My friend likes to harass me with Sieghart's sock. o_o And yeah, Ronan is like. . . Oh gawd, he sounds sexier in Korean voices. D: Sieghart sounds funny in BGC, but I suppose that's just me. xP; And let's see!
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Chapter 45: Bargaining
Author's Note: Long chapter, I typed most of this at school, where it didn't show how many pages I had, so. . . yeah. Longest chapter yet!
"I take it that's him," I said.
"Erm, maybe," Elesis said.
"It sounded more like someone younger, though," Ronan murmured.
Soon there was a shout.
"Well, I'm going to go investigate,” I said, and ran off. I could hear the other two following me. Then I saw Ryan. He was clutching his side, hands covered in blood, which alarmed me.
“Ryan?! What happened?!” I asked.
“It was Lass. . .” Ryan gasped. “He suddenly went berserk. . . in his sleep. . .He picked up a knife and stabbed me. . . I didn't know what happened. . . he's in a nightmare. . . Arme, he. . .” Ryan couldn't go any further, and collapsed. He didn't need to explain.
“Dammit,” I muttered, and tried to heal Ryan up a bit, but then I ran off.
Soon, I came into the clearing, where I saw Lass, throwing a few of his kunai, some striking Lire.
“Ow, Lass, please wake up!” Lire shouted.
“Lass!” I cried out. This. . . It was like when we had first fought him, under Kaze'aze's control, back in her castle.
Lass drew his scimitar and began to slash whatever he could; Lire barely dodged it.
“Eek!” Lire yelped. “Arme, help!” I saw Jin just lying on the ground, a huge gash on his back.
“Damn!” I grabbed my War Staff and threw a ball of ice at Lass, successfully freezing him, then ran over to Jin. “Are you okay, Jin?!”
“Ugh. . .” Jin tried to stand up. “I'm f-fine. . .”
“Don't stand up, moron!” I snapped.
“I. . .” he began, before collapsing. Frustrated, I wrapped a few bandages around his wound, then went over to Lass. He wasn't moving, but the scimitar was sticking out of the ice. Carefully, I pulled it out, but it broke the ice in the process.
“O-Oh crap,” I said, and raised my staff up in readiness.
Lass broke out of the ice, and the first thing he did was lunge towards my neck. I quickly stepped back. He stumbled forward, but then suddenly tripped. Jin had grabbed his ankle, and I grabbed his hands. Lass was still asleep. . .
“What are you doing?” Jin asked.
“L-Lass?” I looked at Lass' face.
“N. . . No. . .” he whimpered.
“Lass, please, wake up,” I begged, for perhaps the hundredth time.
“Don't. . . hurt me. . .”
“I won't. . .”
“Please. . . don't. . .” Lass seemed to struggle for words.
“D-Don't what?” I asked.
“Urr. . . urgh. . .” Lass tried to push away from me, and I let go. “Lass?” He fell to the ground, and began squirming.
“He's disturbed. . .” Jin muttered.
“Lass. . .” I wanted Lass to wake up!
Leaning against a tree, holding his side, Jin uttered grimly, “He'll die in a week if he doesn't wake up.”
“H-How do you know?” I asked him.
“He hasn't eaten. . .”
“Y-You're right. . .” Like the pathetic mage I am, I began to cry. “P-Please, Lass, j-just wake up a-already. . .” This was going to kill me. . .
“He might die sooner from insanity,” Jin said softly.
“W-Why can't K-Kaze'aze just d-die already?!” I cried out, the tears streaming down my face.
“If only she could. . .” Jin muttered.
Then Sieghart arrived. He grabbed Lass' hair and began to head back to where he came. “Jin,” he called.
“Please don't hurt him, Sieghart!” I cried out. I didn't want Lass hurt anymore!
“Don't worry Arme,” Jin murmured to me, “he's going to try to bargain with the Kaze'aze. . .”
“Bargain?” I looked at him in confusion.
“Yes. . . through me. . .” Jin muttered.
“Jin!” Sieghart called impatiently. Jin followed with a slight limp.
“Jin. . . I hope you go through this unharmed,” I told him. As Sieghart dragged Lass along, Jin looked at me with a solemn face, then tried to keep pace. I decided to follow, just to watch Lass.
“J-Jin, is it possible to be able to do this through me?” I whispered.
“Possibly,” he told me, “but the Kaze'aze favors me above all of you, and Sieghart can't harm a girl who's not the Kaze'aze.”
“Good point. . .” I murmured. “I didn't want you to get possessed again. . .” Jin didn't say anything. He just kept walking, with that limp.
“Do you need a splint, Jin?” I offered.
“N-No, I'm fine. It'd just get broken anyway. . .”
We were silent for a time, as we entered what seemed to be an unholy place. The trees were drooping, the leaves black. The ground had no grass growing, and every shadow cast looked sinister. There were small, dark bushes that looked as if they held an unseen enemy, just waiting to pounce. I shivered.
“What is this place?” I asked. I wasn't given an answer.
Soon, Sieghart tossed Lass to the side, near a stone wall, and walked into a dead end, followed by the silent Jin. I stayed a bit away, but kept close.
“Kaze'aze. . .” Sieghart muttered, then cut his hand, letting the blood drip to the ground. I held up my staff, nervous. I didn't like this place, not one bit.
Sieghart stared at the blood dripping from his hand for a bit, before he tightened it into a fist, the blood pouring out a bit more. Jin was shaking his head, then he started to hold it. I was watching, growing more and more nervous with each passing second.
Then Jin fell over.
“J-Jin?” I was about to approach when Sieghart said, “Stay back, Arme.” I backed away quickly.
The wound on Jin's back was opened up again, but when his eyes opened, they revealed that he was possessed. . . I hoped that Jin would be alright. . .
“Kaze'aze. . .” Sieghart murmured.
“S-Sieghart. . .” Jin said weakly. “You summon me?” What was this, a wizard and his familiar?
“Indeed,” Sieghart answered, crossing his arms. “I have received word that you have laid a trance on this child here more than once.”
“Who. . .?” Jin seemed confused. “Oh, him. . . Why is my vessel dying?!” Jin sounded surprised. Jin was not a vessel!
“Your 'vessel' acquired a wound from this child, here,” Sieghart said, then picked Lass up by the hair. I wished he was more careful with Lass!
“Troublesome, he might be, but the curse is there to stay,” Jin said, with a slight sneer.
“Oh, really?” Sieghart drew his sword, imbuing it with his aura.
“Wait, no!” Jin cried out. “You wouldn't dare kill me now, would you, dear Sieghart?” Jin began to back away nervously. Sieghart raised his arm to strike.
“No!” Jin cowered. “I'll do it! Don't kill me!”
“Kaze'aze. . .” I dared to speak. “Are you really a coward. . .?”
“Foolish brat!” Jin hissed. “I fear no one! Except. . .”
“Except. . . Sieghart?” I finished.
Jin growled. “F-Fine. . . I'll. . . do it. . .”
And then I remembered. “S-Sieghart, I need to tell you something.”
“Not now, Arme,” Sieghart said.
“It's important. . .”
“Not now.”
“Please, it relates to Elesis.”
Jin began to chant a spell, quickly.
“Hm, what is it?” I had Sieghart's attention now.
“She has a curse. . .” I told him. “Well, I would say it's between her and Ronan. . .” Hopefully he understood. And he did.
I heard Lass make a small sound as Sieghart's sword flew past Jin's head.
“Wh-What is this?!” Jin cried out.
“You swine!” Sieghart growled. He walked towards Jin and picked him up by the head. “You did it to get to me, didn't you?!”
“You never knew until now!” Jin sounded pleased with himself. “I would have made it obvious that she was cursed. . . knowing you, you'd overlook that, too. . .” A creepy grin was beginning to form on his face.
“Why?!” Sieghart demanded. His eyes. . . they seemed to have changed color, and I couldn't even see them.
“It has nothing to do with you,” Jin stated coolly. “It was directed at the Royal Guard Master. . . Erudon.” I could tell that Sieghart was trying not to crush Jin's skull. . .
“What's happening. . .?” Lass asked. At least, I think he did.
“St-Stop. . .” Jin said, in pain.
“Sieghart, don't kill him,” I said. “After all, it's not Kaze'aze's body. . .”
“Where am. . . Sieghart. . .?” It really was Lass! “Jin. . .? Arme. . .?”
“Lass, don't do anything to intervene, please, unless it's to save someone's life,” I told Lass.
“Lift the curse!” Sieghart yelled.
“But-” Jin began.
“Lift it!”
“Then. . . you have to take your end of the bargain,” Jin said meekly. “Your immortality, for your daughter's unpoisoned eggs. . .”
“Wh-What. . .? What's going on. . .” Lass asked groggily.
“Sieghart. . . is bargaining with Ka-” I began, as I heard a scream in the distance. Who was that?
Sieghart looked away, then back at Jin. “No! Give me another option!” He began to squeeze Jin's head tighter.
“Ahaha!” Jin started squirming. “That won't do, ow!”
“What was that scream. . .?” Lass asked, trying to get up. He was too weak to stand, though.
“Another!” Sieghart demanded.
“Stop, gh, his skull is cracking, he's losing too much blood,” Jin squeaked. “F-Fine! I'll give you one last offer!” He began to wheeze a bit. Even though it was helping Kaze'aze herself, I kept Lass healed, hoping he wouldn't die.
Jin grabbed Sieghart's blade, which was close by, and pointed it at Jin's chest. No. . .
“Do it. . .” Jin whispered. “I can always get another vessel. . .”
“N-No. . .” I said in vain.
“Do it!” Jin's demented laughter turned into a choke, followed by a splurt. Sieghart's sword spiked out from Jin's lower back. Sieghart. . . he really did it. . .
“J-Jin!” I cried out.
“So. . . you really. . . did. . . it. . .” Jin coughed. “The curse is. . . lifted. . .” Jin collapsed to the ground, shouting in pain, as both Kaze'aze's spirit and his blood flowed out.
I ran over to Jin. “J-Jin, a-are you okay? Speak to me!” I was answered by screams of pain.
Sieghart turned and walked away, in a different direction from where we had come from.
“Get the sword out of him!” Lass called from the distance, so I did, as carefully as I could.
Blood was seeping from his mouth, and Jin's body arced in pure agony. I kept trying to heal him, to keep him from dying. Jin kept crying out, and he turned onto his side, holding the wound Sieghart gave him. His pupils had shrunk, his body convulsing. I was afraid he would die. . .
“I can't take it. . .” Jin said, in between his cries of pain. “It hurts. . . Ggh. . .”
I placed my hand gently on Jin's forehead. “I-It's alright, it's alright,” I cooed, sounding as if I were a mother, trying to comfort a hurt child. “Just try not to move too much.”
Tears were seeping out from the corners of Jin's eyes, mixing with the blood, and stained his skin. His eyes started closing.
“No, Jin, don't die!” I cried out.
“I'm sorry, it. . . hurts so much. . .” he croaked.
I kept trying to close his wounds. “I can't let you die!”
“I. . . urgh. . .” Jin's right eye was closed, and his left was half-closed, the light dimming.
“Please, no. . . please no. . .” I kept trying, with all my might, to keep this mighty warrior alive. He couldn't die now!
“It wasn't. . . me. . .” Jin whispered, as his eyes fully closed, and his breathing grew slower.
“I know. . .” I told him. “I wish I can keep you alive. . .” It made sense to me now. Maybe I hadn't seen it before, or didn't want to, but I knew. It wasn't Jin's fault, that long time ago, when it started with Elesis and Ronan, Lire and Ryan. . . Our splitting. . . The unplanned pregnancy, the pain, the suffering, the tears. . . It was never Jin's fault, it was. . . Kaze'aze. Why did I refuse to see that? Was it because Jin had admitted it himself? Or maybe it was the witch's words.
“N-No!” Lass' cries snapped me out of my thoughts. “He's not going to die unless he loses anymore blood! Sieghart intentionally missed his vital organs. . .”
Lass was right, from the looks of it. The bleeding had stopped, but. . .
“I don't know. . . if he'll live. . .” I whispered.
Jin was silent, a look of frozen agony spread across his face. . . I wished I could help him, better than I did. I began to cry.
I felt Lass' embrace from behind, and his words in my ears as he whispered, “D-Don't worry, h-he might not be dead. . .”
“I-I think h-he will. . .” I whispered to him. I had given up almost all hope now. I had failed as the team's healer.
"W-We need help. . ." Lass said, then he looked around, and began shouting for help. Meanwhile, I kept trying, with the faintest hope Jin was still with us.
"J-Jin, a-are you still alive?" I asked, after awhile.
There was no response.
"Jin. . . Jin! Say something!" Lass yelled.
"N-No, Jin! Jin!" I cried out. No, he was dead. . .
"Jin!" Lass began to shake him, hopelessly.
"H-He's. . . dead. . ." I fell over, crying. "A-And I cou-couldn't sa-save him!"
"Ryan?! Ronan?! Anyone?! Anyone!" Lass shouted. He picked me up, holding me close, in his strong embrace, and began to look around, desperately.
"T-There's n-nothing we-we can do. . . any-anymore. . ." I told him through my tears.
"No, he can't be dead. . ." Lass whispered, still clinging to a shred of hope. "He can't. . ."
"H-He's not. . . moving. . ." I told him.
Setting me down, Lass reached out and touched Jin's neck, hoping for a pulse. "Please be alive," he begged. Come on. . ."
"L-Lass," I said, shakily. "Please, try and be careful. . . I-I'm going to try a-and find the o-others. . ."
"W-Wait, maybe you can shock him?" Lass suggested.
"H-How can t-that help. . ." I said. "H-He didn't h-have a heart a-attack or anything. . ."
"He can't be dead," Lass choked out, and fell over Jin's body. "Why. . ."
I. . . I had to try.
"L-Lass, move," I said.
"W-What?" Lass moved away from Jin. I shocked Jin with a small bolt of electricity. He shook a bit.
"J-Jin?" I called out.
I saw Jin's eyelids quiver, with only the slightest movement, as his lips moved slightly to form words. "i don't. . . want to die. . ." Yes. . . Yes! Jin was still alive! But. . . for how long?
"I-I don't want you to die either. . ." I told him.
"Can you feel anything?" Lass asked.
"I don't know. . ." he told him.
Lass placed a hand on Jin's arm. "Can you feel my hand on your arm?"
"I th-think. . ." Jin groaned.
"H-How do you f-feel?" I asked, suddenly feeling ridiculous.
"Ill. . ." he told me.
"D-Do we h-have any medicine?" I asked. Jin tried to move his arm to point to one of the pockets in his pants, weakly fingering it. Lass reached in and pulled out something. I couldn't see what it was but it had an unpleasant smell. "Hey! Why do you have this?!" Lass exclaimed.
"Wrong pocket. . ." Jin groaned.
"What is that?" I asked. Lass simply threw it away. Hemlock. What was Jin doing with that?! Lass dug into another pocket and pulled out a potion. It was the color of liquid fire.
"Give me. . . it. . ." Jin said weakly.
