Chapter Text
You had a few more weeks of training. Jewel was nowhere to be seen.
You decided to check on her.
You saw her sleeping in bed, Metta beside her.
“Shhh…” he shushed. He got up and walked to you; but Just as he did, Jewel woken up.
She yawned before turning to look at you. “Hey (y/n), guess whaaat…”.
You walked up to her.“We’re going back to your old home, y’know, Parum? And I’m coming with you”.
You looked at her with confusion. Why would she be going back to Parum when she knows she’s going to get killed.
Jewell shook her head and walked up to you. “I planned a special mission, it’s called ‘Veli-shemi gaumikipo’ or in human tongue ‘willingful market’, it’s kind of like a black market; I am willing to take you there to help out”. You watched as Jewel took out a crate full of Pharrian fruits, a strange an unnatural stench emitted from the crate. “Big rule! Never eat the fruit; I’ll tell you when we get there”. As she passed by, you picked up another crate with more fruit.
You headed onboard a large ship; the massive vessel slightly swaying in the tides. You settled down in a room downstairs, it was quite comfortable. The fruits you brought in kind of ruined the peace with that awful stench. Something tells you these fruits are not fresh, why are you still bringing them when they smell like this.
Jewel walked in; she took a nice stretch before sitting beside you. An arm suddenly wrapped around your shoulder.
“Why are we bringing these anyways, they don’t seem fresh, nor smell like it” you said, wafting the air.
Jewel just looked at you with a gentle smile. “Vemekimehk, an exotic fruit delicacy; the citizens of Mushume were so generous to provide us some of their freshest picks”. She tossed the fruit to your hands; the awful scent seemed a little fainter than the other ones in the crate. “this fruit is capable of stimulating the lesser nexomons’ thoughts, making them act in a more natural state; they said that nexomon were their friends…then they proceed to keep them in these small pyramids until they are needed”. Jewel held up Noki’s nexotrap before releasing the nexomon from the trap. “Humans love to watch their ‘friends’ battle each other until one falls…humans have lost their will to truly fight”.
You looked at her before confessing. “But…that’s how our lives work, as a guild tamer, we’ve been doing this tradition for thousands of years!”.
Jewel shook her head, disagreeing with what you had said. “This is not how nexomon should be treated…no, no more”. She then fed the fruit to Noki.
You watched in awe as Noki shook his feathers then looked at you; gently, you picked it up. “Oh (y/n)…I feel strange, and reborn”.
“Noki, it may not seem like it, but you’re free…well, a better kind of freedom”.
Noki looked between the both of you. “Freedom? I’ve heard of such thing; humans and nexomon had thi-”.
“Noki dear…your freedom differs from your human bonding; while humans thrive in they freedom, your nexomon kin have been under their influence to be nothing more…than slaves, humanity and nexomon…they are never treated fairly” Jewel stroked Noki’s head feather. “But…under the rule of Pharria, and age where humans are strong fighters, and nexomon that breathe, roam, and fight alongside”.
Suddenly, you felt the ship began to slow down. You peeked out the window, you landed near the area where the submarine to Cadium is parked.
“We are here…UNLOAD THE CARGO!!” Jewel yelled out.
You picked up the crate you carried earlier, carefully stepping off the boat. The returning breeze from your homeland swirled around your nose. Sadly, you knew your not going to stay here; you’re here to help your mother prepare a market. You gently sighed before proceeding to follow the others. It didn’t take long to reach the marketplace; it lies just outside of Parum’s walls. People were bustling to buy commodities they never seen before. Even a few nexoguard were walking through the booths, most of them were inspecting the things each booth was selling. You saw a many of the fruits you’ve eaten; exclusively, the Jambufe.
“(Y/N)! over here” Jewel cried out, settling in her booth. She settled down the crate of Vemekimehk; Noki fluttered to her side.
You walked over to her, careful not to drop any fruit or bump into anyone. You finally met up with her with the crate. “Okay, so what’s the plan?” you said, your hands on your hips.
Jewel curled her finger to bring you closer. She pointed at a pot with boiling water. “Vemekimehk fruits may taste good when fed whole to an individual Nexomon; however, we have a limited stock, so I went with the next best thing”. Jewel placed some of the fruit and other ingredients. “A Vemekimehk stew; don’t worry, it’s just as effective”.
Because you were in some way a Nexomon from another land, the smell of the stew was almost irresistible. Your brain is telling you to try some.
“Enjoying the smell huh? Unfortunately, this stew will be sold to tamers, especially guild ones” Jewel chuckled as she stirred the ingredients. “Don’t worry, I’ll make some at home; I can’t resist the lovely smell either”. Jewel then scooped a small amount into a bowl. “Just a small amount is enough for any Nexomon”.
