Broken Core [LitRPG • Cultivation • Post Apocalyptic • Romance]

James rested his back against the wall of a broken down shop. The storage room was in the basement and they had found crates of liquor. Luna was already busy sampling the aged drinks while dancing around the area with rosy cheeks.

"J-join me!" she slurred.

Shaking his head, he looked towards the sky. The sun would be setting within a few hours and Nebra's group had only just reached the town. They had set up in a house on the outskirts, keeping their distance.

To his surprise however, two of her members were walking towards him, their souls feeling uneasy. Not bothering to look at them, he closed his eyes while Luna continued to beg him to dance.

"Is she drunk?" Jamie asked softly as she entered the shop.

"Yes," he answered. "Be careful or you'll be drinking next."

"I'd be happy to join her!" Mender cheered.

"Yay!" Luna hurried over with another bottle. "Bottoms up!"

Mender beamed as he took the offering. Twisting the cap to the rum, he tipped it back like a pro. Several gulps later, he wiped his lips and raised both hands. "Party!" Setting the bottle down, he grabbed Luna's hands and started dancing with her.

"What's happening?" James muttered.

Jamie leaned against the wall by his side. "We aren't like Nebra. She's angry that we came this way. Mender has been fighting with her for the last week."

"Why haven't you?" James asked.

"I don't like fighting…"

"Yet you are in the wastelands." Glancing at her, he found her wringing her hands.

"I can fight, but I prefer to craft. I enchant."

Raising his brows, he turned fully to her. "You can enchant?"

Nodding, she finally smiled. "Yes. I'm still only an apprentice, but I love it. The feeling of creating something new. Improving an item to new levels. To feel my Qi flowing through runes of power."

"Can you teach me?" he asked.

Smile slipping, she shook her head. "I'm not good enough to teach someone. I…I don't know enough."

Laughing, he caught her off guard. Holding up his hand, he calmed himself. "You know more than me. Anything you can show me will be enough. I need a way to increase the strength of my armor, and I don't understand runes in the least."

Sitting down, she held her knees to her chest. "I've never had anyone ask me to train them before."

"Well, I'm asking." Sitting with her, he rested his head against the wall. Turning his attention to Luna and Mender, he asked, "why don't you go by your eastern names?"

"Most of our ancestors come from the west or other parts of the world," Jamie explained. "Only a few people go by their eastern names if they even have one."

Humming, he smiled when Luna tipped back her bottle and spilled more of it on herself, rather than into her mouth. "We're going to be taking care of them tomorrow."

"Yes…"

"You're a timid one, aren't you?" Glancing at the woman, he watched her flinch.

"I am," she whispered. "You scare me."

"What about me scares you?" He genuinely wanted to know.

"There's something about you that speaks of more power than the elders." Shaking her head, she reached out and wafted the air. "There's something here that I can feel but not understand. It reeks of strength and intimidation. I feel like if I make you mad, my very being will be extinguished."

Brows rising, he stared at her for several seconds. "That's unnerving."

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"It is. The worst part is that after you killed the dragon, it felt stronger. Almost like it was going to eat me."

Now he was well and truly frowning. Why would my soul feel like it was going to eat her? What are normal people going to be like around me? I can't pull in my soul anymore than I already have.

"That's how it feels," she added. "The more I'm around you, the easier it is to adjust, but it's clear you do not trust us."

Watching Luna take the lead in the dance, she spun Mender in circles before dipping him. Chuckling, he pointed them out. "Do you see why I'm not dancing with her."

"I do." Giggling, she started smiling again. "What are the stars like?"

Turning to the heavens, James smiled. "They are beautiful. The way they twinkle and shine down on me. The moon brightens the world most nights as the warm winds pass over my body."

"I wish I could see them."

Lowering his gaze, he sighed. "Everyone does at some point. The Great War and the Rending changed everything. There are only so many people still alive that were there for it. I'm hoping your elders are some of them."

"You're stronger than them," she whispered. "Why does it feel like you can still grow?"

"I can," he answered. "It's going to be a long road to power though."

"Cultivating is supposed to be."

"You're right," James nodded. "It really is the path to power. That's why most people can't do it."

