Chapter 7: Chapter 0.07 | The Trouble Before The Trouble

"Uuhh, what..." Somebody hit me?

"Who was that?" I looked left and right, but there wasn't anybody who looked like they tried to hit me.. Damn it, I couldn't wake up properly in time!
It's not like there really is anybody near me actually... But ... ...

---- Wait, why does my torso feel light?

The atlas! Did somebody steal it? ... Nevermind. It was actually on the floor, next to me.

And I just had a good sleep...
Now that I look outside, the outside does remind me of earlier this month.
I must be close to Theatlus.

I closed my eyes and relaxed.

The train sped up...Oh, I see why.
The weather seems to be getting somewhat worse. How thoughtful of them to speed it up!

I took a peek outside. The Theatlus region as always is flat, with a three here and there occasionally.
My reflexes suddenly made me hold tight on the seat, which even though it is meant for at least four people, I'm the only one on it.
---- Lightning? Did lightning just hit the train?! Wait, I'd see it then. So it's the bridge?

With this quick speed, this could risk the training falling to the ground.
A big boom!? Again?

I looked outside. The wind is strong, but I manage to see the destroyed bridge ahead.
-Maybe I should jump.

Before I managed to get the atlas from the seat then prepare to jump, I suddenly hit my head on the roof of the train.
It didn't really hurt though?

--Man I hit my head on the seat, which strangely hurt more than the roof.
After I tried to look at how much we've closed on the destroyed part...
"It's not there?"
Looking at the other side though, with the wind blasting my ears instead of both my ears and eyes...

Wait a minute.

--Was the train flying!?

A flying train is pretty risky without full manpower riding it for sure.
But it's better than having the train absolutely destroyed, together with the people inside dead.
This could potentially lead to casualties either way.

My curiosity made me turn my head to the other side. Is that the tower?
With my somewhat blurry vision from the air, I could only see the green grass, a few tall buildings and a tower. They were very far.
That tower is the biggest library of the whole world.

-Anyway, did we escape them?
I have heard of these annoying rebels, but to think that they've reached Theatlus... If the city falls, then who knows what would happen?
Well, I think that they must have relations with the resistance! They for sure were and are planning something.

The train got much noisier since right after that explosion or whatever it was.

---- Good thing we're close to Theatlus. Otherwise, I'd... Is the train slowing down?

"Tataro, Tataro! Apologies for the rough ride! We've arrived in Theatlus! Please prepare any luggage. Make sure not to forget anything under the seats!"

These words bring me joy!
Under the seats, you would place your things. It had a little functional door, which somehow functioned even though it's made of stone.

Why do I feel like I have to say what "Tataro" means?
It's something we say to bring attention. Like alert, alert... Why am I talking to myself?

Nothing beats stretching these legs after a long ride!
And the train... stops!
My legs have been crying for some exercise since some time.
~                    ~   ~                  ~
 •A Theatlus Train Station•
~                     ~ ~                   ~

I feel shorter...
Alright, there it is.

"Hello sir! What would you like?"
"I'd like to know the price for a ticket for Waist."
"Let me see.." The girl seems to be checking something like a list on a paper. I was never any good at reading like this.
"That'll be... five thousand chesh!"
I felt like... raising my tone.
"The prices seem somewhat expensive from last time I was here."
"Apologies. I assume that it must be because of the war."
"Right. I'll buy a ticket for a ride as soon as possible. Here's the little gold coin."
"Thank you. Wait just a minute please."

...
---- A little gold coin!? No way! I'm sure that it should have been much much less!

"Here. The train for Waist is tomorrow. More details are on the card."
"Thanks, bye."

No way, just no way. I'll go broke by the time me and the crew unite once again.
I should check when the ride is.

Waist is a town that has a train station only because it stands in the path between Theatlus and Kanto... otherwise I would have to get a carriage, which is many times worse.

Maybe I should visit Capital after all this...
... If I survive.

Ugh, not these thoughts again.
That guy is just some veteran, he would die if I push him down the stairs.
He must be at least 50 if he was some commander or some high rank 20 years ago. At that age he'd surely just die.

