Chapter 5: Serpents and Kings

Chapter 5: Serpents and Kings
The Warren
The Unexpected Friend

Kelser was glad that Eishi didn't make this harder than he thought the boy would. Truth be told, he wasn't sure if the boy would recognize him or not. For now it would be best if Eishi didn't know the truth behind his identity and his connection with Eishi's family. 


"Don't worry kid. When I'm done, you'll be the strongest Guardian there ever is. Or at least to close to that. Hahaha!" Kelser teased.

"The first thing we need to do is to get you a proper weapon. It just so happens that I'm good friends with the best blacksmith in all of Wrozan. I know you probably have a lot of questions. Let's tackle each and everyone of them along the way. My friend's place is a good  two to three hours away from here. Me, answering your questions will make for a good travel conversation."

Kelser was about to lead the way, when he suddenly remembered one important thing that he had to tell Eishi about this rain forest. "Oh one important thing you should know about this forest. Don't get left behind. If you get lost in this forest, you're as good as dead. So stay close to me at all times."

They were on their way north, to meet up with an old friend of Kelser and hopefully get Eishi a decent weapon. Meanwhile, Kelser keeps his ears ready for any question Eishi might ask him. He just hopes that Eishi doesn't ask about how Kelser knows him.

Location: The Warren

He seems trustworthy, but I cannot leave my guard down, not until I'm a 100% sure. I was already passed the point of being shy and reserved. Now, I just wanted answers to some questions that had been bugging me. Like... Why did he choose me out of all the people in this world, and can he take me back to sir Gene, he must be so worried right now.

I started with the simplest question I could think off, and so I asked him, "Hey um... Mister Kelser sir, I've been wanting to know, ever since the trials started. Why me? I'm just a kid, I don't even belong in this world. Also is the trials over? Or are we still inside a time dimension thingy?"

I reserved my question about going back home for later, I didn't want to spam Mr. Kelser with too many questions right away. I realized, as we were walking, that some of the trees seem to be following us. I do not know if this is true or perhaps I was just imagining things. I also just realized that I have not eaten anything in a while. My tummy started grumbling, it was loud enough to be heard by Mr. Kelser.

Chapter 5: Serpents and Kings
The Warren
The Unexpected Friend

Kelser had to answer Eishi's question without revealing his true connection with the child, he may have to twist the truth a little but it was for Eishi's own good. The boy wasn't prepared for truth, it will only distract him from his duties. 

"Ehem! Well you see kid, the thing is. I don't really know. The Lifestream chose you for a reason that is beyond my understanding. Just like how I was chosen hundreds of years ago. Probably because they saw something in us, something we can't see ourselves."


"When your Gate Pass was taken from you, Carbi and I sensed a disturbance. We're all connected you see, through the Lifestream. The Lifestream is a supernatural force that binds all life in the universe. You are linked to your world as I am linked here in mine. When that link is tampered with, the Lifestream senses it and dispatches Guardians to assess the situation."


"I'm not sure if you've heard, but another Guardian appeared a few weeks before you met Carbi. It's a long story so I'll skip to the main detail. That Guardian was after the one who tampered with the Lifestream, the same people who stole your Gatepass."


"When Carbi saw you, he knew immediately that you weren't a threat to the planet. You're just a kid after all! But the Lifestream told Carbi to bring you to Fate, and you know what happened next." Kelser couldn't say the real reason why Carbuncle knew Eishi. The truth is, Carbuncle and Kelser have been watching over Eishi since he was a young boy. Seeing him in the after sensing a disturbance in the Lifestream gave Carbuncle and Kelser clarity at what truly happened, and Eishi's true purpose.


"The trials are over, you're in the real world now. You've already passed, I think. You have the mark, even though you don't have a Guardian Spirit." 

Kelser noticed that Eishi was going hungry. He saw this as a perfect opportunity to teach Eishi some of the duties and responsibilities of being a Guardian. "I see you're hungry. This would be a perfect time to tell you about certain rules that you need to follow as a Guardian."


"Rule no.1 If you need to kill anything, don't do it for the wrong reasons. Remember you're here to protect the planet from the Old Gods, that includes everyone good and evil."

"If you're going to hunt something for food, make sure you give it the respect it deserves. Don't hunt young animals or pregnant ones, and always protect the weak. You have to learn how to use your abilities in the right way."

While Kelser was lecturing Eishi about the ways to use his powers, a cat-like animal was seen walking in the woods. The animal is pregnant, it was looking for food. But all of the sudden, a Marlboro emerges out from its hiding place and ambushes the pregnant feline. The cat was quick enough to dodge the Marlboro's initial attack, but she fell into a tar pit as a consequence. 

