Chapter Nine.
"Part Three: The Midnight Beast's Roar"
"BWA-CCHU!"
-and awakens with a case of bad cold.
It is barely dawn when he awakened, and all things before him are still blanketed with heavy mist. "BWA-CCHU! *snort* Geez, what a bad way of getting a cold." Commented him.
Yet, most people would probably experience a case of serious heat stroke instead of a cold when they stayed in a hotspring like that.
"-meh, it saves me from the need of morning shower." Said Dusk again, looking on his palm…
His palm and fingers should be shriveled beyond recognition, yet they appeared to be just fine. "Heh. Guess Orc's story about how long one stayed in the bath will not turn into shriveled mess turned out to be true." Noted him to himself, wearing his gloves-which turned out to be in a perfect condition- back, hiding them from view, then taking a quick look around.
Both Benkei and Bandai had vanished from their respective spot. Most likely, for their morning maintenance chores on the bath house's pillars: don't matter how strong the material they're made of, constant exposure to moisture would weaken their internal structure, causing molds and termites eat into it quickly. Thus, daily apply of varnish oil would be important, if not imperative.
"Nyaa."
From his back, a small meowing sound could be heard. "Hey, you're… The one that handed Vie the letter?" Asked Dusk, seeing the pattern on the Felyne's forearm that looks like the symbol '8'. "That's right, nya! I'm Hachi- And it's kind of you to remember me when we even didn't meet directly yesterday, though." Said the Felyne again, with a little chuckling sound. "Speaking of which…did you don't know, nya? In morning hours, this bath is reserved for Felynes…"
Dusk turned his head, and noticed that under the heavy mist caused by the evaporating water, small figures could be seen bathing and rinsing. Since they're Felynes, being totally undressed in this unisex bath is not a problem…heck, they are practically walking without any garments beside their fur.
"Err…sorry, then. I'll be on my way." "Take care, nyaa." Waved Hachi with his towel at Duks's depature.
Inn's Hallway.
After re-equipping his garments back, and founds out that breakfast time has long over, while holding his hungry stomach Dusk decided to pay Renga a quick visit: who knows if the 'present' he mentioned is something edible?
"Letsee…which room he said he's lodged in?" Muttered Dusk, remembering his conversation with Renga yesterday. "Oak…Millennium Oak, is it?" As he browsed the list of rooms available for rent. "Ah, here it is…"
Too bad the list don't include directions.
"Sheesh. Just knowing the name isn't enough, doesn't it…" Grumbled the half-wet, half-dry young Hunter. As hasslesome as it is, now is the bath-time for almost all the Inn's attendant- you could read it as Felynes-the ones that know the exact location of the room.
Dusk heaved a big sigh.
"Guess whatever it is must wait for a bit, then. I'll better be returning to my room-" "-oh? We meet again…Dusk."
"…"
Must be a trick played by Fate, but…just as just turned beside a corner, Renga's small figure could be seen. "Err…Renga. Is it just me, or our encounter is…" "Yes, I thought so myself. It is most likely, the Goddess of Fate is toying with her Threads."
The two, at loss of words, finds their self laughing at each other's expression.
" 'spose so. Just as I thought finding your room would be impossible as the Felynes are now bathing, I bumped you in the corridor-" Groaned Dusk, still unable to contain his laughter. "-yes, and at top of that…"
Renga turned his small, wrinkled body and points to the large nameplate at the top of the room at the very end of the corridor Dusk's going to walk to.
It reads "Room of Millennium Oak".
"-it seems too perfectly coordinated to be a coincidence, would it not?" Asked Renga again, still smiling lightly. "Come. Let us see if this chain of coincidences would end after I handed 'that' to you." Said Renga again, giving the 'follow me' sign, hunter-stlye.
Room of Millennium Oak.
Unlike the other rooms Dusk has visited, which put an emphasis on the design based on what the room is named, such wall-cloth with pink petal pattern on Vie's room, or blooming white flowers on his room's walls, Renga's room is quite…plain.
With only the basic features of an inn, which is a futon bed, a desk and chair pair, a small couch at windowstill, and a small cabinet, the room is lacking the luster usually offered by almost every inn…
"Don't mind that. I've been using this room since this inn's opening, so much that they regard this as my own." "-so even after remodeling, they didn't remodel this room?"
"No. They WANTED to, but I refused."
Dusk is now confused.
"Wait. They listened to you? How come?" Asked him again, yet Renga smiled devilishly as he opened the drawer, seemingly searching for something. "Let's just say…I've paid them enough for at least 10 years' more."
And HOW MUCH it would be? Asked Dusk inwardly; Yet Dusk's eyes caught a small glimpse of what's inside the cabinet, his jaw almost dislocated from its hinge.
The contents of the small, tattered wooden cabinet is treasure beyond his wildest imagination. Heavenly Scales, Jewels, and so many rare materials stashed inside the small drawer, making Dusk's jaw drooped in utter surprise, if not shock.
"I…see. Even with few of those stashed in your drawer, they will probably let you own this inn…" Whispered Dusk in amazement. Renga just chuckled, hearing that comment coming from Dusk. "I'm stashing them here not for any other cause then protecting them, though." Muttered the old Wyverian again. "? From what? Theft?" Asked Dusk, guessing wildly.
But the old man just smiled rather bitterly.
"That's one of many reasons I put them here; yet that is not all." Answered Renga, pulling out one of the material from inside the cabinet: it's a single, brilliant gem which have been mounted into a medal-like brooch. "I already asked this to Akiho, and her parents: If, I didn't come to Yukumo in precisely one year after my last visit, she'll offer all of my things stashed here to Amatsu."
"? What's…that mean?" Said the puzzled Dusk. "It means-after my death, all of this thing stashed here would become Yukumo Village's property."
Something in Dusk's mind, namely his patience snaps with 'crack' sound.
"It doesn't make any sense!" Protested Dusk, his expression twirled into what seems like 'unpleasentness'. "You've earned them with your own hands-why must you give them for another's sake? Not mentioning-" Pointed Dusk to the brooch he's been handling pretty carefully for a while now- "-even Lolaeus' gem?"
Renga just smiled, and reached for Dusk's hand. Then, he puts the object he's been handling for some time now to the young hunter's care. "-what-?"
"Is it heavy?" Asked Renga, which answered with a nod from Dusk.
"Then, is it heavier than life itself?"
Dusk couldn't answer this one question.
"…oh, that's your point." Muttered Dusk after spending a while thinking.
"True, leaving all of these precious material behind for some unknown fella sure looks like a big foolishness to you. Yet, by doing so I've eliminated one thing from all of this rotting flesh-"
"-their history." Answered Dusk. And thus he understand-that he's been misunderstanding all of these time: the reason why Renga just stashed the materials' here is not only because he's guarding them from thievery or something-it's also not the cause why didn't use them in the first place.
To be put simply: he CANNOT use them-in the same way Dusk cannot use Silve and Aure's material.
"I see. Our way of thinking is precisely the same." Said Renga again, albeit now in a sad tone, and reached his hand to the brooch, now resting in Dusk's palm. "Even if I obtained them, there's no way I could use these materials for any craft. Doing so…will destroy anything left inside them-and inside me. Be it memories or something else." Muttered the old Wyverian Hunter, while touching the gem in the centre of the brooch. Is it…the 'soul'? Asked Dusk to himself, his eyes now locked into the frail-looking Wyverian with a sad smile before him.
…
"Sorry for being so sentimental. Guess it comes with old age." Said Renga again, after a little while. Now in his hands are held something that looked like…an extremely old parchment.
Don't tell me this are also one of that 'stuff of legend' thingy, thought Dusk while remembering what happened last time he experienced this kind of situation. "This is my own Potion recipe."
Dusk now looks like he's been Flash-ed, giving his blank look and else.
"It's…what? A Potion recipe?" asked Dusk again, now doubting his own ears. "? Don't you hear me just fine? Yes, it's a my special Potion recipe. It is guaranteed to get the 'kick' right back into you, even after being struck by Fatalis' bolt." Said Renga, while laughing loudly. "-that is, *if* I *survived* in the first place." Groaned Dusk, now doubting his look while looking at the recipe-
"…? This…isn't a regular Potion recipe?" Asked Dusk, after browsing the list of ingredients. Heck, that's a LOT of things to make a simple Potion.
Potions, A.K.A 'Healies', as some of the Hunters called them so, is the liquid-type medicine ranking the fourth on the list of all important things you musn't forget to bring in a hunt: after the weapon, armor…and experience using them, of course. While most of them 'recovers health', as written in the pamphlet handed out by the Guild, all they do is: 1) Eliminate your pain by blocking the chemical causing it. Prolonged use, though, would cause addiction and in severe cases, cuts off the signal of pain from being sent. 2) Stops bleeding by constricting the vessels ruptured. Yet a large-enough dose would stop your heart directly than the bleeding. 3) Provide you with a high-enough dose of nutrient to cause a kidney and liver failure. Sure though, it would speed up your recovery…if you didn't die because of poisoning.
Thus, every experienced Hunter probably has their own Potion recipe, in order to 'survive' something other than the beasts' attack or Guild's overpowered medicine.
Most of the so-called 'recipe', if not all Potion's indegrient is based on two main item: Herb and Blue Mushroom. The effect of the 'Herb', or Medicina planta by the medical people, if not adding it's extreme un-palatable-ness or bitterness to the stuff to kick you back conscious, is the effect 1 and 2 as described before (though reports mentioned adding Hot Pepper and Thunderbug Juice would produce better effect). While on its own this effect would be produced only when you consume a handful of those bitter things, luckily there is a mushroom called Auzuri reinforca-normally known as Blue Mushroom, as that little thing were colored blue enough. The extract contained in that small morsel synergized with the Herb's effect, adding more potency to the previously-mentioned effect. Combined with Honey…well, you get most of the thing needed for a recovery, other than natural sweetener or enough time resting.
"Lifepowder, Psychoserum, Dragon Seed, Armor Seed, Power Seed, Pale Extract, Kelbi Horn, Blue Mushroom…heck, these are practically all Potions combined into one!" Said Dusk, recognizing the items noted there. "Well, it surely will give you all the things you need in…one gulp." Said Renga again, now grinning to the awe-struck young Hunter.
