The distant wail of police sirens and the flashing of emergency lights echoed in Saber's mind, a disturbing echo of a past trauma. A woman's voice, raw with fury, screamed, "NOOO!!!! YOU MONSTER!!!! WE SHOULD HAVE LET YOU ROT THERE!!!!" Arush's voice, choked with tears, followed. "I'm sorry... sniff sniff..."
Saber jolted awake, his heart pounding, a cold sweat clinging to his skin. What was that? It's... it's haunting me again?! He looked around, disoriented. The room, with its sterile white walls and medicinal scent, resembled a pharmacy.
He heard the soft murmur of voices and the creak of a door opening.
"Neither did I think," Marco said, his voice low.
"Yeah," Argil agreed.
Saber listened intently.
"I'm starting to fear him," Argil admitted, his voice laced with unease.
"That show is something we can't ignore," Lead said, his voice firm. "Marco, see if any of them are awake?"
Any? Saber thought, his brow furrowed.
"That boy is extraordinary," Ergo murmured, her voice filled with a strange mix of awe and apprehension.
Ergo entered the room, followed by Marco. "Hey Champ! You awake?" Marco asked.
"Oh, yeah," Saber replied, sitting up on the bed.
"So, how are the wounds?" Marco asked.
"Wounds?" Saber's eyes widened. Crap! I forgot I had painless mode enabled.
"No way, you don't feel pain at all? That's awesome, dude!" Marco exclaimed, his eyes wide with admiration.
Saber forced a smile, a bead of sweat trickling down his temple. "Yeah, indeed." Dodged a bullet there. "So where am I right now?"
"You're in the Adventurer's Guild, and you're with us for the time being," Marco replied, sitting down on the edge of the bed. "So, what I wanted to say is… Thank you."
Saber looked at him, his brow furrowed.
"You know, after Chloe's brother passed away, we were thinking of disbanding the group to avoid any more casualties. But Chloe forced us from doing so," Marco explained, his gaze drifting towards the window, where a bright day and a blowing tree were seen. "This group you're seeing now is because she wanted us to stick together; otherwise, we would've lost a key element of this group."
"And that is?" Saber asked.
"Our friendship," Marco replied, his eyes shining with a quiet intensity.
Saber's eyes widened, a flicker of understanding dawning on him. "So how is she?" he asked.
"Same as you, bandages around her forehead and both hands. Snoring soundly," Marco replied.
"Yeah right," Saber muttered, unsurprised.
"Marco? Did you fall asleep too?" Lead's voice echoed from the doorway.
"No, the boy is awake now," Marco replied.
"Wake up Chloe and bring them down," Lead ordered.
"Come on, wear your clothes and meet us down. I'll wake that devil," Marco said to Saber.
Saber emerged from the room, finding Lead, Argil, and Ergo waiting for him. "Hey Champ! Come and sit here," Lead said, gesturing to an empty chair.
Saber sat down. Ergo leaned closer, her eyes glittering. "Finally, we got to see each other closer, don't you think?" she murmured, her hand tracing a line across his chest.
"Yeah, indeed," Saber replied, his voice laced with a strange mix of apprehension and… something else.
"Now that I take a closer look, you're way cuter up-close," Ergo purred.
"Ehehehehe…" Saber chuckled, his face flushing.
"Ergo, that's enough. He's a kid for your information. So, no dirty exercises," Lead growled, his face hardening.
"Oh, let's see about that," Ergo replied, sliding away with a mischievous grin.
"Saber," Lead said, his voice sharp.
"Yes," Saber replied, his eyes fixed on Lead.
"I'll ask this only once," Lead said, his face turning interrogative.
Before he could continue, Marco knuckled him from behind, and Chloe, looking disheveled but awake, sat down next to Saber. "For one minute I leave you alone and you start to bully him," Marco said, his voice laced with mock exasperation.
"I'm hungry, where's food?" Chloe complained, rubbing her eyes.
"You look awfully beaten up," Saber observed, his gaze lingering on her bandages.
"Said by someone who's ass was saved by a Goddess," Chloe retorted, leaning on his shoulder.
"Hey, no touching," Ergo protested, moving closer to Chloe.
"Stay away. I'm injured, so I need someone to lean on," Chloe replied, her voice defiant.
Argil looked irritated. Why we assembled here for and what are we doing here? he thought, his gaze sweeping over the chaotic scene.
The bickering subsided, and Lead cleared his throat. "So I'll start once again and no fooling around."
Says the one who started it in the first place, Chloe and Saber thought in unison, picturing Lead being soundly beaten.
"So my first question is… What was that in the dungeon?" Lead asked, his eyes fixed on Saber.
"An Ogre?" Saber replied, his face blank.
"NO!" Lead roared.
"OH, sorry," Saber said, his tone laced with mock apology.
"A 'king' ogre?" Lead asked, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
Lead banged his head on the table, a groan escaping his lips. "Y-you... YOU DUMB CREATURE!!! I ASKED YOU, WHAT WAS THAT STRENGTH AND NOT THE NAME OF THAT GOBLIN KING!!!" he screamed, tears welling up in his eyes. Saber felt the waves of Lead's frustration.
