MEMORIES OF AN OVERLORD
by Victar (vctr113062 [at] aol [dot] com)
Victar's Archive: https://www.vicfanfic.com
"I started seeing death everywhere. Literally. Everywhere. Especially in the mirror."
Chapter Nine
Memories of a Savior: Discomfiture of a Savior
In the first days of the journey of Kreisia's most unlikely Savior, he believed that he was immersed in a dream of his own making.
This dream is incredible. It's like playing a video game! Yusis thought, gripping his tarnished iron sword with both hands and swinging it at a yellow-eyed, rabbit-shaped monster the size of a large dog.
I've never even held a real weapon before this cute girl handed me one! She says she put a 'Savior gift' on me, and just like that, using a sword feels so natural.
Mindless hatred blazed in the rabbit-monster's eyes as it lunged for Yusis. Cynthia made a brisk gesture, and a small barrier of luminous white force appeared in midair. The rabbit-monster's sharp claws scrabbled harmlessly against the barrier.
Yusis was concentrating so heavily on his attack that he did not see the barrier flash, or dissipate into sparks. His dingy sword cleaved the rabbit-monster in half. The creature's body immediately started to dissolve; a thick plume of black smoke burst from its disintegrating remains.
I just killed a vicious monster with a sword. This dream really is like a role-playing game, with me as the hero! How cool is that?
Wait, why am I surprised to be the hero? I didn't expect to be the villain of my own dream, did I?
Yusis' eyes watered from the black smoke. He felt a grim, harrowing sensation that seemed to constrict him without exerting physical force.
Ugh, what's with this smoke? It doesn't have any smell, but it makes me feel awful inside. Like I'm being pressured by something that craves terror and suffering, that hates me for being alive and wants to bury me in darkness. It's not painful, but-
Wait, I am feeling pain.
"Ow-!" he gasped, clutching his shoulder. "I think I pulled a muscle."
Cynthia raised one hand. A small beam of beautiful white radiance arced from her fingertips to Yusis, and the unpleasant twinge affecting him vanished.
His eyes widened as he let go of his shoulder. "Was that... magic?"
She inspected him with a worried look. "Yusis, don't forget my warning! When you fight monsters, try to avoid the poisonous miasma that comes out of their bodies. Don't get careless because I cast an anti-poison ward on you. The ward protected you this time, but too much miasma will overwhelm it. You don't want to turn into a monster yourself!"
"Was that really magic?" he repeated.
"Did you even notice that I cast an anti-poison ward on you?"
"Like a wizard spell?" Most role-playing games have some kind of magic system. I guess my mind is taking cues from RPGs I've played before.
Cynthia firmly corrected, "I'm a priestess, not a wizard or a mage."
"What's the difference?"
"Holy magic is what I'm best at, although I know some fire and water magic too. Mages have more affinity for other types of magic, although most of them know some holy magic as well."
"Holy magic - you mean like that healing spell?"
"Yes. I'm especially good at holy healing magic and shaping holy barriers."
I should have known. In RPGs, the healer almost always joins the hero first.
Cynthia paused for a moment, then thoughtfully continued, "Wizards are... um, that word isn't used much anymore. Long ago, wizards used to be people who mixed different types of magic together. That knowledge has mostly been lost. I think the Royal Mages still mix many types of magic to create teleportation beads, but that's all. Now, the only wizards are powerful monsters that mix elemental magic with dark magic. So don't call anyone a wizard, okay?"
"Uh, okay."
"I should warn you about something else like that. Don't call anyone a jongleur, okay? Bards can use music and magic to do a lot of different things, including elemental attacks, but they can't cast spells that heal or cure; the knowledge to mix bardic magic with holy magic was lost long ago. Now, the only jongleurs are powerful monsters that mix bardic magic with dark magic."
"Uhh... okay." I'm not supposed to call anyone a 'wizard' or a 'jongleur'?
This is starting to get weird. Why is my dream warning me not to say certain words? Is my subconscious trying to tell me something?
I don't like using fancy language; I don't want to talk like I'm some kind of arrogant executive. Is that trait spreading to how I talk and think about everything? Even video games?
"What's wrong?" Cynthia asked, quizzically. "Why do you look so confused?"
I can't say, 'Because I don't understand my own dream.'
"Well, this is a lot to take in," Yusis carefully answered. "Magic doesn't exist in my world. Unless you count myths and legends."
"That could be why you can't use any magic at all."
"Maybe, I don't know. Wait, why are you so sure I can't use magic?" I'm dreaming about fighting monsters with a sword; why can't I dream about casting spells?
"I don't sense any talent for magic in your body, and you can't feel the magic in me or my belongings, can you?"
"Uhh..."
"You probably noticed that I cast a healing spell only because you saw the white light and your pain went away. You didn't feel anything else, did you?"
"...I guess I see your point." It isn't hard to imagine using a sword, but I just can't picture what it's like to actually cast a spell. All I can think of is clicking on a drop-down menu, and this video game doesn't have any visible user interface.
Cynthia cocked her head slightly. "I can't sense any talent for Altean chants in you either, even though you look almost exactly like an Altean."
"Wait, what?"
"Oh, um, Alteans are a race of people. I've only encountered a few of them; I don't really know any Alteans personally. They can use magic, but they don't have as much talent as Lunarls like me do. Very few Alteans are capable of being mages, priests, or priestesses."
"And I look like an 'Altean'?"
"Yes, except that your hair is brown. Alteans always have green hair, unless they dye it. No one in Kreisia has hair like yours; as soon as I saw it, I knew I'd summoned you from another world - um, the color is natural, isn't it? Not dyed?"
"It's natural, but what does that matter?"
"It doesn't matter at all. I was just curious," she reassured, a little too quickly. Then she resumed leading the way down an overgrown forest trail.
If she thought I might have dyed my hair, then why was she so certain that I'm not from this world?
Does she think brown hair is so ugly no Altean would dye it that color!?
Wait, maybe I shouldn't jump to conclusions like that. Maybe I'm so exhausted it's putting me in a bad mood.
Cynthia glanced back at him. "Why are you just standing there?"
"Uh, I'm kind of worn out. Can we rest for a moment?"
"You're fatigued already?"
"We've been hiking for something like a whole hour, haven't we?"
She gave him an odd look. "My village isn't far. Just a short rest, okay?" Her furry ears twitched, and her tail impatiently swished back and forth.
What's with her attitude? Yusis wondered. Of course I'm fatigued. It's not like I'm an athlete; I've never cared for sports.
Wait, why is this dream making me more tired while I sleep?
While Yusis rested, Cynthia magically conjured a flashing, red-tinged hairbrush and a gleaming, light blue mirror. Yusis tried not to look startled when the items suddenly appeared in her hands.
Cynthia methodically brushed her shoulder-length hair, lifting a feathered hair ornament and her long, furry ears as needed. Yusis noticed that she had two green trails in her otherwise reddish tresses.
She's sure focused on making herself look good, especially for someone who just hiked for an hour. Make that two hours, since she must have hiked both ways.
I've never liked hiking or camping. Why did my dream start...
"...so deep in a forest?" Yusis rambled.
Cynthia spared him a curious glance, without interrupting her hair care. "I didn't hear all of what you said. Did you ask why we're in a forest?"
Wait, did I say that last part out loud? "Uh, yeah."
She patiently explained, "Wards that prevent monsters from being summoned into a protected area also interfere with the spell to summon a Savior. My village only has weak wards cast by some of my neighbors - we currently don't have a Royal Mage stationed to protect us - but any interference makes the summon spell impossible. Summoning stations exist outside of villages and cities to escape the interference."
At least I didn't say the first part out loud. I'd better not call out my dream for what it is; she might react badly.
"So you came out here by yourself?" Yusis uneasily continued. "Isn't that kind of dangerous?"
"My parents have trained me to defend myself against monsters. Traveling to and from the summoning station is still a risk; my parents would have come with me if their duty let them spare the time. They've tried to hire a bodyguard for me, but... well, most people don't want to get very close to an aspiring Priestess of Salvation."
"Huh?" Why am I getting this weird feeling?
