It was pretty clear the following morning that Elise had taken the sailors for a trip the night before while gambling. Takara couldn't count how many dirty looks the short girl received in passing, but she seemed almost immune to it. Well, it didn't help that she was playing with the cash she'd taken from them as if to taunt them over it.
"You're gonna get stabbed if you're not careful," Drake told her flatly, the four of them resting by the side of the boat as they sailed.
"I'll just harden my body," Elise excused as she pocketed the bills. "Not my fault these guys play cards about as well as they sail a boat. Only reason we aren't sick is because the Captain installed that balancing lacrima." Takara had heard about that. That apparently the sailors were not very good at their job, and that a lacrima was the only thing keeping them even. Or, so Elise said. She doubted it somehow.
"What kind of magic do you guys use, anyway?" Jason asked. "I was curious last night."
"Dragon Slaying Magic," Drake answered. Takara watched as he raised a gloved hand, a purple hazy substance forming on his fingertips. "I'm poison, she's iron."
"Dragon Slayers huh?" Jason asked. "Didn't realise they still made those."
"It's a limited stock," Elise joked as she turned her arm into a club. "But that's just because of the risks."
"Risk?" Takara asked. "What's the risk? Sorry, I'm out of the loop."
"If we aren't protected by certain antibodies in our blood, we turn into Dragons eventually." Elise replied. "Right Cyanide Breath?" Drake looked a little disturbed, but he nodded.
"Right," he said. "That's why we're in such limited supply. Not a lot of people can pass on those antibodies." That was strange. Then again, that was Lost Magic for you. From what she knew, almost all Lost Magic had a very high risk for the user. Dragon Slaying was no different it seemed.
"What about you guys?" Elise asked. "Got any cools tricks to show us?" Takara nodded and raised a hand, rubies protruding out of her skin.
"Gemstone Magic," she said. "I use gems to do all sorts of stuff."
"Those things stay around long enough to sell?" Elise asked curiously.
"Nah," Takara replied as the rubies broke apart, disappearing into thin air. "Besides, I haven't used my magic in so long that their probably horrible quality anyway."
"Damn," Elise muttered as she crossed her arms. "Here I was hoping we could get rich."
"Sorry to disappoint," Takara replied. Elise shrugged her off.
"No big deal," she said. "What about you, pretty boy? What kind of magic can you do?"
"Illusion Magic," Jason replied, except now there was a version of him next to Elise as well. She jumped and yelped a bit in surprise, making Drake laugh as the fake Jason disappeared. "I use Magic to effect people's senses," he said. "Making copies of myself is a favourite of mine."
"Got all sorts of tricks up your sleeve, huh?" Drake asked. "Last night you made that guy you played poker with think you had a Royal Flush. Your hand was shit, I saw it."
"Well I wasn't very well gonna lose my first game of poker ever," Jason replied. "Keep your voice down, too. I don't wanna get stabbed too."
"Yeah, Jason's tricky." Takara said. She noticed her friend flinch at this, and it made her feel bad. Perhaps he thought she was jabbing at his past as Dolos, but she honestly hadn't meant too. It was almost a subliminal response.
"What's the plan when we reach shore, anyway?" Jason asked , quick to change the subject. Drake shrugged.
"We should make port tonight," Drake said. "Once we reach Hargeon it's only a short distance to Magnolia. So, tomorrow around midday sounds about right to me."
"Yeah, unless these shit sailors go any slower." Elise commented with a jabbing smirk at a passing sailor.
"Eat shit, Redfox," the man replied. This just made Elise laugh.
"I'm only kidding, Gary! Relax!" The man ignored her response, which just made her chuckle. "These guys are so funny man, I swear."
"And when we get to Magnolia?" Jason asked. Drake shrugged.
"I dunno man, we find a way back into Tartarus." He replied as if it was the easiest thing in the world to do. "One thing at a time."
"There's no way for the average person to just get in," Takara pointed out. "It'll probably take us a while."
"Then it takes us a while," Drake said. "But we'll get in eventually."
"You're awfully blasé about this whole thing," Takara said pointedly.
"Well what did you want me to do?" He asked, making a face. "Break down and start screaming and cursing? That'll get me nowhere. Better to take it one step at a time." That made sense. It did make him seem awfully indifferent, but if it worked, then it worked.
"We could always find the other Olympians," Elise offered. "I'm sure they could get us in."
"I'm not sure they'd be willing to help us with that," Drake said.
"Why's that?" Drake scoffed at her.
"I mean, maybe because we thwarted their plans at every turn we humanely could, ruined everything they built up over the course of twenty years, killed their boss and because it's their prison in the first place?" That was an awfully bad list of things to have done to someone you want to ask help from.