"I-uh," Lass hesitated, then lifted Jin's head up a bit and poured the potion into his mouth. Some of it oozed out of his mouth, mixing with Jin's blood.
"What is that. . .?" I asked.
"H-Huh. . .?" Jin said.
"What is that potion?" I asked again.
"S-Sieghart gave it to me. . ." Jin answered weakly.
"Sieghart. . ." I whispered. "Where did he go anyway?"
"I don't know. . ." Lass told me.
"Gah. . ." Jin passed out.
"Jin?!" both Lass and I cried out. Jin moved a bit, but was unconscious. I heaved a sigh of relief.
"I-It looks like he's still alive. . . at least. . ." I said. I was so glad Jin was alive.
"Thank goodness," Lass said, relieved as well.
"D-Do you think we should try a-and bring him back?" I asked.
"Maybe. . ." Lass answered.
I began to try to lift Jin up, and Lass helped as well.
"M-Maybe w-we should go and find the others. . ." I said.
Before Lass could respond, Ronan burst out of nowhere and shouted, "Arme! Why are you in this unholy land?! Elesis, she. . . Jin?!"
"S-Sieghart. . . J-Jin. . . Kaze'aze. . ." I tried to explain.
"This isn't the time for that now!" Ronan said, cutting me off, then noticed Lass. "L-Lass, you're awake?!"
"Yes! I am!" Lass yelled impatiently. "Help me lift Jin! I can't right now!"
"A-And I'm too weak to," I said, groaning a bit. I was not designed to lift people such as Jin.
"Alright, but Arme, you must get to Elesis!" Ronan cried out. He looked. . . upset. . .
"What happened to her?!" I asked.
Ronan looked too sick to say anything, so he simply took Jin.
"I-Is something. . . something wrong?" I tried asking again.
"I think it's the baby," Ronan managed to say. "But it's too soon! The other times. . . it came later, but. . ." I understood what he meant. Looking at the ground, Ronan finished, "I'll get Jin to Lire and the others."
I was surprised though. "B-But Sieghart, he. . . she. . ." Oh, forget it. "I'll go tend to Elesis!" I ran off, leaving the two boys to Jin. I hoped I wasn't too late.
"Where. . . Where is she. . ." I said to myself, looking around.
Catching up to me, Ronan said, "Sh-She's near the river. . ." So, I ran to the river. Would I make it in time? Or would I be too late?
"How's Jin?" I asked, coming over to the boys with some bandages.
"I'm not sure. . ." Ronan said. "He has a horrible wound."
"If it gets infected, here's some medicine to apply to it," I said, giving Ronan some medicine I had bought some time before.
"Lire. . . Did you see Elesis? Is she okay?" Ronan asked me. I didn't want to tell him the truth, but. . .
"I saw her," I said, "but. . . she. . . She impaled herself on her own sword. . ."
Ronan looked down, clearly upset, but trying to hide it. "I. . . se. . ."
"I-I couldn't believe it. . . It seemed as if something made her fall on it. . ." I told him.
"Kaze'aze. . ." Ronan muttered, balling his fists up. "Lass! Wh-What happened to Jin? Tell us!"
"W-What?" Lass asked, rubbing his head.
"What happened to Jin?" I asked.
"Sieghart. . ." Lass hesitated. "He forced the Kaze'aze. . . to get rid of my curse. . . and she did, I don't know how. She was bargaining with Sieghart through Jin, but. . . Arme told him about Elesis' curse.
"Sieghart got furious and. . . was about to kill Jin," Lass continued. "That's when Kaze'aze told him three deals. Or was it two? Well, the first one was. . . Sieghart's immortality for Elesis' curse to be lifted. Sieghart declined, and demanded another one. That's when she tempted him to stab Jin to kill him.
"And Sieghart did it," Lass finished.
"S-So that's how Jin almost died. . ." I said softly. Lass fell to the ground, looking tired.
"You should go to sleep, Lass," I said to him, realizing my mistake.
"Er," Ronan said. "What she means is, you need to regain your strength."
"And you look so tired, Lass," I added.
"No, I can't!" Lass cried, holding his head. "I don't want to! I won't!"
"Lass. . ." I began.
He turned to his side and leaned against a tree. "I can't take it. . ."
"I-It's because of those nightmares, isn't it. . ." I whispered.
"Those nightmares were so painful," Lass whispered. He closed his eyes and cried. "I can't take them anymore. . . not one more. . ."
I nodded slightly, in understanding, then asked, "Where's Arme?"
"I think she went to tend to Elesis," Ronan said.
"I-I hope she's. . . I hope she's alright," I said.
"Ronan. . ." Lass said, having apparently recovered. "The Kaze'aze said. . . that she lifted teh curse. . ."
"Wh-Wh-What?" Ronan was dumbfounded.
"T-That's great!" I cried out, then I realized something. "But. . . I think. . ."
Lass looked at me, urging me to continue.
"N-No, I c-can't think about that. . ." I lowered my head.
"Wh-What is it, Lire?" Ronan asked. I only whispered it.
"Lire, please!" Ronan pleaded.
"I think," I said a bit louder, "the lifting of the curse is. . . too late. . ."
"What do you mean?" Lass asked.
"Elesis. . ." I told them this already, but I left out one thing, "fell on her sword, and it impaled her abdomen. . ."
"What?!" Lass cried out. "T-The baby. . ." I nodded slightly. Ronan turned away.
Jin began to groan.
"Jin?" I looked over at him. He shifted slightly.
"A-Are you okay?" I asked, nudging him slightly.
Jin opened his eyes and looked at us, wearily.
"Jin?" I called again.
"I'm fine. . . Just really tired. . ." he said weakly.
"Go back to sleep then, and regain your strength," I told him.
"Yeah. . . okay. . ." Jin seemed a bit happy to be able to go back to sleep.
"Do you guys think we should check on Arme and Elesis?" I asked, turning to Ronan and Lass.
"Yeah," Lass said.
"I guess I'll go check," i said, getting up.
"D-Do you think Arme will let me come and see Elesis?" Ronan asked.
"Maybe," I told him.
"I'll stay with Jin," Lass offered, looking a bit tired.
"C'mon, Ronan," I said, as I headed to the river. Ronan followed closely.
"Where are they. . ." I murmured to myself and looked around. Then I saw a pool of blood, with a smller, thinner trail that lead to the thicker, wooded area. Ronan saw it as well, and walked ahead of me, without a word.
"R-Ronan?" I called out. He just kept walking, squeezing between the trees and kept following the trail. I quickly followed.
Soon we walked into a clearing, where two all-too-familar figures were.
"E-Elesis. . .?" Ronan called. "Arme?"
"R-Ronan!" Arme cried out, surprised. She had a bit of blood on her.
"Is there something wrong?" Ronan asked, stopping.
"Oh, nothing's wrong, really," Arme said. Her voice sent a chill down my spine for some reason. "We were waiting for you.
"Oh." Ronan began to approach tentatively. "Is something wrong?
"As I said, no. However, Elesis needs to say something to you," Arme told him.
"Ronan slowly walked to the two, and looked over at Elesis.
"Hello, Ronan." Elesis' voice sent the same chill down me. What was going on? She was covered in blood as well, but not so much, like Arme.
"Elesis, what is it?" Ronan asked.
"Ronan, I have to tell you this, and I know you may hate me for it, but oh well." Was it me, or was there a slight, cheery tone to her voice?
"Elesis, what is it?" Ronan seemed nervous now, almost. . . afraid?
"Ronan, we can't be together. I think it'd be better if we were apart, never to see each other again."
And Kaze'aze tries something different.
Chapter 46: Double
What?
Elesis' words were still sinking in, as Arme said, "Crap, is that Sieghart?" Why is it that my loved one's words have almost no effect on me? Why? She just told me that we should never see each other again, and yet. . .
"Sieghart? He's not really here, is he?" Elesis asked. There was a thump, followed by a groan.
"Hmph, what is he up to?" Arme asked in an annoyed tone.
Sieghart's sword poked out of the tall shrubs, and he fell next to Arme. "Ow. . ." he groaned, porcupine spines in his butt.
"What the. . ." Arme muttered.
"What is he. . ." Elesis began. "Sieghart, what are you doing?" . . . Sieghart? Since when did. . .?
""Huh, Elesis? Is that you?" Sieghart said, getting up.
"Yes, Sieghart dear, it's me." Elesis' words. . . sounded so. . . fake? "I was just telling Ronan something important."
"Since when did you call me 'Sieghart'?" he asked, wary.
"What exactly do you mean, Se-father dearest?" Close, but not right. Okay, what was going on?
"Ronan, what are you still doing here?" Arme turned to me.
"Wha-What?" I said with a start.
"Elesis said she thinks it'd be better if you two never see each other again. Now, why don't you do as she wishes?" Arme seemed impatient. . . for what?
"S-Sorry, I-" I began, not actually sorry at all.
"Hold on," Sieghart said, and grabbed my hair as he turned around. Ow! "Something doesn't smell right."
"Hmph, nothing is wrong, it must be you," Arme said, almost. . . snootily?
"Excuse me," Sieghart said, with almost the same tone, "but I'm the father and father-in-law. If there were to be something with me, you'd better be careful."
All I said was "What?"
"What exactly do you mean?" Arme asked.
"Well, for one, my daughter always called me 'Daddy' or 'Father'," Sieghart said, with a cough. "Two; Elesis, do you have your ring on you?"
"Erm." Elesis took the ring off her finger and held it out in front of her. "You mean this one?"
Not answering, Sieghart grabbed it, then Elesis' hand and began to drag her away.
"Huh?" I said, dumbfounded.
"Follow me, and you will either die, or get hurt," Sieghart said cooly.
"H-Huh?!" Elesis cried out. "W-Wait, what are you doing?!"
"Hey, unhand her, Sieghart!" Arme yelled. "Are you planning to hurt your own daughter?!"
"Buzz off!" Sieghart yelled, then jumped over the river.
"H-Hey, let me go!" Elesis yelled nervously. "Where the hell are you taking me?!"
"And who the hell do you think you are?" Sieghart asked.
"Wh-I'm your daughter, of course!" Elesis answered, confused.
"Then you have no right to use vulgarity in my presence!" Sieghart snapped.
"What the hell are you talking about?!" Arme demanded. Wait, what? “I-I mean. . .”
“Y-You. . .” Elesis stuttered. “I-I mean. . .”
“You!” Sieghart exclaimed, then grabbed Elesis by her hair and chucked her into the river!
“What the hell?!” I yelled. Elesis landed into the water with a loud splash.
“Elesis!” I cried out.
“Why the hell did you just throw your own daughter into the river?!” Arme shouted.
“Ronan, don't!” Sieghart cried, holding me back. “Did you just see that?!” Uhm. . . Maybe?
“What the hell are you trying to do, drown me?!” came Elesis' voice from the water. She had surfaced. Which wasn't right. At all.
Sieghart pointed his sword at Elesis. “Ronan, jump and I'll drown you.”
“W-Wait, what are you planning?” Elesis asked nervously.
I tried to attack Sieghart, and got kicked into the river.
“I-I am your daughter, are you trying to kill me?!” Elesis demanded.
“Draw your sword, Elesis,” Sieghart said, “and show your old man what you've got.” He pointed his sword at her. “En garde!”
“W-Wait, you want me to fight you?!”
“Well? It's either me or your hair.”
“Wait, you're gonna cut my hair off?!” Elesis seemed quite confused.
“En garde!” Sieghart said again, then jumped at her.
“Hey, wait, how can I even fight while in the river?!” Elesis exclaimed. “And I don't even have a weapon on me!”
“Take this, ya old geezer!” Arme shouted, and petrified Sieghart.
“Improvi- what the?!” Sieghart shouted.
“Okay, I saw that!” I yelled, and began to throw dust chips at Elesis. This was either not her, or she was possessed.
“Dirty. . .” Sieghart grumbled, as he fell into the river.
“Ow!” Elesis complained.
“Heh, this is such an accomplishment for me,” Arme said, praising herself. Or itself.
Anyway, I jumped onto Elesis, trapping her in the water, seeing as how I weighed more than her, and kissed her.
“Mmph?!”
“I've seen it all,” I heard Sieghart say.
“What's wrong?” I asked.
“W-Why the h-hell. . .?!” Elesis sputtered.
I blinked softly at her. “Because I love my Elesis. . . more than the world. . . But you're not Elesis, are you?”
“O-Of course I a-a-am. . .” I could tell by her voice she was lying.
“Arme. . .” I said.
“This is harder than I thought it would be,” she said. “I mean, if I can possess someone with such magic to rival mine, it should've been easy to take over two people. I had you fooled well, until Sieghart came.”
“Why?” I asked.
“Heeeelp. . .” I heard, Sieghart's voice fading. Eh, heh. . .
“Or perhaps,” Elesis said, continuing Arme's words, “it's my lack of acting. Let the old man drown, he should be dead anyway.”
“Gah!” I cried out, and pulled Sieghart out of the river, who was now unpetrified.
“Witch, I'll kill you!” Sieghart yelled, suddenly on fire. . . Purple fire.
“Oh crap,” Arme and Elesis said together.
Sieghart charged. I tackled him, as Elesis climbed out of the river. I got hissed at by Sieghart. Oh, brother. . .
Then I noticed Ryan down the river.
“Hmph, mangy old dog is here,” I heard Elesis mutter.
“Arme!” Sieghart yelled. Then Elesis shoved Sieghart back into the river.
“Heh, I want to see you drown,” Elesis said, sneering. Then Sieghart jumped out of the river and grabbed her throat. Elesis let out a choking sound.
“Get out of my daughter's mind and body,” Sieghart said.
“H-How about n-no?” Elesis struggled to say.
“Let go of her!” Arme shouted, sounding as if she were choking, herself.
“Fine,” Sieghart said, then threw Elesis at Arme.
“Hey!” Elesis protested, hitting Arme, who let out a cry.
Then Sieghart jumped on Arme, pushing Elesis off gently.
“Heh?!” Arme looked at Sieghart. “Get off me, old man!” The “old man” stabbed his sword into her cloak. Arme let out a small yelp.
“You better do what I say, girl,” Sieghart threatened.
Elesis tried to jump Sieghart from behind, but I grabbed her arm.
“Hey!”
“Let Elesis be!” I hissed in her ear.
“And why should I?” Elesis said. “You know as well as I that I wouldn't give in too easily.”
“What did you think you would gain by doing what you just did to Ronan?” Sieghart demanded.
“I was hoping he would kill himself, knowing that his beloved didn't want to see him again,” Elesis answered.
“And why exactly would you wish Ronan to kill himself?”
“One less member of Grand Chase to worry about, of course.”
“Witch. . .” Sieghart drew his sword along Elesis' arm, cutting a line into it.
“Ow! Let me go, dammit!” She began to kick me. “Unhand me now!” I held Elesis close with a hug. She kept trying to attack me.
“Arme, you better stop,” I said.
“Heh, stop what?” Arme said.
“Stop possessing Elesis!”
“Think I'll listen to you, Royal Guard Master?”
