亚洲综合中美

“OVER THERE,”

“Group five, circle them from behind.”

‘What’s happening?’ wondered a boy opening his eyes for the first time. The hot soil felt blurry to the sight, dirt rose from the horses. People in armor, weapons, and magical items stood strong.

“Garr,”

“Huh...” a green beast bigger than a human came from the right. “S-someone...” fear settled in, the beast bled from the arms, an arrow pierced its shoulder. The look of dejection amidst the sharp teeth, long crooked nose, and perky ears, it ambled forward with a club over the shoulder.

‘I need to run... I’m going to die... W-why c-can’t I m-move.’ The sight had triggered fear.

.....

“CIVILIAN,” screamed another who then delivered a downward slash.

“Are you ok?” -light brown hair turned with him giving a smile. Big, ever watching eyes, sparely crowded eyebrows, the nose was big and the lips bigger. A tag of black-color caught the attention.

‘W-Who is this?’

“Can you hear me?” asked him leaning to check on the unknown boy.

‘The b-beast is still alive,’ in that instant, ‘-why is he moving so slowly?’ A blurred image of pain flashed across the mind and body, it unwillingly made the visage cower in pain.

“HEY, ARE YOU OK?” said the brown-haired man quick to shake onto the boy’s shoulder.

“MOVE,” mumbled he.

“Move?”

“MOVE,” hard as one could, he stood to push the rescuer aside.

*Crack,* the goblin launched into the last attempt and caught a hefty bite of the left shoulder.

“IDIOT!” *SLASH,* the beast dropped with a few coins.

‘W-why did I do t-that?’ he fell with tears wallowing from within. The jolting pain, masked by adrenaline, soon gave. “MY ARMS!”

“Hold on, you’ll be fine,” the bright sky made it hard to see the man’s expression. One thing was sure, the way he did first aid was efficient and painful. “Thanks for saving me kid, I’ll go get back up right away. Hold on a moment,” to that, he sprinted away. The lonesome tree stood lifelessly amidst the carnage of the battle. Squads were hard fighting, warriors, mages, they all but fought to push the monsters. The beasts who came from the unknown land of Totrya.

‘Who am I?’ upon asking said question, the mind fell into a state of slumber. A dream of four people, a blade running into his heart, him falling onto the floor. The cries of someone who he didn’t know, the faces were blurred, the words empty and the scenery, unknown. More than relief, the vision carried a feeling of never-ending sorrow.

“Leader, leader,” panting, “-I need help in carrying a boy!” the shadow of the wall covered the ropes heading upward.

“A boy?” returned a fierce-looking lady with a tag flashing the red-color. “Are you serious, Arnold...”

“Please, ma’am for me, the boy saved me from death.”

“Let me guess?” her arms crossed with a look of disappointment, “-you got carried away trying to play the hero?” The words had him blush wholeheartedly.

“There’s no need to tease the boy,” laughed another with a massive rifle, “-come on, we’re the back-up squad. We support the front-line. What do you say, leader, will you not help a child in need?”

“Fine,” she gave, “-Konne,” she smirked, “-since you vouched for saving the boy, accompany Arnold. Aiea and I will cover, is that sufficient?”

“Damn it,” the shoulders dropped, “-should have never vouched for you, little Arnold.”

“Thanks, Konne,” smiled he with a sigh of relief.

“Don’t worry,” soon to swap to a smaller gun, the duo made for the lonesome tree over yonder. The fighting further up lessened, the monsters retreated one by one.

“Lady Misna, how do you suppose a civilian crossed the border?”

“Honestly, Aiea, I don’t have a clue,” the fierceness of the crimson hair followed by an eyepatch with scars showed the telling of a strong one.

“Ok, ma’am,” replied she with a gentler look. Her figure was one well-built and ready for battle, the short pink hair added to the feminine charm as did her elven ears.

“Hey, hey, wake up,” firm strong hands gently tapped the cheeks. It grew overly robust after a few tries.

‘Who is that again?’ the eyelids narrowly parted.

“He’s conscious,” the voices were even more silent.

“No time to waste, I’ll carry him, you watch for the stray monsters?”

“Understood, Master Konne, I’ll defend us if that’s the last thing I do.”

“Come on, don’t go dying yet,” soon the duo made way across the field. Lady Misna and the half-elf Aiea waited patiently at the foot of the wall.

‘Big...’ thought he gawking at the never-ending climb, ‘-my shoulder hurt but doesn’t bother me. Where am I, who am I?’

“There,” the green field came to a gravel path. An elevator was called from the top.

“Someone’s requested evacuation!” reported one of the Azure Guardians.

“Who is it?” asked another who seemed to be in charge.

“Lady Misna’s party.”

“Oh, the support unit,” giving a few minutes, “-sure, the battle is nearly over. Have them brought up.”

“Yes, my lord,” the guard returned to the post.

“Alright men, have the adventurers get in formation to return. The battle is ending, the Guardians will take over cleaning the remainder.”

“They always take so long,” mumbled Konne with the boy laid on the wooden elevator.

“They ought too,” nodded Misna, “-it’s all part of the process. If the wall gets breached, everything will end.” So, the hinges pulled, the piston turned and the elevator climbed. The stone walls were massive and grey. Parts of it were dirtied with the remains of few who dared fight the Walls. Bit by bit, the ground changed into naught but a far-away sight. The strong adventurers became small ants, and the squad reached the top. Guards walked from left to right, the wall-top was of a stronger material. Few garrisons were posited at the interval with machine guns and snipers.

“Lieutenant Mello, Misna’s squad have an urgent report to give.”

