Phase 30: Asking Questions At Riverside

After finishing most of his Comrade Home Missions, Colin stopped by the market.

"Yip?" Shiro paused.

"I died just now, remember? I lost my hat and backpack." Colin told Shiro. "I should get new ones. And maybe a few cans of food."

"Yip." Shiro agreed with a sigh of his own.

He met May at the Market.

"Hi, Colin!" May waved. "How are you and Rita?"

The first time he'd met May, he had been Traveling with Rita. They had visited Mayor Henry, and met May there.

"I haven't seen Rita since the Tournament last night." Colin told her.

"Ah, yes. The Tournament. You're now the Duos Yellow champion." May nodded. "Are you competing again tonight?"

Tonight, Colin remembered, was the Group Tournament. Where Solos meant just one Comrade and Duos meant two, Group Tournaments were supposed to be about squad combat, something that Colin wasn't too confident about.

Besides, he no longer qualified for Yellow Badge. He'd only just become a Green Badge, so he was almost definitely the weakest of the lot.

"Not tonight, May. I've got two missions at Riverside and I'm asking around about the Journey's End."

"Journey's End?" May asked. "You mean the Journey that all Travelers are on?"

"Do you know anything about it?" Colin asked.

"Not much. Mom would know, I think." May said.

Colin stared. May's mom would know. Lady Scarlet had, in the past two nights, won first the Solos Overall Championship, then the Duos Overall Championship.

Colin had little doubt that she'd win tonight's Group Overall Championship too. Scarlet had proven herself more powerful than even the local chief breeder and gym trainer.

"But… I dunno… I'm not sure I dare ask her." Colin admitted. "She's just too… powerful."

"I'll ask her." May said. "But only if you battle me first!"

May, Colin realized, had been waiting for him to battle her for the past two nights.

"Now?" Colin looked around.

"Not now. Later. When you get back." May said. "I have a few things I need to do also."

"Right…" Colin said.

***

"You again?!" the Travelers Equipment Shopkeeper stared at Colin. "What happened to your backpack and hat?! You lost them AGAIN?!"

"That time was a flood." Colin objected. "This time, I died."

"Man…" the shopkeeper shook his head. "You keep getting yourself into such serious situations, you ought to buy armor or something."

"Armor?" Colin stared. "I can do that?"

"You can." The man said. "It's useless for most people, because they never get into danger anyway, but {you}…"

"Never mind." Colin said. "I don't need it, and it wouldn't have saved me even if I had armor before. I just need another hat and backpack."

"Still got your Lina Visor?" the guy asked.

"Yeah. Visor still here." Colin answered. "I don't know how it survived with me this long."

"Me neither." The guy grunted. "Tell you what. I'll sell you the backpack and hat for 100cr straight. You're practically a regular here by now."

"Thanks." Colin answered. "Also, do you know anything about the Journey's End? The Journey all Travelers are on?"

"It has an End?!" the guy stared. "Really?!"

"Never mind." Colin sighed, and paid up.

He bought three cans of tuna, one each for Shiro, Raiki and Fireheart. He told Shiro, "These are just in case. I'll get more at Riverside Town if we need them. Tuna is cheaper there."

"Yip." Shiro agreed.

Colin paused. "You know… we should try to go farther north. I want to see Port Frichi."

"Yip…" Shiro shook his head.

Colin sighed. "True. I want to see Frichi, but not as much as I want to see the Forest of Legends."

{I want to go everywhere… see everything…}

"Let's go." Colin told his Comrades and headed for the Ferry. The Ferry charged 10cr for every stop they passed. At first, he'd thought it was just a bit much. Now, he thought it just a bit, period.

On the fourth night of his Journey on Nakama World, Colin boarded the ferry with 3 Comrades, 860cr in cash, a visor, a hat, a backpack, and three cans of tuna.

"Somehow…" Colin said. "It feels like I'm losing things rather than gaining them."

Shiro barked a laugh. The last time they'd come on the ferry, Colin had had more of everything.

Everything except experience.

He thought of all he'd been through since the last time he'd come on board. He'd survived a flood, fought in Farm Wars, won a Tournament, tried to save someone he thought was kidnapped, and got killed by a monkey.

