Playing with madness
chapter 3
Hinaro's eyelids flickered as he awoke to the sound of a familiar voice. He could make out the silhouette of a figure leaning over him. The figure turned away and mumbled something. Hinaro's senses felt hazy, from what he could make out it sounded like they were trying to wake up Pietro. His vision adjusted to the light and slowly came back into focus. "I recognize that ass." Hinaro thought to himself "Avalon?" he asked, surprised to see her.
Avalon turned to face Hinaro, noticing that he's awake. "You were out for a good two hours." Avalon said "You're lucky I followed you." she smiled.
"That long? Anyway, why were you following us!?" demanded Hinaro.
"I was intrigued when you said you three had 'important business'." she answered.
"This has nothing to do with you. It's dangerous, you shouldn't have followed us." said Hinaro, sitting up.
"A simple 'thank you' would have sufficed! I just saved your asses! Who knows how long you would have been unconscious for if I hadn't found you, you could have died!" she yelled angrily. She placed her hands on her hips "Hmph, anyway I can take care of myself. I never asked for your concern." she said turning away from Hinaro again.
Hinaro bowed his head in thought. "We need to hurry, we have to stop Xao with whatever he's planning." Hinaro paused for a second "And the girl that was with him..." he mumbled to himself, descending into thought.
"Don't you care for your friends? We need to check if they're ok!" said Avalon, still annoyed at Hinaro.
Hinaro ignored her. He descended further into the thoughts that had plagued his mind.
Avalon sighed. She crouched next to Pietro's motionless figure. "Pietro, get up." she said softly, brushing the hair from his face.
Pietro stirred. He opened his eyes slowly, letting them adjust to the bright sunlight. "Avalon?" he asked, recognizing the girl leaning over him.
Avalon tucked a thick stand of blue hair behind one ear and smiled. "Hi."
Pietro felt himself blush immediately. "W-what are you doing here?" he asked, trying to keep a steady voice.
She stuck her tongue out slightly. "I followed you three."
Pietro got to his feet and stretched out his arms, raising them above his head. Avalon looped her arms around him and hugged him "I'm glad you're ok." she said. Confused, he returned the gesture and his face turned bright red. Avalon noticed the confused look on his face "Well we are friends aren't we? Of course I'm gonna worry!" she said.
"Hey! How come I didn't get a hug?" asked Hinaro, standing up. Briefly disrupting his train of thought.
"Cause you're a pervy jerk and I don't want your grubby mits pawing at my behind!" she yelled at him.
An image flashed into Hinaro's mind. He took a sharp breath. What was that he just saw?
"Hinaro? Hey Hinaro." said Pietro while waving his hand in front of Hinaro's face. "He won't respond." Pietro sighed.
Avalon shrugged "He keeps doing that. Anyway, you need to try wake him up." she said, gesturing to Lars who was still asleep on the ground. "And could you find out why Hinaro has been doing that?".
"Judging from the colour of your eyes I'd say you were a Jupiter adept." she smiled. Pietro grimaced at her perceptiveness, worried that she might pick up something about their quest when the party discussed the next plan of action. "All the Jupiter adepts in Vale I know have purple eyes. So just read his mind." she said.
Pietro reached into one of the pouches attached to his belt and produced one of the rice balls they had bought in Vale. Pietro crouched down beside Lars and dangled the food above his face. Lars' nose twitched once, twice, his eyes flicked open and he snatched the food from Pietro's hands. "Ah, just as well cause I'm getting really hungry." he laughed before stuffing the round ball of rice in his mouth.
Avalon hugged Lars warily, scared that he was a perv too. Lars looked confused but hugged her all the same.
"Lars you're such a pig." commented Pietro.
Lars seemed to have, to Pietro's surprise, an idea. He reached into his pack and produced a bag of sausages. Lars grinned at Pietro, who just sighed. "I supposed it's about time we ate something." Pietro shrugged.
"Hold still." said Avalon, clasping her hands together. Pietro and Lars stared at her, not quite knowing what was happening. Avalon started to glow blue. A soothing light surrounded the boys and their wounds slowly started to close.
