Another chapter! These next few chapters are gonna be intense! Thanks to those who reviewed! I've decided on Kris's weapon! I won't tell you what it is, but know that it's a long ranged support, and that he's gonna be badass! This chapter is gonna be pretty fab and go pretty deep, but hopefully it turns out alright!
"Here she goes again. It's really just one big puddle, you know." Rita snarks, and I simply laugh, because the sun against the water was beautiful. It also reminded me of good times. I took in the salty smell of the ocean and grinned towards the sky.
Flashback
"You brats leave me alone, don't come home till supper got it?" She jokes. I give my aunt a crooked grin, fishing out some bills I snatched early.
"Got it covered." She nods, before the call of her friends draws her back inside. Kris and I share a grin as we walk off, and both ignore the now familiar pang of sadness.
"Whoa look at that!" I exclaim, chewing on a burger aggressively. The sun is dipping below the waves along the beach, creating a path of light up to the heavens…
"Are you being a poet in your brain again?" Kris teases me, sipping his milkshake. I give him a playful growl and he grins. A wave of playfulness flickers from him, and he tosses out his empty shake and my wrapper, before sprinting off.
"Hey!" I laugh out, running after him. I chase after him across the sand, and tackle him to the ground. My fingers sneak into his armpit and hip, and he shrieks in laughter, desperately trying to kick me off.
"I give!" He finally yells, and I flop off of him, my fingers abiding to his giggling shouts.
"Hey Tina…" His voice is quiet and breathless from our wrestling in the sand. We lay there, staring at the sunset reflecting off the water.
"Yeah?" I ask, tearing my eyes of the scenery towards him. He gives a small smile.
"We'll always be together...right?" I grab his hand, grinning at the familiar feeling of his large hands swallowing mine.
"Of course!" I laugh, tossing my head back in the sand. I hear Kris take a deep breath.
"I love the smell of the ocean…"
"...yeah…"
End of Flashback
"Tina!" I look over to see the other's making their way down the path. I look back towards the ocean once more, before running after them.
We'll always be together...I promise.
Skit: Graves
Estelle: That lone grave...seems so sad…
Karol: Yuri? Is it true what you said?
Tina: Said what?
Yuri: People of the lower quarter rarely get proper burials, mostly just cremating, and yeah, it's true. It's just how it works.
Estelle: Also, we were wondering who that lone gravestone belonged to.
Tina: Well...it seemed like a personal spot. It was probably very important to the person who died. Maybe it held memories. Who knows…
Yuri: That's similar to the ashes. We usually spread them over places that held value to them.
Estelle: But, doesn't that still seem a bit...sad?
Rita: can we stop talking about this? It's just some random guys grave!
Tina: *sigh*
Yuri: ...Tina?
Tina: Hmm? Oh...nah, it's nothing…
End of skit
Skit: Can we finally meet Flynn?
Estelle: I hope we'll finally be able to meet Flynn when we get to Nor Harbor
Tina: Damn right! We've been chasing him forever!
Yuri: I get the feeling we'll miss him again…
Tina: If we do, I'm fighting you.
Yuri: What? Why?!
Karol: He could be passing by the foot of Ehmead hill right now, headed back to the capital…
Estelle: But Flynn left us a letter! I'm sure he's waiting for us!
Yuri: We'll see…
Rita: Why did we have to take such a convoluted path through the hill, anyway?
Karol: It's your fault!
Rita: How was I supposed to help that….?! Quit blaming other people and let's get moving! Otherwise we'll end up missing him for sure!
Estelle: R-right! Let's hurry to Nor Harbor!
End of skit
"Whoa!" I cheer, flipping neatly off of a monster. I look myself over, checking for injuries I might have missed.
"Why are you always so happy?" I turn around, looking at Rita in surprise. I mean, I wasn't expecting her of all people to ask me that…
"Life's too short to not enjoy it whenever possible." I say, giving her a small smile. She blushes slightly. Yet, as usual, I seemed to have somehow pissed her off.
"Only people who has never actually lost someone has said that! I bet your brother is perfectly fine, and you're just tagging along! Stop acting like you know what pain is then shrugging it off right after!" ...what did she just say? She thinks I don't know what suffering is?! Pain? Sadness? I notice Yuri and Karol had caught her accusation, and were staring at her in surprise. After all, this had appeared kind of out of nowhere. I take in a deep breath. No need to make a scene...calm. I look her in the eye, before giving a wide grin.