"I mean, I never said we were asking," Elise said. "If they don't cooperate we just kick their ass again."
"I'm sure that'll make them turn up the way to get in," Drake said sarcastically.
"You trying to get an ass kicking, Cyanide Breath?"
"As if your puny ass could kick mine, Nail Face."
"That aside," Jason said, breaking up the incoming fight before it started. "Why don't you guys tell us what happened between you and the Olympians? We've got time." Drake looked over at Elise at this, who shrugged.
"Okay," he said. "Here's a nice synopsis. I'm actually getting sick and fucking tired of telling this story..."
Takara listened intently as Drake began his story. He told them how he and his friends had grown up relatively normal, including Nashi. He told how they first encountered The Olympians through a proxy guild called Phantom Dove, and what had happened their. He told them about Edolas the mirror world, the fight with Devil Advocate, How they'd blown up the city of Silverridge, the interference in the Grand Magic Games, the resulting time travel, and what culminated in a final battle on a mountain.
"That's when we lost her," Drake said. "They took her after she saved our lives. We thought she was dead. Took us like a year to find out that wasn't true."
Takara noted that the next part of the story was much quicker, like Drake was trying to speed through it. He cast looks at Elise often, who only watched him in return. He told them how they'd found out about the truth, and how they'd gone after The Olympians to find her. How they battled them again, only this time the fight was their win. The win that killed Zeus.
"And boom," Drake said as he used his hands for effect. "Zeus hit his own damn satellite and blew up. Judging from what's happened since, we're pretty sure he's dead."
"Damn, you guys really went hard on him huh?" Jason asked. "Who got to deliver the last blow?" Drake again looked at Elise, who still said nothing. Although she was quiet, Takara could see she was judging Drake. For what though, she didn't know.
"Couldn't tell ya," Drake said. "We were all going after him, for all know I was me. Or Elise. Maybe all of us." That seemed odd to Takara. To send someone so sky high they impacted a satellite required an intense amount of magic. It would have been obvious if any one person delivered that blow, right? Was she just crazy?
"Good thing you got him," Jason said. "I would've liked to have done it myself, but I'm not exactly a battle mage."
"Yeah, you would've been a big help though." Drake agreed.
'Can I talk to you privately, Drake?" Elise asked suddenly, breaking her silence. Drake looked a little worried, but he nodded and the pair walked away from her and Jason. As soon as they were out of earshot, Jason hummed.
"He's hiding something from us," he said.
"How can you tell?" She asked him.
"I'm an expert at trickery, remember?" He asked. "Drake was very clear about the details in the story for the first half, but when we reached the halfway point he got vague and unsure of many details. You'd think that part would be more clear to him, which tells me he's not being forthcoming with the real story."
"Why would he lie?" Takara asked. "It's not something I see him lying about."
"Why else would Elise pull him away?" He countered, making Takara think ."She's clearly irritated he was lying, but she didn't call him out in front of us for one reason or another. That only makes me more nervous, because it means whatever he's not telling us is important enough that keeping it from us was the best answer she could think of too."
"You really are an expert at this kinda thing, huh?" Takara asked. "What else are you hiding from me, Dolos?" Jason flinched again.
"Please don't call me that," he said. "It hurts enough coming from Thanatos or other Olympians, it's worse from the only person I can find enough faith in myself to trust." Takara felt heat rush to her face at this.
"You trust me?" She asked. He nodded and smiled at her.
"You're my partner, Taka." He said. "We planned for years to escape. I know I kept my past from you, but I know you've still got my back. You're a kind person."
"How much of that is your expert trickery?" She asked, unsure of him now. "Trying to butter me up so I'm less suspicious of you?" He flinched again.
"I'm telling you, you can trust me." he hissed under his breath.
"I want to," she returned, watching him warily. "I thought I could. After what you've told me, I really don't know. I'm horrified at the end of this you'll turn around and send me right back to that hell."
"I would never,"
"How can you expect me to believe you?" She demanded. Her issues with Jason had been building up inside of her the past few days, and were now being given the chance to come free. She'd kept them to herself on the road, believing that focusing on survival was best. She'd not gotten the chance to talk to him about it since meeting Drake and Elise, but now it was breaking free. Jason watched her for a few seconds before he sighed and looked out towards the water.
"I know you're right," he said. "The idealist in me wants you to just believe me without question. But realistically, I know that's asking to much. You found out I was hiding a massive secret from you. Not only that, but a secret that makes me even less trustworthy given who I was before and what that means. "He's the Spirit of Trickery, how can I trust him?" Believe me, I get it." Takara made a face at this as he watched the water, before he looked back at her.
