CHAPTER 3.2

"Here we are," said Ana, parking her car into the expanse around the oddly-looking edifice. She looked at four numbers—each pair was separated by the colon, yet nonetheless, they weaved together. When a minute passed, the pair at the left flickered, adding one. "Looks like I can make it just in time."

Once she pulled out the keys, the door suddenly opened for us to step out.

The oddly-shaped structure pulsated with vibrant hues, an alien beacon against the night. As we approached, a rousing melody swelled, its rhythm growing more insistent with each step. Gleaming cars lined the street, and figures emerged: men in Ayako's tailored precision, women mirroring Ana and I in our borrowed finery. Drawn by the music and the unfamiliar promise, we crossed the threshold and entered the dungeon labelled Club Mia.

Stepping inside, a narrow hallway greeted us. Black walls glittered with false starry skies cast from unseen lights. Cold air shielded our skin from sweating, no more waiting in heat. A long line snaked towards an entrance, their faces lit by the promise of the night's revelry. Ignoring the queue, Ana navigated us forward, our borrowed finery parting the crowd like a gilded ship. At the head, a bald, bearded man in a simple tunic guarded the entrance. Ana, unfazed, produced her slate, flashing it before his gaze.

"These VIPs?" he asked Ana.

"Yeah," she nodded. "No mistake."

The stud unlatched a red rope, granting us a way in, whilst the people behind us grunted over our immediate coming.

Steel doors swung open, unleashing a wave of electric energy. Strobe lights pulsed, momentarily blinding me. The once distant music roared, joined by a horde of laughter and cheers. Night wenches in revealing outfits moved through the throng, their laughter infectious. Others swung their waists to and fro, their movements attracting admiring glances. And some men—and even women—nestled together, savouring stolen touches and whispered chatters. The mood crackled with a brew of thrill and avarice.

Foreboding.

Disgusting.

Overwhelming.

Pardon me, O Gidden, for I have now seen way unholier than a bloody tavern brawl.

"Welcome to the nightlife, gal," cried Ana. "Where we cope up with our nightly dopamine through our very best arousal, bond, cheers… and degeneracy."

"So this is… where you work every night?" I asked.

"Yup," Ana winked, then walked off with a single wave. "And sorry for my inadequate hospitality, but I gotta go for a change now, so let Aya be your tour guide for now."

"Hey, wait u—"

Then Ayako pulled me back and clutched her arm around my collar, then mumbled, "Didn't you listen to her?"

Fear, a serpent coiling tighter with each breath, constricted my heart. Those crimson-black eyes, pools of unfathomable power, burned into my memory, their gaze like spectral fingers beckoning me closer to an unseen abyss. Her touch, once a warmth, now brought upon an air akin to a dead snow. Yet, a faint melody of relief played in the back of my mind. Could it be just my fear erring a friend's curiosity? Perhaps just a fleeting thought of her, nothing more.

"S-So… what are we up to?" I asked.

"To steal words from anybody else," said Ayako, her voice murmuring. "After all, this is Club Mia—the most prestigious nightclub where rich people fucks their copious amount of sols around."

"Right, stealing words from any damned nobles."

"What? Not all rich people here are from any noble families. Just as we had said many times, this is the world of your future. Democracy and capitalism is the state of the world now, not monarchy and feudalism."

"So even their ancestors were commoners… they could become nobles unceremoniously."

"Have I already mentioned it? Monarchy and feudalism are already dead. Get it? No longer the state. These rich people…. Gah, all of them have a long story of how they ended up like this. And you've got a lot of things to explore, so I leave all of this worldly bullshit to you."

"And how am I supposed to know?"

Then all of a sudden, Ayako pulled the lobe of my ear, tilting closer to her lips, and mumbled, " Just stay curious, alright? Answers shouldn't only be whatever things are spoken out of one's lips… nor even whenever time's right."

Or perhaps you should have enlightened me further about this… democracy and capitalism.

