Chapter 20: Return

(Ara's POV)

Today is a new day and it is time to start convincing them one by one. Although it will take a lot of time but it will work in the end, yeah my plan will never fail! Ok now first I will convince Elsword to do the errand. Excitement is flowing into me and run around the house to look for him, and finally I found him near his room.

"Elsword!" I shout his name to get his attention and it worked, I stop right in front of him and he sure looks a bit tired.

"What is it Ara?" he yawns and rubbing his left eye with his hand

"I need you to do an errand for today." he quickly becomes energetic when he heard errand.

"What do you need?" he is really getting pump for nothing.

"I want you to buy these kinds of bread at Ann's Bakery, it is Elder near the shopping district." I gave him a list and some Ed for the breads. Without saying goodbye he rush out of the door and left the house.

"What was that about?" Eve suddenly blurted behind me, I jump away from shock and take a few breaths.

"Huh? Something wrong Ara?" she tilted her head confused at my action.

"N-nothing you just scared me." I reply calmly and she walks towards me.

"So Elsword is your first victim to your plan?" she asks.

"Yeah, I just hope he will notice that worker." I sigh under my breath thinking that it might not work or worse.

(Elsword's POV)

Time to do some errands! Finally something not depressing or too awkward to do. Since I'm stuck with a catchy beat I'll just hum it all the way to the bakery. Surprisingly not too much people are awake yet and it seems normal everyday, except that Blake is always the one who wakes up first in the morning. I remember our last encounter with him in the forest.

"You don't know how breaking part that is for me because you are not the one that left behind on that ship."

It wasn't that bad right?

"What kind of gang that leave his member to death just to save themselves."

We didn't even know that he was left behind.

"I expected more from you Elsword since you were the one that invited me to the gang after all."

Now that really hit me. But the past is the past and it's time to face the future but I will bear that sorrow of a dear friend gone. I quickly shrug away my thoughts and focus my mind on the task at hand which is buy these specific breads at a new bakery, I hope they don't serve something that is too disgusting to eat. After a while I finally arrived at the bakery and it was Ann who owns the store, about that disgusting to eat thing scratch that Ann is good at these kinds of things. With no hesitation it's time to enter the bakery. As soon as I enter the ring bells and it took Ann's attention.

"Oh it's you Elsword, I thought you were someone else." I got confused, who is she expecting to enter the bakery this early?

"Someone else?" I ask suspiciously.

"My worker of course." being all being suspicious was just not worth it when she said worker, as I let out a sigh the bell rings again.

"Sorry I'm late." a sort of familiar male voice speaks, I got very curious and turn around to see the person. I can't determine who he really is but he suspiciously hides his left arm and face pretty well and nothing else more suspicious by coming here so early.

"Not really, go ahead and change at the back we got a customer already." Ann being modest as ever and he quickly went to the back.

"Why does he wear like that?" I ask Ann and she is just the same as confused as me.

"I don't really know the reason, but come closer I'll tell you something about him." she signals me to come closer and whisper some words to my ear.

"I spy up on him but I can't clearly say this yet but, I think the reason he is hiding his face and left arm is that there is something shiny on them. Also I follow him when he is going home and I it ended up in a street with a giant steel door. He can open that door by himself and closed it shut, I tried to open it even with the help of other people we can't open it. It is really strange right?" she states every info she got by spying on that guy.

Hmm, he hids his face and left arm because something is shiny and he lives on the streets? That is really suspicious to me including the part he is early to get to work, normally people who work here arrive a few more hours or so.

"Oh yeah, Ann I want to buy these kinds of bread please." I give her the list afterwards and she starts to pick different kinds of breads and putting them in a paper bag.

"That will be 100ED in all Elsword." I give her the exact amount needed and she give me the paper bag with the breads.

"Thanks Elsword hope you come back again." she said with a smile and I wave goodbye .

That guy really is suspicious I need to get back to the house and tell everyone about this. I run as fast as I can and hold the paper bag tight so the bread won't fall or something. As soon I get back a lot of people are now going outside and going somewhere I don't know. Just a few more blocks as soon I make the last turn I can see Lowe's house and Ara is sitting on the bench outside and it seems I will tell her first. She noticed me when I was close enough to her.

"Hey Elsword, did you buy the breads?" I give her the paper bag full of breads that she requested to buy. She is satisfied and I am about to speak but she completely cut me off by her question.

"So, what do you think about the worker at Ann's Bakery?" I became speechless for a moment but I snap out of it but how did she know?

"Something seems to be weird about that guy I just know it." she mumbles to herself and I decide to speak now.

"Well he is suspicious, attends to his work really early, hides his face and left arm pretty well and almost everything is suspicious about him." I give my remarks about that guy.