There DO exist other recipes for Potions. There's Max Potions, Ancient Potions, Armorskins, Demondrugs, Hot Drinks, Cool Drinks, Immunizers…and many other brews. These 'specialized' Potions do not only recover your health…they provide you with various effects. Making your six pack looks tighter (Armorskin), Making your muscles bulge (Demondrugs), makes you feels 'hot' (Hot Drink in the middle of a late-night parties), makes you feel 'cool' (Cool Drinks while in front of the crowd-don't let they caught a glimpse of you drinking it, though.), boosts your stamina…just name it. The side-effect of those potions…is just usually a lot of bladder movement.
"…well…I don't know what to say, but…thanks?" Said Dusk, folding that small piece of paper and tucked it into his pocket. "Well, just make it and try it out. I guarantee it would work miracle on your slump." Said Renga, standing up from his sitting position. "I must go now: I've made a promise with Rou for a small walk in the scenic route." Renga smiled and fetches a walking stick, which is crafted rather exquisitely from another-unknown-to-Dusk monster material.
"-Renga?" Said Dusk, in a question-like tone just before he exits the Millennium Oak's door. "-yes?"
"…do you…also participate in the Hunt of the Crimson Fatalis?" Asked Dusk again. "-well…" Hummed the old Wyverian with a small smile on his tuckered lip. "That beast is a tough nut to crack."
And then, Renga walked away, leaving the awe-struck Dusk in…well, awe.
Room of Camellia
"-I'm back…hey, are you guys still sleeping?" Asked Dusk, seeing two huge lumps under the futons sprawled on the tatami mats. "-geez, it's nearing noon already-"
"Danna-sama."
"-erk! Orc, what are you doing here!" Screamed Dusk, now extremely flustered by some obvious reasons.
The oddly-colored Felyne was there. Under the lump of futon.
"What, can I not be here? Especially, after you've seen-" "-waitwaitwaitwait! Stop with that act-"
"No. I cannot, purr." "-er, Orc? Your eyes…are scary, do you know that?" Asked Dusk, responding to Orc's 'advancement' with 'withdrawing' more and more to the corner of the room. "…and you can call me Ran…when we're alone." "-*erk*!" Somebody, help? Pleaded the cornered hunter, not by any kind of man-devouring beast-but a single cat.
"Danna-sama~…" "-noooo~!"
BLAM!
At the exact point the Felyne prepares to 'pounce' on Dusk, a small, hand-made bomb which emanates dense powdered-Felvine-smoke, filling the room to its brim.
"*cough*What*cough**cough*is that!" Yelled Dusk, coughing the small particles out of his lungs. Opening the window with utmost difficulty, and letting the smoke out, Dusk found the creature previously attacking him…
"For the God's sake! That makes it thrice in a single day!" Shrieked Vieze, coming out from the behind of the sliding door. It's obvious from the attire and the mask covering her face that she, along with Radu that's fainted from the Felvine Bomb's explosion's shockwave-is the bomb's thrower. "You guys saved me!" Screamed Dusk happily, after eliminating what's left from the bomb's smoke. "No, you saved yourself by NOT sleeping in this room last night. Radu's pretty traumatized, you know?" Said Vieze, jerking the Felyne by her neck and handed her to already-awaiting, full-equipped with thick scarves not to breathe in the chaos-inducing small particles of Felvine-Comrades.
Traumatized…by what? Asked Dusk inwardly.
"Well, you still saved me, though. Despite causing a bad bump as price." Added Dusk again while sneering at Vieze, the one responsible for his night at the hot-water bath.
Not responding to Dusk's flattery, Vieze lobbed another bomb, but this time's a Deodorizing Agent to prevent further chaos caused by the one she threw earlier.
"Orc…I mean, Ran, has attempted at least THREE assaults on you starting from the bath incident last night. Did it ring any bell?" Asked Vieze, to the dumbfounded Dusk. "Hell no! How in the blazes I could do something to her after getting smacked right into my head and fell unconscious at least for more than few hours?" Said Dusk, re-stating his line from before while raising his speech's volume to almost screaming to the petite hunter, in case the blast last night has effected her hearing.
"Ano…" Said a female voice from the doorway, which they recognized as Akiho's-she's already dragging Radu's limp body into the room…with some help from her aides, or course.
"In this case, I must ask for your deepest apology, Dusk." Pleaded Aki, bowing her head deeply while sitting in seiza. "Why must you?" Asked Vieze, now playing with a small bamboo twig before Dusk's trembling figure: few thin, red lines on the tanned man's face tells that somebody has been hitting him with a small, long object…just like what Vieze's holding right now.
"The reason why Rangiku behaves that way…is probably, if not certainly, is my fault." Said her again, proscrenating about something. "-I…trained her to become a nadeshiko; a perfect maiden."
"-not to become a perfect comrade?" Asked Radu, now already waking up from his 'little nap'. "I know! It's my fault entirely-because of the losses of her previous master…actually, her FIFTH, she's became too scared to get another master." Said Akiho. "-thus, you brainwashed her to become the perfect maiden?" Asked Dusk, now knowing where this' leading to. "-I said, by doing that you've probably KILLED the rest of her masters…including the would-be ones." Commented Dusk, rather harshly…
"-it's the only choice…after all, she's born from the direct descendant of Azaelle: she'll be in an eternal shame, being the only descendant with no master worthy of her-oh, you Hunters would be probably known her more by the name-" "-the first ever Felyne that acquire a 'Master'. Promea." Said Dusk and Vieze in unison. "-wait, why did I didn't know that?" Asked Radu in puzzlement, yet the trio didn't shift the smallest ounce of attention to him. "The 'blood', which contained all of her extraordinary powers is activated by a single, simple emotion-" "-as in, 'lust'?"
…
Radu got shot down almost after the letter 'l' leaves his tongue by cold stares from the remaining three, but otherwise the conversation continued. "It's 'affection', by the way." Said Akiho again, making the expression 'oh' appeared at both Dusk's and Vieze's faces, both telling that each of their guess' wrong. "
"-yet it doesn't mean she must 'assault' anyone to prove her affection, though." Said Radu, who've experienced the 'assault' first-handedly. "-I'm very sorrrry!" Asked Akiho immediately-
It's…far than normal to see anyone older to apologize this earnestly to the younger ones…experiencing them is another thing.
"Well, what we can do the best at present is to restrain her…but even with that, she'll find some way of escaping anyway. So you guys must keep your eyelids pulled out-" "DANNA-SAMA!"
"…*erk*." Gulped down the four of them when that cry resounded in the hallway. "-talk about fast. The Felvine's duration is even shorter than before!" Grunted Vieze, readying the next bomb. "-err, it's probably not my place to say this, but…" Said Akiho, pointing to the small bomb in Vieze's hand- "-the bomb works just fine. Or actually…that's probably what makes her fiercer."
"-ah."
Felvines acts as a strong stimulant for Felyne-kin.
ZRRRAAAKKK!
The shouji is being dragged down with a lethal force.
The small figure, clad in purplish, long down appeared before the opened door.
The quartet froze in horror as they saw the frantic-looking face of said Felyne, now breathing heavily and deeply-
"DANNA-SAAMAA!"
The carnage begins.
Outside of the Inn.
"(Did we lost her!)" whispered Dusk, hiding behind a small, red-colored bush. "(Yes…but probably not for long…hey, where's Radu?)" Asked Vie, after realizing their friend is nowhere to be seen…
"Your sacrifice would be eternal in our memories-" "-don't go killing people as you please!" Groaned Radu, appearing from behind with his signature Khezu Hide blanket. "Whoa! Thought you're a ghost for a while there…so what's about Orc…err, Ran?" Asked Dusk, still quite flustered after hearing the full story of what 'assault' Radu experienced as his 'double'. "They've kept her in the dungeons until the Felvine wears off. Though, it's highly likely that she's going to break out before it's going to happen." Groaned the tanned male, now trying to hide himself from plain view using his blanket (he's already stuck out as clear as a sore Khezu head, though. Why bother?). "Great. So we can't go back to the inn anytime soon…" Groaned Dusk: in his pocket a folded Potion recipe still waiting to be brewed…
"Wait." Muttered Dusk, taking a good view on himself and the rest of them.
They're still wearing their yukatas. "First things first. Find a change of clothes." Said Dusk, followed with a groan. "-our belongings is in our rooms."
The trio's mood took a nose-dive crashing. Going to the inn means that…they must walked in to Ran's territory. "-I'll go." Said Vieze at long last of a silence. "-you're what!" Asked Dusk-yet he realized that whay Vie's proposed is their ony way out from their airy yutakas.
"…got it. Be careful not to be assaulted, ok?" Said Dusk at last, giving the small huntress the nod of approval. "Be right back." Said her, already dashing into the Inn's entrance.
"Well…what are we going to do now?" Asked Radu, hiding his head more into his cuddly blanket, which is snatched by Dusk at the next instant. "-hey, gimme back-!" "-bear with some paralyzing pills I made now. I'm going to borrow the crafter's tools-wearing this makes you looked like a giant Whelp, did you know?" Groaned Dusk, weighing the blanket-this will be enough for a cloak, at least. Thought Dusk, walking off to the Smithy's direction.
Smithy.
'Closed for this day'
"SERIOUSLY!" Moaned Dusk, reading the sign posted on the closed front door. Ah, if I remember it right, earlier Renga did said that he'll be going for a little walk with Rou this morning… "-if you're looking for Rou, he's out walking, nya." Said a familiar Felyne voice. "Ah, I've known it…did he specify when he's coming back?" "-well, nyaa…if he's going out with Master Renga, it'll probably until next morning." Said Fuji, now stretching out his old body with unusual elasticity.
"-are you suggesting…they're going for a hunt?" Sweatdropped Dusk. What are two old, retired wyverian's going to do if they encountered a strong beast on their way strolling? Thought him again. "Well, prob'ly not, but a Gathering is more likely, nya." Replied the old Comrade with a silly grin. "-as I thought…" Muttered Dusk.
"-nya, what about that? Khezu Hide? It's quite rare around here…" Pointed the cat with his tail when using his hands arranging his tools of trade. "Oh, this…I thought I could borrow some tools and thread for making a cloak."
