Chapter 19

New Dawn

“Did you know that almost every star we see in the night sky is dead?”

“What? Really?”

“Yea, I heard that the stars are so far away that it takes hundreds of years for their light to reach our world.”

“Woah.”

A young boy and girl sat on top of a lone grassy hill admiring the starry sky.

“It’s kind of creepy,” The young girl tightly hugged her body. “Knowing that all stars I’ve been looking at ever since I was a kid is dead.”

“Really? I think it's kind of amazing. Even after the stars passed away, they continue to shine their light down on us. Every time I look at them, I can’t help but wonder those a piece of us lives on after we die? Maybe the memories we made and the mark we left on history is our light shine after death.

“Wow, Aden, that was quite something.”

“Sorry, did I say something weird?”

“No, everything you said was beautiful. “The young girl smiled. Boy’s heart skipped a beat. To him, everything about her was stunning. Her long hair that flowed in the wind, her deep blue eyes, and even the mole on the bridge of her nose.

“I think you’re beautiful.” The boy said unconsciously. Realizing his thoughts slips out of his mouth, he immediately tries to backpedal. “I’m sorry! I meant to say-“

“Do you really mean that?” The girl’s face became flushed red.

“Yea. I do. You’re the most beautiful thing I have ever seen.”

Silence fell upon the two. The boy found himself drawn towards her quivering lip. The girl closed her eyes and waited for her first kiss.

“Um, I guess I’ll come back later.” Just as the two were about to kiss, a red-headed boy with a bloodthirsty looked in his eyes. Reached the top of a hill. Both the girl and boy immediately separated and shouted at the same. “Lock?!”

“Yea, that’s me.” The red-headed boy crosses his arms. The glare and the scar on his forehead made his innocent gesture look more menacing than he intended. “Why you guys acting so surprised. Didn’t you two invite me?”

Both the boy and girl silently looked at each other, their face still flushed red.

“I can leave if you guys want.”

“Please don’t.” The boy grabbed Lock’s sleeves. “I want to spend what little time we have left together.

The atmosphere suddenly became tense. No matter how hard they tried to deny it. Deep down, this may be the last chance the three could be together.

“This doesn’t have to be the last time we meet.” The girl broke the awkward silence between the three. “We can run away, go somewhere far from here.”

“Charlotte.”

“I’m cool with the plan.”

“Lock!”

“What? Why should we sacrifice ourselves in this stupid war?”

“Because everything we know and love is in danger. You guys have seen it for yourself. People from all over the world are fleeing to our country. Their homes and villages were destroyed by the Majins. If we lose this war, there’ll be nowhere for us to run.”

“you talk as if you can make a difference if you join the war. Surely, you’re not that prideful, Aden.” Lock glare at Aden, hoping his natural intimidating look will cause Aden to backdown. But to his surprise, Aden return his glare with a soft smile.

“I think I can make a difference.”

“Oh, yeah? How?”

“Simply by helping others. Every person I help will, ,save someone else in need, and that person will help someone in need of saving. It’s just like using a matchstick to light all the candles in a room. Even after the fire on the matchsticks dies out, the candles can be used to light the others until the room is glowing with light.”

“…” For a moment, Lock was speechless. He dug deep in his head, deeper than he has ever done before, to find a way to stop his friend from this suicidal path. But he knew he couldn’t stop him. He never could.

“Tch.” Lock click his tongue and starch his rough red hair in frustration. “If only you were stronger, then you might have a chance at changing the world.

“That’s why I want you to come with me, Lock. With your strength, we might be able to make a difference.”

“Me make a difference? But I’m just a…” Lock fell silent.

But I’m just a street rat. That is what Lock wanted to say, but the words got caught in his throat. Lock lived on the streets longer than he could remember, and he was confident he would die on the streets, too, until he met Aden.

“You’re probably the only person that’ll have faith in a no-name thug like me.” Lock quietly, making sure the other two couldn’t hear him. “Fine, I’ll come along. Someone needs to watch your ass.”

“Thank you, Lock.”

“Aden, please think about what you’re doing.” Charlotte squeezes Aden’s hand, making sure he couldn’t escape from her grip. “You c

“I know. I’ve thought about it for a long time, but I decided this is what I want to do. And, besides I got Lock with me. I’ll be fine.”

“Promise me!” Charlotte squeezes Aden’s hands harder. “Promise me you’ll come back to me!”

“I promise, I’ll come back to you, and I…” Aden’s face became red as he tried to force the words out his mouth. “I… I would like to spend the rest of my life with you.”

Both Charlotte and Lock's eyes widen at Aden’s proposal.

