After a few days, the group finally arrive at Avua. Aella takes her carriage and continues to her duchy, Chuck goes back home to meet his family. Aku and Flint go back to their usual days of helping the 'fam'.
The sun rises on the Barimah household, the light falls on A sleeping Flint. Flint wakes up and stretches with a smile on his face, "What a great morning." He gets out of bed to the closet and changes into his everyday wear.
Flint walks out of his room going downstairs to the bathroom then stops, "That's odd, I don't sense Licia around."
Aku is in the kitchen cooking, "Licia went to Twenny's old cave, she said she's got a friend there."
Flint's head pokes through the door, "Did she say what kind of friend?"
Aku shakes her head, "Nope, I think it's an imaginary one since Twenny is the only person to think of living there."
Flint raises a brow, "And monsters?"
Aku shrugs, "We haven't a monster in these parts since Twenny moved in. I'm certain she did something to keep the monsters out."
Flint turns his head still looking at Aku as she cooks, "Uh ha….I'll still go and check on her just to be safe."
Aku waves her hand, "Sure sure."
Flint continues to the bathroom, he cleans himself then goes back to his room to change into farm clothes. He steps out of the house and sees John hammering, he walks over to him. "Morning."
John replies, "Morning my boy. How was your sleep?"
Flint scratches his chin, "It was nice.....so, what are you doing?"
John looks at Flint with a smile, "I'm making a carriage."
Flint is confused, "A carriage? With so little wood." He looks around his father to see few wood around him. "Don't you need a wheel and ropes?"
John nods, "Yeah, that's why I changed to patching the leaks in the house. Turns out the construction skill I got from that System Buddy guy is too low to help me make a carriage."
Flint tilts his head as his thoughts, "Construction skill? The only skill related to construction was architecture...…." He looks at his father and gives a wry smile, "I'm going to find Licia…Aren't you worried about her."
John hammers a nail into the wood, "That girl? She caught a boar with her bare hands! Because of this Information magic system, I was able to chase a wilder beast on foot." He smirks at Flint, "And caught it." He points the hammer to a shed by the side as it has meat hanging on it, fur beside it and the ground covered in blood.
Flint smiles and nods, "That's awesome!"
John folds his arms, "You bet! This old man isn't done yet." He goes back to hammering away.
Flint waves his hands walking away, "I'm off to find Licia. I think she's making imaginary friends because she's lonely."
John gives Flint a thumbs up, then he hits his thumb with the hammer.*BANG* "Argh! Son of a- " He notices Patricia staring at him and smiles wryly, "Dragon!"
Flint arrives at the mountain and starts hopping up to the cave over the steep side. He sees the familiar trees and plants filled with crystal energy. "This brings back memories. I wonder why Licia will want to come here anyway, it's just a cave and plants." He walks a bit further and comes across the cave, he freezes.
Before Flint is a castle built into the cave with statues of vampires at the entrance, a big gate with too many locks, tiled floors and brightly lit rooms.
Flint rubs his eyes, "Did I come to the wrong place." He hears voices inside.
"Mister Fang! Mister Fang! Quit ignoring me!" Flint recognizes the voice to be Licia's, he walks up to the door and admires the design on it.
Flint has a worried yet denial look, "My sister's friends with a vampire. Just friends, right?" he draws his broadsword as he walks into the cave now castle. He stops and sheaths it but he keeps it on his back so he can take it anytime.
Inside the cave, a poor sleep deprived vampire is trying to sleep as a little girl keeps pestering him to wake up. The strange thing is not the girl being close to the vampire, but rather the 12 barriers the girl managed to slip through. Flint comes across this and is unsure of how to react, he walks closer to the barrier. "Li?"
Licia turns around with a bright smile, "Big brother!"
The vampire sits up then has an exasperated look, "Gre~at, another one." He lies back down, "Do me a favor and take this thing away." He waves his hands as the barrier falls.
Licia pouts, "Not fair Mister Fang, I had to work hard to get inside but you're going to let big brother enter just like that?"
Mister Fang looks at Licia, "First of all, this isn't a game. Second, I want some peace. So long as you're around, I can't sleep in my coffin." He turns to the side to see a coffin with scratches a hole in it, on the floor is a sharp rock.
Flint lets go of his sword, "Li, who is this?"
Licia turns to Flint, "This is Mister Fang." Mister Fang facepalms and Licia continues. "He came her because big sis Twenny sent him here."
Flint raises a brow then relaxes, "Oh, that's good. Mister Fang, my name is Flint."
Mister Fang looks at Flint with an annoyed look, "Do I look like a Mister Fang?" His big fangs show and Flint stares at them, he smiles. Mister Fang sits up, "My name is Thorn Kailani and NOT MISTER FANG!" Licia points at his fang and touches them. Thorn pushes her hand away.
Flint has a wry smile, "Right, Mister Thorn."
Thorn glances at Flint, "Just call me Thorn."
Flint nods, "Yeah, sorry about my little sister. It must be strange for her to see a vampire so her curiosity got the better of her."
Thorn shrugs, "What kind of world is this for people not to fear Vampires? Whatever, just get this thing off of me." Licia is on his back pulling on his ears trying to climb to his head.
Flint goes to Thorn's aid as his thoughts, "If Teacher sent him here then he must know how strong she is." He rips Licia off the poor vampire as the vampire has a peaceful look on his face. Flint then speaks to Thorn, "So Thorn, why did Master send you here?"
Thorn shrugs, "She said to protect this village since it's possible for you to make enemies who'll try to hurt your family." Thorn yawns, "Finally, time to sleep."
Flint bows his head, "Sorry, but can I speak to you for a bit." Thorn looks at Flint, he thinks about it for a bit and nods. Flint continues, "Can you tell me how strong Master is?"
Thorn tilts his head with a questioning gaze, "Why do you want to know that?"
Flint scratches the back of his head as he smiles, "Actually, she is my goal." He pauses for a while blushing, "No no no, not like that." Thorn is confused, "I want to surpass her someday."
Thorn stares at Flint as his thoughts, "...…It's a crazy world I've been summoned to. A mere mortal trying to surpass a Calamity? You gotta be a monster with a tough body to not die from energy overload or….plain stupid." Then he sighs, "Do you even know how strong she is?"
Flint gives a wry smile, "Not certain but I think she'll be level 70 at most. I'm level 54 so I think I can catch up to her soon."
Thorn looks at Flint with a serious look, then. "HAHAHAHAHA!" he falls on the floor laughing with tears. Flint feels bad that he'd take his goal so lightly. "You? Surpass Twenny? What a joke! Hahahaha, a great joke!" he hits the floor laughing.
Flint frowns, "What makes you think I can't surpass her?"
Thorn wipes a tear and looks at Flint as his thoughts, "Twenny's level is 10,000 and maxed at that. She's also in her teen so even if she's reached the level limit, her physical status will increase the more she grows. That's what makes it impossible for you, the more she grows the stronger she gets. Even if her status is bound to her Symbiotic partner, you'll never surpass her." Thorn grins, "Because you're weak."
His words stab Flint in his heart, Flint grips his hands. "Even if I'm weak, I've grown this strong from level 1. You think I can't surpass her?"
Thorn takes out a packet with synthetic blood, "Do you think Twenny's strength will remain the same?" Flint is speechless and Thorn drinks his packet and continues speaking, "Even if by some miracle you manage to get close, you are generations apart. Young ones can't possibly surpass the Old ones, that's how things are." He notices Flint's determination then continues, "If you can increase your combat potential then you might be able to match up to her."
Flint is curious, "What is combat potential?"