CHAPTER III: A SCHOOL GIRL IN THE NIGHT

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River stayed outside his tent for the first watch thinking about everything that happened to him.

First, the attack on Emerald's house. Three Sandabado soldiers came for him. Their sole purpose is to take him to their, they said, master. That could only be the head of the country's military force. The letter also stated that he is being summoned to their headquarters. Question is, why?Then, he was pursued by Ector Serafini who fought Cray and Hope. Thank goodness they stood their ground and was able to defeat the guy. How though, he would have to find out soon enough. And then there's Myoku Reiko. What does he know about the girl really? 

Myoku Reiko, I know her, that's for sure. What do I know about her, though. She, Hope and I already met before. But I know her more than Hope. She was from LaMahaya, too. Does that mean she was sent to capture me? No, I don't think so. It doesn't feel that way. "Never let your guard down" she said. That might mean she wanted me to always be on guard, keep watch. But from who? 

She also called me Ice Man and Master. She must've really known me. Everyone in LaMahaya calls me master because I am the emperor's son, but only one person calls me Ice Man and that is... what the hell, I can't remember! 

The wolf he stationed to guard Hope's tent suddenly grunted and ran into the forest. "Wait here," he ordered two wolves and willed to have the other two go with him. Cray crawled out of her ice tent rubbing her eyes as she yawn. "River, I can't sleep--" she said. "Huh? Where's that guy?" One of River's wolves whimpered and nudged Cray. When Hope heard the wolf, she crawled out of her own tent then stood in front of the wolf guarding Cray's tent. "Hope's wolfie?" she said looking at the ice wolf. Cray walked toward the wolf and ruffled its head. "Hope's wolfie it is. But where is River?" Cray asked. The wolf looks at the dark forest as if pointing at something. Hope pulls out her water gun at ready as River came back running into camp. "There is something in the woods!" he said. "It destroyed three of my wolves already." Just then, two small red lights the size of a coin appeared in the dark. "What are those things?" River asked. Cray did not respond. "Woflie will protect Hope!" Hope said trying to hug the wolf beside her. River willed the water under the ground to surface and float around his feet, ready at a moment's notice. Hope noticed everyone getting ready to fight. "What shall Hope do?" she asked. As if able to understand human language, an ice wolf moved near Hope guarding her, seemingly having a mind of its own, which made Hope adored it even more.

The red lights disappeared as an ordinary looking girl emerged from the dark. The girl was about four feet tall, wearing what looks like a school uniform: white long-sleeved blouse with a short blue necktie, a blue skirt, white knee-high socks and black shoes. Its hair was braided down with a red ribbon. River released his water control as he felt no danger. "It's just a little girl," he said. However, Cray thought differently. The little girl blinked and her eyes lit red. Cray realized that the red lights they saw were actually the little girl's. "That's... that's a cyborg, River!" she screamed. "Cyborg?" River asked Cray. "Uh-huh..." Cray stuttered. River approached the cyborg studying its appearance. "What exactly is a cyborg? I've never heard of them," he told Cray. "It's... it's... Girl... Metal..." Cray panicked. River innocently turned to the cyborg and talked to it. "Why are you so pale?" he asked. The cyborg slowly opened its mouth and another red light appeared. "Dock!" Cray body slammed River to the ground as the cyborg shot a laser, almost hitting River's head. The tree behind them exploded. "Darn it! What the heck was that? That tree just got... got... roasted!" River said angrily. "Roasted tree? Like, is it close to as S'more?" Hope asked innocently. "No, Hope. Big dangerous laser burns people down. It will turn you into crunchy chicken." River explained. Hope's face lit up with glee at the sound of "crunchy chicken". "But crunchy chicken is tasty!" she said. "It won't be, if you're too dead to taste it!" River said as he pulled out his sword, Shino.

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