A/N: Second chapter for today. Yay! Review if you have any comments or suggestions or spot any mistakes during the writing.
Sandwichess: That's one way to describe it. Thank you. You put my heart at ease, knowing that I have improved leaps and bounds. I have to thank NekomimiTree too for giving me tips in writing.
Chapter cover: Dual had his hands in his pockets and his back against the wall, glancing at the active streets of Kerning City.
...
Lea's right eye flared up in pain. She felt herself being carried up by the collar, and then thrown aside where she had no choice but to meet dirt, face-first.
"Ooof."
"Oops." The cheery voice continued. "I shouldn't have done that to my lovely niece of mine."
Niece? The stranger thought with a frown on his face.
"Who are you?" The stranger said with an edge to his voice. Lea was paralyzed, he was all alone. His employers won't be able to help him in this battle for they too, are busy on their side.
The person twisted his neck to look at the questioner. He tugged his black leather jacket closer to him and smiled. His coffee brown hair swayed with the wind, his aqua eyes almost as piercing as the glaive wielder.
"Nobody. But I know who you are."
The way the opponent said it sent shivers down to Lea's ally spine. He tightened his grip on his weapon. He almost missed it.
The glaive wielder was forced backwards as they clashed each other with their weapons. The enemy wielded a rapier, the worst matchup that could ever happen to any polearm wielders. What's more amazing is the rapier was enforced with mana from his opponent, overcoming the weakness of the rapier – the blade itself.
"Koli Ayers." The rapier wielder quoted. The metal inside the heels of the combat boots clang noisily as they hit the earth. "Fourteen – what a coincidence, the same age as my niece?"
Koli gritted his teeth. He could only defend himself against the rapid speed attack of the rapier user. The rapier user whistled merrily to himself. Koli was pissed off to the point he wanted to punch the rapier wielder's merry face.
"Occupation: Mercenary. Wow, that's a very tough job," The rapier user leaned forward as their weapons grind against each other. "Would you like to work for us? We can pay a great price for your service."
Koli managed a cheery smile, on par with the rapier wielder. "How about…No!" Koli cheated by sweeping the legs of the rapier user. Unfortunately, his opponent foresaw it as he jumped backwards.
"Kids these days have no manners." His opponent spread his arms. "It's a great deal – you work for us, we pay you."
"Unfortunately, I am not done with my current employer." Koli's tone was laced with sarcasm.
The rapier user shook his head. "A pity indeed." Without another word, his enemy approached Lea, who was still face-dirt. Koli's eyes widened – he had forgotten about the broker. The reason why they were even here in the first place was to talk with the information broker.
Koli dashed towards Lea, ignoring any potential danger that may come to him.
"Not a f-" Koli was interrupted by another order.
"MOVE!"
A flash of light passed Koli and it reappeared next to Lea. His employer's friend was panting and there was a few scratches on his white mage clothing but his weapon was steady. The rapier user was unfazed, even with a weapon pointed towards him.
"Oh, that's why my henchmen haven't take Lea away yet. Ah, two against one – no," he corrected himself once he spotted another. "three against one."
"Make it four." Another voice said. Koli turned around and looked up until he spotted the red-eyed sitting on the roof, spinning his dagger on his right and another bloodied dagger, on his other hand. Koli saw rage and protectiveness in his eyes.
For the first time, the rapier user's face turned grim at the prospect of fighting them all. The rapier wielder pointed at the employer's friend.
"Luminous." Then at the tree branches where Koli's employer sat, observing. "Phantom."
"Oh-ho." Phantom exclaimed, swinging his legs. "He recognizes us, eh, Lumi."
Luminous growled at that nickname. "Don't. Call. Me. That."
Phantom pretended he was hurt. "We're friends!"
"A very, very annoying one." Luminous retorted, his eyes still on the rapier user. He locked eyes with the rapier user and was surprised.
The rapier user wasn't concern he wouldn't match them all.
"Do you know who that child is?"
Neither of them answered the question. The enemy laughed.
"Foolish, how foolish. You don't even know her worth to The Black Mage?"
Luminous's and Phantom's eyes hardened the moment the enemy mentioned their nemesis.
