A/N: Also fun fact, in RHEA Nimue is a brand of Whisky.
_______CHAPTER TEN_______
HATHOR
Hibiki Nimue, the only child of Loki and Thena Nimue, the supposed to be heir of Aulora before it was destroyed that's quite sad isn't it? He lost everything and still remained loyal to Milady, "He's a hypocrite." is what most people say, therefore the daughter of the kinou that took everything away from him--well apparently this fellow isn't like those other people that take the till-death-do-us-part type of grudges. I know what you are thinking, shouldn't he be a little angry about that? well...he used to be, but if he did opt to go against his enemies fortuity might not be on his side hence one of the sayings in this epoch plasters "Live with trepidation." looking way back before the reign of Raios, recalcitrant amazons have been displayed like barbeques on a stick to oppress those who dare try again—let's just say that those were times that no one, no one ever wants to go back to.
Hibiki was one of those people, he saw terrible horrors at such a young age, something a psychiatrist might suggest that he needs medication for that you know for them to earn great amounts of Cyhea, but his mother Queen Thena decided to take the high road and gave her only child the support he needed to get by since his Father has always been busy taking duties within the army of Aulora making him quite distant from Hibiki during his toddler years, nevertheless this never became a barrier to him after he started studying at Ephedia under his supervision. The passing of his beloved Mother during the siege of Xeris took a toll on his scape for some time, the orangette managed to overcome it over time by saying that everyone dies at one point and this is no different from that.
When he and his father learned the name of Queen Thena's killer, Aulora held war against Helium demanding that justice must be served where it is due, Raios saw this treachery as a joke sending out Milady by herself, instead of preparing an entire army over something he'd rather laugh at. King Loki felt livid when he saw Milady walking down the red dessert all by herself and as you may all know by now, Aulora lost against one amazon just like Xeris did. Nowadays Hibiki's the right-hand man of Milady as working under a Milkovich makes you the rules wherever you may be, except for Lireo by the way hence if you dare use that power against Queen Minea she'll straight up slap you in the face.
Speaking of Queen Minea, she gave Hibiki and Odette(who is yet to arrive) a task before the meeting with RHEA's shitty officiants had begun, they only needed to pick up three things as it says on the list that she made for him to follow, because of the need for it may arise quickly than you'd expect as the orangette often forget the agendas given to him. I for one do not have full expectations in his capabilities of being a right-hand man to Milady as Sting is more suitable for the job than him but given the history between them Jellal would certainly not approve, and that's why she preferred the orangette rather than anyone else on the topic--some of Helium's staff had assumed that Madeline was the right hand but no, she's not. She was only there to write down the agendas that Hibiki should perform for Milady, Madeline was just her handmaiden after all nothing more.
"So Queen Minea, I—" the orangette was about to ask the pale-haired queen until someone who belonged in her court intervened "It's Your Majesty to you Nimue!" Queen Minea told the kinou that it was fine but Hibiki had something to say "Gotcha buddy, now shut up will ya! So Your Majesty as I was saying.." he mocked the kinou before continuing the conversation, Odette arrived after Queen Minea was done talking to Hibiki leaving for her agenda "Good morning Your Highness." she greeted him "It's not entirely a good morning but anyway--good morning Odette!" the greenette servant gave him an awkward smile, as she had heard rumors about what kind of kinou Hibiki Nimue is like on occasions like this, but those rumors are just that rumors, none of them knew the orangette personally so they chose to place judgment on him but simply how they see him out in public.
Odette only arrived late, due to Jellal giving her a heads up to be responsible for this task as his best friend can quite (not just quite) be a little reckless and she should prepare to keep her sanity together once he starts doing what he does best. She swallowed the lump in her throat as the two of them walked down the halls to the front doors where they run across some of RHEA's officials Hibiki yelled a greeting to his aunt who is the eldest sister of his mother "HEY BELLADONNA! HEY--HI!" the orangette waved his hands up in the air aggressively getting the attention of his aunt who walked towards in his direction when she saw his nephew, Odette was the one who became embarrassed for the kinou she's accompanying today realizing that the husband of her lady was 100% right.
"How have you been Hibiki," her voice sounded like one of those backstabbing bitches, "Great!" she gave her manchild of a nephew an endearing hug, in the midst of it she gave Odette a side-eyed glare that was full of disgust telling her to take two steps back away from her, "Good then, I'll be going now I have first world problems to fix." Hibiki did not fail to notice this trashy mannerism of hers and called her out for it "Not with that attitude." the Amazonian official just took it as a joke pinching the cheek of the orangette before walking away from the both of them rejoining with her fellow Council members "Always so hilarious my boy." the greenette servant averted her attention on the marble floor below until Belladonna was out of sight not wanting to be fired from her job, hence the head maid back at Helium always have taught them to not look at their superiors in the eye nor face whenever they don't want to or say so, saying that it is extremely rude to do so.
"Hey," Hibiki turned his attention back at Odette patting her head "Y-yes Your Highness?" she was hesitant to look up "Don't mind my aunt kay? she's got a trashy attitude and lookup already geez, you're in Lireo now not Helium it is fine." Odette was unsure of how to respond to how he flat out said that his aunt was trashy, Hibiki being Hibiki dragged her out of the place as he read her mind about what he just said laughing on the way out, something that creeped Odette out. The orangette's blithesome self paved the way alongside Odette inside the assiduous marketplace of Lireo, they began to ask merchants on the nearby stalls asking if they know where they can find the store Queen Minea has written down on the list in which turn they immediately gave them directions upon where buy it but being the unreliable goof that he is, they two was found lost for all the questioning and searching the orangette has done.
Odette offered to take the lead but Hibiki insisted that he can handle it and she would just hang tight on this task, the worried expression on her face was unmistakable, to say the least, and it did not fail to get the attention of a certain creature "Do you need help?" a wheezy voiced asked behind the greenette servant making her jump upon seeing who asked her the question--it was a talking Jaromir "Y-Your H-hi-highness," she reached out to alert the orangette who was still busy staring down the list, Odette did not take her eyes off the Jaromir in case it tries to attack them. Jaromir's are humanoid flora's that dwell here on RHEA their blood contains vitamins that enrich the planet's landmass and make its bodies of water purified for consumption, "What's up Odette--OH MY GOD!" Hibiki almost had a mini heart attack on what he saw, he made Odette hide behind him hence she does not know how to use any kind of talent "Do you need help sir?" it repeated the same question almost like a whisper as if the words themselves were crawling on his skin.
