"Nick? Uh, no. My name is Phoenix... What's your name?"
The spiky haired man, 'Phoenix', stared down at me curiously.
Truthfully I wasn't too sure I should tell him. I mean he looked pretty shady, what kind of a name is 'Phoenix'? No way! I wasn't speaking to anyone until I found Nick!
On the other hand, he may know who Nick is. Mia never told me where I could find him and I didn't know what he looked like. Besides, what harm could come from telling him my name?
"Maya, Maya Fey."
With these words his whole expression changed. Before he had looked curious, though it was clear that he thought the whole matter trivial. Now his expression was one of grave seriousness.
"You're Mia's sister?"
I nodded, frowning. I didn't like that tone.
"Yeah, 'course I am. Maya Fey, not really a common name, amiright? Speaking of which… where is my sister? She- she told me to find someone. But why couldn't she have found me herself?"
"Chief disappeared 'bout 6 months ago… when it all happened. Right before she did, she told me to wait for a girl called Maya by Gourd Lake, though she never said exactly when you'd arrive. I've come here every night for the last 5 months to wait for you; I needed to give you this."
From the folds of his cloak he pulled a circular object concealed in a velvet bag. He handed it over to me and I stashed it into my pocket.
"Last words chief said to me were 'find my sister, she's the only one'."
This confused me greatly, why on earth would Mia need me? She was always the talented one, but the look on this man's face was so determined, so sure, I really couldn't bring myself to argue.
Beyond that though, I really didn't have a freaking clue where I was. He seemed to know Mia so I really didn't have much of a choice other than to trust him.
"So you must be the man my sister was talking about, the one she told me to find?"
It was his turn to nod, with a small smile he said; "Yup! That'd be me!"
"OH, okay! Then you must be Nick!"
~0~0~0~0~0~
Phoenix's P.O.V.
Sigh… how does someone like chief end up with a sister like this?
Me and Maya were walking down the bank of gourd lake, it might not be the fastest way into town but there had been a curfew imposed on Japanafornia after the… 'New management' took over and if we were seen we could (and with my luck, probably would) be thrown in prison.
"So, Nick? Where are we going?"
The questions. They never stop.
"To an inn. We need rest and to meet up with the others. That's where they'll be… look, the name's Phoenix. Okay?"
She brushed of my comment with the wave of a hand and went right back on to questioning me.
"Who are we meeting? Will there be trolls? Dragons? I hope they're not as boring as you, Nick… ooooh! Will there be burgers, I'm hungry nick!"
"My name is PHOENIX! Will you please address me as such?"
She frowned at this, looking upset. Maybe I shouldn't have yelled, she's only a kid. I should apologise. But no sooner did I think this than she continued to speak, albeit slower this time.
"But, I thought nick was a better name… I mean, what kind of a name is Phoenix anyway?"
"Quite an appropriate one for a mage such as myself… y'see a Phoenix is a kind of bird with highly magical properties that is reborn from…"
"YOU'RE A MAGE?"
She wasn't listening; I'm beginning to think this may be a regular occurrence for Maya.
"Yes, I am."
"Cool! Will I get to meet other mages? Hey, Phoenix… was Mr. Armando a mage?"
"Yes. And, not quite. There will be other mages, among other things where we are going, but Diego Armando was not a mage. His power far exceeded that of any regular mage but it had a distinctly different quality about it. And unlike a mage, who needs to hone in on their power, his was completely natural…"
A cool breeze hit my face as we walked along, away from Gourd Lake along a path leading to the city.
A few lights were on but no one could be seen. Maya hadn't said a word since his highness had been mentioned.
His highness? Imagine if chief had heard me say that, she'd probably slap me for it, he lapped that sort of thing up and she hated that… said it went to his head.
Talking about Armando would have reminded her of her sister, last time she would have seen her Mia was in bad shape, and now? No wonder the poor girl was upset…
Wasn't there something I could say to cheer her up?
"So Maya, where we're going. Don't be scared, 'kay? But the people there are a little different."
"Different how?" she eyed me warily.
"Well for starters we've got Gumshoe; he's a dwarf that's over 180cms tall! And when he was growing up he always wanted to be a mage, though he's a metal worker now…"
"Dwarves can't be mages?"
"No, anyone can be a mage… poor Gumshoe just wasn't cut out for it. Then there's Larry Buttz, he's a spirit, kind of, a Zashiki-warashi."
"Don't they bring good luck?"
"Supposedly yes, the Zashiki-warashi are said to bring luck to a home upon their arrival, and misfortune upon their departure… but Larry? Well, when something smells, it's usually the Buttz."
"Why keep him around then? If he's trouble?"
"Well, he's a loyal guy. Don't get me wrong he's clumsy, sticks his nose in everything, is childish and an aspiring womaniser… but, I've known him since we were children and… he cares…if you're his friend he would do anything to help you, to the end. That sort of thing sets him apart from the more skilled mercenaries. We have a cause that needs to be seen through, to the end…"
I trailed off, this was it. The Borscht inn. We had entered the town some time ago and though no streetlamps were lit I knew this well.
There door was locked so I knocked four times, delaying the last knock slightly.
"Who is it?" a voice called from inside.
"It's me Phoenix!"
"I said who is it?"
"Larry, you know who it is! Let me in!"
"…"
Oh for the love of god!
"Naruhodo A. Wrighto."
The door swung open to reveal a man with pale brown hair and eyes. Gangly and sporting a goatee this was Larry Buttz, sadly my oldest and closest friend.
Sort of.
Larry led us inside, that goofy grin never leaving his face.
"Geez, how many times do I have to tell you to use your codename? What if someone were to hear you!"
"I severely doubt it will make a difference Larry."
I glanced to over to Maya to make sure she was okay, but she seemed to be deep in thought. It was only then that Larry noticed her.
"Hey Nick! Who's the girl? She's cute! You can't just go round bringing home cute girls without telling me! Where did you meet her! You holding out on me buddy? Oh Nick! I thought we were friends!"
At this he began to sob uncontrollably as Maya looked up at me with wide, triumphant eyes.
"I knew it…"
Oh no…
"Your name is Nick!"
~0~0~0~0~0~
A/N: Hey there! Well, here's another chapter. I'm really sorry about the delay to anyone who actually ENJOYED the last chapter but some technical difficulties prevented me from posting this sooner. The same difficulties actually also prevented me from getting this to my co-author Emminyan so I regret to inform you she was no involved with this chapter… *sob* don't worry though, she should be back on board for the next one! See you then – The Masked Hentai