It was past midnight in the small neighbourhood, engulfed in silence. Outside of the occasional rustle of the bushes, the rare occurrence of cats and foxes crossing the vacant road, and the fluttering of bats: the neighbourhood was tranquil under the moonlight.
Slide...!
Within the darkness, a lone window opened. A foot stepped into the house through the window gap, followed by the silhouette of a human female. The shadow-based female then stood silently in the pitch-black darkness, scanning the room as she determined her surroundings. Upon identifying the layout of the room through her helmet’s visor, the female confirmed that she had entered the house through the kitchen. With a glance of the central table and the surrounding units, she identified the ideal route with the least potential for disruption. She pressed forward cautiously, closing the window smoothly to ensure she had a potential escape route. Each footstep produced by the female was as light as a feather, daring not to interrupt the silence that engulfed the house and alert the oblivious residence. After observing the target over the course of the previous week, the female deduced that the house lacked a formidable security system – much to her surprise considering the owner. To her, breaking into the residence was all too easy.
Step … step … step…
Passing the kitchen and through the hall, the female ascended the staircase gradually, prolonging every step as she checked for any ounce of accidental disturbance. Upon reaching the top, the female analysed her surroundings once again. Her target was close – assuming they were asleep in one of the rooms before her. The only catch was the other residents in the building, praying none would awaken abruptly. The shadow-based female stood idle momentarily, no sound escaping her breaths as she listened to the world around her. Her neck then twitched, acting as though she was a feline on the hunt for their prey. And then, her helmet emitted a faint sound.
Beep ... Beep ... Beep...! Bib-Bib!
Her helmet twisted eerily; her concentration set on the direction of the beeping noise. She then eyed the door second to her right.
Step ... step ... step…
She pressed on, reaching for the door.
…Click!
As she entered the room slowly, the pace of the beeping hastened. She gazed upon the source of the sound, gazing directly at a bed spread upon the floor. At the centre of the bed was a large, human-sized bulge hidden within the sheets, not a whisper to be heard. Although she was aware of the bed beside her target, the shadow-based female only cared for her target. She stepped forward, towering over the targeted bed as she observed the silent body below.
Shink!
And then, with adrenaline pumping in her veins, the female assassin unleashed her arm-blades and struck down.
Whoosh!!!
The assassin stabbed at the bulge of bedding without remorse, striking relentlessly as her head rushed with a sense of euphoria. She had longed to complete her overbearing task, feeling a sense of relief as she could finally progress onto her next task. However, after a flurry of strikes with her arm-blades, the assassin halted abruptly and threw back the covers instinctively.
“!”
She realised immediately that she was duped. Upon removing the covers, the female assassin found the bed filled with pillows and bundles of sheets piled to form a life-sized bulge. The pile was ridden with rips and tears from her series of stabs, feathers and bedding material disintegrated across the floor. And at the centre of the pile, the blinking tracker reacted to the assassin’s helmet.
“CRIMSON MANTIS! YOU ARE UNDER ARREST!!!”
Just then, a blinding light shone abruptly through the window’s curtain break, illuminating the room immensely as the echoing voice erupted through the air. At the same time, red lasers beamed from the door into the bedroom, rifles ready to shoot at the female assassin directly. Mantis switched to face the owners of the assault rifles, taken aback completely by the sudden intervention. Blue glowing lights twisted swiftly around her legs, crawling up her suit as she prepared to retaliate.
“FIRE!!!”
In that moment, a female commander bellowed out, causing the assassin to leap into action reactively.
RAT-A-TAT-A-TAT-A-TAT-A-TAT-A!!!
BANGBANGBANGBANGBANG!!!
As the command echoed throughout the house, the fellow operatives unloaded hellfire on the assassin. Flashes and bullets filled the room, leaving little possibility to evade and escape the destruction.
Zip-zip-zip! Fwip!
However, Mantis reacted immediately, her body twisting, evading, and ricocheted the bullets with her weapon with inhumane levels of velocity. Eyes locked on her attackers, she then charged towards the group in abrupt retaliation – swiping her leading arm-blade as she stuck at the nearest unsuspecting opponent without a hint of remorse.
SLICE!
“GUH-!!!”
Splutter!
In that instant, her arm-blade sliced the operative's neck before he could react, losing his balance abruptly as a stream of blood poured out from the open laceration.
Thump!
The operative collapsed to the floor, his body turning limp as he laid motionless. Mantis followed her assault with a frantic spin and struck the next operative with a devastating kick.
WHACK!
“ACK!”
BOOM!!!
The second operative was sent hurtling back uncontrollably, their body colliding against fellow bewildered teammates and throwing them off-guard completely. Mantis rushed ahead without hesitation, taking advantage of the new opening.
Swoosh!
Passing the fallen operatives in a split-second, the assassin aimed for the staircase and flew down towards the ground floor of the house. During this time, she spotted more operatives waiting for her at the bottom, readying their weapons hastily. However, Mantis was a few steps ahead of her opponents.
Crack!
As she descended, she twisted her entire body and leapt forward with a devastating spin-kick, utilizing her momentum to throw off her opponents. The operatives were too late to pull the trigger, receiving the brunt of the assault as they were thrown off their feet instantly.
Dash!
With adrenaline pumping in her veins and enhanced power coursing through her legs, Mantis swung to body from the stair-case banister and sprinted down the hall, her escape route was in her sight as she evaded her opponent’s relentless pursuit.
Hop!
Soaring over the kitchen table in a fluid sweep, she threw open the window in haste and slipped through the gap.
FLASH!