As a weird-looking person-ish is staring right at him with big glowing eyes, six feet in height, creepy long tongue, wood for fingers, shiny blush pink skin, and a head that has leaves for hair—he's kind of racist actually...ugh crucial "A-are you-u okay? How can you talk? Aaah--nope don't touch me I'm good." the flora tried to touch his arm, Hibiki was obviously bothered by the appearance of what exactly is in front of him right now as Jaromir's arent capable of human speech, even if they do have a humanoid appearance and most importantly they attack humans that dare bother their way of life which is nurturing RHEA's environment, thinking to himself what was one doing here in the middle of the city "My father boned a Jaromir when he was blackout drunk and now here I am." hearing the half flora speak again made Odette peak over Hibiki's shoulder looking at the Jaromir who just said she is only half Jaromir.
She still looked very much like a flora except for the fact that she is capable of human speech "Are you not gonna say something?" the somewhat humanoid being asked the scared greenette servant therefore she was staring—judging the creature it just blinked at us Odette thought to her self "Your Highness, lets just carefully leave before it attacks us." Odette tightly clung to the orangette shielding her, Hibiki slowly took a step back to which the Jaromir looked at, then back at his eyes the process continued until they were one meter apart, the flora tilted her head to the side confused on why they were acting this way towards her "I can help you, you know." she spoke making both of them have chills all over freezing on the spot.
"We don't know what you're talking about." He's already dumb enough so might as well pretend to be dumber "You two are lost admit it, cause it's starting to make you look stupid." the orangette felt a pang of pain in his chest as the flora was so right in every way possible, dejected he gave Odette the list, pushing her forward with his talents to show the Jaromir if she knows where a store called Verglas is located at. Looking at the list shown to her the flora noticed that it was written using fusion hair "Are these for an elite?" Odette nodded her head as a response it was common knowledge that such kind of Ink can be only harvested from fusions for example the Diamond Authority and it can only be used by a monarch for an important task such as this one.
The half Jaromir that they just offended forgave them easily and asked the two of them to follow her. Momentarily after being accompanied by the said creature to the store called Verglas who was owned by a kind-hearted woman, saying that she was expecting their arrival at her shop as Queen Minea contacted her earlier this week for the items. The orangette kinou and Milady's handmaiden managed to put on a smile on their faces after purchasing, two items from the declared index which was composed of dwerlf horns and siren tears the Odette was quite happy with the purchases they had made so far, little did she know of the amount of ruckus she was about to endure once they leave the fine establishment of the nice woman. I can already see Queen Minea's waspish expression.
While Hibiki was busy chatting with the store owner regarding the other items, Odette tapped the flora on her shoulder getting comfortable at the thought of her being a half being--still, the idea of a drunk kinou banging a Jaromir is weird "I never caught your name and again I am deeply sorry for how we acted earlier." Odette apologized for the hundredth time now "It's no biggie, and besides it's not like every day you see someone like me. I completely understand, my name is Filly." she offered her hand for Odette to shake in which she took gladly not minding at all if she might get splinters "Was your father also drunk when he named you?" Odette assumed hence the word filly is a female horse that is too young to be called a mare "No, he wasn't." Filly replied with a straight face on "Oh! I am terribly sorry." she apologized for the assumption she presumed "Why do you keep saying sorry?" the half flora queries "Sorry." Filly laughed at Odette's habitual mannerism.
"So what's your name?" she asked the greenette handmaiden once her laughter has died down "Odette, I am a servant from Helium, and the kinou I am accompanying is His Highness Hibiki Nimue." she introduced herself and the dunderhead prince of Aulora "I figured you weren't from here, cause of the way you dress." Filly pointed at her uniform "Well, it is nice to meet you Filly, I but guess this is where we part ways." a frown decorated her lips thinking about how they are going to find the nest items Queen Minea needed "I don't think so actually hence I've been listening to what they are talking about.." she paused pointing at Hibiki and the store owner conversing on the counter "And the kinou you are accompanying doesn't know half of the places you need to go to."
"You are right in every sense." Odette placed a hand on her forehead whipping away her worries relieved that Filly would insist on further accompanying them on this task"Odette let's go!" the orangette's holler made her back away from the displays she was currently looking, Filly followed right behind her, once standing outside the busy streets of Eirly's market place Hibiki pressed the button on the holo map the store owner gave him, not questioning why Filly was still there hence he read Odette's mind as she approached him moments ago "So we're going here next." he pointed at the map Odette had to squint her eyes to see the words properly as the holo map was quite glitchy "Lux." she read the words not really knowing where that is exactly. "The owner of that place hates elites." Filly gave them a heads up, especially to Hibiki "I'm sure it'll be fine." the prince of Aulora just shrugged his shoulders not really caring either way cause no one would do that to him right? right??
Hibiki was kicked out the door the moment he first stepped inside the establishment completely bummed about being dissed since no one ever did that to him in the other tribes if there are still any tribes left that is he refused to leave the front doors despite constant broom whacking the employees did to him to scram away from their property, Odette and Filly managed to get in at least facing the grumpy kinou on the counter who's still glaring at Hibiki out in the window "Ahem." Odette cleared her throat in hopes of getting the owner's attention "Is he with you?" his tone filled with irritation pointing a finger at Hibiki whose dodging the hostile employee's attacks on him "I'm sorry for causing you trouble." the greenette handmaiden asked forgiveness "As long as he stays outside we'll have no problem... anyway how can I help you?" his mood completely changed when the topic has been directed to money-making.
"We're wondering if you have any Lensball available?" Filly asked the owner who's also pulling the double duty of cashier manager "We sure do, just let me grab them and I'll be with you." the owner moved out of the counter to go at the back looking for their stock of lensball' "Thank you, sir." the greenette pulled out a couple of Cyhea coins from the bag Queen Minea had given when the owner placed down box on the counter "Many folks have been purchasing this lately." he told them as he watched his two customers pick out the best looking ones--the ones free of any cracks "Why is that?" Odette queries, the owner only gave her a look as to why she doesn't know Filly had to intervene for the confused greenette "She's from Helium." the kinou only spouted a simple 'oh' upon now learning the knowledge as to why she's completely clueless about Lireo's customs during melancholia.
