Chapter 36

Desires

The Next Day

Elder

Raven's PoV

Me and Elsword had to stay back and go around the city. Elesis and Ara are going to the forest. Eve, Rena and Aisha are at the cave. Well i guess its a good set back from fighting.

Those missing people still have not been found. This city seemed to not have yet to notice it even after sending us a note. Even though we were sent a note we still could not find the person who sent it and we all realized this today. Maybe they just wanted to remain anonymous.

We walked through the streets calm and went by a large castle. It had 'Do not Enter' Tape wrapped around it. "This is what did with it huh." Elsword said next to me examining the wreckage.

"You been here?" I asked and he nod. "This is a place where we really kick started our adventure." So is this where it started? Yea it definitely looks like it.

While walking it felt like we were being watched. It was a shaky feeling I'm sure Elsword felt as well. We walked through random alleys and streets but we couldn't shake it off. We were definitely being watched.

I walked a bit closer to Elsword and whispered to him. "Lets lead them to somewhere and make them show themselves." He nodded in agreement and walked up further.

Wally's Memorial bridge.

A bridge that was built in the name of Lord Wally before his untimely death. After news came that he was decreased, many pondered on whether or not they should complete. In the end decided to do so since it was almost completed.

Me and Elsword stopped at the tower that was in the middle of the bridge and looked around. "Think there still around." Elsword asked. "I'm sure of it. I'm sure they wouldn't stop here just because we left the city." I say.

"Ill go below and search." Elsword jumps off the bridge. Well whatever reason why this person is following us, better be good. I hate the feeling. "Come on out already." I say with my eyes closed.

"Ho, so you know?" A female voice says and I looked up and tower. A figure in dark green robes and hood waved at us. They jumped down without minding the distance downward.

It landed elegantly. A green glow came from under her cloak and she drew a bow. She was an archer?!

She fired several arrows at us with amazing speeds. I used a new technique i practiced in the Time Space chamber, my flash step. It allowed me to seemingly vanish from sight and to a new location.

I came behind her and swung my blade in a ark motion. She jumped up and went for a downward spin kick. I blocked it with my nasod arm and pushed her off. She landed on the tower and shot more arrows before jumping again.

"Shockwave, Divider." I swung my blade and released a high density shockwave that cut through arrows with ease. The shockwave didn't hit the tower thankfully.

I felt her behind me and ducked under. She had attempted a axle kick. I swung at her leg with the back of my blade. I see no reason to really injure her. A green aura flares from her and my blade is bounced back along with me sending me flying back.

I stabbed my blade into the ground to stop myself and saw her coming at me again. I took it out and parried her kick, which was now able to take my sword head on. We parried for a while, both if us stuck counterin? each other until i pushed her away.

I aimed my nasod hand at her. It began to charge up with blue energy in the shape of a sphere. I closed it and opened it again and fired a blast beam at her, low powered of course.

"Phoenix Talon!" She said and fired a bird at the blast that severed it in half. So she had something up her sleeve as well huh? I smirked a bit. I won't lie, i was having a bit of fun with this person. They were not just long range.

"Who are you. Your pretty good." I point my blade at them. They smiled under their hood. "Your good yourself. I wanted to fight you one on one since that other boy was a bit too strong from the aura i sensed he gave off." They said putting a hand on their hip.

"Anyhow, i hope we can spar again, i have to go now." They jumped up and i caught a glimpse of under their cloak. They had white and black pants on with a white blouse on. They had blonde hair as well.

So it was a woman. A fine one at that, she was- ah no. I shouldn't think of things like that. A few minutes later, Elsword came. "What happened here..." He said with a flat face. "A um...bandit came. Their dead now." I tell him and he seemed skeptical but nodded anyway.

"Well lets head back." He said and walked off. I wonder where that woman went.

Aisha's PoV

Path back to Elder.

Afternoon

Rena,Eve and i were back near Elder again. After searching for seemingly hours, we have came up empty handed. Nothing out of the ordinary.

