Chapter 8: Chapter 7: Fate of a Lifetime

Landing at a border checkpoint, guards surrounded the carriage and kneeled. “His majesty awaits your acquaintance, Vetusian delegates.” one stood up. “Forgive us for any delay. Before you arrived, black ink dwellbeasts ransacked our homes. Ears had spread that they demolished your City of Origins first. You have my condolences.”

Yukino gasped, eyes frowned in distress. “W-What…!?” With a big heart for the innocent and vulnerable, she never tolerated undeserved deaths. Even when they’d never known or met another, she’d bawl to no end. Tears welling up, she panted aloud.

The guard waved his hands. “No, no. It is fine, little one. No one perished during the assault. We escorted our citizens to safe havens while our warriors slew them.”

She sniffled and dried her eyes. Her smile returned, sighing. “Thank you, sir,” she hugged him.

The guard smiled back and turned to Tokino. “We humbly appreciate your concerns for us. However, truly sorry if our news had opened some wounds.”

“Fret not, sir,” she bowed, eyes closed. “We’ve held nothing against you and your people. My daughter’s merely ever so faint and caring.”

The family connected with the guards quicker than realized. Yukino helped that by showing her runic skills. They’d never seen such small yet masterful arrays beside their king. Another guard smiled and walked toward Haruto. “Care for us to escort your family to his majesty’s home? Bare that you needn’t worry over it. Harald can wait twice more than an ancient turtle.”

He looked at Tokino, never being a formal speaker. She encouraged with a nod. So in a tall but awkward stance, he leaned forward. “M-My apologies, good sir. I’d much decline overwhelming generosity. My family yearns to tour your i-incandescent city. You needn’t worry, too. I-I’m a man of s-superb strengths. Their s-safety rests on my hands.”

Yukino giggled. “You sound funny, Papa.” She made him have cheeks red to their limit.

“Understood,” the guard bowed. “But I insist you all learn of our important wireless service. It holds everything you need to know.” He swiped his fingers up, opening the Every Hub.

Yukino gasped more as the holoscreen widened thrice. Within seconds, it shrunk to fit one’s palm. Haruto couldn’t help but think of an earthly show he once dropped. Five minutes in, they waved, and the carriage flew to the sky.

One guard chuckled. “Man, I don’t know where you guys got that way of talkin’.”

“I just wanted to find out if Vetus folk were still old-fashioned. The way that boy struggled says otherwise.” He laughed, eyes closed. “Their daughter’s so precious.”

***

Coelestis, the City of Gods. Pantaiyanilam’s Heart, the World Capital. Peerless Magnum, no other name would suffice. Its motto emboldened over any sign: One mustn’t fight one another as none can thrive without each other.

Magic and technology, the architecture blended modern and rustic. Skyscraper or spire, divisive at first glance. The carriage flew past seventeen in one block, and the family’s eyes widened upon the intertwined world. Hotels, casinos, malls, theaters, studios, suburbs, rivers, lakes, parks, Coelestis had a church minutes away from a strip club. Yet somehow, all felt close to home.

Public airships flew over the carriage, and flying cars darted. Landing platforms on each building, the roads were twenty meters wide. People only ever complained about pedestrian jams. Luckily, they smiled above, seeing the Vetusian custom of pegasi for the first time. Awe never slept within the city indeed.

Tokino saw the sign for its largest mall: Merchant’s Guild, complete with a heavy-bagged peddler. Flying down, Yukino jumped out, unable to wait. Haruto held her hand as she pointed at the entrance.

The driver petted his horses. “I’ll tell Harald of your whereabouts. Don’t worry. It’s not my first time being here. I’ll return at sundown, so I hope you don’t wander too far.”

Tokino bowed. “Thanks so much, sir. And don’t worry yourself. We plan on staying until then. Take care!” She waved above the skies. Following her husband, she held Yukino’s other hand, who playfully went up some stairs.

***

On the third floor, runes made Kenkō’s designer clothing vanish. As the most convenient technique, even toddlers had hammerspace. Kakunō sat by a wall, storing groceries of syringes, scalpels, and food. He stretched and followed behind. “Dude…” his pace slowed every second. “we’ve been here for four hours. My feet kill.”

“I’m not a dude. And shut up, country boy.” She turned and pointed. “Appreciate the exercise. Not every day you come out of your glorified tool shed.”

He stopped in his tracks, eyes twitched. “You’re from the boonies too, idiot! Your face is a dead giveaway, and fashion sense can’t fool me. You stunted ginger bit— Aaagh!” He fell to his knees and pulled the syringe. At least it missed the jugular, caressing his neck.

Hokori, mouth full and holding fast food, laugh at his expense. Turning to Kenkō, his height joke echoed throughout the floor. But two-thirds deep, breaking the shades’ lens, a scalpel greeted his eye. He dropped the bags and howled in a frantic roll below, mouth still stuffed.

Kenkō lowered her hand. What a barbarian. She left the two.

Citizens looked at them in sweat. “Hey, isn’t that the Peerless Champion…?” one whispered. “Dang… And I thought he was the strongest…” whispered another.