However, just as she exited into the backyard of the house, a blinding spotlight shone over her position, halting her in her tracks as a series of red beams aimed at her from all directions – she was surrounded.
“NOWHERE TO RUN, MANTIS!” The voice from the helicopter above announced in a stern, antagonistic tone. “STAND DOWN!”
There was truth to those words. No matter where she glanced, she was blocked by numerous operatives prepared to pull the trigger. Additionally, the helicopter blocked the sky above her, preventing her from escaping with an elevated leap.
VVRM-VRM-VRM-VRM-VRM-VRM...!!!
The helicopter descended gradually, closing on her from directly above in anticipation to restrain her and call the ambush a well-deserved success. With that said, Mantis refused to yield. Her mission was incomplete, believing that time in prison would only be an inconvenience for her. No matter the cost, she had to escape.
Vrrrrmmm...!
The neon-blue glow twisting around the assassin’s legs then expanded in brightness, surrounding both her suit and the grass below her feet in a faint blue-ish aura. Her visor then veered upwards; her aim set on the helicopter as her next target.
“What's she ... doing...?”
“...Don't know...”
Whispers were heard amongst the operatives circling the assassin, holding their aim on her as they prepared for the definitive command. Suddenly, an operative from the house – the platoon’s commander – stumbled into the garden in a flustered rush.
“PLACE YOUR ARMS BEHIND YOUR HEAD AND DROP TO YOUR KNEES!” The Commander roared out in desperation, aiming her assault rifle at the assassin. “NOW!!!”
In that moment, roped ladders rolled down the sides of the helicopter, operative heads appearing from the gaps as they were set to descend and apprehend the female assassin. Additionally, the surrounding ground operatives treaded closer to their target, taking every step with caution as they approached the infamous Crimson Mantis. The platoon operatives were oblivious to their mistake.
Tap! Whoosh...!
Just then, Mantis placed full power into her legs and shot up towards the helicopter like a soaring bullet. The observing operatives were caught off-guard, stumbling amongst themselves before firing collectively at the assassin in desperation.
BRRRRRRVVVVVP!!! RAT-A-TAT-A-TAT-A-TAT-A-TAT!!!
And yet, not a single bullet hit the target. With the momentum from her leap, Mantis caught the edge of the helicopter from the opened side-door. In mere seconds, the assassin leapt inside the helicopter with arm-blades leading the assault.
Swipe! Slice-slice-slice! Wham! Slash!!!
“ARGH!” “Urk!” “GAH!”
What followed were a combination of malicious strikes, bloodcurdling shrieks, and an overabundance of blood-spatters. At the same time, the helicopter swayed and twisted as it struggled to stay airborne. And then, the helicopter lost its stability entirely, spinning on its axis as it hurtled to the ground.
“GET BACK!!!”
The Commander screamed in an abrupt gasp, stumbling back to avoid the inevitable impact.
VrrrrrrmmmMMMMM-! CRASH!!!
The helicopter slammed the ground on its side, circling aggressively as the rotor-blades churned up the grass and dirt of the yard. Operatives dived and threw themselves out of harm’s way just before the collision, some evading its blades and hulking metal body by a narrow margin.
BOOM!!!
In that moment, the helicopter was engulfed in a blazing inferno, unleashing a deafening blast that shook the entire neighbourhood to its core.
“No...!”
The Commander uttered out a gasp of horror upon recovery, dread dawned upon her as she witnessed the devastating blaze.
“Douse the flames! Find any survivors! GO!”
The surrounding operatives accepted their command instantly, dashing manically and contacting authorities for required assistance.
“Commander Athena!”
Amongst the panic, a voice yelled to the Commander abruptly, the tone of his voice shaken up in devastation. The Commander – Athena – switched to face her subordinate immediately.
“I'm sorry, Commander ... we lost Isaac.” The operative admitted to her in disdain, unable to hide the pain in his heart. “M-Mantis struck him in the neck during the shootout ... there was no way we could’ve save him.”
Athena stood frozen in place, her widened gaze staring at the lifeless corpse in her subordinate’s grasp, the body’s lacerated throat covered in oozing dark-red blood. Once a dedicated member of her platoon, the man named Isaac was dead. His ambitions, His future: all gone in the blink of an eye.
The gravity of the situation crushed Athena mentally, unable to utter a word. Before the operation, she promised her team that they would succeed in their mission without casualty. With the knowledge of their opponent’s location and extensive preparations to spring their trap, she believed the mission would be a synch. As the current Commander of the Nightshade, she trusted her resolve. She was wrong in her assumption.
“No sign of Mantis, Commander.”
Another operative then called out to her, his voice hoarse as he returned from investigating the helicopter’s fiery remains. “And, I hate to say it, but ... we’ve found no survivors in the wreckage.”
The final words that confirmed the conclusion of the doomed operation.
(Five casualties ... Target escaped...)
Mission Failed.
***
“Right ... I understand ... that’s absolutely devastating.”
Lucas Cobalt stood as the edge of a vast cliff-face, overseeing the blissful scenery of Humesa's luscious countryside landscape. With his flip-phone placed close against his ear, the older Cobalt listened to the grave news from the other side of the line.
“Thanks for letting me know. My heart goes out to the fallen.” He acknowledged in heartfelt respect, expressing his gratitude to the mission’s platoon. “Take care.”
Snap.
