Me: Hi guys! Sorry if I was not able to update in a LONG while.
Percyval: Current reviews in chapter five… is two.
Eli: No goodies?! *pout*
Me: Don't worry. The decision will be finalized on the next chapter. So if anyone wants a goodie, please review…
Eli: FOUR MORE REVIEWS ON CHAPTER FIVE THEN!
Me: That's the spirit…
Eli: You don't seem to be in the mood, author…
Me: Eh? Don't mind me. Let's start the story…
There was silence for a while.
Eli: Okay…
Me: Disclaimer please…
Percyval: Silent Treecko doesn't own Grand Chase and the playable characters. He only owns his OCs and the story.
Me: This chapter is special for one of my OCs…
Ch. 6: Eclipse
Eli's POV
I woke up a little bit irritated. I've realized that I've fallen off my bed during my sleep.
"My head hurts…" I muttered to myself.
I stood up and changed into a new set of clothes before I went out of my room. The corridor was silent since its still 5:30 in the morning. I went down the stairs and decided to go outside. The cold breeze hit my skin and it sends me some shivers. Yesterday's events were really tiring and I'm wondering if I have given my best. I was still sloppy in my opinion, even with the everyday training. Suddenly, I feel furious at myself. I don't know why but I feel frustrated.
'Why?' I thought.
Mari's POV
I entered my lab with a loud yawn.
"Okay. I'll prioritize the blueprints first…" I said as I checked on the blueprints. 'It's almost complete. There's only three parts missing…'
Then, I decided to do some research on the missing parts. After I did so, it seems that the three missing parts are the crucial parts of the thing that I'm making and they aren't that easy to find.
'What to do?' I thought.
Percyval's POV
"Oh! The sun's rising…" I said.
The sunrise somehow gives me the energy which I needed. After all, I've been on the roof all night.
'Still, I wish that the fruit was real! I was so close!' I thought.
I don't know if I still have time to find the fruit. I do wish that I have more time. I do wish that IT never happened. I sighed at myself.
"I'm not even worth it, father…"
Then, I shouted. I don't even know why but it eases me when I did so.
"I'm just a failure…" I softly said.
I just sat there for a while. Then, I heard some footsteps and I looked around to see Eli.
"Cousin?" Eli asked. "Is something-"
"No, nothing. I'm perfectly fine," I said.
"I haven't even finished my question yet," Eli said. "Something IS really bothering you."
"Alright. You win," I said.
"Say, why are you here, anyway?" Eli asked. "Shouldn't you be back at…"
"I don't want to talk about it Eli," I said.
"Oh, come on!" Eli said. "I'll tell you that holding your emotions to yourself will do you no good."
"Then apply it to yourself!" I said.
"U-uhm…" Eli said. "Can you tell me at least why you're not with uncle?"
"Fine…" I said.
Brendan's POV
"Finished!" I silently said to myself with joy.
I just finished making a contraption so that when the new guy will get out of his room, he'll get a surprise he'll never forget. I just smirked at myself at my evil plan. Then, I decided to get myself out of here so that no one will suspect me as the culprit.
Then, I went to the living room where I met Kaistern, Ace and Jin. I decided to join their little chat since there's nothing left for me to do.
Eli's POV
"So, you're travelling?" I said.
"Yeah. Anything bad about it?" my cousin asked.
"No…" I said.
"So how about we go down and meet the others," Percyval jumped down and clung to the rough edges of the windows to climb down safely. I had another special way of going down, namely using the stairs.
As I got down the stairs, I saw four persons chatting while sitting at the couch. Percyval suddenly appeared at the door and waved at me. I waved back at him.
"So, what are you guys talking about?" I asked as I approached the four.
"Just some things…" Kaistern said.
"Care if we join?" Percyval asked.
"Sur- Wait! How did you end up there?" Brendan said.
"Well, I was on the roof all day and it's just one single drop from there to the entrance," my cousin said. "Why did you ask anyway?"
Just then, something comes into my mind.
"Brendan! Are you planning something?!" I asked sternly while firmly tapping my left foot continuously. "I hope that there weren't any pranks today…"
"Uhm…" Brendan said, obviously he's hiding something.
"Do you want me to check on my cousin's room and pour the prank on you?" I said.
"Sure, why not. I'll even go and check it myself," Brendan said.
"DON'T LIE! I KNOW THAT YOU HAVE PLACED SOMETHING!" I shouted.
"I didn't! Anyway, I'm going to check on it anyway," Brendan said.
"THEN WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?!" I shouted again.
