{ Situation 01 | POV of Character A }

Within the center of a large, bustling port town, lies a large manor. It is grand in scale and has well maintained gardens all around.

It is in a room inside this manor, that a certain conversation is happening.

“I cannot understand why they don’t see it. Every sign of it is already there.”

“Well… they are idiots. Just take it as that.

It’s not like you did not know their characters beforehand.”

“But this is different. Honestly…”

Grumbling to my only guy friend, who is crude with words but smarter than most others around me, won’t help change anything.

This is a guy who can only do things with his hands. A guy I normally should not be able to meet or have a conversation with. His name is Roland, better called Ro, and is close of age to me. He is also an adventurer with decent skill.

If not for ‘that’ incident from a long time ago, we would not have met, and would not be here now.

While, he can’t help my situation directly, he is helpful for me in understand g and figuring out what I want and need. A useful guy, who is very crude, but also kind.

Leaving him aside, the disease that is rotting away our lives… I wonder, when would they start to care. The plentiful idiots around are like the walking dead. Living a life with closed eyes and choosing what to see and what not to see.

Truly, a basket of fools and goons.

“Miss, it is un lady like to continue to grumble and sigh. Your happiness will only get further away from you.”

The person to berate me is my maid. She is my closest confidant and only ally that is always around me.

“A-mou… Happiness is already far, far away…”

“Don’t slam your head on the desk. That too is un-lady like. If they see you like this, they would only ridicule you.”

“You mean ridicule me more? They already call me a ‘nutcase’ after all.”

“Maa… Leave that aside for now. Why don’t we enjoy some snacks?

We can relax a bit. After you clear your head, we can think about doing more.”

“Fine. Silvia, please bring some over for me and Ro. We will eat while enjoying the dull view outside.”

To my words, Ro smile wryly as he takes a seat and looks out of the windows.

Outside, you can see the gardens of the manor and its surrounding fences. Beyond that is a busy street filled with stalls and people. However, instead of happily trading and enjoying the day, they are all closing shop, looking to head home.

This would not be unusual, if it weren’t for the fact that it was still midday.

The reason why they are all rushing to close is the looming clouds over the horizon.

“It’s going to rain huh!”

Ro very bluntly stated the fact.

As we stay seated at the table, Silvia arranges the tea and snacks. Furtle tea and Macaroons are a delicacy of this town. As we sip our tea, the clouds cover over the town. And not to long after, heavy rain and thunder blanket it. By now all of the roads would have been deserted. The outside looks eerily dark and gloomy.

“Aa-ah! It is really pouring down isn’t it?”

“This feels ominous”

Ro and Silvia muter their own small complaints.

“The future that awaits us… Will be just as discomforting…”

I express my forlorn words, looking blankly at the darkness outside, as my company fall silent.

҉ ҉ ҉ ҉ ҉ ҉ ҉ ҉ ҉ ҉ ҉ ҉ ҉

{ Situation 02 | POV of Character B }

“Bart, where is Costa and Mirza?”

“They have gone to the Guild and Hildart, Sir. Both went to the urgent meetings taking place today.”

“What meetings? Why was I not informed?”

After entering my office, I asked my aide, slash butler, cum caretaker. I was momentarily annoyed for not being informed of any of the meetings and having my aides go in my stead.

I like working, and enjoy gatherings even more. I get to flaunt myself infront of the bugs and roaches, and see their gleiing envy and hatred. It’s not because I am evil or sick, I just like showing-off my ‘greater’ self.

Therefore, I am very angry and not being told about the meetings. I sit down grumbling and stare daggers at Bart.

“Sir, you had only just returned from the expedition late last night, so they could not inform you.”

“Are they important meetings?”

I asked skeptically, since Costa and Mirza, thought to go ahead to the meeting without discussing anything with me.

“Both of the meetings, are regarding the Caspian Conflicts of the South and Dungeon Catastrophe of Homer.”

