Chapter 14: Hot Spring of Trouble
They left the village at dawn before the demon wolves have struck once more. Ronan's dragon was used as means for transport. Ryan, despite how badly injured he was, morphed himself into the giant nephilim, letting Lire ride on his back as she encircled her arms around his neck from behind. His bright orange wings unfolded as he ascended. While flying to the skies, they are contaminated by the dark clouds of smoke coming from the fire caused by the onslaught. None of them bothered to watch the scene below them.
"Where are the rest of the food?" Jin asked to break the silence.
"Here~" Arme held up the bag of goodies left. She kept her left leg steady as Lass did the work on changing its bandages. She won't be able to walk properly for the time being.
"Where are we going?" she then asked.
"I don't know..." Ronan, who is giving orders to the dragon, replied gloomily. Everywhere they go has catastrophe, making them less likely to find a place that is safe for them to reside. But they really have to migrate somewhere else safe. If they will go back to their castle, which is their headquarters, they'll most likely get ambushed.
Their tension was interrupted when Arme cried.
"Look, over there!"
"So... you're her childhood friend?" Arme asked Myrielle while hanging their clothes on a clothesline with its ends tied on two trees to keep it steady.
"Uh-huh. We always play games together and compete in archery," the female Elf stated while still in high spirits. She glanced at the mage and observed her, putting a finger on her chin. "...you don't look endowed." Her comment made Arme's face turn uncharacteristically red. She covered her chest with her arms, looking away in embarrassment.
"Sh-Sh-Shut up! That's none of your business!"
Myrielle cackled. "Now, now~ you should be proud! Researches say that smaller bumps mean more pleasure." she said this while leaning on her ear, making the petite mage blush heavily. She screamed helplessly, running around the wet flat boulders as Myrielle chased her around.
"Lire, aren't you coming?" Marina called out to Lire, who is hanging her clothes on the clothesline. She chose a secluded spot where she could go. But before she could join the rest of the girls, her ears twitched. She heard the guys chattering on the other side. Growing a bit curious, she tiptoed towards a boulder where she could hide.
"Are you fucking kidding me? She couldn't be taking that long!" she heard Sieghart's arrogant voice booming.
"...I don't know. She just..." It was Ronan. He spoke passively while scratching his head. Lire kept her back leaned against the boulder to avoid being seen.
"Hey, cut it out. She's going to be fine, okay?" Jin broke up the fight between the two guys.
"I have a feeling that she's looking for her brother. I... I saw her reaction when we started talking about Elsword in front of her.." Ronan stated, his tone full of worry and concern as he grimaced. "I should have followed her!"
Sieghart placed his hand to his temples. "That can't be helped. We just have to trust Jin's judgment."
Ronan went silent. He wanted to answer back but he resisted. Lire understood him a bit just by hearing the tone of his voice. Before she could contemplate the situation, her head suddenly ached. She placed her hand on her forehead and groaned. Thankfully, none of the guys heard her. Lire quietly complained about her sudden headache, wondering why it hit her just now.
Please, not now... please not now... she begged as she used her other arm to cover her chest. Growing impatient, she quietly rose when she heard the door open again. She crouched back down before the person inside could see her. She heard footsteps but they were not coming towards her direction, feeling a wave of relief. Her headache came once more. She rose and tiptoed back towards their area where the girls are when she was interrupted by a hand on her shoulder.
Lire froze. The hand on her shoulder was heavy. She couldn't bear to say a word as she remained silent.
"It's me." her tension faded away when she heard that voice. She slowly looked over her shoulder, only to meet an emerald gaze. Not only did her tension faded out, her face turned completely red... because like her, Ryan isn't wearing anything.
"Sorry, I... I was just strolling around..."
"No, it's fine. And I want to talk to you." Ryan said, not putting his hand away.
"But the guys are waiting for you. And-"
"I know. I just want to be alone with you, if you don't mind."
"Oh..." Lire looked down and nodded. "...okay." She groaned again, clutching her forehead.
"You're not feeling well, are you?"
"N-No, I-I'm fine..."
Ryan breathed a sigh. "You're bad at lying." This caused Lire to resign. She let him carry her in his arms, taking her to the small hut where he and the guys have been. That's what she first thought. But what surprised her is that there is another spring just behind the hut. The guys didn't see it in the first place until Ryan noticed. He gently put her into the hot water before joining her.
