A new chapter!I had finals a few weeks ago, which had me starting on this chapter late, not to mention my more difficult classes are this semester. Thank you to Lovely Loveless 6676 for pointing out an error in my grammar, you really are lovely! For a notice, I've updated the first two chapters. Eventually, I may have to completely redo them, as I wrote those quite a while ago, so they're kind of meh. As usual, any bumps in the story I might have overlooked, please tell me! If anyone has more recommendations for artes, feel free to message me!
I cringe as I see the cavern area of Aspio. While I'm not sure if that heavy feeling that caused my slump was actually caused by something in here, or if that was just coincidence, I'm still wary. That incident with that guy...doesn't count. We learnt about the 'blastia black market' as I call it, from the thief, before knocking him out and snatching anything he had stolen, and heading back to Aspio. I clench the scarf wrapped tightly around my knuckles. Rita's scarfs had protective enchantments due to their usage in magic artes, so she gave me her's to use as wraps, explaining how she had tweaked the formula to protect my hands. She stills gives me looks though, obviously insanely curious about when I spoke English.
"Tina?" I look at Karol, who is tugging on my dress, amusement and worry in his eyes. "You need to stop zoning out." I giggle, ruffling his hair good-naturedly.
"Don't worry about it, just a habit." I look up at the conversation going on. "So what's going on?"
"Flynn apparently hired a mage to solve Halure's problem and headed back there. We need to report that thief to the guard and we need to wait at Rita's house." He pauses, and I notice Yuri is already near the gate. "...and Yuri's still accusing Rita of thievery." I groan. He knows she's innocent! Why does he have to be so stubborn! I run up to him, thumping him on the head from behind. he looks back at me, frowning.
"Idiot~" I tease, grinning at him. He rolls his eyes. Only to turn back and catch Rita's passport, as she ran on ahead to the knight outpost. As we walk by the library, I feel fear start to crawl into my thoughts. What if he's still there? With those hungry eyes… A hand gently brushes one of my bangs behind my ear. Yuri is looking at me with dark eyes.
"You ok?" He asks, and I nod, giving him a tiny smile. I focus on Yuri's presence as we walk past the library towards Rita's house. He stays on my left, between me and the library. It warms my heart to see his silent form of protection.
About a half an hour later, Estelle is showing me one of the more basic books in Rita's collection, having me read through it and pointing out the more complicated words and why this is written like that and so on. Repede is lying on my lap, effectively pinning me to the floor with his snugly body.
"So that's…." I pause, studying the word carefully. "Conductive…..?" I say hesitantly, watching as Estelle's eyes light up in happiness. I mentally cheer. "I'm getting good at this!" I giggle. I look over at Yuri, whose smirking and I think back to when he touched my hair...oh god I'm blushing aren't I? I snap my head down, focusing on petting Repede.
"If you're that worried about Flynn, would you rather leave now?" Yuri drawls, and I glance up at Estelle, whose face has morphed into a worried visage.
"It's just...I've got to give a proper goodbye to Rita…" I hold back a grin. Only Estelle would be conflicted by something like that.
"Then take it easy." Yuri drawls and I snort. he's quite the sight, casually sprawled across Rita's floor. He's definitely taking it easy.
"What are you gonna do after this Yuri? Tina?" Karol asks.
"I guess I'll go pay a visit to the guy behind all this core stealing." Yuri says, eyes glazing slightly as he thinks. Karol turns to me, and I shrug.
" Help Yuri find the core, and after, find my brother before he gets himself killed." I crack a grin as I can feel the sass oozing from my brother. "Then again." I say offhandedly. "He's got too much attitude to die without chewing me out for trying to find him in the first place." Yuri snorts. Look at me from his place on the floor, his eye filled with humor. Karol hums thoughtfully.
