From Human to Skeleton: Revived with Infinite System Crystals

Ty stated first "I'm not really sure, I've never eaten here before but do you have an iced coffee with caramel?"

Ty thought to himself they probably do but it's called something else as his thoughts wondered the waiter stated.

"Ye-yes, it looks like we do anything else for you all? It's on the house truly thank you for protecting us, there has been an increase in criminal activity and rumors of an uprising over the last couple months there was even a bombing recently and news is circulating about some police officers dying."

Rusuf with his head a bit hung stated "Yes, that is true, it seems there have been a lot of violence circulating lately, but this world is built off of it, but in a controlled method to where innocent lives are kept safe.

If I was their and not on patrol on the other end of the capital maybe I could of done something more."

Ty broke up the somber moment and stated "well, we can only look onward to today and keep those fallen close to heart in our memory. No matter how many people you may lose, you have no choice but to go on living -- no matter how devastating the blows, maybe."

The moment Ty's words filled the air, everyone paused and turned their attention towards him. JJ, visibly impressed, complimented him. "Wow, that's quite the line. I never really thought about things like that," she said, offering Ty a warm smile.

Feeling a bit self-conscious, Ty ran a hand over his head. "I heard it from somewhere before, so I can't take full credit. But it's a thought I try to carry with me. Honestly, I can't say I have lost many people, but I have many people I am trying to get back to, if that makes sense," he explained, his voice laced with a mixture of reflection and resolve.

Rusuf, acknowledging the moment with a smile, rose from his seat. "I see things are in good hands as of right now. I will finish cleaning up the mess and find your mentor. Thank you for your time, Dem—Ty, and Jedo Jadenui. It was a pleasure running into you. I hope your time in the arena is fruitful, and even if you die, you die with good memories,"

"Wait, you aren't going to eat or anything?" Ty asked, hoping perhaps Rusuf would join them.

Rusuf, with a smile, gently declined. "Oh no, I'm on a specific diet; they don't have anything here for me. Besides, I need to get back to my patrol. Thanks again. I hope you will understand."

With that, he offered a brimming smile, a slight bow, and then made his exit.

Ty watched him leave, a mix of confusion and admiration in his thoughts. "It's a bit hard to read him, to be honest, but I suppose he's one of the good ones. Kind of sees the death in things to be a bit pointless."

JJ nodded in agreement, redirecting their focus. "Oh yes, the main reason we are even here right now. I suppose we should focus on that before any more issues arise."

"Oh, sorry. I'll go ahead and order a Kediduck with Red Sauce and a side of Birice for both of us. I have a feeling Ty is hungry but can't read the menu well," JJ said, astutely observing Ty's predicament.

At the mention of food, Ty's stomach betrayed him with a timely growl, and the waiter nodded, "Thank you. Please allow 10-15 minutes for it to come out."

"Thank you, I appreciate it," Ty and JJ said in unison, leading to a shared laugh between them. "Kindness in common, but back to the topic at hand, right? What's going on?" Ty redirected their attention back to the pressing matters.

JJ handed Ty a piece of paper adorned with a string of numbers, prompting a puzzled look from him. "What is this?" he inquired.

With a mixture of pride and a bit of nervousness, JJ explained, "It's the total donation amount you have received from official sponsors and anonymous ones. After your display of raw power, donations began flooding in. I was finally given the green light by my advisor to put up a donation as well… even though I had already submitted the donation packet," she admitted with a nervous laugh

"Just don't mention it to him if you ever happen to see him, haha. He might get a little upset," JJ teased, hinting at some underlying humor between her and Ty about the lieutenant.

Ty, still wrapping his head around the situation, sought clarification. "Sure, but just how much did you donate? Lt Daemon mentioned you had a right to see me due to spending more than anyone else. Is that right?"

JJ, with a moment of hesitation, closed her eyes and nodded before revealing, "5 million Titacoins, which is, in fact, 2 million more than everyone else combined."

The figure made Ty's mind reel, equating it to a staggering amount back on Earth. He coughed in disbelief, "Why would you donate that much?! What happens to all the cash if I get killed?"

Her expression softened, a shadow of concern flickering across her face. "Please don't paint such a dark picture... But in the event where someone dies, all the remaining donations they have would go to the kingdom's reserve bank for holding.

They then divide it up among the support nation kingdoms under it at the end of the year, based on how well they assisted the kingdom in whatever mission they were given for the year."

Ty processed the information, grappling with the enormity of JJ's contribution. "I see. Knowing your situation with your family and its standing, I don't fully grasp it all, but I hope I don't cause you any indirect harm or issues within your financial situation."

JJ reassured him, "No, please don't worry. Things are steady right now, even after my tearful display and being face to face with my parents' murderer. I got booed and made to feel worthless by everyone around me just for wanting justice to be done."

With her head bowed, she continued, "But you made me smile regardless and tried to help a total stranger. So, even if I have to struggle, I owe you a debt that can never be paid."

