Chapter 4

Chapter 4

Early in the morning, Rein brought all of them to the forest to hunt for Wolves and Spores.

"Rein, why can't we rest? Just for a day…Please?" pleaded Raimundo.

"Fine." Rein answered. Nova opened a portal for them to Prontera. "Nova, aren't you coming?"

Nova shook her head and said. "No, I've got something to do here." She turned away from the portal, "Beside, they haven't seen your house, right?"

"More like a big empty room…" said Rein. Nova started to walk back to town. "You sure you don't need anyone to accompany you?"

"No need, I can take care of myself, there's no need to worry," said Nova.

The five of them entered the portal without Nova following them. "Besides, I need to do this in private…" whispered Nova to herself after the others had gone through the portal.

After arriving at Prontera, Rein led them to Izlude, a small town nearby.

"Here we are, this is my house." said Rein, pointing to a big house.

"This is your HOME!?" asked Omi disbelievingly. Rein nodded.

"Wow, you and Nova must be really rich," said Kimiko.

"No, the house may be big but no-one lives in it," said Rein.

"What do you mean?" asked Raimundo.

"I'm an orphan. My parents died when I was ten. All of the servants in this house have resigned. So whenever I come back to this house, no one awaits me except dust and more dust…" said Rein.

"I didn't know that…" said Clay.

"I never told anyone about it except Nova. Actually, she knew it before I told her because my father was a butler in her house." Rein removed a big log in front of his house and continued his story, "That's why I own this big house. This house was from her father,"

The warriors gasped, "So you're…"

"Yes, I'm Nova's guardian but she says that there's no need to call her Miss or something like that. She never treats me like a servant though. She says I'm her friend, nothing more or less," answered Rein.

"Wow, I've never heard you talk so much…" commented Raimundo.

"Do you want to hear my past or not? I'll stop if you don't want to," said Rein.

"Please continue." said Kimiko.

"My parents died because a monster killed them. I wanted revenge. I train this hard only to kill that monster and make him pay. Nova told me to never think about revenge but secretly, I still want to kill that monster." Rein walked inside the house and the warriors followed him. "Nova thinks that I've already forgotten about it but I never will. But still, my first priority is to guard Nova with my life because that was my parents' last request."

Dust flew everywhere. Kimiko coughed a bit, "Is that all?"

"There's more, but I choose not to tell it," said Rein, giving them a little smile.

"How long has it been since you last entered this house?" asked Omi.

"Hmm… about a year, I guess…" answered Rein.

"Can I cast a Cold Bolt to clean this house?" asked Kimiko.

Suddenly, Rein stopped. Raimundo bumped into his back. "Hey, what is it?" asked Raimundo.

Rein gasped at something he had never seen in his house: a big portrait of his family, "I didn't see that the last time I left!"

Under the picture was an envelope. The color was faded. Rein picked up the envelope, opened it and read quietly.

I don't know when the last time you entered this house was. Maybe when you read this letter, it will be faded. I asked someone to paint this portrait so you will always be with your family.

With much appreciation

Nova

P.S: I know you're still seeking for revenge. I'll make you really busy so that you will forget about it.

"Who is it from?" asked Omi, trying to snatch the letter from Rein's hands. They took a peek to the letter while Rein was still petrified with shock.

"HOW DID SHE KNOW!?" screamed the four of them, echoing all over the house, causing dust to fly everywhere.

Back in Payon, Nova knocked on Luna's house. "Excuse me, can I please talk to Luna Scarlet?"

Luna opened the door, "What is it? This had better be important!"

"Could you do me a favor?" asked Nova.

"What do you want?" asked Luna.

Nova smiled and said, "It's…"

Izlude, 5:00 p.m.

"Hey Kimiko, come here, quick!" said Raimundo

Kimiko, who was still staring at the portrait, turned around to face Raimundo, "Huh?"

"Let's go!" Raimundo grabbed her hand and ran outside the house.

"Where are we going?" asked Kimiko, trying to keep up with Raimundo.

"I saw a flower garden near Prontera. Why don't we go spend a little time relaxing there?" said Raimundo.

"But we have to ask Rein for permission!" protested Kimiko.

"It's okay. Besides, the monsters there are a piece of cake. There's no need for permission," said Raimundo, while still arm in arm with Kimiko.

They walked to the East of Prontera, to the flower garden Raimundo was talking about. No one knew who created it. "Nice huh?" said Raimundo. Kimiko nodded in agreement.