"Well, to look for the blastia, we should probably make our way down to Nor Harbor." He says. I tilt my head to the side. I don't think I was paying enough attention to the thief to remember what he was talking about…
"Don't you mean Torim Harbor?" Yuri asks. Wait…
"Aren't those the two ports that connect the two main continents?" I ask, looking towards Karol. "This side has Nor Harbor, the other Torim?" He nods.
"Exactly, Capua Nor for here on Illyccia and Capua Torim for Tolbyccia." He looks over at Yuri. "Technically, the two ports are the ends of one city that stretches over both continents. If you want to go to Torim, you've got to cross Nor." Yuri smirks at Karol, who blushes as he realizes he was somewhat rambling.
"So...where is it from here?" At this point, Estelle comes out of her little funk, and looks up.
"it's West of here, through Ehmead Hill." She blurts out, her tone still anxious. I give her a sympathetic smile, and she relaxes a bit, smiling back. "I have to get back to Halure and meet up with Flynn." She says firmly. I frown, is she planning on going alone? Not if I can help it!
"We'll head back there too, drop you off. Then go on our way." I turn to Yuri. He nods.
"According to our friends in the ruins, it sounds like our client's based in the harbor, so that wouldn't be a problem." He confirms. I grin widely, Yuri smirks back.
"Um…" I turn to see Estelle and Karol with their heads suspiciously turned away. What are they up to? Karol turns back, and his face slowly shifts into familiar teen angst.
"Karol?" I ask concerned. Yuri looks over as well.
"What? You got some sick, frail girlfriend waiting for you at home?" Karol mumbles something similar to 'I wish…' under his breath, but I don't push it. Finally, the door creaks open, and in walks Rita, whose face goes blank when she spots us on the floor.
"I know I asked you to wait for me," She drawls, eyes roving over our lazy forms. "but you really made yourselves at home didn't you?" I grin widely, as I casually place the book back. Repede lifts himself off my legs and my left one is, unsurprisingly, asleep. Yuri stands up and looks at Rita blankly.
"Sorry for suspecting you." He says blandly, I laugh at his tone, before standing up. My leg tingles and I shake it out slightly, giving Repede a pout.
"What a heartfelt apology." I've come to a decision. Rita is the Goddess...of teenage angst. "It worked pretty well for me me too." She smirks, walking over and diving abruptly into study mode.
"Rita?" Estelle asks curiously. Yuri nudges his head towards the door when the mage doesn't respond.
"Well, thanks for the hospitality." He says dryly, and I grin as I hobble dramatically to the door, Repede huffing in exasperation behind me.
"What? Going so soon?" I raise an eyebrow at her. First she wants to kick us out, then she wants us to stay? My spidey senses are tingling... Yuri's obviously are too, if his answer indicates anything.
"We don't want to overstay our welcome. Plus we're in a bit of a hurry." I grin as Estelle, unknowingly, swoops in to our rescue. She bows stiffly, and Rita shrinks back in surprise.
"I'm so happy to have met you Rita. I'm afraid we have to go now, I'll thank you properly later." She rushes out, obviously eager to go find Flynn.
"Okay…" Rita says awkwardly, blushing slightly at the formal farewell. I merrily walk out the hut, but inwardly my mind is a mess. Isn't Rita supposed to come with us? Did I change something? Ugh, not knowing the small stuff is a pain in the ass! Despite this though, I don't say anything, biting my tongue as we possibly walk away from a crucial character….permanently.
Skit: The Frail Girlfriend
Estelle: So, tell me about this frail girlfriend of yours Karol?
Karol: Wha?!
Tina; Yeah, is she cute?
Estelle: The reason you want to go to Nor Harbor is so you can see her isn't it?
Karol: H-how do you know about her?!
Tina: Knew it!
Karol: N-no! I mean she's not even in Nor Harbor….
Estelle: Oh it's not Nor Harbor?
Karol: I d-don't know what you're talking about!
Yuri: Your might as well come clean Karol, Tina's already figured you out. It's obvious Estelle won't give up either.
Karol: You've got it all wrong!
