10 To Move Forward

"Oi, oi, what's he doing!?"

"Hahaha, calm down. That's just an act." Viscerin replied.

"U-Uh, okay." Jin sat back down. He had just watched a man dressed in black and white saw a woman in half. And the woman survived!

This was the second of the commodities Viscerin wanted to show Jin. They had gone to a building, with dimmed lighting and several elegant tables strewn throughout. Everyone there was dressed in fancy skirts and suits. Jin and Viscerin however, were dressed like they had just come back from a fight. Because, they had. Jin standing up and shouting just now didn't help them fit in.

"I love this kind of stuff." Viscerin said, as she placed her elbow on the table and lowered her head on her upright hand. She was gazing dreamily at the performance. "I used to come here all the time with my mother."

"Why did you stop?" Jin asked.

"Well, she went away. Travelled, up north." Her eyes turned downwards, she seemed distant. "My mother is a scout in Nova's army. At some point during the war, she was stationed here and she met my dad. She taught me how to use my bow. Every now and then, she has to travel somewhere."

"War?" Jin asked. "There's a war going on?"

"Of course, what kind of... Right, forest. Yes, anyway, I don't really know much about it aside from what they taught us in the church. Apparently, for there's been an on-and-off war with the Griffins for about a hundred years."

"A hundred years!? How is that possible!?" Jin asked.

"Nobody's been able to secure a definitive victory. Even though the elves over at Nova have a clear technological advantage, those Griffins are one of the three magical races, and they have a knack for combat the elves just can't take out."

"The magical races... Ricca said she belongs to one too."

"Yeah, she's a terreth. The magical races are the terreth, the beastmen, but we just call them Griffins, and the celestials."

"I haven't heard of that last one." Jin said.

"The celestials are these... kind of, ethereal people. Their bodies can change between being tangible, and intangible at will. And they can form direct connections with people's minds, and see into the spirit world."

"... I'd ask more, but I feel like I'd come away with more questions than answers." Viscerin chuckled.

"You're right."

"But, what separates the magical races from the rest of us?" Jin asked.

"The magical races are the ones that weren't created by Charlotte. They just spawned out of the magical energy that's all over the world. One day, they just happened. The earliest were the celestials. Then came the terreth, and about a thousand years ago, the beastmen were made."

"Made?"

"Hm? Yeah, they... Supposedly, a powerful mage created them at first, but I don't know about any of that."

"Ahem," a male voice cleared his throat. "Your refreshments." The butler placed a plate that held two cups filled with a dark red liquid on the table.

"Thank you." Viscerin said.

"Y-Yeah, thanks." Jin said as well. The butler raised an eyebrow at him. Jin inspected the drink in front of him. What kind of a liquid was this?

"Jin!" Viscerin said. "Come on, relax. This stuff is really good."

"Sorry, it's just... this is all new to me." Viscerin leaned across the table and placed the silver cup in his hand. It was heavier than any cup he'd ever held, but it was also much thinner. Well, now that he thought about it, it wasn't really a cup, but what could he call it? It had a cup-like top, but it thinned into a straw-like middle, and ended as a circle that allowed it to be placed on the table.

"Drink up. You'll be thanking me in a second!" She smiled at him. Jin sighed, and put the cup to his lips. He let the liquid flow in. It was amazing! It was sweet, but fiery like that other drink he'd tasted a day ago.

"What is this!?"

"Valorian wine." Viscerin said with a smug grin. "Imported from the demons up north. This is the only place in the village that serves this." There was a silence for a moment as Jin took another sip. He noticed Viscerin staring at him with that grin still on her face.

"What?" He asked.

"Come on, say it." She replied.

"Say what?"

"Did I not just show you the best thing you've ever tasted? I believe I deserve some gratitude." She placed her head on her both hands and leaned forwards. Jin understood, and rolled his eyes.

"Sigh, Thank you." He said, in a deadpan voice. Elizabeth was always like this back at the cabin.

"Hey! You have to mean it!" Viscerin pouted.

When he saw her face, a laugh escaped Jin's lips. He caught himself, and placed a hand on his mouth. This was his first time laughing since he'd left the cabin. Was it this easy to adjust to the outside world? He looked back at the girl who was turning her head to the side in fake anger. No, he realized. She was the one making this transition easy for him.

"Hey, uh, thanks." Jin said, putting a hand behind his head.

"Oh come on, I wasn't serious about it, you don't have to..." She said, but Jin interrupted her.

"No, I mean for showing me around." Jin cleared up. "It's been more helpful than you know." Viscerin's cheeks reddened.

"Y-You're welcome." They sat in silence for a moment, until a woman had replaced the previous performer on the stage. She was carrying an instrument Jin had heard of in his books. What was it again? A guitar? With no introduction, or pleasantries, she started singing.

"Lady of the Dead,

she fell from the sky,

Just to see our prayers answered,

Though she didn't know why..."

The bard's tone was nostalgic. The audience, Viscerin included, seemed captivated. As her song proceeded, Jin could tell it was telling some sort of famous tale, a recent one, maybe.

