Chapter 24 - Segment 24

They enter the dimly lit cave, candles were ceremonially scattered around the cave to brighten it enough for even the weary eyed to see. "This some kinda ritual or something?", Gazu said looking around confused, "I don't know but I get the feeling it's the framework for something more grandiose", replied Lillian clutching her glasses. They all looked around the cave to some familiar faces such as the conjurer and hair manipulator as well as Kaizeen and the flying human girl that was seemingly barking questions at him but most of all, Beast Tamer Andar and Meliyah were slumped over on their Kanriffs sleeping soundly oblivious to the noise around them. "Besssst beeee quieeet guys", insinuated Curzon, "waaake him and were dead", nodding everyone moves deeper into the cave avoiding the attention of the test administrators. "Oh l-look its them", said Timothy pointing over at the Conjurer and hair manipulator, "huh who is that?", asked Jinjuso, "they helped u-us e-earlier when we were climbing the hill", answered Timothy, "Let's go thank them", he continued. Before Timothy and Curzon could go over and talk to them Jinjuso stopped them saying, "maybe not guys", the two of them seemed to be in a focused discussion and didn't pay Timothy and Curzon any mind when they started walking over. The constant barking from the flying human grew louder, to the point where Andar and Meliyah started to twitch a little bit, "god, why can't Kaizeen tell that girl to be quiet, and anyway I have a score to settle", thought Jinjuso as he made his way over. "Well I don't know about you gentlemen, but I really want to find out what kind of human this girl is as I've never seen anything quite so majestic", said Lillian hinting at the barking girl. "Is it safe to e-even c-call that thing a human", said Timothy, "well theeers only one wayyy to find out leeets goo ask her whaaat exactly she is", replied Curzon, the three of them nodded to each other and followed Jinjuso as he walked over, Curzon stopped looked back and asked Gazu if he was coming, "I don't speak to creatures!", replied Gazu ferociously, without saying another word Curzon turned back to the others and followed on. Kaizeen looked up as Jinjuso, Lillian, Timothy and Curzon approached then with a mirthless smile he said, "so how was the climb bro", with a scowl Jinjuso replied saying, "don't ask that question cheater", "oh well my bad for using my brain", replied Kaizeen still smiling, "hah at the end of the day you knew you were gonna loose and that's why you got whatever that thing is to help you". They glared at each other for a few short moments, Annaroseria looked around at every one confused the others shrugged hinting that this is a normal thing between the two, then as quick as tension was created, it was quickly broken as Kaizeen and Jinjuso did a brisk but comforting hand hug. "Glad to see you made it bro", beamed Kaizeen, "I could say the same bro", Replied Jinjuso passionately, "It doesn't matter what we do at the end of the day all that matters is that we pass so I'm glad to see you did it bro", he continued, Kaizeen nodded, everyone else began to promptly wipe the sweat from their brows sighing whilst doing so. Then fitting in with the cheery atmosphere, Annerosaria opened her mouth in awe squealed and said, "yay I'm going to make so many Landlubber friends today", "Landlubber?", said Lillian confused, "why are you calling us by that moniker?", she questioned, butting in Jinjuso said "no matter, just who or what are you". Everyone apart from Kaizeen peered at her intently, her eyes widened and she squealed yet again and replied saying, "you all want to know about me well how exciting", she then widened her long slender arm as if she was giving a speech and said, "well my name is Annerosaria and I like to sing, can we be friends now?", taken aback everyone immediately said, "what that's not how it works", "and anyway you still haven't told us what you are", replied Jinjuso. Pondering the question Annerosaria put her Index finger on her chin and said, "I am what is known as a Harpiya, someone with the ability to sprout wings from their back oh and I'm also very tall, she said standing up posing and showcasing her height to everyone, "whoa y-you're a-almost as tall a-as the diefall tower", said Timothy in awe of her height. Nodding Lillian took a notebook from one of her many pockets and began jotting down some notes, "soo can we be friends now?", said Annerosaria with glossy eyes, Jinjuso looked over to Kaizeen with a concerned countenance and asked, "where did you find this girl?", "out of pre-school probably", Lillian then adamantly stepped forward in front of the girl and said, "lets make a deal mistress you tell me all there is to know about you and your kind and we will be the greatest of friends I promise", "yes, yes please ask away", said Annerosaria with a wide grin on her face. "So where do you hail from?", questioned