-What do you think?
...
-Not gonna answer..?

- Hotel

"Hotel... Right."

--- I should probably stop talking to myself already.

A hotel.. I really need to sleep somewhere.

I have to look for one I guess.

Golden beaches... A popular stop for tourists. Not all of the beaches in Nidon are beautiful... which is fortunate and unfortunate in many ways.

• The Capital Of Nidon, Tilbin •

"I feel like the past few hours have been wasted." Ayden didn't resist the sigh.
"Pain brings joy." Novel. he is always trying to be smart.
"Right, right. Keep on hoping that it's true." I should too...

Ayden quickly gave a comment "That's right Novel, if it isn't true, then expect me to beat you up." as he looked to the bright grey sky.

Tilbin is one of the main tourist attractions in Fuhvhavala. And it is like that for a reason, a reason good.
Tilbin shares house designs similar to the ones in Shikinino. It is quite mixed. Perhaps in some areas in Tilbin, one wouldn't find the difference between Tilbin and Dyurai or Kub.

One of the most common materials for houses is aggregate, at least in Nidon. Other materials are somewhat rare in newer houses.

You are reading story Consequences And Stories Of The New World at novel35.com

"What can you even do to me, Ayden?" Both looked at each other, a smile hinting that they'll...
"You can't fight here, you know? It is the dockyard after all." I made an attempt to cool down the situation.
"How about we arm wrestle? If we arm wrestled back at Hano, I would've definitely win!"
...
Novel chuckled, but he quickly suppressed it fully.
"Seems like you will lose both physically and mentally."

I sighed.
"Alright, we will do it on the ground."

-- Many looks would get on us like this for sure, but it is better than letting them go all out.

"Seems good. Ready? ... Three, two, one, start!" And the action began.

"You aren't bad." Novel is unable to hide his struggle.
"You are bad. I really got dirty for nothing."
Ayden looks like he's about to win.
"I won't let you insult me like that..."

Both of them grinned. A little ago, things seemed to go for Ayden, but now, it's much more like a stalemate.

"I imagine somebody tries to rob us... But here you both are, sore from this silly game."
A little before I finished, Novel suddenly lost the little game.
"Seems like I win, newbie."
"It's only because Kol distracted me."
Novel seemed somewhat disappointed.

Well... Ayden sure has good strength. He is much stronger than he looks.
Ayden isn't very thin, but I'd call him that over strong.
Because he now wears a brownish tunic, you can't really tell his muscles as much as when he wore his white shirt from some time ago.

"Bring me a chess board and pieces, then I'll easily win." Novel has quite the serious look on his face.
"Yeah, yeah, right. We will see how long you last with just your brains."
"You guys sure are weird. We are a party after all, everyone has their own part."
Novel smirked, then said "Mhm, you and Gren only fit much better though. Me and Ayden seem to share similar activities with you, but doesn't it actually seem like we're superior in them?"
I didn't feel like commenting on that.
"You and Kol, me and Gren? Nah, no way Gren and I are any similar."
"... Dreams could fly high that's for sure in your case."

--- If we only weren't in this dock, I would punch him already!

•Somewhere in Pa, ChanPaKan•

- Coming in to help out of nowhere... That can't be right. But it's not like I'm in some prison to suspect him now.

There are many ways to find out, but this one will certainly work out.

Suddenly, I couldn't resist the urge to look up, away from the wooden ground.
There he was, Kija, who just opened the door.

"Good timing, I have something to ask you." I stood up from the bed as I was talking.

"Tell me why you helped me. Are you a member of the resistance?"
...
"No."
---- Why does he seem so clouded? I can't tell a single thing. Maybe I'm not focused well enough.
"Then, you're a spy from ChanPaKan to accumulate information about me? Just like this, you'll be able to push me to a corner if I don't act." Maybe I was too aggressive.
"That's not it either. Don't worry, I'm your ally."

That for sure means that he couldn't resist my ability!
"Say, why did you come in?"
"You looked somewhat upset earlier."
Upset?

"No... No, I am not upset."
- Now that he mentions it, I am bothered by... something.