“I mean, if you don’t want to, I understand.”

“No, I would love to!” Charlotte pulled Aden close to her. “I would love to spend the rest of my life with you!”

“Thank you.” Tears begin to well up in Aden’s eyes. “I promise I’ll make you the happiest girl in the world.”

While the two confessed their love for each other underneath the starry sky. Lock silently made a vow to help the boy who saved him accomplish his dream, no matter what.

20 years later

A lone man in worn armor climbs up lonely hill, carrying a rusted sword. On top of the hill, the man got a good view of the famous city, New Dawn.

“I’m sorry it took me so long, Aden, but I finally come back to fulfill my promise with you.: The armored man, squeeze the dog tags whose name have long been erased by time. “It’s time to make a change.”

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This may sound strange, but lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about the heroes in fairy tales. You know the one where the main character goes on a journey to save the world. I can’t help but wonder where their confidences come from. Even if some goddess gave me the power to help everyone, I probably still hesitate to leave home. I guess it’s a good thing the world isn’t resting on my shoulders. I’m not ambitious as my father, nor am I as strong as Dante. I don’t want to save or change the world either. I’m just a girl trying to find her place in this world, that’s all.

“I’m also looking for something to eat too.” I rub my stomach that’s been growling at me for hours.

Five days has passed since I left my hometown, and the capital isn’t anywhere in sight. I didn’t take a wrong turn somewhere, did I? no, I couldn’t. I’ve been following this road ever since I embarked on my journey. I couldn’t of made a wrong turn.

“Traveling sucks!” I flopped down on the gravel road, exhausted and hungry. On the left side of the road, there’s a river as blue as the sky, and on the right side is a lush green forest. You think me being a part beastman, I would thrive in places like this, but you would be wrong. I’m a pureblooded street kid. I have no idea what to do if I was suddenly thrown into nature. I guess I’ll know what plants poisonous and what edible thanks to my upbringing.

“Ah, speaking of plants…” I reached into my pouch and pulled out a yellow seed. I immediately plop the seed in my mouth and swallow it, not even bothering to savor the taste.

“God, that’s sour!” I rolled around the ground, barely stopping myself from licking the dirt to get rid of the sour taste out of my mouth.

Sour seeds really live up to their name. The hunger and fatigue that clouded vanish. Honestly, if it wasn’t for this fruit, I probably would’ve collapsed on the road a while ago. But I feel like I’m going to go insane if I eat any more of these seeds. I need something real to eat. Like, like, “fish?”

Suddenly, the smell of cooked fish entered my nose. I instinctively followed the delicious aroma, which led me to the bank of the river. A small campfire with fishes impaled on a stick sat near the river.

I carefully examine the area looking for the person who made the little camp, but no one was in sight.

“They must’ve left to gather more supplies,” I mumble to myself. I could feel a small smile spreading on my face. Before I knew it, I was creeping towards the small campfire. I soundlessly made my way body easily glided across the rocky ground while keeping an eye out for the person who made the campfire.

I was surprised at how easily I slipped back into my thieving habit and disappointed that I had to rely on them again.

“Sorry, I hope you’ll forgive me for this.” I picked up a piece of fish. The enticing smell washes away all my guilt. “Thank you for the meal!”

I open my mouth to swallow the fish whole. A small voice in the back of my head broke through my starved mind and whispered to me. Something is after you.

The sky suddenly darkened, against my better judgement, I looked up, an act I immediately regret.

“No, no, it can’t be! It can’t!” I stagger, unable to accept what I was seeing. The sky grew darker as the silhouette of dragon loom over.

“This is a joke, right?” I continue to stare dumbly at the dragon silhouette, hoping my eyes were playing tricks on me, but the dragon continue to get closer to me.

A moment later, I found myself in the air, my breath knocked out of me from the dragon’s charge. Another moment later, I found myself at the bottom of the river. The cold water awakens my dazed mind.

While underwater, I debated if I should come up for air or wait till the dragon left. My lungs forced me to choose the former. I cautiously poke my head from out the water.

The thing that I thought was a dragon was actually a wyvern, a slightly oversized lizard. Drool dripped endlessly from the wyvern’s dark scaley mouth as it approached the fish I dropped.

“That’s mine!” I jumped out of the river and snatched the fish from the overgrown lizard.

“Kaaah!” The stupid lizard screech at me, but I paid no attention to it.

“Mine! Mine! Mine!” I shouted as I ran for the woods on all fours. The lizard won’t be able to use its wings with all the branches and trees in the way. At least, that what my half-starved brain came up with. But I gave up on the plan before I could enact it.

