Authors note: Well I didn't think I'd actually go three for three but here I am with chapter 9 and this one is the longest one on it's own I believe...and it only took two 2 hour sittings. I think i have no life but what the hell right?
Anyways, with my winter break around the corner i can't wait to continue writing more...I just hope that the quality of my story hasn't gone down just because I've been writing and updating more frequently. So let me know in Reviews please.
Also, on another note, there is a character I added in to to this chapter that I don't think I should have but decided to add him anyways against my better Judgement...Don't hurt me if the character isn't exactly the same as he was originally written but I did my best not even though I haven't Played his game.
On news about the new frequency of the chapters? I think from this point until I get back to school from winter break I will try to put out at least one chapter a day or every two days, because once January hits I have to buck up and Pull up my grades for the end of the semester so wish me luck.
I also met a girl today in my theatre class that I think I want to date so I'll tell how that goes if it does get anywhere.
Anyways,enough about me...Let the Chapter begin...
Chapter 9
Names, Regrets, and Truth
It had only been three days since I made that announcement about telling them the truth about me. Rowen told me it would be best to wait for everyone to be conscious and ready to listen. There have been a few times that I thought about backing out, but I never go back on my word. Once Milla wakes up…I'll tell everyone.
I knew that would be at least a day or two away from now though, so I decided to head out into town and maybe find Raven again. As I was about to head out the door though, I noticed Alvin catching up to me.
"Heading into town," Alvin asked as he wrapped his arm around my shoulders.
"What do you want Alvin," I asked during a failed attempt to shrug him off.
"I have some business to attend to there, and I thought you could help since you were heading out," Alvin told me as he released his grip.
"Well, just what type of business do you have?"
"A friend of mine's friend took some money from another friend of mine without his permission; therefore I'm going to retrieve it for him."
"This sounds awfully familiar somehow," I pointed out to him, whilst thinking of my own money situation.
"I don't see why it shouldn't considering it was your money that was stolen."
"So it really was me who he was talking about," I whispered to myself.
"Don't worry, Raven got it all back but there's a problem we have to solve before you get it." Alvin said with a smile as wide as the Grand Canyon.
"And what would that be," I asked Alvin before he could get ahead of himself.
"There happens to be a monster problem in the Sapstrath Deepwood, and we're going to be the exterminators," Alvin said with not a care in the world.
Just what is his angle though? Helping me get my money back? I already had that under control. Even the pendant I was supposed to take care of is in…my pocket? Wait, where is it? Oh shit, I was supposed to hold on to that as leverage!
"Looking for this," Alvin said as he pulled it out of his pocket.
"When did you?"
"Back when we ran into each other by the tea set shop," Alvin said grinning.
"How did I not notice it being gone? Guess I just didn't really care about it," I mumbled under my breath.
"I saw this thing hanging out of your pocket and I knew you'd been scammed by Noire…Raven has this thing at the ready to give to people who want their money back," He told me.
"But why would help the people?"
"He doesn't, instead he gives them this as a way of making that person a target for assassination by a skilled woman," Alvin said while trying to be scary.
"Just who is this woman?"
"They call her, 'Torn, the legendary archer' and she has done nothing but kill her targets from a distance before they witness her in the act!"
"Then how do they know she exists if no one ever catches her in the act of doing it?"
"Well, um…I assume that someone must have survived the first shot or she just got caught in the act by a civilian."
"I honestly have no idea why I care anymore," I told Alvin as we had gotten to the main shop area.
"Well, anyways we're set to meet up with Raven right outside the Sapstrath Deepwood so get prepared and let's go," Alvin said as he walked up to the nearest group of women.
Well, what to do now? I guess I should shop around a bit. Now that I think about it though, no new tales characters have shown up in a while even though according to Ratatosk, they're all supposed to be here.
"Maybe you should, look around you…"
Wait? Ratatosk, what are you doing inside my head? This isn't normal…
"It seems that when you refused to use the darkness back at the Fortress I came into control over your mind…the voice you heard before is fighting me so I only have so little time for this but look for a man with black hair in the crowd. He may be carrying a sword so just look closely, for he will be a major asset to you in the future if you use him right."
Alright then, but wait?
Some noise in my head rattled me and a familiar voice was once again there.
"Hello there, I can't believe someone else managed to make it here…but whatever,"
Damn it, I said to leave me alone!
"I could never do that…but I will say that you won't be able to hold back my gift forever."
And like that, the voice disappeared again. I need to find out who that black haired swordsman is though. One can only wonder who it will be though.
"Hey, can you tell me where to go to meet the Lord of Sharilton," a mysterious boy in a cape asked me.
Wait? He has black hair and a sword! Could he be the one?
"I'll show you so don't worry about a thing," I reassured the fellow.
"I don't need your assistance more than the location," the guy told me in an irritated tone of voice.
"I'm just trying to help, may I ask your name and reason for wanting to meet the Lord?"
But wait? Wasn't Cline dead? I wasn't here to see if he did die or not…nor did I see him while I was at the manor. I wonder if they didn't tell me on purpose.