Quite a bit, for just two nights.

"Yip!" Shiro leaned over the side, wagging his tail.

He did that last time they went on the ferry too. "Not now, Shiro. You can swim as much as you like when we get back to Edward's Farm."

Shiro growled, then looked down into the water and wagged his tail again.

Colin frowned, and went over to see what he was looking at. {Another Zapper Eel, or a Softle, maybe…?}

But he didn't see anything. No Eel, no big glass-shell turtle. Not even a crab. Just the gray movements of fish going about their business…

Wait…

Fish?!

"Shiro, you can't eat whole fish yet!" Colin protested. "Michi says the best food for you is canned tuna, at least until you're bigger."

"Yip." Shiro snorted, then went on looking downwards and wagging his tail.

{Maybe it's not the fish…}

Colin tried to look downwards, to see what was below that had Shiro so excited, but he couldn't see anything other than their reflection.

Waterweeds…? Rocks…? The occasional crab-type Wild or shrimp-type Wild? Not that jellyfish-type, Colin felt sure.

What in the world was Shiro looking at?!

Colin watched Shiro's eyes. The little white wolfcat was just looking straight down and wagging his tail.

"I don't get it." Colin said at last, and leaned back.

The view above was more to his liking, Colin decided. Rainducks and Watergulls crossed high overhead, too high to catch and Tame, but quite visible. Once in a while, a Fisherbird would flash past. In the distance, he could see another kind of bird, something that flew higher and faster than Fisherbirds.

{Wouldn't THAT be good for a scout…?}

Colin sighed. Satrox had said that the easiest place to get new Comrades would be the Comrade Home, which was rather expensive.

But maybe… with enough missions… one day…

"Riverside Town!" the Ferryman called. "Stopping at Riverside Town!"

"That's where we get off." Colin said, getting up.

"Yip." Shiro turned away from the water and climbed up to Colin's left shoulder once more, and Raiki climbed up to his right shoulder. Fireheart walked by his side.

The Ferry stopped.

"Let's go."

***

Colin thought of stopping by the Riverside Comrade Home. Aoi, the Chief Breeder, might know something about the Journey's End.

"Later." He decided. Right now, he was on a mission to Tame a Rock Beetle for Sunshine Town Comrade Home.

Riverside Town was a bit smaller than Sunshine Town, but was similar in many ways. People went around with Comrades everywhere, and Comrades were helping them do just about everything, from fixing houses and carrying goods.

Riverside's Market was all around the docks, so that people coming by boat could get goods to and from there easily. Because it was farther downriver than Sunshine Town (and therefore nearer to the sea), shipped goods and sea produce were cheaper and more plentiful.

Colin passed through without buying a thing, and went through the Town Square in the center of town. There was a stage there, and when events like Treasure Hunts were being held, the place would be crowded with people.

But there was no event today. There would be a Tournament sometime later this week, in the Arena on the north side of town, but for now, the place was quiet. Colin passed through and remembered what the place was like during the Treasure Hunt. It had been intense.

The west side of Town was filled with factories; an industrial area. Colin saw the Frog Smelter, where he should have dropped off two bars of coco iron if he had taken the other mission. There was a sleek blue frog statue sitting on top of the front roof, just a little taller than the bicycle on the roof next door.

Colin passed through and left Riverside Town through the west exit. He glanced at Shiro. "Let's find a Rock Beetle."

"Yip." Shiro turned to Raiki and Fireheart. "Yip?"

They split up, keeping each other in sight as they searched.

Colin's watch beeped. Someone was calling.

"Rita?" Colin blinked. "Hi! What's up?"

"Where are you?!" Rita demanded. "They're about to close the registration for the Tournament!"

Colin winced. Rita had battled him in the Duos Tournament last night. She'd be expecting to do so again for the Group Tournament tonight. "Rita, I reached Green Badge yesterday and I don't stand a chance in Green Badge Ranking. I'm not joining the Tournament tonight."

Rita was stunned into silence. "G-g-green…?! But I… I thought I'd be battling you again…!"

"Sorry." Colin said.

"Don't be." Rita said, laughing softly. "If you're not here, and Benny can't enter because he doesn't have enough Comrades… Colin, I'm going to win this!"

