The rain started pouring down as they had walked though the gates of the city. The streets quickly became deserted which made their passage to the coliseum easier. Standing in an alley close to the battle arena, the two of them watched Lowell and Syrenne's bar closely. Hoping that they would pull this off, without being noticed.
Chapter 4: The break-in.
''Let's go in from the back.'' Dagran spoke just above a whisper. Which he received a nod in agreement from Tifa, before they ran around the back of the building. Water splashing around their feet as they hurried around the stone building.
Dagran crept closer to the small kitchen window and looked inside the dark room. It was empty and the window latch was unlocked so he silently pushed the window open. He turned around to wave for Tifa to come over to him, but was surprised to find her standing right behind him. ''You'll have to climb in here and then open the kitchen door.'' he told her and stepped back to give her room.
She Immediately took his vacant spot under the window and on her toes, she heaved herself up. Her upper body and arms clung to the windowsill. It was going to be a very tight squeeze. ''I need some boost.'' She softly noted.
He stood behind her and put his hands under her shoes, pushing her gently upwards. She crawled through the window, skilfully, not making any sound. He heard a small clicking noise, indicating that the door had been unlocked. He entered and closed the door quietly behind him.
''I think it's empty, but let's be careful just in case...'' Dagran whispered.
''Sure thing...'' She whispered back and let her eyes wander around the place. It felt warm and welcoming. It was worn, but with a homey feel to it. It was sparingly decorated, but with enough touches not to make it look empty and cheap. All Furniture looked to be oak in various conditions and placed to utilize the space to its fullest. His friends must be happy to have a place like this, to call their home.
They crept out into the serving area and quietly up the stairs. Careful not do bump into any chairs as they did so. They tiptoed into one of the bedrooms. They searched around quickly amongst the few bedrooms, but it did not take them long to figure out that his things were somewhere else.
''This must be their guest rooms for hire. My things must be in their own living area, '' he grunted agitatedly. Feeling uneasy about breaking into his old friends house. He wanted this over and done quickly, and preferably without any incidents and especially without meeting any of his former companions. He simply was not ready to meet them. ''Damn it! What a waste of time...''
''Hey, take it easy...'' Tifa whispered as she closed a closet door.
''I don't want us getting caught! Precious time have already been lost in search of these rooms and by you taking your sweet time climbing that window...'' he snapped reproachfully.
Tifa finally lost her temper and shoved him into the wall, standing on the tip of her toes to glare up into his eyes. ''Don't talk to me like that! I know perfectly well what's on stake here. I'm breaking into a house to help you for god's sake!''
Seeing regret flash over his face, Tifa gave him one last shove before releasing him. ''If you're so much better, do it yourself next time...''
Stupid man! Who do he think he is? She thought to herself as she left the room. Not caring whether he followed her or not. It had not been her fault. She had worked as fast as she could. If that weren't good enough for him, then he should have shoved his fat ass through the window himself.
'Tifa...'' He whispered to himself, feeling ashamed for snapping at her like that. He could see how angry she was by watching her trot down the stairs. The usual gracefulness to her steps had been replaced by half stomps. Her whole body was tense and she even walked with her arms crossed in front of her. It almost looked like she was trying to contain herself from doing something? The force she had possessed when shoving him against the wall had taken him by surprise.
Dagran berated himself for his behaviour. She is the most caring and sweet person he'd ever met, and he was way out of line. She was sticking her neck out for him, and how does he repay her? By acting like a selfish bastard. He did not blame her for being angry, but he also knew she was stubborn as a mule when riled up. I'll have to make it up to her later...
After having followed her down stairs, they passed through a spacious kitchen into what looked like a living room. He could clearly see that he had come to the right place. It was a small room with some bookshelves, a sofa and two arm chairs with a small table in between. Above the open fire place hung something very familiar to him. It was Traive, his and Zael's first sword. Their treasure. He walked like in trance towards it: memories coming back with full force when he ran his fingers across the blade.
His mind brought him back to they day when they bought the sword. The two of them had been naïve rookies, not even experienced enough to see the difference between a real sword and a fake. They hadn't realised that it was a ceremonial sword until after they tried it out.
''This is the symbol of our promise, to become knights'' Dagran said holding up their new sword.
''Are we really going to succeed in becoming knights, Dagran?'' Zael asked his older friend.
''Of course! We'll be the best knights in the empire and we'll help change things.'' Dagran replied cockily.
''What if we get separated?'' Zael asked with woeful look.
''We'll be friends and together forever.'' Dagran seriously told his friend, ''I promise''
''I'll promise too!'' Zael vowed happily.
They had hugged and to make their silly promise official, never once thinking it would be a promise they would not keep. Now the sword hung here, alone and unattended. Not used by either of them. Zael must have moved on and left it here, not wanting to be reminded of the past. This made things feel more real for Dagran, and it made him determined to do the same. To move on and stop lingering in the past.
