|There was an event at school today. And I think I'm done for.|
[The date, was September 5th, 2030. The time was 13:00 Noon, The location was Quasar ilse, Central Connections College, And this was the exact day Randy met Jokaba and Luma]
|To be clear. The Central Connections College hosted A 3 versus 3 boxing Tournament. Pretty sure this happens every September from what I've heard. The teams seem to have one strong person on it, Team A had some Randoms. Team B had some Extra's. Team C is the same. and so on so on.. Team Z, however, was a different story. The first guy looked like he was on steroids. The second looked like the steroids. And the third guy was the steroids!|
|So yeah. A team of tough guys. And they were matched up against Team Y.|
Randy smiled. and closed his eyes shaking his head.
"Which isn't my problem. I happen to be on Team X. With two actual kickboxers. This Is gonna be to easy"
Then came the announcement.
|Turns out one of the boys on Team Y had swapped the names used for writing names on the board. He went crying to the administrators about "clerical error" or whatever. Long story short, they moved him to Team X and me to Team Y.|
|My new team didn't really exude confidence. There was this guy, Jokaba, he looked like he'd never thrown a punch in his life. And the girl, Luma, A quiet shut-in with green hair. We're so done.|
But when it came time to get changed for the match, Randy's original thoughts began to change
Team Z walked into the locker rooms looking like they were headed for pro fight. Gloves polished. Matching shorts. Confidence oozing off them
Team Y... was different.
Luma showed up in black sport shorts and an oversized white shirt. Underneath it, a sports bra peeked out. She had worn-down MMA gloves with her name etched into them, scarred and beaten from use. And despite her reserved aura, when she tied up her short hair, I noticed the faint lines of abs under her shirt.
Jokaba didn't change much besides adding cargo shorts. His gloves weren't even real fight gloves. they were the kind trainers use when they hold pads for rookies
As for Randy. He went with plain white shorts and a black T-shirt.
|Before heading out I called my mom and asked which pair of gloves I should wear out of the ones my dad had bought me for this event.|
"Pick the ones that do more damage."
Is what she said to Randy before he hung up
...
The teams left the locker rooms and made their way toward the ring.
The crowd was already loud students yelling names, stomping feet and waving hands. Despite this event being limited to only this college, other students from different college's came to watch.
Randy tightened his gloves, remembering what his mother said.
"I wish things had A defined damage output.."
Team Y climbed into the ring. Randy tried to act calm, but the moment he looked across at Team Z, his stomach sank.
The announcer shouted both teams' names. the bell rang.
And then it began.
Luma charged forward without hesitation, her fists flying like a storm. Jokaba, somehow, managed to cover her from every angle, blocking attacks left and right with surprising precision. Their teamwork was ridiculous, too perfect to be a coincidence. It was like they'd fought together for years.
Randy stayed back
|I'm not about to jump into this. Not against those guys. I'd just get myself killed.|
So he leaned on the ropes, convincing himself that freeloading off his teammates was the smart move. And for a moment, it was.
One fighter in the back, who hadn't moved all match, suddenly vanished. Randy only noticed when the man reappeared right in front of him.
"Wait... what?"
Before he could process, Randy did the only thing his body allowed him to do in situations like this. In other words. He crouched down, covered his head, and prayed.
When Opened an eye the sight made him freeze.
Jokaba and Luma had taken the hit that was meant for him
Luma managed to shove the opponent away, but Jokaba didn't move after. He stood frozen, a dark red bump already forming on his forehead. Blood ran down.
"That... was no normal punch."
Luma muttered, her voice low as she took look at Jokaba on the floor.
"he must have stuffed his gloves. But I can't prove it."
Randy stared at Jokaba, guilt swallowing him whole, This was his fault. All because he refused to fight. All because he didn't want to risk an injury. His cowardice had caused Jokaba's defeat, and possibly his entire teams' defeat.
But even so… even then… Randy still wasn't about to fight. Or so he thought.
