“Don’t worry, I would never do that to a lady,” David calmly responds. All this does, however, is make Nikud even more flustered. It takes all of Hamon’s and Adoa’s willpower not to burst into laughter.
Before anyone can speak further, a guard bangs at the door, sliding food through the small flap in the door. “After you lot are done eating, go to bed! You’ll need all the sleep ya can get for tomorrow,” the guard remarks with a laugh as he leaves.
“Here, Hamon, you can have extra,” Adoa insists, offering Hamon the remains of his meal.
“Hold on, you need to eat as much as I do! Keep it for yourself,” Hamon argues.
“Your brother is right, we all need to eat,” David adds.
“Look, man, I don’t think I asked you how I’m supposed to take care of my little brother,” Adoa snaps, standing up.
“Adoa, stop! He’s right, you need to eat,” Hamon yells as he stands between David and Adoa.
“Mmm, whatever,” Adoa grumbles as he finishes his meal.
“From another perspective, however, Hamon could use more food. I mean, isn’t he pretty small even for an elf?” Nikud asks.
“I am not! I mean I’m not that below average...” Hamon mumbles.
“And you! I don’t need you pampering Hamon like you’re his mom!” Adoa suddenly shouts. Hamon glances down as Adoa immediately mumbles an apology. “S-sorry... I didn’t mean to yell,” Adoa tells Nikud.
“Whatever--was just stating an opinion,” Nikud replies.
As the four continue to eat, Hamon continues to talk about himself and Adoa. David, however, is deep in thought.
“Are you ok, human?” Nikud asks David.
“Oh, I’m fine--just thinking about my boss, Ron,” David answers.
“What happened?” Nikud asks.
“Oh, he’s fine. It’s just that during our hunting trip I was taken by a demon stalker, or whatever the hell those things are called,” David explains.
“You’re a hunter!?” Nikud blurts out, her face lighting up.
“Haha, well I guess I am. Though I only hunt whenever I can, which isn’t very often,” David remarks with a shrug.
“Interesting. I too hunted in my days of freedom,” Nikud reveals with a sigh.
“You know what? When we get out of here, let’s go on a hunting trip together!” David suggests with a smile.
“Together?” Nikud remarks with a taunting smirk.
“What?” David asks with a laugh.
“Oh, it’s nothing,” Nikud continues to tease.
“Is that a yes then?” David asks.
“Sure, big guy, but we’ll have to get out of here first,” Nikud smiles.
“Very well, let’s shake on it then. When we get out of here, we are going on a hunting trip!” David says, holding out his hand. Nikud accepts the offer, shaking David’s hand. “Oh, and again, the name’s David,” David grins.
“David...” Nikud mumbles to herself. The four begin to prepare for bed.
“Ron, I know you’ve probably gotten yourself in this world--I hope it’s better for you than it is me. I bet your curiosity is getting the better of you again,” David thinks. “I swear I’ll get out of here, somehow, and meet with you again.”
Chapter Seven
Ron’s New Power Realized
I pause on the road, looking up to the sky, and wonder how David is doing.
“Ron, something wrong?” Rose asks. Her soothing voice seems to calm me down instantly.
“Oh, nothing, just worried about David, that’s all,” I respond.
“Ron, if you don’t mind my asking, how close are you to David?” Rose asks.
“Ah, I don’t mind,” I answer with a smile. “David and I go way back, since my childhood. We enlisted in the Four Corners War as Eastern Amaria. Eastern Amaria ended up winning the war... but I personally think that too many people, good people, died. We were there for each other in times of happiness, and sorrow. We fought, with others too, but David and I were the only ones that survived that day.” I stop my sentence as I remind myself of the details.
“That day? What do you mean?” Rose asks.
“The day I received these scars,” I remark. As I say this, I feel shadow nature from my eye.
“Woah, Ron, be careful. I know you completed the first step, but you never know,” Joshua cautions with concern.
“Yeah, sorry, Joshua. I’m just trying to get used to the feeling,” I explain.
