Stranger From a Strange Land (canceled)

Chapter VIII: Seeing Is Believing

"Well, looks like we're back" says Aries. We've spent a total of 7 days in this trip due to setbacks. I wonder how the girl's progress is going. Hopefully I'll be able to get a name out of her. I just hope she's doing alright for the most part. We arrive at the guild, safe and sound. Lilith is still fast asleep in my arms, mainly because everyone else doesn't have the stamina to carry someone through the city. Now that I look more closely, she's got dark tan skin, like a Trojan, and her ears... they look like elf ears. I don't remember Trojans having pointed ears like that. This, and her natural blonde hair make her quite the beautiful young lady. I'd like to meet the handsome pair that brought her into this world. "Took you guys long enough, I was just about ready to send out a search party" says Sammy. "Yeah, there were a few setbacks on the way" says Carne. "At least we made it back in one piece" says Aries. "Yeah. It's been a week, hasn't it?" I say. "Indeed. I believe it's time for your weekly assessment" says Sammy. "Woah, woah, woah! First, I want you to take a look at Runa's Rank" says Daniella, rushing down the stairs. I check the status board real quick, and I'm surprised to see her new rank. She's on the brink of X class now, 999. If she breaks 1000, she'll become an X class adventurer. "Oh, that's pretty good!" I say. "Now, Deisuke, when I measure your status, be prepared for a talk" she says. Ohh, this can't be good. I go upstairs, where Daniella is waiting for me. "Isn't it custom for your guild guide to do the assessment?" I query. "Yes, but I have a feeling that that isn't the greatest idea" she says. "I'm not sure I understand, but alright" I say. I place my hands in the measuring device. The machine types away at the parchment, smacking it with ink, and putting my status on it.

Stamina: Outstanding (1100+)
Strength: Excellent (900+)
Agility: Inhuman (2500+)
Wits: Excellent (900+)
Endurance: Excellent (900+)
Magina: Outstanding (1000+)
Power: Excellent (900+)

Overall rating: Outstanding (1500)

Skills: Clairvoyance, Slow, Wise, Frostwalker, Voidwalker, Daywalker, Earthwalker, Sixth Sense, Magina Ultrasound, Disarming, Integrity, Savior, Strength; Overempowerment; Dire Straits; Sultan; Situational awareness; Growth Multiplier Acceleration; Appraisal Disrupt; False Appraisal; Appraisal; Intelligence; Conscience Enhancement; Parkour Master; Parkour Basic; Parkour Advanced; Parkour

First Name: Deisuke
Second Name: Kyouya
Last Name: Tsuchiya
Titles: Dex Apprentice (wits +++) Parkour Master (Agility++++), Defender (Endurance +), Peacekeeper (wits ++), Protector of Justice (Power ++)
Overall Rank: X (1002)

