Haha! I finally figured out how to make that line thingy!
The bodies were everywhere, what a mess.
"Seems it was just some more random criminals..." I sighed, my pigtails crowding my face as I bent low to inspect one of the bodies.
"I guess we should have guessed, none of them were really strong enough." Ryo concluded.
"But still," I kicked the body, "Its been seven years! You'd have thought we would have found at least a clue!"
"Hey," Ryo touched my shoulder in comfort, "Don't fret, I'm sure we'll find something soon."
"How can you stay so calm!" I pouted.
"Lots of practice." he replied sarcastically.
"Very funny," I rolled her eyes, "So where are we headed next, Ryo-kun?"
"How many times to I have to ask you to stop calling me Ryo-kun?"
"I still don't understand why I can't..." I grumbled irritably.
"Because you're not using the honorific properly; I'm older than you! Plus, you could at least give me a more masculine sounding nickname or maybe more of a term of endearment." Ryo fantasized, his eyes glazing over, he stared off into the distance.
"Just quit your daydreaming and tell me where we're going!" I ordered, flicking him on the head.
"Fine, fine! Let's see..." he unfolded a map, "Ummmm... hm... maybe...?"
"Are you telling me that you don't know where to go next...?" I suddenly felt extremely faint and leaned against a table for support but it crashed at my mere touch.
"Fatty." Ryo snickered.
"J-just stut-up!" I huffed, standing.
That was when I noticed it; sitting in the midst of the rubble was an edition of The Weekly Sorcerer. I quickly leapt over, snatching it and wiping the dust off, I read the title: Flame Mages of Fiore.
"Jackpot." I squealed and with a quick twist I shoved the magazine in Ryo's face.
I could barely take in the scenes as they whizzed past us on the train. Forests, villages, people, I saw no details, only quick forms as we sped past. But none of the little details mattered anyway, we were headed to Fiore! Fiore; it was practically magic central! If that mage was anywhere, it would be Fiore. I silently snickered at my own stupidity; why hadn't we thought of that before? I felt like an imbecile, but a happy imbecile at that.
Darkness fell over as the train entered entered a tunnel, but the lights quickly flickered on. As I was unable to admire the scenery any longer, I turned to the magazine. I flipped through the pages, names and faces flickering by. Some of the mages were simply a joke, mediocre and weak. The majority of them couldn't have caused my village to burn if they wanted to. The ones that we knew couldn't have done it I'd already doodled over (What? I got bored!). Their profile photos were covered with my signature animal ears, buck or black teeth and Xs or swirls for eyes.
"Hey cutie! What'cha got there?" a tall, slender man with blond hair entered my car.
My eyes were immediately drawn to the tattoo on his forehead.
"Why should it matter to you?" I replied coldly.
"Ouch! A little cold aren't we? Let me introduce myself, I'm Salamander the flame mage." he grinned and winked at me, I simply stared coldly back.
I had to keep my cool; he was a flame mage. I couldn't interrogate and dispose of him at the moment, though. The train was too public, I was going to have to get closer to him, make him believe I was his friend.
"Oh, really? A mage?" I clapped my hands together in false excitement.
"Hahah, how'd you like to come to my party tonight in Hargeon? It'll be in my boat on the harbor." Salamander's cocky grin was sickening me, but I held it together.
"Wow! I love parties, I'll be there!" I held my smile no matter how much I wanted to gag.
"Great, see you then!" as soon as the door closed behind Salamander, I retched.
"Blaaaaaa! I hate cocky bastards like him! They're disgusting!" I grimaced.
The door slid open again and I regained my composure to see Ryo, letting out a sigh, I waved.
"Yo, I got some grub." he handed me an ice cream.
"And I've got a flame mage." I replied, starting on the ice cream.
I probably wouldn't have this out if I hadn't already written half of it. I had a theater thing all week, so I'm super tired, but here's your chapter. Please review!