Desert Dragon, page 11
Trevour: "O-Of course, boss!" *He walked slightly faster to get a better look at Rachael's facial expressions.*
Rachael: "Could you please tell me more about your family?"
Trevour: "Oh.." *He sounded less enthusiastic, as if he was hoping to talk about something else.*
Rachael: "It's cool if you don't-"
Trevour: "Alan.. He's the oldest sibling from my family. He was always the most stubborn and arrogant-" *He walked down the grey rocky terrain, watching the colourless clouds sway across the sky.*
Rachael: "Aren't all older siblings?"
Trevour: "Heh heh. He acts out the parental role, trying to keep the three of us in check."
Rachael: "Oh?"
Trevour: "Then you have Felipe. He's-"
Rachael: "He's the one I met at The Agoura Marbles, right?" *She noticed she interrupted Trevour.* "Oops, sorry, hehe."
Trevour: "Heh heh, that's quite alright, boss. And no, that was Alan."
Rachael: "Please." *She nodded her head as if she wanted Trevour to continue while she hopped over large boulders.*
Trevour: "Felipe, he's strong at manipulating lava, but not so great at ground, well, compared to Alan and Rosemary."
Rachael: "Tell me more about Rosemary, please."
Trevour: "She's very kind and always looked out for me. She treated everyone well and was the reason why I was able to stay at home for so long."
Rachael: "What does that mean?"
Trevour: "I eventually got kicked out."
Rachael: "By your own family?"
Trevour: "Yes. They were disgusted I could never achieve the level two elemental affinity."
Rachael: "What are level two?"
Trevour: "Well, for example, fire eventually turns into either lightning or lava."
Rachael: "Two?"
Trevour: *He nodded his head.* "It depends on the user."
Rachael: "And the others?" *She smiled with satisfaction, as if she was happy she was learning.*
Trevour: "Wind eventually turns into lightning. Ice turns into water or vice-versa."
Rachael: (Vice versa? I would've imagined ice being stronger than water, but after learning how to use Dust Storm, I understand how hard manipulating free-moving elements can be-) "And what about ground?"
Trevour: "Lava.."
Rachael: "But I've heard a few people say sand or dirt is the next stage above rock."
Trevour: "My siblings are living proof that's not the case."
Rachael: "I still think you're amazing."
Trevour: "Heh heh, thank you, boss."
Rachael: "What about your parents? I don't like to think they'd let your siblings treat you in such a manner."
Trevour: "Well.. That's all I'd like to say for now." *He smiled with sadness, causing Rachael to look away in understanding.*
Rachael: (Did something happen to his parents?)
Trevour: "Well, if you don't mind me asking, boss. Could you tell me more about this Ashton gentleman?"
Rachael: "Ash?" *She spoke on her breath and looked down with a smile.*
Trevour: *He noticed Rachael's strange behaviour, causing him to stutter in understanding.* "What shall we do after this quest? Check and see if Lezard has found anything out about-?"
Rachael: "Ash, he's my partner."
Trevour: "Partner?"
Rachael: "Yeah. The most kind hearted person you'll ever meet.. He's the reason why I want to go back to Earth."
Trevour: "Oh.. He means that much to you?"
Rachael: "Of course. I guess you could say, I'm hopelessly in love with him."
Trevour: "In.. In love?" *He sounded surprised and confused, as if he didn't want to hear it.*
Rachael: "I usually don't like talking about Ashton or how I feel to strangers, but-" *She looked at Trevour with a widening smile.* "We're friends now, hey."
Trevour: "Y-Yeah, friends heh heh.. You really love him, don't you, boss?"
Rachael: *She nodded her head.* "There hasn't been a day where I haven't stopped thinking about him.. That strong urge to protect and be protected by him, just thinking about him makes me feel all warm and safe."
Trevour: "Boss?"
Rachael: "I.. I love him more than anything else, he's.. He's my will to keep going."
Trevour: "..."
Rachael: "Sorry to bore you, hehe, I know some guys aren't really fond of this talk."
Trevour: "Oh, it's fine. I asked, remember? Heh heh."
Rachael: "One day.. One day, I'll get to see his lame smile once again."
Trevour: (I.. I love him more than anything else, he's.. He's my will to keep going.) *Rachael's voice echoed inside his head, causing him to discreetly form fists.*
Rachael: *She noticed a warp in the air, causing her to slow down.* "I think we're here."
Trevour: "Right you are, boss." *He sighed and mentally prepared himself, allowing him to smile in a happy-like manner.*
Rachael: "Thanks for the chat, Trev."