"What was that?" asked Lars.
"H-how are we healed?" asked Pietro, puzzled.
"I just wished for it." said Avalon with a wink. Pietro folded his arms and pondered this. He still knew so little about Mercury Psynergy. He would ask Avalon more later he decided.
"Pietro." said Avalon, calling him back from thought. "Could you try reading Hinaro now?" she asked. The two of them walked over to their friend who was leaning against the mountainside wall.
"Hinaro's always been easy to read." said Pietro. He had read Hinaro's mind so many times he could do it without Hinaro noticing. Pietro focused himself and closed his eyes. He reached out for Hinaro with his mind, seeking access to his friend's mind. Pietro's body stiffened as Hinaro's past and history flooded into his mind. Pietro staggered back, clutching his head. Sweat broke out on his forehead. The things he could see. The pain, the sorrow. Pietro let out a cry of anguish and fell to his knees still gripping his head. Pietro broke the mental link and his eyes snapped open. He drew in several deep breaths. "Hinaro...I-I had no idea...why didn't you say anything?" he said slowly, coming to grips with what he just saw.
Hinaro ignored him and walked off further up the mountain path. "Are you just going to stand there or are we going to stop Xao." he turned to face his companions, determination set on his face. "Pietro, Lars. If Tara is with Xao I can no longer continue with you both. I need to do this myself." he turned away from them again "Once and for all.".
"Hinaro! Would you really abandon us for some girl from your past!?" Pietro yelled, throwing one arm out in frustration. Lars was shocked. Would Hinaro really do that? He had only seen Pietro like this once, Pietro never got mad at anyone. "If she is with Xao. Then, we may have to...kill her." said Pietro, his voice dropping to a whisper.
"Who is this Tara? Is she some girl that has a thing for pervy guys? Cause that's all Hinaro could ever be to any girl judging by the way he acts." Avalon interjected.
"Avalon!" warned Lars.
Hinaro stopped in his tracks, his fists clenched at his sides. Pietro stepped in front of Avalon to defend her in case Hinaro turned on her, blinded by rage. Instead of the expected blow they see the light catch something as it fell, a tear. A few more speckled the ground in front of Hinaro. Avalon's face show regret for making that comment. Hinaro slumped to the floor. He threw his head back and yelled. He raised his fist and smashed it into the ground, causing small cracks to form where he struck. Avalon slowly walked over to Hinaro and placed a hand on his shoulder. Pietro could see that Avalon had realized Hinaro was more that just a pervy jerk. Avalon moved past Hinaro signalling to the other two that they should hurry on ahead. All three of them acknowledged that Hinaro might need some time alone.
They continued on up the path passing around the mountainside around halfway up by Pietro's estimation. "Hey Pietro, what did you gather from reading Hinaro's mind? Also who's this 'Tara' she must mean a lot to him to put him in that kind of state." wondered Avalon.
Pietro shuddered "It's not something I wish to divulge.".
A huffy look crossed Avalon's face. "You might as well tell us so that we know what's going on here." she said.
Pietro sighed "Very well, but I don't think Lars will understand anyway." he said.
"Lars, as you can recall. Hinaro left the village for a few years shortly after his 17th birthday. From what I gathered back then, he left because something was missing. Maybe that's why he trained so hard. We had our own secret spot near Bilibin, on the Goma range, where we went to train and to get away from the town for a while. Hinaro would leave on his own and spend days at a time training there. He yearned for someone to fill the void, someone to comfort him, to love him. I know it seems like a stupid reason to go on a journey. We told him it was a stupid idea but he went ahead and left anyway.
Flashback
"Dammit Hinaro! It's a stupid idea!" yelled Pietro slamming his mug down on their table at the inn.
"I don't care." said Hinaro. He was leaning against the wall, looking away from his friends. Trying not to make eye contact.
"I don't see why the hell you would want to run off just to find some chick anyway. I mean, there's plenty of fine women here in Bilibin." said Lars, taking a long drink from his mug of ale.