"Go for it." Colin said. "Oh, and Rita…? Do you know anything about the Journey's End?"

"Ask me later." Rita said. "I'll call you back. Right now, I've got a Tournament to win!"

Shiro found a Rock Beetle. "Yip! Yip, YIP!"

Fireheart ran over to join him and together, they started circling their target. Raiki prepared a Sonic Barrage.

"Right. Good luck, Rita." Colin told her.

"Thanks. Take care." Rita said, and cut the link.

Raiki started her barrage of Sonic Bolts. Shiro and Fireheart swept in from both sides, catching the Rock Beetle in between them.

The Beetle lasted about twelve seconds before it fell over and decided enough was enough. It stayed still as Colin went over and touched it.

It got up, and then looked at him for instructions.

Fighting Rock Beetles was a lot easier than it was last time.

"Come on." He told it. "Let's go to the Comrade Home."

***

They passed by the cave that Rall used to live in as they headed around the Town to the Comrade Home.

Colin darted in for a quick look and was surprised to see a different Bear living there. This one was a darker brown and just a bit smaller than Rall.

He left the bear alone and went on to the Comrade Home.

"Colin!" Aoi greeted him. "Are you bonding that Beetle?"

"It's for a mission." Colin said.

"Mission? Let me check." Aoi said, tapping her clipboard. "Ah, yes. Leave it with me. I'm making the report now."

"Thanks." Colin said. "I've got a package too."

"Thanks!" Aoi said. "Is that all?"

"Um… yeah." Colin paused. "Do I get paid for the mission?"

"Of course. Just wait here." Aoi said, and brought the Rock Beetle away.

Colin waited. Shiro, meanwhile, chatted with Fireheart.

"Yip. Yiyip." Shiro said, seriously.

"Riao?" Fireheart frowned.

"Yip." Shiro glanced at Raiki. "Yip."

"Mew." Raiki said. "Miao."

"Riao…" Fireheart still sounded unsure.

"Yip." Shiro nudged her. "Yip."

"Riao…" Fireheart paused.

Colin scratched his head. He hadn't a clue what those three were talking about.

"Here!" Aoi came back with a pouch. "2500cr. Your Mission Points have been recorded."

"Thanks, chief." Colin nodded. "By the way, do you know anything about the Journey's End?"

Aoi tapped her lips thoughtfully. "Well… it's really a big topic. What do you want to know?"

"As much as you can tell me." Colin said.

Aoi barked a laugh. "Colin, if you really want to know about the Journey's End, you should ask at Pepper Tourism. They'll give you something you need for free. Also, if you ever make it to Forest Village, you should talk to Professor Jijin."

"Jijin…" Colin frowned. "Why?"

"He gives out something else you will need." Aoi said. "IF you can do something for him."

"Pepper Tourism and Professor Jijin…" Colin paused. "Anything else you can tell me?"

"Yeah." Aoi said, seriously. "If you want to go to Forest Village, take the long way around. Your Comrades aren't strong enough to guard you through the road west yet."

Colin let out a slow breath. "Thanks, chief Aoi."

"You're welcome, Colin. Take care." Aoi waved.

***

Colin, it should be noted, was not particularly good at following instructions to take the 'safe road'.

When Michi told him to take the Desert Road to Hot Sands two nights ago, he went by the Forest Edge simply because he wanted to see the Forest.

The same issue applied now.

"Michi's at Forest Village too…" Colin said.

"Yip." Shiro agreed.

"Aoi says I should take the long way. But it's a really, really long way around." Colin said. "I'll need to go back to Sunshine Town, walk past the Airport, then head all the way up north. It's going to take ten hours to get there. If I just go west from here, I can probably reach it in three hours."

Actually, he could cut out a couple of hours the long way around if he used the ferry, but all things considered, it WAS a lot of ground to cover.

"You've beaten off enemies a few levels stronger before." Colin said, remembering the final round of the Duos Tournament. Never mind that the Forest Road Wilds were many levels higher. "Let's see how well we can manage on the road west, shall we?"

"Yip…" Shiro sighed. This would definitely sound familiar to him. Then, Shiro turned to the Town. "Yip?"