The citizens of Lireo uses lens balls either as a form of entertainment while they're stuck inside their homes and for food storage--Queen Minea however uses it for a completely different reason. "This is all we're going to purchase." the store owner pulled out a couple of small boxes to place the lens balls in "Thank you, and come again!" the owner forced himself to bid them goodbye hence the items they purchased are quite expensive and it made his bank account scream with glory. Moments later Odette and Filly walked out of the establishment, hence the orangette's non-stop pacing out in their property agitated the employees standing between him and the front doors "Great you got it!" he rejoiced like a child who's been bribed with candy by his parents after a doctors appointment.
"Where to next Your Highness?" the two employees went back inside the establishment once making sure that their group was leaving for good "To Corenthin--where ever that shop is, lead the way Filly!" Hibiki doesn't have a problem with his sense of direction, you see his problem is that he likes to ask different people the same question and as you may all know, having too many resources will make the task even more difficult to finish than it originally is. The half flora stood there for a good minute unmoving making sure if she heard that right "Are you sure you want to go there?" she asked "Yes, right now please." Hibiki replied with utmost confidence unaware of what is waiting for them in the place called Corenthin "I must warn you that--!" the orangette intervened her saying to just get on with the walking and less talking.
Before they knew it they were standing face to face with a thick forest (not a shop) that is home to a pack of Jaromir's both Hibiki and Odette weren't aware of that hence he cut off Filly's words before she could even finish the warning "Who puts a store in the middle of a forest? Anyway, let's go!" Odette followed closely behind the orangette kinou, Filly reached out her hand a little too late as they already walked halfway from the entrance fuck it she'll just do her best to protect those two from her kind's wrath, going back before Hibiki intervened with the half flora she was about to suggest or maybe offer that they wait for her outside the forest infested of floras while she walks in there without a hitch to find the next item they need. "Now that I think about it, for a forest this looks kinda like it has its own gardener on how well presented it looks." Hibiki blurted out lightly touched one of the flowers that hung upside down the tree branch.
"You are right Your Highness." Odette ran her fingers on the peperomia hope plant that almost looked like a curtain from the way it's growing beautifully on the tree's body "Odette look at this!" Hibiki called from a distance eyeing some pretty apples that have grown on the tree "Wow they're so pretty and shiny!" Filly noticed the sparkle in her eyes since the half flora had heard rumors that the citizens of Helium during this era aren't living their best life as everything in Helium sucks--like literally. While the two humans she was accompanying were mesmerized by the gorgeous plant life growing around them Filly heard a slight movement in the bushes behind her, quickly darting her eye in its direction to see it shaking and a pair of glowing eyes are staring back at her.
She quickly ran over Hibiki and Odette's last spot but when she got there they were nowhere to be seen within the vicinity "Oh no." she muttered to herself as the plants they were admiring earlier slowly opened their eyes glaring at Filly and they were all unhappy to see a couple of humans wandering around their turf the began to surround Filly "Why did you bring them here?" the Peperomia Hope plant asked its fangs showing as she walked down the tree "Are you betraying us?" a Sampaguita flora hissed next she placed her hands on Filly's shoulders "No, why would I do that? I'm only helping them find the items they are looking for." Filly's answered them in their language, Jaromir's speak in sounds like hisses, clicks, scratching, tapping, crinkling, water drops, purring and etc. (A/N: basically what I'm talking about here is the type of sounds you hear in ASMR videos.)
"Look somewhere else, humans have no place in here." the Rafflesia Arnoldii flora walked out of the dim making the rest part a way for her "Can't we give them just a few pieces of cotton?" they all gasped upon how Filly could suggest such a thing "You dare bring peril to them?" one of the Jaromir's yelled it's tongue dripping with venom "Wha-? No! I would never do that!" Filly spoke the truth "Then make them leave. Or else we'll feast on them." the Jaromir standing behind Filly taunted her by crawling its hands on her neck, with the rest laughing at the thought of consuming Hibiki and Odette for lunch. It is common knowledge that Jaromir's are carnivorous plants, an obvious reason why people need to avoid them at all costs whenever they see one, if you encounter one then get ready to say hi to your grave and they only propagate(breed) every winter solstice. A shrilling scream echoed became heard making all the Jaromirs turn their attention in its direction, that was voice belonged to Odette and Filly removed the grip on her and ran towards the direction it came from.
They went deeper inside the forest than she assumed and it was not a good thing hence the deeper you walk in Corenthin the more Jaromirs you'll most likely encounter, the ones that approached Filly earlier are far kinder than those living within the dark--they'll straight up swallow a piece of meat once they spot one walking in broad daylight. The screams got louder and clearer the more her rushing footsteps passed by the countless floras eyeing her, bypassing them when a male Jaromir pulled her aside attracted by her allure, Hibiki's foot got caught by a vine and he's hanging upside down being toyed over by a bunch of toddler Gossypium--in the orangette's defense he allowed himself to get caught as a form of distraction giving Odette the opportunity to grab the pieces of cotton growing in the glade hence if they were to look for the 'shop' (it's non-existent, I tell you) it'd take forever so he opted for what he saw first, he didn't expect that Odette too will get caught by the mother of these toddlers.
Filly forcibly tried to wriggle herself out of the male flora's gasp but he wasn't letting her go not one bit and it was irritating her "I CAN'T DIE YET!" the greenette servant cried in agony from being eaten by a plant "Relax Odette, we aren't dying--AHHH! HELP!" one of the young flora's managed to grab on Hibiki's locks and she started slapping dirt on it seeing if plant life will grow out of it just like their's do, seeing no reaction from what she did the young flora started to cry and it made the mother flora angry at Hibiki for disappointing them, now fully entrapping his whole body with vines the scenario made Odette cry out another shrill of pleadings "HELP!! NO, NO! GETAWAY!" running out of options on her plate Filly made a deal with the flora who's wanting to be her mate, saying that she'll allow it as long as he helps her free Hibiki and Odette from the cotton Jaromirs that are planning to eat them. Hibiki could use his talents but on Jaromirs? especially young ones? that's a big NO cause it's a crime against nature.
