EVERNA Arcel Raine's
Alistair Kane
If Chloe serves and answers all Arcel questions, they may be late from the check out deadline from the hotel, which is twelve noon.
Fortunately the long green-haired witch managed to distract the “young man out of date” by saying, “Enough rest for this morning. You've had your breakfast and it's been quite fresh by the addition of healing magic from me earlier. Let's go meet my boss, Alistair Kane, but not in that outfit.” He pointed towards the short and tight boxer pants that Arcel was wearing.
“How about my traveler pants?” ask Arcel.
“Oh, I've kept it in a cloth bag. We should keep it, because it can be a historical heritage that is very valuable, right?”
“Terlarah. Is there any outfit that suits me?”
“Hope there is. I had ‘ confiscated’ clothes from some striped men in other rooms. Please try, who knows if there is a suitable one for you,” said Chloe while winking one eye.
It turns out that in addition to being a witch doctor, Chloe is also an intruder and a master thief. It is fitting that he became one of the mainstay agents at VOLSUNG.
Not wasting any more time, Arcel took off his new clothes in front of a large mirror in the closet. Chloe helps Arcel get dressed while explaining how to open and close zippers, buttons and wearing a belt.
Eventually Arcel's choice fell on a white t-shirt, a red vest that matched his hair color, dark blue jeans, a real leather belt and red-and-white sneakers.
“Wah, it turns out your fashion sense can too, Arcel,” praise Chloe. “Out of the vest, perfect for you.”
“Thank you. But what the hell is ‘fashion’?”
Chloe patted her forehead again.
\==oOo==
As Chloe Hewitt briefly explained, Centronia is a city that is too broad and large.
For example, it took more than half an hour to reach District one of District Twelve by taking the subway.
Moreover, Arcel Raine who has never used modern public transportation mode needs to be taught a lot by Chloe first.
The good news, VOLSUNG has provided electronic identity cards and smartphones containing funds in the account for Arcel. But the bad news is, Arcel does not understand how to use a smartphone at all. Chloe had to buy a regular ticket at the cashier.
So, after the two arrived at the station near the city center and walked some distance up to the surface, Chloe plopped down on the nearest waiting chair to rest her exhausted brain for a bit.
“Answing questions and teaching immigrants from ancient times turned out to be more tiring than I thought,” commented Chloe while leaning up to take a stand.
“Patience first, Chloe,” says Arcel. “In the near future we will meet your leader and your task will be completed. I won't trouble you anymore.”
“Well, nothing can match a break by sitting around on the sofa, watching the series ‘Everna: Legend of the Knights of Cahaya’ while drinking hot chocolate in my own apartment room.”
“Hah? What is a sofa, Legend of the Knights of Light, hot chocolate and apartment?”
Chloe bowed again while covering her face with both palms. “Yes,” murmured.
\==oOo==
District One, the main government and commercial center, is the most elite district at the midpoint of Centronia.
When viewed from the air, Hyperpolis Centronia looks like a giant pizza consisting of seven jures. Each juring pizza is divided into two parts, so the total amount is fourteen pieces. District one is the fifteenth piece that is round in the middle of the pizza.
Tracing the streets of District One by taxi after the subway station, Arcel unceasingly looked at every detail. Everything seemed foreign to the young man of ancient times.
But Arcel didn't ask Chloe that at all. The girl sitting next to him was already leaning down with a very pale face. Besides, the road was jammed and crowded that afternoon, but not until the hour of office.
Until they both arrived at their destination. Arcel looked up, looking at the building that was like a sword blade that seemed to be sticking out of the ground and piercing the sky.
“Nah, we have arrived at VOCorp Headquarters, short for Vadis Omniuum Corporation. It was the most important business entity in Archelia, even in Terra Everna,” said Chloe who was already more excited as she pointed to the entrance of the sword-shaped building. He continued walking with Arcel.
Chloe touched the finger on her forehead again. “Later ask directly to the Chairman, Adviser and President Commissioner of this business group, Alistair Kane. VOCorp produces advanced weaponry, exploration and exploitation of petroleum and other alternative energy sources, as well as working on special development projects for the various national governments in Terra Everna. VOLSUNG is one of the most secret VOCorp units. Well, the elevator's open, let's go in.”
Arcel still does not understand the words Chloe just now, although he can capture some of the context. So, while following the girl into the elevator, she muttered, “VOCorp is a big merchant working for many countries.”
Suddenly Arcel felt a strange sensation like being pulled up or lifted flying very fast by a form of great power. He looked ahead and saw the surface of the ground as if it were moving away very quickly.
