Chapter three! Beyah!
Thanks to those that reviewed. :3
Forgive me for not updating for so long… But I'm back now, and hopefully the wait for the next chapter won't be as long XD Happy reading
R&R please
Chapter Three: Beginning of the End
Training, getting stronger… it was what he was going to have to do before he could help look for the Key of the Twilight. After all, he was still just a noob. What could he do to help out the powerful Steam gunner and Harvest Cleric in his pathetic state? A glare directed at a goblin as one thought ran through the rouge's head:
Become stronger
A golden blade came down on the goblin, and from the hit it let out a squeal of pain as it was slashed to the ground by following strikes from the second blade, and then the first again… The monster's health soon came to nothing, and the monster fell in a pool of purple blood, before decaying away into the ground.
Haseo let out a breath as a bright light surrounded him. A smile graced his lips as the words Level 3, showed on his screen.
"Well done…"
Haseo turned and smiled at the blue haired man. Shino smiled too, but she's been observing them carefully… A small smirk of her own curving, going unnoticed by the two.
Haseo kicked open the chest the monsters were guarding, and retrieved the final piece for the judge's symbol. As the pieces came together, he heard the temple door open in the distance. As they got to the temple; a strange sense of Déjà vu came over Haseo; the beast temple was the same as…
Well, the last one he was in.
Ovan noticed the rouge's movements began to become nervous. His lips curved down slightly as the silver haired teen brought his hands up and began to wring out his gloved hands in a nervous habit. He still had very little trust in anyone. Ovan noted this as the rouge took a fearful glance back. Shino glanced at Ovan, worried. Of course she would also notice.
In the temple; Haseo kicked open the chest, and pulled out a brand new pair of twin blade swords. He couldn't use them yet, but that was all the more reason to become stronger.
"Haseo…" Ovan started, but soon regretted saying anything as the teen turned swiftly, garnet eyes wide and fearful.
This had to stop, that fearful look… He didn't like that look at all on the boy, especially at him. Knowing it probably wasn't the best thing to do, Ovan advanced on the rouge until he was reaching distance. Haseo tried to turn away, fearful that history was about to repeat itself, but a strong hand placed itself on his shoulder and turned him towards the elder man. Cerulean eyes behind red lenses peered into crimson. The rouge stared for a moment, neither of them blinked. Ovan frowned slightly.
Then it hit the teen; he had acted fearfully towards his savior. He had offended him. His gaze fell to his feet, finding them most intriguing. Ovan smiled softly as his hand left Haseo's shoulder, and went to the rouge's chin; gently turning his face to see his own.
A feeling rose up in the Adept Rouge's being. A hot, bubbling feeling rose in his chest, and a knot formed in his gut. Not knowing what it was and startled by it; he quickly pushed it down as Ovan gently patted his silver adorned head, turned him around; and slightly pushed on his back towards the warp point. Obliging, he went to the warp point and went back to town. The two remaining Twilight Brigade members stared at the spot their newest addition to the guild had gone.
Shino smiled as she looked at the glazed over look Ovan had as he stared at the spot Haseo was moments ago.
"He is special." He said quietly as he too moved towards the warp point, and went back to town.
Shino smirked.
"Special indeed." Thoughts formed in her head as she pondered about the two men.
She too went to the warp point, but before she left, she giggled happily.
Now when they went to go train; for some reason Shino was always busy. Either she had someone to help or she had to go for a little bit because of something going on in real life.
It was odd, but neither Haseo nor Ovan complained.
Today was no different, They were in a level twenty area, about five levels higher than Haseo's own, and he was having a bit of a rough time.
"Don't let them get the better of you."
Haseo just huffed.
He was tired; he had been training for hours… and this damn vulture like monster wasn't helping any.
Haseo hated flying monsters.
With a growl, the rouge began to try and reach the hovering bird with his blades, but to no avail. He couldn't reach it. The bird seemed to laugh at him with a series eerie squawks before diving at the exhausted rouge with its single claw. Too tired to even dodge out of the way, the bird slammed him into the ground and proceeded to tear at his bare back.
Haseo cried out as he felt the sharp talons and beak dig into his back painfully.
He wasn't going to make it out of this one.
Haseo didn't even hear the shout from Ovan, or the gunshot that fired to end the bird's attack.
It stung, it stung so much… Haseo clenched his eyes shut as he felt something hot and wet begin to form from them. How was he going to become strong when he couldn't even fight off that stupid bird?
Suddenly, a cool substance was on his back, the pain began to ebb away as it spread all over him. A relieved sigh escaped the rouge's lips
"You'll be fine…" Ovan's soft voice reached his ears, and he felt a hand go over his back.
