History Often Repeats It's Worst Events
[Arius POV]
'Too bright...'
Feeling the sun's rays hitting my foggy eyes, I turn in my bed and pull my head under my blanket. The bed I was sleeping in was far too comfortable to give up now. Spending a few more minutes in blissful sleep, I hear some very familiar footsteps. My body reacting on its own quickly pulls me under my blanket, hiding away from what was coming.
Tap tap tap tap tap
Pull...SLASH!!
"AHHH!"
Firmly grabbing onto my blanket, I just feel it gets pulled away from my hands. Moments later, freezing cold and then wet were the sensations that jolted me awake and scream. With my eyes now wide awake, I hurriedly look around to find the perpetrator.
"Lorraine, again?"
"Come on sleepyhead, it's already lunchtime!"
"It is? Ok, I will get up super fast!"
I was sooo hungry right now. I didn't eat anything after lunch yesterday...except for the coffee beans but those don't count. My stomach is rumbling so much right now. With speed and finesse, I quickly pull on all my clothes and head down the stairs for breakfast.
Down the stairs, I see everyone here. Stella, Big Sis Emma, Big Brother Jaque, and even Sister Maria from the cathedral were there. Big Brother Jaque looked hilarious, all over his body were bandages.
"Why are you guys here?"
"To make such that you and this dimwit are alright. You were in rough condition when we found you in the S.T.A."
"S.T.A.? Ohh ya! When did you guys find us? I thought you would never come."
"We came as fast as we could Arius. We promise."
"Alright*nom*"
As I began chowing down on the pork stew and some bread, I simply tuned in to the conversations that were happening in the room.
"So Jaque, look at your entire body, I'd say it will take about a week to fully heal. So no strenuous activity for the time. I don't even know how you could burn your mouth like that."
"One veek! I don't think that vill ve possible!"
"Sorry, can't understand what you're saying with that burnt mouth of yours."
"Mr. Doherty, what actually happened to the S.T.A.?"
"Stella, I don't actually know. The entire country is experiencing these things happening in the S.T.A.s, thankfully it's still under control. Shouldn't you also have a copy of that letter?"
"Ohh, I don't open any letters. I can't read the writing anyways."
As I continued to listen in on the different conversations in the room, I slowly started seeping into my thoughts as well. Just going through what happened yesterday. That was crazy. I lean back in my chair, just thinking about it is making me tired. No more alchemy for at least a year.
'Dakria, its crazy right?'
...
'Dakria?... Hello...'
...
'Wait a minute...'
Frantically, I jump up from my chair and I quickly start searching all around my body. My pockets, around my neck, nothing! Where did my pendant go?
"Arius, why do you look so worried?"
"I think I lost my pendant."
"Like the one that you always have on you."
"Yeah!"
"It must have fallen out of my pocket when I fell asleep! Lorraine, who was the person that actually found me."
"I think it was the captain of the guards."
"Ok, thanks!"
Scrabbling, I try to think of a way to find this captain. Who would know? Looking around the room, I start to consider asking different people.
'Mr Doherty wouldn't know anything, Sir Earnest... to scary and also wouldn't know anything. Stella? She did say something about being the leader, she should know something.'
"STELLA, Stella!"
"What's going on little Arius? It's good to see that you alright."
"Stella, where can I find the captain of the guards?!"
"He should be in the training field to the west of the town. Why you ask?"
"Thank you Bye!!"
As I bolted out of the workshop, I must've left Stella really confused but I didn't have time to explain. I need to find my pendant, the key to Duargeinhelm, and the way I talk to Dakria.
About one hundred meters into my dash, I realize that I don't know where I'm going. Which way is west?
"Umm, excuse me which way is the west of the town?"
"West? You're going in the wrong direction, the other way is toward west."
"Really? Thanks"
"Children these days..."
After a quick question with one of the townsfolk, I turn around and start running back again. Passing by the workshop once again, I keep my eyes and ears open for what looks like a training field.
After a little bit more asking around, I finally saw what was looking like. A large open space with plenty of equipment on display with a lot of yells coming from it. Running to the front gate, I quickly try to enter only to be stopped by two guards at the front gate.
"Kid, this area isn't for children. If you want to become a guard, you're going to have to wait until you're at least twelve."
"No, I just have a question for the captain of the guards."
"Sorry, he's a busy man. Captain's right now training yesterday's batch again."
"Ummm, tell him that I'm the one he saved yesterday and I want to thank him."
...
As the guards looked at each other and then back at me, who was dead serious in my gaze, the older one sighs and puts down his guard.
"Alright, I'll tell him, but if he doesn't want to see you then you gotta leave, ok?"
"Thank you so much."
"Yeah yeah, alright."
The old guard nods to his companion and walks inside to tell the captain my message. Just listening to the sounds coming out of the training field, it might take awhile for the captain to come out. So I decided to talk to the other guard.
"Hey, my name's Arius by the way."
Seeing my cheerful energy, the young guard reflected it too.
"My name is Eymer."
"Why did you decide to become a guard?"
"Oh its a long story, back when I was young, my parents..."
...
After a long conversation, I learned about Eymer and what his town was like. I would've loved to continue to talk but the old guard soon came out with another person, probably the captain.
"So little guy, you want to thank me for saving you yesterday?"
"Yeah, thank you so much for saving yesterday, but I also want to ask you something."
"Do tell."
"Do you see a pendant on the ground when you found me?"
"I'm not sure about a pendant but there was a bag full of items there. I didn't take the bag though. Save you and Jaque was more important."
"So it's still in the S.T.A."
'Oh no. I got to go back there again.'
I got a cold sweat and shivers just thinking about going back to that place. But I had to go, whether I like it or not.
"*sigh* Kid, if you want to go retrieve it, I will be happy to go in the evening once I've finished getting these guys into shape."
"Ok, thank you."
With that, the captain goes back inside and I slowly make my way back to the workshop. I had to wait until evening. I don't think I'll be able to wait until then. What if someone takes it or a monster eats or it takes it and runs off? I'll never be able to find it! I got to try and go now. But no way will I go alone.
Walking into the workshop, everyone had long started getting back to work. Fumes of heat and the clanks of metal came out from the main room. I had to find someone that will bring me to the S.T.A.
'Mr Doherty, maybe..."
...
"Sorry, I'm quite busy right now managing what happened yesterday."
"Big brother Jaque?"
...
"I would love to, but I don't think my body will allow me to."
"Lorraine...Nope."
Searching through the entire workshop, I once again have a back covered in sweat. What if I can't find anyone? Walking back into the dining room, I see a single person there eating.
"Sister Emma!"
"Oh, little Arius, what is it?"
"Can you please bring me to the S.T.A.?"
"And why is that? I would think that that would be the last place you would want to go."
"I lost something important there, I need to get it back."
"Aww, alright, Let's go then."
Just as Sister Emma gets up to grab my hand, I feel something and I see a wave of red pass through and over the town.
"EVERYONE, GET TO THE S.T.A.!!!!"
------------------
Dakria's Fun Fact: While most of the time skills are activity mentally, sometimes enough emotional stimulus may activate someone's skill. This is most often seen in newly awakened people who don't fully understand how to use their skills