"Alright everyone! Gather round!" Coach Lee announced.
"Competition is near, only few days away and every one of you have improve much from the beginning. I hope this will continue till the competition day. Keep working hard. Now practice is over go home and rest. Same time tomorrow and don't be late", emphasizing the word late he looked at me.
Heh heh, "Yes Coach!" we all respond.
It has been three days since I returned to practice and everyone is getting the chills. Only five days remaining until the Meet begins. It lasts for 3 days and Dancesports are usually around the last or the second day of the Meet. So we only have a week to prepare.
Everything is going smoothly but we should not relax to much. Even though we've been winning for the past years consecutively, we still need to keep it up because the others schools have been targeting us for the record. And possibly catching up or they have catched up ready.
Alright. After Mr. Lee's speech (I prefer it calling it a speech), Roanna and I were called by him. Few talks about the competition nearing then we are ordered to look for a suitable and comfortable cloth for our dancing clothes and asked everyone's measurements.
...
Right now we're at Aban Street, the most busy street in our place. A wide long street where different kinds of stores filled both sides of the street.
Rei insisted coming with us, worried something might happen to us. The sky is getting darker and as if two girls shopping at night time will get us any danger though. Well it happens at times.
After we found the perfect clothes, bought and went out of the cloth store. We headed to the Tailor shop as we stumble across Marlon.
"Hey! Watch where you're going— Marlon? What are you doing here? " Roanna spoke.
"Guys? Thank God. Please help me. Hide me! Hurry!", Marlon begged.
He is drench in sweat, panting, catching his breath. Wearing a black hoodie covering his blonde hair to keep him from standing out. A terrified face painted in his face. It seems like someone's chasing him.
Since we're at the entrance of the tailor shop we need to go. All of us entered hurriedly and went around the corner of the shop. Different kinds of clothes are worn by mannequins and some simple ones are being hanged allign.
Glady, very few people are here if there were many we would have caused such a commotion.
"So what happened?", Yuna asked Marlon.
Looking terrified, time to time he keeps looking back from where he came running from.
Did he...? "Did you steal something?" Rei asked whispering. Yup, very straightforward of him.
"N–No. I did not steal anything." stuttering he continued. "I'm being chased by someone... someone dangerous."
"And I'm out of here. Gotta get this clothes and measurements to Ms. Panilly." Roanna excused herself. She could have thought this is something delusional. Roanna is not a fan of series or movies so possibly yeah.
"Can you please calm down for a bit. Seriously wearing all black clothes and running away from someone on this busy street. If we didn't come across you, they could have suspect you as a thief."
"Remove that hood from your head. The costumers here are getting suspicious." Rei added noticing the other costumers are taking a glance at us suspiciously.
Marlon took a deep breath as he cautiously remove the hood from his head. His blonde hair do catch others attention especially him wearing all black.
"Now, explain what really happened." Yuna spoke as Marlon nervously put both hands in his hoodie- pocket.
During the split second D-sense occured, Yuna's ears were ringing as if D-sense is warning her to keep out of Marlon or the the thing inside his pocket.
At the same moment, Rei felt the wind around Marlon are unsteady and tainted. Ever since Rei and Ariella talked with each other, Ariella has been pulling Rei's soulbody in her palace whenever she is bored and needed a talk to anyone. There she thought of Rei.
And every time Ariella pulls Rei to her palace, Rei insisted on studying their nature, history and his power. Nymphs are spiritual beings and Rei as a half. He has the power to channel spirits but mostly his power on winds or air.
Yuna and Rei step back almost at the same time as they become uneasy at what is in Marlon's pocket.
"Marlon? What's in your pocket?", Yuna cautiosly ask.
Marlon remained standing, lightly shivering as his eyes were getting unsteady. Slowly turning green. He was muttering something but no one understands. As his voice become colder and vicious until Yuna an Rei heard his words.
His green cold eyes shot at Yuna as two words came out of his mouth.
"Found~ you"
Yuna tensed up. Looking at those terrifying cold green eyes as those words she heard again. Yuna was not able to move.
Marlon immediately extended his hand to Yuna but greatly Rei used his hand to push away Marlon's arm. Using a little help of the wind to add some force and speed to it. A second late would have harmed Yuna.
Same moment it happened, the door in the shop was slammed open as a lady in black fitted armour wearing a black mast covering her nose and mouth, entered saying. "There you are." Then directly using arm lock at Marlon that let something go.
It was the gem. One of Gaea's Treasures.The thing I should keep out of. It fell in from of me as Marlon returned to his normal state still on an arm lock. I stared at it while D-sense is saying to go far from the gem but my body could not move staring at the gem a foot away from me.
"Don't look at it!" the woman shouted. I moved my gaze away as her strong voice woken me up but I stood still not being able to move. My ears were ringing as my vision was blurring and became clear again like the lights were being played by a child going on and off. And starting to lose my balance.
Rei noticed the gem. This should be the one Ariella told me stay away once I encounter it. Immediately looked away and took a step back. Noticing Yuna lose balance like she was going to faint. Rei pulled her away from the gem.
Being pulled away, Yuna instantly regain her composure. Both of them noticed a shadow swallowed the gem as if it was not there to begin with. The extended shadow returned to the shadow of the lady in black. Did she just controlled her shadow?
This happened so fast it only lasted a few seconds.
"Ow, ow. You can stop it now. Please, it's breaking my arm." Marlon beg the lady.
"I would not. You were trying to do something unnecessary and you expect me to let go? Nah-ah."
That voice. I really am not mistaken. Yuna thought as she realized who the lady in front of them is. That dark green eyes, caramel hair and sharp tongue. I'm certain of it.
"It's alright. You can let go of him." Yuna assured looking directly at the lady's eyes. She let go of Marlon then stood straight.
Yuna smiled at the lady as if she knows her. Rei let go of his hands from Yuna's shoulder and examined the lady properly. From top to bottom, black hood and a mask covered her face. She wears a fitted black armour that made her look like a modern knight spy. All her body is covered by it and below was a leather black boots.
There is a bit of fashion about her. Did she just controlled her shadow to swallow the gem? She must one that Ariella mentioned about families. The Family who could control shadows, the Nightshades. Yuna's reaction look that she knows the lady is she also part of this? i don't know why but I could somehow trust the lady in front of us.
"What has happened here? I heard a commotion within my shop which I would not permit." Ms. Panilly's terrifying voice echoed the room which made us stiff.
Ms. Panilly is a kind person but once something has happened within her shop she turns into a monster, metaphorically.
Rei and I turn around and saw Ms. Panilly both hands on her hips but still wears a fashionable clothes despite that mood it made her beautiful.
Ms. Panilly Erma is in her 30's and a professional fashion designer. Her creations are top notch that does not easily get destroy yet very suitable and comfortable in any way.
"We... were just teasing each other to the point that we kinda cause a commotion a little." Yuna excused. Hoping she would let it go.
"Well then, " Ms. Panilly clasp her hands in her front to get everyone's attention. "Things have calm down. Now why don't we get to business. Follow me children". and yup she treat everyone as a child.
Then the lady in black spoke, "If I may, I would be going now." As she shot a glance at Marlon then left without a sound. Yuna was planning to talk to her after all this but her chance is gone.
Well there will be a chance that I would meet her again so no rush.