-So I've gotten some some feedback and I'm gonna try to watch my grammar and change up some stuff if I can.
-I want to thank those that are reading my story and that provide feedback.
-Please if this is boring or not good enough, tell me.
-(Newer Author's Note): I know I missed last week's chapter I'm sorry. Work and school have been keeping me busy. As an apology I will try to make this chapter extra long, and maybe something extra :D. I'll try to keep on schedule especially by the second week of February as I'll be quitting work to focus on finishing school and trying to find a better job in the future.
-Also, all the follows and favorites and comments of encouragement makes me feel awesome, so thanks a lot :D.
(Extra author's note): Sorry if you guys keep getting updates on chapter 2's deletion and publication, the damn publisher on here is annoying keeps messing the file up.
-Enjoy, and p.s. I also enjoy Elesis x Elsword, but I also enjoy Elsword x Aisha. C;
The group arrived exhausted at one of Sander's inns. The place was owned by a village elder who greeted the heroes with open arms. Everyone in Sander knew of the El Search Party. They had stopped Karis's minions a multitude of times and everyone in Sander was grateful. The village and its elders and people all thought highly of the Party. Sander had been in a tough situation fending off all the monsters alone, it could be considered a war-torn place. Fending off the sandstorms and conditions had always been tradition, easy, but when Karis appeared, everything changed for the worse. The market was nearly empty all the time, when the group had first appeared a few months ago and began pushing back the monsters, things slowly returned to normal. Children and village elders were now able to live in peace as they once had. The older men though, they were always worried even with the El Search Party around. So many men had been lost barely being able to hold off the monsters and the frequent attacks and only a few men remained. Even with the peace returning to the once sullen and barren village, things still felt lonely and the emptiness still resided. The only thing heard were winds, children could not smile as they had lost a piece of their childhoods and innocence, for their fathers had not returned.
The winds blew, and along with them blew the spirit of sander, bellowing like a veil. It was still there but only hanging from a thread. The ground was rocky and the sand could be heard crisp under foot when stepped upon. Although it was covered by the small yellow grain, the floor was made of stone which had long been textured yellow by the impending sandstorms. The long yellow-stoned path gave way to huts, a few inns, and some houses which were sturdily built. Most of them had some kind of strongly tired cloth to their windows as to keep the sand out. There, still on the outskirts of Sander, was an inn, as small as the rest.
The Inn on the outside was made of a solid compact stone with a yellow texture resembling sand-almost like the path. On the inside it was homey and warm. Blankets and decore related to Sander's culture were scattered about. It was a small place but big enough to hold the group. The old village elder in a white turbine was named Insignus. Insignus told them in a soft and crisp voice "please feel free to sit and relax here, your rooms are ready upstairs whenever you would like to head to them. I am very grateful for all you have done heroes and if there is anything I can assist you with please feel free to ask." The group responded with gratitude and many thanks. Although they had been there a few months, the hospitality never gave.
Elsword sat down slowly on a big round leather chair with blankets. Elesis immediately began treating and bandaging Elsword's wounds. He knew better then to resist. She looked at his scars eyeing them closely. She hated seeing such scars on him all the time. The wounds on him weren't as terrible as usual, which lightened her heavy heart somewhat. She lifted her hand a bit and slapped his scars with enough force for him to feel it. He yelped in pain "ow! What was that for?!" He turned around to see Elesis giving him a small grin. He was about to complain when he noticed that the grin she held had more to it. Her soft face had two dribbles of water. Elsword closed his agape mouth, once ready to let out words of anger and bitterness, but now he could only close it with a surprised heaviness. He stared at his sister for a few seconds before he wrapped his arms around her in a tightened bear hug. He felt the coldness inside him steam a little, like it hadn't in a long time. It had been a long time since he held his sister like this. Her swift crimson hair fell down in smooth and long locks. He could feel her smooth skin too, he hated that she always wore such exposing clothes. Nonetheless, he held her tight. When he looked at her her usual unfazing and dull dagger-like gaze was broken into a small frown with tears slowly streaming down in small and gentle treasure-like beads of tears. Elesis could feel Elsword's warm body. She never wanted to end this, his heart beat was reason enough to want to stick to Elsword and never let go, as if they were both pieces to an infinite puzzle.
The group looked in wonderment. The two siblings had always fought, so to see them act so caring towards each other made everyone warm inside.
Raven wiped away the small smirk that had cracked through his impenetrable wall before anyone could notice. A certain green elf though, was giddy at the glimpse of light she hadn't seen on the crow's face ever-at least not since she had first encountered him.
"Seris? It can't be you…." the Crow Commander was flabbergasted. His sword had fallen to the ground as lifeless as the lives it had once taken. The rage…the shroud of hatred…the red…but most of all, the loneliness, it had all subsided for a glimmer of a second. It was as if all the beast's emotions simmered down from a rainstorm into a sad drizzle of melancholy. the Crow Commander slowly reached out expecting a mirage, expecting the sight before him to be unreal and gone with a touch. Rena looked onto the crow. She didn't know what to do. She saw it all - everything. She saw hatred and malice all enveloped into this broken man, who had become a lost, wandering monster. She saw a man who was not evil, but had let evil befall his now dreaded hand. She saw innocence riddled with corruption and destruction.