Lillian, "A place high in the sky known as Voliataire", responded Annerosaria, "favourite colour?", "white", "why?", "It represents purity I love that", Lillian's glasses shone as she franticly scribbled notes on her notepad, she then continued to slide questions her way. "Ummm should we stoop her?", asked Curzon, "I would feel bad to she's clearly interested in Annerosaria, but to a worrying extent, ehh lets just leave her too it", they all shrugged and looked over to Kaizeen, "so where exactly did you meet this girl bro?", asked Jinjuso, "sit down and I'll explain", replied Kaizeen, so they sat down around him forming a semi-circle whilst Annerosaria was still standing up with Lillian being brutally questioned. Kaizeen went on to explain what had happened after Kaizeen and Jinjuso split up, about how he woke up on an overlook with her singing in the distance and how she seemingly found him and brought him to safety, he also explained that his wounds were seemingly healed as soon as he woke up and that her singing was enchanting and beautiful. Halfway through the conversation Lillian realised she was being a bit too overzealous and promptly apologised to Annerosaria, glossy eyed again Annerosaria said, "I've told you everything can we be friends now", putting away her notepad and holding out her soft delicate hand she said, "but of course, a promise is a promise". "Hooray a new landlubber friend", she promptly hugged Lillian, shocked Lillian pushed her off and with a little giggle said, "ok not that close yet, friends get to know each other more before doing things like that, and we are humans not Landlubbers", "sorry Landlubber I wont do it again", said Annerosaria teary eyed. With yet another giggle Lillian said, "oh don't worry about it there will be plenty of time for us to get to know each other, lets go sit down with the others", nodding they both go and join the circle, after a few more minutes of Kaizeen's recap with Lillian he turned to everyone and said, "well that's how Annerosaria and I met", "well done netting yourself a good catch", said Jinjuso with a sly smile, "oh be quiet", repleid Kaizeen with a slight chuckle. "Is he going to join us", asked Kaizeen looking at Gazu standing over at the corner of the Cave, their eyes met for a bit and then Gazu promptly turned his head, "I don't know his a jerk sometimes", repleid Jinjuso, "looks more lonely to me", repleid Kaizeen, Jinjuso then hollered at Gazu to come over he shunned him and shouted, "N-NO", "suit yourself then", said Jinjuso under his breath. Annerosaria then stood up towering over everyone and said, "don't worry friends ill go get him", "try your luck it won't work", said Jinjuso looking up at her, "as a friend I'm telling you he is a very vicious boy", followed up Lillian, "I've got this", she said confidently, they watched as she walked over to Gazu, she approached Gazu, and said, "come boy, the frieds are waiting for you", "HEY DON'T TREAT ME LIKE SOME KINDA DOG YOU WINGED MONSTER!!", shouted Gazu in shock, "come boy please", she replied, "NO!", "bad boy", she said as she grabbed Gazu by the arm and dragged him over to the others like a owner dragging a dog on its leash. "HEY", growled Gazu as he was being dragged over "LET GO", he shouted again, they eventually reached everyone to everyone audibly applauding Annerosaria for her hard work, "how in the heavens did you do it?", said Jinjuso amazed, "oh its easy just grab a boy the arm and drag them to where they need to go", with a wry chuckle, Kaizeen replied saying, "change that train of thought will ya". Annerosaria looked around at everyone and said "do you want me to sing for you all?", "yeah go ahead", replied Jinjuso, "I would love to hear your beautiful singing", followed up Lillian, "I-I haven't f-felt relaxed in a w-while so y-yeah", obliged Timothy the other two nodded except for Gazu. "What about you boy?", asked Annerosaria, with a deep scowl Gazu shouted, "MY NAMES NOT BOY ITS GAZU, AND I DON'T CARE DO WHAT YOU WANT", taking that as a yes Annerosaria stood tall and before she began waves of wannabe adventurers started making their way into the cave she began, "sier midhir, conti, nos contino beausemini isenbald, ohhh sier midhir, anri, tera yur brightenuse jir upon contino prospero isenbald", (morning sun shineth on this beautiful land, ohhh morning sun don't let your brightness dim upon this prosperous land). She melodically sang this melody over and over as waves entered waves were enamoured by this girl and her singing, they began to crowd around her and the others, they began to way from side to side following the rhythms of the melody like a wanderer following wherever the wind blows after a while some of the crowd began to hum adding beautiful atmosphere to her singing. Then miraculously as if out of a fairy tale the wounded around her and also Jinjuso began to heal and feel invigorated. The wounded began to shout for Joy saying things