Chapter 4
Shadow woke up along with the sun, and got out of bed. He rotated his neck a few times, cracking the rusted joints. He then popped his knuckles, stretched, and grabbed his swallow. He never felt safe without it. He looked at Ciria for a moment.
"Nah!" he said aloud, and left the room, after putting his swallow in its sheath on his back.
"'Ey!" Shadow said to the landlady. "If tha girl wakes up, tell her I'm at the shrines, alrigh'?"
He couldn't go around calling her 'Ciria', because people would seriously flip at that name.
"Sure," the landlady said with a nod.
Shadow had almost walked out the door, when he turned around and looked at the landlady with one raised eyebrow and one hand on his hip. He passed one finger across his own lips, and finally left, not noticing the landlady smile.
People staid inside most of the day, but there were still a few people outside, but only doing necessary things. It had changed so much in so little time. Why could no one at least hope for a better future? He just couldn't understand it. People just gave up.
He sighed through his nose and rolled his eyes in irritation. He kept walking east, walking across the bridge. He stopped dead when he looked at the water. Shadow blinked and moved over, leaning over the railing, staring down, smirking.
"Merpeople," he mumbled, watching the demi-humans swim upstream the river.
Something suddenly slipped from a breast pocket, and he gave a yelp as he hurriedly caught it in his left hand. He straightened up and looked at the small trinket, smirking.
'Well, it's not much, but at least it's something,' he thought, placing it back in his pocket.
He looked down at the Merpeople again, a smirk still on his face.
"Herr Shädow!!" a voice suddenly called out and he blinked, looking down.
He smirked.
"Hiya Shiva ©. Wha's up?" he asked the green mermaid.
Shiva had pure blue hair, and a grass green fin, and her eyes were crystal clear. She wasn't really a fighter, but she would fight if she had to. And for the past few years, that had been a lot.
"Nöthing," Shiva said with a gentle smile. "I just wänted to säy hi!"
Shadow shrugged.
"Ya did, so, bye!!" he said, and left for the shrines.
Shiva was nice to hang out with, but she could be annoying as Hell! Shadow didn't need anymore of that. He'd been through enough of that already. And all because of…
A growl escaped his throat as he clenched his fists. He lengthened his steps, and ended at the shrines much faster than he had intended to. He gave a shrug, placed his hands in his pockets, and began walking around the numerous shrines and burials. Most names meant nothing to him, but the silence around the shrines was a thing he adored. He just wandered about, the only sound he made being his feet touching the ground lightly. Finally, he stopped before a strange creature standing there, watching a shrine.
It seemed to not notice his presence. The creature was large and blue, had small arms and legs, its head was also the body, and had a green patch of hair atop its head. Shadow walked over, but the thing didn't respond.
'Either he's real dense, or…'
He looked at the creatures face and frowned.
'Answer 2.'
The thing was sound asleep, drool dripping from the corner of the creature's mouth. Shadow stood in front of the creature, arms crossed, and raised a foot.
Ciria yawned and stretched lazily. She felt better than she had felt yesterday, and she smiled. That Shadow. He was a cranky guy, but…
'He's cute!!' Ciria giggled softly, and got out of bed. 'And he left without me again,' she thought with a frown, seeing the empty bed.
She finally shrugged and picked up her katana.
All during the night, she'd been thinking about what to do, and finally, she'd come to a conclusion. She was going out and discover what was truth, and what was fake. She'd had enough of having everything being ready at her bidding while she didn't have to do anything for it. This time, she was going to work to get the truth she wanted, desperate to know what was real and what was false.
"Look out reality!!" Ciria said, punching one hand with a clenched fist. "Ciria Viper's here to find the truth!!"
People were bustling about outside, and Ciria was confused. Why was everyone out all of the sudden?
"Excuse me, young girl," Ciria heard and turned to the landlady. "If you're looking for your boyfriend, he said he went to the shrines."
Ciria blushed at what the landlady said.
"I-he-he's not my boyfriend," she stuttered. "Thanks for the help, gotta fly!" she said quickly and left.
The landlady shook her head.
"Kids these days."