Haseo knew he was checking for other wounds… but he couldn't help but whimper and turn away from the touch, embarrassed from what he felt from the simple touch.
Ovan narrowed his eyes at the rouge moved uncomfortably at his touch. With a sigh, he gathered the silvered haired boy in his arm. Haseo shifted slightly as he was pulled up and placed on his feet.
He idly wondered how Ovan did that with only one arm…
"Now, now." he said calmly, and Haseo couldn't help but be ashamed at his failure.
"No need to fret. If you fail; try, try again."
Haseo felt a gloved hand pat him on the head, and he smiled. Looking up at his savior, the teen looked into cerulean eyes, and made a promise:
"I will become stronger, maybe even one day, stronger than you!" He said with confidence, and a sad smile graced Ovan's lips from the statement.
Confused, red eyes looked at him questioningly at the suddenly somber look on his mentor's face. The older man though, just suddenly pulled him into a one armed hug. Startled by the sudden action; Haseo went limp for a moment until he registered Ovan gripping him tightly, almost desperately.
"I know you will." His voice betrayed no emotions on what the man was feeling, but as the shock wore off, Haseo returned the hug with both arms. Warmth spread through the teen from the contact, and the feelings that had been growing from being around the man came at him tenfold.
"O-Ovan...?' he asked quietly, slightly shaky from the sudden slap of emotions.
The man gently pushed him away, and brought his only hand up to cradle the teens chin.
Cobalt eyes peered into Ruby, and Haseo was shocked at the emotions there. Sadness, hope, fear, and something else...
"I know you will..." he repeated before leaning in, and kissing the stunned rouge's forehead.
Before he could do anything, the blue haired man turned and began to walk calmly to the next circle of enemies. Haseo could do nothing but stare after him. A small grin began to appear on his face as a greater resolve for becoming stronger showed itself to the rouge. With a feather light feeling; Haseo sped past Ovan and headlong into a batch of avian enemies, taking them completely off guard.
The grin never left his face as he happily cut down the birds from the sky; smack talking them all the while. Ovan chuckled on the side lines at his actions, watching the teen with long lost emotions coming back to him. His smile, turned down suddenly though... How long will it last?
Shaking his head at the sudden depressing thought; Ovan allowed himself to bask in the happiness of the rouge. Triumphant cheers reached his ears as Haseo was illuminated in a golden glow; a level up. These precious moments would be few, and Ovan was determined to enjoy every single one of them.
The man made a promise to himself that day. He wouldn't force Haseo's development. As he thought this; his incased left arm gave a painful jolt, and a voice only he could here just laughed at him.
"You will see..." He told the voice, and continued his watch on the only being to bring him happiness in too long of a time.
The days just seemed to get better from there on out. Shino began to join them again every now and then on training missions and quests. As the weeks passed; Haseo began to trust Shino greatly and even began to think of her as a sister. He even got in contact with Phyllo every now and then when neither of them were on.
"So, how is everything in the Twilight Brigade, Haseo?" He asked one day, and Haseo beamed at him.
"It's amazing! We've been searching for these-" The rouge showed him a virus core that Ovan had given him as reference. "- we need one more... And they've been training me too! I'm already level 50! I've actually been able to help them now, not like when I was such a low level." He said proudly, adorning his 2nd level adept rouge outfit. Phyllo smiled. "I'm glad to hear it youngin'." said the old cat with a smile and the two would talk about trivial things and sometimes even quest together.
Then, they found another Virus core after taking out a strange monster. With rapture; Haseo bid Phyllo a good day and quickly left the area while sending a message to Ovan.
He had found the final Virus core.
"Haseo, do you know this place?"
Said rouge shook his head slowly as he took in the wonder that was Coite-Bodher Battlefield. The eerie music and strange scenery made the teen shake lightly. Why did he fear this place so? Peering at the dragon like creature high above them; Haseo instinctively inched closer to Ovan.
"This is one of the Lost Grounds of 'The World'. They cannot be tampered with by even the system; for they are the very base of the game itself." He explained; gazing up at the dragon as lighting streaked across the sky basking everything in a freakish glow for an instant.
"'Base of the game'?" Haseo questioned, confused.
"'The World' was based from an Epic poem known as The Epitaph of Twilight. The Lost Grounds are places of importance in the poem. Each one holds their own unique story… but in the game; they have many rumors go around about them because of how mysterious they are." Motioning Haseo to follow, he led him to the stone circle with the pillars surrounding them.
"There is a rumor for this area; that if you use a special item, you can reach the city beyond the dragon." He motioned to the pillars before reaching into his inventory, and pulling out a strange item.
Haseo looked at the item curiously.
"What is that? And how will this help you find the Key of Twilight?"
