Fuyuko, A Hopeless Wife

Sophia had ventured down to the tunnels after not finding anything on the surface for a while. She even approached the inside of the palace area, but couldn’t find anything. She was not seen by anyone and sneakily moved about through the various rooms. Although it was impossible to look everywhere, she had found multiple hidden areas that would have provided something interesting, but nothing was there.

They were unguarded too, which made her question if they actually stored anything inside the throne area and the rooms there. She even headed off towards the dungeon, which provided nothing. She knocked the guards unconscious, but only to find a bunch of people caged up and suffering.

Sophia had seen so much of this in her life that it didn’t bother her. She liked to help people regardless of the situation, but right now, she had to hurry. She entered one of the doors to see a young girl stabbed in the chest and her head off her body. She could tell she was a witch, which made her a little more nervous about how they caught her. However, Sophia was not that worried. She had abandoned the Land of the Witches to live a life in the Lands of Toff.

She did not approve of their practices and left when she had turned 16 to pursue the art of the sword, but no sword accepted a covenant with her.

Regardless of this, she still used abilities that witches had, so she was not totally upset, but just disappointed. She had a few more days until she had to leave the Land. Talk of Lorenzo Cain’s invasion was evident in households that she overheard. Some people were scared and others believed that he would win.

Sophia knew that he would lose, but the political aspects that followed would ensue chaos. ‘Iki has to find a way to stop this war,’ she thought. What she was looking for now was a Yellow Egress Chaplet. ‘There has to be a place where they are storing chaplets. Unless, did he take them all when they departed? No, I don’t think he is that stupid. When they lose, The Association would just take them all. Is there somewhere I haven’t checked?’

That’s when Sophia overheard someone on the side of the street talking about tunnels. “Apparently, we might have to all go to the tunnels, but nobody knows where it leads. We always used to do drills about a quarter of the way through, but never even went halfway. I wonder why.”

Sophia struck gold from incompetent idiots that lived in this place. Even though citizens are loyal to Lorenzo, he couldn’t stop them from discussing drama in a time of tension. People were nervous and it was a natural reaction. They had a friendly alliance with The Association, but things took a turn quickly with what had happened.

Sophia found the tunnels that the man was talking about and headed inside.

A runway of light showed on the ground that was very bright. She continued until coming to 2 paths. One went left and one went right. It was obvious which way she was supposed to go from the blockade that blocked off the right hand side not more than 25 feet into the area.

‘There is no way this land has prospered all these years,’ she thought. Instead of blasting all the objects away and creating noise, she phased through them. With her chaplet abilities, she was gifted the powers of the Wight Chaplet, Manipulator Chaplet, and Gravity Chaplet. She admired the three that she had, as they were extremely powerful, yet she was arrogant and tried to find ways over the years to use more than just 3 chaplets. However, she never really succeeded, but learned to extract some powers from these chaplets and use them in potions.

Sophia continued forward until reaching a strange hallway.

It was like a total separate area from the dirty tunnel she was in.

Green strobe lights lined the side of the walls. The floor was solid metal that echoed when she walked. There were no guards on site, but she was cautious of what was to come. At the end of the hallway was a single bench. ‘What’s the catch?’ she asked herself.

She didn’t really have a choice though. She sat on the bench and nothing happened. When she went to lean to the side, she accidentally pressed a button on the top and the bench rapidly began to drop like an elevator at 10 times the speed. A metal strap belt locked her into the seat and it continued to fall for 2 minutes before getting slower and slower on the way down. When the bench hit the ground, a gold and black vault was awaiting her. A large key slot was right smack in the middle, but Sophia easily phased through.

Inside was a clean pearly clear black room.

It was small, but shelves held various kinds of chaplets and the one she was looking for was a Yellow Egress Chaplet.

Sophia: “Damn Iki. I know you have a huge vault of chaplets also. You just didn’t want to lend me one. Shame on you Wally, Yahiko, and Natsuki. You definitely all know about it too. I didn’t say anything because you all were in a pissy mood anyways. I should head back right away. There is nothing else for me here.”

That’s when she noticed a separate room in the wall. It wasn’t obvious, but because of the chaplet that she took off the shelf, she had seen a slight crack in the wall. She phased through and on the other side was a single white pillar in the middle of the room. It was a small boxed area, and on that pillar was a stuffed animal teddy bear.

‘Huh?’ she questioned.

It made no sense why there would be a separate room with not a single weapon, but instead a teddy bear. She went to take it off the pillar, but heard a noise. 2 men entered the room behind her, blasting the vault off the wall. She looked closer because they looked extremely familiar.

