Lezard: "Two old women were sitting on a bench waiting for their bus. The buses were running late, and a lot of time passed. Finally, one woman turned to the other and said, you know, I've been sitting here so long, my butt fell asleep!.. The other woman turned to her and said, I know! I heard it snoring! Bwarharh!" *He laughed, as Rachael stepped through the doors and into the castle.*
Nathan: "What's a bus? I don't get it." *He shook his head, entering the castle.*
Lezard: "Naww." *He lowered the book with lowering morale.* "Maybe I'm the only one that finds it-"
Champion: "That was funny, Lezard." *She placed a hand over her mouth as she giggled.*
Lezard: "Yay, morale boosted." *He giggled, shaking his bottom to each side.*
Rachael: "Hehehehe."
Nathan: "Ha ha ha ha." *Their laughs echoed from behind the castle doors.*
Lezard: "Ooo, maybe they found it funny after all?"
--
*Lezard hobbled into the castle with the champion and noticed Luna on the ground, wrestling three imperial guards.*
Lezard: "Jinkies-" *He whispered to himself in shock, as Rachael and Nathan laughed amongst themselves.*
Luna: "Get the fuck off me, you fat shits! They're coming!"
Guard A: "There are no people matching your description!" *He pinned his knees on Luna's back, stopping her from moving about.*
Guard B: "And seeing through a Scoldrant? You can't fool us-"
Guard A: "An Elementalist that's mastered ground?"
Guard B: "The Battling Oxident's very own champion?"
Guard C: *She rolled her eyes with a chuckle.* "A child that can use Remenistal?"
Guard A: "Lock her up!"
Guard B: "Maximum security-"
Rachael: "Ahem." *She coughed loudly, drawing all three guard's attention.*
Nathan: "You mind letting our guild member go?"
Destiny: "Yeup!" *She meowed in agreement and floated towards Luna and the guards.*
Guard C: *She quickly picked up Luna and stepped back.* "Have a great day!"
Guard B: "Bye now!"
Guard A: "We hope you enjoyed your stay."
Lezard: "Bye! It's been amazing!" *He waved the guards off, as they all quickly marched up the stairs in a fleeing-like manner.*
Luna: "Destiny!" *She screamed and spread her arms, as Destiny flew into them.*
Destiny: "Yeu!"
Luna: (I missed you! I'm so glad you're safe!) *She tightly held Destiny close to her and smiled with her eyes closed, causing tears of happiness to run down her cheeks.*
*Blue transparent ribbon-like strings, swayed from Destiny and Luna, catching Nathan's attention.*
Nathan: (The Soul Link..) *He watched the ribbons suddenly connect into each other, causing Luna and Destiny to discreetly sigh with pleasure.*
Luna: (I'm sorry.)
Destiny: (Me too.) *Her thoughts echoed in Luna's mind, causing her to meow in shock.* (I can-..?)
Luna: *She leant back with a growing smile.* (You can what?)
Destiny: (I couldn't think to myself, like I am now?)
Luna: (I don't get ya. You can't think without me?)
Destiny: (I can, but.. I'm not as smart.) *She spoke in confusion.*
Luna: (Remember wat Nath said? Both our abilities get risen. Maybe you just get some of my intel?)
Destiny: "Yeueu."
Luna: "Aha." *They chuckled at the same time, causing the guild to smile.*
Rachael: *She glanced at the guild.* "I'm going to put Karol to rest."
Lezard: "When dindin is ready, shall we feast at our favourite tavern?"
Rachael: "Sounds good."
Champion: "I will accompany you, Rachael."
Rachael: "Sure." *She smiled and nudged her head down the hallway, before walking down it herself.*
Nathan: "I'll go rest for a little while." *He announced and turned around, walking outside the castle.*
Lezard: *He tilted his head over his shoulder and watched the castle doors ripple, as he adjusted his cone-shaped hat.* (Notorious Nathan is going to rest, yet the beds are inside the castle. Ooo, a future deep and meaningful between Lezard and Nathan? Stay tuned to find out.) *He giggled in thought, causing Luna to look at him like he's an idiot.*
Luna: *She watched Lezard wiggle his bottom.* "You dirty dancin' by yourself is not the first thing we want to look at."
