Mika stared at the two, feeling troubled as well. Then, for the first time, she noticed a knight standing nearby, looking most uncomfortable watching the scene, with Clay standing beside him, his mouth agape. "Urm, Silver? Who's he?" she asked, jerking a finger towards Derek.
Looking at her, Silver said absently, "Oh, that's Derek. The king had given orders to him to follow us in our journey." Staring at him hard, Sakura exclaimed, "You gotta be kidding me! Him? With us?" Derek scowled at her. Silver wagged a finger at her. "Now, don't be mean. After all, he's here on orders," he admonished.
Black grinned. "Ah, Sakura's just bummed cause now she ain't the only knight in this party," he chuckled. Sakura turned red and glared at Black. "I haven't the slightest notion of what you are talking about," she said with dignity. But that only made the rest laugh, for her act wasn't convincing, but otherwise.
Chuckling, Variante turned towards the silent yet sulky knight. "Yo, man. Don't fret about it. We're delighted you could join us. At least maybe now we'll get some work done around here. Sakura's hopeless!" he said, grinning away. "Hey, I heard that!" cried out Sakura indignantly.
Derek looked at Variante and cracked a smile. "Thanks," he replied. Stepping forward, as everyone expected, Mika took charge and introduced everyone. "My, my, Mika! You will never change will you?" Variante said amusedly. The huntress merely grinned sheepishly.
Suddenly, Silver remembered something and faced Derek. "Hey, Derek! I nearly forgot. I should think it's about time you return something that isn't rightfully yours, don'cha think?" he said solemnly. Derek looked at Silver and sighed, "Oh, all right." He slipped his hand into his pocket and produced a piece of parchment. Grudgingly, he gave it to Clay and mumbled an apology.
"What is it?" Sakura asked curiously. But before he could deign a reply, Silver interrupted them. "Hey, can we meet you guys back at the inn? There's something we need to talk," he said, hugging Tranquil closer. The rest nodded their heads and watched the both of them go.
"Oh, I hope they'll be fine," Mika said worriedly. Variante said soothingly, "Don't worry your head about it. They'll be okay. Now, about this parchment, care to explain?" Clay ignored him for a few minutes, staring at the ragged paper he's clutching. Suddenly, Jewel's eyes widened and she nearly snatched the parchment from Clay. "Wha-" Clay started in surprise. The rest stared at Jewel curiously. It was so unlike her to react that way. "Sis? Is that..." whispered Slay. Now the stares were directed towards the platinum-haired blacksmith. "Um, Jewel? Slay? What's going on?" asked Black tentatively.
Jewel continued to stare at the parchment. Finally, she turned around and asked Clay quietly, "Where did you get this?" Clearly startled by her question, Clay blurted out, "From my father, why ask?" Turning back to the item she was holding, Jewel whispered softly, "Oh, my lord."
"What? What is it?" asked Variante impatiently. Now facing the rest, Jewel said quietly, "This, my friends, this is a part of what was left of Silver's past. This piece of parchment holds the key to answering both Azuria and Dark's dreams!"
Meanwhile, Silver and Tranquil had their own meeting elsewhere. "Silver? What are we to do now?" asked Tranquil, her lips quivering. Silver drew her close and hugged her tightly. He sighed. "I don't know, Tran. I really don't know. I didn't even know she existed until back then," he said, his face troubled.
Tranquil looked up at him. "What if everything said was true? Would you go back to her?" she asked. Silver tightened his hold and stared at her eyes unflinchingly. "No, somehow I doubt I would. I'm in love with you, Tran. You should know that by now," he said fiercely.
Something tugged inside Tranquil's heart when he said that. She snuggled into his comforting hug and said simply, "I do." Silver continued hugging her, embracing her warmth and soothing her at the same time. Finally, she relaxed and fell into a slumberous sleep. Silver sighed. He didn't expect things to get out of hand. First lost memories, now a fiancé? What next? He thought moodily. He stared at Tranquil's peaceful face and felt his heartstrings being pulled not for the first time. My lord, she's so beautiful! I shouldn't do this to her, making her feel anguished and all. And so his thoughts went on and on. He stared unseeingly at the greens (They were outside Prontera city, just outside the Eastern gates).
You have failed me, servant. Twice I have trusted you and none did you promise success.
Silver started. "That voice..." he whispered. It was cold and menacing. Yet somehow it sounded familiar to him.
Very well, servant. I shall permit a single chance more. Annihilate them and you shall be rewarded. Fail, and your soul is mine.
Silver stared wildly around him. Who was that talking? He wondered is he was going mad. Suddenly, he looked up at the sky. Dark clouds were rolling by fast, almost as if commencing a race. Feeling rather alarmed, he quickly sweep Tranquil off her feet and carried her back inside the city, rushing straight for the inn.
Reviews...I want reviews... XP