“Then you better listen to me!” Sieghart turned around and kick Arme over, and slashed her back.
“Ow! You realize you are also hurting the mage?!” Arme shouted.
“Kaze'aze?!” Sieghart exclaimed. Uhm, wow, slow-poke.
“You realize that now?!” Arme shouted.
“Sorry, I had porcupine stupid in my Fire Bolt!,” Sieghart said, then grabbed her by the back of her neck.
“Well, that's to be expected. After all, you're just an old geezer, of course you're slo-” Arme didn't finish as Sieghart stuffed Arme's head into the river. Sieghart then grabbed Arme's staff and began whacking her with it.
“Work, work, work!” Sieghart yelled.
“Ow!” Elesis cried out. “Fire Bolt! you, Sieghart, I'm going to kill you!” Then she began to kick me as hard as she can. “Let me go!”
“Ack, no!” I cried out.
Suddenly, Ryan attacked Sieghart, who fell back.
“What are you doing?!” Ryan demanded. Arme pulled her head out of the water, choking.
“The Kaze'aze's possessed both Elesis and Arme!” Sieghart explained, then threw the staff at Arme's head. It connected, causing Arme to fall back into the water.
Then Elesis bit my hand. “Nngh mn mgh!” Was that supposed to be “Let me go”?
“Ow!” I cried out, then bit Elesis herself.
“Ow!” she cried out, herself.
I saw Sieghart wrestling Arme in the water, who kicked Sieghart.
“As if!” Sieghart said, then got bit by Arme on the hand. The two were now out of the river. Sieghart got free from Arme's grip, and stepped on her head, forcing her to the riverbed. “You know, you're a real nuisance.”
“Get off,” Arme muttered.
“Uh, how 'bout no?” Sieeghart said.
“Hmph, I've about drained my strength anyway, trying to keep a hold of two at once. However, I'll be back.” Arme closed her eyes, and went limp, as did Elesis. I held her close.
“Ryan, I believe Lass has gone to sleep with a fight,” Sieghart said.
“Ugh, what happened. . .” Arme said, groaning. She was herself again (I hoped).
“Uh, mental fight,” Sieghart corrected. Then, to Ryan, “Take Arme to Lass, help her get healed, and bandage her up. If needed, have Ronan help. I'm sure he's seen breasts more than once.” I turned red from that comment.
“Ngh, w-what happened. . .?” Elesis groaned, now awake herself. “R-Ronan? What happened? And why am I all wet?”
I only held her close and said, “C'mon, let's get you back to Lass. . .”
“L-Lass. . . How is he?” Arme asked.
“It's a long story,” I said.
“He's asleep,” Ryan answered.
Elesis sneezed, then asked, “Can I, uh, borrow your cloak again?” I saw Ryan head towards the woods, Arme with him.
“Of course,” I said, taking my cloak off and giving it to Elesis. I looked around, but didn't see Sieghart.
Elesis shook herself a bit, getting me slightly wet, then wrapped the cloak around her. “I swear I get wet too often in my clothes. . .” she grumbled. I just let out a nervous laugh. Sitting down, she continued, “But, I bet you enjoy it Ronan.”
I turned away, blushing and said, “N-N-ah. . .” I felt Elesis hug me from behind as she said, “Yeah. . .”
We soon came back to where the others were, after we realized we were alone again.
“I'll go check on Lass and Jin,” Ryan said. “Arme, do you want to come with me?”
“Yeah, sure,” Arme said, and went with Ryan.
“Ah,” I said. They. . . left us again.
“Where's father going?” Elesis asked.
“I don't know. . .” I told her. “It seems he does this a lot when he's upset.”
Elesis sighed. “He's upset a lot lately, I imagine. . .”
“It seems so,” I said, then looked down and gently touched her stomach.
Elesis leaned against me as she said, “And I don't like to get possessed. . .”
“Neither do I,” I whispered in her ear, wrapping my arms around her. She just sighed a bit before she fell asleep. I felt a bit uncomfortable in the position I was in with Elesis against me like this, so I carried her around for a bit until I found the others once more, who had gathered in a different spot. I set Elesis down under a nice oak tree before going over to Lire.
“Guys, where's Lass?” Lire asked worriedly.
“I thought he was with Jin?” I answered.
“Okay then, where's Jin?”
“Uh, let's see,” Ryan said, before transforming into a wolf. All that fur must get stuffy in the summer.
Ryan began to sniff the ground and the trees. “I smell a blood scent mixed with Jin's. . . and Lass.” He stood up. “Okay, follow me.”
“I have a bad feeling. . .” Arme muttered, before following after Ryan. Lire and I followed suite. After awhile of walking, Ryan tripped over a body, and landed on his face, slipping out of his wolf form. He tried to speak, but the ground muffled his words.
“Ryan?!” Lire ran over to Ryan as he got up and turned the body over, revealing Lass. “It's Lass!”
“L-Lass?” Arme ran over. “Lass!”
Lass was covered in grass stains, and there were minor burns on his skin. “Ah. . . Arme. . .”
“Lass, what happened?!” Arme asked.
“I tried to stop Sieghart. . .” Lass said weakly.
“Sieghart?!”
“Hm, where's Jin?!” Ryan asked.
“Agh, he took him. . . I tried to stop him. . . He might kill him!” Lass coughed slightly. Arme muttered something before running off, in search of Sieghart.
“So tired. . .” Lass uttered before falling asleep.
“Let's take Lass back, Ryan,” Lire said, and went back with Ryan, Lass in tow. I decided to go back with the two. After all, Arme can handle herself. Usually. . .
Chapter 47: Enrage
"Dammit, where the hell is he. . ." I muttered. Soon I heard groaning, so I ran to the source of the sound. It turned out to be Sieghart, dragging Jin, who was groaning in pain.
"Sieghart, what are you doing?!" I asked angrily. Sieghart's aura was thick, and when he glared at me, his eyes gave him a look of insanity.
"Ugh. . . help. . ." Jin groaned.
"Sieghart, what is wrong with you?" I asked. Sieghart dropped Jin and then suddenly attacked me.
"Whoa!" I cried out, and stopped him with a Stone Curse. "Are you mad?!" I could tell my Stone Curse had almost no effect on him, as he was already breaking out of it.
"He's blind with rage. . ." Jin explained, still groaning.
"What did you do?" I asked.
"No, not me. . . Kaze'aze. . ." he explained. Not good.
"Did she possess him?" I asked, fearing the answer.
"Y-Yes. . . But he's out of control. . ."
"I think. . . we need to subdue him." Suddenly, Sieghart was free and he slashed at me. I managed to dodge in time, and yelled, "Dammit Sieghart, break free!"
"Ragh!" Sieghart yelled, and continuously performed skills on me, but they're so wild, I couldn't tell what they were.
I ran over to Jin, grabbed his arm, shouted, “Change of plans; run!” and ran, dragging Jin with me.
Sieghart charged after us, letting out this really insane, really scary roar.
“Hey, is someone here?!” I shouted. “Help!”
Ryan came out of nowhere and collided with Sieghart.
“Whoa, what the?!” Ryan cried out.
“He's possessed by Kaze'aze!” I shouted, as Sieghart grabbed Ryan by the head and chucked him into a tree.
“Just run!” I yelled, still dragging Jin with me. I never knew I could run so fast.
“Get. . . out. . . of my head!” Sieghart roared. I turned around and shot him with lightning. All that happened was his hair turned frizzier than it already was.
Jin was half slumped to the ground, half leaning against me. “What about. . . running?”
“Er. . .” I said, then continued running. Jin stumbled, and I was full-on dragging him now.
Glancing back, I saw Sieghart hold his head, flailing, then began to slash around wildly. He cut one of the trees, and oh-so-luckily, it fell in our direction.
“Oh f-” I began, before slamming my staff into the ground, turning the tree into ash. Unfortunately, I set the canopy on fire, as well. Stupid.
I sighed. “I ain't perfect. . .” as I tossed my lamp upwards, letting the Ice Spirit send snow through the forest.
“Ack, cold!” Jin shouted, now nicely chilled. I saw that Sieghart was covered in frost, but he was also colder, making him slower. He growled.
“Well, that helps. . .” I muttered, then sent an Ice Ball his way.
“Sieghart, s-sir, snap out of it!” Ryan said, shivering. I turned to run, but I ran into someone. “Hey?!”
“T-Arme?” It was Ronan.
“Sieghart’s possessed!” I told him.
“What?! Oh grea-“ Ronan began, before getting tackled by Siegahrt. “Get off!”
I grabbed Jin and hid the two of us someplace. I saw Sieghart rest his sword on Ronan’s neck.
“I’ll kill you now, Royal Guard Master,” Sieghart hissed through his teeth.
Then Lire headbutted Siegahart, causing him to tumble away.
“You okay, Ronan?” Lire asked.
“I will be when Sieghart snaps to his senses. . .” Ronan grumbled.
“Hey, are you okay?” Lire asked Sieghart, nudging him. His eyes were closed, but the aura was still very strong.
“Hey, Lire, step away from him, he’s dangerous,” Ronan said. Lire backed away a bit, saying, “I know that already.” Suddenly, Siegahrt jolted up and grabbed Lire’s ankle. “Ah-ha!” He pulled her to the ground.
“Let me go!” Lire screamed, kicking Sieghart in the face.
“Grawrgh, I’ll kill you!” Sieghart yelled, causing Lire to call for help. Well, more like scream. Sieghart was close enough for me to petrify him yet again, just as he grabbed his throat.
Lire managed to slip away from the petrified Sieghart.
“Y-You okay?” Lire asked.
“Give me Jin. . .” Sieghart mumbled.
“Why should we?” Ronan asked.
“You shouldn’t, but I want to kill him!” Sieghart let out a loud laugh, before groaning. “Ah, my head.” I added to his headache with a whack from my staff.
“Grh! I’ll try not to kill you so quickly. . .” Sieghart muttered.
“Careful, Sieghart,” I said. Then asked, “Is he free?”
“Of course he’s not,” Sieghart answered. “Think I’d give up that easily?” I kicked him. Then he got one of his legs free. Crap.
“Sieghart has so much power. . .” Sieghart laughed a bit. “It’s. . . a bit overwhelming!” Then he got his arm free. . . and grabbed my throat; he began to choke me. A wicked smile began to grow across his face. “Move and I’ll gauge her eyes out.”
“H-He-lck. . .” I choked out.
Ronan pointed his tyrfing at Sieghart. “Drop her!” Lire did the same, but with an arrow in her bow instead.
“Give me Jin!” Sieghart demanded.
“No way!” Lire said.
“Fine. . .” Sieghart’s grip tightened on my throat, and I couldn’t breath.
Then, “Bastard!” and two kunai buried itself into Sieghart’s wrists. Surprised, Sieghart let go of me and retreated a bit, holding his wrists, and I fell over.
"Lass?!" Lire exclaimed.
"That's right!" Lass jumped out of the canopy and landed beside me. Holding me up with one arm, he pointed his nadochi at Sieghart. "Don't you dare hurt her again, you filth!" Meanwhile, both Ronan and Lire got ready to attack.
Sieghart gripped the kunai with his teeth and yanked them out, spitting them on the floor. "Go ahead, Lire, shoot!" he spat.
"I can miss," Lire said, "but the resulting explosions will stun you." Sieghart readied his sword as Lire continued. "Get out of Sieghart's mind."
"Why?" Sieghart said tauntingly. "So much power. . . I could kill you all, if I had complete control." Sieghart began to shake. "Just a little bit more. . . Agh. . ."
"But why is it Jin you want?" Lire asked.
"Jin? Jin is no longer of any use for me, don't you see?"
"But. . . what if Sieghart lost his immortality?" I asked, voice raspy.
"I'd find another host eventually," Sieghart said. "Maybe another one graced with the blessing of the Gods. That'll be difficult of course, but it'll be worth it. . ." Then Sieghart charged, swinging his sword and throwing a wave of purple energy at Lire and Ronan, but missed.
Ronan charged, then leaped, dropping many Dust Chips all around Sieghart as Lire shot an arrow into Sieghart's hand. He stumbled backwards, causing numerous Chips to trigger, and cried out in pain. Sieghart threw his sword forward, but jerked as he cut a lock of Lass' hair off. Lass let out a small cry of protest.
Lire threw an arrow at Sieghart, apparently to use it as distraction. Sieghart kicked it away, just as Ronan came from behind and kicked Sieghart's feet out from under him. Ronan stepped on his chest, pinning Sieghart. "Okay, Sieghart," Ronan said, panting. Sieghart was basically crippled, without his weapon, and wounded.
"Phew," Ryan said, as he emerged from the bushes. There was a slight bump on his head where he had made impact with a tree earlier.
"This old rat is still stronger than all of you combined, even crippled," Sieghart hissed, then grasped Ronan's leg, albeit weakly, and twisted it. Ronan cried out in pain, and dropped down to one knee and hand. Lire shot an arrow at Sieghart's hand, but he used Ronan's leg to take it. Then Sieghart grinned, a wild, menacing sight, and jerked. There was a loud snap.
"Ronan!" Lire cried out, as Ronan screamed in pain and fell over.
"I still have legs!" Sieghart cried out, as he got up and ran into the bushes. Lire shot arrows after Sieghart, as Lass cried out, "No so fast!" set me down, and pursued Sieghart. Soon, Lass and Sieghart were out of sight.
Ronan was squirming in pain, holding his right leg, apparently broken. "He broke my leg!" Ronan cried out, shaking.
"Lay back, you'll only worsen it!" Ryan said. Ronan lay onto his back, face twisted in pain.
Carefully, Ryan gripped the broken leg and carefully straightened it. Meanwhile, Lire came over with some bandages and wood, to make a splint.
Ronan cried out in pain as Ryan worked, and yelled, "My damned leg!"
"Uh, I don't think he wants me touching him anymore," Ryan said.
"Damned straight!" Ronan said, gritting his teeth. Lire set the wood and bandages together on Ronan's leg, binding it tightly.
Ryan and Lire then began to carry Ronan back to where Elesis was, with me helping Jin back. Jin limped over to Elesis and sat against a tree, leaning back, and fell asleep.
Soon, Lass came stumbling back, a kunai caught in his hair. He fingered the kunai a bit before untangling it and tossing it.
"Uh, Lass?" Lire said.
"Huh, yeah? Is Ronan alright?" Lass asked.
"Well, he has a broken leg," she said.
"U-Uh, damn that wench. . ." Lass grumbled.
"I wish Kaze'aze would stop hiding behind everyone and come out and fight us all, face to face," Lire muttered.
"Bet she's too ugly-" Lass began, before an odd dog came out and bit Lass on his butt.
"What the hell?!" Lire exclaimed. Lass fell over onto his face, allowing me a better look of the dog.
Its features. . . The dog looked like a miniature, doggified version of Kaze'aze.
AHH to short lol, Such a great story. Sieghart has been possessed O.o
Lass' dog is coming... yep, kaze' doggeh'... so much for dog pounds, kaze aze is a dog in the first place... or is she? i dont know either...
