The Rise Of Calamity

The next day I and granny got everything we needed into a bag or onto ourselves. I put the knife onto my belt. Right now it was around 11 inches long and 2 inches wide near the hilt. It looked like the combat knives from the earth that the military would use. Since the knife could be used to create and customize any weapon within the wielder's imagination, it could replicate anything that didn't need ammunition like a gun. To create a bow, you would need your arrows to even use it while making a gun required your ammunition and gunpowder.

The weapon that I called 'The Light Brigade' was named after the failed light cavalry attack on the Russians by the British in the 19th-century Crimean war. I don't know why I called it such a name, but when I was thinking of names, 'light brigade' just clicked in my head when I held its knife form.

I named the gloves given to me by my mother 'Soul Snatchers' and the necklace given to me by my sister after her. 'Aurora' both represent her eyes, her name, and the northern lights back in my world.

When me and granny dispatched towards our destination we talked a bit but most of the journey was silent. We didn't talk at home because I didn't like it when someone could easily tell when I'm lying. 'The best lie you can tell is a lie you fooled yourself into believing' Is the quote to best describe what I go through in the presence of my grandma.

Throughout the rest of the journey, she would simply point out things and teach me what they are while I would either nod or ask a question about them.

Damn, this is awkward, How the hell am I supposed to communicate normally with someone I have nothing in common with? All I can do is ask her questions about the scenery and what they are even though I already know the answers to most of the questions I'm asking

When we finally reached the village a few miles away from our house I was immediately bored.

What the hell was I on when I said I wanted to become friends with the children of the village? Plus being around so many people suddenly are making my stomach rumble. Sh*t, why do I feel so hungry?!

"Hey granny, do you mind if we eat first?"

"Yeah sure, why not. I have a friend who owns a restaurant here"

We both seemed to be quite hungry so we both walked towards her friend's restaurant. It was nothing like the one Aroura had taken us to when my and mom had our little quarrel but it was a refreshing change. The atmosphere wasn't tense at all, but rather it was quite light-hearted. Men were cheering with all their might and women were talking to either other women or they were in an adventurer leather kit that you would see in the video games back on earth.

There wasn't a single prostitute. Well, not a single prostitute from what I could see, and while most of the soul flames here weren't as strong as my parents or Aroura's that had been only bee getting larger, their soul flames were as bright as the sun on average.

Damn what the hell makes them so happy? Is it because they have friends? I should try that out some time whenever the people my age aren't children, teenagers, or whining man-children.

The moment we got in everyone looked back to see who entered and for some odd reason, everyone's smiles turned brighter and so did their soul flames as it flickered with…. Joy?

"XELA! IS THAT YOU?!" A man with a beer in his hand said with a jubilant shocked smile.

"How are you all doing? Been pretty busy these years I didn't get a chance to come here especially on my winter breaks"

Everyone cheered for a reason unknown to me, yet I just went along with a shrug. They all started to talk to Granny about their life even though she didn't ask, yet she looked to be having fun with her old friends. I decided to sit down at a table near while waiting for her to finish up with all the speaking and get to the eating

I have an odd suspicion that she is not hungry but just came here to speak-

"Hey there little girl, the seat you're on is reserved for my friend," said a man with a hoarse voice. He was huge with a build of a bodybuilder. He had pale blonde colored hair and beard that were filthy with either beer and… and… What the hell is that? It's kind of… orange?

"what's your name little one?" Said a man with a black overcoat that reached his knees. He had brown eyes so dark that they looked black with jet black scruffy hair going down to his eyes.

"Pandora Raven" I replied with a stern voice that emphasized my last name, almost telling him that if he messes with me, he messes with my granny

"you do certainly look like That old women's grandchild. The blonde hair, the assertive look, all you're missing is the blue eyes and you should look like an exact replica" The man with pale blonde hair said

"she certainly does" replied the man with jet black hair "want a drink? Hahaha…. What are you doing here anyway? I'm pretty sure your mother would kill your grandma if she knew she brought you here"

"Well I got pretty hungry so she said we could come here and eat because she was hungry too. I doubt she is hungry but it wont hurt anyone if she gets a few minutes with her friends right?" I replied with a shrug

"Oh? Are you hungry? I can get you something if you want?" said the pale blonde-haired man

"Thanks, but no. I cant make a man I had just met pay for the food I'm going to eat, plus, my mom said not to talk to strangers. I've already broken that rule but I think eating from someone else's pocket is going a little far" I said with a little bow this time

"oh well, I do like you though. You don't act all pampered like a noble even though your family is close to becoming one. Your granny must have taught you a lot of things. Man if I had a boy your age I would have had him marry you instantly" Said the Pale blond-haired man while laughing heartily towards his remark. I laugh awkwardly with him not knowing what the hell to say before it becomes awkwardly silent between us despite the loud environment.

