(Author's Note) : Yeah so this is when I start straying from the actual game and do my own thing. FOR ROMANCE PURPOSES. So yeah. I'm going all in. Get ready!

Chapter 5: The Crypts (part III)

Disclaimer: I don't own Dragon Quest XI. If I did this game would be like Fire Emblem and everybody would be getting laid some how or another by the final sequence. So yeah. Its a good thing I don't own it.

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It was kind of an unbelievable moment for Serena to be walking aside the Luminary of all people. In truth there was so many things she wanted to ask him but now was hardly the time to be asking such personal questions. Especially when it revolved around that deserted village from earlier.

"Hyah!" Trunks cried out as he swung his broadsword down upon a mud mannequin's shoulder. It caused a dent in it but not enough to fully break. Serena prepared a spell but was quickly out-matched by the Luminary's Companion.

She had never seen anyone move so swiftly in her life. His coordination and follow-up techniques kept her mana from hardly ever being needed to be spent.

"So what is it exactly that you do again?" She questioned after watching a group of enemies get demolished solely from the combined attacks of these two fighters. Her voice however would go completely unnoticed as the two males in question turned to each other to give the other a congratulatory high-five.

If I knew his name. Serena mused. This wouldn't be so hard. She wondered if it would be too rude of her to reach out and tap him on the shoulder so that she could get his attention. After all she hardly knew him. Or his name. Serena in turn would release a dejected sigh.

"Hey doofus!" Veronica called out so suddenly that Serena nearly jumped from fright. In fact Serena had forgotten her sister was even there. The lack of magical oomph made such a huge difference. Normally it was just one cast and move on but now it was a collective of physical swings.

Trunks had given her the order to only use magic when they absolutely needed it. So she had to stay back and every one in awhile she would swing down on a monster's head with her trusted mace.

Surprisingly though the greenish-blue haired male did turn gaze toward Veronica in response. He looked positively annoyed too.

"What? What is it now?"

"Don't give me that lip!" Veronica snapped while wagging her right index finger at him. "For your information my sister here was trying to get your attention! Yet you so rudely decided to ignore her! Is it so hard to at least try to pay attention every once in awhile? Honestly!" She exclaimed whilst placing her hands on her hips.

The Luminary's companion simply shrugged.

"Well I hate to be the breaker of bad news here kid-"

"I'm not a kid!" Veronica snapped but the man continued on anyways.

"But were in the middle of an underground crypt full of monsters. Now's not the time to be idly socializing." He then turned to look at Serena with the same annoyed expression. "...Alright?"

Serena lips twitched into a frown.

She hadn't meant to cause any trouble…At most Serena just thought of him to be very skilled and admired the way he handled himself in battle. In fact she wondered if he must have been a knight of some sorts but then again he didn't seem to be the type of fighter to be particularly lugging around in heavy armor. Especially so while he was wearing that dark green hooded tunic of his. It was just so strange and Serena couldn't help but wonder what his role was in all this.

Just how had he begun traveling with the Luminary in the first place? Was this man also from that very same village?

"...Yes..." Serena meekly answered, eyes dropping toward the ground.

Maybe another time.

"Hey you!" Veronica screeched once again towards that man. Serena raised her head to witness her sister attempting to bring the cyan haired man to his knees. It wouldn't happen though.

He was too quick. Agile and on a level above any of them. With every attempted tackle, he sidestepped and laughed. Her sister as wise and as powerful as she was - would not be able to land a hit on this man. Speed clearly being his greatest advantage. "It's not nice to laugh at a maiden in distress you know!" She told him, and he smirked at her comment.

"A maiden?" The male paused, pretending to look about. "Where?" Veronica growled and attempted one last time to connect, only to land flat on her face with a grumble.

"It's fine if you want to mock me…but don't be rude to my sister."

Serena wavered. Her sister had always been a little bit protective of her but this time, she had to agree - he was right. Now was not the time.

"I-It's okay Veronica," Serena began clasping at her hands. "We can just discuss things...Another time." Serena bowed toward the Luminary's companion. "Please forgive my sister for her rudeness. She's always been protective of me since we were little."

"Yeah." He responded. "I can see that. I have my own little sister waiting for me back at home, so I can relate."

Serena raised her head, and smiled widely.

"I'm glad."

"Hm?"

"I'm glad that you have someone waiting for you back at home. Life is so precious these days. We never know how long it will last..."

His gaze on her sharpened and Serena winced slightly. She wasn't sure if he was angry with her or what but then he raised his right hand and flitted it through his slicked back, cyan colored hair with an irritated grumble.

Serena wavered uncomfortably. She had never been good with people. "We don't have to talk about this anymore. R-really it's quite alright." She added feeling jittery again.

She began wondering if anyone else felt like the room was closing in on them. Especially so when this man shook his head and released yet another sigh.

"Alright, alright you got my attention now...Shoot." He suddenly said, blue orbs now locking dead on her own.

"W-What?" She questioned feeling flabbergasted. He shrugged his shoulders.

"One tiny question shouldn't be too much of an issue, right?" He glanced at Veronica for a moment who was smiling, nodding approvingly.

Serena fidgeted under his sudden change of mood but nodded.

"Well Um…" She looked up at him, and then back at her hands, then back up at him. "W-Well...You're really talented and erm…" She wanted to desperately find out his name but they just weren't following where she was going with this! Serena sighed inwardly, she would just have to ask him that question instead. "I just couldn't help but wonder what you do for a living?"

"Ha?" He responded, looking perplexed. "That's it?"

"Um, er…Yes...That's it." Serena shuffled feeling slightly embarrassed again. She blinked owlishly when he glanced away, a pink hue now clearly spreading across face.