"Don't worry, it's okay. Even if people shy away from me, I know they're all grateful to me. They'll be grateful to you, too. Just like I am."
Cynthia smiled, brightly.
He flashed a broad grin in return. My dream's laying it on kind of thick, but when she smiles like that I don't even care-
-wait, did she just flinch?
Yusis' grin faded. Cynthia turned partly away from him and carefully ran her hairbrush over the ends of her hair.
Did I spook her somehow? All I did was smile.
"Is something wrong?" Yusis asked.
"Oh, um, no," she returned, with only a slight trace of anxiety. "I was just thinking... even though you look so much like an Altean, you really are from another world. Maybe I've assumed a little too much about you? I wonder how different your world is from ours. If you have trouble adjusting to Kreisia then I'll be glad to help any way I can, okay?"
"Uh, okay." Well, she seems mostly calm now. I guess I shouldn't worry.
Cynthia examined her reflection in her handheld mirror. She made a satisfied nod to herself, and her hairbrush vanished in a shower of sparks.
Then she conjured a flashing, red-tinged comb and offered it to Yusis. Her other hand held out the mirror.
Wait, what? Is she serious?
He stared at the items, then blinked several times. "Uh, no thanks."
"Are you sure?" A modicum of disappointment affected her inquiry.
"Yeah. I'm sure."
"I shaped these from fire magic and water magic, but they're the same as a physical comb and mirror. The only difference is that they'll disappear in a little while. They won't burn or soak you."
"That sounds really convenient." He made no move to take the proffered objects.
"I could comb your hair for you, if you like?"
Yusis' eyes darted back and forth. "No. Just no. I don't think I can be any more clear than 'no'."
"Okay," she relented. The comb and the mirror dissolved into fading sparkles.
Why is this in my dream?
Then again, maybe I'd better not think too hard about why this is in my dream. Maybe I already have an idea why.
At least she's not disgusted to look at me. That's more than I can say for me and my own reflection, most days.
Yusis tried not to stagger when the two of them resumed their trek. While they walked, Cynthia told him more about the menace she had summoned him to vanquish.
"This evil Overlord - did you say he's undead, too?" Yusis asked.
"Yes," Cynthia quietly confirmed. "The Overlord is the most dangerous undead monster there is."
A growing sense of disquiet nestled within Yusis, as he listened to Cynthia's spine-chilling description of a merciless tyrant who desecrated the land, besieged whole cities, and transformed both living victims and fresh corpses into undead monsters.
"Are you sure there's no cure for being turned into a monster?" Yusis wondered aloud. "Not even a holy magic cure?"
She spared him a wistful look. "Your home world doesn't have undead monsters, does it?"
"Uh, no, it doesn't. Not really." I've never believed in ghost stories, and those aren't anything like what she said.
"When people die in your world, is there any cure for that?" she inquired, in a sad trill.
What kind of weird question-!?
No, wait. I don't think she's trying to needle me. She's serious. She's asking for real, I'm sure of it.
"No. Definitely not," he answered, under his breath.
"Holy magic is powerful, but it can't bring back the dead, or the undead," Cynthia explained, forlornly. "Miasma poisoning can be treated only if the patient is still alive."
A faraway tone crept into her voice. "In the early stage, poisoned victims may act confused. Dark magic makes it hard for them to think. Their senses grow dull, including their sense of pain. It must be awful to turn into a monster, but at least it doesn't hurt?
"In the middle stage, their skin pales, because miasma is consuming their blood. If they speak, the words waver back and forth between a living voice and the horrible voice of a monster. Weak healing magic can't help them anymore. Only strong anti-poison magic or curatives will work.
"Sometimes they lash out in panic, during the end stage. They're dangerous, because dark magic transforms their fingernails into claws, and their teeth into fangs. They can poison others through clawing or biting even though they're not completely turned. They can't talk like a living person anymore; their words come from dark magic, not from lungs that are being destroyed.
"When their eyes glow yellow, it's too late. Miasma has killed them, and made them into an undead slave of the Overlord. The only way to save a monster is to destroy it, and free its trapped soul from a fate worse than death."
Is my dream trying to make me feel better about killing monsters? I never gave much thought to stuff like that in video games before.
When Kreisia's most unlikely Savior arrived at the Priestess of Salvation's home village, she told him, "I think we should stay the night at my house, before we set out for the Royal Capital. My parents would be glad to meet you."
"Huh? Oh, sure," Yusis replied, gazing at the furry-eared, long-tailed locals.
Everyone has their hair done like they've been to a top-tier stylist. The feathered thing in Cynthia's hair is pretty tame in comparison.
All of them have their hair parted so their furry ears perfectly blend in. Do their hair and fur colors always match? Some of them have stripes or spots on their tails.
Cynthia touched her fingertips together. "Um, Yusis-"
"The people here are 'Lunarls', right? Like you?" he distractedly asked.
"Yes. Yusis, you shouldn't-"
"None of them have green trails in their hair like you do."
"That's because I have a little Altean heritage. Yusis, you really shouldn't-"
"You're part Altean?"
"Yes, that's why I can use a few Altean chants, like the 'Savior gift' I put on you. Yusis, listen to me, you shouldn't-"
"There's no green fur on your ears, though."
"Yusis!"
Yusis flinched from Cynthia's outburst. He stopped studying the villagers and turned toward her. "What is it? You don't have to shout."
"Yusis, it's fine if you mention hair, but you shouldn't talk about Lunarl ears, tails, or fur. Especially not in public. Please don't, okay?"
Again with my own dream telling me not to say certain things?
I guess I do have a bad habit of rambling stuff out loud whether it's appropriate or not. Is my mind pushing me to be better?
Yusis shrugged. "Okay. I'll remember not to do that."
"And you shouldn't look at their ears so much," Cynthia added, making the slightest possible indication toward the curious Lunarl onlookers. "Or their tails."
"What, seriously?"
"Just trust me on this."
"They're all sure staring at me, though."
"Well, you are from another world. Your clothing is a little different from anything here, and you have an unusual necklace."
Necklace?
Oh, she means my reading glasses on a cord. I wonder why I have them in my dream? Is it because I like to wear them when I play video games?
Cynthia very delicately cleared her throat. "And, um, your hair is..."
"Yeah, I know, it's brown."
"Yes, your hair is brown, and it's a little... uncombed?"
A shadow of irritation affected the off-worlder's face.
Cynthia carefully continued, "With a... really uneven haircut?"
"So what?" Yusis crossly retorted. "I'm not going to a funeral or anything, right?"
"Umm..."
"Yeah, that's right. I'm not. So quit talking about my hair." Seriously, why is this in my dream!?
Yusis attempted to politely greet Cynthia's parents. They emotionlessly acknowledged his half-stammered introduction, and stated their full names, Siwell Klaus and Oreanna Klaus.
Along with Cynthia, they're the only villagers who don't look like they've been to a top-tier hair stylist. Maybe just a mid-tier one.
There's crossbows, arrows, and swords on the walls of their house. Are they adventurers, or something like that? Maybe the whole family has more practical hairstyles because they need to keep themselves ready for combat.
Cynthia beamed, "Siwell, Oreanna, I'm so happy I've summoned a Savior. I'm the Priestess of Salvation now!"
Wait, what? Is she calling her parents by their first names?
Heartfelt joy shined through Cynthia's entire countenance as she announced, "Tomorrow, Yusis and I will set out for the Royal Capital together. We're going to stop the Overlord and bring peace to Kreisia!"
"Cynthia..." replied Siwell, a tall, broad-shouldered Lunarl man with dark grey fur. "Daughter, we..."
"We are proud of you," finished Oreanna, an equally tall and moderately hefty Lunarl woman. Her fur was an even darker shade of grey, with thick black stripes ringing her tail. "We will love and cherish you always."
"You must do what you must do," Siwell said, with a grave sigh.
Yusis studied them, then glanced back to Cynthia's short, slender frame, and her decidedly reddish fur.
Her parents look nothing like her. They don't even have green trails in their hair like she does.
