NAA: I feel like nobody reads these ANs ...
Ara: Probably because they don't.
NAA: AAARRRAAAA~!
Ara: Yes, NAA?
NAA: Don't be a meanie or I'll ctrl-alt-delete you.
Ara: NAA Does not own Elsword.
Chapter Eight:
Because Trauma Is Great!
Aisha's PoV
No magic. Someone would definitely freak if they saw random fireballs, and the air warping around me. That meant I would have to use my staff only. That wouldn't be a problem, I would just do the norm with the exception of my spacial magic.
Of course, the clouds in the sky have not disappeared yet. It might rain more soon, but they might just blow over soon. I took a deep breath, summoning my staff in preparation for the easy battle ahead.
Crouching low before launching myself forward, in a quick blur my staff landed on the glitter's head. A cracking sound emit, making me cringe. I never could get used to the prospect of death.
I wrinkled my nose, kneeling down to empty the glitter's pockets and bag. Nothing but a few random trinkets. One, however, caught my eye. A large blue pendant, dangling on a string. It shimmered, several runes engraved into it's smooth surface.
A sudden scraping noise caught my attention. I whirled around, discovering a three more glitters. Two with spears, and one with a large, glittering shield-the source of the scraping noise.
I sighed, not really wanting anymore trouble, but readied myself nonetheless. Forcing my fingers to relax, I bounded up to the first spear-wielder, twirling gracefully as I swung my staff in a wide arch.
Another cracking noise was heard as my staff hit it bluntly. I stepped back as it fell to it's knees, focusing my attention on the other two. Before I could assess the situation, a sharpened pain bloomed in my shoulder as a spear grazed it.
I ignored the pain, deflecting another thrust with a flick of my wrist. The spear bounced, the glitter losing it's balance temporarily. I took this chance, delivering a quick hit to it's stomach. It doubled over where I got a clear hit.
A dent found it's way onto this one's skull. A shadow looming over caused my attention to snap to the glitter behind me. It had stood up, and was now attempting to charge me. I side-stepped, holding my staff out horizontally where it met the victim's throat.
The glitter gagged before dropping again, this time in death. I turned back to the glitter holding a shield. It shuffled at a slow pace, advancing noisily. I sighed again, dashing for moment before stepping around it.
I slammed my heart-shaped staff into it's backside, making it stumble forward a bit. While it was disoriented, I took the chance and my staff found it's way to the back of the glitter's neck. It was dead in moments.
I allowed my shoulders to relax, but at the same time straightened my posture as my shoulder protested in pain. Once again kneeling, I checked the three glitters for anything useful. Their faces were disturbingly wrought with agony, though my staff should not have caused such pain.
I excused the abnormality, inspecting the three treasures I found. Exactly like on the first glitter, blue pendants with runes inscribed into them. I cocked my head, confused about this new development.
Suddenly, I felt something collide with the back of my head. My vision exploded with stars, ebbing between darkness and the standard lighting. An immediate headache came, though I fortunately did not lose consciousness.
My head continued to throb as I stood up, disoriented as I turned to look at my assaulter. No one was there. That means-
A green smog fell, polluting air in my immediate vicinity. I instinctively covered my mouth, rolling close to the ground. I managed to escape the poison, but my head still hurt like hell.
"D*mnit." I muttered, standing up. A moment passed before a maroon blur passed. As I though; a glitter assassin. They were annoying, to say the least. It seemed that this one had slammed the pommel of it's small blade into the back of my head.
I growled, readying my staff. It dashed past again, but this time I was ready. It's face collided with my staff. A grunt spewed from it's mouth as it fell backwards. I smiled victoriously.
I didn't realize it was still conscious until it swiped at my legs with it's blade. I also hadn't realized how close to the edge of the building I had managed to get. Nor did I realized someone had followed me. Guess I've been a bit oblivious.