Sieghart possessed = not good. o:
Who knows if she is or not, but I've seen a picture of a Kaze'aze doggy on KGC's site and dammit, it's so adorable. D:< Plus, if you've seen this one small image, you'd see what Kaze'doggeh looks like. xD
Chapter 48: Kaze'doggeh
"Uh, what is that?" Lire asked. I heard a growl as my face lay in the dirt. Turning over a bit, I saw that it. . . was my puppy!
"Kaze'doggeh!" I exclaimed, and hugged him. "My puppy!"
"Your. . . puppy?" Lire asked, confused. Kaze'doggeh proceeded to lick my face.
"Uhm, it looks like. . . uh. . ." Lire hesitated. "Your dog reminds me of. . . Kaze'aze. . ." Point?
"Dog?" I heard Ryan say. "I love dogs." Turning around, I saw that Ryan had turned into his wolf form. Meanwhile, Lire had came closer to Kaze'doggeh, who growled and tried to bite her nose. Immediately, she jumped back with a yelp.
"Aw, how cute!" I said. "He likes you!"
"My nose," Lire complained, rubbing it.
"Hello, in pain here?!" Ronan cried out.
Kaze'doggeh jumped out of my arms, went over to Ronan, and urinated on his shoes.
"For the love of-!" Ronan shouted.
"He likes you too, Ronan!" I forced myself to say, and picked up Kaze'doggeh, who licked me again. I huggled him tightly. Suddenly, Kaze'doggeh turned and glared at Arme, who glared back.
"What are you looking at, ya' mutt?" Arme snapped.
"Aw, they're connecting!" I said.
"Lass, I'm sorry, but I don't like your dog," Arme said. And turned her back on him. Aw. . .
I frowned and pouted only slightly. "Sorry boy, but maybe you need to go back to the castle. . . ruins." Kaze'doggeh snorted.
"Castle?" Arme asked.
"Don't blame me that it got burnt down!" I said defensively.
"What castle?"
I pointed at Kaze'doggeh. "Oh, nothing, just. . . something." I got bit as Arme asked, "What castle is it, Lass?" and yowled in pain, then answered, "It's not really a castle!"
Kaze'doggeh barked.
"Fine, it is," I said.
"And what's at this castle?" Arme asked.
"It was somewhere that the Kaze'aze gathered her minions and such," I answered, then waved my hand in front of my face and yawned. "I remember standing next to, uh. . . someone. . . Ow."
"Really?" Arme was interested now. Kaze'doggeh barked again.
"Uh, yeah, what he said," I said.
"I don't understand mutt," Arme said coldly. Ouch.
Ronan tried to get up, but he only hurt himself more.
"Don't try to move," Lire told him. Ronan turned his head away, looking depressed.
Ryan took Kaze'doggeh at me, who then made a faced and began barking.
"Shut that thing up already. . ." Arme muttered.
"Uh, hold on. . ." Ryan told her. "Calm down, doggie." Kaze'doggeh just kept barking.
"Just set him down!" I yelled over the barking.
"No wait, calm down, doggie!" Ryan yelled, to no avail. Then Ryan snapped, turned into a wolf, and growled, "I said 'Calm down'!" Kaze'doggeh let out a yelp and began to cry.
"My puppy!" I exclaimed, and snatched Kaze'doggeh from Ryan's furry grasp. "Don't worry," I cooed, "Ryan's just so evil!"
"Hey, he is noi evil!" Lire protested. Ryan turned back to normal.
"Evil!" I cried out, and got slapped. "Ow!"
Kaze'doggeh began to cry more.
"Shut the hell up already!" Arme snarled.
"I'm gonna go insane, aren't I?" Ronan muttered.
"Uh, maybe," Lire answered. "Ryan, can you bring Ryan over to Elesis? Or vice versa, doesn't matter."
"Sure." Ryan turned into a wolf once more. "Set him on my back." I began to soothe my puppy as Lire tried to get Ronan onto Ryan's back. I think my cute, widdle puppy cooed back at me. How cute!
Then I set him down. "Be a good boy," I told him.
"Yeah, be a good boy and stay out of my sight," Arme grumbled. Then Kaze'doggeh jumped at her.
"Bad doggy!" I scolded, as I caught him mid-leap.
"I said stay out of my sight, you stupid mutt!" Arme shouted.
Kaze'doggeh barked at me. Your girlfriend doesn't like me!
"Yeah, I know!" I said, then began to shake Kaze'doggeh. "Why can't you just be good?"
Because you're my iboy! Not hers! Stopstopstop!
"No, you're my boy!" I said. "You're being a very bad boy!"
B-B-But!
"Bad boy!" I repeated, as Arme threw a rock at Kaze'doggeh. He turned and caught the rock in his teeth, then glared evilly at Arme. She glared back just as evilly. Eep.
Kaze'doggeh snorted, then jumped out of my hands and followed Ryan clumsily. Then Arme threw another rock at my puppy, who dodged and jumped onto her head and began to tear at her hair. Arme let out a loud yell.
"Bad doggie!" I shouted, and snatched Kaze'doggeh off Arme's head. "He's gone nuts! Go follow Ryan, Kaze'doggeh!"
Kaze'doggeh whimpered, and then growled. He lifted his chin and tail up, in a dignified way, and walked off.
Arme grumbled, "Get near me one more time and you're toast. . ."
"Might as well go see Elesis, and Jin," I said with a sigh.
"I hate that stupid thing," Arme muttered, then took out her creepy hat with the eyes on it and put it on. I hugged my precious mage tightly and murmured to her, "You're still beautiful."
She hugged me back and mumbled, "Thanks." She wasn't looking that happy.
"What's wrong?" I asked.
"Nothing's wrong," she answered. I frowned. "Alright. . ."
"I'm so roasting that dog if I catch it alone," Arme muttered. I drew away from Arme, leaving her to her puppy-roasting thoughts, and headed off towards Elesis and Jin.
"Looks like Elesis and Jin are asleep," I said to myself. Elesis may have been in a nightmare, as she was kicking out in her sleep.
Ryan the wolf had his front paws over Ronan's mouth, words coming out of it. "Oh, hey."
Kaze'doggeh was sitting next to Ryan. My puppy was getting glared at by Lire. He stuck his tongue out at Lire, then huddled next to Ryan. Lire sat on the opposite side next to Ryan. When he let go of Ronan's mouth, he began complaining about the "demon dog."
Kaze'doggeh bit Ronan's shoulder, and he let out a cry of pain. Lire kicked Kaze'doggeh off. "Off!" Ryan the wolf set Kaze'doggeh away and said, "Why don't you check on Lass?" Kaze'doggeh barked and walked away.
Then Lire said, "Hey!" She looked over at Elesis. "Elesis?" She was muttering something.
"What's she say?" I asked.
Lire whacked Elesis and muttered, "That's for kicking me." To me, "I don't know."
"Wake up, sleepy head!" I said, and whacked her. I got a kick in the leg and fell over. "Wake her up, will you?!"
Lire poked Elesis, who proceeded to kick Lire in the face. Lire backed off immediately, grumbling, "Get Ronan to wake her up. . ."
"Ronan's asleep, and crippled," I reminded her.
"Well, he's next to her," Lire told me.
I touched Elesis gently with my nodachi, and she yelped, waking up.
"Finally!" I said.
"What the hell did you do that for?!" Elesis exclaimed. "That hurt!"
"Well, being kicked hurts too!" I snapped at her.
"Well, sorry that I can't control my actions while I sleep," Elesis muttered.
"Yeah, well, your dad's possessed by Kaze'aze," I said.
"What?!" Elesis cried out. "Why the hell didn't you tell me sooner?!" Well, you were asleep, duh.
Elesis got up and disappeared into the forest, followed by Ryan, who told her to stop.
"Nice going Lass," Lire said. Oopsies.
I caught Elesis' arm as she tripped over a rock and helped her up. However, I didn't let go.
"Thanks, now let me go!" Elesis yelled.
"No!" I told her. "Look, we really don't know where he went. Lass said something about somewhere, but we're not sure. And Ronan needs you."
"I. . . but. . . Father could. . . be in danger," Elesis told me.
"Sieghart can take care of himself," I reminded her. "He's done it for most of his life, and we've seen that proof."
"Then why is he still possessed by Kaze'aze?!" Elesis asked. I looked down before answering. "Sieghart was fighting it. I'm sure he's fine, but Kaze'aze used his strength to break Ronan's leg. Ronan needs you at his side right now, Elesis."
Elesis looked like she was going to protest, but then said, "Okay, let's go back. . ." I could see that she was reluctant.
"I wish I could do two things at once. . ." Elesis said to herself. It was a few minutes before we came back, and Ronan was awake.
"Ronan, how do you feel?" Elesis asked, at his side immediately.
"I feel fine," Ronan said, with a groan.
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah, I'm sure. . ."
Elesis bent over and gave Ronan a hug. He returned it with one arm. I saw Lass sitting in a tree, toying with a kunai. Then Elesis stood. "I'm going to go into the forest for a bit."
Ronan watched her begin to leave, then sighed, and closed his eyes. He wasn't asleep though, his breathing told us that much.
"Elesis, maybe you shouldn't go," Lire said. "I mean, Sieghart can take care of himself, right?"
"Then if he can, then why hasn't he already broken free of Kaze'aze's control?" Elesis countered, then disappeared into the forest. Ronan sighed again.
"What's wrong Ronan?" Lass asked.
"Nothing," Ronan answered, as Lire went after Elesis.
"They're all leaving," I said, sighing.
"You're right. . ." Lass said.
Ronan, Lass and I all sighed. Jin said, "I'll go after them."
"Fine, but I'll come with you in case," Lass said.
"In case. . ." I inquired.
"Well, he was on the verge of dying the other day!" Lass told me.
Jin didn't say anything, he just walked off.
"Hey, wait up!" Lass yelled, and ran after.
"I'll stay here with Ronan," I said to no one in particular.
"You know where the castle is?" I asked Jin. I heard Kaze'doggeh walking behind us.
"Yes. . ." Jin answered. Kaze'doggeh and began to butter up to Jin. That traitor!
Then Elesis ran into Jin. He stumbled.
"Hey, Elesis, watch it!" I yelled. "Jin ain't as peachy as you."
"Well, sorry that I didn't see him!" Elesis snapped.
"It's alright." Jin sighed and staggered to his feet.
"Father, where are you?" Elesis called out, and began to head off again.
"Hey, wait!" I called.
"Huh? What?" Elesis looked at me.
"Are you looking for the castle he might be in?" I asked.
"Castle? He's in a castle?" Elesis seemed doubtful. "Oh, that would make sense, I think."
"Well, it's not really a castle," I said. "But are you looking for it?"
"Well, if that's where father is, then yes. If not, no," Elesis answered.
"Jin and I know the way. We could show you," I said. I looked for Jin, and saw that he was ahead of us. Hey! The two of us ran to Jin.
We soon arrived.
The castle was more of a fortress of blue-colored crystal. Even though it was made of crystal, the fortress hardly looked pretty. It towered above us, the turrets looking empty and worn down. You couldn't see through the walls.
"So this is the place?" Elesis asked, looking up. I nodded. "Seems really. . . fragile."
"Not really," I told her, and to show it, I picked up a rock and threw it at the side of the gate. The rock hit and fell to the ground, broken into pieces.
"Shouldn't be hard to get in, I suppose," Elesis said.
"Yea-"I began, then threw a kunai into the bushes nearby. "Who's there?!"
"Watch it Lass!" Lire stepped out of the bushes.
"Oh, it's only Lire," I said with a sigh of relief.
"What are you doing here?" Elesis asked.
"Uh, I was just taking a walk!" Lire lied.
"Then why are you here?" Elesis asked, wary.
"Yeah, well. . ." I grumbled, then I leaped onto the castle and ran up the side, scaling it until I reached the top of the wall. Jin followed, emanating waves of chi and soon made it up next to me. The wound Sieghart gave him began to open.
"Hey, be careful!" Elesis shouted from below.
Suddenly, a giant hand, the color of red, white, and a deep navy blue, grabbed Jin. Lire and I cried out, and I tried to save Jin, but the hand pulled him into the fortress. Damn!
"How are we gonna get up there?!" Lire shouted.
"Beats me," Elesis said. Then I noticed Kaze'doggeh headbutt the fortress gate. He barked and padded over to a doggy door.
"No, way I can fit in there," Lire said, as Kaze'doggeh walked in.
"You try and fit through," Elesis said.
"I am not that small!" Lire protested.
"Yeah, well, neither am I!" Elesis shouted, and kicked the door. There was growling from the other side.
"Uh, bad idea?" Lire squeaked.
Then I saw a faint silhouette of Kaze'doggeh, backed by a larger silhouette.
"Uh, run?" Elesis said.
"Good idea," Lire said, then turned around and ran into Arme. I jumped down in time for Arme to shout, "Watch where you're going!"
Then a purple Gorgos burst through the door. Kaze'doggeh barked at it.
"Oh, a Gorgos?" Arme didn't sound fazed. "What's it doing here?" Then she noticed Kaze'doggeh. "That mutt?!"
Kaze'doggeh barked once, then shout out a bright green laser through its mouth, hitting the Gorgos on the head. It fell over, stunned. Kaze'doggeh barked again, then turned and ran into the castle. Uh, okay, what happened? Anyway, Elesis, Lire, Arme and I followed Kaze'doggeh.
He lead us down the castle, going through corridor after corridor. Kaze'doggeh barked once as he pushed past through two large doors.
"Where the hell are we?" Arme asked, as we entered the room.
The room was enormous. There were tons of footprints scattered around, all of various sizes. Some were massive, and there were some hover-prints, which were the most common around the shaded edges of the room. Arme walked over to a footprint.
Suddenly, a Dark Anmon Scout snatched Kaze'doggeh up and jumped to the second floor, onto a balcony.
"Get out. . . trap. . ." a voice groaned. The doors suddenly closed. Then a forcefield surrounded us all, electricity crackling, and a large mass of Dark Mages and Lichs appear from the shadows.
"Looks like we're in for a fight. . ." Elesis muttered.
Then the electricity died away, revealing a cage in front of us. Who was that in it?
"What the hell is this?" Elesis asked, then sliced at the cage. The bars were thick, but cyrstalline, and they held against the sword.
Then it went dark for a moment, and I was in another cage, this time with Sieghart and Jin.
"Lass!" Arme cried out, and ran over.
"Father? Is that you?" Elesis started to come closer.
"Honey. . . stay back. . ." Sieghart groaned.
"Arme, no," I said. "Don't get any closer!" I was afraid, now. Jin was slumped on the bars, bleeding.
"What happened?!" Arme asked, running over.
"No, stop!" I shouted.
Immediately, Arme stopped, just as the Dark Mages sent bolts of lightning into our cage. Jin and I cried out in pain, Sieghart trying to bear it. We were all a bit fried when the electricity stopped. I saw Lire and Elesis fall over.
