As Maya rested safely in the walls of The Astella Family Domain, a commotion had kicked up at the entrance to the Kingdom of Khuvia. A young girl, no older than 13 stood outside the gates, debating loudly with the guards.
"C'mon! I've been here before! Why ain't I allowed back in!?"
"You're a criminal! If you weren't a child, you'd have been arrested by now. Get lost before we change our minds, Chrona."
The guards stared harshly down at the girl. Her appearance was unusual. Even at the age of 13, she was only 150 cm tall. She had fluffy dark purple hair, shaved on the left side of her head. Her eyes were bright purple with thin pupils. Somehow, her face always seemed to carry a smug expression, her eyes darted between the two guards.
"Fine fine, I'll get goin'."
"The nerve of that girl, coming back again & again like she hasn't stolen plenty."
As she strolled away from them, her body started to glow a light blue. Instantaneously, Chrona seemed to vanish. A blur of light blitzed past the guards, appeared for barely even half a second. The guards look up at each other, questioning if they were just seeing things.
"Suckers! They fall for it every time!"
Chrona stopped at a bench in the middle of Khuvia, sitting down to relax now that she was inside the kingdom. She rolled her sleeve up, looking at the blue lines etched into her arm. This was a side effect of her ability being overused called 'Temporal Overdose'. She leaned back, looking to the sky as the marking slowly shrink away. Her arms aching throughout the entire process.
"Haah... It- It never gets any easier..."
Her eyes darted around the kingdom, looking for somewhere to break into. Nothing in her line of sight seemed worth it, in an attempt to find something more, she began to roam. Eventually, she stood outside of the Astella Family Domain, her eyes widened with excitement, a cocky smirk plastered onto her face. Chrona's body began to glow once more as she sped towards the back of the building.
"Hm, okay.. This place doesn't seem to have anybody here. Not with a System, at least."
Chrona's hand began to rapidly vibrate as she pressed it against the window. Slowly, the latch on the window starts to unlock. She lifted the window, jumping into the seemingly empty room. As her eyes darted around, they quickly locked onto Maya—asleep on a bed. Chrona's mind instantly starts rushing with thoughts. In a quick action of panic, she lost her grip on the window, causing it to drop shut. The instant the window hits the base, Maya nearly leapt out of bed. As soon as her feet planted to the ground, her hands ignited into blue flame.
"Who're you!? 'N why are ya' here?"
"Uhm... I'm Chrona, Y-you are-?"
As Chrona spoke, her shifty eyes trailed all around the room. She was looking for some sort of escape. Yet a gut feeling deep inside of her screams out that she wouldn't be able to. Maya's flames began to burn brighter as her suspicion rose.
"Name's Maya. Why're you in my room 'Chrona'. How- How'd you even get into a Sword Saint's Family Domain..?"
A nervous & paranoid look crept onto Chrona's face as she scrambled together her words, still trying to find an escape path.
"I-I was looking—f-for you!! Yes! Maya I... Ugh, never mind, I can't do this."
She sighed, turning for the window again. As she reached to reopen it, Maya spoke out.
"Uh, Chrona, is everything alright? Yer' clearly panicked.."
"Why do you care? I'm some random crook who broke in your room, now I'm leaving."
"Okay, Criminal, got it. Uhm, regardless. In my belief, no matter a person's action, there's always a reason. So I believe what yer' doin' is for a good reason. Ya' look younger than me.
"Jeez, didn't break into this place for a lecture..."
Chrona tilted her head back, breathing in heavily. Her hands rose to her face, covering it as she breathes out, falling back onto Maya's bed.
"I'm doin' it to support myself. I did some things I regret, I ran away from home. I hate that feeling of bein' strapped down to one place. It's just—It's like—Ugh! I don't even know.."
"Like you can't be comfortable being as you are now.?"
"Yeah, somethin' like that. I wanna be more, overcome my weakness. Break away from the one thing holding me back."
"What is it that's holdin' ya' back?"
"You wouldn't understand if I told you. It ain't something everyone can just experience or understand."
"Well, I'll understand even less if you don't tell me."
Chrona's eyes lit up with shock yet comfort. This feeling was something completely foreign to her. She slowly looked up at Maya's calm smile. Something about this girl, it made Chrona feel completely at ease.
"Maya.."
Tears started to well up in Chrona's eyes, slowly drifting down her face as a genuine smile lit up upon her face.
"Hey! D-don't cry- Uh.. What's wrong!?"
"Nothin' Maya. I'm happy, okay?"
Maya stared at Chrona with a confused expression, unsure why she started to cry. She sat back down in silence as she looked around. The situation of comforting someone crying is extremely difficult for Maya—at least when she's conscious of it. Her face had lost that confused expression, all that remained was an unsure, awkward look.
