Brilliance, a Legend of Mana Story

Chapter Sixteen -The Brilliance of Pearl, Part Two-

Daena stood, glaring around the road, panicking. "Where did she go?" she cried. Pearl had simply disappeared, both the girl's scent and her tracks fading inexplicably. She searched the road carefully, but there were no signs of struggle. Glancing back towards Geo, scratching behind her ear with her flail. "No signs of a struggle. Sandra didn't catch her. Did she use some kind of crazy Jumi power?" She had no way of knowing... All she knew about Jumi was what Elleira and Riven had told her from their own experiences.

The cat-girl backtracked, going over the tracks carefully. She couldn't tell where she'd lost track of Pearl ... the tracks had faded far too fast. But that didn't explain why her scent was missing. Hissing in frustration, Daena stood, and scratched her head furiously. "This is driving me insane!"

Her ears twitched with frustration. But where did she go from here? She could go try and find Riven ... or she could hunt the Jewel Thief. Daena took one last glance around the road. It stretched onwards to the horizon in both directions, stray winds spilling clouds of dust into the air. Only a few ragged bushes dotted the sides of the roads...there was no way anyone could conceal themselves.

She turned back towards Geo, and began running towards the city. She could try tracking Sandra, but it would prove almost as difficult as following Pearl-

She slammed into a wall, the force flinging her backwards. When she hit the ground, she rolled immediately, grabbing her injured nose and hissing furiously. There was no wall, no barrier that she could see. What had she hit. Reaching behind her, she unhooked her flails from her belt. Pain traveled up her arm, causing her to shriek and convulse in agony, dropping her weapon and falling to the ground.

She remained facedown for several seconds, not able to force herself to breathe. When the shock of the blast had worn off, she coughed harshly, and twisted her head, trying to see who was attacking her. She saw him, and gasped. Trying desperately to stand, she realized he couldn't.

"You ... you bastard!" Daena snarled weakly. She fought with her rage, managing to get back unsteadily into a half-crouch. Her eyes caught sight of her flail, and she considered making a jump for it, but knew her attacker would kill her. She had one chance.

With a feral hiss, she flung herself at her enemy, claws bared. Black light enveloped her, and all was dark.

"Time to go, Knight."

Elazul was startled out of his dream, and his hands instinctively clenched around his sword. Sierra was leaning against the doorway, scratching at her ear with a dagger. "Awake yet?"

Embarrassed, he set down the blade. "How are things outside the woods?"

"Bad." Sierra dropped to a crouch in front of his makeshift bed. "Godhand cut his mercenaries loose, so they're rampaging across the countryside, looting everything. Elleira and Riven are missing. That tree house of theirs was burned down, and there are signs of a struggle." She looked away for a moment. "I was too late."

Elazul pulled off his blanket, and got to his feet. After stretching his arms, he smiled briefly. "Back in shape," he said. "Let's go find them."

Sierra stood, still not looking at him. "I have a request."

Elazul frowned, studying her carefully. "You know I owe you for allowing me to recuperate here. What do you need?"

"Your sword." Sierra turned towards him, her tone grim. "I know where they're keeping the dragons. I need help if I'm going to free them."

The Knight of Lapis Lazuli only took a moment to consider his options. "I'll do it. I owe you, and at any rate, we might as well help those we can..." He trailed off, not wanting to finish with "Instead of those we can't", but not knowing what else to say. Riven and Elleira were more then capable fighters...they'd have to fend for themselves for now.
Escad hissed in frustration, and ducked back behind the wall. Raucous laughter echoed through the narrow streets, as well as the sounds breaking glass and clanking armor. It was getting increasingly difficult to move around, especially since Meimei insisted on carrying her fruit basket on her back.

"So how bad is it?" she asked softly.

"You're the psychic," Escad snapped, "you tell me."

She hesitated only a moment before smirking, moving to step out of the alley. Escad grabbed her, dragging her back quickly. "Are you crazy?" he asked, shaking her.

Brushing him off playfully, she stepped into the light with a wink. "Trust me."

Escad was about to drag her back again, but it was already too late. "Hey hey!" someone shouted, followed by a series of whistles and catcalls. The sound of footfalls rang heavily in his ears, as he also stepped out into the light, putting himself between the fortuneteller and the approaching soldiers.