Ciria found herself walking through the busy streets of Termina, surprised at how suddenly everyone had decided to come out of their houses. She looked around, confused, until she saw people working near the gate of Termina, hanging up a large banner.
'Oh! Right! Today's the day that Termina's exactly 1000 years old!! I completely forgot!!' she thought, smiling brightly.
The party that people held would be held for five months. The parties in Termina were something Ciria enjoyed more than anything. If they were the same of course. Ciria shook her head, and beamed, before running through the thickening crowds toward the shrines.
She ran like the wind, smiling from ear to ear as she passed numerous stalls, watching people smile brightly as they sold their wares. All kinds of stuff, and Ciria stopped a few times to watch. With her hands clasped behind her back, she calmly walked down the streets, wondering why it couldn't be like that more often. That's when she noticed something.
The fortuneteller was standing there! On her usual spot! Ciria smiled. She used to go to the fortuneteller to see what her future would look like, whether or not she would find a friend like Tric in the future. She truly hoped so.
So, with a smile, Ciria walked over to her as she tried to set up her tent.
"Do you need some help?" she asked, making the fortuneteller look up.
"If that was possible," she started, but Ciria already started to help her.
It took some time, but the tent was finally set up.
"Whew! Thank you, little girl," the fortuneteller said.
"Actually, I'm not really that little. I'm 19," Ciria said with a smile.
The old lady smiled, and said: "Still, thank you. I have nothing much to give you. All I can give you is telling you your future."
"Please tell!" Ciria said with a smile.
The old lady shrugged and Ciria showed the woman her hands, which she took in her own gently.
"Hmmm…peculiar…" the old lady suddenly murmured.
Ciria blinked.
"What?"
The old lady looked at her strangely.
"Girl, you're not dead? Are you?"
The silver haired girl blinked again, looking confused.
She looked at herself and said: "I'm still walking around, so I can't be dead."
"Hmmm… Maybe someone called you back from the great beyond for some unknown reason. Or there can even be someone who needs your help here," the old lady said, and Ciria stiffened.
She remembered at Viper Manor. A voice calling her name. Then again at Opassa Beach, moments before she fainted. And just then, Ciria understood. Somehow, while at Opassa Beach, someone had called her here, and was probably out somewhere, looking for her. Ciria finally understood what she was doing here. She finally understood why she was here. But she still did not know who called her here.
Well, she was going to find out!
Some kind of explosion was suddenly heard, and everyone stopped what they were doing to whirl around toward the harbor.
"Man yer stations everyone!!" the flame haired man called out, his spiked red hair standing up with two locks hanging just beside his eyes.
"Aye-aye Cap'n!" the crew called out.
The Captain of the ship turned to face where the town of Termina laid, a smirk on his face.
Things had been going just peachy for them. The large sails of the vessel held two different Dragons. One was the Dragon of Guardia, the other that of the Termina. Guardia's Dragon had large wings and feet, but no arms, while Termina's Dragon had claws on hands and feet, as well as wings, only it was a skeleton. And both Dragons were surrounded with lightning, water, and fire.
It was the symbol for the Radical Dreamers.
They had started in Zenan, where the war had started first. People suffered greatly, and some managed to escape to El Nido, while others joined the Radical Dreamers, but one child never made it there. The Radical Dreamers had found him a few years after the start of the war, near Porre, bloodied, bruised, and pissed off as Hell. The kid had actually battled them all… and won!!
He had been beyond angered, but the Captain had been able to calm the kid down when he said that they fought for the same goal. Also, the kid had fast hands. He could rob you blind before you even knew what happened. When the Radical Dreamers headed to El Nido, the kid had proven himself to be a worthy fighter. People from El Nido soon joined their band, but they once again had to escape.
They found shelter in Marbule for awhile, where there were demi-humans willing to fight with them against the monsters that threatened to wipe everyone out. That was how they had become the group of thieves they were now. And they were all damned proud of it!!
"LAND HO!!!" the demi-human seated in the crow's nest called out.
He was a half-feline, half-human kind, and he was one strong fighter too. Then again, everyone was.
