In the middle of somewhere in Winterdomain...
*SHATTER!*
*SLICE!*
*SMASH!*
Piko obliterates fifteen dozen plummeting hail spears.
These targeted them whilst they are making their way back to the doorway's location. Their travel is led by the blizzard leash creature.
*BREAKS!*
*BRANDISH!*
He easily crushed a pair of huge boulders that the violent winds thrust towards them. He glances at the clouds above them then he hastily glides upwards to destroy the next wave of spiky fragments hurling towards their direction. There are around more than a couple of hundred of them.
After a mile's walk, the surroundings suddenly altered into a milder state in just a matter of a few minutes.
They travel on not stopping so that the realm wouldn't change its mind again too soon and throw them another challenging vicinity or weather condition.
"Are you alright, Olivia?" He calls out as he looks down from the sky and then he starts gliding back to check on her.
"Yes, I am. Don't worry." She responds. Her eyes are wide and glistening with amazement as she glances at him when he's in action.
From minute to minute, she takes curious glimpses whilst they are making their way on the perilous terrain.
Back at home or in school, Piko seems to be the very mild-mannered, seriously studious, really nonathletic and somewhat hypersensitive type. The latter is the main reason why he was frequently subjected to mockery and pranks and was usually made into a tease-target by the other kids in school. They love to piss him off because of his hypersensitivity and his humorous or laugh-tripping reactions.
'If they can only see him now, they'd never tease him again.' She believes admiringly.
"Did any of those falling icy rebars hit you or anything?" He asks her like a worried lover when he lands back right beside her on the ground. Then he examines her at every angle.
'She looked tired from all that walking plus she's wounded.' He observes, concerned for her.
"I said, I'm fine. I can defend myself too, you know!" She assures him perkily.
She then glimpses and notices him gazing at her lovingly. It makes her beam him a cutesy smile because it is so unusual of him to be like that.
He takes her by the hand and gently squeezes it. He once again emits and shares her some warmth.
"Once we get back, I'll personally ask Len to heal you completely." He whispers whilst they are both enveloped in the spectrum. "I'm ashamed to admit it but my healing ability is really minimal compared to his." He says solemnly.
Then, she smiles at him again for his thoughtfulness.
With a blade with one hand and Olivia's hand on the other, Piko assists Olivia as they walk a few miles more in a much more calmer vicinity of the realm, following the blizzard leash creature.
"You know Piko." Olivia whispers in his ear. "I don't know why but this realm feels like it has got a mind of its own." She observes.
"Yeah, I noticed." He whispers back.
"It is like it's protecting something like these ores we discovered." He raises his hand with the blade and gazes at the refined crystal ore that is embedded adjacent the hilt of it.
"I wonder if it's trying to prevent travelers from finding its treasures." He suspects.
Olivia thinks for a second whilst they walk. "Well... If word spreads of ability ores like this back in my homeland where most people are born with abilities, people will definitely flock here to get their hands on them. Just imagine, everyone obtaining these can instantly make their abilities a bit stronger without training. Worse comes to worse, bad people like the scourge might take advantage of them." Olivia reconsiders wisely.
"So, it really is, indeed, you..." They hear a voice calls out from behind.
An ominous and strangely strong aura is felt in the surroundings.
! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
"WHO GOES THERE!?" Piko yells.
Quickly, he stands in front of Olivia in defense.
Sensing intense danger, he fiercely peers through the area as he draws out 12 of his blades that appear, burst forth and form from his ankles, wrists, elbows, shoulders, frontal hair strands, top hair strand and USB limb without hesitation. Only the blade on his right hand remains undrawn for he is holding Olivia's hand.
"It has been a while..." The voice comes closer.
Within the shadows of the pristine whiteness of the realm, a figure covered in pitch black flames became visible as it approaches them within eye reach.
"...sister." He finishes his sentence.
At a single glance, the bandaged girl's eyes become wider.
"O...! Oliver?! Is that really you? I... I can't believe it... It has been five years since I last seen you. Where have you been, brother?" She says in sudden surprise.