Its strange though people say they heard drilling noises, saw bandits, and nasods but we have not found a trace of them. As if they were never there. "We got dirty for no reason." Eve complains dusting herself.

"I know...there is no upside to this." Rena says slumping over a bit. "Im taking a long bath, i don't care what anyone else says." Well just hope no one else wants to. Elesis can be quiet persuasive.

Ruben Guild hall inn

A hall that served a inn for adventuring mercenaries or groups. It was 3 stories tall with at least 10 rooms each floor. It was run by the Cobo company.

When we got back Elesis, Ara, Raven and Elsword were already there. When asked if anything came up, they only shake their heads no. What is happening. How were we unable to find anything.

We all meet up at the dinning table to discuss what we should do next. "We looked around. We checked places. Ugh, what can we do now." I slump over the table.

"Ai, that's bad manners." Rena scolded me. "What? we're all friends here." I defended herself. Its not like my chest is going to be exposed all over, besides there's more girls than boys here.

"It doesn't really matter, I'm actually kinda tired." Elsword followed suit. He sprawled his arms all over the table and pit his head in his arms. I can always rely on Elsword to have my back.

"Try going into forest then with an this on." Elesis got up and walked away. "Where you going?" Ara asked. "Shower. Wana come with?" Whoa, whoa, whoa.

Ara was the same as me as she didn't know wha to say either and just had a red face. "I don't really care, as long as you don't try anything." Rena got up exhausted. "Sounds like a plan." Elsword too!!!!

I stopped panicking when i saw them laughing. "You do know...there's a large bath where girls and guys go in separately." Are you serious...So damn childish.

"Ah, what were you think?~" Elesis comes next to me. "Personal space please." I push her off. "Heeeh? even Raven? you guys are so perverted." I wish i had Eve's poker face right about now. Even she had turned a little red.

Evening

After the bath and good food by Ariel, me and Elsword were on his bed showing each other some tricks. "Oh so you know earth arts as well?" I asked him and he nodded. "While i was there, Luto had made a man named Noel i met in Feita train me in its arts." He said.

"He showed me a few hand signs to invoke the arts much easier while keeping the power at its max." Oh sounds impressive. "Well i mastered the elements already. I decided i would stick to magic, i feel more..." I put a hand on my lip.

"Right?" Elsword chuckled a bit. "Well as long as you stay strong and have my back, i won't mind what you use as long as you stay as my Ai." What does he mean 'My Ai'you don't just say that to a girl.

"Elsword, stealing hearts back to back huh." Elesis was creeping over the edge of the bed in a red silk nightgown. She would have scared me if she didn't have a big smile on her face. She doesn't have a scary face.

"Hey Els, i see you talking about magic and all but are you still using you swordskills." She said poking his forehead. "Psh, i would beat you no probs." He said grabbing her hand and pulling her to the bed.

"Think you can?" She grabbed his pillow and hit him with it. "I'm sure." He takes another pillow and hits her. That kinda looks like it hurts so I'm going to be a real champ and sit it out. Besides their siblings.

"Some people are trying to sleep.." Raven groaned on the other side of the room. ""Ah sorry..."" They both apologized.

The Next Day

Morning

3rd PoV

The crew woke up bright and early. They decided they would go to Wally's old castle ruins to investigate the nasod problems that were claimed.

Elsword was up front with Elesis. Rena and Raven was behind with Eve and Aisha close and finally Ara. They went to the sight and it was still left untouched after all this time.

"How will we find anything. Place is a wreck." Aisha said kicking a rock. "Well we will blast through anything we need to." Elesis answers.

They walked through the ruined place. Beds, picture frames, expensive burned and destroyed jewelry littered the front yard. They came to barely standing doorway and opened the door.

They went in and it was surprised the place was still somewhat standing, albeit burned and damaged but still in good condition. "Hmm. Interesting." Eve picked the Bust of Wally. While she examined it, it slipped out her hands and broke onto pieces. "...oops..." She said flatly and walked on it and away.

