Finding What's Important
Chapter 4: I Wanna Kill Her
I awoke grumpily when something bright flashed into my eyes. Failing to bat it away, I cracked open my eyes and discovered it was a stray beam of warm sunlight shining through a clear glass window.
Where am I…? I thought sleepily. I sat up and looked about the room I was in. Painted on the walls were pale shades of blue, mixing together in a beautiful swirling pattern. The floor was carpeted, a light beige, and there was a tall mirror on the other side of the room, a closet propped against a wall, and a dresser. There were also two soft-looking beds, including the one I was sitting on currently, and on the other bed, I spotted a figure sleeping soundly on the other bed, face partially concealed by a blanket. Peeking closer, I saw it was Seiji.
I sighed, leaning back and running my fingers through my hair, determining I was in Seiji's house. Looking down at myself, I saw that I was still wearing my archer armor. I got up off the bed, and gazed at myself in the mirror. I looked horrible, to say the least.
Ugh… I had better learn where Seiji's shower is. I thought.
I stepped out into the hallway, and took a quick look past a corner. I saw my pack there, and I hurried over to it to get the things out of it. I pulled out some weak clothing, the ones I wore when I first started adventuring. The clothing consisted of a red-striped top, and an indigo miniskirt.
I began to explore all around Seiji's house, and finally figured out where the bathroom was. Tiled floors and small carpets, I thought, amused. I took off the light-weight-but-sometimes-uncomfortable shivermail armor, and climbed into the shower.
I do hope Seiji won't mind if I use his shower, I thought nonchalantly. I pulled up the shower's handle, and soothing jets of warm water sprayed from the showerhead and cascaded down my exhausted, tense body. I proceeded to slowly wash myself thoroughly with shampoo and soap I had found on a thick tray near the showerhead.
Finally, I got out of the shower, feeling rejuvenated, relaxed, and most of all, clean. I stepped out of the bathroom wearing the selected clothes I mentioned from earlier, drying off my hair with a towel on my way back to Seiji's room with one arm, also carrying the rest of the armor in the other arm.
When I reached his room (and also picking up my pack), I dropped my pack on the ground and set my armor into it, zipping it up and then leaving it there, for now.
I finished drying my hair, and then, out of instinct and just wanting to see what would happen, I tossed the towel onto Seiji's face. He stirred a little, but then continued sleeping as if nothing had ever happened. I sweatdropped, and pulled the towel off his face.
Guess I'll have to wake him up with my method. I thought dully to myself, trying to contain my laughter deep inside. I walked over to him, and… hugged him tightly, burying my face into his chest.
He awoke with a start, eyes snapping open, tensing up. I released him. He looked up at me quizzically, but saw him relax when he realized it was me.
"G'morning, sleeping beauty," I said, grinning. He and I blushed at the same time, and Seiji got up out of bed, rubbing his eyes groggily.
He noticed I was changed, and smelling nice, and I saw another layer of crimson rise to his face.
"G-good morning Sora," he muttered, turning his face to the ground.
"You too," I smiled, then turning to the bedside table, seeing my bandana lying on it. I picked it up and swiftly tied it about my head, finishing off with a small knot at the back.
When I had turned back to Seiji, however, he had disappeared.
Eh? I thought, looking about. I caught a small flash of blue to my right, and I turned quickly toward it, but whatever was there had disappeared again with another flash of blue. I recognized this technique, but couldn't quite place the name.
Suddenly, I felt arms around my waist, and a voice.
"Gotcha, Sora!" Seiji said playfully, hugging me close to him. I giggled, trying to get free from him, but his grip was strong.
Now I remember! It was teleport!
He pressed a fleeting kiss on my cheek, and then, in the blink of an eye, had teleported out of the room. I briefly heard the shower turning on outside.
I sat down on the floor heavily, hand tentatively reaching up and touching the spot where his lips had met my skin. The place felt tingly, and I was aware my face was burning. I got back up onto my feet, and ambled out the door.
I walked into the living room, and sat down on a couch. Out from the corner of my eye, I saw the pile of books from yesterday of which Master Grendal had given us. My eyes lit up, and I scooted over to it. I picked up the 'Necromancy' book, and, inhaling slowly, opened up the book.
What the… the book itself looks centuries old… there are even small rips in the leather bounding! But… but the pages look brand-new… And a few words look like they're written in… blood…
I turned a page, and on the top, in large, black, cursive-like writing, it said "Table of Contents". I ran my finger down the page, reading each category slowly. The layout of the page looked like this:
Table of Contents
Basic Dark Spells………………….. Page 2
Intermediate Shadow Spells……… Page 22
Summoning the Undead………….. Page 32
Summoning Undead Animals……. Page 42
Expert Necromantic Spells……….. Page 52
Demon in the Cage ……………….. Page 87
The Shadow Crest……………... Page 88
Necrodemon Abilities…………….. Page 92
Rules of the Necromancer ……….. Page 102
You and the Illumancer …………. Page 103
Misc. Spells……………………….. Page 104 – 200
Holy… this book is huge! I stared at the contents. All the way to page two-hundred… but, then, I suppose, it could be even longer. Good thing it isn't.