Colin frowned. "You're right. We better get more food. You guys would probably need to eat and rest a good bit."

As they entered town, however, Shiro climbed down from his shoulder and pulled Colin by the leg of his jeans towards the west side.

"Where are we going?" Colin asked, as he followed Shiro.

Shiro brought him towards the Frog Smelter.

"Shiro, we didn't take that mission, remember?" Colin said. It had been available on the list, but doing it required items that Colin didn't have and couldn't get easily.

"Yip." Shiro shook his head, and went on pulling him…

To the factory next to the Frog Smelter. The one with the bicycle on the roof.

"What's this?" Colin asked, looking in.

"Hello, there! What can we do for you?" a plump man in a turquoise uniform greeted him. He took off his cap and Colin could see that the middle of his head was bald. "Are you looking to buy a bicycle?"

{Buy a bicycle…?!}

"Brilliant!" Colin told Shiro. "This is exactly what we need!"

"Yip." Shiro wagged his tail.

The man was looking at him rather oddly, but noted, "We've got all sorts of bikes; tricycles, foldable bikes, modular add-ons… everything."

"How much do these bikes cost?" Colin asked.

"Let's see…" the man whipped out a catalogue and started leafing through it. "Hmm. Quite a few options here."

"Such as?" Colin pressed.

"Do you need a bike that can cross water? The kind with floaters built in and peddle-wheels? Do you want a foldable bike? Just fold it up and stick it to your backpack. What about material and structural strength? We have lightweight stuff, or we have stuff that can take serious hits and survive the damage." He went on.

"I just want something to help me travel faster." Colin answered.

"Just speed, eh? Strong, light… are you a skilled cyclist?"

"Not really." Colin admitted. "I've used a tricycle a bit…"

"A tricycle, then." The man thought for a bit, then brought Colin in, where rows of bicycles were stacked. He pulled out a red tricycle. "How's this?"

Colin glanced at it. "It looks a bit… kiddy."

"You want something stylish…?" the man paused. "Hmm…"

A mischievous look came into his eye.

"Sir…?" Colin gave him a sideways look.

"You're bringing Comrades with you…" he thought. "Would you be willing to settle for something a bit heavier?"

"How much heavier?"

"A bicycle with a sidecar."

He put them together, added a pedal-enhancement motor and showed the results to Colin.

Colin grinned. "I'll take it."

***

Colin tested out his bike, circling the the entire town, then stopped by the Training Center.

"Welcome to the Riverside Gym!" the receptionist called. She was a short girl with short orange hair and the biggest goggles he'd ever seen on anyone. "What's up?"

"I'm looking for missions." Colin told her. It was becoming a bit of a habit now to take jobs that could be done on the way to or right at where he was going.

"Green Badge, right? Checking…" she tapped her desktop and brought up the bulletin board. "We've got three requests. Tame a Green Panther, Deliver a package to Sunshine Town Training Center, or bring two bars of coco iron to the Frog Smelter right here at Riverside Town."

"That mission's still up?" Colin stared.

Just as he said it, the request notice disappeared.

"Oops. Looks like someone just took it." The girl said.

Colin sighed. "I'll take both the other missions."

"Right. Hand on the bright patch, please. Remember, the missions must be done before the end of tonight!"

Colin paused. He checked the time.

10pm. With his new bike, the trip to Forest Village might take… what… forty minutes? An hour?

He had time. Now that Traveling around became so much faster, he could afford the time.

Still… "What happens if I fail?"

"The penalty is twice the rewards." The receptionist said.

Ouch.

Colin shook his head. "I'll take the package mission. Never mind the Green Panther."

"Wise decision." The girl grinned.

"Hand on the bright patch, please."

***

Colin went ahead and bought another fifteen cans of tuna at Riverside Town's prices; 9cr each.

"Which leaves me with a grand total of 25cr left." Colin shook his head. "That's more than enough for the ferry to Sunshine Town."

He wouldn't have wanted to carry all those cans of tuna on his back, but fortunately, he had a sidecar to stow it all away in. Shiro, Raiki, Fireheart and the backpack all fit in there with space to spare.

"Now." Colin said. "Let's see if we can survive the road west."