Disclaimer: It's obvious I don't have Tales of Xillia, because it was properties of Bandai Namco.
Now, let's begin our story again~ I just noticed when I was in the middle of writing the latter chapter that the pace of this story is quite slow. Well, it isn't weird considering that this story is very big considering the plan I had made. I love writing the story of Stella and Altair though since those two are quite high in my list, second only to Mel and Leah pair if about OC anyway.
I won't bore you anymore with my rambling so let's see the continuation of the story okay? I'm still the same dumb writer as always and I know that my grammar is anywhere but perfect since I'm NOT A NATIVE SPEAKER and MY MOTHER (FAMILY, RELATIVE, NEIGHBORHOOD, EVERYONE) DIDN'T SPEAK ENGLISH LIKE. AT. ALL. so forgive me from making mistakes. I'm doing my best to improve though so I'M OPEN TO ADVICE and it would be kind of you to tell me how I could improve my english without using money, I'm not that rich after all. Without anymore further ado, I present you this chapter~
#Sorry for the capitalization, but sometimes people wouldn't read it unless I take drastic measure. I'm quite easy to get traumatized lol.
"Sweet air at last," Stella said happily, as she escorted Alicia from the ship to the safety of the land after they were on board for half of the day.
Alicia nodded weakly as she clutched Stella like no tomorrow still despite being on the comfort of solid footing. Altair and Kevin who followed behind only sighed seeing how the sky-head got a hard case of seasick. All of them waited for a while until Alicia finally told them that she was completely okay and could go on.
"I guess we shouldn't do that. The day will end soon anyway, so how about we look for a place to stay for the night?" Stella suggested as she looked up to the color of the sky that had turned into a darker shade of orange.
After all, she didn't like the idea of staying in the wilderness with Alicia who looked like she could collapse anytime soon. Objectively speaking, Stella had no free pair of hands to care for Alicia in wilderness where monster could attack them anytime. But, if asked about how she felt, Stella would instantly say that she is simply worried for Alicia's condition.
Altair sighed before smiling kindly to his counterpart saying, "Okay, I will look for an inn with Kevin. Wait here and don't go anywhere. I will come back really soon and it will be a mess if you got lost so don't go anywhere. Got it?" before glancing to Kevin who had turned pale beside him ever since he talked about going together to look for lodging.
Kevin wished he could protest when Stella cheerfully said, "Okay, Alice and I will wait for you right here. I'm glad that you and Kevin made up so I will leave it to you then, right Kevin?" with a bright smile that made Kevin lose all his protest without even voicing them.
Kevin smiled weakly as he was reluctant to be left alone with Altair. He still remembered clearly how Altair warns him that he won't escape from his fist after they reached the land on the ship. Before he could decide whether to obey Stella or make an excuse to remain, he felt his collar being pulled from the back. With cold sweat rolling down from his forehead he looked to Altair who had this menacing smile on his face albeit it was masked by a weird (completely out of place) kind smile.
"Well then Kevin, how about we move out right now? We had a lot of things to talk about… yeah a lot indeed," Altair said with an evil smile on his face. After all he didn't have any intention to be kind to a stalker who stalked his twin. Instead, he will make sure that Kevin will pay for it very dearly. He will make it sure himself that the stalker understand it as well that he wouldn't let any bug latch on his sister.
"H-hey Al… you know we could always talk about it… l-like a good peaceful friend… okay?" Kevin, quite desperately, begged when he saw the killing look that Altair had on his face. Heck, it was written all over his face that he was about to kill Kevin. One thing about Altair is that he is always so serious that if he said that he would kill him, then that's what he would do indeed.
"What are you talking about? I just wanted you to come along with me as a very good friend like we are…" Altair replied with the same smile on but Kevin swore that shadow was cast on his face. That was a big life-threatening alarm alert!
But, before Kevin could talk his way out, Altair dragged the brown-head as if pulling a sack of rice since he literally dragged him away from the place they stepped down from the ship. The latter cried in his heart begging for help to the girl who didn't realize what Altair actually had in his mind.