"Less and less people are able to each year." Jamie slumped. "I'm one of the lucky ones."

"What would you do if you had my power?" James asked.

Jamie turned to him. "I don't know. I'd like to believe I would change the direction my sect is going."

"What do you mean?" James felt confused. Was there something wrong with her sect?

I don't know what I'm entering, but something tells me I'm not going to like the politics.

Jamie didn't answer right away. Instead she watched the others dance. "What do you know about sects?"

James didn't have to think long. "I know the strong are blessed with more resources. They want for nothing while the lesser fight for everything. Many of those in the lower rings fight tooth and nail for the scraps. I was always blind to it."

"You came from a sect? That's hard to believe with all your traveling."

James chuckled. "Am I really that mysterious? I would like to think I'm a normal guy, just with a little more power."

"A little?" Jamie teased. "Even you can't be that dense."

"Hey!" he protested.

"Yes, he can!" Luna yelled. "It took me years before he noticed I was in love with him."

"It wasn't that long. You only had to shove your tail in my face half a dozen times."

Luna raised her brow. "Was it only my tail I shoved in your face?"

Jamie started to blush. "Umm…"

"Don't worry about it," James said. "She likes to make a bigger deal out of it than it is. Then again she likes knowing that there are plenty of people around when we do come together."

Luna growled. "I do not!"

Mender laughed. "Then why have we heard you screaming at night? I don't know how many times you woke me up."

Luna raised her bottle at James. "See what you started? People are going to think I'm a freak!"

"You are," James said with a shrug of his shoulders.

Jamie started to giggle. "I missed this the last week. You two are the perfect couple. I'm jealous."

"Or are you envious?" James questioned. "There is nothing to be jealous or envious about. Everyone has that special someone out there in the world waiting for them. If only humanity could get over there aversion of the demi-humans. I'm sure a lot more people would find happiness."

"If only it was that simple," Jamie whispered.

Mender groaned. "You're ruining the mood. I'm here to drink, dance, and party."

"You didn't even know they had booze!"

James laughed at their argument. "The sun will be setting soon. You 2 either need to go back or you'll be staying with us for the night."

"We'll stay," Mender said. "We could use some distance from our party." Shoulders slumping, he added, "things are so different." Lifting his bottle to his lips he took a long pull. "Why is the world like this?" Hiccupping, he sank to the ground. "Why is the world overrun by the Forsaken?"

James closed his eyes. "I don't know. There are people out there with the answers. There are also facilities that will explain more. I'm going to find them. I'm going to find the answers."

"Why?" Jamie asked.

James didn't answer. Instead, he turned towards the sky. "We should start those lessons tomorrow."

Jamie watched him for several moments. "Very well."

Luna walked over and sat in his lap. "We still have dragon meat if you need something to eat. I know I need to sober up a little. James will kill me if I drink all night."

"He won't kill me!" Mender cheered.

James raised his brow. "Are you sure?" Smirking he wrapped his arms around Luna. "I'm pretty sure you can't outrun me."

Eyes wide, Mender set down his bottle. "Let's not be hasty."

Luna shifted in his lap. Once her tail was beating his face, she smiled. "You two aren't bad. But are you sure you should be around us? Those in the city will judge you."

"We'll be fine." Mender crossed his arms. "I'm one of the only healers in the sect. They wouldn't dare mess with me."

Pushing the tail out of his face, James thought over his statement. Are healers really that rare? I always had one on call for training. Was I really that spoiled?

He didn't have the answers, and he had even more questions adding to his list. Visiting the sect, he might be able to answer a few. I'll need to study them. Lived with them. And fight with them. Luna is right, I need to see the truth of the world.

His mind swirled with the thoughts and Luna seemed to notice. "Anything I can help with?"

Resting his head against her back, he's said, "no, not yet."

"James?" Luna asked softly.

"Time for dinner!" Mender cheered, cutting the growing tension.

Jamie quickly got up. "Y-yes," she stuttered.

James closed his eyes as he felt their souls shift. They were intrigued yet nervous. Scared and excited. When they entered the forest everything was going to change. They would be traveling together for the first time. And it was clear, Mender and Jamie wanted to be friends.