“Gah! Those are important! I heard about them during my expedition as well.”

I chocked on the juice I was drinking, when I was told of the ‘topics’. I am sure Bart timed it. I spilled the juice all over my self, the desk and the floor.

I can feel a glare from another butler on side who approaches to clean the area. Trying not to think of the Ambrosida like glare from that butler, I continued to speak with Bart.

“The Caspian War is extending far wider than previously thought and there seems to be more ‘damage’ than first expected.

As for the Homer dungeon incident, many rumors are afloat regarding discoveries and such.

Bart, bring me whatever reports we have.”

Wiping away the dripping juice after chocking, I take a moment to contemplate and consider.

Both of these matters are ‘interesting’ in my point of view.

“What are Costa and Mirza’s view on these matters?”

“As just a humble butler serving master, I am not informed of their opinions.”

“Pu~ Stop with the façade. Even dolls have ears.”

I scoffed at Bart, trying to walk away from the office.

“Well master, what would you do if you were to participate in the meetings?”

“Isn’t it obvious. I want a piece of anything they are planning.”

I grinned at Bart, who sighs in return. I feel annoyed at his ‘fed-up’ reaction.

“That is only you master.

Please stop trying to give us more ‘trouble’. Costa and Mirza, only went for formalities sake. They do not intend to nominate us to take part.”

“What ‘trouble’? It is called a gamble!

It’s all about risk and return. You don’t earn by being safe.”

“Doing B-rank dungeon exploration, fighting proxies and trading with ‘those things’, is not called a gamble!

Its suicide!!”

“High-risk, High-rewards.”

“Incompetence and lunacy.”

“What did you say?”

“Nothing, master.

Since, I have answered your query, I will take my leave. I have to deal with the ‘mundane’ affairs still.”

After having me flare-up, Bart excuses himself and exits the office.

The charade we have between us is completely normal. If it were anyone else, even Costa and Mirza, they would have their heads loped-off, but if it Bart, its fine.

I lean back on my chair as my thoughts wonder.

How much more retarded is the world going to get. As much as the others, even I feel tired because of all these messes. I just take it in better, with stride and determination. Just moping around won’t help. Action for solutions, that has been my motto, always.

But continuing to consider the ramifications of the affairs in the region, I start to feel a slight headache, so I stopped thinking anymore.

There was paperwork left on my desk, for the non-mundane affairs such as new projects for approval. I go through them, to divert my attention.

҉ ҉ ҉ ҉ ҉ ҉ ҉ ҉ ҉ ҉ ҉ ҉ ҉

People even at far distances, worry about their future and work to solve their problems in one or another.

Each one takes a conscious step forward and several unconscious steps backwards. Fearing the unknown is but normal. It takes a daredevil or risk-taker, to venture into the fog or darkness blindly.

Unknown to everyone in this world, that is suffering under much instability, is that more chaos is to ensue further. For new elements will raise and descend.

In future long to come, the coming days will be heralded as the ‘worst’ of all the ages. Historians will weep whilst reading or writing the records of the times to come. Whether in happiness or sorrow, that is yet to be understood.

҉ ҉ ҉ ҉ ҉ ҉ ҉ ҉ ҉ ҉ ҉ ҉ ҉

*Droooom*

In an arid and vacant canyon top, a flash of light explodes. In its wake, a single silhouette can be seen, wrapped in a dark poncho coat.

It felt out of place for this desolate scape, with the sun having risen to high noon and sharp winds blowing through the valley.

“That was so anti-climactic.”

*Swoosh* - sound of harsh winds.

“So this is the otherworld?

‘Realm’ was it?

Heh…”

A young voice can be heard. It was tainted with faint surprise and mockery.

After looking around and even down to the canyon floor, the figure quickly vanishes from that spot. A sea of dust clouds blow over the canyon edge, over the spot where the figure once stood. They float over the edge and down, on to the canyon floor below.