Chapter Ten: Nature's Beauty

In the dark shadows of the murky night, as the three cars drove on, Elesis clenched her steering wheel. She was furious, Chung had looked at Elsword's diary, a thing of secrets, and snatched her heart. Ara looked at her in worry. The ebonette was glad the two finally confessed to one another, but as usual Elesis was assuming out of her desire to protect Elsword. Ara reached out and placed a hand on Elesis's shoulder.

"Babe, can't you just be happy for once?" Ara asked.

"He looked at her-"

"She didn't care." Ara said, "Whatever she wrote, she was glad Chung saw it. And now look at them." Ara pointed at Raven's truck, and they saw an arm pointing up to the sky, followed by another. Ara smiled, "Chung isn't 'that' kind of boy. I should know, after all..." Ara pouted slightly, "I was in love with him as well. So come on baby, let's just enjoy ourselves."

"I can't let them be together unless I know he'll meet her needs." Elesis said.

"Well, what are you looking for then?" Ara asked, genuinely curious.

"He will keep her happy, he will keep her safe." Elesis closed her eyes momentarily, "That is what I want to see, and be entirely certain of.

"Well, it's still a ways to the airdock to Altera, so why don't we give them some peace?" Ara said, placing her hand on the controls and dimming the headlights until they couldn't make out the pair anymore but could still see Raven's truck. Elesis still seemed on edge, "Elesis, do I need to distract you?"

"No I'm-ah!" Elesis gasped as Ara placed her hand between her thighs, "Ara I'm driving!"

"Oh come on, I know you can drive and do this at the same time. We've done it before. Just relax..." Ara unclipped her seat belt and leaned down, unzipping Elesis's jeans, "And enjoy."

Meanwhile, in the back of Raven's truck, Elsword hugged Chung's arm as they lay on the truck bed. Dizzy was fast asleep in his cage, well past his bed time.

"Oh, look at that one." Elsword pointed back at the well lit night sky, "Looks kinda like a tree knight." Chung squinted at the cloud in question.

"Looks more like a scorpion to me."

"Liar." Elsword teased.

"No, come on tilt you head a bit." Elsword did so, "See?"

"Oh yeah, I still like the tree knight better."

"Whatever you say." Chung said kindly. They sat upright and stretched their arms. They noticed the dimmed lights on Elesis's car.

"Guess she's softening up." Elsword mused.

"Guess so." Chung agreed. They felt a bump, and looked over the side of the truck to see the airdock in sight. The back window slid open.

"Oh, you're both still awake." Rena said, "We're going to grab a bite to eat before catching our flight to Altera."

"Okay." Elsword uncovered Dizzy's cage and nudged the little furball, "Time to wake up little fella."

"Mah?" Dizzy mewled sleepily, rubbing his beady black eyes. Elsword held out her hand and let him crawl onto it.

"We're going to get some food, you still wanna sleep?" In response to Elsword's question, Dizzy burrowed into her shirt. She sighed and looked up as Raven pulled the truck alongside Eve's car and shut it down. Everyone got out and stretched, it had been a long drive. After a short rest, Raven and Eve went off to sort out the tickets.

"Alright, let's get some snacks!" Rena said happily. Elesis walked up to Chung.

"Chung, can I talk to you?" Rena quickly glowered at her, "I'm not going to yell at him."

"It's fine Rena." Chung said, knowing what this conversation was bound to be about. Chung and Elesis let the others walk off, Ara, Aisha, and Elsword practically begging Rena to ease up as they moved on. Chung turned to the crimsonette, "About Elsword I assume?"

"I saw the whole exchange." Elesis said, "And I don't give my consent." Elesis narrowed her crimson orbs into sharp daggers.

"What can I do? I only want to make Elsword happy."

"Prove yourself to me." Elesis said, "When I'm sure you can keep her safe, and keep her happy, I will tell you."

"Okay. I'll do my best to keep her happy." Chung said. The two turned to see Eve and Raven rushing over to them.

"Where's the others?" Eve asked.

"Went to get snacks." Eve sighed as Elesis answered.

"Oberon, please fetch the others and bring them to the gate."

"What's going on?" Chung asked as he and Elesis followed Eve while Raven arranged for their vehicles to be transported to the ship.

"Our flight is leaving early, it seems we're leaving at the same time as an unusual group of passengers."

"What do you-The El?" Everyone was stunned when they reached the waiting lounge for their flight. Not a single person was there, aside from the congregation of Lizardmen. One face stood out, well one beard to be precise.

"Well, if it isn't Eve, Chung, and Elesis." They all focused on the large lizardman approaching, Berauk.

"Greetings Berauk, how has the tribe been?" Eve asked calmly. The old shaman set the butt of his staff on the floor and stroked his long beard

"Remarkably. Ever since you and your friends disposed of Kayak permanently, the tribe has been peaceful with the villagers. Since you are here I assume you are going to Altera?"

