Mystical Awakening Online Vol. II (CPN)

Chapter 8: Pickup Party

After we had finished introducing ourselves, we traveled back to town. I asked the twins to wait for me while I started the class change test. We would then meet up at the entrance of the town in about an hour, and after I got the quest we would party up while I completed it. After starting the test I decided to pick up some supplies and head to the entrance of the town. As I approached and I saw the twins who were waving to me.

"Hello Tsubasa sir," Suna said with a smile and a bow.

"Hey Mr. Tsubasa," Mani said flashing another big smile.

"Um, just Tsubasa is fine. You don't have to be so polite with me," I said.

"Alright, Tsubasa," Suna replied.

"No problem, Tsubasa," Mani said as if were nothing.

"Well should we get going?" I asked.

"Yes, let's," "Sure thing," the two of them said.

For my class quest I needed to defeat ten [Cait Sith], and a creature called the [Korvursain] a creature that resembled a cross between a bird and bear. While hunting these monsters, it would serve as a way to gauge their abilities and our ability to work as party. We had left the town the heading into the forest close by. As we walked I glanced down at their Soul Points, Mani had 154 and Suna had 139. They had lost nearly half of their Soul Points, meaning they had died multiple times.

"So," I started, "how did you two end up by yourselves," I asked.

The two looked down for a moment. The atmosphere immediately changed.

"...Well," the girl Suna said her lip quivering, "After, the event began, many people began to group up. We managed to get invited into several parties. But when we..." Suna trailed off for a moment. "... died several times they kicked us out of the parties. We joined several more, but then people began to talk, and well we haven't found anyone else group up with. And we aren't strong enough, by ourselves," she said as she began to tear up.

I glanced over at Mani who was gritting his teeth, he clenched his fist and his shoulders tensed.

They both looked miserable.

"...," I didn't say anything, I wasn't sure what to say.

What could I say to these two whose lives had been turned upside down, and who had been abandoned by the adults who should have been protecting them. And yet, more than that. I too had for a moment considered leaving them to their own devices. The only thing I could do at the moment was give them a helping hand to get them own their feet so they could survive on their own. And at the very least, they had each other to rely on.