Aside from his 'who-the-hell're-going-to-wear-such-clothing?' look, the old Felyne just donned a silly grin. "Purrfect timing. I need a hand with this day's order. If you're willing to help ne, not only I'll lend you my keys to the forge-I'll even taught you how to craft some Comrade equipment, nya."
That's right, the Comrade and Smithy is connected in the inside-
"-I'll take that offer!" jumped Dusk, grabbing Fuji's hand. "-that's good, nya. But…"
Takafuji then gave Dusk a trough look.
"-not in that outfit. Go change to another suit, would ya? If I recall correctly, there shoud be an uniform at the locker at the back." Said Fuji, pointing at the small, wooden locker embedded in the rocky walls.
…
"Well…it's better then that yukata anyway." Sighed Dusk, now dressed in soot-covered, sweat-perfumed, fire-resistant robe made from some kind of silky material. Although that work-robe is few sizes larger than his build, it's comfy enough to move in. "Nyaaa…so we should get started, then!" Purred the Felyne enthustically, while carrying a huge bag full of left-over ingredients from a Craft. "-your first job is to inspect those materials. With your [Blink] it'll probably pose no challenge at all, right?"
At first, Dusk's opened lips wanted to ask 'how did you know about that?', but the excitement from the pile of the Materials before him-many unknown to his eye quickly turned that sentence to "-aye-aye, sire!". Smiling, Takafuji then took one magnifying loupe for himself and started working.
Outside of the Inn.
"You're back!" Welcomed Radu when Vieze approached him with a trotting pace. "Here's your robe. Hey, where's Dusk?" Asked the huntress, now donning an native armor-Yukumo Set, without the distinctive straw hat. "-off to the Smithy. He said that me wearing my Khezu Hide blanket would attract too much attention..so he'll turn it into a cloak or something…" "Ugh! So who'll wear this clothing? I've went trough hell to get these." Moaned Vie, now waving a set of clothes in her tiny arms, unmistakeably Dusk's.
Tock.
"-wait, what is that?" Said Radu, hearing something dropped from Dusk's clothes. Chasing the rolling object until it's submerged inside one of the smaller pools used to soak one's feet, he finally salvaged it from the bottom of the pool. "Is this…a box or something? There's a lock as well…" Muttered him, now shaking the box to pry about the contents. "-hey, wait! It's probably a bad idea to go and open that box, right?" Warned Vieze, while trying to stop the shaking movement of the small box; yet it's pretty useless, given her maximum reach is somewhere below Radu's shoulder level. "Yeah, right. Unless there's a ring inside this box that he'll going to propose to someone-namely, Ran." "-that's not funny! Give it here!" Roared Vieze, still trying to mug the box out of Radu's grasp; but even with jumping, the small box is still far from her reach. "Here! Here!" Played the amused Radu with the box, making Vieze jumping here-and-there in attempt to reach the small box.
"GIVE-IT-HERE!" roared Vie, kicking Radu's shin with full-force, making the prankster practically shrieked in agony-and the small object thrown high in the air, before hitting the ground with a loud 'crack' noise.
The rim of the box, as well as the lock, got busted by the impact, making the content got thrown away on the ground:
A mesmerizing necklace, with seventeen beads of shining, pink colored stones as adornment. Each of the stone is set on a painstakingly-crafted roses made from a mixture of Machalite-Union Ore, giving it a purplish-pink tint, and connected one to another with a chain made of the very same material. In the centre of the necklace a small, engraved plate could be seen.
As she picked the object from the ground, and reads what letters are engraved on that plate, her face quickly assumed bright-red color. How couldn't? The plate reads 'Vieze Randrite', and on the back of the plate there's another engraving that reads 'Happy Birthday'.
"D-d-d-d-d-d…When…did..he-"
"-err, Vieze? Ma'am?"
"(WHEN DID HE EVEN CRAFTED THIS!)" Yelled the girl in whispers, after dragging Radu to one of the shop's corners in order to flee from guests and some locales that thinked they just played witness in a proposal or some sorts. "-i-I didn't know! Honestly! He's being right beside you this whole time, right! How could I know what's happened then?" Answered Radu in a panic. "! T…t-true…but…" –if he's not making this when we're together, then he's been making it BEFORE we're going to a trip, right? That means…
"But boy! That necklace sure is gaudy. I mean-" Pointed Radu to one of the stone decorating it "-even one of those Basarios' Tears worth a hefty thousand of Zennies. Wonder how much did he spend on that piece alone?" Asked the tanned man in utmost naivety: his words could be interpreted freely as "Dusk sure thinks about you very much, to spend so much money for your present."
The reddish tint on Vieze's face is now turning to even deeper coloration.
"-shutup shutup shutup shutup shutup shutup shutup SHUT UP!"
Felyne Equipment Shop
"Raise the-" "-temp to blazing red for Rath's material! Done!" "-put the-" "-Naruga's bit into the Armorsphere mix! Done!" "-could you-" "-here! The handle for the Ao's Axe!"
The two crafter's working on a blindingly fast pace-even before Takafuji's word of order is finished, Dusk has already completed what he's going to ask for: it seems that they communicate with method faster and clearer than speech itself, making the rest of the employee finds their paw holding on loose air, without anything to work on. "Phew, that was great!" Huffed Dusk, wiping the salty drops of sweat out of his face with the cloth provided earlier. He hasn't moved-or Crafted-this much in some time-
After taking care of Luce, actually.
"We're not done yet, young'un! Re-" "-straighten the Ian's Needle! Done! Attaching them to the blade! Done! Applying the finishing lacquer-Done! Testing the poison content-" Said Dusk in locomotive-like order while throwing the miniature Queen's Rose to the target ring made from cloth, making the white sheet turned purplish-black when the tip of the weapon dugs into it-"Done!"
Takafuji's eyes looked like they're just to pop up from its respectable sockets. "Damn that was FAST!" Praised the cat, trotting to the target board where the blade's still attached to. "-not to mention this' no some half-assed work! Dusk, you're…simply amazing! Not even half an hour and you're even better than the ones that worked here 3 years straight! Lil' ones, you must learn from him!" Growled the old Crafter to the younger Felynes- "-y-yees Siiree, Nyaa!" Responded the rest of employee with fear. "That said…" Said Fuji again, putting his line on what lined perfectly on the top of the table- "-we're fresh out of order…save for a last one." Points Fuji to the last item in the order list: A Naruga Shuriken. "Here's a test for you. Thought you could handle this one?" Challenged the Lynian to Dusk. "-I accept." Responded him.
Letsee…the schematics…okay, I understand. The process-improvisation will do. Here we- "-go!" Shouted Dusk, pulled four pieces of Naruga Cutting Wing's scraps and started to reshape them using his prized White Wing, then without even blinking, tossed them aside into a bubbling cauldron full of Armorsphere mixture to reinforce the strength of the base. Now adjusting the heat level of the mixture with his left feet pumping the billows, his hand reaches to a Bone piece that's supposed to be the weapon's handle. Using the very same material, albeit differently colored Cutting Wing, he drilled holes for both strings and bolts to tighten the blades into position. "-tempering's done!" Exclaimed the Crafter, pulling the piping-hot blades from the pot. "-assembly!" Muttered him again, his hands are now moving just by sheer instinct, reaching for anything that could improve his creatin, by the tiniest bit…
…
"-done!" He said at last, holding up a four-rayed black star high in the air.
" A half day's work shortened into tens of minutes? Now that's a damn progress." Commented Fuji, now handling the piece he crafted for inspection, while now wide-eyed Felynes swarming around him, asking some questions like '-are you god of craft or something, nya!'
Is it just me, or almost every old man's deeply accustomized to curses? Asked Dusk inwardly, holding the smile that's eager to emerge from his curled lips. But hey, that's a great experience itself-not mentioning that I got to work with some-
"-Dusk? I don't remember putting this in the schematics…" Asked Fuji, pointing to something attached to the center handle. "-*erp*. Well, it was not included in the schematics at the first place…" Groaned Dusk, asking for the piece he had crafted. "-watch."
Shlink!
With a sharp sound, the inner part of the blades expanded and came off from the original blade, making the weapon divided into two: a slightly larger one with hollow insides, and the second one with smaller, yet thorny blades. "Inside this one there's few throwing knives, made from the excess Blade. Try it." Said Dusk, pulling out one of the knives and handed it to one of the employee, which threw it almost effortlessly.
With a loud whistling voice, the dart-shaped knife pierces the stone wall with ease. "-nya! Missed…" Groaned the Felyne who threw the object. "-better luck next time." Said Dusk, retrieving the object and patting the cat on his head. "-mmm. This is good, but…" Muttered Fuji, his face looks displeased. "…oh. Sorry, kinda carried out back then. I guess my craft's-" "-no, it's not your fault! This piece deserves praise even higher than excellent-you didn't even left a 'scrap' left! The problem is-the standard is way up high." Said Takafuji, sending another glare to his employee "-it would take tens of years until you guys could made anything that resembles that."
The Felynes all retrected into what like lumps of shaking furball in fear. "PLEASE PARDON USSS NYAAA!" Said them, before disappearing into the storage area. "I think you just gave them a good shock theraphy." Said Fuji with a smile, yet Dusk replied with "-I think I just gave them more nightmare." Smiled Dusk bitterly, changing back to his yukata.
"-so, my job's done. Here's the key I've promise-"
"DDUUUUUUUSSSSKKKKK!"
Both Dusk and Fuji jumped when the scream reached their eardrums. Not only them-all who present at that area got shocked by quite a bit.
"-what are you-"
Vieze, which face's been decorated by tears and swelling eyes, appeared from the shop's enterance while holding a single shining object in her hand, which Dusk recognized as-
"-that's the Basarios-err, wait, why did you have it? I'm sure that I've…wait, did you guys somehow opened the case?" Asked Dusk, realizing what has happened, while facepalming himself: had he stashed the box deeper inside his trunk, the surprise would not be found out this soon.
"*sob*M…mmm. We found it when searching for your clothes*hick*. And…AND!"