"My name…I don't have a name anymore…I left that behind me a long time ago, and my reason for wanting to see the Lord? I don't think I really have that either," The mysterious boy said sadly.
A pink cape, black hair, and a sword…is it possible that he's Lion? I don't know but I must find out.
"If you have nothing else to say to me, then I'll be on my way…considering you were no help at all," he said fluttering his cape as he began to walk away.
"Wait, are you? You know what? Never mind," I said changing my mind about asking him if he was Lion. I mean after all, I never played destiny so I wouldn't know much about him…I heard some tragic things but who knows maybe we'll meet again.
"You change your mind about something?"
"Yeah, I'm gonna be on my way… I hope I meet you again someday," I told him as I finally started walking away.
I decided that if he was who Ratatosk mentioned that I would wait to use him for later…to be honest if that was Lion, then I wouldn't know because I never played tales of destiny like some people did. I just think that if it was, then from what I've heard about him…I should just leave him be for now.
"Hey Dante, what's taking you? Didn't you want your money back," Alvin asked as he walked up to me.
"Yeah, I do…I'll be right there, don't worry," I reassured him before I headed toward the town's exit.
As I exited the town with Alvin, and we began to make out way to the Deepwood I noticed a strange presence nearby. It wasn't just a strange presence though…it was really awkward, and as if he were trying to prove my point Raven appeared from a tree up above.
"Howdy there kiddo," Raven said as waved over to me.
"You were gonna try to kill me," I shouted at him.
"Details, details…it's all good right? Alvin took the mark off you didn't he?"
"I guess so, but that doesn't excuse a damn thing," I stated angrily.
"Hey, no fighting…we gotta get on with the mission here kid," Raven said as he flipped in the air to make himself seem like more of an asshole.
"I assume you have my fee ready," Alvin asked Raven,
"Don't worry, it's on the kid," Raven said smirking.
"As long as I get paid," Alvin said pulling out his weapons as we reached the entrance to the Deepwood.
"I don't have a good feeling about any of this at all," I muttered under my breath.
"Let's get moving kiddo," Raven said entering the Deepwood.
We trekked the Deepwood for a bit until Raven's energy finally dispersed. I was actually glad we got a breather, but Alvin was a little miffed that we hadn't encountered any actual monsters.
"Wasn't there a monster problem here Raven," Alvin asked slightly irritated.
"Well…there was….but I guess someone else dealt with it."
"So you're telling me we came here for no reason?"
"Exactly, what I'm saying Alvin!"
"Dante, please excuse me while I rip Raven's spine from him and wear it as a tie," Alvin said cracking his knuckles as he approached Raven.
Man, Alvin does not play around in this variation…I think. In all honesty Raven deserves everything that might happen to him.
"Anyways, if there isn't a job for me to fulfill here then I'm leaving," Alvin spoke adamantly.
"Wait! There might be something you can do," Raven told Alvin, as he pulled out a bottle saying 'drink me'.
"Why would I drink that?"
"It'll make you stronger!"
"Fine, I'll drink some…but only if you do the same," Alvin declared.
"Very well then…No problems…"
I saw the two force each other to drink every last drop…but the worst happened and they both shrunk to super mini sizes. I must say though that their fight continues even as they're small. It makes me wonder if they'll grow back to this size.
I picked them both up saying they were both fools. Then I told Raven that if he wanted to grow bigger in a women's breasts that he should tell me where my money is…otherwise he'd regrow elsewhere.
"Alright, you win…I'll tell you where the money is," Raven with his high pitched voice said.
"Well….I'm waiting."
"It's already spent too," Raven said.
"On what exactly?"
"More things to steal from people with," Raven suggested to me.
"Ugh, I just wish that I could deal with this whole thing in one blow."
"Deal with what," Alvin asked.
"Getting my money back obviously…I wish I could just buy a burger with it again."
"Whatever kiddo, the point is that if you want a bit more cash then you're gonna have to do the work regardless of you wanting to do it or not," Raven told me while looking at Alvin.
"And what should I do to 'earn money' as you put it? What job would I take on?"
"Assassination, Mercenary and many more with enough reputation…which by the way you have none," Raven said trying to lower my self-esteem, but the high pitched squeak of a voice he has is just so funny.
In all honesty I guess I should just do some honest work…but where will I find that. Who knows? This world is very strange in its own ways.
As I turned away for a bit I noticed a monster in the distance. I tried to hide but it seems that the thing is like a blood hound or something because that thing found me almost instantly.
I pulled out my sword because things looked like they were about to get real with this thing as my opponent.
"See Alvin, I told you there was a monster problem…it's this thing right here," Raven stated as he saw the beast and hid.
"Looks like I have to face this thing on my own," I proclaimed as I started slashing at it to no avail.
I had to jump back in fear that it might kill me before I get a chance to kill it. I couldn't beat this thing alone and I knew that for a fact but I just kept trying to kill it. It looked like something straight out of monster hunter I swear but that's even more impossible then all the Tales characters being here all at once.
