Here's the next chapter you guys! This is my first time writing other people's OCs so I hope you enjoy it! Let me know what you think in the reviews!
Submission Info:
1) I have 4 slots left open for submissions.
2) Submissions are due by February 1, 2024.
2) I will not be accepting any more characters until the due date. So if you've sent in an OC, please be patient and I'll let you know if your OC is in by Feb. 2
Episode 2- Encounters and Reunions
January 17, X791
Fiore, East Forest
"... this might have been a bad idea," Cassia jumped up just as the fist of a Gorian smashed into the ground beneath her, completely obliterating the earth. "Petal darts!" She threw the handful of petals she had in her hand at the Gorian, a small smile appearing on her face when she heard the monster let out a roar of pain. While the petals had started as normal petals in her hand, they had hardened and sharpened as they flew through the air, becoming like sharp mini blades by the time they hit the oversized primate.
Unlike her sister, physically she hadn't changed much at all, but it was clear she had grown from a teenager to a young woman, her body evening out and the last traces of childhood leaving her features. She now wore an off-shoulder green tunic with bronze trimming, a mid-thigh length green skirt, and knee-high light-brown boots that went with the brown leather arm guards she wore.
"You're the one who chose this mission!" Her teammate called back as he threw another Gorian through the air. He was a well-built young man with fair skin, slightly wavy-spiky blonde hair, and stormy gray eyes. He wore an aqua blue shirt under a white coat that had a dark blue hood and cuffs, brown trousers, and brown boots. "Ice Dragon's Roar!" A blizzard-like blast blew from his mouth, freezing over two Gorians that were charging him.
He ducked under a Gorian's fist as it swung out at him, a large grin appearing on his face, "Ha! Missed me ya big oaf!" He delivered a solid kick to its stomach, causing it to take a step back.
"Ice Dragon's Impact," His hands and feet frosted over, cold misty air rising from the limbs as he coated them with his magic. He then launched himself at the Gorian, bombarding it with kicks and punches, every hit freezing the Gorian more and more until it was covered in ice from head to toe.
He felt a harsh gust of wind blow by him and glanced over to see the lithe body of a demonic white weasel twist through the air, lashing out with its long sickle-like claws as its body easily twisted between the Gorians. Every time the weasel lashed out, strong bursts of wind blew through the trees, easily cutting through the thick trunks and branches as if it were a blade.
It was their last teammate, Keziah in her Take-Over: Kamaitachi form; a demonic spirit weasel with sickles for claws. "Sickle wheel," The weasel curled into itself creating a condensed wheel of wind around itself as it launched through the air, crashing into a leaping Gorian's chest and causing the large monster to crash to the ground.
"Plant Magic: Buloke sword." Cassia blocked the strike of a Gorian with a steady wooden sword, her green eyes narrowed. She pushed the primate away and slashed at it, causing it to roar in anger before charging at her again.
"Sickle Twister," Before the Gorian could strike, Keziah twisted quickly through the air, creating a condensed tornado around her body and launching it at the Gorian, sending it spinning.
"Plant Magic: Wild vines," Cassia crossed her arms, and thorned vines exploded from underneath the remaining Gorians, wrapping tightly around their bodies and restraining them.
The blonde grinned, throwing himself at them as he twisted his body and arms around, "Ice Dragon's Frosted Wings," he created two twisting columns of icy hurricane-like blasts, aiming for the restrained beasts.
"Tempest slicer," Keziah lashed out with her claws, sending blade-like gusts of wind flying and mixing with his attack. The moment the wind and ice hit the large primates they screamed and crashed to the ground, beaten.
"Nice job Vere! Keziah!" Cassia joined the two of them, a large smile on her face. "I knew we could do it!"
"Didn't you just say the job was a bad idea?" Vere raised a brow accusingly, "You thought we wouldn't be able to handle it! Which is a bit insulting, I didn't even break a sweat," He huffed proudly.
"In Cassia's defense, there were more Gorians than we were expecting." Keziah released her take-over and in place of a demonic, white-furred weasel, stood a young woman with lightly tanned skin, dark red-brown curls, and green eyes flecked with gold. She wore a cream-colored tunic that had flowing sleeves and a green collar, gold arm guards, a high-waisted bright red skirt that went to her mid-thighs, and dark brown mid-ankle high boots that had a slight heel.