It was a group of about eight men, and while not wearing any armor, they still carried their swords. "What's this now?" someone shouted.

"The girl is taken, friends." Escad raised his hands. "I don't want this to get messy."

The group laughed, and started drawing their weapons. Escad reached for his sword...and realized it wasn't there. He had lost it when he...He shook his head. Images of his violent death at the hands of a nude, black archer with the glowing eyes flickered in and out, disorienting him. The soldiers started forward, and all Escad could do was back away.

"Now now...that isn't very sporting."

The men turned, and one of them swore, loudly. An old man stood behind them, a pair of beautiful girls at his sides. Twins, except for the color of their hair, and the colors of their eyes. One had bright red hair and big red eyes...the other had blue hair and blue eyes. Both of them were staring ahead as though looking past everyone assembled.

"We don't want any trouble," the soldier who'd spoken before stated.

"Now that's just not true," the old man scoffed. "You just don't want trouble from us. Those two you're perfectly willing to attack, even if the young man is unarmed."

"She wanted us to come get her!" the soldier protested. "She came out of the alley, slinking about like a -"

"I was not!" Meimei shouted. "And besides," she continued in a quieter voice, "I only did it because I knew Master Saiga would witness it and rescue us."

"Hmm?" Saiga asked. "Have we met?"

"Once sir. A long time ago." Meimei bowed respectfully. Still bent over, she slapped Escad, who stiffly bowed as well.

Saiga's eyes flicked back and forth between them, and Escad took the moment to size him up. He was old, the thin, short gray hair and dark lines around his dark blue eyes showed that. He held a cane, but didn't hold it as though he needed its support. The black vest he wore exposed his arms, which were long and thin...the definition of muscles not quite faded away. A swordsman, Escad realized. Then that cane must be where he hides his blade. That's a fencer's weapon, not a true warrior's sword.

He let his own eyes wander, and saw that the soldiers had made a similar judgement. They spread out, ignoring Escad and preparing to take on Saiga.

"We don't take orders from you guys anymore...though we'll still take your money. And your ladyfriends," the lead soldier said with a sneer.

"I recognize you now," Saiga said, completely ignoring the attempt to intimidate him. "You're a fortuneteller."

Meimei began to smile, but then froze. "Escad, we need to run."

"You can tell me where Elleira is," Saiga said, starting to unscrew the head of his cane. He drew the sword slowly, eyes still fixed on Meimei, and so was not prepared for the attack.

He did not need to be.

The twins stepped in front of him, reaching out with both hands, and the men who were lunging touched them. Some started shrieking insanely, dropping their swords and shaking as though they had been struck by lightning. Some started gasping, dropping to the ground, and twitching in spasms. Two men had hung back, not part of the initial rush, and they dropped their weapons and ran blindly. The girls stepped back, and Saiga stepped forward, carefully picking out a path over the bodies.

"You can tell me where Elleira is," Saiga repeated. "And you shall."

Blackpearl pushed open the door and stepped inside Leires again. Staring ahead, she couldn't help but notice her heart beating... I've made up my mind, she thought, I'll not get squeamish now.

She took a step forward, then paused, looking backwards, her hand on her hammer. out of there."

A Sproutling appeared from just past the edge of the door, and did a happy dance. "You found me!"

"What are you doing here? Are you following me?" Blackpearl said, letting go of her weapon. She couldn't say she was fond of Sproutlings, but she didn't hate them, like many others did. They were just too odd.

"The cow isn't anywhere...he's in my mind," the Sproutling announced pleasantly.

Blackpearl shook her head, and started heading into the tower. "Whatever. If you're coming, you'd better hurry." She paused, then said "Here," and tossed it the pack of magical implements she'd been given in Geo. The Sproutling started rummaging through the pack.

What are you doing?! Pearl cried.

If he's going to tag along, he can work. And besides...I need my hands free to fight the wandering monsters, Blackpearl thought back.

The Sproutling closed up the pack, and lifted it onto its head, bouncing up and down to keep it in place. "You have the workings for a great spell here," he said.

With a shrug, Blackpearl gestured for the Sproutling to follow. "Don't drop that; I need it."

"You can change the world with your imagination!" the Sproutling said.

"...And don't talk to me anymore."