Where to begin?

I think it is best to begin from when I bit off …tore off the Abbe’s arm, he completely stopped speaking me. Then one fine day when I say “town approaching” he starts speaking to me as if nothing ever happened.

I mean he never forgave me nor did he scold me; nothing. Isn’t that weird? It left a very awkward feeling in my mouth. His personality seemed to be too varied…unless of course he had some underlying motive or secret which was compelling him to behave strangely towards me…

Anyone logical and meek like me would have been suspicious of the Abbe. I mean I tore off the man’s arm and he’s still loyal to me? Why?

The true test was when he left for Feladonia leaving me behind. In all honesty, I was sure that I had been abandoned; however with my pass into the city I have a different view on things…

A very different view on things…

The Abbe and I stared at each other. There was an awkward silence. It had been a very long time since we met.

“It’s good to see you.” I said to break the eerie silence.

The Abbe smiled. “I apologize for the delay master. We had difficulty finding jobs…so gathering the bandages and clothes took longer…”

I don’t like where this conversation is going. I want to be scolded, I feel truly guilty for tearing off his arm and yet he pretends like nothing has happened. No instead, he is apologizing to me…

“I understand…” I actually did, there are times when things don’t go according to plan. Considering that I gave him only five days this is good enough. “Though it would have been nice if you had sent a message.”

Ah! I am disappointed in myself, I should have taken the lead and directed the conversation towards his arm. I am really concerned about his arm, I haven’t seen him move it even once since the journey. It’s always been limp and loosely hanging by his side…even now it is..

“We were working late master.” The Abbe defended.

“I understand. Thank you for your efforts.” I am sincere. I don’t think I could have survived this long in this game without such a helpful guardian. I am drowning in my own guilt here. I am finding it difficult to look at the Abbe. The Abbe whose worked so diligently for me…

“We did come the seventh day but could not find you…”

Each sentence that follows from his mouth, pushes me deeper and deeper into his indebtedness.

“I was pre-occupied.” I am trying to cover up.

The Abbe looked at me for an explanation.

Normally, I wouldn’t explain however aside from the guilt, I am curious to learn more as well about the venus cave. I quickly described to him my journey into the cave and back. I made sure I covered all the details and then looked at him for an answer.

The Abbe had turned white as a ghost.

He finally spoke, “Master, if what you are saying is true…then you had been eaten by the Scopludge.”

“Is it that bad?”

“It is a very dangerous monster. No one has ever escaped the monster. It fools stray and lost travellers into the many cave like mouths it has with its outward appearance of shelter and a safe haven and once then are inside, it traps them in forever till they are digested. The Gods watch over you for you to have survived such an ordeal. It means you are truly blessed…”

Cool. I must be the luckiest player. No more easy meals for me.

“I guess I must be lucky?”

“Sora-sama is indeed lucky. Blessed like the child of the star…”

“Child of the star?”

Gustav snorted. It’s evident he doesn’t believe I am blessed like the child of the star.

“It is a prophecy that there will be a child who will save this world, unite the lands and vanquish the evil plaguing the wastelands. It is said when the child appears, the Gods will bless him with infinite luck, wisdom and courage to overcome all obstacles that stand in his path.”

“Do you believe in the prophecy?”

“Yes, I believe in it.”

“Do you believe in it Gustav?”

Gustav looks at me with a surprise; I have never really asked for his opinions.

“Hedo Brashi.” He said quickly before walking off.

The Abbe explains, “The Garzal believe quite the opposite. The child of the star will doom the world or something along those lines.”

“Why?”

“The prophecy is very old….there is no written documentation of it…and has many a times been distorted…different countries, tribes and people believe different things…”

“But everyone knows about this prophecy?”

“I am not too sure…the people of the Empire know it…however elsewhere….I cannot say…”

So it isn’t a real prophecy? But could this be the objective of the game? Time to change topics to something more relevant…“What all jobs did you acquire?”

“I am the clerk of this inn, Maylon and Gustav help around. Getting this type of job is the easiest.”

“I see…” I guess in all games this hold’s true….pointlessly domestic jobs pay enough and are easy to get as they require no skills….unless you are planning on becoming a chef.

“Does it pay much?”

“For what we need it will suffice. As a Templar I used to get more.”

Similar to Royal Road…If I remember correctly…I made more as a hired mercenary than while working in an inn…or do I have it the other way round….I guess working in an inn was more profitable for me in Royal Road….but then there was the time and effort…never mind that is a story of another time.

“Should I work here as well?” I am my considerable experience in the leisure industry can contribute in this game as well.

“I don’t believe they will hire someone so suspicious.” The Abbe destroys my dreams.

“Then do you have any suggestions?”

“Master it depends where do you want to go from here?” The Abbe asked me.

“I am looking for someone.” This is the first time I am sharing my true plans for coming here.

“We could post a reward for information or details on the board of the Guild Association…” The Abbe suggested.

The Abbe moved closer to me and whispered, “Is this person an adventurer?”

“Yes.”

“It might not be a good idea to mention that then.”

I agree the elf’s reaction set that straight for me.

“So who are we looking for?” The Abbe asked.

“He is a young boy, around my age…. His name is Enma Ikeda.”

The entire diner froze and yes I got the death stare.

The Abbe was looking at me as if he were terrified of me. I could relate this scene to something like “He-who-should-not-be-named”.

“Enka Amida…I love Enka…” I spoke hastily to cover-up.

The diner returned back to its clamour.

The Abbe regained his composure and then looked at me. “We should speak somewhere else.”

His voice was weak and panicking.

“Ummm sure?”

***

We made our way out of the inn. Gustav and Maylon were informed and they followed us.

We headed to a park.

I must say who ever designed this city did so keeping a modern city in mind.

I can’t imagine that Adventurers dislike the Empire. As far as I can see it is a great place to stay as long as no one finds out that you are an adventurer.

“Sora-sama, you must absolutely never take that name.” The Abbe abruptly began once he made sure no one was eavesdropping.

I begin where all questions begin. “Why?”

“Sora-sama!” The Abbe looked at me as if I were behaving irrational.

I continued giving him a blank look.

“That man…”

“You mean boy….”

“No! That man is a danger to everyone! Nothing good will come of him!” The Abbe finished hastily.

“I am looking for a boy named En…”

“SHHHHHHH!!!” The Abbe hushed me. “We refer to him as the Immortal God of Death or Shakuhachi.”

“Shakuhachi? I am not looking for a man….a boy….younger than me…or around my age?”

“Sora-sama…I am not sure if we speak of the same person….but Shakuhachi came to our world nearly 500 cycles ago….with his almighty guardian Ryu, they destroyed an entire nation and united half the world….the Empire as we know it exists because of the Shakuhachi….Sora-sama?”

I think I blanked out. Did he just say 500 cycles? But it was only 18 months ago….shivers descended down my spine.

“Abbe…how many days make a cycle here?”

The Abbe was perplexed as if I asked a stupid question which no one has asked him before. “512 Days make a cycle…”

“500 years ago…quarter a million days ago…” I think I am barely audible now. I am in complete shock.

“How many days of this world make a complete day in my world?”

“I do not know Sora-sama.”

I grab the Abbe looking for answers…no he wouldn’t know it….he’s just an NPC…

If Enma came here 256,000 days ago…round off to 250,000 days ago and that is the equivalent of 18 months in my world….

“Impossible…” Those are the only words that escape my mouth once I finished the mental mathematics…it would mean 1 hour of my real world is almost 20 days in this world.

I found it difficult to breathe.

My knees gave away as dread engulfed me….I might go mad playing this game…completely mad…the very idea of living 500 years is maddening…

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