I took a look at the Basic Dark Spells section.
On page two… let's see…
On the top right of each page, there was an image of the effect of the spell. On the first page, it showed a shadow being sucked into an arrow glowing with a purple aura.
Wow… it's like the book knows I am an archer. I was amazed.
Written on the side of the image was the description of the spell, and above that, the name. This spell I was currently looking at now was appropriately named, "Silhouette Arrow". Below the description was the incantation to combine a shadow into an arrow. The letters were large, and the incantation took up most of the page, meaning each spell had its own page.
Hmm… let's begin with this spell, shall we? I mused. I closed my eyes and pulled out an arrow from my quiver, concentrating deeply.
"Infuse the power of the shadow into this arrow, and allow the might of the darkness to bring forth the silhouette arrow…" I whispered. I twirled the arrow between my fingers, dark energy swirling around its two ends, building up and getting darker and darker. The arrow itself was outlined with a deep, purple aura. And then…
The arrow turned pitch black, only recognizable from the purple around it. I opened my eyes, and waved the arrow about. Black wisps of what looked like smoke lifted off it endlessly, and faded away into nothing. I smiled.
This is new…
I called across the hall,
"Seiji! You done with that shower yet?"
Just then, Seiji stepped out of the bathroom, still wearing the clothes he donned while sleeping, yet cleaner.
"It appears I am out of the shower." he said mockingly, and then smiled. I snickered.
"I gotta show you something I made while you were spending your time in there." I held up the arrow. He studied it for a moment.
"Er… what is it?" he asked, confused.
"In that 'Necromancy' book, it's called a 'silhouette arrow'." I said.
"Interesting… my turn!" he shouted jovially.
"Curses," I muttered, but grinned, and waited for him to open up his 'Illumancy' book. He did, and the design of the page looked fairly like mine in my book.
Table of Contents
Beginning Light Spells………… Page 2
Intermediate Holy Spells……… Page 22
Healing Yourself and Others…. Page 32
Summoning Animals………….. Page 42
Expert Illumantic Spells……… Page 52
Angel Locked Inside…………... Page 87
The Aurora Blade……………... Page 88
Illumangel Abilities…………… Page 92
Rules of the Illumancer……….. Page 102
You and the Necromancer……. Page 103
Misc. Spells……………………. Page 104 - 200
Seiji turned the page of the book, and I watched him pick out a spell starting from page two.
"Eh… this spell is called, 'Radiance'. Apparently, I use the power of light to make an item." Seiji noted, eyes reading each word of the incantation keenly. I nodded. He formed his hands to look like they were around a ball, and then began to quietly chant words.
"I hereby bring an item to this world, an item made from lights of pure, to be held by hands, and I send forth this arrow…" he muttered, and in between his hands, I saw an orb of light forming and flickering, but soon was large. It began to expand slowly, into an elongated shaft. An arrowhead formed on the tip as well, and near the end, golden feathers lined the side. The arrow looked as though it didn't exist, but soon, Seiji made his hands into a cup. The light flashed brilliantly for a moment, and then… fell into Seiji's hands. He held up the arrow. It was tinted golden, and it looked beautiful. Seiji allowed me to hold it, but it felt like it was weightless.
"It's pretty." I grinned. He smiled.
"If you think it is, then you can keep it."
"Ooo… really?"
"Sure… it wouldn't be like I actually had a use for it anyway." he said, leaning against the couch, relaxed.
"Besides, I think there's something much prettier than that arrow." His eyes got a glint in them.
"And… that would be?" I asked.
"You," he said casually, as if it were normal to say things like that.
… I'm pretty sure I turned about fifty different shades of crimson.
After we had that little… episode… Seiji suggested that we get dressed into our adventuring clothes. I decided to change in the bathroom while he changed in his room.
Lugging my armor to the bathroom, I quickly closed the door, and fitted into my armor. It felt… cold against my bare skin. I exited the bathroom, and headed towards the living room again for my pack.
Reaching into my pack, I pulled out my bow, and a new quiver of arrows. I slipped the golden arrow and the silhouette arrow into it. I strapped on the quiver of arrows onto my back, and I aimed out an open window to practice firing accurately. I focused on a tree, pulled out an arrow, nocking it onto my bow, and then releasing it in one swift movement. It struck the area of the tree I was looking at in a perfect bull's-eye, and I smirked.
Seiji chose his moment, and teleported into the room, wearing his white wizard robe, and wielding a circle-winded staff. He raised an eyebrow at the sight of the arrow lodged firmly in the tree's trunk.
"Nice shot," he commented, and bent down to open up his pack. He placed the Illumancy book inside, and suggested to me I do the same with my Necromancy book. I complied; after all it was also for a "just incase" situation. I slipped in the Summoning book as well, and handed Seiji the Shadow and Light book, too. He stuffed it into his pack, and, rather miraculously, we both lifted the pack, discovering it was as light as a feather.
