"Where the hell did it go!?" Jotou shouted out in the dark shop, sword held in both hands while her eyes darted across the ceiling.
"I don't know! Did you find the rat one!?" Fuko popped up from behind the counter.
"No, I'm looking for the bat! It went into the back and it's gone again!" Jotou squinted, "Hotaru, how bright can your water glow!?"
"About this much?" Hotaru made particles of water that lit up as much as a match stick would in a pitch-black room. Illuminated, the scene appeared clearer; them searching frantically in the low light as a lantern lied broken on the floor.
"Oh! You need so light!?" Asobi pulled out her wand, "Light!" an imnsely bright white light, shot out into the middle of the room.
Fuko shunned it with her arm and staggered backwards into a podium, as a vase, "Careful!" almost fell and Hotaru caught it in ti. She juggled in her arms till she got a proper hold of it.
Hotaru's eyes narrowed to the sudden light as well, "We ca to take a velatos out, not rack up a bill with Mr Baregout."
"He should've ntioned there were two," Fuko muttered, her arm still up, adjusting to the light.
"Sobi, brightness," Jotou blinked multiple tis trying to find, "There!" she ran for the image of a shadow flying across her vision with every blink.
"Sorry!" Asobi dimd the light she casted.
"THWACK!" Jotou batted the bat with her sword, sending its tiny form into the shelves. The light dimming down let Jotou pinpoint the creature. "Crack!" She did not hit the eye, but the sword pierced through the bat's body.
Skewered on her sword like a kebab, the shadows and ruby red eyes faded, leaving a dead bat, "That's new," Jotou murmured, noticing how easily it was beaten.
"Jotou!" Fuko chased down the little pitter-patters that was the rat velatos. "Thud!" She managed to hit, but her dagger didn't stab through the body—like trying to stab a stone shield.
Tiny walls popped out of the floor, making the velatos hurriedly co to a stop, like a rat trapped in a maze, "Can we keep it!?" Asobi queried to Hotaru, her wand creating the illusion.
"Slick!" The sword now had another small mammal skewered as it lifted off the wooden floorboards, "No..." Jotou replied bringing her sword up; the illusion of the maze faded and the night finally went quiet.
_
"Clack!" Hotaru stapled up the poster on the commissions board.
"Will anyone even take this? We're not even offering any reward," Fuko asked her; the poster for a manhunt for Master Zayexiwovu.
Hotaru, "Probably not. But it makes her feel better," glanced to Asobi. The magician was showing off her tricks to so guild patrons as she pulled an illusory bunny out of her hat.
Jotou leaned on the railing, watching all three of her new found friends from above, giving a light smile. 'No closer to figuring anything out, but hey, I'm not alone.' She went down the stairs, joining the two for breakfast.
Forks and knives scraped across their plates. "Guys look!" Asobi threw pieces of copper she was tipped onto their table.
"That's nice Asobi, but you getting tips from here is, kind of illegal since you don't work here," Hotaru flapped open a newspaper.
"Don't listen to her, if you found a way to make money, exploit it all you can. You deserve it," Fuko encouraged, chowing down.
"I will!"
Jotou was busy, graphite dancing over paper while she ate. 'So final touches.'
"Ugh..." Hotaru crunched her eyes close—dark circles from last night's three in the morning velatos hunt.
"How are you so tired from doing nothing," Fuko ridiculed.
"I need my sleep to function properly," Hotaru defended before she sighed, "I know using magic isn't healthy, but just this once... Rejuvenate," she sprinkled water on herself, the dark circles began to turn peach.
"I've heard of a coffee addiction, but this is sothing else," Jotou's fork hovered over her plate; long strands of blonde had invaded her al. She flipped her ponytail back in a huff.
"I'm not addicted to my Rejuvenate spell, it just makes feel, you know, goose-bumpy; in a good way..."
"She's addicted," Fuko brought around the second plate she ordered.
"Whatever," Hotaru covered her face with a swish of the paper. "Huh, that's certainly interesting," Hotaru read.
Asobi peered over her shoulder.
"What is?" Fuko scurried to sit beside her.
"Avon has turned from an oligarchy to a dictatorship," Hotaru told.
"Avon?" Jotou glanced up.
"Where's that?" Asobi joined.
"The Kingdom of Frosted Spikes. It's the northmost country if I'm not mistaken," Fuko tried to read the paragraph Hotaru found.
"Guess the money stopped ruling; oh well," Hotaru flipped to the next page only for her to hum a bit, "Looks like the long battle on the border of Cravolta has co to a standstill and the Trailon Regi has been pushed back."
"Really? Nice! Always good to hear the Tri-Regi get their asses handed to them!"
"Ahem," Jotou stared.
"What's the Tri-Regi?" Asobi questioned as well.
"Right, another world... I'm sorry I didn't explain sooner," Hotaru twitched her ears.
"Basically, they're bad people," Fuko put.
"Thanks for clearing it up," a hint of sarcasm replied.
