Chapter Twelve: Skyward Bound
"Nnn…" Elsword groaned.
"Elsword!" Chung exclaimed as the crimsonette rubbed her eyes.
"C-Chung…?" She slowly sat up.
"Whoa, easy there." He held her shoulders, balancing her.
"What happened…?"
"Yutamba Dormana." A familiar voice came from behind and Elsword and Chung looked up to see Add flicking a coin, "Or in English, Maiden's Dream. An interesting flower." He put the coin away, "Not only is it certainly not native to this place, but it exudes a peculiar aroma that lulls female creatures into a deep sleep."
"Then we should move."
"Um…" Elsword blinked, still groggy. Chung however picked her up, "Ah!"
"Too tired to walk, but we should be moving."
"…" Elsword was red with embarrassment, saying nothing.
"Come on, exit isn't far." Add said.
So the two met up with the rest of the group. Ara and Elesis had already met up.
"Elsword, are you alright?" Rena ran up to them. She simply yawned.
"Y-Yeah…" She mumbled, "Could you…set me down?"
"Ah, sorry." Chung blushed and set Elsword on her feet.
"Guess that's why they didn't want us going in." Elesis sighed.
"I do wish I knew what it was like."
"I have video recording of the trail. I will show it to you if you wish." Eve said.
"That's be great Eve." Ara smiled.
"Well, it's definitely a romantic idea." Aisha chimed, "Falling into a deep slumber, resting upon your lovers lap~."
"You slept on the floor." Eve said.
"Eve! So mean!" Aisha stomped her foot while everyone else laughed.
"Still, they must have quite the herbalist to tend to these." Add mused.
"Well, I think we should be moving on now." Raven said, "Next stop,"
"Altera!" Everyone but Elsword said. Elesis walked over to her confused sister.
"Altera is a flying island, home of the Nasods. It's also where we found Eve." Elsword looked at the queen, who simply nodded.
"Well, if we want to catch a ship before tomorrow we'll want to leave now." Ciel commented.
"Down to a T as always." Lu smiled.
"Back to the cars then." Raven said, and the group started off.
As they walked, Elsword slowly began to trail behind as she stared at the floor. Elesis looked back and noticed, whispering to Ara before slowing her gait.
"Hey sis, something on your mind?" Elesis asked once Elsword caught up.
"Oh…I…had another bizzare dream in the oasis."
"The flowers?"
"Yeah." Elsword looked up look at Chung, chatting with Ara and Aisha, "I saw…"
"Chung?" Elesis followed the gaze. The younger sibling shook her head.
"No…I saw a…young version of myself." Elesis blinked, concerned.
"And what happened?"
"I was chasing her through alleys, and then she appeared behind me. She just said…'Don't you know?'"
"Don't you know?"
"She just kept saying it. And she vanished."
"Hmm…" Elesis thought, but came up blank, "I don't know what to say."
"Me neither…"
"Why don't you ask Eve? I'm sure if you ask Aisha would be fine riding with Chung for a bit."
"Really?"
"Yeah, Eve is way smarter than I am. And Lu and Ciel are in the same car, and Lu had similar problems with memory."
"If you say so…" Elesis patted her sister on the back.
"Hey, buck up! Nothing good come from overthinking anything." She laughed heartily.
"Hey!" They looked up, seeing they drifted back in their conversation.
"If haste is not made, you will be left behind." Eve said.
"Ah, sorry, sorry." Elesis chuckled, "Hey Aisha, mind switching with Elsword for a bit?"
"Huh? Why?"
"She just wants to get to know Lu a little better." Elsword looked at her sister, it was half true in a sense. Everyone else saw the look in her eyes and understood what she meant.
"Sure! A little air will do me some good." Aisha smiled.
"Welp, come on." Raven said, "Don't want to be late and let poor Ciel's planning go to waste."
"So, what did you wish to talk about?" Eve asked, gently sipping her tea with Elsword and Lu as Ciel drove the car.
"umm…I told my sis about this…dream I had. And she said I should ask you about." She said, then recited the story. Lu set her cup down, crossing her legs in thought.
"A past version of one's self in a dream, and indication of a repressed memory." Eve said to herself.
"Repressed?"
"When you get amnesia, you don't forget everything." Lu pointed out, "You didn't need help walking after you got it did you?"
"N-No."
"There are particular things of the mind that are natural. They occur without thinking." Eve explained, "Eating, drinking, moving, breathing, and other things. Even if you don't remember your name or who you are, you still have the knowledge to survive."
"I see."