She introduced herself as 'Cynthia Klaus', didn't she? So she does have the same last name as her parents, even though their fur is different.
"Yusis!" Cynthia sharply whispered, elbowing him in the gut. "Don't look at their ears and tails so much! Or mine either!"
"Huh?"
Yusis came partway out of his reverie, then awkwardly joined Cynthia and her parents for a humble meal. He couldn't shake the strangest feeling about the experience. It seemed eerily similar to holiday dinners with his own family.
There's a gulf between Cynthia and her parents. They do care about each other, I'm sure of it, but she seems almost as distant from them as I am from Dad.
Wait, why am I thinking about him in my dream? I use daydreams to escape from him.
"Yusis, aren't you hungry? You haven't touched your dinner," Cynthia noted, with a slight frown.
I am feeling pretty hungry. Have I been dreaming for so long that it's almost breakfast time? I might as well enjoy an imaginary-
-wait, what?
Yusis stared at his plate of what seemed to be cooked vegetables, a small side of fruit, and a slice of bread with a piece of cheese.
Why am I dreaming of vegetables, fruit, bread, and cheese? Maybe hamburgers or hot dogs would be out of place in a fantasy video game, but is there another reason why...?
Yusis mumbled, "Are you, uh, vegetarian or something?"
"What?" Cynthia's long ears twitched. He tried not to look too closely.
Siwell flatly stated, "That is a strange word. You seem to be asking our daughter whether she is a form of vegetation."
Oreanna calmly added, "Our world must be very unusual to you, Savior. Perhaps there are people who are kindred to plant life on your home world, but let us assure you, the plants here are not intelligent."
They don't know what 'vegetarian' means?
Yusis hesitantly ventured, "Uh, doesn't anyone eat meat on Kreisia?"
All three family members stared blankly at him.
"Oh, this food is different from what you're used to, isn't it?" Cynthia piped up. "I'm sorry, your words are kind of hard to understand."
Wait, what? They don't even understand the concept of-?
"You seem to be asking whether we prey upon animals, as wolves and hawks must do to survive," Siwell mulled.
"Let us assure you that we are not wolves or hawks," Oreanna stressed, firmly.
Yusis flinched from Siwell's and Oreanna's intense scrutiny.
I think I couldn't have made a worse impression on them if I tried.
Wait, why am I failing all the dialogue choices in my own dream?
"Don't worry, Yusis," Cynthia gently trilled. "Even though you're from another world, our food is completely safe for you to eat, and has all the nutrition you need. The summon spell's holy magic made sure of that when it brought you to Kreisia."
Yusis raised an eyebrow at her.
"You couldn't be our Savior if you couldn't survive on our world," she explained, cheerfully. "Your home world might have a different environment from ours. The summon spell probably didn't alter your body very much, though. You haven't even noticed the changes, have you?"
Yusis glanced down upon himself, and saw nothing out of the ordinary.
"I guess not," he muttered.
This is getting weird. Is my mind so logical that it's straining to make sense of my dream?
Maybe if I focus, I can steer this dream away from any more weird stuff.
Do not let this dream get weirder. Do not let this dream get weirder.
After dinner, Yusis spent the night in a guest room. While he slept, an unsettling memory from months in the past replayed itself in his mind.
"You can't be serious, Dad. You can't be."
"Are you finally speaking to me? Is this what it takes for my own son to respond to his father?"
"You're literally threatening to send me-"
"This is not a threat. I am not at war with you. I am worried about you! Your mother is terrified that-"
"Stop it! Stop worrying about me, I'm fine!"
"You're not eating-"
"I'm not starving myself! I'm not that messed up!"
"You've been truant from school. You're scarcely getting out of bed. You're not even playing those games you like so much."
"I can play a video game right now if it'll make you leave me alone."
"And, what have you done to your hair?"
"Don't start with me, Dad."
"Did you use your mother's sewing scissors to cut it yourself?"
"You know why I'm not talking to you anymore? This is why not! I don't look or act like you want, I'll never be good enough for you, and that's never going to change!"
"You have changed a great deal, to your own detriment."
"Mom's freaking out so much because you keep telling her things like that!"
"No, son. It's the other way around. I am concerned because of what she tells me. Worst of all, she tells me that you are adamantly refusing to accept professional help."
"I'm a failure and you can't fix me, so you want to get rid of me, is that it?"
"Is that truly what you think I want?"
"You wanted to dress me up in a black suit of death and surround me with corporate zombies, and I couldn't handle it!"
"Is that truly how you saw your internship?"
"So now, do I get put in a white suit of madness and surrounded by mental health angels?"
"Listen to me. Your mother and I want one thing. We want to not lose our son."
"Dad..."
"I have told you what we want. Now, tell me what you want."
"...is everything a bargain with you? Is everything a sales pitch?"
"No. Absolutely not, just as not everything is a game to you."
"Okay. Maybe everything isn't a bargain with you, but this, right here and right now, definitely is. I have to make a deal or I'm getting shipped off."
"Tell me what you want, son."
"I want this threat to go away. I want you to leave me alone. You give me that and I'll stop skipping school, all right? I'll get out of bed more, and I won't forget dinner so much. Good enough?"
"Son..."
"Is that good enough for you, Dad?"
"...very well."
Cynthia awakened Yusis in the morning, an endeavor that she found moderately challenging. She resorted to lightly batting him with a soft cushion.
"...give me some time, please..." he droned, rolling face-down.
"I already let you sleep an extra hour, Yusis."
"...five more minutes..."
"No. No more," she firmly denied. "We have a lot to do. We're setting out for the Royal Capital today, remember?"
Wait, what?
I think... I think I was dreaming about Dad. Am I back to dreaming about the role-playing game with the cute girl, now?
Yusis turned his head and opened one eye. Cynthia was holding the cushion upraised, poised to bat him with it again.
"Uh, yeah. I remember," he murmured.
Cynthia nodded, and set the cushion down on a nearby chair.
Maybe I shouldn't be surprised. RPGs often start with a cute girl waking up the hero, and my mind has never been very creative.
Yusis sat up. He felt more than a little disoriented.
I half-expected that this dream would end after I turned in, and then I'd wake up in my own bed.
Yusis looked down on himself.
Am I wearing my regular clothes?
I guess I was so exhausted that I crashed right after I took off my shoes and my glasses. It's not like I normally sleep in the raw or anything, but...
Did I just dream about sleeping? Did I have a dream inside of a dream?
Yusis yawned and rubbed his eyes, while Cynthia explained how to use the ablution room adjoining the guest quarters to magically clean himself and his clothing.
She finished with, "I can cast minor cleaning magic myself; all Lunarls can, and I think Alteans can too. Facilities like this were originally invented to help Vargs stay ready for work or battle. Most buildings have at least one, and so does every traveler's stop. Does the world you're from have anything similar?"
"Uh, yeah," he groggily replied. "It does."
'Ablution room'? It looks like a normal bathroom. I didn't think to question anything about it, last night.
So it's all powered by 'minor cleaning magic', and the shower also does laundry? There's even a magic toothbrush and dental floss.
Why does my dream have so many ordinary details? Most video games gloss over stuff like this, or don't mention it at all.
Is my mind really that fussy? I try not to be a total slob, but I'm not a neat freak either. I think.
Cynthia sprightly told him, "Come to the dining room when you're ready for breakfast. Don't take too long, okay? We're getting a late start because I let you sleep in. Siwell and Oreanna have already left the house. They're keeping watch for monsters at the village border."
After making a half-hearted attempt to clean up, Yusis almost forgot his shoes and glasses before he wandered into the dining room. He remained partly in a daze as he backtracked, put on his shoes, and slipped the cord attached to his glasses around his neck.
Yusis' breakfast appeared to be nothing more than a glass of milk and two small, oblong morsels on a plate.
Cynthia cautioned, "Just so you know, you shouldn't eat more than one or two travel rations for a meal. You might feel sick if you do."
"What, these tiny little bars?" he muttered, staring down at the minuscule portions of food.
"They're a lot more filling than they look. Magic is used to compress them, so they're easy to carry around."
Yusis tentatively took a bite out of one bar.
