The next day came. Julian did not attend class, and things went by as normally. As if he were never gone.
That was the type of person Julian felt he was. Someone who did not seem to have much impact on anyone.
"It was the last few weeks of school anyway."
Ian thought.
"He'll be... fine. Right?"
Cera hoped.
Eudora sat quietly at lunch, by herself. Every so often, she would eat with Julian. But now, there was no one to eat with at all. Her expression was just a bit morose.
. . .
. .
.
Julian did not have many clues. He was aware that S.W would be in Anore, but where? A sparsely populated area, where he could easily get away with his sick experiments.
Julian's stomach faltered, and he clutched tight at the thought of having to associate with such a person. But he was running out of options.
With how unlucky I've been...
If there's a god out there... You'd better give me at least this.
Julian took his boat off the ropes and began his embarkation. He was supplied with enough food for about two weeks, which was probably overpacking. Better safe than sorry.
"I've never met a maiden.
"As cruel as the sea,
"But maybe she's the maiden,
"That's made for me."
To pass the time, Julian sang heartily.
I wonder if anyone's thinking about me.
Probably not.
Maybe Eudora, that weirdo Lionel, Cera, and Ian.
I'm sorry, guys... Right now, I definitely value my life more than any friend!
. . .
. .
Outskirts of Gonteno.
There was a large, heavily wooded forest. Obscured from sunlight, yet moist within. With flourishing and varying life, it was its own ecosystem.
There was a group of four people. The standard team. It contains an archer, a mage, a swordsman, and a healer.
The archer was, of course, elven. A young man with long white hair and pale skin, daring green eyes. He held his bow very lackadaisically. There was a lot of ease in the way he walked, along with his tone.
The mage was shorter, a bit of a stout man. Black, unkempt hair, with heavy eyebags and a look of desperation. Latched to his back was a wooden staff that held a glowing blue orb at the top, wrapped around the wooden staff's wood.
"Iris, this forest isn't as dangerous as you claim it to be. Right, Joseph?" the swordsman spoke. A cocky smile was constantly plastered on his face. His hair was silver, though not from old age, and his eyes were a dark blue.
Iris, the shy-looking, orange-haired girl who was also the healer, clung tightly to the swordsman.
Joseph, the archer, did not respond. Quietly observing his surroundings as a way to pass the time, rather than for surveillance.
The mage spoke, sighing.
"Joseph, he's always in his own world."
The group was very stereotypical. The only strange thing was the elf being named Joseph, a very human name.
[Cast: Inferno Slash]
Slsh!
Three heads flew into the air.
A hot-bladed sword strike cleanly decapitated Joseph, Iris, and Adam, setting their heads on fire.
Because of the diagonal nature of the slice, Keon, the swordsman, was struck, too. However, it was a bit shallow. A cut to the forehead. His brain fluids spilled out, bubbling. And he collapsed to the ground, with the rest of them.
On the ground, Keon babbled incoherently.
"Goodness... the whole of Gonteno is just full of sissies..."
The owner of the sword who struck the group lamented, staring at his now-melting sword.
"Even this sword can't handle the heat of this, so I guess I can cut them some slack."
He threw the sword, or rather, the handle, down to the ground. Finally, he pulled his hood down, revealing his appearance. Long, almost monstrous black hair that fell to his black, with tan skin, and piercing blue eyes. Despite the innocent colour, a sinister vibe shone through.
It was none other than the former slave, Cherva.
He walked over toward the mumbling Keon. The light in his eyes was gone, his hands contorted strangely into the position of a fencer.
"Aah, you'll die anyway. So, I'll just leave you out here. Man, I was really expecting you guys to be stronger! That's a shame. I couldn't figure out if I had gotten stronger or not, if you guys don't even hold up."
Cherva rubbed his eyes in a bit of annoyance. Not being able to contain it anymore, he kicked at Keon's body.
"Ah, sorry. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to. Kicking you is a little bit too far."
I guess I'll have to buy a new sword. A stronger sword.
His armor looks pretty nice... looks like a wealthy guy.
"Kicking his body, disrespecting his corpse. Then, looting him? Don't you have any compassion in you?"
Cherva's head snapped toward where the sound could be. His expression fell straight.
Perched atop a tree branch, a hooded man stared at Cherva. The voice that spoke belonged to this man.
I didn't detect him until now...
He's strong then, right?
Cherva grinned.
The hooded man slipped down, landing very gracefully.
Cherva didn't give him even a second to think. As soon as he landed, he struck.
[Cast: Inferno Slash]
Without a sword, his hands became his weapon, ignited in flames.
A tightly held palm swiped at the hooded man.
Fwsh!
The attack missed. However, the sheer wind of the strike knocked the hooded man's hoodie off, revealing his face.
Comically thick, circle-rimmed glasses that completely obscured the boy's eyes. He had straight brown hair that was at a medium length, with sharp ears that stuck out. An elf.
"So it's you pestering me... Ailen."
Ailen tightened his grip on his dagger.
Seeing this, Cherva thought fast.
[Cast: Blaze Step]
His movements quickened, allowing him to narrowly dodge Ailen's horizontal strike.
"Aargh!"
He charged forward with a low stance.
Ailen stared with a very blank expression.
He jumped up.
"!"
Ailen jammed his feet into Cherva's back, sending him into the ground.
"Keuk!-"
Cherva was subdued. Without even noticing, Ailen quickly wrapped his wrists with rope, along with his ankles. He tied him up properly, blindfolding him as well.