Vieze opened his grasp, making the object which he has been holding this whole time came into light: The plate, once adorned with engraving of the owner's name is now cracked into two pieces. "How the heck did a Machalite-Union Ore alloy would be able to crack in the first place?" Asked Dusk, examining the cracked piece-
"Ah. Did it get stomped by Dad or so?" Asked Dusk, brushing out the dirt-filled crevice. "-by a swarm of Gagua Express Carts." Said Vieze, now shooting her nose's load into a piece of hankerchief offered to her by one of the worried-looking employees.
"-thought so. The alloy would not be so fragile to break upon people's stomping, much less being dropped. But this is unlucky…I didn't bring any kind of metal materials here…" Said the hunter, looking to the doorkey he's been holding for some time now. "-and using old man Rou's material without permission is straight no."
"-then, you guys probably want to drop by to our locality store." Said Takafuji, walking out from his shop and pointing to a road beside the entrance. "Go down this road and walk straight until you arrive at a crossing. Take left, and there you are." Said the old cat, once again pointing to something that looked like a large clearance. "Hey-it's the empty lot we've been using yesterday?" Guessed Dusk, after remembering the path he's been taking last night under Orc's…or rather, Ran's guidance.
"You could find many kinds of materials there, ranging from food to Elder Dragons'. Most of them are carried by merchants and traders from overseas, but once in a while the Hunters would pitch in some good items. Also, there's our local charm-it works miracles, you know?" Explained Fuji, while rummaging for something. "-here's my crafting set, complete with miniature compact forge. You, of all people should be able to craft almost anything beside a complete metal armor set with that. And here's your payment." "-wait, I cannot receive this! I don't even being employed here!" Rejected Dusk, pushing the bag of coins away from his direction. "-but you guys are zenniless, you know? What would you use to pay for the items you're going to buy, nya?" Asked Fuji again.
"-eh."
Late realization of their situation right now made a blush creeps into their faces. "See what I mean? Think this not as a payment-but as the price of that Naruga-Shuriken-upgrade prototype you've made; that would be fine by you, right?" Offered Fuji, now pushing the bag against Dusk's stomach (given his height). Selling Vie's present is also out of question…
"I understand. I'll receive this money-" "-that's good-" "-as a loan."
"-eh!" Said Vieze and Takafuji in sync.
"Well, at the first place, the 'scrap' came as a free material, right? And I've been using your things-specifically Armorstones and Firestones, nuts and bolts, metres of rough silk and few other materials to made that prototype. Even if you bought it from me, there's still few Zennies' difference." Reasoned Dusk, making both Vieze and Fuji shakes their head in despair. "-okay, okay. Now just take this money and go shop, will you!" Groaned Fuji, pushing the bag into Vie's hand and pressing their backs from atop of the counter. "-I'll be sure to return this, Fuji old man!" Shouted Dusk from distance. "-make sure it's before my death!" Shouted Fuji back, jokingly.
"-you shouldn't have said that, you know."
"Rou! You're back?" Welcomed Takafuji, hopping down from the counter to offer a salute for another person beside his master. "-Grand Master Renga. How are you faring?" Said the ex-comrade with utmost honor. "Good as always. Yet lately I've felt that Death has been knocking at my door." "-DON'T make such joke, Master Renga! Your death would be a terrible-no, unimaginable loss for the entire Hunter society! As the one who formulated the Guild itself, and the curriculum of training for Hunters-"
Renga simply need to raise one of his finger to stop Fuji's babbling mouth.
"-So would Dusk feel if you died before he could return that loan."
Rou and Fuji's expression just went blank.
"You are just as great as it could be when it comes to teasing someone, master…" Groaned Rou, as he traded glances with his Comrade. "Oh, am I?"
Marketplace.
As Fuji said…
"This place have a wide variety alright." Whistled Dusk, enjoying the array of fully-stacked stores that covered almost all inchies of the open greens, leaving just enough grid-like spaces between for a person walking. Rare stones, Minerals, Monster Parts, Herbs-even ones that didn't usually get traded, such as Weapons or Armors in a matching set are displayed on each and every stalls. "Vieze, just don't wander and spend all of our budget in one of those shady sho…"
Her companion is already missing from his side. With his money bag, on the top of that.
That brat-! "Vie! Vieze!" Tried Dusk, calling out to the missing girl-still, it would need a miracle for her to hear Dusk's screaming in this hustle-bustle.
Then it's the time for 'that'. Growled the Hunter, already bracing himself for some pain-because with what he'll be doing right now, he are bound to get something hurtful-
"WASHBOARD! ANYONE SAW A WASHBOAR-"
THWACK!
"-WHAT ARE YOU CALLING ME WITH, YOU BRUTE!"
Yup, Vie's jump-kick landed right on her target-Dusk's face.
"-now that's better." Groaned Dusk, throwing away the feet that has made its landing on his palm, and flatly rejecting an offer of useless-looking pendant that's almost bought by her from a merchant across the street. "Hey, who's at fault here? Dashing off like that and bringing the whole bag of Zenny-god knows what would happen with your money-spending-spree-attidute." Sighed Dusk, grabbing the small bag and checked its content-luckily, all piece of golden, coin-shaped currency stampled with certain pattern, still remained inside. Blushing deep red, the small-sized maiden fumed- "-i-it's your fault in the first place for letting me hold it!" "-did you know that it means I trusted you, for god's sake?" Groaned the Hunter, dragging the girl's arm with a gentle tug, enough to turn the fuming, blushing dame into a muted statue with a funny expression between happiness and shyness-yet not for long.
"-hey, look! That hunter's bringing his girlfriend with him! Lucky~" "-are you sure? It looked more like his little sister to me-" "-but their eye and hair colors do not match! Think she's his adopted daughter or so?"
Although it is mere whispers in this crowded place, for some trained Hunters like them it sounded just as clear as were it was a shout-
"-WELL SORRY FOR BEING SHORT!" Roared Vie, making the ones calling them names cower and almost instantly apologizes.
…
"Hmm. Do you think we could use these?" Asked Vieze, now picking up what looked like a pearlescent lump. "-that is Isisium-a mineral-rich ore used to provide luster and strength to Dragonite-Eltalite alloy." Said the shady shopkeeper-heck, every inch of him is shady, as he actually wore something that bear a striking resemblance to a Death Stench armor set. "Well, what we'll be needing is something that could be used to fuse Machalite and Union Ore…" Said Dusk, grabbing the lump from Vie's hand-while from his inituation he could instantly understand that this isn't the material he's been looking for- "-still, this ore could come in handy. Mister-" "Call me…"
The shopkeeper now made a strange pose.
"-the mysterious man!"
"-let's go to the next stall." "-I agree."
"-wait, wait! I'm just kidding! Name's Lagun-the travelling merchant at your service." Said the man, almost in a pleading voice while stopping the pair by holding them down at their shoulder.
Dusk and Vieze still stared him down in '-look, a weirdo.' way.
"Okay, okay! It's not like wearing these clothes is my hobby or something-" Grunted Lagun, casting off his armor-it's really is a Death Stench set… "-this is also one way for promoting my merchandise. So!" Said him again, putting a pair of glasses infront of his eye. "-what're you searching for? I have almost anything save than a Fatalis Eyeball…or whatnot."
"-could you give us some Union Ore?" Asked Dusk- "-Then go defeat some Chameleos." Answered Lagun blatantly.
"-err…Vie? I saw some at the stall at the farthest end-" "-funny, I also just saw it. Shall we go then?" "-waitwaitWAIT!"
"-if you just wanted to screw around with us-" "-be a good boy and let me kick your sorry face!" Glared the pair, making Lagun's frightened face turned blue in horror. "-*huuff* Seems that some people don't recognize when to do their tsukkomi-" Heck, what is a tusk-commie anyway? Thought Dusk and Vie in unison, while the strange shopkeeper fetches four, heavy looking bag.
From the 'clink'-ing sound made when the bags collided with the table, Dusk could already guess what materials are in those leather-made bags. "Here's some of what I've gotten. I have Pelagicite, Bealite, Gracium…" "-and what about Union Ore?" Stopped Vieze, when the shopkeeper's mouth is starting to flap wildly. "-just fresh out of them. Some time earlier a pair of old Wyverians bought all bulk in one go-some rich person they are."
…don't tell me the pair was Ranga and old man Rou…Guessed Dusk. "-well, if you're fresh out then we'll just manage with whatever left. Hey, could you tell me what would go best with this?" Said Dusk, taking out the broken necklace from his pocket. Eyeing the piece, Lagun's eyes quickly turned into what looked like a Zenny sign- "-two thousand-" "-who said this is for sale!" Butted Vieze in, slamming the shopkeeper's gums shut in horror of her Blangonga-like expression. "Oh, I thought that you wanted to sell that broken necklace-" "-it's not broken! It's just…kinda snapped…" Protested Vie again "-that's what people called 'broken', shortie." "-wHA-"
"-ENOUGHHH!" Shouted Dusk, stopping the two blabbermouths beside him-all the argument has made his head throbbing like it's going to explode anytime soon. "-So! Did you have the material that would go well with Mach-Union alloy or not!" Asked Dusk, rather forcefully.
"In my opinion, it would be better if you don't remain so fixated to repair that broken necklace to the original state." Said Lagun again, now stashing back the ore-filled bags to their respectable place. "-then you didn't have it?" Said Vieze again, already in her pouncing stance. "N~no. But if you could look it from another point of view…" Said him again, now bringing out some decorated wooden box, and opened it in front of the pair- "-I have just what you needed."
Inside of the wooden box is numerous round-shaped pebbles, each separated one from another by small piece of bamboo-
"What's this?" Asked Dusk, pointing to the arranged, sphere-shaped stones. "Here's the most popular item that only can be found in Yukumo Mountain area; the Charm Spheres." Pointed Lagun to one of those stones, simultaneously grabbing something from his neck and pushes it out of his clothes-
"That's a beautiful orb…" Commented Vieze, her eyes twinkling while admiring the sky-colored choker, which while crudely made, posess something…that's somehow, eye catching.
Also, soothing.
"Pretty cool, huh? This one's made for me by my girlfriend…"
As he said that, Lagun's face turned red up to his ears.
"-your girlfriend?" Asked Dusk again, pointing to the choker. "Well, that's given. This stone could only be crafted by someone other than the wearer."