With that, he closed the flip-phone and stepped away from the cliff's edge. He was silent and tense, his mind conflicted as he processed the news. Before departing from his house, Lucas tipped the Nightshade regarding Mantis’ potential target on his home – avoiding any reference of the young Draiken during the discussion. He informed them of the tracker and his plans to foil the assassin’s pursuit, including the position of the tracking device and his expectation that the assassination attempt would commence late at night. Upon hearing the outcome, he was struck with overwhelming guilt, feeling solely responsible for the deaths of the operatives.
Lucas soon arrived at his pickup truck, noticing Zaron, Veena, and Tobi chatting as they observed the beautiful green scenery in the vacant background. On the other hand, Marc was sat on the front passenger seat of the vehicle, his gaze set on the binder on his lap as he scanned over the various articles and documents. In front of him was the book detailing the Dragon’s Eye’s history, sitting idly on the dashboard as he frequently cross-referenced between the two.
It was the day after the group had set off on their extensive road trip, spending hours-upon-hours on the roads of central Humesa as they searched for the location of the iconic ruby. For the first hour of the trip, the group were psyched – notwithstanding Marc – to finally venture out and explore the far reaches of Humesa’s land. They watched the world of golden fields, flowing rivers, and rolling hills pass by in awe, wondering what hidden mysteries within the smallest of cracks awaited to be discovered. However, as the hours of continuous travel racked up, the group grew weary and impatient. The two Draiken were fidgeting in their seats, desperate to step out and bask in Humesa’s fresh air. Tobi was also fidgeting in his seat in a desire for relief, wondering when his father would stop the pickup. Alternatively, Marc wished to leave the vehicle, feeling at his wits end as he desired his own space. Noticing the agitated atmosphere in the vehicle, Lucas found a scenic refuge alongside their route.
It felt like an eternity since the group could stretch their limbs, the two Draiken feeling relieved whilst Tobi sprinted away in desperation to refresh himself. Observing the trio step out, Marc slouched against his seat with a leg dangling out the open door loosely as he continued his reading. As Lucas stepped out, he noticed his pocket vibrating relentlessly, causing him to take out his flip-phone and step away to answer the eager caller. With Tobi and Lucas out of sight and Marc showing no interest in leaving the vehicle, Zaron and Veena realised they were left on their lonesome.
“Should we … spread our wings?” Veena suggested to Zaron cheekily, nudging his shoulder.
Hearing her suggestion, Zaron’s mind was clouded with temptation. Although the two young Draiken had committed to the lack of wings for the journey, they both where eager to switch off their cloaking devices and finally feel their wings once more. Throughout the many hours on the road, the two daydreamed constantly soaring alongside the road with wings spread and winding brushing against them. However, another side of Zaron’s mind reminded him of the impending risks if either of them released their wings into the open – even when no other stranger was around to spot their abnormal limbs.
“We’d best keep them hidden.” Zaron murmured eventually, shaking his head whilst hiding his disappointment. “We can’t risk it.”
Veena felt her hope dashed, her gaze veering off towards the distant countryside. She understood his words thoroughly, equally committed to the requirement. And yet, she was frustrated, feeling incomplete and restricted to progress herself as a Draiken. The frustration morphed gradually into determination, increasing her desire to help Zaron in accomplishing his goal.
“Did I miss anything?”
In that moment, Tobi jogged up to the two Draiken was a spring in his step, acting refreshed and set to return to their journey.
“Not much.” Zaron breathed as he watched Tobi approach them. “Just appreciating the scenery.” T
obi nodded with an upbeat grin, “Ah, that’s nothing. Wait until you see the town of Quintis.”
Before Zaron could ask the young Cobalt to elaborate, he noticed Lucas’ sudden return. The young Draiken’s expression perked as the older Cobalt approached the trio, Veena and Tobi also switching to him curiously upon wondering the purpose of the unexpected phone-call.
“Time for the ‘Cobalt Special' Update!” Lucas announced to the group in a cheesy tone. “I’ll be frank: it's a mix of good and bad news. The good news: Mantis took the bait hook, line, and sinker. The Nightshade ambushed her the moment she found her tracker. The bad news: she escaped the Nightshade unscathed, and ... she killed five operatives in the process.”
The older Cobalt broke his optimistic tone as the last words struck deep within the group, unable to hide his disdain.
(She killed ... five operatives...)
Zaron felt sick to his stomach, his thoughts wavering as the sense of distraught overwhelmed. All because of his ongoing feud with the assassin, needless bloodshed was spilt. The guilt building within him grew exponentially, ripping him apart from the inside as the negative thoughts piled on top of one another. His fists clenched and shaking, all he could imagine was Mantis staring back at him with her arm-blades drenched in the victims’ blood. Beside him, Veena felt his overbearing guilt, her eyes glancing over to him whilst her fingers fidgeted anxiously. She wished to console him, to assure him that he was not to blame for the needless deaths. However, she was too stricken with her own grief to speak a word, lowering her head in shame. And then there was Tobi, letting out a deep, awkward sigh as the heavy atmosphere weighed down upon him. He was desperate to break the negative tension, believing it was a hindrance to their journey. And yet, another voice beat him to the punch due to his hesitation.
“As much as it sucks, worrying over it won't get us anywhere.” Marc interjected bluntly as he called out from the truck, his eyes focused only on the book in his hands. “Those operatives knew the consequences when they signed up for the job.”
“What, so we should just stay ignorant of the fact that five innocent people were murdered at our house?” Tobi argued back in bafflement, disgusted by his brother’s lack of respect. “Seriously, Marc! How much of a heartless scumbag can you be?!”
Marc jerked abruptly, facing the four in frustration as he stepped out of the vehicle.