"This...is something I have to do." sighed Hinaro. He placed his empty mug down on the table.
"Why do you need to go on a journey just to find some girl you've never even met anyway!" Pietro yelled, jumping up from his seat and slamming his hands down on the table.
"I don't care if you think it's a stupid idea! You just don't understand! I'm leaving Bilibin and there's nothing any of you can do to stop me!" Hinaro yelled. He turned his back on his friends and stormed out of the inn into the lashing rain of the cold, dark night.
Pietro yelled in frustration. He grabbed Hinaro's empty mug and hurled it across the room in anger. "Why won't he listen to us!"
"Just leave him Pietro." said Lars, draining his mug "He'll either come crawling back soon or return with a some beautiful girl from some distant land. Either way we'll see him again."
Pietro sighed deeply. "I know, It's just It's dangerous out there. He's going on his own on a journey for a pointless goal. What if he gets hurt? Lars, what if he can't come back?" Lars could see the worry in his friend's eyes.
"You're overreacting Pietro. Sit down and have another mug of ale. It'll be fine, trust me." said Lars leaning back into his chair.
End flashback
He travelled to the distant town of Lalivero, on the north-eastern point of Gondowan. He had learned of a beautiful girl there from a rumour in an inn somewhere. Hinaro, desperate to find this girl, travelled a long and perilous journey, I wont go into details. He eventually arrived in Lalivero. After a gruelling search consisting of days of asking around and searching. Hinaro was broke so he had to sleep on the streets of Lalivero and he couldn't afford to eat either. He eventually found the girl and what he believed to be his soul mate, Tara. From what I saw of her she was a bit taller than you Avalon but not much, she wore a gold sleeveless vest and a a black top which went from the top of her chest to the top of her waist and a see through netting top over it and vest matching leggings. Her hair was long and light blonde near the colour of Hinaro's and eyes..." Pietro paused for a moment, his face turned red and he continued "Almost as pretty as yours, Avalon." Avalon blushed deeply. A look of relief came over Pietro face after seeing Avalon's reaction. He still felt stupid for letting that slip out though.
"Anyway, after a few months and some shall we say some romantic gesture, they fell in love. They shared a year together before it happened. Tara fell in love with another guy." Pietro sighed and looked out over the surrounding foothills. "Hinaro was devastated and broken. He felt so bad he went after the one who took the most precious thing in the world away from him. he challenged the man to a fight, trying to win her back. He lost, this only caused her to become more distant. This also only managed to cause Hinaro more pain. A few days afterwards Tara vanished. Hinaro decided to return home, he tried to act the same as he always did but me and Lars saw right through him. We knew he had changed. The old Hinaro wouldn't abandon us for anything." Pietro finished the story and took a deep breath to clear his head. "The fool! None of this would ever have happened if he'd listened to us in the first place! Aaaaaaaaaaagh!" Pietro yelled angrily.
Lars looked angry "Why did he have to be so god damn rash?". Lars punched the wall next to him in frustration. "This whole quest and our party are falling to pieces and it's all Hinaro's fault for letting his emotions get in the way!" Lars took a deep breath and sighed, his anger vented.
Avalon reached out and laid a hand on Pietro's shoulder. Pietro felt himself blush again, the same fluttering feeling in his chest again. He was sure of it now.
Hinaro walked up the mountain trail and peered around the corner. He was on the path around the corner behind them. Pietro finished his explanation of what he had learned from Hinaro. He heard Pietro yell and saw Avalon reach out to him. He quickly cast Sand before they noticed him. "I have to catch up with Tara." he said to himself. "What if it's not her?" he thought "No, I'm certain its her. It was him that took her from me and now its time for my revenge. I can't have everyone else getting in my way." Hinaro thought to himself as he passed by his friends and around the next corner. He reverted back to his flesh form and look at the path before him. It was a short, narrow winding path up to a cave set into the mountainside.
