-begs forgiveness-
I'm so sorry it took a month to update. I hope i didn't lose any readers.
I was grounded for most of the time, as I wrote in my profile, and then school kind of overtook my life.
Thanks to Inukaa for the correction, and I'm sorry if the chapter turned out to be too saddistic for your liking, but the story is rated T for a reason.
Sorry to jat for the suspense xD.But what's a good story without suspense?
The exact history of what happened isn't going to be revealed yet, because if I did, there would be no point in writting more chapters. PM/ review me with exactly what confused you, and I'll see what I can tell you.
The next chapter will be typed up soon, I have already written the first rough draft down on paper.
Disclaimer: I do not own MS, Nexon, or Wizet, but i do own a lvl 5x cleric xD.
Chapter 16
"It's very nice to meet you."
After being escorted, if you could call the half drag that, down the stairs and into a chair, Alex was affronted with two curious stares.
The glances belonged to two older figures: a male looking to be in his late teen years, and a mid aged woman with a bright smile.
She had to be Jackie's mother, Alex mused from the obviously inherited deep chocolate brown eyes.
The entire Huang trio had similar dark hair, soft, wide lips and comforting smile.
"I am Rachel Huang, Welcome to our home."
"It is an honor to meet you," Alex replied, ducking her head in respect. Curiously, she looked back up to see the woman to her left still smiling and the boy to her right chuckling.
"The pleasure is all ours. We've heard so much about you, you're practically family."
"Mark!" Jackie blushed, looking over at Alex's inquisitive stare.
"They… were asking about the team, so I told them…" She mumbled.
"Well, enough talk for now. Dig in."
Alex felt her mouth watering just looking at the meal displayed before her.
A large plate of drake's meat was piled in the center, orange mushroom caps and octopus legs set down as side dishes. A liter of Rowen the Fairy's milk was placed within reaching distance, known for its refreshing taste. A platter of Rina's Unagi Special was placed next to the milk, another famous dish in the Island of Victoria. -1-
"It smells amazing."
The last time our hero had eaten was early that morning, and after her fight, she had worked up quite an appetite. Needles to say, she stole a heavy portion of the food dishes from each respective plate, before hungrily starting in.
"Hungry, ne?" Jackie chuckled, watching her friend eat with such rapture.
"Oh… I'm terribly sorry," that familiar red hue took its place on Alex's cheeks.
"No, no… please, help yourself. Stop teasing your friend, youngster," Mrs. Huang smiled down at Alex, and playfully swatted at her daughters head. Jackie dodged and laughed back.
They finished their meal in an enjoyable silence, and Alex felt more at home with this group then she had anywhere for awhile. Maybe even more then she had with her own family.
"I heard a lot about your match earlier," Mark broke the quiet after everyone was finished eating.
"Would you happen to be up to a friendly bout?"
"Mark! Seriously, she just had-"
"I would be delighted to. Do you happen to have an old sword belt, by any chance?" Alex cut her worried friend off mid sentence.
"I'm not sure," The older boy responded happily, "But I can certainly go check."
He turned to leave the room, whistling a random, catchy tune. He crossed though the threshold and started down the hallway before a question entered his mind. He leaned back, head sticking from the doorway.
"Oh, what color? Is there a specific color you were thinking about?"
"Black, light gray would be preferable, but any color would do."
"Ah, alright then. I'm pretty sure we have one, I'll go get it."
Alex smiled. She always looked forward to a round with swords, especially with a skilled warrior friend.
"You baka!" Jackie growled, punching Alex not so softly in the arm.
"What?" Alex asked feigning innocence.
"Your going to put your body through too much. There's no reason to fight for no-"
"Jackie," she looked at the shorter girl intently, "When have I ever backed down from a fight?"
"But-"
"When?"
"That's not the p-"
"Answer the question."
Jackie grumbled.
"Never."
"Why would I start now?"
"Fine," Jackie huffed, scowl in her eyes, "When you get hurt don't expect that…"
She mumbled the rest of her sentence, storming out of the room.
"She only gets like that because she cares."
Mrs. Huang had remained unnoticed, watching the events unfold before her until now.
"I figured as much," Alex smiled warmly, but looked back with a worried glance at the door.
"She'll snap out of it and come back with an apology."
An awkward silence filled the room. The older women seemed to be contemplating something.
"So," she began delicately, curiosity seeping from her chocolate orbs.
"Is it true?"
"M'am, I'm afraid you're going to have to be more specific. There seems to be a lot of talk nowadays."
"Are you the girl… the girl from the Henesys Tragedy which happened nearly a decade ago?"
"Oh… Yes m'am." She was a bit startled by the random question.
"No more of these m'am formalities, youngster. I'm not that old, Ms. Huang will do just fine."
"Yes Ms. Huang."
"Forgive me for prying, but…"
Now the curiosity was visible in the entire structure of the older woman's face,
"Where is the scar then?"
"The Gods blessed me when they threw Athena Pierce into my life. She is a remarkably kind and caring woman," was the soft answer.
Muttering a magic charm, Alex titled her throat backwards, fingers resting under her chin. She found her head at the familiar 45 degree angle her neck was used to taking. Instantly a crudely drawn T appeared. A rough sketch of a sword cut through its center.
