The Heroine

After Mica and Zen woke up, they left the Sacrifices to go home while they are still unconcious.

Cali: "Man, so many things happened in just a single day, lets take a break tomorrow. I feel so tired."

Zen: "We cant afford to take a break, the tournament is next week already."

Cali: "We can, just trust me."

Ceed: "Trust him, sis. You were unconcious but he beat all of the magicians that attacked us earlier. Im pretty confident in his abilities."

Zen: "I find that really hard to believe."

Mica: "What happened to them exactly?"

Ceed: "Cali just raised his hand towards them and they suddenly fainted!"

Zen: "I never heard a magic spell like that. What class is he even?"

Ceed: "He said its a class that doesnt have a name."

Zen: "A sixth class? It must be really rare to be one."

Cali: "Not really, remember about those manaless people? They were not exactly manaless, they just didnt know how to use their magic."

Zen: "Are you saying that everyone is a magician?!"

Cali: "Yeah, and not just that. Theoretically, those manaless people are what I call Sage class."

Zen: "What?! If that is true then what you're saying right now is a groundbreaking information!"

Cali yawns: "I'll just explain it next time. Im really tired right now. See you in the next two days!"

Zen: "Dont just leave us in a cliffhanger!"

Cali goes to a separate road and left.

Zen sighs: "That idiot."

Mica: "You two are really close to each other." she giggles.

Zen: "I know what you are about to say already and Im telling you to not even think about it."

Mica: "Are you probably inlov-"

Zen quickly pinched Mica's cheeks.

Zen: "You are lucky that I respect you because you're kind or I would have punished you worse."

Biel: "Dont worry we already understand what is going on. Right, Ceed?"

Ceed: "I never knew my sister is a tsundere."

Zen hits both Biel and Ceed on their head.

Zen: "Im not a tsundere!"

Ceed: "Yeah right."

Both of them laughs while their head is swelling from the hit.

Mica laughed with them, too.

Zen just sighed due to tiredness.

Mica thought to herself: "If I could atleast light up the situation after what happened..."

6/19/1820, the next day. At the Inn where Cali resides.

Cali to himself: "Finally, a day of rest. There is so much place to go for a break. The central park, the beach, the Colosseum, or the one which I personally like, The Zefaria, A massive highway complex elevated just above the city that is a road only for important transportations and products. Too bad I dont like traveling, so Im going to the usual tavern."

At Kupkop's tavern.

Cali entered the tavern and took off his hood. Then he sat near the counter.

A woman spoke to him: "We met again, young man."

Cali: "Hm?"

Sitting beside him, what appears to be a 30 years old woman wearing an exotic gown made from feathers of a peacock with designs inspired from peacock bird features.

Cali: "Ah, granny!"

The woman: "You rude child. Are you really that awful or am I the only one you treat so harshly?"

Cali: "I just got used to paying respects to the elders. Besides, you're already too old for flirting."

The woman: "Its the complete opposite. Also Im still a woman no matter what my age so mind your own business!"

Cali: "I notice how rude I become when Im talking to someone close to me, especially nowadays that I actually made friends. How about that?"

The woman: "It looks like no matter how much you have changed, theres still a part of you from the past that remains. Speaking of change, you still look like a girl. Why dont you try getting a shorter haircut? I bet you would look cute on that."

Cali: "Too lazy to take care of myself."

The woman: "You really are helpless."

Mica: "Is she someone you know, Cali?"

Cali: "Yeah, I met her before. Her name is Faye. She's a kind old lady, but she's very perverted."

Faye: "Thats not something you tell to other people! Well except if its a handsome man, of course."

Faye: "Anyway, its nice to meet you young woman. Are you perhaps his lover?"

Mica: "My name is Mica. Im Cali's friend. Nice to meet you, Madam"

Cali to himself: "Oof. Idk why but that kinda hurt."

Mica: "May I take both of your orders?"

Madam Faye: "Im good. Im only here to check on Cali. Im going to leave now."

Mica: "So you must be the mother figure of Cali then?"

Madam Faye: "Hmm. I'll say Im more like an elder sister to him. Just like typical siblings, sometimes we hate each other but I still take care of him."

Madam Faye: "I'll see you next time, Cali."

Cali: "Alright."

Mica: "How about you? Do you want something?"

Cali: "Oh, the order? Milk is the only beverage I can drink here so."

Mica: "Okay, wait for a bit."

Cali: "Thank you."

A few minutes later.

Mica: "Here you go."

Cali: "Here, keep the change."

Cali gave another gold coin.