"Yeah, I'm just here for Yuri's amazing cooking!" I laugh out, letting the burning anger in my chest fade back down to a simmer. Rita looks like she want to say more, but seems to have noticed our audience, now with Estelle, who hopefully hadn't heard anything. By the look on her face, she obviously hadn't. I walk towards Rita, and as I walk by her I ruffle her hair. She gives me a surprised look, before glaring.
"You okay Tina?" How come Karol always seems to know when something is wrong? I give him a reassuring smile.
"I'm fine." He huffs, obviously seeing through my lie. I forcefully shove my anger down. I am not releasing my frustration on Karol.
"That was uncalled for." Yuri's voice was calm, but I could tell he wasn't happy. I pat him on the shoulder.
"Relax. I'm not offended, and maybe...maybe she's suffered more than I have." Maybe, but I wouldn't know. "Our personalities just naturally clash, I don't think she genuinely hates me, and I can't quite bring myself to dislike her." I shrug it off, and stretch my hands upwards. I look behind us to Rita and Estelle whom are chatting. "Hurry up guys! Let's go" I cheer. Rita gives me a look I can't decipher. The warmth tickles up my neck again, and I mentally shiver.
Rubbing the back of my neck I grit my teeth. What the hell is going on with this warmth? It's hotter this time, like more a toasty warm…
"Coming!" Estelle responds, and I hear the sound of running feet. Repede rubs against me when Rita catches up, and if I grip his fur a bit too hard, he doesn't say anything.
"Why are we back here?" I ask curiously. I had zoned out, sketching in my drawing book as I walk. I stroke the black leather cover gently as I close it. It's definitely the nicest one I've ever had. Yuri gives a shrug.
"Rita wants to look at the blastia one more time." I glance around for the knights or mages and pretend that my argument with Rita never happened, even if the warmth tingling in the back of my neck is a continuous reminder. I look back down at my current drawing, sketching out the details carefully. Karol wanders over, obviously bored.
"What are you drawing?" He asks, and I grin down at him.
"You can see when it's done."
"Pleaseeeeee!"
"Nope!"
"But you're really good!"
"So wait till i'm done brat!" I say, smacking him gently on the shoulder. He pouts as he cradles his horrible wound. At this point, Rita had walked over her face sad.
"There's nothing I can do for her….it's just too cruel…" Ignoring my still simmering anger, I desperately search for a reason for her actions. I examine Rita's face as an idea finally clicks in my head. Loneliness. Rita has probably been alone her entire life if her actions and house were anything to go by. I did not see any pictures of friends or family. She's so used to being the lonely and weird one that she subconsciously pushes people away, because she doesn't know what friendship or love is. It was actually quite common in the orphanage, though perhaps not on this big of a scale. She saw me actually managing to be a social part of the group despite the small bits I've told them about my own struggles, and maybe got...jealous? Envious? Just plain angry? The anger in my system fades from a simmer to nothing, snuffing itself out. I can't really be mad at her now that I've justified it. Matching it up with her future (maybe?) behaviour, I'm pretty sure I'm correct. The warmth, tingling in the back of my neck, slowly fades away and leaves me feeling cooled off and clear-headed. Finally!
"...Well, it's certainly clear that blastia are important to Rita." Yuri's voice carries into my musings and tugs me towards their conversation. I give a grin.
"Obviously! I mean, they're pretty damn important!" Estelle chastises me of my language, despite me swearing multiple times before, and I just giggle at her, causing her to pout. Rita is looking at me, shocked, and I simply grin at her. I'm used to the young orphan's tempers flying. I really shouldn't have reacted so badly to hers.
"Hey…" Karol shuffles in front of me nervously, and I tilt my head in question. Why's he so anxious? "Could I see your drawing now?"Ah...glad I finished it in time. It's sort of quiet time around the campfire and Estelle seems curious about my drawing as well.
"Why don't you just show everyone? Make it more simple." I jump slightly, when did Yuri get behind me?! I ignore the heat of my cheeks and quickly open my book. Bittersweetness fills me as I come across the finished project.