"The Tri-Regi of Iniquity are three island nations around the mainland. Around four decades ago, each nation, The Trailon, Vandlevela and Malecise Regis, declared war together by wanting control of the mainland and all of its nations.
They were declared rogue nations by every other nation, including the mainland ones. All ports were closed leaving them no trade routes from those nations to the regis. Which leads to-"
"I think I get how war works. They were trying to push in; to take control over borders," Jotou finished. 'Even in a world like this, I guess peace isn't easily achieved. It would actually be harder to achieve I guess.'
"And Cravolta, the Empire of Shattering Earth, kicked their butts! I'm sure they're celebrating right now," Fuko forked a sausage from over the table.
"They didn't exactly win. I'm sure it'll be a boost to morale, but partying would be unwise," Hotaru giggled.
Asobi opened her eyes again, "Are these, politics?" she queried yawning.
Fuko leered, "She's from another world, she has an excuse. You probably travelled across the continent; how do you not know anything about this?"
Asobi shrugged, "I never left far from the tent. I had no clue where we even were till you told ," she replied. Fuko looked elsewhere, lips pinching together.
"Also, YOU'RE FROM ANOTHER WORLD!? LIKE FROM SPACE!? Please, please, please teach alien languages!" Asobi giddied across the table to Jotou's face.
"Take note ko, this is what you're like," Jotou may have just woken up a few minutes ago, but now she was fully awake.
"Am not!" Fuko crossed her arms and pouted.
Hotaru chuckled, "This is what happens when I don't get to sleep for eight straight hours. Shall I explain, or will you?" she turned to Jotou sitting across.
Jotou adjusted herself in her seat, sighing. She explained her story once more...
_
"So... you're like a zombie!?"
"All of that and that's your first question?" Fuko blinked.
"Do I look like a zombie to you?" Jotou spread her arms wide.
"No, you're really pretty!" ...Jotou's hand gradually went to cover her reddening face, a full hand over her eyes. "So, a vampire!?" Asobi continued.
"No." 'Had my guard down for that one.' Her hand remained, "I have no clue, but I'm here now and I haven't found a way out yet."
"Anyway," Hotaru moved on while Fuko went back next to Jotou to eat, "We'll go to the supply shop first, to get so maps, rope, lantern oil, matches and the like.
Three armite split four ways, is seventy-five gold each, but I've put a hundred into party funds so each of us has a budget fifty gold," Hotaru split, holding all the coins on her person.
"When did I agree for twenty-five of my cut to be 'party funds'?" Fuko peered over to the redhead's blue purse.
"You say that, then there's so party ergency and we have nothing to spare," Hotaru retorted.
"I was planning all night on what to use it on," Jotou showed the parchnt she was drawing on.
Hotaru leant her head over, "Oh wow. You're a really good drawer."
"I'm glad at least that skill stayed with ." The sketch was of armour for herself. A corset-like blouse covered till the body's collarbone where two shoulder plates finished it off.
The sides of the corset went down the sides of the hips like two flaps or capes that went till the knees. Black leggings till the feet where two boots fit under.
"It's really good, but one minor adjustnt," Hotaru placed a finger on the diagram, near the crotch, "You might want to cover that up," she pointed out.
"Huh?" Jotou peered, "Oh! Right..." she seized the paper back, "I'll make so battle skirt flaps at the front," Jotou began sketching.
Fuko slurped up the last of her food, "Not like she would know that well; or I should say he. So, how exactly has it been being a girl?"
"For your information, I was just trying to make a cool design." 'How has it been as a girl? Not too bad, but...'
"My hair keeps bothering my neck, but I like it enough not to cut it. Everyone keeps calling pretty, which I get, but it's getting annoying.
I have to sleep sideways or face up because face down gets, uncomfortable...
At least Sobi and ko's are smaller than mine to deal with. How the hell do you get used to it Aru?" Jotou leaned her forehead on her hand.
Hotaru gave a slanted glance, "Undergarnts...?" not really caring for Jotou's comnt.
"I'm just not used to it. I shouldn't complain about it though," Jotou sighed.
"Oh, if you're not used to that... you're going to be addicted to my healing spells once a month," Hotaru glinted her fangs.
Jotou pald her own face further, "I didn't even think about that..." she prayed that day would never co.
Fuko on the other hand, covered her entire body with her arms, curling herself up in her seat, "Don't insult my size! Besides, for all your complaints, you sure seem to be enjoying yourself in our room!" Fuko snickered her revenge.
Jotou's eyes ejected open, "What!? Who do you take for!?" she recoiled away from Fuko.
"Really!? I'm a light sleeper Jotou! You're telling you NEVER even thought about it?" Fuko replied, a sly grin on her face.
"Okay, I have needs too! And I wouldn't ever do that while you're in the room!"
Asobi tilted her head, her hat slowly falling over as an illusory question mark ca out. Whilst Hotaru laughed to herself watching the other two bicker like children.
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