Chapter 7: Underneath Masks

Ryan averted glances from Myrielle's playful snickers. Her smile never left her lips as it still reached from ear to ear. Since she just found out that this nature guardian and her best friend are an item, she couldn't help but to feel the euphoria that her best friend has charmed a guy.

Seeing Lire blushing madly, Myrielle smiled at them both.

"So," she started. "...how did the beau find his belle?"

The blonde-haired archer wanted to yell at her face to please shut up and think of something else to talk about. Myrielle chuckled.

"Hmm, since it's almost noon, mind if I help you out in the kitchen?" she offered as she glanced towards her best friend.

"Uhh... sure," Lire nods. She gasped when she sees Ryan leaving. She frowned.

"I guess I shouldn't have interfered," Myrielle mouthed as soon as the druid left. But she is certain that her remark still reached his earshot.

"You didn't do anything," Lire assured while preparing the cooking utensils.

"Hahahahaha! Old habits are hard to break~" Myrielle went back to her question. "So, how did you and the lover boy meet?"

"Well... I've known him for a long time but we just didn't talk or we haven't asssociated with one another in the past. Because I joined the Chase and we met in the Elven Forest, he joined us so he could help us fight Kaze'aze." And that's how he relived those forgotten memories with me. By engaging in conversations... with me.She couldn't tell how it led to their relationship as well. She would hear from Amy that love moves in mysterious ways, that love is an unexplainable sensation felt when you least expect it.

"What's his favorite food?"

"Vegetables and uhh... seafood," Lire suppressed a blush. She happened to like seafood especially shrimps.

"A follower of Gaia and a Druid who preserves Nature. And when I encountered him earlier, he was holding a scythe. So... he's a reaper then?"

"He reaps the souls of his fallen brothers," Lire explained. "He has a purpose. You know, Nature is in grave danger and I don't want that to happen. The forests have been our home. The Marsh of Oblivion was once beautiful back then..."

"Speaking of which, I just heard about a group of kids pursuing a necromancer," Myrielle's statement alarmed Lire as she eyed her intently.

"That was the Lich! He got away from us... I was with that group, that is, until I ran away from them because I've sensed Ryan nearby..."

Myrielle looked at her incredulously. "Those kids... are the Chase?" she questioned after Lire told her about them. "I thought they're a group of middle-aged people!"

Lire shook her head as her friend grinned.

"Young is cool! If I were to go on a sparring with them~"

Lire proceeded to describe the Chase and its members, their quests and shared her experiences with them. She knew Myrielle's habit of asking embarrassing questions, sometimes inadvertently hitting a nerve.

"Well, back to Ryan~"

"Let's just make lunch, okay?!"

Somewhere not far from the house, he wandered around the forest as if searching for clues. His canine instincts helped him detect the presence of intruders. The girl he just met somehow made him feel awkward. She is loud and upbeat. She pretty much reminded him of his old self when he was with his peers before he joined the Chase.

Ryan was more of a prankster and full of mischief. Despite his child-like actions, they served as masks: his personality in the outside. A smile and a laugh don't define pure happiness; they are masks. The turning point of his life was that girl with long, golden locks, who was able to see through those masks as much as him who saw a different side of her which greatly opposes the calm demeanour that she usually has.

He was driven by his own pride when Lire mentioned Gaia to him, the episode of the goddess warning her instead of him. Thus, resulting to a very abrupt statement that changed everything: creating a gap between them, a misunderstanding... He knew that deep in his mind, he decided to do it himself for her own safety. In spite of all that, he is full of remorse, realizing that he hurt the girl whom he loves..

During the violent encounter with Rukkha in the Forest of Life, he and his men fought the monstrosity to save their goddess. The outcome was they were able to rescue Gaia; however, most of them have fallen. Despite his return, the dilemma hit him again. Lire. That sentence he spat at her face. He wanted to punch a wall and yell out very obscene swears.

