Chapter 98
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Chapter 98:
I looked up at the broken moon, admiring its surprising beauty. I think it was closer to the planet than I was used to, that or much larger than my own back home.
[You okay?]
"Yeah, yeah." I ran hand through my wet hair. "I'm good." I found a nice little pond to take a dip in. Put up a bounded field and just wanted to relax. "Just surprising. Like knowing people die, then see a dead body for the first time in person."
Worlds died. Just like every other living thing in existence, they eventually meet their end. Be it the heat death of the universe they exist in, or their natural time is over. Natural causes, or something kills them.
Worlds eventually die.
I've known about parallel worlds that get pruned every second of the day while new worlds are then created to fill their place.
But I've never walked on a planet that was on its last gasping breath.
[How much longer does this place have?]
I mulled the question over. "I'd be conservative and say a few thousand years."
[That's not too bad.]
"When a planet looks at billions of years as a blink of an eye, a couple thousand is absolutely miniscule" I shook my head.
[Shouldn't it be more noticeable?]
"It depends." I pursed my lips. "Don't know what happened here, but the 'dust' is basically like clotting blood. There is still enough mana in the air from the dust sprouting out of the ground everywhere that it's nearly impossible to tell on a first look that anything is wrong. Give it a few more centuries, I'm sure people will start to notice that crops are growing less, forests are starting to decline, deserts expanding, that sort of thing."
Then again, many people don't venture out of the Kingdoms much from what I've seen. Perhaps that's already happening and they're just oblivious. The population here is much lower than my home presumably, so it probably won't even be an issue for a very long time.
[It's sad, but it doesn't seem like anything worth dwelling on.]
While blunt, it's true. "Yeah, I'm just processing is all. Not like I'm going to sit here and mourn a world I never knew." I dipped my head under the water. Very clean and refreshing, I had made sure to check it before getting in. "And, well, Dust is quite the find. It should be sprouting for a few more centuries before it starts to show signs of diminishing in a noticeable capacity."
[Going to load up on it to bring back home?]
"That was the thought." I Stood up, grabbing a towel I had hanging on a tree nearby. "Should be good for Rin, and I think Zelretch would be excited for the find. Crystallized Mana is something findable back home, but it is EXTREMELY rare. Granted, the stuff back home would be much more potent than the stuff here due to the fact that our world is still going strong."
Quality vs quantity.
Putting my clothes back on, I laid out a bed roll. I didn't really feel like heading back to the city and finding a hotel or something. I would enjoy the clear sky and sleep under the stars tonight.
****
I yawned, opening my eyes up to the morning sun.
Still couldn't get over how stunning this area was. Definitely one of my favorite places I've discovered away from home. Going to show off so many pictures when I get back.
Oh, that reminds me.
I gathered all my stuff and went to check on my little jars of Sap. They were practically overflowing as I got to them.
Waiving my hand, I created a portal that brought me back to a little alley near Junior's club.
I know it was early, but I kind of wanted a drink.
"It's 6:00 PM in some world, right?"
[That's a healthy way to look at it.] Ddraig said dryly.
"Ah, poor kids and those with hopes of grandeur go to compete to maybe grab a higher-ups attention?" I hazarded a guess.
"Got it in one." He nodded. "The Academies aren't exactly cheap. Most can't afford them if they don't' get scholarships or what-not." Roman added. "Anyways, we get the kids in those age groups go and beat the crap out of each other for entertainment."
"Why that Age group though?"
"16 is generally the earliest one can get accepted into an Academy with 17 being the norm. And the schools don't really take in students past 20 years old, considering it not worth teaching them that late since most graduate by the time they're 20 or 21 anyways."
That made sense, they're looking for the best age to teach kids how to fight.
"The prize money is pretty nice too." Roman added.
"Prize money?" I perked up.
"30,000 Lien." Roman nodded. "Nice and tidy little bit there, could set someone up for a decade if they were conservative."
"How's the competition look?" I rubbed my chin.
"There's a favorite, one Pyrrha Nikos the – " He Waived his hands flippantly. "—Invincible Girl." With an eye roll he took another drink. "Well, she's decent for her age, but as green as the grass in the emerald forest."
"Does she attend an Academy?"
Roman blinked for a moment. "Oh right, keep forgetting you're a bumpkin." He laughed. "It's 'frowned upon' for kids already in academies to compete." There was a bit of contempt in his words. "Miss Invincible Girl already racked up three consecutive wins, one more and she sets the new record, one of the reasons this tournament is so popular this year."
"Huh." I had some thoughts. "What are the requirements to enter this tournament?"
"Open to any challengers." Roman eyed me. "What? Want to try your luck?" He laughed.
"Hey, I could win." I huffed, taking a drink.