Dusk's and Vieze'e eyes turned into question marks.
"You guys will probably be confused now, so let me fill in something for you lot." Said Lagun, clearing his throat in high-and-mighty tone. "This stone, you see, is not a naturally-occuring material. Yes, these stones are byproduct of the nature's blessing, combined with the power of Amatsu."
More (imaginary) question marks appeared above the two's heads.
"Long story made short, Amatsu powers which made rain falls upon the blazing-hot rocks on Sky-High Temple caused some sort of reaction between the naturally-occurring ores, causing them to solidify as these lumps which would get swept by currents and ended up washed down on nearby rivers. I dunno if it because of the Elder Dragon's power or the mixture of the materials, but the stones exhibits strange properties."
Then, he picked up one of the orb-like pebble and throwed it to Dusk's direction, which caught it by reflex-
And surprised. The small stone's weigh more-no, much than he had anticipated. Although Lagun lobbed the stone rather lightly, Dusk who catched the same stone got thrown backwards, just as if he's been stopping a Bulldrome's charge. "-What the-HEAVY!" Cried Dusk, cannot even lift the hand he's been using to catch the pebble. "-now you, try to lift it." Said Lagun, while pointing to the stone with his eyes. "-if Dusk cannot even hold it, what's the point of me trying!" Asked Vieze, rather furious. "-just try." Said the merchant, pulling Vie's arm to the object resting at Dusk's palm.
"? Hey…it's…" Called Vie, lifting the object without any difficulty. "-it's really light? And a bit cold-no, it's freezing!" Shrieked Vie, putting the stone back to the wooden box. "Surprised, huh? This is also one of the stone's unexplainable mystery: It reacted differently depending to the person handling it. And there's not all-" Said him, now handing Dusk a small, regular hammer.
"? What's this for?" Asked Dusk, receiving the item from Lagun's hand. "Now try to smash one of these. Any of those will do." "-for real? What if I broke it?" "-that is, IF you could break them in the first place. Here. Use this anvil." He's unusually prepared for something this…strange.
"-don't charge me for any Zenny if it broke, then-" Said Dusk, while adjusting his target to the small stone placed on the center of the portable anvil-
THWACK!
And stroke it with all of his might. Given he's a Hunter with mainly Greatswords as his weapon-of-choice, the strength of his strike is tremendously strong-in fact, the hammer and the anvil shattered as effect.
Yet the stone is entirely unaffected. Not even a scratch on the object's surface appeared.
"What THE!" Yelled Dusk, picking up the stone for further observation…lighter than any metal alloy he has created, and helluva sturdier, this material is amazing in its own way.
"This stone could only be crafted for another people's sake, as I've said. And they also imparts strange power to the holder, such as giving a premonition before danger, or something like that. Peoples living here had crafted them as charms for ages, hence the name Charm Sphere. It's perfect for a gift for someone you loved, wouldn't it be?"
As soon as they heard that, both Dusk's and Vieze's face turned red. "-who loved who!" "-as I would?" Protested both of them, pushing each one's face away. "-aw, don't hide it from me…"
Lagun ended up freezing because the pair stared him down with a death gaze. "-DROP-" "-IT."
All he can do is tremble in fear.
"But, if your story is true…these stones are perfect indeed." Said Dusk, observing the stones lined up in front of him, making Vieze which has been squatting beside him blushed again. "Tell me, how do I choose the stone suitable for crafting?" Said Dusk, now pointing his index finger while browsing the stones. "Simple. While closing your eyes, just thought about the person you wanted to give the stone for, and touch it. If the stone you touched is warmer than another, then that's the one you are looking for." Said Lagun again, fetching a second wooden box, which filled by another batch of pebble-sized stones. "Do you always stock them that much?" Asked Vieze again, taking a spin for herself. Funny. It's unusually cold, thought her after touching few of those said stones. "Well, it's a given. Finding a match is not a mere matter of luck with these stones…even with all these years I've selling them, and browsing through each and every single one of those stones, I still haven't been able to find one suitable to be given to my girlfriend…"
What is this? A lottery with Mother Nature? Grumbled Dusk in his head, huffing a sigh. Still, the unique property of the material has grabbed his entire attention, so he decided to give it a try.
Closing his eye as instructed, Dusk poked the stones at the first row. Chilly. Wet. Ouch! What was- Soft? How the heck- "-NO. Peeking." Warned Lagun when Dusk's eyelid starting to quiver. "Oh, right." Muttered Dusk again, shutting his eyelid and continued what he's been doing. On the other hand, Vieze's attempt at the second box's stones bore a result that didn't much more different than Dusk's. Slimy? Eep! Tingly? Furry! Smooth… Grainy?
After a while trying, and a lot of stones browsed, they still didn't find any stones that's matches the description of 'warm to the touch'. Even after switching boxes.
"This isn't it either…hey Lagun, is this's all the Spheres you had?" Asked Vieze, now in a rather friendly tone. Or must it be said-curiosity has taken over her 'fierce' mask she usually puts on. "As matter of fact…no. There's also others; like I said before, finding the compatible stone is like finding a needle in a haystack. As such, there's bound to some left-over stones from time-to-time." Said the merchant again, pulling out a huge, dusty stash of sphere-shaped stones. "Feel free to browse…I must go to the toilet for a while, so look after the shop for me, willya?" Said him again- "-hey, what if a customer came or something like that!" Yelled Dusk, still closing his eyes. "-just tell'em I'm peeing or something!" Yelled Lagun from quite a distance, from Dusk's hearing. Talk about responsibility-
"Still, these are a lot of stones." Sighed Dusk, stirring the bag's content with his hand-
"Eh?"
Just then, beside some other sensation reaching his skin, he felt something warm and soft hitting his finger. "? Could it be…" muttered him, pushing other stones then the one at his fingertips. Still with eyes closed, he pulled the stone out from the bag and grasped it tight. "It's…warm. And kinda soft, too." Said Him, opening his eyes and stared at his gloved, clenching hand. Just what are these stones made from, I wonder… Thought Dusk, grasping the stone at his right slightly harder to ensure the warmth is not only imagination-
Crack.
"Eh? 'crack'?" Panicked Dusk, opening his grip in surprise-
The unbreakable stone in his palm just cracked, unveiling a beautiful tear-shaped blue jewel-like material, gleaming beautifully under sunlight. "-so." Said Lagun, appeared from nowhere, surprising even the trained-for-detecting-monster-presence-even-not-as -good-as-someone-tanned Dusk. "Heck, where did you appear from!" "-from the toilet, of course. Still, you're able to get the stone…that's a good news. What's more…" Lagun took out a magnifying glass from his pocket and started apprising the small, sky-colored gemstone.
"It's a rare one. Mmm…this one's...let me see…" Muttered the merchant, picking out some sort of note from his pocket. Dusk glanced the contents of the small-yet-quite-thick-book, and surprised that each and every pages on that note is completely filled with hand-written text depicting of different grade and title. " 'Sky's Approval'. Signifies blessing in relationship and wish to be able to stay close to the giver. It is said that finding this stone alone signifies that the relation itself is blessed by the gods of the skies…in the past finding this stone means they could instantly propose to the receiver and even the scariest of mother-in-laws could not do anything about it." Said Lagun, closing his notebook with a 'clap' sound. "-hee, so there are many variations of these, are they?" Dusk lifted the stone to the direction of the sun for further examination-yes, the stone is beautiful alright. And odd enough-the color somehow resembles Vie's blue eyes. A coincidence?
The girl's still keeping her eyes shut when touching one-after-another row of stones, only to sigh and repeats the cycle over and over…upon the same set of stones.
"Look, you can stop being depressed. The stone's not limited only to those two boxes." Said Dusk, pulling Vieze's sleeves (that stretched longer than he expected, given how Vie has folded the cloth over and over in order to resize the arm-length) and thrusted her hand inside the bag. Hmm. Now that I've gotten what I needed for fixing the necklace, I wonder if I should find another Charm Spheres for anyone. Pops, Radu, Felli, Akiho-
Dusk shivered when a thought crossed his mind. Is there one of those stones which could calm a burning desire? Thought him, clearly referring to Ran.
"-and Luce, too…" whispered Dusk, remembering the juvenile wyvern left behind. "This is the one!" Shrieked Vieze, pulling out a stone out from the bag with intense vigour, causing a rip on the age-worn bag spilled the spherical objects out. "Hey! Lose any of those and you'll pay double the price!" Exclaimed Lagun, catching the loose stones frantically. Some of the spheres even travelled to adjacent stalls due to the uneven, slope-like texture of land they're standing on, surprising and made some of the inattentive shopper slipped. Yet, even more amazingly, out of ten stones that caused a person to fall, up to three stones could crack, unveiling the gem inside. "Oy, look at that! That's practically a Charm Sphere cracking festive?" Shouted one of the shopper, while another (who fell rather hardly on his butt) exclaimed "-at LAST! I've visited Yukumo every year for this!" as he lifted a deep-green colored jewel to the air.
"…err? Is this a good…or bad thing?" Asked Vieze, unsure what to say at the commotion caused by her- "-you could always HELP us first!" Growled Dusk, practically using his whole body to block the swarm of people rushing to either pay for the stones they picked up, or struggling to claw their way towards the ripped bag with the incredible-compatibility-rate Spheres.
…
"*huff* *huff* That…*huff* Sure*huff* is a whole herd*huff* of customer." Panted Lagun, gasping for breath. "*huff* I *huff* agree with *huff* you." Answered Dusk, the emergency part-timer.
Not only the Spheres that went instantly gone from the shop's list of offered items-almost all the merchandise are sold out clean. Some even at double the original price…
Excluding the Death Stench set, anyway.
"-and to think that happened because somebody ripped the bag." Leered Lagun to the panting-and-gasping young lady, which because of her rising body temperature, decided to loosen off the hakama part of the armor she's been wearing, showing a little bit of exposure that made Lagun's heart jumped right out from his throat (Dusk punched him in the gut hard enough for that) and puts the blush back-on Dusk's face. "Put it back on!" Yelled him in embarrasement. "-eeeh? But it's kinda hot~" "-don't care. Do you want me to report that her daughter's wear clothes in unlady-like way?" Threatened Dusk, making Vieze quickly restraighten her pants.