"We can talk in private here. No Rein or Nova. If we talk about the temple near them, they could feel sad," said Raimundo.

"But why?" asked Kimiko.

"I don't know. Just maybe," answered Raimundo.

Suddenly, a yellow jelly ball called Drops came to the garden. That Drops was wearing a bag.

"What would a Drops do with a bag?" asked Raimundo, confused.

"It's a pet accessory. Someone must own that Drops. Where is the owner?" asked Kimiko.

Raimundo sensed the presence of someone else beside them, "Kimiko, you may need to cast Sight."

"Sight!!" casted Kimiko. A girl in an assassin suit appeared beside them.

"Oops... I think you got me," she said.

Raimundo and Kimiko instinctively stood up. Raimundo's arm was blocking Kimiko, "Who are you and what do you want with us?"

"Calm down. I'm not your enemy. I'm just here to look at the warriors that I've heard so much about," she said calmly.

"Tell us you're name!" said Raimundo, still suspicious.

"Okay. I'm Loras, Nova's cousin," said Loras.

"How do we know you're not lying?" asked Kimiko.

Loras smiled and said, "Why don't you check with Nova through the Whisper system?"

Raimundo tried to contact Nova, "Hey Nova, do you have a cousin named Loras?"

"Yes, I do" replied Nova.

"Oh. OK, thanks" said Raimundo, ending the Whisper. "I guess she's telling the truth."

"See… I told you so!" said Loras, putting her hands on her hips.

"Anyway, what do you want from us?" asked Raimundo, loosening his guard.

"I just wanted to spy both of you. It seems that you're both really in love. Have you ever considered marriage?" asked Loras.

"Marriage!?" both of them gasped. "Are you crazy?"

"Just kidding, enjoy your little date. Cloaking!!",casted Loras. She disappeared from their sight.

Raimundo released his guard and said to Kimiko, "Maybe one more Sight, just to make sure."

"Sight!!" cast Kimiko. No one was around them. "Guess she's gone…"

"On the contrary, there are two assassins here," said a voice.

"Lance! What on earth are you thinking? Don't let them know you're there!" said Loras' voice.

"This could be fun," said Raimundo. "Hiding!!"

Raimundo hid underground. Kimiko felt uncomfortable with the situation. "I've had enough of this! Sight!!" cast Kimiko. She walked around the place. Raimundo appeared from the ground. Loras and the assassin called Lance were revealed.

"I give up…" said Lance.

"Me too…" said Loras.

The four of them sat on the ground. Raimundo really wanted to laugh but he couldn't because Kimiko was staring at him angrily. "So, who's Lance?" asked Raimundo

A little blush appeared on Loras' face, "Umm… he's…"

"I'm her husband," said Lance.

"WHAT!?" screamed Raimundo and Kimiko, shocked. "Her husband!?"

"Yes, he is…" replied Loras, still blushing.

"I've heard that those who get married in this world can get new skills. What are they?" asked Kimiko.

"I Miss You, My Soul is for You and My Life is for You," said Lance.

"Can you show it to us?" asked Kimiko cheerfully.

"Okay," Loras and Lance stood up. "My Soul is for You!!"

"What does it do?" asked Raimundo.

"Well, you can share your spiritual strength with your spouse," said Loras. "My Life is for You!!"

"This shares your health strength with your spouse," explained Lance.

"And the last is I Miss You. It's to call our spouse even when they're in the farthest town," explained Loras.

Raimundo and Kimiko just nodded. No one knew whether they understood or not.

"We're off to our home then…" said Loras. She and Lance then walked back to town.

"Assassin couple, huh? Sounds funny," said Raimundo.

"I want to know more about this wedding thing…" said Kimiko.

Raimundo glanced at Kimiko and said, "Hey, you're not planning to…"

"Of course not! Besides, who is going to be my husband?" protested Kimiko.

"Okay then, but if you are planning on getting married, put me on the list of your husband candidates," said Raimundo, jokingly.

Kimiko face turned red and she tried to look away. Raimundo saw that Kimiko was acting funny so he tried to hide his laughter. However, he burst out laughing in the end.

"Hey, what so funny?" asked Kimiko, her face still as red as a tomato.

"Hahaha… you should have seen yourself! Hahaha… I wish I could laugh like this more…" laughed Raimundo.

"Quit it!" said Kimiko angrily but quietly.

Raimundo started to run back to town, still laughing. "RAIMUNDO!!" screamed Kimiko, chasing after him, trying to sound angry. However, she was laughing; she couldn't stay mad at him.