After school, the gossip has spread far. "Hey did you hear about that mock battle with the instructor?" "I was there!" Kota stepped out the gate of the front of the school. His head lay low as to not draw any attention. The embarrassment of having the entire school speak about him has struck a cord deep. His pace of walking home was fast, trying to leave the premise of the other students as fast as he could. "Heeyyyy!!" A voice yelled from behind.
Kota stopped in his tracks. "Hey, it's you right? Kota?" A familiar voice spoke out. "Amelia?" He replied, his head still hanging low to not draw attention. "I almost didn't notice you, since your wearing that hoodie. Why? It's summer?" Amelia asked, teasingly. "Would you mind if we walk and talk?" He asked. "Of course!" They both left the school in a haste. "How far away is your house from the school?" Amelia asked, starting up small talk. "Umm around 25 minutes." Kota responded. "So.." Amelia said while trying to think. (I have to keep this conversation going..) "Hey I'm sorry for leaving you in that closet…" Sincerely Kota spoke up. "No, no. It's fine, I'm glad your safe. I was so worried about you, I heard you went to the hospital and was in a terrible condition.." She glance away while walking beside him.
Clouds were forming overhead, dark and gloomy. "Ah it looks like it's going to rain soon. We should hurry up." Kota spoke up, breaking the awkward silence. They both ran to shelter, a nearby gazebo that was in vision. "Ahh sorry I didn't check the weather today." Kota said after catching his breath, gazing out into the road covered in water now. "It's okay." Amelia said hastily. Turning his head towards her. "Are you alri…" her clothes see through from the rain, a glimpse of her bra shown bright red. "Sorry sorry." Kota spoke up. His face blushed, not able to find the right words. "It's okay, it was my fault." She spoke up with confidence, as her face blushed.
After sitting in silence for what seemed like an eternity, the rain finally let up. "Hey my house is only right down the road so ima head there." Amelia spoke up once the rain let up. "No problem. I'll see you at school tomorrow." he said as she took off running. Kota sat there for a while longer before making his way home drenched from the rain.
"Ahhh finally home." Kota said as he was in the bath. Steam rising and the sound of silence in a peaceful house was bliss to him. After around 20 minutes Kota finally stepped out the bathroom with a towel on only to be shocked. "Shina…" An awkward tension brewing, as they stand face to face. "Ohhh.. umm.. sorry. I knocked but you didn't answer, so I came in like normal. Sorry…" she frantically said. "Sorry Shina, let me get dressed real quick." Kota said while heading towards his bedroom.
The tension died down after quite some time. "So you going to explain what happened." Shina spoke up to tease him. Kota's face turned blue, looking for the right words to weasel himself out of this one. "I… I can't." He said looking defeated. She stared blankly at Kota before getting closer. As they were both on the couch, Shina scooted closer and closer, not before long, Shina was right in front of Kota. They're faces so close, they could hear each other breathing. "Wha.. What are.." Shina took the first leap as her lips landed on his. Her tongue slowly entering his mouth. Both of their breathing was heavy and melodic. They're tongues swirled around each other like they were dancing. After an eternity, or more along the lines of around 5 minutes, Shina backed off. She was heaving from the loss of breath. Her face was beat red and a slight bit of drool coming down her cheek. "I'm so.. sorry." She spoke still trying to catch her breath. "That was my first kiss.." she said again. Flustering up Kota, he spoke up. "Mine too." Her heart raced, as she stood up. "Look at the time, I gotta get home." She smiled at him.
September 10 2059
Morning arose and the birds chirped. Yawwwnnn! In the living room the news played on the television as Kota made himself some breakfast. "Okay French toast and eggs it is!" Sizzle sizzle. "Lost lands in Yamba are expanding, the extension of the magicules are growing beyond our comprehension." The news played as Kota listened intensely.
Clank! Kota closed the front door. "I still got 40 minutes before school starts." He said out loud before taking his first step. "Hey." A quiet voice spoke up. "Oh hey Shina." His memory reminded to last night. They both blushed and glanced away. "Do you wanna walk to school… with me." She said softly while inching closer. Her soft skin, long hair, and those lips were the only thing on Kota's mind. "Sure, yea no problem." He spoke.
They strolled to school in silence. Not before long, a more vibrant scenery crept into the lands those two were walking. The sky a more vibrant blue, and the grass a more vibrant green. The small changes were not enough for these two to notice right away. This was due to the new Lost Land close to they're town, as the magicules were let loose into this world.
"Sorry about last night.." Shina spoke. "No I didn't mind at all, I.. enjoyed it." Kota replied with his face beat red. Shina slowly reached her hand out to grab his. "Heyo!" A voice behind came blurting out. Shina, a scared cat, retracted her hand immediately as to make sure the one yelling didn't see. "Hey Amelia." Kota said as soon as he heard her voice. "Amelia Jun?" Shina asked. "Yo so you heard about me huh?" Amelia laughed. "Hey have yall noticed the colors here look more vibrant than before, I'm sure it has to do with the Lost Land that formed nearby. They are also naming these Lands." Amelia rambled on, not realizing she was interrupting they're lovers walk.
In front of the school, the gate stand tall and open to those who are students. The three trio walked in together. Snickering and horse play was always happening here. They headed for they're respected classroom.
Homeroom : (same homeroom everyday. Enjoy class. This is what we will be doing today. Science fair upcoming. More and more, everyday.) Ding! "It's already class time for the Lost Lands." Shina spoke to Kota. "Ahhh I've been lost in thought all day, I don't even know what happened in our last classes." Kota blurted. "Haha" Shina started giggling. "That's so like you." She responded.