Daniella's eyes widen with shock. "Deisuke" she says. "Y- yeah?" I query nervously. "Promise me that you will keep this between us for now" she says. "Okay..." I say. "Understand that I'm doing this for your own good. If word gets out that someone beat Runa to X class after her years and years of hard work in just a few weeks, it could spell some serious trouble for us all. For now, I'm going to put a false page on the wall, one that is only a little bit better than your previous" she says. I suppose that makes sense. It's like how some governments used to lie about their military forces to prevent themselves from ending up on the list of potentially dangerous countries. It makes sense that you wouldn't want to be labelled as a threat. But at the same time, I can't exactly find it in me to blatantly lied about my abilities. At any rate, it's my only choice if I want to stay out of the sights of vigilantes and bounty hunters. "We'll wait until next week, when Runa finally reached X class, to put your new status up" she says. "Alright" I say. We head back downstairs to bring everyone the news. As expected, everyone's jaw drops when they hear about my new status. Daniella explains the game plan to them, and nobody has any objections. "It was a pretty close race, though" says Aries. "I suppose it was just a matter of who got there first" says Sammy. "Still, that's a pretty impressive feat" says Carne. "At least we can't be certain who the hero is yet" says Daniella. "That's a good thing?" Says Carne. "Indeed. I'm not sure why, but I think Prince charming here is going be owed a very big debt by the world" says Daniella. "Whatever you say, boss" says Sammy. "Where's Lilith?" I query. "She's in one of the spare rooms, accompanied by your slave" says Sammy. "Don't make it sound like that!" I say, and she laughs. "How's she doing, anyway?" I ask. "She's learning well. You should be able to communicate with each other now" Sammy says. "I see, that's good" I say. At least she can understand her situation now. I honestly feel sorry for her. I'll do anything in my power to protect that girl. It's my responsibility. "Anyway. I'm tired. I think I'm gonna head back to the inn and take a nice, long nap" says Aries. "Me too" says Carne. "I'll take Lilith home when she wakes up" I say. "don't try anything weird" says Aries. "As if!" I yell. I wouldn't dare lay my hands on such a young girl. It's pretty late in the afternoon, so she might only wake up after dark. Oh well, I suppose I haven't had a night stroll in a while. I'm just nearly as tired as the other two, because if my crazy stamina, but I do still need sleep. I step outside to get some fresh air. The sky seems unusually clear, the stars all shining through and  surrounding the two twin moons. This world is really beautiful. I hear the guild door open up behind me as someone steps outside. I turn to look, and see that it's Lilith. "Why, hello there, miss sleeping beauty" I say. She blushes a slight bit, though I'm not sure why. Maybe the whole story of sleeping beauty and the seven dwarfs doesn't exist here, so she thought I was complementing her. "You slept pretty much that whole trip" I say. "Well I was pretty tired" she says. "I suppose we all get drained every once in a while" I say. "I honestly thought nobody was going to save me" she says. "You should learn to be more optimistic" I say. "That's easier said than done" she says. "I know how you feel" I say. We stand there for a moment, in silence. "Well, I should get you back to your parents before it gets too late" I say. "Oh... right" she says. "Just tell me where to go, I'll stay in front" I say. We begin walking, and i can feel her holding the back of my shirt so that she doesn't get lost. When we arrive at her house, I don't see why she'd run away. It's a beautiful house, and you'd probably never run out of money if you could afford a house like this. "Alright, time I got going" I say. She walks toward her house, all gloomy, as if she didn't want to. Once she's inside, I slowly begin walking back to the guild. Then I hear a shout from the house. It didn't sound good, but it's probably not best to get mixed up in personal issues. Still, I can't just leave, what if something happens to Lilith? Wait, why am I worried about Lilith? The job is done, I've been paid, there's no reason to be involved with her anymore. I go back to the door and hide just outside, listening in. It's the sound of a man and a woman, fighting. I listen closer. "You always want to take everything for yourself, Lilia!" The man shouts. "That's because I can't trust a man who went behind my back with 5 mistresses!" Yells the woman, who I can only assume is Lilia. Jeez, dude, that's just stupid. What, one wasn't enough? Laughable. "Just listen to me for once, Lilia!" The man yells. "How many times have I tried listening to you, Cabal? How many times have you gone back on your word?" Lilia yells. Finally, we got a name for this guy. "Because you never give me a chance!" He yells. "You've blown just about every chance you've had so far, and just recently it drove Lilith into a dungeon!" She yells. "I feel like I should at least get one thing out of this whole deal!" He yells. What deal? Is it a divorce? I sure hope so, and the neighbours probably do, too. "You want something? Fine, then, take it! But you're sure as hell not getting my daughter!" Yells Lilith. "Your daughter? I'm sorry, but the girl is mine!" Hi yells, and I hear a few things rustle about. Hey, now, that's getting awfully close to domestic violence. "Dad, no! Stop it!" Lilith yells, presumably trying to stop her dad from hurting her mom. "Shut up, you eat! This is all your fault!" He yells, hitting Lilith. He hits her so hard that it sends her flying through the front door. That's it. "Are you sure it's not you who's the reason for all this fighting." I ask. "Who the hell are you?" He says, getting up. "Oh, nobody, I was just on my way home when I heard a fight break out, so I decided to listen in. Pardon me for that" I say. "This has nothing to do with you, commoner!" He yells. "Hey, now, there's no need to be so rude" I say. "Get out before I crush your skull!" He says. "You know, I'm starting to think you aren't listening" I say. "Get out! This fight is me for my share! You wouldn't know, you're too poor!" He says. "I wouldn't know? Oh, I'm sorry to disappoint you, but I know very well what's happening here" I say, taking a seat. "Oh, yeah? Then why don't you explain it, tough guy?' he says. This guy's has serious anger issues. "You think you own everything in this relationship, you think you're the boss, the big man" I say. "Shut up!" He says. "Let me finish." I say, standing up. "You're getting a divorce because of your mistake, which, to be honest, you deserve, and now you want to take your daughter to do god only knows what, but Lilia won't let that happen, and honestly, I wouldn't either, having witnessed how you treat her. I want you to think about how unfair that sounds" I say. He simply stands there, thinking about it. There's only one word to describe someone lime that" I say. "What's that?" He asks. "Scum" I say, and he blindly launches a fist at me. He's too predictable, so I grab his arm a bend it backwards over my shoulder, breaking it. He yells out in excruciating pain, and I pick him up and haul him over my shoulder. I stop by Lilith, who's lying on the ground. She's alright, just a little roughed up. "This is the third time I've saved you. You owe me one, okay?" I say, and walk off. "Where are you taking me?" He asks. "To report you to the city guard" I say. "go what? You can't pin me on anything!" He says. "Oh, except for assault, domestic violence, harassment, and a few others. Plus, both Lilith and her mother are eye witnesses" I say, looking him in the eye. "Statistically speaking, you don't stand a chance" I say. He's terrified. When we get to the guard, I turn him in for the charges, and they detain him until tomorrow, when we'll have the eyewitness reports to determine his fate. After leaving, I dust my hands off. All's fair in love and war. Unfortunately, Cabal just wasn't ready to accept that, and it ended up being his downfall. I head back to the inn, ready to get a good night's sleep.