Estelle: Karol…
Tina: And they're off….
End of Skit
As we walk onto the main circle platform, Yuri turns around, and I glance back as well, spotting Rita walking towards us.
"If you're seeing us off, we'll say goodbye here." He drawls.
"I'm going with you." I snort, of course this is how she would join us.
"Y-you're doing what?" Karol exclaims, dazed. I laugh walking forward and swinging Rita in a tight hug.
"I knew it!" I exclaim, placing the dizzy girl down. "I sensed it with my magical sixth sense!" I Exclaim dramatically, to Rita's giggles and Yuri's smirk.
"Oh." Yuri says flatly. "So this is why you didn't want us to leave without saying goodbye." Rita finally manages to shake of her dizziness, and gives me a glare, replying with a simple; "Yeah."
"Yeah? Just, 'yeah'?" Karol repeats, and I giggle, waving a hand in front of his face as his eyes glaze over in comedic terror. I turn back to Rita.
"Not to be rude, but aren't you like a super duper genius mage? Aren't you super important here?" I say, gesturing around me. Rita hums in thought, before her eyes brighten in realization.
"I want to see Halure's barrier blastia for myself. It's no good to people if it's broken right?" Wait, this obviously isn't her true reason...so what is?
"Actually the three of us fixed it together." Karol pipes up. Rita gapes.
"Huh?" She asks indignantly. "What do you mean you fixed it? You're just amateurs!" Karol opens his mouth, obviously about to spill about Estelle's powers.
"We found it was more the biology of the plant than the blastia itself." I drawl, keeping with Karol's idea of the panacea bottle. She raises an eyebrow, before huffing.
"Just because you fixed the tree, doesn't mean the blastia core is." She mutters to herself. "I still want to check it out." She tells us. My excited eyes meet Yuri's exasperated ones.
"Suit yourself." Yuri shrugs. Estelle dashes up to Rita, smile on her face.
"W-what?!" She sputters, and I grin. Rita is probably the first girl Estelle has met who's near her age.
"I've never had a real friend my own age before!" Called it. I glance over at Yuri, a soft smile on my face.
"What?" He asks. I look back at the two girls.
"It's nice...seeing people become friends. It's precious." Yuri tilts his head, and Karol lets out a small 'huh?' I shake my head, grin still on my face. Estelle and Rita remind me of the smaller children back at the orphanage, who became family with one another. I clap my hands together sharply, gaining everyone's eyes.
"Let's get going! Don't want to lose your knight friend eh?" Without any more distractions, we finally get moving.
Skit; Traveling with this Bunch?
Yuri: When we left the capital, it was just me,Tina, Estelle and Repede
Estelle: Now Karol and Rita have joined us. I'm so happy to be traveling with you both!
Tina: Yeah~ It makes the experience more fun!
Karol: I'm not too sure about some people in our party though…
Tina: Karol! Apologize to Yuri!
Yuri: Hey, how do you know he was talking about me?
Tina: Well you look the most sketchy…
Yuri: Again with this?!
Rita: Well, I'm not too sure about the little runt.
Yuri: Hey now, go easy on the young Captain.
Estelle: Rita we all have to work to get along, okay?
Rita: Oh yeah….right.
End of Skit
Skit: Heavy
Yuri: Hey, Tina…
Tina: What's up?
Yuri: What was up with you while in the ruins? You seemed more spaced out than usual.
Tina; Ha! it was nothing!
Yuri: Tina.
Tina: I just felt….a bit heavy.
Yuri: Heavy?
Tina: ...mentally…. It's weird I know~ Spooky~ But now it's all gone!
Yuri: ...Tell me if it comes back?
Tina: Heh…..okay.
End of skit
Skit: Big game in a Small package
Estelle: Isn't it hard to use a weapon that large Karol?
it's a little heavy, but I need something large like this to make myself look bigger!
Tina: That's pretty impressive!
Yuri: That's just the right trick to hide your miniscule size.