“Huh?” came a fatigued reply of a man who frowned. “-What’s her deal all of a sudden?” dropping the file atop his table, the man clambered out the office outpost with mouth wide open.

“Sir please,” said one of the assistants, “-there’s no need to move as if a zombie. We get it, you’re tired.”

“Such a harsh tone,” he laughed, “-oh, please, my lady would you not take over the whole day for me?”

“Shut it.”

“Ice-cold.”

A hexagonal-shaped building perched on the backside of the Azure-wall. The command center, information outpost, many names for many people. The purpose was to monitor the fight and send help as was needed. Also, the transmission of information across the five other centers. Each was in charge of their immediate outpost.

“Lady Misna,” the door opened, “-rare to see my lover come personally.”

“Thee jest,” she side-glanced

“Ouch, such a dense glare,” he walked with the short curly hair swaying with the wind. The outfit matched his personality as well as face, neither could have complimented one another as great as it did for this man; the slacker of Stonegrove.

“Why did you ask for me?” they stood watching into the continent.

“Has there ever been reports of civilians getting through the wall?”

“Obviously not, there’s no way,” said he adamantly, “-security is tight, and one needs the permission for the guild and above the rank of Tier-9. An unknown will never have access.”

“Can you explain how this boy managed to get inside?” returned she facing the ‘unknown.’

“What do you mean?” peering over her shoulder, “-oh, that boy, never seen him.”

“Yeah, me neither,” exhaled she.

‘So big...’ the face stuck at the sight of the outposts.

“That’s Camp Reforge,” explained Misna, “-and further up is the town of Meke. It’s an adventuring town that links with the six other outposts. Adventurers come here to fight and look for glory.”

“Adventurers?” returned he with a tilted head.

“Yes, adventurers,” she smiled, “-people who fight against the monsters.”

“HEROES LIKE ME!” proclaimed Arnold loudly.

“Heroes...” The others broke into laughter, “-there’s no way a tier-9 will be a hero any time soon.”

“Don’t mock me!”

“Awe, look at him blush,” teased Konne by pinching the cheeks.

“Hey boy.” Footstep menacingly came to stand at his back, “-how old are you?” he frowned.

“Don’t know...”

“Any parents or relatives?”

“Don’t know...”

“What’s your name?”

“I don’t remember...”

.....

The responses were the same, he had no idea who he was. A boy aged around 17 with a slender frail body, black long hair, and a feminine face.

“No name?” leaned Arnold with narrowed eyes, “-are you sure you’re ok?”

“Wait...” voiced Konne, “-wasn’t he gravely injured earlier?” The moment of shock set-in, “-YES, HIS SHOULDER!”

“What do you mean shoulder?” asked the lieutenant with a suspicious stare.

“Come on, show us the injury,” voiced Misna.

“Ok?” he lifted the bloodied and torn shirt to see naught but a fully-healed skin.

“Impossible...”

“Did you give him a potion by accident?”

“I don’t remember, Master Konne, what about you?”

“Yeah, I did,” he laughed, “-I forgot.”

“Forgot,” said the lieutenant strongly, “-whatever, I’ll go have coffee. Misna, make sure the boy has someone or something to do. Leaving alone while he doesn’t remember anything is the bane of inhumanity.”

“No need to tell me twice.” On that, they parted ways. Another elevator headed for the inside. A massive road came immediately after the wall with buses doing transits.

‘Everything is so big and elaborate...’

“Hey there, don’t daydream, we have a bus to catch,” voiced Konne holding onto the boy’s hand. Thus, the transit arrived and they made for the outpost of Stonegrove. The place expanded over the many years; one could call it a town if so wished. The military was ever-present. Farther inside, people in armor walked, chatter came from merchant stalls, the clanging from blacksmiths, and the laughter from adventuring parties.

“Lady Misna, where are we going?” asked Aiea who rarely spoke until now.

“To Meke, the tram should be waiting. Let’s go, with the boy in tow, there’s nothing else to do.”

“I know,” they spoke secretly, “-don’t you think it’s suspicious that the Lieutenant...”

“I know,” interjected the leader, “-that man can be a pest sometimes. Don’t worry about it, he won’t do anything too strenuous. The problem at the moment is we’ve rescued a boy who doesn’t even know his name. The only thing we can do is tell the guild. They’ll decide, our job is support, remember that.”

“Yes, ma’am,” nodded the half-elf. The boy remained silent throughout the walk. Cutting into alleyways, moving through crowds to arrive at a tram station. A dark-black trolley waited for passengers, most of which were adventurers.

‘Who am I really?’ wondered the boy who sat at the window seat. The rough start shook the tram a little before gently cruising along the rail. The senary changed from buildings to flatlands followed by forest. Misna sat beside the boy with a serious expression. The others gossiped amidst themselves of what was to come. A person with no home, no name, and nothing of physical value would be bound to the harshness of poverty.

And so, not wanting to think of the coming misfortune, she shut her eyes to reality and napped.

“The adventuring town of Kene,” said Konne, “-lady Misna, we’ve arrived,” he gently shook her shoulders.

“Oh, sorry about that.” The others stood outside with multiple warriors with strong weaponry heading to the center.

“Let’s walk to the guild,” proposed Arnold.

“I agree. We’ll drop off the loot at the base then continue.” And so, they headed to the center through the Guild District. A place made especially for independent guilds of any rank and stature. Plenty of ten-story buildings or higher served as bases for them. The strong were on the upper floors while the weak on the lower and some forced into shacks just outside the district. A slum more or less, a place for the less than amicable.