On this broken man's face fell a tear as soft and yearning as a helpless soul. It fell slowly and silent - yet so loud. On the crow's face, as if to crawl from his most inner-demons, came a smile.
Rena smiled at the sight before her, before the bar keep sounded like an alarm. "Heroes, come drink and eat! All of it's on the house for your kind hearts and bravery!" There on a long and wooden table, laid a long dark-red silk cloth with silver candles lightened. Near them lay an onslaught of dishes wide in size with everything from roasted salamander to mashed potatoes and fries with special spices added to them. Elsword beamed at the food, and before Elesis realized it her hands once holding a warm Elsword, were now holding nothing. She silently chuckled at Elsword's quick appearence to the table and went to sit next to him, realizing just how hungry she was herself from her salivating mouth.
The gang also laughed at Elsword's reaction to the food before they all found themselves sitting on the blanketed chairs quite hungry themselves.
Ara looked around the table, it had been a long time since she felt this way. This feeling...of nostalgia - Family, that's what it was. She hadn't dined with her own family in a long time. This was the closest thing she felt to family since her brother had descended into corruption and the loss of her parents. She smiled warmly at everyone, looking over to Add.
Add was sitting next to Eve with a smug expression on his face. "Kekeke, finally our heroic endeavors are being met with just reward." Eve ignored the lunatic next to her as she looked around at everyone. She had never eaten like this, with others surrounded in kind and accepting smiles.
Lu gave a devilish grin at the food and then to the blonde haired boy next to her, lightly kicking him playfully. Chung responded to her with a smile before poking her nose to which she stuck her tongue out to him for. Lu then looked to Ciel, who again was in deep thought.
"Ciel, what concerns you so much lately?" Ciel turned to Lu acknowledging her somewhat hesitatingly. He quietly said "Solace, I could feel his energy again when we were fighting Karis's underling. Not only that, I felt his energy there too." Lu could see Ciel's worried expression. "Ciel, don't worry if it is Solace and him too, we're strong now, we'll find a way to take care of it." Ciel sighed "you're right milady, I'm over thinking things, do not let my troubled thoughts keep you from enjoying the feast." Ciel wasn't worried as much for Lu as he was for his own selfish intentions. Solace was a part of whatever plan that led to his family's obliteration. He would make him suffer if it was the last thing he could do.
Chung always liked playing with Lu. He knew she hated to be treated as a child but, the way they played together was out of friendship. They always teased each other because although they loved the El Search Party and were friends with each member, they had always felt alone within it. Chung used to speak and laugh so much with Elsword-now it was rare to speak with him at all. Raven used to speak with both of them too but he himself had became more reserved too when he became the Veteren Commander of the Crows. Raven always silently watched everything refraining from joining in. The only one he would really speak with was Rena. Lu always talked with Ciel but something had been bothering him for the longest time and Lu knew there was nothing to be done about it as he avoided all of her questions.
Elsword said his thanks and began shoving food into his mouth. Then, a small object hit his cheek and bounced off of it as he was chewing the somewhat hard to chew lizard meat. It was a piece of fry, he looked up in annoyance to see Aisha try and seclude a giggle to herself, but ultimately fail. Aisha felt odd for some reason, but shrugged it off. Across the table Elesis glared at Aisha.
Aisha received a scolding from Rena as she began eating. Not before long, she felt a small prickle on her forehead. She looked up in time to see the red head hide a small cracked grin. He looked at her seriously before she smirked mischievously back. Two can play at that game Eldork.
Elsword grinned inside. He began to stuff his face again as he felt a weird sensation up his leg. It felt really ticklish and quick to rise from his foot to his thigh. He squirmed at the feeling trying to stop it to no avail. He finally stood up agitated and rigid to everyone's surprise.
Aisha held her hands over her mouth trying to suppress the laughter as a small scale-y lizard crawled down his pants. Elsword looked at her with a look of annoyance. Everyone gave a small chuckle, even Elesis couldn't resist a small smile.
-Once again I'm so sorry this took so long to update guys. I hope you enjoyed this chapter, I want to introuduce the lore more before going into the story and relationships more, there will be things here and there though as far as those two things go.
-I tried to make this chapter a bit lighter, but honestly I love adding in as much details as possible. Both that and the dark and serious tone I try to evoke are like my thing. I'll try not to make this too much like that though.
-I wanted to ask everyone's opinion if I should introduce Ain next chapter or later. I don't know much of his story or character so I've been holding off on introducing him, but I can try and learn his story and add him in next chapter.
-I –once again –want to thank everyone for their support and their glorious feedback and comments, feels good 😀. I hope you all enjoy this release, and I'm still working on starting up that discord server when I get the chance. Please feel free to ask anything for now in the comments.
-Much love and thanks :D