”Hm? Not around here but there’re definitely some scattered around. The Gardens were made to be plains after all” the Knight claimed. They looked out into the fields and sighed.
”Do you know how to ride horses?” they asked out of nowhere, slowly walking out towards it.
"I do. Where I come from not knowing how to ride a horse is like not knowing how to walk," Kye gave a laugh. "They are one of the main sources of transportation. Why do you ask?"
”Oh, it’s just that I enjoy riding them and that they’re parts of my ‘ability’ per say” the Knight answered. With that said, they waved their hand around and two horses made from green aura.
The Knight got on one of them and gestured for Kye to get on the other.
”Don’t worry, they’re friendly. Let me guide you to the cave systems”
"Um thank you for the ride, but actually I need to find the place farthest from the caves," Kye explained as he mounted the other horse with ease. "The reason being because I know that the person I am looking for will do everything in her power to avoid caves unless absolutely necessary."
Just like you and snakes.
And we are not going to talk about snakes if we want to live.
Why would we die by me talking about snakes?
I would throw myself from a building and purposefully land square on my head. To make sure we die.
I think that's a little bit of an overreaction.
Then I would refrain from talking of snakes.
”Look… I know you probably hate me right now… but I want you to know—“ the Viscount stated ”—that if you hurt me, I will increase the speed in which I am sucking out his life energy…” the Viscount claimed.
He summoned out his spear, one that had a curved, metallic end.
”Come on… show me your worst…”
Of course. Of freaking course. 'Fight me, but if you actually hurt me I'll kill him faster.'
Hinata, we should talk this over with the others.
…I'm just gonna kill him real quick.
Um?! No?! A good plan of action is needed here!!
Too late. Hinata let out a low sound of disgust, drawing her swords.
You're gonna be the one to make Matthew di-
Shut up!! Shut. Up. Speak again, I dare you. With that Hinata took off towards the Viscount. Logic had officially checked out, and she was working on pure instinct.
Kazumi gasped slightly.
”I apologize! I actually know a place that is far, and I mean far away from all the cave systems. Would you like me to take you there?” the Knight asked, trying to make up for their mistake.
The Viscount smiled when Hinata rushed him.
”As expected of the Balance Keeper—“ he disappeared from where he was, only to appear again above her ”—still as arrogant as ever” he attempted to stab Hinata with the spear.
”Not. So. Fast.” Ichika had grabbed the man by his throat, only to throw him straight at one of the pavilion’s pillars.
Eisuke was taking off his glasses as six ribbon-like weapons emerged from his arms, wrapping around the Viscount and throwing him towards Sora.
”My bone the handle—“ the Bartender’s skin disintegrated, revealing his skeletal arm ”—my blood the blade” the disintegrated parts of his arms came back, forming a large blade which was used to slice the Viscount’s body… only for him to disappear.
A sigh came from above the Pavilion.
”Sometimes I question…” Julian clenched his fist as Matthew let out a painful groan ”…how did you get your roles in the Multiverse… ‘Jewelry Hunters’…” he smiled teasingly.
When he finished, scars of blades could be seen on the Draconian’s, the Doctor’s, and the Bartender’s faces.
Hinata scowled, snarl building up inside of her when the Viscount called her arrogant. It died when she heard Matthew groan, though, teeth grinding together and hands clenched. She didn't care about the other's scars, and she sure as hell didn't care about what the Viscount was saying. She jumped up to the man, swords slashing out at him.
Kazumi gasped slightly.
”I apologize! I actually know a place that is far, and I mean far away from all the cave systems. Would you like me to take you there?” the Knight asked, trying to make up for their mistake.
"You can not blame yourself, for two reasons. One you did not know why I asked about caves in the first place. Two I did not say who I was looking for so you did not know," Kye gave a smile. "Therefore you can not blame yourself. And anyways it was an honest mistake, we all make them. If you would take me to the place you just mentioned, that would be nice."
The Viscount wasn't able to dodge the blades this time so he was slashed directly. He clenched his fist again as Matthew let out a pained scream. He wasn't dying physically but his magic was being sucked out of him as time went on. Fifteen minutes and Matthew would be nothing but a mere human.
"Well Balance Keeper… shall I give you an offer? If you'd let me do as I plan, I'd share with you fifty percent of that slave's magic energy. You know how strong his aura is, right?! You'd know you'd benefit more with the magic than with him–" the Viscount began to offer as his eyes turned to a bright, shining green "–RIGHT?!"
Hinata was about to say exactly where Julian could shove his plans before hesitating. It would seem like she was considering actually agreeing with the man. In truth, she was thinking about if she should do it, but for different reasons. If she could manage to claim some of Matthew's energy, perhaps she could get it back to him… That's when the Viscount's words came back to her.