And you need a legitimate permit from a ruling monarch to do such acts, maybe in mortal danger, you can kill them? yeah, hate to break it to you but uhh--you still can't harm them better get that permit, or if you wanna save time just avoid or run away from them, don't worry they won't chase you...unless they're starving rest assured that occurrences like that rarely happens. The male flora still refused to let go of Filly demanding that she doesn't back out of her word by giving him a keepsake, not thinking twice the half flora plucked a leaf from her breast licking it with her tongue before slapping it on her captor's chest. Satisfied with the reassurance the male Jaromir loosened his grip on Filly who did not waste any more seconds to free Odette from the cotton flora's trying to bite her head off throwing her over to her lover, the sudden yeeting made Odette scream even more as the flora who caught her bore its fangs out scaring her for a bit.
Leaping in Hibiki's direction clawing the older Jaromir on her puff of cotton hair(?), (it'll grow back it is not permanent) with the newly trimmed up do the mother hissed at Filly for stealing their spotted prey.
"Go find your own!"
"I found them first, you can whiff that kinou."
Hibiki couldn't quite understand what they were talking about but still paid attention to it, the mother cotton looked back and forth at Filly and Hibiki before hurrying to the orangette's upside-down body sniffing him in every part of his face noticing a potent fragrance of Filly's leaves on him she quickly jumped back away untangling her vines from his body that fell headfirst on the grass filled with fallen cotton "Ow!" he expressed getting off the awkward position of face-planting down the grass. The cotton jaromirs screeched one last hiss at Filly and her mate before running back inside the forest "Thank you Filly, that was close--Odette you okay?" the orangette prince asked Milady's handmaiden who's still shaken up from the way her whole entire life flashed before her eyes in the thought of dying and leaving her children behind.
"Y-yes Your-r Highness I am fine-e." her voice trembling as she stayed still in the grasps of a Jaromir, Filly noticed her stiffness at the arms of her lover telling him to put her back on her two feet in which he promptly obliged to "Do happened to know any Meraki living here any chance?" Hibiki asked Filly as he stood up dusting his clothes which did nothing at all "Those creatures are good at hiding and blending in, I doubt we'll be able to find one especially around here." in the list Queen Minea had made it said Ultear's pet--and that is none other than Salt, who is currently being groomed in five start shop here in Eirlys, if the orangette prince of Aulora did try to snatch any fur from her I will alert Milady but given that she is unwell, maybe he thought to himself why not try it this time? cause why not Milady won't find out anyway hence she's unwell... oh he better not.
The term Meraki is used for animals that learned how to use the talent Skin with the help of Medea Kyle, she was the leader of Evulkva Veda before Smoking Mirror took the role from her. "But Your Highness, it says on the list that we can get that from Milady's pet, why do we need to find another Meraki?" upon hearing Odette say the word 'milady' Filly darted them both with questioning looks hence there was only one amazon that is widely known to be addressed like that way "Milady? You serve her? Minerva Ultear Milkovich?" Odette nodded as a response "She's the only elite amazon from Helium right now, I thought you already figured it out." Hibiki stretched his limbs while Filly turned her attention to him "How did she even manage to have a Meraki as a pet? those animals became quite malicious like our kind." the orangette paused from his little warm-up session as the memory of them finding Milady a gift for joining the team washed over him, he quickly shrugged it off his scape.
"We gave it to her," he answered plainly there was a hint of bitterness in his tone but the two failed to notice, getting back up to his usual self Hibiki jumped up and down screaming in joy from serving their previous dilemma of almost being eaten by Jaromirs "If she has a Meraki for a pet then let's get shave a few of its fur." Hibiki stiffed from what she just suggested hence Milady would kill him if she saw a patch of shaved fur from her pet, he meekly scratched the side of his cheek "Long-story-short we cannot and shall not absolutely do that." he made an X sign with his hands his face filled with a pure determination of not doing that "Why?" Filly asked confused not getting what his point was while Odette caught on to what the orangette prince was saying and started trembling at the thought of Milady being angry at them for shaving her beloved pet.
"I think I saw one, drinking on the water hole the other day." the male Jaromir butted in the conversation, of course, Filly was the only one who was able to understand him "Really? what did it look like?" she quickly turned her attention to him for the information that could help the two humans she's helping, with the added bonus of curiosity in it as Meraki's do not show their true form often. A smirk graced the bloke flora's lips "Give me a kiss first, then I'll tell you." annoyed with the request Filly puffed her cheeks "No." she declined "Then you'll get nothing from me." irritated with his unbending self she quickly gave what he wanted "There, now speak." the Jaromir chuckled at her squishing her cheeks on his hands a pissed pout evident on Filly's lips"It took a form of a peacock when I saw it drinking at the water hole."
"That's quite odd since peacocks cannot stand the cold, and they surely require to drink water every morning hmmm." Filly was in deep thought with her lover carefully watching her, "I got it!" a light bulb lit in her scape as she called for Hibiki and Odette's who's been so confused watching her and the bloke flora talk in their own language, whispering to each like:
"What are they talking about?" (Hibiki)
"I have the same question as you, Your Highness." (Odette)
"That Jaromir awfully flirty and touchy with her, it's creeping me out." (Hibiki)
"I miss my deceased lover." (Odette) the greenette handmaiden bit the ends of her sleeves. "I got it!" filly gestured for them to come over as she thought of an idea on how to not scare away the Meraki they're planning to catch "So what's the plan?" the orangette asked "Well first off, you should know that he," she pointed at her lover, while Hibiki grinned excitedly clapping his hands, upon hearing that they will no longer pursue the idea of shaving Milady's pet "..happened to see a Meraki drinking on the watering hole the other day and he says it is taking a form of a peacock." she translated what the bloke Jaromir told her "A peacock? that's an odd choice of form." Odette pointed out "I agree, that Meraki is bound to be found out hence peacocks aren't really a fan of the cold."
Filly's lover accompanied them on the west side of the watering hole, in case the cotton Jaromir's come back to attack them for what Filly did to the mother of those toddlers. While they're at it Hibiki told Filly what kind of talent he uses as it can be of great help in her plan. The four of them hid up in the big tree waiting for the Meraki to arrive as currently, with the added bonus of some dead twigs clinging to Hibiki's hair (without his knowledge) as he claimed up the tree, other Jaromirs are taking turns in drinking their fill for the day both Hibiki and Odette were fascinated on personally seeing Jaromirs bloom once getting drenched with water. The rose Jaromir was the best one they've seen in their whole entire life as her green skin glowed the moment she touched the cool water, deflating her arm out glowing pollens came out of it, once they've made contact to the ground they instantly grew into huge roses that circled around her making a few male jaromirs near her attracted to the way she bloomed.
