Jolene was tolerate of me so far. She asked me a train of questions:
"How'd you defeat it?"
"How'd you get that weapon that appeared in the air?"
"Are you secretly an A-Tier?"
Just so many questions that related to the snake I defeated. Jolene was suspicious by the lack of answers I gave, but she admitted that she was convinced. On top of this ongoing stress, Kairos has been sending me request messages. I've read all of them; most of them are just him overthinking.
Kairos was inside of the bag with Phoenix. Jolene was leading us to an underground tunnel that leads to a gas station. A gas station…not aware of what the was, but it sounded fun to me. She said that she'll also find a car wash for me. In her perspective; I looked crazy as heck. Well, she said "hell," but I don't like using vulgar language.
Except that one time..
"So where ya from?" Jolene asked, her eyes focused ahead. "You from Japan or something? You got them Asian people hair."
Well, one of the beauty standards for Japan is traditionally long, black hair. Black hair was to symbolize youth, health and yamato-nadeshiko (which translates to the "idealized, modest woman.") it can also associate with strength, purity and classis beauty—but the thing is I'm not from Japan. I've mentioned that it was complicated to describe where I'm from.
I don't wanna lie either. Lying about it seems disrespectful to me.
"Well, um, I like to keep my personal life private." I made up an excuse.
"But, I've recently just moved to Canada!" Added a bit of spice to make it believable.
"Ahhh, Canada." Jolene sighed, like she was feeling nostalgic or something. I've know that type of sigh way too well.
"Canada was where my mama was born. My dad died of cancer, sadly." Jolene said, her tone was too nonchalant for dropping something like that.
'The way she just talks about things so lightly really makes me warm…'
"It's whatever. Old fart was gonna die anyway." Jolene lets out a laugh. "You know, he said that me and my sister would've died first if we keep acting too careless?"
"Guess he beat us to it!" Jolene laughs historically. I didn't know whether to laugh or show concern, so I just laughed.
'I'm aware that everyone has a different way of coping…but humorous jokes? I never thought that was an option. Well, my older brother used to, but he would do it out of disrespect and not really like a family thing.'
My eyes sparkled. 'Humans are so fascinating..'
Jolene sighed, her head throwing over her shoulder. "Sorry about that. Just thought I lighten up the quiet mood."
"No, it's fine." I said.
Ding!
-A MESSAGE SENT BY THE PHENOMENON, KAIROS-
"Laughing about dead relatives.. ha! Not even I'll stoop that low.."
I shook my head. Kairos would most definitely do that. He was the same person who pissed off Hera, a known goddess for her wrath and vengeanful nature.
'Jolene was nice. I wonder what her sister was like…'
As I continued to walk with Jolene leading me, I was thinking about the A-Tier snake.
How did I defeat it so easily? I mean, I'm aware that I've awaken a B-Tier on my second mission, but I didn't necessarily kill it. I blinded it. The rest of the times I defeated Tiers were always around an C or an F.
I think the reason why I did defeat the snake so easily was because it kept ramming its head inside the ground. However, I don't think that's necessarily the case. It kept pushing through despite all of the things I did to it. Perhaps it was the Rosary Hail that really finished my work.
Oh!
"Jolene, does the Rosary Hail sound familiar to you?" I asked raising my eyebrow.
Jolene stopped abruptly. She turned at me with the corner of her lip lifted, and her eyebrows furrowed.
"What?" She asked.
"..The Rosary Hail? The beads wrapped around the dagger?"
"What the hell are you talking about? What Rosary Hail?"
I sighed. I pulled out the dagger from my pocket, the rosary beads clanking together.
"This?"
"Ohhhh!" Jolene lets out a soft hm, before grabbing it from my hand.
"This is my sister's…she was looking for this!" Jolene's smiled widely, her little baby teeth fangs visibly shining.
"But why call it a 'Rosary Hail?' Sounds cool, but this is just a basic dagger that my sister used to wrap around the hilt.
'Wait what?'
I can only stare at Jolene puzzled. When I picked up the dagger, it was classified as a C-Tier and named "Rosary Hail." I assumed Jolene would've knew because she was an B-Tier claymore called "WAR MAGE."
Should I message Kairos about this? This was weird…
"..o-oh! I thought about giving it a name, you know? Not really just using the word dagger." I came up with an excuse, laughing nervously as a bead of sweat dripped down my cheek.
"To spice things up." I added with a soft, wobbly smile.
"Huh, I like your style." Jolene nodded in approval, shoving the dagger inside of her pocket. "I think me and you are really gonna get along!"