‘Those were the guys that took part in the chaplet hunt. What are they doing here?’ she questioned.

Naoki: “Nothing good. Makes sense that he wouldn’t have it, but still, there are some decent chaplets in here.”

Souta: “If it’s not legendary it sucks. It’s all common, uncommon, and rare. He’s got like rows of 5 of each. Stupid idiot. Does he only want the same ones over and over?”

Naoki: “Let’s take a few to sell. We need some more Petals for the road for food since Cain took almost everything we have. He’s got 3 Wight Chaplets. That’ll sell for a good amount. Let’s take his Egress Chaplets too. We can get around easier.”

Souta: “Oh, I’m taking his Rose Chaplets too. 5 of these bad boys? We can communicate now if we’re in trouble. Oh, Smile Chaplets! I can’t believe these things are rare only. They are insane! I’ve only ever used one once. I’m taking all 3.”

Naoki: “Take whatever you want. Looks like a few are missing. Lorenzo probably took a couple for his trip. Take what is necessary.”

Souta: “Oh I will. What is this orange chaplet with black lines?”

Naoki: “That’s a Manipulator Chaplet. It’s probably from Centennials Parrel. It’s a place close to the Land of the Witches. There is no way he went there himself. He was lucky to get that. Story has it that the witches put a curse on that land for every child born there thousands of years ago. Every child dies on their 21st birthday supposedly, however I met someone younger than that, that died, so I’m not sure how accurate that story is.”

Souta: “Why doesn’t everybody just stop having kids then? That would solve the damn problem.”

Naoki: “They do. Or, supposedly they did, but the witches bring people there on purpose. They take families and move them there. Although, I’m not sure if that’s entirely true either. I’ve never been there and that’s on the bucket list as one of the last places we are going. Once we have checked the entire world, then I will go there, Deceased Paradise, and the Tombs of Bramblebind.”

Souta: “So if we go there, then we are destined to die? We both are over 21.”

Naoki: “I don’t know how it works, but it’s certainly real.”

Sophia thought, ‘Find what? What are they searching for?’

Souta: “Stupid stories like that need to die off like the rest of the world. I’m taking a bunch of these chaplets. Lorenzo Cain can suck my feet for all I care. Man I wish I could see his face when he sees a bunch of his chaplets are missing. I’ll sell most of them. We are gonna be rich!”

Naoki: “Yeah, let’s just go. There is nothing here for us. I want to check one more time in his palace if there is a separate underground section. That tunnel that leads left just goes to a section of Egress Chaplets and a Blockade Chaplet. I don’t really care where it leads, but it doesn’t matter right now. That Rondo guy won’t freaking leave that room though. I wonder if something is in there. We are just going to have to pretend we ventured into the wrong area.”

Naoki and Souta left through the broken vault.

They used a Yellow Egress Chaplet at their disposal now having 4 left. Sophia phased back through the wall, completely forgetting about the stupid teddy bear. She figured that they had made some noise blowing down the vault and probably the entrance too. She hurried out of there and phased through some buildings without being seen.

A woman ran in the streets and yelled out, “Has anyone seen my baby?! He’s gone missing! Please! His name is Taigo! Anyone, please find my baby!”

Sophia moved on without paying much attention to her.

It was destined that people would go missing with all the ruckus going on. She went back to the palace to follow Naoki and Souta. She phased into the backside of the wall.

The area was huge.

The surrounding houses held more guards, but Lorenzo had taken most of them out of a rage in his mind. She hid upstairs on a platform that overlooked a woman sitting on a mat. Sophia was able to phase through the upstairs wall where nobody would even look up here. She looked beautiful in Sophia’s mind.

A smaller man who she believed to be Rondo according to the men was comforting the woman.

Naoki and Souta walked in through the red curtains without caring this time.

Rondo: “Who are you?! Guards!”

Naoki: “Please sir, do relax. We are not here to cause harm.”

Rondo: “My job is to protect the lady! I will die trying!”

Fuyuko: It’s okay, Rondo. If they were here to kill me, then they would have already done so. Please, men. Speak your mind.”

Naoki: “Thank you–”

Fuyuko: “Fuyuko. You may call me Fuyuko.”

Naoki: “Fuyuko. Thank you ma’am. Before I say what I came here for, may I inquire about the injury you have sustained? It certainly does not look good.”

Fuyuko tried to cover the black veins coming from her body, but it had begun to spread rapidly. She had no excuse, but did not care to tell the truth.

Fuyuko: “This? This is a disease I have caught. Unfortunately, I have tried everything, but there is nothing I can do.”

Rondo: “My lady, please consider the chaplet's power. They can prolong your life for even a little bit. There are many techniques. If the witches won’t help, then I will find another way.”

