User:NeloAngelo/Redstuff/1-12

Rhythm of Red - Nelo

"Hey!" Another familiar voice. It came behind me. It's Red with Yotta tailing behind. ....and a dark blob? What the hell. What are they doing here?

The sword saint's glanced at Red with a cold unfeeling demeanour, as if her saddened look has never happened. From our distance, I heard her muttering: "That staff...." The sword saint cold eyes quickly turn into a hateful glare upon saying those words, like a sudden ripple in a still water. Directing a killing intent she towards Red that felt impulsive, she spoke again, this time with a clear voice, "You scum of that abominable man. What are you doing here?" 'That man' again. Who was she referring to? Red replied nothing, but raised her staff towards her chest, trying to put as much as a distance between them. As if that action is gonna mean anything. Run, you idiot!

Before my voice could escape me, the sword saint has already performed another step- towards Red. The pain on my chest have lessened, but my body isn't acting according to my will. The instinctive fear in this body is stopping my movement -seizing up. Goddamnit, move!

With all my strength, I threw swipe of arm towards the sword saint's position. Pumping as many magic as I have, I shot a large column of fire between her and Red. The rough and aimless fire pierced through the air, almost like a wild fire that flutter among the wind. Agh, this is the sloppiest shot I've done ever since I woke up. Luckily, it worked. The sword saint quickly jumped backwards from the flame. Just as she lands, two shadowy tendrils quickly rushed towards her- Just as she effortlessly smack them away with her sheath. The tendrils came from Red- behind Red. It's Yotta? ....Nope, the dark blob. What is that thing?

The sword saint doesn't seem to be even slightly interested in the dark blob. Instead, she locked on to me. "Why are you helping her?" She asked. Her tone revealing a genuine anger and annoyance. The sword saint is gripping her sheath tightly- ready to strike. Before I could say anything the shadowy blob extended its dark tendrils cutting in between me and the sword saint. The sword saint tried to smack it away with sheath again, but the tendril split itself top-down before the sheath could even contact- the top end then turned into a spike spearing towards her. Surprised, the sword saint jumped back again, safely out of the spike's attack vicinity. Through this series of strikes and manuveurs, the sword saint hasn't even panted a breath.

"Pardon me." Another familiar voice. This one's recent. Yotta. Stepping in front of Red, Yotta bowed towards the sword saint. Wow, he does that to everyone, doesn't he? Just in time for the dark blob to slink back to his position.


 * Yotta: What a pleasant honor it is to meet with the fabled sword saint- Chime.
 * Chime: ....
 * Nelo: Chime... So that's her name?
 * Chime: That uniform and gear....Everian?
 * Yotta: Indeed. I am a Scholar of Magia academy. I am honored that you are able to remember-
 * Chime: How many times do I have teach you guys this lesson?
 * Yotta: I am not here as representative of Everia or the Academy.
 * Chime: Then stay out of this.
 * Yotta: Unfortunately- this, I cannot oblige.

As Yotta finished his sentence, the dark blob rushed past me and towards Chime, almost in sync. A nonchalant Chime tried to smack it away with her sheath, but the blob split itself- this time left-to-right, and barricaded between Chime before closing in. Chime was forced to retreat back again. Was the enclosed space stopping her from unsheathing? Or was she deeming it not worth of her effort? As she lands, the dark blob pounced towards her again, determined to not let her even have one slight relief.

"If you're done gawking, Solvei." Yotta appeared beside me, his hand extending forward. He had that usual calm smile, almost saying "everything is within my estimates". As he helped me up, Yotta continued, "We have to go. Umbra will not keep the Sword Aaint in place long." "Umbra?" "Yes, the shadowy being is a drone developed by me. Credits where credits due, the name comes from Red. Speaking of which-" We moved towards Red's direction, who's preparing to leave as well. "Well aren't you just full of surprises." I said. "I could say the same thing about you." Yotta said, again with the smile.

As we reunite with Red, Yotta took out a vial containing a black liquid- the same texture as Umbra's. "Just in case." Yotta said, then threw it towards Chime's location. The vial shatters upon contact with the earth, then expanding rapidly and gaining a more solid form- a short few seconds, it became another Umbra. "Go." A simple command from Yotta directed towards the second Umbra, and it quickly meshes into the horizon with the first.