"Sure, kid." Roman laughed.
"Do you need some kind of identification to participate?" I asked.
"Just standard stuff, why?" Roman asked.
"I may or may not have entered the Kingdom illegally?"
"Well, I never!" Roman dramatically placed his hand over his heart. "Who would have thought I was consorting with such unsavory elements?"
Junior just shook his head. "Listen, kid, you don't seem like the bad sort so I'll give you some advice." He leaned forward. "The mistral tournament isn't the place for our kind. It's where the future huntsman go, those who are paraded around the Kingdom as their 'heroes'." He turned around and walked away.
I feel like there's a story there. "Did I say something wrong?"
Roman just snorted. "Not everyone wakes up one day and wants this life, kid." He lit a cigar, taking a long drag before letting it out. "Junior isn't any different." He Leaned back in his seat. "Most of us had the same dreams these kids did. Seeing these fights broadcast all over the world, all wide-eyed before reality hit us in the face."
"Us?" I eyed him.
Roman's light smile faded into something resembling melancholy. "Everyone's got a story, kid. Don't go around prying in this place." He pulled over an ashtray, stamping out his cigar. "But if you need papers, I'm your guy."
Well, regardless, it would be nice to have some kind of identification.
"What're you charging?" I raised an eyebrow, earning a smirk from him.
***
So, uh, i'm not making Remnant a sort of 'Land of Steel'. Yeah the planet is pretty borked, all things considered, but Land of Steel was much worse than that. Just wanted a way from MC's perspective to explain what's going on with Remnant.
Anyways, if you want to read 5 chapters ahead or support me, visit my /astoryforone.
Please report us if you find any errors so we can fix it asap!
Chapter 98:
I looked up at the broken moon, admiring its surprising beauty. I think it was closer to the planet than I was used to, that or much larger than my own back home.
[You okay?]
"Yeah, yeah." I ran hand through my wet hair. "I'm good." I found a nice little pond to take a dip in. Put up a bounded field and just wanted to relax. "Just surprising. Like knowing people die, then see a dead body for the first time in person."
Worlds died. Just like every other living thing in existence, they eventually meet their end. Be it the heat death of the universe they exist in, or their natural time is over. Natural causes, or something kills them.
Worlds eventually die.
I've known about parallel worlds that get pruned every second of the day while new worlds are then created to fill their place.
But I've never walked on a planet that was on its last gasping breath.
[How much longer does this place have?]
I mulled the question over. "I'd be conservative and say a few thousand years."
[That's not too bad.]
"When a planet looks at billions of years as a blink of an eye, a couple thousand is absolutely miniscule" I shook my head.
[Shouldn't it be more noticeable?]
"It depends." I pursed my lips. "Don't know what happened here, but the 'dust' is basically like clotting blood. There is still enough mana in the air from the dust sprouting out of the ground everywhere that it's nearly impossible to tell on a first look that anything is wrong. Give it a few more centuries, I'm sure people will start to notice that crops are growing less, forests are starting to decline, deserts expanding, that sort of thing."
Then again, many people don't venture out of the Kingdoms much from what I've seen. Perhaps that's already happening and they're just oblivious. The population here is much lower than my home presumably, so it probably won't even be an issue for a very long time.
[It's sad, but it doesn't seem like anything worth dwelling on.]
While blunt, it's true. "Yeah, I'm just processing is all. Not like I'm going to sit here and mourn a world I never knew." I dipped my head under the water. Very clean and refreshing, I had made sure to check it before getting in. "And, well, Dust is quite the find. It should be sprouting for a few more centuries before it starts to show signs of diminishing in a noticeable capacity."
[Going to load up on it to bring back home?]
"That was the thought." I Stood up, grabbing a towel I had hanging on a tree nearby. "Should be good for Rin, and I think Zelretch would be excited for the find. Crystallized Mana is something findable back home, but it is EXTREMELY rare. Granted, the stuff back home would be much more potent than the stuff here due to the fact that our world is still going strong."
Quality vs quantity.
Putting my clothes back on, I laid out a bed roll. I didn't really feel like heading back to the city and finding a hotel or something. I would enjoy the clear sky and sleep under the stars tonight.
****
I yawned, opening my eyes up to the morning sun.
Still couldn't get over how stunning this area was. Definitely one of my favorite places I've discovered away from home. Going to show off so many pictures when I get back.
Oh, that reminds me.
I gathered all my stuff and went to check on my little jars of Sap. They were practically overflowing as I got to them.
Waiving my hand, I created a portal that brought me back to a little alley near Junior's club.
I know it was early, but I kind of wanted a drink.
"It's 6:00 PM in some world, right?"
[That's a healthy way to look at it.] Ddraig said dryly.