Destiny: "Huesst." *She hissed at Lezard in a supportive-like manner.*
Lezard: "Okies. Bye, everyone!" *He giggled and turned around, hobbling out of the castle.*
Luna: "Weird." *She grunted under her breath.*
Destiny: (I was scared-)
Luna: *She suddenly leant back.* "Oi, let's take a bath. You stink." *She spoke with a playful smile.*
Destiny: "Yeup!" *She meowed in happiness.*
----------
*Rachael gently placed Karol in a single bed with bright white sheets, in a very well lit room.*
Rachael: *She adjusted Karol's head on the bed and turned around, looking at the champion.* (Despite being very clean, this part of the castle gives me a hospital-like feeling.)
Champion: "We did it."
Rachael: *She nodded her head in concern.* "Destiny is safe and sound."
Champion: "Are you worried about the creature too?"
Rachael: "Yeah.." *She looked back to Karol.* "I just hope he's okay."
Champion: "When you were beating on his chest, what were you doing? It was amazing."
Rachael: "Basic first aid?" *She shook her head with a chuckle.* "Being able to heal people through light. Now that's amazing."
Champion: "Oh my, you think so?" *She smiled with her eyes closed.*
Rachael: "I shouldn't say basic first aid.. Even if he wakes up, I hope there're no devastating damages."
Champion: "I may not be a healer, but I feel there is no major damage around his neck."
Rachael: *She smiled with a sigh, trying to mask her worry.* (I hope so.)
Champion: "Let's look at the positives, Rachael. We've got Destiny back and now we know what to look for with this creature."
Rachael: (Positives.. Ash, you'd respond in a similar way, wouldn't you?) *She silently nodded her head.*
Champion: "Perhaps we should follow suit, and get some rest ourselves?"
Rachael: *She looked at her hands and opened and closed them.* (I'm not even tired. Or even a little bit run down.) "Yeah, sure. Sounds good, hehe."
Champion: "See you at the guild's tavern."
Rachael: "Where are you going?"
Champion: "Battling Oxident is almost ready."
Rachael: "Already?"
Champion: *She nodded her head.* "As the champion, I've made an off-screen agreement with Season."
Rachael: "Season? He's the ruler."
Champion: "Correct. To ensure a guaranteed income, I am to make my presence known at every Battling Oxident."
Rachael: "You scratch his back, he scratches yours?"
Champion: *She giggled.* "Right you are."
Rachael: "Why are you the champion?"
Champion: "Oh my, what do you mean? You've seen my fighting skills?"
Rachael: "I mean, hasn't there been a warrior to challenge you on equal terms? Surely there're people out there that are stronger than you?"
Champion: "There definitely are. Perhaps they haven't joined Battling Oxident?"
Rachael: "Probably."
Champion: "I'll need to check in with Season and let him know which teleportation glyph I'll be taking."
Rachael: "Sounds like a lot of work."
Champion: "Oh it is. But not worrying about money justifies this."
Rachael: "Is that why you never use any of the guild's winnings?"
Champion: "I don't believe I'm actually part of the guild."
Rachael: "Oh." *She looked shocked, as if she forgot it.*
Champion: "Perhaps you would like to enter these games?"
Rachael: "Well." *She spoke with slight excitement
, as if she was happy with the idea.* "I have been wanting to do it for a while now."
Champion: "Would you like me to sign you up? You actually have an opportunity now."
Rachael: "Well.."
Champion: "You don't sound too excited? No longer interested?"
Rachael: "I just don't feel like it right now."
Champion: *She looked slightly disappointed.* "I understand-"
Rachael: "But I'll definitely be a spectator."
Champion: *She smiled.* "Excellent. I have a feeling this will be a great Battling Oxident."
Rachael: "Hehe, I can't wait."
Champion: "Well, I best take my leave." *She smiled with her eyes closed and turned around, hobbling out of the room.*
Rachael: *She looked over her shoulder, staring at Karol.* (I'm starting to think all this violence may not be the best for Karol.)
Karol: "Pssswh." *He slept with a slight snore, causing a bubble of snot to expand from his nose.*
Rachael: (Sleep well.) *She turned around and walked out of the room.*
Chapter 4: Karol's Tale
*Klaus stepped over several broken boulders and placed his hand on a tree made of stone.*
Klaus: "It was here." *He glanced to each side with altered vision, staring at an aura-like trail of yellowish-gold waft through the air.*
*Klaus suddenly flashstepped onto a stone branch, causing the ground to crumble where he stood.*
Klaus: "Going through The Twilight Forest? Where is he going?"