"Hey, what's this?" Said Vieze, finding something round stuck inside of her rolled-up sleeves (since the sleeves would gets in the way when she acted as a temporary clerk, she rolled it up to her shoulders). "I wonder when this got stuck-OUCH!" Yelled Dusk, quickly withdrawing the hand he's been using to receive the stone from the girl's hand. "-what? What happened?" Asked the perplexed maiden, picking up the dropped stone. "IT BURNED my palm! What the heck is that reaction?" Yelled Dusk, waving his hand for some air-
"-you're wearing gloves, for gods' sake. How the heck could your 'palm' got burned?" Asked Lagun, with a strange look on his face, picking up the rolling sphere off the ground.
Looking at his gloved hand, Dusk finds himself also puzzled by the question. Thinking it again…yes, how could I feel the stone's burning my palm? It's just like it made contact directly with my skin-
Like that could happen. The only thing directly touching his skin is…
Silve's scale.
"Pass me that." Asked Dusk, opening his palm. " 're you sure?" replied Lagun, now playing with the stone. "-just give it to me."
"-oookay." Groaned the merchant, tossing it rather willy-wally. If the burning sensation was a sign, then-
-all I have to do is think about him.
Clack.
"Wha-"
The stony mass cracked upon landing on Dusk's palm, unknown if because hitting Aure's metal-hard scale or because already cracked in the first place, revealing a strangely-colored mass adorned with a complex grainy texture of all colors.
"-what is that thing? It's perfectly…diabolical." Asked Vie, touching the strange object. "-who are you been thinking while choosing this one? Ran?" added her, while Lagun already browsing into his note for whatever name the lump awarded with.
Yet something tells Dusk that this CURRENTLY isn't the one he's been looking for. The warmth he's been sensing from the stone do indicates the lump is reserved for the person he's been thinking, but the sensation felt like…there's something obstructing the heat from being released-
"This is not the true form of this stone." Muttered Dusk in a low voice. Somehow, his eye remains transfixed to the strange sphere.
"-! Wait, what will you do with that thing?" Asked Lagun, when Dusk unstheated the White Wing he's always been carrying even since he Crafted it. "-Dusk! What are you doing! The stone-"
Yet somehow, their voices do not reach his eardrums; as it were blocked by some whispering.
Some kind of vision is now floating in his mind: something like…a distant memory.
It's dark.
It's cramped.
It's lonely.
Yet it's somewhat nostalgic.
Yet it's somewhat warm.
Yet something tells him that he could break free.
Yet something tells him that he has the power to get out.
And that something-
"-DUSK, DON'T!"
-tells him that the outside world is far better than the one inside the shell.
CRACK.
"…"
"…huh? What am I doing?" Asked Dusk, snapped out from his trance-like state, now finding himself slightly disorientated. "-why did I pulled out this?" said him, now swinging the White Wing rather haphazardly in the air, before sliding it back into the sheath.
Yet the two's vision is transfixed to something else. Heck, almost all peoples who still remain after the ruckus's point of vision is locked on something, ceasing all activity possible.
Some even forgot to breathe.
"-what?"
Apparently temporarily both losing the ability to speak in human manner, the two just remain in a strange position, with mouth largely gaping and pointing to the area around Dusk's stomach.
"What are you guys looking…"
"-at?"
The strange stone is no more, as it broke into two perfect shell-like half spheres.
Instead, a purely transparent stone with otherworldly glimmer emerges from it.
"I don't believe it." Said Lagun, at last awakened from his shock, walking towards Dusk and the object he's holding. "The rarest of rare; the one said to grant immortality and protection from all Gods existing wherever you go-" continued the trader, now dropping his notebook like it isn't important anymore. "-the 'Draconic Tears'."
Upon hearing that name, suddenly all members of the crowds that encircled them springs back to life-and started announcing insane amount of Zenny for the very glimmering object resting at Dusk's hand. "Five million Zenny! I'll buy it for Five-" "-no, I looked at it first! Ten million Zennies!" "-get lost, you brute! Ten Million and three-" "-Dusk, go now. Thing would be rather chaotic if you won't." Advises Lagun, while sending Dusk the code for 'grab and dash outta here' in Hunter code. "! You're-!"
Rrrip!
As he perform the move for '-I'll stall them.', he stuffed a piece of paper, torn from his notebook to Dusk's hand. "-now go!" "-but the payment-!" "-seeing that is far more valuable than any piece of stamped piece of metal for me. NOW GO!" Shouted him, tucking something eerily familiar to Dusk's eye- "-RUN!" Grabbed Dusk, dragging Vieze out of the-
BRRRRPPTTT!
"EAAAGGHHH! MY EYES!" "-IT STINKS!" "-WAAAGGGHHH!"
Dung Bomb.
"THANKS!" Shouted Dusk and Vieze as they fled from the foul-smelling, yellowish mist. "-THIS ONE ISN'T FREE, THOUGH! PAY ME WHEN WE MEET AGAIN!" said the fading voice.
"-and when is that?" Asked Vie, rather innocently. "-dunno. But it seems not in times near now." Answered Dusk while grinning widely. Yet somehow past these two days I've felt that all I been doing is running away…
…
"Geh. Didn't think that running in this yukata is harder than it looks…" Grunted Dusk, now trying to repair the wrinkled clothes that, rather than being wore, binds Dusk. "-oh, yeah. What about the paper he gave to you earlier? What written about the stone you're getting for…who is it again?" Asked Vie, holding dearly to the stone she had pulled our earlier. "Hmm. Where did I put that again? Ah, here it is."
" 'Draconic Tears'. The stone said to be the Eternal Dragon's, the God of Beasts and Hunters alike's, crystallized tear; shed when she abandoned her throne and becomes a mortal. Only said to appear before ones capable to change the era, it symbolizes and imparts the power to change even fate itself, rumor once said that the act of holding the jewel alone would imparts immortality.' " Read Dusk aloud, while taking the stone out for further inspection. " 'Transparent and lacked any luster by itself, only when being handled by either the person which picked it or by the owner it would exhibit extra-ordinary radiance.', huh." Said Dusk, passing the gleaming jewel to Vie-
-only to make the stone turned into perfectly transparent sphere-well, more than transparent, it looked more like 'invisible' as even the outline of the jewel completely disappeared. "-w-what? Where did the stone go!" Asked the panicked Vie, not moving even a muscle, as it might cause the only 'sensation' of weight left by the stone disappearing. "-is it made from a material which responds to something in the chosen's body with change in structure, giving it the ability to glitter?" Asked Dusk, touching the stone with his fingertips, causing the 'invisible' stone to regain its luster, but only at the point he's been touching.
"Well, whoever you'll be giving the stone to, for certain, would be very gracious. I mean-" Said Vieze, now looking at her own, unbroken Charm Sphere. "-'immortality', is the best protection that a Hunter could posses, right?" Asked the girl again, completely has no idea 'who' would receive the stone.
"I would not think he'll be much pleased by getting such present…but at some point, you're right, though." Said Dusk again, shuffling the stone down inside his pocket. The stone symbolizes the power of the owner to change the era, right? Is that means…
"…Vieze?" Asked Dusk, just realizing that he's forgetting both something and someone. "-what?" Asked her back, still grinning widely with tiny fingers clenching the stone. "…what about Radu?"
"…ah."
Inn's Entrance.
"Hurry up and get back, you two~!" Cried Radu, who is being left alone sitting in the bench.
...
"We're back! Sorry if it took longer-" "-IT TOOK YOU GUYS FOREVAH!~hick."
"…did someone give that bamboo container to you?" Asked Dusk, smelling a pungent aroma characteristic of rotting fruit…or fermented food- or wine, from the man's mouth. "NYEees. Some CHAT called BENKAI Gyave ith-" "-stop. I probably understand the rest." Muttered Dusk, doing a facepalm of despair. Now we have one more drunkard to be concearned with…speaking of which, I haven't seen pops since yesterday-is he'll going to be OK after that 'strip' indecent-oops, incident? Thought him, now dragging back the man with the help of the little miss beside him. "-hopefully they still detain Ran."
Room of Blossoming Plum
"…mind if you repeat the reason why did you guys must do this inside my room? His breath reeks, by the way." Groaned now-pinching-her-nose-in-order-to-escape-Radu's-al coholic-smell Vieze, and pushing the said male to the corner of the room using her feet (of course, it is rude).
*Stitch* *Stitch*
"-must I repeat that line again for you? Firstly, they forbade us from entering our room because Ran has escaped…again and has barricaded herself inside of that room. Secondly, the nearest room from the genkan is this room. Third, this room is the suite-they'll probably overlook anything that happened here-"
*Swoosh**Swoosh*
"-and I do hope that including lighting up a portable furnace heere." Said Vie again, still while pinching her nose, making the whole sentence sounds funny. "I've made enough precaution not to let any ember sets loose, you know? This inn is almost entirely made from burn-able material…" Said Dusk, letting Vie's imagination to fill the empty spot in his unfinished sentence. –if this inn get burned down…I think even offering Renga's treasure would not suffice as token of apology.
"-this one's done." Said him, knotting the last thread on his newly-finished, custom piece of armor: Khezu Sneaking Suit-
Well, it is a full-body suit afterall. He designed it using the concept of Remobra Suit to minimize the need of material, only made it tighter-or rather, skin-tight. That way, it'll remove all the unwanted friction and would provide even better dampening effect for the skin-sensitive Radu-
The only drawback of this design is- "-it looks like what a pervert would wear." Nicked Vie, and Dusk could only grinned a sad smile. "You're on the spot for that one. Yet, he could always wear something-at least, a yukata over this." Said Dusk, pushing the completed suit away. "Now for your necklace. Could you pass the melting pot from the toolbox here?" Asked Dusk, now tending to the portable furnace's flame: the small, rectangular-shaped box made from some regional beast called Uragaan's mineral-encrusted shell, coated with anti-flame fluid collected from an Agnaktor, a rather far family of the Lagiacruz, is standing on a stand made from heat-insulating porous material that resembles bone of some kind. Pumping some air with a bag-like instrument made from Qurupeco's airbag, he feeds the Coal so they burn even brighter.
