Chapter 2: Escape and Learning

Arc woke up suddenly, feeling something both familiar and unfamiliar to him. It was as if his body was being crushed by a giant boa constrictor. The reason it was both familiar and unfamiliar is because he was familiar with the sleeping habit, but not being the same size as its holder.

Pyr had wrapped his arms and legs around him, and while drooling and looking rather goofy with a cute and goofy sleeping face, was pressing right against Arc. His hands had somehow found their way inside his shirt also, and if continued, his clothes would likely be stripped from his body. At least he seemed to have taken his shoes off, but he could already feel the legs moving about, pushing his shorts and underwear down.

Ah, my son is so cute...he was cute before, but now he is extra cute...but, this is not the time for this sort of thing! I cant believe we fell asleep! Ah...wait, why are my thoughts going like this? I should focus...but wait, aren't I cute now too? Not sure how I feel about this...

Arc blamed the fact he was small in size and had the body of a child. He figured it might be that he no longer possessed his adult stamina. As for Pyr, it couldn't be helped. The stress of yesterday probably did him in...

No, it did us both in...thats probably why I passed out once we felt safe enough to relax...the andreniline wore off, and shock fell in.

It was understandable though. Arc and Pyr passed out in another world without magic or such, woke up in a dungeon chained up, in new bodies, naked and without answers. They had to fight those cloaked people who could apparently use magic, discovered they could also use magic, and just barely found clothes and a place to hide.

He already didn't have a high opinion of the people already because they were standing around his son while he was naked and chained up. That said, his feelings and hormones were all over the place. Probably because he had experienced the biggest shock of all, finding out he was not only in a new body, but one that was twenty eight years younger as well. The only reason they didn't have a total mental breakdown was because Arc constantly was reassuring Pyr, and pushing forward to keep them both safe.

However, as he felt his shorts getting pulled down more, he decided Pyr had slept enough and pinches his nose. After a few seconds, Pyr released him and suddenly awoke with a startle.

"Arc!? Owowow!"

Arc immediately started fixing his clothes as best he could under the bed.

"Your sleeping habits are as bad as usual".

"Sorry...you dont usually mind that much though..."

"I was bigger before, and usually slept in the nude".

"Well thats true. This did feel weird, but it was an emergency. So, what now?"

Arc listened carefully, but he didn't hear anyone outside. There was also a warm light coming through the window, indicating it was probably morning.

"We cant stay here forever..." Arc mentioned, feeling rather hungry. They had to find some food and supplies. "I dont hear anyone outside. Its possible they sent everyone out to search for us".

"Should we check the dungeon? That seems to be the only room in use, looking at the condition of the others".

"There might still be people there. Or maybe those wizards woke up...maybe...".

Pyr wasn't too sure on that last one, since some of those attacks left indents in the stone walls and floor. Rather, the fact they were all still breathing even though his father didn't hold back was surprising. Some of those injuries should have been lethal, even Pyr knew that. So while possible, he didn't think they would wake up any time soon.

With that in mind, they decided to peer into the hallway. As the sun had come up, it was warmer then before, almost surprisingly so. However, there was water everywhere and everything that hadn't been sealed well was wet. Not only that, but there was still a good number of threatening clouds in the sky, and it looked as if it could rain any minute. It was a mix of dark rainclouds and blue sky breaking through with warm sunlight, a strange combination.

Still, the area looked totally deserted, so the two of them decided to make their way towards the dungeon lab that they were kept in. As they got closer, the deafening silence continued, so they kept sneaking along. As the wind blew by, a chill went up both their spines, putting them on edge. However, as they opened the door, no sound could be heard and no one was seen. With that, they decided to head back down.

"I guess they didn't leave anyone behind" Pyr mentioned, as all of the mages had vanished from the room. A number of other things also appeared to be gone, but not everything. Some books were tossed around, as well as other crates. A few things were missing, but not everything. In particular, one book seemed to draw Arc's eye.

He immediately headed towards it and picked it up, and as Pyr saw it, he noticed a similar notebook and picked it up as well.

"This language...its weird, but I know it...it says 'Experiment Logs: Soulbound Live Doll" Arc mentioned.

"I have one too...Development Log: Homunculus Prototype...didn't one of them call you a prototype?" Pyr mentioned.

