"I don't really want to take a nap though, I want to spend this time with you." Oscar points to Cynthia. "Just ask her how she's here, Cordelia. Honestly I don't even know how."
Cynthia shrugged again, thinking she pretty much covered the scenario. Cordelia would just have to come in terms with reality. Sumia felt her stomach doing backflips at this point. "Gods, have you -
Stahl starts having trouble keeping his eyes open. "I just need to rest my eyes for a mom-" Stahl suddenly falls asleep despite his attempts at staying awake.
Before she could react, Sumia was crushed by teetering Stahl, and she desperately tried wriggling out of this incident, but found herself getting nowhere. She just held her breath and prayed for a-
Reaching the east-end of Regna Ferox and not having seen the Arena, Vaike sighed and turned his horse around. "Gods... Hehe... The Vaike was just takin' a little detour that's all!" The residents gave
Lon'qu watched as Vaike rode off into the distance, and in the complete opposite direction of his destination no less. 'Wait... Vaike... You're going... the wrong way...' Lon'qu shook his head in ↓
disappointment, and started riding (in the right direction) towards Arena Ferox. He waved back in farewell to the Feroxi soldiers, and Peeko perched on his shoulder, tired of flying. It probably ↓
miracle that actually happened. She then tried to play off the situation by finishing her food nonchalantly, and figured she'd just let him snooze while she secretly went back to flower plucking.
Vaike saw a moving speck in the distance, heading westward at an equivalent speed as his own. "Damn! If we don't speed up Tenure, we're gonna lose again! You wouldn't want that, would ya!?" The horse↓
The Feroxi soldiers that had just said goodbye to Lon'qu, saw his friend once again race by the Longfort, heading towards the Arena. {S} 'What's got him in such a rush?'
Stahl begins muttering in his sleep. "Love you, Sumia." Meanwhile, Oscar tries explaining Cynthia to Cordelia. "First of all, she's from the future. She used some ritual to travel back in time."
Lon'qu could see that the Arena was just barely coming into view. He looked back over his shoulder and saw a figure fast approaching, presumably Vaike. He was presented with a problem, and had to ↓
make a decision between two choices. He could easily rush ahead and win the race, but risk Vaike being cold and hostile towards him again. The other option was to let Vaike be victorious, but then ↓
Startledly, Sumia hugged her knees and buried her face in her lap. She put her flower down for a minute and she flicked Stahl's cowlick, surprisingly entertained over how flimsy it was. In the med ↓
Vaike would boast about his 'invincibility' and success, and tease Lon'qu of his inferiority. '...What do you think I should do, Peeko?' Peeko just stared at Lon'qu blankly. '*sigh* ...Fine...' ↓
"BAH! There's no way I'm gonna win at this pace... unless..." Vaike gripped one of many hand-axes in his hand. "Here goes nothing!" Vaike began chucking the array of hand-axes towards Lon'qu and his↓
tent Cordelia did what she could to accept that Cynthia was all that she was. She even tried nodding in a way to make herself believe it. "A ritual..? Isn't that like hexing?" Cynthia shook her head.
horse, completely disregarding their safety. "Woah woah woah; hold up!" Vaike noticed that Lon'qu was slowing down, and the distraction caused him to throw the hand-axe in a random direction.
Slowing down was a huge mistake; as Lon'qu turned around to view Vaike's position, a hand axe came hurtling at him and him square in the chest. In shock, Lon'qu flew off his horse and Peeko flew up ↓
The axe arched through the air and embedded itself deep within the golden armour of the now fuming Basilio, who was leaving the Arena Ferox. [I'm too many characters already... You take Basilio.]
into the air, startled. The horse stumbled and fell onto it's side, and Lon'qu lay with his back on the ground and stared at the axe that was somewhat embedded into his ribcage. It took a second for ↓
Vaike, not noticing the two axe-related injuries he caused, rode straight for the Arena, and finally made it to it's massive gates. "HA! THE VAIKE EMERGES VICTORI_ What in the seven hells happened to↓
the pain to register, and for the blood to start seeping out of his chest. '...Damn.' A couple hundred meters ahead, Basilio pulled the small throwing axe out of his armor and examined it. ↓
you two?" The rusty cogs began to slowly turn within Vaike's mostly empty head, seeing his hand resting on yet another hand-axe and the Feroxian residents looking at Vaike thinking that he was an ↓
assassin sent to claim a bounty on one of their Khans' head. "Gods..." Speechless due to his own stupidity, Vaike sat on his horse while chaos ensued in Regna Ferox. "I messed up, didn't I?"