After experimenting with the un-cracked stone Vieze has, and the Draconic Tears in his possession, Dusk finds that the Sphere cannot be remodeled-be it with heat or force-so it means that he has to use the stone as-is. That being said, in order to attach the Sphere-or in Vie's case, a teardrop-shaped jewel-to the necklace means that he must reshape the broken plate into a stand. And in order to do this, he'll need to re-smelt the alloy.
"-here. Anything else?" Said Vie, now covering her burning face with a piece of damp cloth Dusk has prepared before in order to counter the heat-wave: not only her face, but the whole flooring made from hay-tatami is covered with the same damp cloth. This is the countermeasure Dusk formulated. "Now pass me the coagulated Khezu fat. We'll be using the lost-wax method casting." Said Dusk again, stopping pumping air to the forge, and now placing the broken plate pieces into the crucible, before putting the jar-shaped instrument inside the small box with the help of a long stick.
"-you know-" Said Vie, now sitting at one corner of the room, watching Dusk with a tinge of excitement in her eyes. "-watching how you work is never boring." Continued her, now playing with the Khezu Sneaking Suit. While touching Khezu hide will probably send chills down to most people's spine due to its strange texture, some people find the sensation pleasant. At such, there's many orders put on Khezu Hides as well as Tanned ones to be made as bed-covers or mat...and Vieze has been using Khezu-made pillows long before Dusk crafted Radu his first Khezu-made clothes: the pillows made from the said material would feel pleasantly cool in summers and slightly warm upon touch in the winters, due to the processed fat layers.
"-it's probably because you never watched me crafted the same thing twice." Answered Dusk flatly, making the praise went directly to the trashcan. Seriously, he cannot even understand that I just praised him-what a blockhead. Hmph. Complained Vieze to herself, pouting; yet it lasts for just a while. Seeing how his hands move, using the White Wing to chip away small bits of hardened lard with both speed and dexterity at pro's level is just like seeing a composer leading an orchestra-or so the girl's think.
After finishing the template for the jewel's stand, Dusk kneaded a fistful of clay-he'll be using this for the actual cast. Putting the cut-out piece of hardened fat into the clay and shaping it properly, he ensured that there would be two holes minimum on the surface of the cast: one for pouring the liquefied material in, and one other for the air's exit: forgetting one of said holes would mean you must redo your work from the point of making the template from awful-smelling fat, so let's don't.
"-now's the baking. This's going to be a bit dangerous, so stand back. Oh, and while you're at it, drag Radu with you." Said Dusk, ensures his friend's safety before opening the forge's door with the help from the Machalite bar. While the temperature of the outer surface of said item is even safe for touching due to the Agnaktor's liquid, the inside is a different matter: once he opened the door, heatwaves emitted from the small object caused nearby water-soaked cloth to evaporate instantly, making steam appeared out of nowhere. Not wasting even a second, as the heatwaves constantly emitted from the opened door is now making the wet paper wrinkled in an instant, he then throws the cast inside the forge and slammed the door shut.
Dusk exhaled.
"Now what's left is to wait until the cast is ready. The baking would take ten to fiveteen minutes in this temperature." Said Dusk, now pushing the portable forge aside, and pulling near a bag of utensils and materials, as well as the recipe given to him from Renga. "? What's that for?" Asked Vieze, exiting her cover (which is the unconscious, intoxicated Radu). "A local potion recipe I received from a friend. He said that it would 'put some kick'…yet by 'kick' i didn't quite understand what effect…"
"-then let's brew it. That way we would know the effect firsthand, would it not?" Suggested Vie. "Well, yeah…that's my intention from the start. Could you read the recipe aloud for me? That way, it'll save us some time then if I read it myself." Said Dusk, preparing the basic necessities for brewing a potion: mortar and pestle, some water, weighting scale, small flask and cauldron, glass bottles- "-that's a lot of apparels." Commented Vie, lifting up one glass bottle for examination. "-this is just the basics, though. Say…" Said Dusk, quite perplexed. "-I thought you always bring your own potion mix on hunts? Yet you practically doesn't recognize the tools needed to made one? How come?"
"…err…about that…" Stuttered Vie suddenly, averting her eyes to escape from Dusk's stare. "-don't tell me Lia is the one making all those healies…"
"*GULP*"
"-am I right?" Said Dusk, when the loud *gulp* and the frightened expression showing in Vie's face told him that his guess is truthfully true. Eh, it did explain why sometimes Lia's hand is stained green. "…then it couldn't hurt more to learn it now, right? Watch and learn closely, because this is a complicated recipe." "-eeh! Right off the bat!" "-I didn't say that you must brew EXACTLY as written in this recipe, mind you…all I ask is just your attention to how I work and how to handle the utensils. Let's get started then; the clay mould would be completed soon." Said the man as he prepared the very basic of the ingredients: Herb and Blue Mushroom.
"…"
"-what's the matter? Read it out already?" Asked Dusk, started to lose his patience waiting. "Err…I'd like to…but…"
Vie then pointed down to the instruction-bearing old piece of paper.
"-if only I could read these cursive handwriting."
Well, it's given. Renga's recipe is written in a way native to Crafters, that is nearly-undechiperable lines, dots and circles. Of course Dusk could read it, as he is also one using the method of writing-actually, he even develops his own letters, making his Recipe is almost impossible to be copied, as many of his original recipes are already been patented or in patent-pending status. "Then, let's switch." Grumbled Dusk, lowering the heat of the portable furnace in order to extend the time allotted for mixing the potion. "-I'll read and you mix. Aaaand-be sure to wear those gloves. That is, if you didn't want to get your nails all green from the juice." Said Dusk again, pointing to a pair of gloves that is smeared here and there with greenish stains, oversized for Vie's hands.
"…ehehe." Chuckled Vie, now wearing the loose gloves and waving her hand around, making the loose gloves flap around. "-what?" Said Dusk, now arranging the items listed in the recipe for easing Vie's work. This…Bitterbug Juice? Fortunately I've readied those-I can't even imagine how would she fares grinding them… Thought Dusk, pushing a vial filled halfway-up with a murky brown liquid. Fortunately, this recipe does not include Dragon Toadstools; Vieze's allergic to them…noted Dusk inwardly: she almost died because food allergy at her 12th birthday. Thankfully her father (once again, abusing his power as the Guildmaster) quickly summoned a plethora of doctors, shamans and medicine-mans…saving her life. "Dusk, Dusk~! Lookie here!" "-hmm?" "Your hands is so big~!" Said Vie, now chuckling more loudly when flapping the gloves around-
THWACK.
Making it flies straight to Dusk's face, and leaving a palm-print across his face.
"GET. TO. WORK." Said Dusk, now with angered voice. "*eeeP*!"
…
"First, slice down the Herb's leaves into size. Use that knife and cutting board." Instructs the man, pointing to the ingredients that's already been prepared. "-o…okay."
Chop-chop-chop-chop.
"-that's good. Do it for the second time, now horizontally." "-umm!"
Chop-chop-chop-chop.
"There! Did I do it well?" Asked Vie, showing Dusk the result of her work. Picking up some pieces that still attached one to another because of poor cutting technique, he smirked naughtily- "-are you sure yo're a girl? The cut definitely has some MANLY vibe-AAGGHH! VIE, DROP THE KNIFE! KNIFE!" Shrieked Dusk when Vie, in threatening matter raised her knife-holding hand.
…
"*Cough*. Continuing on…" Grumbled Dusk, now wiping the green-colored sappy liquid off his face is painted in, unmistakably coming from Vieze's act-of-revenge. "-slice the Blue Mushrooms and Exciteshrooms into thin slices, then extract the juices by pressing them down. Put the juice here-" Pointed Dusk to the direction of a small measuring cup. "-and don't throw the leftover pulp just yet. We'll be grinding them with the pestle." "-okaa~ay!"
Splat.
"-and be careful. Using too much force will cause the Mushroom turn to mush…err, it appears that the warning is too late, though. Here, a towel." "-uu~ghh. Wipe itt~"
She's having too much fun, though. Noted Dusk, wiping the sticky liquid from Vie's face while the one smeared didn't even care. And the mould should be completed now. Thought Dusk, giving a hand signal for Vie to retreat from vicinity, when he opened the portable forge. "Perfect. The mould is hardened, and the plate's melted." Dusk then begin to fill the clay object with glowing-red liquid, and adding more coal pieces for temperature control-the alloy must be allowed to harden by itself while controlling the heat not to drop too suddenly, as it would result in a crack or even brittleness of the crafted object.
"Done. What's next?" Asked Vie, her oversized gloves now dripping with a strange, gooey liquid. "Put this, the cut-up Herb, mashed-up mushroom into the mortar I've already filled with some powdered Kelbi Horns…yeah, that one with black-looking goo (I couldn't tell her that there's also some Bitterbug Juice in there, could I?) Put some Frozen Berries, Aromatic Herb and Sunset Herb also…you can take the gloves off now." Said Dusk, re-reading the recipe to ensure that there's no step skipped or missed. "So, we'll grind them down with this pestle?" Asked Vie, already holding the short, blunt-ended handle. "-yes, but not now. Here-use the pestle to crack them up." Said Dusk, handing her three kinds of pebble-like object. "-these are…Powerseed and Armorseed? And…Dragonseed?" Asked Vie, knocking the nut one against the other. "It seems that we'll be using them for some flavor. Crack open the shells, would you?" Ordered Dusk, now taking out what looked like an anvil. "You'll also be needing-"
WHAM.
"You'll destroy the inn's tatami long before cracking the shells, Vie." Groaned Dusk again, pulling away Vie's hand from the nuts and crushed it with sheer gripforce (plus the hardness of the Silve's scale hidden beneath his gloved hand), and putting the crunchy flesh inside the mortar. "Now, if you would?" Points Dusk to the items waiting to be crushed.
"-roundandroundandroundandround." Sings Vie happily as she grinded the pieces inside the mortar. "-what's left after the grinding is straining the left-over mass, diluting it by factor of four and adding some Honey atop of few drops of Pale Extract and Power Ex-"
Dusk froze on the spot after reading the last paragraph written on the paper: heck, that small of a writing is situated at the very end of the paper, even with Dusk's eye it remains undiscovered until his fourth read.
