Chapter 107

Fain wasn't busy enough to care for every little problem. So what when Darks were approaching? There was still something very important missing. He looked at the little pair lingering around Dreadus's chest, wrapped in a cloak and covered by his left arm as if he was shading them from the sun or Fain. Which was worse?

Dreadus noticed his gaze and curiosity and wanted to leave, but didn't, or couldn't. He still had to give this pair some thoughts, because if Fain had something to say, he should at least hear him or touch upon this subject. One part was the unknown girl, who was questionable, wonderful, and good, while the other one was a freaking Dark Hound. It was purring and almost sleeping as if it was oblivious to numerous crazy Walkers around it. It was either dumb as hell or way too tired, or it was pretending to sleep for its own sake.

“Oh. What are those?” Fain asked, pointing.

“Unwilling parts of my personal business. My responsibility. Not yours. Will you stop me or question me further, mister principal? I am kind of busy with giving this mission a closure and I had my share of Delving and fighting it out with some stupid things,” Speaking forcefully and with bits of annoyance, Dreadus didn't want to talk about everything, or to Fain. He will look for other chances or actions if it will be problematic. Mi-Yung owed him now, so he was in a better mood than usual. Fain shouldn't be an issue if he played his cards safe.

The girl's head poked a little from the fur and cloak secured around Dreadus's arms and shoulder. Hound was big enough to make this action awkward, looking like a spoil of this mission. In a weird sense, it was correct. The girl and her dog were strange spoils of war, right in his grasp. He could've let them out of the cloak by now, but couldn't do it for anything specific.

Then, there was the whole Crystal Water Sea behind them, glistering and hovering in the air because Vern and Vera were stubborn like their captain and refused any Butler. They kept their pace, wounded, tired, and wishing for some rest or sleep.

Fain kept his characteristic smile and moved his hands toward Dreadus. He wanted to touch and say 'hi' to a pair of unnatural arrivals.

It was almost unexpected. It almost happened too.

Before Hound, nothing shall approach! In a flash, it woke up and snapped its jaw, growling and meeting Fain with its growls and eyes. Before the inevitable happened, Fain smacked it and patted it as it fell asleep. It was smooth, quick motion.

“Good boy. Take care of these,” Fain grabbed a collar from his pocket and secured it around Hound's neck, which stunned Dreadus in more than one way. He noticed what it was, though he couldn't fathom why he was doing this.

“What is this for? I don't owe you anything even with this mission or meeting. This is my responsibility!”

“And? You can snatch that collar, toss it away, and call it like a gift as well. I don't owe you anything either. I do things my way and this Hound is like a gift. A strange gift. Or... who is this girl, really?” Fain didn't listen to him too much and finished his business in a few heartbeats. The collar had small pieces of metallic plate with carved Emblem Academy's flag.

This should secure and protect the integrity of this Dark, making it less strained, or problematic for most Walkers, or mistake it as an invasive problem in the Federation.

It was kind of terrible and strange to think of Darks as pets, but there were many kinds of Darks and Walkers. From now on, no one should make problems with this Hound if it wouldn't trouble anyone. Some Darks could be tamed, and some unique Walkers carried strange powers involving Darks, their bodies, instincts, or way of Arcana could appease them both, or one. Tamer, Necromancers, Controllers, there were all sorts of Classes one could gain and get out of the System.

As Fain finished his business, the girl felt as if she was ignored even when she was glaring straight at Fain, who was right before her. Such an act didn't leave a strong impression, though... she had never seen a person like that, looking in lovely light, eyes, face, and voice.

Those eyes left a strong impression, making her feel as if this person was vast like a starry sky. The feeling was peculiar, if not making her nervous and hiding behind the sleepy and softer fur than usual. It was strange; she swore this one was stranger than faceless and that something was wrong with this three-eyed bastard.

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Creep and anxiety sneaked into her eyes, head, and arm. It made her shiver and her hug tightened, leaving light deep, hiding, or she pretended to not exist. She considered herself good at that.

“Nice to meet you, er...” Fain said to her.

“She doesn't have a name,” Reaz claimed beside them, while Dreadus did nothing but make a defensive stance and noticed that token.

“Oh, this one. Well, there are names for everyone and it isn't as if it's some problem. Do you want a name?” Fain asked without thinking, or too much thinking.

Dreadus frowned and got defensive. “I will name her myself!”

Reaz chuckled. “But she can speak, you see. I heard her call me hag. How rude, I might add.”

