As always Giliath demands your power stones!
*****
While thinking that, before I realized it, Wednesday ended in a flash, and the scenery changed to Karel Imperial Villa. The next day dawned, marking it Thursday January 4th. I was already up and out of bed, moving behind the villa. A large built-in patio could be seen that overlooked the cliffs from all sides. A gentle waterfall cascaded downward beyond me, painting a rather picturesque view.
Inside the little overhanging patio, I could be seen resting my two legs against each other. A vermillion-colored laptop could presently be seen open, as well as a mobile orbal station that provided a wifi connection for me to use. I decided to use some spare time to record everything down of what transpired so far in this week alone. I enjoy keeping a diary, it helps knowing what has changed compared to what originally happens in the games.
And if one had a close look, a small fiery marble-like sphere could be seen being moved around in my hands in a constant motion. A four-winged pattern could be seen in its center.
This little guy became the newest addition to my Master Quartz, and boy is it a doozy of one. It came out of the first Cold Steel game. Its name: Vermillion.
One of the effects allowed its user to heighten their strength by double, as long as they had the health pool to do so. Higher the health you had, the bigger the ratio your strength became. So if I had 3000 points in Strength, that doubles, becoming 6000. It's a very, very broken Master Quartz if you ask me. On the plus side, it only affects strength. It does not change any magical parameters in the slightest. My ATS remains the same. If I want to close in on an opponent and catch someone off-guard, this will be a good Master Quartz, dealing an insane amount of damage in the process. Combined with how quick I can attack and that my Speed is practically in the 400s, I can probably fell a shit ton of monsters before they can even react. Even the previous Abyss Worms likely wouldn't stand a chance against me anymore.
That's how busted Master Quartz can become, easily changing the tides of battle to your favor. They eventually change into Holo Cores later on during the Daybreak games as technology advances, but that won't happen for several more years down the line.
I just cradled Vermillion in one of my hands as I continued to write, listening to the pitter-patter of the waterfall in the near distance.
As I continued to write, back inside the building, a sole figure could be seen dashing. They held onto their fancy-colored vermillion dress, trying not to fall down as the person ran. This person didn't run too quickly either, remaining graceful. She bid a hello to the passing maids who were sweeping the main lobby. The floor of the building was built the same way as the main reception room to Valflame Palace, and it had the crest of the Imperial Family.
The girl ran long the west side of the building, eventually coming to an open clearing. The same clearing that connected to the patio that I was currently spending some time enjoying some fresh air. Once the girl spotted a violet-haired boy dressed in a casual black shirt and dark blue pants, she smiled.
"I had a feeling you would be here, Big Brother. Enjoying some fresh air?", Princess Alfin said with a smile as she greeted me. She wasn't alone, though. I could see two guards standing near the entrance to the patio. Coming from being a member of royalty, this thing is something you just get used to. They had black shades and orbal pistols at their side. The so-called secret service.
We just pretend they don't exist, even though they do. They're meant for our safety.
"I am. I'm also noting down what I've done for this week. Figured I had the time to do so.", I said, welcoming Princess Alfin.
"I didn't take you to be a writer. You learn something new everyday~", Princess Alfin responded.
"Heh. It helps keep track of things. I figured you'd sleep in some more. It's still pretty early. I'm known to be an early riser.", I said. As I said that, Princess Alfin pulled up a chair beside me, and sat down next to me.
"I could have slept in some more, but the day's already started. You know, we use this place a lot to host private concerts here with famous musicians all around the world. It's a shame we're only using this place for a couple days. Otherwise I would have put in for a reservation to bring an artist over.", Princess Alfin responded, sighing.
"Is that right?", I replied, smiling. Princess Alfin wasn't wrong. Lots of musicians come here to play in this exact spot where I'm currently at. Hell, even a person of future Class VII plays here. He's a guy called Elliot Craig. A son of one of the military commanders under Erebonia's massive military. I have met the guy's father, albeit as a very small child, while father was still in the military. He goes by Craig the Red. Elliot, on the other hand, goes down a different path. One that his mother's line once did, including his older sister. A violinist. A quite damn good one at that.
If it goes like it does in the games in the coming future, I'm sure I'll get to see Elliot perform alongside Princess Alfin here.
As I thought that, I saw Princess Alfin raise her eyes, managing to catch a glimpse of the fiery-red sphere in my hand, becoming attracted to it.
"What's that in your hand, Big Brother?", Princess Alfin decided to ask.
"Oh this?", I replied, taking a pause in my current train of thought. I lifted my hand upward, and the Master Quartz became visible to Princess Alfin. "This is what's called a Master Quartz. It's designed to release all kinds of Arts, depending on what kind it is. It even strengthens a person's combat parameter, and provides them different kinds of effects during battle. It's still a couple years out, but these will be hitting the marketplace soon. You know Tio, right?", I asked Princess Alfin.
"Uh-huh. Tio can be a little weird at times with those eyes of hers, but she's just so adorable to be around. It's only been a day, but we're becoming fast friends.", Princess Alfin responded, happily clapping her hands together.
Right. There was that, wasn't there? Hell, Tio isn't even supposed to even be with the Epstein Foundation right now, but she is. Thanks to my intervention, she never met up with Guy Bannings, who was supposed to be her rescuer. Instead, she tagged along with me, and now sees me as family. Not the worst outcome in my opinion. But thanks to this, it is causing Tio to encounter individuals she shouldn't even be coming across..
Such is the case here, becoming friends with Princess Alfin, of all people. There are also people like Renne, who Tio isn't supposed to even know they exist until Renne starts her little desperate game of tag with Estelle and Joshua, prompting the trio to head toward Crossbell City. That's when they meet the SSS for the first time. Who knows if that will happen this time around, knowing that I rescued both Renne and Tio. Those two are already friends by the way. Something else that shouldn't have happened so early on.
But it did. Not that I'm against it by any means. I'm glad Tio's been making friends. The more, the merrier. I smiled back at Princess Alfin seeing her say that.
"That's right. Tio's with the Epstein Foundation. She's been helping develop these Master Quartz. They're only prototypes, but each one helps a person out during battle. Enough to the point where they can swing the tide in their favor.", I explained.
"This little thing can help boost someone's power so much during battle?", Princess Alfin mused.
"That's right. Tio can give you the logistics on how these work later.", I said.
"Well, alright! What does this one do in particular? You know, without giving me all the reasoning behind it.", Princess Alfin responded, deciding to ask what Vermillion did. I guess I can answer that much, at least. It's hard explaining what Master Quartz can do. Considering you know, game stats don't exist to normal people here. Only me due to my Gamer System. But if someone joins my Party, they'll be able to see the exact number to how much Vermillion increases one's power by.
"To put it simply, this Master Quartz boosts a person's strength by two-fold. If you're neck-and-neck with your opponent, plop this bad boy in, and you can achieve victory by overpowering them.", I replied, smiling.
"This little thing can really do such a thing...That's pretty scary. Even I haven't gotten a full grasp of how Combat Orbments work. But I do know they can provide various effects in battle.", Princess Alfin responded, wondering about how Combat Orbments worked.
"That's the gist of it. I could go into what this Master Quartz can do, but seeing as you can't even slot it into the normal Combat Orbments you see in the present marketplace, there's no reason to do such a thing. So instead, how about a little magic trick?", I said, changing the topic up.
"A magic trick?", Princess Alfin responded. Her eyes lit up and sparkled as if I was looking into the night sky. Right...I need to be careful when I use the word "magic" around Princess Alfin. She's been exposed to the real deal. She knows magic and spells exist. Hell, she even knows about witches now.