"I advise you to avoid saying my complete name from now on, Olivia. Word has spread that the scourge's minions are out searching for me. Other people can say my name but not you. They cannot track you down at all for you have powerful counter-spells supporting you. However, whenever you say the names of your Abysslan family members, they can use your voice to pinpoint that person's exact location who might probably be near you. You know what I'm talking about, you were given 'mystical science and military tactics education' after all during your stay at the Treble's and Devin's strongholds." Oliver strictly advises his younger sibling.
"But Oli..., I mean, but brother... those wounds. Aren't those like mine?" Olivia asks as she observes her brother.
"Sadly, no. These spells aren't spellbound by the Heads of the Faithful Houses of the Abyss. It is mother, herself, who pierced me with these 'disadvantage spells' before she died." He informs her.
"Mother did what? Why would she do that to you?" Concerned, she asks.
". . . . . . . ." He refuses to answer as he just simply stare at her.
"It doesn't matter. At least, I get to finally see you again and..." He observes her for a second then says, "I bet you are doing fine."
He pauses again then continues, "You have that blader loyally serving you all along."
He regally stares at them in all his royal airs.
Piko frowns at the rude gesture but didn't say anything.
He tightens his grip on Olivia's hand then he makes all his blades disappear signifying that he doesn't fear him.
'So that ominous presence earlier was none other but his.' Piko infers to himself.
"He's not my servant. I love him!" She corrects her brother whilst she embraces the boy who's anticipating to defend her.
Piko would have blushed intensely for the sudden bold words she admits to her family member if he isn't on defense mode.
He resolves to dart him an intimidating glare as a counter response for the earlier vaunt.
"By the way, what are you doing here, brother?" Wondering, she asks whilst she looks at him quite longingly.
"What does it look like why I'm here? I'm here to train as always but my time to remain in this abyss is limited. One of my disadvantage spells compels me to limit my presence amongst my adoptive family. I cannot leave their side for too long or else my feet will automatically move by itself to go back to them. However, I am also here in search for more of this." He holds out his hand in front. He shows her a small glowing stone in the palm of his hand.
It is a similar illuminating ore just like the one Piko previously put in the pocket of the vest that is she wearing and like the ones he refined and embedded on all his blades.
"This cannot completely dispel mother's disadvantage spells. But with this, I can extend my time away from my foster family according to my liking for a limited yet lengthier time." He informs her his situation.
"Well, see you around sister!" He says. Then, he hastily leaps and soars away in a flash as the pitch-black flames that covered his presence intensified until he disappears from eye range.
Rapidly, he heads into the most violent areas of the realm.
"Brother! Wait! Tell me where I can find you... or contact you..." Olivia calls out but no response return.
She collapses on the floor whilst hot tears thread down her fair flushed face. Piko makes all his blades reappear and position them a good distance all around them.
The blades he usually hold with his hands and arms went automatically afloat as the rest expanded further. He wouldn't let another possible threat to surprise them again. Then he kneels down beside her.
"I thought he died with mother..." She says sniffling.
"Some people in the Devin's household thought so too and told me since they couldn't find him. This is very surprising to find out. I still have a living and remaining family member left." She utters whilst she glimpses at him in the eyes.
She sniffs and quickly wipes her tears away as she notices that he is about to brush his lips on them again.
"Aww..." He groans joking when he fails to dab her tears away and then he beams her a comic face to compel her back into a sunny disposition.
This successfully has taken to an effect as it instantly makes her grin and almost makes her laugh. Covering her mouth to prevent herself from giggling, she soon manages to compose herself.
After that, they stand up and proceed back to hiking. She reaches for his hand which is waiting for hers and then walk alongside with him.
While on the way, "Hm.. Olivia... I observed something trivial about you and your brother. Is it ok for me to ask you a few things?" Piko inquires her.
"It's alright Piko. Go ask then." She encourages him, just as happy that the uncomfortable silence isn't going to remain any longer.
"Well ok. Hm... He said your mother died. Do you remember when?" He begins investigating.
"It was five years ago, on my first year's stay at the Devin's House. It was also the last time I ever saw Oli... err.. I mean, my brother. Hm... Since I can't use or call him using his complete name, I'll just call him 'Ollie' then so that the evil minions won't find him and cause him trouble." She reconsiders.
"So, are you twins?" He guesses.
"He is seven months older. I was born prematurely." She replies, smiling.