"Ah, poor kids and those with hopes of grandeur go to compete to maybe grab a higher-ups attention?" I hazarded a guess.
"Got it in one." He nodded. "The Academies aren't exactly cheap. Most can't afford them if they don't' get scholarships or what-not." Roman added. "Anyways, we get the kids in those age groups go and beat the crap out of each other for entertainment."
"Why that Age group though?"
"16 is generally the earliest one can get accepted into an Academy with 17 being the norm. And the schools don't really take in students past 20 years old, considering it not worth teaching them that late since most graduate by the time they're 20 or 21 anyways."
That made sense, they're looking for the best age to teach kids how to fight.
"The prize money is pretty nice too." Roman added.
"Prize money?" I perked up.
"30,000 Lien." Roman nodded. "Nice and tidy little bit there, could set someone up for a decade if they were conservative."
"How's the competition look?" I rubbed my chin.
"There's a favorite, one Pyrrha Nikos the – " He Waived his hands flippantly. "—Invincible Girl." With an eye roll he took another drink. "Well, she's decent for her age, but as green as the grass in the emerald forest."
"Does she attend an Academy?"
Roman blinked for a moment. "Oh right, keep forgetting you're a bumpkin." He laughed. "It's 'frowned upon' for kids already in academies to compete." There was a bit of contempt in his words. "Miss Invincible Girl already racked up three consecutive wins, one more and she sets the new record, one of the reasons this tournament is so popular this year."
"Huh." I had some thoughts. "What are the requirements to enter this tournament?"
"Open to any challengers." Roman eyed me. "What? Want to try your luck?" He laughed.
"Hey, I could win." I huffed, taking a drink.
"Sure, kid." Roman laughed.
"Do you need some kind of identification to participate?" I asked.
"Just standard stuff, why?" Roman asked.
"I may or may not have entered the Kingdom illegally?"
"Well, I never!" Roman dramatically placed his hand over his heart. "Who would have thought I was consorting with such unsavory elements?"
Junior just shook his head. "Listen, kid, you don't seem like the bad sort so I'll give you some advice." He leaned forward. "The mistral tournament isn't the place for our kind. It's where the future huntsman go, those who are paraded around the Kingdom as their 'heroes'." He turned around and walked away.
I feel like there's a story there. "Did I say something wrong?"
Roman just snorted. "Not everyone wakes up one day and wants this life, kid." He lit a cigar, taking a long drag before letting it out. "Junior isn't any different." He Leaned back in his seat. "Most of us had the same dreams these kids did. Seeing these fights broadcast all over the world, all wide-eyed before reality hit us in the face."
"Us?" I eyed him.
Roman's light smile faded into something resembling melancholy. "Everyone's got a story, kid. Don't go around prying in this place." He pulled over an ashtray, stamping out his cigar. "But if you need papers, I'm your guy."
Well, regardless, it would be nice to have some kind of identification.
"What're you charging?" I raised an eyebrow, earning a smirk from him.
***
So, uh, i'm not making Remnant a sort of 'Land of Steel'. Yeah the planet is pretty borked, all things considered, but Land of Steel was much worse than that. Just wanted a way from MC's perspective to explain what's going on with Remnant.
Anyways, if you want to read 5 chapters ahead or support me, visit my /astoryforone.
Chapter 98:I looked up at the broken moon, admiring its surprising beauty. I think it was closer to the planet than I was used to, that or much larger than my own back home. You okay? "Yeah, yeah." I ran hand through my wet hair. "I'm good." I found a nice little pond to take a dip in. Put up a bounded field and just wanted to relax. "Just surprising. Like knowing people die, then see a dead body for the first time in person." Worlds died. Just like every other living thing in existence, they eventually meet their end. Be it the heat death of the universe they exist in, or their natural time is over. Natural causes, or something kills them. Worlds eventually die. I've known about parallel worlds that get pruned every second of the day while new worlds are then created to fill their place. But I've never walked on a planet that was on its last gasping breath. How much longer does this place have? I mulled the question over. "I'd be conservative and say a few thousand years." That's not too bad. "When a planet looks at billions of years as a blink of an eye, a couple thousand is absolutely miniscule" I shook my head. Shouldn't it be more noticeable? "It depends." I pursed my lips. "Don't know what happened here, but the 'dust' is basically like clotting blood. There is still enough mana in the air from the dust sprouting out of the ground everywhere that it's nearly impossible to tell on a first look that anything is wrong. Give it a few more centuries, I'm sure people will start to notice that crops are growing less, forests are starting to decline, deserts expanding, that sort of thing." Then again, many people don't venture out of the Kingdoms much from what I've seen. Perhaps that's already happening and they're just oblivious. The population here is