Luma launched forward again, keeping the pressure. She didn't see the massive, steroid-looking fighter circling behind her. His heavy steps were drowned out by the crowd's cheers.
Randy however..
His throat tightened. He tried to yell then froze. But before he could even think, his body moved on its own. He tackled the giant from behind, stopping the sneak attack in its tracks.
Luma capitalized immediately, knocking two opponents clean out of the ring. The crowd roared. Only one man remained, the one Randy still had in a shaky hold of.
The man stood tall, wrapping Randy in a crushing bear hug. His grip tightened. Randy was already fragile, but in this guys grip, his body was glass.
The brute lifted Randy up, planning to use randy as a shield against any attack Luma planned on throwing.
Luma hesitated, her fists trembling at her sides. the three steroid using brutes didn't even communicate the entire time, yet they coordinated all of this.
Randy coughed up A storm, then shouted with all his heart.
"JUST DO IT ALREADY!"
For the first time all match, Luma smiled, her focus dropping, she didn't need to analyze this. she tossed her glasses outside the ring and her smile grew bigger, her form was way more relaxed.
She drove her first straight through Randy's stomach within a blink of an eye.
The backlash slammed into the brute behind him, launching both out of the arena. The crowd went mild.. Yeah the majority just wanted to see blood and guts and nothing more nothing less.
Team Y had won.
Randy didn't feel like much of a winner. He laid there, wheezing, watching Jokaba get carried out on a stretcher. He barely registered when they brought one for him too.
Luma knelt beside him before they carried him away.
"That was impulsive, didn't think someone would volunteer to be gut punched."
She stated with a faint smirk.
"I could tell you almost wanted to say never mind. Still... me and Jokaba look forward to being your roommates."
Randy, Who is now foaming from the mouth, raised a shaky thumbs up.
Luma nodded and stood up, putting her glasses on, she waved, as the nurses carried him away
"Randy, right? Get better soon."
-Randy couldn't believe it.
He really got his ass beat... Just to win a bigger dorm room.
|Now.. In the present.|
A week had passed since Dan began training Randy. Today was the last day. Any longer in the village, and Luma would be too far ahead to catch up.
X-Haria, though she may have took a while, drifted awake inside the inn. Her crimson hair had a glow that pulsed faintly before she floated outside, hovering slightly above the ground as usual. She followed the familiar path toward the grove where Randy spent his mornings training with Dan.
"Good morning. Kind Soul"
A Voice greeted Her Warmly.
Ispulgasa stood just outside, his eyes closed as he smiled at her. He was dressed casually in a white shirt and short trousers. Even knights, it seemed, owned ordinary clothes.
"Morning…"
X-Haria replied softly.
He fell into step beside her, hands tucked loosely behind his back. She glanced at him, then asked,
"Where's Harinezumi?"
"My Mistress is currently resting."
He answered in is usual, calm tone, a smile on his face.
That was no surprise. For the past week, Harinezumi had only sleep. She would wake up for some time only for food or a short walk, and Ispulgasa always assisted her. feeding her, helping her steady her steps.
"Ispulgasa"
X-Haria said the knights name, tilting to the side slightly
"can Harinezumi even bathe?"
He would then chuckle politely.
"Oh, kind Soul, I assure she performs her diligence. With my help of course."
X-Haria narrowed her eyes. She wasn't convinced. Harinezumi blamed everything on fatigue, but X-Haria suspected something else. Randy, on the other hand, simply didn't care.
Speaking of Randy.
The two arrived at the orange-colored tree where Randy and Dan sparred daily. Dan held a wooden parrying dagger, moving with effortless precision. Randy gripped an iron broad-bladed rapier built for both stabbing and slashing. Yet despite the advantage in reach and steel, Dan was still overwhelming him.
Steel rang against wood. Randy lunged forward, sweat running down his face. Dan sidestepped with ease, the dagger flicking against Randy's blade and sending him stumbling.
"Come on, boy!"
Dan called out, his grin looked cocky.
