Elemental hero Neos: Wake up your heart

Chapter 2: Crash Landing and Curious Eyes

Percy, still slightly disoriented from his abrupt arrival, surveyed his surroundings. The floating garden, a verdant island amidst the city's stone and crystal, was a haven of tranquility. Exotic flowers bloomed in vibrant hues, their sweet fragrance mingling with the earthy scent of damp soil. Small, brightly colored birds flitted among the leaves, their melodic chirps a stark contrast to the distant hum of the city.

He glanced down at the courtyard below, a bustling space filled with people of various shapes and sizes. Humans, elves with pointed ears and graceful strides, and stocky dwarves with braided beards mingled with beings he couldn't readily identify. They wore robes and tunics of rich fabrics, some adorned with glowing runes, and carried staves or intricate wands. The air vibrated with a palpable energy, a sense of magic that was both foreign and exhilarating.

He tucked the fortune card back into his jacket, the faint warmth a reassuring presence. He needed to get his bearings, to figure out where he was and what he was supposed to do. He couldn't just stay hidden in a floating garden forever.

Taking a deep breath, he stepped to the edge of the garden, peering down at the courtyard. A wide, stone staircase led down to the bustling space, but it was crowded, and he didn't want to draw attention to himself. He spotted a smaller, winding path that seemed to lead to a less crowded area, a narrow alleyway between two buildings.

He decided to take the less conspicuous route. With a practiced ease honed from years of navigating treacherous terrains, he began to make his way down the winding path. The garden's dense foliage provided ample cover, allowing him to move unseen.

As he descended, he noticed a faint, rhythmic humming coming from below. He paused, listening intently. The humming grew louder as he approached the alleyway, accompanied by the clinking of metal and the crackling of energy.

He reached the mouth of the alleyway and peered around the corner. What he saw made him blink in surprise.

A young woman, no older than himself, stood in the center of the alleyway, her back to him. She wore a simple, practical tunic and trousers, her dark hair pulled back in a tight ponytail. In her hands, she held a glowing, crystalline orb that pulsed with a soft, blue light.

She was surrounded by a series of floating, metallic plates, each etched with glowing runes. The plates spun and shifted around her, emitting the rhythmic humming Percy had heard. With a flick of her wrist, she sent one of the plates flying towards a target painted on the alleyway wall. The plate struck the target with a crackling burst of energy, leaving a scorch mark.

Percy watched, intrigued. He'd seen plenty of magical displays in his life, but this was different. It wasn't flashy or dramatic; it was precise and controlled.

The woman seemed to sense his presence. She abruptly stopped her practice, the floating plates halting in mid-air. She turned, her dark eyes narrowing as she spotted Percy.

"Who are you?" she asked, her voice sharp and wary. "And what are you doing here?"

Percy stepped out of the shadows, raising his hands in a gesture of peace. "I'm… just passing through," he said, trying to sound casual. "I didn't mean to interrupt."

The woman's gaze lingered on his replica Slifer Red jacket, her brow furrowing. "That's an… unusual garment. I haven't seen anything like it here."

"Yeah, it's… a souvenir," Percy said, shrugging. "From where I'm from."

"And where is that?" she asked, her eyes still narrowed.

Percy hesitated. He didn't want to reveal too much, but he also didn't want to lie. "A long way from here," he said vaguely.

The woman's eyes narrowed further. She clearly didn't believe him. "You're not from Aethelgard, are you?"

"No," Percy admitted. "I'm… new here."

The woman's expression softened slightly, her curiosity piqued. "New? How did you get here?"

Before Percy could answer, a loud, booming voice echoed through the alleyway.

"Lyra! There you are!"

A tall, broad-shouldered dwarf, his beard braided with intricate metal rings, strode into the alleyway. He carried a large, runic hammer slung over his shoulder, and his eyes were wide with concern.

"I've been looking all over for you!" he said, his voice booming. "You know you're not supposed to be practicing alone in the alleyway. It's too dangerous."

He turned his attention to Percy, his eyes narrowing. "And who's this?"

Lyra glanced at Percy, then back at the dwarf. "This is… a traveler," she said. "He's new to Aethelgard."

The dwarf's gaze lingered on Percy, his expression suspicious. "A traveler, eh? Well, he's in the wrong part of town. This alleyway is private training grounds."

"He was just leaving," Lyra said quickly, giving Percy a pointed look.

Percy nodded, taking the hint. "Yeah, I was just heading out."

He turned to leave, but the dwarf's voice stopped him.

"Hold on there, traveler. You wouldn't happen to be carrying any… unusual items, would you?"

Percy's heart skipped a beat. He glanced at the dwarf, then back at Lyra. He knew he couldn't hide his Elemental Hero deck forever, but he wasn't ready to reveal it yet.