Beep beep beep!
Their enemy smiled at them, shutting the alarm of his wristwatch. "It's my cue. Goodbye."
"Hold it." Luminous said, trying to grab him but the man had escaped by teleporting. Luminous looked up at Phantom only to find him shaking his head. They could track him down but they have exerted too much mental and physical strength. Chances of them failing to track him is above 50% if include the possibility of being counterattack.
At least they have the information broker. One of the best in the world – or so Phantom claimed.
Koli frowned at the thought. He glanced at the information broker and cupped his chin before voicing out his question: "Who is carrying her?"
As expected, Phantom volunteered for it. That casanova. Koli added darkly in his heart.
...
...
After thirty minutes, Lea found she could finally move her mouth to speak. She was conscious the whole time. Face-dirt during the entire battle – that was embarrassing.
Unfortunately, the bloody paralyzing poison was too strong. Hell, it was worst than her older brother's tea. A tea so bad that it sent her taste buds to hell – it was complete garbage. To make it worse, the shitty tea was spiked with one of his so-called inventions of potions, a paralyzing potion – amplifying the garbage taste.
One good thing she gained from that accident was she developed a better immunity to paralyzing potions – a special trait she inherited from her mother.
Lea was forced to look ahead and smell the sweat and dirt from fancy hat. She would've been grateful to them if it weren't for fancy hat doing a one-sided conversation with her and carrying her bridal-style. Her right eye and head ached. She should get a hot drink, maybe a latte this round.
Dual glanced backwards and Lea managed to plead with her eyes. He just shrugged and turned away. Lea noticed his smirk though and began plotting for revenge.
Fancy hat's one-sided conversation grated her nerves. Their other company went first to clear their path and Lea couldn't blame him. Fancy hat is a horrible chatterbox.
"Shut. Up." Lea muttered. "It's annoying."
"Oh, finally. The poison wore off. I suppose I can dump you unceremoniously-"
"You wouldn't dare." Lea answered coldly. She knew it was a brave attempt, but fancy hat's amethyst eyes gleamed mischievously, as if telling her he knows.
"Phantom," Snowy began. "even if you are my current-" Snowy's face turned sour.
Fancy hat is Snowy's?
As if to answer her question, he continued albeit reluctantly. "employer…I would appreciate it if you don't anger…" He looked at Lea questioningly over Phantom's shoulder which was easy since he was taller.
"Lea." Lea coughed.
"Lea. She's our best bet in getting rid of my curse and finding your lost friends."
"Relax Koli. I know what I'm doing." Fancy hat reassured Koli, the snowy. "Besides, it's not my fault you got cursed and have one of our friend's appearances. Snow white hair, dark tanned skin – why not? At least I can tease him later. Girls fawned all over you, which mean they fawn over him."
Surprisingly, Koli blushed. Lea would've raised an eyebrow at his reaction – damn the poison. Can't she negate it quicker?!
"What a chatterbox." Lea remarked. Dual snickered.
Fancy hat took it coolly though which irked Lea. By the time they were outside, the stars were out. Lea breathed in the fresh air. It felt good to be back on the surface.
"Can you take me to a safe zone? I need to concentrate to fight against the damn poison." Lea requested. Dual exchanged a glance with fancy hat and Koli before nodding at them.
Koli and his employer exchanged a confused look, and then Koli scratched the back of his head.
"I don't think we have much choice." Koli muttered under his breath, but Lea's enhanced hearing caught them.
Since they can't climb with Lea's feet and hands still numb, silver-haired dude erected a quick barrier around them. Lea didn't notice it before, the silver-haired dude has some light bluish at the end of his hair.
Unlike what fancy hat had threatened, he set her down properly on the ground, her back against the World Tree.
Lea took a deep breath and tried to close her eyes but failed miserably. She was too tensed, she can't meditate at all.
'Need my help?' asked the beast inside Lea.
'No. Just…try not to make things worse, 'Kay?' Lea replied.
She repeated her breathing, trying to calm herself and when she felt calm, she closed her eyes. She concentrated the blood inside her, one holy another dark. In terms of elements, holy and dark rejects each other so she must choose one to negate the poison.
