Chapter Seventeen: Regret.
Elsword ran through the cramped alleys of Velder, Dizzy mewling in confusion from her shirt. How could they lie to her all this time? She trusted them with everything and they didn't even tell her this one, important thing.
"I-I hate them!" She cried as she ran. She suddenly tripped on a trash can as she turned a corner and landed flat on her face, "Ah!" Dizzy flew out of her shirt, landing safely on an empty cardboard box. Elsword just curled up on the floor, sobbing.
"Mama…" Dizzy mewled as he crawled up to her, hugging her hand.
"T-Thanks Dizzy…" She picked him up, holding him to her chest, "At least I can always trust you…"
"Ma!" Dizzy mewled happily. Elsword sat there, tearing up, as she thought. Everyone she trusted was in on it, even Chung. Why didn't they tell her?
"Ma'am?" Elsword's head shot up at a foreign voice and looked at the exit of the alley. A tall man garbed in white robes stood there with fine blue hair reaching to past his shoulders. A feeling of care came off him. Dizzy however was on edge with his mother so scared, hissing at the stranger.
"W-Who are you?" Elsword stammered.
"My name is Ain. A priest." He walked over and knelt down, "My, quite the protector, aren't you?"
"Hisss!" Dizzy growled. Ain just chuckled and reached into his pocket, pulling out a few small seeds. Dizzy's eyes lit up when he smelt them.
"Ah, that changed your tune a tad did it not? Here." Ain handed a seed to him, which Dizzy snatched and began munching on. He looked Elsword in the eyes with the Phoru distracted, "Now miss, a dirty alley is hardly a fitting place for a charming woman like yourself."
"B-But…" Ain just smiled.
"I can see you are in quite the amount of distress. Please, I know I am a stranger but as a man of our Goddess, please allow me to lend you my ear." He extended a hand, "There is a park not far from here, why don't we talk there? Perhaps I can aid your problem." Elsword hesitated, and finally took his hand.
They walked out onto the street and down the road to a large, grassy park. Setting down on a bench near a vending machine Ain got her a bottle of water and gave it to her, the crimsonette still crying.
"Deep breaths, take as much time as you need." He said, sitting next to her. Elsword did so, sipping her water.
"T-Thank you…" She said.
"Please, allow me to help first. Please, tell me what ails you." Ain said. Elsword breathed for a few minutes more before telling Ain everything. She expected him to judge her, even see her as disgusting as she explained her recent discovery, but he listened with a stoic gaze and gentle smile.
"A-And then…they told me that she was…keeping it a secret…" Elsword gripped the empty bottle in her hands, "I-I hate them…"
"I see." Ain nodded, "But, do you truly hate them as you say?" Elsword looked at her, "Calm yourself and think. Let us start from the beginning." He paused, "You were a man originally, and was brought to help your friend with a potion to temporarily change gender. It had the side effects of a permanent change and amnesia. Now, as one verse in magic there is many negative repercussions from such things."
"W-What do you mean?"
"They kept your original gender a secret out of worry and concern. There could have been the possibility that such a revelation could have severely damaged your mind and spirit beyond repair." Ain set his hand on her shoulder, "But they told you finally because they felt you were prepared, and that you deserved to know the truth. I have no doubt in my mind they are frantically searching for you as we speak, worried for you."
"They…lied because they cared?" Elsword was speechless.
"Indeed. Not all deceit is meant for hatred." Ain said, "Now, ask yourself again. Do you still hate them?" Elsword looked at her hands. A new feeling washed over her. Not hatred but shame.
"N-No…" She sobbed, "I-I don't…"
"See?" Ain smiled, standing up, "Now, it would be best to return to them, and apologize don't you think?"
"Y-Yeah." Elsword nodded, sniffling a little.
Ain helped her up and hailed a cab for them. After Elsword managed to say where they were staying they were on their way. Ain sat silently next to her, letting the girl calm down, until they arrived. He got out, opened the door for her and paid the driver before they headed inside.
"I hope they don't hate me…" Elsword said once they arrived at their room.
"I do not think that is a likely scenario dear." Ain smiled and went to knock. Before his hand could touch wood however the door opened to Eve standing there.
"Elsword! Thank goodness you're alright." Eve, out of character, jumped out and hugged her.
"S-Sorry Eve…I was…I…"
"She was merely overcome in light of her recent discovery." Ain answered for her. Eve looked at him and composed herself, letting the human girl go.
"Ahem. My apologies sir, but may I have your name?" Eve asked professionally.
"Please, I'm but a humble priest of the Goddess. I found Elsword here in an alley crying, persuading her to calm down and discuss her problem."
"H-He really helped." Elsword wiped her eye.
"I thank you for seeing her back safely." Eve nodded her head.
"Please, the pleasure was mine. May you have a pleasant day." Ain bowed kindly and walked down the hall to the elevator.
"Come, let's get you inside." Eve said. Elsword didn't argue and did so, Eve calling everyone to return to the room. They really were looking for me. Elsword thought to herself.
About a half hour after she returned everyone came back to the room.
"Sis!" Elesis ran in and hugged her, "Oh El I was so worried!"
"I-I'm sorry sis…" Elsword sighed.
