Chronicles of the Black Blood
x
Lass's POV
Ronan smiled, "Guys, we've reached the destination. Let's split up into four groups and quickly start the investigation. Fight if you have to."
"Does that mean I get to have Arme as my partner! This is soooo awesooome!" Amy squealed and clung on the little mermaid's shoulder.
"Well... No." Ronan sighed and pull out another paper, "Exii had decided herself with the groupings. Amy, you'll be with Elesis-"
"Aww..." Amy slouched.
"No fun for me either." Elesis rolled her eyes, which caused Amy to stare at her sternly. Those two crimson shades do NOT work well together.
"-Lire and Jin-"
"Let's do our best together." Lire smiled. Jin nodded and smiled back.
"Arme and-"
"Lass!" Amy squealed.
"I wish," Ronan grinned at me. I rolled my eyes. "But no. Arme is with Mari. Lass you're going to have Ryan as a partner."
Jin snickered and tapped my shoulder, "Good luck."
"Wait," Elesis said, "As a leader,"
"You're NOT our leader!" Arme stuck her tongue out.
"I AM the leader, like it or not shortcake!" not a bad nickname hmm. "Now... where was I... Oh yeah! As a leader, I want this information-gaining to be treated as a competition. The pair that will gather the most info will have the pair that has the lowest as slave for a day."
I smirked at Arme who smirked back. Then to Jin and to Elesis.
"You're lucky you're at my team, Amy. If not, you'd probably be cleaning my socks." Elesis told Amy.
"I don't think so." Amy flickered one of her pigtails.
Our pair... has the damn disadvantage.
There's no girl to approach a person and do the dirty work. But, I do have Ryan - a guy that can understand animals and trees, so I guess... we actually don't.
"Alright, split up!" Elesis said, "Ronan, are you in?"
Ronan smiled, "Nah, I won't be joining. Otherwise I would already win it because I'd go off talking to the elders. You guys talk to the parents. Elesis and Amy, take north, South for Jin and Lire, Lass and Ryan take the East, West for you, Arme and Mari."
"Alright, go!"
xx
Exactly three hours has passed.
Seems like I underestimated the village. This damn place is WIIIDE.
And yet, only few information has been gained.
One, the sky grew dark. A storm came and mist covered the whole village. Parents were called by the Elders. When everything cleared up, all of the children were gone.
"Lassy, let's slow down, I'm tireed." Ryan said and sat at the roots of a random tree.
"Oh, c'mon wolfboy. Don't be a weenie." I turned to stare at him from the corner of my eyes.
"People had been laughing at me as I, talk to the animals, and you, talk to human." Ryan wailed, "Especially the moment, you were talking to the brunette woman, and Mr. Grunt said the whole village was covered with green mist!"
"But you didn't have to shout it." I tried to point out, leaning on of the trees.
"But you're supposed to help me!" Ryan exclaimed.
I walked to him, and tapped his shoulders. "Ryan. This 'ability' is the best ability among the rest. As much as I want to have the same ability, I wasn't born with it." I stared at him with proud eyes. "But you are, Ryan. You are. So treat this as a gift and share it to everyone else, okay?"
He was thinking for moments... but then nodded. He quickly stood and exclaimed, "Okay!"
Weenie. Dumbass.
I grinned and turned,
"Um Lass..."
I snickered. "Yeah?"
"You stepped on a poo."
Screw Karma.
xx
Amy's POV
Three and a half hours is finally over.
"Faster Amy! We can't lose!"
Ohh... I saw this coming! I just knewwww Elesis would force me to do the dirty work!
Eww, crap! Aww man, I almost slipped. Damn damp rocks.
"Faster Amy! Faster!"
"Ever heard of the word waiting, Elesis!" I shouted at her, "It's not... easy walking on dirty puddles!"
"You're just hopping on rocks." Elesis stared at me with a matter of fact look plastered on her face. I glared at her.
The moment I reached her, I was already panting.
"Let's... take a break." I told her, fanning my face with my hands.
"We just got a break several minutes ago!" the red head exclaimed.
"Well, it isn't enough!" I huffed and sat down on a random rock.
I wonder what's happening at Arme's side... but I really wish she's just partnered up with Lassy. Hm... Maybe next time I could bribe Exii unto doing that. Then... wait,
"Omg, we have competition!" I thought a little too loud.
"Competition, who?" Elesis replied,
"Ryan, he knows how to talk to animals and trees and plants remember!" I exclaimed. "And Lire's with Jinny! Aww... Damn it! Let's get going Elesis, I do NOT want to lose!"
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Lire's POV
Four hours has now gone by... Jin and I were already heading to the center of the village where Ronan and the elders would be.
"I don't get it." Jin uttered, "How is the green mist, dark sky, and fake elder call is related to the children's disappearance?"
I shook my head lightly, "I also have no idea. Hm... what do you think might've caused it then?"
"I bet it's a monster with a capability to control weather." Jin pointed out.
