At first glance, the thought of traversing and scaling Linuxinia Mountain didn't seem like a big deal to the group. But now that they had seen it up close, they all realized this would be more of a challenge than they had first thought.
The sunset filled the sky with the deep color of rubies and set the clouds ablaze against the humble dusk. Carriages rolled in and out of the distant town of Oksanna Village. Peace at last—yet the wanderers still didn't feel secure.
After the troubling conflict that had been stirred up inside the Adventurer's Guild, Asahi, Aletha, and the others were escorted outside of the building by Joshilyn, who informed them as they saw the streetlights glimmer among the stone roads.
"So, now that both groups are prepared from weaponry to registration on recruitment for an Adventurer's License..."
She whispered faintly, then straightened, lifting her head and posture with purpose.
"Although some of you already have one... I will now introduce all of you to your transportation methods!"
With a bright and enthusiastic tone, Joshilyn directed everyone's attention toward the lot ahead by pointing and gesturing with her hands.
One was a horse-drawn carriage with a decent exterior. It was suitable for driving on flat terrain. The other was midnight blue—a ground-dragon carriage with an oddly shaped, spherical compartment. It was fit for scaling mountainous terrain.
Asahi expressed doubt and fear looking at the carriage. He imagined horrible scenarios and remembered past situations, such as when their carriage had collapsed on the bridge from Pladtioa, or if it suddenly broke and the ground gave way. His heart pounded in his chest. His palms grew moist with sweat, and his mind raced, clouded with anxiety. Each vivid memory of past mishaps tightened his muscles, leaving him tense and uneasy. "I don't know. That doesn't look sturdy to me."
Canyon scratched his chin and lifted his arm. His gray hair flew in the chilling night breeze, and his thick, emerald-green coat splashed a mixture of orange and azure before he made a burlesque expression of confidence and pride in his statement.
"Well, judging by the exterior and the bolts drilled onto the sides, I say it's sturdy enough."
Fint added.
"Yeah... I don't think--
But luckily enough, Joshilyn informed while petting the lime-green-colored ground dragon.
"Don't worry, the carriage has been thoroughly examined, and the results indicate it's fit for driving."
On the other hand, this ground dragon was well-tamed and perfect for mountain travel. The creature's scales shimmered with an ethereal green glow, matching the hues of its enormous, lime-green body, which allowed it to blend seamlessly into the lush terrain.
It possessed a set of powerful wings, tucked neatly against its sides, not for flight but for stabilizing its gait across rugged paths.
Magic pulses gently through its veins, granting it the ability to sense potential landslides or unstable grounds, ensuring the group's safety as it traverses the mountain.
"Do not worry. The ground dragon is trained to stay even if the carriage somehow gets loose. The complicated magic system had grown even more complex, with Soil Canisters and Hand Magic. He wondered if this nation ever used Soil Canisters in the first place.
Goosebumps prickled on Asahi's arms as he forced a smile in Kali's presence. He glanced nervously her way, then darted toward the brunette-haired girl, voice wavering as he spoke.
"A...Are you sure that this carriage is thoroughly built?"
Brunella nodded, peering out with her brown eyes at the beautiful scenery of lush, towering green mountains and rich, brown dirt.
"I'm optimistic that our engineers have carefully designed and planned the carriage's construction. It was PLANNED to be released for adventures tomorrow, but..."
She lifted her chin, gazing toward the sky's shimmering pink and orange hues.
"I figured waiting a few hours would just be a waste of time. As long as you take good care of the carriage, I'll give it to your group. But you'd better ensure you return it, or else you will have to pay for it."
Asahi gulped and nodded, striding to the carriage with his dirt-stained boots and chalky mocha attire glistening with amber color.
"U-Understood."
Promptly, Aletha, Kali, and others were also preparing for the training session, grabbing tools, utensils, and food in case things went wrong.
They watched the clouds light up as the sun sank. With the sun's rays brightening the far hills, Aletha turned to Kali and questioned her about her brother's peculiar response.
"Do you know what happened to my brother? He... looked... different than when I saw him before."
