Episode 14: Melfelse: Narukami and Tetsukado

They were in a cave with no lights, however, the lake illuminated mysteriously. Tetsukado starred in awe at his surroundings. He has no idea why Narukami had brought here alone, but he looked like he was looking or waiting for someone.

Tetsukado suddenly felt someone lift his chin. There stood a young feminine looking child about the same height as him. The mysterious kid's face was right in front of Tetsukado's. After examining his face, the child crouched and took a look at Tetsukado's broken leg, delicately sliding his hands along its cast.

The boy wore a whitish robe with the hood over his head. Two long 'ears' were attatched to the hood flowing down to the boy's hips. A mysterious staff was also in his hands.

"Naoto," the boy's was stern and his eyes were worried, "This will be expensive, are you sure?"

Narukami nodded without hesitation, "I figured that much out," he put his hand over his right eye and gouged it out. Scarlet blood trickled from his empty socket and hand.

Tetsukado gasped, "Naoto what are you doing!?" he couldn't take his eyes off his friend.

The hooded boy, however, was unfazed. As if he was expecting this or perhaps had seen worse, "That'll do." A magic rune appeared underneath Tetsukado, trapping him in place.

"Naoto!?" Tetsukado demanded an explanation though Narukami didn't reply.

A black armoured seperent-like dragon appeared from inside the lake. Narukami gave it his gouged eye. The beast swallowed it and flew overhead Tetsukado. Tetsukado suddenly felt sleepy. Unable to resist, he fell into a deep slumber.

He didn't know how long he had slept for, but when he awoke he was no longer inside the cave. The bed he lay on was comfortable. Tetsukado pulled himself up and carelessly put his weight on his injured foot. It was then he realized there was no cast wrapped around it; there was no pain either.

The door opened and the boy was there, still wearing his hood. He held a tray of food and drinks. "Ah, you finally woke up. How're you feeling?" he asked as he placed the tray on the table next to the bed.

Tetsukado stood up testing his newly healed foot, "Wha- how?"

The boy crouched down to inspect the healed leg, "Good, it's better than it was before!" the boy seemed pleased with the results of whatever he did to Tetsukado's leg.

Tetsukado held his head, he remembered what he saw before passing out, "Naoto, where's Naoto?"

"Tetsukado!" Kusaka barged into the room, "Are you alright!?"

Tetsukado was confused. Why was Kusaka so worried?

"Narukami's face was all bandaged up so I thought you got attacked my those Tenebrae monsters…"

"Naoto, where is he?"

"Huh? Just right out there…"

Tetsukado rushed out from the room without waiting for Kusaka to finish his explanation. He soon saw Alsius taking to Narukami down the hallway.

"Can't believe you actually used Genbu's magic!" Alsius sighed.

Narukami looked away hiding his bandaged side from Alsius, "What's done is done." He smiled, "I'm kind of like that samurai in Japanese history on Earth… the one-eyed dragon, Date Masamune!"

"N-Naoto…" Tetsukado stuttered.

Narukami turned to look at Tetsukado. His right side of his face was completely bandaged up so he wasn't wearing his usual headband. The blood which was on his face and hands were completely washed off. Despite this, Narukami smiled, "Yo, you finally woke up, Shin."

"What did…" Tetsukado was slowly putting the pieces together, "F-for me…?"

Alsius glared at Narukami, "Nao, don't tell me you didn't explain to Tetsukado beforehand."

"He wouldn't have let me otherwise." Narukami defended.

"Of course not! Sacrifice you so my leg would heal…"

Narukami grunted, "Even with one-eye it's possible to play soccer, but not with one leg."

"Nao, that wasn't just any eye…" Alsius started, but Narukami covered her mouth to stop her from saying anymore. Alsius clenched her teeth, but listened to Narukami.

Narukami then lifted his fist towards Tetsukado, "Like I said before, what's done's done, don't make me regret my choice."

Tetsukado smiled sadly, "You're so selfish…" he bumped his own fist with his friend's.

"Tetsukado!" this time it was Tenma who rushed over. "You're leg, did it actually heal?"

Tetsukado hesitated for a second, but smiled, "Yeah," he jumped up and down.

"I'm glad for you," Tsurugi was right next to Tenma. He had a few bandages on his face making Tetsukado laugh.

"What happened to you?" Tetsukado tried hard to hold his laughter for he knew how much Tsurugi would dislike it.

Tsurugi looked away blushing with embarrassment, "Training…" he mumbled.

"It's so cool, much more powerful than the Black Room!" Tenma laughed as he flailed his arms, trying to describe what the room was like.

"Matsukaze, we're going there tomorrow again so, he'll see it then." Tsurugi smiled.

"I guess…" Tenma sighed, "hey, Tetsukado, let's do some soccer practice! You haven't played in a while so we should warm up."

"Yeah!" Tetsukado smiled and followed his captain.

When Tetsukado and Tenma were out of site, Alsius grabbed Narukami by the collar of his shirt and pulled him down to give him a head butt. Narukami fell over from the sudden blow, however, didn't say anything.

"You might think it's better for Tetsukado not to know," Alsius glared him down, "Getting your eye taken means…"

Narukami got back up onto his feet, "Don't worry, I can still see. The other eye was taken."

Tsurugi was confused with the two's conversation, but he held his tongue.

Alsius sighed angrily, "That means you lost all your magic."

"Come on, Haku." Narukami laughed and started to walk away, "I can manage without magic. Besides, Lapin lost something much greater when he saved my life. This is nothing in comparison."

Tsurugi had heard the entire conversation, because he was right there, but didn't understand at all. Alsius looked in his direction and seemed shocked by the fact he was there. She didn't notice Tsurugi.

"P-please forget about this…" Alsius begged.

"I didn't understand a thing so don't worry." Tsurugi said, "But can I ask one thing? What did you mean by 'taken'?"

Alsius thought for bit, pondering whether to answer his question or not. "Narukami sacrificed his right eye to heal Tetsukado's leg. That's what happened."

Episode 15 preview:

Earth Eleven spend the next few days practicing at the training facility located in Melfelse until further notice of the Grand Celesta Galaxy arrive. Kuroiwa Coach is not satisfied with the results and asks a certain team to play a match against them. The only way Earth Eleven can win is to unleash the power of the beasts within each player... Episode 15: Melfelse: VS Team Arcania