"Maybe...then this is about you? Hmmm" he said, flipping through it. Now, although he could understand the words and language itself so far, his brow furrowed. "For magic, this is very technical. Magi Veins....Spirit Circuits...all these formulas...I am not a medical expert. And it seems like I dont know all these terms. I guess I only know a basic understanding of the language".

"Same...I dont really fully get it, but I think its amazing...if I am reading this right, you have enhanced speed and strength, as well as optimized and enhanced mana veins and spirit circuits...it says you seem to have affinity for 'Storm Magic', I believe, along with basic magic and maybe some others".

"Ah, I found something on you as well. It seems they developed your bloodline data...thats a rough transalation, I think it means DNA...based upon an old royal bloodline. An artificial human, or rather...Beastkin it says, you have the potential to inherit the throne of this Kingdom, with guarenteed nobility. Apparently the bloodline they used was a Beastkin one anyways, one with a proficiency in Fire Magic and Holy Magic....I think. Long lasting, potential....erm....huh..."

"What is it?"

"Well...apparently, you dont age. Artificial lifeforms apparently are not designed to grow or age or deteriate like that, and that actualy needs to be artificially added after completion".

"Ah...actually, something like that is said for you as well...hold on, so neither of us can die?"

"No, we cant grow old...apparently, they planned to create some sort of....Eternal Puppet King. And use it to assume control of the Kingdom. It looks like they were hyjacking some sort of massive spell though, leaching out....cleansed souls?"

He had no idea about the cleansed part, but to the two of them, it sounded like their souls were stolen from someone else by these people.

"So, I am a homunculus, and you are...or were meant to be...a puppet. It seems your soul was meant to have no memories or will aside from what they programmed".

"Well that failed".

"It does say they only planned to grab your soul though..."

"I guess even your soul refused to let go of me" Pyr mentioned. "Well, we got some answers on ourselves. But we should probably grab some supplies".

"Yeah...I think I see a few satchels over there. I dont see any backpacks or major bags, so lets make use of those" he said, walking over. However, when he did, he noticed a small pouch and reached in, pulling it out. The jingling of coins was easy to figure out. "Found us money too I think".

"Excelent...look at what I found?" Pyr mentioned, putting a short sword into its sheath and putting the strap with the sheath on. "I think its better if we were both armed. Here".

At that, he tossed him a pair of daggers. Arc caught them, but narrowed his eyes.

"Why are you taking the sword?"

"You are faster, and faster people can utilize daggers better".

Arc was a bit unsure about letting Pyr have a weapon, but Pyr had been practicing Kendo and Fencing. Furthermore, if this world was as dangerous as it seemed, having a weapon would probably be needed.

"Ah, I found some bread and water" Pyr mentioned, grabbing the food and water canteen.

"Alright. Come on now. I want to put some distance between us and this place before they return. This should hold us over for now".

Deciding that, the two grabbed what they could and headed back to the hall, when they saw two knights there. The group stared at each other, but then raised crossbows. Arc put his hand up defensively, but unleashed a blast of wind magic that knocked both of them hard into the wall behind them.

"Other way, now" Arc mentioned, taking Pyr's hand as the two headed the other way. The mansion seemed mostly deserted at least, so they didn't run into anyone since those two, but he was sure it would be noticed soon enough. However, despite Arc being sure they were on the first floor, as they turned a corner they entered a room that appeared to be an entrance hall, decoated with various artwork. However, they were at the second floor, with a flight of stairs leading down. There were many portraits and statues, most of them of nude figures, landscapes, or valient battles. Arc briefly considered it might be the typical art trend or such, though as he looked around noticed there were a lot more diverse pieces of art.

"Quickly, that looks like the front door".

"Wont there probably be guards out there?"

"We dont have time to look for another exit" Arc said, as he and Pyr ran towards it. He thrust his palm out, remembering the way he felt the mana move inside of him. A blast of wind shot out, and smashed the door open. Pyr meanwhile summoned fire into his hand, and when he saw one of the knights, used it on him, setting him on fire as the two ran past.

"I have an idea. Pyr, up and hold on" Arc said, grabbing Pyr with his arms. Pyr jumped onto Arc, and this time he tried to replicate the wind blast from his legs. Suddenly, he burst into the sky, though he felt like it was off balance and his shoes and socks nearly came off. Still, they shot pretty far into the forest, so Arc used his hands to slow them down and landed on a tree branch, though it was rough. They got a bit roughed up going through a bunch of smaller branches.

