PART 1 :-
LYRA'S VAULT
[Four months after Mini won the trial.]
MC perspective :-
"Woo… hoo… I never believed that I could have free labor. Hahehe!"
I'm doing labor right now. Why!? Because I promised I would do anything if that old geezer helped me with Mini.
"Hey!!! Bright said he would do anything, so why are we also working in your shop, doing everything while you're just sitting there laughing???" Dex said, furious with anger.
"What!!! Isn't it natural to help when one of your friends is doing something? You should help each other. That way, you'll build more trust and eventually become a great team."
"What kind of logic is that?????"
"Don't look for logic in everything…"
We saw a powerful punch slam into the old geezer's face, knocking him to the ground. Then I noticed Aunt Iras and Mini standing there. She grabbed his collar and said—
"How many times do I have to tell you never to exploit those boys? If you do that again, I'll pull out every single hair from your face."
"Woo… Aunty's surely in an angry mood."
Bond hit me again.
"You shouldn't call her 'Aunty,' especially when she doesn't like it."
"It's alright. You can call me Aunty."
"Woo… that's surprising. You used to get angry whenever I called you Aunty," Mini said to her.
"Ooo… my lady, how could I ever get angry with you!? It's just that I don't like anyone else calling me that. Look, I'm still as young as you. But he's an exception. After all, it's his reward for helping you."
"Hey—why are you here???"
"I want to try a new weapon for my lady. Let's see… show me a whip this time."
"Seriously, you already know what suits her. It's better if you go with that."
"It's hard for my lady to master."
"What is that, Iras???"
"Aamm…"
"She is afraid that you might not be able to master the weapon that's best suited for you."
"What!!"
The old geezer threw a strange-looking sword toward her.
"What is this??"
"It's called Urumi. It's unique because its blade is made of long, razor-sharp, flexible steel that behaves just like a whip (chabuk) while cutting like a sword."
"But why this?"
"You have a dual nature in your fighting style—a sword and a whip. That's why an Urumi is the perfect weapon for you, my lady. But it's extremely difficult to master. If you hesitate even for a split second while attacking your opponent, the weapon can turn against you. In the worst case, you could even be killed by your own weapon. It takes years to master, and we don't have enough time because the ritual is approaching."
"So that's why you made me train with both a sword and a whip before."
"Yes. But one side of your nature suppresses the other. That's why neither the sword nor the whip works properly for you."
"So the best way is for me to master this, isn't it? I'll do it."
"Are you sure, my lady? It might hurt you."
"It's alright. I'll learn it in time."
"If that's what you want, then catch this…"
He threw another Urumi toward her.
"That is a duplicate—or rather, it's an earlier stage of an Urumi before it's completed. It's not sharp, so it won't cut you. But if you use it carelessly, it can still hurt you."
"Which weapons are suitable for you guys?"
"Well, I'll go with a sword."
Bond picked up a sword and started swinging it through the air. He was already pretty good with it.
"I think I'll go with a hammer. But I'd be fine with an axe too."
"What about you, Bright? What are you going to choose?"
"Hmm… I won't fight with any weapon. Juha told me no weapon would choose me anyway. So I'll rely on my hands and body."
"Then you'll have to master hand-to-hand combat very quickly."
"Yeah. Juha told me he'll teach me martial arts before the academy starts."
"Now, now. If your conversation is finished, get lost, everyone. I have some work to do."
The old geezer started closing the shop.
"Hey, old man, why don't you give this shop a name? Every other shop has one."
He suddenly stopped what he was doing, as if he had frozen.
"I don't want to give it a name. It's fine the way it is."
"It's not fine. Dex brought up a great point. This shop needs a name."
"I'm the owner of this shop, and I don't want one."
"Well… it had one before."
"Iriii… you know I don't want that."
"What was its name before?" I asked.
He remained silent.
"Well, it used to be called Lyra'sVault."
That's a good name. Why doesn't the old man want to use it? Was Lyra someone precious to him?
"Hey, bring that nameplate."
He took out an old nameplate. It was so clean that it looked as if it had been polished today. He had surely taken great care of it.
"Who is Lyra?" Bond asked.
"Someone special to me. But I…"
"It's an old name now…" Dex said as he examined the nameplate.
"Hey, who were Violet and Bridge?" Dex asked.
"Where did you find those names?"
"Look at this corner. It says, 'Violet loves Bridge.'"
The four of us gathered around to look at it.
"They must have been lovers," Dex said.
Then he placed the nameplate above the entrance of the shop.
"So, Lyra's Vault is reborn today. Though personally, I would've preferred Old Geezer's Vault. Hahaha."
We all burst into laughter except for the old man and Aunty.
......…..
PART 2 :-
LAND OF TIDAL
[After everyone leaves the vault, Sagurd sits in front of the nameplate, staring at it.]
"I thought you wouldn't allow them to do that."
"The only one who ever had that right was Violet. She was the one who suggested that half of this shop belonged to her. I guess he has the right to decide that."
"You should've told him about his identity. If he finds out from someone else, it might hurt him even more."
"That nameplate reminds me of the sins I've committed in the past. He's also the one who has suffered because of them. If he ever learns the truth about me, he'll surely hate me. I don't want him to leave me… at least not until he becomes strong."