"Oh, hmm...Well...How should I put this mildly?"

"He's a thief." Veronica point blank answered. Earning another grumble from the man as he scratched the top of his head. "Geez and here I thought you were going to say something important Serena."

"T-thief?" Serena questioned, eyes widening by a fraction. She was quick to peel back, and shift look over to where Trunk's stood ahead scouting. He hardly seemed interested in their mindless chatter. Then again...He may not have been in the mood to chat because of his background. She was sure the Luminary must have been through a lot as according to what she read on the previous Luminarys before his time.

There was always strife and war.

Serena absent-mindlessly clenched her hands in worry which earned a sudden snap from the thief beside for some reason.

"Hey don't, I-It's not like that at all!" He snapped and Serena tilted her head almost questionably. "I would never steal from my teammates."

"Oh?" Serena replied, feeling somewhat thankful to hear that. "Trunks is lucky to have you then considering how much he's been through." She told him and was confused when the thief looked at her strangely.

"Do," He paused, licking his lips slightly, "Do the two of you know each other?"

"E-Eh? Of course not... This is the first time I've ever met him." She responded.

Unfortunately, the strange mood worsened. She watched his right hand fall to his hilt.

"Then…"He trailed off and stole a glance towards his partner in arms. The Luminary had glanced back too, brow arched and mouth slightly agape. "How do you know his name if you've never met him?"

Now it was her turn to gasp. She took a momentary step back while placing hand over mouth. Her eyes widened when his knife became drawn, shining blade glimmering through the flickering flames that dimly lit the darkened halls around them. "Just who exactly are you two sisters anyways?"

Serena swallowed, eyes flicking to the Luminary. Her eyes would widen significantly to see him of all people holding onto the hilt of his blade. Ready to draw blade against her if absolutely needed be.

"It's okay Serena." Veronica whispered to her in the tiniest of tones.. "I know who he is as well."

Serena glanced down at Veronica who she in turn nodded.

There was no going back now.

It was now or never.

Serena slowly dropped to her knees on the ground. She faced outward towards the two males. Veronica moved right beside her and placed her left hand flat up in the air. Serena mirrored that action with her right hand so that their hands could intertwine with one another.

"Bold Luminary," They began in union. "Yggdrasil's chosen. Long have we waited to greet you. We of Arboria swear to protect you and while we live none shall defeat you."

"There are those who would accuse you to bringing disaster on our world." Serena told Trunks whilst picturing that ruined village in the back of her mind. She wanted him to know that what happened there to those people was not his doing. "Please, you must rest assured that they are wrong..."You are a hero...The light in your eyes. The light told of in legends of Arboria...It proves to be without a doubt."

Trunks looked bewildered.

"I-I don't know what to say..." The thief placed his knife back into its sheath and laughed at Trunk's modesty.

"So now you have magical twins ready to serve and protect you? I guess you really are the Luminary, huh? Not that I ever doubt it...Of course."

"Not helping Erik." Trunks grumbled.

"Erik." Serena echoed out loud. She just had to try the feel of his name upon her lips.

"Yes?" He responded in turn and Serena eeked. A burning crimson surely would spread.

She raised her arms up to wave him away dismissively.

"Oh I just! I just was wondering what your name was for some time now."

"Oh right." Erik responded, rubbing the back of his head. He extended his hand out to her. "You're Serena right?" He asked carefully. She looked down at his hand and felt her heart skip against chest. She wondered if his hands would feel rough against her own and slowly but curiously she reached out to it.

"And I'm Veronica!" Veronica announced jumping up. Her actions knocked Serena's hands away as well as made Erik withdraw his own. Erik proceeded to scowl at Veronica. Saying something along the lines that he already knew her name plenty. The two would begin to bicker endlessly.

Serena sighed, staring at the hand that never made contact with intended target. She had been so close.

"Welcome aboard." Trunk's voice appeared, and Serena's hand quickly dropped back to her side. She glanced at him and thanked him for allowing them to join him. She couldn't help but smile when he extended his hand out to her. She took it gratefully and strangely as their hands connected a glow of white enveloped them. A series of images played out in Serena's mind. It showed her a way through the maze and it showed her the location of a certain plant.

Yggdrasil.

Her heart raced.

"We must go!" Serena exclaimed towards Trunks. He nodded, eyes shining of the same determination. He too must have also experienced the same imagery. So thus did the two begin to run forward only to hear another voice echoing behind them.

"Wait, wait!" Erik protested. He was already gaining up on Serena quite easily in comparison to her sister which faintly could be heard hollering behind. "What's all this about? I thought were a team...So what's the big deal? The two of you just can't go running off without some sort of an explanation."

"Erik!" Veronica roars echoed through the halls. The thief groaned rolling his eyes.

"See this is what I have to put up with...Be right back." He told her as he suddenly skidded to a stop. Serena paused, but Erik shook his head. "Hey, don't worry, I'll catch up. I promise." He added with a wink. "I don't need magic to locate which way to go. After all finding things is simply what I do best."

"And you're also very fast too." She added with a sheepish grin. He closed his eyes for a moment before flashing his own grin.

"Heh, yeah that too. Thanks Serena."

Serena watched him go with an gaped mouth.

Her face was positively burning.

Oh dear, oh dear!

What was she going to do?

She was falling for someone other than the Luminary and she was falling fast!

Heavens watch over her.

XXX

TBC

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(Author's Note) Next chapter will close the Crypts story and move onto the next sequence them heading out to Gallopolis? Look man I just really want to get to sylvando okay. Easily the best character in the game for me. I'm also almost done with the casino. Thank god. I lit just walk around the house with a switch remote in my hand holding the a button. But yeah thanks for reading again till next time.