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This chapter dedicated to: LovelyAndDull and jeanelle02. Thank you for reviewing!
Summon Night: Pratty's Story
Fight 4: Curse
Red…
Everything she could see is crimson red, covering her entire vision.
No, it is a...
Blood.
Blood of her…
"Mother?"
Pratty couldn't believe herself seeing her mother lying there on the floor, covered with her own blood. Pratty's eyes widened in her realization, she felt her every breath heavier and heavier, she could hear her heart beat pumping louder.
"MOTHER!"
Before she could manage to think, she rushed towards her mother's lying form and she kneeled beside her.
"Mother, mother!" she called out but she couldn't get any response. Rasho, who's standing at door frame, is shocked as his master is.
"Lady Amariss!"
Before he could step inside the house, his eyes trailed towards to another form standing beside Pratty and Amariss. The boy's eyes are dull and still gripping the spear which Amariss' blood is still dripping from its tip.
"Varil, HOW COULD YOU!" Rasho shouted, his anger almost going to burst out and wanted to burn the boy into ashes. No, he won't let him remain even ashes!
Pratty couldn't holdback her tears anymore as it slowly fell down from her beautiful blue eyes. She looked up to the killer with confused eyes. "Varil…why…?"
The blond snickered and dashed out the house, pushing Rasho out the way which caused the Oni king to slam back to the doorframe.
"Damn…Damn it to hell!" Rasho shook his head and tried to regain his balance. He won't let him get away easily!
"I'm gonna catch that bastard!" Rasho declared in rage.
"No"
Rasho was about to make a move but Pratty stopped him. He wanted to ask why but he let his mouth shut as he saw the girl stand up and rubbing her eyes with her sleeve, wiping all her tears away. Then she looked at him with determined eyes.
"I'll going to get him." Pratty said. "You'll stay here and look after my mother while I'm out. Only you could use healing spell to help her right now. Save her, Rasho…
…please…"
His body stiffened. He doesn't want to let her chase him alone. It's dangerous. You'll never know what currently out-of-mind boy do. He also wanted to punch him hard…But Pratty is right, he need to stay here for Amariss. After all, she's his master and as her guardian beast, he should follow her orders. And THIS is not an exemption regardless of how worried he is for his idiot master. He felt himself in defeat.
He approached her and gave a serious look
"Alright, but be careful."
"I will" Pratty assured him as she dashed out the house.
After she left the place he turned to Amariss' lying form and kneeled beside her, and cast a healing spell to her wound.
"Hold on, Lady Amariss…"
O O O
"Sorry, sorry, sorry!"
Razzy cried as she was dragged by Sanary. Begging for forgiveness and straggled from Sanary's hold.
"Don't think that you could escape from me. You, Pratty and her guardian beast should pay for this!"
Razzy is so desperate to escape but no avail. Sanary's holding her too firm.
With a sigh of defeat, Razzy let the older girl to drag her.
"Master Bron said they are having lunch with Pratty's mother today. I can't believe that they have a nerve to have a lunch after all the insults they said to me!" Sanary yelled and Razzy got scared as she imagined her possible punishment. Swim the distance between here to Vance? Forge one million high quality swords? Or every time she sleeps, she needs to put her uncle Bron's socks on her nose? Ew, that last choice is gross. You don't know how dangerous item is Uncle's socks.
Sanary wondered why the young girl's face gone pale. She just shrugged it. Whatever the reason is, she'll going to enjoy her sweet revenge.
The view of Amariss house comes to her sight and she frowned. Why the front door is kept open?
"Damn it!"
Someone's cursing made girls jump in surprise. They knew the owner of that voice and they could swear that he's very angry state.
Without a word, Sanary let go of Razzy's arm and rushed to the front door, Razzy also followed behind her.
They got to the front door and they both gasped in shock. Neither of them expected to see a bloody mess inside the house.
Sanary found the red demon king kneeling beside the lying form of Amariss. He sensed the new comers and looked up.
"What happened?" Sanary managed to say. She was very confused and she knows that the young girl beside her has a same feeling. And why she couldn't find Pratty here? Where's she?
