Rapture

The atmosphere was tense and heated, the air thick with a vicious aura.

Several seconds passed, though they felt like an eternity until Haruto took off his grip from me and dashed forward.

He threw a fast right punch, directed toward Lucien's cheek.

Luckily, Lucien quickly reacted and dodged his punch, while countrering with a slash of his own.

Haruto evaded it by taking a few steps back.

"It's sad to think that the only to communicate to you is by violence," Lucien said, while now standing in an attacking position.

"Don't get all peaceful with me, we both know that the world is not what it used to be, Kill or be killed, that's my motto," Haruto confidently said, pointing to his chest.

"You leave me no choice," Lucien quickly blitzed towards Haruto as if he teleported, and swiftly slashed his right eye.

Haruto tried countering with a kick of his own but failed, and retreated back to his original position.

"Agh, damn you." Haruto, now wounded, clinching his right eye while the blood dripped down.

Lucien locked his gaze on me for a couple of seconds and then back to Haruto, "You stand no chance Haruto"

"Alright, alright. You win this round," he grudgingly conceded, a glimmer of irritation flickering in his left eye.

"But don't go getting cocky now. I went easy on you."

"I don't care about all that, give me the boy next to you," Lucien said while putting his sword back.

Haruto with a sudden burst of strength, held my shirt collar with his left hand and flung me high into the air, my heart racing as I hurtled toward the ground. But just as I braced for impact, a pair of arms caught me securely, like a precious treasure.

I looked up to see Lucien's face, his expression one of concern and relief. He had saved me from certain doom. As he lowered me to the ground, I stumbled slightly, my legs still weak from the ordeal.

"Are you okay?" Lucien asked, his eyes searching for any signs of injury.

"I...I think so," I replied, still trying to process what had just happened.

Lucien nodded. "Let's go," he said, turning away from Haruto and motioning for me to follow. "We need to get out of here before anything else happens."

I trailed after Lucien, my eyes flickering back toward Haruto's figure and his blood dripping down until the thick fog obscured my vision completely.

He was a formidable opponent, one I knew I would meet again.

"So who are you exactly?" Lucien asked.

"I am Makino Katsu, 16 years of age."

"Neat, you're the same age as me," Lucien said while smirking.

I nodded.

After what felt like hours of walking in silence, I couldn't help but ask Lucien where he was taking me. His footsteps never faltered as he spoke, his voice calmed and collected.

"We're headed towards a town, which I and my sister found when we were seeking shelter. "Don't worry, it's safe. There are a lot of friendly people," he reassured me.

Just as I was lost in thought, Lucien broke the silence with a short remark, drawing my attention back to him.

"So, are you new here?" he asked with a casual tone, his attention still focused on our journey ahead.

I hesitated for a moment, grappling with the decision of whether to lie or tell the truth. Finally, I settled on the former, realizing it might be the safest option for now.

"Yes, it's my first time here," I replied, my voice laced with a hint of deception. I couldn't afford to let my guard down, especially around someone I barely knew.

Lucien's eyebrows rose in surprise. "Is that so? You certainly don't look like a tourist. What brings you to this place then?"

I paused, considering how much information to reveal. "I'm just passing through," I said, keeping my response deliberately vague.

Lucien nodded, seeming to accept my answer. "Well, you should be careful. This area isn't the safest place around, especially with people like Haruto running around."

I shuddered involuntarily at the thought of facing Haruto again. "Thanks for the warning. I'll keep that in mind," I said, my voice tinged with a mix of gratitude and trepidation.

The rest of our journey passed in relative silence, with only the sound of our footsteps and the rustling of leaves breaking the quiet. As we approached the town, the bustle of activity grew louder, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of ease settling in.

Upon arriving at our destination, I couldn't help but notice that the town was rather modest in size. However, given the sudden upheaval that had shaken the world, it was hardly surprising.

Lucien led me through the town until we reached a quaint inn (attractively unusual and old-fashioned) nestled amongst a row of shops, the sweet aroma of freshly baked bread drifting from a nearby bakery. As we entered, the warm glow of lanterns and the lively chatter of patrons enveloped us.

"I'll get you a room," Lucien said, heading to the front desk.

As I surveyed the room, my attention was drawn to a group of rowdy men huddled around a table, their laughter echoing through the inn. I couldn't help but wonder how they could still be so carefree after everything that had happened.

Upon returning with the keys, Lucien noticed me staring at the men, "Don't mind them, they're just drinking away the night. Some people cope with stress and situations they can't control by indulging in vices like alcohol." He explained.

"Now let's get you some rest for tomorrow," Lucien said, handing me the keys and instructing me to go up the narrow staircase to my room. He bid me farewell, promising to pick me up in the morning.