A woman emerges from the forest carrying a few apples and a cane. The woman wore a deep wine color cloak that covered her entire body. Both her hair and the little bit of skin I could see were white as snow.

“Hm?” The woman abruptly stopped in the middle of the road and stared at me. At least it seems like she was staring at me, but strangely I couldn’t feel her gaze at all.

“Who’s. There?” The cloaked woman spoke slowly. I should’ve known immediately when I saw the cane, but I only realized after watching her look for me even though I was right in front of her.

“She’s blind.” My heart ached when I realize this.

Here I was, on all four like a beast, carrying a piece of fish in my mouth that I stole from a blind girl. Even if I was hungry was no excuse for my deprave action.

I open my mouth to speak, but the only thing that came out was a pained groan. The wyvern snuck up behind me and bit my tail.

“Why is it always the tail?” I fell to my knees, barely trying to hold back my tears. The cloaked woman stood over me. She slammed her cane into the road, scaring away the lizard holding my tail.

“Sor. Ry” The woman enunciated her word, so slowly it took me a moment to realize what she was apologizing to me.

“You don’t need to apologize to me. I’m a thief that- ugh, tried to take food from you.” Halfway through my speech, my stomach begins to rumble.

“Here.” The hooded woman knelt next to me and handed me an apple.

“I can have this?” The hooded woman nodded. Maybe it because I’ve been eating nothing but sour seed the past few days, but the apple was the sweetest thing I have ever eaten.

As soon as I finish eating the apple, the woman grabbed my sleeve and dragged me to her little camp. “Here.” She said, shoving a fish into my face. I silently accepted it. The fish didn’t have any taste, but I didn’t care. At this point, I could eat anything.

After I finish eating, I moved closer, hoping it would dry my clothes faster. The wyvern wrapped itself around the cloak woman’s body while nibbling at the fish in the woman’s lap. If birds suddenly land on her shoulders, she would look like a princess from a fairy tale or a forest witch.

I took another looked around our little camp area. It’s hard for me to believe that a blind person is traveling alone. Even with the oversize lizard protecting her, she’s still a huge target, especially when carrying such a fancy cane.

The cane was mostly black with a strange sliver vine-like design going down the shaft. The handle was made of silver, shaped like a goat head with red jewels embedded into both eye sockets. If my old self ever saw such an object, she would’ve done everything in her power to steal it, even if the cloaked woman needed to get around. The old me was quite the ass, then again, I did try to steal her food, so I guess I’m still an ass.

“Jez.” The woman said while placing a hand on her chest. It took me a moment to realize she was telling me her name.

“Oh, Jez, is your name?” The woman nodded her head then place her hand on the wyvern.

“Dark.” She said while gently petting the winged lizard as it ate.

“Dark, that’s a cute name.” I place my hand on my chest. “My name is Catherine.”

“Cat. Derith. Cat. Thrift. Cat. Dirt. Cat-“

“On second thought, you can just call me, ugh, Cat. Just call me Cat.” It hurt my soul calling myself one of those four-legged felines, but it's equally painfully seeing Jez struggle to say my name.

“Cat,” Jez said. A bright smile blooms on her face.

How cute. At least what little I can see of her face, she looks incredibly beautiful. Honestly, the more I looked at her, the more I find it hard to believe she’s traveling alone.

“So Jez, are you heading somewhere?”

“Yes. New. Dawn.”

“What a coincidence! I’m heading there too!” Knowing we were both heading to the same place got me excited for some reason. I guess not seeing anybody for a few days made me a bit lonely. “Why don’t we go together? I’ll even act as your bodyguard!”

“Guard?” Jez quizzically tilted her head. “You. Strong?”

“Ah, um, I can throw a really mean punch probably.”

“Hmm. Sure.”

“Really?!” In my excitement, I jumped to my feet and grabbed Jez’s hand. “Let’s go together!”

“Ksss!” The wyvern, or Dark lungs at my hands, separating me from Jez.

“Sorry about that.”

“No.” Jez shook her head. “Let’s. go.” She grabbed the last piece of fish and tossed it high into the sky. Dark unravel himself from around Jez and leaped in the air, grabbing the fish with his mouth.

“That’s one way to play catch. Huh?” When I looked back down, Jez was already back on the road and was heading for the forest.

“Whoa! Hey, you’re heading the wrong way!”

“No.” Jez shook her head at me. “This. Fast. ter.”

“How do you know? You’re bl-“I stop myself before I said anything I would regret.

I follow Jez into the woods. Strangely, she seems to know exactly where she was going. Seeing her push away branches that got in her, I begin to question if she was actually blind.

“Cat?” Jez abruptly stopped and turned to me. I was surprised to hear a hint of concern in her voice. Did she think I abandoned her?

