31. Can You Fight?
"Well, that's that about that. You'll have to go find out the rest from either older people or libraries and there are none in this town." Mark exclaimed.
He stretched his arms above his head, realizing from the strange wall clock that he had spent over an hour simply explaining stuff.
Tristan on the other hand fell back on the couch he sat on. Raking his hand through his hair he felt thoughts rush through his mind.
In honesty, the stories and explanations had left him slightly overwhelmed. He lacked any memories of his life majorly, but he could understand stuff as though he had once experienced them.
The different time frame of all that had been said to happen left him unsure of where to place his birth or anything related to his life.
Mark had commented that he would not be too old seeing that his face still possessed youthful masculine features.
Mark estimated his age to be about 19 or lower. The number, '17' appeared to sit well with Tristan and they agreed on that age.
With that in mind, he hoped to find some clues about his past somewhere.
Mark had mentioned different places but since he washed up ashore there wasn't much advice he could give on that topic apart from the enforcers taking him to search for his identity.
That train of thought put Tristan on the topic of classes. Apparently, he had the type of strength above that of a Class-2 individual.
'Classes' were the system of power utilized by the entire world.
After many years passed since the great battle against the creatures, humanity tried to find the reason certain individuals possessed lesser powers than the others. Or rather, why they possessed certain unbreakable limits.
The term 'Class' was formed after many years of testing.
It was initially discovered that when one touched the Great Crystals a certain level was bestowed upon them. Like the limit of their spiritual capabilities.
At first, humans needed to touch the crystals to even have traces of Kaos running through their bodies.
But as humanity evolved thanks to the incredible nature of Kaos, and inheritors bore children, that rule quickly became obsolete.
Now even from childbirth, Kaos coursed through the bodies of children, and their class could be determined even before they came in contact with the Great Crystals and received full inheritances.
Mark muttered a few things seeing Tristan stare into space. He couldn't help but believe that the young man before him truly had no recollection of all that he had told him.
An interesting situation to say the least. Especially when considering the fact that the entire town was under a strange influence not even he could explain.
A buzz abruptly broke the silence, followed by two other buzzes, and that event, needless to say, brought Tristan out of his deep thoughts. He blinked and raised an eyebrow.
Mark however stood to pull out an object from his pocket and Tristan's eyes sparkled with curiosity… Of course, it didn't actually sparkle. That would have been too weird even for Mark.
About 5 inches in length and maybe 2 in width. Rectangular in shape and possessing a black cover. This was the object that Mark pulled out of his pocket.
It produced light and the man moved his thumbs across its surface, staring at the thing. Mark's features carried traces of astonishment.
Curiosity bloomed with intensity at that sight, but Tristan waited. Mark's countenance, unfortunately, fell as a result of what he saw on that strange item.
"What?" Mark asked, standing again. He shuddered at Tristan's unblinking gaze. He felt he would be eaten alive by those stunning yet dangerous-looking eyes.
Tristan was by far stronger than him. That reality brought timidity oftentimes.
"You don't know what that was?" Mark asked tilting his head to the side. He managed to leave his astonishment in his head. Then again, what did he expect?
Maybe that was the reason the item had appeared to begin with.
Tristan nodded in response, honestly hating his situation. He had to feed off other people's knowledge, especially when it was considered common knowledge.
Mark had not failed to mention that even children knew what he had told Tristan, at least some parts.
"Damn," Mark exclaimed under his breath. "This-" He pulled out the object again raising it. "Is called a smartphone."
"Everyone has one… most people have one, and we use it to carry out tasks that might have taken longer to achieve."
"In the times before the Entry no such thing had been created, it's called technology. It's one of the reasons man has managed to prevail so much." Mark explained.
"Most technology now works with Kaos. The smartphone establishes calls and text messages using Kaos. Its battery however is electrical, unlike the more advanced ones which have Kaos batteries that last longer."
"I see…" Tristan muttered, gaining an understanding.
"Yes. Smartphones have a screen for seeing stuff. Like our texts, calls, various visual contents and all." Mark pointed the screen at Tristan, showing him that he could scroll by swiping.
Tristan marveled more at that smartphone than at all the things Mark had told him.
Mark could relate.
He too had been excited the day he got his first phone. But it had only been a medium to drown away his worries.
Life was cruel. It caught up to him, and now he could barely take his eyes off the size of his problems. Before it had been money. Now In reality he required resources.
Funnily, Mark had left out the details about the currency being used by the economy of the continent.
He knew less about the other continents and how they even functioned. Then again, he had not been to all the cities on their one continent before tragedy struck.
"I have to go now," Mark announced after a few more minutes telling Tristan about the phone. His countenance fell again.
"Where?" Tristan asked, alerted. He did not want to be left alone in that building. The others weirded him out.
"To take care of business... I think?" Mark responded, furrowing his eyebrows in slight confusion. He didn't know what was happening but it was anyways. He didn't even know any of what was happening to him was possible.
He wondered if Tristan was the cause for all of it. The idea made something in him quiver.
Tristan saw his reaction and considered a few things inwardly before speaking.
"You're the only person I essentially know... I don't want to be left alone," he announced, furrowing his brows.
Taken aback by that obvious yet genuine revelation, Mark regained some of his composure. He suddenly lacked the timidity he was known for. The issue at hand made him slightly braver.
"The others will take care of you… at least the two that are staying behind," Mark explained grabbing a few things around the room. One of which was a sheathed sword. He didn't even bother to consider how it was there.
Tristan saw this and knew the man was going forth to attend something potentially dangerous.
"I will follow you," Tristan stood, his tone and stern eyes not leaving room for excuses.
Mark frowned, but suddenly the thought of that clueless boy escorting him sounded nice.
As far as power levels were concerned, what they were about to face was below Tristan's capabilities.
"Can you fight?" Mark asked, and Tristan furrowed his brows but nodded.
"Let's go then."