"Hey! You awake yet, Nate? You closed your eyes for a while now."
Nate looked up. He saw that his family was staring at him, troubled by his lack of action, as if it were something unheard of in this place. He quickly positioned himself and forced his eyes open wide, without them drooping and sending him back to sleep.
"Yeah—of course, of course, I guess I stayed awake too late again. Sorry about having you worry about me once again, Nallie," said Nate.
He eyed the stack of pancakes on a plate, noting that the smell had some sort of syrupy scent, reminiscent of the sweet aroma similar to flowers. He looked towards his right, just his tissue-wrapped utensils and a glass of milk, nothing too out of the ordinary.
Nallie glared at him while Jakob and Bethani exchanged glances with each other. This action made Nate even more uncomfortable, as he tried to fold the layers of his shirt to calm down his worries.
"Go on, honey," Bethani urged his father.
Jakob set his utensils and coughed.
"So, Nate," he said, "I heard that you got... um... a gold medal in that one tournament to... an activity, right?"
"Actually... I'm not really in any clubs or sports; they just don't interest me that much."
"Oh, right. I should have known that. Sorry, I'm really focused on my work with the bookstore. I had to deal with mold in the basement, and don't want it there when the inspection arrives someday," Nate's father said.
The bookstore, yet again. Dad always gets to talk about it somehow after avoiding a separate topic. But it was okay, it just allowed me to think over what I did in the past, and one of the things that was kept on my mind was the monster at the Volanten River.
The television flashed instantly to the news program. All four members of the family turned towards the screen, awaiting what would be new for today's audience. The news anchorman presented himself with his chipper smile and blonde hair, and somehow had a different suit every time, including a set with various types of weather prints.
"Good morning, my citizens of Standart City. I'm your local news anchor, and I'm here to present your daily intake of precious information."
"Is it me or this guy a bit too eccentric for the news?" Nallie said.
The news anchorman continued, grabbing a stack of papers with him.
"Unfortunately, we have to present some dire news involving recent events. Around yesterday evening at the Volanten River. Law enforcement had found a corpse underwater, with the current state of the body having severe lacerations and deep purple bruises."
No way. A dead body? In the middle of the Volanten River?
No... it can't be... Is this connected to the Faden that I fought before? The one with the fish-like body and the long claws. I knew this situation could be bad, but for it to be even more serious...
"This is really worrisome, first the green gases in the sky and now this?" Bethani exclaimed.
It was understandable for her reaction. Standart City is getting more and more dangerous as this goes on. The people don't usually experience these things, especially if it is one event after another.
"I wonder if this would affect the sales at the bookstore," Jakob questioned himself.
"I hope this will all end soon. The stress from this is definitely not good for my health," Nallie stated.
The news anchor tidied up his suit before saying:
"It seems there is an escaped creature running around the city. Officials are saying not to worry, as they will divert resources to properly restore the city's normalcy. So don't worry, folks; I'm sure this 'beast' won't be able to overcome the strength of the people who want everyone to be safe. So, onto the next piece...!"
Bethani sighed in relief as soon as the next image on the television screen depicted the new buildings under construction on the south side of the city. It may be for new factories for the production of lumber and other materials.
"Whew, I thought that I was going to get a stress attack from listening to this story. I hope the other news won't be as dreary."
That's it? I felt like this specific news segment went on for only half a minute. But to be fair, these people didn't exactly get a first-class seat view of how it happened with me and that monster.
Manson did say to report this encounter with the police, but... I am not really sure about that. Think of the attention one would get if I were the one who personally reported this to the authorities. Everyone would be swarming around me as if I were to hand them stacks of cash for the price of being free, regardless of who receives them. It's almost as bad as being some famous guy...
So I'll let the others make this decision for me; it has to be better this way. No way I'm going to be the one who'll be swarmed.
"I think I had my fill with breakfast already, so I'm gonna check myself out," Nate announced to the table while standing up.