"He'll probably die in the process."
No, no, she wasn't going to let that happen. It also didn't help that the Viscount had just called Matthew a slave. She gritted her teeth.
"The f-ck makes you think I would let you do this to my friend?" she growled. A solid no from her.
Kazumi smiled.
"Come on–" they turned towards the plains "–follow me, I'll show you some nice views along the way" the horse they were on started pacing down.
Julian grinned.
"Oh? A 'Friend'? Don't. Make. Me. Laugh." he pointed his spear at Hinata.
"It's people like you who made the Knights lose their trust in us, Viscounts. It is because people like you–" he pointed his spear to Matthew "–and him" his voice was sharp, a critical statement.
"We were supposed to be the examples, WE were supposed to be the idol… and what the fuck is this? You're regarded as a greater figure within the Labyrinth and that we are nothing compared to you…" he started to tear up a bit.
"Let me change that… I'll show them and I'll definitely show you–" a glowing wooden helm and armor covered his body as he spoke "–MY WORTH AND DIGNITY WILL NEVER DISAPPEAR" he disappeared, appearing again behind Hinata and launching her up into the air, jumping up and sending her down on the Pavilion's roof.
Julian grinned.
"Oh? A 'Friend'? Don't. Make. Me. Laugh." he pointed his spear at Hinata.
"It's people like you who made the Knights lose their trust in us, Viscounts. It is because people like you–" he pointed his spear to Matthew "–and him" his voice was sharp, a critical statement.
"We were supposed to be the examples, WE were supposed to be the idol… and what the fuck is this? You're regarded as a greater figure within the Labyrinth and that we are nothing compared to you…" he started to tear up a bit.
"Let me change that… I'll show them and I'll definitely show you–" a glowing wooden helm and armor covered his body as he spoke "–MY WORTH AND DIGNITY WILL NEVER DISAPPEAR" he disappeared, appearing again behind Hinata and launching her up into the air, jumping up and sending her down on the Pavilion's roof.
Hinata let out a strangled sound when she hit the Pavilion roof, forcing herself to get up and glare at the Viscount.
"You think I chose this? Do you think I like people looking up to me?!" She was screaming now, and the Viscount wasn't the only one tearing up.
"I'm not greater than anyone else!! I'm a fucking murderer, and people praise me for it! I don't want this!!" She pushed off of the pavilion, much like she herself was being pushed off the ledge.
On the bookshelf, there were a lot of books, none of which were in the English language. Some looked similar to English, some looked like scribbled symbols, and some of the titles were just blank.
(Read the one which looked similar to English?)
(Read the one which looked like symbols?)
(Read the one with no title?)
Seeing the challenge of reading symbol Jade chose that book although the title less ones were intriguing. With a quiet sigh she picked up the nearest book. She stayed quiet and looked at the symbols, as familiar as they were she couldn't read them.
Julian landed near her.
"I don't care what you think! You're the one to blame for everything I've gone through! Do you even know HOW hard I tried. God knows, I. TRIED. Yet your image, your perfect job was everything the Knights looked up to… which is why… I need his magic" he glanced at Matthew and appeared in front of him.
"I apologize Matty, but–" he raised his spear "–you were a great secretary" he attempted to pierce his spear through Matthew's heart.
Hinata screamed, rushing to stop the Viscount. She intercepted the man's spear, but she hadn't been able to block it with her swords. Instead, it went through her shoulder, and she let out a strangled noise and she reached up and grabbed the shaft of the spear.
"I- I have a proposition for you," she said, breathing heavily. "Take mine instead."
(I'll be back to reply in a bit, I need to finish my report real quick)
(Okay!)
The Viscount was slightly taken aback when Hinata threw herself in between the spear and the Nature's Messenger.
"What? Is he that important to you that you're willing to put yourself in such situations?" he asked, his voice a bit shaky but his actions were bold.
Sora and Ichika were near and were ready to attack if anything went wrong.
There was also… another unfamiliar figure walking by the Pavilion itself rather than paying attention to the commotion. They were wearing a hooded cloak so their features were hard to make out.
"You'd… you'd be surprised." Hinata looked up at the Viscount, solid in her resolve.
"I'll transfer over as much of my power as you can take. But first you have to let Matthew go. Swear… swear you won't touch him again. Then I'll do it."
The Viscount cursed softly under his breath before removing his spear.
”Fine—“ he turned his back to Hinata ”—fine, fine” he sighed with much dissatisfaction.
”If he is that important to you—“ the Viscount looked in the direction of Matthew and the trunk as the wooden lock disappeared, leaving Matthew on the soft ground ”—take him… I can find my ways” he sighed again as he closed his eyes.
