"V-Vadei...?" I asked as my friend suddenly jumped to her feet and started sniffing the wind.
"It's him... IT'S HIM!" she exclaimed to my confusion at first.
"WHERE!?" I screamed as I got up to my feet too. Quite happily, I abandoned my stuff so I could chase after her as we ran against the breeze. Eventually, we came across a dark figure that stood out amongst the green grass and brass city walls.
"NIN!" we screamed in unison before we ran into our slowly rising friend. At first, I felt like weeping out of sheer joy for the fact he was alive. But the callous way he disregarded us when he stood up reminded me of why I felt the way I did when he disappeared.
"H-Hey! Wait!" Vadei complained as we followed him into the city. To our surprise as well, the guards just let him walk by... There was no way they weren't aware of who he was.
"Nin, hold on!" I demanded as I stepped in front of him. Using what strength I had to keep him still. A sensation of nervousness even filled me as I initially grabbed still open wounds.
"Get out of my way..." he spat and growled before he started to push against me.
"No! You're in no condition to go anywhere! We have to let everyone know that you-"
"Everyone? What everyone? The same everyone that was content to leave Lari to die!?" he hissed before he started to force himself against me. And while he did not overpower me, I let go all the same. Uncomfortable with trying to restrain such an injured body.
"Let's just follow him for now..." Vadei whispers uncertainly into my ear before I nod slowly. My throat had started to hurt for some reason too. It felt swollen and my chest was starting to ache as we followed Nin. And, circumstances repeated themselves as well.
Because the guards were still not paying any attention to him. At least, not in the way we thought they might. Eventually, we started to walk a familiar street. And then, a familiar building.
"The hospital..." I uttered as we turned the corner. And, I panicked once I saw the group of soldiers in front of the building. I rushed to get Nin out of the way, but he turned towards me and struck at the air. It made me freeze up in shock.
"Stop getting in my way!" he growls before he slowly continues his journey. Some doctors even came out and guided him into the building once he got close enough.
"What's going on..." Vadei whined in confusion before an airship moved into the widest part of the street. And, out came a dark-skinned woman with reddish-purple hair that was dark in some areas and light in others. She noticed us quickly and then approached. I tried to straighten myself out, but I could not get over what Nin had tried to do...
He had tried to hurt me...
"And you two are?" the woman asked as she crossed her arms. Whatever was going on at the hospital even carried on without her.
"We're students at Suhurlodst, friends of Nin's..." Vadei answers as her hairs start to stand up at the sight of the woman. Yet, I felt like that was an incorrect assessment. Then I felt it, she could still use her magic freely while we could not... It was a terrifying feeling to experience.
"Hm, then you know the girl inside the hospital?"
"Y-Yes, she's our friend, Larishazza, her sister also goes to Suhurlodst."
"Right, I will need you to come with me then." this woman says before that airship that had left so soon shot right back down. The woman got on and I felt like we needed to as well. But neither of us moved until she made an impatient gesture.
"What's going on?" I decided to ask once we were in the air. I wanted to be down there with Nin to make sure he was okay. But it was clear this was now a far grander issue than just Nin chasing a killer...
"Your friend, by request of a vile creature, is not working for the city. A condition was made during these recent events, Larishazza Sl'Ayiysab is to be moved to a location of his choosing. But, as you know her sister, you can get me a direct line to the father of Larishazza... Lord Sl'Ayiysab." the woman explains with a stern expression. I looked at Vadei briefly, but, I tried to maintain eye contact with this woman.
"Wh... What does that mean?" I struggle to ask, flabbergasted by the reality of it all.
"Nin will now be routinely working with me to hunt down Smiling Jhurack. By that madman's own request." she explains, a dissatisfied scoff coming out of her at the end.
"No! Nin can't do that!" I nearly scream as I start to recall how he looked just now and how he did the last time we saw him. He walked up to the dorm covered in his own blood... He left a trail directly to our dorm...
"Your wishes are irrelevant in this situation. All you two shall be doing is taking me to Tiyanat Sl'Ayiysab." the woman explains as she rises in contrast to the aircraft's descent.