"You don't have to do that." Ryan stated just as Lire covered her bust with her arm. She felt nervous because she's alone with him once more. Even with her bust bare, Ryan didn't bother to look at it. He simply ignored it. Lire lowered herself into the water to savor its warm touch. She closed her eyes as her headache slowly got away. She got nervous about the fact that she is naked. With a naked guy. And she is on the guys' territory. Even if she tries to get out, the druid will restrain her from doing so.
Lire thought that Ryan might have some another business with her. Despite feeling relaxed, she wanted to lie down on a bed and rest. She's been feeling a bit woozy, maybe it's because of the long walk that they've had and from fighting monsters.
While the girls make loud noises on the other side, the guys soaked themselves on their area, their arms spread open and placed on their either sides. Sieghart, his haughty side taking the better of him, stood in front of them and showing off the excited elephant. Ronan put his hand on his face, shaking his head in disbelief. The gladiator simply ignored his verbal feedback as he looked over his shoulder.
"RYAN! Take your crazy ass with you and get over here!" he bellowed, his voice echoing on the vicinity. "Where are the apples you promised?!"
"I don't think he can hear you." Jin said.
"So what's the use of his ears then?" Sieghart argued. "Lass, mind if you go get him?"
The assassin stuck out his tongue at him. "Do it yourself."
"I'M GONNA BURN THE FOREST!" Sieghart screeched, his gladius appearing from hammerspace as he gripped on its hilt. He held it over his shoulder with the blade placed on his shoulder blade. "And I'm gonna cut the trees, too! I'm sick of this doing-nothing nonsense." He turned his back on them, heading towards the woods when a horrible stench caught his nostrils. He grimaced as a large plant appeared in front of him and grew as if it's controlled by magic. As soon as he saw it, Sieghart felt nauseated, cupping his nose and mouth with his hand and coughing.
"What the hell?!"
"You dare mess with the trees and I'll keep this up!" Ryan's voice echoed just a few distances from the guys. He threw magical seeds at Sieghart who coughed loudly, swatting every seed he's throwing.
"Agh - stop!" the gladiator yelled, escaping from the horrible stench. "G-Ggg..ahh! GODDAMN IT, RYAN!"
"Just what do you want from me?" Ryan stopped throwing as well.
"You said that there are a lot of apples. Mind if you get us some?" Sieghart flashed a displeased expression as it turned sour. "And get these fucking plants out of here! You're gonna owe us a trip to the hospital."
"There's a tree full of them right beside you," Ryan stated as he headed back. "Now if you'll excuse me-"
"Hold it right there!" With a comic speed, Sieghart grabbed the guy by the neck from behind and pulled him forward. "You've had enough alone time!"
The druid growled a heavy swear. "...now what?!"
Sieghart flashed a grin. "I suppose that you've had all the "time"with her, hah~?"
Ryan grimaced, pushing him away. "And what's so awesome about that?"
"C'monnnnn! Stop acting like Lass and get over here. We want to hear a lot from you."
"About what?"
"HOW NAIVE!" Ryan yelled in pain when he felt a fist pound his head. "You still haven't manned up, have you?"
What the hell is this asscake saying? He hated being questioned about his personal life especially now that he is in a serious relationship. Sieghart dragged him towards the hot spring, earning a large splash after being thrown in. Great...
On the other side divided by a tall wooden fence, Lire is all alone. She endured the deliriously sensual conversation coming out of the mouths of those guys. Raised as an honorable and prissy girl, she is trained to avoid hearing and even talking about such things. But now, she didn't worry about that. She worried more about her constant headache. She couldn't stand it anymore as she stood up, heading back to the area where the girls are. She walked with a hand on her forehead and her eyes half-closed.
"Just a little more..." she mumbled to herself. "...just a bit...more..."
She eventually made it back but she headed inside the small cottage, hoping that there will be a bed for her to lie down on. Her head screamed for rest as she sat down, moaning. She went to rummage on her small bag to look for the medicine that Lian gave her before she escaped. She picked up a small bottle that is half full. She uncorked and upended it into her mouth, draining the whole bottle. She heaved a deep breath and put the empty bottle back into her bag, knowing that the medicine won't be enough.
She exited the cottage, rejoining the girls.
"Lire, where were you?" Myrielle's voice was the first that she heard.
"...Huh..?"
"Are you all right?" Marina came to her after noticing the hand on her forehead.
"I...I'm fine." Lire lied, flashing a weak smile as she looked around. "...hey, where's Arme?"
