Chapter Ten: Fight before dusk
Arriving to Carona, the trio knew they needed some clues to find the missing Poppul Purrel. But were would they start?
"Any ideas?" Mint asked, feeling oblivious herself.
"We know he went shopping here," Rue noted. "So maybe the shop owner might know something."
"Not a bad idea," Aurora agreed.
As the trio turned to the shop that was next to the alley, Cosmomi cried out, "Do you think we can buy something to snack on while we're out for clues?"
The winds were picking up as Fiona approached to the ruined atelier. It took her quite a while to find the path down the steep cliff and battle against the monsters that roamed in the forest but she managed to get to the atelier in one piece.
"So this is the atelier," Fiona declared.
She took a few steps forward, expecting something to happen. She knew she wasn't alone.
"Hey, Nightmare! I know you're here! Come out, come out wherever you are."
A presence sparked her feline senses.
"Here he comes...!" Fiona exclaimed tenderly to herself.
Fiona jumped away as a shadow darkened over her. The guardian of the atelier had jumped out of no way and landed, giving a shockwave to the island. The demonic unicorn gave an offensively roar and stomped its webbed forefeet.
"Oh, sure. Like that's gonna frighten anyone," Fiona taunted, not feeling shaking by the unicorn's threat.
"You dare call upon me and now mock me!?" the unicorn screamed in a voice of an ethereal being. "Do you know who stands before you!?"
"Let's see now." Fiona crossed her arms over but carried her face in on hand. "You're Nightmare, the Three-horned Guardian, one of many demi-guardians with a bad temper. Which is not unlikely because most Guardians have temper. You were summoned by Cadmon to protect him and this atelier and in return, he would release you free back to where all demi-guardians go for vacation. However, he died before he was able to so you remained here for the next few decades."
"..."
"I stand corrected. After all, I am the one to do this job."
"What do you want, demi-human?"
"Is that tone of voice a way to welcome your guests? I'm only here for two things: One is to release you from your duty."
"And the second one is?"
"To have your Talisman. Pul-ease?" Fiona pleaded with begging hands and a smile.
The Three-horned Guardian let out a pause of silence and suddenly gave a terrifying neigh of laughter. "Amusing, you are, Summoner."
"Why wouldn't I be?"
"I take it you are a friend of the Dragon Guardian. Against her, she summoned Joltage, the Lighting Guardian to defeat me. I knew that only a Summoner would give a Talisman to anyone whom she or he pleases."
"Okay. So you got me there. I did lend her the Lighting Guardian," Fiona admitted. "No big."
"Hmph. The Summoner before your time wasn't as generous as you are. But cunning."
"Why, thanks for comparing. Now, shall we go back to our little deal?" the demi-human asked slyly. "What'd you say?"
"But first...you must battle me!" The demonic unicorn stood on its hind-legs and sent another tremor to the earth.
"I take that as a yes. Okay, Nightmare!" Fiona proclaimed, giving a spin to her spear. "Here I come!"
Ding!
The wooden door hit the bell that was nailed above, giving the shop owner news that customers were here. He turned to meet the cerulean-haired girl and the two creatures for the second time, seeing two newcomers and a black flying cat accompanied her.
"Hi. I see you got new friends," the shop owner told her.
"Yeah," Aurora stated.
"You know him?" Rue asked.
"Not really." Aurora faced the shop owner. "I didn't catch your name before."
"It's Tonio. I own this shop and everything in it."
"Aren't you a little young to be owning a shop?" Mint asked a little suspiciously.
"Yeah, that's what almost everyone say," he uttered, scratching his head sheepishly. "So what do you need?"
"Actually, have you seen a little small kid in the last couple of days?" Rue questioned. "About this height?"
Tonio gave in thought. "Hmm. No, not really. The only customers who came here were Graham, Neil and a little girl."
"Little girl?" Aurora echoed. Soon that was to be answered.
Ding!
Tonio turned his attention to the arrival of his next customer. "Hi, Rachael. Need the usual stuff?"
"Rachael...?" The trio turned back to meet the little orange-haired girl who was the little adopted sister of Aurora. In her hands was a straw-made grocery bag, which the innkeeper, Ms. Cartha, gave her.
"Hi, Big Sister Aurora, everyone," Rachael greeted politely, giving a bow.
"So this is where you've been hanging around, huh?" Aurora inquired, crossing her arms but giving a smile.