"It doesn't matter," he said. "Know this; I'm not your enemy. I'll do what I can to make you believe me. I swear I will."
Takara wanted to believe him. She really did. But she just couldn't. Her doubts and anxiety were keeping her from doing so. Was there anyone she could trust out here?
The next leg of the journey felt like it took forever given what their destination entailed. They got to Hargeon around midnight, and they decided to stay the night and sleep. They woke at the crack of dawn and boarded a train for home, much to the Dragon Slayer's chagrin. She learned then that they got motion sick due to their dragon senses, and that's what the balance lacrima on the ship was for. She couldn't imagine spending an entire train ride, one that amounted to a few hours, feeling like you were going to throw up. No wonder neither of them ate much for breakfast.
Once the train ride was over and they had arrived in Magnolia was when Takara truly felt nervous. What exactly was she going to see? Was her brother already here, or was he somewhere else? Was she going to see Nashi's family, or was she going to get yelled at for leaving her behind? It was already too much to think about.
"Seems people really took the rebuilding to heart," Elise said. "The whole town is back on it's feet."
"Well it was pretty easy with Ul's magic," Drake replied. "She was repairing whole blocks in one go." Takara somewhat ignored this conversation, barely taking in it over her rambling thoughts.
Her thoughts consumed her the whole walk to the guild, but she did notice when they arrived. They stopped in front of the castle like building, one with massive pillars of white stone. Looking up, she saw a massive flag bearing the same insignia that Nashi had on her hand. This was it alright.
"Well let's get in there," Drake said as he pushed past the gate and made for the door. "We've got a lot to discuss." Takara followed after him weakly, her legs beginning to feel like lead. Her heart was feeling to hot either. Fuck, she needed to relax!
She was able to forget about it for a second as the door to the guild opened, and a very distinct stench hit her in the face. She vaguely recalled this smell from guards sometimes. It was alcohol. A lot of it. Entering the building, she was greeted by people all over the place, drinking and having a good time. The cold outside was immediately offset by the stuffy atmosphere inside, and the laughter made her feel at home almost immediately.
"See Laxus anywhere?" Elise asked. "I don't."
"He's probably busy," Drake replied. "We've got to get the attention of everyone though, it's import-"
"Oh, hey Drake! Hey Elise! Are you guys back already?"
Takara froze. Something was wrong.
the voice had come from behind them, meaning someone had walked up behind them. But the voice was so familiar, so unique. It was slightly different, but still identified the voice easily enough. She whirled on the spot, determined to know who she was looking at. She soon saw her previous assumption had, unbelievably, been correct.
"Nashi?" She asked weakly.
The girl that had come up behind them was, without a doubt, Nashi. She had pink hair underneath the hat on her head, her eyes were a deep brown that radiated warmth, and her face had the same overall build. Round eyes, sharp chin. Her hair was up in a ponytail as opposed to the short cut that had was forced on all girls with long hair in Tartarus, but it was still Nashi! Exactly her!
"Nashi!" She shouted, bounding into the girls arms happily, barely able to believe it. "What are you doing here?! How did you get out of Tartarus! Oh my God, I can't believe you're here!" She hugged the girl so tightly she gasped for air, but she didn't care. She was here! Really, really here!
"Uh, Takara?" Drake asked. Still holding onto Nashi, Takara turned to look at him. "That's uh, not Nashi."
"What?" Takara asked, looking down at the girl in her arms. "What the hell are you talking about?! It's her! Do you not recognise your own friend?!"
"Taka," Jason said. "Look at her. Her hairs long, her face is more filled out, she's got more strength in her stance. It's not her." Takara slowly let go of Nashi, still holding onto her by the shoulders as the pinkette groaned and rubbed her head. When she opened her eyes, the warmth was still there. Along with confusion.
"It's you, right Nashi?" She asked weakly. "Tell them they're crazy!"
"Uh..." Nashi managed weakly, looking worried. "Guys?" There was silence between them for a while before Drake sighed and walked up next to them. He pushed Takara off of Nashi, and held a hand up to reference her.
"Takara, meet Nashi's twin sister." He said.
Twin?!
"Uh, hi." Nashi's sister said weakly as she raised a hand to wave. "My name's Luna. Did you know my sister?"
And with this the Seven Days of Updates come to a close with a familiar introduction! I'm sure you guys are wondering about the twin sister thing, but don't worry! I'll explain things in due time, like always! I hope you all enjoyed, leave a review! Let's try and get five! I might see you guys next week but, if not then, the week after!
Chapter 356: Twin Sister