Rita: Ah, you want to look bigger to fool your enemies.
Estelle: Now that you mention it, small monsters often puff themselves up to appear more menacing.
Karol: Right! So it's just like...Huh? Are you saying I'm the same as a monster?
Tina: Wouldn't that make you appear more scary?
Yuri: Even so, changing your appearance doesn't change who you really are Karol.
Tina: Oh no! Is Karol some super scary assassin here to cut us down?!
Karol: Nah, I'm just an elite Hunting Blade, you got nothing to worry about!
Yuri: I hope that's not another one of your clever tricks.
End of Skit
I stretch leisurely as we enter Halure. The monsters in the fields are much easier than they were before, and my stamina has increased enough that I'm not dying halfway through!
"H-hey! The trees' already blooming?" I wince at Rita shout, right beside my ear.
"Heh heh! I told you! We brought the tree back to life!" Karol exclaims excitedly. Rita smacks Karol on the head, I put my hand on her shoulder.
"Hey there, don't go injuring anybody." I say, she wrestles her shoulder from my grip, giving me a glare, before she sprinted towards the tree.
"Oh you've returned!" We turn to see the mayor walking towards us. "Just as the knight said." I look down at Repede, who huffs. Yep, missed the elusive knight once again.
"Um...do you mean Flynn?" Estelle questions, I sigh, my hand scratching Repede between the ears.
"Unfortunately, you just missed him." He says, guilt in his tone.
"Yuri's bad luck is coming to haunt us." Repede gives a bark in agreement, and I giggle, looking up at Yuri, whose eyebrow is raised in question. I ignore his look.
"No way! Not again…" Karol moans. I pat his head, messing up his hair. He pouts at me. Ah! So adorable! I pinch his cheeks and he swats my hand away, his cheeks cherry red. I zone out of my surroundings after that, reveling in the fact that Kris was there, and his emotions were calm, and not blocked. I send him a feeling of warmth and happiness. But...his response was lagged...and when he did respond, it was a tiny wave of happiness, our usual 'hello'. What's wrong?! Why did it take so long?! Is he sick? Or hurt? I'm brought out of my worried musings by Estelle calling out my name. she's looking at me, not worried, as everyone is used to me zoning out. Yuri though...is giving me an unreadable look from behind Estelle, as if he knows something's up. I grin as wide as I can manage.
"What's up?" I question, tearing myself from his piercing grey gaze, looking down at the papers in his hands. I snag the posters, and grin widely. "Wanted posters?!" I laugh. "Nice!' I show Yuri's badly drawn face to Repede, who barks in laughter. My drawing isn't much better, with my price being the same as Yuri's.
'Oh come on! Only 5,000 gald?" Yuri says in agitation. I pout dramatically.
"Ripoff~" Karol is looking at me like I'm crazy. I shrug at him, before narrowing my gaze at the small print below my name. Nothing on why I'm listed as wanted… "The only question is why do I have a poster?" I mumble.
"That's way too high for breaking out of jail! You must have done something else!" Karol is voicing my thoughts exactly.
"S-so, what does the letter say?" Estelle asks. I give her a calculating look...Oh wait, maybe I was put in with the 'stealing the empire's princess' deal. Probably...hopefully. Estelle grasps the letter gently. "I'm going to Nor Harbor." She recites. "Catch up with me." Yuri snorts, pushing his hair out of his face, I can't help but notice my tiny braid from earlier mixed in with the purple strands.
"Catch up with him.' Easy for him to say." I sigh dramatically.
"He also said to watch out for assassins." She read off.
"They have a head start! Unfair!" I pout, before realizing what she just read. "Hey! How the hell does he know we're being hunted?" I sigh. Suddenly, Kris sends out a sharp wave of pain. I wince harshly. It felt like a migraine mixed with a fever. Not fun.
"Tina?" Karol asks, and I look down at his worried brown eyes. I give him a grin.