Astonishingly, Arcel saw the numbers burning up and growing rapidly on the elevator wall. Until finally the speed of the elevator slows down and stops completely when the elevator wall screen shows the number one hundred and sixty-three.
“Well, we've reached the penthouse. This is where Alistair Kane lives. Please take care of your attitude and emotions when you talk to the greatest traveler in Everna, said Vadis,”, Chloe as she stepped out of the elevator.
Arcel came out with a frown. “Titisan Vadis? Is Chloe making this up?” his inner.
“Please sit down,” says Chloe. “Please wait here. I'll inform you of your arrival to Mr. Alistair.”
Arcel sat on a sofa more cushioned than a bed at the Love Motel and looked around. Minimalist spatial style, also the colors and patterns of furniture that are almost matching, exuding a luxurious and consistent impression, also seem more spacious, a lot of space to move freely.
Of course there are some modern trinkets in the living room. There is a room temperature control device, there is “magic” box called television as well.
But the most interesting Arcel this time is the masterpiece paintings scattered neatly in the four corners of the wall. All of them are waist-length portraits of people from different ages, according to their individual clothing styles.
The closest to the television are the paintings of two men. The first man had white hair and an orange cleaver with the head of a red dragon. At the bottom of the frame is the inscription, “Robert Chandler, Hero of Holy War”.
The second man had red hair and was wearing a pure white armor that Arcel seemed to have seen before. The inscription under his frame is “Sage Fifth, Warrior Leader Bright.” Surprisingly, the man's face and hair were very similar to Arcel's face and hair. The difference is only the color of Arcel's brown eyeballs, while the Emperor Sage's orange reddish.
Taking a look at the painting next to the Sage Emperor, Arcel was stunned. It was the figure of a middle-aged woman whose remnants of the beauty of her youth still made her look dazzling, full of charisma. Her blue eyes and well-groomed blonde hair made her look even prettier. Posts under the frame are “Queen Anne First, Originator of the Modern Age.”
Suddenly Arcel was goosebumps. His gut feeling said that one day he would meet with Queen Anne, no matter where, when and what it might be. Anne must have lived in antiquity.
While Arcel's eyes could not escape the figure of the Queen and dissolved in his own mind, suddenly one voice of a rather hoarse man interrupted, “Oh, you are interested in them, huh? They are the heroes of the most important historical engraver in Everna, you know.”
Arcel turned his head towards the source of the voice and saw a man with hair, bearded and white mustache. The old man looked at him with one eye narrowed and the other glanced.
The appearance of the Old Man was very relaxed, wearing a silk beach shirt patterned with various flowers and red pants that covered three-quarters of his legs to the shin. The expression of his face that is still quite handsome tends to seem relaxed, drunk or in the clouds.
Flinched, Arcel wondered, is this really Alistair Kane? Shouldn't he appear full of authority and power like a divine incarnation?
The old man again reprimanded, “Oi, young man, how come daydreaming? Whatis yourname? What is it and who is looking for here?”
“Oh, sorry, Sir. My name is Arcel Raine. Chloe Hewitt brought me here to see Alistair Kane. Is his Father?”
Unexpectedly, the Old Man in the beach dress instead chuckled. “I know Alistair Kane,” he replied. “But before you meet him, try whether you can evade my attack?”
As he last said, Old Man charged towards Arcel and stabbed straight with his index finger.
“A-what?” Arcel quickly squinted, running here and there with great agility. But the index finger of the opponent touched it and Old Man said, “Because of you. Again!” Arcel felt no pain or anything. Old Man's index finger just touched him. Obviously, now Arcel is being tested before the right to meet Alistair Kane.
Because it did not hurt, Arcel twitched again, this time with a more agile movement than before. But the Old Man was even more agile and landed three, four more touches on his body and head.
“Come, young man, show me your best skills. Where's your heroic spirit? Are you the conqueror of the Demon King Mephistopheles? Don't you just a con man posing as Arcel Raine, the Crystal War Hero!”
Too busy to evade, Arcel still has not had time to guess the identity of the attacker. Because, the more agile Arcel moves, the more flexible and slippery the movement, the more often the fingers of the Old Man still touch it.
If this continues, Arcel may fail to meet with Alistair Kane and must end up as a vagabond in the hyperpolitan city of Centronia. How could he survive without sufficient knowledge of the Modern Age, capitalized only on immature new inner energy?
As countless touches hit Arcel, Chloe Hewitt suddenly entered the living room from another part of the penthouse and exclaimed, “Arcel is still weak, please do not test it continuously, Mr Chairman!”
“Pak Chairman?” Arcel was flabbergasted, his mouth agape. “J-so who is testing me this is... Alistair Kane?!”
Illustration of "Alistair Kane & Arcel Raine" by Andry Chang