The glitter's blade met my shin, causing a gash to open up. I gasped in pain, hopping off my now injured right foot. Of course I lost my balance. A screech reached from throat, meeting oxygen for the first time as my feet found that same oxygen as my only support.
I reached out blindly, scraping my fingers as they curled around the 'R' in 'Velder' carved into the building. I took a deep breath, whipping my other hand up to grasp the second 'E'.
Panic tried to close my throat. I barely managed to choke out a sob as I began to hyperventilate. Tears began gushing out of my eyes. I shook my head, making one of my tails come loose so my purple hair flew out. I was going to die.
"Aisha!" A very familiar voice called urgently. My eyes slowly opened from their previously scrunched state.
"E-Elsword?" I whimpered, a feeling of disgust flashing through my being at my pathetic-ness. I was a Dimension Witch for crying out loud! But if I used magic, the people below would notice. I could hear their gasps and screams from here.
"Aisha, can you reach my hand." The red-heads voice was surprisingly soothing. My nerves slowly calmed as I looked up at him. His hand was extended towards me.
"I-I think so." My voice sounded tiny, scared, but it was justified. I tediously allowed the fingers on my left hand to uncurls one-by-one. My right tightened as the weight was pushed onto it.
My arm trembled as I reached upwards. I lunged upwards in terrified adrenaline where my hand grasped Elsword's. He let out a grunt at the sudden weight, but I didn't hear it.
My right hand unhooked itself from the 'R' and it reached out to the ledge above. I gasped out the breath I was holding as Elsword started to tug me up. Once I was high enough, I swung my leg over the side, rolling back onto the sturdy concrete.
I started sobbing again, my vision blurred and my head still feeling like a hammer was constantly banging on it.
"I-I almost died." I whispered, my voice allowing nothing else to come out.
"I almost... died." I repeated, not bothering to scrub my eyes.
"But you didn't." Something hit me as Elsword's voice rang through my skull.
"You... You shouldn't have followed me! Why did you follow me?" I sputtered, curling up into a fetal position.
"Wh-Why?" I whimpered, allowing the steady stream of hot tears to flow.
"I was... Curious." He stated, and I could here him scratching his head.
"You idiot." My crying died down, my voice steadied.
"Idiot?! I just saved your life." A blow to the head, similar to the one I received from that... glitter assassin... Oh sh*t. I was up in two seconds, glancing around like a frightened deer. My hand clutched itself as I realized I didn't have my staff. Where did I drop it?
It was a yard away, precariously perched on the edge of the buildings. I dove for it, holding it to my chest. Where had the assassin gone? I ignored Elsword's reprimanding, and the still-throbbing pain in my head. It took a moment to remember the gash on my shin and cut on my shoulder.
The pain hit in one fell swoop, causing me to drop to my knees. My mind was still focused on trying to find the glitter. I couldn't sense it, which was odd since I was pretty sure it had come from Ri. Maybe someone really had accessed Limbo.
I vaguely heard Elsword exclaim something, but my head was buzzing like a hornets' nest. In my blurring sight I spotted green eyes glaring venomously from the nearby shadows. I blinked and they disappeared. It had gotten away.
"Aisha! Aisha are you ignoring me? Oh my god Aisha, how did you get so beat up?" My amethyst eyes drifted up to Elsword's. I only then noticed his arm supporting me. I had been clutching into it this whole time. My nails had even dug into it, causing a small trickle of blood.
"Sorry." I rasped out as raindrops began descending.
"For what?" His confusion hit me like a pendulum swinging in a full motion.
"For that, and being such a burden." I responded, my voice high as tears welled up in my eyes again.
"You're not a burden, the hell are you talking about." I diverted my eyes, my head rocking back and forth with disorientation.
"I-I almost died. If you hadn't been there, I would've fallen. You practically dragged me up by yourself." I stated, blinking to keep focus as my vision was still freaking out from the pain.
"That doesn't make you a burden." He replied softly, a vague tone of concern in his voice.
