Arc 1: A first day filled with anarchy -
Nothing. Three small clouds form right in front of him, causing him to cough. Opheilia's excited nature still carries through, as his first use of this spell still did something, even if it was anticlimactic. Soku on the other hand blasts wind at Gray's face, causing him to fall over. He hears something hit the floor, but he pays no mind to it, as he begins to playfully scream at Soku.
Gray: "WHAT THE HELL!"
Soku: "DON'T TRY AND USE THE SPELL IN THE HOUSE IDIOT!"
Ophelia helps Gray up, staring at his eyes. He blushes, a bit confused as to why she's paying too much attention to him, but his face drops once more when he sees the dismissing look on Soku's face.
Gray: "Um, what are you staring at?"
Ophelia: "Your face is way prettier without those glasses."
Gray goes back to blushing, but once her words hit him, he stands up confused. He feels his face, noticing that his glasses are nowhere to be found. He looks at the ground, finding them broken, though his eyesight is perfectly fine, even better than it was with his glasses on. He's ecstatic, jumping up and down with excitement.
Gray: "Why is my eyesight fixed!?"
Ophelia: "Oh, it's most likely because they were healed. You have a massive spirit arts affinity, so it's only natural that you have faster healing than most. And since your OD is damaged, it must have leaked out some mana."
He stares at his hands, genuinely happy. Though the words OD confuse him, so just like he's been doing all day, he asks what that is.
Gray: "What's an OD?"
Ophelia: "Man! You don't know nothin do you, Mr?"
Gray: "NOPE! NOT A SINGLE THING!"
She chuckles at his goofy way of portraying himself, though Soku is still unimpressed.
Ophelia: "And OD is what holds your mana, so whatever you've been doing hurt it a bit and you expelled some mana."
Soku: "It was most likely when you kept saying that you're from another - and then just stopped."
Gray: "Oooooh, that would make sense."
As they continue to talk, he turns around to see the front door open. He's frozen, staring longingly at the figure, encapsulated by her beauty. Long, golden hair, shining baby blue eyes, skin as smooth as the wind, and a small yet endless smile on her face. She wasn't the most beautiful person in the world, nor was she the most ugly, because that isn't what truly matters.
This aura of peace and kindness coming off of her was like a pheromone for Gray specifically. She wore a light blue sweater a bit too big for her, black pants that fit perfectly, and small brown boots. Gray was never a very sexual person, as he didn't care enough to pursue a relationship, but something here was different. She was like a hometown or school beauty, as there are so many people, but you surround yourself with so few people that when you find somebody you like, when you think of perfection you think of them.
Flaunting over somebody like this is creepy, and Gray knows this, so he snaps himself out of the trance he finds himself in. She looked at him more confusingly, Gray thought she figured him to be a child, but that was far from the truth.
She stood still, being a mix of confused and embarrassed. While Gray seemed nice enough, Soku and Ophelia seemed to be comfortable with him, he seemed a bit strange. The same way Gray looked at her personality through her eyes, she did the same for him, seeing something comfortable and familiar, causing her to blush.
To push Gray past his anxiousness, he stands on one knee, and bows to her.
Gray: "May I ask your name!"
He looks up, smiling after doing something so embarrassing. While the girl found it funny, Soku let out a long sigh.
Soku: "It's alright Rosemary, this dude is cool."
Gray: "Rosemary? That's a pretty name!"
She continues to blush, holding up a picnic basket to cover her face, a basket he had failed to notice before.
Rosemary: "Sorry for just bursting in like that…but may I ask, are you here to buy something? I can help you if you'd like."
Gray: "Um… I was going to head out. I got what I needed so I'm good."
As Gray's demeanor drops, he begins to walk away, but Ophelia stops him. Grabbing him by his jacket, she tugs at him, trying to get him to stay.
Ophelia: "At least eat dinner with us!"
Gray: "Oh it's alright, I don't need any -"
He's stopped by the comedic and abrupt sound of his rumbling stomach. Then as he looks outside, he notices that night has fallen, so going around the slums at night may not be the safest of ideas. Even though he would say he's undeserving, he is still glad to take them up on their generous offer, falling into their kind hospitality.
Soku: "So are you staying or what?"
Gray: "Actually, yeah sure."
Soku sighs, leaving everyone outside and into the main brock house, a house of which Gray finds the inside to be appealing. A tight yet tall building with a second level, and a kitchen in the back. He looks at the dirty couch to his left and the stairs that lead to the second floor to his right. Rosemary quickly steps past him as she moves toward the kitchen, sets down her picnic basket, and begins taking out the food.
