by Liandra Jake
"I take it you two don't know what happened." Arend said, looking up at the two. They shook their heads. "Isaac said a few things that really upset Kronth and I managed to make it so he'll shit himself every time I look at him." Arend explained.
"Kronth hasn't shown up at your place?" Will asked.
Arend shook his head. "I've heard nothing from her for almost two days. I've been considering asking her family if they know anything. To my knowledge, this has never happened before."
Will nodded. "I suggest you do exactly that. It's the only place she would go if she really needed to get away."
Arend quickly began walking down the hall, giving the men only a short wave. Ed stopped him at the elevator. "Listen Arend, I really hope everything works out for you and Kronth. Will and I have known her since she moved into the city. We've known every up and down in her relationships, and they can't compare to how you make her feel. Just, don't give up on her regardless of what she says."
Arend half smiled. "I will. Thanks."
[X]
Arend slid off King's back before King's feet touched the grass. He ran up to Kite, Kurt, and Joseph, who were grooming horses. The ones next in line were waiting impatiently. They were surprised to see Arend. "What are you doing here?" Kurt asked.
"You know why. Kronth." Arend replied. One of the horses nudged Arend's shoulder. He absently scratched its favorite spot on its neck.
"We don't know anything. Kronth hasn't shown up in a while." Kite replied as he trimmed a horse's mane.
"She says differently." Arend replied, tilting his head towards Kronth's horse.
"What are-" Joseph started.
"Part Pendragon." Kronth and King replied at the same time. "She can tell I'm worried." Arend continued.
Kurt sighed and rubbed his eyes. "If Kronth was here, don't you think we'd let you comfort you?"
"Unless she asked you not to." Oragè replied, walking up beside Arend. He looked over at King. "You best stay here. Your presence may give us unwanted attention." Arend easily hopped onto Oragè's back holding on with his legs and a single hand on his neck.
Kronth's brothers said nothing as the golden wolf ran in the direction of the mountains. King found a large, sun-warmed rock to lay on as the sun began to set. When everything quieted some, the three pondered how Arend was able to so easily pick up on Loien's body language. They chocked it up to Kronth explaining it to him.
Oragè brought Arend to a crudely made barn at the far side of the mountain. The ground was rocky, but patches of moss found places to grow. The barn was large enough for Oragè to walk in and curl up around Kronth, who was sleeping in a pile of straw. The air was nippy and dry, allowing the straw to keep for a long time. Arend snuggled up between her and Oragè, carefully pulling her in. She woke up as one of Oragè's tails tickled her face as he curled tighter around the couple. She pulled Arend' arms in tight.
She spoke softly. "Am I a good girlfriend Arend?"
"Mmm." Arend replied, squeezing her a bit. "Of course you are."
She curled tighter. "I don't feel that way. I feel like people use me until they get bored and just toss me aside. I feel if I can't give them a reason to stay, they'll leave."
Arend poked her side. "Who's this 'they'? As of now, I'm the only one who can tell you what kind of girlfriend you are. I don't know how you past relationships sit in your mind, but they aren't important right now. What Isaac says doesn't matter anymore; I'm the only one you have to worry about, and I'm happy with what we have."
Kronth rolled around to face him. "Are you sure?"
Arend simply gazed into her light purple eyes and smiled. She gave him a short kiss before burying her head into his chest. Arend relaxed until Kronth sat up suddenly. "Oh!" She exclaimed. "How did your conversation with Hunter go?"
"Uhh… Well he confessed or something, though I had to force it out of him."
"Anything else?" Kronth asked with a sly smile.
"Well… I sort of kissed him to prove I have no interest?" Kronth fell back, laughing her ass off. "I wasn't thinking clearly!" Arend exclaimed defensively.
"Oh God!" Kronth wiped the tears from her eyes. "Panzer didn't tell me it was that good!"
Arend groaned, rolling onto his back. "So Noir and the others have already spread that around? No wonder I kept getting funny looks."
Kronth lay back down next to Arend. "It'll blow over eventually. I can help clear it up tomorrow." The two built a small nest in the straw for the night as Oragè kept a watchful eye over them.
[X]
Kronth and Arend returned to Dragon's Den around seven. A mass of Serephs were gathered outside Dragon's Den, talking up a storm with anyone awake. Flake flagged King down some distance away. "What's going on?" Kronth asked.
"The Serephs are leaving." Flake replied as they slid down.
"I take it you aren't?" Arend asked.
Flake nodded. "There are others who will be staying as well. Night and Noir have already said their goodbyes to Rose and the others staying."
The two Serephs hurried over to Kronth and Arend. Noir pulled Kronth aside for a few rapid-fire whispers that left both grinning. Night simply gave Arend a handshake. "You know Arend; you will go down as a legend when people write about you."
Arend shrugged. "I think Dragon's Den will be much more famous than me. I will be a star among stars; lost in the brilliant shine of many." Night was pushed aside by Noir.