They left after the bard finished. Jin contemplated what he had seen so far. The Sattreus was particularly interesting, as it was like watching his storybooks play out in front of him.

"Hey," Viscerin said, "I should go. My dad's going to freak out if I get home late." She put on a nervous smile, and Jin smiled back.

"Thanks again." Jin said.

"No worries. Well, I'll see you tomorrow?"

"Sure." Jin replied. Viscerin smiled. She seemed content as she turned and walked away. That warm feeling in Jin's chest didn't falter.

Decena's POV

"Another one." Once again, she found herself in the tavern. Once again, a black liquid filled her cup. But, something had changed today. She stared at the cup quizzically. It no longer provided her that same distraction it had previously.

What happened? Was something wrong with her? She hoped she wasn't close to losing her only real coping method.

She cast her eyes down, before once again bringing the cup to her lips. The stinging sensation simply felt unpleasant this time. She actually wanted to stop. She didn't get the chance though, as a voice appeared behind her.

"You came?" She recognized Theresa without even having to see her. Although, there was genuine suprise in her tone.

"I didn't come here for you or anything. I just had nothing better to do." She said as she apathetically turned around, to find the smiling blonde behind her. She wore her usual black coat, and black pants.

"By all means then, allow me to join you. Seeing how you have nothing better to do, of course." She sat down on a stool next to Decena, and with a flick of her wrist, she called a bartender over. "A One-Winged-Angel, please." She ordered. The bartender bowed, and went to prepare the drink. There was a brief silence.

"When are you heading out?" Decena asked with a low voice, as she twirled the contents of the tin cup in her hands.

"A few days from now. Though, it's just an evening's trip, it's not some grand journey." Theresa replied with a chuckle.

"Aren't you nervous?" Decena asked.

"Why would I be?" Theresa replied.

"Think about it, you're going to go to some place you haven't seen, to fight an enemy that might be some nightmarish beast no one has ever encountered. Isn't that frightening?"

"My dear, are you worried for me?" Theresa said with a mocking gesture of surprise.

"Fuck off." Decena quickly replied. Theresa laughed.

"Sorry, sorry, I had to. Well, to answer your question, I'm more curious than anything." She closed her eyes as she spoke. "I've been around for a while, Decena, I've seen all manner of beasts. The prospect of something new, well, I see it as a challenge."

"So, you're not doing this to help, are you?" Decena asked.

"Why do you say that? Can I not be curious and generous at once? I do want to help. But, if my own personal desires are satiated at the same time, is that not a better arrangement?"

Decena's eyes stayed fixed on the black contents of her cup, as the bartender returned, handing Theresa a purple-tinged drink, which the blonde began to drink quickly.

"Do... Do you ever feel like you don't know what to do with yourself?" Decena asked.

"Yes." Theresa replied. Decena looked up at her. She expected some quippy reply about how amazing she was. Not this. "Quite often in fact, but when I do, I simply allow the world to show me where my next path lie."

"... That's why you're going there, isn't it?" Decena asked.

"Precisely. Something tells me that this is but one event in a branch that will at some point connect. And, the way I see it, I can either choose to stay away, or join, and see what happens. I don't know about you, but one of those options sounds vastly more interesting."

Decena's eyes returned to the cup in front of her.

"You know," Theresa continued, "you're, what, eighteen-years-old? Your old life failed, but you still have time to forge a new one. Aren't you tired of the rot? The slow decay you subject yourself to?" Decena looked away. "You can get rid of it, but you have to start somewhere."

Decena's eyes trembled slightly, before she sighed and looked back at Theresa.

"Fine, I'll go with you."

Seemingly satisfied, Theresa smiled the warmest gesture Decena had ever seen her produce. She was hardly aware that Theresa was even capable of such an expression.

"Good." Theresa said. "Now, I did promise I'd treat you, did I not? Here, try this." She passed her cup along towards Decena. The purple liquid swished lightly as Decena analyzed it. In one swift motion, Decena gulped down a portion of its contents.

She coughed. She had severely underestimated this drink. But, to her surprise, it tasted quite well. In fact, this was the first time in years she could remember liking the taste of alcohol. Before, it was simply something she drank for its effects, she ignored the taste. But this, this was different.

"See, what'd I say?" Theresa smirked.

"Again." Decena simply instructed. Theresa chuckled and gestured towards the bartender.

A few hours later, Decena arrived at her home. It was different. She couldn't tell if it was the moonlight slipping through the curtains, or that some strong wind had maybe set aside the dust, but her home seemed… brighter. Everything seemed brighter. She shook her head and walked up the steps to her bedroom.

Once inside, she slipped her shoes off, and leaned her way onto the bed. She stared up at the ceiling. What had she gotten herself into? For better or for worse, she had made a decision that altered her daily routine. Would Enverna be happy with her for this? She didn't know. Her thoughts lingered on that purple drink as her eyes eventually drew into a close.