“I understand. My first experience with my nature was hard too,” Joshua expresses, before looking down slightly. “But anyways, Ron, how did you manage to find and unlock shadow nature?” he wants to know.
“It would be a little weird to explain the whole Tink situation,” I think. “Um, I realized it when I noticed that my left eye felt weird,” I begin to explain, “I think the fact that I was in darkness, um, helped me unlock it....” “What the hell was that, Ron? Do you really think that they would buy that story?” I think to myself.
“Interesting, I guess it is weird like that for humans not of this world,” Rose ponders.
“They actually bought it,” I think to myself, sighing.
“I wonder, though, why shadow nature?” Joshua comments.
“Well, I was injured by that demon stalker in the woods. Maybe that’s the reason,” I suggest.
“Now that you mention it, I’ve heard rumors that demon stalkers were doing that to humans. I didn’t believe it at first, but since I met you, Ron, it makes sense,” Rose states.
“I’ve heard this too. Ron, did you know about this?” Joshua asks.
Upon hearing Joshua’s question Tink flashes in my mind. “That weirdo,” I think to myself. “Well, I didn’t even know what a demon stalker was until recently.”
“That’s true. You’re probably more confused than we are--sorry, Ron,” Rose apologizes.
“Oh, don’t worry, Rose, it’s fine. I’m thankful to you for explaining the situation to me,” I assure Rose with a smile.
“Awe, thanks, Ron, happy I could help!” Rose mentions.
“Well, anyways, we should start working on the second step,” Joshua suggests. “I don’t really know the exact properties of shadow nature. For now, try harnessing it into your fist.”
“How do I do that?” I ask.
“Well, remember how you feel when the shadow nature is activated in your eye. Imagine that, but in your fist,” Joshua explains.
“Ok I’ll try it, and I promise that I won’t aim at a tree,” I tease Joshua. A chuckle slips from Rose’s mouth as Joshua turns an even brighter shade of red. I start to imagine my fist drenched in shadow. At this, Tink’s face pops into my head, with that big smile of his. I can’t help but chuckle.
“Ron, look at your fist!” Joshua exclaims, bringing me back to reality.
“My fist is... black? Wait, my skin is still the same, but there are dark shadows around my fist, in broad daylight!” I realize as I look at my now shadow-covered hand. “Whoa,” I exclaim.
“You did it, Ron! Good job!” Rose remarks with a smile.
“Go ahead and punch that rock, Ron,” Joshua suggests as he cheers me on. I charge toward the rock, throwing my shadow-covered fist straight at it.
“Ouch!” I shout. “That hurt!” I think, “Well I did just punch a solid rock with my bare fist. If I did that in Amaria I would have broken my hand. Still though, I guess it didn’t work....”
“Whoa, Ron, look up!” Joshua exclaims.
“What it i-” I cut my sentence, for before me is a perfect hole straight through the rock.
“Interesting,” Joshua ponders. “The rest of the rock is completely fine, but that blow went straight through that thick rock!”
“Look!” Rose exclaims, pointing at the hole. Upon examining the rock, I discover that the hole is in the e
xact shape of my fist!
“Wow,” I exclaim, “it’s even more precise that I first thought!”
“Well, congrats, Ron, you’ve just performed Exdrift!” Joshua declares, clapping his hands.
“I did it!” I shout, proud at what I just learned.
“Yes, very good, Ron.”
“Tink? Am I hearing things?” I think to myself, looking around.
“What’s wrong?” Rose asks.
“Um, nothing, I guess I thought I heard something,” I reply. “I guess I must be hearing things.”
“Oops, he almost heard me,” Tink chuckles to himself, a big smile spread across his face. “But to think that he has already taken the second step. Not to mention how he pulled off such a unique attack so easily. He is definitely one of the ones that belong in the prophecy,” Tink mumbles to himself, out of Ron’s earshot. “But, Ron, do be careful. For the next step won’t be so easy,” Tink warns before fading into the shadows.
“Again, I feel a presence. Must be the shadows. I need to get used to this,” I think, not knowing the truth.
