“Rose!”
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A familiar voice cut through the gloom of my thoughts from the entrance of my apartment.
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“RoseBud! I'm here!"
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I had been helping people repair their weaponry in this city, and Lizy Pion had become a regular client. Despite her ancient age, her spirit exuded youthful energy with each visit.
I've known Lizy through LoggerHead; she is apparently a frequent visitor to his farm to purchase food every week or so. Log had referred her to me when her greatsword was first almost broken. I remember that it was rusty, as if it had been submerged in water for days. Thankfully, this time, it was only the fold that could not close smoothly.
I opened the door to welcome her.
“Here’s your sword. I changed and oiled the screws, and I adjusted the wheels…”
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“This is amazing work, Rose. I can’t wait to try it out.”
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Her sword was unique—a scooter that could transform into a greatsword. Few would dare to modify something so niche, fearing its fragility. Thankfully, my experience with various weapons made the task manageable.
But RubberBand… she's gone.
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“Is it about RubberBand?”
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Her voice slicied through the silence like a sharp blade.
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“I’ve heard a bit about it from LoggerHead.”
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The room fell into a suffocating silence. I could feel the weight of it pressing down on my chest, making it hard to breathe. I had thought I could live better with Kartheina by my side, but slowly, she had become my only anchor, the one person who kept me grounded. The constant buzz of my holographic monitors, usually a source of comfort, felt distant and cold. My fingers tapped nervously on the armrest of my chair, the repetitive motion failing to provide any relief.
Lizy’s eyes softened with understanding. She squeezed my shoulder gently, offering silent support.
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“Maybe time will reveal the solution one day. Oh, you should try out the sword!”
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Lizy’s innocent eyes sparkled with excitement, though I sensed a hint of concern lingering in her gaze.
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**Hmmmpt!!**
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She takes the sword with both her hands and holds it on her shoulder, taking a hand down afterwards,
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“Want to test it out properly?”
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"Definitely!"
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Lizy replied with a determined nod.
We left the apartment and stepped outside, the symphony of Oriken's bustling streets enveloping us. The city's unique blend of serenity and chaos mirrored my own inner turmoil. I guided Lizy to a nearby alley, wide enough for her to put the greatsword to the test.
Oriken, the fabled city in Justitia, was renowned as the land of duels. Each alleyway echoed with the whispers of bygone battles, and the graffiti told tales of warriors' triumphs and defeats, crafting a vivid tapestry of chaos and beauty.
Tourists flocked here, but to survive, everyone had to master some form of combat. Fighters from every corner of the globe converged annually for the duelist tournaments, drawing esteemed combatants to our streets. Engage in battle on the main thoroughfares, and you would surely face repercussions, but in the alleyways, it was all fair game.
I held the greatsword upwards first and slammed the blade to the ground.
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**BANG**
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The floor cracked a little as the sword held into place.
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“As I expected, have a try.”
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Lizy held the sword.
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“It’s way easier to hold!”
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She swinged her sword with newfound confidence.
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**WHOOSH**
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**SLICE**
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“Try some more complex moves,”
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Lizy nodded eagerly and began to perform a series of intricate maneuvers, the blade slicing through the air with precision.
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**SWISH**
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**THWACK**.
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She transitioned from basic swings to more advanced techniques, incorporating spins and flourishes that showcased her agility. Each movement was deliberate and controlled, a far cry from the tentative swings she had practiced when we first met.
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“Nice flow, Lizy.
Remember to keep your wrist loose; it’ll give you more control.”
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She followed my advice, adjusting her grip and posture. The difference was noticeable immediately—her strikes became smoother, her transitions more seamless. She seemed to be in her element, a focused yet joyful expression on her face as she moved.
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“Now, try switching between the scooter and greatsword forms.”
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Lizy nodded and pressed a button on the hilt. In an instant, the greatsword retracted into a sleek scooter.
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**CLICK**
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**WHIRR**
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She took a moment to steady herself on the scooter before accelerating down the alley, weaving through imaginary obstacles with ease.
Reaching the end of the alley, she transformed the scooter back into the greatsword in a fluid motion and launched into a spinning attack.
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**WHIRL**
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**SLASH**.
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The blade whistled through the air, its edge catching the light in a dazzling display.