Kali's cheeks flushed as she met Aletha's gaze. Her mind flashed back to Asahi's smile, the memory vivid and lingering. She stared downward, unable to let the vision fade from her thoughts.
Aletha snapped her fingers near Kali's ear, hoping to get her attention. Kali startled, turned quickly, and replied while scratching her head in embarrassment.
"O... Oh, he was just smiling, that's all! What, you haven't seen your brother smile before?'
Aletha hunched her shoulders with a sad inquiry that seemed to dwell within her quirky actions. She sighed deeply and turned back to Kali, answering with a familiar voice.
"Well, not that I remember. The only time I remember seeing my brother smile or genuinely laugh was before the calamity years ago. Ever since we lost everything, even in the lightest moments, the only thing that came close to a genuine smile was a slight smirk."
Kali stepped back, placing a hand over her heart and gasping at Aletha's words.
"R...Really? That's... sad. What... did you lose?"
A heavy and somber calm settled as the evening deepened. A wave of depression gnawed at Aletha's soul, making her blurt out random words in a desperate attempt to ease the heaviness in her heart.
"I... I... I lost..."
The emotional reaction overwhelmed Aletha so suddenly that for a moment she imagined her mother standing before her. Her mind, already strained, played tricks that left her calling out and yearning for the love she'd lost.
"Mom, please... I need help, I'm scared, I'm lost. Where are you? "
Kali edged away, silent and confused by Aletha's sudden cries.
"..."
Aletha squeezed her eyes shut, tears collecting on her eyelashes.
"I miss you, I miss dad... I miss our home. I want to hug you. I'm so scared, Mama. Where did you go? I want to go to the grass fields and run! I want to see the snow pigs!"
It's too hard for her to consider that the world she sees now isn't the same as it was back then.
Aletha couldn't hold her emotions anymore.
Even in the darkest moments in pladtioa, she had always suppressed her mental breakdowns to avoid making a scene.
But given such freedom and now bearing and harvesting the thought and accurate remembrance of the old world and family, Aletha broke down amidst a peaceful setting.
"I want to see you! I want to go home! Don't you see how beautiful the sky is today? You said you always love the clouds! L-Look... over there!"
It's as if she were smitten by a sudden spasm, causing most in the group to panic and question her sudden, immature breakdown.
Unfortunately, Asahi had already taken off... so even if she wanted comfort, not even one of the last members of their family could help, leaving Aletha to unleash a river of remorseful tears.
Aletha's voice caught in her throat, her expression showing disapproval and disappointment as she looked at the vast green hills glowing orange in the sunset.
"Mom, our world doesn't look the same. I... I want to see you again..."
Phthonus looked to Kali and squinted, mumbling as others watched from the background.
"What did you do?"
Kali swallowed hard and shook her head, unable to explain.
"I-I don't know..."
He clenched his jaw and glanced back at Aletha, memories of Drimi racing through his mind. Feeling cornered, he reasoned that telling Aletha the truth now would only worsen her mood, so he hesitated.
"I will have to restrain myself from informing her until she calms down."
Phthonus decided not to tell Aletha.
Afterward, Aletha visibly relaxed slightly, turning to view the landscape. She focused on the scarlet flowers and emerald trees, drawing comfort from memories of a happier time.
. . .
Not long after, Joshilyn gathered everyone together near the carriage and began explaining their training session.
* * *
(Back in the present)
Asahi's group was still a considerable distance away from the mountain.
They were only at the beginning hills where the tallest trees had thrived. The waterfalls were at their tallest, and life sputtered. Bridges began extending far across tall and dangerous gaps, but the bottom was reinforced with steel.
Before their arrival, Asahi's appetite was weak, having consumed only noodles and a few other foods the previous day. Joshilyn's boredom caught up to her, so she decided to bring a few snacks during their travels, in case things went wrong.
Chloe's brown eyes darted to Joshilyn's fingers that were burning not from the fire but because of her uncontrollable passion for cooking. Then, her eyes met Asahi's, forming an introduction and sparking a conversation with the traditional question that would solidify a friendship.
"What's your name?"
A silence fell between them. Asahi stared out the window and took in the beautiful scenery. It was one of the only things that could pique his interest.