"Good, good.. So uh, Chrona. I still gotta ask, Why're you breaking into The Sword Saint's domain in the first place. You're aware that you wouldn't make it far, yeah?"
Chrona wiped the tears from her face, looking Maya in the eyes once again—Quickly, a smug look creeps onto her face. There was a look in her eyes that screamed out the desire to ask something.
"Yeah yeah, but I'm thinkin'. You should get them to allow me here! Then The Guard's can't throw me out anymore!"
"I'm sorry, you were thrown out-? Why exactly-"
"Not important! It's a matter of survival, I'm sure ya' get it."
"I guess, I feel like my outlook on that, it's a bit different."
Maya thought back to where she met Aurelion. During that, survival was defined by her being strong enough. As of right now, all Maya knew was fighting to survive.
"Say, Chrona. Do you know much about the System? I've had one for a little now, I'm still not entirely sure of what it even is."
"Didn't you read the System's Info when you first absorbed the Crystal?"
"Info..? I didn't get anythin' like that–Here, I can just open it, right?"
Maya put her hand forward, causing The System's screen to appear in front of the two. Chrona read over Maya's information. As she finished reading, her head slowly turned, staring at Maya with a confused look. Maya sat with her head straight, reading over her own information carefully.
"Maya, You're only level one, I don't—How does that even happen!? You're older than me, yet-"
"It's because this is my first day since gaining The System that I've been able to do–well, really anything.."
Chrona put her hand forward, opening her own System.
-------------------------------
{System}
[User: Chrona Volia]
[Class: Brawler]
[Trait: Temporal]
[Level: 22]
[STR-27]
[INT-6]
[WIS-6]
[DEX-15]
[CON-14]
[Trait Stat]
[SPD-56]
-------------------------------
"I know! We should go out and get yer' level up! I know some spots!"
"I'd need t' ask Aurelion first. I don't wanna just leave without warning. You can wait for me, I'll find you soon."
"Find me? Jeez! You really are new to The System. Here, take a look at this."
In front of Maya, a System Message appears, signifying a Party Request from Chrona. As Maya reached forward, tapping the [Yes] Button, a small diamond appeared above Chrona's head, telling where her location was. Alongside that, A status bar for Chrona appeared below Maya's Status. Chrona stood up to open the window before leaping out once again, vanishing off.
"All this stuff is so confusing. Chrona, who exactly are you anyway.."
Maya stood up to walk to the door. As she grabbed the handle, a sharp pain pierced through her head. Something similar to a headache. Maya held her head as she stepped into the gilded halls, looking around at the high quality material around her as she continued forward. Her footsteps echoed out into the empty halls. For a place of safety, the fast emptiness around her was unnerving. Maya's eyes dart around with uncertainty as she carried forward. The feeling of something watching her was heavily weighing down upon her. She quickly whipped around, staring behind her as a cold sweat trailed down her face–her heart was beating loudly, shaky breath breaking out from her. Her eyes darted around the hall, trying to find any trace of something, yet there was nothing. After catching her breath, Maya slowly turned back ahead to continue walking. From around the corner ahead, Aurelion walks out with a calm look on his face. A kind smile rises onto his face upon seeing Maya.
"There you are, Miss Maya. Your rest was rather short, yes? Is everything okay?"
"Yeah, Don't worry about it..—oh! Yes! May I go out? I was wanting to uhh.. See someone!"
Aurelion looks at her with a slightly confused, yet still understanding gaze.
"To meet someone? Who may that be? You've just awoken after some time, I cannot imagine that anybody else was with you."
"A friend-! I met them a bit ago, they said they'd meet me! Can I go?"
Maya looks up at Aurelion, a bright, desperate shine in her eyes. Her wide smile grew out in an attempt to convince him.
"Maya, you're aware I'm not keeping you here, correct?"
He crouches down to eye level with Maya, a comforting smile on his face.
"You are free to come and go as you please."
Her eyes light up as she turns to run out. She quickly stops to turn back to Aurelion.
"Thanks, Aurelion!"
With that, Maya quickly rushed out into the Kingdom, sprinting through buildings towards Chrona's Party Marker. As she breached the borders of Khuvia, she stops near instantly. Ahead, the vast span of Myrium shines out before her, for the first time in her life, she was witnessing the full glory of the world she lived in. The bright sky, lively & colorful plains, all of it. Everything before her was unlike she knew from her life within the Solace Clan's grounds. She stood awestruck of what had been hidden away from her all this time. She slowly starts to walk to Chrona's location, taking in every sight possible, her face glowing with excitement. After about an hour of walking to a place 10 minutes away, she greets Chrona with a newly found joy in her mind.