Arme growled, then shot a bolt of lightning at the Dark Mages. There was a small shimmer of light, and then Arme's lightning was reflected back at her. She cried out in pain, and fell over.
"A-Arme!" I cried out, as I heard barking.
Soon, a Scout descended with Kaze'doggeh. The Scout looked a bit nervous.
"Bwahaha!" Kaze'doggeh. . . laughed? The Scout looked awkward.
Kaze'doggeh coughed, then began to speak. "*Awthou it's hawd to speek fom a dog's mouf. . ." What witchcraft was this?! Kaze'doggeh laughed again, and barked a bit.
"M-Mangy old. . . mutt. . ." Arme muttered.
"**Actuwaly, this is. . . nevuhmin'," Kaze'doggeh said.
"I-I can t-tell who. . . you are. . ." Arme growled.
"***Yew awl awe abowt tew fawl intew a deep sleep. . . Sweet drems. . ." Kaze'doggeh said, then coughed again. "Stoopid dogs. . ."
"N-No!" Lire cried out. "I don't want to f-fall asleep, in a place like this. . ." Kaze'doggeh's eyes seemed to change, and he began to bark wildly. The Scout began to panic and run around a bit. That same red, white, and navy hand that grabbed Jin early appeared from the ceiling, the fingers demonic, pointed and hooked, and snatched both Kaze'doggeh and the Scout. It disappeared into the ceiling.
The Dark Mages and Necromancers began to chant, their eyes glowing, as the girls grew drowsy.
"No, Arme!" I cried out, throwing myself against the bars.
"Elesis!" Sieghart yelled, and then began to cough up blood. Soon, the three girls were asleep, and were about to experience their own nightmare.
–
Additional Notes:* “Although it's hard to speak from a dog's mouth. . .”** “Actually, this is. . . never mind.”*** “You all are about to fall into a deep sleep. . . Sweet dreams. . . Stupid dogs. . .”
Chapter 49: Arme's Nightmare
I awoke. Or so I thought.
"Ugh. . ." I groaned, then looked around. "Huh? I'm awake? Where am I?" Then I saw myself, crying.
"I don't know, why does everyone have to involve me?! I'm just a mage! All I wanted was to learn more about magic!"
I realized then I was in a flashback, a memory.
"I-I remember this. . ." I said to myself. Then I saw Lass step forward, but then. . . stop.
"I'm sorry," he said. "Let's go, we'll find Elesis on our own."
"W-Wait, what?" I said.
Lass, Ronan, and Ryan started to just leave me there, crying. . .
"W-Wait, what's going on?!" I asked. And then, I, myself, entered the flashback, still crying. The emotion flooded into me. No. . . Lass! Come back!
"A-Ah, no!" I cried. "Why are you leaving me?! L-Lass, wait!" Ronan looked back, eyes filled with sympathy.
"Go away." Lass' voice was like ice, and it shot through me like a dagger. "We don't need you anymore, and you don't need us. We're not a part of Grand Chase anymore, remember?"
"P-Please. . . I. . ." I said.
They turned and walked away, disappearing into the forest.
"N-No, Lass! Wait, please! C-Come back!" I begged. No, why, Lass, why?! I didn't mean what I had said! I need you!
I fell over sobbing. "P-Please, c-come b-back. . ." I don't know why, but I began to cry even harder. There was laughter in the air, sounding like Lass, but it wasn't right.
"W-W-Who's t-there?!" I demanded between sobs. Then it grew white, and I was in another memory.
"N-No, not again," I whispered.
A blue aura bumped against a jail cell, but it couldn't fit.
"What is it?" Ronan grabbed the aura and pushed it backward so he could see it.
I whimpered.
Inside was Lass, body lying in a puddle of blood, skin stained by the thick, red liquid. Lass' eyes were open, unblinking, lifeless, blood pouring from his nose. He was still breathing.
The aura circled about Lass body. Ronan cut the bubble in half, letting the aura out, and it entered Lass' body.
He let out a loud gasp, and began to sputter out blood. Then he let out a loud scream.
"Lass! I cried out.
Ronan pried the bars apart and used his Holy Inferno, bathing Lass in a soft, blue light, but it didn't help
Lass kept screaming, crying, tears of blood falling from his eyes. He squirmed and struggled in the blood.
"Damn it, why won't it work?!" Ronan cried out, frustrated.
I covered my ears, and closed my eyes. "This isn't real, this isn't happening, it's only a dream, a horrible, terrible, aching nightmare that won't let me out. . ."
Even with my eyes closed and ears covered, I could still see and hear. Lass continued to gasp for air, but then his screams were drowned out as a massive amount of blood escaped from his mouth.
"Lass, stay with us!" Ronan cried. "Damn it, where's Ryan!" Ronan began to panic.
"Please, oh please, let this be over. . ." I begged.
Soon, Lass grabbed Ronan's wrist and looked up at him, eyes filled with pain.
"No, wait, Lass, no!" Ronan's voice was filled with pain.
Lass eyes dropped to look out of the cell. His gaze rested on me, before his eyes widened, then closed halfway, staring at me as his last breath escaped his lips.
"Lass!" Ronan cried out.
"Why can't I wake up?!" I screamed. "Why?!"
I saw Ronan grab Lass and shake him, tears flowing down his face. "Agh, no!"
"No, no, no, no!" I cried out desperately. Then, I bit my hand, as hard I could, tasting the salty tang of blood.
Then the scene changed on me. I thought I woke up, because it was the same place I was in, before I had fallen into this hellish nightmare. The Dark Mages were all gone, and in the cage, only Sieghart was there.
"S-Sieghart?" I called out, hesitantly. "Where is everyone?"
"We're the only ones here," Sieghart answered.
"B-But the others?" I asked.
"Ronan, I broke his leg." Sieghart looked down before continuing. "Elesis and Lire, I don't know. . . When I woke up, only you were here. Ryan either." He shook his head.
"W-Why did you break Ronan's leg?" I asked, then realized something. "Wait, h-he was left behind at the forest. . . as was Ryan."
"I was possessed, but I experienced it all." With a sigh, Sieghart lay down on his back, staring at the roof of his cage.
"W-Where is everyone. . ." I asked. "Where. . . Lass?"
"Lass? Who's that?" Sieghart asked. No. . .
"Y-You know him," I said. "The white-haired male. . . The assassin, thief. . . Him?"
"Never met him." What happened. . .? "Don't think I'd like him though."
"B-But. . . What about Jin then?" I asked.
Sieghart looked down. "You were there, weren't you?"
"Where?"
Sieghart squeezed his eyes shut. "When I had to speak to the Kaze'aze. . . through Jin. . . About how. . . Ryan was put into a coma and sent nightmares. . ." No, that wasn't Ryan!
"No, that was Lass!" I shouted.
"No. . ."
"Yes it was! I-I was there! Lass was the one who was in a coma. . . not Ryan. . ." I squeaked out the last words.
"Jin's dead. . ." Sieghart said, as if I never spoke. What?! "It's my fault. . ."
"No, we saved him. . ." I said. "We saved Jin!" Then I stopped. "Wait, t-this is just another nightmare. . . I-It's just a nightmare. . ."
"I would hope so. . . I'd love to wake up right now. . . Jin. . ." Sieghart covered his face with his hands. "I'm sorry I killed you. . ."
"I hate this, I want to wake up. . ." I whispered. "I want to see everyone again. . ."
"But you can't. . ."
"We won't allow it. . . "
"W-Who's there?!" I cried out, looking around. Then Jin and Lass appeared in front of me, Lass' back turned to me.
"L-Lass?"
He turned around and looked at me. "What?" His voice was like ice.
"W-What's going on. . .? No, I don't need to ask that, I know what's going on. . . I'm in a nightmare. . . The worst nightmare I've ever had. . . And you're alive, I know it, a-and I love you. . . but this is a nightmare, and I k-know that. . . things will become even worse. . ." I was afraid.
"That's right, but. . ." Jin said, voice ominous.
"To end this nightmare," Lass added.
"You have to kill the broken," Lass and Jin said, together.
"And that means us," Jin said.
"W-What?" I said, surprised. "K-Kill you? I-I can't kill you guys. . ."
"Then have your mind rot in this everlasting nightmare," Lass spat.
"N-No, I'll wake up, and I 'll do it without killing you!" I shouted.
"Arme!" I heard. I-It was Lass, and yet. . . it wasn't this Lass I was facing.
"L-Lass?" I called out.
"Wake up! Please!"
"Rgh, shut up!" this "Lass" yelled.
"I-I'm trying!" I answered.
"Lire, Arme, Elesis. . . You have to wake up before it's too late. . ." It was Sieghart that time.
"Oh, please, please," I begged. "I-I'm so. . . I'm so scared. . . I d-don't want to do this, but. . . but. . ." I looked over at the fake Lass and Jin.
"Hey, are you okay?" the dream Sieghart asked. "You're talking to yourself."
"At least. . . I'm talking to someone who is. . . real. . ." I told him.
"You know, if this were a nightmare, I'd be so happy. . . 'cuz none of this is real. . ." he told me, with a sigh. "No one dies in real life if someone dies in a nightmare."
I agreed weakly.
"Thank the Gods for that. . ."
"This is your final ticket out of the nightmare, mage," Jin whispered.
My mind clicked. "I'm so happy," I said, "But. . . I have to kill. . . those two." I pointed to the Lass and Jin in this dreaded nightmare. "And even though I know they aren't real. . . I'm going to have trouble. . . doing it. . ."
"If I killed my daughter in a nightmare, I'd be overcome with sadness. . ." Sieghart said.
"Sieghart, please, step back," I told him.
Sieghart did as I asked, but he kept talking. "I'd hug her so tightly. And I might smite Ronan a bit. . ." He sounded far-off, as I prepared my staff.
"I'm sorry, but you two. . . have to die, if it means waking up. . ." I said, turning to the two in the disguise of Jin and my dear one. Lass' eyes widened as I spoke those words.
"You don't have the guts," Jin said, sounding unsure of himself. I heard Sieghart still talking. "Oh, Elesis, I miss you. . ."
"You think I don't, Jin?" I told him. I felt as if I had a slightly maniacal smile on my face. "Remember the time, when we found out you had drugged the boys? Or when I fought Elesis back at Kaze'aze's Castle?"
"Or when Sieghart nearly killed me? Or in this case, killed me?" Jin continued.
"In my nightmare, you died," I told him. "But in reality, he simply wounded you, so that we could bring you back."
"So, what, you're going to have me killed again? Can you really do that? To me? To Lass?" Jin's face seemed to have contorted in my eyes.
"Arme! Please!" I'm coming, Lass, just hold on. . .
"I can, and I will, if it means I can see my one love again. . ." I whispered. "Farewell, nightmare. . ." I raised my staff up, feeling the air swirl, dance, twirl, around me, concentrating into a large mass of dangerous energy in front of me. And I aimed it at Jin and Lass. The ones I had to destroy, to get out of this nightmare.
The Air Blast ripped through them, and they faded into nothing.
Sieghart looked up, and he began to fade as well. "Was this all a dream?" Even his voice was fading. In fact, all but I was fading away.
"Yes, it was, and you can see your daughter again, Sieghart," I whispered weakly. Everything was gone, but me.
"Now what?" I asked myself.
"Arme! Wake up. . . I love you. . ." Lass. . .
"It could be too late. . ."
"No, I have faith that she'll fight this. . ."
"Lass," I whispered, the last of my strength fading. "I. . . love. . . you. . ." I felt myself fall down, as everything faded into black.
Chapter 50: Lire's Nightmare
Author's Note: I have plans for a sequel, but hopefully it won't be this long.
I opened my eyes, and thought I was awake.
"Uh. . . huh?"
I saw myself slap Ronan in the face, then walk over to Ryan, kicking him in a tender spot. I flinched.
"I remember this. . ." I murmured. "Seeing it now. . . It still brings back the anger and sadness I felt back then. . ."
"I don't even know why you even like her. . ."
"I'm never going to forgive you!" "I" ran off.
Everything blurred for a second or two, before it sharpened again, to the Temple of Cuatal. I saw Ryan, looking for. . . For what?
"R-Ryan?" I called.
He turned around, surprised to see me. "Lire?! I-I'm sorry, I really am. I did love you. . . B-But I mean. . ."
"R-Ryan?" I was confused. What was this? "What are you saying?"
Ryan just shook his head. "Why are you here?" he asked me.
"I-I don't know," I answered. "At first, I was somewhere else."
"It's late, you should get going," he said. "I dropped something, I'll be back in a bit."
"Where are you going, Ryan?" I asked, suddenly worried.
"I dropped something," was all he said, and pointed to the Temple. "Don't worry, I'll be okay."
“Do you want me to help you find it?” I offered.
“N-No, I'm fine,” Ryan said nervously. What was wrong? He turned into a wolf, and ran off.
“R-Ryan, wait!” I called out, and ran after him. It almost seemed as if. . . Ryan was hiding something. . . He ran into the Temple.
It seemed as if time moved quickly, literally. Suddenly, I was inside the Temple, and there was Ryan, looking around.
“Vanessa?” he called out.
I felt a sharp stab of pain in my chest. N-No. . . Why?
“Who's there?”
“S-Samsara?!”
“I can't defeat him by myself. . .”
“Filth. . .”
A bright flare of fire.
“Eeeyaaaaack!”
Ryan was still standing. But he was struck again, and turned into nothing more than a pile of cinders. . .
“No, Ryan!” I cried out. Even if he loved Vanessa. . . I still loved him. . . But. . . What was going on? I fell to my knees, crying, as the scenery seemed to change.
An explosion, and then a cave entrance crumbling, blocking the way.
I screamed.
“Nice. . .” Sieghart muttered, sarcastically. I found myself with Lass, Jin, Amy, and Sieghart.
“I didn't think my arrow would drop. . .” “I” said.
“W-What is this?” I asked myself.
There was Ronan, in the distance, in a nightmare, and Ryan. . . was next to him, squirming, holding his eyes. . .
Walking over, Sieghart called out Ryan's name.
“Y-You're b-back?” Ryan exclaimed, voice shaking.
“I” walked over to Ryan. “R-Ryan. . .” Ryan didn't look up, but he stopped squirming, and started shaking.
“Ryan, are you okay?”
“Oh, Lire. . .”
“W-What's going on?!” I cried out, holding my head. Why. . . Why was I reliving all this? I. . . I didn't like this, not one bit. . .
“I-I can't see. . .” Ryan whispered. “I'm blind. . . My eyes, they're gone. . .”
“What's happening?” Sieghart asked.
“Ryan, he's blind. . .” Arme answered.
“What?” Sieghart looked at Ryan. “Open your eyes, boy!”
“I don't have eyes!” Ryan cried out. “I don't know, they're gone!” Sieghart flinched.
Gone?
“H-How did this happen?” Arme asked shakily.
“I-I don't know what happened,” Ryan answered. “Something came out of the cave and it passed by me, or though me. I closed my eyes, but when I opened them, it was all black. . . I realized that my eyes were gone when I tried to rub them. . . I'm going to be blind forever!” No, why?! This wasn't what happened!