"Of course, there were more, Cassia didn't do her homework after all. Are we that surprised?" They all looked up to see an exceed standing on a tree branch, he had silver fur with darker stripes and black eyes; he wore a denim jacket and jeans.
"Oh?" Cassia smiled at the exceed, using her magic to wrap a vine around the unsuspecting exceed and bring him to her level. "Just what are you trying to say, Ashe?! You're the one who ran up a tree the moment we were surrounded!"
"Ah! It was for survival!" Ashe squirmed in the vine's grip. "Vere! Help me!" He cried as the vine tightened around him.
"Hey! Don't fight you two!" Vere immediately went to pull the vine off his partner. "We're supposed to be a team after all- Cassia!" He whined when vines started to wrap around his legs too.
"Hmph," Cassia shot the two of them a playful smirk, "What's wrong? I thought you didn't break a sweat before so this is just another challenge."
Keziah laughed at their antics but decided to rein them in before the male ended up covered in plants. "Come on you two, we should-" She cut off when a Gorian suddenly charged at them.
Keziah reacted on instinct, shoving Cassia out of the way and allowing the large primate to tackle her through the trees, sending them falling over the edge of the cliff.
Keziah gritted her teeth as she grappled with the Gorian, trying to escape its grip but it hung onto her tightly as they fell. As they reached the trees below them and started to crash through the branches, she was finally able to put her foot in between them and land a solid kick against the Gorian just as they crashed to the ground, sending them tumbling in different directions.
Keziah rolled on the ground, only stopping when her back hit something firm but not hard. She glanced back quickly, blinking in surprise when she saw a pair of legs... but... her attention went back to the Gorian as it stood, "Take-over: Aku-" Her words were cut off by the sound of a series of gunshots.
She watched in shocked silence as the Gorian was bombarded with gunfire, causing it to cry out as it was assaulted with shot after shot until it fell to the ground.
Her head whipped back around, and she took in the man the legs were attached to. He was tall and broad-shouldered with tanned skin, and thick, wavy dark brown hair, his eyes covered by orange-tinted sunglasses. He wore a black shirt under a dark blue cargo jacket, black pants, and thick-soled dark brown boots. Most importantly, he was holding a double-barrel shotgun, that was still smoking. "... that's overkill don't you think?" She raised a brow at the mage.
"Is that any way to thank the man who just saved your life?" He kept a firm grip on the gun as he looked down at her, his eyes unreadable through the tinted lenses of his glasses. "How bothersome, I should have just let you get mauled."
Her face burned red as irritation shot through her at his words. She pushed herself to her feet, glaring at him. "What was that?!" Her tone was sharper than normal, but she was admittedly embarrassed by what had just happened, she was an S-Class mage and she had been taken by surprise by a Gorian of all things... but that didn't give this man the right to say he should have let it maul her!
"I saved your life for no reason. I wasn't paid to save you, so it's a bother." The man sighed, he then pointed the barrel of his gun at her. "Do you mind paying me for my troubles? It would mean I didn't waste my time." He said all this in a monotone voice, face stoic. It also didn't sound like he cared if she paid or not.
Keziah gaped at him, green eyes wide before irritation overtook her. She slapped the gun away from her chest and took a step closer to him, leaving only an inch in between them. Her shoulders shook in suppressed anger, she had never met this man before but he was making her blood boil like no other. "I had the situation handled! Thank you very much! And as if I'd pay some random guy even if he did save my life. Can't you have just said you helped me from the goodness of your heart?!"
The man studied her intently, his brows furrowed. His eyes scanned her up and down as if he was searching for something. He was silent for so long that Keziah's anger melted into annoyed confusion and unease. She huffed and turned to walk away, not expecting him to answer her.
When he suddenly grabbed onto her wrist and pulled her back, she moved quicker than he could react, punching him right across his jaw and whipping his head to the side. "Do. Not Touch. Me." She glowered at him.
