Chapter III-Solemn Surroundings

Naso looked up to the sky. Silence... Night had hit and she has just awoken. She was full of energy, and ready for the awaited day. She watched the stars twinkle in the sky, and the moon that has replaced the sun slowly rose higher up. She pushed her long brown hair back and stretched.

She was wearing a long lacy nightgown that went down to her knees and wore tights that were as white as snow. She pushed a lock of hair behind her ear and sighed as she attempted to recount the lyrics of the melody.

Swaying and being swayed,

One's thoughts flow

Like bubbles,

Down the stream...

"Hmm... what could it be about..." She pondered. Perhaps it was a message that only she could decipher. She stared hazily and waited for something to happen, but as expected, nothing. I'm so bored... maybe I should train?

She shrugged. Training has always been pointless in her eyes, but it was a great way to waste time. She got up, and left her room cautiously, still in her nightdress. She didn't want to alarm anybody who may possibly be sleeping still.

She felt a gust of wind hit her as she sprinted, knowing that the hallway she was in now was an area where people rarely go. It was her secret shortcut. It gave her a spectacular view of the ocean from the other side of the castle. It was a tricky route, but it was emptier than a cold heart.

She reached the deserted training grounds. Nobody to be seen. It's becoming a common trend with Naso nowadays. Sometimes she felt a twinge of loneliness whenever it came to be.

"What's with me and always being alone..." She murmured and itched the bridge of her nose. She went into a shed with her rapier and took it out. The moon reflected light off the steel, allowing her reflection to appear crystal clear.

She pulled out a training dummy and began her workout, both mental and physical.

What if those words meant something...? ......If they didn't, then why should I worry... This is so confusing... Perhaps I'm making it- hmm?

Her train of thought was interrupted by the sound of a roar. She gazed upward to see a dark figure soaring in through the shadowed skies. Sparks of fire spritz around it as it flew through them like rings. Naso watched as the mythical creature in the sky danced and flew gracefully.

It reminded her of the bird she watched the other day, it's feathered wings that soar so freely without a care in the world. It's freedom that she quenched for herself.

"Magical..." She murmured until snapping out of her hazy daze when she saw the beast fly down. It could be a threat! It could burn the castle!

She quickly looked around for a water source Incase the worst was to happen but was too late as it landed, directly on the training dummy she was practicing with. She held her sword steady, pointing it directly at the monster. Naso squinted her eyes, to make the figure clearer. It was a wyvern.

"Who goes there!?" She growled as someone with a helmet unmounted the winged beast.

"Please, lower your sword Milady," the man said as he took off his helmet, revealing the masked general.

"Oh! Dragon dude! Nice to see you again," she giggled as he gave her a stern look,"Why are you up so late?" She asked.

"I could ask the same thing Lady Naso," He somewhat grinned,"Aren't you supposedly sleeping at this time of day." His question caused her to stutter. She tried her best to find an excuse but couldn't ponder one up.

"I... erm... well I..." She stammered,"I... have literally no reason... I guess I couldn't... sleep?" The masked man sighed.

"Well my reason is that I like training and flying at night. She does too," he reached out to his scaled buddy, Erity and began to pet her neck,"Isn't that right? Yes you do enjoy flying with me!" The wyvern gave a little rough mewl to her owner and her wings flapped in glee. Naso gave a small giggle before he stopped and got serious again.

The younger girl began speaking,"Well I was practicing my sword play, and getting bored in the process... so I was thinking..."

"And what are you implying?"

"That I am asking you if you would train with me... just for now... you seem standoff-ish so I was thinking you would say no, s—"

He cut her off,"I understand what you mean, no need to extend your point milady," he paused, allowing her to speak again.

"So was that a yes?" Naso shuffled her fingers around her opposing ones in hope for the answer she desired.

"Apologies milady, but I must decline," he began and then gave a look of uninsurance,"I feel somewhat uncomfortable being alone out here with you, especially since you're still technically in your... pajamas..." he glanced away to Erity,"And I tend to train alone... I'm not the biggest fan of our race..."

Naso's face drooped downward into a pout,"Oh... I understand... well I'll go..." she whipped around the other way, then adding snarkily,"To go and get changed so we can have some fun!"

"Milady?!" He seemed embarrassed,"Please don't speak like that, some people may take that the wrong way..."

"Kay Kay! Oh and also," she tilted her head over her shoulder,"What's your name?"

The masked man remained silent but then with a gruff voice,"Ozul, milady..."

"Ozul... well can I at least ask of you to train with me later today?" She questioned politely.

"Can't make any promises, but I'll see what I can do."

***

"BLARG-" a monster groaned as Kaori sliced it in half, it's blue blood spilled onto the soil beneath. He whipped around to find himself being attacked by another. Stumbling backwards, he stepped onto the caracas and attempted to hold his ground.

"Honō no tō!" Shiori shouted as a pillar of fire blasted from the bottom of the creature's feet. Kaori looked up and covered himself as he watched its body separate in front of him,"Are you okay Milord?"

"Yes, fine," He caught his breath and straightened himself,"We got to find that spawn, we need to stop the monsters from appearing..."