"Oh, she's your sister?" Tonio asked.
"Yep."
Rachael walked to the counter, which was at the height to her shoulders, and placed the grocery bag on top. Her fiery friend, Flare landed on the wooden counter, without scorching it, of course.
"And no thanks," Rachael replied to the shop owner's question. "But I do like a bunch of carrots, a pound of Ram meat, an apple, some flour and honey, and a couple of some leaflets of Aloenia."
"Coming right up," Tonio uttered, taking the bag to the back of the shop where the stock was stored.
"I guess we won't find any clues here," Black affirmed.
"Where could one little kid go if he didn't go shopping?" Mint intoned.
"Maybe we'll find more clues somewhere else," Aurora suggested.
"Yeah," agreed Rue.
"Thanks for the help, Tonio," Aurora cried out to the backroom.
Just before the trio and the creatures exited out of the shop, Rachael stopped them. "Wait up!"
Tonio came out, with the bag full of what she had asked for, and handed it to her. Once paying, Rachael followed after her sister, Flare following behind. Back to the fountain that stood in the middle of the town, they were back to where they have started. With no leads or clues to find out the whereabouts of the Poppul Purrel, they were struck.
"What should we do?" Rue asked. "We have no idea where to start."
"Dang! Where the hell can this Poppul Purrel be!?" Mint screamed to the sky.
"Did you say Poppul Purrel?" The trio turned back. Rachael heaved forward, carrying the heavy bag with no problem. Flare looked at them with certain that they did say "Poppul Purrel".
"A kid was just talking about them. Weird things, if you ask me."
"What do you mean?" Aurora inquired.
"A boy named Marco told us that he saw one in the forest while catching frogs," Rachael told them. "He said it looked like it was lost or something."
"I guess that's where it is," Rue suggested.
"Yeah. We better find it before anything bad happens to it," Aurora exclaimed.
"Wait," Rachael uttered. "Will you be coming back for dinner? I'm making Honeyed Ram Chops and an apple pie for dessert."
"Sounds good. I can't wait to try!" Mint intoned.
"I was going make a pumpkin pie too but Ms. Cartha said we didn't have any here."
"YUK! PUMPKIN!?"
"What's wrong, Mint?"
Mint's heart skipped a beat as pairs of eyes stared puzzled by her sudden remark. "N-Nothing! Nothing at all!"
"...It sounds like you don't like pumpkins," Aurora sneered.
"O-of course not!"
"Okay then. Next time when Rachael makes one, you'd better be eating it."
Mint backed with fright as Aurora stared at her with eyes shimmering with snickering vice and a grin widened. In her mind, she prayed that Rachael would not make one and prayed not to have to taste the disgusting taste she had to bare for her whole life.
She rolled away, evading the unicorn's stampeding feet. Her reflexes were quick to react. Being a demi-human, Fiona was a quick as a Saber Tiger.
The unicorn turned, breaking the dirt as it galloped on, charging wildly at Fiona. She was on her knees, her face lifted away. An easy target.
The pupils dipping in her emerald eyes shrunk away as she faced the unicorn. Taking her spear, she threw the crescent blade, aiming straight at the Demi-Guardian.
CHANK!
The metal blade that sheltered onto the pole of the spear met with the shield of the unicorn's face guard. Its horns locked the spear in place as two forces pushed against each other. The strength of the Demi-Guardian could take down the demi-human, but Fiona's power equaled to it.
The demonic unicorn lifted it head up, swinging Fiona over and throwing her away. She quickly landed on her feet, screeching over the grass carpet. A shadow dimmed over her, consuming her own shadow. She darted away, just in time as Nightmare had leaped and stomped on the island.
Taking a swift bound onto the stoned roof of the atelier, Fiona could easily avoided Nightmare's leaps. She dashed speedily across the tiles to the top of the roof, where she stood on the metal aerial that was bolted to the stoned roof.
She dug through her stuff in her bag and took out a paper-made Talisman. The fine manuscript was inscribed with symbols from ink made from stones that the tribes of West Solaris Kingdom had used in the art of summoning.
Printed on the Talisman showed the symbol of coldness and ice and painted in the centre, the lines in which were icy blue, was the beast of a tiger with its canine teeth as sharp as the teeth of a Saber Tiger and a mane of a lion. Written in ink above the creature and encircled by a ring of ink showed one letter in the language of the demi-humans' ancient tongue.
