Peirce stared at the sky, what I'm I…? Who I'm I…? The reasons with the chest pain; my heart suddenly beating this fast, What will grandma say to me in times like this?... I really miss her.
All of these thoughts raged on Peirce's mind over and over again.
He was lost in his own reflections.
Node scratched his chin, stared at him as he spaced out. Was the truth too hard on him?
Sniffia lowered her head while dusting the sand on her disheveled blond hair and ears. Ugh! This sands are starting to get on my nerves! Then she glanced at Peirce.
"… Peirce..." Sniffia called Peirce out from his thoughts. "You only went into a deep sleep that's all to it… just like the other day without ever resting you carried me on your back to the village however this time around your deep sleep was longer, your heart stopped and that really scares me." She emphasized.
Peirce after processing what was going on and with what Sniffia'd say to him.
He scanned his surroundings, once more there was someone not present among them.
"Where is the Old Mister with us?" He asked of Lazarus.
"Oh, the old Mister? Well, he went to hunt for food." Node replied, stretching his body then yawn. "Ha~ that hit the spot." He scratched his lower back, his eyes half closed.
Sniffia held Peirce's hand, he slightly flinched then stared at Sniffia.
She smirked as her blond hair lightly sways with the wind and the bright-heartened orange eyes staring back at Peirce assuring him he was never alone.
"I— we missed you." She mentioned.
Peirce looked at her hands noticed one of it was slightly burnt, his eyes widened then looked at Sniffia.
"I'm—"
"Hey, kiddo. I'm not an old Mister… I'm only in my late forties, you know."
Lazarus was surprisingly seen behind them then looked at Node, flung him a huge egg.
"Could you make something out of this for us, Nute."
Node shakily caught it then observed what was in his hand.
"Hummm, what kind of egg is this?" Node stared at the egg having some peculiar markings on it's body.
"Stop asking silly question, can you cook it or not?" Lazarus stroke his untrimmed beards. Gosh… so annoying I could have left them here in the desert and make a way for it. He said to himself then he squinted at Sniffia. However this girl… seems--
"Well, I will try." Node confirmed.
Lazarus stopped stroking his untrimmed beards, glanced at Node.
"… Yeah, that's good enough. Do what you do best just make sure it is delicious than this morning food. Ha~ this is what having a good cook in the family meant… Hahahaha!" He laughed as he sat on the sand, placed his hand on his stomach feeling appeased.
"Uhm… Old Mister where are we?" Peirce questioned.
The way back to the village was filled with snow. But?
"Ugh, it's Lazarus. La-Za-Ru-S! I said don't—anyhow."
He looked around.
"... We are at the desert of coruscation that separates the Beast Beings continent and Forest Nymphs continent. Before any further questions why we are here. This is a short-cut, in no time we will reach your village. Ha~ it brings back memories…" Lazarus face reddened while staring at the sky slightly drooling.
Sniffia looked around.
"Desert of coruscation?..." Does it mean anything?
Peirce smirked as he looked at Sniffia.
"Oh, I heard stories about the desert from my Grandma, she said the desert sands and waters openly reflect the stars above."
Sniffia observed her surroundings, none of the sands were reflecting the stars above and not a single water or rivers were spotted since they entered the desert.
So?
Peirce scratched his bushy hair giving off sands also.
"Probably the stars are not shiny enough." He jested.
Lazarus yawn a little, glanced at the teenagers in front of him. Since these three are still alive and kicking, let's get to know each other and the reason why death hasn't taken them yet, ugh! I'm the shadow Inhumane not a babysitter, such disgrace!
He sniffed his fingers, stared at Peirce. A strange one indeed. An Inhumane just like me with the power to create such overpowering light, hmm even master's level of concentration wasn't as high ranked like his, should I test his strength? Hmmm… that will be a story for another day.
He pointed at Peirce talking to Sniffia and Node about the things of the desert his Grandmother told him.
"You boy," He called, Peirce and Node both looked at Lazarus, his finger pointed at Peirce as he continued, "we have been traveling for many days now, tonight will be a good chance to know your names, your Sachs and the purpose why you walk on this face of the world." Lazarus told.
What he meant was two things which he cared less yet asked; Why they were captured the first place and did any of them have a goal before and after reaching their destination.
Peirce looked at him then straighten his body, clearly understood what he meant.
