Laura Baby?
(Chapter 2)
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"We're compatible aren't we?" Valentina asks as she lies in his arms.
"So much for having to babysit you."
"So what do you have to say about my offer? It still stands."
"Well, you just have to promise you aren't gonna die," he says.
"I swear… on your life," she adds and giggles.
"Isn't it too early to get married?"
"What? In your dreams ogre"
"Only if you could look in a mirror."
"Then what?"
"You wouldn't have the nerve to call me an ogre-"
"Elmus! I'm still burning!!!"
"Sorry! Amitha I'm coming!"
[>]
Taking it from the last note, Elmus forgot to put Amitha out. He does apologize. In fact, that gave him the opportunity to flee before Valentina could react. They are really banged up from the previous brawl and they even have to support each other on the way home. They begin along the path through the dark and gloomy forest. As they stagger along there's a little chit chat.
"So Valentine. Where are you from?" Elmus asks.
"Valentine? It's Valentina! Val-en-teen-a."
"Yeah, as if you remember my name… Well?"
"I…I'd rather not talk about it."
"Tragic past?"
"Don't remind me."
"If that's the case I might get how you feel."
"What would you know?" she asks aggressively.
"I'm just trying to start up a conversation as a thanks for your coming but if you're gonna be hostile, I'll let you know I like it silent as well."
"…Sorry. I'd just prefer you change the subject because my wounds are still fresh."
"Alright then. Why'd you come after me?" Elmus asks.
"I must admit that I was upset but Mr. Alex explained-"
"Mr. Alex! YOU TALKED TO HIM?" Elmus interrupts.
"Yeah, what's the big deal?"
"Mr. Alex is-"
Valentina gives Elmus a pinch on the hand as she stops moving. "OUCH!" He just begins to say that he is already in pain when she covers his mouth and he looks forward to see nothing at all is there.
"What the heck Valentina? What was that all about?"
"Quiet! There was something there, honest!" she whispers.
"What do you mean? We would've been informed if something else were here. After all, it's only Zone A."
"I am SERIOUS. There was really something there; about the height of a child. We have to get out of here fast."
"I don't believe that. You're just being paranoid."
"There was also something behind me when I was coming. Explain that!"
"That's the effect of darkness on the human mind. There is nothing to worry about."
"Stop being annoying or else I'm gonna leave you behind!"
"Go ahead."
Although she's frustrated she can't do a thing. She stomps on his foot. He deliberately screams and she covers his mouth again.
"Va-len-ti-na!" he chortles. "Your heart's racing. Don't tell me you're afraid of the dark""
"No I'm not" she denies.
"Then you wouldn't mind if one of us took the lead now, wouldyu?"
"Reverse psychology?" she asks.
"No manipulation in this. Whatever answer you give I could always test it out."
"…Please don't…"
"Alright then. Hop on my back and let me get us out of here."
"Aren't you hurt?" she asks.
"Haven't you heard? Chivalry gives a man strength!"
She quickly gets on and he taps into his energy reserves. He rockets off to the town from whence they came, "Banlieue". They soon arrive at the guild to find no one but Anika in her pajamas, right there and staring into the candle light beside her. She begins, "So how'd it-" when she turns to see who's there. She's happy to see that they're back although it's not unscathed.
"Are you hurt?" Anika asks.
Valentina got too comfy and just remembered that she was being carried on his back. She quickly jumps off blush and all.
"We're perfectly fine!" she raps. "I told you what was gonna happen so are you done?"
"In fact, I just finished a moment ago. All that's left is for you to provide your names and signatures in your handwriting; and of course, your Raid Unit needs a name." she says smiling so gracefully.
"Name? Didn't think of that," she says shrugging her shoulders.
"Nothing comes to mind either."
"'Boundless', It should be boundless!" Amitha demands.
