The only things I could hear were the sounds of an empty world. A world where everything was in ruins... and the only living-thing that could be seen for miles on miles was the large quantities of monsters roaming around the surface. I haven't been counting... I just know that I have been here... alone... for far too long.
I suddenly woke up from a memory of the past. I sat up straight, disgruntled. Despite that painful dream, I could feel a strange warmth comforting me in my time of distress. I looked around and saw the two beasts wrapped around me as they slept peacefully. They were like a calm throughout the storm...
I let out a yawn before stretching my arms out and tugging their limbs off me. The weight of their bodies were immense...
"Get up..."
I muttered as I gently nudged the two.
"The sun is rising."
We fell asleep underneath the large sky. This wasn't unordinary since all the buildings of early-day Earth had dissipated... and I quite enjoyed sleeping outside amongst the heat of the summer.
The two squirmed around in their sleep until I raised my voice once again.
"Get up."
My words were more firm than before, causing the two beasts to immediately raise their heads in fear of my retaliation.
"Good."
I stand up straight and let out a soft breath in the early morning air. The atmosphere was damp.. yet warm.
"Shall we go into the central area today? Wouldn't it be nice to eat something more appealing than a Rabolit?"
I glanced over at the two beasts who were barely able to stand straight due to their exhaustion.
Lullaby slowly trudged herself towards me with a disgruntled expression.
"Ugh... human... can we go later? More sleep... please."
From behind, Flamebrew picked himself up and tried to regain the usual energy he had.
"You're so lazy, Lullaby! Let's go to the central area today before it gets too crowded. Right, Mirro?"
Flamebrew flashed me a large smile while pouncing around.
Lullaby immediately turned her head to look at Flamebrew and scoffed.
"Me? Lazy? I'm sure you would like to get more sleep too. You're just saying all that to look good in front of the human!"
Per usual, they suddenly began to bicker back and forth.
I laughed at their childish banter and shook my head.
"You two can stay and get more rest if you would like.. but just know that I'm not bringing anything back for the both of you."
The both of them immediately gasped and ran towards me in disbelief. They looked like they had just been betrayed by their most trusted friend.
"N-no! You can't.."
I crossed my arms and tapped my foot against the ground.
"Then.. any more complaints?"
...
The two of them remained silent.
"Then let's take off."
I whistled and waited for a few seconds before an avian-like creature came flapping her wings towards me. She perched herself at my side and nudged her head towards my direction.
"Good morning, Vivi."
I smiled and gave her a light pat atop of her head. The avian creature let out a purr that vibrated underneath my hand. Her eyes closed as she leaned closer towards my touch.
Vivi is one of my most loyal beast companions. Even though she can't communicate with me, she still does everything in her effort to understand my words.
She purred once more and lowered her head for me to climb on top of her back. As I straddled her back, Flamebrew and Lullaby were preparing to take off as well.
Lullaby stretched her large dragon wings as if they were a pair of her most prized possessions. The wings sparkled in a flashy manner as she showed them off to the world. Flamebrew, on the other hand, did not possess wings. Instead, he relied on his leg strength to leap through various territories. With the help of controlling the air beneath his paws, Flamebrew uses his elemental abilities to accelerate his momentum and velocity.
I watch as the two stretched and prepared for take off. "Alright, are we ready?" I asked while adjusting myself on Vivi's back.
"Born ready!" Flamebrew replied almost instantaneously.
Lullaby, however, was a little more reluctant. "Uh- wait a second!" She flapped her wings a few times before lifting herself off the ground. "I'm a little heavier than usual..." She mumbled as she softly landed back on the ground.
Flamebrew raised an eyebrow and laughed in her face. "You just noticed?" He began to cackle while pouncing around.
Lullaby immediately swatted at Flamebrew with a glint of anger in her eyes. She began to chase after him while screaming incomprehensible words.