Trevour: "..."
Rachael: "Trevour?"
Trevour: "Oh-" *He coughed and nodded his head.* "Any time, boss."
Rachael: "Hehe." *She giggled and stepped through the warped air, causing her image to fade out of sight.*
Trevour: "Ashton.. He must be an amazing person to win the heart of someone like Rachael." *He spoke to himself and followed Rachael through the warped air, causing his image to disappear.*
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*Swaying tree branches suddenly exploded, dropping the man and poodle-like Scoldrant on to the ground.*
Nathan: "You! Get out of here! We'll hold off the Wah-Whakatah."
Man: "R-Right! Fruity-loo!"
Scoldrant: "Peowpeow."
Karol: *He watched the man leave with his Scoldrant.* "Nafan? Loona?"
Nathan: *He pointed the sword at the moving tree.* "We'll weaken it and then retreat."
Luna: "Windstream Shot." *She flicked the string and shot an arrow of wind to the side of Nathan, exploding a wine-like branch away from him.*
Nathan: "Huh?" *He watched splinters of bark spiral past his face.*
Luna: "You're the one with the sword, go on." *She nudged her head at the tree, implying for Nathan to run towards it.*
Nathan: "Fine!"
Luna: "Fine then!"
Karol: *He watched Luna and Nathan shout at each other face to face.* "Shouldn't we be fowcusing on the Scoldrant-?"
Nathan: "Whatever."
Luna: "Wateva!"
Tree-like Scoldrant: "Vine Brush." *Vine-like branches whipped past Nathan, cutting his cheeks open.*
Nathan: "Argh!-"
Luna: "Nath!"
Karol: "Nafan!"
Nathan: *He slid back with squinted eyes and quickly faced the Scoldrant.* "You two get back!"
Luna: *She frowned.* "I'm not weak, I can-"
Nathan: "How can I protect you?!" *He shouted in determination and placed his right hand on the sword's tip, as his body glowed a shade of blue.*
Tree-like Scoldrant: "Vine Brush." *It whipped its vine-like branches and swayed them towards Nathan.*
Nathan: *He opened his eyes and watched the vines whip the sword, noticing they flicked back in a repelled-like manner with each hit.* "Great Div-"
Tree-like Scoldrant: "Oarrrrrrr-" *Its bark made mouth creaked, causing more branches to whip at Nathan.*
Luna: "O-Oi!" *She screamed at the tree.* "Why are ya only attackin' him?!"
Destiny: "Yeup!"
Nathan: (I can't use my Azure Burst with these consecutive hits!-) *His face violently rocked to each side.*
Karol: "Defence Up." *He started to dance, causing a small sigil-like glyph to draw itself underneath Nathan.*
Nathan: *He noticed the vines no longer moved him with each hit.* "Thanks!"
Karol: "We're men! We pwotect each other!"
Luna: "Pssht-" *She pulled the string to her bow and shot an arrow of wind in front of Nathan, bursting all the branches away from him.*
Nathan: "Hmph-" *He readjusted his grip on the sword and readied to charge towards the Scoldrant.*
Tree-like Scoldrant: "LIFA BLOSSOM"
Karol: *He stopped dancing, causing the sigil-like glyph to fade away.* "Lifa Bwossom?"
Luna: "Sounds gay-" *She suddenly choked, as a vine burst out of the ground, wrapping itself around her neck and feet.*
Destiny: "Yeup! Yeup!" *She hissed and started to gnaw on the vine, attempting to bite it off.*
Nathan: "Luna!" *He shouted with growing panic and glared at the vines.* "Air-"
Tree-like Scoldrant: "Growth Tuck." *It suddenly withdrew all of its branches, flicking Luna over the ledge.*
Luna: *She dangled upside down, suddenly looking up at the sky as Destiny rolled over in disorientation.* (Shit, shit, shit-)
Destiny: "Yeup?" *She quickly attached herself on the back of Luna's head, allowing them both to see the violent ocean below them.*
Luna: "Oh shit-"
Nathan: "I'm coming, Luna, Destiny!" *He shouted in a worried-like manner.* "Ougi."