Arend raised an eyebrow as she stood still for a moment before lunging at him. She pulled his mouth forward into contact with her own. As Arend stood in dazed confusion, Kronth chased after Noir. "I said on the cheek!" Noir only laughed, flying off with great haste.
Kronth poked the stunned Arend. "Hey~! You didn't enjoy that did you?"
"I don't even know what that was!" Arend exclaimed, throwing up his hands.
"That was Noir taking advantage of my attempted prank." Kronth replied.
"I don't think getting other women to open-mouth kiss me can be called a 'prank.'" Arend replied with great agitation.
Kronth replied by giving him what Noir had, only with a bit more. "That better?"
Arend gave her a satisfied nod. "Yes. Much better in fact."
Kyrel gave him a sharp whistle to catch his attention. "Hey!" He waved frantically, running their way from Shifted Tilt. "They installed everything last night! The shop's ready to open!" He exclaimed, whirling around them and pushing them towards it.
"I guess I missed that call." Arend said to Kronth.
Arend' team was waiting outside it with excited faces. They didn't know what to really expect from it. Arend marched straight up to the door and spun around. A small sign by the door labeled it as Shifted Tilt. "
Who's ready for a revolution!?" Arend called.
"Yeah!" Everyone called back, fists shooting into the air. Arend spun around and kicked the doors open, ripping the neat ribbon that tied them shut. Arend marched into his future.
The carpets were a mish-mash of colors and potted plants took advantage of the corners. All the computers were booted up and ready, the shelves stocked, and the tools racked. Arend' team found their places, the interns sharing a square table and with personal lockers. As everyone settled in, Arend took a seat at his own desk, spinning around to take a peek out his window.
Arend spun back around to face his team. "So…What do we have?"
"You've dealt with Allan's stuff a while ago, and the Serephs just left…" Krien read off. "And a dozen or so repairs transferred from someplace to the north…"
Arend sighed. "I start something big and still only get repair jobs."
Web and I can take care of those." Linel said. He and the short man collected the paperwork. Web's short Pog tail twitched when Web noticed Arend was staring at it. He said nothing about it as the two rode the elevator down.
"A man wants an anti-monster Exo-Suit for a safari…" Krien continued. José took it without a second glance, reading it at his desk. "
A team of
miners have managed to get an overdose of Orenth while working…" Lyre, Jaime, and Pockle stood up at the same time. They nodded at each other; a spontaneous team formed. As Krien handed off the paperwork, Chem sifted through the remaining folders and taking a few for herself. Two were left.
"The framework for the new BluZeph needs a well-trained eye…" Krien handed it to Russell as he passed, not even glancing up.
"And now, today's big job." Krien flipped open the large folder. "A Drive powered utility mecha prototype for city defense?" Brock and Flem turned to Arend. Krien looked his way as well.
"What?" Arend asked, suddenly confused.
"Only you can work on Drives. You're the only one part of Dragon's Den." Brock replied.
"And you're highly skilled." Flem added quietly.
"Alright then. We can start with reviewing it; I have a friend more experienced with mechas." As Arend stood, the other two collected on the elevator.
Krien joined the three on the elevator to sit at the front of the store as they went to the back room. She familiarized herself with the computers with her down time; there would be no time when the store really got going. Arend laid the paperwork out on the long side of the table with his teammates to either side. Arend started. "Alright…" Flem pulled out a pen and notebook and began to write, his words flowing in beautiful calligraphy.
"Cost needs to be less than 150,000 Ere per unit, and serviceable for no more than 5,000 a week." Arend said, after doing some truly impossible math in his head.
"There's a problem;" Brock tapped on a paper. "They want it to do more than just defense work. That'll take safety equipment and special parts, as well as permits and such."
Arend poked around a bit. "We can compensate by having interchangeable attachments and a sturdy frame, or a series of slightly different units for a small number of jobs. We'll have to look into the permits, and what they plan on using in the field." Flem's hand never stopped, smoothly writing every detail with chilling accuracy.
He would point something out and speak softly when he had a thought, but stuck to keeping a record for the most part. As the morning wore on, Arend was joined by a steady tickle by the other team members, eventually surrounding the long table. Arend acted as a translator for ideas and sparked new ones every time he opened his mouth.
By lunch, half the brainstorming work was done, with the team splitting to have lunch with key affiliates to finish the project. Arend had no such meet-up. Jacob met him in Dragon's Den with a platter from a food truck parked outside the busy building.
"How's your day been?" Jacob asked as he ate his hotdog.
"Great! We've really nailed things down in regards to efficiency." Arend replied, biting into one of the apples.
"Congratulations! Your shop is officially a success!" Jacob exclaimed, throwing up his hands and the remainder of the hotdog.
Vladd quickly side-stepped it and watched it arc into another man's face. Jacob found it bouncing off his at high speed. Vladd chuckled as he continued on his way, giving Arend a wave. He received a few dark looks as he sat alone in the corner to eat his lunch.