“No, I didn’t say-!” Marc spat before catching his tongue mid-sentence, realising he would be hypocritical if he argued back. “Ugh…! Fine, I'll rephrase the statement for you. I never said that you shouldn’t mourn for their loss, I’m merely suggesting that we should stay focused on our objective. If we let ourselves get emotional whenever a situation like that occurs, it’ll only burden us.”
Zaron's brow was raised as he took in the awkward Cobalt's advice, feeling a sense of déjà vu.
“Tch...! You’re just saying that because you got defensive after I called you out.” Tobi sneered bitterly.
Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.
Staring back with a blank expression, Marc was left astounded by his brother's arrogance. He was speechless, irritation building as he restrained the urge to retaliate. Tobi stood his ground, tensing up as though he was ready to escalate the argument. Marc then sighed in defeat.
“...Whatever.”
As he murmured, Marc perched himself back on his seat in the truck. A small, frustrated grunt escaped his breath as he returned to the book, ignoring the world around him. The group stood in awkward silence momentarily.
“He's ... not entirely wrong.” Veena admitted in honesty, hoping to break the suffocating tension.
Tobi crossed his arms in spite.
“He's my brother. Everything he says is automatically wrong.”
“I – err ... I don't get it.” She murmured as she stumbled her words in response, finding his statement illogical.
“I get it completely!” Zaron jumped in as he exclaimed abruptly, placing a hand on Tobi's shoulder.
As the fellow casualty with an insufferable brother, the young Draiken reminisced the plethora of petty squabbles and pranks he suffered from Denzo throughout his lifetime.
“I knew you'd understand, man!” Tobi returned in delight, switching from stubborn to delight in a flash.
Veena stared dumbfounded at the two friends.
“What am I witnessing here...?”
Zaron switched back to her with a dissatisfied glance.
“You wouldn't relate, Veena.” He admitted. “You and your sister are too buddy-buddy to understand the pain we endured.”
“Huh? That’s not-!” She blurted out. “I mean, it’s not ... always like that between us.”
Just then, Tobi swivelled to face Veena in alert, his eyes widened with revelation. Veena jolted in frightened response, caught off-guard by the sudden reaction.
“Hold up! Sister? Why am I only hearing about this now-?!”
Clap-clap!
“Okay people, let’s keep the ball rolling!” Lucas interrupted conveniently as his patience waned. “Stopping our journey to mourn the fallen is one thing but wasting time with idle chatter won’t get us anywhere.”
“Dammit, old man. You interrupted me on purpose!” Tobi snapped angrily, shaking a fist at his father. “At least let my question be-!”
“Mantis still has no idea about our whereabouts, right?” Zaron then added, considering every scenario. “What's the rush?”
“OI, ZARON!”
Tobi's snaps and complaints were ignored.
“You have a point.” Lucas nodded in acknowledgment, ignoring his son's eccentric protests in the background. “Even so, we’re certainly not out of the woodworks yet. Mantis could pick up our trail at any moment, so slacking off for too long would only give her an advantage in our game of cat-and-mouse.”
He then ushered the trio to head back to the truck.
“So, chop-chop! You three may have all the time in the world, but I certainly don't.”
“W-wait! Shouldn't we at least figure out where we're-?”
SLAM!
“...going?”
The truck doors closed before Tobi could finish, the vehicle driving back onto the winding roads as they set course for their next destination.
***
“Whoa...!”
“This is ... so breath-taking...!”
Zaron and Veena gazed out in awe, mouths agape and eyes dazzling at the scenery before them. The group had arrived at their next destination: Quintis – Humesa’s gracious town of the mountain lakes. Positioned at the centre of lake Lotus and surrounded by a plethora of towering white mountain peaks, the lake-town of Quintis was every aquatic-lover’s dream home. The waters below the two Draiken glistened like a beautiful tapestry, its surface as flat as a glass pane. Furthermore, the lake itself spanned for miles, showing no end as it seamlessly morphed into the towering mountains. Humesa’s local birds – including Gulls, Herons, Swans and Geese – were either soaring freely overhead or paddling along the lake’s surface in playful harmony, proceeding with their lives without a care in the world. Additionally, the town’s locals and visiting tourists were utilizing the lake for recreational use: travelling around on kayaks, canoes, paddleboards, and various other outdoor novelties. If not for the lack of wind, the Draiken were certain that sailing boats, kitesurfing, windsurfing, and other extreme variants would be added in the mix.
As though acting by instinct, Zaron reached down to the waters below and brushed his fingers along its surface.
“I-it’s warm...!” He gasped in eager surprise, enjoying the sensation of lake running through his fingers. “This is awesome!”
Snatch!
Just then, Zaron felt his body lurch back abruptly. As he was caught off-guard, Zaron switched to Veena, noticing her latched onto his jacket’s collar with a wary expression.
“Veena ... I’m not going to fall in.” He assured her in a murmur, an amused grin breaking through him.
“Oh, really? Given your track record, I'm somehow not convinced.” Veena responded with a light sigh. “I bet the moment I turn my back, I’ll be fishing you out.”
Zaron returned to his feet as he proceeded to defend his reputation.
“Oi, I’m not that incompetent.” He scoffed cheekily, expressing pride in his abilities. “You should have more faith in me. We did play around the local rivers a lot back in the day and I was balancing on the rocks without any issues.”
“That’s true.” She shrugged casually, yet her stance refused to budge. “How many times did you fall into that river again?”
Zaron froze awkwardly.
“...Five?” he then muttered in vacant suggestion. “Yeah, let’s go with five.”
Veena smirked at the response.
(...It was thirteen.)
“I see you guys are enjoying the scenery.” A familiar voice then called out in a cheerful approach.
