Heading over to the Taoist in question, Abenti noticed that the he had a bored look on his face. He then turned to her and said what he apparently intoned many more times than one would care to count: "It is said that the stars in the sky all represent people. Any two stars could represent you and your love. For a Dragonball, I shall move apart the two stars that represent you and your love, and grant you a divorce. Are you here to get separated?"
Abenti shook her head.
"No, I'm not even married yet. I was told you could answer my questions." Abenti said as she handed him the letter.
The Taoist took the letter, and then read it. He then smiled at Abenti. "Well, this is a pleasant surprise. Usually the only people who come to visit me are the ones who are seeking to be separated from their spouses. It's depressing actually, how many of them come to me. So what questions do you seek to be answered?"
Abenti recounted everything that had happened one more time. "And that leaves us here for me to ask for help."
The Taoist nodded. "Well, it sounds like quite a powerful spell that this Sesmar cast on you. To get back to where you were, you would have to become a very extremely powerful Taoist to tap into the power of the universe. You would have to become a Water Saint, or even become reborn."
"But...but...by the time that happens, my friend would be long dead and Sesmar would have conquered the planet..." Abenti stuttered.
The Taoist had a grim expression in his face. "Yes, I know. Of course, you could also find a way to manipulate time itself too, using the time scar. Have you heard of the legend of the time scar?"
"No..." Abenti shook her head.
The Taoist then told her about the legend of Ralph and Emily, who were forbidden lovers. Emily's father, who was an extremely powerful Taoist, who happened to be a Fire Saint, did not approve of such a union. When Emily refused to comply with her father's wishes, he created an orb that controlled the contours of time and space and used it to throw the two lovers into two different time periods.
This created a time scar, which separated the two lovers into two pocket worlds that was connected with this world. So now, to this day, they were able to send each other messages and roses to each other with the help of the two creatures who watched over them - Little Wolf and Big Wolf. Moreover, Emily’s father sent the orb right into the dimensional chaos, so that nobody in this world would be able to use the orb to break the spell. Many people who were seeking for a challenge often tried to find this orb for their own personal gain.
"You know, if you somehow managed to find this orb, you could also use it to travel though time once you got back to your time period. Thus, you could be able to stop Sesmar and save your friend in time."
Abenti remained silent for a few moments. Concern sprawled over her face. "Is there no clue as to where this orb is at?"
The Taoist nodded. "Well, Little Wolf and Big Wolf used to work for Emily's father. Many have asked them about it, but they seem to think that Emily’s father could easily come back. So not wanting to face their master's wrath, they have been...how do I say this? Speaking in riddles about the locations of the orb. But they seem to know where it is, although they would claim otherwise."
"Wonderful...riddles wrapped in enigmas within puzzles..." Abenti sighed.
He nodded again. "Now you see why it is so difficult for other people to find the orb as well."
Ranmza walked over to them. "Hey, are you done here or what?"
Abenti looked at Ranmza then back at the Taoist. "Is there any more you could tell me before my friend and I depart?"
The Taoist shook his head. "I have given you all the advice I could."
Ranmza then looked at Abenti. "So what did he tell you? Anything useful?"
"It's a start..." Abenti said with another sigh. "It just looks like I'll be here for a while..."
"Are you really that pressed for time?" Ranmza asked as she looked at Abenti in concern, before shaking her head. "Never mind, stupid question."
They walked away from the Taoist, and then Ranmza seemed to decide that browsing though the marketplace stalls would take Abenti's stress off a little bit. "So, Abenti. What are your plans to get back to where you belong?"
"Well, it'd have helped to have talked it over with my friends back home since between them and myself we practically figure out anything... but I'm just going to do what I've done before I met them. Doing it solo...It's strange...I use to be so proficient when I was on my own....now I feel empty...My friend in peril...my boyfriend, my other friends, my family...they're so far away..." Abenti stifled a small sob.
Ranmza looked at Abenti with concern. "Well, you're not alone you know. Just consider me your friend, eh?"
"But...you hardly know me...and I do have certain aspects of myself and my past that I have to keep hidden from you. Some friend I'd be..."
Ranmza shrugged. "So? We all have our own secrets that we wouldn't want others to know, not even our closest friends and loved ones. Besides, you're talking to the wrong person about how friendship and love takes time. I met my man, and I got married to him before the day was even over. And we've been married two years now."
Ranmza then slapped her forehead. "Oh shit! I forgot I was supposed to help him with something when I was done with my own quest! He must be at home, wondering where I am. Come on, you can meet him!"
She grabbed Abenti's arm, and practically yanked her high into the air as Ranmza leaped towards home. Some time later, Ranmza was home and Abenti's arm was aching from all the jumping around.