Arend glanced over at Jacob. He sighed at Arend' face. "No, he won't want us to go join him. Maybe that Web fellow of yours, but not me, and definitely not you; even if he's a bit more friendly now. He's accepted you as a superior Kruxsetter, and your pity will only serve to piss him off."
Arend grumbled t himself, tempted to give Vladd's hostiles their own dark look. "What makes him so hostile to Kruxsetters anyway?"
"It's why he looks like that." Jacob replied with a touch of pity. "A foolish Kruxsetter used an unstable Korvan in a custom condenser. While Vladd was working nearby, it overloaded and flooded the room in Orenth. The Kruxsetter in question locked Vladd in the room due to his fear of Changing. Before, he was Duke's rival in terms of looks."
Arend glanced up at Vladd again. "…I don't think he looks too bad. It's his attitude that needs an adjustment."
- - - A Solemn Lullaby - - -
The Drive-powered mecha went down without a glitch. Arend also acquired a few programmers and tech wizards to add to his list of contacts. Shifted Tilt was paid a grand total of 657,430 Ere for their work, with 250,000 to cover the prototype and failed tests. 7,430 paid for transportation and the tools that didn't survive. The remaining 400,000 was halved, 200,000 going to the store, and the other half directly to Arend. Of the 200,000 that went to the store, the after-costs amount was split among all who was involved; even Nate received a fat chunk.
Arend kept 10,000 for his own use and banked the rest in a hidden safe. He and Kronth went shopping, with Kronth buying much more than he did. Arend had bought a light-red 3 piece, silk lined suit the tailor measured and crafted in the same day. He hung it on his wall were it would remain undisturbed. It made him consider buying a wardrobe.
Arend donned a thin grey jacket for the gloomy weather and walked into a busy Shifted Tilt like it was completely natural. The person, who called him as he waved to Jacob, was not.
"Hello?" Arend asked, leaning against the counter in the middle of the first floor.
"This is Arend Myshcell correct?"
"Yes…" Arend replied with obvious confusion in his voice.
"My name is Erasur BluZeph. You know my son, Kyrel."
"Is there something up with Kyrel?" Arend asked, wondering about a surprise birthday or something.
"No, your friend, Iode."
Arend sat up, all joking now gone. "You have my attention."
"Has he spoken to you? We were in the middle of a meeting when a phone call made him suddenly bolt out the door." Erasur said.
"No, I haven't heard anything." Arend replied, now a little worried.
Erasur was silent for a while. "Let me know." Was all he said before hanging up.
Arend frowned and shut his phone. Only a few steps later, it rang again. This time it was Nate. "Yo! How's the collaboration with Janese going?" Arend asked.
"Fine." Nate replied hastily. "Our 'date' was interrupted though. She was called in for an emergency."
"And you aren't?" Arend asked with a laugh.
"Stop joking around. It's about Rose." Nate replied.
"Where!?" Arend snapped.
"South-West District Hospital. She-" Arend cut him off.
Jacob frowned at Arend' reaction to the two phone calls until Arend ran over and pulled his phone from his pocket. Dual-wielding the phones, Arend called Kronth and Corenden simultaneously. They answered within a few seconds of each other. "Rose is at the South-West District Hospital. I'll meet you there." Hanging up immediately, Arend called Richard and Michael.
Richard dropped everything and hung up almost before Arend finished. "I can get Tommori to come within an hour. I'll be there in thirty minutes." Michael managed to spit out before Arend hung up on him.
Arend tossed Jacob's phone back to him as he ran back towards the door. As he pushed it open, he dialed Flake's new phone. Like with everyone else, he only got the short of it. "Rose. South-West District Hospital."
[X]
Iode was pacing the narrow, dimly lit hospital hallway outside Rose's room. By Janese's order, it was a usually unused room directly across from where the hospitals' medical support center, hopefully providing the highest chance of survival for any of the three born premature. Iode's suitcase was in an old hospital chair with a few water bottles and a bag of potato chips. The faded Korvan lamps hanging from the ceiling swayed, casting moving shadows.
He heard a rush of footsteps coming from down the hall and around the corner and tried to press flat against the wall. He was very surprised to see who they were. Three couples plus Richard were headed his way; Kronth and Arend, Berry and Corenden, and Hunter with Flake. Iode stared at them with a confused cock to his head. It was compounded when he saw Erasur round the corner at a steady clip.
Iode raised his hands when they stopped in front of him. "What are you guys doing here!? Did Janese make a call or something?"
Arend
shut him up by walking forward and pulling him close with a bear-hug. He spoke softly through his black fur. "I may not know exactly what you're feeling," Arend held him out at arm's length. "But you're family to me after all we've done together. I mean really! I was ready to cleave that fortress in half for you two!" Iode was speechless, tears silently falling down his face.
Janese was startled to see the crowd as she opened the door. Iode quickly wiped his face. Janese glanced at Kronth and Berry. "You two, I need your help. We're short on nurses. You'll be more useful than Iode." The only two women in the group hurried into the room. Iode watched the room longingly as the door closed.