"Also Ann told me this, the reason why he hides his face and left arm because something shiny is stuck onto it and he lives on the streets with the giant steel door." I added, she suddenly surprised about the information I got from Ann herself.

"Let's tell this to the others and we will spy on him tomorrow." she says and I just raise my eyebrow for the moment.

"Sounds like a plan, come on let's go inside and eat these things while we discuss your plan." she nods as we enter the house and into the kitchen.

It seems everyone is awake now but Shiro still feels down about what happened, pretty all much still looks down but I hope this will change everything or just end up worse.

(Shiro's POV)

I can't help myself but stare at my violin all day and nothing else. I don't want to eat but I just force myself or the food will be cold.

"Where's Elsword and Ara?" Chung notices that those two are not in the house.

"Ara is just outside but I don't know where Elsword ran off to." Lowe replied and everything went back to the uncomfortable and silent environment. Everyone is either don't really want to eat or just playing with their food. Then suddenly the aura changes when Ara and Elsword went into the dining room.

"What's with everyone today I got some kind of information to tell you guys." Elsword seems to be hyped about this info he got.

"Don't make us think Elsword just say it." Raven said bluntly while he is poking his food with a fork.

"Fine, fine. I won't be sure about this alright but I got it from Ann..." he starts to tell everything.

After a few minutes with Ara and Elsword's explaining all the details all of us were really suspicious about it too. As like why would someone hide some of his body parts with no chance of knowing what is inside. Something shiny stuck huh, but what kind of thing that is stuck on someone's face or arm. Then it hit me is it him?

"Do you guys think, what I think?" I ask everyone and they are just confused about what I said.

"Think what?" Eve asks.

"Could it be him?" I said in a monotone voice.

"Him?" Lucs said confusingly and I can't believe it, how could they forget about him by just a few days.

"Could it be Blake?" Ara beat me to it and everyone suddenly look at Ara with shock then soon Rena, Chung, Raven and Aisha laugh nervously.

"Why do you say that Ara?" Aisha blurted out and I can see Ara tightening her fists.

"I think it might be Blake. What if Ann said the shining thing is metal." Lucs points out some possibilities that it could be him.

"Yes it's possible that Ann saw is metal and Blake has a half metal face and a left metal arm which the person is hiding that makes him suspicious." Eve supports Lucs and that makes them four who believe that this mysterious person is Blake.

"Let's stalk him so we will know if it's Blake or not." I suddenly said out loud and they look at me weirdly but Elsword, Ara, Lucs and Eve smiled at me like mentally saying thank you.

"Yeah like what she said, we will stalk him tomorrow morning. If you don't like the idea stay here in the house, there is no point arguing about facing Blake for the last time." Elsword stood up from his chair and look at us directly.

"Okay no one is against the plan better get some sleep. We all know how early Blake wakes up every morning, so we need to get up earlier than he does." Elsword added and then one by one all of them went into their rooms including myself. If that person really is Blake I want to thank him for taking care of my violin.

The Next Day 5:00 in the morning

(Ara's POV)

It's time, it's time! I force myself to get up and take a quick shower. I wear my usual Sakra Devanam clothes and walk my way to the kitchen. I wait for a while then they start to show up fast.

"Let's grab a quick bite and let's go." I told them and they grab one sandwich for themselves and we eat it the rest of the way.

We arrive near the bakery and we need to think of a strategy how to spy on him for the rest of the day. Since we still have enough time we will make a meeting for now.

"Ok, Blake won't be here for 30 more minutes, now how are we gonna spy on him unnoticed?" Elsword as always speaks up first, I wonder if he looks Blake like his own brother.

"Can Lucs and I buy breads at the shop first, eating one bread won't make it in one day." Lucia raised her hand and everyone seems to be in favour.

"Alright, make it quick and buy a lot of them." Elsword ordered them and with excitement from Lucia she pulls Lucs arms towards the shop. Now we get back to the main topic, how can we spy on that person without being noticed?

"I got an idea, how about we split into groups. Get a view at every angle so we can see what he really is doing." Venta said her opinion and it sure is a good idea.

"That is an excellent idea Venta, now we just need to know who will be with who." Everyone now thinks who will they be with, we are eleven in all so it's best if we split into a 4-4-3 groups.

"I will have Eve, and Ara." Elsword speak first and they didn't argue about it.

"Then I will have Chung, Aisha and Rena." Raven then chooses his partners.

"Jannet, Lucs and Lucia will be with me." Then Venta picks her friends to be with her during this spy mission.

Everything is now settled and Lucs and Lucia quickly came back carrying three bags full of breads and we can smell the delicious breads. We eat for a while as we are waiting this person to enter the shop. Not for too long I spot that person entered the shop, I alerted everyone and we now begin our Mission Stalk.

