X Arc 2-The Dragon's Peak X

X Chapter 2-Refia's Tale X

I was seriously beginning to question my choice at going with these three idiots. Why couldn't I have just let them get killed by those werewolves? No, I thought to myself, that was the right choice. They saved the castle, so that proves they must be somewhat competent…

And yet, here I was, on the deck of an airship, going to Kazus, at Arc's request, though I was curious about this theory Arc had. Arc, so far, had seemed like the most normal of the group, and barely ever talking was just a bonus. I had been unconscious when he defeated the Djinn, so I don't know the exact details, but I know for a fact he must be much more powerful than the other gave him credit. Back at the castle, Lady Sara even shared this with me. When the others were off exploring more of the castle and resting up, she pulled me aside.

"Ingus," she had said, "I want you to be careful."

I smiled at her. "Am I ever not careful?"

One look at her face and I knew she wasn't just the worried girl with the crush. She was the princess worried about her kingdom. "I'm afraid of those three. Their auras spell disaster. And ever since you saw that crystal, your aura has changed as well. It's become infinitely brighter."

"Is this not a good thing?"

"I'm not sure," she said, deep in thought. "However, I can tell you this: you are no longer bound by the laws of mankind. You can do virtually anything. I want you to keep a close eye on the others. If they appear to do anything that would offset the balance of the world, I want you to put a stop to it. Even if it means you will have to kill them."

"May I just ask my lady one question? What do you mean when you say, 'not bound by the laws of mankind'?"

"What it means," she said grimly, "is you can take more damage than usual without being killed. It means you can be fully revitalized, only with a good night sleep. All your wounds would disappear. And for every beast you kill, you will only grow stronger. For now, you are hardly above a mortal man. However, given time, you will be able to take an immense amount of damage before dying."

I nodded slowly, understanding now what it meant.

"Hey, Ingus," I heard Luneth say, bringing me back to the present "What are you thinking about?"

I chuckled a bit and shook my head. "Nothing of importance."

Luneth looked at me suspiciously, almost as if he knew my mission. However, at that moment, Arc miraculously spoke up. "Alright, Luneth, when we reach Kazus, I have something to ask of you."

Luneth looked confused for a second before nodding.

"Excellent," Arc said, smiling, "come with me so I can tell you the plan."

Luneth shot me one more dirty look before following Arc into an adjacent room.

Once they had left, I heard Refia, who was piloting the airship, chuckle.

"What is so funny?" I asked.

"Oh, nothing, just the fact that I'm going back to the place I ran away from. Again."

"You ran away from your home?" I asked.

She smiled sadly before saying, "It's kind of a long story."

I looked at her and grinned. "I've got some time to kill."

She sighed heavily and was silent for a second. She then went into the story:

"I've lived in Kazus as long as I can remember. Takka, my guardian, is not my true father. However, he's raised me as his own ever since I was a baby. He is the blacksmith of Kazus, and wanted me to follow the same path, saying it is a good job to have. He didn't care that I was a girl, only saying that anyone can do something if they put their minds to it. However, other children made fun of me, saying blacksmithing was no job for a girl. They bullied me mercilessly, and when I talked to Takka about it, he said not to let it bother me. However, I couldn't just let it go. That was the first time I ran away, when I was only six. I didn't make it far, and Takka found me crying just outside the city. After that, he was less harsh on me to continue my training. I started being more of a girly-girl. Playing with dolls, worrying about my appearances, gossiping about boys. Or, at least, I tried to. By this point, blacksmithing was in my blood, and I couldn't get rid of it." She laughed bitterly before continuing.

"I got really confused about what I really wanted, and ran away again, in an attempt to find my true self. I lasted a bit longer that time, being twelve, but I still came back home after a week. I was scared that Takka would get mad at me, but he actually agreed that it was good for me to make the voyage, of sorts, as it helped me to realize that being a blacksmith was what I truly wanted to do. After that day, he started my training up again, and I had a passion to complete it. However, sometimes the workload got to me a bit much, and I ran away on and off for the last five years. Most recently, last week, directly before the curse struck Kazus. That time, I swore to myself I would actually leave, now having the airship, when shy and stupid over there," she jerked her head at the door Arc and Luneth had gone through, "found me out. Now, I'm going on this damned quest, all because I couldn't handle my job," she laughed bitterly before turning to face me.

"I swore I would never return to that place, and yet, here I am, riding a stolen airship back to it. How's that for cruel irony?" And yet, by the end of it, she was smiling. "But, in truth, I don't think it would have made it that long before I eventually came back anyways. So, I guess this is just the way my life is."

I think that was the exact moment when I realized something: no one here with anything to lose. Luneth had some friends and family, but nothing to real. Arc was mostly alone, he only had Luneth. Refia seemed willing to run away at any moment. But, I was different. I had something to fight for.

Refia speaking again broke me out of my trance.

"We've arrived at Kazus! Let's get ready," she said. She was surprisingly cheerful, after telling her tale.

Arc and Luneth had exited the room just as she said that, and Arc spoke the longest sentence I had heard him say since I had met him.

"All right," he began, "Luneth here knows the plan. Now, whatever me and Luneth do, I want you to follow our lead, no matter how odd it may seem. Do I have your promise that you will trust us?"

One look at Luneth and I knew this was a risky plan, whatever it was, but I nodded along with Refia, who looked a little to excited.

Arc smiled.

"Refia, actually, I'll need you to land the airship, as we won't be able to."

Refia slumped a little, but nodded nonetheless.

"Alright, Ingus, you ready?"

"May I at least ask what we are going to be doing first?"

Arc's eyes flashed, and I was sure I saw a demon flash across his face.

"What, and ruin the surprise? No, way. Now, come over here to the edge."

I did as I was told, getting progressively more nervous as I got closer to the edge of the ship.

I turned to Arc and Luneth. "Now what?"

He smiled. "When I count to five, we jump."

Arc, just what are you up to? Tune in next episode to find out!