I sighed at their childish behavior once again and pinched my nosebridge. "Flamebrew. Lullaby. We don't have time for this." I snap my fingers and held onto Vivi's feathers. She immediately began to flap her wings and raise herself above ground level. "If we don't hurry, the central area will be filled to the brim." I lowered my tone as I glared at them. "And then we will have to wait in the back of every. single. line."
Flamebrew and Lullaby flinched at my words and quickly straightened themselves up.
"Sorry..."
"Okay, fine. Let's go"
At Lullaby's words, Vivi accelerated herself higher into the enchanting red sky. The feeling of air pressure across my body felt almost liberating. My hair fluttered against the wind as the morning breeze brushed against my skin. The morning skies were always a sight to behold. Whenever I look at them, I always forget about my predicament. Just getting lost in the raising sun made my heart fill with a passion that I could not describe.
"Ugh! I can't fly as high as I usually can!"
I suddenly snapped out of my entranced state after hearing Lullaby's voice from below. I glanced down while guiding Vivi lower. "The only thing we ate last night was one Rabolit." I said as Vivi flew closer to Lullaby's side. "How come you feel heavier?"
Lullaby scoffed and tried to accelerate the speed of her wings flapping. "I'm not sure... I've never felt this way before." She grunted as she struggled to elevate herself higher. "This has never happened to me before!"
BOOM
From below, a loud noise could be heard. It was the sound of the Earth breaking as Flamebrew used his leg strength to leap into the sky. He appeared before Lullaby while cackling. "I told you to cut down on the berries~" He teased as gravity slowly pulled him back down to the surface.
After Flamebrew's taunts, Lullaby immediately lost focus of her flying and her flight became wobbly. "Wh- that stupid beast!" She yelled while diving head first towards Flamebrew. "I do not eat that much!"
I narrowed my eyes while sighing. Vivi glanced up at me with a worried glimpse in her eyes. I paused and shook my head. "It's okay. Just let them be." I say while caressing her head. "We'll figure things out when we land."
Moments later, we finally arrived at the bustling center area. Vivi landed in front of the admission gate, while Flamebrew and Lullaby followed from behind. There were already many eager creatures lined up to enter. I sighed as we made our way towards the back of the line. "This is why we should have departed earlier." I murmured while glancing back at Flamebrew and Lullaby.
The two gave me a cheesy smile as I glared at them. I turned away and focused my attention to Vivi. "Thanks for always taking care of me..." She began to chirps while nudging her head against me. And with that, she took off once again.
Floosh
I watched as she flew away. Then, out of no where, I snap my head towards Flamebrew and Lullaby. I sighed in disapproval and gestured for them to come closer. "Looks like the line is moving faster today." I crossed my arms and gave them an eery smile. "If it had moved any slower, you guys would've been in trouble."
I watched as the two gulped and glanced at each other. I suddenly started laughing and shook my head. "You two need to get along... at least for today. Be on your best behavior."
Lullaby rolled her eyes and huffed. "...Fine! But only if that beast doesn't make me angry."
Flamebrew growled at Lullaby before facing me once again. "How am I supposed to get along with her when she refuses to get along with me!" He turned away like a child.
I sighed in defeat and ruffled my hair. "Just... fogure something out!"
And with that, I followed along the line, and it was finally our turn to enter the center area. However, when I got to the gate, the creatures running the admission stand stared at me like I was a ghost.
"Human?" A snake-like creature wrapped around me as I stood there awkwardly.
The creature began to slither up my body as its tongue slipped out.
"Uh- yeah..." I said while backing my head away from the creature.
Flamebrew and Lullaby immediately jumped up and came to my side, but I raised my hand to make them calm down. "I'm fine." I whispered.
The snake-like creature narrowed its eyes and glared at me even closer. Another creature appeared and pulled the snake off of me. This one was huge and built like a lion. But, I was familiar with him.
"Ah... I'm sorry about Vipor. He's a new employee that came from far away."
The Lion spoke softly as he approached me.
