Chapter 7: Geography and night training

"- Well then I'll teach you how to read our language, but before that, can you tell me that this happened just now? You disappeared with Maria and Krista and when they returned they were odd, silent, they weren't even looking at each other !

- Believe me, I did not myself really understand what happened, but that's the same as when you caught Nero when he was changing, it is better not to talk about it..."

She blushed thinking back to the incident and said nothing more

"- In fact we can first start by geography ? So that we know a bit where we are.

- Mmm ... yes you're right, especially as the grandfather said you'll receive quests from the guild, if you need to move you should know as much as possible about the region. " With that she fumbled in the scrolls of the library, fished several out and spread them on the table. During the operation Sig asked how his cousin was today at the training.

"- Well, he controle his energy a lot better than you but produces less than you. He happens to use its handling of water to form blades and uses them to strike with movements Krista thaught him. And he can fish without a problem with that also. "

Sig whistled, impressed :

"- I'm looking forward to that, and you have not been as mean to him than me?

- What do you mean by that ?! I'm hard on you because if you do not control yourself you're going to burn the village!

- Haha yes that's true.

- It's not funny you know! Anyway this is the map of our known world. " She opened before him a great parchment which contained a sort of Big Island, some areas in the ocean and on the edges of the parchment were virgins.

"- These black areas are unknown right?

- Yes, the central continent is the main parts of the world of men. The kingdom where we are is surrounded by many others. Here it is"

she pointed to a small part of the south - east of the Big Island.

"- Here is the Broken Continent, further south - east and between the two continents is a large number of islands.

- Looks like there is not much on it " said Sig, then he noticed that the edges of the two continents could fit.

"- The central continent is from the broken one right ?

- Yes how did you guess ? asked Lucia surprise.

- The coasts of both can fit together if they are put close to each other, look " he grabbed the map and folded it for the coast to coincide.

"- There, and I guess that's where the name Broken Continent came from ?"

The young man's mind vivacity still surprised Lucie.

"These cousins are not just wild beast with excessive physical force ..." she thought. She did not know that this kind of knowledge came from the far more advanced education of the young men. When he was in his original world, a knowledge of this type was the most basic for them. Then she continued:

"- Actually it's called the Broken Continent because years ago a cataclysm struck him, the men fled to the tip of the continent and the latter broke away, forming the central Continent today. The Broken Continent it is only a barren desert where only treasure hunters are going to find artifacts of ancient civilization. Besides the sea between the two is very dangerous, currents and reefs sunk many ship and pirates are rampant among the islands, hiding it when armies are sent to hunt them down.

- And the continent that we only see the coast to the west ? " Lucie remained silent a moment and then replied:

"- It's the Dark Continent. We have not discovered because its access is almost impossible because of the ocean that separates us from him. It's called the Brumocean, a kind of eternal fog prevents the vessels to locate in it and there are reports of sea monsters roaming in the fog. The few survivors who returned of the journeys undertaken to discover this continent only allowed us to have a rough drawing of the coast. Well we will look at what is within our reach right ? She folded the big map and unfolded a smaller but highly detailed one of the Central Continent and some surrounding islands.

"- The continent is divided into four great empires which are also cut into various kingdoms and duchies. We are here in the Duchy of Baram, our neighbor to the east is the Duchy of Plegius, we belong with the Duchy of Tristys of the Helio Empire. The small kingdom of Celestis, here in the West, has no empirical affiliations and is composed of only one extremely rich and powerful city. The empire which is next to it is called Auroris and is composed of the duchies of Raid, Ultia and Kalos. We are often in conflict with them. In the north in the chain of the Broken Tooth Mountains is the inhospitable great kingdom of the beasts-men, and in the north - east is the Kalimdor empire which is a federation of several kingdoms more than a true empire. There is also the Scarlet Archipelago I mentioned earlier you who is the pirate hideout. So much for the general geography of the continent".

Sig had took a feather and ink and tried to write with, but it was not used and bore a hole in the parchment given him by Lucie.

"- This is your language ?" she asked, looking at his writing.

"- Yes, but I do not usually write with feather so it's not really clean.

- As long as you understand, but you need to learn ours.

- Of course, this is to show it all to Nero after.

- We move to our empire specifically ?

- Please " he replied, smiling.

"- You're slower than Sig" says Tatch tactless,

- Yes, but I'm not some kind of drega like him !" Nero said while pulling the plow.

- Nero, move ! It is already late.

- Yes Yes ! Raaahaaa! "

" - Here. This map that shows the Helio empire, the capital is at the foot of a lone peak: the Earth Fang. From it flow the Cloud-Snake River passing in the Imperial capital and gives the impression of floating between cloud and rock, this is an incredible sight to behold. The river then divided into three, one joins the main city of the Duchy Plegius where the guild of fighters of our empire is. Here in the West is our duchy : Baram with the city of Elya crossed by a river from the city - kingdom Celestis . and a little west from Elya, marked by a star, is our village, at the edge of the forest of Sylvan Giants.