"Now sometimes memories that are important to you, like maybe a past experience or person, you don't remember it but you haven't exactly forgotten it either."
"but…" Elsword started.
"That means the memory has been repressed. Let me give you an example." Eve said. She pulled out a small sweet, "You know what this is, correct?"
"A cookie." Elsword said.
"Now," Eve placed it on the small table in the car and formed a light cage, "The cookie is in a cage, and therefore beyond your reach."
"Um…okay."
"Now, imagine that the cookie is one of your memories. You brain knows the memory, but your body cannot retrieve. The memory, or in this case cookie, has been repressed from you."
"I…think I get it." Elsword said.
"Can I have that?" Lu said, eying the cookie intently. Eve smiled and shook her head, lifting the cage for the demon to snatch it away, "Mmm…Ciel makes the best sweets~."
"How did you meet Ciel?" Elsword asked. Lu opened her eyes, mouth full of crumbs, and swallowed. She took a napkin and wiped her mouth before speaking.
"It all started back when I was still a demon lord." Lu said. Eve had set her cup down, having not heard the story either, "A servant betrayed me, and I was put in a corner, figuratively and literally. It took all my energy and power just to escape. I woke up in Elrios with no memory, no power, no meaning. Ciel stumbled upon me in my weakened state." She chuckled, "You'd never guess he used to be a hitman would you?"
"Quite a surprise I admit." Eve said.
"Around that time, the demon realm sent assassins after me to finish the job. Ciel held them off, not even knowing me, and paid the price with his life."
"But…he's fine isn't he?" Elsword looked at the driver's window.
"He laid dying next to me, and something about his valiance, his determination and kindness, it brought back my memories. Most importantly for him, a contract. In exchange for his life, he was to swear eternal servitude to me. He accepted, and was reborn as a half demon, and my everlasting servant." She looked down, "And friend…"
"That's a touching story." Elsword said.
"Were that you met under better circumstances."
"Ciel doesn't regret his decision. I think deep down, he wanted a better purpose. And after all, how could any man resist such a darling cutie like myself?" She laughed confidently. Suddenly the car got dark.
"Eep!" Elsword yelped.
"Do not be alarmed Elsword." Eve said, snapping her fingers and turning on the lights on the car roof, "We have pulled into the port. We will be required to leave the car and accept the vessel's accommodations for the flight."
"It should only be a day at most." Ciel said from the front. He got out and opened the door for them, taking Lu's hand and helping her out of the car. He did the same with Eve, and Elsword who felt quite embarrassed being treated like so.
"Enjoy your read Aisha?" Rena asked. Aisha glared at Raven.
"No. Because someone was driving so fast I had to close the book out of fear the pages would be ripped out."
"You know you could have just used magic." A voice said.
"W-Who's that?" Elsword looked around.
"Oh god no…" Aisha groaned, and when Elsword looked back a young boy was standing in front of the mage. A pair of cute horns poked from his bright purple hair, a pair of bat wings from his lower back. His black garb clung tight to his petite figure, and he wore no shoes spare for leather bands. His lower legs were covered by a purple fabric and straps, and his bottom by a small pair of shorts. He turned around and looked Elsword over.
"Well well well!" He floated into the air and drifted closer, "Not bad, not bad at all dearie!" He grinned lecherously. Elsword stepped back, "Aww, don't run away sexy, Angkor will treat ya right~." Then Lu stepped in front of him, a gently smile on her face.
"Hello again Angkor~." She cooed. A look of fear and dismay came over him.
"L-L-L-Lu!?" He froze in terror.
"Remember three hundred years ago?" She kept her closed eye smile steady.
"H-Hey it was just a joke!"
"Well, I'd just love to return the gesture. Ciel." As she said her servant's name her face turned stone cold. Ciel, stepping in out of nowhere, slammed the but of one of his gunblades upside the demon's head.
"Ugghaaah!" Angkor yelped as he slammed facefirst into the floor. Aisha broke into hysterical laughter.
"Haa hahaha! You got destroyed Angkor!" Aisha snorted, holding her sides.
"Grrr…" Angkor grimaced and vanished into a black orb, "There, you got your payback!"
"Well, one." Lu smiled.
"Eep!" With a yelp he warped into Aisha, vanishing into her chest with a faint glow.
"Um…" Elsword stood there, dreadfully confused.
"Oh! Sorry, I never explained." Aisha rubbed her head, "I'm a dark magician, and I made a pact with a demon for more power. That demon was Angkor. He's…a tad lewd." She said.