"I-If you h-hadn't saved me, then hope would have been lost. I would never be able to get the El back." I realized, not noticing that I said it out loud.
"What?" I looked back at Elsword, straight into eyes burning with worry.
"Nothing." Was my simple response. I averted my eyes to the open door.
"Did anyone see you come up?" I questioned, switching the subject.
"I don't think so." He replied, blinking as if he just thought of that. The idiot.
"Did anyone see me almost fall?" I followed up.
"How the hell am I supposed to know." My mouth made an 'O' as I realized his position. He knew as much as I did.
"I hope not." I stood a little straighter, my vision finally clearing up. Another wave of pain crashed against me, almost making me stumble.
"Hey, Aisha?" I nodded, signalling the red-head to continue without looking at him.
"You never answered my question about how you got so beat up." I tensed up. Would he believe me this time? Probably not. He might just laugh at me, or his skeptical attitude would just grow.
I shrugged instead of answering truthfully. He let out a snort.
"Think I'm gonna believe that?" I didn't see him raise his eye-brow, but I knew he was probably smirking.
"No, but you wouldn't believe the real explanation either." I stated, taking a step forward. This time I did stumble, but Elsword caught me. Why was my face hot?
"Is it another, "Different Dimension" thingy?" He asked, looking at me completely serious. I sighed.
"... Yes..." I whispered, looking at the concrete below.
"Alright, spill it." He urged, drenched by now because of the rain. I shivered.
"But you won't belie-"
"Just hurry up and explain." He sounded irritated.
"Ok, Ok. Well, somebody probably found the gate to Elisium, or opened a portal to Limbo. They summoned five, maybe more, glitter demons. I found them up here, probably trying to find the El too. They attacked me, but I have dispatched of them." I said in a rush, looking at the building next door.
"Limbo? Glitter Demons? Dispatched of them? Have any proof?" I could feel his eye scalding the back of my head, which already ached.
"They should be over ther-" I gasped, my finger still pointed to where the glitter's bodies used to be. Not even a knocked out, yellowed tooth remained.
"No! I swear their corpses were over there! I swear it!" My voice heightened as the cut on my shoulder suddenly shrieked for attention. I grunted, my hand flying up to clutch it.
"Let's get you to a hospital." He suddenly crouched, his arm wrapping around my knees and shoulders, lifting me up bridal-style.
"N-No! Not the hospital! Wait, why are you holding me?! I can walk by myself!" I insisted twice in the same sentence, smacking his head.
"Ouch! You clearly can't walk on your own!" He exclaimed, glaring at me. I scowled.
"Fine, just don't take me to the hospital." I grumbled, crossing my arms across my drenched hoodie.
"Why not?" He blurted, raising his eyebrows.
"I... I have a... A fear of hospitals..." I mumbled, letting my head fall to cover my blush.
"A fear of hospitals?" That cynical b*st*rd.
"Yes." I continued to mumble, still embarrassed.
"Whatever, doesn't matter to me. So your place or mine?" He inquired, looking down at me as we walked down a fire escape.
"Mine please." I whispered, silently praying that no one would notice the dried blood on my shin and shoulder.
"Alright then." He ducked around some people, making sure not to bump my head. I pouted as people's eyes bore into me. I'm sure Elsword could feel it too. He heaved me over to a nearby parking garage, ordering me to push a button on an elevator.
I held back my protests as we entered. I immediately felt claustrophobic in Elsword's arms. I felt tiny and helpless as he plopped me into a cherry-red car.
"You have your own car?" I questioned, studying the dashboard as I tried to prevent any blood from getting on the leather. The pain hadn't faded, but "Ignorance is Bliss" as they say.
"Yes." He dead-panned, stepping on the gas.
"... Thanks..." I blurted. My eyes widened.
"What?" He sounded shocked.
"I said... Thanks..." I informed, staring at the dashboard still.
