Arc 1: A first day filled with anarchy -
Right after the fight had finished, Gray turned to Soku and began thinking of things to say. This constant barrage of thoughts that would flow into his mind really set in stone what type of person he was. Instead of muttering or hitting her with every single thing he was thinking to ease his tension, he stayed worried until he would eventually get to it, even if it took hours.
Gray: "Soku, right?"
Soku: "Yeah, don't wear it out, Gray."
Gray's face smudges, as what he saw as confident, and a bit of a cocky, young elf has now truly submitted her personality in his head. She's a dick.
Gray: "Oh, haven't heard that since elementary school, you just graduated third grade?"
Soku looks at him with genuine confusion, reminding him of the fact that he is, in fact, in another world.
Soku: "The hell's an elementary school? Also, you dress weirdly lady. And why are you wearing eyeglasses? You a noble or something?"
Gray pulls his face down, annoyed at almost everything she has just said while she wobbles her short blade in his face. So, with a smug look on his face, he pushes her sword aside and falls into the trap of arguing with a child, you never win.
Gray: "First of all, yeah you wouldn't know what an elementary school is. Second, I'm no lady baby face. Third, I need these glasses to see."
Soku: "Whatever, I don't really care. Whatever fake lady, thanks for the save and stuff, even though I could have one without issues. Seeya."
Soku leaves Gray standing in the middle of the street, but something feels off. She's unable to force herself forward, as something's compelling her to turn around, that something being her conscience. She turns around, sighing, finding Gray making the puppy dog eyes as well as he can.
Soku: "Ugh..UGH! AHUGHGH! Do…you…have…a…place to stay."
Gray: "NO! I! DON'T! I'm homeless now. Isekais suck."
Soku: "Bleh. I can give you a place to stay, to repay you and all that. Also, what's an Isekai?"
Gray: "It just means that I'm from another -"
Their casual conversation is abruptly ended when Gray's overcome with a quick burst of power. The feeling of a new organ connected to him surges through his body, triggering an intense pain. His eyes swell up, his legs become light, and he falls to the ground. He quickly catches himself, but struggles not to throw up, covering his mouth just in case. When he looks up, Soku moves his hair out of his face with her sword, pointing it at him.
Soku: "HEY! THE HELL WAS THAT!?"
Gray: "YOU TELL ME!"
Soku: "You just surged with mana, nasty mana. I dunno what it is, but your mana is messed up dude. You make another move like that and I'll cut your eyes out."
Soku helps Gray up, and he begins following her to wherever she's taking him. He begins walking with a purpose, almost too much of one, as he's strutting like he's in the military, annoying Soku. He keeps the fake smile on his face, tries to keep his eyes wide to hide the dark circles under them, and continues to portray himself in a similar way to a cartoon character. The sharp pain he had just felt slowly fades, along with his adrenaline, so he begins to think about his situation with a bit more depth.
Gray {The buildings around him are broken, are they all like this? What kinda world is this? She said mana, so I guess I have it, that could be the rare affinity thing I'm hoping I have, or the main character mana supply, basically infinite. Still, this could be a dream, a life I could of had flashing in front of my eyes before I pass on. But this has to be real…I can feel the cold wind, I see the sky turning darker, I smell the rotting sent floating through the air, I hear our steps, and I can feel everything.}
He looks to Soku, staring at her stern eyes. She may be a child, or at least he assumes so, but she's carrying a heavy weight on her back, and to him, it's more than obvious. A large brown coat, much to big for her body, and it's old. Stitches in the cloth, other materials sown into it, which goes for all of her clothes. Dark blue pants cut to fit her, large boots that are almost too big for her, and thick gloves that reach her elbows, which are probably ment for grown men.
And then lastly, a yellow scarf falling apart, which she plays with while they walk.
Gray: "So, why aren't there people out and about?"
Soku: "It's getting late, of course nobodies gonna be around in the slums."
Gray: "Um…keep in mind, I don't know anything about this place."
Soku: "What? Why?"
Gray quickly finds a lie, as he suspects that the thing causing that surge of mana only happens when he tries to speak of Earth.
Gray: "I was in a place, far away. I was walking when…I was warped here."
While what he's saying isn't exactly a lie, it's poorly put together and is leaving out a lot of information. Soku easly puts this together, but she can feel something genuine within his words, so she lets it pass.
Soku: "Well, if you really don't know, it's because of the Sect of Anarchy. They try to stay hidden, but you'll find those dudes walking around areas like this, preaching that you join them, and they can get a bit forceful."
Gray: "A Sect of Anarchy? That's an oxymoron is it not? A group of people that somewhat forcefully get you to join them while they try and take down governments, and anything that takes power over people?"
Soku: "I thought you said you didn't know anything. You speak as if you know all of these things, I don't even know what "oxymoron" means. Are you really not a noble? You're clothes are well crafted, your hair isn't too bad, you have pale skin, no muscles -"
Gray: "YEAH! I get it, but I'm being serious. I'm as middle class as it gets…you mentioned mana right? So, can I use it or…?"
Soku: "That's not my area of expertise, though I do have somebody that can help you out with that."
Soku suddenly walks in front of Gray, as she had suddenly thought of something that may be a problem.
Gray: "What!?"
Soku: "Demi-humans! Do you hate them? Depending on your answer, I'll cut you down. And keep in mind, I'm a Demi-human, and I'll know if you're lying."
Gray: "Do I hate cat girls?"
Soku: "I"m being serious! Stop being sarcastic!"