Hinaro moved on through the cave cautiously, hiding in the shadows, until he came to a small opening into a larger room. He peered out into the open area. He noticed a camp fire and a figure silhouetted against the light of the fire. He recognized the figure as Xao, his weapon laid out on the ground beside him. He couldn't see any sign of the girl. Hinaro decided that it was the perfect time to take Xao's life, it was now or never.
Meanwhile the group still believe they are waiting on Hinaro.
"Do you know who the other guy was?" queried Avalon.
"Xao." said Pietro simply.
Lars gasped as his eyes openedv wide at the surprise. "You mean that guy took Tara away from Hinaro?" Pietro nods his head "...bastard." Lars clenching his axe in anger and frustration "So Xao is the one putting Hinaro through this!?" said Lars.
"Yes Lars. I still partially blame Hinaro for what happened to him but Hinaro would still be happy if it wasn't for Xao." said Pietro. As expected, having to go over things twice.
"Who is this Xao character and what's his problem?" asked Avalon, puzzled.
"What he is after is confidential. I cant tell you what but I can tell you we have to get rid of him for the sake of our village and Hinaro. That's all you need to know." explained Pietro.
At the same time Hinaro and Xao are facing off.
"Hinaro, you know your combat skills and Psynergy are no match for my katana and me. I can swing faster than you can blink." Xao smiled smugly.
"We'll see about that!" Hinaro said sprinting forward, his eyes full of rage and determination. It was clear he was fighting for something precious to him. Xao could tell, it would make it all the more sweeter when he crushed him.
Hinaro lunged forwards, pouring all his strength into his fist but Xao was smarter than to let Hinaro end it so quickly, he wanted to toy with him for a bit, humiliate him in front of his beloved Tara. Xao parried with his katana and countered with a swiping kick that swept Hinaro from his feet. Xao smiled with an unquenchable blood lust he jumped alongside the falling Hinaro. Gripping the handle of his katana in one hand, in the other the sheath. Xao slid his weapon free, unsheathing his katana, at the same time striking Hinaro in the stomach with the sheath, throwing him through the air with the wind knocked out of him. Hinaro let out a loud yell from the pain.
The rest of Hinaro's companions heard it immediately, recognizing Hinaro's voice , they rushed to his location.
Hinaro landed hard on the ground, using the momentum of crashing to the floor he coiled like a spring and flipped onto his feet. Hinaro's body was racked with pain, he felt like he was wounded all over. Xao's assault was relentless but he wouldn't give up. He focused his Psynergy and cast Cure Well on himself, healing his wounds quickly. The earth Psynergy knitting the fibres of his skin back together, closing his wounds.
Pietro, Lars and Avalon clattered through the cave, their footsteps echoing loudly around the cavern walls. "I hope we're not to late to save Hinaro." thought Pietro. They arrived at the small room to see Hinaro, kneeling, out of breath and badly beaten but Xao unharmed.
"What are you doing here!? This is my fight and I'll finish it!" yelled Hinaro angrily, looking back with an acid glare.
"Who are you? You're not Hinaro, not our friend that we grew up with in Bilibin, the Hinaro I knew wouldn't go off on his own, risk the fate of the village and abandon his friends just for some girl!" Pietro yelled, his rage getting the better of him.
"You don't understand! Just stay out of my way! Don't interfere with what isn't yours to control Pietro or you will regret it!" Hinaro said, rising to his feet.
"Touching, but if you interfere I won't hesitate to kill you all." Said Xao gesturing to the group of three with his katana. "What do you hope to achieve Hinaro? You are meaningless to her now." Xao smiled "You can come out now. My dear Tara." said Xao, grinning wickedly.
Hinaro's enraged expression faded to a surprised one. Yet somehow, he knew this was going to happen.
The girl stepped from the shadows. Thin shafts of sunlight streamed through holes in the cavern's roof revealing a short fragile looking young girl about 2 years younger than Hinaro. She wore a chest plate that went down from the tip of her long blonde hair similar to the colour of Hinaro's to the bottom of her small breasts but under it she wore a yellow top which stuck to her slim figure. On her bottom half she wore a three quarter length leggings with knee high armoured boots. "Hinaro..." she said making an effort to avoid make eye contact.