- And this city in the north?

- It is under the direct jurisdiction of the capital of the empire, its central place on the continent is ideal for trade with neighboring empires.

- And I guess completely in the East is Tristys.

- Yes, it is in this duchy that you'll find the Academy of mages of the empire . It is a bit far away but the radiance of the academy profie the empire much, plus there is a crystalline mine.

- Crystalline?

- Magic crystal.

- Hmm wait I note all of this. "

"- It's over ! Hahaha well played monster hunter !" Roic said, tapping the shoulder of Nero.

- Aouch aouch! The plow was there Roic ! Do not hit me here !

- Thanks again Krista, Nero, for the help. Without you we could not have done all the field in time. I must confess Nero, I was not very enthusiastic when the chief has made you as the new defenders, you just eliminated a monster who terrorized us, and your appearance was a bit scary. But I was wrong to doubt you, I beg you to excuse me". Lousia bowed his head facing the mestizo.

- Aaah Louisa raise the head! I would have react the same way if I were in your place!

- Thank you to forgive me anyway.

- Nero, we'll join the other two ?

- Yes I'm coming! "

"- Lucie, Lucie ! Krista and Nero are there ". The chief had called from the entrance.

"- So you two, the lesson absorbed you it seems" he said while allowing the two young people to enter.

- You rest well while I pull a plow in the field huh Sig ?

- Haha I pulled it this morning without complain ! And there I was working for you too, I noted things that I would pass to you tonight.

- Go flush a little Sig, and Nero I want you to wash completely, you're still sweaty. I'll make dinner.

- Thanks Lucie, we'll starve without you. "

Nero left the house followed by his cousin and together they went to the hot spring once again.

"- Wait I want to go home to put the notes I took.

- Oh what have you noted by the way ?

- Geography of the world and a little bit of politics and history.

- Not bad for an after noon. We fell into an interesting world then ? Well, even more than he is now?

- Very interesting if you ask me. Full of opportunities for both of us with our talents and powers "Sig replied with a strange smile and a gleam in his eye.

- You, you're using your brain function at full capacity to make plans. I have to worry?

- You're my cousin, no, even my brother, I would never do you wrong. But such a world where one has unbelievable powers I think we should enjoy it ...

Sig put the notes in a trunk that was at the foot of his bed and then they came out again in the house.

- You're going to take a bath ? With what happened this morning ?

- It was not because of the bath ... I was not really able to enjoy it.

- You'll explain now?

- Yes Yes. It all started a long time ago ...

- Seriously.

- Roooh ok. You must have seen that I disappear early in the preparation of food, too noisy for my taste. "

Nero nodded.

- So I went here to bathe and relax after the morning spend pulling the damn thing instead of their creature which got eaten.

- Fortunately Tatch is not there to hear you.

- True ... well I went to relax in hot water and there ... "

Sig then told him what had happened in the bath, how a shy Maria appeared and then the arrival of Krista and the fact that she also joined the two in the water.

"- Wait wait you were with the two in the water! I know you had success and can manipulate well but there ...

- I was just as deluded that you believe me. I could not believe. I finally get out because I literally felt my blood boiling in my veins. I think my affinity with fire will affect my calm in challenging situations ... like that.

- I also think we still retains too much, we must exercise more if you ask me.

- Yes surely.

- Tonight after dinner, we will train together.

- We'll wait until the village is asleeps, we'll go to the other side of the lake. No wait, it may be too close again, how about we go into the forest?

- We will not see anything I think.

- I'll light torches, we're also going to dig a hole big enough that you'll fill with water.

- It's exhausting to produce water you know, it's easier if I take water from the lake and bring it there.

- You're sure? It will be far.

- It's okay.

- Ok let's going out, the girls must wait for us.

- It's okay with Krista? Although she seemed quite normal, well except a few misteps.

- ...we'll see ".

They went back to Lucie and her grandfather's place, a broth warmed gently, and Lucie took a nice loaf of bread to accompany it. Sig whispered to his cousin:

"- Perfect, a light meal, we'll be more comfortable for tonight".

Then aloud :

"- What broth is it Lucie?

- This is a remnant of this afternoon, Roic gave me some to prepare a meal to thank you.

- Haha that's nice but we should begin to cook for ourselves too, we can not rest on your cooking skills all the time, Nero added by making a wink which made her blush slightly .

"- Don't you worry about it, it does not bother me "

Sig then whispered a bit strong:

"- Back home it is said that a man's heart is through his stomach ".

And he concludes by looking at his cousin and Lucie in turn. This time the latter was completely red but did not answer, because of the presence of her grandfather and Krista. This one had also heard what the young man had said but he sensed no reaction from her, her eyes still looking like steels. Nero was discussing with the old man about the day and the help he and his friend could bring, he did not hear the remark Sig made.