"They're also very nutritious," Cynthia cheerfully added.
Is that why they taste so bland?
Finishing the minimal meal took very little time. Cynthia puttered about as he ate, saying, "I've wrapped some rations for each of us to carry. Take this drinking flask too; I can use water magic to fill it when you get thirsty. Your clothing has pockets, right?"
"Yeah," Yusis mumbled, as he stood up from the table. He absently stowed the wrapped travel rations and a compact drinking flask in his multi-pocketed slacks.
"Oh, that reminds me," Cynthia reflected. "I would have done this yesterday, but I felt kind of drained from casting the summon spell. Hold still and don't speak for a bit, okay?"
Yusis blinked in mild bewilderment as she approached him.
What is she doing?
Cynthia stopped right next to him, and slowly raised one hand.
Why is she standing so close to me? Not that I mind, a cute girl like her is welcome in my personal space anytime.
Cynthia held her hand scarcely a finger's width away from his chest, and the open collar of his white shirt.
Am I feeling her breath on my face, or is that just my imagination? Wait, this is a dream. It's all my imagination.
Cynthia half-closed her reddish-brown eyes.
Where... is this dream going now? Not that I'm complaining...
Cynthia stepped back, opened her eyes, and smiled happily at him. "There. I cast defensive wards on all your clothing, same as the wards I have on mine. Your outfit will protect you like light armor now. The wards will also give your hands and your head some protection, but you should still be careful. Monsters can pierce defensive wards, if they claw or bite hard enough."
He couldn't help sheepishly returning her smile. Did my mind decide not to let my dream go there? Not just yet?
Cynthia continued, "The battle armor kept in the summoning station wasn't your size. I sort of get the impression that you're not used to wearing armor anyway? You've been using both hands to wield your sword, so I don't think a shield would work for you. We probably shouldn't purchase any armor from the supply shop; our travel funds are pretty limited."
While she spoke, Yusis' mind wandered. I shouldn't have gotten my hopes up so soon. The hero never gets the girl at the beginning of an RPG; he has to prove his worth before she'll cozy up to him. I just have to keep playing the game-
-wait, do I want to keep playing the game?
It's starting to drag, and the food is... okay, the vegetarian dinner had some spices that made it taste better than I expected, but these 'travel rations' are awful! I've never really thought much about eating; is that being reflected in my dream world?
Maybe I do want to keep playing the game, for now. Fighting that rabbit-monster was exciting, and Cynthia is the literal girl of my dreams, although I'm not sure why she has furry ears and a tail. That I'm not supposed to talk about, or look at too much. Am I subconsciously into that sort of thing, and too embarrassed to admit it?
Her smile is so sweet... but...
...why is my dream's backstory such a nightmare? There's all this messed up stuff about an evil Overlord who murders people and turns them into undead monsters. The whole setting is practically a zombie apocalypse, and I've never liked horror games.
"Uh, what was that?" he asked, belatedly realizing that Cynthia was trying to get his attention.
She let out an exasperated sigh, and held up the sheathed iron sword she had given him before. "I said, you left this outside of the guest room last night. You shouldn't be so careless; I can shape fire magic into a weapon whenever I have to defend myself, but you can't. You need to keep a weapon close to hand at all times. You'll wield the Holy Brand Aldea eventually, so you probably should get used to carrying a sword now, even if you're more familiar with other weapons. Don't you agree?"
"I guess that makes sense." The hero almost always uses a sword in RPGs. Or pretty much any fantasy video game.
At least she's not forcing me to admit that I know nothing about fighting with or without weapons, outside of playing fighting games.
"Would you like to try one of Siwell's extra swords?" Cynthia offered. "They're enchanted, and they're a lot more powerful than the weapons kept in the summoning station. I've tried to enchant the station's weapons myself, a few times, but I'm not very good at that. Experts who specialize in enchanting weapons are rare, and their services are expensive."
The smallest of Siwell's spare swords proved to be so heavy that Yusis could barely hold it off the ground.
"Maybe you'd better keep using the iron sword for now," Cynthia reasoned, watching Yusis struggle. "I'll try to put a basic enchantment on it." She removed the tarnished iron sword from its sheath, set it on a table, and half-closed her eyes while she held her fingertips over the weapon.
"The 'Savior gift' doesn't literally make me stronger, I guess," Yusis grumbled, trying one more time to lift Siwell's sword with both hands. Its point quickly drooped to the floor.
Cynthia opened her eyes and appraised him with a measured look. "The chant affects your subconscious mind, by connecting you to the swordfighting knowledge within other people's subconscious minds. The chant doesn't make your body any stronger. There's only one way to accomplish that."
She's not going to make me do push-ups, is she?
To his relief, she did not request that he perform any physical exercises. Instead, she brought him to her village's supply shop.
"What are these little bead-like things?" Yusis asked.
"Don't you have magic beads on your world? Oh, I remember. You said that your world doesn't have any magic at all."
"Uh, yeah."
"The pink ones will heal your wounds; the yellow ones will restore you if you're dizzy, blinded, or suffering any other impairment; and the white ones treat miasma poisoning. I'll get an assortment for both of us."
"What do the red ones do?"
"Their healing magic is powerful enough to revive someone who's passed out from their injuries. They're really expensive, so I'm not buying any today. We can use the revival beads Siwell gave us if we have to, but it's much better not to get that badly hurt in the first place."
"I have to agree with you there."
"The violet beads are also really expensive. They can entangle the body and mind of an enemy, hampering their movements and delaying any spells they try to cast. Slowing-beads cost a lot because they're shaped from bardic magic, not holy magic. Most of the bards skilled enough to make them are Alteans, and Alteans are uncommon here. Oreanna gave me a few slowing-beads; I'll use one if we have to fight a really dangerous monster."
"'Slowing-beads'? Are you saying their magic forces monsters to move in slow motion?"
"I guess? I've never heard it described that way." Cynthia turned away from the display of magical items.
"Wait, are you done already?" Yusis asked. "There's a whole other section here."
"I don't think we need any of those. The deep blue ones are sleeping-beads; they don't work on monsters. They aren't very effective on people either, unless the person is really tired or wants to sleep. They're useful for treating insomnia, but I don't think you have that problem."
Just the opposite, really. There have been days when I didn't want to get out of bed for anything.
Am I dreaming in my bed right now? I don't remember going to sleep before this video game started.
Cynthia gestured to another row of brightly colored beads. "The rest of those have elemental magic - orange for fire, light blue for water, green for wind. Elemental magic can be used against monsters, but all monsters are weak to holy magic anyway."
"Oh, I get it. The healing beads you picked out aren't just to heal us; we can also use them to attack monsters, right?"
Cynthia's forehead wrinkled in puzzlement. "Why would you think such a ridiculous thing?"
"Uhh... because monsters are undead? Doesn't healing magic hurt them?"
"Holy healing magic returns a living body to how it naturally is. Undead monsters don't have living bodies. Healing beads don't affect them in any way."
What's with this video game dream world? Is my mind rejecting the ground rules of RPGs I've played before? "Wait, you just said that all monsters are weak to holy magic. Are there any holy magic attack beads in this shop?"
"There's no such thing as 'holy magic attack beads'. Holy magic refuses to let itself be shaped into something that could accidentally hurt a person caught in its blast; holy power doesn't want to hurt the living. I can use holy magic attack spells to hurt undead monsters, but I have to spend time concentrating. That's not the safest way to fight monsters, unless I have someone to protect me. Like you."
Cynthia smiled at Yusis. He tried not to blush.
She added, "I'd rather not buy any elemental magic beads today. Any bead can only be used once, and our travel funds really are limited."
"Can't we kill monsters for more money?"
"You mean, by taking on monster bounties?"
That actually isn't what I meant...
...wait, that rabbit-monster I killed didn't drop any money, did it? Or any kind of loot at all. It just dissolved into that awful black smoke.
Is my mind so logical that I can't imagine why or how zombie-monsters would carry around money for the taking?
I guess I'm not going to grind random encounters for cash. That's fine. This dream is already pretty slow-paced.