Hinaro just stared "Tara...I...I...".
Xao stepped forward, cutting Hinaro off before he could finish the sentence. He put an arm round her waist and kissed Tara to provoke Hinaro. "Allow me to end this." he said to Tara, clutching his weapon tightly in his right hand.
Tara looked away and nodded. A look of regret in her eyes.
Pietro noticed Xao's movements and the way Hinaro was standing motionlessly, making no effort to defend himself. "Hinaro! MOVE!".
Xao smiled and licked his lips and dashed forwards. His footsteps echoed from the cavern walls, they were quickly accompanied by another.
Hinaro stood perfectly still, ignoring Xao staying focused on taking Tara back, although it seemed impossible his heart told him to try but he was frozen with thought that his companions might harm Tara.
Xao slashed at Hinaro, he laughed as his blade came ever closer to Hinaro's body.
Pietro threw himself in front of Hinaro, throwing his arms wide to defend him. The blade bit deep into Pietro's side. Blood slowly dripped onto the cavern floor. Xao's eyes widened in surprise, his blade hadn't cleaved straight through Pietro. Pietro just smiled mockingly at him. Even though Xao's blade was embedded in Pietro's side, Pietro had the blade firmly clasped between the palms of his hands, preventing it from going any further. Xao exerted more strength, Pietro gasped in pain as the blade cut slightly deeper. Pietro was lifted off the ground by the force of the swing. Pietro was thrown to the side, across the cavern with an echoing cry and he slammed into the wall. Pietro dropped to the floor and scrambled to his feet before falling onto his knees, clutching his side, blood quickly seeping into the fabric of his robe.
Hinaro remained Motionless, not seeming to have noticed Pietro's attempt to save him nor the small amount of his friends blood flecked over his face. Lars dashed to Hinaro's rescue. Avalon panicked, she had never been in a situation like this before "What should I do?" she thought to herself. Before she could think about it she felt herself run towards Pietro. She wasn't sure whether it was just instinct or something else but she knew she had to do something to help him.
Lars tried to get Hinaro to move. He pushed him over, Hinaro just let himself fall to the floor. Landing in a heap he looked along the floor. He noticed Pietro lying down, a red stain spreading from his side. The events of the past few moments replayed in his mind. Hinaro pulled himself to his feet, realizing what his friend had done. He stared shaking with anger and frustration, it was his fault his friends had got hurt, it was his fault everything was going wrong, all his fault! Hinaro looked up at Xao and smiled like the devil. A blue glow of Psynergy enveloped him. "Hinaro don't! You know how dangerous that is! You could die!" protested Pietro.
"I don't care, I need to use this for her, I don't care if I die, I'll take him with me at least." Hinaro said focusing his psynergy more. A gold glow replaced the blue one around him. He clasped his hands together. Furthering his psynergy concentration, causing a bursting noise come from his wrists. Two pieces of metal dropped from his sleeve. "What is going on Pietro?" asked Avalon, slightly scared.
"Hinaro carries, on his wrist and ankles, Psynergy enhancers which double as weights to enhance his training and effectiveness in battle. you see, rather than cast Psynergy like me, Hinaro channels psynergy into his fists and feet to greatly enhance his strength and the strength of his blows. Hinaro was never any good at wielding his Psynergy, always trying to casts it and failing. He beat himself up about it a lot, especially when he put himself in comparison with me or even Lars. So I made those enhancers out of various materials. When Hinaro wears them it allows him to gain control over his Psynergy and use it as he wishes. When Hinaro takes them off in battle, he can move a lot faster because the weight has been removed and the psynergy flow around his body sharply increases but his Psynergy becomes useless and he can no longer cast any. The main problem is with Hinaro moving at such a pace and his Psynergy flow is no longer regulated, he quickly becomes incredibly tired and weak due to the amounts of energy required to do this and the drain on his body but he also runs the risk of his body tearing itself apart from the erratic flow of psynergy coursing through it. In other words, the longer Hinaro fights like this the more risk he is running of dying." explained Pietro. Avalon could see the worry in her friend's eyes.