"And speaking of answers, why not continue our 'bad girl' vibes here and find some answers about the Raiser, shall we?" Ayako continued, walking together across the floor. The tables overflowed with bodies, all bobbing and swaying with the music. Each open seat seemed to vanish before our eyes, and frustration began to gnaw at our legs like weary travellers. Finding a perch felt as futile as chasing down a wisp of smoke..

Soon after, a sudden halt drew me up short as Ayako stood bewitched before the barkeeper's desk. Her eyes, usually focused and sharp, gleamed with something akin to childish wonder as they studied the rows of ale bottles on the open shelf. With a playful sway, she pivoted and ambled closer, the clinking of her boots echoing on the wooden floor. As she settled onto the barstool with a poised air, I did so to eye on her, ready to embrace unease within me.

"Sweet mother, what do we have here?" Ayako smirked.

I sighed, "So you really love ales, huh?"

"Of course, I do," Ayako cried in joy. "They're like my body pillows worth hugging… but better."

"How is a mere ale related to… these so-called 'body pillows'?"

Figure of speech, Emilia. Have you not learned from a speech couth lesson?

Also, where on bloody damned earth did her stern charm go?

Whatever…

Ayako gave the barkeeper a loud whistle and two snaps of a finger. Then the barkeeper—one of those two-piece-dressed pretty women—heard her wish and asked, "What do you want, my ladies?"

'My ladies'—again, that really made my blood boil. Yet, since Ayako was sitting beside me, I could do nothing, but clench my fist and glare at her. Her filthy stacked chest even laid on the edge of the table, whilst the rest of her body left swaying. Her sultry smile tried to tempt Ayako, yet only ales were the thoughts inside her mind. This bitch, if not all bitches here, were rather a waste of Gidden-gifted beauty, as their entire flesh only served the purpose of pleasing men and even some queer women alike.

"Give us three horins, please," answered Ayako.

"Shots or bottles?"

"Bo—"

Then I slapped her shoulder and redressed her demand, "Three shots, please!"

"Hey!"

"Well… three shots, then," the barkeeper repeated with a wink.

Ayako clutched the collar of my dress and pulled my bust straight to her, grunting, "Teme, who do you think you are?"

"Did Ana already tell you to control your drinking habit?" I reminded her, "Besides, you're here for some… quest about the Rais—"

As soon as I was about to say that word, Ayako gaped her eyes and gasped in shock, then covered my whole lips with her palm and shook her head as if she felt a slight regret, "Okay okay, you're right," she laid her clutching hand down. "Sorry… I was just heavily obsessed with alcohol. Almost forgot my key purpose here."

".... Aye, but again… I am still rather concerned if a shot is worth 'a bit' that can make you drunk."

"Unless you're here, right?" Ayako smirked. "You can make me un-drunk anytime… anywhere."

"Do you think the Cure spell can be such a convenience? As if you're treating me like a potion here?"

Of course, you're an ale addict who surrenders to such a disorder even by a single sip. Hence, my right to doubt you for that.

"Potion? Well… sake isn't just a potion of love to me. It's also my best friend. You truly don't understand the soul of sakes at all."

"More like you truly don't understand what those so-called 'sakes' did to plague your mind."

"More like you give up on seeing what's behind the drink."

"Huh?"

The barkeeper gave us three shots of sake and interrupted, "Here you go, my sweeties. Enjoy your drink."

Then she left us a wink.

"Well… it'd be wise to wait for Ana," said Ayako.

And all of a sudden, Ana, now dressed the same as those night wenches, appeared behind me, clutching around my collar. Her touch, once a warmth, now brought upon an air even warmer than a barren desert. This time, it was not out of fear, but allure and shame.

She grabbed one of the glass shots of sake, then stretched her grasping hand high and said, "How about we give ourselves a welcoming cheer… for our new housemate?"

"A cheer?" I asked.

"It'd be more satisfying to do so," Ayako shared a clutch and leaned closer to me, then raised her grasping hand and cried. "Kampai!"

Despite the confusion churning in my gut, the scene before me echoed a familiar memory. Like knight errants celebrating a quest's end, these people swayed and cried, their raw emotions oddly similar to the boisterous cheers and mournful ballads that followed our victories and losses. Even amidst tragedy, joy had always been our way of honouring those who fell to their hapless ends.

