"Jotou, could you help me with this?" The blonde turned to Hotaru's voice and saw the redhead standing next to a few stacked boxes on the street.
"Sure," Jotou picked a box off the top and carried it over to a young couple.
"Thank you, so much," they departed with their share. Soft, the smile on Jotou was. She wiped her brows with her sleeve, stood in the middle of the thoroughfare—right in front of Master Tensuo's home.
Surrounded by voices—people lining up to receive donations from the Krialin and the volunteers. These Krialin, fresh from training and into the scene as the dawn dew dripped down the autumn leaves.
She stood right in the middle of it all—her adventuring attire of yellows, whites and blacks. A new addition to the inner side of her coat that blended with the yellow—a sheath for her sword, of which the hilt hung out of.
The laughter of children caught her ears, outside the little barricade in the middle of the street; butterflies and glitter puffed into the air. Asobi kept up with the kids' shenanigans, smiling brighter than the Sun herself.
'Seeing her happy is a blessing, I swear.' Jotou looked to the crates and boxes. 'It feels… nice; helping out here. After what I did, this seems too simple, but I feel better weirdly.'
Her brown pupils noticed the grey fuzz, "Master," Jotou called out. Master Tensuo, who was helping around, swivelled his head to her. "Can we talk inside in a bit?"
"Sure," Master Tensuo nodded.
Jotou closed her eyes and went back into pondering- "Ms Thundering Blade?" someone tugged at the bottom of her coat.
"Huh?" Jotou twisted around till her neck peered down—a boy no older than six, maybe seven. "What is it? Need something?" 'Did this kid get lost?'
"A question."
"Oh? Go ahead." 'I don't know this area that well. I can ask a Krialin to guide him.' The area in question, being The Split; the houses in the vicinity were open tanks waiting to catch rain.
Many of the houses still under construction was what led to this act of charity from the mayor. No doubt a push from his new staff. "Is it true you're leaving Kria?"
The question stumbled her eyes, "That information spread? Anyway, yeah. I'm not sticking around for long."
"Ms Asobi said so. When, will you be back?"
"Mmm…" she pouted her lips to the side, "I'm not sure really."
"Oh."
Jotou stared to the boy, black ruffled hair, a simple t-shirt and some shorts. His eyes had darted down to her response—hands meekly tucked away.
The blonde's eyes shifted left, then right before she glanced back to the boy. She sighed and crouched down, "You see, me and my friends are going on a big adventure.
To see the world and everything out there. I'll be back in Kria someday. And whenever that day is, you'll know. So, come find me alright?" she said in a little cheer.
The boy's eyes lit up, "That's a promise!"
Jotou hummed, "Sure; it's a promise. Now, get back to Asobi and have fun," she sent him dashing off. The blonde strands that ended in black she lifted past her eyes as she got up.
'Yeah. It's nice.' In the corner of her eye, she could see bright red, "Hotaru," Jotou's brows knitted, "What's with the smirk?"
Watching the scene, Hotaru had her arms folded, "Nothing," she shook her head.
A purple headband walked into view, "Did that thing breach containment?"
Hotaru gave a glance, "Meko, he's a kid."
"Not the answer I'm looking for wolfy."
Jotou rolled her eyes to the two. "Jotou." She glanced to the stairs of the house. "You said you wanted to talk?" Master Tensuo called her over.
Making it behind the barricade, she walked past the sliding door while her master walked further in. "What is it that you want to tell me?"
"Well, apparently word's already spread a bit, but I'm leaving Kria today."
Silence took the room for a moment… "Is that all you called me for?"
Her face scrunched, "I mean, I won't be training with you anymore, so, mainly that… I figured that's a little important," the last sentence went under her breath.
"So the student has grown wings and is ready to jump out of the nest."
"You still think I'm not, ready?"
"I never said that. You won't be ready till you feel that you are ready. Take your time, keep your wits about you and I hope that you will learn new experiences." Master Tensuo turned off a lamp near a framed picture in the corner.
"And thank you," her head tilted first, "for teaching me all that you did," her body began to tilt to get a view, "What's with the picture?"
"A Luxinorian tradition," he sighed, "An old one. Before going into a battle, one must shed a light on those who we have lost for seven days. If the light is still lit, then the light will keep them warm if one does not return."
Her footsteps approached closer, "Who is she?" In the frame, black and white. Two, short floppy ears, old eyes in simple clothing—a part-human, resembling a rabbit somewhat.
"My beloved."
'Huh. Well how about that.' "I'm sorry for your loss."
"Age catches up to us all," his gaze stared at the frame, one breath, then two. He took a deep breath, "Give me your sword."
"Uh, sure," Jotou unsheathed the sword made of armite, a little whistle it made as it cut through the air. She handed the hilt over, "Why though?" Master Tensuo walked away. "Hey, ugh," she sighed, before following behind.
From the various blades on the wall, he examined the hilt, then examined it again. A grey cord he untied from one of the many hilts on the wall and tied onto the hilt of her sword.
He turned back to Jotou, presenting the blade to her in a small bow. Jotou tilted her head forward in response and took the blade from his hands with both of hers.
The grey cord that dangled two little grey beads, "What's this? Like a magical talisman or something?"
"It's a rope."
"… Oh."
Master Tensuo groaned, muttering something under his breath. "It's a gift. A way of saying I will be watching over you in your journey. If you lose the blade, exchange this cord onto your new blade."