"I can tell that you can manipulate... things. Can't you remove these horns? And also I can get you clothes. Or can you make some yourself?"
"My horns? No, they are part of my body." They really are. Surely.
"I see. You... nevermind, we can cover them. Then, we'll be able to hang out, out in the open."
Why would we do that? I am sure that my face is known. And these horns aren't small either.
"Don't you think that my face is known?"
"Didn't I tell you? The guy who saw your face is most likely in Geloh right now. I don't think that he has Geloh working with ChanPaKan on this already."
"No, you didn't."
"I didn't?"

"Well, anyway, can't you make some kind of clone? Change it up, control it and we can hang out."
He thought of making a clone right away, huh?

"Kija, don't you think that something about this is strange?"
"What is it?"
"Nothing. I'll sleep. Wake me up if you need me."
"Alright."
And once again, I shut myself in the little room.

•The Capital Of Nidon, Tilbin. Port Tilbin•

"Hey you guys! It's your turn!"
Finally.
"Let's go." Ayden immediately jogged upstairs from the lower docks into the house made of mostly bricks.
Me and Novel followed.

The inside was warm. You could barely hear the birds outside.

We were in this white bearded old looking mans office.
It wasn't big, but it did the job.

"I'll talk with him, alright?"
"Sure, would be funny to watch you fail."

Ayden and Novel didn't seem to be against it.

"Alright, we should get to the point. We're looking for a caravel. May you elaborate on the prices for one?"
"You want a pre-made one?"
"Yeah, that will work. How much will one cost?"
Once he tells me the price, I can try to lower it.

"About 40 million."
"... Fourty? We have a budget of roughly 25 million though."
"Eh? Sure, I guess that some badly made one could go for much lower than 25 even."
"Hold on mister, I have to talk with my friend about this for a minute." Ayden intervened.
"Don't take long or I'll kick you out!"

"What are you doing?"
Ayden whispered, so I also did.
"I'm trying to lower the price."
"Idiot, you're making this worse."
"Hey, hey. We'd save money if we go economical." Novel joined in uninvited. He also didn't whisper.

...

So, I didn't whisper this time either. "You know if we go economical, we could also go underwater-ical?"
I tried to pull a joke, but it didn't really end up well.
"Haha, funny. I'll do it." Ayden made fun of me, I guess.
"No, I will." Novel insisted, then Ayden pulled back.

"So, let me cut this. We're looking for some good work for not too expensive."
"And what's that not too expensive little boy?"
"Not more than 50."
"50? 50 what? Silver coins?"
"No, we don't have that much silver coins. I am talking about million. Fifty million."
"I see. I have a work which was hanging around here for quite a lot of time. It's decent and 50 million seems like a good offer."

The four of us went out. The old man was walking us somewhere. While we were walking, he was telling us about the situation.
"You see, the one who ordered this caravel died some time after ordering it. After maintaining it to keep the price as high as possible, many of the cleaners tell me "Hey! This shit is haunted I am not dealing with that!", and I'm like "Haunted? What?"..."
Haunted..? That doesn't seem good. Maybe, just maybe though... the ghost will accept us?

"And here we are."
After walking along the dock, we found it. The caravel was staying docked, alone. Who knows how many years it had been since being docked here.
We then went closer to it through the bridge. The water was noisy.
"It doesn't look bad!" All of us agreed.
"You are free to check it out for yourselves. Here..."

We got on the caravel. It didn't really feel bad or anything. I like it.

"The ground isn't damaged... I'll check out the captain cabin!" Novel seemed excited.
"I will look around too." Ayden didn't really look as excited, but he probably was too.
"You can check the rudder. Feel free to tell me if something is damaged, but I'm sure that there shouldn't be any damages."

I looked towards the sea. I felt the adventures come.

A new caravel. Well, we didn't buy it yet... But still, it felt nice.

"Old man, we're buying it!" Ayden shouted at the seller.
"What did you say?! Old!?"
"Sorry! Haha!"

Only if Gren was here with us... we will probably meet in Geloh next, but who knows?
The flow could easily make us meet in Shikinino too.
There's only one way to find out though.