Chronicles of the Black Blood
x
"Aww man... And I was even looking forward to go to the town this Saturday." Amy sighed for the enth time.
"C'mon, there's always next time," Lire and I tried to cheer her up.
We were hopping over the platforms on the way to cross the nameless river.
Earlier this Thursday morning, we were asked to go to Frou Village because of paranormal activities - sudden disappearance of all the children.
"Are we there yet?" Elesis asked, she was walking behind Ronan.
"No, we would arrive predictably... tomorrow morning." Ronan said, looking at the map.
"What? Let me see!" Ryan exclaimed, he was peeking in.
"No, me!" Jin retorted, grabbing the other end of the map.
"Ryan, Jin! Don't you might-"
Tear.
We were all taken back.
Elesis gulped, "It's not torn apart, right?" she rushed over Ronan's side.
We caught up and took a peek. The indigo magic swordsman had laid down the now-torn-into-three-pieces map. The red head stood up and glared swords at Ryan and Jin. Literally.
"HOW STUPID CAN YOU TWO BE?"
"Nuu!" Ryan exclaimed, trying to dodge every slash. "Please! I want to live up to my 21rst Birthday!"
"OH WHO GIVES A DAMN, DON'T YOU KNOW THAT THE MAP'S JUST A PIECE OF-"
The wind blow. Hard.
It send the map pieces Ronan was trying to puzzle into different directions.
"Grab it!" Elesis turned from scolding Jin and Ryan.
I tried to catch one since a piece passed over my head but no..!
It's because I'm SHORT. I grumbled and ran for it; reaching... reaching...
And a pair of hands stopped me.
"Heck!" I shouted and turned. "Why did you-?"
"Do you want to drown?" I was taken back. When I looked up, Lass was staring at me with angry eyes.
I failed. The piece had just fell over the water. I lowered my gaze. Yes, I am just inches from drowning. But wait, I know how to swim...! Um... maybe not. But hey, it's just a secret between you and me, okay?
Curse me when it rhymes.
"I'll get it!" Amy exclaimed, hopping again on the platforms. She reached, and succeeded. Though it was already ruined. I watched her from the corner of my eyes as she walk towards Elesis and Ronan, handing them the piece.
Lire also arrived, the piece she got was still quite okay.
I let out a sigh as Lass let go and plop down under the shade of a tree.
I turned and faced them, "Is it okay?"
"Not so much, but it'll be." Ronan said.
"How are we gonna arrive there on time?" Elesis sighed. She turned to Ryan and Jin with a glare, sitting near Lass.
"I'm soorryy!" Ryan whined.
"Me too." Jin slocuhed.
"It's okay, I... kinda went to that village once, so I know how it looks like." Ronan said.
"Let's continue; pray that Ronan does remember the way to the village. Otherwise; both of you will be dead."
The druid and fighter gulped at the same time.
xx
The sky's already dark. We had stop near the river after Elesis and Ronan claimed where we should spend the night. All of us agreed though. After the whole day walking with only five minutes break every hour? Who would dare to disagree?
Apparently, Elesis and Ronan were trying to catch fish. No, Elesis claimed this as a competition. By the way Ronan was looking; it was evident that never did he want to disagree.
Aww, they're sooo mushyy.
I looked over to Lire and Amy who were making dinner, Mari was making tents, which I didn't even know someone had brought one. Jin was helding back Ryan from stopping Elesis and Ronan hurt his precious pet fishes and at the same time, breaking branches at the tree where he was attempting to tie Ryan on.
With them doing all the work, where do I fit in?
I let out a sigh, they settle things on their own. I turned and sat on the riverbank. Removing the violet boots Amy had gave me; well, actually it was a set, she call it... Armor Scout? wait, no... Scout Armor, yeah, that's it. Everyone else wore the same kind except in different color.
I could recall the remark Ryan gave me,
'She works on everyone's set; so we get to wear different ones every time we go to missions. You disagree to wear it; your head's going down.'
I gulped at the memory.
Snapping from the trance, I dipped both of my feet on the water, it was cold. Damn cold. I chose not to flinch though.
I closed my eyes and tried to remember at least a thing from my past.
"Get to work." The horrid voice of the amethyst eyed woman. "I don't need any crying vibes at the blood so quit crying and concentrate on the way you wield your powers!" She had her back turned from me.
It was the reason I was hated by the other children, I was different...
Always... different.
Their eyes were black, blue, green, hazel, red, but never once another bore violet except me. They were treated dirt and all I get is half of theirs.
However, always getting in trouble doesn't exclude me from punishment.
I would always ditch practice and bring food to others that were carving for nourishment. Or, when I eavesdrop (and always end up getting caught without any information gained) and even try to use magic on the amethyst woman.
She claimed herself being Anad.
The woman Exii has been searching for years. The woman, who first proposed of using Black Blood in resurrecting dead monsters.
Necromancy.
I know the entire thing.
