Lorexia awoke in her bed, with a cold moist towel on her forehead. Talindra by her side. "Wha...what...what happened?" "You hit your head." "Is Yamada okay? Where is he?" "Who is Yamada?" Lorexia's heart sank. "What? The man we found by the river. He was this dark beautiful man..." Talindra shook her head. "Oh dear, you hit your head very hard. No one like that exist in Absol." Lorexia leapt out of bed, to suddenly hear Talindra cackling. She glared at her, crossing her arms. "That's not funny." "You have hahahaha seen your hahaha face." She held her sides. "Where is he mum? What happened to me?" She wiped away her tear, composing herself. "He called you beautiful and breathtaking. Then you promptly fainted. He's now exploring Absol, with his new vision." "What!?"
"Mum, he's going to get swept up by everyone else. What if he chooses someone other than me? My Life Force is such an ugly colour! I have to stop him." "Sweetie, will you relax? I'm sure there aren't that many women interested in him....we should probably go find him." "You think!?" Lorexia exclaimed rushing out the door. The two of them quickly found a crowd of women eagerly pushing and shoving, to get to the centre. "There aren't too many women?" Lorexia sneered. "I mean there could be more?" Lorexia shook her head angrily, shoving her way through the crowd. Yamada was in the middle wielding Harbinger. The Elders stood around him, looking at his eyes. "It seems our tincture has restored your eyesight." "Yes it has." He said glancing around him. 'This explains that feeling of being watched.' "Is there any chance, I could train in peace?"
"You should be resting." "I'm fine. The quicker I recover. The quicker I leave and stop being a burden, on the Seranae family." "You can stay with me!" "No me!" The women broke into a uproar bickering and fighting. Lorexia and Talindra broke through the shoving. "Yamada, you're not a burden." Lorexia said grabbing his arm. "I'm eating your food, broken your table and made you faint." "Pfft...that's nothing. I faint all the time." Talindra shook her head at Lorexia. "I thank you for everything, but I should be leaving. My friends are probably wondering where I am." "Take me with you." "Alright enough of that." Talindra dragged Lorexia away by the ear. "Ahhhh! Mum let go! Let go!" "We'll meet you at home Yamada." He cocked his head to the side. 'Is this what Jacara was feeling, when I first came over?'
"What was that!?" The both of them yelled at each other. "He's not going to take you anywhere. Especially outside the veil." "But!" "We've been over this Lorexia. There's no way you can even survive outside." "He can clearly protect me." She pouted. "All the time? Do you really want to burden him the whole time with that responsibility?" "Mum please! This is my only chance to see outside of Absol!" Talindra let out a sigh. "Our skin and eyes can't handle the sun, without the veil's protection." "Curse more like it." She muttered under her breath. "Protection. Unless he has some magical way to help with both of those things. You're staying here with us lady." "I hate this place!"
Yamada disturbed by the hundreds of women staring at him. Left in a hurry back to the house. They trailed him without any disregard, making sure they could always see him. He found Talindra outside, with a solemn expression. "Is something wrong Lady Seranae?" "Please, Talindra is fine, and no...Your prescence here is..." "Disturbing, upsetting, an unnatural, and chaotic presence that changes the status-quo?" Talindra shook her head perplexed. "Sorry, it's something that a friend of mine called me. He is much better with words than me."
"Well, I wouldn't go that far, but Lorexia believes you're the key to her leaving Absol." "You think otherwise." "We can't go outside of Absol. The sun it sets our skin ablaze." "Can't you cover yourself up with something? Or stay in the shade?" "We need a very scarce tincture, and it's also too bright for our eyes." "Is this tincture, watery...?" "Yes....." "Is it with the Elders?" Yamada darted away. An idea across his face. He bowed at her. "Please excuse me." "Well this is going somewhere bad. I can feel it." Yamada found Lorexia by the chopped Kaioni trunk. She sat slumping over the edge, elbows on her knees. "Are you alright?" "Fine. Just fine." "You don't sound fine." He said taking a seat beside her. Her heart began to beat faster. "You really like me don't you?" "Whaaaaat? Me? No." He snickered at her.
