Chapter 4: Start of the Voyage
[Sky Castle]
A week has passed since the system gave Asagi a task to recharge the power source of the castle, unfortunately despite that time slot and the occasionally charging of the power source by transferring all of their mana unto the crystal, it's still wasn't enough
In fact the crystal don't even have any type of indication whether it was full or not, the only thing both Asagi and Michael knew was that as long as the crystal kept absorbing their mana whenever they got close, it then indicate that its not full
Actuality it isn't a pleasant feeling at all when one's mana is being drained, in fact it hurts so much that it equivalent to having your innard vacuumed out by a monster, it will completely drain one person
For the past whole week both Asagi and Michael spent their daily lives being drained out of their mana every 12 hours
Despite the fact that both of them possess about a high mana output, both of them were still drained out just by recharging the crystal power source
At the moment both Asagi and Michael were in the kitchen preparing their lunch, as both of them arch in pain as if having an headache, in actual fact the headache was just the side effect of having their mana drained to zero
Rubbing her forehead, Asagi then spoke up as she seated down on the dining table
"Are my snacks not yet finished? I need energy! I really need one, in fact I could even feel that I could finish a whole basket of sweets right this moment"
Hearing her words Michael then slowly walked out of the kitchen with a grimacing expression as he took out his apron and handed her a bowl of almond cookies added with a cold orange juice drink
Seeing the food infront of her, Asagi couldn't help whether to foresee it as an oasis or not, nevertheless the moment it was laid down, she then immediately went for it and started eating them
Likely at that moment she had forgotten all about table manners due to how hungry she was, but despite that manner Michael never stopped her, since he too knew what she felt at the moment
Pouring the both of them a glass of orange juice, Michael then sat down on the opposite chair of Asagi and picked up a cookie with his hands
With that both of them ate their fill as they soon got satisfied by the snack and was completely full at the moment
After eating though Asagi then quickly snapped herself out of her daze as she then suddenly murmured
"I was wondering... where did all of this food and ingredients comes from? In fact we're not even going out to buy stuff in the market, despite that our storage has a complete stock of different kinds of food"
Of course after murmuring that, added to the fact that only Asagi and Michael were inside the room, the latter then immediately picked up her question as he replied back with a satisfied look
"Well... I was wondering that too you know! In actual fact I think that aside from us, there must be someone inside the castle that made sure all of our daily necessities are met... well its just my hunch though"
After hearing Michael's thoughts upon that situation, Asagi couldn't help but thinking up the system, and after much deliberation she then murmured more quietly
"Must be the system..."
Soon after as she said that, rain then started pouring down from above as it started slow before it became a downpour
Having this aggressive rain pouring down everywhere, Asagi then knew that both her and Michael wouldn't be able to spend some time flying outside the castle walls, since both of their wings may get wet
Of course even though their wings were strong and gorgeous, the actual logic still applied in this situation, such as one's wet wings could literally make one unable to fly properly
On the other hand when Michael saw the heavy rain pouring down hard on their castle, he then silently stood up from his seat as he picked up the empty bowl and their glass to the washing area
But before he could actually go and wash the dishes, Asagi then suddenly called out to him as she asked for a favor
"Michael! I want a hot chocolate"
"Pardon me? Can you repeat that again your majesty?" Asks Michael
"I said hot chocolate... I want one, after all its raining hard and the best drink for such occasion is a hot chocolate right? Or am I wrong?" Said Asagi with a cutesy act
Hearing her answer Michael then slowly nodded as he complied
"Nope! Your totally right your majesty! Hot chocolate right? Then hot chocolate coming right up!"
After stating that Michael then entered the kitchen once more as he prepared some hot chocolate for Asagi
Meanwhile while that particular thing happened Asagi then looked out the window as she looked at the dark clouds and the pouring rain right outside the castle
Seeing that familiar sight, she couldn't help but remember her time with her auntie and uncle in the province
Just like her situation in this current moment, it was also pouring down hard on the province according to her memories
During that time she was young about early teenage years and was sulking on the fact that she won't be able to go out and play due to the weather, nevertheless her auntie always made sure that she would be happy thus she occasionally make a hot chocolate for her whenever there is a heavy downpour on the area
...Memory...
[Auntie:" Asagi come inside the house, you'll get wet if you keep standing there"]
[Asagi:" But this downpour... it really Ruins the mood, after all the plans I've prepared just for this day"]
[Auntie:" Well what can we do? Its the weather? No one can perfectly predict the weather this days, even the forecast mostly makes mistakes in their forecasting right?"]
