An Aegis

Author's Preface

Naren's ears perked as he heard the croaking of a frog. A very loud croak, before he felt something slimy rub off on this face almost pulling him back with the suction.

When his eyes opened up he was face to face with a giant frog that had been staring at him. It's large eyes reflecting his face as it lashed out with it's tongue once more.

Naren jumped over the tongue, letting his momentum spin his body as he twisted his hips and dug his forefoot into the cranium of the frog. Immediately causing it to rattle off and topple over.

"Is this some Giant's fairy tale. How the hell'd I get here and where's the princess and the candle."

Naren muttered to himself as he tried rubbing the saliva off himself. Despite it being a bit warmer he didn't shed the coat he got from Yuna. It was so comfy inside, plus who knew how cold it would get later.

But disregarding that, the rest of his clothes had been through the wringer. His shirt was smudged and dirtied, with marks that no amount of grating would remove. His pants were torn at the edges, it's light blue color muddled and darker.

Naren clicked his tongue as he looked around.

He hadn't realized it before, but the jungle he was in was enormous. The trees seemed to reach for the ceiling that wasn't even visible to him. Instead the height lurked up into darkness.

Everything about this place was absurdly huge.

And that girl...

Well he was glad she was out of his hair. What a nuisance she was.

He laid down, leaning on the fainted frog. It's round squishy body acting as a pillow for him. Albeit a slimy pillow. But he wasn't in a position to complain.

Was the best thing to do to wait?

Well, he wasn't even sure if those two had fallen down here with him. Nor did he know how they fell down here.

Suddenly, the body of the frog began to twist and turn from beside him. It's insides squirming around like there was a bug inside beating on it's flesh.

Naren's grimaced as he picked up on breathing and familiar annoying voice penetrate the stomach of the frog.

"Where am I?! Help! Someone!"

Naren sighed rolling his head back.

Why couldn't she just get dissolved by the digestive fluid or something. Well, not like he had to help or anything. He didn't owe her anything.

He got up, hoping to leave before she caught sight of him, but to his misfortune, the next second a hand reached out from the frog's mouth. It's nails digging into the skin of the blue spotted frog as a brown haired woman emerged from.

She was erratic as soon as she popped out. Her panicked breathing already annoying Naren as she began jumping around, pulling herself out of the poor frog.

The girl was flung out as the frog regained consciousness, regurgitating everything in it's stomach. The poor creature looked like it had tears in it's eyes before it quickly fled into the vast emerald lake.

The girl's brown hair hung loose like curtains as she sat on all four on the ground. Catching her breath while simultaneously trying to calm herself down.

Naren on the other hand was trying to tip toe away.

"Stop! Please don't leave!"

Before he could, the girl had latched onto him.

Naren sighed.

"Leave? I wasn't going anywhere."

"G-good."

"Just calm down. Let's just rest here and take a breather."

The girl nodded as they both sat down, leaning on a giant fallen tree trunk. It's bark a shrill shade of brown that bordered black, almost corroding off.

The girl placed her hand on her chest as she calmed herself down, slicking her hair back, she broke the silence.

"Thank you...I'm sorry about before, punching you...I don't handle scares too well... Uhm...What's your name?"

Naren hadn't cared much about before. He was just glad that she wasn't expending more of his energy. Now he only cared about finding the perfect chance to slip away and be rid of her.

"Hmm me? Naren."

"Naren...? That's unique. I'm jade."

Naren tilted his head as he stared at the girl. His bright golden eyes wide staring at her.

"Isn't jade green?"

Jade smiled while she looked at the ceiling, her nerves seemed calm now as her voice stabilized for the first time since she'd met Naren.

"Yeah, they are aren't they... My mother actually never saw a jade. Well, to be frank she hadn't seen much. Her vision had been terrible. So I guess, to her my eyes were close enough."

Naren started giggling to himself as Jade finished her story.

"Hehe, really now. Haha."

Jade turned to him a scowl on her face.

"What's so funny? I think it's a beautiful name. Look at yours, it barely even makes sense!"

Naren continued laughing as Jade pressed her. Her voice growing more agitated by the second. Until he had finally calmed down, wiping tears out of his eyes.

"Jade's nice. It's memorable."

The girl paused at Naren's sudden comment.

She smiled looking off into the emerald lake.

"Yeah I wouldn't want any other na-"

"So where are we? You a native or something?"

Naren sprung up, stretching.

He had no idea how long he was asleep for, but he felt a lot better now. He assumed that Jade was with him which is why he was able to go so long undisturbed. Well until she was swallowed by the frog that is.

Jade shook her head.

"I actually just got here myself about a day ago."

"I guess you fell in that massive hole too, huh?"

"Hole? No, that was a while ago."

"Hm?"

"Yeah, I'm actually here to look for two aspirants if you know of them."

Naren paused. She was looking for two aspirants?

"Who? Maybe I've seen them."

Of course, the only people he had seen were Cairo and Yuna. Not including those two working for Nero. But he doubted they were the ones she was looking for.

Jade motioned for Naren to come closer, as if to tell him a secret.

"You're not going to believe it, but there are two real heavy hitters here... The Eye of Janus and the Stain of Musashi."

"Who name's their children something like that?"

Jade looked at Naren baffled.

"Obviously that's not their name. It's they're Epithet."

"Epithet?"

By now, Jade's face had contorted into an unbelievable look that took all Naren's might not too laugh at. She had stared at him like he was crazy.

"Epithets. Titles given to shaman by the Emperors of the noble families themselves. You mean to tell me you've never heard of them?"

"Cooool...I want one too!"

"Well it's only the greatest of shaman that get one. And somehow these two got them as Aspirants! Princess Yuna and Cairo are amazing!"

The sides of Naren's lips curled as he sucked his lips in.

"Hmm...Where did you say you were from again?"