The Least Common Denominator   Interlude I: Eul

"She's not a normal child.""I know that, Eul, but she's still our daughter."Eul sighed for the umpteenth time as she had another one of those worrying conversations with her husband. She knew that Crimson was their daughter. Hell, she carried her to term and birthed her into this world herself! But there were still times that she could hardly believe she was even a mother.Currently, little Cream was out tending to the garden outside; the redhead only had to tell her once before her little firecracker went into her chores like it was nothing. It was far from what she expected from a child. What's supposed to be an unruly, yet devastatingly cute little daughter was instead an obedient, curious, and frighteningly intelligent student."I know, and I still love her with all my heart," the young mother stared out towards the garden, watching

The Least Common Denominator   II.I Difference

Seventeen years. Never thought I'd actually live this long."Pay attention." My mother chided as I watched her demonstrate how to use a bow. "Breath in when you pull, breathe out when you release."With practiced efficiency, Mother followed all of her steps. With an arrow loaded, she breathed in slowly while pulling the string, the tension in the bow seemingly nothing for her before she released the taut bow with a guided precision.*WOOSH*The arrow flew straight and true, lodging itself directly onto the designated tree stump that we decided was today's target. I couldn't help but feel intimidated at the raw skill and talent that my mother has. I mean, what weapon was she not proficient in?!"Got it?" I was shaken out of my light hero-worship as Mother asked me with a straight face. I nodded in silent

The Least Common Denominator   II.II Difference

"Should've used it a while ago."I muttered to myself as I followed Mother's lead. The moon was fully covered in clouds, a sharp contrast to just a few minutes ago when it was lighting our path as brightly as a fluorescent lamp. For just a few minutes, we walked almost blindly through the rocky plain before Mother finally decided to light a flame in her hand as a light source. But the damage was already done by the time we could finally see.We had somehow gotten ourselves lost in our own extensive backyard.Mother had stayed silent ever since she conjured up her ball of flame, with myself simply following her lead since she had the light source. It's been a few minutes already, but she seemed to just not find the way back to our house. At this point, we should've been sitting down at the table eating dinner, but Mother just refused to let me help her.&nb

The Least Common Denominator   II.III Difference

My lungs burned as I braved the searing flames.He should still be alive...I made a beeline for Father's workshop where the fire was most intense, covering my mouth with a torn piece of my partly singed shirt. It didn't matter if I was running around naked anymore, what mattered was that I can at least find Father through all of this.Not like this..."Father?!" I shouted to the top of my lungs as I entered the workshop. "Are you here?!"The crackling of burning wood greeted me as I cautiously walked through the burning workshop. My eyes watered at the intense heat but I powered through with pessimistic hope.The fires of the forge were hotter than this. Surely Father wouldn't burn to death now."Father?!"I shouted once mo

The Least Common Denominator   III.I Remainder

"Ughh..."A dull pain from my stomach woke me up from my slumber. I was on my back; what seemed to be a bed of straw serving as my bed as every feeling in my body slowly started to make itself known to me. I winced as I struggled to even begin to sit up from my position."Are you okay?" I heard a voice call out to me, a woman. "You need to rest, lady."My everything hurts...Using my arms as leverage, I ignored the call for rest as I slowly and agonizingly sat back up. A shot of pain sprang forth from my stomach as I blearily opened my eyes, the dim sight of cobblestone and darkness greeting me. It didn't help that the only light source seemed to be a burning torch just above me. But at least it was enough to show the sight of a worried, albeit childish face situated just a few centimeters away from where I laid.<

The Least Common Denominator   III.II Remainder

"Hey! Newbies!""Coming!"I shouted at an elder Den as I grabbed Olivia along with me to our shared anvil. My shoulder-length hair matted against my bare neck as we walked for a mere few seconds in the constant blistering heat, as was the constant when living in these insane conditions, before reaching our destination."You have another job, the both of you." The older man barked out, half-panting at the constant heat from the numerous furnaces. "Some big-shot Num requested you specifically so you better make it count, Crimson."I nodded in affirmation as the built elder left us to our own devices. With a sigh, I pulled out one of the numerous molten pieces of metal from the nearby furnace. I turned towards Olivia, the kid visibly huffing with her large hammer already raised high in preparation."Just like I t

The Least Common Denominator   III.III Remainder

The Least Common Denominator   III.IV Remainder

"It'll be my pleasure to grind you into the ground, Dirt Eater."I weaved to the right as tin can immediately went for the offensive.*CRASH!*His halberd's blade crashed on my left side as I immediately capitalized on his weapon's apparent weakness.*CLANG! CLANG!*I slashed at his left leg, his armor pinging at my attacks."Tch."I clicked my tongue as I glanced at the spot of my attacks. Not even a scratch.Not enough power?"Nice try, Dirt Eater.""WHOOSH!"Tin can swung his halberd sideways towards me. I was on his side, so I used his slow maneuverability against him by circling towards his back.*CLANG! C