Titanium

In the tallest tower of the King's Castle. In a dark room there sat five individuals. A table long in length, seven seats across, four sitting in silence. At the head of the table sits a man in pure gold, a golden dress, a golden crown, a golden face.

"So you are the A-Rank Adventures from the Guild?" (King)

"Yes." (A-Rank Adventurer 1)

The King leaned forward, his chains, necklaces, and countless bracelets bouncing off of each other. Rattling in the moody darkness.

"I remember the day vividly. When the Guild Master came to Albatra. He came with mountains of gold and wine. He asked me if he could set up his Guild in my Kingdom." (King)

"How much gold did that old man give you?" (A-Rank Adventurer 2)

"Hahaha! Enough!" (King)

The King turned angry.

"I asked for all twenty of you A-Ranks, but only four showed up? I am very upset by this. I will have a talk with the guild master after, but for now-" (King)

"What do you want from us?" (A-Rank Adventurer 3)

The King leaned back.

"I want something killed!" (King)

"How much are you offering?" (A-Rank Adventurer 2)

"Enough." (King)

"And the Guild Master is ok with you using us? A-Ranks cost a pretty penny." (A-Rank Adventurer 1)

Three A-Ranks sat at the table, each with their faces hidden in silhouettes. The fourth A-Rank stood up from the table and walked to the other end of the room. He walked up to a small dimly lit torch on the wall. His face basking in the warm heat. He smiled.

Jasa.

"Who's our target?" (Jasa)

"You have no manners. I am done here." (King)

The King stood up and walked over to one of his servants who held a small lantern. The servant handed him a scroll. The King tossed it onto the table and walked out of the room.

His Servant stepped up to explain the rest.

"The target is a cursed monster in the orange sea. There have been many recorded sightings of the beast moving closer to Albatra. The mission will be to eliminate this monster before it enters the valley." (King's Servant)

Jasa vanished in a flash.

"Where did he go?" (Kings Servant)

"He's out. Jasa likes to work alone. He's very mysterious." (A-Rank Adventurer 1)

"Then you three-" (King's Servant)

"No I'm out too." (A-Rank Adventurer 1)

She left the room.

"Then..." (King's Servant)

"Money's money after all." (A-Rank Adventurer 2)

"I'm in." (A-Rank Adventurer 3)

---

The High Priest stood at the entrance of Albatra. Five holy knights standing behind him covered in blood, guts, and flesh hanging from their swords.

"There is something very wrong about that man." (Holy Knight)

"He's insane!" (Holy Knight 2)

"I'm never working with him again." (Holy Knight 3)

The High Priest stood at the front of the pack, his face staring with an unnerving grin, his eyes piercing the skies. A solid red.

"I'mmmmmmmm home!" (High Priest)

---

Back at Mel's house.

"What are we doing today? More Harmony training?" (Axel)

Mel picked an apple from the windowsill basket. She placed it firmly on the kitchen counter and- Chop. Slice.

"No Axel. There will be no more training. Since you haven't made a single slither of progress in the last three days. I think you're a lost cause. But seeing your personality I think I found a better way to train you. I'm gonna put you into action, to learn the hard way." (Mel)

Axel sat up from the couch. He flung himself across the room.

"We gonna fight?! Some sparring?! I'm down for some 1v1 action!" (Axel)

"No not humans. When I said action I meant monsters, not me. It would be a waste anyway. I would deck your ass in seconds." (Mel)

He watched from the other side of the kitchen. He watched as she chopped the apple, thinner and thinner, slice after slice.

"Heh, you say you could deck me? Let's see if you can stay true to your word." (Axel)

Mel picked up a slice of apple. She tossed it into the air. It began to float ominously.

"I always stay true to my world." (Mel)

The floating apple began to glow blue.

"See this floating apple slice. This just shows the difference between us. You can't even use your eye to create the simples, Harmony. And that eye is amazing. But this apple slice. I can make it into my own Conduit just from wanting to eat it. I can put the smallest amount of value into an object and use it ten thousand times better than you could ever with your eye." (Mel)

The apple's blue light shined brighter and brighter.r She pointed at Axel. Axel clenched his fist. He stepped forward. The blue light shot in a straight line.