"Ok, one more question." He chimes in.
"Hmm..." Then, she notices that he began looking at her feet.
"Is being barefooted a 'thing' back in your realm? I noticed he's barefooted too but every step he makes melts the ice on his path. Yours, however, doesn't though. I guess that could only mean that he's just as powerful." The brainy silveret remarks.
"Well... back in my homeland, being barefooted is a practice for people who are born with abyss abilities once they decided to train them. This practice naturally heightens our abilities as we grow up. By looking closely, you will see that my feet barely touch the ground." The charming blonde explains.
"Now that you mentioned it... you do seem to scarcely or just lightly leave footsteps. How interesting." Piko observes, deep in thought whilst Olivia looks at him with a cute but curious expression.
"You know Piko, if you want to know about my homeland and what's it's like there, don't be hesitant to ask. I'd love to share you as much as I know. And... I don't want to hide anything from you." Olivia gladly offers him to answer his questions, encouraging him even more to continue inquiring. She blushes intensely because of the last statement she mentioned.
"Alright! I'll ask you whenever I want to know something about you and your homeland then." He says as he feels her embrace him at the side.
"Why not share me some facts and trivia about your homeland as we walk towards home?" He says, smiling warmly whilst gently touching her at the side of her head.
"Ok! Hmm... Let's see... Back in my homeland... " The perky girl says as she thinks for a moment and then she begins enumerating.
"(1) You are considered an adult at the age of 15 whilst in the realm that we are currently living in, one is considered a child until you're 20 or until you graduate or for as long as your parent/s pleases or still considers you as a child." She says whilst rubbing her chin ever so cutely.
The silveret smiles and seems quite interested upon finding out about this new info.
"(2) An Abysslan couple normally can only have two children. On rare cases, up to 3 or 4 if lucky, but it's so unusual like 50 couples is to 1 then no more afterwards. An Abysslan woman will only get pregnant if she wants, therefore she can predict when she wanted to have her baby. There are cases when they can't, like when they marry certain non-Abysslanders though." She chimes in next. She glances at him as she sees another interested facial expression. This makes her smile happily before she continues.
"(3) A lot of women in my homeland can become fierce warriors like brave men in this realm because an Abysslan woman's abilities are usually thrice as stronger than a regular Abysslan man's. Half of the armies and strongholds all over Abyss realm, are usually comprised of women whilst half are men." She discusses on this turn. It becomes visible that the information made him awe-struck. She smiles gorgeously at seeing this then she proceeds with the next information.
"(4) Abysslan women don't necessarily require to hide their bodies, they are never shy..." She says next then she is abruptly interrupted.
"W-What!?" Piko exclaims in shock as his face turns beet red.
"Well, I mean, women in my homeland are not as shy as the women here whilst men in my homeland think it's a normal thing to see a bare body and don't necessarily act..." She stops as she sees Piko dash to a distance, turn around facing opposite from her and then begin shaking a bit.
Then, she giggles and says, "If you wanted to excuse yourself to urinate, all you need to do is ask." She calls out, almost chuckling.
Piko's sweat drops as he hears her from that distance. After he's done doing 'something' or 'relieving' himself, he splashes antiseptic to cleanse his hands and tries to wear his best poker face on so that he wouldn't be so awkward around her.
When he turned around,...
his face shot right back to full red
and instantly, he freezes.
He sees her behind a cluster of snowbanks, relieving herself.
She waves at him whilst smiling when she sees him looking at her.
He doesn't see her lower extremities but the sight makes him instantly about-turn once again and right back to start 'relieving' for the second time around.
His face couldn't get any redder since his mind wouldn't halt from visualizing naughty thoughts deep inside.
"Hey Piko, are you done?" He later hears her call out after a few minutes when she's done.
"I-in... in a minute!" He struggles to respond, calling back to her urgently.
"It's alright! No worries, take your time!" She replies, calling back.
Whilst he's at it, he catches a glimpse of his reflection on a nearby the ice wall and frowns.
As much as he wants to rip his overly flushed face off his head, the redness lingers and pesters persistently.
He punches himself hard on the face before he turns around after he is done and once again puts his best poker face on whilst walking back towards her then acted like nothing has happened.
'Why am I like this?' He wonders to himself
miserably...