’s war-time mayors. However, the community around it, as well as its neighboring towns and villages call it ‘Boystown.’

One of its wards was a boy named Yuuki. Hailing from a dysfunctional, and eventually absent, family, he was one of the government agency ‘rescues.’ Having lived on the streets before, the boy had difficulty adjusting to a ‘peaceful, and proper’ life. He repeatedly failed many of his subjects, got into fights, and held back in a few grades that his elementary teachers came to know him well.

And his ugly reputation didn’t endear him to anyone, not even his classmates.

“…”

However, one day…

“What are you looking at?”

“Hein? Je ne te comprends pas.” (Huh? I can’t understand you.)

Yuuki stared back at the little girl staring at him. She had a short, golden hair, purple set of curious eyes, and skin so white he initially mistook her for an ‘automaton’—magic-infused dolls used by mages as assistants, or children’s toys. But automata were never far from their masters, so that confirmed she was human. Yuuki felt unnerved. He never had anyone approach him so close before; his classmates were intimidated. Not only because of his reputation, but he was old for his grade level, which was at the 6th Grade. To deal with his loneliness, and also to avoid trouble, he would go to a hidden spot and draw. Some younger kids who never knew him would approach and watch; he’d normally let them, as long as they won’t go past his ‘personal’ boundaries.

Nevertheless, this girl is getting too close. Too close, it’s annoying.

“Que fais-tu?” (What are you doing?)

Not wishing to get himself in trouble, Yuuki ignored her. He would graduate that year, so he was trying his best to ‘stay clean.’ But the girl was persistent.

“Dragon?” she asked while her pointing finger touched his drawing pad.

Yuuki got annoyed. He didn’t like it when fingers touch the drawings he drew; doing so smudges the pencils and ‘destroys’ the illustration he just painstakingly created. However, wishing not to make the girl cry, he told her, “Look, it’s not even a dragon, kid. And I can’t understand anything you say, so go! Shoo!” He added an outward-waving gesture to make her understand what he meant.

But the girl seemed oblivious to his words. Instead of running away, she sat beside him, leaned her head on his arm, and slept. Yuuki was dumbfounded at her actions; not only did she stopped him from drawing, that type of trusting behavior could get this kid abducted! Living on the streets for some time, he had seen cases where children would just be yanked off their unsuspecting parents, or sold to unscrupulous people. This one had her guard lowered way too much. Did her parents fail to tell her avoid trusting strangers?

Well, they are inside Boystown, so kidnappings are of lesser risk…but still!

“…”

Unable to do anything, yet unwilling to wake her up, Yuuki just let her sleep. Her parents must be looking for her already, so he only just had to wait for them to show up.

-----

The parents—or just her mother, and a pair of servants, along with the supervisors of the orphanage eventually appeared about an hour later. By then, Yuuki’s arm was already sore, though the girl was relatively light. To kill time, he drew stuff on the ground using a stick and his free hand.

“Temaire!” the beautiful lady rushed to the side of her daughter, cradling the sleeping kid in her arms. But she did talk to Yuuki, “I’m sorry for my child. She likes to go around and explore places. Did she trouble you?”

“Not really…” he answered, though he averted his eyes from her because he was not used to talking to other people. “I just can’t understand a thing she said.”

“She’s French, like me. You know France?”

Yuuki nodded, though he was in no mood to keep talking.

“We’re visiting the orphanage. Thank you for taking care of her, kuya!”

Honestly, it was the first time Yuuki received praise for his actions. For most of what he could remember, people only had insults, or jeers, to say to him. Though the mother didn’t notice it, the boy’s cheeks turned slightly red, and there was a warm feeling in his chest.

The servants and the orphanage supervisor finally caught up. The latter immediately asked, “What did you do to her, Yuuki?”

“No, you got it wrong, Madame Tomas! This boy helped my daughter!”

The supervisor had a raised eyebrow. For someone notorious for making trouble, that surely was a first for Yuuki!

“I didn’t do anything!” he defended himself. “She just came looking while I was drawing and suddenly slept in my arm!”