The letter, translated to English, meant 'Ice Stripes'.
Fiona flicked the Talisman into the air and as it drifted in midair, she begun twirling her spear and began her incantation.
"Cold as frost, loud and bold as the blizzard."
A dim light sparked from the embedded orb, ordering light to appear from nowhere beneath her. The Talisman hung slowly in the midst of the incantation as she wielded her spear high up in hand.
"King of all that breathes an icy roar, I command thy, come forth! Release from your gate of ice stripes! Iciger!"
She hauled the spear at the Talisman and an ember of power ignited, releasing a ethereal seal beneath the demi-human. The atmosphere swirled with a cold change to the wind.
The jewel of the spear glowed in a radiance of amethyst and a cloud of snowy white foamed out in a stream that flowed like mist. Forming like pieces of a puzzle put together, a creature that represent loyalty of a king came forth.
Its stripes were dipped in the color of icy blue while the warm fur that cloaked the beast of ice was snowy white. Its white mane brushed in the rushing cold winds. Out of its shoulders pierced large curved translucent spikes that fixed to the shoulder blades. Its claws were sharp as icicles and its two long canines hung in its mouth, enough to tear away its opponents. It stood fearlessly upon the demonic unicorn, staring with azure eyes.
It bended down, ready to send a roar but this was a different occasion. The beast hollered a roar, an order as lances of icicles impaled across the green ground, capturing the demonic unicorn. Guardian against Guardian, yet the white beast won this match.
In the mass of charging icicles, the demonic unicorn gave one look of defeat before uttered. "Thank you...Princess Fiona."
In a sudden, the Demi-Guardian disappeared away, away to the realm of gateways. Only a puff of dark blue smoke quivered and vanished. The growing ice came to rest and the bold beast disappeared, knowing its time of being summoned has ended.
The draftiness of the wind rose to the rosy blush of warmth. The lone Talisman and another that appeared from nowhere fluttered to the demi-human that still stood on the aerial of the roof. She grasped the Talismans with quick fingers and grinned.
"No problemo."
In her grasp along with the Talisman of ice, the new Talisman showed the painted picture of the demonic unicorn, lined in the same ink as the ink used on the pervious Talisman. An encircled symbol was printed above on the new Talisman, meaning, 'High Gallop'.
The flying cats, taking the lead, soared over the path of Carona Forest, which still bloomed with wildlife. The trio followed along the path where Pollywogs scattered near while the blob bounced besides Aurora. The only monsters that attacked them with threat were the scattering Pollywogs and a few planted Mandolas. The Saber Tigers were quietly far away at the riverbank as they were enjoying their catch of the day.
Sounds of the forest muffled but as they neared the ruins the lay in the middle of the forest, the laughter of a familiar thug altered the forest's music.
"Eh-Heh, Eh-Heh!"
No doubt they turned to the ruins of where two bandits, Blood and Smokey were either plotting or up to something.
"Hey, it's those guys again," Rue uttered. "What are they up to this time?"
"Dang, those hoodlums again. Don't they have anything better to do?" Mint inquired.
"I doubt it. Bandits' only reputation is stealing and attacking..." Aurora stated. "I wonder what they're up to."
"Looks like they're cornering that kid there," Cosmomi exclaimed.
Alarmed of Cosmomi's exclaim, the trio spotted a small child in the clothes of bizarre taste and holding a wand fixed with a skull on top. "Hey, that kid..."
The kid that was supposed to be shopping and to return home had been trapped by the bandits. The Poppul Purrel was defending itself. "Eeyuck! Keep dirty hands away!"
"...The hell!?" Blood shouted at the mockery the Poppul Purrel was throwing. "You callin' me dirty!? You better get down and apologize, or I'm gonna hurt you real bad."
"I not sorry!" the Poppul Purrel yelled boldly and was not afraid to taunt some more. "You dirty! You stinky!"
"Eh-heh!" the fat bandit chuckled. "He's a total squirt! Hey, you stupid or somethin'?"
"Shut up!" the Poppul Purrel yelled feeling insulted itself.
"You shut up, you little maggot!" Blood hollered, taking hold of his crooked chipped sword and waved its sharpness. "I'm gonna shut you up by choppin' up that fungus head of yours!"
"Eh-heh, Eh-heh! Let's do it, Bro!" Smokey snickered with a yellow toothy grin. "Teach him a lesson."