"Who knows? After all, we are looking for something that might not even exist at all; and this whole thing could just be a wild goose chase... But with the right things-" He suddenly reached for Haseo's hand, and gave the strange item to him.
The words 'Virus Core' appeared on his screen as an acceptation of the item before disappearing.
"-Nearly anything is possible." He said quietly, still clutching the teens hand with his own.
Pretending not to notice; Haseo put two and two together as he looked at the five pillars.
"So we need four more of these things to get to the city, right? One for each pillar."
Ovan smiled and nodded, his hand coming up to ruffle Haseo's hair in an affectionate way that made the rouge's stomach flip.
"Yes."
Now he was waiting for the other two members of the Twilight Brigade at that very Lost Ground.
Wringing his hands in anticipation, he stared on at the looming dragon overhead. Lighting flashed, lighting up the face of the beast making it look more menacing. Haseo frowned as a strange feeling sunk into his stomach…
He had a bad feeling about this.
But before he could ponder more on the feeling; the familiar sound on warping came to him as the other two members entered the area.
Hiding away his doubt; Haseo grinned brightly at the two brigade members. Shino smiled and ran to him; eloping him in a loving hug.
"Good job, Haseo!" She cried; her soft voice filled with excitement.
Returning the hug briefly; the two stepped away from each other. Ovan then came over, and put his arm around the teen's shoulders, and lead him to the pillars.
"I am proud of you, Haseo." He said softly, and the rouge couldn't help but blush.
The arm around him shifted slightly, and the steam gunner's hand was ruffling the silver locks of hair before pulling back, and beginning to place the virus cores into the pillars. Haseo watched in amazement as the pillars began to glow different colors. When three of them were glowing, he realized that it was his turn. Taking out the two virus cores from his inventory, he stared at them, then the pillars.
The bad feeling came back tenfold.
Swallowing the uneasiness, he placed the two in their respective pillars.
"Now step back, we do not know what will happen." Ovan instructed, and the trio backed away from the circle.
Moments afterwards, there was a blinding light, and a large beam of yellow-white light heading towards the heavens appeared in the circle.
Haseo could only stare at the strangely surreal thing before him.
"It's like a gateway to heaven." Shino said quietly, awed.
"In a way, it could be." Ovan said, stepping forward with an odd look in his eyes.
Looking at him; Haseo noted on how a faraway look came to the man's eyes.
The uneasiness now clenched his gut to the point where it was almost painful.
"What do we do now?" The rouge questioned, no longer staring at the beam, but at Ovan.
Blue eyes turned to look at him, regarding him for a moment before looking at Shino, then back to him.
"I will go first. I'll send a message if it's safe to follow." Ovan said after a moment.
"Wait… safe?" Haseo question, but didn't let the man answer.
"And what if something bad happens? What will we do?" The rouge asked, advancing on the man till he was inches from him.
"Haseo has a point, Ovan. Why can't we come too?" She asked, furrowing her brow.
He was silent for a moment, staring at the teen in front of him with a look that held no emotions.
Annoyed, Haseo folded his arms and copied the look. It was almost like a staring contest, till Ovan blinked, and his shoulders fell. A softened look came to his eyes, and before Haseo could question him again, he was suddenly face planted into a warm chest.
The rouge's head spun at the sudden action, and went limp. He felt a head rest on his own and a long sigh come from the man.
"Because I don't want anything to happen to the two of you." He said quietly, his grip around the teen tightening.
Despite the affection, Haseo put his hands on the man's chest and pushed him back lightly so he could look up at his face.
"And what about you, Huh?! Do you think we don't care what happens to you?"
Ovan just stared at him again, and Haseo idly thought it was nice being in the man's arms… err, arm.
With a fierce blush, he looked away from the peering blue eyes.
"Do you trust me?"
Shocked from the sudden question; red eyes snapped up to look at blue.
"Of course I do!" Haseo said in a tone that asked 'Why would you think otherwise?'
"Then trust me that I will return, and that everything will be okay in the end." He said with a small smile.
Haseo looked at him oddly from the wording of that sentence, and just peered at him; unconvinced. The uneasy feeling still festering…
"Fine. But you better come back unharmed." He huffed before he wrapped his own arms around the man, earning him a sharp intake of breath from the other and the tightening of the arm around him.
It lasted only a few moments before they released each other and Shino briefly embraced Ovan.
"Be careful." She told him as he pulled away.
"I always am." He said simply before heading towards the beam of light.
Each step he took; Haseo fell deeper and deeper into doubt. Before he could say or do anything about it though, there was a blinding light, and the man that begun to take his heart; vanished.
Well, there we go. More Ohase goodness in this one… For there isn't going to be much of it in the next one…
Next up, how the 'Terror of death' came to be.