As I made my way up the stairs, I noticed that he had also slipped some spare coins into my hand. "I suppose this is for food," I mused to myself, feeling grateful for his thoughtfulness.

As I settled in, I couldn't help but notice the creaky old bed and the musty smell of the room. But it was better than nothing, I thought to myself. I took off my jacket, neatly folded it, and placed it on the side table.

As I laid my head on the pillow, my thoughts drifted to the events of the day. The chaos, the danger, and the unexpected encounter with Lucien. I wondered what tomorrow would bring.

My eyelids grew heavy, and soon, I drifted off into a peaceful slumber.

The next morning, I woke up to the sound of birds chirping outside the window. The sun had just begun to rise, casting a warm glow across the room. I stretched my limbs and sat up, rubbing the sleep from my eyes.

As I got dressed, I couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement tinged with nervousness. Today was a new day, and anything could happen.

After freshening up, I headed downstairs to the common area, where breakfast was being served. I grabbed a plate and filled it with eggs, bacon, and toast, savoring the aroma of the freshly brewed coffee.

As I ate, I couldn't help but overhear a group of people discussing something in hushed tones. I got interested, and I made my way over to them.

"What's going on?" I asked, trying to sound nonchalant.

One of them turned to me, a grim expression etched on his face. "Haven't you heard? There's been a series of disappearances in the town. People have been going missing left and right, and no one knows what's happening."

That's creepy I thought to myself, "Thanks for the info."

Shortly after I made my way back to my table. As I sat down, I noticed the inn's door creaking open, and I recognized the familiar figure of Lucien stepping through the threshold.

He started walking over to my table with an apologetic smile on his face.

"Sorry about that, I had some stuff I needed to take care of."

"No problem" I replied while finishing the rest of my plate.

"So are you ready to go?" he asked.

I shook my head and replied, "No rush, I'm actually enjoying the ambiance of this place."

Lucien nodded and pulled out a chair, taking a seat across from me. "This is one of my favorite spots in town," he said, gesturing around the room. "The owner is a good friend of mine and the food is always delicious."

I understood why.

"So what is it that you want to show me?" I asked.

"It's about you signing up for a guild."

"A guild? Like in video games?" Seeking clarification.

"Kinda, though you must have noticed that many people, including me and Haruto, have started displaying mysterious powers and the numbers keep climbing, but that's not all. The forest, animals, and the weather are also behaving strangely. We don't know much yet, but these missions can help us understand this new world better."

"So, it's like exploring," I suggested.

"Not quite," Lucien corrected me. "The missions could involve hunting animals, gathering different types of flowers or plants, or protecting the town from threats like Haruto. But the main objective for most people is to earn money, which is why many people sign up for a guild, and that's also should be the reason why you need to sign up too."

"I see," I said, intrigued by Lucien's explanation. "So, it's like we're living in an adventure-like game ourselves, with missions and a guild system."

"Exactly," Lucien nodded. "But this is no game, it's our reality now. And we need to adapt to it if we want to survive."

I couldn't help but feel a sense of apprehension at the mention of the strange occurrences happening in the world. The idea of exploring and facing unknown dangers was daunting, but the promise of money was alluring.

Lucien leaned in closer and lowered his voice. "And who knows, you might even discover that you have mysterious powers."

His words made me feel a thrill of excitement at the idea of joining a guild all of a sudden. It now sounded all so adventurous and intriguing to go on missions. "Count me in," I said while steadily standing up.

"Great!" Lucien exclaimed, clapping his hands together. "Let's go sign you up and get you started on your first mission."

I followed Lucien out of the inn, my heart pounding with anticipation. The thought of embarking on a new adventure filled me with a sense of excitement.

As we walked, Lucien explained the different guilds that were available in the town, each with its own unique set of missions and challenges. He also gave me a brief overview of the various skills and abilities that were required for each guild, helping me narrow down my choices.

After much deliberation, I settled on joining the Exploration Guild, intrigued by the promise of discovering new places and uncovering secrets. I also believed that if I joined the Exploration Guild, there was a slim chance of finding any hints about the whereabouts of my friends and family.

Lucien nodded approvingly to my choice, and we made our way to the guild.

As we entered the building, I was greeted by the bustling activity of guild members preparing for their next missions. I couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement as I filled out the necessary forms and officially joined the guild.

Lucien introduced me to the guild leader, a wise and experienced adventurer who gave me a warm welcome and assigned me to my first mission.

I was to explore the nearby forest and gather samples of various plants and flowers, while also keeping an eye out for any unusual activity.

Lucien patted me on the back and wished me good luck.

The next morning I set out on my mission, I couldn't help but feel a sense of nervousness and curiosity, ready to know more about this new world.