"Give me your hand." He asked softly. She nervously followed his request. He begun to inspect her slender and smooth hands. The hands of a novice. The same hands that every other Islander had. 'He's holding my hand. He's looking at my hand.' "How long have you been training for?" Still being dazed about the situation, his words fell on deaf ears. "Lorexia. Lorexia." He called out, trying to get her attention. "Xia." He called out, pronounced as 'See Yah'. She snapped out of the daze. "What did you just call me?" "A pet name. It seems to get the attention of women." He said hopping off the log. 'He gave me a pet name!? AHHHH!' She cleared her throat following after him. "Why did you call me that one? If I may ask?" "Because, before I could see. I always wanted to Xia." He said with a bright smile. Her heart exploded with joy. 'AHHHHHHHHHH!' She squealed internally.
He made swift work of the trunk, squaring it as best he could with Harbinger. He begun splitting the trunk into long planks, working up a sweat. 'I really must be running low on Arcane energy, if this is making me sweat.' He spun around to see Lorexia waiting for him with a cup and jug. The thick trees in the sky made it hard for him to discern the time of day. "Thank you...have you been watching me the whole time?" She nodded eagerly. "I thought you would have gone inside. Like the rest of the other...." He trailed off seeing them peeking from every angle. "Women." "If you're hot, you can always take off your shirt. Just saying." "No...think I'll keep it on for now." A quiet groan swept the area. Yamada took a small rectangular piece and summoned his gauntlet. He began to whittle away at the piece. "What are you making?" Lorexia asked, curiously trying to peek between his fingers.
"A surprise." He said smirking. After a few minutes, he handed her a small hour glass shaped piece. Concaved with a tiny slit running from one edge to another. "Thank...you...It's...I love it...I...What is it?" Yamada smiled at her placing it over her eyes. "They're sun goggles. They lower the amount of glare and light that comes in. These should help you see outside of this place." She lit up with tremendous joy quickly hugging Yamada to his shock. She quickly retreated clearing her throat, and fiddling with her hair. "I meant to ask. How did you learn how to make these? Is it really bright in your homeland?" "My friend Ul'lanna showed me. Don't think we would have made it to Artaraxus without these. Or her in fact." 'A woman? He said friend. Don't overreact Lorexia.'
"Well these are very sweet of you, but I still can't go out." Yamada took the jug and emptied it, pouring a single drop onto his finger. She watched as the water begun to multiply and fill the jug again. He placed the jug down and gave her a smile. "I can take you outside, and let you explore Jux." "Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" She clung to him, kissing each of his cheeks passionately. He pushed her away, giving himself some space. "But you need to convince me that you're strong enough to handle yourself. Because there are people far more powerful than me, and I won't always be there to save you."
"Of course. I will. I...How do I do that?" She asked puzzled. Yamada tossed Harbinger into the ground. Only it's black hilt stuck out. "When you're strong enough to comfortably pull that out." Her jaw dropped. "That should give me enough time to recover my Arcane energy as well." He said with a smile, patting her on the shoulder. "Remember to lift with your knees." She watched as Yamada sauntered off, wrapping the stacks of lumber with his Orichalcum chain. Lorexia wasted no time in trying to free Harbinger from the earth. Yamada found the Elders gathered inside their hut, surrounded by foul smelling plants. "How can we help you?" "I need the tincture that lets your people go outside." "We don't just give that away to anyone." "The ingredients for it are scarce." "One must earn it." Yamada let out an exasperated sigh. "Of course. What do I have to do?"
"Many Guardians have attempted this trial before and few have passed-" "Listen very carefully to me." Yamada said forcing out a smile. He gently placed a hand on the frail Elder. "I care very, very, VERY little for your test, trial, ritual. Whatever you want to call it. From what I can see. Even in my current state. No one here could stop me. You understand that don't you?" They nodded in a terrified unison. "Good, now give me the tincture." "No." The Elder whimpered. Yamada took a deep breath. "What do you want? I don't want to make trouble." "Bring us the head of a Sanguine." "Fine. Where are they?" "North of here." Yamada left in a huff, meeting back with Lorexia.
She was covered in sweat and her face flushed. Her hands were red and blistering. "You have trick to lifting this thing don't you?" Yamada ripped Harbinger out, and slung it onto his back. "Nope, just practice." "Wait, where are you going. I'm not done trying." "Get the head of Sanguine. Elder said, they were in the North." Yamada said walking away. "But you're heading south?" Yamada muttered 'fuck' under his breath. "Knew that." He said turning around. "Did you want help?" Yamada stopped beside her. "Yes." He said embarrassed. She took his arm and led him north into the jungle. He kept quiet as she led him deep into the forest. "So...are you gonna tell me why you want the head of a Sanguine?" "I'm thanking the Elders, that's all." "Mmmmm...is that really the whole purpose?" "Yes."