The two Draiken switched to meet the approaching Lucas, placing their reminiscing discussion on hold.
“This place is beautiful.” Veena admitted in pure delight, captivated by the atmosphere and overall scenery of the town. “It's like an oil painting.”
“I'm glad you approve.” The older Cobalt nodded coolly. “If it wasn't for our current predicament, I wouldn’t’ve minded us all staying for a few days and experiencing what the town had to offer.”
The two Draiken nodded whimsically, imagining all the experiences they would be missing out on. After overlooking the binder and the book several times, Marc concluded that the first location for them to investigate was Quintis. He deduced that Lake Lotus' abnormally warm waters were a likely indication of spiritual influences. From what he had researched so far, there was a significant tourist attraction based on the lake’s warm conditions regardless of season and weather conditions, advertising the lake as an incentive to ‘cleanse the soul’. Whether it led to the Dragon’s Eye’s location or a dead end, it was worth at least an inspection.
“Where's Tobi and Marc?” Zaron then wondered, peering around to spot either of the twins.
“Marc's visiting the local library.” Lucas answered casually, pointing out towards the direction of the library. “He believes there may be potential clues to the Eye’s location in various journals. Tobi, on the other hand, is chatting up the locals for any rumours or gossip ... although – knowing him – he's probably prioritising the young females over people who are aware of the jewel.”
“Harsh ... but I wouldn’t be surprised.” Zaron murmured with a low smirk. “Is there anything you want us to do in the meantime?”
Veena had the same question in her mind, feeling they need to pull their weight. However, Lucas shook his head.
“Don't worry, you two can relax and enjoy yourselves. You may not be able to spread your wings, but you can at least stretch your legs whilst you’re here.” He waved off, reflecting on the weeks the two Draiken were cooped up in the house. “And besides, we'll be taking turns with job roles during the trip anyway.”
Finding the answer as a reasonable compromise, the two Draiken accepted the older Cobalt’s proposal. They continued to browse the town, captivated by the unique lake-life of the town, crossing numerous bridges, and stepping onto elevated platforms. After a while, they approached the town’s shopping district, various stalls and shops lined up along the platforms as they displayed their wares. As expected, the district was beyond busy, causing the three to swerve awkwardly through the passing crowds. With no indication of Mantis on their tail and their wing-overlays concealing the Draiken’s identities without issue, the two felt free to enjoy their surroundings without worry for their safety and wellbeing.
“...Hm?”
Just then, Veena halted her steps, her eyes locked on a nearby shop display window as she froze up like a statue. Her abrupt halt almost caused Lucas to stumble into her after following obliviously from behind, saving himself from embarrassment with a swift diverting swivel of his feet.
“Whoa! What’s with the sudden breaks?” He called out playfully as he regained his posture.
However, Veena had not even acknowledged Lucas as she stood staring towards the display in silence. Noticing the situation, Zaron stepped up to her and followed the direction of her eyesight, feeling a sense of déjà vu as he wondered what caught her interest. Lucas also followed her eyes, switching towards the display window in curiosity. It was a high-end digital camera – specifically, the same camera model that took her interest back in Ferradon.
“Ooh...! Is this the camera you found during your Ferradon trip?” Lucas realised after a brief glance of the item of interest. “...It's a bit on the pricey side.”
“Yeah ... that’s the one.” Zaron admitted with an awkward nod. “She even entered this trance-like state back then, too. It’ll be a while before she returns to her usual self.”
“Hmm ... interesting.” Lucas murmured in curious acknowledgement, taking the words to heart. “Zaron, do you mind hearing me out for a moment?”
Zaron switched to him.
“Sure, what’s on your mind?”
As Veena continued to stare blankly at the display, Lucas placed a hand on Zaron's shoulder and distanced themselves from her – blocking any possibility of her overhearing their conversation.
“Let’s cut to the chase: if I give you the funds, would you be willing to buy the camera for her and make her day.” The older Cobalt proposed.
Zaron fell silent, the cogs turning in his mind as he considered the suggestion.
“A-are you sure?” He then questioned in uncertainty, reflecting in the price. “As you said: the camera isn’t cheap.”
Lucas grinned in response.
“Of course I’m sure. I’m a man of my word, I’ll have you know.”
Hearing this, Zaron returned an amused smirk, holding back the underlying chuckle.
“Alright then, I'll hold you to that.”
“Good lad. I appreciate the commitment.” Lucas commented in satisfaction, holding up his wallet as he retrieved his credit card. “I’ll keep our girl distracted whilst you make the transaction. After that, when – and how – you present her the gift is all up to you. So, make it count.”
“Got it.”
Giving a determined yet grateful nod, Zaron took the card from Lucas. Lucas then switched to the oblivious Veena.
“Veena, would you mind following me for a moment?” He called out to her cheerfully, exercising his acting skills. “I promise it'll be a short trip, I just thought you’d be interested in this ... ‘thing’.”
“Hm?” Veena murmured as she broke out of her trance, frazzled upon hearing her name unexpectedly. “O-oh ... okay Lucas.”
The young female Draiken stepped away from the glass and followed Lucas, leaving Zaron on his lonesome with the card in hand.
(That ... seemed easy enough.)
Watching the two disappear, Zaron approached the shop in determination. However, as he stepped through the ringing doors, a cast of realisation caught him. He gazed down upon the credit card in his hand, a sense of doom cast upon him.
(How do I use this thing?!)
***
“Four!” Tobi yelled out in disdain. “Four hours we were searching and nothing came of it!”