But as I started to look at it more and get used to its attack patterns the more I realized that this was a Jinouga and there was no way I was beating this alone. Without the help of the other two, who even then we might stand a chance, we were beat in more ways than Sunday.
"Just run away Dante," both Alvin and Raven shouted as they hid in a tree stump.
I know that if I were to run, then this thing would follow and destroy the town…but there was nothing I could do but that in this circumstance. Was this the end? Am I done for? Why do situations keep happening like this one after another? I keep getting forced to make these damned decisions.
"Step back!"
I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw him. The cape flowed in the wind as he channeled the thunder from the beast into his blade and stabbed it in its chest, but that wasn't enough to finish it off.
"What are you doing here," I asked him.
"Repaying a debt to you…"
"What debt," I asked as I made another slash at the thing with my artes.
"You asked me my name…I had told you I didn't have one anymore," He spoke as he gloriously destroyed that beasts torso.
I don't know what it was about his swordplay that made me like him but he was amazing. I don't know if he's Lion or not, but regardless he would be a great asset to me in the future.
"I have my reasons, and I won't share them with you…but you're the first person in a while to actually ask me that question," he said as I saw a tear glisten as it traveled down his face. He continued to destroy the beast as I landed massive blows of damage from time to time.
"I just feel I owe you for asking…that's all," he said as broke of part of the creatures face.
"Just hold him off a little longer, and I can finish him!"
"Got it," the boy said as I began charging the Ain Soph Aur.
I could once again feel the sensation of endless light burning in the palm of my hand and traveling through the extension of my arm.
"Ain!"
Even if this was the second time I've charged this…I can still feel how powerful and draining this attack is going to be.
"Soph!"
I just have to make sure the attack hits the target with no delays.
"Aur!"
As the attack was thrust by my sword, I saw the boy dodge out of the way at the last minute. The attack had landed successfully and that Jinouga was done for. I don't know how many other creatures like that came to this world but if they're all dangerous like that then I'll have to destroy them all.
"Hey Raven, Alvin come on out," I shouted at the stump for it was safe now.
I looked around and saw that Lion, or whoever he is…was gone. I really do feel that he'll be important somehow. I looked over to Alvin and Raven and shockingly enough they grew back to normal size.
"Raven, Dante…Let's never speak of this again," Alvin said nodding his head.
We both nodded in agreement but something kept nagging me about that boy. I don't know what it was, but I felt like he had a lot on his mind.
"For now I think we should head back to the Manor, well except you Raven," I told them.
"Fairs fair kid…Here is you money back," Raven said handing it over like he just lost a bet.
We all headed back to town but when we got there we all went our separate ways, and as for me… I saw Sheena and decided to confront her about something else that was on my mind.
"Sheena, I have something to ask you," I told her as she turned my way.
"Yeah, Dante?"
"Why did you leave and come back all of a sudden?"
"Well, like I've told you before… I was on a mission that I had already completed and going with you was just me having some fun."
"I guess, but then why did you come back? You also turned me into a lesser spirit when you didn't need to," I told her showing on my face the curiousness that I was going through.
"I came back because I have another mission which just so happened to be centered on the people near you, and I turned you into a lesser spirit in order to save you from the horrible fate of death," Sheena said as she grabbed me by the shoulders.
"Dante, I saved you because you're fun and cool… I may not have known you for long but those days were some of the best I've had in a while…Even Zelos hadn't made me smile like I did around you," Sheena told me with a serious look.
Could it be that my mediocre self has made Sheena fall for me?
"But that's just because you've been a great friend…I hope we can stay friends forever Dante," Sheena said basically denying any chance I may have had of hitting that. Oh well if it's not meant to be I guess it doesn't matter.
"Sheena, Let's be ultimate friends cause that shit lasts forever!"
"Alright then Dante, but I should warn you that you'll have to suffer being scared by my skills of summoning, and being and assassin."
"I think I'll manage but okay."
Sheena then hugged and whispered something into my ear that I couldn't hear for the life of me. I guess it will have to wait for another time…besides I already have a girl waiting for me to remember.
"Aren't you two getting close," Teepo said as Elize, Driselle, and Rowen approached us.
Sheena pushed me off and ran away in embarrassment and anger. Now Teepo was gonna get it from me full force.
"Shut up Teepo! And besides, it's much better news that you two are out and about right," I said looking at Elize and Driselle.
"Yes, they have managed to make a partial recovery in the last few days and they decided to come see you, and thank you," Rowen said as the girls got closer.
"We wanted to thank you, for rescuing us," Elize said.
"We know you tried your best to help us…even though we got hurt…it's not your fault okay," Driselle said hugging me.
"That's right it's not your fault, especially with Milla…she always runs headfirst without thinking," Jude said as he came up to us.
"I assume Milla is awake," I told Jude.
"Yes, which means it's time to gather everyone," Jude said with a look of determination.
"I'll call the others," Rowen said.
After all that's happened I'm still nervous…but I know that they'll have to learn eventually so it should be sooner rather than later.