His face remained mostly unchanged, but his gun was once again pointing at her chest, a trace of anger finally appearing in his eyes. Good, something besides that strangely blank, yet calculating look. "You weren't worth the trouble." He finally said, pulling away to rub his jaw.
"I didn't ask you to save me," She huffed again, meeting his eyes. Once again, it looked like he was searching for something and he thought if he burned a hole in her head, he'd find it. "... thank you." She finally muttered, looking away as she blushed slightly. Her pride aside, he did save her. Even if he was a Jackass.
"Hm," Without a word, he turned and walked away from her, disappearing into the forest just as Cassia and Vere ran up to her.
"Keziah!" Cassia grabbed onto her. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine. That guy helped me out." Keziah said.
"Who was he?" Vere asked, looking at the spot where the man had disappeared.
"I don't know, I never got his name," Keziah admitted, looking at where he disappeared to... for some reason, she didn't think that would be the last time she saw him.
January 18, X791
Fiore, Poppy Valley
"And then I went BAM!" Vere gestured with his hands as he talked to his two teammates as they walked towards the guild, "That Gorian didn't know what was coming!" He laughed. "Man, we have to go on more missions like that, fighting against the odds always gets my blood pumping."
Cassia and Keziah exchanged amused looks, they were used to Vere's excitement when it came to jobs and how he liked to push himself.
"...there were way more than I was expecting," Cassia admitted, "I don't remember reading that there would be that many when I first got the request."
"Did you even read it?" Ashe asked, he was sitting comfortably on Vere's shoulder. "It would be just like you to take it and run... being the youngest of the group must be so nice." There was a teasing lilt to his voice as his tail swished through the air.
At that Cassia grabbed onto the scruff of his neck and pulled him off Vere's shoulder, "I'm older than you." She shook him slightly, "And of course I double-checked!"
"Vere help!" Ashe struggled in her grip but Vere continued walking towards the guild. "Don't fight you two," He called over his shoulder, a grin on his face. "Want to head out on another mission?" He asked, glancing at Keziah.
"We just got back from two jobs," Keziah sighed, "Let's take a moment to rest," The two of them stepped into the guild and immediately felt something was off, it was too quiet in the guild and the members were looking uncertainly at them.
"What is it?" Keziah was immediately on alert as she looked around the guild. Her eyes landed on Calla who was sitting at a table by herself, shooting anyone who got too close to her a nasty look. No wonder everyone was quiet.
"Who is that?" Vere asked, cocking his head to the side in confusion. He had never met her before and she looked a bit intimidating with her black clothes and piercings.
"Can't you guess?" Keziah scoffed; her voice guarded when she met Calla's eyes from across the room.
"No... I have no clue who she could be," Vere said honestly.
"Cassia, what's wrong?" Ashe asked, drawing the two older members' attention to the youngest teammate. She had frozen the moment she saw Calla, eyes wide and face pale.
"... Calla..." Cassia breathed.
At her name Calla got up from the table and slowly made her way over to them, her golden-amber eyes cautious. "Hey, Sis."
At the words, Cassia's face suddenly flushed red with anger, "Don't 'Hey, Sis,' me!" She threw Ashe at Calla's face, causing the exceed to yelp.
"Don't throw me!" Ashe whined as he soared through the air, crashing into Calla's face before tumbling to the ground. "... how cruel..." He whimpered.
The sisters ignored his whining and stared at each other. "Where the hell have you been?!" Cassia demanded.
"Around," Calla shrugged carelessly. "I did send you postcards."
"Postcards that just say, 'I'm alive,' every few months don't cut it." Cassia snapped, glaring at her sister. "What the hell have you been up to?! Why are you back now?!"
Calla shrugged again, causing Cassia's brow to twitch, "I'm not back by choice. If it was up to me, I'd never step into this town again. I have no reason to be back here. And I have no reason to tell you what I've been up to."
"We're family! Of course, you should tell me!" She protested. "I could have gone and helped you!"
"Really? Would you have helped, or would you have gone crying to mommy so she'd help instead?" She scowled at her sister. "You are a bit useless, Cassia."