"He's a soulless, lecherous pervert who should be caged." Lu said sourly. Ciel patted his master on the head, and offered her a cupcake he had from the car, "Omf!" She unceremoniously shoved it into her mouth.
"Well…yeah I guess so. One of the terms to my contract was…I have to wear what Angkor makes me." Aisha gestures to her revealing get up. A tight tube top, similar pants to what Angkor was wearing, and a jacket that was clearly too small for her. She also had laced black stockings on.
"I-I see."
"Don't worry, he does it again come straight to me." Lu walked over to Aisha and leaned into the girl's chest. Chung looked away, blushing, "Because I can rip you out of your hidey hole with ease rodent."
"Alright, alright." Rena waved her hands in a calming motion, "Let's get to the lobby for takeoff before they kick us off."
"Y-Yeah." Chung stammered.
"So, while we walk." Elesis started.
"Rooming." Eve finished as Ciel keyed the elevator.
"I'm going to be with Ara, unless you want to room with me sis." Elesis offered.
"I-It's fine." She said.
"Add, you'll be with me." Raven said.
"Suits me." Add said, he was going to be in the room the whole flight and Raven would be with Rena no doubt.
"Chung, would you like to room with me?" Eve asked, "I overheard you talking to yourself about some mechanical tinkering."
"Sure, if it isn't a problem." Chung said. The elevator arrived and they all got on, a bit of a tight squeeze.
"Raven, should we room together instead? Add probably wants room for his work." Rena said.
"Yeah, guess that makes sense." Raven said.
"That means we're rooming together El!" Aisha patted Elsword on the back.
"Okay."
"El, how slow is this elevator?" Add groaned, unfortunate to be mushed into the railing.
"S-Sorry Add." Chung chuckled nervously
"There is a quality buffet on this vessel. I would like for everyone to attend in formal dress for dinner." Eve said.
"I didn't pack anything…" Elsword said.
"You didn't have to." Raven said.
"Huh?"
"Eve never goes anywhere with us on long trips without packing us tuxedoes and dresses" Rena said.
"Because you never know when you go to a fancy-dress party." Aisha chuckled.
"Someone must be prepared." Eve said.
"As long as you packed the white one." Add said, "Ow!"
"Sorry!" Chung apologized.
"Everyone's garments of choice were brought. Call for Ophelia and Oberon when you are prepared to get dressed."
"Hate that damn thing…" Raven mumbled.
"Oh come on Raven. You look handsome in a suit!" Rena said. The elevator finally dinged.
"God finally, get off I can't breathe!" Elesis said. Everyone got off, Add rubbing his side and Chung constantly apologizing.
They stood in a large lobby, chairs and seats lining the glass walls.
"Wow, this is pretty elegant for just a casual vessel." Rena said.
"Casual my foot, look at that thing!" Aisha pointed up. Hanging from the high ceiling was a massive chandelier. Glass tears hung from the rims, scented candles lining the top.
"And are these all nobles?" Ara looked around at the other passengers. Everyone was in formal wear.
"…I think so." Eve mumbled.
"Hey isn't that Lord Korde from the party?" Lu pointed out a man in a white suit and red tie in the corner, talking to a married couple.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, please bow for their graces, Queen Delilah and King Helputt." A voice spoke over the loud speaker.
"Mom? Dad?" Chung looked around. Sure enough two very royal individuals walked out from the hallway, and everyone bowed and curtsied.
"Please, everyone up." Helputt said.
"We're just on our flight home, no need for formalities." Delilah said, her regal blue dress trailing behind her.
"Guess that explains the ship." Add said.
"Eve?" Rena's voice of concern made everyone look, except Elsword who was standing in awe of the beautiful queen before them.
"Are you okay?" Lu was concerned too, as was everyone. Eve looked utterly mortified.
"This is bad." She breathed.
"…Why?" Raven asked slowly. Eve looked up at Delilah, who had just noticed them and was walking over.
"Chung! Everyone! Fancy seeing you here!"
"They don't know." Eve said, clear fear and worry in her voice; a fear that spread over everyone like a fire.
They couldn't let them see Elsword.
Apologies guest, i totally forgot. While and interesting idea there's a few issues with it. There's not really enough reason for Glaive to do that. If a chung from another dimension was wandering Henir, i think he'd have enough sense to put her back where she belongs. Also, why dump her on well, herself in another dimension? I'll think on it a bit more, see if i can come up with something perhaps for a different story, but at it's heart ToDtL is a Fem Elsword x Chung story, and i don't want to deviate from that.
As for the ask the elgang, i'll think about making a poll, see who else is interested. TY~