“Yep, the lead was a dud.” Marc groaned in acceptance, soothing a n irritable headache. “So ... could you stop droning on about it? It was a slim chance the warm lake water was connected to the Dragon’s Eye anyway.”
The group consisting of Tobi, Marc, Zaron and Veena were now perched around a restaurant dining table, digging into their hefty meals as the day was ending. With the sun setting into the mountainous horizons, the group decided to finish off with a satisfying dish of the local seafood delicacies – regardless of the day’s disappointing results. Lucas had excused himself from the table not long previous, informing the others that he had to meet with a local acquaintance. Although curious of the acquaintance’s identity, the group decided to not question the older Cobalt and continue with their meal.
“You said the research on the lake’s origins was lacking!” Tobi pursued to argue whilst slurping down his soda, pointing at the binder on the table to remind his brother of his mistake.
“That I did, and I stand by it.” Marc commented in defensive rebuttal. “We can at least mark off that Lake Lotus has volcanic origins.”
“...You mean it’s a ‘crater lake’.” Veena muttered bluntly, simplifying Marc’s informative response.
Marc nodded back sternly.
“Essentially.”
After a pause, a bitter tut escaped the corner of Tobi’s mouth. “Regardless of what it is, we still wasted our time.”
Upon finishing her plate, Veena shrugged in disagreeable response.
“I’ll be honest: I think it was worth the visit.” She admitted with a gleaming smile. “We explored a new location and saw Lake Lotus in all its marvellous glory.”
“Yeah, it’s nice...” Tobi murmured whimsically, only to grow bitter as he continued to comment. “But it doesn’t change the fact that we’re still at square-bloody-one.”
As the three continued in their discussions, Zaron sat in silence. He watched the three in amusement with a smirk across his face, finishing the last chunks of his own fish-filled dish. Whilst he appeared to include himself in the conversation, his mind was elsewhere entirely. Although it felt like an eternal struggle, he had succeeded in purchasing the camera. Additionally, after constant pestering by the store clerk regarding recommendations, the young Draiken was able to include accessories essential to expert photography. With the camera secured and tucked away in a concealing carrier bag between his feet, Zaron anticipated the perfect moment to present Veena with her long-desired gift. The fact that she had neglected to ask about the contents of the bag so far was a blessing for him, allowing him to hold the element of surprise as long as possible. And yet, he was hesitant when that perfect moment would occur.
“...aron...?”
On the one hand, he considered simply placing the camera on the table and catching her off-guard. On the other hand, he felt there was a more appropriate opportunity later during their venture.
“Zaron?”
“YES! I was definitely listening to the conversation.” Zaron blurted out hastily, lurching up as the spontaneous excuse escaped his mouth.
“...Your reaction says otherwise.” Veena denied instantly, seeing through his attempted escape of responsibility.
(Crap...!)
As the embarrassed Zaron slouched in his seat, Veena pursued to question him further.
“You’ve been like this throughout the meal. What’s on your mind?”
“N-nothing much. I’m just tired ... I guess.” He waved off in an awkward stammer.
“Are you serious? You’re ‘tired’?” She echoed in dissatisfaction. “We haven’t even done anything today.”
“Hey, you’d be surprised how mentally taxing it is being confined in a car seat for long periods of time.” Zaron then further excused, avoiding any indication of the truth whilst transitioning topic hastily. “A-anyway ... where'll we be heading next? Any possible leads?”
The three stared at the young male Draiken in silence, all echoing the same thought.
(Suspicious...!)
“Funny enough ... that's what we’re about to ask you, man.” Tobi smirked amusedly, “We've all thrown in a suggestion or two, so now we’re wondering about your input.”
Zaron gazed on awkwardly, feeling his cheeks fluster at the feeling that he caught red-handed.
"I ... knew that.”
Feeling the pressure engulfing him, he grasped the binder from the centre of the dining table and flipped through its many pages. He then halted at a specific page that caught his eye.
“How about: ‘Old Abandoned Shipyard on the Western Banks – One Man's Trash could be Another's Treasure!’” He read out whilst scanning ahead on the content, praying no one already picked the option.
Tap ... Tap ... Tap ... Tap...!
“...Really? Of all the options, you picked that one?” Marc groaned out in typical monotonous fashion, tapping his fingers on the table in lack of patience. “Jeez...! Could you not tell by the title that I just added it as filler?”
Zaron fidgeted in a startle, “Ergh...?! Well – I mean ... it's still a possibility, right? ‘Expect-the-unexpected' and ... all that.”
“The old man in the article is clearly a loon.” Marc expressed bluntly, his finger-tapping increasing in pace. “He's probably using it as an excuse to sell off his random trinkets at extortionate prices.”
Hearing these words, Zaron flipped to another random page.
“Ok, then ... this one?” He muttered underneath his breath as he read the title. “‘At the Beautiful White-Sandy Beaches of Carrislan lies the Fate of the Two Worlds ... and the Remnants Left Behind.’”
Tobi then jolted up eagerly.
“Oh sweet! That's my pick.”
However, Marc was unmoved.
“Denied.”
SLAM!
"WHAT?!” Tobi then bellowed out abruptly, leaping up to his feet in protest. “WHY?!”
“Tobi, calm down. You’re making a scene.” Zaron hushed his friend in a panic, feeling numerous eyes drifting their direction.
“I don't care about that!” Tobi yelled back ignorantly, brushing Zaron away before returning to face his brother. “Our suggestion has way more legitimacy compared to your crappy excuse of an option.”
Just then, Marc shuddered unexpectedly.