Cynthia reasoned, "We could take on a few bounties, especially if people really need our help. There is a shortage of professional monster hunters right now, but I'm not sure we should spend a lot of time doing small jobs. The Overlord is the real source of everyone's suffering. Nothing will get better until we stop him."
A stray thought drifted through Yusis' mind, as Cynthia left a precise sum of currency on the shop's counter.
"Wait a minute. Monsters turn into black smoke when they die. There aren't any monster parts to pick up and hand over," Yusis realized. "How would anyone know that we fulfilled a bounty?"
Cynthia gave him a slightly bemused look. "We'd tell them, of course."
"That's it?"
"What do you mean?"
"Well, I am absolutely not suggesting that we do this, but what if someone claimed that he killed a monster when he actually didn't?"
"I guess magically induced confusion could cause a monster hunter to make a mistake like that? Don't worry, mind-related magic is easy to recognize, and the yellow beads cure it. Most Lunarls can cast a basic dispel, too."
"No, I mean, what if someone lied about killing monsters in order to pocket the bounty?"
She stared at him blankly for several seconds.
Then she shook her head and admonished, "You're not making any sense. Do you need help waking all the way up?"
She raised one hand. A watery globe tinged with tiny bits of white frost appeared over her palm. "Hold still for a moment."
"Wait, what?" Yusis took a nervous step back and held up both arms, defensively.
"You're not holding still."
"Are you seriously about to hit me in the face with cold water?"
"I almost did when I was trying to wake you up, and maybe I should have. I will if you babble any more sleepy gibberish." The watery globe vanished from her hand.
She's not joking, is she? She really thinks I'm spouting nonsense, and she's assuming it's because I'm sleepy.
Well, maybe I am a little sleepy, but...
Do I put so much value on honesty that the girl of my dreams can't wrap her head around lying or stealing?
Or, is it even bigger than that? This store's front door is wide open, and there's no one here but us. I don't see any measures to prevent shoplifting. Does the owner expect customers to always leave the right amount of money on the counter? Is the honor system the normal way of doing business, in my dream world?
Cynthia handed Yusis a medley of pink, yellow, white, and red beads. She instructed, "To heal yourself with one of these, just crush it between your fingers. You can also will its magic to help someone else, if you concentrate and toss the crushed bead toward the other person."
"Does it matter that I can't use magic?"
"Of course not! The magic is in the bead, not you. Vargs can't use much magic either, so they depend on these."
"Are you carrying healing beads, too? Even though you can heal with spells?"
"Yes. Holy magic is powerful, but it's good to have a backup plan."
Yusis stumbled as he followed Cynthia out of the shop. He tried to focus on selecting specific pockets within his slacks to store the color-coded items that she had given him. The process strained his coordination, and he nearly tripped.
"You've mentioned 'Vargs' a couple times," he rambled aloud. "Is that another race of people on Kreisia? Like Lunarls and Alteans?"
"Oh! Yes, that's right. Kreisia has three races, Lunarls, Alteans, and Vargs."
"You said Alteans were uncommon here. Are Vargs uncommon here, too?"
"There are a lot of Vargs in the Royal Capital, so I'm sure you'll see one soon. They have white hair and horns. They're very good at physical labor or fighting with weapons, and Varg women are every bit as strong as Varg men. Your 'Savior gift' is probably giving you swordfighting skill from Vargs right now! Sometimes Vargs can be short-tempered, so be polite when you meet one, okay?"
"Okay. Do you think I'll meet an Altean soon?"
"Maybe? Alteans are... well, a lot of people are scared of Altean chants."
"No one is scared of you, are they? You can use chants."
"I can only use weak chants. Some Alteans can use domination chants, that take control of a person."
Wait, what? Did she just say-
"'Domination'?" Yusis uncertainly repeated. "Is that a real thing here?"
"Um... well, it's not common. Domination chants are easy to recognize, and they're absolutely forbidden outside of extraordinary situations - if using them can protect a person's life, or something like that. I heard about a recent incident from traveling merchants; an Altean woman used a domination chant on a child who had wandered really close to a burning funeral pyre. The Royal Guards subdued the Altean with stun bolts and took her into custody, but she was found innocent of any wrongdoing. She'd only wanted to make the child move away from the fire."
Is my dream is trying to rationalize 'domination'? Why is stuff like this in my head to begin with? "Uh, okay. So 'domination' is a real thing, but almost never happens."
"I guess? Alteans have some natural resistance to chants, and they can temporarily increase their chant resistance or use counter-chants. Most Vargs and Lunarls carry chant wards, just in case. I'd give you a chant ward if I could, but that would disrupt your 'Savior gift'. If any Alteans try to dominate you, I'll make them regret it."
"I'm pretty sure you don't need to worry." There is no way I'm going to dream about being 'dominated'. I am not into that sort of thing. "And, uh, look. I understand a reasonable precaution like carrying a chant ward, but there's a big difference between rational self-protection and paranoia. Maybe you shouldn't be so quick to assume the worst of people?"
"I don't really think any Alteans are likely to dominate you. You're our Savior. Interfering with your duties would be a terrible crime."
Yusis tried to conceal his internal wince.
Of all the things to dream about, why am I dreaming that I'm a 'Savior'? I've never 'saved' anyone.
Except in video games, I guess. RPGs almost always send the hero on a quest to save the world, so of course that's what my dream is doing. I just wish I didn't have to hear myself called-
Cynthia interrupted his thoughts with the question, "What do you mean by 'assume the worst of people'?"
Yusis blinked a few times, then studied her perplexed expression for a moment.
I don't think she's being sarcastic. She looks confused.
"Let me put it this way," he said, cautiously. "Lunarls like you can use powerful magic, right? You've mentioned fire magic, and that sounds dangerous. For that matter, can magic control a person's body or mind?"
"Well, um... binding spells do immobilize the body."
Wait, what? Did she really just say-
"'Binding spells'?" Yusis apprehensively repeated. "Uh, that sounds kind of weird."
"Why? I've used 'Chains of holy' in battle before. It can make the difference between life and death when fighting multiple monsters. Binding spells aren't strong enough to hold bigger monsters though, and some monsters use dark magic to ward themselves."
The girl of my dreams can cast a spell called-!?
Yusis' eyes darted back and forth. "So, uh, you'd never cast 'Chains of holy' on a person. Absolutely never." I am definitely not into that sort of thing.
"Not without a really good reason. Like restraining a patient with advanced miasma poisoning, so they can be safely treated."
Okay, that actually sounds pretty sensible.
What's wrong with me? Here I am trying to argue against assuming the worst of people, and I have to consciously block myself from assuming the worst of her.
Yusis put one hand on his chest, closed his eyes, and took a deep breath to calm himself. He opened his eyes, let his hand fall, and asked, "Can magic do stuff to a person's mind, too?"
"Sleep spells affect the mind," she thoughtfully replied. "I've never tried to learn one, since undead monsters are immune. There might be other spells that can influence a person's mind? I don't know a lot about mind-related magic. Not many Lunarls study it."
"But some Lunarls do."
"The Royal Mages use it to cast communication spells."
"Uh-huh. Okay. So, why are people scared of Altean chants, but not Lunarl magic?"
"Well... forty years ago, there was an Altean who... it's a long story, but there was a lot of devastation, and all the Alteans in or near the Royal Capital were forced to resettle in other parts of Kreisia."
Does my dream literally have forced population transfers in it!?
This is beyond messed up-!
A flash of alarm crossed Cynthia's face. "Yusis, you look horrified! Don't worry, it's different now, I promise. Let me explain."
"I'm listening..."
"King Cedric Welkin became Kreisia's leader ten years ago. He's proclaimed over and over that Kreisia's three races have to work together as one; we have to unite against the Overlord, or none of us will survive. King Welkin's really popular, and he's good at inspiring people. He made government deals with Altean merchants to distribute books and chant wards among Kreisia's inns, traveler's stops, and summoning stations. The books are so people can more easily teach themselves magic, history, and trade skills; I've read and reread all the books in my village's summoning station. The chant wards are so no one has to fear domination chants anymore."