At that point, the mother and the supervisor exchanged glances. The servants also muttered and giggled to themselves, though Yuuki heard them. “Ooh la la, la petite demoiselle a fait ca? Trop mignon…” (Oh my, the little miss did that? So cute…)

“What? I did something wrong again?”

“No, you did good, Yuuki. I’m happy you did your best,” the supervisor told him. Then, she explained to the mother, “This child is quite handful, see? But he’s a kind soul beneath the angsty attitude.”

“Oh! So that’s why Temaire trusted him already! She rarely does that; not even to her cousins!”

“Is that so…?”

“Yes,” the mother smiled at him, much to his bewilderment. Then, she took a card from her purse and gave it to the supervisor. “Madame Tomas, please. Here’s my personal contact detail; I’d like to sponsor this child for Temaire’s sake.”

Back then, they talked in English, a language that Yuuki barely understood until years later. However, more than that conversation, he had no idea that it would be the start of his involvement with the ‘world’s walking goddess,’ Henrietta Temaire Louise d’Anvilles.

-----

***Marikina City, six years later…***

The call for adventuring was powerful back then, as the governments around the world launched an intensive promotion and recruitment campaign that targeted young people. Many of them had just graduated from high school, and were looking for college prospects. Yuuki was one of those who took the recruitment test, and passed the aptitude exams as a porter.

“…”

However, a year after he stopped his college studies to pursue adventuring, he already had a reputation among the members of his local agency.

“He’s difficult to work with.”

“His attitude caused the death of one of his party members; you might want to reconsider getting that fellow.”

“Greg? I don’t know…others don’t like him, and he’s got a bad rep, so…”

Yuuki, or Greg for his adventurer’s name, considered quitting. His friend, Temaire, had recently been the talk of the town because of the sudden announcement that she became an adventurer, and was recruiting members for her party. Now, he knew her; that girl always told him of how she wanted to enlist to follow his footsteps, and eventually, get him as her member. Considering the rumors about him were true, especially the one where his stubbornness led to the death of one of his former party’s members, Yuuki wouldn’t like to happen that to Temaire.

And with everything going south for him, it’s the best time to think of his life decisions.

“…” Taking a deep breath, he entered the Adventuring Resources office, and went to the desk of the recruiting clerk.

“You’re quitting now, Greg?”

“Yes,” he flashed a smile, though inside, he was pained to say that. “I am not suited to be an adventurer.”

The clerk said nothing. She just proceeded to photocopy his letter and other documents. Then, after those, she told him, “Go to the Claims section so your contributions can be calculated and paid to you.”

“Right. Thanks!” Yuuki didn’t want to think much about it, but he thought he saw that lady smirk.

-----

When he went to the Claims section, Yuuki was surprised by the number of people waiting outside the office. As there was a recruitment campaign going, he found it unbelievable to see many adventurers quitting at the same time.

“No, we’re not,” one of them told him. “This line is going to the Party Recruitment office.”

“Oh? A lot of parties looking for members today?”

“Come on, man, aren’t you updated with the news? That cute mage, Miss Henrietta is here! Right in this office! She’s recruiting members for her party!”

“Yes,” another adventurer added. “And many parties disbanded because these boys want to join her!”

“You’re just jealous!”

“You boys are so petty! Imagine breaking parties just because you run after a girl that won’t even look at you!”

Yuuki slowly backed away as the adventurers bickered; it was not his problem, anyway. And he also wanted to avoid trouble because the people who hated him were queueing up as well. Just as he was about to enter the Claims office, however…

“Oi, Greg!”

He stopped for a moment, out of habit. Eventually, he continued on.

“Don’t ignore me, you bastard! I’m talking to you!”

Yuuki felt something clamped his legs, effectively immobilizing him. Turning around, he saw one of the adventurers spreading rumors about him approach. “What do you want?” he asked, irritated.

“Is it true you’re quitting now?”

“Why do you care? Aren’t you happy if it’s true?”

