Walker

As the trees sway along the edge of the grassy plains of Aruvun, you can vaguely hear the faint, excited squeals of a certain girl. Maybe perhaps the 'faint' comment is a bit... underestimating.

Ark clutched at the strap of his gear very tightly. Not because of the perilous journey ahead, but because of the endless words that are coming out of Ivy's mouth. Since the journey towards the capital city of Aruvun was estimated to take a few days, Ivy took it upon herself to provide some entertainment.

"...and that is why I love hanging by the Inn."

Ark sighed. He had long ago regarded Ivy's relentless barrage of stories as he thought more on his current situation. From the way Grop had put it, there was something special about his affinities. It filled him with wild excitement. But it was kind of a reminder that this a foreign world. A world not of his own.

"So, Ark? You've been awfully quiet. How about you share some stories?" Ivy said, cutting Ark out of his stupor.

Ark look at her.

"What stories can I even tell to you?"

Ivy smiled and chuckled.

"Oh you know, your hobbies, where you came from, stuff like that." Ivy said, kicking a pebble along the road. "But now that I think about it, your attire seems really strange for Aruvun. I mean, what do you even call that garment on your lower half?

Ark look down at his clothing. All this time, it looked really dirty ever since the encounter with Gover and his son.

"They're called jeans." Ark said to her. Ivy looked at him as if he was going to say anything else.

"Jean's... what?" Ivy asked.

"That's the name. Jeans. J-E-A-N-S." Ark elaborated. He even subconsciously gesture every letter. Ivy raised her head.

"Ohhh, I thought they were owned by someone else."

Ivy then looked closer at the material hugging Ark's legs. A tint of redness appeared on his face.

"What are you doing?"

"I'm trying to get a good look on this thing. The cloth looks tough. Are you even comfortable in that thing?"

Ark shrugged. "It's a bit constricting, but it's the style that matters."

"Style? The only people I know that even prefer style are nobles. Are you a noble?"

Ark raised his hands towards her. "No, I'm not. I'm not even from here." He chuckled. Ark should've thought more on the reply.

"Then where in Alvana do you come from then if not from Aruvun?"

Ark dreaded that question. It was the second time he had heard a question of that magnitude since coming to this world. He doesn't know what to answer. Ark wants to keep his origins a secret. That he was a world that was not this one. But at the same time, it sounded crazy. Perhaps it is time to tell someone who can be trusted.

"I-I'm not from here exactly..." Ark trailed off. Ivy tilted her head.

"Huh? Then where? You strike me as someone from Midrad. Those folks like their fashion." Ivy started. Ark stopped walking and rubbed his face, preparing for the coming circumstances. Ivy followed suite.

"Look, Ivy. This might sound crazy..." He started. Ivy leaned in expectantly.

"... but I'm not from Alvana. I come from a different world."

Ark braced for the mocking to come, yet the only sound that came from Ivy was the sound of awe. Ivy stared at Ark with mouth agape and...

"REALLY?! There is no way... right?"

Ark had heard what Ivy sounded like when excited but this... this was on another level. He felt two arms grab ahold of his shoulders.

"You must be an Astral Walker! There have been reports of Astral Walkers throughout the years. Of course I've never really believed them, but anything can be possible with magic so I kinda do believe..."

"Ivy..."

"It must be so amazing to be able to fly around different worlds! *gasp* What is it like to be in your world?!"

"Ivy..."

"Astral Walkers are infamous for not recognizing magic. Maybe the world they come from is magicless! Just like..."

"Ivy!" Ark shouted, finally getting a hold of her. "What do you mean Astral Walkers and that they have been reports in the past?"

"I mean, that is the Council's terms for quote, 'Not remotely native to this world of ours.'" Ivy said.

"And you said there are more just like me?"

Ivy nodded. "Grop had told me when I was young that an Aegis by the name of Gregus is an Astral Walker."

There it is again. That name.

"Gregus? As in the Living Armor?" Ark asked to which Ivy nodded.

"Yes. Although, people have been saying that he is nothing but a glorified piece of soldier's armor from the Great Raze."

Ark looked at her confused. Perhaps there was so much more history left out from Grop's magic book. "The Great Raze?"

"It's a long war. Basically, the king of the Harphyles, the Bandit King Arsus, wanted to burn down a remote part of Alvana to gain powers from the wisps living within. So he along with his army began slashing across the land. Neighboring kingdoms sent their forces to stop the Harphyles from destroying the ancient woods. However, when the reinforcements came, the Harphyles along with their King was nowhere to be found. Rumor has it that Gregus came from the forest to as it's sole protector."

Ark raised an eyebrow at the story. "But how did Grop know that Gregus is an Astral Walker?"

Ivy shrugged. "A powerful Magus can confirm whether or not you come from this world."

"You said that he was a soldier's armor. Do you know what from?"

"That's the thing. The council had found Gregus is such a state that the armor had degraded over the course of time."

"Course of time? When did the Great Raze even take place?"

Ivy suddenly became deep in thought, trying to remember.

"At least about... 400 years ago."