(Will Remain Unfinished - New Version Coming) The Legend of Malum (Book One)

Chapter Two: Bright Sunny Day

I couldn't explain it if I tried, but the day seemed so much brighter when you spent it with someone else.

Touring the village with Daffodil felt like something out of a dream. Every time I talked to her, she actually talked back! What more could I want out of life? I was actually having trouble acknowledging every shop we passed because I was too absorbed in our small talk.

At some point, Daffodil asked me if I've ever had a drink called "coffee." I've heard it mentioned, but I've never tried it. A fact she found appalling, so she pulled me into the nearest cafe.

An unfamiliar scent greeted us as we walked inside. It was robust, flavorful, and oddly inviting. There was a short line of people at the counter, and many more seated around us. The air was filled with snippets of conversation.

Daffodil stood in line and I joined her, despite how lost I felt. I've seen lines, but I've never stood in one before. Having no money and living in the wild tended to have that effect. Which reminded me, what was I doing in this line? I didn't have any credits.

"Hey, should I just find a seat?" I asked. "I don't have any money to pay for a drink."

She scoffed. "Obviously. That's why I'm going to buy you one—as long as it's below ten bronze credits—you have to stand here so I know what to get you."

My face grew warm. "Oh. T-thanks! The only thing I've ever drank is water, so I doubt I'd want anything above a bronze credit or two."

She winced, like she regretted giving me a price range. Either that or she was regretting buying me a drink in the first place. When it was our turn to order, I took one look at the menu and froze up. Daffodil must have sensed this because she ordered for me.

When they asked her to pay, she pushed back her cloak, revealing a green bag with a shoulder strap. I couldn't believe that I didn't notice it sooner. Did it just appear out of thin air? Was that why she wore the cloak?

Once we had our drinks, we sat down next to a window. You could see the entire plaza through it. She claimed that my drink was coffee like hers, but I couldn't see any liquid under the mountain of whipped cream. I didn't understand any of the made-up words on the menu, so I asked her to order something sweet. Apparently that translated into a cloud made entirely of cream.

"Don't hold it from the bottom, you'll burn your hand!" she practically screamed as I reached for the cup. Her face dropped when I picked it up no problem. "What? Doesn't that hurt?"

I smirked. "Nope. Heat doesn't bother me; it's my Signature Art. Even without holding my Anima, hot stuff can't hurt me. I can also light my sword on fire, shoot fireballs out of it, and . . . I don't know, maybe breathe fire. I've never tried it before. Should I try it right now?!"

She grimaced. "Great, now you're a walking fire hazard. I don't know understand why I have to say this, but no, I don't want to see you try to breathe fire while we're in this respectable establishment."

I shrugged. "If you say so, but remind me later! Speaking of Anima Arts, I've been meaning to ask you about the kind you use. I noticed that you carry around an Anima despite the fact that—well, you know—so what's up with that? Does it make more powerful Arts or something?"

She glanced down at her waist, where the broken staff was attached behind her cloak. "Um, y-you know, you're surprisingly p-perceptive! It reminds me of something I noticed about you. That Vitality-seeing Art you mentioned, you said that you created it. How is that possible?"

I took a sip of my whipped cream. "Is that special? Can't you make up Arts?"

"Of course I can't! Anima Arts have to be learned and understood before you can go around casting them. The only exception is your Signature Art, which is imprinted in your brain as well as in your Spirit. If you can just make up Arts and use them like that, well we probably shouldn't discuss something like that in public. There are ears everywhere."