"Hey, fatso!"
"Knock it off!"
"Leave that kid alone!"
Words of peril knocked the fat bandit down on his belly as the three travelers stepped forth. Mint tossed out her rings for battle. In Rue's hand, his Arc Edge was ready. Aurora laid one hand on the handle of her cloaked sword, preparing to fight.
Green growled, fury rushing over its watery form while the flying cats fluttered around Aurora, holding down their claws for attacking.
"...The hell!? Who the-" Blood shouted but stopped as he recognized the trio from before. "Hey!"
The chubby thug slowly got onto his feet, but trembled at the sight of the princess. "B-Bro! It's that violent witch again!"
"What'd you call me!?" Mint snapped and took a leap into the air. Extending a leg, she slammed Smokey on the head as gravity dragged her back down. Smokey yelled "Geow!" and fell back, seeing stars swirling around.
"Serves you right!" the princess uttered crossly.
"Smokey!? You alright!?" The tall bandit gazed down at his beaten partner and turned a glare at the trio. "You got some guts hittin' my partna!"
"You got a problem with that!? If you wanna fight, you're on!"
"You just signed your death warrant."
"Whatever..." Aurora mumbled, taking away her hand from the sword and rubbed her arching neck. "Look, just start already. I need a fight right now."
"Beside, have you learn math problems?" the platinum flying cat sneered. "There's only three against two."
"You got some nerves to say that...!" Blood pressured.
"Well, you make pretty good dummies for my training," Aurora scoffed with a carefree grin that annoyed the bandit.
"...The hell!? I'm gonna cut that tongue of yours! Get up, Smokey! Let's chop them up!"
"Ouuuu...yeah..." Smokey growled and steadily got up, taking his crooked sword.
Mint backed away, avoiding the fat bandit's movements of the sword. Blood charged at the Dragon Guardian as she dodged the blow. He swung the sword again at Rue but quickly Rue shielded himself with his weapon. The tall bandit was quick to attack two opponents without giving them a chance to fight back.
Mint leaped away and took aim with her spinning rings as a spark of ember powered before. Because the hoodlums were outside of the protective shield of the ruins, she could cast her magic at them. "Flare!"
A burst of flames ignited away, consuming into a ball of fire and chased after Smokey, who was now running away. The flickers of the fireball began singing his pants and he began to scream and run faster.
Blood was still attacking Aurora and Rue while she dodged the quick sword and the silver-haired boy defended with the Arc Edge. Blood took a swing, backing his fighters away but with a sudden surprise, Cosmomi leapt, claws extended at his face. Cosmomi's claws dug into Blood's skin and his wings blinded the bandit's sight.
As the tall bandit struggled to get the cat off, the blob bounded near. Arching back, a hole deepening in the watery form, its mouth took aim.
CHOMP!
Blood screamed as the blob bit his leg. Black joined in, soaring over, and scratched his back.
In this moment of hisses and scratches, Aurora took hold of the blade's handle. A huff and puff, however, distracted her. Smokey was running around. His clothes were being sizzled away by the flames.
She swayed the blade away from its cloth-case, the clothing flowing back into the ribbon. Taking with both hands, she swung the blade, giving a blast of wind to the bandit. The fire on the fat bandit's clothes flicked away but the powerful fury of the wind blew away Smokey like a ball. The creatures scattered in time as the tall bandit was blown away by a second powerful wind that Aurora sent for a second time.
Smokey tumbled down. His chin hit hard down on the ground, right near where Black had landed and nearly jumped by Smokey's fall. Before the chub had a chance to get up, Black quickly disconnected the ironed tail, lifted it and knocked the lights out of the bandit.
With scratches so deep on his rough skin, Blood tried to rub the pain away. A swift of gold passed his eyes as he looked up, a shock of surprise. Aiming down with a spell in ready, Mint commanded the next command. "Droplets!"
Large droplets poured from her rings and flushed the tall bandit away. After a minute of being nearly drowned, Blood seized his sword and threw it at the princess. Rue dashed in, shielding him and Mint from the crooked sword.
Blood drew down the sword, trying to break through Rue's defense, but something fast caught his attention to the left. Aurora darted fast, rising her blade high and thrust it down. The blade met the crooked sword. Aurora threw the bandit aside and the trio took their stand to prepare for the next attack.
