It was late at night and Kano as well as Anemone were asleep. Anemone took the bed while he slept on the floor.
I felt cold, a strong chilling cold as though I was submerged in water. When I opened my eyes, I actually was. I had returned that dark void once more. I saw nothing ahead. I forced myself back to my feet. When I stood up, I noticed that the water was reaching my waist.
I took three steps before I saw a blue light coming from the water. A stripe made of blue light emerged from the water. Its light made my eyes sting.
The next thing I knew, it had skewered my left arm. I felt it ripping open my flesh as it maneuvered between my bones. I felt every trace of pain. Experiencing every agonizing detail.
Kano was startled awake early that morning. His heart was pounding, sweat ran down his face as he was hyperventilating. He looked at his right arm. The black aura that coated his eyes darkened as he thought, It doesn't hurt anymore.
"Did you have a bad dream?" Anemone asked as she was seated on the bed reading a book. She flipped the page as she awaited an answer.
"I don't know_ I can't remember. I just got the feeling that something happened to my arm. I don't know what it was." What was it, he thought as he moved his fingers. He began moving his arm. He felt no discomfort.
She stared at him before saying, "Hey...since we are both awake, we should get going." She then closed her book.
"Okay." As soon as he got back to his feet, he thought, Right, I told the manager that we would go hunting today. I guess that was a spur of the moment decision. Now that I think about it, what am I going to do should we get attacked? It's not like I can use my magic in combat anymore.
She couldn't stop looking at him as she was caught in thought. There has been something wrong with his spiritual vibrations since last night. One moment they feel like they are supposed to…like those of a human. Next, I can't describe it.
It's like, they are something completely different.
Hardly had they gotten ready than they set out. Their destination, Redstar Forest, to commence a hunt. As it was early morning, the streets were empty. Naturally, it was only five in the morning. They walked through the empty streets hearing their footsteps echoing only to find the guard standing guard at the gate.
"He's early," he said as they continued walking.
"We are going to have to deal with him again." She added before she sighed.
Only when they got close did they notice that he was actually asleep.
"Wait_ he is sleeping?" She said much to her amazement. He was sound asleep in the middle of the road not bothered by the town's location at all.
"This must be what people meant when they said embrace your livelihood. He is actually sleeping while standing," he added.
"We should go while he is still asleep. I don't want to talk to him again. He riles me up for some reason."
They continued with their walk. No sooner had they taken a step past the booth than they felt heavy. The same crushing sensation as before. The weight they felt was too great for them to move.
"That soul paralyzing thing again!" Kano exclaimed before his eyes began releasing a black aura.
"Too late, we are already caught," she said before a piece broke from her right bracelet. It transformed into a blade before it was propelled towards the guard. His hand became coated in a yellow aura as he caught the blade between his thumb and index fingers.
I could have guessed as much. There is no way he would have been sound asleep when this town is located deep in Redstar territory.
"Do you seriously not want me to have a break? Where are you going this early in the morning? Aren't you supposed to be going to Varaline Centralis to complete the remaining parts of your knight force trials or something? It's actually the opposite way. Why this early in the morning too? Couldn't you have waited until my break was over and dealt with it?"
Two more pieces broke from her bracelet before transforming to blades. The one he caught between his fingers reverted to a bracelet piece before flying towards her. There, it transformed into a blade.
She saw him slowly walking towards her. As soon as she blinked, he was right in front of her. "I really can't allow the both of you to leave. Not right now at least. Try again when my break is over. Maybe I will consider it."
The black aura coating Kano's eyes intensified as he struggled to remain standing. I feel like I am about to be crushed. I can't breathe. It's like I am being suffocated. He began trying to force his body to move attempting to escape the soul paralysis.
"What is he trying to do?" The guard asked as he began walking towards him. All three of her blades rushed the guard attempting to overwhelm him from different directions. He ducked, moved left and then jumped. He avoided all three blades. Effortlessly, in fact.
"Miss…..you still can't see it, can you? I thought by telling you it was there last time, you would make use of that sight. But you clearly aren't." He said before he stopped walking. He stood right in front of Kano, towering over him as his yellow glowing eyes looked down on him, "What are you trying to do?"
The last time we were here, he did the same thing though something is different this time. Now, Prime Visualization: Wind art; Fragmented scrutiny. She thought as the blades surrounded him.
"Why is it that you always happen to show up when I am having my break. I just want to have a peaceful break and relax. Why does someone always have to ruin it?
She closed her eyes. I can't see things as clearly as last time. He is being more secretive. It's like he is daring me to find it. Wait_ what is that?....coming from Kano's heart….is that black fog? It's so dark.
"You should stop resisting. Just wait until my break is over. We can talk then. Why are you acting the way she was last time? Can't you just relax?"
The aura that coated his eyes darkened as he stared at the man. I will be crushed if I don't do anything. The man's yellow glowing eyes stared at him before he began grinning. Those eyes.
They suddenly stopped feeling the weight as the former fell to his knees. He was hyperventilating as he tried to catch his breath. The black aura that coated his eyes disappeared. "Kano," she said as she rushed to check up on him.
"I am fine," he said as he struggled to catch his breath.
"I really can't believe I am about to interrupt my break for this. Anyway, I will let you leave the village under one condition."
"What is it?" She asked, her eyes narrowing.
"All you have to do is sign something of mine. It's a document saying that should you die, I am not to be blamed. In short, I want you to sign a document that essentially means that you are forfeiting your lives. Even if I don't protect you, I bear no consequences."
Have I really already gotten this weak? Unlike last time, I couldn't even stand that weight. I felt as if I couldn't breathe, like I was going to suffocate. What the hell is wrong with me? Why have I lost all my power? He thought as he tried to force himself back to his feet.
"Are you okay," she asked as she stood beside him, "You look rattled."
"I am fine, honest." He said before he replied, "If that's all we need to do then we will do it."
I am sorry Anemone but I feel as if you shouldn't see me be this pathetic. Since power is the only thing that shackles us together, then I will become powerful.
She noticed the black fog that covered his heart darken. What is that? "Are you sure you are okay?"
"I told you _ I am fine." Her blades transformed to her bracelet pieces before completing her bracelet. "If you say so...I won't push the issue."
The man returned with the documents and the former quickly put his signature on the paper.
Anemone went to sign as well. Hardly had she placed her signature on the paper when the man whispered to her. "You should be careful with this boy," he said as he grinned. His eyes were fixated on Kano. "Now that you are done, you can go."
The guard watched them walk away as he thought, I wonder what the other guardians would think if they found out that I let children out of the village knowing full well they will be in danger? He began laughing.
Like I even care! I am more curious as to how a dynamic like that came to happen. A girl whose sensory ability and strategic stats are off the charts. Seriously, she has too much potential to grow. And a boy, who just happens to be a disaster waiting to happen. Who could say? They might provide a little shake. I can't wait. Mature quickly. He thought before he jumped on top of the booth. He laid down and closed his eyes.