"That's cool, but-"
"King Welkin also championed the movement to strike down the laws restricting where Alteans can live or what jobs they can have. He wrangled with parliament for years to abolish the last of those laws."
"It's beyond disgusting that those laws ever existed."
"There used to be problems between Vargs and Lunarls, too. Maybe there still is, but there's much less discrimination between all three races now, because of King Welkin and everyone who believes in his ideals."
That's good to know. I was beginning to wonder how twisted my own dream is. I'm still a little worried that I've imagined something so bigoted as part of my dream world's history.
Cynthia apologetically continued, "Alteans have been coming back to this region, like the Altean merchants who sell slowing-beads to supply shops. A few Alteans live in the Royal Capital now, and there's a government branch of Alteans called the Royal Chanters. They use chants to help the Royal Mages with research, crafting magic beads, and enchanting equipment."
"There aren't any Alteans living in your village, though?"
"There aren't any Vargs, either. I don't think anyone wants to settle down here, right now. Small villages like mine are especially vulnerable to monster attacks."
Is my dream using twisted excuses to introduce me to one fantasy race at a time? A history of bigotry is such a disgusting way to do that...
...I should stop obsessing over this. Of course my imaginary world has bad stuff in it; an RPG without conflict would be a boring video game. Or maybe a cutesy simulation game, but I've never been a fan of those. I like games that I can win.
Cynthia continued, "Priests and priestesses who are good at warding away monsters are so rare that they're stationed to protect big cities. Siwell and Oreanna wanted me to learn how to ward away monsters, but I just don't have much talent for that."
'Ward away monsters'? If Cynthia levels up enough, will she be able to turn off random encounters in this RPG?
When Yusis and Cynthia reached the village's outskirts, they found Siwell and Oreanna vigilantly keeping watch for monsters. Cynthia's parents respectfully acknowledged Yusis, and spoke quietly with their daughter. There was a certain intensity to the hushed conversation. Yusis looked away, uncomfortably, until the discussion ended.
Cynthia turned to Yusis and urgently insisted, "I really don't think we should wait any longer to set out. We need to end the Overlord's reign of terror as soon as we can!"
"Uh, yeah," Yusis blearily agreed. "Let's do that."
Oreanna impassively stated, "The people here depend on us to defend them. We can't accompany you to the Royal Capital."
Well, duh. What kind of lame RPG has parents tagging along for it?
"Will you not wait one more day?" Siwell inquired, looking from Cynthia to Yusis with concern. "A military escort has been dispatched to protect you, according to the message we received. They should have arrived by now."
I'm not sure why this dream is still going, but I'm certain it won't finish any sooner if I stay here.
Yusis uneasily replied, "Um, from what Cynthia has told me, the Overlord is really bad. We need to shut him down full force, no holding back and no time to waste."
Oreanna acquiesced, "You speak the truth, Savior. We must not interfere with your duties."
Did I just settle a family argument?
Siwell somberly advised, "Savior, our daughter is a priestess of exceptional talent, and we have trained her combat and survival skills for ten years. Take care of her, and she will take care of you."
Then again... maybe I'm a little too 'anti-parent'. A two-person party is kind of small for an RPG, isn't it? I need more party members to see this dream through, and my mind just rejected two strong candidates.
Oh, well. My imagination will come up with something. I hope.
Cynthia led the way down the dirt-caked path extending from her home village. Yusis followed. The road before them seemed to stretch endlessly ahead.
Kreisia's most unlikely Savior was dismayed to learn that the trip to the Royal Capital involved walking, walking, and more walking, followed by a night's camp at a cabin designated as a rest stop for travelers.
Then more walking.
Then a sudden scuffle with a trio of raccoon-monsters.
Then more walking.
It's been two days, and this dream has no end in sight...
"Cynthia, can we take another break?" Yusis asked, almost in a gasp.
"You don't have much stamina, do you?" she observed, worriedly.
"Yeah, no," he agreed, easing to a seated position.
"I hope you can build up more. If we meet that military escort-"
"Would they be walking, too?"
"Um, yes, of course they would."
"Seriously? They'd all be traveling on foot?"
"Why are you asking that?"
"Well, if they were mounted on horses or something, then maybe we could ride along with them?" All this walking is beyond exhausting.
Cynthia furrowed her brow. "I don't understand what you're saying. You really are fatigued, aren't you? You can't even talk clearly."
"Uh..." This again? I'm sure I wasn't mumbling. It's like she just doesn't understand certain words or ideas.
"Yusis, if we meet that military escort then you shouldn't ask for so many breaks, and you definitely shouldn't ask such garbled questions. It would look bad."
Why is the girl of my dreams so critical of me?
With a gentle smile, Cynthia offered, "Do you have any more muscle aches? I'm always happy to make you feel better with holy magic."
Then again, she does have a really sweet side. Especially when she smiles. "Uh, that's okay. I'm fine right now, but, um, could I ask you...?"
"Yes?" Her ears twitched, curiously. He tried not to look at them too much.
I can't say, 'Why isn't this dream over yet?' At first I was eager to play through it, like a video game, but it keeps going on and on. It's taking so long to reach this king she's been telling me about, and that's only the beginning of the main quest, isn't it?
If it weren't for the occasional battle with monsters, this would be just like everyday life. It's actually a little boring.
Am I stuck in this dream until I beat the Overlord?
"Yusis, what is it?"
Unable to express what he was thinking, he blurted out a question that had been simmering deeper within his mind. "Are you adopted?"
"What?"
Yusis realized what he had said, and awkwardly looked away. "Oh, uh, sorry. I shouldn't get in your personal space like that."
"I'm not adopted. You're not the first person to ask, but what makes you think such a thing?"
"Well... you call your parents by their first names."
"Oh, that? It's just what I've always done."
"They don't have green trails in their hair like you. I didn't see anyone in your village with green trails."
"Altean heritage is more common than you might think. Almost no one in Kreisia is purely one race; most people are a mix of two or all three. Many Vargs and Lunarls have an Altean ancestor way back in their lineage, and just don't show any sign of it. In Vargs and Lunarls, trails of Altean hair color often skip several generations. The talent for weak Altean chants also tends to skip generations."
"And their-" Wait, maybe I'd better not talk about the color of their fur. "Your parents are so much taller than you."
Cynthia shrugged. "They are pretty strong, aren't they? They're both monster hunters. They belong to a guild that protects people. They recently helped the guild destroy one of the Overlord's strongest servants. Before they left to join the campaign, a Royal Mage came to our village. The Royal Mage promised that she'd ward away monsters for as long as the village needed her. I prayed every morning and night for my parents, while they were away."
Non-player characters are fighting the Overlord's minions? And winning?
Cynthia clasped her hands together and held them over her heart. "I'm so thankful my parents came home safe. Too many monster hunters suffered the worst in that conflict; the guild is almost empty now."
Then again, that doesn't exactly sound like 'winning'. More like 'barely not losing'.
Cynthia unclasped her hands, and a wistful note touched her voice. "I wish Siwell and Oreanna could have come with us, at least to the Royal Capital. They couldn't because they're the only monster hunters available to protect the village."
"Have monsters attacked your town before?" I thought towns and cities were supposed to be safe places, in video games. Unless there's a scripted event, I guess?
Cynthia nodded. "Yes. Siwell and Oreanna are very good at using divinations to track down dangerous monsters before they come too close, but ten years ago the Overlord Orzand commanded a mass assault. City and village defenses everywhere were strained to their limit. I barely survived."
Ten years ago?
Your father said that he and your mother trained you for ten years...
Cynthia continued, "I was only six years old at the time, but I remember how close the monsters came to killing me. It could have been much worse than that - I could have been poisoned by their miasma, and turned into a monster myself! I'm here now only because my parents destroyed the monsters and saved my life. No one in my village died that day."
Cynthia's tail twitched. Yusis tried not to look too much.
I shouldn't ask any more about this.
When Kreisia's most unlikely Savior reached the furthest outskirts of the Royal Capital, he was disturbed by what he saw.