Cassia flinched as if struck at her words, hurt flashing through her eyes and for a moment, Calla's face looked guilty before the disinterested look she wore slammed back down on her features.
"You were always a bit of a Crybaby, seeing your face pisses me off." She added for no reason other than to be cruel.
"Then leave, it's not like you haven't before," Cassia hissed before turning on her heels and storming out of the guild before her sister could see her tears.
"H-hey! Vere chased after Cassia, Ashe clinging to him. There was a deafening silence at their departure, no one daring to say anything until Keziah spoke up, glaring at Calla as her protective instincts for her teammate ignited.
"Nicely done," Keziah said frostily, "You leave for four years, then randomly come back, and say that? What the hell is wrong with you? You're not the girl I remember at all! You would never have said that to Cassia before!"
"Like I said, I didn't come back by choice," Calla said, going back to her table and sitting. "And you look exactly the same as I remember you, Keziah, I doubt you've changed." She leaned back in her chair and looked the brunette over, completely unimpressed. "Who was the blonde idiot?"
Keziah's brows twitched in annoyance. What the hell was with everyone? First that strange guy in the forest and now this? Were people trying to piss her off?! "He's our teammate. Vere Morgenstern, he joined three years ago."
"Not going to deny he's an idiot?" Calla raised a brow before scoffing; her eyes blank as she looked at her childhood friend. "Did you become Cassia's babysitter while I was away? That's good, the crybaby needs it."
Keziah's body shook with anger at Calla's cruel words and disinterest. "Will you shut up?!" She slammed her hands down on the table Calla was sitting at and leaned in close. "Your attitude is unacceptable. You're not the only person in the guild who lost someone they loved four years ago! But you are the only person who ran away instead of trying to move on! If you don't want to be here then leave!"
"I can't!" Calla snapped back, shoving herself forward so that she and Keziah were only inches apart.
"Why the hell not?" The take-over mage demanded, frowning when the viridian-haired woman smirked.
"Well, you see..."
December 12, X790
Fiore, Gazania, Sabertooth Guildhall
"What do you mean you won't allow me access to your library?!" Calla glared at Sabertooth's guild master as he turned his back on her.
"You are not a part of our guild." Jiemma said, "A weak piece of trash like you has no right to even be standing in our Guild. You don't have the right to talk to me either."
"I'm not weak," Calla growled, glaring up at him and he chuckled mockingly.
"I know exactly who you are. A weak piece of trash who couldn't even protect her guild four years ago. Just looking at you makes me sick." He started to walk away from her. "Get the trash out of the guild!" He ordered over his shoulder at the Sabertooth members who were standing around and watching.
"Right away Master!" A dozen Sabertooth mages surrounded her, all looking equally cocky as they moved closer.
Calla shook with frustration, "... yeah. The trash will be taken out all right...Diamond-make: Hammer," She created an oversized hammer and smashed it down on the head of the closest Sabertooth mage, causing them all to freeze in shock.
"What's the matter?" Calla asked mockingly as the Sabertooth mages stared stunned at their fallen comrade. "I thought you were going to force me out of your guild?"
"You bitch!" The rest of the mages charged at her and she smirked.
"Diamond-make: Bat," She created a baseball bat into her free hand and swung back, slamming the hard mineral into the jaw of another Sabertooth mage.
She ducked a blast of fire magic from one of the mages before slamming the bat into the man's family jewels, causing him to scream in pain as he collapsed to the floor. She then followed up by hitting another mage on their side with the hammer.
"Diamond Stomper," She covered her foot with a thin layer of diamond before tripping a mage and slamming her foot down on top of his foot, breaking it. "Come on! I can do this all day!" She slammed a diamond-covered fist into a girl's face as she spoke, laughing.
On and on it went until there was a large number of groaning mages on the floor and a decently sized-hole in the Sabertooth guild building.
January 18, X791
Fiore, Poppy Valley, Nymph's Trove Guildhall
"... and that's what happened," Calla shrugged. "It was either rejoining the guild or being in jail for a bit. This wouldn't have happened if Jiemma hadn't put pressure on the council to punish me. But he insisted since he's the Master of the 'strongest guild' in all of Fiore," She did air quotes and scoffed as she called his guild the strongest.