like, "is this girl a deity", "her voice is beautiful, she is beautiful, what's there not to like about this", "could her singing really have cured us", Jinjuso looked at Kaizeen, he looked back and they both beamed, "her voice really heals!". After a while longer she finished singing and there was a giant round of applause and then suddenly amidst the crowd Benevolent Humanitarian approached Annerosaria, and held out his hand saying, "Benevolent Humanitarian, and you are?", "Annerosaria", she replied smiling, they shook hands, "so down to business, would you mind being a part of our motley crew when we become adventures, "advent-ure what?", "you know adventurer", "no I just want friends if you want me to be this Advent thing I decline I want friends, not be an Advent", she turned her back and went back to Kaizeen and the others, "ok yeah we didn't want someone so thick to be part of our crew anyway", he turned away unhappy. Amidst all the noise Andar and Maliyah woke up grouchily, Andar looked at everyone furious and bellowed, "SHUTUP!", everyone froze and was instantly quiet, he continued, "now that everyone's quiet, come and stand in front of me", everyone including Jinjuso and co except for Annerosaria moved over to him. "that everyone", he lay a sharp eye on Annerosaria then looked back to the others, "ok so all of you that are here have passed this test, and I've got to say you look unusually spotless considering the kind of test you have been through, well done", he looked over to Maliyah, "take it from here", he said, she nodded and began to spoke, "everyone with me, shout and rejoice as you have overcome one of the hardest challenges to day, horaahh", she shouted as she raised one fist in the sky. Everyone including the simps raised their one of their hands the simps both and shouted, "HORAHH", she did this another three times the crowd following, "it looks like there is significantly less of you now but I do hope you guys manage to brave through the last two tests, take this as a short win but not a victory, for victory only awaits at the end for those who claim it, best of luck and goodbye now", she waves, her master nods and they both ride of down the tunnel at the back of the cave. "Byee, lady Maliyah", shout the simps their shout echoing across the cave. No one or nothing came it was now dark outside and no one came, everyone started to look around confused and started to wonder where the next test Administrator was, they started muttering amongst themselves out of sheer boredom. "Ahhh maan imm hungry", said Curzon pained, he pulled a chocolate bar from his pocket named Chinelton's chocolate, and started stuffing his face with it, "C-Chinelton's, t-that's the best chocolate a-around where'd you get it?", said Timothy excitedly, with his mouth now bathed in remains from the chocolate bar he smiled and replied saying, "when you work in a kitcheeen youuu get anythiiing for freee", "d-do y-you have any more?", asked Timothy "naaah sorry, thaaat was the laast one", he replied, with a sigh Timothy turned away, "Lilli whats the time?", asked Jinjuso, "just hit 7:00pm Jinji", whilst all this was going on Annerosaria dragged Kaizeen to one side of the room and was talking to him, "I'm going to go now Kaizeen, I don't want to be an advent, come and find me somewhere in the trees when you become an advent", said Annerosaria, "yeah sure, take care and don't let the eagles peck", Kaizeen waved her off as she flew away. As soon as she left a short fuse went off and smoke filled the room everyone started to cough and splutter then after a few short seconds the smoke dispersed and a lady emerged from the confides of the mist coughing and sneezing, "oh dearie, dearie me", she said as she pulled a frilly handkerchief from the bow tying her light pink tea length dress together. The seams in her dress were adorned with pink roses, she used the handkerchief to wipe the snot of her face, she wore a pink renaissance headdress, her eyes dark pink, her eyelashes long and thin like a spiders legs, her lips glimmering and shining with a pink colour, her flamingo coloured hair slightly parted in the middle of her head. She held an umbrella in her right hand, beautifully manicured pink polished nails with rose patterns on them adorned her fingertips. Absolutely everyone was taken aback by how glamorous this woman was, they began to start talking, "she couldn't be", "no way it couldn't be", "what's she doing here", everyone apart from Jinjuso and Kaizeen were stunned, "yooo Kaizeen who's this?", "I don't know you tell me?", Timothy looked at them angrily and said, "guys b-be, q-quiet, i-it's her". She looked at everyone with a derisive look on her countenance, "quiet peasants", she scowled, they all looked up went on one knee and bowed, "with one fan over her mouth she laughed mockingly and said, "oh so you finally realized, and for those who don't know, yes, it is I first Princess Ylventine Elezzion.