Gray: "Alright sorry, know I don't hate them. And you're an elf right? How are you a Demi-human?"
Soku: "Dang, you really are stupid. Elves are decendents of fairys, dumby."
Gray: "I do not like being made fun of by an angry child."
Soku: "I'M NOT AN ANGRY CHILD!"
Gray begins to smile as she waves her sword around randomly, frustrated with Gray. Gray may be a bit out of touch with himself, but what he can seem to do is read people, or it's closer to being able to relate to parts of them. She's quick to anger, but she's genuine, though his stomach does begin to hurt.
Not to sothing resulting of his injuries, but his emotions. He's following a young girl around, using her hospitality to get what he wants, all because he stepped in when he didn't want to. Though something a bit more dangerous fills in the back of his mind, the idea he deserves such hospitality, that it should be expected. While he obviously dosn't go straight to that, nor does he think about it for longer than a second, it does begin to rest in the back of his mind.
Soku begins to calm down, leading him just a bit further down the street. Now, he can see a wall surrounding wherever he is. It's old, starting to crumble, and the area around it is barren. But what stands out, is a two story brick house that looks like it dosn't belong. It was as if it was picked up and sat down in the middle of the slums, suffering because of it.
Connected to the brick building was what looked like a large wooden box with two dustly windows, and an old door on the front. This looked like it fit in the area, like it was a club house made by children, and when he looked at Soku, he was able to put it together.
Soku: "I'm not a kid by the way. I'm fourteen, a year off from adulthood. I can't be to much younger than you."
Gray: "I'm no freshman!? I'm seventeen, but I couldn't finish my senior year because of this. Huah."
Soku waits a second, watching Gray finally relax for a brief moment. His eyes sink down, his smile drops, his back slouches, and whatever was fueling his enerjecit personality before had just died out. But just as fast as it died out, it was lit once more, bursting and forcing him awake. He jolts up, smiles at Soku, slides his foot back, and points at the house.
Gray: "Randon house for five hundred! What is, Soku's house!"
Soku: "You good dude? My house is a house, and that is, my house."
Gray: "So, that wall. Where am I?"
Soku: "The Capital of Walgonia, probably the best place you could have been warped to honsostly."
Soku begins walking toward the wooden building, but Gray stands back. His heart begins beating, beating too fast, so fast that is zaps the strength from every part of his body. He dosn't know why, but he begins to panic, but once again the flame within him eats away at it, so he walks forward.
As they step inside, it seems to be a small shop. Old weapons of all kinds are placed upon the walls, and random crystals, boxes, and viles lay behind a bar-like table on the right side of the building. Standing on the bartenders side is a young girl wearing a black dress, black boots, and posssed two red hair clips that held her long hair out of her face. She was exited to see Gray, but he froze.
The things that where her ears, the things that was her eyes, the thing that was her face, it was impossible. While of course, he wasn't attracted to the young girl, it was a sight to be hold. Whiskers on her cheeks, a pare of shining cat-like violet eyes, and her large, cat like ears. The Isekai trope stood right there, running over to him, greeting him.
Gray: "A cat girl?"
Ophelia: "HI! MY NAMES OPHELIA! Are you Sokus boyfriend!?'
Her child like mannerisms lead his mind to assume she was much younger than the much mature Soku, but as he remembered her young age, they may be closer in age than he thinks. While he was distracted by his thoughts, he failed to realize that Soku had swelled up a light breeze of wind magic, blasting it in his face.
He heard something drop on the ground, but the two beings in front of him too his attention away from the noise.
Gray: "WHY DID YOU BLAST ME!?"
Soku: "Mph!"
Ophelia: "Are you here to shop!? I don't know if we have a sword you can lift though…what else would you like!?"
Gray: "Um, I was told you could tell me what I can do? With my mana that is."
Ophelia: "OH, OH!"
Opelia puts her hand over Grays chest, and he gets another sight of mana. A light purple energy begins to pulsaste from her hand, into his chest. He feels whatever is connected to him vibrate, and Ophelia steps back.
Ophelia: "WOAH! You have, a LOT, of mana."
These words spring genuine joy within him, as his hopes have been proven right.
Gray: "YES! MC MANA! Now, do I have an affinity!? Fire, Water, Earth, Wind? Something more? All of them?"
Ophelia: "Well, since you have a lot of mana, I would assume you have a massive spiritual connection…though the type is fifty fifty."
Grays face droops down, but he quickly picks himself back up, even if it causes his aching stomach even more pain.
Gray: "Well, I seem to have good luck so far. What can I do with the connection?"
Ophelia: "Well, it could be between four things. If you have an Offensive affinity, you could either use Offensive spells or become a mage. If you have a Defensive affinity, you could either use defense spells or become a healer."
Gray: "Well, what spells do you know?"
Opehlia: "One!"
Soku chuckles at Grays still face, triggering him to push even further.
Gray: "That's great! One more than I could have used before! Lay it on me! Name, enchantment, magic circle, incantation! Whatever it is!"
Ophelia matches his energy perfectly, saying the answer in her high pitched voice.
Ophelia: "FOCUS MANA AROUND YOU! AND SAY, CENIC!"
Standing in the completely wooden shop, surrounded by magical beings, about to cast his first magic spell is Gray Kyojin, self-proclaimed hero of this world. In a chuunibyou manner, he puts his arms at a strange angle, spreads out his feet, lowers the tone of his voice, and screams out the mystical words.
Gray: "CENIC!"