"Alche? Are you home?" Ranmza yelled at the top of her lungs.
It was then a winged man with sliver-white hair seemed to hover out of the bedroom area. "Ranmza, where were you? I was beginning to worry."
He went down with grace, his wings slowing him down for the landing. He then looked at Abenti curiously.
Ranmza then grinned at Abenti. "He's just so dreamy, isn't he?"
"Eh...no comment." Abenti muttered. The person was average to Abenti...nowhere near the suave, handsome and cute Toraboushi waiting for her back home.
Ranmza sniggered. "Nowhere as good as your own man, eh? Of course all the girls always think that their men are the best."
Ranmza then grew serious, and then turned her attention on her husband. "Sorry I wasn't able to help you today. This fair lady was in more dire need of help. Alche, this is Abenti. Abenti, meet my Husband Alche."
Ranmza then couldn't help but brag a little bit to Abenti, "You know, he's a high-ranking archer who's very close to getting reborn."
Alche then smiled at Abenti. "Nice to meet you Abenti."
"Likewise, I'm sure." Abenti said with a formal bow.
Ranmza's eyes then lit up. "Oohh. I just thought of something. Abenti, since you're so pressed for time, why don't you enlist Alche's help? He's a high-ranking archer, who often helps people's quests go faster due to his speed with the bow and his flying ability."
Ranmza then slapped her own chest. "I'll offer you my services too!"
"But what if there's something that I'm suppose to learn on my own?"
Ranmza thought that question over, and then sweat-dropped. "Well we certainly can't help you with everything, but we'll help you in any way we can."
Alche looked at Ranmza in curiosity. "Now, what's this about?"
So they all went to sit down and have some tea while Ranmza filled Alche in on the details. When the story was finished, Alche was struck down to his very roots of chivalry. Deeply moved, he replied, "Abenti, I’ll be proud to offer you my services to help you speed up the process as much as possible, so that you can save your friend!"
With that, Alche made an overdramatic pose.
Ranmza could not help but sweat-drop as she said, "Now, now... There’s no need for all that posing."
"I suppose so." Abenti said with a slight smile. "I'd also need to consider living arrangements and the like."
Ranmza thought that over. "Well, you could stay here temporary until you get a place. So far, the only housing you can get is though the house agent, who lives in Twin City. He could probably tell you what to do."
"I see. What about supplies? Does everybody wear armor and carry weapons?"
Ranmza nodded. "Usually, yeah. Most people make their living doing quests and hunting now a days. There isn't much in the way of a job market lately, you see."
"Hmm..." Abenti mentally toiled and puzzled about the situation. She yearned just to be by herself and longed for her other self to transform her into a tiger.
Ranmza grinned at her. "And now that you're a Water Taoist, wait until you gain the ability to turn into an animal!"
She smiled at Abenti, not realizing the irony of the words she had said, thinking that Abenti didn't have the ability already.
If she only knew... Abenti thought. "Would it be alright if I was alone for a while... I have an urge to hunt, and sometimes it's best when I'm not with anyone..."
Ranmza nodded. "Just be sure to not wander too far."
Alche snickered. "Ranmza, you sounded like a mother when you said that."
Ranmza's cheeks flushed. "Err, I didn't mean it that way I only meant that she shouldn't wander into those areas with the stronger monsters."
Abenti smiled and walked out a distance. If the scents were correct, then she would have no problem at least finding her way back to Twin City.
There were red Robins flying about, although they still looked owl-like to Abenti. In addition, there were those strange ghost-like creatures up north, although they were very solid to the point of being able to be attacked and killed.
The Robins all formed a mob around Abenti, as they started move in to attack. Abenti chose that moment to see if the tiger within her was able to come out. Moreover, surprisingly it did, but it did not feel the same. Although she had Tiger's body, Tiger's persona was missing. She was nearly bowled over that it took her so long to realize that she was truly alone in this realm.
The Robins screeched in surprise at this, but they did not falter in their attacks. Their nests in the cherry blossom trees had to be protected from any possible threats, after all. Not to mention they tended to like attacking anything that was not a bird regardless. Abenti let out a loud roar before batting away the Robins.
Some Robins were hit, and went flying into the ground before becoming completely still. The others tried to be a little cleverer in their attacks, forming formations although there was still a limited cleverness to it. They swooped in to attack. A few of them got too close to Abenti's mouth and she bit down causing feathers to loosen and some blood to trail from the wounds.
The few that were bit, just laid there twitching on the ground. Some other birds were starting to rethink attacking the tiger. A few birds still had not learned their lesson though, and persisted in attacking the tiger. She then unsheathed her claws and stepped up with the paw swiping attack. With that, there were no more Robins looking for a fight.