"-what?" Asked Vie, seeing how the boy froze in shock.
"-put some Ice Crystals and you'll have something to kick your spirits up. Heck, this is not a Potion recipe-it's a tonic-refreshment!" Roared Dusk in anger-heck, the recipe is so misleading that almost all the Items needed is indeed ones used to brew Potions. "Reeeennngaaa…!" Roared Dusk, gripping the recipe until it's crumpled beyond recognition, while Vie's just laughed loudly, gripping her sides. "*ahahahaha* It sure takes a genius to make a condiment!" Commented Vieze, making the blush on Dusk's face brightened. "-shut UP!" Groaned him, yet Vie's still laughing and chuckling continuously, making him feel more irritated than ever. "-I SAID stop laughing!"
Yet Vieze's current condition is tossing and rolling about while having both arm wrapped to his stomach area, as it began to hurt because of muscle overuse- "! Vie, watch OUT-!"
WHAM.
"-eh?"
"-as I said…stop laughing already." Said Dusk in strained voice.
Protecting the girl from the forge unintentionally knocked over by the girl in his toss-and-turn, the two ended up in a position just like last night, where Dusk tried to undress her from the prison of 40-layered kimono.
ZRAAAK.
"Oya?"
Again, someone, namely Akiho, opened the sliding door with inappropriate timing-or in this case, excellent timing for getting a misinterpretation of the situation.
"-ah." Said the two together.
Room of Camellia
"Why…"
Inside of the room, there's two creatures bound by rope and sealing talismans; presumably ones used to repel evil spirits or dispel impure thoughts: One is from the Felyne tribe that goes by name Rangiku, and one that hails from the lineage of humankind, namely…Dusk.
"WHY DID I ENDED UP BEING CHAINED HEREEE!" Screamed Dusk in protest, while trying to wriggle his way away from Ran's reach. "Oh, Dusk-sama…when a girl and a boy are locked together inside one room by third party, it is bound that the ones responsible for it are expecting something to happen…" "AAS IIF!"Shrieked Dusk, now slithering away just like a snake would. If I could just draw my White Wing!
But with his whole body chained down like this, even with his joint-dislocation technique, escaping would be practically impossible.
…though…
"Say, weren't you going to attack me?" Asked Dusk, after realizing that Ran haven't made any movement-or at least hostile gestures-towards him. "-ah, what are you saying, Dusk-sama? Expecting me to be the one attacking-as a man, it's your responsibility to make the first move, nyaa~" Said Ran, making the sexiest poise possible when being chained-well, she's more reasonable than I thought. Then the ruckus from earlier must be caused by Vie lobbing the Felvine bomb…
"So…" Some rattling sound could be heard when Dusk corrects his form from laying flat to the ground to sitting upright with the help of nearby rolled-up futon. "Why'd you choose me as your master? Aside from the accident at the onsen, that is." Added Dusk as quickly as possible when he saw a smirk forming at the ends of Ran's lips. Yet she remained silent and shifts her gaze downwards, as if trying to hide her face from view.
"…because…you're so…cool." Whispered Ran with almost inaudible volume. "-what? 'cool'? Where did that come from?" Asked Dusk back, a little embarrassed with the remark. "-mou! I've known it! You're super thick-headed!" Groaned Ran at Dusk's, probably, largest sin: ignorance."-coming sweeping down from the skies, surviving the fall from god-knows-how-much-height, pushing yourself to run even with dislocated knees, and surviving the chase from five Hapurls…on the top of that, crafting a Sailer with only scraps to escape the Great Desert. If that's cannot be called as 'cool', then what must I categorize you as? Master." Praised Ran, now with a face that's reddened by blood-flow. Although it's a little hard to see, given her hairy-err, furry face, the area with scarcer distribution of said purplish-colored hair could be seen turning red.
"-I…am?" repeated Dusk in a silly tone. "-umm-hmm."
Room of Plum Blossoms
"-just as I said, that's my own mistake! Why did you mistake it again as Dusk tried to assault meee!" Shrieked Vieze at Akiho, the one responsible at the current Dusk's condition. "As you didn't know! All mens are beast, Vieze! They'll turn vicious when the chance arises!" Reasoned Akiho, with the same pitch Vie's using.
"-mmm-hmm."
"-And I've been telling you, miss Aki-that Dusk isn't such person! We've been friends since we're little…and…and…"
"-and what! You'll allow such act since you also liked him? Don't, Vieze! That act is-" "-I've been telling you that Dusk wouldn't even see me as a girl!" Shrieked the petite hunter in discontent.
"…why? You're pretty. Prettier than average-or rather, most girls! You're cute, girly even as a Hunter, fashionable-what did he think you lack? Height?"
A pained expression flashed across Vie's face, as though an invincible arrow has struck her somewhere. "-Aki, you've REALLY got to stop now." Said Gandart, now sipping some purplish substance with a relaxed expression near the sliding window. Beside him, a dead-looking body known as Radu could be seen still sleeping rather un-peaceful face because of his intoxication. "You stay out from this, Uncle! Don't you even think that because he's your adopted son, I'll go easy on him! Just see-I'll demonstrate my power to him! Girl's power! HMPH!" Ranted Akiho, drawing up her sleeves and flexing her slender arms-of course, not even a slight bulge arises, since almost all of her daily task is being done by the Felynes swarming around her. "-you're not making any sense, you know? Besides, if you continue saying whatever comes to your mind, you'll be damaging her more than you thought it might be-" Butted Gandart in, yet Aki still continued her rant about "-this is the time of emancipation! Womans should be valued more than they are right now!"
"…ed."
"? Sorry, I cannot hear you. Could you repeat?" Asked Akiho, just now realizing that since sometime before Vie has been muttering something.
"…ry…ted."
"?"
"I SAID I'M SORRY THAT I'M SHORT! I'M SORRY THAT I'M FLAT-CHESTED! I'M SORRY THAT I GET ANGRY EASILY! I'M SORRY THAT I'VE ALWAYS BAD AT BEING NICE TO HIM! THERE, ARE YOU SATISFIED!"
Akiho and Gandart could only stare blankly at her after the confession. The shock is so severe that the Wyverian dropped his cup and splashing the flooring with said liquid, and making nearby objects, Radu and a piece of crumpled paper soaked. "-jibaku?" Asked Aki, while both confused and flustered.
Back to the Room of Camellia.
"…err, thanks?"
At long last of silence Dusk has finally reclaimed his ability to speak. "-but is it really so?" Added him again, still unconvinced by said remark. "-and there you go again, nya! You really have no self-esteem-" Still, a bellowing laugh could be heard from Dusk. "…what?" Asked Ran, finding Dusk's action as strange. "Nothing. But I liked the 'current you' even better then when you're still Orc. At least the worried look in your face is gone." Exclaimed Dusk, making Ran blushes even deeper red. "…you're a natural womanizer, you know?" Said her in whispering hiss.
"Then, even knowing I'm a insensitive, hard-headed, hot-blooded moron, do you still wishes this so-called 'natural womanizer' to be your master?"
That offer just sprung out of nowhere, making Ran felt as her heart stopped…or at least skipped few beats.
"D…"
"What?"
"Do you…really, really meant it?" Asked Ran again.
"Ye-" "-even if I caused bad luck to you?"
Ran's quick interruption to his answer MEANS something, at least from Dusk's prespective. Thus, he decided to follow it for a bit.
"-my luck's never being great, though."
" Even if I bring misery to you?"
"-heck, my live's already miserable. More misery won't change anything."
"-even if…I hog you all for myself?"
"You'll be sorry if you acted like that in front of Vie, though."
"Even if I acted immature?"
"Sometimes I also had times when I acted childish. Bear with it, ok?"
"-even if-"
"Look. You can spout any nonsense that would make any Hunters cower at the first thought of making you as their companion, and I'll still make you my friend. You have the skill and the pride of being a Felyne Comrade-if not the best; it's came not from your lineage nor from your reputation-but because you are you. It's not your fault that your previous masters died in such terrible way-"
"*sniff*"
Hearing Dusk's honest words, the lynian's eyes begin to swell with tears…and not too long after, Ran began crying. Yet this time, the tears shed from her eyeballs are not a sad one, commemorating any death. It is also not ones born from disgust and self-hate as ones dropped many nights before this day, or indicating a painful plea for help.
"I'd like to give you a hug right now, buut…" Commented Dusk, still trying to escape from the chains binding him. "-as you can see, my hands are a bit tied right now."
Ran's ears twitched at that line. "-then I'll be the one coming to you."
"-eh?"
Chring!
"-wha!"
"-chains like this cannot even stop any ordinary Lynians." "-so you being chained here is all an act!" Said Dusk in utter terror, when the Felyne approached him in small, light steps. "…master…"
"EEEEEEE~!"
ZRAAAAK.
"DUSK!" Shouted a petite figure that popped from the opened door. She had anticipated the worst to happen…but…
Yet all she found is Ran sleeping soundly in Dusk's lap.
"-huh?"
"-yo. It seems this time the misunderstanding lasts shorter than the last one." Said Dusk, annoyingly being cheerful as usual. "-but—she—was supposed to-err, what happened here?" Said Vieze, having difficulty of finding the right arrangement to her sentence, as what now she saw and the circumstances from before didn't even match a bit.
"Long story made short…she's my comrade starting now."
"…"
"-WHAAAATTT!" Shouted the three (Vieze, Gandart and Akiho) after a long pause.
And the last fainted in a rather exaggerated movement.
Character Data:
Name: Lagun
Age: Apparently 20 to 24 years old.
Occupation: Trader, occasionally goes on a Hunt (But does not have the knack for it.)
Biography:
A wandering trader that occasionally shows up on Yukumo Village's market. Carrying a plethora of curious items and materials, usually he'll stay for a week before departing to no-one-knows. Partly Wyverian ( 1/8 Wyverian, on that note.) so he looks younger than his actual age. Appears to know a lot about Charmstones, and possess a mysterious worn notebook that said to be containing all possible Charm's names, including the legendary Draconic Tears.
On a side note, he's already engaged to a huntswoman.
There's the ninth chapter, God knows how many more to go.
No spoiler for you guys this time~!
~20 August 2011~
