THE MISSING EMPEROR ~ The Elemental Seven Book I

CHAPTER IV: LASCAUX

After their so-called midnight snack, Myoku prepared to leave. She bid the girls goodbye, then they went to their own tents to get more sleep. River stayed outside of his tent.

"I'll be going now, Master River." Myoku said. "Myoku, can we talk for a bit?" River asked. "Sure. What's bothering you?" Myoku asked. River took this chance to talk to Myoku in private. "Myoku, do we really know each other?" River started asking. "Say what now?" Myoku laughed. "Look, I know this may sound strange, and I'm sorry." River said feeling a little awkward. He wanted to tell Myoku all his doubts. He wanted to speak up his mind, but he don't know where to start or how to start. "Okay, so to tell you the truth, I feel like I know you. But I don't know how we met. It's crazy! I know you're my childhood friend and that we're from the same country and that you're from a clan of fighters, but I don't know how I knew that. It's like... there's a big chunk of memory that I'm missing and that's a memory of you!" River rambled. "Who are you really?" He looked at Myoku waiting for an answer.

Myoku just smiled at him which frustrated River. Here he was venting out and this girl just stood there smiling. "I'm sorry, Master River..." "Also that one... You are calling me 'master'. You also called me 'Ice Man'. What was that about?" River added. "I'm sorry, have I offended you when I called you Ice Man?" Myoku asked sincerely. "No!" River is totally getting frustrated. "How calm you called me Ice Man when there's only person in this world who calls me by that--"

"Yes, and that's me!" Myoku interrupted. "Listen, River. You're tired. Maybe you're brain's still foggy after you got hit earlier. Or maybe you're just having this paranoia that everyone's after you or wanting you dead or something. But know this: I'm not an enemy, I'm no spy." Myoku looked at River in the eye and held his hand. "I am your friend and will always be. I will do everything in my power to protect you even if it will cost me my life." Myoku said. River felt her sincerity, but there is still a bit of doubt in his heart. "Well, life proves that not all people who are nice to you are really good people, and not everyone who claim to be your friends are true. Just sayin'." River said. 

That really hurt Myoku. To her, it seems that River still doesn't trust her, that he even doubts her and thinks that she's an enemy. "You don't have to understand. Just believe." Myoku said. "I'll see you when I get back. Maybe then, your memories will come back. And you'll remember who I really am. In the meantime, take care of yourself." She patted River's shoulder. "Where exactly are you going now?" River asked. "A mission. An urgent one." Myoku answered. She skipped then vanished, leaving River alone in the forest.

The next morning, the three packed their stuff and headed for the beach. It took them three full days on a makeshift boat made of ice (thanks to River's power) to reach the border of Shigaki Country. When they reached the shore, they got off the boat. "Hope wants a puppy!" Hope said out of nowhere with both hands raised. Cray perks up. "Pet?" she said surprised. "Yes, yes! Crau will help Hope choose a puppy, right?" Hope asked sweetly. "Yeah... Sure thing!" Cray answered. "How about we now go to Lascaux?" River asked. "We can get supplies there and go to the beach," he said. "Lascaux sounds fine to me." Cray agreed. "Off we go, then!" Hope said then started marching like a British royal guard. They walked together until they reach a town full of busy people and lots of shops. River told the girls about his pet back at home which is actually a real-life dragon named Mizu. They stopped at park with a fountain for a short break. Cray and Hope set a picnic blanket on the ground while River prepares eggs and toast for everyone.

"So, we should buy a map, sleeping bags and food, plus a few other items. I need a canister, too. Anyone else need anything?" River asked. "Maps. Shleeping bags. Food. Canishter." Hope mades a mental list of the things they need. "Hope can get these while getting food for master," she said. "Okay, sure. However, I only have so much money." River said counting the his money. "I still have 200 denars. That should be enough until we get to Ainsworth where we can get more cash." he said. "Hope's water gun shall show you the wrath." Hope said pointing her water gun to River. "No, Hope's master will get mad if someone else comes." she said. What was that all about? Is she playing? River wondered. "Al~right then. So I will go to Lascaux and buy supplies while Hope and Cray buy a puppy." River decided. "Then we will meet up with Myoku on the beach and set up camp." he said. "Crau. Puppy." Hope said with a pout while pulling Cray's sleeves. "Right, right! We'll get us a nice and cuddly puppy." Cray told Hope. "YAY!" Hope jumps. "We'll leave after we have a snack." River said as he drains the juice out of different fruits from nearby trees and pours them into ice cups. They continued eating silently. When they finished, they all packed their picnic materials to get themselves ready to leave.