"Amitha says she wants it to be 'Boundless'"
"It does sound nice but who is Ami-"
She remembers what Mr. Alex told her and when Elmus shouted about going to Amitha. She concludes that Amitha is his alleged sentient blade. She just tells them to forget about it and Boundless is fine for her. Guillelmus signs against "Guillelmus Harmonie". Valentina laughs her heart out because she didn't expect such a tough looking guy to be "Harmonie". After she has had her fair share of laughter she signs against "Valentina Bravo". There's nothing to laugh about but he tells her that her name is redundant. It almost amounts to a fight but Anika cuts them off.
"I just wanna say that finally, after such a long time, I'm happy to see that GUILLELMUS…finally has a partner and so you two should try and keep it like this. I assume that he was gonna die so thank you for saving him."
"Hey!"
"I totally saved you! Don't deny it!"
"You didn't because I quite remember a Spectre tried to brain you and somebody happened so it cancels out."
"Do you two really need to argue?"
"It so happens that I don't see what we should talk about so I'm trying 'Arguing Till Familiarity'." Guillelmus says.
"If you insist. Since this is done I'm gonna put this in the archives and go to bed."
Valentina calls her back no sooner than she starts to leave. Why? She had a question about the archives. Could anyone access it? Not really. The archives is a magic encryption portal which requires the smallest living part of the owner for access verification.
"Does that mean anybody could access the archives?" Valentina asks.
"If it's about your information only higher ups could request for information on a specified target so your information is practically safe unless I'm kidnapped…Promise."
"Alright. I want your candle please."
"Here. Night."
Anika sets off to bed. Valentina takes her baggage from behind the counter and moves it to the table where she sat with Alex. He helps her without thinking. She thanks him and drops her head on the table and says goodnight. That's when it comes to his realization that she might probably intend to sleep there.
"Tina. I can call you that right?"
"No problem."
"Where will you be spending the night?"
"Right here," she says.
"Why. Don't you have a place?"
"Such a stupid question, don'tcha think?"
"Yeah. Seems like you just got here."
"I was planning to look for a place to spend the night before it got dark but you happened and here I am now."
"So despite your fear of the dark you came after me? How cute."
"You would've done the same right?"
That reminds him of what happened with Laura and instantly kills his spirits. Truth is he was trying his best to talk so much so that he wouldn't have any idle time to remember what happened. He realizes that it's not gonna work. After all, Valentina's orange hair is enough to remind him of her. Valentina is meticulous enough to understand that she struck a nerve and so she ends it there.
"Umm. Tina. Why don't you come over to my place?"
"No thanks. Don't want to be any trouble to you."
"But you'll need to take a bath and have your wounds dressed and all those other girl stuff, won't you?"
"I'll endure. It's alright."
"And you think you're safe here?" Guillelmus asks.
Tina replies "yes". He wishes her good luck and the moment he leaves, the place becomes spooky only because he managed to spook her out. She runs after he who was waiting at the doorstep for her actually. She tells him to wait. They take her essentials. One is really heavy so Elmus carries it and they set off.
"Tina, I promised I'd see someone tonight and so I would like for us to stop there if you please."
They cruise through the gray paved streets of Banlieue. It's quite dark so there's not really much to describe. The sky is cloudless and the sea of stars continually wink at them. Valentina seems so moved by them that she doesn't pay attention to the road and almost falls from a high ledge but Elmus restrains her.
"And where do you think YOU'RE going?"
"*gasp*. I didn't notice. Thanks."
"???"
"What are those tiny flickering lights so far up?"
"You can't tell me that you haven't seen the stars before, have you?"
"No… this is my first time."
"So you haven't been out at night before?"
"… Only once. And on that day the sky was clear. I think there were only a few and I overlooked them."
"I'm guessing that's the reason why you are afraid of the dark. You never stepped out at night. We're here."
Guillelmus walks up to the door and gives it a very faint knock. Valentina's gesture indicates that she's about to produce a harder one but he restrains her hand.
"???"
"If she has managed to fall asleep I wouldn't want to wake her."
"And who is this person if I may ask?"
"A special person," he says as the door opens. "Good night. How do you do Laura?"
