Author's Note: Sorry for not updating this for a long time. I kind of forgot about this and decided to pick it up again. Hope you all enjoy.
Hmm, Elsword thought. It's sure been a while since I've been here. He had been wondering around the city after checking in with Vanessa and Penensio. Sitting down at a park bench, he thought about the conversation with the Garrison Centurion and the Red Knight Captain.
At the Garrison Office
"Elsword? Is that really you?" Vanessa asked in a shocked tone as Elsword was escorted into her office with by Velder guards.
"In the flesh," he responded calmly.
"Ha," the Red Captain laughed. "Are you seriously that annoying little brat from before?"
Vanessa waved her hand at the Velder guards. "It's alright now, you can return to your posts now."
The Velder guards nodded and turned to leave. They glanced at the young man before them whom seem to impress some of the most prestigious figures in Velder.
"You've grown into quite the young man. Your sister would be impressed to see you now," Penensio patted him on the back in a friendly manner.
"Is my sister not here?" asked Elsword.
"Unfortunately no," Vanessa answered. "Currently she's investigating several reports in the countryside but she should be returning soon."
She looked at Elsword in the eye carefully, trying to validate that this was indeed the hot-headed boy they had met before. "Did Galvin not come with you?"
"No," Elsword responded with a sigh. "That old perv is probably soliciting with women in some other city. To think that he was the one who told me to go Velder and not come himself."
"Sounds a lot like him," Penensio sighed. "Well then, I guess you plan to attend the annual Lord Council Convention aren't you?"
"Yes I am,"Elsword affirmed. He remembered his mentor trying to convince him to go, telling him that it was important annual meeting between the lords and knights of Lurensia.
"Is it really for me necessary to go?" Elsword asked.
"Of course it is," his mentor said while shaking his glass of beer. "It'll be a good chance to introduce yourself to the Knight community. Plus it's a way to affirm your status as a lord knight by being recognized by the lords."
After gulping the full glass in an instant his mentor playfully called out to the young waitress much to Elsword's dismay. "More on tab now, sweet luv! Another round for me please!"
Elsword couldn't help but let out a shameful sigh while thinking about his mentor's inappropriate behavior.
"Well then," Vanessa said. "You should get some rest and relax after your long travel. The convention isn't until tomorrow."
"Alright then, I better take my leave," Penension said as he got up to leave. "See you tomorrow night then Elsword."
After Penensio left, Vanessa turned to Elsword. "Have you been in contact with your friends recently? "
"Nope," Elsword casually shrug while staring out at the sky. "Haven't heard anything about them at all one bit."
Vanessa looked Elsword straight in the eye with a concerning look. "Really you haven't? Or maybe you've been avoiding them purposely."
Elsword sigh, knowing that she could see through his act. "I see no point and have no need to make contact them."
"But they're your friends."
"I know," he said while remembering their faces. "But we each decided to go our own way. It was the general consensus. Plus it was for the better anyways."
Vanessa sat back in her chair and couldn't help but give and disappointing look. "Well then, that's all I have to say to you currently. You may leave."
Elsword nodded and respectfully bowed before leaving her office. As he walked down the spiraling stone staircase he tried to get Vanessa's words out of his head. They're your friends.
Hope Bridge
Friends alright, he thought as he walked along the rebuilt Hope Bridge. However deep down, Elsword was a little curious in the others, wondering where and how they were. They're probably better off right now anyway.
He turned abruptly to leave and bumped into a stranger. He tripped over the person and they both fell in a tangled mess. Elsword could feel a subtle pain on his head and began apologizing.
"Hey I'm sorr-"
Much to his surprise he felt a surprisingly pleasant soft sensation in his hand. He squeezed in curiosity, feeling two wonderful soft mounds in his hands.
"….." He looked down to see a face beautiful blonde girl staring right at him angrily and embarrassed. He quickly removed his hands and cleared his throat. "As you can see, this is just a little misunderst-"
Before he could finish, the girl's fist connected straight under his chin.
"Pervert!" she scolded. "Pushing down a girl and fondling her chest, what kind of guy are you?"
Elsword quickly recovered and tried to reason with her. "Wait now come on, it was just an accident."
Much to his dismay, the girl was no older than he was. He could tell by her posture, her outfit, and voice tone that she was of someone wealthy, privileged. Oh great, he thought, a rich girl. The thing that struck him the most was her blue eyes. Her cold gaze was so intense that that he felt as though they were piercing through him.
"What are you, some kind of klutz?," the girl with a superior tone. "Can't properly walk or something."
"I can walk just fine," Elsword said with an hint of annoyance. "I just happened to bump into you and all."
"Oh really," the girl asked sarcastically as she brushed a strand of her long hair back.