Tifa understood that this was something important to him. The sad look in his eyes and the tightness around his mouth told her so. She let him be, and continued searching for the chest, giving him a few moments to himself. Luck must have been on their side because between two doors, stood a small chest. Crouching down, she grasped the lid and opened it.
''Bingo!'' she cheered happily and cast mini on the chest, allowing her to stuff it into her pouch. As planned. She fished out a fake one they had brought with them, and placed it where the other one had stood. It wasn't an identical copy, but on close inspection it would probably fool them, ''Hey? I found what we were looking for...''
Dagran awoke from his thoughts, turned towards her. Meeting her uncertain gaze, but before he had a chance to respond, he heard voices coming from the kitchen. His whole body stiffened and his fighting instincts kicked in and took over. His reaction came fast and with precision. He reached the window next to Tifa in two long strides and opened it. He gently ushered a worried looking Tifa out the window first. Then in a hurry, he hit his head on the side of the windowsill as he climbed out. Without wasting time, he carefully closed the window and ran after Tifa into the dark streets.
The four friends just came home from their annual visit to Dagran's grave. Zael and Calista had left a little earlier for a small trip to visit Therius. It had been a day spent in the past, talking about old memories. Dagran had meant a lot to the former mercenaries. He had been the leader of their little pack, almost like a father. It was not until he was gone, that they realised everything he had done for them. The burden he had carried all those years.
Even though it had passed two years since his death, the days surrounding this day was always difficult. All of the missed him, it simply wasn't the same without him. Lowell and Zael had taken Dagran's death the hardest. Zael was not the same man as before, he had changed significantly, and they all thanked the stars for Calista. Without her, he would have crumbled into a ghost of himself.
''Wait...I can sense...someone.'' Yurick said suddenly, holding up a hand to stop his friends from going further into the kitchen. He concentrated harder on the aura, and his one blue eye widened in surprise. ''No! It can't be...'' He bolted through the door leading into the living room.
''Yurick, Wait!'' Mirania shouted and ran after him.
''What the bloody hell is going on!?'' Syrenne barked angrily throwing her hands up in the air. The movement sent a spark of pain along her spine, which made her take a sharp breath of air.
''Now, now, please calm yourself my dear.'' Lowell soothed calmly, gently steering her into the living room. His arm laying protectively around her shoulders. ''Now what's gotten into you two? You should know better than upsetting her into barking her little head off!'' He reprimanded sternly, a bit out of character for him as he always was the merry one.
''I'm having a baby, but that doesn't make me a delicate flower!'' Syrenne snapped irritatedly, shoving him away from her.
Yurick stood like in a trance, his eye widened in disbelief and Mirana stood next to him crying silently. Her small shoulders shaking slightly. His gaze immediately sough out Lowell's, wishing he could spare his friend the pain his news would inflict, ''The aura we're sensing belongs to...Dagran...''
''His spirit must've been here...'' Mirania suggested softly, quickly brushing away some tears. ''You don't think-''
''Don't even think like that! He was as peaceful as he could get...before...he...'' Syrenne trailed of ruefully. Angrily brushing away tears of her own. Her heartbeat quickening at the thought of his last moments.
''His spirit...'' Lowell mumbled dishearteningly, eyes looking sadly around the room. Dagran Why did you have to die? He thought sadly to himself. His mind drifted back on fond memories he had of his friend. Despite being years younger than himself, he had looked after him just like with the rest of them. He was the one who gave Lowell a purpose after being lost and he even gave him a second chance of life.
''That stupid pretty boy...'' Syrenne sniffed softly, her hand caressing Lowell's back. In hopes of comforting him. ''If I see him in the afterlife, he'll be sorry to have known me.''
Yurick nodded his head in agreement before turning towards the window. Where something caught his eye. Under the curtain lay a lone feather. He quickly walked over there and picked it up. A smirk played on his lips as he recognized it. ''No, Mirania. Not his spirit.'' He calmly stated while showing them the feather.
''Then he's alive!?'' Lowell's gaze landed on the soft feather between Yurick's fingers. ''That's his feather all right...''
''Look!'' Mirania exclaimed excitedly and pointed to the sword on the wall. Not needing to state the obvious because it was easy to see fingerprints on the dusty blade. ''He must be alive.''
''Seeing as we sensed his aura, He's alive all right, and he has been here...recently.'' Yurick spoke seriously. Disposing the feather on the small table between the two armchairs. ''The question is, what do we do about it?''
''We go after him of course!'' Lowell shouted happily. Looking at everyone of them determinedly.
''Yeah! Let's drag his sorry arse back here, and never let him out of our sight again.'' Syrenne suggested cockily with a smirk playing on her lips.
''Yeah!'' Everyone agreed with a shout and followed her back out onto the streets.
The target had been confirmed and the chase was on. The four friends searched the streets, screaming their leaders name. Using the two mages sensing ability to pick up a trace to follow.
Would they succeed in capturing their friend or would he slip through their fingers?