"Have a nice time you two!" Stella said with a cheerful wave to the direction Kevin and Altair walked away, a big broad smile gracing her beautiful face.
Kevin felt like a ton weigh had been placed on his head when he saw Stella cheerfully send him to hell. He looked up to see Altair still wearing the same creepy smile with shadow cast on his face. He started struggling so Altair would leave him and his life alone but couldn't escape Altair strong grip due to the latter tendency to use his fists on fight.
After Altair and Kevin form were completely gone from the port to look for an inn, Stella rubbed Alicia's back as she said, "I'm glad that Al and Kevin made up. Lately when we are back at Trigleph and met Kevin somewhere, those two look like they would go into an argument whenever we met. I guess the decision to let Kevin go with us is correct!" as she innocently smiled to Alicia who looked nauseous even after resting for the whole time they were on board and landed.
Alicia looked up slightly to the direction where the two boys had disappeared into and commented in her heart, 'I don't think that they are as close as it looked like…'
Skit – Injury
*Inside the Inn*
Stella: Hey Kevin it bugged me a lot but… how did you get those injury?
Kevin: Err, well, that's…
*Altair approaching*
Altair: Injury? What injury? (I'm so going to kill you if you blurted it out) *menacing smile on*
Kevin: *shudder* O-oh, no it's nothing! I was just tripped on the way here… yeah, that…
Stella: Is that so? I don't think a simple fall on the floor could create those injuries though…
Altair: Kevin just bumped into a lot of people and tripped countless time when we walked Stel, don't worry about it.
Stella: Is that so?
Kevin: Y-yeah… (Al is evil) anyway, I need to go so… bye. *leaving*
Altair: Well, Stel I will look for some medicine for Alicia so I will go out for a bit. *leaving*
Stella: Yeah… … … (Something smells fishy here…)
Skit: Game
Stella: Hey guys~
Kevin: Ah Stelly, is Alicia sleeping?
Stella: Yeah, I checked that she is there just now. Anyway, what are you doing?
Altair: The game where you make a narration using any word that sounded close the word before. Do you want to join as well?
Stella: Sure, so who would be the one who start?
Kevin: That would be me. Hmm… let's see the thing you use to see.
Altair: That would be 'eye'. Then, for my turn… a very cold thing. Stel you are next.
Stella: Roger~ Then, I guess you are talking about 'ice'. Hmm… I go with 'white seeds that you eat almost every day'. Kevin, your turn~
Kevin: It is 'Rice' isn't it? Well, Al you can guess this one 'The other side of left'
Altair: 'Right'
Stella: …right?
Altair: It is not 'Right' it is 'Right'.
Kevin: You didn't make sense Al… I guess you lost this turn~
Altair: Good grief…
After a good night rest on local Inn, the party decided to start their walk to the Nia Khera through the Aladhi Trail. Albeit still slightly pale, Alicia admitted that she could manage a day worth of walk as long as it was on the land. Kevin who was pretty beaten up last night had (weirdly) healed up.
As they reached the exit of Aladhi Seahaven, Altair took another glance to Alicia who was still pale and looked nauseous. He just knew that the sky-head girl had a big problem with water transportation and noted to not use them if not necessary. He admitted that he was worried so he decided to just confront the said person.
"Hey, Alicia are you sure you are okay?" Altair asked with worry in his tone as he saw certain sky haired girl appeared before him and the other.
"Yeah, I slept a lot yesterday so I am fine right now." Alicia replied as cheerfully as her soft demeanor could. She still looked pale as yesterday but Altair know that as Alicia said herself, she was already in the shape to walk for a day at least.
Kevin and Stella who watched from sidelines only looked at how Altair is calmly talking with Alicia, something that had become a habit after Alicia become Stella's friend. Stella didn't find it weird, but apparently the apprentice merchant is curious. He nudged Stella's shoulders for a little bit to get Stella's attention.
