That morning, the twins woke up for the first time in an unfamiliar place. Ressi blinked her eyes open and looked around. She rubbed the sleep from her eyes and stood up, yawning and stretching. Next to her, still sleeping, was Kiran. To the other side of her was Ardra's kids, Haylei, Bailey, and Arale. Ressi made her way to the dining table, stretching her legs as she walked. Most everyone was still fast asleep except for Reldin and Ikati, who were sat at the table, the latter chewing on some bread.
688Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXZplrrdm96
"Good morning," Reldin said. He looked and sounded the same as he always did, without a hint of tiredness in his posture and voice.
688Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnuc5JiO0lH
"Mornin'," Ressi greeted, stretching her arms as she approached, "Do you ever sleep, Reldin?"
688Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgBNGCMksUM
"No," Reldin answered succinctly. Ressi honestly could not tell if he was joking or not. The mage was either the best at deadpan humor or completely serious all the time.
688Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnwwkbZIzgF
So Ressi just answered with a simple, "Okay."
688Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡckVgYlS3jV
"If you're hungry, there's some bread over there," Ikati said as he pointed to bread on the counter.
688Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡig5aOoyAKQ
"Oh yeah, I'm hungry," Ressi grabbed some bread and sat herself down next to Reldin. "So is there anything we should know about this giant robot before we go get him?" She asked before taking a bite, remembering her manners.
688Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc1oGEb6xqs
"Well, robots go down quickly when they're overheated, so it's lucky you have a mage with an affinity for fire. You'll have to rely mostly on your mage here as your weapons will barely scratch the thing. We know that little tidbit because we tried. This intellectual," Ikati nods his head toward the snoring figure of his wife, "Tried to take it on by herself but obviously that didn't work."
688Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQoGm1GSRHO
"Whaat?!" Ressi's mouth hung agape, "So what are me and Kiran supposed to do?"
688Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKCITRGUfJd
"Well, I did tell you there was a guy on his shoulder," Ikati pointed out, "He didn't look all that metallic to me. He actually looked pretty squishy. His movements were very robotic, though. I've never seen anything like him before."
688Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7xe1lJyN0Y
"But wait," Ressi asked, "Weren't you the only one to see him? This… Oshura guy? How do we know he's real?"
688Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZrKH90jenB
Reldin shook his head, "Ikati has no reason to lie to us."
688Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ49jXS1sSCb
Ikati nodded, "Exactly. I hate it, being quarantined like this. The kids are getting anxious and restless, they've gotten bored of being inside all of the time. I don't blame them, they deserve to be out with their friends, you know? But to add insult to injury those who are panicking bought out the shops leaving the rest of us with nothing." He let out a long sigh, "So, that's really the biggest reason why you should take those guys down because from what I've seen? They haven't even done anything here. Even after Ardra attacked them, they barely retaliated."
688Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdDhqAbXIz5
"Man… that sucks." Ressi stood up, "We will take down those guys! Then everyone in Riville will know they're safe!"
688Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs54IxFyDcH
Kiran appeared behind his twin and gave her a light smack on the back of her head, "Stop shouting, it's too early."
688Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB1k0t6nvCr
Ressi turned to face her brother, "But we gotta defeat the robot!"
688Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFzIHjPlhdO
"Okay," Kiran yawned, "After breakfast."
688Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzfe6eAYj2i
Ressi huffed and sat back in her seat. "After breakfast," she mumbled.
688Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSSph8OBUTA
「◐」
688Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIKjzhxn2Gk
After breakfast, the company said bye to Ardra, Ikati, and their children and set off to the edge of town where they were told that the giant robot usually came from. Sure enough, soon after they arrived they heard the stomps of slow, heavy footsteps echoing around them. As they came into sight, they could hear the loud whirring of machinery.
688Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHieQJXK7cJ
There was no exaggeration when Ardra said this robot was giant. It was much larger than any building in the village. Ressi squinted, "Is Oshura there?"
688Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD6dhNRAIJy
"Yes," Reldin affirmed, "On the shoulder to our left."
688Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwsEoFGhMBj
Ressi drew her sword, "Great! Then we know exactly what to do." Kiran nodded as he readied his spear.
688Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlHkP0ssiQU
The robot drew closer and stopped near the three. It looked down and a disembodied yet silvery voice boomed, "Submit to the rule of Korzion, or else!" Nothing on the robot moved.
688Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkSUrhEknXv
"That's Oshura speaking," Reldin noted.
688Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYmSpw6kJyo
"Or else what?" Ressi taunted.
688Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqYlQzjksMt
Oshura hesitated, "Or else… or else we'll attack!"
688Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXQUiIy8FUq
"Bring it on, then!" Ressi called as she climbed the side of the automaton. Kiran did the same on the other side.
688Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtDHOTkwUDh
Reldin set his hand on the robot's foot and started to heat the guy up. The robot stepped back, rocking the twins a bit but they held on.
688Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWnn7NZOTaX
"Don't come up here! That's bad manners, you know!" Oshura shouted.
688Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ105aNdrEOs
"I don't have any good manners!" Ressi retorted as she continued climbing.
688Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU3iKF78imQ
"It's true!" Kiran agreed, also climbing, "She chews with her mouth open!"
688Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlsaIAnZEwr
"Really? That's kind of gross, actually," Oshura said, looking down on the twins who were steadily approaching.
688Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9fofzg1xzh
"Shut up! Like you're one to talk! Threatening villagers is the worst manners!" As she got closer to the shoulder, Ressi could see Oshura's face staring down at her. Ikati's description matched what she saw, light blue skin, long, dark blue hair, hunter outfit, and mechanical movements. He was definitely not human, but he also was? Ressi didn't know, she wasn't the brightest.
688Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4LyVcybKsM
"Fair point," Oshura conceded as he prepared for his imminent face off with the twins.
688Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlvsNgCeHaz
Ressi reached up to climb onto the shoulder. She grabbed on but her feet slipped, leaving her to hang onto the robot's shoulder with one hand. "Kiran!" She called, "A little help here!"
688Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa5VslVJcJm
"I'm climbing as fast as I can!" Kiran called back, "Climbing with metal boots is more difficult than it looks!"
688Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGMb4uuNM0a
"Damn!" Ressi looked up and attempted to reach up with her other hand. She reallydid not want to fall from this height, "Hey, Oshura… can you help me up?"
688Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡznZaA4XFon
Oshura had a confused look on his face, "How do you know my name? I didn't tell it to you."
688Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUaJ48dorlH
"My friend Ikati overheard it. He's a laguelle so he has really good sight and hearing," Ressi bragged, despite being not too far from falling.
688Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMpkGNBnC1D
"Laguelle?" Oshura looked even more confused, "Oh! You mean one of those, uh… demihumans, right? The humans with the animal ears and stuff?"
688Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo67f6IWbPe
"That's racist!" Ressi said, "The proper term is laguelle! And 'human' isn't good, too! You're supposed to say 'beole'!"
688Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpZoSV2wrsa
"Huh? I've never heard those terms in my life! I can understand the…. 'lag well' thing but the 'bay old' makes no sense! Aren't you a human?" Oshura seemed genuinely curious.
688Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRffmQLKWEF
"Beole! And no, not really!" Ressi grunted as she struggled to hold on, "With 'humanoid' being some look that monsters hope to attain, people get really uppity about how they're human and that they're better because they were born humanoid and stuff! There's really a lot to the issue… can you help me up now?!"
688Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwAI9aKhdhI
"Oh, sure," Oshura grabbed Ressi by the wrist, his strong arms lifting her with ease. "Man I never knew of that stuff. I was born and raised in Korzion, so I grew up mostly around robots. Though there is this thing where people call robots 'robot monsters'. As if we're monsters!"
688Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡniyAT2yuPK
"Well," Ressi thought, "I can see where the assumption was made, Korzion is in Dynisoktion territory. But yeah, that sucks."
688Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8MhSPfMkj2
"I know Korzion is in Dynisoktion territory! Everybody knows!" Oshura seemed to get heated about this, "The imperial royal family is comprised of slimes! The empire is where monsters live! Whatever!"
688Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxUuLCsR1Tz
Before Ressi could reply, Kiran finally caught up, "Oh, good I thought I'd be la-- wait a minute. Ressi, what are you doing?"
688Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXOZjj7qnwS
"Discussing the racism we dealt with growing up?" Ressi replied sheepishly.
688Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMP9fCi6sWO
Kiran let out a long sigh, "You do know Reldin is melting this robot as we speak and that Oshura has been terrorizing the citizens of Riville, right?"
688Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiJG0MSxtEG
"Yeah I know," Ressi sighed, dejected, "Sorry Oshura, Kiran says we can't talk anymore."
688Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoLxLEypTxe
"Well. Ressi, is it?" Oshura asked. She nodded in confirmation, "Well, Ressi it was a pleasure to meet you. Since you don't want us to terrorize the citizens of Riville, we'll stop. Technically, I'm not allowed to do that but whatever, I don't care."
688Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRl99oMjRXe
"Really? You'll stop?" Ressi asked, hopeful.
688Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg65GfKVcUr
"Really," Oshura promised.
688Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjrkVR44UfB
"You're clearly lying," Kiran pointed out, "That was so flimsy, you didn't even apologize!"
688Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZrDncaSF3I
"Sorry for terrorizing the citizens. It was wrong and unfair of us to do so. We promise we won't do it again," Oshura apologized in a monotonous tone.
688Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQdcCjg2PVi
"Okay, now I really don't believe you!"
688Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKUCwcc3ziG
"How about this? One, I'm not even armed, how can I fight you? And two," Oshura moved to smack the giant robot on the side of the head and struck twice. The robot moved and sat down slowly and extended its arm so its hand was lying on the ground. "There. Now you don't even have to climb down."
688Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSUwjMSXddw
Kiran considered the scenario, "Okay," he conceded, "We'll let you go. But if you come back, we'll stop you."
688Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCwC79if9uH
"Yep. Alright. Got it," Oshura definitely seemed to understand.
688Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfapS2MUSCm
The twins made their way down the giant robot's arm onto the stable earth. Ressi examined the damages. It really seemed like Reldin did a number on its legs, they were all bent up. The mage spoke up, "So, you tried diplomacy?"
688Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhFFxe1LnXo
"Yeah, that was an accident," Ressi admitted, "But hey! It worked out!"
688Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJWL96UB1Nx
The giant robot screeched as it stood up again, at an angle. "Goodbye!" Oshura's silvery voice called from above, "Thanks for not killing me!"
688Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGSbxlFQ7O8
"No problem!" Ressi called back, "Make good choices!"
688Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1J3CoIXzZc
The giant robot made long movements away. Still Oshura confirmed, "I will!" as he disappeared off in the distance.
688Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0yleLYS8kB
Ressi turned to her company, "He was actually pretty nice!"
688Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzKBllWB4c1
Kiran rolled his eyes while Reldin spoke up, "Well, now that he's been dealt with, let's go on to the next town. We'll probably make it before nightfall if we leave now."
688Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfVwYkiy7P0
Ressi grinned with excitement, "Well then, let's go!"
ns216.73.216.210da2
