Chapter Fifteen: Spinning Around
As Elsword walked back to her room she thought about what Delilah said. Go on a date with Chung. The idea made her chest warm up. It felt right but she didn't know why. Maybe she should do it anyway, not for Delilah's request but for her own agenda. Maybe spending time alone with him would show her what she felt, solve her questions.
"But…how do I do it?" She blushed, she didn't know how to ask someone out. She sighed as she reached her room and reached into her pocket, "Eh?" She patted herself down, she didn't have her ticket, "Oh no! I must have left it inside!" Elsword knocked on the door, "Aisha? Can you open up?" There was no response. The crimsonette placed her ear to the door and heard the muffle sound of snoring, "Oh…she must be asleep…"
"Um, excuse me?" Elsword turned around at a voice and saw a blonde woman standing there. She wore a small vest and what was little more than a bra to cover her large bust. With a pair of black heels and tight black pants with odd canisters strapped to her two belts she extended a slip of paper, "Is this yours?"
"My ticket!" Elsword took it.
"I saw it fall out of your dress when you got off the elevator down the hall." She said.
"Oh, thank you miss." Elsword bowed her head.
"Ah, no biggie." She smiled, "Name's Rose by the way. Nice to meet you."
"I'm Elsword." She said.
"Well, I shouldn't keep you." Rose said, walking past, "Maybe we'll run into each other again sometime." She waved her hand, not turning around as she walked off. Elsword watched her go before scanning her ticket and heading into the room. She got undressed, folded her clothes, and got into bed. She seemed like a nice person.
"Aah…nice to be outside again." Elesis stretched as they walked down the path. Altera was a rather small island, and what with the risk of falling off the floating rock Vehicles were kept at a depot except for very specific pathways.
"Where we going anyway Eve?" Aisha asked. Eve had told everyone once they landed that she had something she wished to show everyone.
"You shall see." Eve said, leading the group.
"So Elsword, you enjoy meeting Helputt and Delilah?" Rena asked, walking with the pair of siblings at the back of the group.
"Yeah. They were very nice." Elsword said. She looked forward at the rest of the group and took a hold of Rena and Elesis.
"Ack." Elesis almost tripped, not expecting it. Rena seemed prepared for it though.
"C-Can we talk for a second?" Elsword asked, slowing her pace to get some privacy from the others.
"Sure sis." Elesis did the same as did Rena.
"Um…after the meal Delilah wanted to talk to me."
"I think I have an inkling to what this might be." Rena sighed.
"She press marrying Chung on you again? You don't have to listen to her y'know." Elesis patted her sister's back.
"N-Not exactly." Elsword corrected, blushing, "She asked if I would…take Chung on a date. If it didn't work out, she'd let the matter go." Elsword paused for a second, "But, I want to do it for myself too."
"Oh? Like him?" Rena smiled.
"I-I don't know. I just…wonder if maybe it would answer some questions from my dreams." Elesis and Rena looked at each other, nodding. For Elesis, anyone was better than her previous affection for Add, and Rena wanted to help however she could. Elsword looked up towards Chung who was talking with Aisha, "But…I don't know how to ask someone out."
"Ah, that's all?" Elesis smiled, "It's really simple as that. Just ask him if he'd like to spend some time with ya."
"Why don't you wait till we arrive at Velder? You can ask him if he would like to go out to lunch with you." Rena suggested.
"Hey!" They looked up at Add's voice, "Hurry up, Eve said we're close." He called.
"Ah, sorry!" Rena apologized, speeding her pace and catching up. Elesis leaned in to whisper to her sister.
"Don't worry too much about it. Just wait till Velder and take him out to lunch." She said, and patted her back. Elsword nodded and they hurried up. They turned off the path into the trees, a small stone path laid out.
"Can't see a thing." Ara said, the trees thick like a veil.
"All the better." Eve said. Everyone wondered what it was, and entered a clearing. Upon a hill was a large, white leaved tree, vines draped from it like dreads, and blooming blue flowers bearing bright white fruits.
"Wow…" Rena said; she appreciated botany more than anyone else here but wasn't the only one impressed. Eve walked up the hill.
"I often come here when I'm called to Altera on business." She said, and let out a whistle. Extending her hand, a metal bird swooped from the tree lighting onto her hand. It was the size of a bluebird, with engravings on the plates to resemble one. Its glowing blue eyes looked about at the new people.
"Who's your friend?" Aisha asked.
"His is a resident. Altera has been working to expand Nasods to nature. They mimic wildlife, eating fruits or plants. The carnivorous versions feed on the consumers as it were."
"Wait, isn't making carnivorous Nasods a problem?" Chung said, serious.
"The company responsible implants various fail safes and firewalls to prevent incidents with people. Should that fail as a precaution, hunters work for the state patrolling the wilds for any faulty Nasods in order to stop the problem before one arises. In the worst scenario if someone has been injured or worse, a kill order is placed to eliminate the priority target." Eve looked to the bird on her finger, "In the five years since the project's beginning, only three accidents have occurred"
"At least proper safety is abided by." Lu said.
"So that's what they meant." Raven mused.
"The guide?" Chung questioned.
"Yeah, said if we venture off the paths to be cautious."
"Indeed. All tourists wishing to see the sights are warned of them. The less confidant ones have access to tourist services, also provided by employed hunters to experience the land in safety." Eve explained.