Stella looked to the side and saw that Kevin wanted to talk so she nodded. She swiftly cleared her left ear to let Kevin whispered to her. Although Kevin knew that Stella had weird gesture, he still gulped nervously when Stella easily gives her ears to him. Well, one more mistake made by him… it will be surely the end of his life in the hand of her sister-complex twin brother.
With that in his mind, Kevin holds his breath and then spoke, "Hey… since when Al is kind to girl other than you Stelly?"
Stella looked to the two that Kevin spoke about and then said, "Al is a good person. He always protected me after all. Why did you ask Kevin?"
Kevin mentally sighed since he concluded that Stella didn't know that Altair is generally cold toward other person, especially boy. Exception is made for those who are close with the future researcher of which could be counted by hand.
Kevin then shuddered at the memory of yesterday. He knew that Altair is especially strict to those who had an eye for his twin sister although it won't make him back down. It would need more than scolding and beating to make him stop. Though he couldn't help but admit that Altair is a tad bit too strict.
The one who was talked about then turned around and saw how Kevin got all close to Stella. He frowned at the sight before approaching the former and pulled his collar, making the owner wince, before saying, "We better get going. I don't want to miss my summer break more than this."
Kevin groaned and protested by saying, "Okay, okay, I understand, really! Just let me go you bookworm!" and fueled the anger of the male twin. He wriggled free from Altair's grips and gasping for sweet air as soon as he managed to escape Altair's strong grip.
"What did you say?!" Altair asked in visible angered tone as he cracked both of his knuckles. Even those who passed by could see a comical vein appeared on the side of the future researcher forehead.
Alicia got panicked at how the two guys in their group will start fighting again after they looked like they had made up yesterday. Stella who saw that if she let it be, it would be troublesome then said, "Tone it down guys, we had a distance to cover today. I would love to reach Hamil in less than two day if possible."
Both of the mentioned turned to Stella and respecting the girl wish they pulled back their fist… for now. Stella mentally let out a relieved breath before saying, "Hey Kevin, you often passed the road to Hamil right? Could you brief us about the detail?"
Kevin cheered in his heart as Altair frowned at how Stella is giving chance to Kevin though he didn't say it. Kevin who shot a winning smile to Altair then said, "We will go to Hamil using Aladhi Trail to the north of the port. There is nothing special there and the monsters are not that hard to beat even in this season. If we speed walk it maybe we could reach Hamil in a day though I personally think it isn't possible…"
Alicia felt like Kevin was talking about her then talked with apologetic tone saying, "I'm sorry to be a burden… I shouldn't have come with everyone…"
Stella turned to Alicia and then took the girl hands before saying, "You are not a burden or anything like that. I'm sure that Kevin didn't talk about you with that, right Kevin?"
Kevin who was addressed only nodded at the question, indeed he wasn't talking about Alicia although in heart he partially admitted that he is since Alicia is in no condition to do a long-distance walk. Altair noted this and to save Kevin from unnecessary talk, he asked, "So, why it isn't possible?"
"I just heard it yesterday from the inn keeper that there is a strong monster residing in the middle of the road. Normally the Queen Ambrose in Kanbalar would send some kind of mean to destroy the monster but considering it appeared around three days ago, the reinforcement didn't reach this place yet. I also heard some rumor circulating about a bigger monster outbreak somewhere else, so they had their hands tied," Kevin explained in detail about what he had learned from his talk with people around, something that had become a habit since his mother is a journalist and his father is a former mercenary.
Alicia looked up and then said, "I-is that so? I'm sorry for the misunderstanding… Err, is it possible for us to somehow slip our way through the monster then?"
"They said the monster is fast so running is not an option. The monster shape is like a scorpion but bigger and from those who tried to fight it, they said it had the affinity of earth. I prefer to cut this short and propose us to fight it. The reward money from Village Chief of Hamil is quite the amount I heard," Kevin explained again as he looked at Altair and Stella in sequence. Since he is used to train with the twin as well in their childhood, he knew that the twin is an equally heavy hitter… and had an equal love to thrilling battle as well.
