Chapter 9.4

Side B - What He Left Behind -

The capital of Grace Harbor is found in the southern most region of the land mass that makes up the world. Some say it is a place of law and order. For those living here the truth is simply that the people live their lives day by day. Many adventurers make the pilgrimage here in hopes of joining the Guild Headquarters located here. Other adventurers hope to simply make a splash.

One such adventurer steps into a tavern tucked away in a back alley of this sprawling capital. The adventurer is an older man with a massive scar going along his cheek. He takes a seat at an empty table. A teen girl with short blonde hair comes up to the grizzled adventurer.

“Welcome to the Gray Hornet, may I start you off with something to drink?”

The old man stares at the young teen and as if processing not what she asked but more her features. “You don’t happen to be the sister of Alex Roses are you?”

Young Kaylin’s face lights up in an instant at the mention of her dearly beloved brother. “Why yes he is sir!”

The old man burst into laughter and wearing a big smile commented, “I knew it. Your brother saved me and my party about a year ago when we got in over our heads in the third level geofront in the Oksana region.”

“I owe your brother my life. He mentioned his family ran a tavern and inn in Grace Harbor. Glad I finally found it. Is your mother or father here? I wish to thank them for raising such an upstanding young man.”

Her smiling face shifted to a shade of sadness. “Um, actually our parents died when we were young. After they passed away Big Brother basically raised me for a few years on his own until we found the owners of this inn.” She points to an elderly man standing behind the bar cleaning some shot glasses.

“Old man Revel and his wife Edna took us in. They are a kind older couple and take care of me well. It’s thanks to them that my brother was able to become an adventurer and eventually join the guild.”

The old adventurer shakes his head in acknowledgement. He gets up and casually walks over to the elderly man. “Hello my name is Rex, I am just an old adventurer however I wanted to say thank you. For taking in the girl and her brother. If you hadn’t done that then her brother wouldn’t have had the power to save me and my party when we were in a pinch.” He ends by bowing to the elderly man.

*****

After Rex had his fill of ale and food he gets up leaving a gold coin on the table as a tip and begins to walk towards the door. Kaylin notices and rushes to the center of the tavern.

“Sir Rex? Thank you for telling me about my brother's bravery.”

He shakes his head. “Nah kid. You already knew how brave your brother was.” He pauses then adds. “If you ever decide to take up adventuring, come find me. I’ll be living in the Tengen quarters starting today. This old soul is done adventuring but the least I could do is teach you what I know.”

She lets out a shaky cry then leaps at Rex wrapping her arms around him. “Thank you sir!”

*****

As she goes out for a grocery run for the tavern she overhears a conversation about her brother. Nothing bad. Never bad. Just praise of his latest exploits and how he is the pride and joy of the Ninex quarters.

She can’t help but smile the whole way to and from the market. She thinks to herself, “My brother is nothing short of amazing!”

*****

The next evening as the tavern is full of patrons. Loud and rocious the laughter and shouting is overwhelming. The food is hot and fresh and the ale seems to flow endlessly.

Kaylin is bustling between tables. Bringing refreshments to the laughing patrons.

The bell attached to the door jingles. Instinctually Kaylin turns to the door as she always does, shouting out towards the door in order to have her voice heard over the noisy crowd, “Welcome to the Gray Hornet, sit wherever you like. Assuming you can find a seat.”

As she finishes her speal the cloaked figure removes his hood to reveal her brother.

The place goes eerily quiet for what feels like minutes even though in truth it was only for seconds. She is moving faster than she even realized she could. Leaping into his arms just like she used to when they were much smaller.

“Big Brother!”

With her proclamation the entire crowd erupted in drunken cheers.

*****

As the evening drags into the night the lively crowd has assimilated her brother. In between busing tables and bringing refills she happily plops herself on her brother's lap as he shares the details of his latest exploits.