"oh, I didn't ask for your names." I said hurriedly trying to get rid of the awkward air.

"Throid," the pale blonde haired man said

"Alan," said the man with the jet black hair and the black overcoat.

They both stared at me in unison

Is this when I say my name? didn't I say it before though?

"Pandora, even though I told you before"

"oh yes, bad memory, sorry," Throid said bowing with only his head and a bright smile stretched on his face. Alan didn't say anything so I didn't try to bother him any further.

I looked towards granny who was struggling to get out of the crowd that had formed around her.

I wonder if Alcohol will have the same effect as it always did or will it be detoxified? If I'm correct, my body should filter alcohol in the liver to a certain extent, and then I should become drunk. However, if my food and drinks are broken down within the stomach…. But does that work the same with liquids? Wait, am I stupid? Of course, it does, then I would need to go to the bathroom to piss if it didn't work on liquids. And even if it didn't work on liquids, my body had been refined to such a state that only the strongest alcohols can affect me, even though it will be small.

Well, only one reason to find out even though I'm sure that the chances of it working are far lower than it not working. I called the waiter and asked her the price of the strongest liquor they had.

"uhm" the waitress was slightly flustered by a child asking the price of the strongest liquor but her experience and work attitude took control and allowed her to keep her fluster to herself.

"3 silvers per serving. May I ask who you're buying it for?" the woman asked with her best smile. She realized that the two men I had been earlier talking to seemed as shocked as her by the question.

I put my hand to my chin while I thought for a second.

If my Terraria knowledge has taught me anything it is that 100 copper is a single silver coin. A hundred silver coin is a single gold while a hundred gold is single platinum. Seems cheap! Wait no I'm being too naïve. Okay, thing Pand-… I mean, think Atlas. I don't know the normal salary of a person on this planet and I don't have anything but video games to tell me what the prices would normally be. Video games are too inconsistent so I mus-

"uhm, miss? Do you mind answering my question" the waitress asked

"Yo, Throid. How much do you make per pay at your job" I asked

"20 silver a fortnight, why?" he answered and asked without thinking

Moron… do you not know how to keep your mouth shut? Well, thanks anyway.

"20… only?" I asked with worry and confusion in my voice

"sorry miss rich girl from a rich family but we work hard every day for those coins you think are garbage-" tried to say Throid before I cut him off with my voice

"GRANNY! CAN YOU COME HERE FOR A SECOND?" I asked with a loud tone that everyone heard me

Grandma immediately teleported to my side before looking suspiciously at both her past accomplices why saying "you better not have done anythin-"

"How much money do you have on you?" I asked with a slightly demanding slightly pleading voice.

"why?" she asked with a suspicious look while crossing her arms and looking down at me without tilting her head.

"is 3 silver coins for a single serving of liquor a lot?"

"…"

"…"

"…"

"…"

Why is no one saying anything? Did I say something wrong- Oh yeah I'm a child… How did I live in this body for 5 years without killing myself on accident or something? Maybe my memory isn't as good as I thought it was huh…

"why?" my grandma asked with a demanding voice

Well, I might as well go all the way huh.

"cuz' I wanna see how much I can take before blacking out"

"…"

"…"

"…"

"…"

Maybe I should have said that… If this was a game I would probably be forced to put some points into intelligence. Photographic memory doesn't help an idiot pass their practical exam.

"well, yeah why not." Said Throid with a shrug " I bet 3 silver coins on her being out cold after 3 shots"

"3 silvers on 5, she looks like a tough nut to crack," said Alan with a chuckle

"WHAT ARE YOU GUYS IDIO-" my grandma paused before sighing and face-palming before asking me "you sure you wanna do this?"

"yeah"

"then I bet 8 silvers on 10 shots

The waitress couldn't keep how flabbergasted she was by what just happened in front of her eyes. To her, a child barely 5 years old is about to try and drink a crap ton of alcoholic substances.

"well, I've seen a shit ton of things today so I'm not even going to question you guys anymore. Anyway, more money for us, right? We keep 15% of all the bets that are made within this bar." Said the waitress with a sigh

"that's the spirit!" Shouted Throid loud enough to get the attention of everyone in the bar.