much lower than my home presumably, so it probably won't even be an issue for a very long time. It's sad, but it doesn't seem like anything worth dwelling on. While blunt, it's true. "Yeah, I'm just processing is all. Not like I'm going to sit here and mourn a world I never knew." I dipped my head under the water. Very clean and refreshing, I had made sure to check it before getting in. "And, well, Dust is quite the find. It should be sprouting for a few more centuries before it starts to show signs of diminishing in a noticeable capacity." Going to load up on it to bring back home? "That was the thought." I Stood up, grabbing a towel I had hanging on a tree nearby. "Should be good for Rin, and I think Zelretch would be excited for the find. Crystallized Mana is something findable back home, but it is EXTREMELY rare. Granted, the stuff back home would be much more potent than the stuff here due to the fact that our world is still going strong." Quality vs quantity. Putting my clothes back on, I laid out a bed roll. I didn't really feel like heading back to the city and finding a hotel or something. I would enjoy the clear sky and sleep under the stars tonight. **** I yawned, opening my eyes up to the morning sun. Still couldn't get over how stunning this area was. Definitely one of my favorite places I've discovered away from home. Going to show off so many pictures when I get back. Oh, that reminds me. I gathered all my stuff and went to check on my little jars of Sap. They were practically overflowing as I got to them. Waiving my hand, I created a portal that brought me back to a little alley near Junior's club. I know it was early, but I kind of wanted a drink. "It's 6:00 PM in some world, right?" That's a healthy way to look at it. Ddraig said dryly. "Ah, poor kids and those with hopes of grandeur go to compete to maybe grab a higher-ups attention?" I hazarded a guess. "Got it in one." He nodded. "The Academies aren't exactly cheap. Most can't afford them if they don't' get scholarships or what-not." Roman added. "Anyways, we get the kids in those age groups go and beat the crap out of each other for entertainment." "Why that Age group though?" "16 is generally the earliest one can get accepted into an Academy with 17 being the norm. And the schools don't really take in students past 20 years old, considering it not worth teaching them that late since most graduate by the time they're 20 or 21 anyways." That made sense, they're looking for the best age to teach kids how to fight. "The prize money is pretty nice too." Roman added. "Prize money?" I perked up. "30,000 Lien." Roman nodded. "Nice and tidy little bit there, could set someone up for a decade if they were conservative." "How's the competition look?" I rubbed my chin. "There's a favorite, one Pyrrha Nikos the " He Waived his hands flippantly. "Invincible Girl." With an eye roll he took another drink. "Well, she's decent for her age, but as green as the grass in the emerald forest." "Does she attend an Academy?" Roman blinked for a moment. "Oh right, keep forgetting you're a bumpkin." He laughed. "It's 'frowned upon' for kids already in academies to compete." There was a bit of contempt in his words. "Miss Invincible Girl already racked up three consecutive wins, one more and she sets the new record, one of the reasons this tournament is so popular this year." "Huh." I had some thoughts. "What are the requirements to enter this tournament?" "Open to any challengers." Roman eyed me. "What? Want to try your luck?" He laughed. "Hey, I could win." I huffed, taking a drink. "Sure, kid." Roman laughed. "Do you need some kind of identification to participate?" I asked. "Just standard stuff, why?" Roman asked. "I may or may not have entered the Kingdom illegally?" "Well, I never!" Roman dramatically placed his hand over his heart. "Who would have thought I was consorting with such unsavory elements?" Junior just shook his head. "Listen, kid, you don't seem like the bad sort so I'll give you some advice." He leaned forward. "The mistral tournament isn't the place for our kind. It's where the future huntsman go, those who are paraded around the Kingdom as their 'heroes'." He turned around and walked away. I feel like there's a story there. "Did I say something wrong?" Roman just snorted. "Not everyone wakes up one day and wants this life, kid." He lit a cigar, taking a long drag before letting it out. "Junior isn't any different." He Leaned back in his seat. "Most of us had the same dreams these kids did. Seeing these fights broadcast all over the world, all wide-eyed before reality hit us in the face." "Us?" I eyed him. Roman's light smile faded into something resembling melancholy. "Everyone's got a story, kid. Don't go around prying in this place." He pulled over an ashtray, stamping out his cigar. "But if you need papers, I'm your guy." Well, regardless, it would be nice to have some kind of identification. "What're you charging?" I raised an eyebrow, earning a smirk from him. *** So, uh, i'm not making Remnant a sort of 'Land of Steel'. Yeah the planet is pretty borked, all things considered, but Land of Steel was much worse than that. Just wanted a way from MC's perspective to explain what's going on with Remnant. Anyways, if you want to read 5 chapters ahead or support me, visit my /astoryforone.