“Do you think it. . . took your eyes? I think I'll go and see if I can find the thing that took your eyes!” Arme said.
Ryan slumped against me. How did I suddenly get next to him?
“R-R-Ryan. . .” I said softly, crying.
“It's okay. . .” Ryan said, as if I weren't there, and stood up. “S-Sieghart, sir, could you help me to the river?”
“N-No, it's not okay!” I cried out.
“Huh?” Ryan asked.
“Y-You're blind, it's not okay!” I told him.
“I never knew you cared. . .” Ryan muttered. What?
“O-Of course I cared!” I told him. “I love you, Ryan! But. . . it seems you like. . . Vanessa. . . more. . .” I wanted to die.
Sieghart rested a hand on Ryan's shoulder. “C'mon, kid. I'm taking him to the river.” Sieghart gave me a questioning look, and it hurt me. . .
“It hurts so much. . .” I whispered. “B-But this. . . It can't be real, can it?”
Sieghart and Ryan disappeared.
“W-Why is this happening?” I asked to no one. Then the scene changed.
Ronan was trying to reach the river, desperately trying to get in, but was held back by Sieghart. Lass was in the water, but he couldn't reach something that was on the bottom. Ryan had drowned himself.
“No!” I screamed. “Ryan!”
Lass finally pulled Ryan out of the water, and said, “Arme, can't you do something?!”
“I'm sorry,” Arme answered, “but I can't bring back the dead. . .”
“No!” Ronan cried out.
“The kid could have been something of a legend too,” Sieghart said softly. “I'm sorry. . . I didn't know he'd do that. . .”
“Why. . .” I whispered. “Why. . .? Why Ryan?!”
Lass touched Ryan's face gently, fear spreading to his own. “Man, having no eyes. . . It's sort of scary. . .”
I closed my eyes tightly. “Whywhywhywhywhy. . .” I felt someone's hand on my shoulder. “It's okay. . .” No, it wasn't okay!
I screamed. “Please, this h-has to be a dream. . .”
“It's okay, Lire. . .” I heard Lass say. “Don't worry about it. . .”
“No, it's not okay. . .” I replied.
There was a change of light.
I opened my eyes to infinite white.
“W-What's going on?” Then I realized someone was behind me, and turned around to. . . Ryan. He was blind. . .
“R-Ryan?” I called out. He stayed silent.
“Why, Ryan. . .” I asked. “Why did you have to die?!”
“I. . .” Ryan's eyes drifted to the floor. “I can't be with you, Lire, ever. . . I'm sorry it came down to this, but. . .” But what? Why, Ryan? My heart felt like it was being ripped to shreds. . .
“Why?” I whispered so softly, I thought he wouldn't have been able to hear it, but he did.
“Well never be, ever, what you hoped we could be. . .” he told me.
“Why did this have to happen. . .” I whispered to myself, and began to cry again. I was so pathetic. . .
“The truth is that. . .” Ryan continued. “You're too weak. . . I'm sorry. . .” He kicked the “floor” of the white. I looked up in confusion. Wait, what?
The surroundings changed again, and so did Ryan's colors. He closed his eyes, and when he opened them, they were full of color. What was going on? Who. . . was this, that replaced Ryan? He looked like him, but. . .
“W-What?” I said.
He crossed his arms and frowned.
“R-Ryan?”
“What do you want?” he asked coldly.
“Who. . . are you?” I asked.
“Who am I. . .? Isn't it obvious?”
“It's obvious. . . that you aren't Ryan,” I said.
He grabbed my hand and held me in the air, so I could see his eyes. They were. . . not Ryan's.
“Look again,” he sneered.
“No, you're not the Ryan I know and love,” I told him. This couldn't be Ryan. Ryan didn't have sandy-colored hair, he didn't have those markings on his face, and his voice. . . Ryan would never sound so icy like this. . .
He transformed into a wolf of darkness and let loose a roar, squeezing my wrist so tightly. . . I cried out in pain.
The wolf grit his teeth. “Don't you get it?” he growled. “I don't want anything to do with you.”
“Because you aren't Ryan,” I said, through the pain. Ryan never turned into this. . . this. . . ugly wolf!
“Of course I am. Did you know I did love you once? Did you?” he asked. “Yes. Of course, it's different now.” Who was this pretender?
“Of course,” I said, “but you aren't Ryan! Who the hell are you?!”
“That's right, I guess I'm not Ryan anymore. . .” he snared. “I'm your worst nightmare. . .” That was it. . . I should've known.
“If you are my worst nightmare,” I said, after a small cry of pain, “then this is only a dream. . .”
“A dream you can't escape,” the wolf said tauntingly.
“If it's a dream, then I can wake up,” I told him.
“No, I won't let you.” He grinned a tooth grin, and held me up higher, squeezing me tightly. I held back a cry. “Does this feel like a dream? Does it?!”
“Then. . . I'll make you. . .” I took out an arrow with my free hand and rammed it between the wolf's eyes. “Go away!” His eyes widened and dropped me.
“Wh. . . What the. . . hell. . .?” he choked out, then dropped down, changing back to. . . Ryan. . . No, t-that wasn't really Ryan. . . was he?
“Rgh. . . Damn you. . .” he snarled, “Grand Chase girls. . . How dare you. . . ruin my plans. . .” His voice changed, growing mangled and warped. So. . . was this Kaze'aze? Did she invade even my dreaming world?
“Ryan” began to dematerialize.
"Lire, Arme, Elesis. . . You have to wake up before it's too late. . ." Sieghart?
I closed my eyes. “Please, someone, help me out of this. . . this nightmare. . .”
“Ugh, where am I?” Arme?
The sounds began to come clearer, and I opened my eyes.
“W-Where am I?” I asked. Then I recognized the place, this dreaded castle.
The large, double doors flung open and Kaze'doggeh came out, leading two figures, one of them leaning against the other. I heard Lass say something, but then one spoke.
“Good dog!” Ryan. . .?
“R-Ryan?” I called out weakly.
“Lire!” Ryan cried out happily.
I was back to the waking world again.
DynastyAngel: Author's Note: I have plans for a sequel, but hopefully it won't be this long.
Cool!
But lets fih¡nish this.. i wanna know how will end!
Finally Back! <,<!
Man... Took me long to read the whole page 6 because I got caught up by playing Grand Chase consecutively... I forgot to read the fanfic (sorry )... Anyway~ Thanks for doing the updates! And wow~ Wonder how the sequel story would start?
Characters: [Elesis Level 35 Spearman] [Arme Level 21 Mage] [Lire Level 18 Archer] [Ronan Level 27 Magic Knight] [Ryan Level -- ------] [Lass Level -- -----] [Amy (CS)] [Jin (CS)] [Sieghart (UNK)]
Im really hooked.And i actually cried in lire and armes chapter...i know im a crybaby but that just shows its good right? anyways keep a good work at it
Thanks, all :P
@Hilem: Of course I'm gonna finish this! I can't start a sequel when this isn't even done yet! XD;
@ElesisRonan1: I don't blame ya, if I'm in the mood, I can play for quite awhile. :P Still deciding on how to start the sequel though.
@Sara12345: When doing the script, it made me tear up too, because I'ma crybaby too. :P
Odd how Sieghart is apparently lazy, and he's somewhat lazy in the story, which I never knew he really was. XD I find that. . . odd. But hey, no adjustments to that then, at all!
Also, I'm testing out a piece of writing. When I finish it, I'll post a link to it. Sorta. Ask and I'll tell why, but I feel that if I do submit it, you'll understand why I'm doing a sorta link to it.
Chapter 51: Elesis' Nightmare
Author's Note: End of another plot, I estimate three more plots before the end of the story.
I opened my eyes.
"Ugh, what's this. . .?" I groaned.
Then I saw myself, and I didn't look so well, and neither did Ronan.
"Ugh. . ." myself groaned. Er. . .
"Uh. . . Are you alright?" Ronan asked. He wasn't feeling too well himself, but he tried not to show it.
“I remember this. . .” I said to myself.
“N-No. . .” and I saw myself fall unconscious, Ronan rushing to my. . . her. . . Er. . . Whatever, to my side.
“El-Elesis?!” Ronan cried out, but as soon as he was at my side, he collapsed.
“R-Ronan!” I cried out.
“Sh-She's cursed. . .” Arme said. I am?
“Uh, A-Arme?” Lass called out.
“She's scaring me. . .” Ryan whispered.
“Me too. . .” Lire whispered back.
Soon, Arme was awake. “L-Lass?!” She hugged Lass, tightly. “Lass! Y-You're still alive!”
“Y-Yeah,” Lass said, “but Ronan might not be.”
“Ronan?!” Arme cried.
Ronan wheezed with each breath. . . I was getting worried.
“Ronan, are you okay?” Arme asked.
“I've. . . never felt. . . so sick. . . in my li. . . life. . .” he croaked.
Then everything blurred, and soon I saw Ronan in the forest, alone, face flushed with fever.
“R-Ronan?” I called out. What was going on?
Ronan covered my mouth as he coughed harshly. He stumbled onwards until he reached a thick tree, and fell to the ground. Alarmed, I ran over to him.
“A-Are you okay?” I asked.
“E. . .” he said, before closing his eyes. Ronan's face was slick with sweat, due to the heat of the fever. . .
I hugged Ronan and told him, “You should t-try and get some rest. . .”
“W. . . at. . . er. . .” he said weakly.
“W-Water? I-I'll go get you some, please wait here!” I told him, and ran off to the nearest source of water I could find. By the time I came back, however, Ronan had departed. I looked around, not seeing him.
“Where did you go. . .” I said to myself.
“Zombie!” Was that Lass?
“Flu alert! Blegh!”
I ran over in the direction of the voices. “What happened?!” I saw that Ronan had fallen over Lass.
“R-Ronan?”
“So heavy. . . Get off!” Lass shouted.
I ran over and pulled Ronan off. He was shivering, as if he were cold. . .
"Ew, ew, ew. . ." I heard Lass complain.
"Ronan, are you okay?" I asked him softly.
"I'm cold. . ." he answered, and I hugged Ronan, tightly.
"Well, apparently, you look very ho-Oh Fire Bolt!, don't go near the light!" Lass shouted.
"Please, don't go. . ." I whispered. I was scared. I was afraid.
"I'm sorry. . ." Ronan wheezed. "I'm sorry I. . . can't protect you. . . anymore. . ." He placed a hand on my cheek. It was deathly cold. . .
"N-No, Ronan. . . please don't go. . ." I begged of him.
"I'll. . . always love you. . ." he whispered to me, as I hugged him, tightly, and began to cry.
"I'm sorry. . . it had to end like this. . ." were his last words before Ronan's body went limp.
"No. . . Ronan. . . Ronan! No!" I cried out, and began to cry uncontrollably, my body shaking from my sobs. "Please, don't go!"
"I'm sorry," Lass said.
"I wish I could've done more. . ." Arme said. "I'm sorry, Elesis. . ."
Then the colors blurred again. I looked up. "W-W-What n-now. . .?"
"Abyss Storm."
A strong wind passed, blowing up debris, and I covered my eyes. "R-Ronan?"
"Why do I have to be a light weight?!" I saw Lass flying by.
"L-Lass?" I looked up.
"Ronan, what are you doing?!" Ryan?
"R-Ronan?!" I called out. "Ronan, w-where are you?!" Then I appeared behind Ronan, stripped of his armor, wearing clothes meant for quick traveling.
"R-Ronan?"
He turned around, slowly.
"Y-You're alive!" I was so happy, but then I spoke, against my will. "Ronan. . . you hate me, don't you. . .?" What was going on?
"That's why you left us, isn't it?"
Ronan blinked, eyes clearing. "Elesis, is that you?"
"R-Ro. . . nan. . .?" I felt a wave of heat spread through me, my condition suddenly becoming bad. Wait, this wasn't right. . .
"A-Ah, I feel so. . . so warm. . . I feel so dizzy. . ." I whispered.
"Yes, of course it's me. . . I'm the only one with red hair that's this long. . . I'm also the only one that looks close to death at the moment. . ." I coughed a bit.
"Elesis, I. . . Never meant. . . Ugh. . ." He opened his left hand, a ring in it. Then, Ronan began to laugh psychotically. I remember this, though my mind was fuzzy from the heat.
"I've broken the will of one of the most faithful members of Grand Chase. . . The Royal Guard Master, eh?"
"K-Kaze'aze?! No, get away from me!" I screamed, and kicked out at Ronan.
"K-K-Kaze'aze. . . a-again. . ." Arme stammered.
Ronan caught my foot.
"L-Let me go. . ." I muttered.
"You're in no condition, child." Ronan dropped the ring. "Ronan Erudon's body. . . is mine!"
I reached down and pulled my sword out. "Get. . . away. . . from me!" I snarled, and lashed out. Ronan deflected my sword with his tyrfing, and held the blade to my throat.
"Egh. . ." Ronan uttered, and his head drooped a bit, an aura coming out of him. It was dark blue. "Mhm, ha ha. . ." He knocked me down and turned, gathering force. I let out a cry as I hit the floor, hard.
"Say good-bye to Ronan's soul. . ." he whispered.
"No, Ronan!" Ryan cried out.
"Hey, watch it, Kaze'aze!" Arme said, growling a bit, and attempted to attack Ronan from the side, but he hit her head with the hilt of his tyrfing, hard, knocking Arme to the floor.
Then Ronan turned, and surrounded. . . Ronan's soul. . . with the light, glowing blue of force.
I looked up. "R-Ronan. . ."
"Your body is permanently mine. Ronan Erudon is no more. . ." The force obliterated the dark blue.
"No, Ronan!" I cried out.
"Who. . .?" Ronan. . . No, Kaze'aze, said.
Why was this happening? Was it just my imagination, playing tricks with me, or was it Kaze'aze, her and her dark magic? But. . . Why. . . Why this?
No, I know. . . It's because Kaze'aze. . . She was trying to break me. . . I bet she was doing this to the others as well.
I tried to stand up, holding my sword.
"Watch out!" Kaze'aze cried out, and pointed at herself. The environment faded into a new scene, of when my father was possessed.
"W-What?" I looked around. "What's going on?"
Ronan kicked father's feet out from under him and stepped on his chest. "Okay, Kaze'aze. . ." Father was powerless, it seemed. . .
Ryan emerged from the bushes. "Phew." There was a bump on his head.
"That's true, Guard Master, but I still have one option. . ." father said. "This old rat is still stronger than all of you combined!" He grabbed Ronan's leg weakly, and twisted it. Ronan cried out in pain, and fell down to his knee and hand.
Lire shot an arrow at father, but he blocked it with Ronan's leg. A wild look spread across his face and he jerked. There was a loud snap, and Ronan fell over in pain.
"R-Ronan!" I cried out. No one seemed to have heard me.
"Are you okay, Ronan?" Lire tried to run over to Ronan, but father grabbed Ronan, and shoved him up against a tree.
"You better back up, or there's going to be some blood splattering over you. . ." father snarled. He held Ronan to the tree with the forearm of his bad hand, and grabbed Ronan's tyrfing with his good hand.
