Side Chapter 2: Plateau 

*smash*

“Pay attention Avaelia!” My master, Mrs Beneverie, shouts from the sides after seeing me get hit by a log in the obstacle course. I tried to rush the course, only to get hit by an unsuspected log.

“Ughhhhh…” I groan as pain assaults me from the side. How they can subject prepubescent teens in this torture is a wonder to me. Then again, survival is more important than childhood memories I guess.

“You’ve been distracted since morning, child. Is there something bothering you?” Master asks as we take a break from training. I think I’ve been here for at least a decade now starting from when those ‘gods’ dropped us in this hellhole of a planet. It feels frustrating not being able to do anything right now to find my childhood friend. But that’s about to change soon!

“I’m sorry, master, I’ve just been thinking about next week.” I wipe my sweat off and gulp mouthfuls of water from my waterskin. I feel my energy getting rejuvenated instantly. Water of lifeeee~

“Ah, I see. Excited are we?”

“Nervous.”

“Why? You’re stronger than most of your peers, and you’ll be accompanied by a Guardian. In addition, any harm that comes to you will possibly incite a war. Why would you be nervous?”

“It’s not that I’m scared, master.” I hesitated, trying to think of an excuse. I can‘t exactly tell her that I’m nervous I won’t be able to find my friend from a previous life, or that I won't be able to find a way back, or that I'd be forced to kill other people eventually.

“I’m nervous about being away from home for a long time, in an environment that's different from home.”

“You’ll be fine, I trained you to be strong and you will be strong. Do not fret child.” Master answers, thinking that I’m nervous about not being able to defend myself outside. “Stand up, go through the course twice more and then you’ll have the rest of the time for yourself. But for now, focus.”

I nod and head back to the start of the course, cursing in my head. I f#@king hate logs…

[An hour later]

*splash*

“Sooo goooooood…” I groan in pleasure while soaking my tired body in the springs of our band. It’s more magical than it the ones back on earth though, being connected to our deific stone, the Plateau, gives it its amazing healing properties. I feel like I’m melting! I wish I could just stay here forever...

Back on Earth, I’d never believed any miraculous stuff like this. A magical spring that can relieve your fatigue, heal your wounds, and regenerate your magical powers? That’s just nonsense. But I would prefer going back and being with my friends and family, even if it means losing what I have here.

Looking down on the water, I see myself. Well, at least my ‘fake’ self. This is not me, this is something else. I repeat to myself in a mantra, trying to remember what I looked like before.

I glare in hate at the red-skinned, demon-like reflection in the water. My fiery golden eyes that emanates fear, the black tattoo-like markings on my face and body, the extra pair of arms I can grow on my back. Everything about this body is evil, this is not me. 

I soak for a bit longer before rinsing and heading out. I have to prepare for the trip, necessities should be packed away already I just need some other stuff. I should buy books or something.

As I walk out, I take note of this amazing view. It's going to be a while before I see this again. The buildings of the tribe still amazes me. Being a mix of ancient nordic architecture from Earth and magic, it looks like something that came out of a fantasy. Walls and ceilings lined with runes glowing occasionally, torches that burn forever without giving heat, and all kinds of different monster mounts with people milling about openly carrying weapons.

I head towards the trading hub, people nodding towards me in respect. I never thought I’d get used to something like this. Being the daughter of a band’s Pillar, they bow towards me occasionally. It's like a smaller version of what it feels to be a princess I guess.

“My lady, how may I help you?” A helper approaches me from the side as I enter the hub. I shake my head at him lightly, “I’m just looking around.” This feels like one of those awkward encounters back on Earth, every time I go to a mall or a shop.

I go around the stall-filled areas, looking and occasionally buying things like books and gizmos. Despite the tribal theme the village has, technology is still similar or even better than the one we had on earth even if the designs are tribal. This looks out of place though. I pick up a black tile on display, surrounded by other modern-looking tech. Why’s there an iPho-

“That’s a phone, sister.” I hear a gruff voice to my left, one that belongs to my brother. 

“Canden, what are you doing here?”

“I was just walking by, then I saw my dear little sister so I just thought I’d help.” He grins at me. “That little gadget is imported from our newfound allies, the Monuments Alliance.”

“It doesn’t seem to work.” I try tapping at it and looking for buttons, but apart from a slot in the back, there doesn't seem to be anything else on it.

“It won’t work with us of course, it’s powered by their so-called ‘plates’”

“Plates?” I asked inquisitively. He picks up a blank wooden card and shows it to me. “This, my dear sister, is a plate. Quite similar to our totems.” Raising his totem necklace from inside his shirt, he continues. “They can use it to read each other’s statuses to an extent and power their gadgets. There are other functions but these are the basic ones.”

“Interesting…” Our totems have a similar function, as identification and a power source. However… “What did they have to hunt for these?”

“That’s the ridiculous part!” He raises his arms in emphasis, “They don’t have to hunt anything! Every child can just Awaken at their coming of age without any test!”

I feel a bit surprised at what he said, but it is enviable and much more in line with my common sense. We had to hunt a beast, then use a part of it as our totem. It is said that the stronger the beast, the greater the potential of the child. And no, the Plateau will know if it’s not your kill so no one can just buy a disaster-level material as a totem, nor employ the help of anyone strong. Once someone else touches that beast before you kill it, it's void.

“You're going to head there soon right? When are you heading out sister?”

“Tomorrow morning, the earliest.”

“I am going to miss you, you know?” He grins again and spreads his arms in a hug. I back away since I know what he’s really like. Pretending like he’s hurt, he dramatically vocalizes it. “Oh, how you wound me, dear sister! Are we not- hey! Wait!”

I leave him monologuing and continue looking around the hub, eventually being too bored to look around more and you annoyed to dodge my brother’s area of awareness.

As I walked towards the exit, I noticed a peculiar necklace on a stall. It looks like a jagged piece of black rock, there’s no other decorations or even runes on it which is unusual here. I feel a weird compulsion towards it like it's calling out to me specifically.

“What’s this?” I ask the drowsy shopkeeper as I pick it up, trying to inspect it closer. It's just a plain piece of rock though, it smells like nothing, there's nothing written on it. It's weirdly cold and warm at the same time though. What the hell?

“A necklace, my Lady.”

I roll my eyes in exasperation, “I mean what’s it made of? Does it have any enchantments?”

“I don’t know, and no it doesn’t, my lady. It’s only 5 kruangs though”

“...” I pay the man through my totem and continued to go back home. On the way, I kept inspecting the piece of stone, not finding anything special about it. Shrugging, I put it on and focused my thoughts on tomorrow. Wait for me Cas, I’ll find you….