"Deisuke! Wake up, Let's hi ti the guild!" Yells Aries the next morning. "Why?" I mumble. "Runa's graduation party is happening there! There's free drinks and everything!" She says. "That's why? Just go without me!" I say. "No! I wanna go with you!" She says. Geez, she's being extra hyper today. "Fine! I'll go!" I say. No more than an hour later, we're at the already ongoing party. "Oh, Deisuke! How nice to see you!" Says Sammy. "Yeah, I'm only here because of Aries" I say. "Deisuke! Just the person I wss hoping for!" Says Daniella. "Hey Daniella" I say. "Get up here. Now." She says. Well, that totally killed the mood.i go upstairs, and right there's in the centre of the room, is the cutest girl I have ever seen in my life. It's the slave I 'bought'. She bows, keeping her back straight. "Master! Welcome!" She says. It looks like she was drilled to treat her owner that way by those traders. "You can drop the master" I say. "Me... not call you master?" She says. I'm melting. This is too adorable. This has to be an illegal level of cute. her broken speech is so adorable. "Yeah, just call me Deisuke" I say. "Dei... su... ke?' she queries. "Yeah" I say. Her eyes light up. "Deisuke save my life" She yells, running at me and giving me a huge hug. Her tail is going crazy, and I swear I can hear her purring. "What's your name?" I ask. "Me, Luna" She says. She seems really attached. I notice the slave collar around her neck. That's gonna irritate me. "Hey, Daniella, is there any way we can get this collar off?" I Ask. "Not without a high ranking mage" she says. I examine the collar but it seems weak. I grab it and begin pulling it apart. "Don't! You'll make it suffocate her--! " Daniella yells, but the collar simply shatters apart. "I have a feeling that wasn't supposed to happen without a high ranking mage removing it" i say. "You just... you removed the... you took it off... like it was nothing..." She says. She's completely lost for words. "Deisuke... did take bad collar off..." Luna says. Her face brightens up like she's the happiest person on earth. That collar must have put her through a tough time. She's grown a little since last. She just needs to learn how to speak properly, but that shouldn't take long. To be honest, I prefer this state, but unfortunately she can't stay this way. Oh well, I'm sure she'll be just as cute when she learns more. "On another note, Runa has reached X class. We can put yours up tomorrow" Daniella says, obviously changing the subject to avoid having to process what just happened. "Yeah, right" I say. "She should be downstairs" she says. I cant say I'm looking forward to meeting her, but she sounded interesting from what I hear. When we get downstairs, I catch a glimpse of the most terrifying human I've ever seen.

Runa Woodrun, the Trojan Warrior.