"This is the ocean shore by where we lived." It was hard to forget a view like that...I've drawn it a million times, though this just might be the best one I've ever done. The view was at the perfect angle to allow both the sun and moon over it at times. The mirage of colours was always stunning, but I could never paint it just right. It seems that simple shading could bring out it the most. (I don't have anything to colour with after all.) The beach had been littered with trash and different bits of crap that Kris and I always cleaned up. The forest on the other side of the small bay we were in was dark, mysterious, and perfect for playing mystical characters when we were little….and when we were big.
"It's so pretty!" Estelle gushed and leaned in to get a better look. Even Rita had inched in to see. I smile at her, before looking down at the drawing.
"Kris and I went swimming here all the time." I sighed. I'd been forcing thoughts of Kris out of my head ever since my embarrassing breakdown to Yuri, and it was breaking me down mentally and emotionally.
"We'll find him! Don't worry about it!" Karol reassures me, and I sigh, letting out a lot of my anxiety.
"I hope so…" I look down at the picture, before smiling. Now wasn't the time to mope. I point at the sky.
"Did you know that when the sun and moon were like this, and it had rained, a rainbow would appear?" I grin at Karol. "This one was special though! It would form a circle! Like...a colour wheel!" As I continued to ramble about the lake, I feel everyone inching closer. Rita, Karol and Estelle are listening intently. Repede is laying across my lap lazily. Yuri...is behind me, arm around my shoulder as he listened. The silence doesn't seem so silent anymore.
Capua Nor was damp and depressing, and memories of what happened in the game flicker through my mind in a random and disorganized order. Damn, shit is gonna go down here.
"Man, the weather sure changed in a hurry." Yuri mutters, flipping back his already soaked hair. I give him a shit eating grin as I shake my short hair everywhere. He scowls at me playfully, giving me a light shove.
"Let's find an inn before we get soaked!" Karol whines, his hair flat against his face. We start to head forwards, but Estelle is staring ahead of us, her face blank.
"Estelle?" I ask, peeking into her field of vision.
"O-oh I just thought a harbor town would be more...lively than this…" I look around, and shrug.
"Rain isn't always sad! But, the people here seem to be." I muse, letting my eyes rake across the hunched, hungry people. "Something's wrong…" I mumble to myself. Repede leans against my leg and nibbles my hand. He seems to agree.
"Seems like the type of place our core thief would hang out." Rita mentions. Yuri shakes his head.
"Dedecchi was headed for Torim Harbor." Right, that was the thief's name! I had forgotten that for a while.
"I'm sure the two are pretty similar." I shake my head at Rita. Back in my world, we lived in a dark and forested area. Closest harbor was a freaking tropical beach getaway. Didn't work like that.
"No way, it's only Nor harbor that's scummy like this." Karol denies, confirming my thoughts.
"Then why is it like this? Aren't harbors usually flourishing because of trade?" I ask. I already know the answer, and it brings a sour taste to my mouth.
"It's because of the empire."Karol states flatly. Of course, jesus the empire can't seem to do anything right.
"I told you what would happen to that little brat if you didn't have our money!' Que empire thug to stage left! The vaguely familiar couple were crouched on the ground, the man's head to the floor in a formal bow. His eyes were shadowed by bloody bandages on his head. I could feel my anger rising, but held myself back from acting.
"Please sir! Not that! Please give my son back!" I can feel myself scowling.
"Yuri." I mutter. He glances at me, his eyes bright with hate for the two men. "Hold me back." I grit out, my nails were biting into my hands, but had yet to break the skin. The man continued to beg, pointing out the bad weather as the cause for the lack of money. Wait taxes?! That's why their kid was taken?! Taxes?! Yuri's hand is digging into my shoulder. I turn to him and his eyes refuse to stray from the two men, dark in anger. Taking in a deep breath I close my eyes. Slowly, I fight back my anger once again. My temper is gonna throttle me if I keep this up.
"Get that horn, and you never have to do taxes again!" The last man exclaimed, before walking off. Leaving the two villagers cowering and injured in the rain.
"Savages…" Rita scoffs beside me. I grit my teeth as I slowly calm back down.
"Is that the sort of scum you were talking about Karol?" Yuri's tone says he already knows the answer. I do too.