"Is that Trueheart!? It's been decades since I last saw it in action."
"It's been years since I last drew it from its scabbard."
"You want to hand it over to your disciple, don't you?"
"He's the one most worthy of wielding it. But the problem is that his desire for revenge keeps him from listening to the sword. I'm afraid that if that sword chooses him during the ritual, there'll be no way to stop him from pursuing his revenge. No one has ever been able to break that cycle."
"Bond is intelligent. At least his IQ is higher than yours. It doesn't matter whether the sword chooses him or not. One day, he may understand. Or perhaps, in the future, he'll carry on your legacy."
......…..
Bond perspective :-
[At the academy, during the theory classes.]
"Today, I will told you about a new land and a new religion. The most mysterious among every religion exists. The Land of Tidal, also known as the land of fisheries. That land literally float on the sea. It's surrounded by sea or you can say five or six holy ships connect with eachother and create this land."
He takes a pause and started to explains us.
"The Land of Tidal people belief in the seagod. We don't know much about them that much. But what we find out is that, their people believe in three creatures Dagon, Atargatis and Minoan. They believe that those three create every sea creatures and those creatures evolution makes so many creatures which we can see in the soil. They doesn't love to interact with the outside. So, in most of the war they stay away. Whenever they take a part on a war. That nation always win which was supported by them. So in geopolitics, they play a very major role."
"They also have warriors!!??"
"Hmm… the holy warriors known as Tideguard. They are extremely powerful. In water no-one have a chance against them. Atleast if you are not a z ranker."
"So in other words, we must make a good relationship with them or it might troublesome for us."
"Yes, you can say that."
"You mentioned something Dagon, Minoan or Atargatis, What is this creatures??"
"Atargatis is a holy gaint marmaid. They represent love and fertility. You can interact with those who follows Atargatis. They are friendly. But their are people who follows Dagon, a mysterious sea creatures only seen by the people of Tidal, and you can't interact with them. And Minoan is sea snake which represents the protection. The people who follows them never leave the Land of Tidal. Their only goal is the protection of the land. They can do whatever just to protect their home."
"That's it!!"
"Yes, we don't know much more about them."
"Hey Bright, what are you thinking!??"
"The people who follows Minoan, they don't care about the outside. They just protect their land. Those are the people I am really wants to meet. If I ever have a chance to go there I will definitely meet them."
......…..
PART 3 :-
WORRY OR COMFORT
MC perspective :-
[While walking down the road after finishing classes at the academy.]
The weather is calm today, and there are so many people around.
"What happened!? Why did you stop!?"
I saw a face. I don't know his name, but he was staring at me. Lots of people stare at me, but the looks they give me are filled with nothing but hate. There's never any kindness in their eyes.
But this look was different.
It was as if he wanted something from me.
"No… it's nothing."
I started walking again, but that face…
What!?
It had disappeared.
Just before he vanished, he smiled.
Does he want my powers? Is he after me!? Is he going to hurt the others to get to me? What if he hurts... or even kills... Bond?
......…..
Bond perspective :-
[In the room.]
"Hey, you've been quiet all day."
"Have I?"
"Yeah. You usually argue with everyone, make terrible jokes, and somehow turn every conversation into a disaster. Today, you've done none of that."
"I'm just tired."
"Maybe. But it looks like something's bothering you."
Bright looked away.
"It's nothing."
"Okay."
"Okay? You're not going to say anything?"
"You either don't want to talk about it, or you're not able to. Isn't that right? I understand. If you're not okay, then that's alright."
"It's just... there's something I can't tell anyone. I want to... but I can't, because I'm afraid."
I understand that feeling very well. There are so many things I can't tell you either. You're going through the same thing I am.
"Then don't tell anyone."
"What?"
"I'm serious. You don't owe anyone your secrets. If you're not ready, then you're not ready."
"But what if I have to deal with it alone?" Bright asked with a faint smile.
"Who said you're alone?"
"You don't even know what's wrong."
"I don't need to."
"Then how can you help?"
"Because helping isn't always about solving the problem. Sometimes it's just sitting beside someone until they can stand again. Isn't that what you do for everyone else? You're the one who taught me that."
He looked much calmer now.
"Hey... thanks."
"What are you thinking for!? I owe you everything. Without you, I don't think I'd even be alive right now. So no matter what happens, I'll always stand by your side."
"Woo… you're really smart. Well... at least smarter than me."
"If you put it that way, then I'm also more handsome than you."
"Hey!! I'm not that bad-looking."
"When did I say you were bad-looking? It's just that I'm too handsome. And why are you getting angry? You've got the most beautiful girl in the world."
"Umm... we're not dating," he said in an embarrassed voice.
"What!? You still haven't told her how you feel?"
"Well... I told her she's important to me... and she also said she wants to stand by my side..."
Idiot. He still hasn't realized what she was trying to tell him.
"Well, I'm happy, though. That means I can spend more time with her now."
There it is.
That's the smile I was missing.
You are the light of my life. You may not be the smartest, but you are the kindest person I know. You can forgive people who treated you like trash, and that's what makes you greater than me.
Because I don't forget anything.
I remember everything.
My memories never fade.
That's the biggest lie I've ever told you.
......…..