“Don’t worry. I’m right behind you, Jez.”

After she heard my voice, she continues to walk. Eventually, we exited the forest, and there it was past the field of colorful flowers. Underneath the bright blue sky was a giant stone that stretches across the vast land below with even taller buildings that threatens to pierce the sky.

“My god, so that’s the capital.” I couldn’t even begin to fandom how many people live there or how many came for the tournament.

While I was getting lost in thought, I felt some soft and warm wrapped around my hand. I look down to see a pale hand holding mines.

“Are you trying to cheer me up, Jez?”

“Hmm.” Jez nodding at me.

“Honestly, we just met, yet I already own you a lot. I guess the least I can do is get you to the city safely.”

I squeeze Jez’s hand and guided her towards the massive city with Dark hovering just above her head.

Each step we took, the gigantic wall seemed to get bigger, to the point I thought it would block out the sky.

If the wall is this big, then the city must be a labyrinth. I thought that being easily able to maneuver around the city. Now, I feel like I need a guide otherwise, I’ll never get anywhere.

“Hey, Jez, have you been to New Dawn before?”

“No.”

“Oh.” My heart grew heavy with disappointment. I was hoping she could guide me around the capital as she did in the forest.

“So, what exactly are you doing here? You know someone living here?”

“No. Guild.”

“Adventure guild?”

“Hmm.” Jez nodded her head. My disappointment turns into excitement.

“I guess we get to travel together a bit longer because that’s where I’m heading too!”

While I was happy that we both heading to the same place, I begin to worry about Jez. She said she doesn’t know anyone living here, and her main destination seems to be the adventure guild. I’m heading to the guild that that is where you sign up for the tournament, but the usual reason people go there is finding someone to deal with their problem.

I barely stop myself from asking her why she was heading to the guild. It was none of my business, besides. I had problems of my own to deal with, like signing up for the tournament in time. Today’s the deadline, and the line in front of the metal maw, otherwise known as the city gate, was long. Thankfully, the guards seem used to this amount of traffic. As they quickly and efficiently checked everyone.

“Next.”

Finally, it was my turn to be inspected. The soldier at the gate looked down at me with an exhausted gaze. “You alone, kid?”

“I’m not a kid!” I unintentionally snapped at the guard. I usually ignore

“Right.” The soldier rolled his eyes at me. “So, are you alone, kid.”

“Fucker.” I whispered underneath my breath. “No, I’m not alone. As you can see, Jez is right next to me.” I reach for Jez’s hand only to grab nothing but air. “Huh?” I looked behind me Jez was nowhere to be seen.

“Is something wrong?”

“She’s gone? But she was right here!”

“A missing person?” The soldier let out an exhausted sigh while pulling out a notebook and a pen. “What’s do they look like?”

I quickly explain what Jez looked like. The soldier gave me a weird looked when her wyvern. I guess shouldn’t be surprised. While wyverns is not as rare as dragons, they cost a lot to find, cost even more to find an egg since the only way to raise a wyvern as a pet is to take care of it while it’s still an egg.

“Your girl seems to have quite an interesting appearance. Don’t worry, we’ll find her soon. You can wait here by the gate while I have my men search.”

“No, can you show me the way to the adventurer guild?”

“Sure, but why?”

“That’s where we promise to meet up.”

“Fine.” The soldier gave me a direction to where the guild was located. “Just don’t leave the guild so we can reunite you with your friend.” The soldier said, handing me a map.

“Thank you.” I accepted the map and headed into the city. To be honest, I didn’t have any intention of reuniting with Jez. She’s in better hands with the soldiers. Although, as I said that, I found myself looking around for Jez. But even with her unique appearance, it impossible to find her in this festive environment. It even took me forever to get to the guild, even though it was located right next to the city gate.

The smell of alcohol immediately assaulted me. I thought that the place would be just as energetic as the outside. However it was extremely gloomy. The supposed adventurer all sat in the corner of the room whispering to themselves.

“Hello, how may I help you?” The receptionist gave me a forced smile, but she had the same tired smile on her as the guard.

“Jez isn’t here?” I took another look around the guild while approaching the receptionist.

“So, what do you need? An escort or someone no

“No. I’m here to sign up for the tournament.”

“….” Suddenly, the entire building fell silent, and everyone's eyes fell on me.

“Um, did I say something wrong?”

“No, but you should be careful what you say.” A man that sat alone in the corner of the guild stood up and approached me. My heart nearly stopped when; I saw the scars on his face.

“You’re late, Catherine.” Scar said to me in his usual monotone voice. “The trials have already begun.