"Mi'lady Eve." Ciel stepped forward, "Are these fruits open to harvest?"
"Yes, but please refrain from taking too much." Eve said. With that Ciel jumped up into the tree and with an upward flip vanished into the leaves. Everyone kind of broke off, grouping up for their own little conversations. Aisha and Eve hummed tunes, the bird mimicking them. Raven and Rena sat to the side, holding hands at they talked. The others went off to talk with Lu. Elsword wondered what to do and noticed something small run into a bush. Curious she started off after it.
Elsword pushed shrubs and twigs aside, following the sound of a small creature running away. Maybe it was one of the Nasod animals Eve mentioned, a squirrel or something. She kept going until she saw a small hole in the ground in a small clearing. She walked over and knelt.
"Hey, don't be scared." She said gently. She could hear something cooing from inside. After a minute's wait a tiny, furry creature poked its head out. Its moist button nose sniffing her as it came out, "Oh, aren't you cute." She smiled, extending her hand slowly. The tiny mouse like creature stared before crawling over, sniffing her hand.
"Myah." It mewled, letting Elsword pet it.
"I wonder what this is…" Elsword wondered. She was so caught up in it she didn't notice her surroundings. She suddenly heard a mechanical snarl and spun around, "Ah!" She screamed, falling on her back.
Lumbering towards her was a massive metal bear, eyes glowing an unnerving red. Sharp fangs lined its muzzle as it stalked towards her with massive, clawed paws. She scooted back, colliding with a rock. As she looked back to see what she hit the creature roared ferociously and began to charge. Elsword shrieked and balled up, clenching her eyes shut.
"Gotcha!" A voice said, and a thunderous boom shook Elsword in her boots. She opened her eyes once she saw she wasn't dead and saw Rose, from the ship, standing in front of her with a pair of giant cannons. One steamed as it reloaded, a black spot on the Nasod bear as it got back to its feet. It roared again only for Rose to fire off another round, knocking it to the ground. Not wasting time, she began to walk towards it, firing round after round into the beast. There was a click as she tried to fire again, "Damn it!"
The beast clearly felt outmatched, what with one leg blown off, and began to limp away. It didn't get far until it stopped in its tracks, and with a thud its severed head landed on the ground as Raven shot past it, sword in hand.
"Elsword!" Elesis burst through the trees, running to her sister. She caught her in a hug, "Oh El what were you thinking going off on your own!?" She yelled at her.
"S-S-Sorry…" Elsword stammered, tears in her eyes. Everyone else came into the clearing, "I-I saw something run into the bushes a-and wanted to see what it was."
"Elsword! You okay?!" Chung ran up.
"She's fine." Rose said, everyone looking at her.
"Sorry if we are not fully trusting." Lu said.
"Lu, please." Eve walked forward, a feeling of responsibility coming from her, "Ma'am, I extend my utmost thanks for rescuing our friend. Might I ask your name?" Rose unjammed her guns before they vanished, a small crystal on her belt glowing.
"Rose, or my full name Anna Testarossa."
"I shall ensure your actions are rewarded." Eve said. Rose just laughed.
"Ah, no need. The corporation sent out a bounty for that sucker, I was just tracking him when he ran into Elsword here." She looked back at Elsword, "Didn't think we'd meet again so soon."
"You've met before?" Rena asked.
"She dropped her ticket on the ship. I ran after her to give it back." She replied.
"What brought you out here though?" Ara asked Elsword.
"T-That." She pointed to the burrow. Ara walked over and looked inside.
"Eep!" She recoiled back as the mouse popped out.
"Myah!" It mewled, running over to Elsword.
"Huh, a baby Phoru." Raven commented.
"Phoru?" Elsword looked at the mouse sniffing her shoe, as if it wanted to make sure she was okay.
"They're a humanoid beast race. Kind of like the Lizardmen but not as advanced." Elesis explained.
"This one is just an infant, possibly only a few months old." Ciel said, looking at the creature.
"And it seems quite attached to you." Lu giggled as it hugged her foot.
"Well well…" Add mused, looking at a display he brought up. An image of the phoru depicted on it.
"What is it?" Aisha asked, looking at the display which Add moved away.
"According to my scans, this one is actually over a year old. His genealogy shows signs of a Phoru's recessive dwarfism syndrome." He said.
"That thing where they don't grow up?" Chung said, earning a nod.
"Oh, we can't leave this cutie all on his own!" Rena said, walking over, "I say we take him with us!"
"We're on a road trip, and you want to adopt a wild animal?" Lu questioned her.
"I understand Rena's sentiments. Phoru's with this trait rarely survive past the age of six months in the wild. They are often captured and adopted as pets, given their nature." Eve said, "My servants can tend to him until we return home."
"Myah!" The Phoru jumped up at Elsword, hugging her stomach.
"And I get the feeling it would follow us anyway." Raven chuckled.
"Any objections?" Rena asked.
"As long as it doesn't defecate on my lab equipment." Add said.
"And would your supreme defenses, called a door, allow it inside?" Elesis retorted.
"Do you want to come?" Elsword picked the Phoru up.
"Myah, myah!" It mewled.
"Well, welcome to the family little guy." Chung smiled, patting its head.