"You... maimed Sabertooth mages..." Keziah slapped her hand against her face in exasperation. "... maybe you belong in jail."
"I'll happily sit in a jail cell after a maim those Jackasses who attacked our guild." Calla shot back.
"At least you and I agree on that, the people who killed our members in X786 will pay. But there's a time and place to use excessive force... against Sabertooth, wasn't the time! Especially when you were asking them for something!" Keziah cried.
"Well, they didn't give me what I wanted anyways," Calla defended herself.
The other girl sighed again. "Just... rein yourself in will you? You're already being unpleasant enough and lay off Cassia, she's been worried about you."
"What will you do if I don't?" The older girl taunted. "Are you gonna fight me?" She stood up, pushing her chair back so that they were eye-to-eye. "Don't forget I was a S-Class mage before leaving."
Keziah smiled back, "And I'm an S-Class mage now," The air grew frigid as the two mages stared each other down. "Want to see who's stronger?" The mages around them frantically scrambled away as they felt the air shift, not wanting to get in the middle of their spat.
"Don't make me laugh," Calla shot back. "I always won our spars."
"Not always," Keziah said, watching as Calla cracked her knuckles in preparation.
The two of them had just started to move when a voice interrupted, "Calla! Keziah! My office. Now!"
They glanced up at the second story to see Willow glaring down at them, brows furrowed in disapproval.
There was a long tense silence as the women tried to stare each other down but with a final glare, Keziah sighed and slowly made her way up to Willow's office. Calla trailed behind her when she felt the ground under her start to rumble, a sign that her mother was at the end of her patience. She wasn't afraid... but she didn't want to deal with her mother's wrath at that moment.
Fiore, Poppy Valley
Rose's Garden, Kain Reykur's Flower Shop
"-and then she said she had no reason to tell me anything and called me a crybaby!" Cassia complained, she was kneeling in front of a rosebush and sending her magic into it, strengthening the plant and causing new leaves to sprout in place of some wilted ones.
"... well, you did run off here so you could complain to Kain and Curtis. And you are a bit of a crybaby," Vere laughed easily, he poked at a rose, accidentally freezing it over.
Cassia growled, both at his comment and at his actions, "Don't freeze the roses, you idiot!" She slapped him across the face, sending him crashing to the floor.
"... sorry," he said sitting up and holding his cheek where a red hand-print now was. "But don't you feel a bit better now that you got some of your frustration out?"
She blinked at him, "... a bit. But you shouldn't give me more reasons to hit you, Vere."
"Coming to cry or not, that was rather cruel of Calla to say," A young man around her age said, he had fair skin, rose-pink colored hair that was tied in a warrior-like wolf-tail style down his back, and brown eyes. He wore a simple black shirt under a burgundy colored medieval-styled tunic that was a few shades darker than his hair. His pants were long and dark gray, almost black, which he paired with matching boots. He wore a golden cuff on his left wrist and another on his left sleeve, the latter adorned with his family's crest, a wreath of valerian flowers with a sparrow in the center. "She sure has changed in the past four years, but it's understandable after what she went through."
"We all went through loss Curtis." Cassia protested as she started trimming the thorns of the rosebush. "But none of us waltzed away with no word other than to say that they were alive now and again! And then come back without warning. She doesn't even want to be back! I don't even get why she is!"
"Well about that..." Curtis then explained why Calla was back and Cassia was horrified while Vere was annoyed.
"Man, now those Twin Dragons are going to be even more insufferable..." He muttered. He had run into the White and Shadow Dragon Slayers every once in a while, but none of their meetings were pleasant. If he ran into them again, their interaction would probably be worse.
"How did she become like this?" Cassia wondered, shaking her head. What Calla said to her still angered her... but if it was either the guil or jail... well Cassia thought she could a least try and get along with her sister again; even if she had said such hurtful things, she didn't want her sister in jail.
"Loss changes people in different ways," Curtis said calmly, trimming his own bush. "Calla left right after the funerals, so she couldn't share her grief with anyone or lean on them for support. It was her own choice, but we don't know what bottling up her feelings did to her mentally. She also pushed me away when I did try to check in with her." He gently checked the roses, smiling when he saw the brilliant red color of each petal.