Mica: "Im telling you already, Im not gonna get used to this."

Cali: "Just take it, you've got no choice since Im not gonna take it back."

Mica sighs: "Fine."

Mica: "Wait, are you gonna stay here the whole day as your break? Why dont you go somewhere else?"

Cali: "Convincing your customers to get out? Thats bad in the business. Also, you're the one working in a rest day, you cant tell me what to do."

Mica: "We can only get this less money. Everyday has to be work day."

Cali: "How about I give you ten gold coins but you have to take a day off with me at the central park? Deal?"

Mica: "You are slowly killing my dignity, Cali."

Cali laughs: "If you're not gonna take the deal I wont go either so both of our days would go to waste. Also, the money could help your dad."

Mica: "Alright, alright. Its scary how you know exactly how to convince me."

They had gone to the park and walked around while talking to each other.

Cali thought to himself: "Beside the fact that she doesnt realize its a date, I cant believe Im going on a date!"

Mica: "So how is life? Are you doing fine?"

Cali: "No problems so far. How about you? Im pretty sure you have some troubles in your mind. If it wouldnt hurt you can just open up to me."

Mica: "Its just... Well..."

Cali: "You can take your time."

Mica: "Actually.. I feel bothered last night, I couldnt sleep. That time when those odd people who attacked us yesterday, I could barely do anything. If only I could block that one arrow with my magic probably Biel wouldnt get injured. As a defender class, it should be my job to nullify ranged magic spells but I couldnt. Im too weak.. Just like that time."

Mica suddenly cried.

Mica: "It might have happened again because of me. I could lose someone important to me again because I cant protect them."

Cali: "Just cry it out loud if it makes you feel better."

Mica always acts like a responsible elder sister who helps her friends if she could. She hanged out with Cali, expecting to help him in his problems. In the end she shared her issues and received support instead.

Mica: "Im sorry, Cali. Im going home, take care."

Mica ran back home while crying.

Cali followed her to the tavern.

At the tavern.

Cali enters.

Kupkop: "What happened to her? Why is she crying?"

Cali: "She cried after opening up her thoughts to me. Did something traumatic happened to her back then?"

Kupkop: "It might have been because of that. You probably dont know this yet, but five years ago, a sudden terrorist invasion from Victland happened at night in the city. Everyone closed their doors while soldiers searched for them. At that time, Mica is working part time in the wet market, so her mother quickly goes out to look for her. I tried to go after her, but when I found both of them, her mother was already stabbed in the stomach while trying to protect Mica from the terrorist. The terrorist left and I quickly took them back in the tavern. She was already beyond help."

"If only there is a magic spell that could heal or resurrect a person.."

"Her final words to me was to take care of Mica. Few minutes later, she died. At that time Mica and her mother were just homeless strangers that I took in my tavern out of pity, but in those ten months of being with them I fell inlove with her mother's kindness to other people. So I adopted Mica as she told me. But ever since then, Mica always blamed herself for what happened that night, that she cannot protect her."

Cali: "I see."

Cali headed to Mica's room.

Customer: "Is everything alright, pal?"

Kupkop: "I do hope everything is fine."

Kupkop in his mind: "Your daughter and I both missed you, Laya. We loved you even now and then."

Cali knocked on the door of Mica's room.

No one answered

Cali knocked again.

Cali: "I will come in if you still wouldnt answer."

Its just silence.

Cali: "Here I go."

Cali gently opened the door.

Fortunately, Mica didnt harmed herself in any way.

Mica is still crying.

Mica: "Im sorry if you have to see me and my room this messy."

Cali: "Mica, let me ask you this. Do you really want to have the power to protect others?"

Mica: "Is that even possible?"

Cali: "I can give you the power you need. In exchange, I want you to stop blaming yourself for everything."

Mica was shocked from what Cali said.

She suddenly stopped crying and immediately looked at him.

Mica: "Is it really possible?"

Cali touched her forehead.

Cali: "A deal is a deal, never forget about it."

Mica felt her mana getting lighter to manage, but as a side effect, she suddenly felt dizzy and drowsy.

Mica: "Thank you.. Cali..." She finally fell asleep.

Cali smiled geniunely.

Cali goes out of the room.

Cali's heart beat goes faster as he realizes.

Cali: "Its been a long time since I felt any emotion, and one that I never felt before, too. For the first time in my life I fell for someone, huh?"

"People causes pain to others because they themselves felt pain from the world or other people. But if I can take all that pain and keep it to myself to end the cycle of toxicity, then I will." -Mica