Daily Short: Kyo 29

ACT  963161069-33889.21.(M4.D07)Fluffy Alchemist Kyo

In the vast desert of the Wasteland, there was a ruined city. It looked devoid of vitality as it sat silently under the hazy heat of darkening dusk. Situated in the far corner of the eastern city section, ravens stared down from the shattered bones of civilization at two figures moving below. The demonic bird's pitch-black eyes reflected the glowing mana emitted from both individuals. One figure was like the dim glow of sunset, while the other was a blazing sun.

Above both figures, the hazy sky was a stretch of gray with unladen clouds emitting a heavy sense of earthy weight. It was as if someone had splattered grey clay on drawing paper, turning the sky into thick multi-layered pottery sheets.

The clouds folded restlessly, the large devouring the small in a dance reflecting nature. In brilliant flashes, streaks of green lightning could be seen shooting out, accompanied by thunderous rumbling sounds. The sounds of thunder mimicked the sound of powerful beasts reverberating through the sands. With brutal, uncaring mercy, thin clear-colored rain began falling onto the indifferent desert and the city’s bones.

Within the fragmented Wasteland city’s walls, desolation and destruction painted the scene from past miseries. Everything was withered, and collapsed structures could be seen everywhere. One could also find numerous bones around that resembled crumbling, bleached leaves.

The once-bustling streets were now empty of souls.

The sandy paths that were once crowded with people were now dead silent.

The only remaining things were bones, dust, and bird droppings mixed with sand-soaked mud. It was an incredibly depressing sight. Kyo looked curiously at the surroundings while keeping a sharp eye on the sky. Eventually bored of the silence, she asked, “What happened here, Big Sis Nota?”

“An error of judgment, Kyo. This place was a Silver Empire training center once, before the collapse.” Nota replied as they continued towards the city’s core.

A broken carriage could be seen deep in the mud, not far away. Degrees of deterioration could clearly be seen on it, and the only thing attached was the weathered rope bound onto the carriage’s shaft, gently swaying with the wind.

Its white-colored braiding was twisted, exuding a gloomy and eerie aura like a viper in the dark.

The rope’s continuous movement, even drenched by rain, seemed to contain some resentment as it stared balefully at the mottled stones. Kyo glanced away from the cord. She was like a hunter, patiently waiting for her chance. The last time she had been in one of these ruined cities, she had been weak. Now the power of space magic turned a dangerous hunting ground into a lark. A short time later, after walking a bit further, an opportunity came. A greedy vulture was finally unable to resist entering the crow’s domain. Kyo instantly narrowed her eyes as a cold light could be seen gleaming within. This trip is to learn from a local Dungeon, according to Big Sis Nota. For that, I need bait.

Her left finger shot forward like a fired arrow, a ripple in space dashing rapidly ahead for the vulture. Kyo’s right hand stretched to the leather pouch on her waist, and she pulled a thin and small green-colored wooden spike out.

The tip of the wooden throwing needle-spike glimmered with cold sharpness. Faint drops of moisture could be seen, creating tiny bubbles on the wood’s surface.

Maybe it was the vulture’s sharp senses from living in the city, but the moment the space magic strike dashed forth, it immediately became aware of the danger. Due to fright, it flapped its wings and wanted to climb higher for the safety of the sky.

However, it was too late. Fate had already written the ending.

The wooden stick spike flew out as Kyo, with a cute face devoid of evil, lightly tossed it and transformed it into a green line that erupted toward the vulture.

Squelch!

The sharp wooden needle spike instantly pierced the vulture’s head, breaking past its skull bone and killing it in one strike. Green sludge could be seen where the brain would have been. The powerful impact blasted the vulture down, coincidentally pinning it onto the horse carriage not far away.

As a result, the white-braided rope also moved due to the collision impact and began swaying. It was like a miserly old man complaining about the brats on his well-kept grassy lawn.

Kyo showed a relaxed look. This wasn’t her first kill by far, now. From the start until now, her speed didn’t reduce at all. She dashed toward the horse carriage and grabbed the wooden needle stick. Before the dead bird could drop, it was placed into her small storage. Nota grinned as she saw Kyo’s strength in removing the needle spike was significant enough to break apart a small portion of the carriage at the location where the vulture was pinned earlier. The little kitten still needed physical training to control her strength perfectly.

After doing all these, Kyo didn’t even turn her head as she rapidly returned to Nota’s side. Nota smiled knowingly before continuing along the fallen city’s broken road.

At this moment, the wind here seemed to blow even stronger. Rain poured like thick soup, but a space barrier separated the watery deluge from the two city invaders. The white-braided rope on the carriage seemed to be observing the departing back of the kitten as her small shirt swayed in the wind.

Kyo moved further and further with Nota as the sunlight died.

The wind relentlessly grew stronger. It brought along the chill in the rain and blew past the thin clothes Kyo was wearing. Thankfully, the kitten’s attainment in space magic prevented discomfort from gaining a foothold.

Kyo involuntarily shivered as she observed the surroundings. It had merely been a short period. Yet now, the elements held no more sway than unmoving sand to her. She furrowed her brows slightly and fluffed her cheeks in annoyance.

Kyo hated the cold; the thief took the most from her.

In the past, before her Patrons, the solution to resist the cold and wet was to find a place that could block the wind and rain to rest. Though, Kyo didn’t reduce her speed as she passed by numerous tattered shop remnants. She easily kept pace with Big Sis Nota without much effort.

The city’s core was a shallow yet seemingly bottomless pit visible as the road started slanting towards it. As they approached, the occurrence of bones became manifest as rings centering on the city core. At first, the bleached white bones were clean of even rags. As they grew closer, though, clothing appeared.

The ground grew thick with white powder, and Kyo’s senses told her it was salt.

Thick white salt crusted the ground beneath the bleached bones.

Salt, instead of sand, held sway in the city’s center.

“The salt,” Kyo said, squinting. “It doesn’t move?”

Nota flashed an enigmatic smile at her and said, “Mere wind cannot move the remains of those who dedicated their lives here.”

When they finally reached the center of the pit, a shining crystal floated in the air. Kyo watched the silver facets reflect light with awe. Her senses told her why no one had plundered what remained there. Terrifying things guarded in the surrounding space. Creatures that were more phantoms than reality.

Ghosts, the remains of those who served the Silver Empire.

Those who couldn’t respect the fallen would sleep forever.

“Touch the crystal and see the past,” Nota said with a sad smile.

Kyo looked at her before slowly floating forward with an expectant expression on her face.