Laura's throws her body at the maiden in the orange hair. Tina is weirded out. She can't comprehend why someone is crying on her, "My baby!" Elmus has to break the news to her and she's heartbroken again to see that it's not her baby Laura. It looks like she's been crying all day. Elmus thinks it's best for Tina to wait outside and he goes in embracing Laura, the woman in the bath robe.
"You've moved on?" Laura asks.
"Of course not. My apologies. I didn't intend for you to see her. I was just hoping that you had fallen asleep."
"You don't have to apologize… There is no way I could sleep without my baby. I just can't do it."
"Can you try to for Laura's sake. I'm really beat. I'll stay with you tomo-"
"No! Please don't leave me alone!" she cries out
"…But I have to get her somewhere to stay at least."
"She can stay here."
"I can't do that to you."
"I'll be alright with it. I promise just stay with me. I implore you." she begs as she clenches to his chest. She plays one of the female trump cards that eats away at the emotions of a male. He makes her promise if he stays she won't cry. After that he invites Tina inside.
Tina walks into the very humble looking abode. It seems to be quite small. The bright candle light almost illuminates the whole room, even casting light on the carefully polished wooden floor boards. There is a door mat just at the door. It seems like footwear doesn't tread those grounds.
The Dining table is at the end of the room around the point where the hallway arises. Probably has just a few other rooms. Tina kinda gets the picture and feels miserable. She remembers how down Guillelmus was at times. She steps in holding her luggage behind her back and introduces herself.
Ms. Laura tries to welcome her with a smile but it quivers and dissipates quite fast. She can't believe that life was capable of playing such a horrible prank on her. She does refrain from crying as promised but she can't keep up a pretense for long. She lets Elmus take his armor off and she takes him to the bathroom to dress his wounds and get him cleaned up.
[/]
"Aren't you gonna say something-ow!"
"Sorry… what is there to say. If I do say something it will end up in tears. I made a promise and I have to keep it like you kept yours."
"I'll hang around. I'm not going to abandon you okay?"
"I'll take your word for it… Your cuts are actually very few. The majority of your wounds are contusions. You'll have to rest these ones out for your own safety. I mean, I don't want you to…"
"If I was gonna pass away it would've happened already. Now I can use mana."
"You what?"
"I… I felt bad. Truth is I ran into an ambush earlier and they roughed me up. I wasn't in a good enough shape but even after that a ran as fast as I could regardless of all the traps I set off. If I could have used the slightest amount of mana I would have been able to save her. So I went and fought that Spectre I've always been talking about."
"Your natural predator, why?"
"If you can't protect what you love what's the point of living?"
"That's…"
"You did your part Ms. Laura. I'm the one who failed the both of you. It so happened that my despair gingered me. I saw myself losing her again and we were able; Amitha and I."
"It's great; it really is. We would have celebrated…"
"…Is there anything I can do for you?"
"… I don't think it's time yet. I'm done with you so tell her to come."
"I will do hers instead."
"You're a male; you shouldn't. I'll be fine."
Guillelmus takes his leave from the room. Tina soon comes in. She feels odd of course. But after a while of silence…
"Mother," says Valentina.
"What?" she reacts. "Must be going crazy," she thinks to herself.
"Mother,"
"Are you saying something?"
"Yes… what if I told you that this girls hair was brown before… And now it's orange ?"
"You must be kidding me. That's not possible!"
"You don't believe in resurrection?"
"The dead are dead even if it hurts," she sobs.
"You're right about that. It means when you spill tea you don't ever fetch it back, right?"
"Don't you dare. No matter how dead she is I would give my life to save her. I could never replace her. She is-"
"-was your dearest; was." Tina interrupts.
"Stop playing with my feelings. You're hurting me," she sobs.
Tina realized sulking over it wouldn't change anything. After all, she lost someone before. It would just be better to let her see the truth so that she could move on quicker. But it wouldn't be that easy.
"If you wanted, I could call you mother. I could dress like a little girl, play hide and seek with you and even sleep beside you."
"…Why are you saying such cruel things?"