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“Nice execution, Lizy.”
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“This feels incredible! RoseBud. I can’t thank you enough.”
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“You’ve made remarkable progress from when I first met you; you deserve it.”
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Lizy continued to swing her sword around, making multiple dents in the walls and floor by accident.
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“Careful, you might attract attention.”
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“Let them come! I’m ready!”
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"Not today."
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With ease, I swung my leg under Lizy, broke her stance, and caught her before she hit the ground. She stared at me, to which I responded with a warm smile. Her enthusiasm seemed to dim down a little. If she decided to make a hassle, there might be a huge mess to clean up; she had done that multiple times before.
Her eyes shone with understanding. Feeling awkward, I helped her stand up straight; she patted on her dress and cape.
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“I have to pay 70 vylons for this, right?”
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Lizy was staring at me now.
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“Yes, normally you would, but…
Can you bring me to LoggerHead tomorrow? You won’t have to pay anything.”
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“Ah, sure thing, Miss RoseBud!”
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Lizy transformed the sword back into its scooter form and rode away, her shadow gradually fading from view.
I watched until she was out of sight, the sound of the scooter diminishing in the distance. The city lights began to flicker on, casting a warm glow over the street below. The distant hum of traffic filled the air, mingling with the occasional chatter of pedestrians passing by.
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“Isn’t she quite an innocent girl?”
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I turned, startled, to see a woman in a green robe. She seemed familiar, yet I couldn’t place her. The streetlights cast a soft glow around her, creating an almost ethereal aura.
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“I don’t have much time.”
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She pulled a large folder from her bag and placed it in my hands.
As I leaned closer, I looked again at her face. She was, unmistakably, me. Her eyes, so like mine, held a depth of experience I had yet to face. Questions surged within me, but deep down, I knew answers would be elusive.
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“Who… how?”
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The ponytail was gone, and the side bangs had grown out. Her features were sharper, more defined. She wore a confident expression, one that carried the weight of experiences I had yet to endure. It was me from the future. At some point, I would learn to time travel.
I stepped closer, comparing our heights. To my shock, she was slightly taller. That shouldn't be possible! Dafael Angels were supposed to remain unchanged, yet she had grown. This meant I had learned something in the future that allowed me to break free from our constraints.
A flicker of hope, mingled with anxiety, welled up inside me.
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“I’m on a separate mission,
but I wanted to come and meet you."
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She handed me a journal.
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“Read the first page.”
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Before I could respond, she adjusted a watch on her wrist.
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“Best of luck.”
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She vanished. I glimpsed the device; it was a prototype I had designed back when I was still enrolled in the Technology Department at the College of Valance.
I stood there, gripping the folder, my mind racing. The city’s noises faded into the background, replaced by the pounding of my heart. The encounter had felt surreal, and yet, the weight of the folder in my hands grounded me in reality.
I looked around, half-expecting her to reappear and explain everything. The empty alleyway offered no answers, only the lingering scent of rain on pavement. I took a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves. The future was a mystery, but now it felt like a puzzle I had a glimpse of solving.
Clutching the folder tightly, I hurried back to my apartment, my heart pounding with a mixture of fear and excitement.
Inside, I sat down, the dim light of my room casting long shadows on the walls. My hands trembled as I opened the folder, revealing the journal within.
Before I could read further, the weight of the encounter settled on me. I needed a moment to process what had just happened. Future me had reached back through time, offering a lifeline, a beacon in the uncertainty of the present. The knowledge that I could change, that I could grow, was both exhilarating and daunting.
The room felt different, charged with a new energy. My cluttered work desk, strewn with tools and half-finished projects, now seemed like a launchpad for future endeavors. The grey walls, once confining, now held the potential of endless possibilities.
I took a deep breath, trying to calm the whirlwind of thoughts. The future was no longer a distant, abstract concept. It was tangible, within reach, and it carried the promise of answers and guidance.
Determined to embrace whatever lay ahead, I knew that this encounter was the beginning of a transformative journey. The path was uncertain, but I felt a newfound strength, a readiness to face the challenges that awaited me.
I stood, the folder clutched in my hands, and took a deep breath. The journey was just beginning, and with each step, I would carve out my destiny, one decision at a time.
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