"What took you so long! You had me waitin' damn ages!"
"Sorry, this is my first time uh, bein' outside like this. I was absorbed into the sights. What were ya' wantin' to show me again?"
"First time out..?—Anyway! We're gonna level you right up! So get ready, 'kay?"
With a smug grin on her face, Chrona's hands rise into the air, clapping together above her head. The flow of mana in the area began to shift, a wicked feeling flooding around them.
"What did you–"
"Get ready Maya!!"
Maya & Chrona's expression were polar opposites. While Chrona's expression was sheer excitement, Maya wore an expression of panic. Chrona leapt up to a tree, watching the varying sets of monsters rush towards Maya. Chrona stared deeply at her, knowing deep down, she was capable of handling it. Maya screams out in fear as Chrona vanished. Her eyes darting between monsters. There was 3 Goblins, Two Low Ranking Skeletons & One Stone Golem. The instant they closed in around Maya, her focus changed immediately. Her body grew calm, her eyes focused on one of the Skeletons. Maya's hand ignited into Soul Flame, swiftly striking the Skeleton's chest. Her eyes were filled with a calm focus. In her mind, this was nothing compared to the feeling that filled her body in the Domain's Halls. This was fine, she could handle it. The Skeleton's chest caved in from the force of Maya's Soul. Despite her low level, Maya was still exceptionally strong. Having regained herself from the first time she fought, this was much smoother. The moment she struck the Skeleton, the Goblin's had rushed to strike her all at once, allowing her to dash out of the way, causing them to collide. In their moment of collision. Maya leapt into the air, pointing her palm downwards. Last time she had done this, it was with a weapon. This was a gamble, would Soul Ignition work without a weapon?"
"Use Skill: Soul Ignition!"
As she calls out, a giant burst of flame tore down, completely incinerating the goblins.
-------------------------------
{System}
[Level Up! (LVL 1 > LVL 2)]
[+5 Skill Points]
[New Skill: Soul Manifest]
[New Passive: Soul ?????????]
-------------------------------
Too focused on the fight, Maya ignored the status window. She dropped to the ground, flooring the Skeleton in one punch. Before she can take a moment to relax, the Golem struck Maya, sending her tumbling back. The force of the punch had dropped her Vitality down to 15/100. She rebound herself back up, regaining her stance weakly. Chrona's eyes thinned, staring at her with confidence. A voice calmly spoke in Maya's head, telling her the Golem's weak points. She didn't understand what this was, but she knew to listen. Maya rushed ahead, a new sense of determination in her eyes. She had finally noticed her level up, now having a new skill, she decided to test the waters.
"Use Skill: Soul Manifest.?"
As she casted the skill, a flame ignited around her hand, forming a dagger with a black blade & A dark blue hilt in her hand. She didn't question the skill, instead she quickened her pace. Chrona stared down with excitement in her eyes, yelling out with joy at Maya's fight. Maya begins to enjoy herself, a smile breaking out onto her face as she launched into the air. Her dagger coats itself in her Soul Flame, trailing in the air behind her. The Golem faces up, throwing a giant boulder at Maya. With nowhere to evade, she begins to brace herself. However, instead of hitting her, it seemingly vanished. Chrona was suddenly standing in the tree, a cocky smirk on her face as she mouthed out "you're welcome" to Maya. Maya's face expressed a slightly confused expression before returning her focus to the Golem. She grits her teeth, falling down onto the Golem's face. Maya raised her dagger, slamming it into the Golem's eye.
"Die, you bastard!! Use Skill: Soul Ignition!"
A burst of flame shot out through the golem, scorching its insides. Maya drops down to the ground, sighing as the Golem falls back. It's body began to crumble apart.
-------------------------------
{System}
[Monster Hoard Defeated!]
[Rewards]
[500 XP]
[+1 Golem Core]
[+ 3 Cloth]
[+2 Bone Fragment]
[+3 Soul]
[LV 1 > LV 3]
[+10 Skill Points]
-------------------------------
Maya's health status was restored due to leveling up. Chrona appears beside Maya, celebrating loudly.
"Hell yeah! You're great Maya!!"
She shakes Maya back and forth. Maya groans quietly, still shaken from the battle.
"Chrona! What the hell! Why would you not give me a warning!"
Chrona falls onto her back, laughing loudly. Maya sits down, letting the Soul Dagger fade away. The two began to rest, looking into the sky. Maya laid with a strange sense of comfort around Chrona. She smiles, happy to have someone to talk to after all this time.
-Chapter Five: END-
(Apology for the short chapter -Sora)