"There are some wounds that can only be stitched after opening them up. I appreciate what you're doing for me right now so I want to help you heal up too. I understand what you're feeling. It must be hard to lose your only child but they, 'say time heals all wounds'".
"…thanks." She says as she bursts into tears. "I'd prefer we change the topic because this wound will take a long time to heal… why do you have no scars? These seem to be the first actual injuries to your skin. Even my nails seem sharp enough to cut you and yet… you don't seem to be in pain."
"Yes. I have never been cut except once, on the tip of my finger. I dosed myself with a potent herb before I went into battle. So I can't even feel that I'm in the pangs of hunger although my tummy growls."
"Where are you from?"
"Where I'm from doesn't exist anymore."
Doesn't exist? Could it mean her place was wiped out or obliterated? One thing is for sure now. She doesn't feel happy talking about her past. She is done with Tina soon and they all have a meal at the table. Tina withdraws early though because she doesn't want to upset her further. She sleeps in one of the guest rooms.
Laura starts to feel faint and Elmus carries her to her bed. She lost her appetite and hadn't eaten anything since morning. He tucks her in bed and says goodnight but she grasps his hand and asks him not to leave. She needs to hold somebody because she can't take the agony.
She had been trying so hard not to cry but at this point she couldn't help it anymore because memories of Laura just came rushing back. Everywhere she looks or goes, she can only remember her. So Elmus gets in with and embraces her.
"That was cruel of me. If you want to, you can cry on my shoulder. I'm here for you." he says.
She doesn't cry, no. She WEEPS and weeps and weeps. He waits for her to weep till she falls asleep from a headache. He feels guilty about it. His weakness caused not only her suffering, but lost him one of his only friends. Now that she's asleep he starts to cry silently.
"Elmus…"
"If only we were stronger a few hours earlier. She wouldn't be dead," he sobs.
"Are you forgetting what I had to go through?" Amitha asks.
"Sorry about that. I just really didn't think anything without a body…"
"When you burnt me… I felt my soul burning… but I was happy because I was of use to you. So I endured it."
"Fear not. I won't use it again."
In a few moments Elmus also slinks off to the land of dreams and nightmares. Valentina also manages to think herself to sleep before her candle goes out; artificially of course. Those herbs she brought along must be really potent. The sun creeps up on the moon very soon. They're all exhausted though so waking up early was out of the options. It's noon quickly. Tina wakes up rather beat. Straight to the herbs for her.
Elmus wakes up and surprisingly Laura is still in bed.
"Amitha! Good morning-" he starts. "Ms. Laura is still here!"
"You needn't be surprised. It's not like she has to wake up to get breakfast ready anymore."
"Seriously Amitha!"
"It's the truth."
"If that's the case I'm gonna make something for her before she wakes."
He tries to escape her grasp but it proves futile. After trying to pry her hands open doesn't work, he tries to slip out through under her arms but her hands find his neck.
" What the heck? A sleeping person's grip should never be this strong!" he whispers.
"That's because I'm not asleep. Where were you going?" Laura asks.
"Wanted to get you some breakfast. How long have you been awake?"
"Not so long. But stay here. I don't want us to move from here."
"What?"
"You said you'd spend the day here remember?"
"Well, if it makes you feel better."
"Elmus. How do I tell you this?" she thinks to herself and sighs.
Valentina gets tired of bed and gets dressed in just a tank top and a skirt. She wonders why no one has come out yet and after waiting for so long she waltzes into their room to see the heart-warming scene.
"He seems to be quite the gentleman," she thinks to herself. " Aren't you guys gonna stop lazing around?"
"I'm not the one imitating Bruno Mars here." Elmus says laughing.
"It's all me," Laura says. "You can come join us if you want."
"I'll have to pass… Was planning to have a look at the town but I'd better rest all these bruises off. Here I come!"Valentina jumps onto the bed and embraces Ms. Laura tight.
"Elmus," Amitha calls. "I want a hug too."
"A'ight" he says embracing her.
"Not with the sheath. I want physical contact."
"What the? You thinking straight?!"
--------------End of Chapter 2----------------------