"Yes, why are you here? I thought Lizardmen avoided civilization?" Elesis was confused.

"It is the time for an age old pilgrimage of our tribe. Traditionally we embark by boat, but the seas have been in distress lately. We have no choice but to take this...air ship."

"Might I ask where it is exactly you're going? I doubt you're staying in the sky for a voyage reached by sea." Chung asked curiously.

"We travel to Kin'Zho, or as you call it Velder. There is a sacred ritual to be performed in the mountains to bless the tribe with good will."

"What a coincidence." Eve smiled.

"Eh?"

"Would we possibly be able to come and see? We'll be in the northern mountains of Velder in about a day or two."

"Admirably!" Berauk laughed a deep, gravely laugh, "You are good friends of the tribe, it would be an honor."

"Eve!" The group turned to see Rena running up to them with Ara, Elsword, Aisha, and Raven.

"Whoa! Berauk?" Elsword was surprised to see him. Aisha however was worried, as Berauk's curious stare at the crimsonette portrayed he too saw the magic at work. The old lizard smiled.

"Greetings Elsword, I trust you and your sister have been well?"

"Yes, we have." Elsword said. Berauk's ears suddenly twitched.

"I smell something...familiar..." Sniffing, he drew closer to Elsword, lowering his head to her chest.

"Dwah!" Dizzy suddenly popped out from between her cleavage, startling Berauk slightly.

"Ack!" He moved back a step, then regained his composure, "Well, if it isn't a Phoru. I have not seen one for many, many years."

"I found him all alone in the forest." Elsword picked Dizzy up and held him tightly, "I couldn't leave him there, scared and alone."

"A heart who cares for nature is a heart who cares for all." Berauk spoke strongly, "A saying as true as the wind in the sky." A loud horn was heard and everyone looked to the groups of lizardmen standing at the windows watching the air ship dock.

"Well, I suppose we should get going?" Eve said with a smile, handing her friends their tickets.

After the flight, the group left the air dock and drove a little ways up the road to a large forest entrance surrounding a mountain. They had all entered and walked together in pairs along the path. Aisha listened to Eve go on and on about ancient Nasod history, being the only one wishing to listen. Rena skipped as she held Raven's arm, and Ara and Elesis trailed behind them. Elsword and Chung walked hand in hand behind the others, Dizzy sitting on Chung's head.

"Comfy up there?" Chung asked, looking up at the baby.

"Dah!" Dizzy replied, patting the blonde's head.

"He seems to like you too." Elsword said, and then whispered in his ear, "I like you more."

"I know. Would we be here if that weren't true?" Chung replied, and both laughed. They looked up to see the group stopped.

"Wow." Rena breathed.

"Eve, this is beautiful!" Aisha said.

Before the group lay a crater flourishing with life. Flower bushes and berries carved intricate designs into the ground as they filled the otherwise barren pit. In the center was a large tree with bright white flowers trailing from long vines and covering its trunk, the entire crater glowed from radiant moss under the deep moonlight. They all went into the crater to get a better look, but Chung and Elsword stood there.

"Chung."

"Huh? Ah!"

"Ssh!" Elsword pulled Chung aside and into the trees overlooking the pit. She plucked Dizzy from Chung's head.

"Mah!" Dizzy whined.

"You go to sleep okay? Mommy and Daddy need some alone time." Elsword said strictly before stuffing Dizzy into her shirt and zipping up her coat. She pressed her back against a tree and pulled Chung in close.

"E-Elsword?"

"Shh...Just listen." Elsword spoke, her eyes closed. She listened closely to the lovely sounds about her. Birds chirped, in the distance she heard the others talking. She felt Chung's warm breath and beating heart. She smiled and stared into her personal sea, "I love you."

"I love you too, Elsword." Chung said, caressing her face. Their faces drew closer, their lips about to touch.

"Elsword?!" They froze at Elesis's call. Elsword cursed.

"Damn it..." She groaned. They both stepped out from the trees.

"Where'd you go?" Aisha asked. Elsword noticed Elesis glaring at Chung.

"I thought I saw something in the trees so we went to look."

"Find anything?" Raven asked.

"Just a blue bird." Chung said smoothly, corroborating Elsword's lie.

"Well, I really enjoyed the walk." Ara said to Eve as they walked back down the path.

"As did I." Rena said.

"It was alright." Elesis said, she had been bored most of the time.

"Well, we must hurry if we want to reach Velder on time." Eve said.

"Oh, that reminds me, I should give them a call to make sure everything's on schedule." Chung said, mostly to himself, "Eh, I'll do it when we land at Feita, we have to catch out flight." So, the group hurried back to their cars and drove back to the air port. They made it in time, and got on the large air ship. It was going to be a long trip, at least a day to reach the hub based in Feita.