“Anyways,” Joshua begins to explain, “you need to get used to your new nature. So, every time we set up camp, you need to meditate with Exdrift for thirty minutes.”
“Ehhh?! I’ll do it, but that sounds kinda boring,” I groan. Rose releases a wave of laughter.
“Wow, Ron, you really can’t stay put for too long, can you?” Rose teases.
“I-I didn’t say I couldn’t do it!” I weakly argue back with a red face.
Rose again starts to laugh.
“What? What’s so funny?” I ask.
“I just realized it’s kind of ironic for me to say that, me being a treant and all. It’s also weird for a treant to move around a lot,” Rose explains with a smile.
“What? There’s nothing weird about it. Personally, I respect what you are doing, moving out of your comfort zone to fight for what you believe in. Not to mention all the help you’ve given me.”
“Really, Ron? Thanks for thinking that!” Rose replies with a smile.
“No problem--just giving my honest opinion,” I remark.
“Ron, you’re a nice person, you know that?” Rose compliments.
“Really? Now I don’t know about that,” I argue with a slightly less cheerful tone.
“Nonsense. You are and you won’t change my mind,” Rose states before continuing along.
Inwardly, I can’t help but respond, “Sorry, Rose. You may think whatever you want, but you can’t change my mind.”
“Now that I think about it, there is another way we can start to train your Exdrift,” Joshua points out.
“Really? Well, I’m very open to suggestions,” I remark.
“Alrighty then, let’s arm wrestle,” Joshua says with a smile as he leans over a rock, his arm stretched out.
“Arm wrestling? First of all, I doubt I’ll be much of a challenge for you,” I state as I glance at Joshua’s large arms, “and second, how will arm wrestling help me practice using Exdrift?”
“Oh, this is a special type of arm wrestling. Exdrift is allowed,” Joshua explains as his intense fire aura starts to cover his body.
“Well, my first point still stands then,” I joke as I start to sweat from Joshua’s aura.
“Well, it is practice. And don’t worry, I won’t release all my power to start,” Joshua assures me.
“I mean, I’d rather do this than sit around,” I think to myself as I grab Joshua’s arm.
“Oh boy! I’ll be the referee!” Rose exclaims with joy as she holds our hands with one of her vines, “Ready, boys?”
We both nod our heads as I start to charge up my shadow nature. Covering my arm is all I can manage at the moment.
“All right then! Three... Two... One... Go!” Rose shouts as she releases the grip on her vine.
An explosion of fire and shadow nature travels from our location. I attempt to release all of my power. But all I manage to do is move Joshua’s hand a few inches.
“Wow, Ron! You’ve got a good amount of power!” Joshua compliments as he slams my hand down in a split second.
“Oh man, you weren’t even trying, huh?” I ask with a chuckle as I rub my sore hand.
“Oh, don’t sweat it, Ron! You already have a good amount of power. If we continue to train you whenever we have time you’ll force me to go all out in no time!” Joshua insists with a slap on my back.
“He’s right Ron! That was pretty impressive, especially since this is only the first day you discovered Exdrift,” Rose assures me, smiling.
“I’ll gladly take that compliment,” I remark as I smile back.
“Oh... I see,” Joshua mumbles to himself, also smiling.
“Well, we should keep moving! You guys can practice more later,” Rose suggests as she walks ahead.
“Hey, Ron, you want to know some cool things about this world?” Joshua calls out.
My face lights up a little. “Oh, sure! I’m interested in hearing any information about this world,” I answer back.
Joshua gives off a faint smirk, before he slowly creeps up behind me.
“So, Ron, did you know that treants are considered a very beautiful species?” Joshua whispers into my ear.
“Yeah, they sure a-.” I cut off my sentence, blushing. Joshua bursts into laughter.
“What? What’s so funny?” Rose asks, turning to us.
“Oh, um, nothing,” I blurt out. Joshua’s really struggling to hold back his laughter, and the answer.
“Awe, come on, now I wanna know even more!” Rose says with a pout.