That mudbloods are born the same as other magicians, but as they grow up, their powers become uncontrollable; much, much powerful than their parents combined. However, along with the power is a limited life span. Once your blood turns black, pray you'll end up in heaven.
And if it wasn't the most obvious thing, I am a mudblood.
So... one day, I'll wake up, black liquid dripping from my wounds.
However, I do know two ways to avoid a mudblood's cursed death; a, never get exposed to too much magic, which is now not my option; b, give up magic. That sounds easy, sure, but guess what! I tried the second option before and miserably failed.
Now, this is something creepy... I managed to witness a case of offering.
Who it was is what I forgot. But we shared an important bond – I can feel it.
I stared at my right palm. The person was placed over a tablet with writings on it; his/her neck, hands and legs, shackled as a blade slowly cut over her/her throat and heart.
Just picture someone dear to you break out into packs of scream and you couldn't do anything; I was at the door as s/he was killed mercilessly, and later on discovered and held back by a woman with raven hair and fiery red eyes.
Then everything goes blank at that certain moment. But I do know I did something wicked those little memories.
Oh, how I lost sanity at those moments, ironically, it made me laugh - at how powerful I can be.
"Hey," I was snapped back to Earth. I turned to my left and saw Lass looking at me.
"Hello." I cracked a small smile.
He shrugged for moments before replying, "You seem odd today."
"Why did you say so?" I asked.
"First, it's already dark and you aren't whining of how hungry you can be-" What? I don't do that! "And, you aren't even an ounce angry at what I did to you earlier..." he paused and looked away, "Sorry 'bout that."
What did he... Oh.
"It's nothing!" I chirped and smiled, "Something was just, in my mind those moments... But," he looked at me and I smirked at him, "I can swim."
"Really now?" he smirked back, I nodded.
To my surprise, he stood up and slipped his hands on my legs,
"Hey what the!" I exclaimed as he carried me, "Put me down you idiot!"
And tossed me to the river.
"Gaghhh! Help!" I broke out wailing.
"Crap Arme, stand up." I heard Elesis from somewhere say. I did, and... the water was until my torso.
HEY I KNEW THAT, I WAS JUST PRETENDING!
Everyone, by now, was laughing. I am now soaking wet because of that mad white haired guy. I turned to him, his smirk growing with every moment.
"You could've seen your face, mermaid. It's priceless." he remarked and began to walk off.
It was when my face gone hot.
"Damn you!" I cursed.
"Uhh, Arme, you should get yourself dried now. I have everything in my bag, and Mari's already finished with the tent; pink one's ours."
I was still glaring at Lass's retreating figure.
"Arme... I'm serious, you're already red." Amy's worried face turned into a smirk, "Except, if that red isn't because you're catching cold, but because you're blushing! Hah! I'm so smart!"
I'm so going to get back on him one day.
I'm serious.
"Dinner's ready!"
DEADLY serio... wait, DINNER!
xx
We departed early the next morning, sun's just about to rise, and good thing Amy had a spare cloth for me.
Having different moods today is a burden.
Ryan and Jin were having a, 'LQ', as Amy claimed;
The fighter was glaring at the druid and the druid was lecturing the fighter, never to try and tie him again to a tree because a, it's hurting the tree and b, he'd stop himself from killing the killers.
"Are you crazy?" Elesis shouted, almost hitting him, "You always say that and the last time we didn't attempt to tie you, you broke everything in the area!"
"Including the tip of my precious hair!" Amy added.
I chuckled.
"Well...!" Ryan trailed off, probably looking for words as a comeback.
"Duck!" someone had shouted,
"Duck?" we all raised a brow.
"DUCK!" Duck...?
We stopped walking.
"DUCK!"
I saw Lire turned to a direction, "Guys! A strong blast of fire heading towards this way!"
"DUCK!" they sat down, I did too but,
... I still don't get it.
"Dude just dash away!" Jin told the still standing Ryan.
"Nuh uh!" He flashed a goofy smile, throwing his hands in the air, "GOOSE!"
I saw the blast, as if slow motioned in my eyes. Jin tackled Ryan.
And at the moment, we figured another love team momentum.
The red head guy landed over the druid, their faces inches from each other.
"Yo Ronan," the earlier voice had claimed, I raised my gaze to meet a man standing on the branch of the tree, with a wide grin.
Ronan acknowledge him has Atom.
The man had maroon hair and jet black eyes. He jumped down from the tree and shook hands with Ronan.
"I can see Ryan and Jin are getting developments in their friendship. What a shame, I thought they would end up with Lire and Amy." Atom had commented.
At this, the two broke the contact and stood spaces from each other, facing in different directions.
"Hah, what are you saying?" Jin crossed his arms.
"Yeah, you're so stupid for assuming things." Ryan said flickering his hair.
Elesis snickered, "Stupid idiots."
"I heard that!" they chorused.
Everyone chuckled.
Ronan smiled, "Guys, we've reached the destination."
xx