[Asagi:" Mistake? I think they are just lying, after all I feel like they are just guessing"]
[Auntie:" Guessing? Well thats a wild assumption, nevertheless you might be right on that point... well anyway I've prepared a hot chocolate for you! So come in already"]
[Asagi:" Hot chocolate? Wait up!!!"]
...Sitting on the tatami mat scene...
[Auntie:" Asagi did you know the rain had so many hearsay and myths? They even say that the rain in some kind of a legend phenomenon? Some even say that it is a type of paranormal"]
[Asagi:" I always hear that and see some in the magazines auntie, in fact im quite curious whether those stories were true... nevertheless only few people ever believes them, that's why they always stay as myths and not an actual fact"]
[Auntie:" I know that they are just stories made up by our ancestors, in fact we will never know whether such stories are true or not, yet maybe its for our own good if we stayed ignorant of such things"]
[Asagi:" ...There are some things that just can't be explained by words alone"]
[Auntie:" That's true! But do you know whats my favorite hearsay?]
[Asagi:" What is it?"]
[Auntie:" The hearsay that the rain is a sign of blessing from the gods... for me instead of believing some scary nonsensical stuff, I would've been better if I believe in some miracle and nice kind of story right?]
[Asagi:" Well its up to what type of taste you have though"]
...Memory end...
Remembering it up till that point, Asagi couldn't help but feel nostalgic of that past as she begun longing for home
After all its nearly a month since she spent her time in this world and yet she still haven't move on to progress her return on her old world
"I really need to go home" she muttered silently
At the same time Michael then went outside the kitchen as he brought a pair of hot chocolate for the both of them
Placing them down infront of her, Asagi then slowly and carefully lift one cup up and drank the tip of the chocolate drink
After tasting it, she couldn't help but remember her joyous time with her aunt, drinking hot chocolate under the roof of their house
Truly a nostalgic memory
After this though both her and Michael would then head down towards the power source as they try to charge it up till the system notification pops up for the succes of the task
The very next day both Asagi and Michael then headed once more towards the power source after they took a long rest after being drained of their mana last night
But compared to the previous attempt, they could clearly feel that the crystal power source was near its capacity, due to that they were both pump up for this day
Going down to the deepest part of the castle they then were faced with the gigantic glowing crystal which was near its capacity
First up of course was Michael as he begun pumping out his mana towards the power source
Of course as for the pain that goes along with it, he clearly held it in together as his every muscles begun to twitch in agony
Soon after for what seems like an hour Michael was then completely drained of his mana as he quickly slump down into the ground with one knee supporting his whole body
Seeing his situation, Asagi then immediately steeled herself as she walked up towards the power source and started pouring out her mana unto it
With that she once again felt the prickling pain all over her body as she gritted her teeth and tried to endure the pain of being sucked out of her mana
But before she could truly be drained, the power source then stopped absorbing her mana which was then followed up by a system notification
Congratulations on recharging the power source
Reward: 10,000 credits
Remark
You can now start your journey! Keep up the good work host
Upon seeing that notification Asagi was then filled with mixed emotions as she jump up and begun cheering loudly, of course when she did that, Michael then realized that they had succeeded on their task
With that he was naturally happy for Asagi, despite him being a cannon fodder for this kind of tiresome work
Quickly after they then headed straight towards the throne room as Asagi quickly sat down on her throne, which activated the control panel for the whole sky castle
[Sky castle control panel]
-Flight route-
-Kingdom Expansion-
-Land Expansion-
-Army Expansion-
-Castle Defenses-
-Servant Summoning-
Seeing that she then clicked unto the flight route panel as she quickly setted it up to head north
Just like that the whole sky castle in the sky then begun moving north at a speed of 10 miles per hour, to keep a safe traveling speed for everyone on board
When the sky castle finally moved, and Asagi taking control for the movement of the whole kingdom, Michael couldn't help but foresee a grand future wherein the latter was absolute ruler of the sky
With that he then asked Asagi who was happily maneuvering the flight route of the sky castle
"So... your majesty! Where are we going?"
With that question being asked, both of them were then silenced as the whole place was enveloped in an awkward atmosphere
Nevertheless Asagi was completely flustered as she writhed in headache
"We don't even know where we are going!!!! Ahhhhh!!!!"
Seeing her like that, Michael couldn't help but laugh at her situation as he then suggested
"Well since the our goal which is the city of Arcana on the far north, then we should just go north right?"
Hearing that Asagi then quickly fixed herself up as she smiled and regained her composure
"That's a great idea! I've completely forgotten about that! We will then head north! Onwards ye matey's!!!"
With that their journey then finally started after so much hurdle in the way for the past nearly one month