“How rude indeed,” Fain spoke, inclined to agree. “Why is she stuck onto you like this? Is she injured? Should I summon some medics or a Healer?”

“No.... need,” the girl whispered, hiding behind the unconscious Hound.

“Oh, she is shy?!” Fain exclaimed and was very much interested in this girl. He felt her Emblem and who knew what else, yet he didn't approach or touch her either. His smile and glow just widened and his voice was pleasing.

So far, he hadn't touched her because of Dreadus alone, who was getting more and more irritated because of this person and occasion.

“Thanks for that collar. We are leaving. Don't show your face around us again. Even in the Federation!” Dreadus argued and pushed through Fain's never-ending interest by walking away for real.

Still, Dreadus was Dreadus, so Fain let him go after reaching a passable level of interest. This left him frowning for a second, thinking, and wondering if that beast and girl might be more than meet the eye, or if he mishandled something important or more curious. Shrugging as he pondered, he shook his head, smiled, and turned to Reaz. “Well, this has been unexpected in many ways, so this will be great or worse. Tell me, Reaz...”

“Yes?”

“I will want some report if you may. Will pay for it, of course. I want to know everything that occurred and didn't, or could but couldn't, or... well, Australia is savage. For this Sea to exist, a storm might form to blow it to bits. How have you managed to get here? For hours and hours, after... that Holy Land was gone.”

“It's already forming. As for everything, can't you be more specific?” Reaz smiled, not wavering in front of this potent disaster walking on two. She believed there were many benefits behind clever words and this person, which pointed to her shamelessness or curiosity.

“Fine. I will pay double the usual fare.”

“Federation will be more than happy at your consideration, Mister Fain. This help will mark some history and this cooperation will be splendid. Mind you, you can come with us to the Federation and see this to the end. I am sure First Head will be very happy.”

“Nay. Rey is with us, so there is no point in it at all. I will leave old Tom be. There are so many looming troubles ahead, around the corners, and... who knows where else? Interesting... very interesting. This Sea. I will refuse such advance kindly and look for something else. Australia is tight around this corner and time. I should catch some sun and the weather is nice.” Fain refused and changed his face and tone in a second by smiling and looking ahead to the ongoing war.

Darks were long inside this perimeter, despite surrounding Walkers from the Federation and Academy, who started to fight regardless of Fain's conversation.

Serious Fain was worse than anyone Reaz ever knew. She almost backed, bowed, and forgot how this person often acted, spoke, and did his bidding. For example, why was he here? Sending some sort of deacons would do just fine even for this mission, or he had something else in mind, or she was underestimating the deal of this Sea. Some ideas could be even better, or less than right. Fain was here with many people and those Butlers were an incredible help.

There was even an Upper Pillar who came and left without much talk with her or Dreadus. Such a Walker from Assembly Island was greater than a hundred Walkers and many times more impressive than Mi-Yung. A lot of powerful helpers arrived, yet Reaz wondered about the most enigmatic one first.

Was Fain here for something else than this mission's purpose? Finding and understanding his moods or moves was impossible. Many ideas might be straight-up unreasonable and Reaz didn't want to rush anything, let alone guess his intentions. Perhaps he was in the perimeter for days or took her report by luck or gratifying desires. She didn't expect him when she made her reports. Seeing his face or interest were two distinct things, and one was rarer than the other.

“Forget about him,” Dreadus said to Reaz and others, walking and approaching the helicopter with a big Academy symbol. “Let's go or I will catch something funny from this place and people.”

Reaz nodded and took a deep breath for the first time in many hours. Stress and pain lingered all over her mind, and her current appearance was a mess. Most of this team were the same, glad and tired beyond their reasons. Running through so many danger zones and whatever else left their eyes, they escaped from the jaws of Australia and a small little war.

Alas, Dreadus didn't feel this was over just yet. Getting out was no matter of portals or some technique, and they weren't out of danger. They will fly across the ocean and North America, leaving their Sea vulnerable to numerous areas and attacks. But the Federation and Academy were here, so few issues might arise.

If no disturbing Darks would arrive, of course. It probably wasn't a question. It won't end up any better than Australia or their elevated mission. Reaz didn't care about some Darks or their pace. She felt Australia might be crazy, but it was honest in its craze, and also very fine to imagine when one saw it enough times.

North, let alone South America, there were different places. They had people. They had Walkers. Darks across these lands bigger than Australia held their regular concepts, making their moves predictable, thus guaranteeing some moves or motives.

Australia was savage, and in a sense, a respectable chaotic zoo.