“You spent some time in the Midri Palace recently, right?” A drunken farmer slurs out at him. “So what’s those royal pricks like in person? They keep trying to haggle down the prices of the rice we sell to em.”

He laughs and explains how ornate the royal capital was and how thanks to them being part of an esteemed envoy their treatment was amazing. “They brought out plates upon plates of all sorts of traditional Midri foods. The food was so amazing. Better than the slop you cook up old man Revel.” He playfully yells back to the old man behind the bar.

“Yeah, Yeah, talk all the shit you want. Don’t forget who took you in you brat!”

The whole place bursts into joyous laughter again.

He looks down to Kaylin nuzzling into his chest, legs dangling over his lap. “Hey Kaylin, Want to know about the Princess of Midri?”

Her face sparkles. “Of course!”

He laughs. “Well where do I even start? She is probably about your age Kaylin, She wores this dress like outfit they call a Kimono. It has multiple layers of different colors.”

“I would love to wear something like that one day! Do you think I could one day, big brother? Would I look pretty in them?”

One of the other men at the table laughed. “Oh little lady, you're pretty just the way you are.”

She throws a death glare to the man. Having noticed that her brother pats her head. “Kaylin, you really need to learn to take a compliment.”

She looks up at him and fawns at his physical comfort. “The only one that deserves to praise me is my big brother!”

The crowd laughs at the absurdity of the statement.

*****

I can’t believe I get to actually step foot in the Guild Headquarters!” Kaylin is practically jumping for joy at the opportunity to enter the impressively massive building.

“Calm down Kay. Also stay close so no one stops you alright?”

They walk up the massive steps leading to the equally massive entrance. At the very top they are greeted by a young woman about her brother's age.

“Kaylin, this is my fellow junior of our master. Her name is Rebecca Wong, though the proper way to speak to her is by calling her Lady Wong. Truthfully though I just call her “hey you”.

Rebecca punches his side with a shattering force. “You idiot.”

He laughs while holding his side. “Maybe a freak of nature would be better for a gorilla like you Wong.”

She goes to punch the hunched over man again when she catches the death glare and intense aura coming off from the teenage girl at his side.

“This is my little sister Kaylin. I was bringing her in to meet with our master today.”

“Tch stop with the glares then. Come on idiot and idiots little sister.” She begrudginly stops her assault on Alex and the two follow her into the building.

*****

As they walk around many winding corridors Kaylin gawks in absolute wonder at all of the guild members and their many different types of weapons. She eventually turns her attention to Rebecca and asks a question that has been burning inside her this whole time.

“Miss Rebecca?”

“Manors child! That’s Lady Wong!”

“Right, sorry, Lady Wong? You’re a junior like my brother, so you have a spectral weapon right?”

She holds her hand up as they walk. A ring appears to sparkle brilliantly on her ring finger. “This is my spectral weapon.”

Kaylin looks at the glittering ring with confusion. “Um, how is that exactly a weapon?”

Then suddenly a black substance oozes from the ring. The substance snaps into the shape of a katana then morphs into a battle axe, and then finally into a dagger.

“Whoa that’s amazing!”

“My spectral weapons name is Benimaru and it’s ability is that of weapon metamorphasism.”

“Big brother, why didn’t you tell me Spectral Weapons had magical abilities.”

Rebecca lets out a condescending laugh. “Probably because your brother's weapon is quite, how do I put it, lame!”

“I highly doubt my amazing brother’s weapon is lame! Stop making fun of him, you stupid four eyed freak!”

“Four eyed… freak?” Rebecca looks like she's about to murder the girl.

“Enough Rebecca!” A booming voice of an older man immediately cuts through the environment and sends a chill down Kaylins spine.

“Yes Master!” with her last statement Rebecca turns around and bows to the old man. Her brother does the same. Getting the picture Kaylin tentatively gives a slight and uncertain bow to him as well.

“It’s nice to finally meet Alex’s little sister. My name is Plibius Spruce.”