On the first floor, Haruto bought his daughter a pistachio waffle cone. It cost half a Geld rather than a quarter. But he explained inflation remained healthy, not that Yukino didn’t cock her head. Moving along, they entered the ice rink.

Haruto skated with two left feet yet not of firsthand experience. On the other hand, Tokino never missed a step and helped her husband. Yukino joined them in between. They let go after a minute, and she finally got the hang of it. But perhaps she’d inherited similar feet, slipping backward.

Tokino gasped and flash-stepped. “Are you okay, honey?” she caught her fall.

She smiled and nodded. “Yeah. I’m fine.”

Haruto lent a hand. “You’re doing great, Yukino. Wanna try again?”

“Of course, Papa!”

Rumors of the Minagawas in Coelestis had already spread, and onlookers stood by. In particular, most knew Tokino, especially Novusian migrants. “Look, it’s them…” one whispered. “I never knew they had a kid.”, “I heard they defeated a bigger version of the ones that attacked our city. No wonder his majesty chose them…” whispered another.

The family noticed all from afar, and they turned away. Tokino giggled. “We’re pretty popular here, aren’t we?” Her daughter concurred, but Haruto scratched the back of his head.

Up the second floor lay its grandest outlet: Durwood Theatres. To kill time more until sundown, they watched the children’s movie “The Lovely Barnacle.” So beautiful that even the villains swooned over it. Combined with its caring nature, it changed all their hearts in the climax.

Tokino now understood why it became the highest-grossing film of the year. She covered her mouth upon why the barnacle was gorgeous. Tears rolled down her hand as the mother died onscreen. Even the whelk gangsters visited her grave. The credits rolled with the sun shining through the seafloor.

Yukino rubbed her back to end the sobs. Everyone else clapped at the bittersweet yet triumphant ending. Like the credits, it went sundown outside the cinema. Yukino scratched her head over her mother’s sorrow, but Haruto didn’t.

“You miss her a lot. Don’t you?” he asked softly.

She dried her eyes. “Yeah… but we’ll see her again very soon. Promise.”

“Are you talking about grandma?” Yukino looked up.

“Yes, honey. But the City of Gods gave us a position far more important.”

Their short conversation concerned Haruto over his daughter’s wellbeing. A powerful mage, no doubt, but nowhere close to a developed mind. It was a miracle for a child gifted enough to crush palladium. None had attained such feats with little magic since Clovis’ great grandfather. Yet she had none of the courage.

Haruto recalled every time his daughter bawled upon others’ misery. Too open to attack, he trained her weekly for better prowess. It worked, yet her empathic misery stayed. He knew why but stopped any more recalling. However, he smiled at their unwavering trust. So his reluctance to say yes to Clovis came back.

“Yukino,” he looked down. “are you prepared for what the future holds for us?”

“Of course I am, Papa,” she smiled back.

“What if both of us aren’t there for you? What will you do?”

She hummed upon the question. “I’ll still fight, Papa. Even if you’re not there for me, you’ll be fine. I know it.”

“Honey…” Tokino reassured. “if we’re absent, you can always count on your new comrades.”

“I know, Mama.” She smiled again.

Haruto now cleared his mind of any ill doubt. Yukino skipped in glee, and Tokino giggled.

***

At a railing on the third floor, Hokori squinted. “Hey, fam!” he turned. “Looks like I found ’em. Whaddya think?”

You are reading story World Story: Biographies of Extraordinary People at novel35.com

Kakunō walked closer. “Yup. That’s them, alright. The Minagawas, and to think Tokino’s the wife. Does she remember you by chance?”

“Nope,” he shook his head. “I beat her when we first met. Then, she got up out of nowhere and turned into something weird, whatever it was. When we crossed paths again, she even forgot my voice. I believe the same applies here.”

Kenkō stepped in and sighed. “For crying out loud. You motherfuckers really love preying on the innocent, don’t you?”

Hokori chuckled, still eyeing down. “Dude… if they were, they wouldn’t be mages.”

She grunted and pointed. “Again, I’m not a dude. And what kind of logic is that? You think a child is not innocent?”

“Of course!” he grinned more. “Even a baby mage can kill an orc raider if strong enough.”

“A baby- what!? By the fucking Gods, I can’t even.” She grunted in disgust, walking away. “You’re evil, man. Just plain evil.”

Kakunō turned, hands inside his pockets. “So, how will you mess with the newcomers this time?”

“Same as usual,” Hokori smirked.

“Really? They’ll go to that bar like Clovis?”

He scratched his nape. “Well, my mind ain’t got no ESP. But they be goin’ that way. It’s safe to say they would. The sign of the old man’s joint is too big and flashy to miss.” He walked past him toward a liquor store. “You guys wait here. Imma give ’em first impressions.”

The employee bowed. “Welcome to Distilled Ambrosia, my good man. What’d you like for today?”

Hokori caressed his chin. “Hmmm… I want the cheapest shit ya got.”

He leaned forward. “Sir, our ‘cheapest shit’ costs two hundred Geld. But if you insist, red or white?”