Gray's mind begins to race, "What will the food look like?" "Is it gonna be gross or delicious?" and lastly, "Is it poison!?". Even with all of his fear-filled thoughts, he marches on, literally, causing Ophelia to laugh. But, even if he's marching, his face is puckered up, as his anxiety is through the roof. When everyone sits down, the only seat left is the one beside Rosemary, which he's forced to take. She keeps eye contact with him, like a child watching a television show, as if she's entranced, and confused, but Gray just assumes she thinks he's ugly.
Gray: "So…how do you know each other?"
Soku: "Ophelia and I have lived together for a while, and we met Rosemary a few months back. Some of those Sect dudes were poking around, and when they got a bit handsy Rosemary stepped in, ever since then she's lived with us."
Rosemary: "And I'm grateful every day!"
Gray holds his meal in his hands, which is a sandwich with lettuce, tomato, and some meat. When he takes a bite, he finds that his fear has come true, as the sandwich is dry.
Gray: "Why were you out and about? Where you are just looking for somewhere to live, or… actually sorry for all of the questions."
Listening to Gray's question causes her heart to skip a beat, as she's bewildered to find somebody who doesn't know her lineage. It isn't because she's famous, but her family is, so to help him understand she begins to explain.
Rosemary: "I used to be with a small army, the Golden Knights. Recently they all passed in a battle against the Sect, though luckily I left before I was caught up in it all."
Gray stops eating his sandwich, being both shocked by her words and done eating his meal. He doesn't know how to respond, as situations like these are one of the many things he's bad at. He crosses his feet over and over, anxious while sitting at the now quiet table. But, he pulls a false fire of confidence from the bottom of his heart. He stands up, points to the ceiling, and then holds his thumb to his chest.
Gray: "MY NAME IS GRAY KYOJIN! And I'm sorry for your loss."
She begins to break down laughing, being quickly followed by Ophelia. Soku's the only one who doesn't even flinch, feeling annoyed by his presence. He's quickly distracted by the weight on his bladder, having to pee.
Gray: "Uh, my name is Gray Kyojin and I'd like to know where the bathroom is please."
Soku: "My name is Soku! And you think we're rich enough to have a bathroom?"
Her aggravated, sarcastic, and pitiful tone of voice caused the small bit of confidence he had made out of nothing to sink back down, on the verge of a panic attack.
Soku: "Geez you're sad, it's upstairs on the far left."
Gray awkwardly waddles to the staircase, quickly rushing up them two steps at a time. When he's made it, he turns to the only door on his left and enters the small bathroom. It was much cleaner than his own bathroom, as this one didn't have a speck of dirt in it, even with how small it was. While it barely had enough room for the toilet, sink, and small tub inside.
After he does his business, he stares into the mirror, shaking. His voice is dry, his lip is quivering, and his mind is coated in fog.
Gray: "I…wanna go home…"
While being a year away from adulthood, he had never even left the state where he lived, let alone gone across the universe. This was strange and horrifying, but just like everything he had ever watched, he knew he needed to keep going, as he must be the main character of this world, at least in his mind. When he goes to wash his hands, instead of two handles for the faucet, he finds a mix of reddish blue crystal where the faucet should be.
He tries to touch it, but nothing happens. He tries to pull, push, and move side to side, even twisting it, but it doesn't budge. As he's too embarrassed to ask how to use a faucet, he continues to try various things while Rosemary, Soku, and Ophelia all finish their food while talking to each other.
Soku: Rosemary you got issues."
Rosemary: "What did I do!?"
Ophelia: "Soku don't mean!"
Soku sighs, shrugging her shoulders while she looks to the ceiling, listening to Gray struggling to wash his hands.
Soku: "Whatever, he's leaving tomorrow so it doesn't matter."
Rosemary: "Should we be sending him out there though? He can't even wash his hands, we can't just let him go."
Ophelia: "Rosemary's got a crush!"
Rosemary begins to blush, quickly stepping away from all of them. She speeds up to the top of the stairs, trying to help Gray.
Rosemary: "You have to focus mana into the crystal!"
Gray: "Okay!... How do you use mana!?"
Rosemary: "UM….just focus I guess!? I don't really know how to explain it!"
Gray quickly puts his hand on the crystal, squeezing his gut as hard as he can. Nothing happens, he struggles and struggles, and still, nothing happens. He lets out a sigh, planning to ask Rosemary for more help, but in this state of relaxation, the crystal lights up. He quickly pulls his hand back, as the crystal begins to burn, but before he can do anything more, the crystal explodes in a wave of water.