*****

They enter a room and Kaylin is surprised to find Rex waiting for them within. “Rex? What are you doing here?”

He flashes her a bright and warm smile. “Hello little lady. Well, good old Plibius requested my presence, and when a good old friend such as Plibius calls, you drop what’s going on and show up.”

Plibius comments, “Well actually it was Alex that requested all of your presence today.” He motions to Alex to take the floor.

“The reason I asked if I could bring Kaylin in today is to explain our next mission and to ask you two a favor.”

Rebecca shoots him a glare, “A favor from me? You really are a piece of work, you know that.”

He gets on his knees in front of Rebecca. The room they camped out in grows silently immediately. All eyes are on Alex at this moment.

“Our next mission is… going to be long and dangerous. More so than all of my missions in the past. Please Rebecca if Kaylin is in trouble. Please help her and be there for her.”

“Tch. Like I would ever ignore a girl in trouble. You idiot.”

He smiles and then turns his attention to Rex. “If Kaylin wishes to follow us in the adventuring career can you teach her the art of swordplay?”

Rex crosses his arms and looks at Kaylin. “That’s up to her but of course I would be honored to be her sword master.”

“Thank you sir” Alex bows to him.

Plibius clears his throat. “Now listen up, all of you. I will explain Alex and I’s upcoming mission. You three deserve to know what we are up to.”

The mission as he explains is they are taking a squad down into the beyond. The depths that have not been charted or mapped out yet. He explains that another squad was sent down to search for a magical construct that was reported to exist further in. However that group went missing and no one has heard anything from them in well over a year. Their objective is primarily to find the squad or at least confirm their fates. The secondary objective is to find the construct in question.

*****

A few days have passed and Kaylin has begun her sword training with Rex. Kaylin is showing off her new wooden practice sword to some of the neighborhood kids.

Due to her size she is swift at knocking over the crates they set up as her targets. Knocking each one over fairly quickly. Once the last one falls she stands at the end of the dead end alleyway breathing heavily.

Several of the kids comment how cool she is and how lucky she is to have a sword master teaching her and giving her a sword to keep.

After a while of laughing and playing around the small group of kids hear the pleas of another child somewhere nearby.

“Please give it back! It’s the only thing I have left from my dad!”

Kaylin feels the kids' pain. With wide eyes she is booking it towards the plea with her sword in hand. Then she see’s is as she rounds the corner. A much bigger boy has a small boy held up with one hand while holding onto a pendant.

“What are you doing to him!?” Kaylin without even thinking smacks the bigger kid in the back with her practice sword.

This causes the bully child to let go of the boy and sends the pendant flying to the ground. The boy doesn’t take his chances and quickly grabs the pendant then runs away without another word.

“Who do you think you are hitting me with that thing!?”

She assumes the sword stance Rex taught her, holding the sword up to her face pointing it at her opponent and crouching slightly. Ready to strike in an instant.

“I’m the one asking the questions here! Why would you try to take that childs precious item? He begged you to stop and give it back!”

He stares at her and the anger builds in his eyes. Before she realizes it the bully is lunging at her. Without hesitation she dashes towards him.

Her lower form allows her to miss the swing of the bullies fist and instead hit him with a sword strike to his stomach. Then she leaps behind him and smacks the back of his head with a sword strike causing the bully to trip over and land on his face.

The other kids with Kaylin burst out in laughter at the sight of the bully with his bloody nose and obvious shame.

“Leave that kid alone or you’ll have to deal with me again! Got it!?”

*****

The evening has come and Kaylin returns to the tavern victorious having handled the bullying situation, however when she enters the establishment she is greeted in a way she wasn’t expecting.

Her brother Alex is sitting at the bar watching the door as she walks in. Only a few regulars are littered about the place.

“I heard what you did today!” He holds up two fingers. “I have two things to say.”