"Not bad...for a bunch of twerps," Blood cried with a grin. Nearby Smokey jadedly got to his feet, massaged the bump on his head.
"We'll take that as a compliment," Aurora sneered.
"Go, Aurora!" the flying cats cheered from the ruins.
"Qwee!" the blob applauded.
The bandits shook surprised stares at the flying cats as Blood shouted loud, his jaw hanging. "Did you say 'Aurora'!?"
Blood took a closer examination of the blade she held. Its sharpness in the form of two swords melted together. The handle gripping onto the blade, enwrapped with old ribbons. The crystal gleaming colorlessly but shone like the light of a rainbow. Confidently, the appearance of the Dragonblade was the truth that triggered a fear that all bandits had.
"That's the Dragonblade!" Blood screamed. "That's means...SHE'S THE DRAGON GUARDIAN!!!"
"You mean that crazy girl!?" his partner yelled.
The bandits backed away, knowing well of her name and reputation of hunting down thugs like rats. They sprinted into a run, not daring to fight her as many bandits tried to fight her but failed.
Everyone watched the bandits leave, sweats dropping. All except Aurora who was feeling irritated, seeing their cowardice.
"...That ended quicker than I thought..." Rue uttered.
"Yeah. I never knew bandits are 'that' scared of her," Mint mumbled.
"YOU JERKS!" Aurora shrieked in a fit of rage. "You think I'm going let you two escape that easy!? Think again!"
"Oh boy," Cosmomi sighed as he watched her take something from her bag; the small red orb that contained the black flame.
Immediately she placed the orb onto a fixed hole below the crystal and with a twist of the sword, the blade began shifting into the blaze of red, at its name of "Ragion!".
Swiftly like magic, it changed into the scarlet double-edged sword she used in the Underground Ruins. Light as a feather, she held it up high, the orb consuming in a flame of heat. She thrust the sword down, the power being send into the ground.
"Inferno Pillars!"
As the bandits ran, the ground on which they stepped on, started to shine and crumble. Before they looked down, a blaze of fire burst out, forming into pillars of inferno and swallowed the bandits. The explosion blasted on until the last flick of fire died, leaving a scar on the forest floor.
Surprise, Mint and Rue took, but it wasn't too surprising since they know the Dragon Guardian's use of the Elements.
"Dang, now that's what I call magic," Mint mumbled in slight bewilderment.
In the crack that smelt of burnt earth, Blood struggled out, surviving the scorching pillars. Entirely covered with filth, he agonizingly got to his knees and choked out a gust of inhaled smoke.
"Dammit!" choked Blood. "That's twice! Sheee."
He sprinted away, knowing it was his defeat. Smokey slowly got up, finding Blood was leaving without him. "Heh!? Hey B-Bro!? Wait for me!"
The chubby bandit waggled after him, both disappearing into the forest. The scarlet double-edged sword, Ragion, then changed back to the Dragonblade and the orb fell back to Aurora's hand.
The silence of the shaking trees finally fell until someone spoke out.
"You my lifesaver." The trio turned to face the Poppul Purrel that came to them with a smile.
"Good thing we found you in time," Mint exclaimed.
"Are you ok?" Rue asked.
"Yeah-Yeah," the Poppul Purrel replied with a hop.
"Mel asked us to find you," Aurora stated. "She's been worry sick about you."
"Come on, we'll take you home," the silver-haired boy suggested. However, the Poppul Purrel opposed.
"I ok. I go home by myself." The Poppul Purrel took off, letting the trio know that he was going to be alright on his own. The little kid stopped at the edge of the ruins and cried back, "What your names?"
"Rue."
"The name's Aurora."
"It's Mint. Don't you forget my name. Tell Mel that a beautiful princess named Mint helped you with her bodacious magic."
Aurora gave a stare of disbelief before calling back to the Poppul Purrel. "Please do forget her name."
"Hey! What'd you say!?"
"Ok, I remember," the Poppul Purrel shouted. "Mint, Aurora, Rue, thank you. Bwye-Bwye."
With that, the little kid walked out of the ruins and walked away to the crossroad of where led to Mel's atelier. They watched the kid disappear behind the bushes.
"Not a bad kid," Cosmomi intoned. "Better than the other kids back at Mel's atelier."
"Sounds like I missed the fun here."
Coming in from the road that led to the cliffside, the demi-human walked in, not too flabbergasted to see her companions in the same forest.