"- Well, take place, I will serve you.

- Wait Lucie, you prepared the meal so let me serve it at least " proposed Krista.

She took the ladle and poured a bowl each then took the loaf of bread and cut with a knife that came out of nowhere a few pieces for everyone. The headchief tried to serve alcohol but his granddaughter scolded him.

"- Humph I am the leader of this village I have the right to drink anyway" he groused. The meal took place joyfully and finally everyone parted after tidying thing up.

Nero and Sig returned home and settled in their respective bed but Sig took the notes he had taken and gave them to his cousine before that.

"- Well read that while the village falls asleeps.

- Oh, thank you, Lucie let you take the cards too?

- Only one of the central continent. " Nero consulted the notes and the map and he quickly saw why his cousin was so excited about is world ...

They remained two hours talking about this new world open to them and decided to take a look at the village. Quietly they roam around it, topped in black clothes as the night around them, and saw that the whole village was asleep.

"- Perfect, we will seek water and go in the forest " Sig blew.

Nero then plunged his hands into the water and drew around him a large amount that he made fly with him to the forest. He followed Sig who had memorized the little map of the area that Lucy had show him before Krista and mestizo came. Illuminated by the flames made by Sig that was flying next to each of them as wisps, they reached the forest without difficulty, especially as the wooden giants were easily spotted despite the night.

Sig pulled his cousin a little away from the path, not too far for them to find but just enough to be in private.

"- The forest is impressive, be it by day or by night " said Nero whistling his admiration.

"- You really feel small next to it.

- Yes, it's true. If we did not have magic, armories bracelets and gigantic strength I really feel uncomfortable.

- Me too, especially with the kind of creature lying around in this world. Well you we lit torches we'll sees a little more, no ?

- I'm your personal lighter or what ? " Answered the inflamed, laughing. He lit six torches that he disposed in a circle in the small clearing, then using his bracelets he conjured a pickaxe.

"- Ah cool it is considered a weapon ! "And began to dig a hole in a rock by heating it with flames and then breaking with the pickaxe. He quickly came to a rude basin shape that Nero could fill with its water.

"- Whew ! Ok finished preparing, can you climb to the top of the tree and tell me what time it is approximately.

- Ok wait for me. " Nero jumped and climbed to the tops of trees, it could then see the beautiful sight of the surrounding valleys in the moonlight, reflecting the lake and even off the village asleep.

"- You should come up here ! The view is ... awesome!

- Raah ok I'm coming " Sig, agile as a monkey, quickly joined him and together they remained a few minutes in silence to observe the world and stars.

"- It should be two hours in the morning I think from the position of the moon.

- You know what time to wake Lucia Krista ? And how the hell are you able to tell what time it is ? We're not in our world anymore asked Nero pulled from his reverie.

- Lucie told me. Oh and they wake up between 6 and 7 hours I think.

- ... You asked her something like that ? Whatever let's move "

They descended and began facing each other, Nero conjured the blade he had used on the first day against the raptodrome Sig and his tonfas.

"- Are you ready ? " he asked.

"- Obviously ! " And they jump at each other.

Like the first day they arrived, when they were in the temple, the two cousins fought, finally letting their true strength express themselves, each of their blows could break bones. Sig, accustomed to fight with his past of practicing various martial arts, could use his members as well using its weapons to attack which provided him a larger range of action than his cousin. However he had a greater lenghtens with his sword and the lesson Krista had thaught already brought its fruits, he maintained distance Sig with his blade and pierced his defense easier. It was not a fight like the lake, they were more disciplined, less random in the movements. They almost danced one with the other, separating just when the other hit. No more jumps and dodges, just strikes and conters.

"- Let's take a break... " proposed a perspirant Sig.

"- Yes, agree..." blew Nero in the same state.

"- You really improved, you know, I couldn't attack like an animal like last time, I had to remember some of my best boxing and tai jutsu moves to counteract your blade with my tonfas.

- Sure you were ... more martial in your movements compared to the last time. You restrain yourself right? It's really hard to block since you can hit with your legs and your arms. And you hit terribly hard, my arms are trembling because of all the shocks on my blade.

- Hinhin I must use my fighting knowledge my dear ! Ok, we'll move to Magic ?

- And you want to do this how?

- I throw you knives and you hit them with a water stream ?

- Not bad, that makes me work my reflexes and my mastery. Ok bring it on "

Following the idea of Sig they continued their training, alternating the launcher and the target, Sig had to condensed small fireballs, powerful enough to stop a knife but not too powerful to burn the forest. Nero extinguished the fire that starts with the water supply they had done.

"- I have the feeling that dawn is coming Sig.

- Shit we were not careful, we have to go!

- We're all sweaty !

- Take some water and put it around my hands I'll heat it while we return to the village! "