The Hero’s Ascension

Welcome to Grand City

“Hellooooooo… I can clearly see you moving,”

Turning around with a smirk and my finger pointed at myself, I watched a smaller woman approach me. “Are you talking to me?”

“Who else is there? Look around kid, there isn't anyone else here.” She let out a quiet laugh, continuing to get closer. “You don’t look familiar. Where you from kid?”

I willed for the screen to disappear on the off chance she could see it. It obeyed without question.

“Im uhhh… from, hmmm…” I thought for a second before answering. “I’m from Earth…”

“Hmmm, I’ve never heard of Earth, Is that up north by Draazle. Weird people up there… it would explain your crazy clothes,” She closed the rest of the distance between us in an instant, with a bright blue flash. “Either way, welcome to Grand City, I’m Liza and I’ll guide you around. Since you’re new and all…”

“I would take her advice if I were you…” My internal system said.

“Ohh uhh, thank you. My clothes are weird?” I looked down, glancing at the clothes I decided to wear to school that day. “I look normal, you’re the one that’s decked out in glowing gear…”

Her eyes flicked between our clothing. A puzzled look crossed her face followed by a grin.

“You’re name kid… I told you mine,” She said.

“I’m Clint… I guess you could say I’m ‘new’.” I let out a few chuckles in-between words. “I would appreciate your assistance… Thank you,”

“Clint huh? Strange name for a strange kid…” She circled me, taking in the details of my appearance. “Black hair, blue eyes… How old are you?”

“I’m eighteen, I’ll be nineteen in the fall.” The questions made me smile with anxiety. “You keep calling me kid… how old are you then?”

“Watch out!!” She yelled as she dove toward me, tackling me to the ground.

When I raised my head, what stood in front of us made me shudder. A monster with massive claws had just tried to attack me. A sharp pain drummed into existence as Liza put herself between the monster and me.

“Dangit, it got you didn’t it. Shit shit shit.” She unsheathed her sword and rolls of lightning began to build around her. “Their claws have a mild toxin, you’re going to be numb for a little bit... I’ll take care of this guy, sit tight.”

The pain began to vanish as I watched her demonstrate absolute control over the lightning.

She lunged in with a blink but the monster dodged quickly, angling its claws to slice at the nape of her neck.

Before it could land Liza blocked, lowering her sword behind her. The monster tinked off and backed away, lowering itself for another attack. Its loud growls made my eardrums ring.

As the toxin seeped deeper into my veins, I lost control of my neck. All I was left with were the thunder claps from Liza’s attacks and the pulsing blue light she was emitting.

The last thing to disobey my will were my eyes. I watched the blue gleam for as long as I could. Stuck somewhere between horrified and amazed. Then the world dropped as my consciousness faded.

*****

“Cliiiiinnnt… Clinnnnnt… CLINT! Wake up!”

I heard a faint crackle of electricity, followed by a jolt to my nose. The pain forcing me from my slumber and causing me to continually sneeze one after the other.

“What the heck Liza, who does that—“ My words stopped short, the sight of where I was threw me off. “Did you carry me?! How I’m almost twice your size…”

I had woken up inside of a wooden building. Laid out on a table meant for patients at a hospital. Liza was to my left and an unfamiliar person to my right, they were standing over me casting a green glow emitting their hand.

“Don’t mention it… it was my fault for not noticing that weasel beast sooner.” She bowed her head low to apologize. “I carried you just fine by the way,” she flexed and gave a smirk.

“Also you were talking in your sleep.”

I stared at her. “What do you—“

“A lot.” She added.

Dumbfounded by the interruption, I tried to speak again, only to be asked one of the craziest questions I think I’d ever heard.

“What’s a McChicken?”

I lowered my head, looking for some way to dodge the question, that’s when I noticed my shirt was gone.

“Where are my clothes!?!” Panicking, I launched a hand below. “Thank god… how dare you strip me!”

“Actually I removed your shirt, the weasel cut a fairly large chunk out of it… not to mention it was covered in blood and dirt,” the women voice growled

My vision locked onto her.

Her face was vastly different from her voice, a beautiful blonde haired elf with a voice like a two-pack-a-day smoker.

“I’ll give you a basic shirt so you’re not showing off for the ladies until you get a new one,” she let out a low haha and meandered out of the room, returning shortly after with a basic undershirt. “Here… don’t forget what I’ve done for you, haha…”

“Ight come on then Clint,” Liza said as she offered her hand. “Let’s go get you some new clothes!”

“I don’t have any money…” I lowered my head. “Please take care of me Liza! You clearly know what’s going on, please help me. At least until I can afford to live…”

She let out a pig snort and a string of laughs I’ll hear in my nightmares forever.

“You dork, hahahaha, oh god, your cringe oh no…” continuing to make me a joke she laughed until tears formed. “Haha, come on kid, I’ll take care of you,”

Taking her hand, she dragged me from the bed and into the hallway. We ran past other healers and patients, laughing like I hadn’t almost died two hours ago.

We arrived fairly quickly at the front doors, Liza let go of my hand walked forward and shoved the doors open. Turning around as they let the sight of the city in.

Towers stretched toward the clouds. Bridges connected buildings that should never have existed. Thousands of people moved through streets lit by colors I’d never seen before.

I had no idea where I was.

For the first time since arriving, I believed I wasn’t going home and I was happy about it.

“Welcome to Grand City Clint,” she said, her eyes gleaming.