‘Witches?’ Sophia thought. ‘Why would the witches help you? I don’t even know what that black stuff is. What is that? Mana poisoning? No, this is something else.’

Naoki: “I apologize if I am being rude, but I have never seen that injury before. It is not mana poisoning, which is extremely rare anyways. I am just curious.”

Fuyuko: “Quite honestly, I do not know myself. My husband seems to know, but he would not tell me.”

Souta: “Why are you telling some random strangers this? You’re not making sense. You don’t know us.”

Fuyuko: “You just asked, did you not? Also, if Lorenzo has let you into his land, then you are not enemies. I do not like my husband, but he certainly has achieved feats that not many people have. I will never see eye to eye with him, but he would never let anyone in that would jeopardize what he believes in.”

Rondo: “He’s more equipped than you think. Even with his stupidity sometimes, he controls a lot of this world. Do not look lightly on the master.”

Fuyuko: “If I may advise you both, leave this place as soon as you can. I do not know what my husband has planned, but it is safe for you both to get far away from here and any surrounding areas.”

Naoki: “Yes. I won’t take your words lightly. Seeing as you do not see eye to eye with Mr. Cain, may I inquire about something?”

Fuyuko: “You may speak.”

Naoki: “I will be as blunt as possible. I will not beat around the bush. My intention was to barge in here and look on my own, but I am a man of my word and will ask directly. We are looking for a specific chaplet, and please trust that it is not meant to harm anything or anyone here. Is there a room here that houses those chaplets?”

Rondo: “Get out! You come in here and ask about hidden secrets. You think we would just tell you that information? You must be a madman. Leave before I call in the rest of the guards around the facility.”

Fuyuko: “Rondo, please. I do not have the strength to argue. Please let me talk.”

Rondo: “Y-Yes, my lady.”

Fuyuko: “Let’s say that there is a hidden place full of amazing chaplets. What are your intentions? As a truthful man, I’d only expect the truth.”

Naoki: “I assure you ma’am that I only speak the truth. I do not go back on my word. We are not looking for anything legendary. We simply are seeking a Yellow Egress Chaplet to get back home. The 9 day journey back would be very rough.”

‘Ha! Liar’ Souta thought. ‘He ain’t no truthful man. He’d do anything to get to this stupid unknown chaplet.’

Fuyuko: “Well, if it is food you need to make it back, we can gladly grant that.”

Naoki: “I would be grateful either way, however we were attacked through the thick forests on the way here, and do not wish to go through that again. I assume you can read mana. You can see that we are not that strong.”

Fuyuko: “I see. Well, I will be honest in the sense that I cannot sense mana, nor can Rondo. We blindly trust that God oversees our faith and protects us. I have no problem telling you both that. However, if you can just walk in here without problem, then you obviously are no simpletons, but I supposed you can’t be too strong either. Lorenzo left some weak guards out there. He doesn’t care for me at all. What a shame. To answer your question, I do not know of any place with hidden chaplets or weapons or anything. Not that it doesn’t exist, but he would never tell me anyways. You are free to look around in this room, however it is fairly empty. You may even check the entire facility, but I am not positive about what you will find. After all, my husband is practically going off to die, however he truly believes he can win with the powers of the Links. What nonsense. Those things are prototypes. They are nowhere near ready to fight against the swords of this world. He’s leading those men to their deaths. Token might be the only one that will survive.”

Naoki: “With all respect ma’am, he will not win against The Association miss. Your soldiers are going off on a suicide mission and your husband will perish too. Although, I assume that is part of his main goal.”

Fuyuko: “Yes, I assume that is so, but I cannot do anything to stop it. After all, look at me. I am dying. If you will excuse me, I am getting pretty tired. You may search the entire land if you truly wish. I will not stop you and Rondo will not either. I do hope you find a chaplet to send you back home. Good luck to the both of you.”

Naoki: “Thank you, Miss Fuyuko. I will check this room and be on my way.”

Souta and Naoki checked the room to find nothing.

No secret passages or rooms.

Rondo did not look favorably on them as they exited the room. He questioned Fuyuko about why she let them just check the palace at their leisure. She yet again assured him that she trusted her husband and that those men were not here to cause harm.

‘Bullshit,’ Sophia thought. ‘What is she thinking? These people here are so stupid. The man lied right to her face. They just picked up Yellow Egress Chaplets. I gotta get back to The Association. I will not kill these people, but it’s not my job to track those two now that I can’t get to Lorenzo anymore.’

Sophia phased back through the wall and used the Yellow Egress Chaplet that she picked up to get back to The Association as soon as possible.