"He channeled enough Psynergy through them to overload them and make them break off." said Pietro "He's really gonna do it..."
"Idiot, is that girl so important to him that he would kill himself just to get revenge on the one who took her away?" asked Avalon rhetorically.
"Hinaro! No! She's not worth it killing yourself over!" said Lars trying to convince Hinaro to see sense.
"No, Lars, its now or never. I need to end this." said Hinaro, pushing his friend away.
"You stupid asshole! Your going us all killed!" hissed Lars in frustration.
Hinaro stood up straight, ignoring Lars. He relaxed his muscles yet still focused. He kicked the back of his calves in turn, producing small clicking noises.
"Hina...!" Pietro's cry was cut short by choking noise from his own throat, thick rivulets of blood spilled from his mouth running down his face. Pietro had turned pale. He tried to get up and stop Hinaro but only succeeded in spitting up more blood.
Avalon panicked. Pietro was dying and she couldn't do anything about it. Suddenly she remembered what she had been taught about using he Psynergy 'water is the healer.' "The healer?" she thought. She knew some healing Psynergy but nothing that set her apart from Venus adepts healing abilities. She tapped into her Psynergy and delved deep into her power. Going deeper than she had ever gone before, feeling as through strong emotions helped her dig deeper, she found what she needed.
"Whatever your doing, it's not going to work Hinaro. Tara is mine and she always will be whether you like it or not. You were never good enough for her. Your not strong enough."Xao said hoping to strike a mighty mental blow on Hinaro.
Xao's words echoed in Hinaro's mind. His thoughts flashed back to being on Goma range at their secret spot, Pietro and Lars lying physically exhausted on the floor. Hinaro still training, this was after he had met Tara and Xao and he was well into training to get her back because when he tried the first time he was far too weak. He may not be as strong as Lars or Psynergetically powerful as Pietro but that wasn't going to stop him from trying to improve. Using his Psynergy to create walls of earth for him to break. This particular training session lasted over four days. When his Psynergy was depleted he would do laps of the area until it recovered before going back to breaking walls again. The strain had rendered Hinaro incapable of training for a few weeks, it should have been months from the damage he inflicted upon himself. Hinaro's determination led him back out on Goma range in two weeks against everyones advice.
"NOW!" Hinaro shouted as he kicked at the air.
"What was that? An attack? Pathetic. You think that will impress Tara you've got no cha..." he was interrupted by one of Hinaro's ankle weights hitting him in the stomach knocking the wind out of him. Xao saw Hinaro dash towards him at an incredible rate, Xao blinked and Hinaro was gone. "Too slow." jeered Hinaro from behind him.
"Such speed." Xao muttered with a gasp and trying to prevent the inevitable and raised his weapon.
Hinaro swung his leg kicking Xao sideways, reversing his momentum Hinaro spun on his leg and swept Xao's feet from beneath him. Pushing up from the ground, Hinaro kicked upwards catching Xao in the back knocking him upwards. Hinaro jumped after him and grabbed his ankles, Hinaro flipped forwards to gather momentum and threw Xao downwards and into the wall, rendering him unconscious.
Avalon placed a palm on Pietro's chest and cast Pure Ply. She didn't know where this power came from but she knew she was only able to use it because she was saving someone she cared greatly for. A blue aura surrounded Pietro and the blood flow stopped and cleaned itself from Pietro's face and side. Colour returned to Pietro's face and he woke up. "I did it..." she whispered to herself. Pietro opened his eyes and just stared into hers and smiled, he didn't need to say anything.
Hinaro quickly retrieved his weights and progressed towards Tara, who stood in shock at Xao's defeat and Hinaro's improvement. "T-Tara I missed you, its been so long. Its been too long." said Hinaro stuttering. Lars and Pietro had never seen Hinaro act like this, Hinaro could always keep his cool around girls, especially when eying them up, but he was really nervous, he must really be in love with her, Pietro thought, Lars was thinking the same.