"I'm fine! Just a bit of a headache!" I wave off. I turn my head, closing my eyes to the soft breeze. I try to send the feeling back to him...but it's only silence. I look up as Yuri walks off, and Repede gently herds me off to the side, where I sit down and rest my head against the wall of a house. Dammit...if that brat dies on me...I'll truly be alone, won't I? I sit there in my own little world for who knows how long, Till a loud and familiar voice awakens me from my stupor.
"Now, come back with us while you can!' Leblanc….shit. I don't want to deal with this. Noppity nope. I stand there, trying not to blow, before I give it up. He deserves a good kick anyways. While he yells at Yuri, I walk up behind him, lift my leg and… "Ugh!" He yelps, as I kick him on the ass.
"I'm not in the mood for this shit!' I bark angrily. I turn to Estelle, who's looking at me, shocked. "You staying with us?" I ask. She nods, I look the the knight under my foot. "Hear that? She wants to travel with us a bit longer, so leave it alone!" The familiar ring of a spell echoes, and I look over at Rita, who also seems really pissed. I jump out of the way as the fireball blows the three knights back.
"She says she's not going back, so get lost!" She barks, and I really want to high five her now, but we need to go now!
"Yuri! It's them again!" I groan mentally as I turn to our newest problem. Up by the tree is, guess what, red eyes! I look Yuri in the eye.
"Nope." I say flatly. He nods. I grab Karol by the hand, and start jogging towards the exit, Repede beside me. The others lag behind, but eventually the knights confront the assassins, and we manage to go on our way.
So after, we're forced to set up camp as it's getting too dark to keep moving. I apologize to Karol for the fifteenth time for bruising his hand during our escape, but he waves it off with a grin. After all, Estelle already fixed it. No sooner has the fire been lit, that Yuri is dragging me off behind a tree. He stares me down and I shrink inside.
"Spill." I gulp harshly, hiding my shaking hands behind my back. He catches it anyways, and his eyes soften marginally. "Tina…" I bite my lip, before a sudden wave of pain makes me stumble forwards. I barely hear Yuri's worried call as I'm dragged into what feels like my dream weeks ago.
It's dark, and the scent of copper is heavy and there's screaming, so much screaming. Sobbing and wailing echoes through the room, and voices bounce around me. Through the haze of pain I can make out a few words. "...wrong…...not…...one…" The other voice is hauntingly familiar, and I try to identify it. "...girl…...gold….." Then, the screams come back, and I realize they're my screams. No, not mine.
They're Kris's. "T-Tina!" My name sobs from vocal chords that are but aren't mine.
"Tina!" Yuri shakes me, what looks like fear in his eyes. I try to tell him I'm okay, but then I remember the screams and I shudder, tucking my head into his neck. His arms hold me tightly as my body seizes, I muffle my sobs in his shoulder, as the pain from injuries that aren't mine but feel there disappear. When I've calmed down, Yuri grabs my shoulders gently, holding me at arm's length.
"S-sometimes, n-no, all the t-time…" I take in a shaky breath. "I-I can f-feel Kris's feelings, t-that's how I k-k-know he's alive." I grab his tightly, tucking my head back onto his shoulder in an embrace that's so unknown, but so comforting and warm.
"...and?" He coaxes me. I shudder. "S-so much pain…I don't know if he's even alive anymore…" I mumble. Yuri's grip on me tightens.
"We'll find him." He says is with so much conviction, that I can't help but feel a bud of hope.
"Y-yeah." I breath out, feeling my face heat as I realize my current position. "We will."
Thanks for waiting! I had to wipe my computer, luckily thi is on my google docs, but even so that ruined my schedule massively. Anyways, I hope you guys found this okay! This ending to the chapter made me really, really sad, and it took me a while to write. After all, Kris's personality is based off my brother, so writing a scene like what I ended with...took me longer than it should have. Enough of my sadness! Stay tuned for the next chapter! Favourite, review and the works!
From: Dragon S.W.K.