Rasho shook his head and stood. He doesn't have time to explain the situation right now. He has a more important thing to do, more important person to go to. He is angry, yes. Confused, yes. But more than that, he's worrying about Pratty.
"I'll explain it to you later, but not now." He saw Razzy opened her mouth to speak but before she could say anything, he interrupted. "It's more important for me to catch up with Pratty. She's in danger now, she chased after the killer alone.
Lady Amariss is…dead and there's nothing more I can do to save her. And I don't want this to happen also to Pratty. Loss of Lady Amariss is already enough sacrifice."
Two girls nodded in understanding. Razzy is already crying when the realization of Amariss' death hit her. Rasho moved to the door and girls move to the side so that he could pass, but before he step out Sanary began to speak.
"We'll take care of…this place and call the Craftlords. You make sure to get whoever bastard did this.
"I know" But probably you'll wish to not to know who that 'bastard' you talking about. Rasho thought but he didn't say it. This issue could be set aside for later discussion, but right now the safety of Craftlord of Iron is his priority.
O O O
Pratty ignored the looks of the guards and their yells of protest as she and Varil barged into the Central tower. But other than that they seem ignoring the two running teenager. Of course they don't care, they knew about her and Varil from how the two started from enemy to rival and turned to friends in the tournament they witnessed two years ago. And given the Iron's childish manners around her friends, maybe they are considering this like they are just playing around and no idea how serious thing is going on right now.
She concentrated on chasing and never let the blond get away from her sight. Varil entered into Labyrinth and without any hesitation, she followed him.
When she stepped into the place, she saw Varil standing above the teleporter to escape from her. Of course she won't allow that.
Pratty jumped forward and grabbed the Varil's collar from behind. "Finally, I got you!" Pratty exclaimed.
Pratty raised an eyebrow as she saw him smirk. When she realized that it is a trap, it's too late. The teleported below them glowed and the green light engulfed them. She immediately closed her eyes before awkward bur familiar sensation of teleportation greeted them.
Sensation faded as she slowly opened her eyes and noticed that she is no longer holding the blond anymore. She shook he head and slowly put her hand down to her side. Quickly looked around at an empty room and found the blond not too far away from her. He is just standing there, his back facing her. Pratty frowned, she knew this place
The Labyrinth 50th floor
She slowly made her way towards the blond. She should noticed this sooner, the reason why Varil's strangeness. Her hand reached the hilt of her sword: Excel saber and pulled it out from her weapon bag.
"Who are you? You're not Varil"
A snicker "so you know." The blond turned around to face her, his eyes glinting differently from Varil's, it's someone else's. "As I expected from the child of Shintetsu"
Pratty's face very serious. What does that mean? Is this another revenge stuff to father like Parista's incidence? If it is true then she'll going to hate her Papa for leaving so many problems for his daughter.
"And what if I'm his daughter? What do you need from my father?"
She stopped few feet away from the blond and saw him made a shrug. "You know I'm not interested to your father…"
Sudden gasp escaped from Iron's lips as she was slammed back to the near wall. The blond quickly placed his hands at Pratty's sides, completely trapping her in the place. Pratty gripped the hilt of her sword strongly as she watched the boy's face come closer and closer to her. The warm breath brushed her ear and she shuddered. Then he whispered
"…But I'm interested in you."
"Be thankful that you're using my friend's body or else I already sliced you into two" Pratty hissed which earned a chuckle from the blond.
"You want to know who really am I, right?" He said as he pulled back. "I'll give the answer you want if you come to meet me personally
at Labyrinth 100th floor"
"There's no 100th floor in the Labyrinth. Master Sakuro said there's only 50" Pratty snapped.
"Then why don't you go and see it by yourself?" Blond challenged and turned away. He moved next to the door which Pratty recalled as the one she never stepped inside.
The locked door where Varil lost his consciousness for unknown reason.
Pratty grimaced. If what he said is true then there's no doubt that this stupid thing is somewhat connected to the odd event happened yesterday.
"So?" The blond questioned, facing her again. Pratty looked up to meet that challenging look.
"I won't turn down that challenge"
There's no turning back, Pratty knows it. But neither had she wanted to turn back. Whatever waiting behind that door, she'll face it.