Stella got wide eyed when she saw those glints on Kevin's eyes. She quickly gave a thought to it and smiled at what she came up. She took a glance to Altair who had a smirk on his face already as if it was obvious as he then said, "It sounded like an effective method not to mention we clean a problem for the people around. Count me in, oh and Stel also approve the idea."
Alicia turned her attention to the childhood friend trio and saw that they looked very serious at what they had agreed upon. Fearing their safety as well as her own, she quickly shouted, "W-what?! Why everyone agreed on that kind of thing? It is dangerous! Please tell me you are kidding… Stella you didn't even said that you agree…"
Stella smiled sweetly to Alicia before saying, "Alice, we only needed to pass the road and it was just by chance the monster invaded the road. It was normal to clean it, right? Don't worry about it we will be okay…"
"Don't simplify it like that… I'm worried," Alicia said with a low tone as she hung her head low. She was worried about her friend well-being. She just knew by how Kevin said it that the monster is very strong. Could they take it? While she knew that her friends are very strong, were they strong enough to take the monster?
"In one way or another we need to take the road. If it gone wrong, we could just run. I'm sure that Kevin had enough speed to drag us away," Altair said with a light tone as he frowned at the brunette who was trying to think of anything to make Alicia calm.
"Is that supposed to be praise?" Kevin asked as he looked at Altair skeptically.
"No one is praising you," Altair retorted with a cynical tone but it was partially obvious that he tried to lighten the mood.
Kevin laughed and then said, "Oh then it's great! If you praise me I fear that this fight will be jinxed by bad fortune."
Stella sighed and placed both of her hands on her hips before saying, "Guys, could you get serious right now? Kevin, do you know anything else about this scorpion that escaped from circus?"
Kevin sweatdropped at how Stella said that they must get serious when she threw up randomness about the monster. He looked at Alicia before looking at Stella and then said, "First thing first Stelly, the scorpion isn't a runaway from some random circus. It didn't wear fancy clothes with lot of frill or something like that so it is an actual wild monster. I would love it if you stayed in the back and support us since you know that Altair and I suck at support. Having you on our back is quite a relief."
Stella nodded briefly and pointed her index finger upward before saying, "I got it, I learned few basic offensive Spirit Artes as well back in Talim so I would try to attack from behind as well. I guess the frontline is up to you two… like in the past."
Altair nodded as well with a small smile on his face before saying, "Yeah, like in the past. So Alicia, you must hide until the fight is over. Did you get what I said?"
Alicia sighed before she looked at how the other watched her with expecting gaze. She knew that no matter what she did, she had no say in this so with a dejected tone she said, "Even if I say no, everyone will still go right? All I can do is praying for your safety since everyone tried to cheer me up as well… sorry, I can't be of any help…"
Stella laughed at how Alicia finally gave up before gripping her palms and brought it close to her chest level. Alicia looked up in response as she saw Stella with a reassuring expression said, "It's going to be fine. After all we have the goddess of fortune by our side!"
Kevin nudged Altair's shoulders as the latter took a glance to the former with indifferent eyes. Kevin lowered his tone as low as he could, not giving a thought about how Altair practically ignored him, when he said, "It's bothering me from awhile but… did Stelly finally swing that way?"
Altair sighed since he was quite tired on this kind of talk about Stella's normality before saying, "For your information… thankfully, no."
Stella noticed how the two friend-yet-foes whispering to each other but didn't know that they were whispering about her and cheerfully said, "Hey you two, we better going out now! Not going to let a monster on loose!"
As always, it is fun to write the friendship act between each character here~ Kevin really know how to pick the twin interest since both are such a battle loving pair lol (though add Kevin and we get a trio of battle loving head). The skit is quite random though somewhat fun to write for me as most of them aren't serious. Well, I guess that's all for me~ See you next time~
