BXBX NOVEL Chapter 81: Outward Adventures
The Spirit, a bit perplexed, simply stated, "Why do you want the Cross Link Sword? That\'s such an old weapon, old even when I fell asleep forever ago."
Ty, equally perplexed, thought to himself, \'You know about the sword?\' before asking aloud, "How do you know about it?"
"Of course, I was around when the first user was still around, though it wasn\'t anything too amazing," the Spirit replied with a hint of nostalgia.
"It was great at forcing one-on-one fights during wars and was kind of like a way to isolate threats. But outside of that, there have been much stronger weapons that can "Reshape the world if used rightly or wrongly," the fairy creature concluded. Ty nodded as he absorbed this explanation. "That is what our reports told us," he confirmed, his voice carrying a hint of resolve amidst uncertainty.
"I don\'t know anything about other weapons, but for all intended purposes, this is the only weapon that can be of direct use against our enemy," Ty added, his gaze steady and focused.
The fairy, looking a bit perplexed, inquired, "And who is this enemy? Is it the Calamity Dragoon? Or perhaps the venomous Raptors? Oh, could it be the Ancient Sword God user who lost his mind?"
Ty, a bit confused by these fanciful names the fairy was tossing around, yawned as he glanced at Nana. She had already passed out, with the fairy perched quaintly on her head, adding a surreal quality to the scene.
"I\'m not sure what those people or things are, but the man we are hunting is responsible for a lot of damage," Ty explained, his tone suggesting he was treading carefully around the details. "He\'s the reason I\'m here to begin with, without going into too much detail."
"Feel free to tag along with us if you like, but do be careful, as I have no idea what to expect. I don\'t see a future where a lot of bloodshed isn\'t spilled," Ty said, gazing past the small fairy and staring into the wall, his expression distant and contemplative.
"I would very much like for things to go smoothly, but everything up to this point has been rough, so I beg you, if you are going to be following us for a while, to at least ensure Nana stays safe in whatever fights emerge," Ty added, his tone earnest, underscored by a sense of responsibility.
Giving a slight nod, the fairy asked, "Why did you reject her confession of love if you care so much about her?"
"I\'m trying to get back to my world where the love of my life is fighting her own battles right now, not to mention," Ty explained, his voice tinged with a mix of regret and determination.
"But she is still someone important to me in this new world, even if I can\'t return the feelings that she has blossomed in this short time."
Their conversation gradually wound down as the weight of Ty\'s words lingered in the air. The fairy, sensing the need for some quiet, watched silently as Ty\'s eyes grew heavy and he eventually passed out, fatigue overtaking him. It then quietly began to read through their notes, immersing itself in the written words as the night slowly gave way to the first light of daybreak.
The rest of the next four days passed in a relatively uneventful manner. The group, finding a rhythm in their daily routine, assisted the town with any lingering threats from creatures that were left, maintaining a vigilant eye. Notably, there were no further sightings of the mysterious lady who had abruptly introduced herself to Nana, adding an air of unresolved mystery to their stay.
Throughout this time, the fairy remained a quiet observer, often seen with its eyes closed atop Nana\'s head, seemingly detached from the happenings around it. Ty, his mind still grappling with their previous conversation and the fairy\'s enigmatic nature, found no further clarity as he perused the notes.
The absence of any mention of fairies in the world\'s lore only deepened the mystery surrounding their new, unusual companion.
The fairy had almost been blanked out the entire time, its eyes shut atop Nana\'s head, not bothering itself with much of the work.
Not even concerned with the conversation she had with Ty the night before, Ty wondered what exactly was up with her. Studying the notes endlessly left him with no more answers, as none of the given notes had mentioned fairies in this world.
Even conversations with everyone from the town had little idea about a fairy, with a few mentioning them as being part of folklore and an omen of bad things to happen. However, most of the soldiers who saw the creature chalked her up to just being some harmless monster, not an attacker.
Waking up on the final day, a bang came to their door as they all arose. Armond Zaraki greeted the group, stating it was time for them to head out towards the capital. He thanked them for all the help they had provided over the short time.
"If you leave today, you should arrive in the town with the Church Citadel about two days before the New Year ceremony begins," Zaraki said. Giving a slight bow to Lady Nanako, he added, "I pray to the goddess that the day is a blessing to you, and that you are gifted a weapon fitting of your future."
Nanako, offering a brief smile and bowing back, replied, "Thank you. I hope to not disappoint, and I appreciate your hospitality over the last couple of days."
Todd, packing his giant blue and green sack along with a new green shirt pieced together by a bunch of the soldiers, thanked them. The shirt, a patchwork of 10 shirts sewn into one to fit Todd\'s size, was a token of appreciation from those who had come to respect him.
"Drinks will be on me next time," Todd said with a hearty laugh, expressing his gratitude. The soldiers also thanked Ty for his time and expressed their hopes that the group would find what they were seeking.
Nana, stretching her arms out as they departed the small town, remarked, "This place was comfortable, and I\'m glad we stopped by."
She offered Ty a warm smile, while the fairy gave him a slight look of annoyance, its tiny face a mirror of complex emotions.
The rest of their trip passed quickly. Three days into their walk, under a shining sun that melted away the cold snow, they approached a large bridge.
It gleamed in the sunlight, a formidable structure spanning a vast expanse. Two guards, wearing armor emblazoned with the symbol of (1) on their right plates, noticed Ty and the group approaching.
They stepped forward, blocking their path, and questioned, "What is your business, and why are you on foot?" Their tone was wary but professional, a testament to their duty to protect whatever lay beyond the bridge.
Ty, stepping forward, stated, "We have business at the Citadel Church. We are delivering Lady Nanako and accompanying my friend Todd."
He spoke with a clear, assertive tone, ensuring the guards understood their purpose. The guards whispered amongst themselves before responding, "We received news of her arrival. Please, move on in."
As they walked past the guards, they passed through a small bubble that seemed to burst upon their entry.
Inside, they were greeted by a bustling scene: hundreds of horses and carriages moved with goods, and people worked along the large bridge way that spanned 2 miles across and stretched straight for about 4 miles to a giant mainland that rose in height.
Suddenly, a loud roar overhead drew their attention. Ty and the others looked up to see a massive railed structure floating among a cloud of blue energy. A train, with steam emitting from the front, passed overhead.
The sight was a blend of the fantastical and the industrial, a vivid testament to the advanced technology and magical prowess of this world. The train\'s passage cast a brief shadow over them, a fleeting moment.