“Oh, you’ll find out eventually,” Joshua teases me, erupting in more laughter as he continues along the road.
“Come on, Ron, tell me,” Rose begs as she clings to my arm. This isn’t helping the situation.
“Um, I don’t really know what he said. Must have been a fire demon joke or something,” I mumble as I try to hide my embarrassed expression.
“Mmm, oh well,” Rose murmurs as she releases me and continues along the road.
“Joshua, that bastard,” I think to myself, a grimace covering my still heated face.
Chapter Eight
The Demon’s Darkness
David awakens from his sleep. “Mmm, am I the only one up?” he wonders. Suddenly he hears a strange sound. “What is that? Purring?” David mumbles as he turns to discover that Nikud is hugging his arm in her sleep. “Oh crap, I don’t think she is awake yet. Hopefully she lets go of me before waking up,” David prays nervously. As if on cue, Nikud hugs a little tighter, and starts licking David’s hair. “What! Are you kidding me!?” David blurts out loud, waking Hamon, Adoa, and Nikud up. “Oh boy,” David groans.
“Oh, what’s going on here?” Hamon teases as both he and Adoa hold back laughter.
“Um, good morning... Nikud,” David stutters. Nikud stays silent, the look of embarrassment on her face apparent.
“Surprised she hasn’t flat-out killed me yet,” David thinks with a gulp.
Before anyone else can say anything, the room door flies open. “The two elves, come with me,” the guard orders, pointing at Hamon and Adoa. After they leave, it’s just David and Nikud. Nothing is said for a good five minutes, during which David is wondering if his time is up.
“Eh, um,” Nikud starts to speak, “I-I’m sorry about that.”
“Don’t worry about it--if anything, it felt kinda nice,” David teases in an attempt to lighten the mood.
“Why, you...” Nikud grumbles as she flashes her claws right in David’s face.
“Woah, woah, woah! It was a joke,” David states with a gleeful smile, his hands up in the air.
“S-Sorry again,” Nikud mumbles.
“Look, it’s fine, I know you didn’t mean to,” David assures her. A sigh escapes her mou
th. “If it makes you feel any better, I do stupid stuff too,” David admits as he tries to comfort her.
“Like what?” Nikud asks.
“Well, I guess we have a lot of time on our hands,” David points out. “Back when Ron and I first joined the Eastern Amarian Army, we were trouble makers, so to speak. We were always doing something to make the commander mad. But after a certain series of events, Ron and I climbed the ranks. After that we became more serious and mature.” David chuckles. “Oh, I’m sorry, I spaced out, I was supposed to cheer you up by saying something stupid that I did.”
“No, it’s fine actually, I feel better,” Nikud assures him with a smile. “I have deep respect for you, David. Your loyalty to your leader, Ron Amar. Not every soldier is like that.”
“Well, everyone in Ron’s unit was extremely loyal to Ron--that’s how amazing he is,” David blurts.
“Was?” Nikud asks.
“Oh, well, Ron and I are the only ones left from that unit...” David mutters.
“Oh, I’m-I’m sorry I didn’t kn-.” Nikud apologizes.
“It’s fine, don’t worry about it,” David remarks, half forcing a smile. “Oh, I actually remembered something very stupid that I did not too long ago,” David suddenly declares to lighten the mood.
“Mmm, what?” Nikud asks.
“Well, believe it or not, I thought it was a good idea to tackle a demon stalker,” David mentions with a laugh.
“Really? You’re definitely the craziest human I’ve ever met,” Nikud teases, also laughing.
“Awe, come on, I thought it was a good idea at the time,” David argues with a chuckle.
“Further supporting my statement,” Nikud teases.
“Awe, man, I guess you’re right,” David admits.
Suddenly the door is flung open again, and Hamon and Adoa are shoved in. “Hey guys, what-” David cuts off his sentence as he looks at the two. They aren’t responding. They look a little pale. Adoa is cursing to himself, while Hamon looks like he was crying. “What happened?”
A New Fate Page 4
