Sora Kurusu, The First Artificier

My body felt wrong today, as if it was craving something. Well, that's how it felt every time that happened, where a shriveled shell of a body was all that was left behind.

The guards where patrolling more often than usual once I left my inn, ever since my incident with that gangster, they've been on high alert. Apparently they decide to call out that a demon has managed to infiltrate the city and now there are guards patrolling over the place, some even try to poorly disguise themselves, but their swords or spears usually end up giving away their disguise.

Today is Friday, and my escort mission is right after lunch. I was happily enjoying a bowl of soup and a book about the human alphabet of this world, which comprised of many runes that resembled my old alphabet. But then a man came through the guild doors, he was large horizontally and pathetically small vertically.

He looked in my general direction and charged up to my table, slamming both of his fat, greasy palms on my table "What have you done to Ran!" he said, his spit flying in directions close to my face. I didn't respond, he then grabbed me by my shirt collars "Answer me you little shit!" The man who was gonna accompany me this afternoon came in "Hold on there, Bins, what are you talking about?" He said "This little brat killed Ran, and I don't care if he's a demon, I'm gonna avenge Ran for it!" I chuckled, they both looked at me.

"Your friend isn't who he seemed to be once night falls..." I held his wrist "It's so easy to take, what comes right towards you..." He let go of me, and in response I let go of him "Ha! Kid you're In front of one of the most respectable men this guild has ever seen!" He grabbed something out of leather tunic, It is a silver badge "I'm a silver rank, and a Silver II at that! Who do you think they'll-" The man moved between us "There is one reasonable way you both can settle this..." He said "And that's through a Guild duel..." "Guild duel?" I asked "It is a duel that solves most conflicts that happened between two guild parties of members, It is also done in front of the guild building so that some of the citizens can also find trust-worthy adventurers to do their quests..." He continued explaining "As a Silver ranker, you can authorize duels without the interference from the guild, but are you sure you want to do this, Kid? our escort mission starts in 30..." "That's enough time..." I said "Are there any rules that i need to follow?" He sighed and said "Only two, Don't kill your opponent, and both sides must play by the challenger's rules..." When he said so, I grinned "So, he's gonna try and expose my weakness as a melee combatant eh? Wonderful..." The man raised one eyebrow, but then he said "Are you going to do it?" "5 minutes will be enough for me..." I said. The man closed his eyes for a moment, and then said "Very well..."

Me and the fat man finally stood against each other outside "I'll expose you for the coward you are!" he screamed as he charged, but that move was futile. I saw him in slow motion, charging pathetically into my face, I raised my left arm and took hold of face. My gaze went foggy, but I've been

practicing the entire week on other things, and I won't lose control. My vision came back to me, and there lay down a fat man, but he isn't shriveled like the ones unfortunate enough to cross my path 'Phew, it looks like it worked...' and just to make it look like it's actual strength, I pushed his head downward, giving a loud thud on the pavement. Everyone cheered on me, but the gang that followed the fat man didn't, they just hoisted up their companion and left "Really kid..." The man earlier came forward "You're full of surprises..." He said with a smile, the rest of his team also greeted me with faces of relief, and there in front of me, awaited a wagon that had a man in robes and a feathered hat, but just as I was about to board, someone called out my name "Sora?!"

There stood before me, is Maicah. She was a girl from my class that considered me her closest friend, but I've heard she's been declared a Cleric by the holy church that existed within the city "You know the Priestess, Sora?" the young boy who is part of the group said to me, elbowing my sides.

I stared at her for a few seconds, and then finally responded "No..."

"W-what? Sora what are you talking about, You're my only friend and there is no mistaking those strange red eyes!" she said loudly, I stared at her choice of outfit, It was a bunch of white robes, and she held a very long stave with both of her hands, white and gold, like the stupid robes she wore.

"Sora come with me! We've been searching for you for an entire week! Ever since you suddenly disappeared during our time with the king!" The party behind me shot me both looks of suspicion and surprise "No, I think you're mistaking me for someone else, my name is Sora but I do not know who you are..." She came closer and put her face closer to mine by about an inch, I could smell the sweet scent of her delicate face and the sweat rolling down on it, she closed her eyes and turned around "I-im sorry..." she said as she ran off, I turn around to the wagon and embarked "What was that all 'bout Sora" the young adventurer girl asked. They were all reluctantly awaiting my answer.

"Don't ask me, didn't know what that was 'bout either..."