Even Filly has to admit that she was jealous of how pretty the rose Jaromir is compared to her and Odette comforted her--Filly's lover took it the wrong way and quickly scoped her up away from Odette. He almost revealed their hidden presence in the tree, when the Jaromir's turned their attention to where the movement came from. Thirty minutes later all the floras that used to swarm the watering hole were no longer in sight, the moment of truth came to play when a Secretarybird flew down the water, its eyelashes batting fabulously scanning its surroundings making sure that no one will approach her when she's refreshing herself "Hibiki, you catch the bird mid-air the moment we," she paused pointing at herself and her lover "Scare it, and Odette be ready to pluck a good amount of its feathers." they all nodded, proceeding with the plan.
Filly slowly made her way out of the tree branch they have been perched at for thirty minutes now, making use of her plant genes by blending in with the leaves once she was behind the bird the bloke flora jumped out of the tree startling the Secretary bird out of its witts running in Filly's direction she bared her fangs out on it making it fly up but before it could escape Hibiki caught it with his talents mid-air, with the success of their plan Odette climbed down the tree preparing to pluck its feather's when it suddenly shifted into a form of a snow leopard--its true form, taken aback by the sudden change the greenette handmaiden screamed in fear as she dodged its sharp claws that attempted to slash her neck, her voice did not escape the senses of the Jaromir's nearby getting a whiff of meat--the leopard and most importantly the whiff of two humans who trespassed their territory.
"We need to get out of here, Hawthorn carry her out of here, Hibiki follow him--hurry." Filly warned slowly taking a step back, understanding the dire situation Filly's lover carried Odette in his arms running away from the watering hole with Hibiki following closely behind, levitating the now snow leopard-Meraki as he ran. 'Seriously Odette stop screaming. We arent' dying here today.' the orangette prince told her telepathically 'I'm so sorry Your Highness.' she apologized with a pained expression on her features, neither of them could really quite understand what the Hawthorn(Filly's lover) was saying so they had no other choice but to trust him--despite the fact that he might lure them into becoming his collation making the orangette swallow the lump in his throat.
Filly managed to lead the angry Jaromirs astray for a good line on a wild goose chase but it didn't last long as they caught wind of her trickery near the end when one of the flora saw Hibiki in a distance running away with another Jaromir helping them and for some reason the animal he's levitating keeps on changing forms rapidly, "A Meraki!" the flora screamed hence Jaromirs have this superstition that if they consumed a Meraki they will gain its talents--which not true at all there is no such thing as gaining power from eating an animal, therefore, you need to learn it not take it. Jaromirs on their own already have talents and that is nurturing RHEA's environment, the mana that resides inside your body is hereditary, it is up to you whether to make use of it or not, either way, the potential will always be there. The Meraki turned into a huge peacock and began slapping Hibiki relentlessly with its wings, feathers getting caught up in his hair full of acquired treasure from all their meanderings.
Seeing a bright light-up head in the thick forest can only mean that there is a clearing ahead there is...but when they made it--it was swarming with Jaromirs basking in the sun for vitamins wanting to turn back where they came from only to be met with the flora's Filly had distracted, taking a step back in the clearing, cornered without any escape possible "Odette, it was nice meeting you." the orangette admitted with a grin flashing on his face "I thought you said we aren't dying here today!?" the respect part is long forgotten to be uttered due to fear running wild within her scape, Hibiki burst out laughing his ass out making the flora's pause, and the Meraki stop hitting him at his sudden change of mood, in a dire situation like this.
Getting down from his high Hibiki's eyes gleamed impending danger in them. "Oh please, as if I'd let a bunch of plants undermine me." Odette missed the smirk that graced his lips, lifting his chin up "Get out of the way sprouts." he moved them all out of the way using his mind, creating a pathway for them to walk on without the worry of being attacked by any Jaromir. Hibiki uses two kinds of talents, the first being Telepathy it is the purported vicarious(indirect) transmission of information from one person to another without using any known human sensory channels or physical interaction. Second, being Psychokinesis--or telekinesis if you want a simpler and more familiar term, it is the ability to control matter or another aspect of it, with the mind. Frequently the most basic and fundamental trait of this talent is to move objects or a target both from a distance without any physical contact involved.
Given that this talent is connected to the user's scape, it can either be activated and controlled through a particular level of intensity. However, just like every talent, this one is no different from being an enemy of a diamond fang, long exposures to a fang can and will potentially result in cracking your scape leaving you demented. Once out of Corentin Hibiki let out a grunt stretching his arms up in the air, whilst Hawthorn placed Odette back on the ground disappearing back to the forest before she could even utter a thank you for carrying her all this time they were running around the forest infested of his kind, looking at the forest Milady's handmaiden realized that Filly won't probably be accompanying them anymore given all the trouble they caused her here in Corethin.
"Odette, Oi, RHEA to Odette!" the orangette elite waved his hand near her face as she looked so downcasted from being ditched by the only person-ish that could help them "Yes? Your Highness?" he stopped when she gave her full attention to him "Pluck a few feathers from the oversized bird, I'll hold it in place." upon hearing what they were about to do the Meraki began to freak out, shrieking here and there every time Odette pulled a couple of its feather's by the time they're done the Meraki had an obvious square patch of exposed skin on its body, Hibiki told Odette to stand behind him as he released the grips of his talents on the poor animal, once free it turned back into a snow leopard growling one last time at the two before it jumped back into Corethin.
"Now let's see where to next.." the orangette pulled out the holo map from his pocket, giving it a few taps as it got a little bit of a dent on it making it twice as glitchy as it already is, Queen Minea forgot to give them a holo map as it slipped her mind due to the arrival of RHEA's officials, it is a good thing the store owner of the first shop gave them one. "I was looking all over for you two." turning around to see Filly perched up on the tree Odette couldn't have been more glad "Filly!" she rushed over the tree she was perched in, jumping down from it, Hibiki turned off the holo map placing it back in his pocket "I was wondering what to you." he jested to the half flora "Got caught up in the air," she smiled "Yeah that was me." Hibiki shyly placed his hand on his nape "I figured as much, so where to next?" Filly asked "It says on the list we need to go Erosion Pit Hitch," Odette pulled out the list reading it "Yeah I looked it up the map, and uh...I can't really tell exactly cause it's glitchy." patting the pocket on his pants where the holo map was in "You have me anyway, let's go."