After he heard Chloe ask, Asahi transitioned to the foreign language that only Chloe was familiar with and replied.
"Oh? My name is Asahi. Asahi Adtraic." He said with a smile, and his stomach grumbled, but he ignored it and tilted his head to Chloe, trying to keep his smile. "What's your's?"
A look of astonishment beamed up in Chloe's brown eyes.
"Asa... hi? Wow. I've never heard that word before, well... not from this world. It was from another."
Asahi raised his eyebrows.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean... It's a word that came from my homeworld. Earth." Chloe expressed as she pressed her hands against her chest confidently. "Specifically, from this place called Japan. D...Do you know what it means?"
A calm yet strange emotion bloomed in Asahi, like a sprout springing up in the air of knowledge.
Although he knew who had named him, he never thought these specific identifications held any meaning.
Asahi replied, forgetting about time management.
"Not at all. I don't recollect these names having any sort of meaning within them. All I thought about was that they were just given words."
Chloe covered her mouth and froze in place in surprise.
"R... Really? Strange. How does your mother know a name from my world if you were born in a completely different place?" She shook her thoughts aside, and as the carriage approached the first of many bridges, Chloe pushed her hair to the side and continued.
"N... Nevermind. If you really want to know, your name means "rising sun" in Japanese. It's a really poetic and beautiful name. I was surprised you had it, despite being from another world."
A teeming spark of curiosity bloomed in the boy.
"Huh? So, if my name means... rising sun in your world's language? Do you know what my sister's name means?"
Chloe made a prideful smirk. She knew exactly what that name meant, despite it not having been used for a long time. The confident young woman snapped her fingers and clicked her teeth in response.
"Aletha? Hmmm. That's a very unusual name. It hasn't been used for a while. Well, that name means verity. It's another word for truth."
A sort of stunned incredulity beamed on Asahi's face. A realization struck him, recalling his sister's keen insight and ability to see through lies.
"Truth? Well, that makes complete sense now! No wonder my sister could detect liars and find truth in everything. Because she was named after that word." His gray eyes glinted with a flood of curiosity. "If Aletha means truth, and my name, rising sun. Then I wonder what the other names of my friends mean."
Chloe rolled her eyes and crossed her arms.
"Hey, before you get all caught up in interest, I'm not Mrs. No-it-all! I don't know every meaning, just a little. If you really want to learn the meanings, why not visit a library and find some? I bet you there will be some there."
Chloe faked a smile; she sniffed and found a tingling, steaming aroma from the room inside the carriage, then jumped up, following the scent.
"What smells so good?!"
Canyon hastily backed up and scrutinized her.
"Yes, that aroma is so enticing. Wait, I thought this was a training session, not a feast!"
Before the carriage crossed a bridge, the door swung open and revealed a petite girl holding a spoon, stirring a grainy substance in a pot. It was just in time for a late dinner.
. . .
Once the carriage stopped halfway near the opening of a cavern, what looked like a rock obstacle course, Asahi, Chloe, and the rest bounced out of the carriage, eager for what was to come.
The moonlight shone high, casting its rays on the emerald green and chocolate brown hills. Asahi rushed out and turned to Chloe, who looked concerned about the girl who stood at the entrance of the carriage, holding four levitating spoons and several bowls of rice without actually carrying any of them.
"What is she doing?"
Asahi added.
"I think she's giving a treat."
Suddenly, a hard, solid metal spoon flew toward Asahi's cheek, hitting and spanking his face before it levitated in front of his chest. His face turned red, and he screamed.
"What the heck--"
"Silence. This is your meal. Don't be picky." The brown-haired girl, whose eyes glowed a brilliant golden luminance, held several bowls of hot steaming rice (applied with extra moisture to give it its touch) with what seemed to be "telekinesis" powers. She threw all the bowls "nicely" toward Canyon, Chloe, Brunella, and Ubel, who had not said a word until now.
"You literally didn't have to toss the bowls to us? Couldn't you just use your hands?"
Brunella also tried to show a frustrated look, but feared the possibility of losing her job. So, she remained silent and only gave a sneer. Ubel smacked his forehead and forced himself to sit down, grabbing the levitating spoon and squinting at Joshilyn.