"St-Stop. . ." Ronan groaned.
"No, Ronan!" I tried to run over, but it seemed as if I couldn't even move. No, please don't kill him!
"Let him go!" Lire cried out.
Father pointed the tyrfing at Lire, and then looked at Ronan. "Sad, really, hm? Too bad you were going to call this old rat 'father' some day. Not anymore. . ." He gripped the hilt of the tyrfing tightly and stabbed it through Ronan's stomach. I screamed. I tried to knock my father aside, but I couldn't do anything. . . I simply went through him. . .
"No, Ronan!" Lire cried out, as she shot an arrow at father.
"Gack!" Blood gushed out of Ronan's stomach, and streamed out of his mouth. Father grabbed the arrow, and then twisted the tyrfing, causing Ronan to scream in pain.
"How does it feel," father whispered, "to be so close to certain death?"
"No, Ronan. . ." I cried. "How could you, father?" I began to cry again.
Ronan tried to stand up, but father drew away, and Ronan slumped against the tyrfing buried in his body, growling in pain.
"This time, I won't hesitate to kill you, even if you are the father of my friend!" Arme snarled. She took out her War Staff. Wait. . . no. . .
Ronan gripped the blade of the tyrfing and ripped it out of his stomach, tossing it to the side. He looked down at his hands, then at the hole in his stomach. "It can't end like this. . ." he whispered, just as Arme aimed her staff at father, and let loose a stream of energy.
"Arme, no!" I screamed, as Ryan grabbed Ronan.
Father cried out in pain, as the soul of Kaze'aze left him, leaving his father to fade away. . .
Everything grew hazy as I asked, "Why is this. . . happening. . ."
"I. . . ugh, I don't want to die. . ." Ronan's voice seemed to fade.
"Try to stay with me, I'll try to heal you as soon as I can!" Arme cried out, her voice fading as well.
"It's too late. . ." Ronan whispered.
"It's never too late," Arme told him. Ronan placed a hand on his wound, as his head fell back.
"Crap, no! Ryan, help!" Arme cried out, as Ronan died. . . as everything grew black.
"No, why does it have to be Ronan. . ." I whispered. Just before it all faded, I heard Ryan cry out. I covered my ears.
"I can't take this much longer. . ."
A voice began to echo through my head, as I saw my father, on the ground, bleeding to death. "Do you want to live? Even if you have to fight forever, and watch everyone that you love, age and die?"
"Get out of my head. . ." I whispered, as father's voice echoed through mine. "Yes."
"I don't want to hear this, "I screamed. "Get out of my head!"
Then my father's body faded away, before reappearing again, standing back-to-back with Ronan. . .
I shut my eyes. "Go away. . ."
"How are you going to get away, Elesis?" my father asked me.
"Are you going to stay here forever?" Ronan asked.
"Or try to defeat the immortal?" father continued.
"I-I can't. . . defeat my father. . ." I answered weakly. "I-I never ha-have been a-able to b-before. . ." I learned to fight from my own father, and he would always win in our practice bouts. . .
"Of course you can't," they both said.
"You're to weak," Ronan said.
"Goawaygoawaygoawayjustleavemethefuckalone," I said, over and over.
"If you want to get stronger, why don't you stop cowering and hiding, and just grow up?" they both asked.
"I-I am not a coward. . ." I retorted.
"Who is it that you see running into battle first?" they asked me.
"You?" Ronan asked.
"Or Ronan?" father asked.
"I-I almost always. . . run into the fight first. . ." I said. It was true, I was so. . . bold? Brave? Foolish? "Like, when we were attacked. . . by the Harpy Queen so long ago. . . I nearly died then. . ."
"Lire, Arme, Elesis. . . You have to wake up before it's too late. . ." Who was that?
"W-Wake up?" I called out. "I-Is this just. . . a dream then?" That would explain it then. . .
"Why don't you use your head?" father demanded. "Do you want to be killed first?"
"S-Shut up. . ." I said. "I've been trying to. . ."
"Your father can't always protect you, Elesis," Ronan said.
"I-I know that, I'm not stupid!" I cried out. I was getting angry.
"Neither can your fiancée," father said.
"I. . ." I started. "Just shut up!"
They both laughed. Laughed at me. . .
"Just leave me alone. . ." I muttered. "I know I can't rely on others to protect me. . . That's why I trained myself, day and night, to become the Savior. . ."
"Ugh, where am I?" Arme?
"So, are you continuously going to get Ronan to get your pregnant?" father asked. I felt the rage boil inside of me.
"Shut up!" I screamed. "That's none of your business! I'll prove to you that I'm strong enough to defend myself. . . by defeating you two!"
"When you're pregnant. . ." Ronan whispered grimly.
"Grand Chase seems to have a weak point," they both finished, then drew their weapons. "Grand Chase doesn't need a weak point." Shut up, shut up, ishut up/i! I am inot/i a weak point! I am just as strong as everyone else! But. . .
"Grand Chase will always have a weak point. . ." I admitted. "Non one is perfect. . ." I drew both my swords, Ssanggeom. "I can defeat you two misfits though. . . Whoever you are, whatever you are. . . I'll defeat you both on my own!"
They both grinned. "I'd like to see you try.
"W-Where am I?"
I gripped the hilts of my swords tightly. "You'll regret it. . ." I muttered, before charging, slashing one sword at each.
Barking. "Good dog!"
"Ryan?"
"Please, wait for me. . ." I whispered. "If you don't, then I'll just have to chase you guys. . ." I leaped into the air, and began to spin. Flames engulfed my swords, leading up to me.
"What?!" father cried out, and leaped out of the way.
"I'll show you who's the weaklings around here!" I cried out.
Ronan fell to the ground, struck in the chest by the Chaos Savior, his tyrfing sliding to the ground, and disappeared, along with Ronan.
I panted a bit. "One down. . ." I looked over at father. "And one to go."
"You think you can take me on?" he asked a bit arrogantly.
"Elesis. . . Elesis?!" Whoever that was, I ignored it. I had to pay attention to my fight.
"Well, old man, at least I'm young!" I taunted, before charging.
"Elesis, wake up or I'll smite Ronan!" Just wait, wait for me!
He charged at me.
Leaping into the air, I shouted at him, "I'll defeat you, because you aren't my father!"
"Ragh!" he shouted, and drew his arm back. Jumping up, he met me at my height. I drew my swords together, connecting the hilts and began to spin them.
"Eat this!" as I threw the flaming circle at the fake.
"Rising. . . Rising. . ." He hesitated, then screamed as the flames hit him. His image faded away, his sword falling to the ground.
"You don't even know my father's moves. . ."I muttered, as I landed on my feet clumsily.
The sword and my surroundings began to become clearer.
I groaned. "Now what's happening. . .?"
"Oh, love. . ." Ronan. . .? I felt warmness envelop me.
"I feel so. . . weak. . ." I whispered, and closed my eyes, dropping my swords, and fell.
And that's the end of the nightmare plot.
Chapter 52: After the Nightmare
Elesis opened her eyes, and groaned weakly. I was holding her, looking down at her face as she woke up.
"R-Ronan. . . is. . . that you. . .?" she asked weakly. My eyes widened as I hugged her tightly.
"Yeah, it is. . ." I answered softly.
"Good. . ." Elesis whispered. "I. . . don't like fakes. . ." I felt her go limp, and her breathing go slow. Asleep again?
Lass was crying out as he tried to get out of his cage, while Sieghart sat quietly, face content.
"Looks like we're alright," Arme muttered. "But. . . where's that stupid mutt? I'd love to strangle it to death. . ."
Kaze'doggeh was licking Jin's hand desperately, who was passed out.
"Ah, no!" I cried out. "He helped us find our way here!"
"And he was the one who led us to this room, where we were caged and put into a nightmare!" Arme replied.
"That was Kaze'aze! Dogs can't speak!" Lass whined.
"I don't care, I'm never trusting dogs again!" Arme said. She went over to the cage Lass, Sieghart, Jin, and Kaze'doggeh were in, and tried to break it.
Kaze'doggeh let out a laser and broke the bars.
"Free!" Lass cried out.
"This is one reason why I don't trust it. . ." Arme muttered.
Lass jumped out of the cage and embraced Arme. "I knew you'd get out. . ." He kissed the top of her head.
"It was hell, though. . ." Arme muttered.
"I don't want to know," Lass said. "What matters now, is that you're here. . ."
"I don't want to remember it anyway. . ." Arme said, and sat down, Lass sitting and hugging her, tightly.
"Clingy," Sieghart said.
"Lire, how do you feel?" Arme asked, as she placed her head on Lass' shoulder. Sieghart grabbed Jin and walked out. Yeesh.
"Relieved that it was only a dream," Lire answered, as Arme shouted, "Hey, where are you going?! Not again. . ."
"At least he wasn't dragging him," I said, and turned to watch Sieghart leave, then felt a sharp pain in my leg. "Ow!"
"Be careful!" Arme shouted.
"Alright, alright," I said.
"So you three are alright. . ." Ryan said. "What happened?"
"I. . . had a nightmare. . ." Arme answered, hesitantly. "A bad one. . . and I imagine the other two did as well. . ."
Kaze'doggeh yapped a bit, before leaving the room.
"Good riddance," Arme muttered.
"Let's get you guys out. . ." Ryan said, then turned into a wolf.
"I'm a bit worried about Elesis," Lire said. "She seems a bit more worn out than me and Arme." I was worried too. She fell asleep right after she woke up!
"Well, there's room on my back for four," Ryan said.
"That's alright, I'll carry Arme," Lass said.
"I'd rather not ride a wolf anyway. No offense or anything, Ryan," Arme added quickly.
"None taken," Ryan said, then "Okay you three, let's go."
"Uhm, Lire, could you help us?" I asked.
"Sure." Lire came over and helped me and Elesis onto Ryan's back, before getting on herself.
Lass crouched down to let Arme climb onto his back. She held on tightly. Maybe too tightly, as Lass choked a bit, but didn't complain as he held onto her legs and ran out of the room, followed by Ryan.
After awhile. . . "Ow! Couldn't you make the ride a little less bumpy?" I asked.
"This is as good as it gets," Ryan growled.
"Just make sure Elesis doesn't fall off, Ronan," Lire said. Good point. I held onto Elesis tightly. I didn't want to lose her, again. . .
"Lass, am I holding on too tightly?" Arme asked.
"No, it's phi-" Lass started, then jumped over a log, and began to make choking sounds.
He stopped a bit. "Maybe you a-are. . ."
"S-Sorry, Lass," Arme said, and loosened her grip a bit.
"No, it's fine," he said, smiling a bit, and continued. How cute. . .
Soon, I saw the dim light of the entrance. And there was Kaze'doggeh, standing at the entrance, and barked.
"Uh, so?" Ryan asked, and stopped. He understood doggy?
Arme took out her staff. "Move it, or your Fire Bolt! is toast!"
"You can understand i-" Lire started, before letting out a yelp as Kaze'doggeh shot a laser at us. Hey!
Arme shot out a ball of ice at Kaze'doggeh, who melted it with his laser. . . He began to bark wildly, then nearly got hit by Arme's lightning.
Lass walked over to Kaze'doggeh, grabbed Arme's staff, and whacked the doggy on the head with it. Kaze'doggeh let out a yelp.
"What did I say?!" Lass scolded. "You're my boy, now heel!"
Kaze'doggeh sat down.
"No 'buts'!" Lass cried out, and then Kaze'doggeh started. . . crying. Uh. . .
"No, you're not gonna have everything you want, even if you cry!" Lass continued. Arme looked a bit stupefied, as was I. Lire was watching in amazement.
Kaze'doggeh sniffed.
"Pt, don't make me hit you again!" Lass threatened. I almost fell off Ryan.
"Good doggie!" Lass said.
"W-Wow. . ." Lire said. . .
"I. . . still hate. . . that mutt. . ." Arme said, still getting over her shock.
Lass gave back Arme's staff and continued out of the castle. As we passed Kaze'doggeh, he grimaced, a noticeably large lump on its head.
Arme snickered, causing Kaze'doggeh to shoot a laser at Arme's hat, then ran back into the castle.
"Hey! Stupid mutt," Arme growled.
Then I saw Sieghart, Jin on his back, awake.
"What took you so long?" Sieghart asked.
"Nothing," Lass said, as Arme said, "That stupid mutt was giving us some trouble."
"Yeah, well, let's stay near the river and stop to rest there," Sieghart said.
"As long as the piranhas are all gone. . ." Arme muttered. As Sieghart turned, Jin looked back at us, eyes dull, prompting Arme to ask, "Jin, is something wrong?" He turned away. "Fine, ignore me." Arme turned her head, to avoid looking at Jin.
We soon made it to the river.
Sieghart set Jin down and jumped to the other side, leaving us. Again. Lass let Arme down and sat next to the river. Arme joined him and peered into the river. As Lass wrapped an arm around her waist, she dangled a finger into the water.
Meanwhile, Ryan was back to himself again, basking in the sunset. I had been set down near the river, and had my hands in the river, reveling in the coolness of the water. Lire was looking into the river.
"Arme, you think you can help Jin with recovering?" I asked, after a while.
"Fine, fine," Arme said, and walked over to Jin, with her staff in hand. He simply stared as she walked over.
"Jin, close your eyes," Arme told him, and he did so. She waved her staff a bit and began to mutter something, as Lass turned to watch.
"Jin, how do you feel?" she asked after finishing.
"Hm, better," Jin said. "Thank you, Arme."
"No problem. I just wish Kaze'aze wouldn't use you so much," she told him.
Jin sighed. "It can't be helped. . ."
"I have to wonder though, why you? Not that I'm saying you're bad or anything."
"I, myself, do not know." Jin shook his head, and got down onto his stomach.
"I hope all this madness stops soon," Arme said, with a sigh.
"So do I," Jin murmured. Arme pat him gently on the back, then looked over at Elesis, who was asleep against a tree. "I'm a bit worried about Elesis. She hasn't woken up since we've left the castle. . ."
"Is she still in a nightmare?" Jin asked.
"No, no, she's woken up from that," Arme answered. "It may be from exhaustion, but still. . ."
"The nightmare could've worn her out," Jin said. "Mentally. Emotionally."
"I suppose," Arme said, not entirely convinced. "I just hope she's alright. . ."
"I'm sure she'll be fine."
"You're right, Elesis is strong. She'll be fine."
"You should get some rest. Y'know. . ."
"Oh, I'm fine, don't worry about me. . ." Arme contradicted herself by nearly falling over.
"Arme?!" Lass cried out.
"I-I'm fine, just a bit exhausted, is all."
"Come on, sit down."
"I-I'm fine," Arme argued, and tried to walk over to Lass, but collapsed.
"Arme!" Lass cried out, and caught her, and gently set her down. "Get some rest. . ."
"I-I'll be fine. . ." Arme said, weakly. Lass only hugged Arme, as she closed her eyes and fell asleep. He laid down at her side, but didn't fall asleep.