"Now that she's back, we should be understanding and try to help her. She's changed, but we've changed too." Curtis finished.
"Even if she's terrifying?" Ashe asked, he wandered up to the bush and pulled a rose off. Cassia was about to scold him when he jumped onto her shoulder and put it into her hair. "Here you go Cassia!" the little cat snuggled up against her neck, trying to comfort her in his own way.
"Thank you," Cassia smiled gently at him, petting his head. "What do you think of her Kain?" She turned to the owner of the flower shop. At the moment he was putting a variety of flowers into a cart so that he could move them to the front of the store.
The man in question was rather tall and intimidating with his broad, muscular shoulders, strong arms, and stoic face, it was hard to imagine that he of all people owned a flower shop. He had tanned skin, short black hair that was pushed back by a red headband he wore, and he had silver eyes. He was wearing a long-sleeved dark forest tunic, black ankle banded pants that were tucked into dirty work boots, and a dark brown leather belt that usually held his sword. He also wore brown work gloves. Since he was working in the shop at the moment he also had a red apron over his clothes.
"I wasn't in the guild four years ago so I can't say anything about her changes," Kain began, "And I haven't talked to her, but I can tell you that she's constantly angry and looking for a fight. I suggest not giving her one," He sighed before looking at her protectively. "But if she treats you like that again, just come and get me."
"Me too!" Vere jumped into the conversation, "I'll freeze her ass if she talks to you like that again."
She smiled at him, "Thanks, Kain, Vere." She was about to say something else, but a timer that was set on the table next to them went off, catching all their attention.
"That's the tea." Curtis jumped to his feet and made his way to the table, an eager smile on his usually serene face as he carefully poured the hot liquid into five cups. This tea was from the collection he chose to share with his guildmates, and he was eager for them to try it since he hadn't shared this blend with them before.
The four of them took a seat at the table and tried the tea, Cassia's worries and frustrations melting away as she tasted the floral notes of the liquid. "This is great Curtis."
"It's nice," Kain agreed, a small smile appearing on his otherwise stoic face.
Curtis smiled back at them, "I'm glad you like it, what do-" He cut off when he saw Vere blow icy air into the steaming hot cup, freezing the tea and flipping it onto the saucer in a dome-shaped ice cube.
The Dragon Slayer then did the same for Ashe, offering the ice cube to the exceed who took it, nibbling on the frozen chunk of tea eagerly.
Vere then popped his own frozen tea into his mouth, munching loudly. "This is great Curtis! Thanks!"
"That's... not how it's supposed to be enjoyed, but to each their own I guess." Curtis sighed. "I'm glad you all like it."
Cassia laughed at their antics, feeling a thousand times better. She loved spending time with Kain and Curtis. They were the only two other people in the guild who loved growing flowers and plants as much as she did; they usually met up in the flower shop and spent most of their time together in silent companionship as they tended to the flowers. It was a nice, change from the guild hall when she needed the break.
"Excuse me," The bell to the flower shop rang, but none of them got up, each of them recognizing Keziah's voice.
The take-over mage reached them a moment later, but to Cassia's surprise she wasn't alone, Calla was trailing moodily after her, her eyes burning with anger as she looked around.
Cassia froze when she saw her sister, the distress and unease she felt at seeing her sister again once again crashing down on her.
Kain must have felt her emotions since he scooted his chair closer to her, his hand reaching out to squeeze hers gently. "It'll be fine." He murmured quietly, only for her to hear. But there was no way that Calla missed his protective gestures.
Kain looked up at Calla, voice neutral and polite, "Is there anything I can do for you?"
"We have a mission," Keziah answered, shooting a warning look at Calla before showing the job request to Cassia and Vere who leaned in to look at it, Ashe plopped contently on his head. The job request read:
GUARD A FAMILY HEIRLOOM
The van Sage family of Chrysanthemum Town is looking for
a group of mages to safely transport an old family heirloom from
Their summer estate to their family home. Please beware, the family
Heirloom is priceless and there have been many recent attempts to
steal it.