They wandered around until going up the creaking stairs. Upstairs was barely in any condition, with it being mostly flatten by higher levels but some rooms were still accessible.

"Wally seemed like that kind of man to have hidden rooms." Elesis looked around the place. "Lets go here." She said and everyone followed.

They were in armory room. Golden and silver armor lined the walls as spoils of war. "I don't think anything would be here." Rena said touching the armor. Amazingly the gold kept its brilliance even after all its been through.

They explored many rooms and finally ended up in Wally's room. They went around and searched for anything that would help in solving their mystery. "Ahh, guys?" Ara pointed to a entrance that was covered in rocks but still visible.

Elsword and Raven removed the rocks and examined the place. They were about to walk in until they saw a spark in the corner. "Ah..." Elsword said as he realised what it was.

A small explosion blew the entrance up. When the smoke died down, the crew were encased in a red spike dome. "Everyone alright?" Elsword asked them.

His spiky hair had grew longer and covered them inside it to protect them from the blast. "Wow." Aisha said as his hair shorten back to its original length.

"Yea...Seems the entrance is gone now." Elesis inspected the area. "Someone did not want that place to be found. Probably Wally." She concluded. "Lets head-" Before Elsword could finish, he heard voices coming from downstairs.

They all sneaked down and saw three men walking around from the place they came from. "I heard something, think they found it?" One of them said. They had hoods and cloaks on making it hard to see who they were.

"These must be the bandits." Rena whispered and Elsword nodded. "Eve." Elsword called out to her and she nodded and held her hand out. "Flash grenade." Moby and Remy fired a ball of energy that expanded and blinded the room.

The men fell to the ground and was soon pinned down by Elsword and Elesis. "So you planted thay trap, or..." Aisha said coming down the stairs twirling her staff.

"Wh-who the hell are you! we'll kill you!" One the men shouted. "Yea because alot is going on for you right now." Rena said with a flat face. "We won't talk!" The other man said and closed his eyes tight in defiance.

"We will see about that..." Elsword and Raven said grimly.

Evening

Getting information from the henchmen was surprisingly difficult as they seemed to have sworn some kind of oath. After they got what they wanted, they handed them to Elder authorities and went back to the Guild Hall.

With Rena, Aisha, and Eve

"So someone is trying to drill for something around here but what, Elder doesn't exactly have anything redeeming or standout about it." Aisha say jumping on her bed.

"Well it seems that something is underground, but we went to the places where they were active in and nothing." Rena said putting a finger to her chin. "Perhaps we perform another search?" Eve suggested. "Mm, maybe we should. I feel like we're in the dark here." Aisha said and Rena nodded.

With Elsword

Elsword was walking around the city since he wanted to get some more fresh air. He liked walking around before night to get a good look at the evening skies. He took off his armor was in a black long sleeve and dark red pants.

Not many was out and shop vendors were packing up their items for the day and heading home. While walking and enjoying the scenery, he felt he was being followed. The person was narrowly jumping building to building in attempt to mask their presence.

"Again?" He whispered to himself. Seems someone have it out for him. He walked out the city to try and throw the mysterious person. He left Durendal at the Guild hall so he had to relay on normal tactics.

The person had their eyes on Elsword until he had just vanished. They carefully looked around until their hands were pulled behind their back abruptly.

"What are you doing..?" Elsword asked but then saw who he had held. It was Ara, but with white hair, white tails and red eyes staring at him. "Most impressive." She spoke in a seductive voice.

"Who are you." Elsword demanded now. Ara never talked like how this person just did. "Hmhmhm." They laughed and Elsword received an elbow to his gut.

He stumbled back and was kicked away by Ara. He landed into a wall and made a small crater. He gritted his teeth and got back up. Ara gestured for him to come at her at which he obliged.

He charged at her and she did the same. She swiped her hand at him at which he evaded. He kicked her in the gut and she stumbled back. She looked and smiled at him.

He felt the wet sensation on his check and touched it. It was blood trailing down his cheek. He was confused before realizing when she did it. "So that's how you want to play huh." He wiped the blood and charged at her again.