~
It was the wake-up call that I needed to finally realize that I'm just a filler for an empty seat so It'd looked full, I held no such value to some of them, my social standing in the circa was nothing but a joke that nobody takes seriously and I was only needed as a replacement for a missing company. So trying to be like them only made more people dislike me even more than they already did. The confusion had me going crazy over what niche should I play in this drama. I was an outcast... a shadow behind the folks kept saying that but I never took it into consideration since the vibe was so welcoming that it made me see I belong with sparkles on top to hide such sly manipulation, everything was calm before those fibus achates came in knocking and with just one trollop, all my hopes and dreams came rushing down before it, the picture-perfect portrait was no more leaving a crack visible right through it.
Silent it maybe the echo's still poured down the drain to harm such a pretty past. Downhill as she goes more calamity rose, deceived for one's own personal gain--Yes I see it now the overflowing joy of envy and jealously that I wish had known sooner than later it made me look like a fool to the crowd that I've been trying to impress became suppressed, with numbness to express such fake idolatry. Options and reset buttons neither exist in this spherical gem that contains so much glitter and value is nothing more than a pretty face with self issues of her abhorrent lifestyle discrimination over others, that do not fit his standard of quality. Only time shall tell if I am no longer a filler for an empty seat of such loathing spaces.
~
"Alms, alms for the poor, " a woman was sitting by the curb raising a stainless tin can, A passing young woman in her late twenties gave the elder a few Cyhea coins from her money pouch giving her a kind-hearted smile before leaving to purchase more ingredients for the meal she will be preparing at they're home tonight for dinner, the woman sitting by the curb was checking how much she had earned today so she can buy herself a bottle of booze, a pickpocket-er intentionally bumped himself on to her making some of the Cyhea jump at the sudden contact before pretending to place a few coins on her can, only to steal all of it without her noticing. Even the dreads of turpitude cannot escape Lireo. While Hibiki and company are walking down the street, Odette pulled out the list showing it to Hibiki to recount all the items they've gotten so far.
Pickpocket intentionally tripped the nearby saleswoman as she was counting her current sale she just made with a customer making her spill all the coins everywhere on the busy street making it hard for her to collect them since people might stomp on her hands if she dares try to pick them up one by one. While the saleswoman was busy trying to pick up her all earnings with a few people helping her, the pickpocket took the opportunity and grabbed a few apples from her stand while Hibiki was looking back and forth at the list, this little boy saw that paper contained ink that is made of fusion hair which can only be used by a Queen for an important task and with something like that within eyesight of a thief, it is an instant life of glitz and glamour if it was to be sold within the borders of Helium.
"It says here that the only two things we need are ---! WHAT THE HECK MY LIST!!" Hibiki shouted as the pickpocket stole it right in front of him using a few mesdinias that he stole from a potion shop earlier this morning, where at the time Hibiki was busy munching on his breakfast since food had never been this good in Helium, terms that everyone can agree on since who doesn't want to poison the king? no one, that's why people in Helium decided to make the food horrible instead of being executed at the comforts of your home what a great country right? Anyway, back to the main story of the day as Hibiki proclaimed his distress, the nearby saleswoman also noticed that some of her products had gone missing and shouted her own distress.
So she could you know get someone to help her duh--helped by someone who knows how to use a talent and that someone is also currently in distress the same moment she declared hers, Yey it's totally going great! having to hold his reputation in RHEA with the added bonus of its privileges od course, the orangette prince of the red dessert gave chase after the pickpocket (Odette and Filly followed after him by the way) with a slight disadvantage, seeing that the little kinou was using mesdinias to heighten his momentum against him.
Queen Minea will certainly have a splitting headache about this ruckus, therefore the years old statue of her late mother--has been reduced to nothing but debris after Hibiki shot his weapon at the kid with the latter thankful that wasn't him or else he would have been dead by how much of an impact that made on the statue, viands flying everywhere as the chase continues on, one vegetable buyer almost lost his hand as a butchers knife came soaring in his direction, up ahead a gallon of aloe fluid was being delivered on a headstock house when the kid sideswiped one of the carriers making him lose his grip on the few barrels he is carrying unfortunately for our hero(?) of the day one of the barrels has stricken him straight in the face, causing him to fall back first on his butt the hit will surely leave a bruise on his beautiful veneer.
Losing track over the kid "Oh my, what a disaster." Filly commented looking at all the ruckus Hibiki caused by chasing down one kid as she and Odette finally caught up with him, who was tightly holding the bag full of items, frustrated with the sudden turn of events Hibiki snatched the bag from her hands, throwing a tantrum like a little child by smacking it across the street which was a terrible decision on his part by being looted by a mere kid. The orangette prince immediately came back to his senses quickly picking up the bag and saying countless sorries to it as it can talk to him.
A whole lot of disaster indeed therefore as Hibiki turned around his eyes straight up darted over the now broken statue of Queen Yuen that stood there for years and more to come if only that kid didn't steal from him my see what I mean? As the citizens are busy worrying about the debris of the statue and their products scattered all over the streets of the market place Hibiki bolted outta therewith Odette to escape the people's complaints before its too late since it will be only a matter of time before Queen Minea finds about her mother's broken statue. Yelling at Filly to find the kid in his place in which she agreed to happily hence if there's one thing she doesn't like its thieves.
Now safe up in a roof high rise building from the citizens of Eirlys, Odette got a clear view of what Filly was saying earlier--and it was much worse than how she described it, she was pretty sure that one stall has been sent on fire while they were catching up with the prince of Aulora. While the greenette handmaiden was busy panicking over the situation Hibiki was picking his nose with thoughts free flying that it'd be okay in no time, he even laughed about it when Odette pinpointed how much trouble it was thinking to herself For Prometeus' sake how could he even be silly at times like this? she pulled on her hair in frustration of this man child she's been sent out to do a task with. "How are we supposed to walk down the street now? will the people throw trash at us for this?" Odette paced around back and forth, to Hibiki's view she's overthinking.