"Fiona? I thought you were in Carona," Mint thought.
"Well, I was going to but I felt like exploring this forest," Fiona explained. "No big. So what I miss? I see you've used the Fire Element again, Aurora."
"Let's say two bandits were bullying a Poppul Purrel and we had to rescue it," Black enlightened, whose tail has been screwed back to his limply short tail.
"Hmph! Those bandits were nothing more than cowards," the Dragon Guardian growled crossly, her arms folded.
The boy looked up to the trees, which the treetops were bathed in the orange rays of the setting sun. It was going to be dusk soon. "It's getting late."
"Yeah, the sun's setting." Mint took notice of the treetops.
"Let's head back to town," Aurora suggested. "Rachael must be preparing dinner by now."
They walked out away from the ruins and onto the forest path. But without notice that someone was watching them. On the head of the tall ruins stalked a bird of the black night.
It was dressed with the finest silky black feathers and its black flames burned without scorching itself. The Crow Phoenix watched silently over the group as they left. Finishing its work, it took flight and away to the sky.
Departing from the forest of insects clicking into the quiet town, they passed the opened gates and entered in the square where only the fountain was gusting its streams. It was nightfall by the time the gang has arrived.
Before they neared the inn, a blaze of light that shivered with the tone of fire orange, shadowed down the passageway. A bark drew their attention closely to the Grass Fields. A couple of barks before the silence fell, the crickets sang out loud over the quietness.
"Hey, why don't we visit Rod?" Mint asked.
"Not a bad idea. He could use some company," Fiona consented
"Yeah. What do you say, Aurora?" Rue questioned to the Dragon Guardian.
"GO THERE!?" Cosmomi screamed as he backed away in flight. "No way! That dog will rip me to shreds!"
"Ah, come on," Black uttered. "I'd like to meet this Rod."
"Aurora! Shouldn't we head back to the inn? Dinner might get a little cold," The platinum flying cat gave in an excuse of escaping the clashes of Johnny Wolf.
"I don't know," Aurora hesitated. "Rachael might get worried but...I suppose we can go visit him."
"What!?"
"Well, what are we waiting for?" At the utterly call of the princess, the gang walked through the narrow passageway. Only Cosmomi stayed back.
"Cosmomi, aren't you coming?" his younger brother asked before flying onwards.
"Forget it! You just get your tail eaten while I stay here safe and sound...!"
"Okay. If that's what you want."
The flying cat watched Black disappeared into the darkness, expecting him to be flying out of the Grass Fields with a grasp of fur missing. Soon regret cast over him. "Ohhh! I'm gonna hate this...!"
Cosmomi soared after Aurora and hoped that his enemy was sleeping.
The running water of the river muffled over the calls of the crickets and the freckling sparkles of the fireplace. Within the fields where the wind rustled upon, Rod sat near the warm fire, with Johnny Wolf sleeping by his side. Dazzling in a slumber of T-bones and ribs, Johnny Wolf ignored the scent of felines and drifted on to sleep after scratching his ear. Nearing the fireplace, Rod caught sight of the four travelers, sending a smile of greeting.
"Hey... What's happening? Why don't you come sit here with us?" he asked.
They took a seat on the grassy field and glazed into the redness of the fire, joining in with Rod. No one spoke a word or utter a phrase of impatience until Rue called the vagrant's name.
"Rod..."
"Yeah?"
"Why do you make weapons?"
"Yeah," Aurora joined in. "Why do you?"
"... To leave my name in history... Just like my old man did."
"Old man?" Fiona echoed, turning her awareness to his reason. "You mean your father?"
"Yeah," Rod softened. "My old man was a swordsman. He was the best swordsman in the world. He fought hundreds of battles in his life and never lost. The man's gonna be a legend forever. You've heard of the Great Swordsman Pleskin, haven't you?"
"The Invincible Pleskin!?" Rue shouted in astonishment.
"Pleskin, the invincible swordsman!?" Aurora cried next.
"Oh my Guardians!" Fiona droned.
"My gosh!? He's your father!?" Mint asked surprisingly.
"Wow!" the cats uttered, knowing well of the famous swordsman.
The vagrant took a moment before he told his story. "I trained like hell to challenge my old man someday. I wanted to beat him and take his title. I wanted to be hailed as the greatest swordsman. My dream never had a chance. My old man died before I could fight him. Now I can't surpass him."