"I know that, but I never expected it from you." I scoffed at his reply.
"Well you did happen to save my life! Would you prefer me to say 'Good job', or maybe 'go away'? 'Cause I'd be happy to oblige." He laughed a very care-free laugh. It was actually... Kind of attractive...
"No, sorry. Just don't go falling off buildings anymore." He smirked, making me slap his arm.
"No promises." I stuck my tongue out, but my happy demeanor quickly fled as the gash in my leg begged for attention. The rest of the car-ride was filled with silence. When he parked outside my apartment building, I didn't even grumble a complaint.
I unbuckled, and swung the door open. Before I knew it, Elsword was picking me up again. Once again I could feel my cheeks hot.
"I think I'm fine." I quickly protested, tensing.
"No you're not, just stop complaining." He shook his head with exasperation. I pouted.
"Ooh~! Someone's been busy~!" Rena's dirty mind was probably going overtime as she smiled suggestively at me. I refused to let my blush come back; it didn't work.
"Hey, Rena, you don't happen to know first-aid, do you?" Elsword asked, pausing in front of the elevator. I sighed, of course he would ask Rena. I'll never hear the end of it now.
"Yeah, actually. Why?" She stood from her red-cushioned stool.
"Well Aisha kind of..." He trailed off, gesturing with his head at me, prone in his arms. I huffed, crossing my arms and ignoring the pain in my shoulder.
"Oh god Aisha. You guys head up to her apartment, I'll be right up." She ducked under her desk, sifting through various items. Elsword nodded silently, and I pushed the up button. He stepped inside.
Ara: That was rather... Intense...
NAA: I felt like writing something crazy dramatic. And there were some ElsxAisha moments in there.
Ara: They are pretty cute, aren't they~?
NAA: But was this chapter too rushed? I feel like I suddenly jumped from a happy, silly fic to a dangerous, dramatic one.
Ara: Probably because you did.
NAA: Didn't you say something like that on the first AN?
Ara: Just reply to the reviews!
NAA: Ok. Ok.
To Light15XV: That must've been confusing.
To Rosamelle: Hmm, well since "Shawn Spencer" is taken... Then I will dub you Angela instead. Angela has always sounded like a psychic's name to me.
Anyways, I will try not to make LK's personality too bland. I've always seen him as a more mature, slightly understanding Elsword, but with the same stubborn, hot-headed, idiotic-ness, heh. And I think have a smiley face at the end of a morbid sentence is a wonderful idea, so go crawl back into your hole, LK!
To Rinkushido: You are very welcome! Gosh I'm so happy about that, I've always been lazy with description(point proven in this chapter as there is next to no description). I'm glad you think it's a good idea~! I was planning on having a VP chapter after every 2-3 DW chapters.
To G123u: Haha! In all honesty, I love RS, but don't think he goes with VP as well as LK does, teehee(plus I want him for myself)~! I hope he's terrified of VP! He should be, MWAHAHAHAHA- ahem. Anyways, I was being lazy yesterday so that probably explains the rushed scene, plus when I imagine packs of glitters, I imagine there to be only around 5-7 in each pack. I HAVE FIXED IT! HOORAY! No doubt there is a similar mistake in this chapter too, though... The fact that English isn't your first language surprises me. I don't know if it's because you're typing it down or not, but you're English/grammar/spelling is better than a lot of people I know who's first language is English(I have a bunch of idiots for friends). Though it does make me curious of your first language(hint-hint). I HAVE SAVED YOU FROM THE CLIFF HANGER! GRAB MY HAND LIKE AISHA DID WITH ELSWORD AND WE WILL RIDE OF IN A CHERRY-RED CAR TOGETHER AND- *dies of over-stimulation*.
NAA: *revived from death* Did I do good?
Ara: Yes, you may now have this cookie. Even if DW is now traumatized.
NAA: YAY~!
Toodle-Loodles,
~Not-Alone-Anymore