A monster attack had recently struck. The Royal Guards and Royal Mages had repelled the monsters, at a cost. A hasty pyre had been constructed for two victims. One was a Royal Guard; the other was a local resident who had been in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Cynthia helped a Royal Mage set the pyre alight with fire magic. They combined their power to control the flames, and completely incinerate the two corpses without endangering anyone else.
Yusis uncomfortably turned away from the grim scene.
I really didn't think I was going to a funeral in my dream.
"Are you the off-world Savior, summoned by the Priestess of Salvation?" inquired an authoritative voice.
"Huh? Oh yeah, that's me. My name's Yusis," he replied, with a friendly wave at the speaker. She was a tall, dark-skinned, armored warrior with toned muscles, stark white hair tied in a bushy ponytail, and sharp horns jutting from her forehead. "Cynthia's been telling me about Kreisia's three races. You're a 'Varg', right?"
"That is correct," she answered, in a restrained manner that reminded Yusis of an elementary school teacher.
What's with her attitude? Okay, it was a stupid question, but this is my dream, so why am I calling myself out on every dumb thing I say?
I shouldn't ask her if Varg women really are every bit as strong as Varg men. Cynthia wouldn't mislead me about anything in this dream world, not even as a joke. I'm absolutely sure she wouldn't.
The warrior introduced herself with, "I am Laminah Thor, Captain of the Royal Guards. Our skywatchers witnessed the light from the summon spell that brought you to Kreisia. I hurried to reach you as soon as I received word."
Yusis absently nodded. 'Laminah'? That's kind of a weird name - wait, I didn't say that out loud, did I? No, I didn't. Good.
She doesn't just look strong. She also looks really shapely, in that form-fitting armor. She's gorgeous-!
Laminah continued, "Savior, I am relieved to know that you and the Priestess of Salvation are safe. Powerful monsters ambushed the military escort dispatched to protect you both. The escort destroyed their attackers, but the only survivor succumbed to miasma poisoning after relaying a report."
Wait, what?
Yusis' eyebrows darted up. "Huh? The monsters Cynthia and I fought on the way here were pretty weak. How can there be super-strong monsters in this part of the world?" I am still in the starting area of this RPG, right?
Laminah questioned, "Why would you believe that the strength of your assailants is dependent upon your geographical location?"
"Uhh..." Isn't that how it works, in video games? Or is my dream more of an 'open-world' style?
"Are you a warrior?" Laminah scrutinized his thin frame and his tarnished iron sword.
"Of course!" Yusis answered, with a grin. "I mean, I can't use magic or chants like Cynthia can, but ever since she put this 'Savior gift' on me, I just know how to fight with a sword. 'Warrior' has to be my class, right?"
Laminah appraised him with a cool, impossibly distant gaze. Her face tightened an immeasurably small amount.
Then she stoically declared, "Savior, I hereby pledge myself to your service. Allow me to personally defend you and the Priestess of Salvation, during your quest to vanquish the Overlord Orzand."
Sweet, a third party member!
"Sounds great to me!" Yusis agreed, enthusiastically.
Laminah's expression was unreadable as she continued, "Savior, I vow to surrender any sacrifice that I must, to aid your duty and protect all of Kreisia. Even if it costs my life. Even if it costs more."
"Glad to have you aboard!"
Now this dream's starting to pick up! Laminah looks like she'll be good in a fight, and she's really attractive too-
-then again, maybe I shouldn't let my dream go there. Not with her. She seems like a total workaholic; it'd be a personality clash.
Cynthia shared Yusis' cheerful approval of Laminah's pledge to join their quest. The priestess exchanged introductions with a sunny smile.
Laminah gave terse instructions to the nearby Royal Guards. A few soldiers fanned out and scouted for threats as Laminah, Yusis, and Cynthia traveled toward the heart of the Royal Capital.
Cynthia made small talk as they approached the walls surrounding the Royal Capital's interior. Yusis happily engaged in lighthearted banter. Laminah said little, although she did ask Cynthia a few questions about her age and her battle training. Cynthia replied that she had recently turned sixteen, and fondly reminisced about how Siwell and Oreanna had taught her to hunt monsters.
When the trio passed through the gate in the Royal Capital's inner walls, a uniformed Royal Mage appeared. Laminah briskly said, "The Savior and the Priestess of Salvation have arrived safely. Tell the scouts to return to their posts." The Royal Mage nodded and departed.
Laminah turned to her traveling companions and declared, "Our first order of business is an audience with my king. He represents all of Kreisia."
"Oh yeah, Cynthia's told me about him," Yusis commented, in an upbeat tone. "She said he's really popular, and he's worked to end discrimination between Kreisia's three races. That's amazing, you know? Bigotry is a disgusting problem in my world."
Cynthia touched her fingertips together and looked down, as she listened to the off-worlder. Laminah showed no change in her countenance.
The warrior stated, "Before you present yourselves to my king, I will herald your arrival. While I do so, you should both conduct preparations."
"What do you mean?" Cynthia trilled, looking back up.
Laminah eyed Cynthia's humble, frilly dress. "Your attire is inappropriate."
"I don't see anything wrong with it. I've cast permanent wards on Yusis' clothing and mine, to make it protect us like light armor."
"Yes, I am aware of that. You may recast your wards on a more respectable outfit."
"No," Yusis denied. "We need to save our money for travel supplies and equipment upgrades. We can't afford to buy fluff like that." I play video games to win, not to dress up.
Laminah raised a white eyebrow. "Very well, Savior. Yours is the more serious concern, regardless."
"What's the problem?"
"Your haircut is unacceptable. You must be made more presentable at once."
"What?"
"I will arrange for a barber to properly trim and comb-"
"Are you serious?"
"Um, Laminah," Cynthia uncertainly addressed, "hair care might be different on his world; maybe we shouldn't-"
"Is this really what we're talking about right now!?" Yusis exclaimed.
Laminah seemed about to make a stern rejoinder, when another dark-skinned Varg approached. He was as tall as Laminah, but appeared substantially older. She traded a hushed conversation with the newcomer.
The male Varg paused to regard Yusis closely. Then he made a slight bow of respect to both Yusis and Cynthia, and departed.
Laminah said, "I find myself in a predicament. I must stay at my uncle's supply shop for a time, until he finishes an important errand. If the two of you could carry out a small task, I would appreciate it."
"We'd be happy to help," Cynthia affirmed.
"Sure, okay," Yusis muttered. Anything to make you quit talking about my hair.
Laminah emphasized, "First, I must have your word that neither of you will stray outside the city walls, while you are separated from me. The Royal Mages' wards safeguard the Royal Capital's interior from undead monsters, living assassins, and teleportation; the exterior is less heavily protected."
Is my mind blocking me from going out-of-bounds, in this video game I dreamed up?
Cynthia sprightly affirmed, "We promise we'll take care of this and come straight back to you. Right, Yusis?"
"Fine, whatever," Yusis sighed. Maybe it's for the best. A game-breaking shortcut might finish the dream faster, but... the whole idea just feels wrong.
Laminah requested, "Could you search the public garden outside the Royal Castle for a small toy that looks like a white kitten? I am told it was dropped somewhere in that area. Come to the shop when you find it, or before sundown if you cannot find it. My uncle's errand should conclude by the end of the day."
Laminah gave directions to her uncle's supply shop. Cynthia listened intently; Yusis' mind wandered.
A fetch quest for a stuffed animal? Seriously?
The cute girl, the medieval weapons, the magic items, the attacking monsters, and now this... so much of my dream resembles practically every RPG I've played before. I've never been very creative, but am I really that dull?
Oh, well. I'll just knock out this sidequest as fast as possible. Maybe the game will get better when I advance the main quest.
The public garden outside the Royal Castle was moderately large. The Royal Castle towered over the garden; Yusis noticed a large, prominent avian emblem with outstretched wings, above the castle's entrance.
Yusis and Cynthia split up to search the garden more efficiently. Their hunt for the toy took over an hour. Yusis finally spotted a patch of dingy white, beneath some hedge leaves.
Am I dreaming about a role-playing game, or a point-and-click adventure? I can't remember the last time a pixel hunt took me so long.