"Yeah, the empire's influence is really strong here." He says grimly. I sigh sadly. "I hear things got worse with the new magistrate. He's some imperial big shot who does whatever he wants." Abusing your power against people like that…
"He's an idiot." Everyone turns to look at me.
"I've seen seven year olds with better strategies than this. His power is gonna collapse underneath him, taking innocents with it." This was true. Whenever the little guys at the orphanage were playing role play games, the people who wanted to be king or queen had to be smart. Last time someone tried to do that in the game, his people let their team lose. Now, put that into perspective now and with what I know of this magistrate...he's gonna disappear. Whether by me, or someone else.
"He's letting his soldiers go around like that, he's careless." Yuri gives me a searching look, before he nods in agreement.
"But how can that be…?" Estelle asks in disbelief. I feel a flash of pity. Her entire world, and her belief in the empire's justice is crumbling around her. Yuri walks forwards, dragging me with him. The husband stands up, and walks towards us. Is he after the horn off that monster again, even with those injuries?!
"That's enough! You're hurt...you might even get yourself killed this time!" The wife exclaims. The husband grimaces.
"But it's our son! If I don't go…" Suddenly, Yuri's hands are on my back, shoving me right into the running man!
"Aah!" I yelp, falling onto the man. He shoves me off, and I scowl at Yuri.
"I'm sorry!" I say, standing up hurriedly. He groans, grasping his head.
"Oow…" He glares up at us, and I inwardly curse Yuri. "What are you trying to do?!" Yuri shrugs.
"Sorry about my friend, she's clumsy." What?! HE PUSHED ME! I pout at him, and I see that freaking glint in his eye the asshole!
"Yuri! Tina!" Estelle berates is. Why is she berating me?! She sits by the man.
"My apologies sir, let me take care of that." Wait...he's manipulating Estelle into healing the man….that's so sweet! I still won't forgive him though!
"B-but I...can't afford this treatment…" The wife mutters. I wince at the look of despair on her face.
"No worries!" I exclaim, they turn to me and I blush brightly. "I-I mean I was the o-one to bump into you guys….so it's okay!" Their faces twist in uncertainty. Come on...
"Don't you have something else to say?" Yuri asks. Dammit Yuri this isn't the time for sass!
"H-huh?" The lady stutters.
"Jeez, have you guys been robbed of your manners along with your money?" Oooooh, he's playing the bad-nice guy act. He could've worked with my idea though..
"I'm sorry….thank you most kindly." The lady stands and bows formally. A flash of grey catches my eye. Yuri gives me a look, and I nod. We both move casually to the alley way, Yuri walking in front of me. Before we enter the alley, Yuri holds out a hand behind my back. He wants me to stay out here and watch?! I could kick his ass anyday! Well...I can him back later, he's already gone in anyways. Three red eyes drop into the alley, and I frown, sitting back to watch. He seems to be winning, before two of them jump along the walls, about to double team him! Before I can move to join, I pause, and a flash of blonde passes me by. The two red eyes are slashed away by a familiar blonde knight. Images flash through my mind...Flynn?
"Yuri, are you alright?" Yuri scowls.
"Flynn! What are you….that's my line!" I laugh loudly, causing both to turn towards me, Flynn with with sword pointed at me.
"You must be Flynn!" I grin widely, and a look of horror appears on Yuri's face. Mwhahahaha!
"You're the one whose horrible at cooking right?" Blue eyes narrow, before turning to Yuri, who's sweating nervously. Oh yeah, this is gonna be fun!
Done! Now as I mentioned, all those months ago it was my birthday and my dad promised me a new laptop for around finals. So, I kind of put this story on the shelf in favour of dance competitions and school work. Finally, I have a new laptop in my grasp, finals are almost done, and I FINALLY FINISHED THIS CHAPTER! This chapter was especially hard because I had intense plans for what happens after this (Kris) so I was very impatient to finish, but was determined to still make this chapter good! Now, I know I've been doing a bit of a balancing act between really depressing and really happy, but Tina is pretty imbalanced right now, so I try to portray it through my writing style. Thank you for those who gave reviews! They're really inspiring! :3 Anyways! I hope you enjoyed this! Review, Follow and Favourite!
From: Dragon S.W.K.