She sheathed her sword, holding onto the hilt firmly, "Hopefully I won't have to do that," she stood straight. "I'll take my leave then Master."
"Farewell my student; may you live up to your name."
_
"Hi there! Ohhh, you're so cute!" Asobi leaned over into the stroller. She waved her wand in front of the toddler whilst the baby tried to grab it.
As bubbles blew out, the baby giggled—soft barely present black hair and light blue eyes. Hotaru reached her hands in, "Hello little Analine," purposefully making her voice high.
"Lexi has fully confessed. It is true that Jack Tenner was also secretly an operative from the Trailon Regime," meanwhile Kor exposited to Jotou and Fumeko.
"Bastard. I knew I didn't like him," Fumeko cursed.
"I'm sorry I ever trusted him over you Kor," Jotou's eyes darted elsewhere.
Kor sighed, reports on reports held in his hands. They stood right at the entrance of the Ordinate. Kor managing to find at least one moment to speak with them while getting his daughter some sunlight.
"I don't envy the position you were in Jotou. It would've been hard to trust anything around you. And after this, I don't blame you for not trusting anything," Kor adjusted his glasses.
"What else did you get?" Fumeko crossed her arms. Hotaru carried the baby upright and walked over to the two—Asobi amusing Analine along.
"They succeeded in evacuation of their telepath; someone with a psychic, enchantment and illusion affinity to be exact. She couldn't control minds, but she could use spaces to create subliminal memories as well as lightly read people's thoughts."
"Intrusive to say the least," Hotaru growled, cradling the infant's head.
"Does that mean that telepath has more information than anyone? No wonder they would save her," Jotou took a small glance towards Hotaru.
"Actually, she could only read certain thoughts with her affinity. Through various interrogations, negative emotions or thoughts seemed to be the common answer. Happier memories warded off her abilities. We have no name, but she's gone for now."
"That's a relief. Where are all the captured people now?" Fumeko furrowed her brows.
"In Krialin stations, waiting to be transported to Cravolta for a better judgement. Kria's in need of more forces before everything stabilizes again. Those who gave less resistance, will gain less sentences."
"Less sentences for war crimes?" Jotou uttered.
"They're just soldiers following orders. I'd assume only generals or captains can be sentenced with a higher punishment," Hotaru had trouble saying that with that smile. Analine reached for the two ears atop her head. One flicked down to her touch as Hotaru pampered the child, her tail wagging behind.
Asobi brought her face close to the baby, closing her eyes, "Boo!" she moved her hands away as Analine giggled and cheered, causing Asobi's legs to judder and continue amusing her.
"What about the Frosting Wind?" Fumeko moved along.
"Unfortunately, asked a hundred times, the same response was recorded. She's an enigma even in Trailon. A special soldier who's received more elite training, but her identity is kept behind closed doors."
"What about the spirit-assassin?"
"Apparently just one spirit-mage who was in their ranks while infiltrating Kria. He was sent to dispatch you, that's about it. I'm unsure if Trailon has anymore in their ranks, so keep an eye out."
Jotou pouted, "Thanks Kor. I think we need to be on time to leave Kria, right?" she turned to Hotaru.
Hotaru gently handled the child over to Asobi. "We have an hour before nine; if we leave now, we should get to the border in time," she checked her watch.
Their bags were not far from them. Each a colour of their own—Hotaru's blue luggage hanging her purse off of. A smaller luggage of bright purple, a bigger one of yellow and of course, the one that hurt the eyes—glimmering in rainbow sequins.
Papers now in one hand, "Oh, one more important thing; especially for you Jotou. It's about the nature of you being in this world," Kor remembered.
"What? You mean, you found an answer?" her eyes bubbled.
"Not everything. It's info gained from raiding several of their bases. The telepath couldn't read your thoughts and they couldn't comprehend why the velatos, couldn't harm you."
"Is it because Jotou's undead herself?" Fumeko leered to Jotou.
"No, not at all. Undead can still harm undead. However, she's, perfectly alive. They spent week after week trying to understand; you might pose a potential threat to Trailon and all the Regimes.
As you know now, Anastasia Princely was killed by a velatos. So, the reason it didn't work on you was an anomaly. Upon closer inspection, it seems that you have some sort of enchantment, or protection, on your subconscious."
Fumeko held a hand to her chin, "So her brain is protected? Does that mean she's not actually here?"
"I think she's actually here, it's more so something is protecting her."
"It didn't stop ghosts… It's a lead then, to whatever brought me here…" Jotou sighed, "I don't know what to think of it, but thanks for telling me."
"That something protecting her is me," Hotaru mocked.
"Yup! Jotou would be dead if Hotaru didn't keep healing her!"
"Thanks for the input," Jotou's eyes glazed over. And to her eyes came a tiny hand, waving at her blonde bangs that ended in black. Analine giggled, taking hold of Jotou's strands.
Jotou held the baby's wrist softly, "No Analine, bad baby," she swayed the infant's wrist in a smile. Analine giggled to Jotou's tiny grin.
"Can we go now? I'm hungry from helping all morning," the brunette grumbled.
"Fine, fine," Hotaru slung her purse. They said their goodbyes to Kor, handing over Analine to him. Kor waved a goodbye and walked back into the building.
"Kor," he turned as the blonde looked back. "Take care, alright?" Jotou waved as the other three were already off.
Kor gave a smile back, "You as well friend." Analine copied her father, giving a tiny wave to Jotou. Jotou hummed, giving a small wave back.