"Stopping here?" Pyr asked as Arc let him down.

"No, but id rather not lose my shoes and socks" he mentioned, taking them off and putting them into the large satchel, going barefoot. He picked up Pyr again. "There. Now hold on tight. I am still learning so it might be rough".

"That might be an understaaaaaaaahhh!" Pyr started to say and Arc used windblasts and hopped away from the mansion, jumping and hopping through the wind. However, it was clear this was not something he was going to learn in a single day. Rather, Pyr would have vommited twice at least if he had eaten already by this point.

"I think we lost them" Arc mentioned, finally settling down.

"I think we lost them an hour ago" Pyr mentioned between gasps, as he was on all fours on the ground panting.

Arc meanwhile took out his shoes and socks, and put them back on. "Better safe then sorry. That said, we still have no idea where we are".

"I think I spotted a village ahead. It looked kind of small though" Pyr pointed out.

"Yeah...hey, what? Seriously?" Arc mentioned, as he noticed something inside his satchel.

"Yeah! I have good eyesight!" Pyr mentioned, not realizing Arc was focused on something else.

"No no, not that. This" he said, taking out a pair of headphone like objects. No, they seemed blatently like headphones.

"...fantasy world headphones? Is there anything about them in any books we took?"

"I think I had an inventory list or catalog or such" Arc mentioned, taking out a book. "Ah, here we are. They are called 'Tranquil Blessing of the Unicorn'. Apparently, they provide a massive resistance to mental based attacks....and they are also capable of recording and replaying music as desired by the user. Also boosts storm magic to a degree".

"...that name is too wordy. Ima just call them headphones" Pyr decided. "Anyways, you are the storm specialist, so they sound perfect for you".

"Huh..." Arc said, putting them around his neck for now. "Well, there are other things here...it appears the satchels are all designed to have five times as much inventory as they normally would...well thats useful".

"...so its not an itembox, just expanded inventory. Good to know".

"We should look through them later though. I would like a roof over my head tonight...and not sleeping underneath a bed or such".

Pyr nodded, and the two headed off.

It didn't take too long to reach the village. However, while most of it was within their expectations, not all of it was. Rather....

"There is a train station here".

"Its definently a train station".

The village appeared to be a simple farming village, but there was a blatent train station right in front of them. The two decided to just walk up to the booth, where the employee was watching them with some shock and some surprise.

"Excuse me, can you tell us what station this is?" Arc asked as if it was the most natural thing in the world. Neither he nor Pyr had the time to deal with explaining their whole story, making up a whole new story, or dealing with the reactions after that.

In retrospect, we should have coordinated one. Something to do on the train maybe, or while waiting for it.

"Ah, yes" the clerk said. "This is Aef station. There will be a train coming soon that will go all the way to Astria City, and a bit later one going the other way to the Castletown Reyos. Which would you prefer?"

Arc had some reservations about going to a place that is known as a Castletown, so he decided to get tickets for the city.

"Two for Astria please. How much?"

"For two people, one bronze, ten large copper, or one hundred small copper should be fine".

The mention of a bronze coin struck him as interesting. It didn't just go from copper to silver, but bronze was used as currency as well. None of the information he had in his head or had read was detailed about currency, though it seemed simple enough.

"Here you go. One small bronze it is".

"Thank you. Here are your tickets. Make sure you hold onto them carefully. It seems like a major rainstorm is coming soon. Wonder how many days this one will last?"

"Thanks and welcome" he said, heading back to Pyr.

She expected it to last days potentially? Do storms last for long times here?

As those thoughts were in his head, he met with Pyr. "We got two tickets to Astria City. Will probably be faster to go by train then wind".

As Arc said that, he rubbed his own leg to massage it. In truth, he couldn't take many more wind blasts like that. Even though he wasn't human, but a humonculus, an artificial lifeform, it seemed that he still had limits. His legs were aching like crazy, and his lower body felt like it could fall apart. And judging from Pyr's worried looks, it seemed his exhaustion was appartant.

"Come on, lets go sit down at the bench" Pyr mentioned, grabbing Arc's hand and leading him over. The moment they sat down, Arc sighed with relief. And while doing that, Pyr decided to read through that book on magic he grabbed while they waited for the train.