I nodded my head in understanding and glanced at the snake-like creature. "It's alright. This happens often."
Although I've visited many areas around the world, I have not explored every inch of it. There are still some areas out there that do not know about a human roaming their lands.
The snake flinched and glanced at the Lion in confusion. "Why have we not eliminated this human? Are they not a threat to our kind?" The snake was suddenly pulled away.
"No... this one is different. He is kind." The Lion gazed at me with a warm smile. "Mirro is one of us."
My eyes widened at the Lion's words. I was about to speak again, but suddenly a few creatures from behind began to grumble at how long it was taking for them to get admissioned. The Lion quickly took a step back and cleared his throat.
"I am sorry about the trouble. Please enter."
He opened the gate and nudged me inside. Flamebrew and Lullaby quickly followed behind and entered alongside me.
The air inside the center area was completely different. It was full of life. There were creatures everywhere... some selling items, some shopping, and others entertaining their guests.
No matter how many times I visit this place, I'll always be impressed by the dynamics of the center. It was almost like a city from when Earth was still full of humans. The center area has everything that you could ever need to survive here. Even entertainment areas!
I glanced around and made my way towards a stand. My eyes gazed over the several products being sold before turning to look at Flamebrew and Lullaby.
"So, what do you guys want-" I paused as I realized that only Lullaby was standing behind me.
...
"Where's Flamebrew?"
Lullaby shrugged and rolled her eyes. "Why should I care about where that beast goes?"
I sighed and took a step back to analyze my surroundings. However, it did not take long to find him at all.
Step step step
I appeared behind Flamebrew, who was currently drooling over a brothel.
SMACK
I slapped the back of Flamebrew's head while glaring at him. "Come here on your own time if you're going to get busy with ladies." I mumbled while dragging Flamebrew back towards the stand I was previously standing.
"Ah- noooo!" Flamebrew reached out towards the brothel while whining.
I plopped him next to Lullaby and massaged my forehead. "Who's the one with all the money?" I asked while raising an eyebrow.
...
"You are..." Flamebrew mumbled in disappointment.
I nodded and pointed at the stand. "Now pick something out. I'm sure you guys are hungry."
The creature running the stand poked their head out and grinned. "Ah! Mirro, welcome back." The creature was beetle-like with shiny eyes.
"Thank you, Rina." I point out a few delicious dishes and asked if she could prepare them. Soon, Flamebrew and Lullaby also get their orders taken.
When we finally got our food, I handed Rina a few gems and waved goodbye before wandering around the central area. After a bit, I turned to look at Lullaby and observed her. "So..." I tilted my head while narrowing my eyes. "Let's figure out what's wrong with you."
Lullaby gave me a look of confusion. "What are you talking about, human?"
I gestured for Lullaby to follow along as I made my way towards an alleyway building. I stopped in front of an office and glanced up at the sign. "We're getting you a check up."
Suddenly, Lullaby let out a shriek and shivered at the door. "N-no... I hate this place!" She quickly turned away and attempted to take off.
I tugged her back down and shook my head. "This is for your own good." I opened the door and entered the building. The inside was spacious enough to fit three creatures. I pulled Lullaby in as she whined. "Goldy, sorry for coming without an appointment."
The office was as empty as ever. Primarily because creatures rarely have a need for check ups.
From a dark corner of the room, a small creature with many arms appeared. She turned to look at Lullaby and narrowed her eyes in worry. "What's wrong, Mirro?" She approached them with haste.
"Well, Lullaby has been feeling strange lately. She feels heavier and she is struggling to fly properly."
Lullaby glanced away in embarrassment. "You're making this seem like a big deal..." She mumbled.
Goldy grabbed a wooden chair and climbed on top of it to observe Lullaby. Her eyes opened wider as she hummed a soft tune.
Jil o schine... ris te dawn...
A bright glow suddenly filled the room as Goldy continued her humming. She closed her eyes and placed her hand on Lullaby's forehead. The glow illuminated the veins throughout Lullaby's body. After a moment, Goldy took a step back and gasped.