Jolene turned on her heel, whistling as she continued to lead us.
Kairos was holding Phoenix in his lap. Phoenix was taking the best naps in the world ever since she used her abilities on the snake. However, I do have a deep feeling that she might get sick if she doesn't get food soon…Jolene said that won't be a problem; since her sister owned the gas station we were heading to, there's a lot of food and drinks they sacked.
I'll feed Phoenix and Kairos as soon as I arrive. They're both going to be hungry soon. For me, I'll take a few things for myself as well.
Yet, that's not what I'm trying to talk about right now.
Kairos's eyes are getting heavy. He shifted inside of the bag, feeling Phoenix's purring rumbling against his chest. Kairos can feel the rhythm that was making him fall asleep…
Ding!
-A MESSAGE SENT BY THE PHENOMENON, MAHINA-
"Kairos, I got a question."
Kairos practically jumped when he saw the message. He straightened up his posture, laughing quietly hysterically.
Thinking…
"Oh, you finally realized that this girl is suspicious?"
I stared at message with disbelief.
Thinking…
"No, but I did find something else odd."
I can hear Kairos smacking his lips. Why does he want to prove me wrong so bad?
Thinking…
"Well? Spill it."
Thinking…
"Does your mentor provide you information about certain artifacts you pick? I'm mostly talking about weapons, but I'm assuming it works too with other artifacts."
Thinking…
"No? The only thing my mentor does is give me mission and background information connected to that mission. I don't have that feature."
The more I learn about my job, the more I get confused. What does he mean no? I expected that his mentor would be doing the same, but I guess not.
Thinking…
"I'm confused…my mentor only gives me little information about my missions but gives me a much detailed explanation of the weapon.
Well, barely, but it's still more than the mission itself."
Thinking…
"Huh? That's weird. I guess you got those types of mentors that'll test you by giving you much harder training by providing you so little.
I think what your mentor is trying to do is see how you handle it."
Thinking…
"Am I doing a good job?"
Thinking…
"That's up for your mentor to determined."
Are you serious? This is the reason why my mentor is making it so difficult? I'm not complaining, well maybe a little, but why? Why is it that my mentor is trying to test me? I'm guessing it's to see my strengths in battle.
If I had to guess, I think my strategy would be my strength. Or perhaps my speed?
'Well, whatever it is, you better hurry up and give me my results you mentor!"
"We're here."
Jolene's voice interrupted my thoughts. I peeked over her shoulder, noticing a huge open-door way with a gray brick frame. I shivered at the complete darkness up ahead. I can hear whispers of wind blowing through the entrance.
"Don't worry. This pathway has been cleared." Jolene reassures me with a teasing tone. "You want me to hold your hand—"
Jolene blinked in surprise when she noticed I wasn't behind her anymore. Her head whipped back at the doorway, seeing me already walking.
"H-hey! How are you so fast?" Jolene exclaimed, running up to me.
Her eyebrow raised when she gazed at me. Jolene saw a look of glee and amazement—watching me softly creases the smooth brown walls and smelling the air. Jolene assumed that I would've been at least a bit scared of the dark: walking in this dark tunnel gave her the shivers. Without her sister, she immediately rushed to the end of it.
But seeing me acting like a child who never seen anything like this was… interesting, to say the least.
"You never seen a tunnel or something?" Jolene asked, frowning with confusion.
"No..never seen this." I replied, my fingers kept creasing the soft walls. "This tunnel is so rounded and smooth. It has so much space, room for us to breathe."
I can hear my voice echoing.
"And it duplicates my voice!" I gasped, smiling widely.
It was true. The tunnels I usually explore were so cramped and had no air to breathe in. Most of the time, people get stuck trying to find their way out of the tunnels or the way in. I only go inside tunnels to gaze at ancient paintings carved from the end of a stone or stick.
"Uh-huh.." Jolene chuckled. "You're weird, huh?"
"Oh, yes, I am." I nodded.
"…wait. Weird?"
I realized what she called me. She was calling me "unusual." This was what? The 100th time someone called me strange? It seems I can't appreciate the work that was once built by humans without getting called strange. Or express my interest into something.
"Well, Canada doesn't really have tunnels I like. So." I tried shrugging it off.
"Well, this tunnel is quiet though." Jolene added. She placed her palm against the wall to feel it, exactly how I was doing. "Graffiti would be nice, no?"
"Graffiti?" I blinked. "What's that?"
Jolene sighed. "You don't know anything, huh?" She joked.