"Your arms are strong enough. Now use your head."
Randy grit his teeth and tried again, thrusting quick jabs. Dan parried each one, his feet moving like he was dancing on ice. Randy swung wide, desperate for an opening, but Dan twisted his wrist.
A loud aggregate sound[1] followed suite as the rapier flew from Randy's hands, spinning through the air before stabbing into the ground beside the orange tree.
Randy collapsed backward, panting heavily.
"You're strong enough, Randy.
Dan said, lowering his dagger and sitting cross-legged on the grass.
"Really?"
Randy wheezed.
"So can I hit the road now?"
"Not so fast."
Dan wagged a finger.
"Your're missing one little thing."
He raised his hand, shaping his fingers like a pistol. A small sphere of light flickered into existence at the tip of his index finger.
"Magic."
Randy's eyes widened. At last, something that wasn't just a thing from his old world. Something extraordinary. He immediately dropped to the grass beside Dan. X-Haria floated down next to him, quietly observant.
"My ears are open"
Randy said eagerly. then, noticing her, he added
"Oh. You're awake. Good morning."
"Likewise."
X-Haria Replied
Dan cleared his throat.
"I'm sure your Helper gave you the basics, but listen up regardless. Magic isn't just throwing power around. Your soul plays a part. Think of it like this.. your soul is the blueprint, and your body is the final product. To use magic properly, you have to line yourself up perfectly with your soul."
There was a pause as he took a deep breath.
"Even then, magic has limits. You can't just kill someone instantly unless you're willing to give something up of equal value. Everything works by exchange."
Randy nodded quickly, eyes locked on him.
"I understand. Now how do I use it?"
Dan's smile widened
"We'll start with the basics. Manga Bullets"
Randy immediately mimicked Dan's finger-gun gesture, pointing at the orange tree.
"Hold that gesture."
Dan instructed.
"Now say 'Go shoot' You need to say it in your mind and out loud at the same time."
"Go shoot!"
Randy yelled out
A tiny orb of energy burst to life at his fingertip, then shot forward faster than sound. It pierced the tree, leaving a neat bullet-sized hole through the bark.
"Ah!"
Randy laughed.
"It went straight through! does that mean---"
"Nope. that's actually pretty normal."
"Of course.. right... what did I expect."
Randy's grin faltered. he slumped, disappointment washing over his face.
...
X-Haria opens one eye to look at Dan as she spoke
"Hey old man, you we're reincarnated her right?"
Randy seemed surprised, but enough to gasp, Ispulgasa returns and sits down near Randy, giving him a Hachize as well.
"Wait"
Said Randy, as he turned to X-Haria
"Should Ispulgasa be able to hear this?"
Before X-Haria could speak Ispulgasa answered, chuckling.
"Not to worry kind soul. I'm Well aware of reincarnation. although I was born here, I'm pretty sure my first members of my tree are people from your world."
Randy sighed. and turned back to Dan for his answer
Dan's face hardens, his usual warmth slipping just a little.
"When I was a lad, back in on earth… it was 1929. Times were mean, Dusty roads, Hungry faces, Begging hands, the unforgettable stench... I lost everything when my folks had to send me away to live with kin in another state, not that I had much to begin with. I was just a boy with a suitcase too heavy for his arms, and not one soul lifted a finger to help me. Not once. the so called 'kin' mean't to be taking care of me didn't exist, it was just a lie my family made up so I can feel better.. I starved and I froze, and in the end… I died."
Ispulgasa stared with a smile, X-Haria looked indifferent, Randy however had streams of water coming from is eyes as he had a neutral look.. silent crying...
"When I opened my eyes in this world, in this body, I swore I'd never let another poor soul feel that kind of loneliness. Doesn't matter if it's a dwarf, a human, or some smart-mouthed Helper like you. If I can help, I will. Always."
...
....
.....
[1] Aggregate sound is a type of sound effect that combines multiple sounds together to make a new one, for example in this case, the sound of two swords clashing + the sound of Thunder striking