She twirled around and pointed at Lullaby. "You're evolving!"
...
The room filled with silence as me and Lullaby stared at Goldy with confusion.
...
"Elaborate." I said while leaning against a table.
Goldy sighed and wiggled her many arms in excitement. "Sorry, I guess that's not a term that many creatures use around here." She pondered for a moment. "I guess you could call it a growth spurt? She must have eaten enough creatures for an ability enhancement!"
I nodded my head along with Goldy as she continued to explain. "Oh... so Lullaby us going to be stronger from now on out?"
Goldy nodded and caressed Lullaby's skin. "She might be able to gain new abilities as well. It's really rare! After she evolves, she has the change to become an entirely different being!"
Lullaby's eyes widen in shock. "So you're saying I have a chance to kick Flamebrew's butt?"
I glared at Lullaby before pinching her. "Don't even think about it."
She lowered her head while huffing.
Goldy smiled and nodded her head in amusement. "She'll be alright to go! Her evolution phase is almost over. She'll most likely evolve by tomorrow morning."
I nodded and threw a few gems at Goldy. "Thank you as always, Goldy. Have a nice day." I bowed my head and took my leave with Lullaby following close behind me.
Flamebrew was waiting outside the building while gnawing at a bone. I glanced at him in confusion and took the bone away. "Where did you get this?"
Flamebrew flinched and backed away from me. "I... uh- found it!" He swiftly wagged his flaming tail around.
I observed Flamebrew closely before pausing. "Hey... you know how Lullaby has been feeling strange lately?"
Flamebrew paused and gazed at me with a head tilt. "Yeah!"
I approached him and held him up by his horn. "Have you been feeling strange? At all?"
Flamebrew stared at me with his large puppy eyes as he mumbled. "Uhm... maybe?"
I stuck my head back into Goldy's office and asked her to check on Flamebrew as well. After a moment, she came to the conclusion that he was also ready to evolve. "This... I have never seen anything like this before. Evolution is extremely rare... how have two creatures gained enough experience to pull this off?"
I observed Lullaby and Flamebrew carefully before a thought ran through my mind. "...The Leturn Gem." I mumbled softly to myself.
Flamebrew, Lullaby, and Goldy all turned to me with a surprised expression.
Suddenly, I mumbled something underneath my breath and a blue panel appeared before me once again.
________________________________________
[ Skill Panel ]
Name: Mirro Vox
Species: Human + Dragon-kin (trait)
Title (current): Prisoner of Time
Level: 100 (max) +50 (trait of dragon-kin)
Skills: [Immortality] [Timeless] [Age Preservation] [Creature Communication] ... click to expand
Trait: Blessings of the Creatures - [Dragon-kin] [Fireling-Beast] [Enema-Beast] [Liol]
Page 1 of 3 >
________________________________________
I pressed the continue arrow until the inventory panel appeared before me.
________________________________________
[ Inventory Panel ]
Search: Leturn Gem
Showing 0 items....
Page 3 of 3 >
________________________________________
After searching for the Leturn Gem, I paused.
I vividly remember inserting the Leturn Gem into my inventory... so where the hell did it go?
The blue screen in front of me disappeared and I glanced at Flamebrew and Lullaby. "It's gone..." I mumbled softly.
Goldy picked up on the situation and hummed. "A Leturn Gem? Where did you get one?"
I glared at Lullaby and Flamebrew.
Lullaby glanced away and soke up "...we found it in the higher beast area."
Goldy gasped and glanced around. "Uh oh..." She went into the back of her office and came out with a scroll in one of her many hands. She held it up in front of me and peeked out from behind it.
I quickly skimmed through the scroll, but after a few moment, I slowed my reading as my eyes widened. "...Missing Leturn Gem... Looking for suspects?"
I paused and looked at who signed the scroll. "Sincerely... King of Darkedom."
...
Sh*t