'What in the...?' Basilio looked up and saw Vaike with a hand axe, Lon'qu bleeding to death, and his citizens cowering in fear of the suddenly appearing assassilant. ↓
Basilio responded the only way he knew how, and took the hand axe and hurled it with all his might towards the threat. Meanwhile, Lon'qu tried to crane his neck to see what was happening, but his ↓
Sumia hid her grin but failed to conceal her giggling. She didn't want to interrupt Stahl's slumber, nor did she think leaving him alone outside was a good idea. She hurried to clean up the petals.
Thankfully, the axe thrown back towards Vaike didn't hit him with the actual edge, just the pommel, which still managed to knock him unconcious and leave a more than sizable gash on his forehead.
Peeko circled around Lon'qu, fearing for his life, while he tried to pull the weapon out of himself. The hand axe that Basilio threw seemed to be moving in slow motion towards it's target.
{???} From a nearby window, a figure watched as chaos ensued outside. "What might've happened to get everybody in such a mood?" She scanned the scene, and a certain something caught her eye. ↓
(Luckily) The axe merely knocked Vaike unconscious and off his horse. 'Aw, helI... that was a terrible throw. What's with my aim today?' Basilio quickly ran out to Lon'qu, but not before ↓
"W... wait! That man- he's got an axe in his..." She saw as the man attempted to pull the weapon out of his own chest. "By the gods! If he pulls that out... the blood will..." Quickly, she stood up ↓
kicking some dirt in Vaike's face as he passed by. {L} '...B-Basilio?' Lon'qu's breathing was contorted and strained. {B} 'Hey, kid. You alright?' {L} '...Y-yeah... Just have to...' At last, the axe ↓
grabbing a Physic to help. {O} "And where do you think YOU'RE going, missy!?" {???} "Father! That man there, he-" {O} "Man!? What man!?" Oilisab headed towards the window and saw Lon'qu on the ground,
was free of Lon'qu's body, however he didn't anticipate the large amounts of blood that started to pour out from the sizeable wound. {L} '.........' {B} 'Gods... that doesn't look good. Quick, apply ↓
his brother Basilio close by. "What in th- Lycia, you are to stay put, no helping that man whatsoever!" {L} "But father!" {O} "NO BUTS! YOU STAY!" (Hmph! It appears Gregor's search party has arrived!)
pressure to the wound!' Basilio for some reason had a large cloth handy, and handed it to Lon'qu who pressed it to the gash, soaking up a large amount of blood. {L} 'Thanks... but I'll... be fine...'↓
Lon'qu started to feel light headed, and large spots and streaks obscured his vision. 'Actually... Maybe I won't...' {B} 'Come on, let's get you inside.' Basilio hoisted Lon'qu to his feet, and the↓
two slowly made their way to the doors of the Arena. {L} '...L-Let... the seagull in...' Peeko followed them as they entered the building, keeping close eye on Lon'qu. ↓
Lon'qu's eyes slowly opened, and he looked around, dazed, at the room he was lying in. Basilio and a few nurses were watching over him, and a large bandage was wrapped around his entire torso. ↓
'...Why does this keep happening to me?' Referring to his old memories of the Arena, he must have been in the infirmary; the large room where Champions healed after the tournament.
(MI) *On the way to Arena Ferox with Halt....* What do you want to do when we get to Regina Ferox? (H) I need to test my bow and saxe knife skills.. So lets fight. [I couldn't resist]
Lon'qu slowly recalls the question he was to ask Basilio, but noticed that Vaike was not present. {B} 'Look who's finally up! That was a pretty good strike you took back there, eh Lon'qu? Luckily you↓
learned from the best on how to take a hit! Bwaa ha ha!' {L} '...Argh... Basilio... W-Where's Vaike?' {B} 'Who?' {L} '...Vaike... The guy with the blonde hair?' {B} 'Doesn't ring a bell.' ↓
{L} 'The assassin!' {B} 'Oh, him? He's probably still knocked out on the streets! Serves him right for trying to kill you.' {L} '...He's... My friend...' {B} '...What?' {L} 'He's also a Shepherd... ↓
We had a question to ask you... We were having a race to Arena Ferox... and when I was about to win, he started throwing hand axes at me...' Basilio had a confused and bewildered expression ↓
Donny walks into the med tent to see how Cynthia's faring. "Howdy Cordelia. Just hur to see how Cynthia's doin'." Stahl, in his sleep, wraps his arm around Sumia in a sort of hug.