"Okay, sorry. It was just an accident, no need to make this into a big deal."
"So sexually harassing women isn't a big deal?"
"Now I didn't say that and that was really unnecessary," he noticed that their commotion was attracting the attention of bystanders passing. He spotted several Velder guards in the distance heading towards their direction. Great, just my luck. "Well look at the time, I guess I should be going. I'm apologized for the inconvenience and wish you a wonderful day."
"Hey there! Not so fast!" she started but he had already turned and started running.
Losing the guards should be easy, he thought as he cut a corner. Much to his surprise, he noticed a flash of golden hair behind him and turned to see the girl pursuing after him. Is this girl crazy or something?
"Get back here!" She shouted. "I'm not done with you!"
"Well I am," he retorted. Even though it had been years since he had been in the city, he still knew the streets pretty well. He lept onto the rooftop and noticed that the girl was still on his trail. You got to be kidding me. She was so focused on catching him that it led even to a roof-top chase. The girl moved gracefully and lightly on her feet like a ballet dancer, her moves easily matching his step by step.
"I'm not letting you get away from me that easily!"
"I can tell," he muttered. He spotted something out of the corner of his, an opportunity.
Elsword abruptly stopped at the edge of the roof, he had nowhere to run to except into the river. The girl caught up to him and drew a sword.
"Now then," she began. "You have nowhere to run."
He slowly raised his hands as a sign of peace. "Again, is this really necessary?"
"Of course it is! You practically groped me in public. Do you have any idea how embarrassing that is to a girl?"
Oh my el, he thought. That's what she cares about? "Okay, how about this. How about we both forget about this how mess-up and go our separate ways. How does that sound?"
Her cold blues pierced through him like arrows. "Really? Just forget all about this after practically insulting me?"
"Sounded pretty good to me."
"Fine then," she smiled menacingly. "I'll make sure that you forget about this after I'm done with you!"
She lunged forward with her saber, the tip of the blade coming right at his face.
The girl felt victorious catching the boy. He had embarrassed her by fondling her breasts, but by running off he had insulted her pride. I'll make sure to teach you an harsh lesson, she thought. Much to her shock she noticed that the boy was moving right into the direct path of her strike. Oh no. Don't run into my sword!
Except to her surprise. the boy quickly dropped and rolled passed her effortlessly. Her her saber stabbed the empty air where he had stood the moment before. How did he do that? she wondered. As he rolled pass her, he instantly leapt to his feet and sprinted towards the edge.
The girl was surprised that Elsword dodged her lunged How did he do that? she thought.
What is he doing? Where else can he go? Into the river? Much to her dismay, the red-haired boy ran off the roof. She rushed to the edge and spotted, much to her distraught, that he had leapt into an passing boat. He looked up and smiled as he gave a mocking wave. She could feel the blood rising to her face as she felt embarrassed again . Now twice has this guy insulted her. She could barely contain her anger and embarrassed as her body shook.
I swear I'll get back at you, she thought. I swear in the name of the Pendragons!
He apologized and thanked the boatman for jumping onto his vessel abruptly. He climbed back onto the main streets and began heading back to the inn. Ashe walked, he couldn't help but wonder about the girl.
He was surprised by how fast her attack was, knowing that if he was any second slower he he would've been skewered right on the was surprised by how fast her attack was, knowing that if he was any second slower he he would've been skewered right on the spot. Plus the way she chased him, her footwork, and her stance told him that she was a skillful fighter.
Man, he thought he entered his room. What a bad start already. First I'm forced to go to this silly gathering and now there's some crazy girl who's probably gonna come after me. I this Convention goes fast.
At the city gates, two female individuals entered through the entrance.
"Wow," said the purple-haired mage dressed in white. "It's sure been a while since we were last here."
"Yeah, you're right," the green-haired elf smiled. "The last time was with Elsword and the others."
Suddenly the elf got behind the mage and began pushing her forward.
"What's with you Rena?"
"Come on Aisha, let's see how much everything has changed. Maybe there might be some cute guys around here."
"Alright, alright," Aisha grumbled embarrassingly. "Take it easy."
She's right, Aisha thought. It's sure been a while since we heard from the others. I wonder if they're alright.
Meanwhile outside the city limits, an rogue figure looked at the city from afar behind an dead tree. This city, he thought. This despicable city, it makes me sick to just look at it. He grabbed his left arm in pain as he felt a sharp burn coursing through it. The memories he had pushed away were coming back, the memories he wanted to forget. This time, he thought. I won't have anything to lose. The rogue put his blade behind him and began making his way towards it. A black landed on the tree and let out an call. It could sense the smell of blood and death as it looked at the scene behind it, where several Velder soldiers laid sprawled on the ground.
To be continued