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Those days, every laugh shared with my fellow knights, every tear shed for fallen comrades, gave my youth with a profound purpose—redemption. Raising a mug beneath the stars, feeling the camaraderie, I knew myself as a fledgling knight, stepping onto the path of honour. But now… I did not know. I could not know how and why I ended up like this.

Was I supposed to be worried over my time?

Or glad to be at this time?

This is frankly… bewildering.

Yet, despite the disquiet gnawing at my gut, I plastered a smile on my face and raised my glass, clinking it gently against theirs. We downed the sake in a single gulp, a gasp escaping my lips as the liquid fire danced across my tongue. It was surprisingly sweet, with a depth of flavour that lingered like a soothing tea. Slowly, I began to understand Ayako's love for sake, but her 'behind the drink' meaning was still shrouded in mystery.

"Worth a vow," said Ana. "I must say, you just picked a good one tonight."

"Wait, should you not be concerned if she is drunk or not?" I asked.

"Why don't you look at her first?"

Though a knot tightened in my stomach, seeing Ayako's face, porcelain skin untouched by the fiery drink, calmed the storm within. Relief washed over me, dissolving my doubts like smoke in the air. Not even a flicker of a tremble betrayed her, and a faint smile crept onto my lips. But…

"How?" I asked.

"Didn't I tell you before?" Ayako smirked, shaking a head to her chagrin. "A few couple of shots can make me drunk, not this weak-ass single shot."

"But how 'few' could make you drunk?"

"Depends on the alcoholic volume," Ayako shrugged. "And judging by the taste of it, I would say… it's twelve percent, so four or five shots of this can make me drunk."

"Oh."

"Besides, this is not one of my top ten favourite sakes, but this is the best when it comes to paying hospitality."

"Quite formal of you."

"Consider that as your starting experience."

Meanwhile, one of the night wenches approached Ana and patted her shoulder. Her hair was hot pink, and her face seemed to be as fair as the Wallics—natives in the Southwestern shire. Her beauty was rather noteworthy, yet again, such a waste for being one.

"Madame Ana," called the pink-haired Wallic, her lofty voice proven to be true. "One of the guests has selected you to be their private server."

"Really?" replied Ana, then faced us back. "Sorry, gals, but it looks like I got a client to do some service."

"Sure, you can proceed with your job," nodded Ayako.

Ana left us, as the pink-haired Wallic wench walked her to wherever her so-called 'client' sat.

Ayako's eyes darted across the bottles, studying every surcoat. Yet, a sudden shake of her head hinted at her stifling effort. Disappointment flickered across her face as she shook her head, the clink of empty glasses the only response to her silent query. She strained to catch whispers from nearby patrons, hoping for a spark of curiosity among the bland drone of talk. But the air was thick with banalities, washing over them like tepid water.

Silence descended, awkward and heavy. My gaze darted around the room, landing on Ayako's furrowed brow. A sigh escaped her lips, wispy and laden with the weight of burden. She straightened her shoulders, a glint of determination replacing the flicker of disappointment. Perhaps this quiet corner was not as devoid of secrets as it seemed.

Such a dull pain in the arse continued to wring our time.

Until…

"Hey dude, did you legit score a freaking purple crystal ring?" a young man's voice from behind reached my ears, passing by.

"Yeah," the other replied. "This cost almost a million, but it was totally worth a save. Plus, it legit came from some legendary stone."

"Purple… crystal," I repeated, murmuring word after word until a memory came across my mind. Purple glimmering stone, I once recalled, and now that young lad's word suddenly struck an intrigue through my ears. Then I looked at that young lad and his talking fellow, all dressed in glittering tailored coats. One was purple, while the other was pink.

This is it. This might be a chance.

So I called Ayako with a pat on her shoulder, "Hey, Aya."

"What?"

"Did you just hear a young lad's voice who was passing by us a while ago?"

".... Quite a bit," answered Ayako, rubbing her head.

"And have you catched his words?"

"Well," then she paused, her fingers rubbing the chin and her eyes staring at the upper right. Few seconds later, she shook her hair and responded, "No, I hadn't."