"You can be very sweet for such an "eeeeevil" man." He let out a low growl. "Wanting to escort me outside. Promising to protect me. Soooo evil." Yamada blushed. "I get it." "You compliment my dad's cooking, sooooo evil." "Are we close to the Sanguine yet?" "Is the evil man getting angry at me?" "A little bit." Lorexia continued to jab at him, the entire trip. Imitating his voice and mannerisms. She stopped him, upon spotting a mound of human bones. "We're close." She whispered. "Finally." He sighed. "Itching to be evil, as you slay other evil people?" "What exactly makes them evil?" He whispered back. "That." She whispered pointing at the hunched over group. Several gangly Drows surrounded an Immortal feasting on his corpse. "They eat people?" "Why do you think we have Guardians?" "You need to leave. This isn't safe for you." He hissed. "Oh, worried for my safety. Very evil thing to do." "This isn't the time for jokes. I can't let you get hurt. You need to go."
"I will if you admit that you're a good person." "This isn't the time for this!" He hissed. "I'm not leaving till you admit it." "Lorexia, I'm not playing around anymore." "What happened to Xia?" She pouted. The sound of branches snapping caught Yamada's attention. A Sanguine let out a blood curdling screech and leapt at Yamada. He drew Harbinger cutting the creature in half with one fell slash. He held the blood in place and threw it aside, making sure none of it splashed on Lorexia. "Okay, I'll leave." She said. "Too late." Yamada said taking the Wrath stance. The Sanguine surrounded them. The tips of their gangly fingers protruded out with long unkempt nails. Their teeth jagged rows were drenched in blood like their nails. "Are you good with heights?" "What?"
Yamada took Lorexia in his arm, leaping high into the air. He planted Harbinger flat into the side of the tree, and sat her atop the weapon. "Don't move." He said plummeting back down. "But!" Yamada landed with a crash kicking up the dirt. She and the Sanguine watched in shock as he emerged out in his Serpent Knight armour. The feral creatures each let out a screech, lunging at him. Yamada took them each out with a singular powerful blow. Their bones crushing and fleshing warping around his strikes. The others scuttled away terrified, disappearing deeper into the forest. Yamada took a deep breath covered in sweat, banishing his armour. 'Damn it. Why is it taking me so long to recover?' He leapt up into the air clinging onto Harbinger. "Are you okay?" "That was amazing!? Why do you even carry this thing around, when you can do that?" Yamada carried her down frowning. "Seriously, why do you carry that thing?" "Because it makes me stronger. Now let's go." He said severing the head of a Sanguine.
"I'm not leaving till you admit it." "Are you always this stubborn and crazy?" "Yep." She said folding her arms. "I'm not admitting that. Now I'm going to leave you here for real." She gave him a smug smile. "I don't think you will. You're too much of a GOOD person to do it." "I'm not joking. I'm leaving." He said walking away holding the head. "OH NO! MY LEG! I CAN'T RUN." "What are you doing!?" He hissed turning back to her. "Admit it and I'll leave with you." "I'm just going to force you home." "RAPE! RAPE!" Yamada ducked looking around flustered. "Shut up!" "This good man is trying to force himself on me!" "Stop that!" "Sanguine take me!" She said running deeper into the woods. A golden chain wrapped around her waist and yanked her into Yamada's chest. "Alright, I'm a good person. Are you happy?" "What else?" "I don't know." "You're not e-e-eee..." He rolled his eyes. "I'm not evil either." "Good." Yamada removed the chain. "I knew you were a big softy." "Shut up." He grumbled.
The two of them returned with everyone staring in wonder. Yamada tossed the Elders the head to their shock. "You...you really went out and killed one?" "He actually killed like a hundred of them." Yamada cleared his throat. "Well, it was more like ten, but he could easily kill a hundred." Lorexia corrected. The Elder handed Yamada the tincture in a tiny palm sized vial. "Is that what I think it is?" He quickly found a large empty jug and poured out the thick white contents. She watched with pure joy as the large filled with the tincture. He refilled the tiny amount tucking it into his pocket. Yamada dropped Harbinger into the ground, in front of the large jug. "You can continue your training." "Here? In front of everyone?" He nodded. "They'll see my...effort. Can't you move it to somewhere more secluded?" She said bashfully. He gave her a smug smile. "I'm an Evil person. What can I say?" He said sauntering off. "Remember, we aren't leaving till you pull it out." "Yamada!" She hissed.