Chapter 8 - Faint

Where the hell were they going? I've been following them for what seemed like days, and they just pranced around the Arcane tower. What a strange thing to do.

Then, at long last, they entered a small restaurant by the outskirts of Geffen, away from the bustling crowd. Slowly, Gustav reached out for the knob and turned it, then held out the door for her. She slowly walked in and he followed. They closed the door, and the chimes just above it gave a soft "ding".

I soon followed afterwards. What I found inside, though, was totally unexpected.

"Welcome to Poring Palace!" One of the attendants greeted me, presenting me with a hat in the shape of the all-time children's favorite, Poring, in a hideously pink color.

"Where the fuck am I?" I bellowed.

Everyone in the room stopped and stared at me. The attendant's eyes widened and glared at me. She then pulled me to a secluded corner in the room, apparently, this wasn't the kind of place to say things like that.

"Look here, mister!" She began, "I've been working my butt of, working as hard as I can for two years. TWO YEARS! I've stayed loyal to the Poring Palace code, and I'm not about to be fired, just cuz some fat-ass gangster gets lost and wanders into this place!"

I looked at her sternly, but couldn't resist it. I burst out in laughter, and was actually shedding tears…tears of joy. "You said ass!" I exclaimed.

She screamed a comical scream, while grabbing her hair, wanting to pull it off. The kids stared at her and began laughing, as I did. She quickly grabbed my arm and pulled me out the door. Then I saw the "supposed" Nadine. Well, I've figured it out the moment I stepped foot into this place; that obviously wasn't Nadine, and he wasn't Gustav. The two strangers had a relationship, yes: Father and daughter.

The attendant slammed the door. Strangely, she kicked out one of the poring hats along with me. I quickly tucked it into my pocket. Nadine might want it. Of course, if she wanted ME.

I still couldn't believe I followed the wrong people! But it was a blessing I didn't walk up to them and say, "Aha! What're you up to?"

I imagined the scene vividly in my head.

"Aha! I finally caught—"

Then, they'd turn around and I'd see a young, six-year old girl with her middle-aged father, with widened eyes.

"Err…." The father would begin, "I'm just….going out with my daughter."

"You're…daughter?"

"Yeah!" The daughter'd say, "What did you think I was?"

Then I'd walk away, embarrassed, while they'd whisper to each other, "What a weirdo!"

Good thing that never happened.

Then, I remembered something awfully disturbing; I had left my bike in the middle of a crowd!

I sprinted back into town, where all the commotion was. I continued sprinting towards where I last left my bike. It wasn't there.

"Oh shit!" I bellowed, as I searched frantically for it. I looked behind one of the stands, behind one of the posts, I even asked one of the kafra employees and a Geffen guard. Nothing.

Hopeless. But something new came up and I had to move on. Nadine just bumped me, and quickly replied with a emotionless "sorry". She didn't even notice me, as she was running towards her Gustav.

I quickly ran towards them. This time there were no flaws. This time, they were the people I was actually stalking. And this time, I'd catch them.

They didn't stop for anything in the city. Instead, they head towards the outskirts, where a clear, blue river lay. The dark of night had once again shadowed Midgard, and the street lights instantly lit up.

They sat down by the riverbanks as Gustav stroked her deep, black hair. My veins were about to blow as I wanted to smack him in the head. But, no. I can't do that. Not yet at least. Now was not the time for violence, now was the time for observation.

To my left, something caught my attention. A roda frog had just leapt from a large bush. What a perfect hiding place.

Imitating the frog, I went in and hid myself from view. I was able to completely conceal myself, from head to toe, and still get a good view of the two.

I peaked through the leaves at the two people in front of me. They were there, smooching, under the light of the full moon. Disgusting.

I couldn't take it. I had to take things under my control. I took out my shotgun, and removed the magazine. I then took some of the red bullets I bought and loaded it, then placed it back into the shotgun.

As if an assassin, I aimed the gun at Gustav. I was terribly inexperienced at these kinds of things, but it had to be done. For my sanity.

Just then, a knife passed my shoulder, cutting it somewhat. The surprise triggered me to shoot, off-target. The bullet rode beyond Gustav and exploded with fury. These weren't ordinary bullets I had in my hand! These were enchanted bullets! I mean, how could I have not noticed it? Colored bullets, bought in the city of magic, it all fits!

…and just think what might've happened if I did shoot it at Gustav. Nadine would be dead along with him.

Gustav and Nadine quickly darted at me, seeing the explosion. They just looked at the bush, with a blank look on their face.

But I had other matters on my head. For instance; where that knife came from. I looked above and saw Kaizel atop one of the walls surrounding Geffen. His silver hair swayed in the wind as I saw several scars on his face, along with his shoulders, and one deep wound in his chest. Yet somehow, he managed to keep his pride as he stared at me devilishly.

Soon, he descended down in a zigzag pattern, like Fakir before him. As he neared, I saw him draw his knife, prepared to slash me. I was placed in the same situation I was yesterday.

I stretched out my palm, and concentrated, chanting, "In nomine Patris, et Fili, et Spiritu Sancti" I said, as my palm began to glow a bright, white color, "Kyrie Eleison!"

A large, green cross appeared before me, with several other smaller ones surrounding me, like a barrier. The knife hit it and bounced off, hitting the wall.

Meanwhile, Kaizel was only halfway down. He was flying.

…but…he had no wings. As if some divine assistance was on his side. Impossible! Only yesterday, God was against him!

He just chuckled maniacally and glared at me. He then drew his shotgun, cocked it, and aimed at me.

I took out mine, and, like him, cocked it, then aimed it at him.

"Impressive." He devilishly said, "But money can't buy skill!" He exclaimed, as he shot.

"RE!" Both Nadine AND Gustav exclaimed. Strange, I forgot all about them. "Do something!" Nadine barked at Gustav.

How could she? Didn't she trust my skills?

Seeing the personality of the bullet, I fired randomly around the path of Kaizel's bullet. And, as I had planned, they exploded, lowering the velocity of his bullet so much, that it dropped to the ground.

Without even thinking, I aimed the gun at Kaizel and fired thirteen straight shots. When the first one hit, a pair of silver, torn wings appeared, then disappeared. A cloud of smoke engulfed him, covering him from my sight.

Minutes passed, and all of us just stared at it. Thinking Kaizel was no more, I turned to Nadine. To my demise.

"Watch out!" She bellowed.

From within the cloud of smoke, Kaizel shot several times at me, using his machine gun. Thankfully, most missed me, and the ones that didn't were blocked by my barrier.

But gunning me down was obviously not his tactic. He caught me off-balance. I fell into his trap. He crept up behind me, took a bottle of purple poison and forcibly made me drink it.

Nadine watched in terror as I struggled to break free, with my senses slowly fading, and having more and more difficulty breathing.

My sight became blurry, and the last thing I saw was Nadine standing in front of me, her hands placed together as if praying, and Gustav, who drew out his wand, and pointed it at Kaizel.

…then I felt a freezing cold storm. Unlike any I ever felt.

A/N: Hey, d'you guys think my writing's getting a bit too……rushed?