She summoned a orange spear and swung it down, creating a earthquake. Elsword covered his eyes and she took the advantage and stabbed his stomach but heard a clash noise.

"What?" She questioned and jumped away from red spikes that came from the dust. "Sink, crushing coffin." Elsword placed his hand on the ground and the ground below Ara opened up.

"She quickly jumped up and landed away from the hole. "Hm nice try?" She looked down but didn't see Elsword. She quickly went on guard and looker around.

She was suddenly bear hugged from behind. She struggled but couldn't get free due to the strength difference. "Give up." He said simply.

"Never have i dealt with a human with the strength you have acquired." She leaned into him and looked at him from the side. "Who are you." Elsword said keeping his grip tight.

"You must promise me you keep it a secret~" She turned around and was now facing him face to face. "I'm not playing." He said and her tails began to slowly swat at his face. He let go of her and walked back but she walked back up to him with her seductive smile.

"I am- Oh, my time is up." She said and closed her eyes. Her hair turned back to black and the tails dissipated. "Ah..." Ara looked around and blushed when she saw how close she was to Elsword.

"I-i am sorry..." She bowed her head. Elsword stayed quiet and just stared at her. "What was that." Elsword asked her. "That was...The spirit that was sealed in my hairpin and now in my body." She said in a low voice.

"What's going on here." Ara and Elsword turned and saw Elder guards along with their friends in front of them. "Els?" Elesis said in confusion. "Ah, its nothing. Sorry officer." Elsword walked up to them. "C'mon Ara." He said and she nodded.

The Elder guards left when they saw nothing was wrong and group was walking back to the hall. "Geez, just when we thought we found something." Aisha said in a huff.

"Elsword?" Ara tugged on Elsword's shirt. She gestured him to lower his head and he did. "Can we keep this a secret. It is a family secret." She whispered to him and he nodded.

"Whispering sweet nothings to each other huh?" Elesis put her arms over the two. "N-n-no" Ara stuttered in a blush. "Stop it." Elsword said in a flat tone.

When they got to the hall they split into their rooms for the night. Elsword was going into his room when he looked to his left and saw Ara, with white hair and tails looking at him. She made a "shush" motion and went into her room.

"This just got interesting..." He said and walked into his room.

That Night

Elder Prison

A few Elder guards laid on the ground in a puddle of blood. A lone figure stood over them looking around. Nearby a large man came out with two men over his shoulders wrapped in ropes and bags.

The smaller man went inside the wardens office and took a letter that was sent with a peculiar signature. They nodded to each other and ran out the prison without notice.

Banthus's Cave

All the bandits have been called to the cave for a meeting. The two cloaked figures were standing in front of the crowd and took off their cloaks. The larger man had two bandits wrapped in rope and had bags over their heads on the ground.

The first man was large with black plate armor on. On the back was a long red cape with fur at the top. He wore a mask hood of a skull. The second was a short man with black light armor on. He had the same mask and hood except his had two small horns on the top.

"Look, idiots we called you here for a reason." The larger man said in a angry aggressive voice. It was Uool. Uool drew his sword and aimed it at the two cowering bags.

"We don't need idiots who get themselves caught." Illy said shaking his head in disappointment. In one quick motion, Illy removed the head of the first bandit. The head rolled on the ground with the head still in the bag.

"You idiots need to stop being dumbasses. If we let those guards get a slip on us, then we are over." Illy said looking over to Uool. Uool raised his sword high and swung it down like an butcher.

"The Red Knights will be coming here to investigate this soon due to the disappearances." Illy held out the letter to the group. "We must continue but with more spunk. If we dont, all Is lost." Uool said.

"Why are we even doin all this! you never told us anyway!" One of the bandits roared out. Illy looked at him and pulled out a throwing knife and threw it at them. It struck the bandit dead in his head and he dropped dead.

"We are doin this for the treasure.Bigger treasure, more useful treasure that will allow us to control everythin!" Illy said raising his hands.

"Soon we will have it!"