Attempting to shift the mood, she wiped a tear from her face. Ty, at a loss for words and moved by her sentiment, watched as she pulled out a book

"What's that small book for?" Ty inquired, his curiosity piqued by the item in JJ's hands.

"It's something I found while spending hours and hours digging through the historic library on the far side of the kingdom. It took me a while to find it, but when I saw the title, it intrigued me to dig a bit deeper," JJ explained, her voice filled with the excitement of discovery.

Ty examined the book, noting the peculiar title, "Revived to Change the Tadpoal."

Tilting his head slightly, he questioned, "What does a tadpole have to do with this, and why does the book have it misspelled?"

JJ, taken aback, glanced at the book again. "How do you know it's misspelled?"

"Well, everyone knows a tadpole is spelled with an 'le,' not an 'al,'" Ty pointed out, a hint of amusement in his voice at the oddity.

JJ, placing a finger under her chin in contemplation, admitted, "I really have no idea what a tadpole or a 'tadpoal' is, but seeing the title of 'revive' intrigued me to give it a quick glance."

Ty, intrigued but still puzzled, commented, "I see. I guess stories about revival are interesting. But what does the book's content have to do with anything?"

JJ believed there was significance behind the book's placement. "Well, I think it was placed here for a reason, but of course, it's just a theory. But here, look at this." She opened the book to the first page, which depicted a boy resembling Ty, complete with a bright smile.

As she continued to turn the pages, Ty's depicted happiness gradually diminished, replaced by increasing numbers of dead bodies around him.

Watching the pages flip, Ty's confusion grew until a particularly striking image caught his attention. The book showed him surrounded by guards, his expression one of sheer anger, baring his teeth. Another page transitioned to a scene of him lying in a cave, his body poorly painted with bandages and parts decaying.

The narrative took a significant turn on the last page, which depicted him waking up in a field, but with a noticeable difference: his eyes were a light blue hue, distinct from before. This visual journey through the book mirrored aspects of Ty's own experiences

"I see, that is also the field I remember waking up in after I was knocked out by Erebos," Ty shared, linking the imagery in the book to his own experiences.

JJ, confused by the mention of a name unfamiliar to her, queried, "Who?"

Ty, pondering whether to delve into his complex story, finally decided, "Well, you went out of your way doing all of this, so I guess I should tell you a bit of everything, though I might miss some parts as my memory is never the best."

He then embarked on a condensed recounting of his journey, spanning from his departure from work to the attack by Erebos and the various individuals he had met along the way. "The only thing I'm not so sure about is this creature inside of me that randomly popped up sometime around after I had been revived as a skeleton."

JJ, taken aback by the narrative, focused on one detail in particular. "That sounds a bit terrifying, so you were just walking around all day, every day as a skeleton?!"

Her astonishment at Ty's skeletal phase overshadowed the rest of his tale. "I see, so this Jade is very special to you also…" She paused, then added, "Knowing this info might help in my research, as I'm sure there is more to this now than ever before."

Moments later, the waiter returned with their meals, offering an apologetic smile. "Sorry about the wait. The kitchen staff took a bit to get their minds right after what happened, but they all wanted me to let you know how grateful they are for you standing up to those thugs."

Ty, modestly brushing off the praise, responded, "No worries. Rusuf did most of the work anyways, but I do appreciate the kindness."

"We've brought our finest glass of wine for you both and wanted you to enjoy it along with your late lunch. Also, here is your drink, sir," the waiter said, placing a glass on the table that swirled with hues of orange and yellow, leaving Ty visibly puzzled.

This isn't iced coffee, he thought to himself...

Nevertheless, with a polite smile, Ty inquired, "Thank you, and what is this drink again?"

Brightly, the waiter replied, "Yes, the Icysun Brew you asked for. It's a normal delicacy here and pairs great with your meal. It has a nice dark orange hint to it."

After offering a slight bow, the waiter walked away, leaving Ty and JJ to enjoy their unconventional yet thoughtful meal,

As the plates were set down, emanating steam, Ty observed the dish before him: a variation of duck breast served over a soft bed of rice, yet there was an odd twist to it he couldn't quite identify. JJ clasped her hands together in gratitude, saying, "Thank you, Titanis, and all the supporting help for allowing me to still enjoy good food.

I am sure my family is looking down on me, guiding me toward the best path."

After a brief moment, she released her hands and noticed Ty's puzzled look. "Don't worry about that; it's just something I do for good luck. But we can go ahead and start eating," she explained, trying to mask her embarrassment with a casual demeanor, though internally, she was wrestling with a flurry of emotions. 'I didn't plan for all of this to look like some fancy date?!?!

I just wanted to show him the book and talk about the funds... Why did his mentor suggest this place and then not show up?'

Meanwhile, Ty, already halfway through his meal, commented on its quality. "This is really good; it reminds me of a dish back on Earth… Are you okay? Your face is a bit red, and you haven't touched your food."

JJ, brought back to the present by Ty's concern, tried to dismiss her internal turmoil. "Sorry, there's just a lot on my mind right now with everything that's happened. I get lost in my own thoughts sometimes," she admitted