”Now do as you’ve promised, until I am filled to the brim” he stated, still with eyes shut closed.
(Start giving the Viscount magic energy?)
(Kill him here and now?)
(Tell him that it’ll have to be later?)
Hinata winced as the spear was pulled from her shoulder, watching as Matthew was left on the ground. That hadn't sounded much like a swear to her, but she wasn't gonna push it. She also wasn't going to go back on her word and kill him; that's not how she worked. She reached out her left arm, the one that hadn't been stabbed, placing it on the Viscount for a direct connection. She found it made things much quicker, and she wanted to get this over with. She closed her eyes as well, feeling her energy slipping from herself into Julian. By the time she was finished, she barely had enough left for herself, since she had already been low due to the fight.
When Hinata finished, Julian turned back to face her.
”Thank you… but sadly—“ he picked up his spear ”—I’m not a man of my word” he gave a sadistic grin as he appeared beside Matthew, attempting to kill the man—
”What are you doing…” the hooded figure who had been in the Pavilion, watching this unfold, appeared in front of the Nature Viscount.
The Viscount nearly gasped in terror when the man appeared. This was one of the only people who he was afraid of. Yet… he smiled.
”I’m killing off my secretary! Is that too hard to underst—“ not allowing the Viscount to finish his nonsensical speech, the hooded figure looked right into the Viscount’s eyes. The next two seconds were of silence before Julian can be seen turned into an ice sculpture.
The hooded figure then smashed the Viscount’s head to bits with just his wrists, opening up the man’s neck.
”Nonsense…” the last word was a truthful one. The hooded figure disagreed with the Nature Viscount.
The figure hovered their hand above Julian’s frozen corpse as a cloud of blue smoke came out and condensed into a ball. He then walked over to Hinata.
”I think this belongs to you…” the man said, hovering the ball of smoke to her.
"Oh no, I never saw this coming," Hinata said sarcastically. She was about to activate her trap when the hooded figure appeared. She watched as he turned Julian to ice, grateful.
"Thanks," she said, accepting the ball of smoke. She absorbed it back into herself, waiting for it to be de-weaponized. She was extremely calm about the entire situation as she walked over to Matthew and knelt down next to him.
The hooded figure followed her and knelt down before Matthew as well.
”Don’t worry, he can regenerate… although…” the figure’s eyes changed to a green tone.
Matthew’s eyes started to open. He turned to Hinata.
”H-Hinata…?” he said with a faint voice.
The hooded figure stood up after Matthew woke up and walked over to the hunters, whispering something to them before he came back.
”Hinata, was it? You know him to quite a personal level, correct?” the hooded figure asked, his eyes a ghostly white.
"Yeah," Hinata said, still exhausted. She smiled a little at Matthew. She looked up when the man came back.
"Yes, I do," she answered. She was sitting down completely now, shoulder just now starting to heal.
The figure eyed her shoulder as his eyes turned green. The wound on her shoulder started to heal quickly and soon, it was fully heal.
Eisuke, noticing this, sent and wrapped his ribbons around the wound and cut them off from his arm as they turned to bandages.
”Thank you Ei-kun” the figure said with a slight giggle.
”Then…” the figure turned to Hinata ”…can you tell me why you risked your own life saving him?” he asked, posture calm and natural.
Hinata appreciated the help with her shoulder, expressing this quietly before thinking over the figure's question.
"He's my friend," She explained. "It's hard for anyone to get that close to me, really. I'm extremely protective of anyone who gets me to care that much about them. Besides, I don't stay dead for long." She added the last part with a bitter note. She knew that even if she would have truly died, she still would have done what she did to protect her friend.
”Could you… elaborate on the ‘friend’ part…? I’ve never understood that word fully” the figure stated. The figure, though quite friendly, most likely lacked social security.
The hunter group were talking to each other, not loud enough for Hinata to hear though.
"Well, a friend is someone you spend a lot of time with, and often look forward to doing so. It's someone you care enough about to risk your life for them. And you know that they would do the same for you." She smiled a little, knowing it wasn't much.
(Is it sad I had to look up the definition of a friend because I don't even know it at this point?? I literally was drawing a blank ;-;)
(don’t worry, I had a reason as to why I gotta ask as well ;-;)
”Doesn’t help but alright…” the figure said with a truthful tone. He doesn’t seem like a threat nor someone who would hurt the group but he did, though, looked like he held some secrets.
(Do you know anything interesting about Julian?)
(Do you know anything interesting about Sora?)
(Do you know anything interesting about Ichika?)
(Do you know anything interesting about Naoki?)
(Do you know anything interesting about Eisuke?)
(i be reading)