“Eh,” he shrugged, eyes closed. “I’m feelin’ red right now, fam.”

“Excellent choice.”

Hokori waited by the counter. His eyes darted around the place, and the employee heard chuckles.

“Oh, um. Pardon me for wondering, but I believe this is for a special occasion. A date, perhaps?”

“Nah,” he shook his head. “Just wanna mess with this family here.”

“I beg your pardon?” the employee raised a brow.

“I’m tellin’ ya, fam. It’s a family thing. You know how it is.”

“I see…” the employee still raised, more confused as he gave him the bottle.

Hokori walked out and jumped to the first floor, unnoticed. In three lone steps, he hid ten feet away from the family. He grinned, his body bubbling into a stouter build with a beer gut. He drank the bottle halfway and commenced the drunkard act. “Hey! Watch where you goin’, asshole!” He spat at Haruto, hitting his nape.

Haruto cringed at the cold and looked back. Eyes narrowed, he walked with heavy steps. But then, Tokino held his right. “Leave him be, honey. He’s not worth it.”

He complied, and his family left the mall where Hokori intended.

***

Hokori leaped back to the second floor. “Aight, let’s go there before they do,” he spoke Japanese.

Kenkō shook her head. “No… you two go over there. I’m going home.” She walked past them. “I won’t be part of your schemes ever—” In a flash, Hokori dragged her by the suit collar. Citizens felt the winds and heard her bloody terror in tears. Kakunō tailed behind the blinding pace.

Two stories high, Hokori jumped down a balcony. Kenkō rolled on the ground right at Dwarf Haven’s doorstep, the most popular bar after a night’s shopping. She trembled in a wide gape, feeling all the g-force, and her life flashed before her eyes.

“Aight, guys. We’re here!” He smiled, arms raised, but two seconds in, “Ugh!” His groin felt the full force of her shoe. His life also flashed before his eyes in slowed time, and ‘Ave Maria’ came to mind. He trembled, hands between his legs.

She pointed below. “You insensitive prick! Do you have any idea how much I wanna throw up!? Ohm…” She covered her mouth, but the inevitable occurred.

Kakunō landed next to her. “Hey, guys! What’d I miss?”

She wiped her mouth, clutching her belly. “Shut the fuck up, country boy. Now pick up your idol.” She went inside the bar.

He lifted Hokori by the shoulder. “You okay, dude?”

He panted. “N-No worries, fam… My cajones heal fast.” He gave a thumbs-up.

Inside, the bartender and their longtime friends greeted the three. “Hey, it’s him! ’Sup, Hokori!” waved Sakusei Buki (武器 作成), one of Harald’s imperial guards. “Yo, Kakunō! Wanna spar later up there?”

“Sure thing, dude,” he shrugged. “But that’ll have to wait. He’s got something to tell y’all.” He pointed with a thumb.

Hokori stood at the center and clasped his hands. “Boys! We got another in our hands. Let’s rehearse it right now.” He chuckled in all teeth.

The announcement excited two more of Sakusei’s gang on his table: Bernard Potts and Rosado Floración. Ten years and counting, they shielded the king from any harm.

A fed-up Kenkō sat at the bar table beside Don Pérignon, the owner. “One bottle of scotch. Gonna slip into a coma.”

He stood confused at the newcomer. “Mademoiselle… You must know it’s illegal to serve liquor to minors—”

She banged the table, making his hair jump if any. “I’m twenty-two, dickhead! Give me the fucking bottle. Now!” She banged louder.

He handed one of his oldest microbrews in haste. As Kenkō drank in one go, he sighed and wiped his sweat. Pour l’amour de Dieu.

“Not enough… More…” She hiccuped three more times.

He raised his hands. “M-Mademoiselle! They could sue me for—”

“Just do it… you damn geezer!” She titled the bottle high. Then, lights out.

***

Outside the mall, the family stood where their driver had left, yet nowhere. Yukino sat beside them on the stairs, humming. Her mother made her do a peace sign together, and the holoscreen flashed. Ten minutes in, Haruto stopped ignoring the neon sign in front. Unlike on Earth, the sloshed elf moved like a rubber hose cartoon.

Tokino squinted. “But honey, that’s a bar. I don’t think they allow children. In fact, we shouldn’t.”

“It’s okay. I’ll talk to the owner. We need a place to stay until he comes back. Besides, I don’t see any hotels nearby.” He looked around the distance.

She thought for a moment, but Yukino tugged her sleeve. She sighed. I guess it can’t be helped. Her daughter yelled in joy beyond reason and held their hands tight.

As this story went on, Haruto and Tokino went into a bar along with their Yukino. There, they saw a savage Hokori.

You can find story with these keywords: World Story: Biographies of Extraordinary People, Read World Story: Biographies of Extraordinary People, World Story: Biographies of Extraordinary People novel, World Story: Biographies of Extraordinary People book, World Story: Biographies of Extraordinary People story, World Story: Biographies of Extraordinary People full, World Story: Biographies of Extraordinary People Latest Chapter