I hopped over a small bush, "Yeah..." was the only word I replied.
Well, it could be... Anad. Or, a dark magician... Or Lich! We gotta think wide people!
"I wonder how Amy's doing..." I was astonished; quickly turning into Jin who didn't realized what he just said.
"Jin," I called his attention.
"Huh, yes?"
"Amy's going to be just fine, after all she's with Elesis." I smiled.
"What are you saying? I'm not thinking about her!" he replied, his face quickly reddening.
"I didn't even ask if you were thinking about her." I replied and smirked playfully.
"Don't tell Amy! She'll kill me!" Jin shouted.
"Eh? I don't think Amy would do that." I replied and stopped. From here I can see the elder's hut.
"Well, just don't! If you do as I say, I won't be making fun of Ryan anymore!"
"Ryan?" I questioned and never met his gaze. With every seconds that passes, I felt my cheeks growing hotter and hotter. "I don't... care actually. And besides, can't you see? Ryan likes you."
"Ryan likes me?" he repeated. I ran to the hut saying,
"We don't want to be the slave, right? Let's go!"
I just... don't know why I avoided the subject.
xx
Arme's POV
Four hours... and thirty minutes.
Four hours and thirty minutes of information gaining. Four hours and thirty minutes of walking. Four hours and thirty minutes of TRYING TO MAKE MY PARTNER TALK. Damn it! This is quite annoying alright!
I tried my best - ask her favorites! Her opinions! Her name! I even made fun of myself just to make her smile but she just really won't talk.
What a pro depressor.
Right now, we're on our way to the center of the village, where Ronan said the Elder's hut would be.
I let out another sigh, I know everything.
I know why all the children disappeared.
I FEEL LIKE A CRIMINAL.
I thought I was over the bad things... Great. Now I'm in a mood.
The dark sky is Anad's way to hide herself. The green mist is an Alchemist skill - once inhaled, it poisons the inhaler's body and everything in them. The way she/he thinks, her speed, her eye sight, her deniability and it makes a person easier to deceit.
I don't want this but, I saw her do it.
Everything's freaky. Would I tell them the truth that it's all Anad's case? But if I don't then...
"Arme," I was astonished, I looked up and saw Mari staring at me with her awesome crimson-sapphire eyes. "I know you've been wanting to make me talk, but I tell you this: this is just the way I am. I'm very sorry if you think I'm ignoring you."
She made me feel fluffy. So sweet! Ohh this so made my day.
I smiled and nodded. It didn't take long for us to arrive...
... and we arrived last.
"Alrighte everyone," Elesis uttered as she was leaning on the frame door. Once the two of us got inside, she closed the door and turned to face everyone. "Let's start. Amy and I collected the following information:"
Amy stood, "That the sky turned gray, but never rained. The children had gone to bed early. Something was stinking and the parents were all called to a meeting with elders."
Ronan's eye twitched.
"That makes four." Elesis grinned widely.
"You soo owe me a spa treatment." Amy sighed and sat down.
Ryan then stood up, "Me me!" he exclaimed and said, "The sky grew dark, the parents were called to a meeting, and when the meeting was over, the children were gone."
"Hah! We caught the sky grew dark and the green mist and the meeting making one!"
"You're unfair! That counts!" Ryan exclaimed, "But if you want information..." we all stared at him in interest. "Lassy stepped on a poo!"
Oh... hell.
Jin, Amy and Elesis were laughing hysterically. Lire and even Mari was smiling. Who wouldn't? I found myself snickering at Lass who was glaring at Ryan. However, Ronan was just left out, raising a brow.
That kid's going to be in suchh trouble.
After half an hour of laughing, (which isn't true. Just exaggerating) Elesis was the first to calm down. Lassy sat away from everyone else, and... finally Ronan chuckled.
"So, let's continue." Elesis uttered, "Damn I'm already full."
"Full of air..." Lassy uttered. Ohh a sour one alright!
"Shh Lass. If you got served, don't pass it to others." Elesis smirked. Lass growled.
I smiled and walked to him, tugging his sleeves, "Don't take it seriously, Lass."
I was surprised when he smirked at me, "If you say so, Arme."
Taken back. Totally taken back.
Awkwardness.
Ronan cleared his throat - good thing. My gaze left his azure eyes.
THAT ARROGANT BASTARD!
"Jin, Lire?" Elesis called.
"Well, you guys got all of the information, except that there were flashes of black as the parents headed home." Lire said, smiling.
How dare he do that to me!
"Hm... Good enough. Arme&Mari?"
"Well... You guys... got it all!" I smiled sheepishly.
"Aww, Arme don't be shy. You don't have to tell us how perfectly meant to be you and Lassy is." Amy smiled at me.
THIS IS INSANE PEOPLE. We should be concentrating at the quest instead of these kind of things!
I turned to Lassy and found him smirking back.
I sighed and face palmed, "Would it help if I say this is all Anad's doings?"
Silence. I looked to them and found their puzzled faces.
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