"Hinaro...you've changed" said Tara, trying her best to not make eye contact with Hinaro.
"Tara...wh-what do you mean?" said Hinaro puzzled.
"You're different, your not the Hinaro I once fell in love with. Change isn't always a good thing Hinaro. Now, I must kill you for Xao's sake." said Tara coldly.
"N-no Tara I can't harm you." said Hinaro, a tear dripping down his face.
"Defend yourself Hinaro!" said Tara readying her staff.
Tara rushed at Hinaro but he remained speechless. Lars moved to defend Hinaro since he wouldn't defend himself and threw his axe straight into Tara's path. Hinaro dashed in front of her, Hinaro calling on some unknown psynergy to harden his skin to rock, lessening the penetration of the axe. Hinaro wrenched the axe free. "What are you doing you idiot!?" Lars shouted.
"I can't let you harm her..." Hinaro said quietly. Tossing the axe on the ground to his right. Pietro having fully recovered, walked over to Lars' side. "What is it going to be Hinaro? The quest, the village, us or are you going to abandon it all for her?" Pietro said.
"I...I..." Hinaro said turning his head to look away from Pietro.
Tara moved away from Hinaro and picked up Xao.
"Hinaro! stop her! You can't let her get Xao and get away alive, don't let her escape!" shouted Avalon.
Hinaro just ignored her and remained motionless, staring at the ground.
"Thank you, until we meet again...Hinaro." Tara whispered as she left the cave. She stopped "Just don't expect to live next time we meet." she walked out of the cave and vanished in the light outside.
Hinaro slumped to his knees " I couldn't let you kill her. This would have been sorted if you hadn't intervened." said Hinaro.
"Shut up Hinaro. We came to help you. If we hadn't intervened you would have died! Stop trying to do things on your own. You idiot, can't you see she doesn't love you any more? You need to let go. You can't obsess over her forever!" shouted Lars clenching his fists.
"If you want to leave us for her, go ahead, whatever, but if we ever meet again we'll kill you both." added Pietro. He nodded to Lars and Avalon before departing the cave with them leaving Hinaro to wallow in his despair.
"You don't need to bother. I'm not going after her." said Hinaro getting to his feet.
"Good, I'm glad you came to your senses, lets proceed." said Pietro smiling for the first time in a while.
The party proceeded through the cave until they come to an opening that leads back outside. They stepped from the cave, shielding their eyes from the harsh sunlight. Pietro produced the scrap of paper they had taken from Xao in Vale. "According to Xao's map, the cave we're looking for is still about two miles north." Pietro said pointing out over the mountains without looking up from the map.
Hinaro nodded "We should go, I'd like to be back in Vale for nightfall at least."
The party located a path that wound down the northern face of Mt. Aleph leading them into the mountain range to the north. Hinaro walked ahead of the party in silence, brooding over the events of the past few days. Lars was keeping himself amused by burning sticks that he kept pulling from bushes they passed. Pietro and Avalon walked a bit behind, talking to one another. They were becoming very close in such a short space of time. Hinaro could tell. Pietro was struggling to keep his cool and Avalon just laughed every time he slipped up. Hinaro recognized that look in Avalon's eyes whenever she looked at Pietro. Was it possible that they were becoming more than friends? Hinaro smiled inwardly. "Looks like Pietro got a little something extra from this quest." he thought to himself. Pietro tried to say something and ended up garbling his words, Avalon just laughed and Pietro's face turned red. The pair smiled at each other, realizing they were falling behind, hurried to catch up to Hinaro and Lars. Hinaro had seen that look somewhere before. An image of her flashed into his mind "Tara..." he whispered to himself before returning to his thoughts.
An hour passed and the party eventually arrived at the mouth of the cave that housed the corruption crystal. Hinaro was annoyed that they had walked at such a slow pace and the fact that they had to stop and put Lars out after he managed to set fire to his leggings and failed to notice.