He then gets up, walks over to her and smacks her in the back of the head. “Stupid! That’s for getting into a fight!” Then before she can even comprehend what happened he is pulling her into a tight hug. “This is for standing up for those that can’t.”

*****

The evening carries on and she recounts her valiant defense of the helpless child very energetically to the regulars and her brother.

“Yep, hot headed just like her big brother!” one of the drunks laughs out.

“Yeah I can already tell that having Rex teach her sword play is a mistake. Why couldn’t you pick something that doesn’t give others concussions like baking or something?”

She just gives him a glare and sticks her tongue out at him.

Alex sighs, “Well at least while I’m gone can you try not to get into fights?”

Her glare melts into nervousness and a subtle blush. “Okay… For you big brother.”

*****

The midday sun was overbearing today as it beat down on Kaylin. Of course the sun wasn’t the only thing bearing down on her. Her heart was full of too much sadness to voice. She just stood there as her brother, Plibius, and their small squad gathered up their gear. Ready for their departure into the cavern for an unknown amount of time.

“Big brother… Please come back home.” She meekly chirps the words out. Even the act of asking such a simple request felt like it took years off her life.

Her brother gives her a warm smile then slowly walks to where she was standing next to the rest of their friends and family. Rex, Rebecca, Revel, and Edna all came out to support Kaylin and to see Alex off on this latest mission.

Once he reaches Kaylin he picks her up in an embrace. “Kay, I promise I’ll always come back to you. We're family after all.”

After he puts her down Plibius and the others start to walk towards the cavern's entrance. The guards give a military style salute to them as they pass. Kaylin watches her brother walk into the dark abyss in front of them. Her tears finally flowing allowing the pain in her heart to finally release.

*****

A year has passed. Kaylin is practicing the latest sword art she learned from Rex in the makeshift training grounds he created for them in his backyard of this home on the outskirts of the capital. Her form is much more certain and confident. She is a bit taller now and her muscles more pronounced from all of the hard work and training she has endured.

“Your form on the art is good but you need more force in the final step of the blow. Try it again!”

Listening to her master's careful words she performs the art again.

She starts in the stance she used on the bully a year ago, Sword up pointing at the target crouched slightly ready to pounce. “Sword Art: Lunge Bolt!” In a flash she has zipped up to the target and with an immense force she swipes her blade up at the target and as if she teleported she is in the air behind it and delivers one final slash that sends the training dummy flying.

“Well done Kay! Now that is a properly executed Art!” As he is laughing and pating her on the back a familiar figure walks up to the fence line of the property.

The two notice that Rebecca Wong has appeared before them “Hey…” She looks sad and uncertain.

Kaylin’s smile quickly turns into a look of horror.

Rebecca noticing the shift in her demenor decides to just spill the truth. “I’m here to tell you what we know… Two months ago all communications with Master Plibius’s squad was cut off before they reached the communications threshold of the abyss.”

She cries and manages to choke out, “No! He can’t be dead!”

Rebecca’s eyes widened. “No, we know for a fact he’s not dead, Kaylin. We still have his vitals being tracked, however the rest of his squad’s vitals are no longer being detected. The guild is… marking him as missing in action.”

Then with a new found determination she proclaims, “Then what is the guild going to do about this!”

“Nothing at this time.”

Kaylin’s determination is suddenly mixed with rage. “Well then, If the guild isn’t going to do what needs to be done then I’m heading down there to save my brother!”

Rex grabs her shoulder. “No way in hell are you ready to go that far into the Cavern. It would be a suicide mission without a Spectral Weapon.”

Rebecca having already gotten closer to the two pulls her into an embrace. “I’m sorry Kaylin! I promise when I’m able to, I will head down there and find him!”

The girl melts into the woman's embrace and finally after over a year of holding her heart back she lets the emotions out in a flurry of tears and sobs.

Kaylin vows to herself in this moment, “I will find you! Even if it kills me!”