He looked over, and saw the city of Termina rising up against the horizon. He smirked, emerald eyes twinkling. He wore nothing but black leather clothing, which was embossed with emblems from Arni and Zenan. He had furious emerald eyes, and dark red hair that stood up in a flame, and he had two locks of hair hanging just above his eyes. There was a black ribbon tied around his forehead as well.
"Cap'n Vazo ©!" one of his former pirate gang said.
Vazo turned, and said: "That's me. What's the deal?"
"Everyone's ready ta cast ashore!" the pirate said, and Vazo nodded.
"Good," he said. "Alright ya bunch of landlubbers!!" he shouted at the crew. "Lower the sail and cast ashore!! Remember people!! We have to be outta here before noon!! So let's hurry!! Because we be pirates of the S.S. Elysian!!!"
"Aye-aye Cap'n!!" everyone called out.
Ciria ran to the harbor, along with everybody else, although she had no idea why. When she saw the ship, she was awestruck. It was absolutely amazing!
Everything was black and red, and the symbol on the sails was one of a kind, before she no longer saw them. People watched as the people aboard the ship tossed lines to the people at the harbor, who tied the ship to the shore.
"Drop anchor!" a booming, slightly familiar voice called out and the anchor of the ship zoomed down to smash through the sea's skin.
That had probably been the captain.
"Alright landlubbers!! Take out what we brought 'em! And move!!" the same voice screamed out.
A large plank was kicked onto the land, and a few demi-humans walked down, carrying crates or bags, which they set down on the ground.
When they opened them, Ciria gasped at the sight of the gold, silver and copper they had in there. All coins, and there were also pearl-necklaces, and all kinds of other jewelry. The pirates grabbed handfuls of treasures, and started throwing them into the crowd, making everyone jump up and down to grab all kinds of stuff. Everyone was so busy jumping, that no one thought of ducking, which was what Ciria was doing.
Ciria was picking up jewelry of all kinds, as well as a lot of gold and silver coins. She kept going on, until they stopped, and she stood up, smiling brightly after having placed her new stuff in her pouch. She had no idea who these guys were, but she was going to like them!
Shadow calmly walked over, watching everyone jump around, trying to get something from what the Radical Dreamers threw at them. He scanned the crowds, searching for any sign of silver hair, but finding none. He was slightly confused about that, but didn't bother with it for long. After all, he wasn't responsible for her.
He easily managed to get to the ship, and helped a few of the demi-humans unload the ship, without anyone noticing him.
Finally, they were all done, and all pirates returned to the ship. Shadow watched the crowd, and suddenly noticed a speck of silver get up, and he smirked.
"Yo kid," a familiar voice said as a hand was placed on his shoulder. "Anythin' new?" the captain asked.
Shadow shrugged indifferently.
"Not really. When're we leavin'?" he asked in return.
Vazo chuckled a little and removed his hand.
"In awhile," he said. "You're eager to leave."
Shadow scoffed.
"I jus' wan' this ta be over," he said, and headed for the bow of the ship.
Vazo watched him as the kid climbed onto the bow, staring out to sea.
"So do we, kid, so do we."
"Hoist anchor and raise the sails ya landlubbers!! We're off ta Marbule!!" the captain shouted, after everyone left the harbor, safe for Ciria who watched in fascination.
The sails were raised and the anchor came up from under the sea's skin again. Ciria watched in awe as the large oars suddenly began moving on their own, steering the ship away from Termina.
"HEAVE!!!"
"HO!!!"
"HEAVE!!!"
"HO!!!"
Ciria smiled, but when she looked at the bow, she gasped.
Shadow looked at her, a frown on his face, before he turned to the sky, and roared that vicious feline roar again, throwing his head back violently.
The young girl finally smiled and began waving at the ship as it got out of her sight.
When she could no longer see it, she turned on her heel, and was off into the world!
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Alright. That's chapter 4.
Reviews:
Bulma Briefs^Yue Lover: ………… I'm…… not…… going to…… comment on that.
The Mad Orange: THAT will be explained in the next chapter.
SaiyanGal: Most of it will be explained later on. If I tell you now, I'll spoil everything.