"He's our friend! We should have a right in this!" I tell her firmly as I rise up to meet her gaze. A rising fury deep inside of me.
"Did he not just try to attack you to get you away from him?" she recounts with a dismissive glance while I stood back in shock.
"Y-You... Don't act like you understand..." I try to say before she sharply turns towards me.
"I don't know it all, no. But I can see quite clearly that Nin has been backed into a corner. And Smiling Jhurack has been quite happy to take advantage of that." she accused just before she got off the airship. With a sneer, I followed and quickly gained the lead. Yet, I could not muster the strength to be rude as we moved into the dorm.
"Guests?" Omb started to say happily before he went quiet upon seeing the woman. Strangely, he seemed to show reverence for this woman as she went past him.
"Tiyanat, someone is here for you." I say after knocking on her door. Yet, without a moments hesitation, the woman opened the door herself.
"Student Tiyanat. I am here to speak to your father." she declared, spooking my friend before I even had the chance to step in.
"Don't just barge in like thi-" I started to complain before a gloved hand raised its open palm before me.
"For the sake of this country's security, I need you to do this." the woman elaborated as I backed away with my wounded pride. I know I really should not be focusing on this. But this woman has been nothing but provocative!
"R-Right..." Tiyanat says as she put down what she was reading before she nervously turned on something. It took a few minutes to turn on, but, when it did, she was furiously working away at it. A face then appeared. An aged man with bright blue hair...
"Ti- Tiyanat... Is something wrong?" her father asked before he noticed the uniformed woman. His expression then changed from concern to pure malice.
This woman, however, paid it no mind and performed a courteous bow, "Lord Sl'Ayiysab, I am here to speak to you about your other daughter, Larishazza."
His expression then relaxed, "Well?" he asked with a glare.
"The man who attacked her, Smiling Jhurack, has put forward some conditions regarding her safety."
"I reject them all." he quickly answers.
"Not those kind of conditions, Lord Sl'Ayiysab, he has made it clear he will not interfere with her transfer to a new place. However, it is all tied to a friend of hers, a Nin Urtuan."
"Right..." he slowly lets out before he seemingly seems to rack his brain for information.
"Dad, it's the special friend she told you a lot about..." Tiyanat quietly clarifies for him.
"I remember, thank you, Tiyanat. Well?"
"For some reason, Smiling Jhurack has taken an interest in him. We have come to understand it is because he wants to establish some kind of rivalry with him."
Tiyanat's father looks at his daughter, "I suppose there is no time but the present... Tiyanat, if I trust your friend to save your sister, would you be more at ease?" he asks her.
Tiyanat then starts to cry as she nods relentlessly, "Y-Yes... Please just keep your soldiers away... No more Worm Riders or..."
"Of course, Ti-Ti." he cooed before he briefly smiles at her.
"Well, that helps my situation." the woman comments under her breath before she sighs in relief.
"Is there a way to keep in contact with this Nin, then?" he asks.
"We can raise the idea to him... But, Smiling Jhurack has made a relentless mind with his actions."
"All the better then. He will understand my intentions perfectly." Tiyanat's father says before he nods quickly and sharply.
"And, as you are the father, is there any involvement at all you want with your daughter's relocation? We cannot move her out of the city for fear of her safety. But, we can take her anywhere you want within the limits of our walls."
"I'll let my present daughter be my voice in that regard. I am certain this Nin will have a good idea of where my daughter will be best placed. Now, I am busy, so I am sorry, Tiyanat, but I will need to go. Love you, Ti-Ti, your mother does too."
"Love you two too..." Tiyanat sniffles before she slowly gets up and wipes her face. I offer her some help at first, but, she is quick to head downstairs.
"That went well. Very well." the woman remarks before she heads on out to meet with Tiyanat. Likely by the airship, but, this is where mine and Vadei's involvement ended...
"Make sure he is okay too, alright!?" I call out to Tiyanat after we were stopped from getting on the airship again. Then, as we watched them disappear towards the city. I clutched my chest uncertainly...
I did not like what this meant for Nin at all!