"The purple crystal ring…?"

"Did that kid say that?"

"Yes," I nodded. "No mistake."

Frustration etched itself onto her face. Her fingers, which were normally light and swift, raked across her brow, leaving lines of stress. A guttural gasp from her lips, followed by a furious tightening of her jaw. The "immense thought" inside her seemed like a heavy weight, threatening to drag her down. Her foot hammered a persistent tattoo against the bar, echoing through the strained quiet.

"Let's… not get into that," said Ayako, shaking her head. "We're here for the Raiser, not this 'purple crystal'."

"But I thought you could help me find a way home."

Then she grasped my chin and pulled me slightly near her face, dangling her glares before me.

"Didn't I tell you before? Your job here is to explore, not tracking this… purple crystal."

"And I found something worth exploring. Pray, will you excuse me?"

Walking away from her, I gently pushed her grasping hand and turned my head behind. Though, my frantic search for the purple coat was cut short as ice gripped my limbs. Sweat erupted, prickling across my skin. Had she done it again? A flicker of movement—Ayako appeared in front of me, her predatory grin splitting her face. Her laughter, cruel and triumphant, echoed in my ears. Kusengan. Of course.

"Well, I never mentioned before that tracking purple crystals was our main priority," said Ayako, her crimson-black eyes flashing. "Though I understand your worrying testimony over what went there, but… it's still rather an enigma… and it'd be a bummer if you just departed this world rather early."

"What are you trying to—"

"Of course, I don't wanna do it, and this shouldn't be like this. "

Her hand shot up to rub the tense muscles in her neck, a frustrated huff escaping her lips. The pressure in her head built, making her tongue click against her teeth. Her eyes gaped. A faint smile tugged at her lips, a fragile bridge between the churning apprehension in her gut and the flickering ember of confidence. She knew what and why, but not how.

Trapped. Utterly trapped. My throat clawed for a scream that would not come, replaced by a choked gurgle trapped behind leaden lips. My tongue refused to obey. Even blinking was a desperate struggle, eyelids scrubbing against dry eyeballs. Every beat of my heart hammered a frantic rhythm against the suffocating silence. What had she done? Kusengan. Her crimson-black eyes held me frozen. Move, for Gidden's sake!

Wondering about it, there must be something going wrong with my mind. Days skipping, eyes closing… and now her refusal? Has this world cast me to abandon my will to leave the future? Or perhaps granting me a curse or an illusion to go over what favoured her? Which was it?

This must be a dream.

"How about this?" Ayako finally continued. "A deal then."

Moving my tongue and lips, it returned to my control.

Finally, I could say, "What deal?"

"Deal that we can succeed our goals in one end."

"What do you mean by that?"

She moved closer, positioning her lips near my ear. Then she whispered, "What I mean by that is we can find proper stepping stones that can connect between the Raiser, that bloody masked guy, the Overseer incident, and this 'purple stone' shit and piece them together to its one final stone… because I assure they're more than just mere coincidence."

"And why don't we proceed first with the purple crystal ring?" I asked.

"Don't worry, I've scanned his ID way before you've heard his chatter," She giggled, pointing at her eye, but not her crimson-black Kusengan. "All thanks to my Bino, I've guaranteed his information by just a single glance."

"So that information will be your… uhhh."

"Trading card."

"Right, and mine?"

"Leads toward the Raiser… and possibly even the masked man."

I know this Raiser guy will be much distinguishable, but this bloody 'masked man'... how am I supposed to help you with that? I wondered, then said. "Very well, I had done this kind of quest in my time… albeit a more burdensome one for obvious reasons."

Her eyes blinked once, the spell snapping. I gasped, finally able to breathe as the invisible shackles around me dissolved.

"One more advice," said Ayako, then her lips again came near to my ear and whispered. "Do refrain from calling yourself 'Emilia' and instead play a role as 'Janie'.,, or else, you might never get whatever you wanted and even needed."

"Why?"

"Long story, but all I can say is… this is for your sake," then she lent a hand like a gentle nobleman, "Now, allow me to be your guide then."