It fills the entire bathroom, blasting him down the hall. He lands, soaked in boiling water, staring at Rosemary from the bottom up. She quickly helps him up, brushing the water off of his jacket, but he's forced to take it off, revealing his now-soaked back shirt. Gray wishes she could see his muscular form, but that doesn't exist, as she's now staring at his wet lanky body, causing him to be more embarrassed than he already was.
Then downstairs, Soku hears all of the commotions, yelling out.
Soku: "THE HELL ARE YOU DOIN! THAT CRYSTAL WAS EXPENSIVE!"
Gray: "SORRY!"
Rosemary: "How did you even do that? A crystal of that size shouldn't have been able to produce that much water. Your spiritual affinity is amazing!"
Gray: "Uh, yep! That's me! The Amazing, Spectacular, Gray Kyojin!"
His face quickly forms an awkward smile, but he quickly picks up his jacket and walks down the stairs. While downstairs, he gets a glimpse at the outside, quickly walking up to the dirty window to see the large and bright moon. He's entranced by it, as the glow is shining over everything in such a magical way, even more magical than the actual magic he's witnessed, something Rosemary quickly picks up.
Gray: "The moon, it's…really pretty…"
Rosemary slowly walks up to him, staring at his still face. She takes note of his heavy eyes, his soft hair, his smooth skin, and wonders to herself, why is he here?"
Rosemary: "Yeah, the moon is really pretty."
In this still, ever-lasting moment of silence, they both stand motionless, locked onto the shining moon. But, to ruin the moment, is the seemingly always annoyed Soku, who begins yelling out halfway up the stairs.
Soku: "WE ONLY GOT THAT EXTRA BLANKET! SO EITHER YOU SHARE, OR ONE OF YOU GOES COLD!"
Ophelia quickly pushes Soku up the rest of the way, shoving her into their room.
Soku: "What's your deal? He's gone tomorrow, so don't get too caught up with this dude."
Soku takes off her large coat, laying down on the bottom bunk of their bed right after. Then, instead of crawling up the slanted ladder and onto her bed, Ophelia slowly creaks over to the door, listening to Gray and Rosemary. Both a bit embarrassed, quickly try to give the other the blanket, shoving it back and forth.
Rosemary: "You're the guest! You should have it!"
Gray: "Yeah, I'm the guest! You shouldn't have to give up your stuff to some random dude! And I like the cold!"
This continues for a few minutes, so to skip ahead a little bit, they both lay down on the couch on opposite sides, with the blanket covering them. Gray begins hugging his legs, sleeping in a little ball, while Rosemary does the same, trying not to get their feet in each other's faces. Gray's mind begins to race, thinking he won't be able to fall asleep while being so close to such an illuminating figure. But her mind is thinking of something else, and even with her anxiety holding her words back, she forces them out of the iron bars known as her lips.
Rosemary: "Are you okay? You seem to be having a tough time."
Gray: "Me!? I'm doing dandy! I got a bunch of mana, a new spell, a place to sleep, and a path to go forward! I don't think I could get a better level one!"
Rosemary sits up, looking at the dead aura emanating off of Gray's body, with the small glimmer in his eyes being the only thing to keep him going. But with every word she speaks, it seems to rise that shine just a bit, so she continues talking to him in her motherly, soothing voice.
Rosemary: "I know what it's like to have to act a certain way, to feel like you need to act a certain way. But you're safe here, I know this is scary and confusing, but I promise, you won't be hurt…and I'll talk to Soku tomorrow because I know you don't want to go outside to this strange place you find yourself in…I'll make sure you're safe."
As she went on, his constantly moving mind began to slow down, until he finally fell asleep, leaving Rosemary to do the same.
But just as fast as he fell asleep he heard a familiar voice that was trying to wake him up. He focuses himself out of the bed he's lying in, steps onto the carpet floor, and wanders around his room to open his door. He walks past the clothes scattered around, his computer set up, and his empty closet, getting all the way to his door before he realizes he's back in his room, he's back on Earth.
He begins to freak out, screaming in fear. The world he wanted to get so attached to, so close to, to be forced back into the one he tried so hard to abandon until his door was pushed open. His beating heart gets faster and faster up until the final moments when a woman with shoulder-length brown hair, circular glasses, and a white apron walks in.
"Come on Conner! It's Lunch time, so you can't just sleep the day away!"
Gray: "Mom!?"