"Todays class is going to be a bit different. We will be preparing you all for the Lost Lands in the upcoming week. We will head to the market today, buy as many protective gear and equipment as you wish, if there are any questions on prices or need additional information, myself and Ms. Yun will be here for guidance." Hodge spoke with a thundering voice over the class. The class chattering constantly. "The new Lost Lands that's formed nearby this town has already been slightly explored. We are heading there to get each one of you a Grimoire… if your lucky. This is an extremely dangerous expedition. With that being said you can opt out of this expedition if you want." Hodge continued to explain what grimiores are and additional information on this Lost Land.
At the market it was bustling with movement from all kinds of people. "Cmon! This is a rip off. I paid 20 silver for this, and you offer me 5!" A slightly skinnier fellow yelled. The class walking by with all sorts of expressions. "The cost of equipment will be handled by the Slayers association." Hodge spoke while walking down the market. "Buy yourselves some nice weapons. The cap for each student is 55 silvers." Hodge explained while handing out the money.
"Instructor hodge, may I speak to you." Kota asked after he had handed out all the money. "Of course, what do you need." Hodge replied. "I was wondering, those weapons at the academy, may I use them for the Lost Lands?" Kota asked, referring to the weapons he used against hodge. "Hmm.. I don't see why not. Would you like to keep those as your own?" Hodge asked as he was trying to get on Kota's good side. "That would be great! Thank you sir!" Kota replied as he ran off with the students.
In a store not far away from the main group of students was a shop. This shop was being ravaged through by a certain student. "Kota! Don't make a mess in here!" Shina yelled. "Sorry sorry. Just looking through a bit of stuff. I'll clean it up when I'm done." He had felt a familiar feeling in this direction and was almost going on a rampage to find it. His curiosity exposed for all to see.
"Twenty minutes left!" Kota heard hodge yell from outside the shop. (Fuck I haven't bought a single item.) Just as time was running out a slight gleam caught Kota's attention. "A stone?" He said out loud. "You were searching for a stone?" Shina snickered teasingly. "I guess so." Kota brought the stone to the front counter. "How much for this sir." He asked the storekeep. "Hmmm 70 silvers." The storekeep said in a raspy growled voice. His beard and hair white from old age. His posture was terrible always hunched over. "Would you mind selling this to me for 55?" Kota responded with a counter offer. "Sounds good kid. That thing was brought here by a Slayer around 4 years ago."
Outside the building hodge could be heard taking attendance. "That checks out, let's all head back to the academy. Oh Kota, would you mind sticking behind?" He said as the large group of students heading for the exit of the market. "So would you mind showing me what you bought. For curiosity sake." Hodge asked. Kota pulled out the stone from his bookbag. "This… a good choice I guess." Hodge said lowly. "Well let's head back to the school kid."
Just as the students reached the academy the school bells rang. Ding Dong! "Grab your things!" Hodge yelled. "Remember on Monday we head to the Lost Lands. The other two classes will have two instructors each. Myself and Ms. Yun will be looking over this class. That's all for today." Hodge spoke again thundering.
"Hey Kota, take these with you and get comfortable with them." Hodge handed Kota the two daggers. "Thank you sir." Kota replied excitedly. A huge grin spread across his face as he held the two weapons, a warm feeling overtook him in his moment of joy. "Now scram kid, be prepared Monday, we will be there all week." Hodge poked as he walked back towards the academy.
In Kota's house a strange glow was exuding from his stone. He noticed it on the walk home, but why? (What the hell is this thing doing?) He picked up the stone as it was glowing a tinge of purple.
[Accept skill stone? Yes. No.]
A text appeared in his mind. (Skill stone? What the hell?) "Accept" he said out loud. A painful scorching sensation ran through his head. It was like hornets attacking his brain. "AHHHH" He rolled on the ground screaming and clutching his head. (How long will this last?) He thought rolling around. A good 30 minutes elapsed, his brain felt like it was about to explode, his mind slowly fading. 10 more minutes passed, he lay there on the floor unconscious.
Ring! Ring!… Ring! Ring!… "AHHH" Kota awoke off the floor. His phone ringing nonstop.
September 12 2059
(Shit I was out for a whole day?) He thought while reading the name calling. "Amelia?" He spoke out loud. "Hello?" He spoke after he answered. "Heyo. You ready for this expedition?" She asked. "Yea, looking forward to it." He said groggy from just waking up after sleeping more than 34 hours. "You okay?" She asked concerned. "Yea I'm fine, just woke up." He said while racking his mind. "It's already 1 Am. Hurry up and get out of bed." Little did she know he had passed out in the kitchen floor. "Yea yea. I gotta get up, I'll see you at school tomorrow. Bye." He said while hanging up before she could respond.
(Now what happened?) "It said it was a skill stone? How do I use it? What did it give me?" Kota didn't know what, or how to use this skill. Ring! Ring! Kota answered the phone. "Hello." "Hello Kota. It's instructor Hodge. I forgot to mention, you will be the front scout for this expedition. I wanted to give you a heads up, being as you already have your own Grimoire. So we will use this as a test of your ability to use it." Hodge gave his heads up, the meaning behind it, being Kota will be in a lot of danger in this upcoming week. "Thank you for the heads up, I look forward to your instructions." Kota spoke as they hung up the phone.
The day came to an end with Kota relaxing. (Shina didn't come over. I wonder if it's from what happened the other night…)
September 13 2025
"Todays the big day!" Hodge yelled as the whole class gathered around this morning. "We will now see what you lot are capable of." Before hodge continued he handed Kota a small stone with engravings on it. "This is a communication stone. I want you to scout all monsters nearby as we traverse this Land. You tap this engraving here." He pointed. "Then you may speak into it." Hodge explained. "Yes sir. Thank you." He replied. "Okay class! Let us begin our journey!"