"I found the kid!" Filly climbed up the roof holding the pickpocket in her arm who's scared to even move an inch from being caught by a Jaromir(half-Jaromir just wanted to point that out again) upon seeing the young kinou in Filly's arm the greenette handmaiden immediately strode right in his face pointing a finger saying "This is your fault!" the kid's iris' shrunk in fear on how could she be angry like that when a Jaromir is standing right there--holding him captive "Where's the list?" Hibiki asked leaning in too close with the kid's face almost invading his personal space that had now turned pale, seeing that the pickpocket kinou won't be able to form a word with his mouth Hibiki formed a telepathic connection between the two of them as a distraction while he scans the young kinou's memories
"No one has ever stolen something from me before, congrats kid!" dumbfounded the kid began to question why he could hear Hibiki's voice in his head thinking whether or not he's gone crazy hearing someone else's voice in his head "Wha-? how did you get in my head? why can I hear your voice without your mouth opening? someone help me!" grinning from ear to ear the orangette pinched the kid's cheeks looking at him straight in the eye "Relax kid I know how to use talent. Sooo buddy gonna tell me where the list you stole is?" patting the kid's head to get on his good side the orangette asked, on the outside his features displayed fear but in his thoughts, he's quite stubborn "It's mine so why should I tell you."
"Cause you stole it from me."
"Yeah I did and that makes it mine now."
"No, it's mine."
"It's mine."
"No."
"Yes."
"No."
"Yes."
"Got it!"
"What are you talking about old man?"
"Awww that will hurt my feelings ya know."
"You're creepy."
"Thanks, kid."
"I'm not a kid!"
"Yeah, you are buddy."
"Watch out an aircraft~" Hibiki whistled as a jet that belonged to the Evulka Veda zoomed by the sky a vast wave of wind right behind it it was the second time it came to Eirlys today, earlier to drop them off and now to pick them up. Odette almost got blown away making her scream yet again, it's a good thing Hibiki caught her from the amount of screaming she's done today her voice will be bound to get hoarse later on "Yeet the kid Filly." Hibiki told her and without hesitation she did, on cue, the jet flew up again in the air with the kid get blown away far from them Hibiki even waved the pickpocket goodbye while he was flying away from them. And don't worry the kid landed safely right outside the constabularies' station.
The orangette managed to put his finger down on where the pickpocket took the list after he stole it from him, given that the young kinou was using mesdinias powder to outmaneuver Aulora's heir, he was able to bargain with the traders in Eirlys borders that quick. Paying him a good amount of Cyhea in exchange for it, seeing that it wasn't the exact amount the pickpocket argued with them but little did he know they played him by promising that they will pay him the inadequate amount later on when they returned to Eirlys. Filly found him pouting from disappointment and when the little pickpocket saw a Jaromir staring at him straight in the eye he froze.
Going back to Hibiki and company, they levitated up in the air much to Odette's fear (she's afraid of heights by the way) Filly carried her in her arm like a potato sack "Now that we have a clear view of everything, where's that shop at?" Hibiki placed a hand above his eye turning here and there in search of Erosion Pit Hitch "My Dad works there, so that will give us less of a hassle to get a pouch of magnetite." the half flora explained whereupon Hibiki gave her look "How'd you know we need magnetite next?" he asked as to how she knew they needed magnetite when they lots the list guiding them all this time, except for the fact that Hibiki scanned the kid's mind earlier having a mental note on the list "It's the only thing they're selling there and I read the list earlier." she revealed "Owh yeah... sorry, I forgot you did hehehe~"
Before the greenette knew it she was back on the safe comforts of the ground and out of her dreading fear, her joy became short-lived when someone yelled at them "Hey! you were the one that erupted chaos earlier--Filly!" a bearded kinou who's in his late fifties stepped out of the establishment yelling at them to scram but that changed when he saw his only daughter with them "Papa! I was about to ask if you're here good thing you are." she embraced the kinou known as her father--the kinou who drunkenly banged a Jaromir, letting go of his daughter he glared at the two people she came here with "And why on RHEA are you two with my daughter?" he shielded her from Hibiki and Odette, hence a lot of people did try to hunt down Filly when she was just a wee flora(and she was absolutely adorable as a child) "Papa chill, they're not the type." giving them one last glare before turning his attention back to his daughter.
"What brings you here?" he asked smiling at his daughter "I'm helping these two people, allow me to introduce them. The orangette is Hibiki and the woman is Odette." Filly introduced them, the greenette handmaiden waved a greeting whilst Hibiki just smiled at the older kinou's direction "Figer Sage. I'd say it a pleasure to meet you but no--you're the kinou that caused a ruckus earlier and it disrupted our work." Filly's father introduced himself, shaking both of their hands but adding an extra grip on Hibiki's for what he did earlier "I'm glad you enjoyed the show." unfazed by his annoyance towards him the orangette just snickered at it, "Do you still have any magnetite in storage Papa?" the half flora inquired "Apparently no...thanks to that carrot top there." Figer whispered the last part to himself "Do you know where else can we purchase? Cause you don't have any for sale right now." annoyed by how the orangette could say such things when he's the reason why their products went to waste.
"I'm afraid we can't Hibiki, Erosion Pit Hitch is the only establishment that sells magnetite in Eirlys." a tick mark was now visible on the older kinou's forehead as Filly told Hibiki that this is the only place they can buy the said mineral"Then do you have any stock..???" the orangette trailed off making Filly's father even more aggravated with him "DIDN'T YOU HEAR WHAT I SAID? NO WE DON'T THANKS TO YOU!" the man child orangette just covered his ears "Jeez, no need to be loud about it." angered by the insult Figer grabbed his pickaxe lying on the nearby shelf threatening to hit Hibiki on the head with it, Filly had to physically hold him back before he commits treason against the litigation's of RHEA.
"Let me go Filly!--Don't laugh at me you stupid carrot!" Odette was nervously giggling whilst standing there right beside Hibiki, asking herself if respect exists or not Does he not know who he's calling a carrot right now? "Papa, calm down please!" she insisted "Let me go Filly! he deserves it for ruining all our hard work!" his daughter's following words made him stop squirming, the look on his face plastered all over with are you serious?!?! type of look, "He's the Prince of Aulora!" Figer's co-workers spared a wide-eyed glance over Hibiki's being standing on their establishment, before stiffly turning their attention back to their work pretending they didn't see him at all, seeing that her father has calmed down a bit she slowly loosened her grip but it was short-lived as he instantly went back to his antics on still wanting to whack Hibiki on the head with his pickaxe.