"..." The quietness fell again among the four travelers along with a blob made of water and the black flying cat with legs of steel.
"So I decided to take a different path and started making weapons," Rod finally exclaimed. "I wanna create the best weapon someday and become the greatest weapon-making swordsman. That's how I wanna go down in history."
"Oh..." Fiona intoned.
"I see..." Rue noted while Fiona took a nod. Only Aurora kept silence.
"I guess I talked a little too much. You've gotta get up early tomorrow, don't ya?" Rod asked but didn't stop to hear the answer. "Better go back and get some sleep."
"Yeah, you're right," Aurora agreed.
"It's a good idea," Mint took in with agreement.
"Goodnight, Rod," Rue bided.
"Yeah, goodnight," the princess called.
"Night-night, Rod," Fiona chanted with a wave.
"Goodnight..." Aurora offered.
"Yeah," the vagrant mumbled, his smile not weeping away. He watched the gang walked away. Rue, Mint and Fiona took the lead through the passageway. The flying cats followed by. Before the Dragon Guardian and her pet blob trailed after, a call stopped them.
"Aurora?"
Aurora turned back to Rod. "Yeah?"
"I know this is all of a sudden but...do you know a man who goes by the name of Takeshi?"
"Yeah," Aurora replied. "He's my father."
"I had a feeling you take a lot of that man." The vagrant looked up to the midst of the black heavens, staring at the stars of the twilight. "He got a helluva heart like yours."
"You know him?"
"Who doesn't? He was the greatest fighter of all the four continents. We had a good battle."
"Really...?"
"Yeah, but in the end, I lost. He was strong. You and Takeshi are like the same. You got his strength as well as his skills and courage. But you got a lot of Charity's looks and generosity. Which reminds me, how are they? I'd like to give him another round of a battle."
She stared down, a sweep of grief taking place. "...They... They died ten years ago."
Rod became silent, hanging his head low. "Oh, sorry to hear that."
The cerulean-haired girl held back her tears and shook her head. She gave her carefree smile, showing as if nothing has happened, showing only a lie. "That's ok. I...really don't remember much about them."
Again the fields became quiet.
"But..."
The vagrant looked up and spotted her face of mixed emotions with the smile.
"I do know they loved me more than anything in the world... I know they did." Soon she asked a question. "Hey, Rod. Was my father really the greatest?"
Rod could do nothing except give a smile. "After my old man died, he became one of the greatest fighter, no, the greatest man that ever fought with trust and honor."
Aurora smiled, her sorrow disappearing and feeling good of hearing the pride of her father.
"I think that's enough talking. Your friends might be waiting."
"Yeah, you're right. Goodnight, Rod."
"Yeah."
Vickie: Finished chapter 10!!! And before you say anything, Takeshi is a guy's name, pronounced as Ta-ka-shi. Takeshi is Aurora's father and son of Lucius, who happened to be the greatest warrior nicknamed as the Dratagon. Charity is Aurora's mother, once a Holy Song of the High Kani Church near Hikoria. A Holy Song is a title of one who is chosen in honor to sing to the Goddess of Cytherea (Northern and Eastern belief). Now enough of the short details. Now for the reviews.
Aurora: Which happens to be only two.
Vickie: ...Is my story that bad, people? j—j
Aurora: Oh, stop whimpering and just say the reviews.
Vickie: Hmph. Fine. To Animegirl8, that's one sane review. What happen to your insanity? And no, I can't shorten it much cuz I also need to write down Rue's and Mint's POV in the whole story. Get the point. But thanks anyway. And last to DewprismDolOfFate, thank you for the review. But truthfully, Rue's eyes are deep dark gray which many has mistaken it for brown. I have carefully identify every colour of the facials with the help of a manga book about colors.
Aurora: In order words, she's been studying on the whole game before writing this down.
Vickie: And uh, sometimes I do go through the game phase by phase while writing but I do it sometimes by memory. Blushes But half of it is my own plot. About 49 of it. Thanks for the review! Now to all of you out there, the next chapter is about dreams and nightmares and-
Chibi Victoria: Somehow got out of the bag (What the heck!?) About the history of the Dragon Guardian! I can't wait to explain that one!
Vickie: Oh, no you won't! Chases after her, catches her and drags her to Lunar so she can do whatever she wants as she is good with doing insanity Please read and review as quick as possible! Chapter 13 is gonna come verrry soon.