As soon as the bowls were prepared, flocks of tamers rushed to the booth. Their Nexomon peeking from the table to see what was going on. You recognized a few guild tamers, most of which were bronze tamers; the badges they wore gave away their ranks. You wanted to say hello, but you needed to lay low to prevent yourself from being caught.
“Excuse me ma’am, I’ll take two bo-!”
“I’ll take three!plea-”
“I’ll give you 600 coi-”
“700? 750? 80-!”
You were clearly shocked by all the customers. Whenever you serve one, more keep coming. “Here you go; careful, it’s hot” you said as you gave the bowls to the customers.
You continued for almost half of the day. You noticed the crates of Vemekimehk fruit going empty; only one more crate remains. This was a very tiring business to run.
“Hello!”
You heard a familiar voice; you turned to see who said that.
It was Elizabeth, or Omnisun by some people. She came to the booth with her Nexomon. She had her signature blue clothes, goggles on her head, and satchel.
“J-Jewel..its Eliz-” .
Jewel shushed you before turning to Elizebeth.
Elizabeth looked at you with curious eyes. Her Nexomon began staring at you; her Yarnesty began hissing at you.
“Good day ,May I have some of your exotic soup?”.
Jewel did a friendly smile. “Yes ma’am”.
Elizabeth looked at you. She then noticed Yarnesty’s hissy fit. “What’s wrong Whirly?”.
You began sweating in fear; does this Yarnesty noticed her being a Nexomon? This wasen’t good. You backed up a bit.
Jewel was busy feeding the rest of Elizabeth’s nexomon; she noticed you feeling uneasy-that Yarnesty does not look happy-she had to do something. “Would you like some soup Whirly?” she offered with a spoonful of Vemekimehk soup.
Whirly hissed and slap the spoon off Jewel’s hand. It then turned to you with narrowed eyes and slit pupils.
“Whirly! Inappropriate behavior!” Elizabeth growled before grabbing her beloved Yarnesty. Elizabeth then turned to look at you and Jewel; Yarnesty clawing in her arms. “I greatly apologize Nilla…I-I will clean it up”. She took out a napkin and wiped away the mess.
“It’s alright ma’am, I will take care of it” Jewel said as she gently placed a hand on Elizabeth.
Elizabeth then nodded as she picked up her Yarnesty and walked away. Yarnesty continued to stare at you with menacing pupils. It knows something that Elizabeth didn’t noticed.
Jewel then sighed before looking back at you. “Come on (Y/N), we’re closing the market”. Jewel carefully took down the booth. “Hey uh…you okay?”.
You looked at her, snapping out of your thoughts. “Y-yeah uh…C-coming”.
After cleaning up the market, all of you headed back to the ship. The sunset illuminated the sky before night came. Before you came aboard, you heard yelling behind you.
“Whirly! Whiiirlyyy!!”
It was Elizabeth.
She walked around calling her Nexomon, Whirly. “Excuse me! I’ve lost Whirly, have you seen her?”
You shook your head. “Sorry ma’am…I wish I can help, but we have to go”. You then walked away. “I hope you find her…”.
Elizabeth then walked to you. “May I ask, where do you get such do you get such extraordinary commodities?”.
You looked at her with worried eyes. “I’m sorry ma’am, it’s a secre-”.
“Does it have to do with that cyclone of clouds?”. Elizabeth pointed at the cyclone of Pharria. “I’m surprised how you can go through that cyclone; I’ve lost my mother, aunts and uncles, and my friends…”. Elizabeth turned to you. “May I give you a request?”. You nodded before Elizabeth continued. “If you can find my friends and family, I will reward you with excellent power; well, I meant a high status in my ranks, deal?”.
You looked down and thought for a second. “I’ll have to think about it…”. You finally walked back to the boat, leaving Elizabeth standing there before continuing to search for Whirly.
As the ship set sailed-into the cloudy cyclone, the crew of the ship were partying upstairs.
Clearly, all of them sounded pretty exhausted from the day. You then turned to Jewel. The thought of returning all her family, friends, and perhaps you. You rested your head on the wall and sighed, closing you eyes in the process. Then, you thought about Whirly; That Yarnesty must of sense something about you. “Jewel…I think we’re doomed”.
Back in the Parum, Whirly was sniffing where your booth once stood. She continued around the spot; suddenly, she hissed and growled. “I knew it” She thought.
“Whirly!!!”.
Whirly turned as soon as she heard her master calling her. She looked back at the spot with narrowed eyes before rushing to Elizabeth, hoping to tell the news.