“Of course, we’ll be happy; relieved, even! Especially that Miss Henrietta is around, looking for members. It’s one rotten apple out for her!”

There was a chorus of laughter as Yuuki chose to ignore the guy. Another benefit of quitting the Adventurers’ Agency was that, he would be free from the rule that stated ‘No adventurer shall fight against their peers.’ So, once his ‘resignation’ was approved, he could always wait for that stupid guy outside and break his bones.

His martial arts training can negate the effects of magic, after all.

“!!!” Everyone’s attention went from him to the door that led inside the Party Recruitment office. An adventurer raged as he walked out to the hall.

“Fuck! Fuck! Fuuuucccccckkkk!!!”

“Gab, what happened?”

“Is that girl kidding me?” he shouted. “I’m this agency’s top adventurer, yet she says I’m not enough? I killed many dungeon bosses in all my three years adventuring, and that’s unimpressive? That is bullshit!”

The guy was so mad that he started thrashing around and damaging the offices nearby. A team of security guards had to come and intervene to ensure the safety of everyone inside, but the adventurer wouldn’t stop. He sent the guards flying with his magic, as well as the few other adventurers who tried to help.

“Get that girl here so I can show her my ‘unimpressive’ side!” he demanded.

Alarmed by the trouble he was whipping, Temaire eventually appeared, escorted by her security. “You want to know why I didn’t choose you?” she drew her rapier wand. “Let me tell you: you’re too proud for my type. You’re too noisy. And you definitely have no finesse!”

“You sure talk big for a brat!”

“I am only 12 years, but I can teach you the proper way to bow before your superior!”

“Superior? Bow before you?” the adventurer brought his wand—a bayonet knife. “Do you realize where you are?”

“Well, yes, but I’ll have you bow to me…because I’m this world’s walking goddess!”

“You’re one crazy, disrespectful brat!” the adventurer walked towards her. “Wait there, I’ll teach you manners and res—buegh!”

The adventurer was rudely interrupted when a foot flew straight into his face. Before he was sent back, however, another foot connected to his back, countering the earlier force that crashed unto him. As he reeled to recover, a fist to his stomach pushed the air out of his lungs, then followed by chop to his chest. It effectively blew the living lights out of him, giving the stunned guards to subdue the offender.

As the smoke and dust settled, everyone that witnessed the spectacle turned their eyes to the man who stopped the rampaging adventurer, Yuuki. He declared to all, “Sorry guys, but I won’t allow you to touch my friend. You’ll definitely have to go through me to reach her.”

The other adventurers, as well as the guards, were completely silent. Many of them knew that Yuuki was an ‘ordinaria,’ yet he beat up their branch’s top adventurer (a mage) without the latter having the chance to retaliate. At that moment, something sparked within Temaire’s heart as she watched her childhood friend protect her. From then on, she swore she would make him her husband…

-----

**Yuuki**

Temaire was so cute back then. She still was to this day, if she would keep quiet. But yeah, she was really strange then. It was like she had no idea of fear, even when I shooed her away. Or that adventurer that wanted to fight her. Nevertheless, I saw that dream again from years ago, maybe this was because of our recent ‘reunion’ with my old teammates. Somehow, a bit of nostalgia was in my heart, and…I missed those old times.

I guess I forgot about it…I swore to protect Temaire, though she may annoy me at times.

And I’m also to blame why she became like that. So, I need to take responsibility for my actions.

“…” Opening my eyes, the gentle, smiling face of my childhood friend greeted me. Her hand caressed my head, and the softness of her lap made the earlier tension within me disappear.

“Good morning, Yuuki!”

“Did you sleep?”

“Yes, though only a little. Seeing my beloved husband lose consciousness worried me, after all.”

Right. Now that it came back to me, I stopped her, Alice, and Rico from fighting. But because I strained myself too much, bodily limits eventually caught up to me. My head wandered around the room.

“If you’re looking for the barbarian woman, she’s beside me.”

“…” So, this is why my back feels soft…I received two lap pillows from both Temaire and Alice, who still slept.

