CH 8 –LALIVERO
"Do you know anything about 'The Black Wall'?" Chirari wished Retsu wasn't so direct with his questions. Sometimes it helped to be secretive. The young man before them gave Retsu an odd look. "Are you aware that you shouldn't talk to strangers?" The fire adept scowled, "What should I care? I asked you a question." Fingering his coat pocket, he gazed at the pair through dusky clumps of hair in front of his eyes. They were an awfully strange couple, especially considering that one was obviously a fire adept and the other a water adept. Sighing he prepared his next answer, "That was very rude of you and with a look like that on your face I doubt you'll get much help." With that he turned on his heel and began striding off, a very dangerous thing to do with a man such as his questioner behind his back, but he was getting tired of the ceaseless inquiries that seemed to be going nowhere.
A tight grip settled on his shoulder, causing him to wince. "Retsu, maybe you shouldn't-", Chirari was cut off as the auburn-haired man lifted his hand sharply. Narrowing his eyes, Retsu lowered his voice dangerously. "I said I asked you a question. Don't play games with me. It's just as rude to turn your back and ignore someone as it is to talk to strangers." The man Retsu had found to question glanced over his shoulder. "I could contact the authorities if you continue harassing me this way." The blue-haired woman hiked up her robe and scurried over to the two men who seemed to be trying to match glares. Why does Retsu have to be so difficult about everything? Turning to address the subject of Retsu's interrogation, she began trying to explain his rash behavior. "I'm sorry for the way he is acting, he does this quite often and-"
"Who asked you to interfere?" Taking his hand off of the man's shoulder, he turned to face her. I thought we agreed that I'd do the talking. Just can't keep her nose out of this. Squaring her shoulders, Chirari prepared to defend her case. "He does have a point. You just can't treat him that way."
"And who are you to tell me how to handle this?"
"I'm trying to find this thing too, you're not the only one looking for it. Remember?"
"I thought we agreed that I'd ask the questions. Remember?"
"The way you're going about it, I'm beginning to wonder whether or not that was such a good idea!"
"You two fight like a married couple." Chirari flinched visibly as if struck a blow. Married? Married? Mercury help me! It's just like with Ms. Perchins! Retsu didn't seem all that pleased either. "We are NOT married nor are we together in any way shape or form," he formed a tight ball of flames in his hand, "now answer the question before you wear my patience too thin." Not this again, Chirari thought, it'll be another Lemuria. People were already beginning to stare. The man shook his head, "I tried to end this peacefully, but I see that won't work." Rock pillars rose from the ground, surrounding the fiery-tempered adept on all sides and shaking the ground. Quickly, the crowd lost its enthusiasm and scurried off in seemingly random directions, not eager to be involved in the fight. Subconsciously, Chirari pondered their situation. I suppose it is similar to Lemuria, but the crowd stayed to watch there, the people of Lalivero seem much more self-conscious. Although it is a small town…
Masses of rock began pelting her as Retsu broke through his stone prison. He tore after his fleeing adversary, leaving Chirari behind to the mercy of the streets. Once again pulling up her robe, she ran after him "Wait!" She licked her lips while running in an attempt to relieve her sense of foreboding. "He knows something!" Retsu called back to her, "Otherwise he wouldn't be running or made it so difficult!" Turning a corner, she found the two squaring off again. Her mind swam. What should I do? "It's not that important! We can ask someone else!" Not facing her, Retsu answered, "It must be if he's so dang protective of it!"
The Venus adept leveled his palm parallel to the ground and within seconds it began to tremble as if it were being shaken. Clinging to the side of a building, Chirari watched in horror as Retsu launched a vault of flames at his opponent. Why would something seemingly so simple be worth fighting over? In the blink of an eye, vines rose from the ground blocking all of the assault except one whisp, which followed its path harmlessly on by. Before the other could act, Retsu continued on the offensive with another bout of fire. More wriggling snake-like protrusions broke the surface; however, they did not collide with all of the missiles this time. Several grazed the sides of his legs and one struck him full on in the face, knocking him senseless.
Chirari rushed to the man's side. That last attack could have killed him! She noted the burns on his legs and then scanned his face, wincing. Turning to Retsu, she glared. "You could have killed him!" Calmly ignoring her, Retsu dropped to the man's side and began digging through the man's coat. Horrified, Chirari's eyes widened. "What are you doing?" Pulling a small registration card out of the inside coat pocket, he showed it to her. "Apparently he's a soldier…and a deserter at that."
DR: Sorry I haven't updated in a while, but I've been really busy. I know it's not a good excuse. I tried to make this chapter a little more interesting than I had originally planned to make up for it. My family is moving again so I'll try to have the next chapter up before then.