It was a gruesome site indeed; the rough jagged lines were present, making one wince as if they could feel every visible line. The harsh hands used to draw it had shown no mercy.
However, the worst part, besides the blood red and black colors used, was the branded box surrounding the drawing. The inept farmer had been the one to draw the box, to show the encased sin within her. It was much more rudimentary and haggard then the other two symbols combined.
Jackie's mother bowed her head in horror and complete respect. Alex's eyes softened, her heart felt a bit lighter. This woman wouldn't sugarcoat anything; she wouldn't mummer halfhearted consolations or apologies. This woman wouldn't try to understand that she knew how it felt, how hard the suffering was, and how it didn't hesitate to wither ones soul. Instead, she offered a quiet agreement of compassion and understanding that she couldn't possibly understand. And for that, Alex was grateful.
"Well, not exactly an ice breaker is it?"
The blonde chuckled at the small attempt to ease the serious mood that had befallen the room. She had taken a particular liking to this family.
Jackie had stormed off, to reach her bedroom door.
Her anger ridden hands tried to open her door, before her mind caught with the situation. Her arm felt limply to her side ad she began her trudge of a walk back to the dining room.
She had overacted, again. It frightened her slightly that a certain blonde could cause such extreme emotions in her, whether it was furious rage or unrelenting compassion.
She stopped began entering the occupied room, to stop short at the serious conversation.
"Is it true?"
That was an aged voice, the voice of her own mother.
"M'am, I'm afraid you're going to have to be more specific. There seems to be a lot of talk nowadays."
Jackie could hear the subtle wry tone Alex's voice took while joking.
"Are you the girl… the girl from the Henesys Tragedy which happened nearly a decade ago?"
"Oh… Yes m'am."
Startled. Alex was started.
"Forgive me for prying, but… where is the scar then?"
Jackie glanced into the room, question full on the face of her mother. She felt the older woman's gaze shift up and towards her listening post, so Jackie quickly pulled her head back and took a couple of precautionary steps from the door.
When she heard her brother return into the room, she also decided to make her entrance. A flicker of curiosity slivered through her mind.
What scar?
Mark waked back into the room with the eagerness of a young puppy. It contrasted with his bulky build so much, Alex couldn't help but let a smile break free of her normal constraints. He held up a pale gray belt in triumph.
"Is this a satisfactory color?"
"Perfect. How much for it?"
Mark scoffed.
"Free of charge of course. The duel will be enough."
"So it changed from a 'friendly' bout to a duel?" Mark laughed soundly, slapping Alex lightly on the back before escorting her out of the house and in the general direction of the practice courts.
Ms. Huang grabbed for Jackie's arms, successfully retaining her.
"Angry today, aren't we?"
Jackie blushed a little, looking down at the now amazingly interesting shoes she was wearing.
"I'm sorry for ov-"
"It's not be you should be apologizing to, dear. It unsettled your friend. You too seem to be getting awfully close."
"She's a good friend," Jackie answered defensively.
"I didn't mean to imply otherwise dear. Just don't get so riled up. Your emotions affect the ones who love you."
Now it was Jackie's turn to look unsettled. Slightly pushing her daughter out of the house, the two women silently made their way to the Henesys practice courts.
While not quiet as large or well structured as the Perion courts, the Henesys courts had everything needed for a fair duel. A small selection of seats remained off to the side, behind a security spell for complete safety. Each court was separated with the official and proper distance. A few of the fields were for specialty training or dueling, Magician versus Archer platforms, Assassin versus Battle Mage sections.
The organized training place had an uncharacteristic lack of jobs men. Alex equated it to the time of night; most families were still enjoying their suppers. Alex checked her concealed watch, mentally noting that they wouldn't have their choice of fields for much longer. Mark guided them over to a general field, not sure which specialty Alex would decide to utilize.
The blonde started her stretching, looking over to see Jackie looking at her. Eye brows were raised in inquiry as their eyes locked. Jackie shot her a small, guilty smile before following her mother behind the safety spell.
Alex took her newly acquired belt and slipped it unorthodoxly around her lower shoulders. She cut and arranged it till it fit comfortly. The coarse material fit snuggly, leaving a small pocket of air just sparse enough to slide her blade down. The hilt caught in the correct hook and lock in.
"Ready?" Alex called out to her friend's brother.
"I was born ready," his infectious grin slide onto his face.
Mark pulled out a samurai sword, thinner and more lightweight then normal two handed swords, but sturdy nonetheless. The weapon was made of wood, but finished with a wood colored metal which just further enhanced the well crafted sword.
The experienced warrior and new jobs woman circled one another, making lazy passes to gauge one another's reflexes.
"Thirty three last time I checked," he drawled out.
"En Garde," he cried out with glee, charging.
Alex pulled her prized sword out quickly, feeling the release of the hilt from its restraints with an applied pressure. She lifted the heavy weapon up to parry his remarkably strong blow.
It would be a long fight.
-1- Drakes meet, orange mushroom caps and octopus legs are all drops from certain monsters in MapleStory. Rina's unagi and Rowen's milk are specially made items for the Lv 30 sauna robe quest.
Theres the chapter folks, sorry for any grammatical errors, but my mother is calling me to help with Thanksgiving preperations and dinner. Reviews would be adored.
As always if you have any questions whatsoever Review PM or email me.
There are no stupid questions.
-Dak