What felt like a few days had passed by while Chi watched Tyson and Fae go about the castle with King Sobek and the knights. They had been working hard in order to ready themselves for when Zeal would arrive with other survivors from Numen's Garden. His mind going crazy from not knowing what to do. Chi did not know as much about fighting for his survival like Tyson who'd been to the garden several years in a row. He also did not have the experience like Fae had in fighting for his life against oncoming hunters who disliked the fact that Fae was a vampire in his world. His mind could not see things in the way that those two did in order to keep focused.
His focus completely lacking on what they did he could only wander the castle while enjoying the sights around him. The little usher curled up on his head to keep him company as he roamed the long hallways all the way to the flower garden in back. Stealing a look or two in the direction of the surrounding trees he found himself curious of what was further out from the castle. Feeling anxious to pry further he found himself slowly wandering outward. Sounds of little chirps coming from the little white fox above as it noticed where they were going.
The trees from all around stood tall as the sky's bright red light shined down upon them. Plants from all around that he could not recognize the species of gave of a warm gentle scent that felt alluring. Stepping further in as he wanted to see what more he could find that he'd never get to see before coming to Numen's Garden. Even if the world around him in the garden was one of danger and risk he still loved the view. Walking for what felt like forever he soon found himself getting tired enough to need a break. Sitting down on the tall green grass beneath him.
Why can't I forget about that? He asked himself as his hand unconsciously touched his own lips. Merely sitting on the ground was enough to pull back the memory every time. No matter how many times he tried to forget about the kiss Tyson had gave him in the castle's flower garden he could not shake it from the back of his mind.
"Who's this? You're one of the newbies following Tyson around, right?" A voice called out to him from the side causing Chi's head to flip around quickly and find out who was talking to him.
In front of Chi stood a man with long red hair. His clothes black, bullets around his belt, and headphones around his neck. It was the same man that he had seen Tyson talking to when they had barely known each other long. Behind Zeal stood Tai in his brown clothes, crow perched upon his shoulder. The man's colorless eyes almost making him shiver as the crow carefully looked him over from where it sat. Not the crow that wanted to see him, it had to move its head carefully so that Tai could see what was going on in front of him.
"You are..?" Chi could not think of how to complete his own words because he had never met Zeal personally before. He had only caught a glimpse of him through the window from afar when he'd met up with Tyson before.
"Zeal, I believe you should already know why we're here." Zeal said as he carefully walked over to Chi so that he would not startle the man. Knowing well that caution was a thing of beauty to have among the garden.
"He's at the castle with Fae and King Sobek." Chi said as he got to his feet to look at Zeal more seriously.
"Right. Let's get them moving." Zeal ordered as he glanced back at Tai.
The crow taking flight from Tai's shoulder so that he could survey their entire group from above. Chi watched as dozens of people passed by him for the castle. It did not take long for his mind to surpass the idea that there were mere dozens of people. He was certain the group had at least a few hundred. Some of them held faces of frustration and anger while others looked scared of the dimension they'd been brought to, to the point that they were in tears.
"They're all here for Tyson?" He asked while watching them leave. Tai had begun to lead the group from the front with his crow while Zeal stood back and kept watch over them from where Chi was.
"Of course.. Everyone here has suffered at the hands of Numen. Many are survivors from this here but.. There are of course those who've fallen to the state of being a wandering spirit entrapped here who offered their aid as well." Zeal explained while seeing Chi examine it all with his own eyes.
"I'm going to look around a bit longer, don't tell him you saw me." Chi said as he turned to delve deeper into the trees. He could hear the sounds of Zeal starting to step towards him to stop him but halting in his decision.
"I can't withhold that from him. I ain't giving up my life because the stray he picked up decided to wander off." Zeal laughed under his breath as he saw the man was not even listening to him. Watching Chi dash off into the trees to explore was something he never thought he'd see someone do. He almost felt like he could understand Tyson's fascination with the young man.
Should I have stopped him? Should I call him back before he gets far? This area is known to be infested with.. No.. not my problem. It's his own recklessness and carelessness that allowed his newbie to wander off. Zeal waved away the thought of chasing after Chi to stop him from exploring the surroundings. He did not want to take responsibility for anything that happened. Deciding to warn Tyson when he got to the castle he only watched as the figure of Chi disappeared into the trees.
Slipping his headphones on over his head he felt a sudden cold chill washing over him as he wondered if his choice was really the one he should have made. Knowing that Tyson was going to be infuriated with him he could only wait and see what happened. The sounds of music in his ears helped calm his mind as he kept watch over everyone else that he had following him. He did not have time to worry over a single life when he had hundreds of them with him trying to reach the castle.