So be it.
Smirked in satisfaction, blond stepped aside. "Good, I will wait for you then" As he said so, blond lost his consciousness – or rather the manipulator stopped controlling Varil's body – and fell on the floor.
Pratty reached for him and checked his pulse. She sighed in relief as she found Varil's steady heartbeat.
She gently pulled him in to a sitting position then let him learn back to the wall. After doing so, she stood up.
"I'll be back soon, Varil"
She made her way to the door and without hesitation, she opened the door.
Okay, she was surprised. Surprised for two reasons: one, the door really opened (she thought it is still locked) without any difficulties and two, stairs. She saw stairs going to 51st floor. It confirms that Labyrinth has more than 50 floors.
Maybe 100th floor do exist?
There's only one way to find out. So she descended the stairs.
She expected to be attacked by stray summons but there's none. Not that there's no stray summon here, she's sure she saw some of them. But they don't attack her. Even they have that blood-lust look and seem they going to kill her anytime soon but they don't make any move. She doesn't care anyway, it helps her reach the 100th floor (if exist) faster.
So she decided to run and descended to the deep inside the Labyrinth.
She doesn't know what time is it in the outside but she knows that she wasted few good hours running inside the Labyrinth. Thanks to her stamina. She thought about her mother. Is she okay? Did Rasho able to heal her wounds on time? Or she's…
She shook her head. She shouldn't think of that worst possible situation. Rasho is there, she'll be alright. What Pratty need to do right now is to face the culprit.
And that culprit is there in front of her.
Compared to other floors in the Labyrinth, the 100th floor is an open space. And Pratty could see clearly he only shadow present in the room other than herself.
A summon beast. It has huge body with four long legs and similarly long neck connected to its lion like head. Two big eyes focused on the form of white-haired girl.
Pratty saw similar kind of summon beast before… Oh yes, at Kagro volcano. The one she and Natsumi-san, the hero from Seijent fought together to return it to its world. What name was it? Kirin? But she could remember that its skin/scales are colored red and this one is black.
And another difference is… this one has stronger aura… no, correction, this one has the STRONGEST aura she ever felt. She could feel the pressure. Her hair at back of her neck stood. She held her Excel saber with both of her hands and took a fighting stance.
"What do you need from me?" She asked. Her anger rising from inside "Why did you used my friend and hurt my mother!?"
Beast's eyes gleamed, looking down at girl. It began to speak but it is a foreign language for Pratty. She is unable to understand such language. She snorted. "This talk is senseless don't you think? You talk in alien."
Since there's no answer she could get from the beast, she executed her next plan. She sprinted forward with her sword pointed at her opponent. Black Kirin shot some of its scales towards her.
She dodged the rain of scales and reflected some of them by swinging her sword. She looked up and saw the beast preparing for next attack. The fire concentrated inside its gritted fangs.
Instead of moving backwards, Pratty rushed forward and rolled on the floor to dodge the huge fireball. She jumped and aimed her attack at beast's long neck.
Her eyes widened as her sword stuck in its hard scales and unable to push deeper to cut its neck. Beast swung its head caused Pratty's sword to broke into two.
She was smashed to the wall with massive force and fell to the floor. She coughed. Her body hurts. She struggled to stand up but she fell again miserably. The Black Kirin continues to approaching her and only thing Pratty could do is lying there helplessly.
The beast spoke again in foreign words. Pratty gritted her teeth. She is a Craftlord, she couldn't die here!
Her eyes focused on her broken sword. That sword was her favorite and has highest quality among all swords she created. The sword she and Rasho forged with all their hearts, created to protect the Wystern, now broken and useless like her. It failed its owner and she… failed her people of Wystern
And broke her promise to Rasho and Varil, she couldn't return to them.
She felt the beast's one of the largest fang dig into the base of her neck. She cried in agony. She almost hoped to be killed instantly so that she won't suffer for long in this pain, but even her little wish wasn't granted. Everything seems very slow and the constant pain seeping down into her every nerves. She screamed voicelessly. Her eyes continue to blur until everything went blank…
OOO
Oni king continued to flew at his top speed as he descended to the deepest part of Labyrinth.