"We were prepared for that outcome, but it was still shocking…" Aisha sighed.
"A man called Ain found her and listened to what she had to say." Eve said, unsurprisingly sitting there with a cup of tea.
"Well, at least you're okay." Chung sighed, relieved.
"I…I'm sorry everyone." Elsword sulked, sinking into her head with head held low, "I shouldn't have gotten so angry that you were all worried about me…" Rena just smiled and walked up to her, wrapping the crimsonette in a motherly hug.
"It's alright dear, you were well within reason to be cross." She looked Elsword in the eyes, "Just never forget we will always be here for you." Everyone nodded at Rena's words. Elsword's slight tears grew in volume.
"Thank you everyone…"
"Why don't we just take it easy today?" Ara proposed, "We're all quite shaken, and it's not as if we're pressed for time."
"Good point." Raven agreed, already settling into that plan and flicking on the TV.
"I think I'm going to go to bed." Elsword said.
"That's no problem sis." Elesis gave her another tight squeeze, "Have a good nap." Elsword smiled and headed to bed, the sounds of her friends chatting through the walls lingering in the room.
After resting for a while Elsword woke up, eyes glazed with exhaustion from her escapade today. Wiping her eyes, she got up and changed as it was still early evening. As she went into the other room with her friends, who looked like they just settled on a decision.
"Hey…" Elsword yawned.
"Hey sis." Elesis waved.
"Perfect timing, we're going out for dinner." Raven informed her.
"We settled on a steak house." Ara smiled brightly.
"Dizzy should be fine here, they don't allow pets." Chung sighed.
"Don't worry Elsword." The regal Nasod could see the hesitation in the crimsonette's eyes, "My servants will stay behind with him.
"Okay." Elsword nodded, awake now.
"Alright let's go." Rena clapped her hands together. With no arguments everyone headed back to the lobby and out onto the streets. It wasn't too far so there was no point in taking the cars.
"Oooo I hope they have a good rare steak." The elder sibling cooed to herself. Rena shook her head, she was a vegetarian after all, so she wasn't very picky about what was there. She had already been there before a year ago with Raven and knew they had a great salad bar.
"Ribs for me." Raven joined in on this, chuckling.
As they went back and forth over what they wanted to have the gang continued down the street, finally arriving at a large building. A bright purple sign hung from above the door, The Sous Glitter, with a picture of said manner of demon in a chef's suit holding a covered plate with a smile.
"Yuck, those guys are the nastiest." Lu groaned in disgust at the picture. Heading inside they were quickly seated next to a flower display near the salad bar. Rena waited however for everyone else to get their food.
"Hello there." Their waiter came over, "Are we set to order?"
"Umm…" Elsword stared at the menu, wondering what to get. Elesis smiled.
"Want help?" She asked, earning a nod from her. Turning back to the waiter Elesis started them off, "Medium rare steak for my sis here, Rare for me."
"I'll have the garlic and butter sirloin." Chung said.
"I think I'll have the…boneless ribs." Ara said.
"Same here. Side of hot sauce with that." Raven said.
"Well done steak." Add said.
"Those honey ribs look great." Aisha smiled.
"Two orders of Filet Mignon." Lu said.
"And you ma'am?" He looked to Rena.
"Oh, I'll be having the salad bar." She said, making a gesture she wasn't ordering.
"Why don't we get some drinks too?" Aisha piped up. She was still a bit shaken after the day's events.
"I'm thinking red." Elesis hopped on that train.
"All around?" Chung asked, everyone nodding.
"Very good, I'll be right back with your drinks." The waiter smiled and walked off to the kitchen.
"You know, it's kinda fun just having everyone here." Rena smiled.
"Yeah, kinda like we're back home."
"Please." Raven rolled his eyes at Ara's statement. Elesis snickered.
"Yeah, at home we could be having Raven's mix drinks." She pointed out. Elsword smiled, watching everyone having a good time.
"Hey." She looked to her side, Chung looking at her, "How you doing?"
"Better." She blushed, pressing her arms towards each other nervously, "I just…wasn't ready I guess."
"What's done is done." Add said, "At least you didn't get hit by a car or lost."
"Indeed. Yet still…" Eve closed her eyes, "I wonder who that man was."
"The one you said brought Elsword back?" Rena was interested as well, she never got to say thanks.
"Yes. He played it like he was no one special, but it's easy to tell someone who is well off when you live a life like ours." Elsword looked at Eve, curious what she meant, "Perfectly mannered, well garbed, but there was something…off about him."
"Maybe we'll see him again sometime." Aisha said, "I mean, we ran into Rose out of nowhere after all."
"Here are your drinks." The waiter came back then and set down their drinks. After he left to see about their meals Raven took up a glass toast style.
"I'd say today was a large leap forward for Elsword's recovery. Why not have a toast?" He smiled.
"I can get on that." Chung said, "To Elsword's recovery." Everyone took up their glasses now.
"Cheers."
Vayne: Super sorry again! My computer broke on me again and I had some personal issues that prevented me from writing. Furthermore i see my current poll is tied for bringing Day to Day back and a new story! Please make sure you guys go and vote so i know what you want to see! :D