"She went overboard hoarding the fruits," Myrielle said, folding her arms on her chest. "and yeah, she's gonna get us something to eat."
"I think that's my job..."
Her friend laughed. "Don't worry, we can manage! And I've got some herbs just in case someone catches a headache."
Lire felt a wave of relief. She needed them.
"What's taking her so long? She couldn't have gotten too far." Myrielle looked over her shoulder, looking behind her. "That ninja albino's gonna kill me if she gets in trouble again."
"She mentioned something about bananas." Marina said. "Although it's pretty rare that they are actually in here."
"I'M BAAAAACK!" Arme's high-pitched voice broke their silence, carrying with her bundles of partially ripe bananas. She dropped them to the ground and rummaged for the completely ripe ones. "Grandpa always tells me to pick the ones that aren't ripe so they'll ripen easily over time. And they're good for the body! C'mon, have some!" She distributed the bananas to each one of them when Myrielle laughed sheepishly.
"Gee, we'll eat nothing but these!" she said.
"Bananas are delicious. Period." Arme said sharply, taking a bite on the tip and chewing. Myrielle sighed as she spoke.
"Hey, hey, don't you notice something about these?"
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"I mean, it's strange," Myrielle said as the mage stared at her intently, curious about what she is about to say. When she leaned closer, Myrielle whispered something in her ear that made her amethyst orbs shrink.
"W-W-What's that supposed to mean?"
Myrielle laughed mischievously. "Hihihihihi. You name it."
Lire frowned, not eating the banana she is holding. She turned away when Marina called out to her.
"Where are you going?"
"I'll just take a rest. I'm really tired." Lire went to grab her clothes and walked away. She headed back to the cottage where the bed is the one that she is hoping to see. She ignored the noise that Myrielle and Arme were making as she went. As soon as she is back inside, she put her clothes back on and threw herself on the bed. Staring at the ceiling, she remembered some words of Myrielle that she just blurted out just a moment ago.
"What does she mean by that...?" she asked, peeling the skin of the banana. She knows that she shouldn't be thinking about such things but, like Arme, she grew curious. She can still hear Myrielle's loud and wild yapping while Arme screamed internally, her innocence getting shattered. Come to think of it...
Two guys sat, watching the scenario before them. Their mouths hung open as their figures are completely frozen. None of them couldn't even dare to make a single move. Even Sieghart, usually haughty and arrogant, couldn't say a word. The red-haired fighter next to him felt the same but his face was blue.
"What... The... Fuck..." Jin breathed out.
"...tell me again why's that girl with us?" Sieghart regained his senses but there are still traces of blue shades on his head.
"I think Ryan's gonna suffer even more..." And speaking of sensitive auditory nerves...
"Wait, where's Ryan?" Jin regained his senses as he looked around. "He was with us a second ago!"
"Let's get outta here!" Sieghart stood up and ran past Jin.
"Hey, we still have to look for Ryan!"
"Forget about him. Hurry up before those dames see you!"
The two idiots ran for their lives despite that they weren't even caught as peeping toms. They stumbled while running before making it back to their haven. Meanwhile, Ryan stood in one corner, not even minding the ruckus going on. Like them, he stood frozen but he wasn't staring at the girls in the pond. Despite that he can see them clearly with his angle of sight, he paid more attention to the one that he is staring at right at the very moment.
His heart raced. His mind screamed what the hell is that. But at at the same time, he is staring at it intently. He watched the unlikely... And did the inevitable.
It took him a while before he regained his senses. He sat down and leaned his back against a tree near him, his expression mixed with disbelief and excitement. He found himself panting. His green irises have shrunk; filled with shock from what he just saw. He breathed in some fresh air for a few seconds before heading back to the guys area, his eyes shadowed by his orange locks.
Instead, he went inside the small cottage intended for the males to stay in. He put his clothes back on, sitting on the small bed and clutching his forehead.
Fuck, of all the people... He found himself swearing in his mind. He never did that before. He guessed that it was all from the adaptations he went through especially with the Chase. He had inherited some of their attitudes and mannerisms. Sieghart's constant swearing. Lass's aloof and taciturn personality and many more. Ryan then chuckled bitterly.
"You really got me there... Lire..."
UPDATE: 09.15.14
I don't know how many times do I have to say this but I wanted to express my deepest apologies for the extremely late updates. I need not to explain the reasons any longer.