“‘C-crappy’?!” He responded in bewilderment, scoffing at the argument. “You clearly didn’t read the subtext, you moron! The evidence on that article outweigh the scraps of info on that pathetic article.”
“‘Pathetic’?! What’re you even on?!” Tobi yelled back in retaliation, acting ignorant of his surroundings. “You’re the one who gathered the articles in the first-damn-place! What was the point in all that research if you're just going to toss it aside anyway?”
As the twins bickered on, the eyes peering in their direction increased exponentially, silence consuming the restaurant as they all watched on curiously. Feeling the tension rising between the twins and several eyes bearing down over them, Zaron sank lower in his seat gradually. With his head cast down and body tense in humiliation, he felt desperate to escape the predicament and hide from the world. Veena leaned over to him, feeling equally unnerved.
“We ... we really need to split them up.” She whispered anxiously, fearing the consequences if the twins continued their spat.
“Y-yeah...”
Zaron emerged from his seat warily, attempting to hush the twins without adding to the needless noise.
“Guys, you’re drawing too much-!”
Bang!
Crack...!
“Fine. We'll settle this once and for all.” Tobi declared in exaggerated confidence, veins popping from his forehead as his elbow struck the surface of the table in firm preparation. “I challenge you to an arm-wrestling match!”
Zaron watched in sheer disbelief.
“...You guys can’t be serious.”
Letting off a careless shrug, Marc placed his own elbow on the table and grasped his brother’s hand firmly.
“Fine by me.” He accepted without hesitation, his eyes trained on his brother’s gaze in resolve. “You wouldn't accept a ‘no' anyway.”
Both Cobalts ignored Zaron's plea to stop, their focus set on their rivalry entirely to listen to reason. Muscles tensioned and adrenaline pumping through their veins, pride had consumed the two Cobalt brothers.
“READY...! SET...!” Tobi called out loudly, anticipation fuelling his strive to battle against his twin. “...G-!”
Snatch...!
Just then a pair of hands were placed on each brothers’ shoulder, causing the two to switch and face an infuriated restaurant owner. Within mere moments, the group were escorted out of the restaurant and banned permanently. Adding to the humiliating mess, a teary-eyed, apologetic Lucas paid for the extensive damages to the glass table. Not a word was spoken for the rest of the night as they set off for their next destination.
***
“What I would give to feel my wings again...”
Zaron groaned as he laid down on the luscious grass-filled ground, feeling the aches and pains from travelling in the truck for long, repetitive distances.
“I second that.” Veena stretched herself out beside him, sighing out as she craved freedom for her wings. “Honestly, I’ve forgotten what it feels like to have wings.”
The two wingless Draiken were laying relaxed on a small patch of field nearby a band of local tourist shops, their destination far from any major towns and notable attractions that would draw their interest. Each shop displayed a variety of random trinkets and novelties, from overpriced t-shirts to postcards of random and unrelated images. The shopkeepers themselves were relaxed, gossiping away with curious customers browsing their many wares, and tinkering with the tills and merchandise on display.
Three days had passed since their escapade in Quintis, and yet progress was non-existent. The group had visited several potential locations, including numerous sites familiar to the Cobalt twins. With each arrival, the group stepped out of the truck with heightened anticipation, wondering what surprises and revelations awaited them. However, with every attempt of hope and optimism, they were only met with disappointment and failure. Their patience was waning, feeling they were stuck in an eternal loophole with no end in sight.
“Do you think we'll ever find the Dragon’s Eye?” Veena wondered openly, gazing up at the blue skies above. “Or ... do you think we're just wasting our time with this never-ending search?”
Zaron held his silence momentarily, considering her question as he reflected on the days of their journey.
“I have ... hope.” He answered with a shrug his shoulders, a sigh escaping his mouth mid-sentence. “It was going to be a longshot anyway, so all we could really do is be patient and wait. Even then, if we get nothing out of this, we’ve at least experienced Humesa and its society.”
Veena twisted her body to face Zaron, showing off a cheeky grin.
“Look at you with your motivational speeches.” She expressed with a playful giggle. “I guess I'll be relying on you for inspiration in the future.”
Zaron glanced back to her with a confident smirk, laying back with his hands behind his head.
“I aim to please.”
The two enjoyed proceeded to lay on the grass in silence, enjoying each other's company without any care of their surroundings. Eventually, their blissful silence deviated into idle chatter, reminiscing of their trip throughout the past few days. The topic regarding the Cobalt twins emerged through their conversation, both hesitant at the aftermath of the Quintis ‘Incident’.
After the squabble at the restaurant, Lucas set the twins on prioritizing their search of the Dragon’s Eye – even if it was a detriment over their enjoyment of the journey. Over the course of the three days, Tobi and Marc were stuck with either the binder or the book in their possession, isolated from world as they bore into the walls of literature. Whenever the twins were sighted, the Draiken duo felt a cast of sympathy for them. The pain and misery in the twins were palpable, causing the Draiken to wonder if their punishment was too excessive. However, whenever they mentioned the subject to Lucas, he dismissed it by stating:
“Their little ‘stunt' at the restaurant almost tarnished the Cobalt family name. I’ll be damned if we end this journey without them understanding the consequences of their actions. They're going to learn how to be respectable brothers ... even if it means they'll miss out on the fun in the process.”
And so, any act of sympathy for the twins were vehemently dismissed thereafter.
“...I wonder how they're holding up.” Zaron commented curiously, his eyes wondering for any sign of a Cobalt twin.
“I know Tobi wondered off for intel.” Veena recollected casually, scanning the area as she sat up. “I’m not sure about Marc though. He's most likely sitting on his own in a grumpy mood, I assume.”