"Already done, Nate?" asked his mother.
"Yeah, I need to get some rest..."
Then he walked upstairs to his room, making sure to walk slowly and carefully before his stomach growled painfully from sudden movements after eating.
Last night, several hours after the events involving the Volanten River Faden, Nate had been pondering about the Faden and how it arrived in the city—the possibility of there being more Fadens, similar to the one he experienced.
He also wondered how the others are holding up. Cloey may be in a similar state of fear, but unlike her, Aliana and Brandin were probably not scared of this. Or... Aliana, being the fearless one, and Brandin, not actually believing the Faden was already here in the city.
Nate thought about both the Vivid Forest's green crystal and how that power reminds him of the green light emitted from his sword when facing the Faden.
Can I really get the sword back? It kinda disappeared as soon as the Faden ran off. Let's give it a shot...
He stood up straight and raised his hand towards the air. Nate tried to concentrate heavily on materializing the sword to the point of sweating like a melted candle. He gave up, unable to even make a single part of the sword. His arm pulses from being overstrained to the point of needing to rest the whole limb on his bed pillows.
It's no use; no matter how hard Nate tries, it will always end up with nothing. He was more determined than ever to find the answers to the power he was experiencing.
However, Nate remembered that the sword materialized when the Faden was dangerously close, and he felt a surge of power flow inside of him. That must be how it relates, those two different things.
Then he remembered that place. Vivid Forest.
Maybe... maybe if I go back there, I might run into the monster, and that could help me bring the sword back, or even learn to control it. But that's a bit risky; there's a chance that I'll get killed there... still, Vivid Forest is connected to the Volanten River, so this might be my only shot before that creature runs away.
Besides, I should definitely check those green crystals again. I'm dying to know what happened to them after I blacked out. Was it really related to my powers, like it somehow "gave" them to me?
Nate pulled out his phone and searched for more details on the news about the dead body. He scrolled until he found something peculiar, and then he saw a hidden post. There was an apparently green gas leaking out of the Vivid Forest, whose trail was connected to the Volanten River, specifically where the dead body was.
The green gas! That looks like the one from the main part of the city's sky. I guess that someone decided that the public shouldn't know that the green gas situation had happened twice, or else it would cause panic in the whole city.
A Faden attack before the green gas had appeared...
Strange, are they perhaps both related to each other? Does that mean that the green gases appear after the Fadens visit? There are just so many questions.
Nate was initially unsure but ultimately decided to go to the Vivid Forest, the place where he first saw the green light and somehow recalled his friend's memories.
He really doesn't know why, but there was something that he needed to learn about the green crystal. Nate was fascinated with it, like it was something that could complete him.
He looked towards his bedroom window, a look of uncertainty painted all over his face. This decision might be something that will soon involve things Nate won't be ready for; his body remained shaking from his nervousness, though.
"Before school tomorrow, when it's still dark, I'll make my way there. I have to be by myself for this, cuz I don't want other people to get hurt because of my decision."
After a trip to the bathroom to clean himself up and a change of clean clothes, Nate lay down on his bed and closed his eyes, waiting for his body to relax deeply to sleep.
The next morning, Nate woke up with a ray of moonlight through the bedroom window. Seeing the light even with his eyelids closed, it was enough to make him get up to get ready for today.
He went downstairs after finishing getting ready, until he caught a familiar aroma sweeping throughout the rooms of the house. Was it probably Nallie looking through the fridge... or was it Nate's mother looking for something to drink?
Whoever it may be, Nate wasn't willing to let himself get caught by any of his family members, so he tiptoed across the floor, trying to reach the foyer and the front door. He then closed the door behind him. The air was frigid and instantly enveloped Nate's body as soon as he stepped outside.
The night sky was obviously dark but was lightly brightened by the specks of stars grouped in specific spots, as though they were herded like animals by a farmer. It was just enough to lighten the way beside the flickering lights of the lamp posts lining the street.