"This better taste good."
Joshilyn winked. Her personality seemed to have shifted when she exited the carriage, adopting a lenient and goofy tone, much like the other strange people in Linuxinia. This just downright confused Asahi, who questioned why the magic in this world was the most incoherent sack of poison he had ever seen.
"Goodness, the magic in this world is weird."
Telos had no business intervening in the situation.
(Don't worry, it only gets stranger.)
Asahi gnashed his teeth.
"When will you stop appearing out of nowhere?"
(Never. I just found this situation interesting, that's all.)
As he began to scoop the first portion of rice and smelled its steam, tingling his nostrils, Ubel raised his hand and asked, his face beaming with satisfaction, as he chewed every last grain of this wonderfully tasting rice.
"Wow! This tastes fantastic! Joshilyn, or whoever cooked this rice? What flavor is this?"
Joshilyn stepped forward and covered her mouth with a spoon, squatting down.
"Rice."
Brunella raised an eyebrow.
"Eh? What are you implying, boss?"
Joshilyn turned her head around.
"Rice. That's the flavor."
Everyone, including Chloe, looked at Joshilyn with an intruding sneer of confusion, sparking an argument shortly after.
"Eh?!"
Ubel jumped in and slurped the last remnants of the rice. He dropped his spoon and stepped forward, hearing the petite girl chuckle behind the spoon's surface.
"Rice? What do you mean, RICE?! That's the food's name, not the flavors."
Joshilyn just added.
"Rice. That's the flavor."
Canyon choked and spat out the rice in confusion.
"So you're saying that what we are eating is rice-flavored rice? It tastes different from the rice I have eaten before."
Joshilyn made a smile of pride.
"Yup. It's rice that is flavored like rice. It's single-handedly my favorite specialty in cooking."
"HOW DOES THAT EVEN WORK?!"
Asahi placed his bowl down, thinking about the absurdity of the flavor's name. Of course, the granular substance of calories would taste like what it was. But why would the flavor of it be called rice? Asahi had to find out, no matter what it took.
"How can a food be flavored after itself if it tastes different?"
Joshilyn snickered.
"Come on, it's just rice. That's the flavor."
"Yeah, but HOW is it like that? What seasonings make it different compared to the other kinds of rice? I know you have to have added some seasoning."
Ubel sighed.
"It's just RICE if it's flavored after RICE! There's no need to bounce in--
Canyon caged his fingers, invested in the debate.
"Hmm, so if rice is flavored after itself, then the illusion and dumb name being called rice just make it seem as if we're tasting the same subject when in reality, it just tasted different before Joshilyn had implied that the flavor is rice flavored." He snapped his fingers and drew the attention of everyone.
"If this rice is the same flavor and named after itself, then there would be no need to name it rice-flavor. It's just cooked rice."
Ubel erupted with a look of confusion, disturbing the environment as the moon rose higher into the horizon.
"Yeah, this debate is so UTTERLY stupid! I thought the owner of the Adventurer's Guild was intelligent, not some sort of joke. It's damn rice; no need to name it! It's rice with seasoning! Now that I mention it, the rice just tastes like rice!"
Joshilyn stomped her feet.
"But there IS a difference. See, rice-flavored rice is different compared to regular rice. Instead of the meal tasting the same with no flavor, I have applied extra ingredients to specialize and refine the aftertaste."
Ubel, Canyon, and Asahi tilted their heads.
"Oh, and what ingredients did you put in it?"
Joshilyn giggled and covered her mouth.
"Nothing."
An unimaginably dumb silence dawned in the area. Telos was even dumbfounded by the utterly useless and stupid debate, so he covered his ears and tried to conceal himself behind Asahi's soul.
Before they knew it, forty-five minutes were wasted as the entire group debated whether rice-flavored rice was just rice.
However, what the group didn't realize was that Joshilyn had added a sleeping formula to the food, so that as it settled in, everyone would fall asleep and start a new day, where the actual training would begin.
But of course, Joshilyn, the strangely confusing girl, never told them this.
And she watched as one member of the group collapsed into a deep slumber, one by one.