{V} Vaike rubbed his head as he woke up, feeling bandages soaked with blood. "W- What!? Blood!? Where in the hel_" {?} "Shut up in there, will ya!?" [Metal Gear Solid reference :D] {V} Vaike sat up, ↓
seeing that he was in a damp, cramped stone room, blocked off by rusty cast-iron bars. "A... A dungeon? But why?" {Guard} "An attempt on the Khan's life would get ANYONE in a 1st class cell! Don't ↓
try to prove otherwise! Anyhow, your life is next to useless now, so we'll have Basilio decide your fate; A life in this cell, or death. Heh. Haven't seen a good beheading in years!" {V} "I can ↓
explain!" Vaike explains the past day's events to the guard in hopes of reconciliation. {Gu} "What!? That, in all my years, is the WORST excuse I've ever heard! Hell, I'd believe that wild boars can ↓
FLY before I'd believe your idiotic attempt at an excuse!" {V} "B- But it's true! ...I can see where you're comin' from, but ol' Teach never lies!" {Gu} "HA! A stupid nickname to boot! Tell you what,↓
it's my lunchbreak now, so I'll leave you to rot. When I come back, you can entertain me with more of your 'theatrics'." The guard leaves the room, locking another door behind him. {V} Vaike however,↓
shed a single, angry tear. "T... Teach? Is it really that stupid? Gods, what if it is!? Wh... What if everyone has been laughing behind ol' Te- my back this whole time!?" Plunged into a world of self↓
{B} 'They've probably already got him in the dungeon by now...' {L} 'What? ...Then we have to get him out...!' Lon'qu gingerly rolled over and stood onto his feet. '...Urk...' ↓
"WHAAAAAAAAAAAAA!" Suddenly in the doorway, there appeared Nowi, crying and holding flowers. She flung herself at Lon'qu, dropping the flowers, and wrapped her arms around him. ↓
"I was hiding for so long, *sniff* I wondered if you'd ever come back. I decided to go look after who knows how long, but I couldn't find you. *sniff* I didn't know if I'd ever see you again!" ↓
"Humans have such short lifespans, I thought *sniff* I thought you were gone forever! Whhaaaaaaaaaa!" Nowi closes her eyes and puts her head against Lon'qu's chest as she cries.
Lon'qu fell backwards onto the bed with the weight of Nowi in his arms. 'N-Nowi... You came back...' He hugged Nowi back, and tried not to let his emotions get the better of him. He failed. ↓
'Nowi... I-I'm so sorry I didn't... I... I didn't find you....' *miniscule tear rolls down cheek* '...I ...I ...I thought....... *sniff* ...Forgive me...' Lon'qu choked up even more than usual.
'Shh... D-Don't cry... I... I'm here...' Lon'qu was elated that Nowi had returned, but also felt insanely idiotic for not trying harder to find her. Self doubt lead to guilt, which lead to more tears.
"How can you say that? You're here now, and I know you don't want to leave me, but you're gonna grow old, *sniff* and then you'll be gone, *sniff* and I'll be all alone again! Whaaaaaaaa!"
Stahl slowly begins to awaken from his nap. As he awakens, he pulls Sumia into a tight embrace. "I'm sorry for falling asleep Sumia. I meant to only lie down for a minute."
'Nowi...' By the Gods, may words not fail him now; at the time when he so desperately needs them. Lon'qu searched deep within himself to find the words he wished to say, and conveyed all he could.↓
'...Even if the Sun refused to shine... I will be with you until the end of time. ...In life or memory, we can be together... Your time with me can last forever. ↓
[Such...poetry...*sniff*] "Lon'qu! *sniff* I want to make as many memories with you as I can before you go! I want you to be with me for thousands and thousands more years!"
{All of the nurses in unison} 'Awwww...' Lon'qu tried to say any kind of response, but no words escaped him. All he did was hug Nowi a little tighter and tried to stop her (and himself) from crying.
[aw sorry i've been out all day and shockingly returned at 2am boy do i need sleep but jes youre back! :> omg did they] Cynthia, excited as always to have more company decided to fill Donnel in. "Hey-
Donnel! I think my back is restored to its superior state! But Oscar's hurt now." Cordelia just sighed, she had done everything she could to help despite being a healer, and it was obvious she hated -
babysitting. Though she had been caught off-guard, Sumia pulled off a smile. "It didn't bother me at all. Are you getting enough sleep, actually?" She consoled. [oh oops *despite not being a healer]
"Hoowee Oscar! That's one hum dinger linger you done put yerself in." He leans into Oscar's ear. "Tried inpressin' her?" Oscar gives Donny an irritated glare. "Seriously?"
Stahl loosens his grip slightly. "No. I'm fine. Nothing to worry about." After saying that, he immediately thought, 'Would that count as lying to her? The way I worded it, it could be either or.'
{B} 'You two lovebirds done yet?' Lon'qu didn't seem to hear him. '...Alright. I'm going down to the dungeons to free your 'friend'. I'll be right back.'
For the umpteenth time in that day, Vaike was repeating his explanation to another prison guard. ">Siiiigh...< Why'd this have to happen to ol' Teach... Uh, I mean_" But it had been too late. {G} ↓
"HA! Teach!? What kind of nickname is teach!? I can HONESTLY say that..." Vaike sat in silence, listening to the guard's opinion on his nickname. {V} "...Just kill me now and be done with it..."