She ignored the expected stares from the quartet.
She visualized a corridor. On her right, a yellow door. On her left, a black door.
Further down the corridor was a serpent-like creature. It darted its fork tongue into the air. Before it, Lea felt a twinge of worry. What if her actions hurt the majestic creature? Its horns were broken, some of it scales had not healed, and there were countless scars all over its body – all of them from its great battle three centuries ago. Its crimson eyes watched her and felt her worries as they shared the same soul. It may be temporary but, they rely on each other.
She hurt it more than it hurt itself.
And that ate her from inside.
The creature then reduced its size to the point where she could carry it with her hands. It flew towards her outstretched hands. It may not have wings but it could glide with the air.
He will be fine. He will be fine. Lea chanted those words to herself. The beast grinned, showing its canines to her.
She walked forward, with the ancient beast on her shoulder. It nudged her reassuringly as she faced the yellow door – the colour of holy element.
The purer essence of light. Lea added silently.
Why not me? I am better, stronger, unlike you. I can fight against the poison coursing through your body. Her other self whispered in her ear.
The beast growled at the Lea's other self. 'So you have come…you will never pass up the chance to take control of this body won't you? Demon.'
Lea was about to open the door, but hesitated. Her inner demon is right. I am weak, pathetic, worst among humans, why should I fight?
You can ask yourself that? Why should you fight? Isn't it because you struggle? Aren't you supposed to be my rider? I am your horse; I am guided by your handle of reins. Isn't this the ultimate proof you are stronger? The demon said mockingly and rattled its bounded hands.
'Are you trying to encourage me?' Lea asked the demon, still facing the door; her grip on the knob was loosened.
I am you and you are me. We cannot exist without the other. Obviously, I want to control you, but your mental strength never ceased to amuse me for the last few millennia. It would be a pity to end this game.
'What do you mean?'
Her inner demon laughed. It was enough to snap Lea out of her indecision. She twisted the doorknob open and jumped inside. But she wasn't fast enough to block out her demon's words: A twisted sense of duty of course.
...
...
In reality, Lea's forehead was beaded with sweat. Her complexion was paler than usual.
No matter what, Dual knew this was a struggle between her humanity and inner demon. Nobody can interfere with the battle. He knew it because…everybody has one. Lea was no exception. They were all sinners, the boundaries between the right and the wrong was paper thin, but nonetheless a boundary they must make.
Dual failed to understand Lea's inner demon isn't just a part of her, it was her. Another darker, side of her persona.
Then, Lea's veins glowed slightly yellow. A gasp escaped from the trio.
"What the-" The one called Luminous spluttered out his words. He was shocked – who wouldn't be if they saw Lea like this?
The one with noble clothes – Phantom – Dual recalled – merely look grim as if he saw this before. He mumbled something Dual couldn't catch. Koli nodded his head encouraging Lea. Dual shook his head, it was useless, Lea is in another world at this point.
When Dual first saw it, he remembered being as shocked as Luminous was. Make no mistake; Lea is worthy bearing the name of the clan of stars.
They watched the strange spectacle. One by one, the glow became dim and then fades back to its normal colour.
"I am glad I made us invisible." Luminous said after a long silence.
"You made us what?!" Dual yelped. "How?"
"Refracting the light of course." Phantom answered for Luminous and looked at Dual as if he was an idiot. Dual felt his cheek flushed with embarrassment. It explained why not many people were staring at them.
A groan escaped Lea's lips. Dual immediately crouched down to her level. Her eyes slowly opened. Her eyes' colour reminded Dual of an obsidian stone he once saw. It was glazed at first then it focused on Dual.
"What's 1+1?" Dual asked slowly.
"2." Lea answered it perfectly. A smile managed to worm its way through his face.
"Sleep." Lea closed her eyes.
Huh?
Dual shook her shoulders. "Hey, hey, hey, don't sleep now!"
But her slow breathing told Dual she was really asleep.
He sighed inwardly. As usual.
Dual turned around to face them with a poker face. "She's asleep."
A unison of what and a facepalm was given – Koli, the only person who facepalm among the trio.