Moving past the corpses of Grotesque I've laid waste, we finally made it back to the airship. Upon entrance, Red rushed to the guards, urging them to relay the message of restarting flight. Seconds later, the airship began levitating. And then&mdash; I hear a sound. A distant, soft sound of a chime. It's from Chime's location. Yotta looked towards the distance, his eyes beaming with pride, then uttered, "Wonderful. To think my creation is able to force the sword saint to draw her sword. Perhaps this trip is more fruitful than I thought." The airship has begun its flight. For now, we seems to be out of Chime's reach. Unless she can shoot down airships.

For the rest of the flight I rested myself in the corner. Beyond my wounds, beyond my fatigue, is the numerous questions that popped in my head. Who is Chime? She's speaking as if she knows me... and a part of me feels that I know her as well, but I can't remember it. Before I could further digest, Red approached me.


 * Red: You okay?
 * Nelo: I'll live. You?
 * Red: Yeah... honestly, I thought I was going to die back then.
 * Nelo: Sorry.
 * Red: Hey, look, it's not your fault. If it wasn't for you, I'd probably be ribbons by now.
 * Nelo: .....

"Pardon me." Yotta stepped in again. He lowered down to my level, as if inspecting me, then said: "Oh my, it looks like your antibody shot ran out of effect."

Antibody? Shot? Shit. My red eyes are not covered up. I instinctively tried to hide my eyes with my hand, as Red hastily stepped in as well. Weird. Yotta's tone doesn't show panic or fear -in contrast of the usual response I've come to expect.

"He-he's fine! It's probably just the lighting." Red quickly answered. "Are you sure? Because I can administer some spare Red Thinner injections for you as precaution." Yotta approached again. "I'm fine. It's the lighting. I'm taking my shots." I replied. Before I know it, Red is slapping her palm at her face. Without a pause, Yotta continued, "Solvei, Red Thinner takes effect only through ingestion. So, who are you?"


 * Red: ....
 * Nelo: Wish I could tell you, but I don't remember.
 * Yotta: Amnesia?
 * Red: Solvei's been like this ever since I found him. So far, the only thing we know is that he has red eyes, but the Plague doesn't seem to stick to him.
 * Yotta: Hmm, fascinating. Just like the sword saint.
 * Nelo: -! You mean...
 * Yotta: From reports that we gathered, Chime has the same condition as yours -red eyes, but immunity against the Plague.
 * Nelo: Sounds like you've done your homework.
 * Yotta: Come to think it, the way she speaks with you...it's almost as if she knows you.
 * Nelo: Aren't you forgetting Red?
 * Yotta: I can explain her hostility towards Red. Chime has never been a fan of Shamans...to say the least.
 * Nelo: She did say something about her staff.
 * Red: She seemed more angry that you're with me than anything, Solvei. So it loops back to you.
 * Nelo: ....
 * Yotta: Whichever it is, you should rest for now. Relax, I have no intention of making your secret public.
 * Nelo: That sounds way too generous.
 * Yotta: Well, I won't deny that your red eyes is an interesting subject, but among others, there is something about you that fascinates me more than the Sword Saint.
 * Nelo: And that is?
 * Yotta: Your usage of magic. No catalyst or program loaded, no butterfly offering made, from imagination to manifest in the blink of an eye.
 * Nelo: I don't-
 * Yotta: Yes, yes, you don't remember. But we should save this topic at a later date, with you at this state, it would do me no good.
 * Red: C'mon, Solvei, I gotta touch up your eyes.

A single motion of the staff waved at my eyes, dulling the red to brown. Yotta crossed his arms, as if amused by Red's simple application of magic.


 * Red: *Sigh* we still don't know where this airship is headed to.
 * Nelo: I thought the sky cleared and we're enroute to Chiara.
 * Yotta: Unfortunately, the Sky Regent's persistence means we would have to switch to a temporary stop at another location.
 * Nelo: Sounds like a drag.
 * Red: ....I'll go ask the guards.

Red left us and walked towards one of the guards. A few minutes later, she returned, her usual expression changed to that of annoyance. "Everia. We're headed towards Everia." The first thing she spoke returning to us. Red sounded tired, almost reluctant to acknowledge what she just said. "Home sweet home." Yotta followed up nonchalantly. Though he has repeatedly introduced himself from Everia, Yotta's tone this time doesn't seem to care much about it. "Don't like Everia?" I asked the two of them. "Well....I suppose it'd be nice to be back once in a while." Yotta replied. "I have my reasons." Red replied. Everia...oh yeah, I think that's where Red's originally meant to be sent to. And where Sophie came from.

Neither of them seems interested in continuing the conversation. Is Everia really that bad?

We kept our silence for the remainder of the flight. Then the communication system rang: <> I reached out to the window- It's already dusk. Outside the window, I see a port lined with mechanical buildings.



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