Her eyes then halted.
“Ah-hah...! He’s over there.”
Following her gaze, Zaron sat up and spotted Marc on a lone wooden table-bench far from the shops and any of the other sociable areas in the vicinity. The isolated Cobalt was transfixed on the binder before him, jotting notes down alongside the articles and updating progress to their failing investigation. With a slouched posture and bags under his eyes, his mental exhaustion was beyond the breaking point. In that moment, Zaron rose to his feet as a bothersome huff escaped his breath, stretching his muscles nonchalantly.
“Are you heading off somewhere?” Veena asked out curiously, wondering what was on his mind.
Zaron nodded back as his chilled expression turned serious.
“It’s time for me to have an important chat.”
With an eyebrow raised, Veena’s gaze switched between Zaron and Marc in the distance. Her mind then clicked, nodding away with an understanding yet amused grin.
“Good luck with that.” She expressed coolly, rising to her own feet. “I’ll leave you guys to it. I'm off for a stroll.”
Zaron turned to her curiously, “Would you like to join in?”
She smiled back, shaking her head in decline.
“I’ll be honest: I wouldn’t add much to the conversation.”
Upon hearing her answer, Zaron gave her an accepting nod – although a hint of disappointment escaping him. With that, the two wondered off in separate directions, Zaron approaching Marc whilst Veena steeped away to explore and enjoy the scenery.
***
With an exhausted and frustrated sigh, Marc dropped his pen and leant back. His body felt stiff; his head aching from the abundance of repetitive information; and motivation at an all-time low: the young Cobalt was adamant that he was wasting his time.
(...I'm so done with this.)
Whilst he accepted his punishment without protest, the prolonged lack of progression was infuriating him tremendously. He considered quitting the search entirely, prepared to argue his case against the other members of the group. He would even go so far as to suggest they pack up and return home, regardless of the possibility that the assassin was awaiting their return. In that moment, he then noticed a familiar figure approach him from the corner of his eye.
“How’s it goin-?”
“Piss off.”
“Oo-kay...!”
Before Zaron could complete his question, Marc shut him down without hesitation. With his morale already low, Zaron was the last person he wished to encounter – next to his irritable twin brother. The young Draiken obliged the blunt command in an instant, swivelling on his feet hastily as he left Marc to his own devices.
Step, step ... Skid!
However, within seconds of stepping away, Zaron halted immediately. He reprimanded himself internally, remembering why he approached the judgemental Cobalt in the first place. With a set desire to end the rift between them, Zaron curved his heel back and sat on the bench firmly opposite Marc, his expression stern and unwavering. Marc glared at him with detestable scorn, disgusted that the Draiken had the gall to deny his request and invade his personal space. As though by instinct, the young Cobalt grabbed his binder and stood up to leave without hesitation.
“Wait-wait-wait! Marc, hold on!” Zaron yelled out, almost leaping from his seat in panic.
Marc halted on the spot, his body tense in desperation to escape the scene.
“I get it, you want nothing to do with me or Veena.” The Draiken then acknowledged, his heart racing as he chose his words carefully. “You have a clear reason to hate us and avoid us like the plague, and ... maybe I would do the same if I were in your shoes. Just ... could you please hear me out?”
Marc refused to speak a word, yet he held his ground as he accepted the Draiken’s proposal.
“I promise, I won't ask questions or expect you to respond in any way.” Zaron declared in honesty. “I’ll only take a moment of your time ... and then I'll leave.”
Holding his silence, Marc returned reluctantly to his seat, refusing to make direct eye-contact with the invasive Draiken. Shuffling awkwardly as he considered his next words, Zaron gazed at Marc directly and spoke his mind.
“I want to thank you.”
In that instant, Marc eyed him with an astonished glare, caught off-guard by the unexpected sentiment.
“We’ve spent these past few days stuck on a wild goose chase searching for this damn Dragon’s Eye." Zaron then chuckled as he continued. “I'll be honest, I‘m starting to doubt we'll ever find the Eye during this trip. I bet we’ll have better luck in praying for a miracle at this point.”
With his gaze locked on Zaron warily, Marc grew oddly tense.
“...But then I see you.” Zaron followed up in admittance. “You despise this trip from the get-go, and yet you’ve gone above and beyond to locate the Eye.”
Zaron then noticed Marc’s contorting reaction, acting as though he was dismissing the compliment whilst thinking:
(It's not like I did it out of choice...)
Even so, the Draiken pressed on to his conclusion.
“I don't know what Lucas said to you that made you have a change of heart, but ... I’m grateful for your help.” He expressed with a respectful nod. “I know it’s a longshot, but I hope we become friends by the time all this nonsense is over.”
With that, Zaron lifted from his seat, satisfied that he was able to finally speak his mind on the matter. Marc watched as Zaron stood, his body tense and face unable to hide the divisive conflict in his mind. He rubbed his temple in agitation, wondering how he should approach this dilemma. Marc shot up abruptly from his perch, his gaze set on the Draiken with a stern expression.
“Wait-!”
“ZARON! MARC!”
In that moment, Marc was cut off unexpectedly by a familiar voice shouting out to them in haste. As the two switched, they noticed Tobi – and Veena close behind – racing up in a fluster. He was holding the Dragon’s Eye book as he ran towards them erratically – along with several pieces of loose paper.
“Tobi, What's wrong?” Zaron questioned with an alert gaze.
“I found it!”
Tobi announced amongst his exhausted breaths, stumbling forward as he gasped for air.
“I ... I know where the Dragon’s Eye is located!”