Payment: 700,000 Jewels
"Yes!" Vere cheered, shooting up from his chair and almost knocking Cassia over. She would have fallen if Kain hadn't quickly caught the back of her chair. "I was getting bored!"
"But we just came back from two missions," Cassia said surprised, balancing out her chair.
"There she goes, complaining again." Calla scoffed, rolling her eyes.
"I wasn't complaining," Cassia argued back, she felt Kain squeeze her hand again in reassurance and shot him an appreciative smile.
"But the job has decent pay for a transporting mission," Curtis said, looking at the request. "Are you sure there's not another catch besides people who might try to steal it on transport?"
"The only catch is that she," Keziah glanced at Calla's direction. "Has to come with us. And it's not something you can reject, Cass, the Master specifically requested that us four go."
Cassia gaped at her teammate, mouth opening and closing but no words came out. Why the hell would their mother do that?! Didn't she realize how much Calla hated her?
"I already tried arguing, but Mother isn't going to budge, so you'll have to live with it. I certainly will." Her older sister grumbled. "You'd just be wasting her time if you tried to argue. Yours too I guess."
"Fine, fine," Cassia said quickly, she did not want to go on a mission with Calla but she noticed that Kain's eyes were getting stormy and the muscle in his jaw was starting to twitch. Those were signs that Kain was starting to get angry and he was never one quick to anger; Calla must be a special case. She could only guess that Calla's attitude and whatever emotions Kain was feeling from the both of them were fueling his temper; she didn't want him to snap, not because of her.
"But can we at least leave tomorrow? I need to pack again." And rest a little... and maybe try and complain to Mom...
"Fine. Can I leave now? All I had to do was come with you when you told them right?" Calla huffed, glaring at Keziah.
"Don't glare at me, I wasn't the one who ordered you to come with." The brunette glared back. "But yes, you can go back to moping in whatever hole you were in before we arrived."
Calla scowled at her and stormed off, leaving the rest of them in silence until Vere broke it.
"Well, I hope we do get attacked. Lots of anger to burn off." He said cheerfully.
Well, that's one way to look at it. Cassia thought, glumly, going back to sipping her tea and wincing; the taste had turned bitter, reflecting how she felt.
Fiore, Location Unknown
The man Keziah had run into the day before silently looked down at a pendant in his hand; it was oval-shaped and made out of fine silver, engraved into the center of the oval was a cassia tree, the bright yellow flowers popping out against the polished silver.
As he looked over the pendant, his mind flashed back to Keziah's features; the dark red-brown hair and green eyes flecked with gold... she reminded him of someone he was looking for, the resemblance was uncanny... part of him had believed he had finally found her until he heard her name... Keziah. It wasn't her after all...
"I'll find you... I promise." He murmured to himself.
He allowed his thoughts to drift from the brunette; surprising himself when they landed on the woman with the dark viridian-colored hair he had met at a bar. She had intrigued him, and foolishly, he had allowed Jared to egg him on, ending with an unexpected night in her company. It was a good thing he was able to slip out before she woke up...
"Gai," He turned his head at his name, watching as a young man and a girl made their way to him.
The man had fair skin, gently tousled silvery-white hair, and crystal blue eyes. He was dressed in a tanned shirt, blue cargo jacket, and black pants with brown boots. The girl, a child who was only six, had lightly tanned skin, short brown hair that brushed against her chin, and pinkish-colored eyes; she was wearing a pink shirt, pink cargo jacket, and a dark brown skirt that paired nicely with brown boots.
"Miquel, Sumireka, what is it?" He asked.
"Jared says we're all set to go." Sumireka chirped happily,
Gai nodded, "Right." He stood up, carefully putting the pendant around his neck and tucking it into his shirt; thoughts of the two women leaving his mind. "Let's start the mission."
And that's chapter 2! Let me know what you guys think!
Also, just a reminder, submissions are due by Feb. 1! Till next time!
OCs Created by:
Keziah Balire was created by RevolutionaryCleo
Vere Morgenstern and Ashe were created by SeraphOfStars
Curtis Valerian was created by ArcaneQuil09
Kain Reykur was created by Starless Knights