(? POV)

I got myself late again due to some road issues but never mind that I need to help Ann prepare the breads quickly, her shop is open right now and I see a bunch of people lining up already. Right when I enter the bakery I get a feeling that someone glance at me seriously, but I have more things to worry about.

"Sorry I'm late Ann." I breathe heavily as soon I went to the back to get change.

"What is happening to you? This is the fourth time you've been late." Ann cross her arms and starting to have doubts why I am always late now.

"I just really have problems at home sorry." What a lie but she fell for it and she hope it won't happen again, but right now it's time to work. I quickly wear my uniform but as soon I went out a sting of pain went through my head, I shrug it off and focus myself to work. The line is getting longer and longer every second and there is no time to waste, I walk towards the entrance and give a tray to every customer who walks inside the bakery. When the last customer enters I was about to give her a tray but the sting of pain went through my head again but this time it is much worse than the first one. Due to so much pain I unconsciously drop the tray and made a loud noise. Suddenly everyone is now focused on me but this pain is unbearable, Ann quickly run to my side with a worried face.

"Hey, are you alright?" Ann asks me in a worried tone.

"I-I'm fine, at least I guess." I manage to reply and get up at the same time although I feel kind of dizzy or woozy right now.

"How about you take a break for now is that ok?" she said and I guess a break wouldn't hurt.

"Well I guess I will accept your offer, thank you." I appreciate her concern but I will just take a short break, I don't want her to worry about me that much.

I sit down near the window and Ann brought me a wheat bread and a bottle of water. I thank her for giving me this food I thanks the El for this meal and dig in. I am really surprised that it's been only days our bakery is already famous, I gaze around the bakery and there are really a lot of people but what bugs me is that at the corner of the window I see four heads stalking at me or like analyzing me of what am I going to do or something, when they noticed that I spotted them they quickly ran away out of sight. I don't know what is their deal to me but I get the feeling something will happen this afternoon.

A few hours later

Finally it's time to go home, good thing is that I endure the pain during my work hours but the pain returns as soon the bakery closes. I really don't know how or why this happens to me right now. Enough of that brain time to go home.

"I'm off." I walk towards the door and left quickly, I didn't even wait for Ann to speak.

As I walk my way back home I can sense that there are people following me. Could it be those people who are looking at me this morning? Whoever they are I need to get rid of them, I try to take other routes but it seems I can't shake them off. Probably running would be a good idea, yeah definitely a good idea. Without thinking I run fast and I look back that there are four of them chasing me. I look around and the terrain is hard but I wonder if they can climb, I made a turn and jump to reach a pole sticks horizontally and boost myself up, climb every possible dents and gaps possible until I finally reached the rooftop. I look down and they come to a halt but there are two more appeared and manage to reach the rooftop with wind powers. No time to lose I run once more, I dash and jump roof to roof while the two chasing me is just running at me straight with the help of their skill. I can't shake them off at this point I guess I need to use it, at the next rooftop I jump short and let the shadow eat me then pop me out on the ground. I am about to run forward but suddenly four more arrive which force me to run the other way. Despite the location I am running right now I will be home but as soon I made a turn I bump someone and that person quickly grabs my arms. I try my best to break free but its hopeless when the others arrive and pinned me down including my legs. I can't use my shadow transport with this kind of situation but I guess I am really caught now.

"Come on Ara reveal his identity now." the elf girl said and a girl with long black hair reaches the cloth I use to hide my face and quickly took it off as well the cloth in my arm.

(Lucs' POV)

I can't believe my eyes right now that I can see a familiar metallic arm and a familiar half metal half human face and a red eye which covered by his hair a bit, in short Blake. Ara was right all along that person is him but I don't know if all of us is happy to see him again.

"What do you guys want?" he said in an emotionless tone and by just that Ara show signs that she is hurt when she heard that.

"We missed you Blake." Elsword replied but still holding him tight.

"I don't believe it because not all of you missed me." he said emotionless again and Aisha, Raven, and Rena gaze somewhere else.

"But seriously. Get off me!" he put a lot of strength on his metallic arm and was free from all our weight. I don't know about it but did he just levelled up or something? He is different from the last time we saw him.

"If you guys won't say anything I guess I'll just leave." he added and shadows now start to swallow him like before.

"Wait!" Ara run towards him and tries to reach him but it was too late when he quickly disappeared. I can see that tears rolling down on her cheeks and Elsword tighten his fists and starts to walk away.

"Uh, Elsword where are you going?" I ask him.

"I'm going to beat the crap out of him." he said full of anger and I can feel it by just looking at him in the eyes. Then Raven, Chung, Rena and Aisha followed him while Eve, Lucia, Jannet, Venta, Shiro, Asashin and Solar just stayed here but I think it really is an issue now. I hope Blake will be fine.