"Just my… souvenirs," Percy said, his hand instinctively going to his jacket pocket.

The dwarf's eyes narrowed further. "Show me."

I'll have Percy attempt to defuse the situation by showing the dwarf one of his cards, hoping to satisfy his curiosity without revealing too much.

Percy will attempt to diffuse the situation by showing the dwarf one of his cards, hoping to satisfy his curiosity without revealing too much.

Percy hesitated, then slowly unzipped his jacket, his movements deliberate and non-threatening. He reached into one of the inner pockets, his fingers brushing against the smooth, familiar texture of his Elemental Hero deck. He carefully extracted a single card, holding it up for the dwarf to see.

"It's just… a game," Percy said, trying to keep his voice steady. "A game I used to play back home."

He held up Elemental Hero Stratos. The card depicted a winged warrior, clad in white and gold armor, a determined look on his face. It was one of the less overtly powerful cards in his deck, a good choice for this situation.

The dwarf, whose name Percy still didn't know, squinted at the card, his brow furrowed. He stepped closer, his gaze intense. "What is this? Some kind of… magical artifact?"

Lyra, who had been watching the exchange with a mixture of apprehension and curiosity, leaned forward, her eyes wide. "It's… beautiful," she whispered, her gaze fixed on the image of Stratos. "I've never seen anything like it."

The dwarf grunted, his gaze shifting from the card to Percy. "It doesn't look like any magic I've ever seen. What does it do?"

Percy forced a smile, hoping he could pull this off. "It's… complicated," he said, trying to sound nonchalant. "It's part of a set. You use them to… duel."

"Duel?" The dwarf's eyes narrowed further. "Like a magical contest?"

"Something like that," Percy said, relieved that the dwarf seemed to be buying it. "It's just a game. Nothing dangerous." He carefully put the card back.

The dwarf remained silent for a moment, his gaze still fixed on Percy. Then, he let out a sigh, his shoulders slumping slightly. "Alright, traveler," he said, his voice less gruff than before. "I'll take your word for it. But if I see you causing any trouble, you'll be dealing with me."

He turned to Lyra, his expression softening. "Come on, Lyra. We need to get back to the academy. Professor Vespera will be expecting us."

Lyra nodded, her gaze lingering on Percy for a moment longer. "It was… interesting meeting you," she said, a hint of a smile playing on her lips. "Perhaps we'll meet again."

With that, she and the dwarf turned and walked away, leaving Percy alone in the alleyway. He let out a sigh of relief, his heart still pounding in his chest. He'd managed to avoid revealing too much, but he knew he couldn't keep his deck a secret forever. Sooner or later, he'd have to show his hand.

Percy watched Lyra and the dwarf disappear into the crowd, a mix of relief and lingering unease washing over him. He was safe, for now, but he knew he couldn't stay in this alleyway forever. He needed to find his way, to get a sense of this city, and to figure out where he was supposed to go.

He took a deep breath, trying to channel some of the confidence he used to possess. He was Percy Jackson, after all, even if he wasn't that Percy Jackson anymore. He'd faced down gods and monsters, he could handle a strange new city.

He stepped out of the alleyway and into the bustling street. The sights and sounds of Aethelgard assaulted his senses. The air hummed with magic, the crowds surged around him, and the architecture was unlike anything he'd ever seen. He felt a thrill of excitement, mixed with a healthy dose of apprehension.

He decided to try and find the Academy of Arcane Arts, the place Lyra and the dwarf had mentioned. It seemed like the most logical place to start, a place where he might find answers, or at least a place to blend in.

He approached a woman selling flowers from a floating stall, her hands moving with a grace that suggested a touch of magic. "Excuse me," Percy said, trying to sound polite. "I'm new to the city. Could you tell me how to get to the Academy of Arcane Arts?"

The woman looked up, her eyes widening slightly at the sight of Percy's unusual jacket. But she smiled kindly. "The Academy? It's quite a walk, but it's hard to miss. Head up this street, towards the highest plateau. You'll see the Luminary Spire, the tallest tower. The Academy surrounds it."

"The Luminary Spire," Percy repeated, nodding. "Got it. Thanks."

He started walking, following the woman's directions. The crowds thinned as he ascended, the buildings becoming grander and more ornate. He passed shops selling strange and wondrous items: glowing crystals, enchanted scrolls, and even small, caged creatures that seemed to shimmer in and out of existence.

He kept his eyes open, trying to absorb as much as he could about this new world. He knew he was an outsider, a stranger in a strange land. But he was also Percy Jackson, and he wouldn't back down from a challenge. He had a new world to explore, a new destiny to forge, and he was ready to face whatever came his way.