*Klaus bent his knees and jumped high into the air, gliding through an opening of the after destruction of a battle.*
Klaus: "Remenistal was used here." *He landed on his toes, causing two pulses of darkness to puff across the ground, as if he cushioned his landing.*
*Klaus waved his hand and a wave of aurora sprinkled on to the ground, revealing human-shaped footprints with three toes and visible claws.*
Klaus: "Next time I see him, the outcome will not be the same. Even if Ginger is not by my side, I will initiate the Ougi I have acquired from the Aurorions." *He smirked and looked ahead, suddenly puffing into shadow-like smoke.*
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Karol: *He slowly opened his eyes and felt his head with a child-like pout.* "Where-?"
*Karol leant up and placed both hands around the sides of his neck, gently rubbing it with his thumbs.*
Karol: (My froat is sore-) *He coughed and leant up, observing the room.* "How did I-?"
*Karol looked down in recollection, triggering a flashback of Synthoss breaking his neck.*
Karol: "I couldn't move my bodee. I couldn't move, but I could see, I could still hear, I could feel the wind blow in my hair, but I couldn't move.. Then everyfing went dark." *His eyes started to water.*
*Karol looked down and kicked his feet in a sad-like manner.*
Karol: "I.. Whant to do somefing." *He hopped out of bed and leant forward, as he continued to hold his neck with discomfort.* (What is wrong wiff my body? It feels slower than normal.)
*Karol lifted his head and started to shuffle out of the room, glancing to each side down the hallway.*
Karol: (Nobody is here.)
----------
*Rachael walked into the research facility and noticed Dawn fist pumping the air in excitement.*
Rachael: "Dawn, has research or yourself found something?"
Dawn: *She pushed her glasses up with two fingers.* "All preparations for Battling Oxident have been completed on our end. We're just waiting for Season to accept the teleportation glyphs and establish a connection. It's a very stressful time."
Rachael: "It would be hard to do any research with planning such a thing."
Dawn: "Exactly." *She spoke with emphasis, implying that's the reason why she was happy she completed it.* "Why are you here anyway?"
Rachael: "Has anyone got back to you about the demon?"
Dawn: *She gasped in realisation.* "With Battling Oxident, I completely forgot about it!"
Rachael: *She nodded her head.* "We actually encountered it."
Dawn: *She quickly waved to a spare Rosterology console and sat down with anticipation.* "Tell research and I everything."
Rachael: "Before I go into that.. I want to talk about Karol."
Dawn: "Karol?" *She sounded confused and unimpressed.*
Rachael: "It's his involving with the guild."
Dawn: "Isn't he meant to be the leader?"
Rachael: "Yeah." *She sat down on a white seat which levitated off the floor.*
Dawn: "Well, what's the problem?"
Rachael: "He almost died when we were in The Twilight Forest."
Dawn: "And?"
Rachael: "And?" *She spoke in confusion.*
Dawn: "That's normal? If a child goes into a place where they shouldn't at a young age, that's to be expected. And besides, you've been doing this for a few years, why suddenly change your mind?"
Rachael: (It's normal? Is this really a normal thing in this world? Despite calling this place my home, maybe I still have the morals associated with Earth?) *She looked at Dawn, staring at the slight reflection of the light in her glasses.* "I haven't really changed my mind-.. It was just an eye-opener."
Dawn: "Aren't you his guardian?"
Rachael: *She nodded her head.* "That's why I'm thinking like this. He's my responsibility."
Dawn: "I also understand that, but he isn't a possession."
Rachael: "Pardon?"
Dawn: "Well, he is your responsibility-" *She pushed her glasses back and pressed several buttons on the Rosterology console, causing a screen to begin scanning the continents.* "But remember, he's also his own person."
Rachael: *She sighed in understanding.* "I might sound like just any other parent or older sister, but he nearly died."
Dawn: *She smiled.* "You know, research tells me not many boys his age can do what he does. He's a Rostic Dancer-"
Rachael: "He's nine. He's only nine years old."
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