Mystery of the Soul Ch 6
Wincing in pain, Mage started to pull out the spear that was embedded into his shoulder. "Why Oni?"
Oni raised a brow at him. "Why? After all this time, you ask me why, when you of all people should know the answer to your own question. Besides, I should be asking you why you're actually helping them?"
Mage glared at the demon, "Everyone knows what happened Oni. I chose to help them because I looked into their eyes and I could see into their hearts. Their intentions are good, they want to help their friends. I'm not the one to stand in their way."
"So you stand in mine? Is that it?! You're choosing to help the enemy?" Oni growled angrily.
"Oni, there are no sides to be taken. What happened was wrong, but you know as well as everyone else that the time has come for the fight for who will have control over this realm." Mage replied feeling a bit weaker from the blood loss.
"I don't know who's the bigger fool, you, or the two that jumped into that well. But if I'm going to get the Pearl of Life, then I'm going to have to go after them and get it." Oni stated jumping onto the top of the well's opening.
Mage shakily reached up, his vision starting to blur. "Oni, don't do this."
Oni snarled as he glanced back, "Mage, if you hadn't turned your back on me long ago, I'd be the next one in line. But you did, and now I'm a demon, it's your fault that I'm this way."
"No Oni, you're the one that turned your back on me. When I told you the reasons why I couldn't teach you the magic of the mages. You were the one that chose the life of a demon, I didn't drive you down that path. Oni, you were the one to have chosen that life, you and you alone." Mage debated back, his shaky hand falling to the ground.
Oni faced the well again, his hands clenched and shaking in anger. "You knew nothing about me back then old man, and you know nothing of me now!"
"Son, don't.." Mage called over to him weakly.
Oni's eyes flared, "How dare you call me son?! When you refused to teach me our clans magic that was the day you were dead to me. From then on, you were and never will be my father! Goodbye, old man!" Oni growled as he shoved the spear deeper into him. Mage gasped his last breath and fell the rest of the way to the ground, and Oni jumped into the well after Ryo and Sage.
Inside of the well, countless light blue dimensional windows floated all around them. "Great, how are we suppose to know which one to take?" Ryo growled in annoyance looking around.
Sage frowned deeply, "Ryo, remember what Mage said, think of what you want to find and your thoughts will guide you."
Ryo looked at Sage skeptically, and sighed. What other choice did they have, the way that Ryo thought about it, not much of one. Ryo nodded and then he and Sage concentrated on their objective, and said together in their minds. Take us to the Dragon's Fire…
As soon as they said those words, they were being transported to the out skirts of a small village. "I think that Mage miscalculated, I don't see any guild." Sage said looking around with a slight frown.
Close by a small slightly deformed man bumped into Ryo and Sage. "Pardon me sirs." After he bumped into them he went along his way.
Ryo and Sage frowned as they looked at each other. "What was that about?" Ryo asked slightly confused.
"No idea, but we'd better…Hey!" Sage exclaimed angrily.
"Sage, what?" Ryo inquired with a slight frown.
Sage growled in annoyance, "That little twerp took my nodachi!"
Ryo's awareness shot up as he felt along his back and his eyes went wide, "My katanas are gone!"
"What do you want to bet that little thief took them." Sage growled looking at the direction he went.
"Let's teach that little thief a lesson that he won't soon forget." Ryo growled back as he and Sage took off after him. The little deformed man glanced back and saw them coming. He then quickly dodged into the market place to try and lose them in the crowd. No luck, but then he saw the entrance to the thieves guild and smirked as he went inside.
"Where'd he go?! We couldn't have lost him that easily!" Sage asked in annoyance while he and Ryo were looking around.
Sage saw a glimpse of his and Ryo's weapons, "He went in there, come on." Ryo followed Sage inside. When they got in they couldn't believe what they were seeing.
"No way, what is this place?" Ryo asked in wonderment.
A tan skinned elf with black hair, wearing dark brown shirt, pants and boots, with an emerald green tunic came over and looked at them with interest. "Why, you're in the thieves guild."
"Thieves guild?" Sage asked with a frown.
"Come with me, and I'll take you to Maverick. He's the head thief in this guild. Maybe he can help you find what you're seeking." the elf replied showing them the way. Ryo and Sage looked at each other skeptically, but followed none the less, it's not like they had a choice. Soon, they came upon a large room with more thieves standing around and talking amongst each other. "Maverick, we have guests."
Maverick moved his mirror to the side and got a look at Ryo and Sage from the reflection and finally turned around. "You're new around here, otherwise, you wouldn't have that lost look on your faces. So, how may I help you?"
"Some little creep took something of ours, and we want them back." Ryo replied feeling his anger rise a bit.
"I see, do you mean these?" Maverick asked with a smirk showing them their nodachi and katanas.
"Yeah, those are ours, we'd like them back." Sage replied looking at Maverick.
"Fine, you may have them back, but I have a feeling that's not the real reason of why you're here." Maverick drawled smoothly.
Sage and Ryo glanced at each other as they grabbed back their weapons and sheathed them. "Oh, and why do you think getting our weapons back wasn't our only thing in mind?"
Maverick scoffed in amusement, "Don't insult my intelligence. There are only two reasons why people come down to the thieves guild. One, to prove that they have what it takes to be a thief, and two, they want something that I have. So I'm guessing that neither one of you are thieves, then the only option would be that you want the Dragon's Fire."
Ryo and Sage gave a look of shock towards each other, and then looked at Maverick. "How'd you know?"
"Because, the Dragon's Fire is the most desired treasure that is kept in my guild. It's locked in a safe that is at the end of the gauntlet. But the problem is that people try to get it, well, they tend to lose their lives in the process. So it's still locked away at the end of that nasty thing." Maverick explained with a smirk. "Do the two of you think you have what it takes to retrieve the Dragon's Fire?"
"We don't exactly have a choice, we need to get it." Ryo told him, not wavering from where he stood.
Maverick raised his brow at him, "Oh, and why is that may I ask?"
"We have our reasons, now, are you going to let us go through the gauntlet, or do we have to figure out another way to get it?" Sage asked as he was starting to lose his patience.
Maverick was amused by their impatience, as he mused it over. "Alright, but only one of you can go through. It wouldn't be fair if both of you went in, now would it? So, which one will it be? I'd suggest that you hurry in your decision, because I'm guessing that you're on a strict time limit."
Ryo narrowed his eyes angrily, "Fine, I'll do it."
"Ryo, no.." Sage interjected angrily while trying to stop him. "Are you trying to get yourself killed?!"
Ryo turned and faced Sage with a mix of anger and determination in his eyes. "Sage, I have to do this. Besides, if I get hurt, you can always heal my wounds. Please, Sage, let me do this. I have to, you know I do."
"Ryo.." Sage replied reluctantly as he looked into Ryo's eyes, he knew that Ryo wasn't going to back down for nothing or no one. "Alright, but be careful, ok."
Ryo gave a quick nod and a small smile, "Don't worry, I'll be just fine, and I'm going to come out with the ruby too."
Maverick smirked in amusement, "Alright then, since that's finally decided, let's go to the gauntlet."
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AN: Konichiwa...Gomen, yeah I know it's been an extremely long time since I've updated...A lot has been going on lately...So, I hope that this chapter was worth the wait. Enjoy..Ja ne