“Rico got your legs, too.”

“Oh…” Yep, our scout offered her lap for my legs, and she even made sure I won’t leave by wrapping her arms around them. I’ll make sure to thank these two later.

The arcane decorations and furniture, along with the sight of high-rise buildings outside, told me that we were back in Manila, inside the main headquarters of the Adventurers’ Agency. I looked at the time; the clock on the table across us said ‘0912.’

No wonder the sun is already high up outside.

“…”

Carefully removing Rico’s arms with Temaire’s help, I got up to start my day. My childhood friend took hold of my shirt. With anxious, pleading eyes, she asked, “Yuuki, where are you going? Are you feeling fine now? Please, don’t go away…”

I could tell from her face that Temaire really had to sleep, though she was afraid I’d escape again. So, I smiled and held her hand. “My body feels great, but you should rest. I’m not going anywhere, I promise. I’ll talk to you, together with Alice and Rico, later.”

Perhaps her exhaustion got the better of her, but my childhood friend was more submissive than usual. She just nodded, and quickly drifted off to sleep.

-----

I met the secretary of the Adventurers’ Agency the moment I stepped out of her office.

“…”

A few moments of tension ensued, as both of us were surprised at the presence of the other. Lady Yanari had a nasty smirk on her lips; her expression told me that she expected I was doing something again. “You’re escaping?” she asked.

“Nope,” I replied, handing her my contact detail. “I decided I would face my problems head-on this time. If you doubt my words, that’s how you can trace me. Besides, your office got my parents’ address, right?”

“Hmm…you’re right,” the elf chuckled. “Congratulations on making up your mind! So, where are you going then?”

“I’ll call my parents. At least, they deserve to know what will happen to their adopted son in the coming days.”

“So, this means…”

I nodded. “OyasumiSe7en will return. We just need to find the other members.”

“I’ll process your registration, so everything will be smooth when you guys re-enlist.” Lady Yanari clapped her hands, and smiled. Then, she tapped my shoulder, whispering, “Might you guys be interested in newer members?”

“Ahahaha…that’s for Temaire and the others to decide. I’m just their porter; but I can work with anyone.”

“How about a former secretary of the Adventurers’ Guild?”

I stared at the elf, dumbfounded. There’s no way she really meant—

“Yes, I can do it. And I will do it. All I need to do is to submit my re-enlistment papers and join you, if you wish.”

I was alarmed and confused at her suggestions. Nevertheless, thinking ahead, I already got six ladies to take care of, trying to annoy the other. Unless I found a way to deal with their whims, taking in new party members should be put on hold. Besides, Lady Yanari was already a high official within the Agency; her coming with us might shake the institution to its core. Lastly, and connected to my second point, her position would afford us powerful influence and an ‘insider.’ Not that Temaire’s family was inadequate, but the more powerful people we knew, the greater our chance to sway the Society of Mages to our side.

Politics can be real nasty, after all.

So, taking a deep breath, I took hold of the elf’s shoulders. Lady Yanari, surprised of my sudden gesture, retreated until she backed on the wall. “Uh, I know I might sound rude to your offer, but we will need a connection within the Adventurers’ Agency.”

“Hmm…a strategic mind, I see,” she chuckled, looking into my thoughts. “Now that you did mention it, you’re right. I can help the man who saved me and my party by remaining here and passing you valuable information.”

Yes!

“It’s gonna cost you, though. We elves live long; so, we never forget promises.”

“And here I thought you’re helping us for free?”

“Just to be clear, Mister Lerin,” Lady Yanari winked at me. “I only said I will help you, the man who saved me. As for the rest of your teammates, I was only indebted to Lady Henrietta. Now that she has found you, that debt is already paid. So, to be clear, I will help you; as for the others, I will take payments.”

It took me a few moments before I realized she was serious about it. “Uh, how much are we talking about here?”

The elf leaned near my ear, and whispered, “I thought I told you; we elves live long. And we don’t need money, or other goods. I’ll leave to your imagination how you can repay my…favors.”