"I'm on it!" Brendan said.
He stood up quickly and was about to go upstairs but we heard a shout.
"BRENDAN!" Zeta's clear voice rang throughout the mansion.
"You are so dead," I simply said.
Just then, Zeta appeared out of nowhere with his scythe and wildly hacked and slashed the Omni Switcher. One thing I've noticed is Zeta is wet and covered in flour.
"Percyval, it's a good thing you're at the roof the whole time," Jin said as he sighed.
"It's a good thing alright. Can I join the fun too?" Percyval offered.
"Feel free to," I said.
"What the…" Brendan shouted.
"Whatever you want, Percyval," Kaistern said.
Percyval cooperated with Zeta by trying to trap Brendan in a corner. Brendan avoided incoming attacks from Zeta while Percyval forces him into a corner. I giggled a bit at these guys who acted like kids.
"Kids…" I muttered.
"Look who's talking," Percyval shouted.
"Look WHO'S talking!" I shouted.
"Why not settle down for a minute, will ya?" Ace said.
"Then say that to Zeta and Brendan and see if it'll work," I said pointing to the cat-and-mouse chase of the two said persons.
"Miss!" Brendan said as he dodged a swipe of Zeta's scythe.
"Looks like impossible to me," Kaistern said.
I heard two things, Jin sighing and some footsteps. It seems that the footsteps originated from Mari. While Mari went closer, Sieghart magically appeared out of nowhere and stopped Zeta and Brendan only, since they are the only ones who are going out of control.
"Guys, see you later," Jin said and left.
"Sure," Percyval said.
"It seems to me that it's almost done…" Mari said to me.
"What's almost done?" I said.
"The blueprint," Mari said.
"Really?" I said while excitement filled me.
"Still, we'll need three more critical parts, I'm afraid," Mari said. "Project Lorem Ipsum depends on these items."
"Project Lorem Ipsum, such a weird name…" Ace commented.
"Lorem Ipsum is the weapon's name according to the prints that we've acquired before," Mari said. "It's weird that we must start building it at the time where the moon overpowers the sun."
"Maybe I'll be thinking of a new name…" I said. "Anyway, what are these three parts?"
"The three parts are named Energy Crystal, Power Core and Balancer," Mari said.
"Balancer? I think I've heard the name before…" Percyval said.
"Me too. But I can't point my finger on where I heard it," I said.
"You two should've heard it since this item was famous in Atum," Mari said. "After my research, this item was known to be created in Atum long ago but the location seems to be unknown."
"Then, how are we going to find it?" Zeta asked.
"According to my research, the materials needed to make a Balancer are found near Mirage Desert." Mari said.
"So, is it possible to find a Balancer there?" Sieghart said.
"Either that or gather the ingredients and make the Balancer," Mari said. "But it's better if we just find the Balancer itself."
"So, what about the other two?" I asked.
"The Energy Crystal is a mineral that are made in great pressure and cold," Mari said.
"Great pressure?" I asked.
"And cold?" Percyval said.
"I've have a hunch. Is this item found in the Altar of Balance?" Sieghart said.
"Correct," Mari said.
"Got it!" I said. "So, where is this Power Core?"
"It's used in the machines of the dwarves. Maybe we could buy one in their capital city,"
"So, that's it, huh" Percyval said.
"So, we'll have to get them one by one," Brendan said. "What item should we pursue first?"
"That's not necessary," Sieghart said.
"He's right," Mari said.
"You know Brendan, have you heard the saying 'divide and conquer'?" Eli said.
"So, what do you mean?" Brendan said.
"She means that we'll have a group searching for each item," Kaistern said.
"And that means we'll need three groups," Ace said.
"So, we'll just get everyone here and discuss everything," Brendan said.
"Not so fast!" Percyval said.
"What?" Brendan said.
"It's better if we just have four persons each group so that each group's movement won't be restricted," Mari said.
"Oh, I get it!" Brendan said.
"But we're just eight here…" Ace said.
"Let's see, Mari, Sieghart, Ace, Kaistern, Percyval, Eli, the bastard, and me," Kaistern said. "Yep, we're just eight here."
"Thank you for stating the obvious, idiot," Brendan countered.
"WHAT DID YOU SAY?!" Zeta said as he raised his scythe.
Zeta was about to strike Brendan but his scythe was blocked by one of Sieghart's cutlass. The other one was pointed at Brendan's nose.
"Stop it, you two!" Sieghart shouted.
I was silent for a while. I can't point it but somehow, that felt familiar. Is it the phrase or the action- or maybe both?