Nate went on ahead, towards the Volanten River first, then to the Vivid Forest.
15 minutes had passed, but he was almost to the river. It was nerve-racking to be able to go to Vivid Forest alone, let alone be out in the dark at night.
Nate was glad that he put on the jacket that he found under the bed, although it was a bit dusty and had some tears around the arms, it was still usable nonetheless.
Ugh, remind myself to organize my closet so I can find clean clothes more easily.
While he walked, Nate surveyed around the area, his eyes darting around to catch something of interest to him. All the things are just the endless-looking streets and the shopping stores of various things, no life was present inside these buildings at the moment
Many stores he was familiar with, such as Ollie Lisjurbule's store of many plants and the antique store Sheila frequently visits. Nate wondered if he was the only one who didn't feel too enthusiastic about going to this part of the city, except... maybe Manson if an art supply store hadn't opened up yet.
Then something strange blocked his path...
Nate was walking until he heard some strange noises up ahead, and that was where he could see shaking inside some sort of tattered cloth tower. This "tent-like" thing was barely holding up with just a couple of tree branches; the whole thing looked like it could fall apart at any time.
The sound was just grumbly, with a bit of pop in it, not unlike a jet engine.
Nate inched closer and wanted to take a look inside, but a dark figure erupted from the top of the cloth tower.
"Aaaaaarrggghhhhh!"
A voice boomed and echoed through the streets and beyond, as unbelievable as how it didn't even break anything with how loud it was.
"GAAAHH!" Nate shouted in a panic.
He tumbled down and looked over to the figure once again, and a familiar image went through Nate's mind.
"Hold on, raggedy-looking clothes, some tent-tower thing to live on, and that familiar noise whenever I walk here to go to school... Wait, is this guy—?"
"Why! Why, why, why did you disturb my sleep?! Everyone knows if you bother with the Pallnem, the king of the street, you're a dead man!"
Pallnem. If that actually was his real name, he was someone who was fired from his job years ago, so he just ended up here, where he would hassle for money from anyone who was passing by. Although Pallnem notably gives a hard time to high schoolers, especially those who went to Standart High.
Pallnem intensely eyed Nate closely, his stench so strong that he could swear that he could see it rising through the cool air. It was probably from that undersized coat Pallnem was wearing; the fabric is stained heavily, contrasting the original color of deep purple that it once had in its days of prime.
"You look familiar, like I've seen you before..."
"Don't you see everyone that passes this street in your whole life? I'm just your random guy who nobody talks about. Now, I'm trying to go somewhere so—"
Pallnem held up his hand, trying to silence the noise from Nate's mouth.
"Hey, you're a high school student, right? You think I don't know the difference between a high schooler and anyone else, it's all clear to me, the tiniest details you know. But now that I have a good look at you, you're that kid who goes with a group of five. There was this tall, red-haired guy, and that girl with the pink dress. There was also this weirdo with the black jacket and... that's all I remember!"
Nate felt more creeped out by the second. "Er, I guess you do know us, so can I go now?"
"You go to that goddamned Standart High School, don't you! You all are just so pompous, self-absorbed, and think that you own everything in the world, huh?! Well, I won't let you have your way; I'll be greater than you in every way than you high school brats! I'll even prove that I am better than you in a fight, so come here!" Pallnem shrieked as he swiped his hands like a wild animal to its prey.
"Oh cr— Aaahh!"
Nate yelped in fear and ran away from the area as fast as he could. When he looked behind, he saw that no one was there. He could still hear the shouts from Pallnem.
"Glad that's over with, I think I almost died from that..." Nate mentioned to himself.
He looked around and saw himself in front of the gates to the park containing the Volanten River. It looked quite different at night compared to the daytime. It's the opposite of vibes within the whole place.
If only Nate could bring the rest of Quad Four to this place at this exact time. He wondered what their reactions would be to the whole view.
However, as soon as Nate arrived in the middle of the Volanten River, he quickly saw a group investigating something in the water.