Lead panted, his chest heaving. "I think my BP is at its peak," Saber muttered, his own breath coming in short gasps.
"I'll eat you alive, Mr. Saber- The Dumbest Creature Alive!" Lead snarled.
"Alright, alright, I get it. But you didn't ask the proper question, so I got confused," Saber replied, his voice calm.
Lead grabbed a nail club, brandishing it threateningly. "So my answer to your question is…"
Lead gulped, his eyes wide. Marco, Chloe, and Tina also gulped, their eyes fixed on the table.
Everyone screamed.
"What? I want to hear the secret too!" Tina exclaimed, her eyes wide with curiosity.
Chloe laughed, a bright, clear sound. "Hahahahaha… That was awesome, Tina," she said, giving Tina a thumbs up.
"Are you with me, Lead?" Marco asked, his voice laced with amusement.
"No, I don't think I'll be able to survive the shenanigans of these children without a babysitter," Lead replied, his voice thick with exasperation.
Saber, Chloe, and Tina resumed their gossiping, their voices a low murmur. Lead leaned on the table, his face buried in his hands. "Hey kid, all I want to know is what's going on. That's all. Please don't make this more painful," he pleaded, his voice laced with a strange mix of desperation and weariness.
He really hates children, huh. I pity this guy, Saber thought, a flicker of sympathy crossing his face. "Alright, I'll make this easy for you. So, I don't know where to start, but I'll try my best to answer the question."
"Then let's start with yesterday's incident. When did you find out about that power?" Lead asked, his eyes fixed on Saber's face.
"Actually, it's literally yesterday," Saber replied, his voice casual.
"WHAT?!" Argil, Marco, Ergo, and Lead exclaimed in unison.
"Wait, what power?" Chloe asked, her eyes wide with confusion.
"The kid—" Ergo began.
"No way, I wanted to see it too," Chloe interrupted, her voice filled with disappointment.
"You were out cold, and we were really far away. Only the kid was able to save you on time right before that blob was about to smash your empty head," Marco explained, his eyes glinting with amusement.
Did this guy just roast her? Saber thought, his lips twitching.
A stunned silence filled the room. Chloe's eyes widened in disbelief. "Woah! Marco just roasted me!"
"And why are YOU of all people so happy about it? He roasted YOU," Saber asked, his brow furrowed.
"I didn't think I would see this side of you, Marco," Argil murmured, his voice laced with surprise.
"You even took ME by surprise, dear," Ergo admitted, her eyes sparkling with amusement.
"Yeah, so as far as I remember, I lost consciousness when Chloe was slammed against the wall," Saber explained, his voice quiet.
"What do you mean 'Lost Consciousness'? You were kicking his ass back there," Argil pointed out, his brow furrowed.
"Yeah, you literally chopped his limbs off with one swing and let him feel a horrible and terrifying death," Marco added, his voice laced with a strange awe.
"Really? For me?" Chloe asked, her eyes wide with a mixture of surprise and gratitude.
"NO, idiot," Saber retorted, a hint of exasperation in his voice.
"Exactly, the kid just mentioned he was unconscious or… maybe sub-conscious," Lead interjected, a knowing smirk playing on his lips.
A series of images flashed in Saber's mind: the ogre's massive form, Chloe's crumpled figure against the wall, a dark, swirling energy emanating from his hand. "When he threw Chloe at the wall…" Saber began, his voice low, "I remembered a similar past incident but in way worse condition than Chloe is right now." An image materialized in his mind's eye: a shadowy figure, drenched in blood, cradling another in its arms.
"That's when the sword hidden within you was manifested in reality… Because of the need of power, you wished you had in that place," Lead explained, his voice filled with a strange authority. He closed his eyes, as if recalling a long-forgotten memory. "I know about these things."
An image of the 'Core Handle' shimmered in the air, its dark surface pulsing with an inner light.
"These 'Handles' only manifest when the user has experienced enough bitterness in the heart, it's like breaking down from inside. And these things only come alive when the caller has reached a certain age, that's 15 years, since that's when any possible sorcerers learn about their inner personality. Or in this case, to 'learn' a possible inner personality imitation," Lead continued, his voice low and intense.
"You can do that?" Marco asked, his eyes wide with disbelief.
"Yes, since the wielder of the powers will be the legends of ancient mythology," Lead replied, his gaze sweeping over the group.
A collective gasp filled the room.
"And on top of that, this one is in black," Lead added, his voice hushed with reverence.
Everyone's eyes turned towards the 'Core Handle', its dark surface seeming to absorb the light around it.
"The black ones are extremely rare, even for the 'Handle Collectors'," Lead explained.
"What's 'Handle Collectors'?" Chloe asked, her brow furrowed.
"Merchants who buy these from children, fooling them into thinking they are just toys. Children are just selfless beings, so most of them are fooled by the collectors and buy these cheaply," Lead replied, his voice laced with disdain.
