Throwing her hands down to her side, Akari stared upward, raindrops falling down her cheeks as she pondered what had just happened.
That girl vanished without a trace…
Her eyes closed slowly, a deep breath coming from her chest, the effects of her training beginning to catch up with her.
The jacket she had so effortlessly tied onto herself had nearly been soaked through, water slowly dousing her underclothes.
Sighing quietly, she looked around the area, checking for anywhere she could get a meal and dry off.
I'd kill for some ribs right now…
Around her, the high brick walls that towered into the sky hung blank without any murals or graffiti sprayed onto them.
Behind the girl, shopfronts had been hastily closed to prevent the coming storm; however, one light remained flickering in the fog.
Turning around and walking towards the light, Akari's eyes scanned the handwritten sign, furrowing her brow in confusion.
"Vinny's Delight? Is this some sort of food stall?"
Squinting into the windows, she couldn't make out much of anything other than some tables and a main counter.
I wonder if it's open…
Raising her hand to knock on the glass, she heard an elderly woman inside croak out a response before she could even let herself be known.
"I-Is that a customer?"
Her voice was quiet and kind, that of a grandmother who was treating her grandchildren to a meal.
Akari winced slightly as the memory of her own grandparents flashed through her mind, the feelings of love she had for them overwhelming the unusual feeling of concern wedging its way into her chest.
Opening her mouth to speak, the pink-haired girl turned the doorknob slowly, the creak of rusted metal echoing out in a shrill screech.
"Hello, Ma'am. How are you?"
Stepping inside, she awaited the woman's response as she looked around the interior calmly.
Wooden beams supported the structure's ceiling, and various picture frames and drawings hung from them by thin strings.
Some were of families, some were of places, and some even of celebrities or government officials.
However, out of all the artistic renders, the one piece that stood alone from the collection was a single framed picture that was surrounded by green candles.
Their flames burned bright, sparks of mystical energy and mana coursing from the paper into the fire, fueling it endlessly.
Curiosity filled the pink-haired girl's mind as she took a step forward, the creaking of the wood reverberating through the building.
"Are you interested in my grandson, Missy?"
The elderly woman shot through the room, forcing Akari to flinch and whip around to see the grandmother's appearance.
Her hair was thick, white, tied back into braids that drooped down her back like streams of string.
Wrinkles hugged her skin tightly, yet a flicker of youth could still be seen within the woman's eyes as if even while her body withered, her spirit remained resolute.
H-How did this old lady sneak up on me?
Feeling silly to reach for her weapon simply for an elderly lady, Akari only stepped back, nearly bumping into the portrait behind her.
"Miss, I would recommend you back away from that picture!"
The white-haired elder's voice was sharp, concern echoing through each word as she nearly lunged to move Akari away.
Yet, she was too late; a single green spark burst from the candle, landing on the girl's shoulder lightly like a blossom from a tree.
There was a pause, not a single event occurring, as the pink-haired girl smiled gently, beginning to reassure the woman.
"Ma'am, it's alright. I'll make sure not to knock down the—"
Her mouth froze as her vision waned, reality itself warping as whispers bombarded her ears.
"Help us… Save us… Kill us…"
Voices of sorrowful longing shot through her body, forcing her to her knees as her skin twitched and burned.
Trying to look ahead only allowed her to see the grandmother's terrified face as she gripped the pink-haired girl's hand, soothing her as the feelings coursed through her body.
Agonizing tremors shook her like seizures, horrifying sights flashing behind her eyes, a loop of suffering.
Men slain in battles, blood dripping from severed heads as the enemy brutally executed the soldiers, leaving their corpses to be ripped apart by dogs.
Others were torn limb from limb as a sea terror dug through flesh, bone, and eventually heart, ending their lives in a flash.
Each vision was worse than the last, the sheer discomfort and pain that the souls felt in their last moments flowing through Akari's body as if it were her own.
Then, less than a minute later, she collapsed, the pain dissipating in droves, her eyes clearing to reveal the woman's worried face.
Hurriedly kicking off the ground, the pink-haired girl slid across the floor, landing only a few meters from the entrance, a guarded expression on her face.
"W-What the hell did you do to me!?"
Reaching for her weapon, she unclicked the safety, finger on the trigger at this elderly woman whose face was as pale as snow.
"I-I'm terribly sorry, Miss! I-I f-forgot to cover the altar when he told us he would be visiting!"
The sound of loud, heavy footsteps echoed through the building as a figure emerged from the darkness, a shovel in hand.
Light gradually shone across his face, revealing the expression of a gruff man, one with the build of a superhuman.
His hair was a similar color to the elderly woman's, yet a strand of blue cloth was tied around some of the ends, gently blowing in the air.
The man's face was pointed, a slight beard trimmed to perfection ever-so-slightly hid a vicious gash that streaked up and down his cheek.
Around his torso, a thick, fluffy fleece, obviously woven by his grandmother, wrapped around his massive body, a small picture of a dancing skeleton in the middle.
At his waist, a belt adorned with golden skulls shone with green light as the sounds of souls echoed throughout the chamber.
Looking down at the girl who aimed the gun, he simply blinked his glowing blue eyes, a frown wrinkling his forehead.
Opening his mouth to speak, he addressed the elderly woman first, tinges of anger laced into his voice.
"Grandmother. What happened here?"
While his speech was short, immense power lay behind each word, striking impossible levels of fear into the pink-haired girl's heart.
The elderly woman, who happened to be this man's grandmother, spoke quickly, obviously flustered by everything occurring.
"Vael! I told you to remove that awful altar because it frightened customers, yet you didn't do it!"
Her harsh words made the man take a step back, a strange paleness emerging on the fully grown man's face as he stared down the elder.
"I-I didn't mean to—"
His words, now lacking any sort of conviction or power, were drowned out as the white-haired woman interrupted him.
"You go apologize to that nice girl right now! She's obviously part of the Guild and you know what time of the year it is!"
The lady's infuriated roar made the man shiver, his body moving faster than Akari's eyes could follow.
Within a flash of movement, impossible to see, the pink-haired girl was on her feet, gun holstered, and a steak kebab in hand.
"W-What in—"
Confusion immediately blinded the girl as she looked between the angered grandma and the shamed man.
The shovel that had been in his hand had vanished, replaced with a strange tool that he had tied to his side.
W-Who are these people…
Turning her attention to the elderly woman, she watched as the lady opened her mouth, poking her grandson in the side.
Deciphering the unspoken message, the bearded man rubbed the back of his head, apologizing quietly.
"I-I'm sorry I didn't seal the altar again…"
Akari, watching this situation unfold, held in the urge to laugh as she watched the grown man be whipped into shape by his grandma.
The only thing that prevented her from shrugging the entire situation off was the strange sense of resemblance that the man portrayed.
His appearance was oddly familiar, a feeling not uncommon to natives of the Sea of Dreams, yet in this regard, something else tugged at her core.
"Have I seen you before, sir?"
Placing the meat skewer on a plate and furrowing her brow, she saw the man's posture tense up, the strong presence surrounding him returning quickly.
As he opened his mouth to respond calmly, his grandmother interrupted him, answering before him.
"Of course you've heard of my grandson here! Making grandma and grandpa proud by becoming the strongest of the Sea Kings!"
The room froze, Akari's entire body coming to a halt as she made the connection between this tall, powerful man and the person at the top of the world.
"Y-You're…"
She could only utter the words before the white-haired woman spoke again, obvious pride overcoming her annoyance with her grandson.
"Vaelmyr Droskyn! King of Souls and only second in strength to the First King himself!"