Karol: *He staggered back, watching the entire area around him come to live as more branches swayed into the air.* "N-Nafan-"
Nathan: *He started to shake his wrist, causing the sword to unnaturally vibrate.* "Let her go!" *He jumped towards the tree and raised his arm, causing the sword's image to move like a snake.*
Karol: *He watched the top of Luna's leg move up and down from behind the ledge.* "If she falls from that hight..." *He squealed in shock.*
Nathan: "Hah!" *He waved the sword to each side, causing the branches to explode away from him.*
Karol: *He watched Nathan slowly march deeper into the forest of moving branches.* (The bwanches are breaking before they even touch Nathan or his sword-)
Nathan: "Hahh!" *He shouted and ignored thick veins which bulged around his right shoulder.*
Karol: *He intensely stared at Nathan, watching him slowly stagger towards the ledge where Luna screamed from.* (Pwease.. Make it-)
Tree-like Scoldrant: "Oarrrrr." *It continued to whip its branches towards Nathan, watching them explode closer and closer to Nathan, as if his attack was growing weaker.*
Nathan: (I'm sorry, Luna.. I don't think I can-)
Karol: "Nafan!" *He squealed at the top of his lungs and kicked the ground, causing an expanding orange glyph to spread from his foot.* "Power Up."
*Karol started to dance with enthusiasm, causing the glyph to spread under Nathan.*
Nathan: *He listened to the change of sound in his sword, causing the branches to explode much farther away from him.* (It isn't hurting as much to move my sword with this speed-)
Karol: "Swave Loona!"
Nathan: "Karol?" *He stepped to the side and waved his snake-like sword down, exploding all the branches to his right.*
Tree-like Scoldrant: "Oaarr! LIFA BLOSSOM" *It croaked with an echo, as more branches erupted out of the ground around Nathan.*
Nathan: (With every cut, my confidence continues to grow-) *He glanced at his hand around the sword, noticing shards of wood jabbing into his skin.*
Karol: "Pwease, Nafan!"
Luna: *The branch around her foot tightened, causing a loud crack to be heard.* "Urgh!" *She screamed in pain, alerting Nathan, Destiny and Karol.*
Destiny: "Yeup! Yeup! Yeuu!" *She hissed in pain, as if she felt it too.*
Nathan: *He glanced at the orange glyph under him and continued to run towards the ledge.* (Even with this glyph, my power isn't enough!) "Double Slash."
*Nathan visible swayed his blurred arm twice, listening to two 'vsssht'-like sounds, as several branches crumbled to dust.*
Nathan: *He frowned in determination and jumped off the ledge, ignoring the bursting splinters of bark around him.* "Luna!"
Karol: "Naf!-" *He gasped, watching Nathan fall out of his sight.* "Nafan!"
Luna: *She gasped in shock and looked up to her side, watching Nathan grab hold of a branch.* "Dickhead?"
Nathan: *He hung off the branch by Luna's side.* "Give me your hand!"
Destiny: "Yeup?!" *She meowed in shock, as if she wasn't expecting Nathan to be there.*
Luna: *She noticed Nathan's sword revert back to normal, as he stopped moving his wrist.* "Your arm-?"
Nathan: "Take my hand!" *He tried to reach forward to grab Luna.* (Dammit! She's too far away!)
Luna: *She squirmed, trying to reach Nathan.* "I can't!"
Destiny: "Yeu, yeup!" *She readied to hop down Luna's arm to see if she can extend the reach.*
Nathan: "Don't, Destiny! You'll fall-" *He grabbed the branch with both hands to prevent him from falling.*
Luna: "Wat the fuck can we do then?!"
Nathan: "Use your lightning arrow!"
Luna: "My wat?"
Nathan: "You used it before!"
Luna: "I dunno how to do that! I only manipulated gastly's lightning-"
Nathan: *He paused in thought and suddenly gasped with a smile.* "I'm not a fan of Rostical, but learning elemental affinities should be similar to Azure Bursts."
Luna: "Harh?" *She grunted with gritted teeth, as blood ran up her leg from the branch.*
Nathan: "I tried to learn the Azure Burst, number forty five."
Luna: "Aye?"
Nathan: "Sorry-" *He chuckled, shaking his head.* "Streaming Sword."
Luna: "I'm not in the mood to be learnin' shit right now! If you haven't noticed, I forgot to bring a pen!"
Nathan: "Even though I couldn't grasp the element, this is what many people did-" *He raised the sword in pain and slashed the rocky cliff next to him, causing a line of sparks to splinter off the stone.*
Luna: "So?"
Nathan: "It may be different from manipulating lightning, but use the sparks!"
Luna: "How the fuck can I do that?!"
Destiny: "Yeup!"
Nathan: "An Elementalist would have no problem!"