"I don't blame them, if I saw this in my hand, I'd think of it as a toy too," Ergo admitted, a shiver running down her spine.
"And in the end, these things are sold at the highest bidding price possible in the underground, hence the children losing their only chances to change their paths and lives," Lead concluded, his voice filled with a bitter sadness.
"So if they 'take' it from children, then why not make one on their own? It's like as you said, 'any possible sorcerers learn about their inner personality'," Saber asked, his eyes narrowed.
"That's where you're wrong," Lead replied, his voice sharp.
"How?" Saber pressed.
"Because in order to bring out this 'Thing'! You must experience the death of someone you hold dear, brat!" Lead exclaimed, his voice filled with a sudden, raw emotion.
A stunned silence fell over the room.
"Lead, calm down," Marco said, his voice laced with concern.
"Mm Hmm, sorry. Where was I? Yeah… So in conclusion, the only possible explanation of the kid manifesting such a valuable item means one thing: he has opened the door to master the ancient sorcery. And it was only possible since he saw something that we'll never be able to forget and that is 'DEATH'," Lead finished, his voice hushed.
"No way," Ergo whispered, her face pale.
Saber felt a chill run down his spine, a primal fear gripping his heart.
"At that time, I was able to perfectly relate Chloe and my friend in the same shoes," Saber explained, his voice barely audible. He envisioned an image of Chloe and a boy, their features overlapping, their faces contorted in pain. "I was so scared that I could die at any second. Then I didn't feel anything at all," he added, a depressed smile twisting his lips.
"Which was more than enough to trigger the call," Lead said, his voice filled with a solemn understanding.
"How old are you, Saber?" Marco asked, his voice gentle.
"15," Saber replied, his voice flat.
"And you've already experienced such terrible grief. I'm sorry that I underestimated you. You've suffered a lot despite your age," Lead said, his voice filled with remorse.
"Yeah," Saber replied, his eyes fixed on the floor.
Chloe patted his head, her touch surprisingly gentle. "There there, don't cry," she murmured.
"Chloe?" Lead asked, his voice hopeful.
"And that is?" Chloe replied, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
"The kid can join the team," Lead announced, a hint of a smile playing on his lips.
Chloe's face lit up with happiness. "Really? You heard the old man, right?" She looked at Saber in amazement. "Yippie!" she exclaimed, shaking Saber's hands quickly.
"Welcome to the team, kid," Ergo said, her eyes twinkling.
"I have nothing to add," Argil murmured, a rare smile gracing his lips.
"But one thing…" Lead said, his voice firm, drawing everyone's attention. "You'll learn to master that power and only use it when I say so. Are we clear?"
"Yes!" Chloe exclaimed, her voice filled with enthusiasm.
"And just like that…" Lead said, standing up. The others followed suit. "Call me Lead."
"I'm Ergo, you can visit my room anytime, kid," Ergo purred, her eyes gleaming with a mischievous intent.
"Argil here, let's help each other out," Argil said, his voice surprisingly warm.
"I'm your favorite crush Chloe, and it's nice to see you here," Chloe declared, her eyes sparkling with playful affection.
"I'm Marco, and let's treat each other with respect, kid," Marco said, his voice filled with a quiet sincerity.
"I'm Tina, and whatever intel you need, take it from me," Tina said, stepping closer to Saber. She leaned in, her voice a soft whisper in his ear. "And whatever I mean whatever. Like at what time Ergo takes a bath and how she keeps the door unlocked."
Saber's face flushed crimson. Chloe, her eyes narrowing, pulled him away by the hand. "Hey! No touching," she protested, her voice laced with a hint of jealousy.
"Says the one who's actually 'clinging' if I may say," Argil observed, a rare smile playing on his lips.
"Indeed, I'm surprised too. Chloe sure took a liking to you, kid," Marco added, his eyes twinkling with amusement.
"You're quite a master, aren't you?" Lead chuckled, shaking his head.
Lead offered Saber a handshake. "Welcome to the team, kid."
Saber's eyes sparkled as he shook Lead's hand, a genuine smile spreading across his face. The group surrounded him, a 360-degree rotation of smiling faces. The screen faded to black.
Everyone cheered in unison: "WELCOME SABER!"
SPECIAL CALL FOR THE READER
Lead:Ok, so before this chapter ends, I MUST say it here because others will listen. I never would've thought that what I am going to end up into... These kids are monsters. So I'm going to spill it out, bear with me please. Ok, here I go…
Lead:DAMN IT!!! I HATE KIDS SO MUCH. I'M NEVER GOING TO HAVE KIDS EVER! Ahem… Yeah, that's pretty much it. These two lovebirds will make me remember one thing forever, and that is…
Lead:- No matter what. At all cost. Ok, time to end the chapter. And please call for help in the next chapter. Doesn't matter, a therapy or a SWAT, my creator is having his time torturing me in the upcoming chapters. I can feel my core already bursting and calling for help. See ya.
Please standby...
Communicationlost.