He saw the change in her: avoiding him and conversing in her usual calm tone.. as if he's just an acquaintance. Knowing that she is in no position to interfere in his plans. It got worse when he mistook her for a poacher that he threw poisonous spores at her. If he didn't act quickly, she would have been killed...

To his relief, she survived... thanks to his sister. He blames himself for that... and for making Lire feel worse.

He wandered off, away from the house to clear his head. Ryan did his usual routine of challenging every monster he sees. He then relaxed himself under the trees.

"There you are."

He opened one green eye and saw one of his fellow Druids standing before him.

"Magnus Dan is looking for you."

"What is it this time?" Ryan asked impatiently.

"In case you're not aware, the Lich has attacked our land,"

He winced. "I thought he's been taken care of already!"

"The Vikens and Sentinels could have. But Dan ordeed them to evacuate the residents from their homes and find them a place for refuge." He knew that the leader of the Druids would be expecting him to take the lead. Dan had seen the potential on him despite his young age.

Ryan stood up.

In the kingdom of chivalry and swordmanship, the female red-headed knight walked home. She ignored the people bustling around her as she is too busy worry about her little brother. It has been a long time since she last saw him. She left to lead a mission: to put a stop on the chaos done by Kaze'aze. But she didn't return although she has promised him that she will... after a week.

Elsword...

Elesis made it to her castle and went towards the gates where the guards are.

"Miss Sieghart, you're back!" they exclaimed.

"Is Elsword all right?" she asked.

The guards exchanged glances and scratched their heads. Elesis eyed them in confusion.

"Elsword, he..."

"Huh? Why? What happened?"

The guards grew reluctant. Observing the confusion plastered on the red knight's face...

"He ran off..."

"What?" Elesis mouthed, her red irises shrinking.

"Elsword ran away," they admitted. "He was desperately waiting for you to return."

She couldn't believe to what she was hearing. Her little brother ran away. Because of her. She had broken her promise. She told him that she'll return. And Elsword got impatient.

Now he's gone. Because of her.

"Where... did he go?" she asked, her voice almost a whisper.

"He never told us..."

She's never felt so shattered. She went all the way back here to see him again.

This is all my fault. Part of her started to grow worried. And paranoid. What if he gets into trouble? What if he gets abducted? He's only a kid! How can he defend himself in such a young age?

"Let me through. I'll just go check on something..."

"Once again, he has violated our golden rule..." Ryan's companion muttered. They made it to their territory where a battle is taking place. He quickly recognized the dark power and the energy of the necromancer. The leaders of the Druids have banned the use of necromancy, considering it as a branch of Dark Arts. Many have assumed that the Lich was once a member of their clan but it was yet to be confirmed.

Ryan morphed into his wolf form and ran in all fours. The Elven Forest is now polluted by undead orcs, their blue skins gave them fearsome appearances. The residents ran, evacuated from their houses and while some ran aimlessly. Even the skeletons of the fallen Druids became the Lich's underlings.

Ryan grimaced. Seeing his brothers used as attackers only increased his rage.

"Anyway, as I was saying..."

Myrielle continued her babbling even while cooking. Lire understood this after not seeing each other for quite a long time. Myrielle did miss her a lot and is always looking forward to hear stories from her.

"What were the places you've travelled? Huh? Huh?"

"Uhmm... three continents," Lire isn't sure if she would count Silver Land as a continent. "We've explored lots of places. Right after dealing with monsters."

"We can't have the nice things nowadays," Myrielle said. "Even in Eryuelle Island, there are lots and lots of them. The most sacred places are being polluted and defiled by outsiders. The spirits are being lured away and have been mistaken as pagan gods by them. And those outsiders are the humans!"

Despite the Elves' affiliation with the humans, still there were those who sought to exploit the Elves and deprive them from security and protection.

The grin on Myrielle's face returned. It now becomes her distinctive smile.

