Book 1: Chapter 71: Dream and Awake

Book 1: Chapter 71: Dream and Awake

Scarlet

Five years ago

I narrow my eyes at the pages on the textbook before quietly muttering the words out loud, The history of the republic begins after the fall of the old world island nation known as Japan to the demons. After the Guardians were no longer able to hold back the demons. Were no longer able to destroy all of the cores, letting some of the Fracture cores stabilize in our world, creating open gateways between Earth and Tartarus. Ones that to this day are still open, allowing the demons free range of the island nation.

I pause in my studying at the sounds of the door slamming open from down the hall, a sign that the younger kids are probably home. But then I just continue reading the text out loud, preparing for my upcoming history test, All of the remaining countries took Japans fall as an example of what is to become of the world should the demons continue expanding. So they all closed off their ports close to the island nation and began to work together, eventually forming what is now known as the Terran Republic, with its capital Terra being established in a city that used to be known as New York City.

My reading is once again interrupted, but this time by the sound of the door to my room bursting open and three little kids each around five to seven years old running in while giggling. So I close my book with a sigh and turn around to find them running around the room.

The sight of little Carol quite literally stomping on Belle who had fallen asleep on my roommate Maries bed has me almost snorting in amusement, but I keep it in as the girl in question has a rude awakening.

First she just looks confused, but after that her face grows angry and she gets up from the bed, her skirt getting caught on the edge of it in the process and causing her to fall flat on her face on the floor. Which only serves to set the kids off into another bout of laughter and giggles.

And I try very hard to casually stare up at the ceiling while keeping my face as stoic as possible.

Quite the challenge.L1tLagoon witnessed the first publication of this chapter on Ñøv€l--B1n.

You little brats! she shouts while carefully pulling her skirt over the edge of the beds frame and climbing to her feet, only to chase after the kids while shouting, Get back here!

Feeling its safe again, I look down at my textbook and begin to continue reading. But I dont even manage to make it a single word in when I hear the front door slamming open and Arthurs voice echoing through the hall into the room, Scarlet!

Oh. That would be my cue to leave.

Wheres my jacket?

Please tell me it wasnt too badly damaged to repair

I cant help but feel a pang in my chest at the thought of losing the only thing that I had when he found me on the streets. But that goes away when I find a note attached to the refrigerator which I honestly didnt even notice was in here the last time I was here that mentions how Allen took my jacket to go upgrade it with magi-tech. Mostly because, and I quote, you get into danger too often to not have the added protection.

How rude. Its not like its my fault I keep getting into sticky situations.

Its not like its not your fault either, I hear a certain tanukis voice from my bed, making me turn my head to see him rubbing his eyes, likely still half asleep. But then he suddenly seems to realize that Im awake despite having retorted to my thoughts before he rushes over to me, flying through the air at incredible speeds before literally tackling me.

Ouch.

Then he holds onto my shirt for dear life for just a few seconds then lets go, clears his throat, and asks, So are you going to continue staring or are you gonna check the System messages you got for almost dying again?

I blink in surprise.

Did he really just gloss over that?

The tanuki doesnt say anything.

He really just glossed over that.

I narrow my eyes at him for a few seconds before sighing and letting the messages flow, my greed over seeing my rewards overshadowing my curiosity over his actions.