"Agreed," the two sprinted to find the source of the foul beast. If they were to leave the place unintended without breaking the summoner, more could appear and terrorize other local civilizations. Kaori looked up to the sky, it was early in the morning, the sun was starting to rise.

"Hey Shiori..."

She glanced back,"Yes Milord?"

"Haven't you realized something..." he began.

"Realized what?" Her face filled with uncertainty as she started to slow down,"I fail to understand."

"The creatures, they only appear in the morning or day and dispel during the night."

"I believe I'm starting to understand... not quite but slightly. But why only the morning? Night seems most probable."

He shot a glance behind him,"Exactly! No one expects to be ambushed during the day or morning, night seems the most likely timing so they prepare then, only to be surprised!" Her face lit up.

"That does seem logical...it all makes sense now!"

"Rule number one of surprise attacking; come out when least expected!" He laughed for a second but then reverted back to his normal composer. A grunt made its way to the two.

"Aoi hi!" Shiori swiped her hand against her fire book cover and shouted aloud. A blue flame sparked from her palm and zapped to the brute. It landed on the tainted ground in one fell swoop. The two turned to their immediate left only to find a dead end.

"We're trapped..." Stone embedded their surroundings as they turned to face a horde of the same disgusting creature limping towards them.

"What do we do Milord!?" Shiori panicked as she looked at Kaori for guidance. And at that moment, the young lord's world went blank before his eyes.

"Milord? Milord!?"

***

"Have you've seen him!?" A dark brown haired queen asked one of her knights.

"No Milady." The queen's thought process was going blurry.

"Try looking western..."

"We've tried looking over there, Milady," He said while the queen stuffed her hands into her face,"He just disappeared."

"Well... look again..." she sniffled as the armored soldier bowed and went to the search party,"I hope nothing bad has happened to him..."

"Mother..." a little girl with straight flowy pigtails tugged at her gown.

"Yes dearie?" She murmured while bending down to her height.

"Has big brother Kaori been taken away like our big sister?" She started to tear up. Her mother wiped away her broken tears.

"Of course not... he's just on a little adventure! Shiori hasn't been around either, so maybe... they ran off together!" She chuckled a little, making the little girl smile.

"Yeah! I bet they're having so much fun! But..." she trailed off,"Why didn't they bring Diego?" The brunette was about to reply until a voice came from behind.

"Someone said my name?" A boy in a Uraskan hat interrogated playfully.

"Speak of the devil," the queen stood up and beckoned her head slightly,"Good morning Diego."

"Diego!" The tiny child shouted and charged into him with a smile,"I've been so lonely since Shiori and Kaori disappeared! I was hoping somebody could play dolls with me!"

"If be honored to firecracker!" He chuckled while patting her head.

"Yay! I'll get it all set up!" She dashed off into another hall, to where her room was. The weaker queen sighed and looked at her son's friend.

"Could you have an idea of where they may be?" She asked with hope glistening in her eyes.

"It's not for certain, but they may be at the Tryran Town ruins..." he bit his lip,"But I don't truly know, I'm going based off what we were talking about last..."

"Thank you, for your information Diego."

"Of course Milady," he smiled as she watched the woman walk away. He sighed and murmured,"Where are you two..."

***

The wind blew through the broken sky, it was high noon. The birds sung with a cheer that nobody could ever acquire. Ozul strode through the woods with an unknown pride that has descended out of the blue.

The forest was empty and lush, flowers and life flew like the breeze on this very day. It carried a sweet and unmissable fragrance that brought peace to his burdened soul. The sun scattered gloriously through the sky. He gazed up and sighed at the sight that beholden before him. As if he didn't even looked around, he watched as his surroundings merged before him.

"What in hell's name is going on!?" He whispered with panic. He always hated to admit it but he was quite claustrophobic. The landscape started to mush into a black shadowy goo. It flew like flood waters through an empty village. During this he heard a familiar melody play in the background.

~Swaying and being swayed

Ones thoughts flow

Like bubbles down

Down the Golden stream~

"Lawa!?" He bit the corner of his lip as he attempted to maintain his floatability.

~...Those hands will allow you to open up

The hopeful path

To the future...~

He glanced around to see a rock slowly being tainted with shadows and on top was a small girl. She turned her head around, revealing her melting face. She dripped down into a small puddle and slid down the rock. The water joined into the mud. What just happened to her didn't rid of her voice since he could hear her singing still.

~Mud sliding down the high

It swishes and slides

Right along the traitorous tide

Wishing the end will come

Dark will succumb

All hope will lay numb~

***

Ozul woke up with jump. That dream again... it still haunted him. He wondered why such a dark dream reoccurred so often. It's like he's being warned. But of what?

He glanced around at his surroundings, making sure he didn't break anything. He sighed and clasped his hands onto the sides of his head.

"Perhaps I'm going crazy," he murmured while grabbing his mask from the end table right next to him. He got out of his bed and left the messy black quilt disheveled. He entered the room where Erity slept peacefully,"Wake up girl, it's time to rise like the sun.

The dog woke up and wagged her tail in excitement.

"And more importantly, it's time to visit the castle. We have some work to do..."