A while ago, he asked some of the people who saw the white-haired Craftlord and the certain blond boy and he tracked them to the Labyrinth. First it confused him that why they entered into Labyrinth. He guessed that what happened to blond yesterday and the event today has some connection. So he teleported himself to Labyrinth 50th floor by the teleporter, and that's how he saw the unconscious blond and found out that Pratty continues to the forbidden part of the Labyrinth
Alone to the danger.
He quickly handled the unconscious blond out the Labyrinth and shoved to the nearby guard's arms then returned to the 50th floor.
He never had a second thought as he entered into Labyrinth's forbidden place.
And now he is trying to catch up with Pratty before everything is too late.
The stray summon around him doesn't feel bothered to the intruder. Rasho could see the reason why, because as he goes deeper, he could feel the strong presence from the depth of Labyrinth and the strays seems giving their respect to that presence.
And damn, Pratty is probably there too! He needs to be there, he's her guardian beast for good's sake! What is his use if he couldn't protect his own master?
He doesn't want to lose another master AGAIN.
Then he smelled blood as he goes deeper, the scent become stronger and stronger until Rasho recognized whose blood he smells. His eyes widened in realization.
Pratty
"Damn!"
Rasho hoped that it is not her vital points where she wounded, that she is not badly injured, that he could still save her. He will never let her go to the same path as Amariss.
When he reached to the last floor, he gasped.
There's Pratty lying like a rag doll. Her sword is broken in to two, and the huge dark summon beast towering her, its fang digging into her neck, the huge amount of blood oozing out from her wound.
"You… let her go!" Rasho yelled. Cast a burst flare to himself and tackled the beast. It clashed to the wall at opposite side of the room, and then rushed to his master's side.
The wound is deeper than Rasho thought. He immediately concentrated the healing spell on his hand and covered Pratty's wounded neck, trying to stop her bleeding.
"Hang on Pratty… hang on… I know you are strong girl. You couldn't die here!" He pulled her in to sitting position and hugged her firmly with his free hand. He could feel Pratty's weak pulse beneath his hand covering her wound as well as her weak breathing. Only things assuring him that Pratty is still alive.
There's noise and Rasho looked up. The beast is standing up again to its feet. Rasho tightened his hold around Pratty. Then beast eyed the Oni king and spoke again in foreign words. Rasho could understand what it said. He is familiar with those words. It is one of the languages of Silturn.
(Now is not her appropriate time to die)
Rasho glared "Why are you doing this to Pratty?"
(Because she's the only one who has the potential to become my key to reconnect the Lyndbaum and the Silturn.)
Rasho's eyes widened "R-reconnect Lyndbaum and Silturn? If that happens, it'll cause another war between two worlds! And what makes you think she is capable doing that? Heck, she is not even a summoner, she doesn't have any supernatural power like you think!" He growled.
(I'm not saying she's capable doing it, but I'm saying she has the POTENTIAL. I cursed her and from now on, she'll serve as a container and collect energies from her surroundings until it is enough for her to re-open the dimensional gate between two worlds. And it will take exactly One hundred days but after that, she could die peacefully.)
"You can't do this!" Rasho shook his head. He couldn't believe what happened to Pratty. She is not a tool, but that beast speaks as if she is one.
(I can, because I'm the great Inferno Kirin.)
Rasho saw the Black Kirin began to approach them. He should think quickly now, he need to find a way to escape from that safely. He rummaged Pratty's bag and thankfully he found what he is looking. Rasho pulled out a green gem and raised it above them.
"Portal shard, send us back to Wystern!"
The green light engulfed them. Beast closed its eyes to protect them from the bright light and when it opened them again, they were gone.
(Even you could run away from me, you couldn't run away from the fate.)
[To be continued…]
Note:
[1] Excel saber is a kind of sword from Summon Night Hajimari no Ishi
[2] Portal shard is item also from Summon Night Hajimari no Ishi
[3] Inferno Kirin is the strongest summon beast in the Summon Night Sword Craft Story
For Further information for this, check it on Author's page.