"Take this scenario for example. A pregnant animal is about to become food for this Marlboro. This is the way of life around here. No matter how much we want to save the poor feline, we mustn't interfere with the nature. This is the natural way of life around here. If the feline escapes the Marlboro will grow hungry and won't be able to reproduce. You must learn to put your emotions aside and learn to just accept the natural flow of life."

Location: The Warren

Some of the things Kelser said, enlightened me. But most of my questions were left unresolved, like the purpose of the "Mark" and why I was chosen by the lifestream. Nevertheless, it felt good to chosen for something, to be special and to have these unique powers, but at the same time I felt scared. Sure, it was nice to be a superhero, however, superheroes usually face off against evil villains and monsters. I'm not sure if I had the courage to fight a scary monsters.

I wanted to ask mister Kelser about the people who stole my "Gate Pass" and how can I get back to my world, but suddenly we encountered a scenario. There was a cat-like creature wondering in the woods. Then out of nowhere, this giant plant-like monster with vicious teeth, ambushed the cat-creature.

It didn't seem like mister Kelser was going to do anything to save the cat-beast, he was trying to teach me an important lesson about not interfering with nature. But knowing that the animal was pregnant, I couldn't just stand idly by and watch it get eating by the huge predator. 

Ignoring mister Kelser's instructions, I ran off without his knowledge or consent, and used a flat stone as battering ram to attack the giant Marlboro.

Skill: Double Shield Bash [3] (with move penalty)
Target: Marlboro
Damage: 4851 x2
Effect: Stun x2
Cost: 400 STM

BATTLE STATS
Eishi Shibuya Lv: 93
MOVES	HP	STM	STR	DEX	MAG	DEF	M.DEF
4	24375	1900	250	250	250	3234	650

The member 'Pigloo' has done the following action : FFMSL Dice

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#1 '#1 Physical (P)' :

#1 Result :


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#2 '#6 De-buff (N)' :

#2 Result :

Chapter 5: Serpents and Kings
The Warren
The Unexpected Friend

Eishi had underestimated the situation, hence he had placed himself in a very dangerous situation. The Marlboro, feeling threatened, let go of its previous prey in order to defend itself from Eishi. The boy's attack barely did any damage to the beast, yet somehow he was able to anger it beyond reconciliation. 

The Marlboro counter attacked Eishi with its long and powerful tentacles, the force was so strong that it knocked Eishi back and sent him flying until he crashed, back first, into an old tree. Incidentally, Eishi loses consciousness, moments after he impacts the tree. Kelser was alarmed by the situation and decided to step in before Eishi becomes the Marlboro's lunch.

Hours later, a delicious aroma wakes up Eishi. He finds himself inside a room, surrounded by various wooden sculptures. The fragrant smell was coming from outside, and he could also here Kelser talking to someone.

Location: Unknown

The last thing I remember was the monster coming at me, then everything went dark. When I finally came to, I found myself lying down inside a room filled with lots of strangely shaped artworks made from wood. Actually what woke me was the delicious aroma that entered my nose. It was food, my mind said. I couldn't control my hunger anymore, it feels like I haven't eaten anything in days. I just had to get up and follow the scent.

Like a delinquent student late for school, I jolted up and out of the bed and proceeded to make my way outside the room. But before leaving the room, I took a brief look around. I wasn't doing much, I was just trying to get a feel of what I might expect to see once I make my way outside.

I also noticed that mister Kelser wasn't with me, but I am still alive and nothing bad has happened to me except for this large lump on my head. "WHAT!?"

I started feeling my forehead around and this large swell was sticking out from up there like a Christmas tree in the middle of June. It was still pretty sore, I probably got it from that monster who slapped the hell out of me earlier. Putting the swell behind me, I decided to leave the room to find mister Kelser and also to locate the origin of that delicious scent.

Chapter 5: Serpents and Kings
The Warren
The Unexpected Friend

Upon leaving the confines of his room, Eishi discovers that his friend, Kelser, is in a meeting with a unidentified person. They seem to be engaged in a friendly conversation regarding their past experiences together. The delicious aroma was coming from the juicy meat which was being grilled nearby.

Kelser noticed that Eishi had woken up, he gestured to the boy to come closer and sit by the fire. When Eishi was close enough, he offered Eishi a barbecue and said to him, "Eat up, you must be very hungry."

The stranger stares intricately at Eishi's face. He was an old man with a strange satisfied look on his face. He pointed to himself and said, "Worry not young one, I am a friend. My name is Shu." then he gestures towards Kelser and adds, "Kelser here tells me that you are the new Guardian. I didn't believe him at first, because of your age, but looking into your eyes, I see now that Kelser was indeed telling the truth."

"Shu is an ancient blacksmith, only a few of them remain in this world so that makes him big deal!" Kelser jests, causing Shu to fire back a side comment of his own regarding Kelser's age. "Ehem! Anyway, Shu and his ancestors have served the Guardians for many years. They forge our Guardian Weapons, or Sandata as our predecessors like to call it."