He collected the stuffed animal, and made a token effort to clean it off. He gave up when he realized how heavily worn and stained it was.
Someone has been handling this for a long time. It's on the brink of coming apart at the seams.
Cynthia approached him, saying, "Yusis, all of a sudden I can sense - oh, you found it!"
"Yeah. Fetch quest complete," he distractedly answered.
She curiously regarded the stuffed animal. "Where did you find this?"
"Under that." He gestured to the nearby hedge.
"Do you think this toy was really 'dropped'?"
"Huh?"
"You're not even a tiny bit sensitive to magic, are you? Yusis, this toy has an enchantment to keep it from falling out of the owner's possession. The magic is just as strong as the enchantment Laminah has on her weapon. Um, I did try to put an enchantment like that on your iron sword, but it's nowhere near as good as-"
Yusis interrupted, "Are you saying this stuffed animal couldn't have been dropped by accident?"
"Umm... no, I can't say that for sure. Enchanting is minor magic, and all minor magic is very limited. Even enchantments as powerful as this one can falter; weapons can still be taken away and items can still be lost. What bothers me is that this toy was hidden underneath a hedge, and the garden's cultivation magic covered up the feel of the toy's enchantment. Could that have been deliberate? Is Laminah secretly testing us?"
This sounds like a side-story plot hook, and I want to get on with the main story.
"If she is, then we passed, right?" Yusis replied with a shrug. "Let's just take this back to her. There's no need to call her out."
"Okay," Cynthia acquiesced.
"Uh, where did she say that shop is?"
Cynthia led Yusis to the supply shop that Laminah's uncle owned. Laminah was inside. An older, dark-skinned Varg woman was with her.
Yusis handed the stuffed animal to Laminah, saying, "It was like that when we found it."
"I know," she replied with a nod. She turned to give it to the older woman.
"Kitty!" exclaimed the other woman, snatching the stuffed animal. She clutched it in both hands, crooning, "Kitty... my kitty..."
Laminah softly requested, "Now, will you stay here until Uncle gets back?"
"Fine. I do not care. Go away," the older woman brusquely dismissed. Then she returned to cradling her cherished toy.
"Thank you, Savior. Thank you, Priestess of Salvation," Laminah said, after they exited the supply shop. "She will not wander away, now."
"No problem," Yusis mumbled. "You know, I'd kind of rather you call me Yusis, instead of 'Savior'."
"Me too," Cynthia trilled, brightly. "Please call me Cynthia. We're all in this together, aren't we?"
"As you wish," the warrior assented. "I suppose you are curious about what you saw."
Cynthia looked away.
"Maybe," Yusis admitted, "but I don't want to get in your personal space."
Laminah regarded him with a balance of evaluation and concern. "You have been summoned away from your life on another world, to save all of Kreisia. I feel that it is important to tell you more about why we need you."
"Uh, okay?"
"That woman is my mother."
"Uh... okay."
"In my youth, she and my father trained me in the ways of the warrior, including warrior's honor. I was a rebellious teenager, insufficiently committed. I was weak, and that was their doom.
"Ten years ago, the Overlord Orzand unleashed a monster assault upon multiple cities, including the Royal Capital. The Overlord wielded supremely powerful magic that overwhelmed the Royal Capital's defenses. Every able-bodied person had to fight for their lives, including my father, my mother, and myself.
"When I faltered, my father protected me. Monsters savaged him with tooth and claw. Miasma poisoned him, and he arose as a possessed creature. He nearly killed my mother. She had to strike him down.
"My mother's mind shattered that day.
"Ever since, she has acted like a petulant little girl, who clings to a toy. She does not recognize me as her daughter. My uncle looks after her as best he can."
Even my dream's side-stories are messed up. Hearing them makes me feel sick inside, like how the black smoke that comes out of monsters makes me feel.
Does this super-strong warrior really think she used to be 'weak'? 'Warrior training' won't make anyone into a top-tier powerhouse unless they already have some potential. Magic or chants can't replace physical conditioning in my dream world.
Was she really 'rebellious' and 'insufficiently committed'? Or did she just want to live a normal life, instead of a life dedicated to fighting monsters?
"Yusis," Laminah continued, "Kreisia suffers grievously from the Overlord Orzand, the wielder of miasma, the master of monsters, who arises every ten years with the mandate to destroy all life. Ever since the Overlord's last defeat, I have prepared myself to join your journey and vanquish him again."
"Wait, what?" Yusis asked, consternation showing on his brow and eyes. "The Overlord 'arises every ten years' - what?"
"Did you not know?"
Laminah regarded Cynthia with a cool gaze. "What have you told him about the cycle?"
"Umm..." Cynthia blinked rapidly, and touched her fingertips together.
"Have you told him anything about the cycle?"
Cynthia looked at the ground. "Yusis, Laminah, I'm sorry. I just - I just want to stop the Overlord so badly. It hurts so much to think about what he's doing-!"
"Wait, hold on," Yusis worriedly interjected. "Kreisia has a 'cycle' - this horrible Overlord comes back every ten years?"
"That is correct," the warrior confirmed. "Every ten years, the Overlord blights Kreisia's lands, and sends undead monsters to slaughter us. Only an off-world Savior can end the Overlord's reign of terror."
"All this bad stuff every ten years..." Yusis' eyes darted back and forth. "So, there have been other Saviors before me? Are any of them still around?"
Laminah carefully considered this, then replied, "Yusis, you are the only Savior we have. You will likely find the task ahead to be... extremely demanding. I will aid you to my fullest ability, in any way that I can."
"Me too," Cynthia chimed in. "Um, I didn't say this earlier, so I'll say it now. Yusis, I pledge to do anything needed to help you protect Kreisia. Even if it costs my life or more."
"Hold on, both of you," Yusis stressed, with growing unease. "Laminah, you look really strong. Cynthia, I know you can cast powerful magic. Why do you need an 'off-world Savior' at all?"
Laminah answered, "To the best of my knowledge, the Overlord's miasma vapors are so concentrated that they will overwhelm ordinary anti-poison wards. Only an off-worlder can wield the Holy Brand Aldea to counter the Overlord's poisonous miasma. Only an off-worlder can be our Savior, and prevent the Overlord from flooding our world with death and worse than death."
"Until he comes back in ten years."
"That is correct."
"Can't we get rid of the Overlord for good?"
Laminah briefly contemplated the question. "My king is also a scholar. He has been researching an answer to that ever since he lost his sister, twenty years ago."
"The Overlord killed her, too?"
"It would be more accurate to say that the cycle killed her, but she was indeed a casualty of the war against Orzand.
"Yusis, I must make this as clear as I can. Kreisia needs you, desperately. The Overlord's current reign of terror has extended for too long. All who live in Kreisia suffer from the Overlord, the miasma, and the monsters. There is scarcely a person in the world who has not lost friends or family to Orzand's depredations."
Cynthia piped up, "I guess I'm one of the lucky ones." She smiled and blinked her reddish-brown eyes.
Yusis glanced at her sidelong.
No, Cynthia. You're not one of the lucky ones.
You lost your parents to monsters ten years ago, didn't you? Maybe you saw them turn into zombie-monsters. You described the stages of miasma poisoning...
...'weak healing magic can't help them anymore'...
Did you try to save them yourself, and fail? Was your magic too weak because you were only six years old?
You survived somehow, and your village's protectors adopted you. They're probably the ones who rescued you. Maybe you saw them destroy what used to be the parents you loved.
You've done the same thing to your own mind that Laminah's mom did to hers, only on a smaller scale.
Why is this dream of mine such a downer?
Is it something to do with my own head? I'm not that depressed, am I? Sure, I'm close to flunking out of high school, but I'm not miserable over it.
Well, I'm not really miserable over it. Not miserable enough to...
...where am I even going with this?
The last thing I can remember before this whole dream started is...
I was walking out the door of my house. I wanted to hang out at the arcade, and Mom had just reminded me that one year ago-
...exactly... one year ago...
...I don't want to think about this anymore.
Maybe Cynthia and Laminah's mom have the right idea.
End of Chapter Nine: Discomfiture of a Savior