"Yeow!" Lire cried out. I looked over and saw her jumping back, a piranha almost nipping her nose. Wait, I thought Lass got rid of them all.
"Huh? I thought they were all gone!" Lass said.
"Apparently not!" Lire cried out.
"Rah!" Ryan shouted, and whacked a jumping piranha.
Quickly, I pulled my hand out of the water, a small trickle of blood on my finger.
"You get bit?" Lire asked.
". . . Maybe. . ." I answered, putting my gloves on.
Lass turned onto his side, hiding his face, as Lire jabbed an arrow into the water, and pulled out a piranha. Er. . .
"I hope you're not going to eat that. . ." Ryan said.
"Er, no," Lire said, and tossed it back in. The other piranhas began to eat the dead one.
With the help of Ryan, I made my way over to Elesis. "Wonder where Sieghart went?" I asked, as I brushed her hair back.
"Hopefully nowhere where he can get possessed," Lire said.
"I guess. . ." I said.
Lass sighed.
"What's wrong, Lass?" Ryan asked.
"Er, nothing," Lass answered. Ryan threw a seed at him as Lire asked, "Worried 'bout Arme?"
Lass let out a cry as the seed landed on his head, sprouting a flower. "Maybe. . ." He tried to get it off, and soon tossed it into the river. He laid back onto his side.
Arme was soon awake, and groaned. "My head hurts. . ."
"A-Are you alright?" Lass asked as he hugged Arme.
"I'm fine. . ." she answered, hugging him back.
Ryan turned his back to the sunset and sighed.
"Ryan, not you too!" Lire cried.
"Huh?! I'm only concerned for your well-being!" Ryan said. Lire went over and kissed him, and said, "Thanks, but you know I can take care of myself."
"Of course you can, but I'm here to help," Ryan said, kissing Lire back.
"Why thank y-" Lire began, before a piranha almost got to her. She let out a yelp.
"For the love of. . ." Ryan muttered, and caused thistles to sprout from the water. Some piranhas flew out of the river and landed on Lire, Ryan, Lass and I, while others ended up dead.
"Get them off!" Lass yelled, as Arme shocked the ones on Lass with electricity, killing them.
Ryan yanked one out of his hair, tossing it to the ground, as I tried to get one off my cloak. "Nice, Ryan. . ."
"Not my fault! Entirely. . ." Ryan cried out, as Lire threw the piranhas off her. "Okay, sorry. . ." He rubbed his head.
"It's okay," Lire said, "but why did you do that exactly?"
I tossed the piranhas back into the river, and closed my eyes as the moon began to show itself.
"Oh, look, it's a full moon!" Lire exclaimed. I opened my eyes.
"Hm?" Ryan looked up. "Kinda makes me wanna howl."
"Do it, wolfboy!" Lass taunted, as Ryan threw another seed at Lass. He caught it this time. "Hey, he's trying to resort to violence! I could have lost brain cells!"
"It's just a plant!" Lire said, defending Ryan, as he snapped, "What brain cells?" Then he sighed, and looked at the moon. Then Arme stabbed him in the back wit her staff. Lire sighed as Ryan yelled in pain.
"It's. . . so full," Arme said, after awhile.
"Uh, yeah," Ryan said uneasily.
"Too bright," Arme muttered, covering her eyes.
"Go back to sleep," I said, yawning.
"I'm not tired," Arme said, trying to stifle a yawn.
"Besides, Lass looks kinda cold." Ryan stretched a bit, before closing his eyes. "Lire, you should get some rest too." Lire answered by leaning against Ryan, and slept.
"Goawaygoawaygoawayjustleavemethefuckalone," LOL~ XD
Weee~ Can't wait for the next Chapter.... Thanks for the update! XD
She seemed to have snapped a tad faster, eh? :P
I'm still like, 10 chapters behind with this one, but it should catch up. . . by next week. xD;
Small plot here.
Chapter 53: The Full Moon
Lass was still awake.
"Lass, is something wrong?" I asked.
"A-Arme, you're awake?" Lass sounded surprised.
"I felt as if something was wrong, so I woke up," I told him.
"I'm fine, you can go back to sleep," he said. His tone of voice told me he was lying.
"Lass, I know something's wrong, so what is it?" I asked.
Lass turned from me a bit. "I can't go to sleep. . . I'm too afraid. . . The nightmares still haunt me from the back of my mind. . ."
"Oh, Lass," I whispered, as I hugged him tightly. "I wish there was something I could do to help. . ."
"Being here for me is enough. . ." Lass said, turning to me and smiling at me, tiredly.
I kissed Lass. "I'll stay awake, for you."
His eyes widened as I told him that. "Oh, no, you shouldn't stay awake for me. . . I won't be able to sleep for awhile. . ." He sat up, and looked at something. Turning, I saw that Ryan had disappeared.
"It's okay, I'll be fine," I told Lass, turning back to him. "After the long sleep I had. . ."
"Alright. . ." he whispered, and hugged me tightly, for a long while that I wished lasted longer.
Lass' eyes were closed, after awhile though, and after a few minutes, his embrace loosened as he dozed off.
There was a howl in the distance.
"What was that?" I whispered, looking around. I heard it again. Okay, freaking me out, here. . .
"W-What was that?" I hugged Lass tightly; he was snoring.
"Sn. . . Arme. . ." he murmured.
"Nn. . . Love you. . ." He snored some more.
"I-I love you too," I told him, "but you fell asleep. . ." I nudged him. "Wake up. . ."
There was howling again. I let out a loud yelp. "S-S-Stupid wolves!" Then there were numerous howls, and I let out a loud cry.
"What's that?" Ronan was awake.
"I-I-I don't k-know. . ." I answered. "P-Probably just some stupid w-wolves."
"Is it a full moon?" he asked.
"Werewolves?" Were they even real?
"Don't worry, they're most likely not going to come down and eat us or anything," Ronan said, trying to reassure me.
"H-How are you so s-sure?" I asked.
"Um, uh. . ." Ronan thought for a bit. "Well, Ryan hasn't eaten us, has he? Say, where is he?"
I didn't say anything.
"Just don't worry about it." There was a soft thump as Ronan fell back asleep.
"Still scares me. . ." I muttered.
Then I felt Lass lean against me slightly, murmuring in his sleep. I held tightly to him, and tried to fall asleep, but another howl, this time behind us, cause me to nearly scream.
"What was that?" Jin was awake this time. And then. . . I saw a few pairs of eyes, peering out at us from the forest across the river.
I shrieked, then quickly covered my mouth, embarrassed at being so frightened.
Jin stood up.
"J-J-Jin?" I looked over at him. He didn't answer, but a wolf slowly prowled out of the forest, across the river.
I yelled out again, waking Lire up.
"What's with all the yelling. . ." Lire grumbled.
There was a snow-white wolf, probably the leader. It howled loudly, causing Lire to scream, "Wolves!"
"Ugh, who's screaming?" Ronan asked, then he saw. "Wolves?"
"Help! Wolves!" I screamed.
The wolves leaped the river quickly, and began to approach us.
"I advise running!" Jin cried out.
"Where's Ryan?!" Lire cried, worried.
I turned around, ready to run, but saw eyes behind us as well. Crap.
"Wake Lass up!" Ronan told me, as he picked Elesis up.
"Lass, please wake up!" I yelled, but Lass stayed asleep, so I shock Lass with some electricity. He woke up with a yelp, then saw a wolf sniffing at his foot. He screamed, and scrambled to his feet.
"Get away!" I yelled, and kicked the wolf. It skidded back, and began to growl.
"S-Stay away!" I was scared. . .
"I t-think that was a b-bad idea. . ." Lire said. I think she was right. . .
The lead wolf snorted, then growled, as the others growled and began to pace forward.
"I-Is Ryan among t-them?" Lire asked. At first, I was wondering why Ryan would be with some wolves, and then I remembered.
"I-I'm not sure. . ." I answered.
"It's too dark to tell. . ." Ronan said.
The wolves began to growl again. The lead wolf flicked its tail, and the other wolves bared their fangs and lunged.
"Jin! I need you to run and take Elesis with you!" Ronan said quickly. Before Jin could protest, Ronan had given Jin Elesis. Lire jumped. One of the wolves tackled Ronan, as Jin ran from a pursuing wolf.
"Get off!" Lass screamed, as a wolf bit one of his gloves. I whacked at the wolf, shouting, "Get off!"
And then, one jumped onto my back and dug its claws and fangs into my shoulder and back. I cried out in pain, and fell over from the wolf's weight, and lost consciousness.
No, Arme!
Ronan cried out, and I noticed three wolves were attacking Ronan.
"Arme!" I cried out, as I drew my nodachi. How dare these mangy mutts!
"No, Arme!" I saw an arrow nearly hit the leader wolf, but it had dodged, then jumped at Lire. She yelped and then leaped across the river. However, there were wolves on that side as well.
Some tumbled out of the woods, looking a bit beat up. The leader wolf leaped over a strange-looking wolf that had appeared, gauntlets on its limbs. Meanwhile, there was a wolf on my left arm, and one gnawing on my legs.
"R-Ryan?" Lire called. Wait, Ryan?!
If that was really Ryan, he snarled at the leader wolf. What was up with Ryan's eyes? They looked. . . odd. . .
The leader wolf narrowed its eyes, and barked, seemingly at the Ryan wolf. He let loose a series of savage snarls, seeming to alarm the leader wolf. It howled, and the other wolves moved towards it, in submission. Meanwhile, Ryan came over and began to sniff at some of us.
"Mangy. . . wolves. . ." Arme groaned weakly. Arme! I ran over to her, holding my side, and tried my best to keep her safe.
"Ryan?!" Ronan's eyes widened. "What's happened to you?!"
"That look in his eyes. . ." I said. "That means. . . he's gone feral. . ."
"No!" Lire cried out, on our side of the river again.
Ryan turned and growled at the leader wolf, but it snarled back, then leaped at Ryan. They fought for a bit, but in the end, Ryan won. He ended it with a bite to the leader's neck, who then howled. Alarmed, the other wolves of that wolf's pack tackled Ryan away. Then the leader wolf skidded to the ground, and then began to glow. Its form began to shift into that like. . . a human.
It was Sieghart.
Some of the wolves growled a bit.
"Gagh. . ." Sieghart groaned. "Stupid. . . Fire Bolt! werewolves. . ."
"S-Sieghart?" Lire looked really surprised. Then again, all of us were.
Sieghart grabbed something that was on his hand, yanked it off, and tossed it into the river before looking at Lire. "What."
"You were a wolf?!" Lire asked.
"I don't remember," Sieghart answered. "I have a horrible headache and a sudden craving for raw meat, but I think that's natural." Right. . . "In other cases, those stupid werewolves slipped some kind of ring on me, hoping I'd be their leader. They have a good sense of who's a good leader around here." He nodded.
Then Ryan jumped on Sieghart.
"Ryan!" Lire cried.
Surprised, Sieghart hit Ryan on the back of his head, prompting Lire to cry out, "Don't hurt him!"
"Won't matter if we don't get him back to normal by sunrise," Sieghart told her, then proceeded to toss Ryan into the river, as Lire said, "What?!"
"Anyways," Sieghart continued, "Ryan will stay 'wild' if he doesn't snap out of it. . ."
"No, Ryan!"
"Uh, yeah, Ryan. . ." Sieghart started. Then Ryan jumped onto Sieghart's back, and bit the back of his neck.
"Stupid dog!" Sieghart yelled, then grabbed Ryan by the neck and threw him to the ground.
"How do we snap him out of it?" I asked.
"Well, first of all-" Sieghart began, before wolves attacked him. He was tackled into the river.
"Arme, zap the water!" Sieghart choked out, as he gasped for air.
"I-I'll try. . ." Arme said weakly. Helping her over to the water, she stuck her staff into the water and shocked Sieghart, Ryan, and the wolves. Most of the wolves turned into humans, while others stayed the same. Then Arme collapsed. How stupid of me. . . I hadn't realized she had lost so much blood!
"No, Arme!" I cried out, and held her close to me.
"Stop the bleeding!" Lire told me, as Sieghart stumbled out of the river. I took my cloak off and hesitated a bit, before I turned her over and lifted up her shirt, blushing slightly. I wrapped my cloak around Arme tightly, hoping to stop the bleeding.
"Ugh, Lire. . ." Sieghart fell to the ground, face first, then mumbled, "Get the extra gauntlet. . . on his back. . ." and passed out.
Lire looked hesitant, then began to approach Ryan. "R-Ryan, it's me. . . Remember?"
Ignoring her, Ryan jumped past, at the weakened Ronan.
"No!" Lire cried out, as she rammed into Ryan. He tumbled onto his side as Lire grabbed one of the gauntlets. Ryan kicked her away as it slid off. Nothing happened. Wrong one.
Lire landed onto her back with a heavy thud as Ryan jumped on her, causing her to shriek. Ryan's jaws opened, saliva dripping out.
"Watch out!" I yelled, and threw a kunai at Ryan. It struck him on the neck, and he growled, tumbling backwards. Lire started to cry a bit.
"Don't just stand there!" I told her.
"I. . . I. . ." Lire started, then lunged at Ryan. He turned, and Lire grabbed one of the back gauntlets. I noticed another one, yellow, on the ride side that Lire had grabbed, but she took the green one instead.
"L-Lass, help me!" Lire cried out. "Someone!"
"I wish my leg wasn't lame. . ." Ronan grumbled as I said, "Alright. . ." Setting Arme down carefully and kissing her gently, I made my way over to Ryan.
Lire jumped at Ryan again. He charged, but I leaped onto him, holding our feral friend down tightly. "Gotcha!"
As Lire grabbed the yellow gauntlet, Ryan snarled and flailed. Yelping, Lire immediately moved back, pulling the gauntlet with her. Ryan growled once more, but his eyes faded back to their more sane, human, normal look.
"Ryan?" Lire approached a bit slowly. Ryan let out a groan as he turned back to normal, and I let him go.
"My head. . . it hurts. . ." Ryan groaned.
Immediately, Lire ran over to Ryan, hugging him. "Ryan! You're back!" She started to cry.
"W-What?" Ryan looked confused.
"I was afraid you'd lose you forever!" she said.
"Lire, what's wrong?" Ryan asked. "What happened?"
"It's a long story," I said with a sigh. "But, to cut it short, you almost ate us all! Whoo."
"It was terrible," Lire said. "A bunch of wolves attacked us, and then one of them bit Arme in the back and she lost a lot of blood and the wolf leader turned into Sieghart and then a bunch of wolves fell into the water and turned out to be human and Sieghart said if you didn't turn back to normal you'd be a wolf forever!"
". . . Huh?" Ryan was really confused now. "Oh, Lire. . ." He hugged her tightly, kissing her. "Don't cry. . ."
"I was so scared you'd be gone forever!" Lire cried.
"But I'm not. . ." he said. "Smile. . . It makes you look even more beautiful. . ." Ryan wiped away her tears. Smiling a bit, Lire hugged Ryan. Whoo, happy ending.
I walked over to Arme.