I don't know anything because my mom would hardly let me have fun. I was always studying, studying and studying. The only time when I do go out is for ceremonies or events. I couldn't leave my mom's side either during them. I knew she was worried about me around that time. I remember she wouldn't even let me take this job, worried if I would get killed or worse.
She forbidden me. Obviously, I didn't obey her.
I hope she isn't mad at me.
"You seriously need some learning to do." Jolene chuckled, patting my arm.
Jolene didn't judge me for my lack of knowledge of topics she'd mentioned: she'll laugh and pat my shoulder or my head. She reminded me of my the goddess Hestia: the goddess who was the least judgmental person I've ever heard. Well, given the fact that she was the goddess of hospitality and hearth… Jolene was a mix of that. Already giving me such hospitality despite meeting me for a short period of time.
'Her sister will definitely be nice.'
"We're almost there." Jolene says, now taking the lead.
Ding!
-A MESSAGE SENT BY THE PHENOMENON, KAIROS-
"I don't understand how she doesn't suspect a thing. You seriously don't know what the hell graffiti is? Even I know what it is!"
Thinking….
"Well, no. I never had the chance to actually live my life."
Thinking…
"..hmph. No excuse."
Kairos would never understand where I actually came from. I'd assumed his life was full of reckless, dangerous and freeing adventures that I would enjoyed doing. I don't mean to get all personal but sometimes I wish my childhood was different.
Different like this. Fighting creatures, gaining companions, completing tasks or missions. Not worrying about death or betrayal…
…perhaps even making friends. I wouldn't mind if I had an enemy either.
'The though of it makes me cry..'
I sniffed, a tear rolling down my cheek. I forgot how emotional I get whenever I think stuff related to that. I wouldn't consider myself a sensitive person, but thinking about how my childhood was wasted with all those years of studying, reading, writing…it felt so empty.
Now, I feel free for the first time.
I'm sorry, mom. I've chosen the path that I believed was right for me.
'And I'll prove her wrong about me taking this path."
-The author decides to fast-forward 20 minutes.-
-Remaining back on track…wink.-
I blinked. We were already here?
The gas station that Jolene mentioned was right ahead of us. There was a huge bright light beaming from the see-through windows. I'm surprised that she and her sister managed to keep this place still intact. I followed Jolene with controlled steps behind her, rubbing my arms a bit, feeling the chills running through my spine.
Jolene turned to me, humming. "I've probably forgot to mention, but you need to have some sort of make over."
Her eyes looked up and down on me.
"That snake must've really had you on your toes, huh?" She snorted, turning back to the gas station.
I giggled softly. I quickly walked beside her, staring at her with intense eye-contact. I'm more focused when my attention is completely on the person I'm talking to. Otherwise, I might think to myself. It's a habit of mine that I can't stop…
"Well, can I ask you what I want?" I asked.
"Sure. I don't see why not." Jolene shrugged.
Oh, I want a lot of things. A lot of things that are necessary and unnecessary. But first: let's choose necessary for now.
"I want those headbands thingys. The ones you put in a ponytail?" I tried demonstrating by putting my hair up, leaving some in the back.
"Hair tie?.." Jolene said, opening the door to the gas station.
I clapped. "Yes!"
"And I want new clothing…like grayish, blackish type." I described, walking around the station to find at least something for me to eat.
"Hand-gloves, I really need those." I mentioned, opening the cap of a water bottle.
Jolene nodded, gently taking out Phoenix and Kairos out of my bag; Kairos hissing at her with disgust.
"I think that's what they're called…" I was unsure. I continued to place cat food, snacks and drinks inside my bag. My hunger was satisfied enough to get through the day.
"Anything else? You want a hairbrush? Walkie talkie?" Jolene suggested, kicking Kairos who was trying to bite her leg on the ground, while Phoenix jumped on the cashier counter.
"Uhh, sure!" I nodded with a wide smile. I zipped my bag up, throwing both of the straps over my shoulders.
"I need to touch up my hair." I said, walking up to Jolene with a nod.
"You done? Your furry friend kept trying biting me." Jolene said, pointing to Kairos who was beaten up to a pulp on the ground.
Phoenix jumped inside of my arms, crawling onto my shoulders and wrapping her body around my neck. I sighed, walking over to Kairos and picking her up.
"Sorry about him. He's…not really trusting with others."
I stared at Kairos. Oh, man, she really didn't need to do beat him like that.
"Well, that's fine. I wasn't really trusting with you two either at first."
Jolene placed her hand on my shoulder once again. She flashed her toothy-grin, tilting her head.
"But, right now? You're my new companion, Mahina.
And our family."
Family?