(Raven's POV)

Geez why do we hide the fact he is still alive and has hatred against us. Well there is no hiding the fact we left him in that boat, but what is the big deal about it? But it is time to settle everything back to normal now, Elsword and the others are moving to the street with the giant metal door. As soon we arrive we see that Blake is waiting for us and he is holding his sword with his metallic arm. Sure he has a metal arm but mine is a Nasod arm that can blast fire while he can't.

"What took you so long." he says while he taps his foot impatiently.

"You got some nerve Blake." Elsword growl and it just made Blake angry.

"Oh so what. You gonna beat me up is that it? You are too childish Elsword." he mocks Elsword and I can fell the aura of anger covering the entire area.

"Just how many times will you make Ara cry huh. Blake!" without noticing he quickly charged at him.

"Like hell you care!" he parries the downslash Elsword gives and tries a sideslash but got parried again. He tries another slash but Blake suddenly disappeared.

"Come out you chicken!" Elsword rage is really unlikely then we saw a shadow forming on the roof.

"You really need to shut that mouth of yours Elsword. I know you are good at swordsmanship but how good are you at catching someone." he mocks him and jump roof to roof. We followed him but it was hard, it took us a lot of turns until we were lead to the forest.

Now that I notice it is almost night time, I can see the sun is setting and I can feel that this can be Blake's advantage. We try to look for him but we can't until a shadow starts to form in front of us.

"We can settle the score here, without making any inappropriate damages which you like best Elsword." the shadow speaks until it forms into Blake himself.

"Shut up! I will show some sense in that head of yours." he charges again at him.

"You need to know your place!" Blake replies and their swords clash, that shows signal we need to help him win this battle.

(Ara's POV)

Why am I always a crybaby. I must keep it in, I want him to be back and forget every hate that is stored inside our feelings. I want everything back to normal, yeah I want the Blake that I know to be back. I held back my tears and wipe off the ones on my cheeks.

"Oh Ara you alright now?" Eve notices that I stop crying and her look seems to be a bit anxious.

"Come on, we need to stop them from fighting Blake. It is pointless to end everything in a brawl." I said and everyone look at me with a smile like they agree as well.

"Eve do you know where they are now?" I ask Eve, knowing her she almost know where we can be at different times. She can be like a stalker in some sort.

"Hold on, Moby and Remy didn't give any coordinates yet... Oh wait they finally give the location, they are fighting in the forest right now." she said and we quickly departed and make our way out of the city.

As the last alleyway, I hear swords clashing, spells being cast, cannon's boom and arrow shots. Every step I take I can hear the noises louder and louder. When we left the city we can see five people fighting against one person, I can't bear this why do they always have to fight. I am lost in thought why, why do they always pick a fight instead of talking it through. I regained my senses when I see Blake will land a finishing blow to Elsword.

"Stop it!" I shout really loud and Blake stops himself, his sword was just an inch away at Elsword's body.

"Tch, whatever." Blake turns around and a some kind of shadow is forming and he is ready to step in but Ara pulled his metallic arm preventing him to enter the shadow.

(Ara's POV)

"Let go Ara." he said bluntly and tries to break free.

"No, I don't want to lose you again Blake." I try to keep it in while tightening my grip onto his arm.

"Your arm is cold, you were all alone again Blake?" I question him and he seems to be pissed off for some reason.

"What does it matter anyway, no one wants me to be in their gang, friends or whatever relationship." by hearing that tore my feelings out.

"But we want you to be back. We know we hurt you but can you forgive us and start over again." I try my best to convince him and tighten my grip to his arm.

"But-"

"I forgive you." I cut him off quickly and with surprise he looks at me with sincere eye and a red robotic eye.

"I know the time you hurt me, you can't forgive yourself by doing that to me. But I forgive you Blake, please stop blaming yourself we can work this out, we can start again from the beginning." I can feel tears coming out of my eyes and I also see a tear flows down on Blake's eye.

"I'm sorry Ara, I'm really sorry." suddenly he hugs me and I can feel his tears running down on my shoulder and I can't help it but cry as well.

"I forgive you Blake ok." I still can't stop myself from crying and I hug him tighter. I am really happy that Blake is back and apologises to everyone from his wretched doings and selfishness.

Everything is back the way they are again.

Meanwhile near the borders of Velder

(Soul's POV)

"Hey Vlad we are in position. Advise us when ready." I report to Vlad that my units are now prepared.

"This is Xyza, I'm in position."

"Sandra here, ready when you are Vlad."

"Vlad here, mission Void is go!" he replies and each of us plant some kind of ball into the ground.

We quickly departs and a few minutes later we see four lights came out of nowhere. It's like pillars and at blind sight I see a small black colored thing forming in the middle then it became bigger and bigger until it sucked Velder quickly.

So this is the Black Hole Master Wally mentioned about.