Another chapter coming right up! And good news guys, I've finished writing the story, so all that's left now is to post the remaining chapters. It's got 21 chapters in total, so we're almost finished. So, without further ado, let's get on with chapter 14!
Disclaimer: I do not own Wakfu.
Disclaimer2: I do not own Alys.
Chapter 14: Hope and Despair
Alys woke up to the pleasant smell of breakfast getting ready. She yawned and rubbed her eyes to get rid of the drowsiness. Her eyes fell on the small figure of the Bontarian Master, sitting cross-legged by the opposite wall. His head was dropped down and he seemed to be asleep. He's meditating, Alys reminded herself, the memory of the night-time conversation appearing in her mind.
"Ah, Lady Alys, you're awake" a cheerful voice called out from the entrance to the kitchen.
Alys moved her head and smiled at the young Eniripsa.
"I told you, Alys is enough" she reminded, to which Anrika blushed fiercely and looked down.
"I'm sorry, it's hard to get used to it" she apologized. "Back in Brakmar, I didn't use to call anyone by their names"
"Don't worry, you'll get it soon" the female Eliatrope smiled encouragingly and pushed herself up. "Do you need help with preparing the breakfast?"
"Ah, no. Me and Mister Crepin are just finishing" Anrika replied, shaking her head. "We can eat any moment now"
"And what about...?" cyan eyes moved to look at the small figure by the wall.
"Master Joris left a note he ate already and is not to be disturbed unless it's very important" the blonde Eniripsa explained as she moved to their sleeping space and collected the blankets.
She folded them nicely and put in the neat pile, creating a place to eat. She picked up a small table and some cushions, which she organised so that there were four sitting spaces, in case Master Joris decided to join them after all. She then flew back to the kitchen and reappeared with a set of plates and cups. Kerubim entered the main room soon after, carrying a platter with scrambled eggs with vegetables.
"Let me help you, Mister Crepin" Alys offered, moving towards the elderly Ecaflip.
"Don't worry, my dear. Anrika here is help enough" he put the platter on a small table. "We've got this"
The female Eliatrope shrugged and opted to move towards the bathroom. She reappeared soon after, refreshed and ready to face the day. The breakfast table was set already and Anrika was just pouring the freshly-made tea into the cups.
"Do you want some tea, La- Alys?" she asked as she noticed the woman coming towards them.
"Thank you" she smiled in return and made herself comfortable on the cushion next to Kerubim. "This smells absolutely marvellous"
"And I assure you, it tastes as good as it smells" the white-furred Ecaflip passed her a plate with a portion of scrambled eggs. "Our dear Anrika is a real enchantress in the kitchen"
"I'm not that good," the said Eniripsa's cheeks reddened and she looked down on her knees.
"Oh, hush, darling. My palate is quite demanding so you can call me a connoisseur" Kerubim waved his paw, silencing the bespectacled woman.
Alys chuckled at the exchange and dug in. Her eyes sparkled, as she tried the food.
"This is really good, Anrika" she exclaimed, Kerubim nodded in agreement.
"Told you so, Alys. I know a talent when I see it" he said. "Or taste it, in that matter" he winked at the Eniripsa, who blushed even more.
"You're too kind, Mister Crepin" she mumbled.
"If you don't believe me, we can always ask Papa for his opinion" the white-furred Ecaflip suggested.
"I- we don't have to disturb Master Joris for something as trivial as food" Anrika waved her hands, blushing fiercely. Alys and Kerubim both laughed at the Eniripsa's reaction.
"Don't worry, Anrika. Mister Crepin is only joking" Alys reassured and ate some more of her food. "But he does have a point, you have real culinary talent"
"When this whole case is over, I count on you to cook more amazing things for us" Kerubim winked and proceeded to eat.
"Don't push all of it on her, Mister Crepin" Alys playfully jabbed the Ecaflip under the ribs, to which he only laughed some more.
Anrika observed the exchange and smiled a little. Maybe she'd found home, after all.
After they finished eating, Alys and Anrika went back to the kitchen to clean the dishes, while Kerubim decided to take a small stroll. The women quickly washed the dishes and moved to the main room. Alys was talking about Eliatropes and Anrika was deeply interested in the new race. She asked many questions and the blue ambassador tried her best to answer them as best as she could.
She was just explaining how her portals work when they heard a quiet moan from the other side of the room. They both fell silent and looked at the Master of Bonta with concerned looks. It seemed, however, as if nothing has changed and they turned back to each other. Then, they heard the sound again, this time louder. Their heads turned to the small master. He was still sitting in the same position as he did before but there seemed to be something wrong. His brows were furrowed, he gritted his teeth and there was a sweat forming on his forehead.
"What's going on?" Alys questioned as they neared the small figure. Anrika came closer and inspected him carefully.
"I don't know" she shook her head in defeat. "He seems to be in some pain but I can't see what's causing it"
Master Joris groaned again. Alys approached him cautiously and put her hand on his shoulder.
"Master Joris?" she called quietly.
There was no response whatsoever but she was determined to learn what's going on. Was it the Dragons? Were they trying to take control? Joris told her last night they were getting harder to control but was it really it? She couldn't explain why but she could tell there was more to what was happening to the small master.
"Master Joris, what's happening?" she asked again, shaking his body a little.
Suddenly, his eyes snapped open and, for a moment, the women could see a mixture of madness and fury in the double-coloured pupils. He blinked quickly and the sight was gone as if it never was there in the first place.
"Master Joris?" this time it was Anrika who called his name. His eyes moved slowly to her concerned face. "Are you okay?"
He closed his eyes for a moment and took a deep breath, then opened them again.
"I would love to say yes but that would pose a threat to all of you" he replied in a grave tone. "Grougalorasalar is getting anxious"
"What does that mean?" the female Eliatrope asked, her eyes filled with worry. Were they in danger? Was Master Joris losing control?
"The Dofus-" he started to explain when he suddenly buckled forward and let out a quick cry of pain. His breathing became rapid and he closed his eyes shut.
"Master Joris!" the two women cried out, terrified by his behaviour. Anrika's eyes jumped all over his small body, trying to find the cause of his state. She gritted her teeth in frustration, failing to see anything.
"He said something about the Dofus" Alys said in a worried tone as she looked at his beloved curling up in pain. She hoped she could do something to ease it but she knew she had no way to do it.
"But the Dofus was with him the whole time!" Anrika reasoned, pointing at the ivory-coloured egg at the blanket nearby. "If that was the cause, it would happen earlier"
"Maybe he means-" Alys didn't manage to finish, as Joris let out a more pained cry, his whole body tensed up. The women stared in shock, as his skin stretched at his abdomen. It almost looked like something was trying to get out from the inside.
"The Ebony... Dofus..." Joris mumbled between sharp breaths. "Too close... can't..."
His words were cut short by the sudden explosion at the front door. Alys managed to create her Wakfu shield just in time. Both women starred in horror at the figure that emerged from the dust. Her red locks flew down from her head, emerald eyes shining with pure madness.
"Found you~" she sing-songed as her gaze stopped at the two women and the curled-up figure on the floor. She licked her lips and grinned. "Now, let's get started, shall we?"
So, that's it. Remember to review on you way out~! Cheers!