"What did you... Do..." (Axel)

He was stuck frozen.

"A simple freeze spell. No need for conjuring words of signs, all I have to do is point at you and you lose. That's the difference between us." (Mel)

He grinned.

"That's... The best... You can do...?" (Axel)

Mel's eyes shook. Axel focused his physical energy. His muscles, his strength. It started with a finger. A single tap. Then a small twitch, to a small step. Then his arms. Then his whole body. The spell snapped like flimsy glass.

"Heh, I would except you to be able to get out of that simple spell, but now I'm gonna go full-" (Mel)

She put her two hands together and opened her mouth to chant. But as the blue light shinned Mel looked to the floating apple in front of her. She looked at the brown mushy insides. The rotten core of the apple slice. The Conduit died.

"Shit I've used too much-" (Mel)

It was an instant. His image vanished. In the wind. His fist full speed, a boulder against gravity. Mel stepped back from the kitchen counter. She reached for her silver coin but it was too late. The fist was already imminent for impact. She was screwed.

Time stopped. The whole room turned black and white. A single man stood across the room.

"Ho ho ho. You were really gonna punch her huh?" (High Priest)

The High Priest slowly walked toward the two stationary adults interlocked in battle. He walked with his gloved fingers interlocked, with his two hands forming the shape of a circle. He walked up to the kitchen counter. He saw Axel's fist inches away from Mel's nose. He saw the slightest green light flickering from Mel's silver coin.

"Ha. So Axel's the winner." (High Priest)

He looked at the brown apple plopped on the counter.

"Mel you silly girl. You know you shouldn't fight someone with an apple. I thought I taught you better. Its internal energy is too weak, its usefulness and value is too wavery, it's based off nothing but future intent." (High Priest)

The High Priest released one of his fingers. Mel was unfrozen.

"What happened? The rooms black and white? Wait?!" (Mel)

She looked at the High Priest. The High Priest released the rest of his fingers turning the room back to its normal bland colors.

Axel fell forward the wait of his fist too heavy with nothing to hit.

"Dad? When did you get here?" (Mel)

"Ohh I've been here the whole time. Watching you guys." (High Priest)

Axel looked up from the floor.

"What did you just say? Dad?" (Axel)

He jumped up and across the counter.

"Who are you?" (Axel)

Mel punched Axel in the gut.

"He's the High Preist, my father. And that's for actually trying to hit me!" (Mel)

"This guy? But he looks homeless." (Axel)

The High Priest was a rugged tall blonde man with a long ragged beard and oval glasses. He wore the same type of robes as Mel except his were grey instead of white and instead of Mel's cute round face, his face was long and senile, like a totally different person.

"Are you really her Dad?" (Axel)

He ignored the question.

"You must be Axel. I've heard so much about you from Mel's letter. You are quite an interesting character. Hehe. Memory loss. A cursed face, a powerful silver eye. You are quite an..." (High Priest)

The High Priest winked.

"An interesting character." (High Priest)

"Dad I-" (Mel)

"Ohhhh Mel sorry I don't have long to chat. The King wants to speak to me, but honestly... I don't care! So I'm sending you in my sted. I'll just pretend that... Axel, what's a good excuse? Mel you thinking of any?" (High Priest)

"Are you talking to the king or not? Where are you going?" (Mel)

"Oh, I know. I got sick on my travels. That's always a good one." (High Priest)

He looked at Axel.

"Axel don't you think that's a good one?" (High Priest)

"I have no clue what you're talking about?" (Axel)

"Hahaha, same. What a funny boy. You found a good one Mel. He's a keeper." (High Priest)

She shook her head in disgrace.

"What? Am I embarrassing you?" (High Priest)

"Leave my house, Dad! If you don't want to stay just say so. Don't make up shitty excuses!" (Mel)

"What? Did I say something?" (High Priest)

Mel pushed her father out the front door. Axel stood uncaring. Mel walked back in. Her face blushed and angry.

"Your Dad's weird." (Axel)

"Shut up Axel. You're the weird one. You literally tried to punch me." (Mel)

"What?! We were fighting?" (Axel)

"Oh god! Where's Harry when I need him?" (Mel)