"… I'm Peirce Wande, an Inhumane from the northern-swale village. We were captured… because we tried saving Sniffia from the Beast beings but in the process we lost a close friend… nevertheless I've accepted the past and will continue to be a traveler… never got to think for a reason why." Peirce revealed with a lowered face.
To prove everyone else wrong about him not been born unlucky?
To run away from the hates communicated strongly to him as he lived his whole life in the village?
Any of it should be the reason or both--
"Hmmm. The northern-swale village… I see, during my youth I've being there for several times, yes I remember… any family."
Wait—didn't he knows we are from the northern-swale village or where does he thinks we came from. The teenagers wondered.
"I can't say if they are alive as we speak… luckily the only family I have is my Grandma." Peirce replied.
"Hmm. That's cruel such is life… here is my advice to you, in everything you do don't be too skeptical, you look just like one..." Lazarus looked at Sniffia as she rolled her eyes away. "And you."
Sniffia ignored him. They all waited for a response from her, Lazarus sighed about turning to Node.
"I'm Sniffia. The last of the Silver Maned wolf this reason was why I was captured by those Expats. To me, who my parents were and how they left this world? I don't know but I repeatedly have this nightmares after nightmares that I lost them in an invasion. My goal still remains the same, to kill every last dragon in this world."
"Hmmm. That's tragic…"
Lazarus eyes widened,
"hold up, a Dragon where have you seen one?!"
He looked at Peirce then Node. She is kidding, right, right?
Her face lowered, "Lord Jared and I encountered a Dragon when we—when I tried… killing him on a cliff." She told then lightning streaked through the sky as thunder roared after.
Suddenly Node was seen holding Lazarus by his arm in fear.
I never get to know how they met, how lucky and unlucky they are! Node shivered.
Lazarus glimpsed to Peirce staring at Sniffia for a while nothing shows that Peirce was angry nor afraid of her.
Not only he had an out of ordinary way of manifesting the glow on his body and a rough life, even a Dragon protects him now? If she is telling the truth, though.
"… here is my advice—"
"I don't need an advice from someone like you." She interrupted him. Then she gazed at Lazarus. "I don't like you."
Peirce and Node's eyes dilated on her response.
Lazarus half shrugged his shoulders.
"Well, you disliking me can't stop the way I live my life."
Then he looked at Node who was already excited to answer him.
"You, an orphan too and a sad story like those poor two?" He shoved Node's face pushing him away from him.
"Get off me before answering my question. They are your friends, ain't they?"
"… I'm Node Lei," he stood as the desert wind sways his black long hair behind, beats his chest in a proud way. "The one and only cook in the world, the ex-youth leader of northern-swale village. My parents on the other hand are very much alive along with two junior brothers and a cute little sister even my grand parents and great grand parents are also alive. As Peirce said we tried saving Sniffia from those tyrants but not all them are--"
His face suddenly contorted with fury, he squeezed his fist as vines popped out around his arms.
"They killed her for what reason? Vanilla, as annoying she might be, she's brave and fun to be with, she had one to many dreams like we here and I won't forgive them for taking the life of an innocent friend of mine. My dream, to become the strongest ever using such power I will protect the families and friends I have left and to revenge upon those Beast beings is unchange."
"Well, thanks for telling us every little details, Noel."
Gosh get my name right, come on! Node unclenched his fist, sat back near the egg on the sand scratching his eyes as sands blew in.
"I'm so sorry, everyone I truly missed Vanilla. My family and everyone else at the village not having a clue if we are alive or not put a glower on my face."
Lazarus yawn.
"We all have our problems besides to be the strongest at what you do has no shortcut but hard work. Are you up for it?"
Node nodded continuously while holding the egg in his hands.
"What about you," Peirce asked as he stared to Lazarus.
"Me?" Lazarus pointed to himself.
Peirce nodded as Node nodded happily.
Then Lazarus laughed hard.
"Your identity, who are you… who truly is the Shadow Inhumane?" Peirce asked more detailed.
Lazarus stopped laughing, narrowed his eyes at Peirce.
Then he smirked as the boys' eyes focused on him.
"This Brat…"
He slightly raised his hand up in a way to give up himself.
"Alright, Alright. I will tell you most things about me since you kids want to know the legendary Shadow Inhumane."
He puts his hand on his untrimmed beards, "Hmmm. Where should I start from?..."
"Your name." Sniffia answered coldly as she rolled her orange eyes to him. "Like every one of us here. Start with your name."