Making sure we had everything, it was then that we stepped out the door, into the crisp Ellinia morning. Little drops of water from last night's storm looked like little crystals scattered all over the ground, each reflecting off a bit of sunlight bursting through the treetops. All in all, it was a beautiful sight, and I marveled at everything as we went by.
"Sora!" I heard a voice calling my name, and turned around to see Tori running towards me. She slowed down once she got closer, and panted.
"Hi… hi guys," She gasped for more air, and soon, her breathing returned to normal. We greeted her politely, and she asked if her boyfriend could come along with us.
"We don't mind," I said, smiling at my sister. Seiji nodded absently, his attention seemingly pointed at something else.
Someone teleported up to Tori and kissed her quickly before introducing himself as Tori's boyfriend. He didn't really give a real name, so Tori said we could call him "Oreos". I snorted with laughter involuntarily.
Oreos, I thought, amused by how Tori made up the nickname for him.
"Um… what're we gonna do now?" I asked. Seiji coughed.
"Let's go train at the dungeon," Tori suggested.
"The Ant Tunnel again?" I inquired, but then shuddered unwillingly. I still had a clear memory of everything that happened there. Tori sighed.
"If you're up to it, then I suppose we could." she said.
"… let's go, then." I decided. We both looked around.
"Uh… where'd Oreos and Seiji go?" Tori said, sweatdropping. I heard two voices calling our names, and we face-palmed when we saw the both of them waving towards us from far away. We quickly ran and caught up to them.
"Let's see… we'll head off to Henesys, then go by their dungeon path." Seiji confirmed.
"Then let's go!" I said, and everyone complied.
We arrived in Henesys rapidly, and even more speedily, headed towards the dungeon, fending off any monsters charging towards us.
Coming into Sleepywood, we saw many people standing around, either chatting with others or selling random things. Most others were just surveying everyone and everything. Oreos and Tori had gone off to the sauna to restock on potions and whatnot.
I noticed a crowd of people gathering behind us.
"It's that demon girl," someone whispered. I heard disgusted agreements, and I felt like an animal at a zoo.
"I heard she killed someone in the Ant Tunnel, too," another voice whispered. I felt my anger growing inside. What was I, something to look at in a gallery? Apparently to them, yes, I was.
"I think we should stay away from her. She might go on a rampage and kill us all." I heard myself let out a deep, angered growl, and the crowd backed away for just a moment.
"Hah, what can she do? She looks as pathetic as the next person." someone leered. I was boiling now, eyes flashing with rage. My eyes became slitted, like a cat's eye, and turned a vicious bloody red. The crowd gasped, and the next thing I knew, I had drawn an enormous scythe.
The handle of which I held it was a sinister black, and the actual blade itself was made of a dark, shining steel. Red patterns were littered all over it, and the end of it had another small blade attached to it. Bony, tough wings erupted from my back, spreading out for all to see.
In the blink of an eye, I was at the offender's throat, pressing my scythe to her neck.
"I can do this." I sneered. Her eyes were wide with fear, and by the looks of what she was wearing, and her hair, she was a person who was overdosed on NX.
"Hmm… I think there's something wrong with you. You look pathetic as the next person." I mocked. I felt a hand on my shoulder. I turned around angrily as to who was interrupting me, but simply saw it was Seiji. He leaned in and whispered to me.
"Look, Sora, don't do this. Just… please. Let it go."
I turned back to the girl, who was shaking with terror. Reluctantly, I let her go, and let my scythe disappear. She scrambled up and ran into the arms of who looked like her boyfriend or other. As I passed, I hissed at her, just for the fun of it. She shrunk back in fright.
It was at that moment, Oreos and Tori came up to us.
"What'd we miss?" they asked.
More than you'd want to know, I thought to myself, and finally, the four of us headed inside the Ant Tunnel.
Seiji's POV
"Look, Sora, don't do this. Just… please. Let it go." I heard myself whispered to Sora. She turned to the pathetic-looking girl, and grudgingly, let her go. I watched the girl scuttle away from Sora and into the arms of a boy. I sighed.
That was close… Alas, as much as I wanted to see Sora rip that girl to shreds, I couldn't let her do that. But that scythe was really cool. As we passed by them, I heard Sora hiss threateningly at the girl. I sniggered silently as the girl cowered before her. Oreos and Tori came up to us
"What'd we miss?" they asked.
More than you'd want to know, I thought to myself. Taking a deep breath, the four of us entered the Ant Tunnel.
Thanks to everybody who has reviewed this story and left bits and pieces of criticism.
Kal Ancalas: Err… thanks for commenting on the romance pieces. ... yes, you squee'ed. There's no turning back now. BWAHAHA -coughchokewheeze-
Arthur Savorian: Of course, with the longer chapter thing. I try hard to make my chapters a considerable length. Thanks for your review anyway, I really appreciate it.
Crostini: Okay, okay I get it with the "longer chapters" thing. I'm going to try and make future chapters longer, but since I am not allowed on the computer (laptop) most of the time, it's rather hard.
Seiji-kun if you're reading this you better send me more e-mails.