Luna: "But-" *She paused, shaking her head.* (I'm getting light-headed-)
Nathan: "Do it!" *He slashed the sword across the cliff, causing his face to momentarily light up from the sparks.*
Luna: "Gah-" *She swayed her hand, causing a swirl of wind to elongate the sparks.* "H-Huh?"
Nathan: "See! Again!-"
Tree-like Scoldrant: "Ougi, oarrr!" *It dragged itself towards the cliff, as if it was ready to finish off Nathan and Luna.*
Karol: "H-Huh? Isn't this fowest its Ougee?!" *He squealed to himself.*
Tree-like Scoldrant: "Thorn Shrewfield!" *Its echoing croaks caused large thorns to burst out of the branches.*
Nathan: *He heard wood-like cuts, drawing his attention to the thorny vines.* (We don't have long-) "Keep at it!"
Luna: "OK-" *She tried to calm herself down and waited for Nathan to cause more sparks.*
Nathan: "Hah!" *He slashed the sword across the rocks.*
Luna: "Gah!-" *She swayed to the side, causing strings of electricity to flash from the growing sparks.*
Nathan: *He squinted his eyes and watched the lightning flash away.* "You almost did-"
Luna: "Again!"
Nathan: *He smiled and slashed the sword once again.* "Now!-"
Luna: *She swayed her arm, causing strings of electricity to swirl past Nathan and around her hand.* "I got this!"
Nathan: "You need to shoot the Scoldrant's nervous system!"
Luna: "Where the fuck is that-?!"
Destiny: "Yeu, yeu!" *She meowed in agreement and observed the tree with inverted vision, focusing her attention on a crack in between two large branches.*
Luna: *She pulled the string back, causing the electricity to form itself into a lightning arrow.* "Seraphic Volt."
Destiny: "Yeup!" *She meowed with widening eyes, ensuring Luna had perfect vision on her target.*
Luna: "Gah!-" *She released the string, shooting the arrow made of lightning into the tree's branches.*
Tree-like Scoldrant: "Oarrr!" *It croaked in pain, as lightning sparked down its vine-like branches.*
Nathan: *He noticed the branches around him lose their life-like movements.* "Now!-"
Luna: *The branch around her feet loosened, allowing her to reach Nathan.* "Sh-Shit-"
Nathan: "Gotcha-" *He tightly held onto Luna and looked up.* "Karol!"
Karol: *He glanced across towards Nathan's voice, shaking his head.* "I kan't see yooh!"
Nathan: "Karol! Power it up, only on this branch!" *He shouted and tugged on the branch, showing Karol which one to focus on.*
Karol: *He danced with his arms and spun around, causing a small sigil-like glyph to form around the branch.* "Power Up."
Luna: "Why do you want to power this fucker up?!"
Tree-like Scoldrant: *It swayed the branch Nathan, Luna and Destiny hung off and threw them up into the air with heightened strength.* "Oar-?"
Luna: "Arh!?"
Karol: "Everwyone!" *He watched Luna, Nathan and Destiny hit the ground in relief.*
Luna: "Fuck.." *He grunted with a loss of breath, lying on her back.*
Tree-like Scoldrant: "Oarr!" *It slowly turned around in confusion, as if it wasn't expecting to throw Nathan and Luna right over its body.*
Nathan: *He quickly grabbed the sword and slashed behind him.* "Air Slash."
Tree-like Scoldrant: "Oar-" *The air slash hit its stump and pushed it back, as its body was still weakened from the lightning.*
Karol: *He stopped dancing and ran towards the guild, tripping on his own foot.* "Wah-" *He landed face-first into the ground.* "Owch!"
Nathan: *He ignored his throbbing arm and leant over Luna, ensuring she was okay.* "We did it?"
Luna: "Aye?" *She looked behind her and watched the tree fall off the cliff in shock.* "How?"
Nathan: "It was violently moving its branches through the ground, combined with losing its strength and being near the cliff-" *He rocked his head to the side, as if the rest was obvious.*
Luna: "Aha, nice."
Nathan: *He smiled and looked Luna in the eyes.* "Ha ha."
Luna: *Her smile slowly faded into seriousness, as she stared at Nathan's lips.* "Thanks, aye."
Nathan: *He dropped the sword and placed one hand on Luna's face.* "We thought we lost you."
Luna: *She rested flat on her back, staring up at Nathan who leant over her in a protective-like manner.* "Oh...?"
Destiny: "Yeu?" *She purred to herself, listening to Luna and Nathan's heartbeat.*
Nathan: "Don't scare me like that-"
