Teenage Outbursts

The suns were shining brightly down on the world. The blue and green suns blaring their existences as they rose into the sky, clearing away the Chains.

He had wondered how the Chain didn't cast any shadows on the ground. It turned out that they phased out of existence, the light from the suns banished them into another dimension.

They were traveling over a vast desert for the whole night, and over the haze, they could start to see spires protruding from the dunes.

Everybody was excited, even Velkron. Two weeks aboard this sheep was a luxury many couldn't afford with its warm showers and many many desks. But the ship was not a pleasure cruiser, it was a war machine, and it was designed that way.

The walls were overbearing and tight, the corridors and stairs efficient and narrow. There weren't many distractions other than training, drinking mead and talking.

The elusive Captain, Bartos Moss, was present. Unlike Velkron who descended from the officers quarters to socialize and train, the Captain was rarely seen outside of it. The crew said that he had a mistress on board, and figured that he was spending all day fornicating.

Not one to judge, Martin kept his eyes on the upcoming city.

"The Spires of Glass." Velkron spoke up, addressing as they watched the city getting closer through the hologram. "The largest magical city on this mortal continent, the Guilds have an office here where you will be able to take some quests. I recommend only taking quests that are inside the city, we will only be staying here for three days."

"What kind of quests can we expect?" Martin shifted his eyes to Velkron. "We don't have a mana pool, so we are basically just mortal manpower."

"Don't undersell yourselves, with a bit of practice you will be able to activate magical machinery." Velkron rubbed his chin. "I have gotten information that the local branch is severely lacking in individuals who are able to operate such machines."

"I was wondering what we could do." Sissy muttered.

"Anyhow, we will be welcoming several new recruits on board from the camp once we land." Velkron added, then gave them a stern stare. "There will be a level four individual with them, do not antagonize the individual for your own good."

"So we have to be nice? What if they are an asshole?" Kar huffed. "We smile and nod?"

"Yes." The amount of cold that radiated from Velkron's middle eye made everyone freeze, even Kishna who was barely awake stood straight. "If you even look at them wrong I'll tear your eyes from your still living bodies myself. Did I make myself clear?"

"Yes sir."

"Good, be on your best behavior." Velkron commanded.

Everybody on deck was tense, aside from the Captain, who had an ever joyful smile. The man moved towards them and laughed.

"Don't mind the soldier, he is sensitive about missing out on the four." The Captain patted Sissy's shoulder. "Just don't be mean to them and you'll be fine."

Martin stood transfixed as the Captain waddled away. His blood felt slow and his limbs weak. There was a deep chilling terror that seeped into his bones.

"I thought he was cool." Sissy shivered, rubbing her arms together. "Our friend."

"Not if it concerns a four apparently." Kar sighed and rubbed his head. "We are nothing to them compared to that. In that case, Kishna should get her act together."

"What?" Kishna replied dazedly, her bloodshot eyes wandering erratically. "The fuck do you mean."

"You look like shit, and you smell like shit." Kar growled, his body still shivering. "One look at you and the four could be against us."

"That's not even remotely close to what is going to happen." Martin muttered as he cradled his forehead in his palms. "How about we rela-"

"Say another world and I'll gut you like a fish, barbarian!" Kishna growled as she glared at the Kar.

"You are an idiot-"

"STOP!" Sissy's shout stilled the air. "Kar, shut up and let us go."

"But-

"No, move or I'll do something worse than words." Sissy's reply had an effect as the giant followed her, moving away reluctantly from the confrontation.

Martin observe. Kishna was gasping for air, her stony complexion was broken, he could see a myriad of emotions running across her face. Anger, fear, anguish, exhaustion.

She slid down the wall, holding her head in her hands.

He still hadn't gotten the magical contract from Clerk, but if had one, he wouldn't have used it here.

He needed her to make the decision with her mental faculties unclouded by emotion. That way she wouldn't resent him and wouldn't attempt to find ways to break the contract.

"Are you alright?" He crouched beside her.

"No. Leave me alone." She replied.

Teenagers, they were young, all recruits were above twelve years old and below seventeen years old. Although this medieval world might have toughened them up, they were still teenagers at their core.

"Come on, we need you in your best form." Martin dragged her up to her feet, she recently followed. "We still have a couple of hours till we land, get a nap in and get back to your normal self."

"Why does it matter to you?" She bit out as she stumbled towards the dorms. "Take advantage of me? Control me? Typical."

"It matters that my teammate isn't a mess." Martin patiently said, dragging her into the room. "It is in my best interest that you are in tip top shape. And I want the ice queen Kishna back, not this."

If there was one thing that he had to admire about her, it was the willpower. Enough willpower to glare at him even as he helped her into bed. The moment after her head hit the pillows, she went on to lalaland.

Checking the time on the clock in the middle of their room. He hummed, enough time to get a training session in.

When he entered the training ground, he found Kar on his lonesome. A rare occurrence, he and Sissy were attached at the hip.

The man was being inefficient, forceful and strong movements were not good for training. Flow and gentleness was the key. He was just flailing around, and he knew it.

"A copper for your thoughts?" Martin asked. Taking a stance across the cultured giant.

"You." The man growled, though he deflated. "Sorry, I was rash back there, the eyes made me feel vulnerable."

"I understand." Martin began his kata, he was practiced enough now to talk while doing the movements. "There is no shame in that, but you shouldn't forget to apologize."

"What I said is true…" he muttered under his breath. "I will apologize, emotions got the better of me."

"Very mature, I am glad." Martin smiled.

"Can I ask a personal question?" Kar politely said, his movement flowing optimally now.

"Go ahead. I hold the right to refuse." Martin replied. But inside he was alarmed, his confidence was what held him up from scrutiny, pretend to know about something and no one would deign to ask questions.

"What is your deal? Like, who are you?" The man asked, his brows furrowed. "I don't know anything about you besides your name, every other question leads to a vague answer. Yet you stroll around like, like, you own the world. The places you said you were born in, I know they don't name their villages like that."

Martin internally cringed. Shit, this dude was a bit too perceptive. Outside he kept a calm demeanor. If he refused to answer that will only make him more interested, if he answered vaguely he would only try to get a more detailed answer.

"You are very educated to know that." He replied, stalling for time. "I am a lost soul with a tragic past, I would not like to discuss and open up old wounds."

"You talk like my tutors." Kar suspiciously noted then shook his head. "Ah whatever, it doesn't matter, I can answer a question if you want."

Martin stopped his katas as he thought about what to ask. There was so much he wanted to know, questions that could unveil weaknesses he could exploit to get him in his debt. The idea of making his every companion a debt slave made his loins quiver like never before.

But, there was a bigger mystery at play here that was far more precious.

"What is your relationship with Sissy?" Martin asked. "Are you lovers?"

"No!" The man blushed, blushed! Fighting down the embarrassment, he chuckled. "I have no interest in women."

"Then why are you so close?" Martin

"She understands a part of me and doesn't judge me for it." Kar scratched the back of his head. "A sweet girl. She doesn't deserve this world we are going into.".

"Oh cool." Martin filled that into his mental vault for later.

"Well, I'll be going, thank you for calming me down." Kar smiled and winked at Martin and made himself scarce.

Martin kept his katas, his mind processing the conversation over and over again, trying to find information and strategies.

Then, it hit him.

"Oh, that makes so much sense." Martin chuckled. "I see, I wonder if it's taboo in this world as my old world?"