Hinaro lead them into the cave. It was a simple cave, a singular narrow tunnel leading to a large open chamber. The walls were made from pure Psynergy crystal and at the center of the main chamber stood a tall Psynergy stone. It looked the same as every other one they had encountered except it had red veins running through it and gave off a dark glow that seemed to suck in the light.
"How do you suppose we break it, Pietro?" Hinaro asked.
Pietro drew one of his daggers. "I have an idea." Pietro closed his eyes and emanated the blue glow of Psynergy. He cast Reveal and opened his eyes. All colour drained from his vision, everything shaded black or grey. His peripheral vision blacked out. Seeing only in a colourless circle in front of him he walked towards the crystal. At various points on the crystal were white circular marks. Pietro raised his dagger and scratched a cross over every mark. He stepped back, checked the crystal over with his eyes again quickly, and turn back to the group. "I've marked the weak points and stress points in the crystal with crosses. If I'm right, if we strike every point with the required force the crystal should shatter." he explained. He blinked and his vision returned to normal.
Hinaro stepped forwards "Allow me." he smiled, cracking his knuckles. Hinaro stood before the crystal and looked it over. Springing from one foot, he moved fast, striking with strength and precision using his fingers and knuckles on the exact spots that Pietro had marked. He jumped back and large cracks slowly spread across the body of the large crystal. The cracking sound stopped and...nothing happened.
Pietro scratched his head, perplexed. "But I was sure..."
Lars stepped forwards raising his axe. Lars swung at the crystal with incredible force. His axe connected with the smooth surface of the crystal, shattering it, scattering it into thousands of pieces. The shards flew through the air, embedding themselves into the cavern wall and floor. Others skittering across the dust and into the shadowed corners of the cave. "That's how a REAL man does it!" laughed Lars, shouldering his axe.
The four of them sensed the evil presence fade from the cave. The crystal no longer exerting it's power over the surrounding landscape. "Maybe things will be a bit safer again from now on." said Hinaro looking at the jagged stump of the destroyed crystal.
"I hope you're right. I really don't feel up to doing all this again." sighed Pietro.
"Shall we leave?" suggested Avalon.
Hinaro nodded "Right, onward back to Bilibin." he said with a smile of relief.
"Wrong my friend." Lars cut in "Back to Vale from some good food, a comfy bed and a mug of ale drunk to our success." He grinned, beating a fist against his bolstered chest.
"A fine idea, Lars." laughed Pietro "I could do with a rest."
Lars looked puzzled "Why would you want that? Screw the rest, that can come last. I just want a damn mug of ale in my hands!" laughed Lars.
"Are you coming with us Avalon?" said Hinaro "To Bilibin, I mean." Pietro looked down at the floor to hide his face and crossed his fingers, hoping.
"If you all want me to, Pietro?" said Avalon smiling. See looked at Pietro with his head lowered.
Pietro's gaze shot up from the floor. "Y-Yes, that w-would be great." Pietro said grinning in an embarrassed fashion.
"Lets go then. I'm getting thirsty." said Lars, grinning.
"You really want some ale that badly?" Avalon asked.
"Hey, I like a good ale. You shouldn't deny a man his drink." Lars reasoned, shrugging his shoulders.
"Go on ahead, I'll catch up. I need to adjust my bootstraps." Pietro said.
"Ok then, we'll wait for you outside." nodded Hinaro, leading the others from the cave.
As soon as the others we out of sight. Pietro threw his arms up and laughed happily. "She's coming back with us." he said softly to himself. Grinning like a maniac, Pietro crouched down to fix his boots. Pietro tugged sharply on the strap of his boot to make sure it was secure. His gazed moved off to the side and he noticed a beautiful gemstone lying on the ground. "That would go greatly in Avalon's pendant." he thought to himself. He reached out and wrapped his fingers around it. Picking it up, he turned it over between his fingers examining it. It was a simple purple colour, much like the colour of an amethyst. It seemed to radiate an ethereal glow. "I hope she likes it." he thought, dropping the stone into a small pouch attached to his belt and continuing on to catch up to the others to head back to Vale and then homeward to Bilibin.