"Uh...Sir?" Odette butted in and Figer shot her a deathly glare making her sweat in fear not wanting to be targeted too "What?!" the bearded kinou half yelled at Milady's handmaiden making her shiver "Maybe we can help you restock?" A smirk etched in Figer's lips thinking how much fun he's going to have to make Hibiki suffer for all the damage he'd inflicted on their job. Odette immediately regretted the suggestion she has offered to the older kinou hence she did not expect it to be that hard, thinking that maybe she'd get the minimal part of the work but no--Figer decided that since she's accompanying the orangette prince then she's also responsible and held accountable for letting him do all that chaos earlier.
By the time they were done pumping the big ass bellows, the lower regions of Odette's uniform were filled with soot, Figer's constant yelling at them to work faster stressed her out. The greenette handmaiden's felt like they were about to fall off from her body--knots are tied tightly I'm telling you she needs a massage and what annoys her the most is the fact that Hibiki doesn't seem to be having the same problems as her like you know an aching BACKPAIN or something that requires the very essence of pain, the envious glares she giving him on the side was burning holes upon how could something like that be none existent with him. Filly chuckled at how indignant she is about this, hence they did the same task right? why? why? is she the only one being weighed down with his annoying pain.
Figer's mood has completely lightened by how much progress the two of them made in just a few hour's time (it's because Hibiki uses a talent that's why) the older was even smiling and laughing with Hibiki like they have been good friends for a solid decade straight. He even waved at the little group once they left their humble establishment. Walking towards the next shop Odette asked the orangette a question "Your Highness?" she began and Hibiki hummed a response for her to continue, his arms placed behind his head whilst they walked down the road "His Royal Highness have studied here at Lireo all his life but, why aren't you familiar with the locales?" the question made him choke on his own spit, making the two women stop in their tracks to ask if he is alright "Your Highness!" Odette was about to help him hence he placed his hands on his knees recovering, raising one saying not to aid him hence he is alright "I'm fine Odette, just gimme a minute." regaining his composure, Odette awaited Hibiki's answer as the latter closed his eyes thinking placing his left hand under his chin "Honestly...I don't really know hehehe~" the greenette had to gather every ounce of self-restraint from strangling Hibiki, as she gritted her teeth on the outside.
Standing outside the shop called Crystal Drop was a long and thick line of people. Filly asked one of the people in line "Excuse me, sir?" the half flora tapped the short kinou on the shoulder who promptly turned around to face her, unfazed hence he already knows who she is (most of Eirlys citizens are aware that Filly is only a half Jaromir by the way) "Yes?" he turned around "Why is there a long line here today?" Filly motioned to the line "Stocks are announced to be running out so, everyone rushed here to get a 300ml tub of aloe for themselves." upon hearing that stocks are now limited Odette took initiative in standing in line with the rest of Crystal Drop's customers. The entire road was blockaded by people wanting to purchase, the trio switched whether the other was tired of standing in the long line--they were the last one standing by the way.
Once finally standing in front of the cashier to purchase luck was on their side--SOLD OUT the owner placed down the sign, making Odette gather locks of her hair frustrated "I'm sorry but we've run out of stock." the cashier girl smiled nervously as the other employees behind her cleaned up the empty boxes "Is there really nothing left?" Filly asked the girl standing behind the cashier "No, I'm sorry we won't be able to restock until winter solstice." the greenette handmaiden began crying to Filly about the matter while Hibiki took it upon himself to ask the cashier girl about where they can purchase aside from their establishment "Is there any other shop where we can purchase?"
"Apparently, we're the last shop that had the stock, as earlier today a ruckus erupted causing all the possible stock to waste, so the answer is no." after that they stepped out of the establishment, thinking of plan b to acquire some much-needed aloe "Hey Filly, are there any aloe vera Jaromirs in corenthin?" Odette immediately perked up from hearing that "Yeah, there are." the greenette handmaiden was bombarded by how quickly she agreed to what Hibiki just suggested despite the fact that the two of them almost died going in to corenthin earlier "Alright let's go grab some!" this was the end of it for her, Odette promised herself that she would never again agree to accompany Aulora's prince on any type of task.
It's been a while since any attention has been given to Milady's limbo of a scape, so let's take a little peek into that, shall we? Milady was sitting in a garden of roses, enjoying a lovely picnic with Riona, who was drinking tea for some reason like it is her favorite drink when in reality she hates the taste of it, when she tried to have a sip of it curious as to why her grandmother Queen Minea enjoys it so much. A peaceful scenery like this has been repeating on and on for a year now, it was no longer the scene where Riona keeps on dying every time Milady sees her, those were the things running around her scape when she was still in Helium.
"Mommy?" the bluette seven-year-old called for Milady's attention as she was taking a bite out of a chocolate donut "What is it strawberry?" Milady promptly gave Riona her undivided attention "It's already been a year of pure sorrow, wake up please." Milady's pupils dilated in what came out of her daughter's lips causing a loud pitch sound to echo around the both of them that only affected her sense of hearing, the half-filled teacup Milady was holding fell on the checked patterned blanket as she covered her ears from pain yelling to make it stop. The scene turned into a massive blur with Milady in the middle of it all. "Mommy, what are you doing?" she was back again in the same scenario as earlier, Milady looked up to see Riona smiling at her but the moment she opted to drop her hands on her side the screeching loud noise came back again to torture her ears. It happened five more times after that until Milady decided to break the constant repeat of this annoying charade.
When Riona was about to ask her the same question again, Milady intervened with her daughter's words by saying "No, No! don't say that! I'm happy right here with you! Please!" Milady engulfed her only child in a tight embrace refusing to let go, tears fell from her eyes down to stain her cheeks. The soft wind blew by them both "Mommy...please." the bluette pleaded, realizing what her daughter wanted Milady loosened her grip on Riona who promptly held her mother's hand whilst everything started to disappear slowly within sight, one by one.
Riona stared deeply into Milady's eyes, as she refused to wake up from this pointless illusion, the bluette's following words made a hope of escape from the Meshuga spell that has been caging her all this time "...It's time to wake up Mommy, Riona's already long gone from life but you aren't there's still more you need to do than mourn for me--so, please Mommy do it for your own betterment." Milady hugged her daughter one last time as she and her surroundings started to turn into smoke disappearing from her sight "Riona will always be in Mommy's heart..." were the little girl's last words.
____________