I wonder where Ryan's going. Lire disliked it when he would suddenly disappear and decide things on his own. Her worry wort instinct returned... just like how she used to be.

Something else flashed in her mind.

You have to stop knowing what's best for me. You'll only get hurt in the end.

She frowned as she concealed the sadness so her friend won't see.

He cursed. Even though he summoned a pack of light-furred wolves, the Lich managed to outnumber them. The Druids soon arrived. Ryan maintained his wolf form as he lunged for the necromancer. He jumped on the Lich's back, causing the being to stagger even while raising more undead underlings. His green eyes went towards the staff. Thinking fast, his mouth grabbed the shaft, pulling it away from its owner. He motioned for the wolves to cover for him as the canines obeyed. They aggressively pounced on the Lich while Ryan stole the staff. He hopped off of the necromancer's back and dismantled the weapon.

"You're useless."

"My lady..." the Lich strained a reply. "...please-"

Ryan instantly recognized the voice of the Dark Queen. Having dismantled the staff, the owner collapsed to the earth, its soul escaping its shell. The wolves destroyed the cloak that the Lich wore and wolfed on the bones like hungry dogs that haven't eaten for days.

The undead orcs, seeing their lord quickly defeated, growled and collapsed as well. Smoke steamed from their blue skins as they dissolved in the heat, leaving nothing but a pile of bones.

Ryan reverted into his Elf form.

"I believe my work here is done."

"Ryan," a Druid called for his attention before he could leave. "You have to see Magnus Dan at once."

"What does he want?"

"He never mentioned any specifics."

Great. Ryan felt uncomfortable. After his almost-death from the Forest of Life, he's been bombarded with orders.. because he's among the few who survived. And the youngest among them.

You have to stop knowing what's best for me.

Damn it. Damn it. He swore, having regretted what he said to Lire once more. His thoughts went to her. He wanted to forget about that moment.

She is concerned about you! You're really one hell of a self-centered bastard.

He clutched his forehead.

"Is there something wrong?"

"No... not at all..." Lire...

He joined them soon. The young druid got lost in his thoughts. Gaia's warning bothered him: the main reason why he ran all the way back to Elven Forest to find Lire - the person whom he wanted, and dreaded, to see.

She's with Myrielle. But he had the thought of staying despite having someone tagging along. She's looking for me.

"Where's Ryan?" his daze ended when Sybil, the prophetess spoke when they encountered her. Ryan stayed silent.

"Dan's waiting for you in the clearing." Ryan politely rejected those who offered to take him there.

Just as I'm about to use all of my time with you, this had to happen.

"What's taking him so long?" Lire asked, staring out the window. Ryan couldn't be staying outside for too long. She saved him some rice, crabs and shrimps since she and Myrielle decided to cut off their vegetable diet for a day.

"Maybe he went home~" Myrielle replied with her mouth full.

Impossible. The archer thought. Ryan had to transform into a nephilim to get here. He isn't trying to avoid her, is he? It could be that something must have happened nearby...

"Okay, you're going to check on him?" Myrielle asked.

"Uhmm..." If I do, he'll go out and search for me. And I'll only make him worry. The last time, he would be out of her eyesight range and she would eventually find him in unexpected places. If she'll do the same thing, maybe he will feel that worry wort instinct.

But she decided to dismiss it.

"I have an idea. If he doesn't make it here on sunset, then that's the time you'll go out," her friend suggested still with her mouth full. "And I think you can manage on your own, right?"

Lire stared at her, wide-eyed. "What? But you just got here!"

"I know, hahahaha~ but I remembered that I have errands to do before dusk," Myrielle scratched her head sheepishly. "But I'll make it up to you, don't worry. I have to go really soon~'

"I'll... just keep the house locked, I guess..."

"Ooh, ooh~ say hi to Ryan for me. And tell him to come over to my place if he has the chance~!"

"MYRIELLE!"