"I'll go get someone to help us," I suddenly said.
I don't even know why I said that but I suddenly said it.
"Okay, go on," Mari said.
I left and went to find someone whom I might be able to recruit in the hunt.
Third Person View
"Now, I have someone in mind to join us. I'll be leaving for a while," Sieghart said. "And you two should better not fight or the both of you will have broken bodies before the search even begins!"
Then, Sieghart sheathed his weapons before he left.
"Heh heh heh. You two are getting on Sieghart's nerves," Percyval said.
"It's because of him!" The two people involved said while pointing to the other one.
"It's best for you to stop if you don't want to be in bed for a month," Mari said.
"That's some rest!" Percyval said. "I even doubt that I want to stay in bed for that long!"
"Well, at least we know that there's no one who can do worse," Ace said.
"Maybe you do know someone who might do the equivalent," Mari said.
"If you're talking about Torn, I'd doubt that. He has no time for some childish acts," Ace said.
"I'll have to agree on the 'childish acts'. Just look at them," Percyval said.
Brendan and Zeta are staring at each other like they are trying to melt the other one.
"It seems so," Kaistern said.
"Looks like the kids are having fun," a girlish voice was heard.
"Eli, you're back!" Percyval said.
"Yeah, and I've got C- I mean Zero with me," Eli said.
"Hmm? It seems like you've bit your tongue," Ace said.
"No! I'm fine," Eli said with a dull look.
Just then, Sieghart came back with Elesis and Blade.
"I'm back. Did the two behave?" Sieghart asked.
"Like two oppositely charged molecules which have negated each other," Mari said.
"Okay…" Sieghart said.
"Still, we're one person short," Kaistern said.
"I can help," someone said.
Everyone looked at the stairs and saw Dio descending from it.
"I've heard everything you have discussed just now, minions, so proceed to the next plan," Dio said.
"Okay. We'll have to form three groups of four members each," Mari said.
"It's best to separate Zeta and Brendan," Sieghart said.
"I recommend that too," Eli said.
"So, I'll analyze the situation for a while…" Mari said.
Mari brought out her notes and pen and started flipping the pages and writing something on it. After a while, she closed it.
"First, the ones who should hunt for the Energy Crystal are Eli, Brendan, Zero and me," Mari said. "I'll also suggest that Eli will lead this group,"
"Sure," Eli said.
"Next, the ones who will search for the Power Core are Percyval, Ace, Kaistern and Dio," Mari said. "Percyval, since it's your first time here, why not be the leader?"
"Eh? Come again?" Percyval said.
"I said that you'll be leading the search for the Power Core," Mari said.
"L-leading? N-no! I won't do it," Percyval said.
"Why not?" Sieghart said.
"I…" Percyval said.
"Come on! We'll just test your capabilities on leading a group," Sieghart said.
"T—t—test?" Percyval said while seemingly tensed.
"Cousin, what's wrong?" Eli asked.
"N—no. I just can't do the job," Percyval said as he turned away from the others.
"Then I'll just have to do it," Kaistern said.
"Okay then," Mari said. "And lastly, Sieghart, Elesis, Zeta and Blade will go and find the Balancer."
"And I'll be the leader," Sieghart said.
"Gramps!" Elesis said.
"Not now, red," Sieghart said.
"And that's it," Mari said.
"So, we'll just need to procure the items and get back here," Eli said.
"That's ideally the objective," Mari said. "Then, we'll have to go now."
"Right!" the others said.
Me: Fin.
Eli: Yay! We're almost there!
Me: Excited as always Eli.
Eli: Who would not be if you're in my place?
Percyval: …
Me: What's the silence, Percyval?
Percyval: Nothing.
Eli: Please review!
Notes:
1. Looks like Percyval were desperate to find something. Reason? In the next following chapters.
2. Brendan thought that no one will suspect him as the culprit, but everyone knows that he's the prankster. Ironic, isn't it?
3. Percyval is actually younger than Eli.
4. Recall that the blueprints here are the blueprints acquired in Chaos Begins. The fruit of the blueprints is Project Lorem Ipsum.
5. Lorem Ipsum means multipurpose. You'll know the reason much later.
6. Three items with three groups means three adventures! Do you know what I mean? ^^,
7. Eli seems to have a recollection of something. I think it's obvious what kind of recollection it is since 'she bit her tongue'. ^^
8. 'Like two oppositely charged molecules that have negated each other' is like 'the two who dislike each other behaved quite well with each other'.
9. A fact is that Percyval rejected leadership. A thing to write in one's mind, I'll say.